Chapter 134

Chapter 134
## Chapter 134: The Final Gambit (3)

Chaos erupted under the cover of darkness.

While Zhuge Su was sequestered in the private study of the clan leader, revealing the grim reality of the Blood Slaughter Cult, Zhuge Geom—having received a clandestine warning—spearheaded the Crooked Dragon Squad in a lightning strike against the Supreme Secret Hall. This was the nerve center for every piece of intelligence the Zhuge Clan possessed.

Zhuge Jincheong, the Master of the Supreme Secret Hall, was incandescent with rage, his voice echoing in protest. However, once the magnitude of the threat was clarified, Zhuge Ho, the Commander of the Crooked Dragon Squad, took personal command. He ordered the detention of every employee within the department, sparing only Zhuge Jincheong. Though Zhuge Su had provided a list of specific suspects, Zhuge Ho chose a path of absolute caution, placing the entire staff under scrutiny.

The Supreme Secret Hall was arguably the most sprawling arm of the Zhuge Clan’s bureaucracy, famous for compiling and publishing the Martial Power Rankings every decade. Its internal operations alone required over thirty dedicated members, but when accounting for field agents, informants, and external assets, the network swelled to nearly three hundred.

The ensuing forty-eight hours of grueling inquiry bore bitter fruit.

In addition to the names Zhuge Su had flagged, two more core members of the Supreme Secret Hall were unmasked as collaborators of the Blood Slaughter Cult. Under the weight of interrogation, these traitors surrendered the identities of thirty-three more associates tied to the organization.

A tremor of disbelief shook the foundations of the Zhuge Clan.

The mere fact that the Blood Slaughter Cult had survived in the shadows was staggering, but the realization that their operatives had nested in the heart of the Zhuge Clan left the family in a state of shell-shocked silence.

The most terrifying detail was the seniority of the compromised individuals. It was proof that the Blood Slaughter Cult had planted its seeds within the Zhuge Clan many years ago.

“It appears the main house grew far too complacent. We have always known we could not rival the Beggars’ Sect in reach, yet we boasted that our internal security was peerless… only to discover we were rotting from the center.”

In just two days, the toll on Zhuge Chu was visible; his face had become gaunt and aged.

The truth—that the Supreme Secret Hall had been compromised—was a bitter pill he struggled to swallow.

“Their methods were clearly beyond meticulous. Even so, we have unearthed a rot that the Beggars’ Sect failed to spot. Do not be so hard on yourself.”

The Sword Matriarch offered these comforting words in a leveled voice before shifting her attention to Zhuge Su, the young man responsible for the discovery.

Zhuge Su, who had ignited this firestorm, had spent the last forty-eight hours collapsed from exhaustion. He had been practically hauled from his bed to attend this briefing.

“Because of Young Master Zhuge, the threat of the Blood Slaughter Cult has been dragged into the light. You have performed an invaluable service, not just for your kin, but for the entire martial world.”

“I was merely fortunate.”

“Fortuna does not account for five days of tireless labor within the Scripture Pavilion.”

“I simply find it impossible to ignore things that do not sit right with me. Ha!”

Zhuge Su gave a forced, sheepish chuckle, clearly unsettled by the high praise.

“Surely now, the rest of the world will be forced to acknowledge the reality of the Blood Slaughter Cult?”

At the Sword Matriarch’s inquiry, Zhuge Chu’s smile was grim.

“They have no choice. Seeing a family of our stature endure such a disgrace will force every sect to look under their own floorboards.”

“Many innocent lives may be disrupted in the coming purge.”

“That is inevitable. Based on what we found here, these spies did not arrive yesterday. Scandals will break out across the land. I am most concerned about those organizations that have seen sudden, unexplained growth recently.”

Zhuge Chu’s eyes instinctively landed on Zhuge Su.

“Naturally, not every location this boy flagged will be a den of the Blood Slaughter Cult. But if even a fraction of them are…”

Zhuge Chu trailed off, his face pale at the implications.

“We must investigate with the utmost urgency. The first place we must look…”

The Sword Matriarch’s gaze grew heavy as she looked at Zhuge Chu.

“The Martial Alliance.”

“The Martial Alliance,” they both echoed, the words falling in unison.

—

The relentless tide of the Heavenly Demon Cult’s invasion had finally begun to lose its momentum.

While the Martial Alliance remained paralyzed by internal discord, various regional sects—witnessing the impending doom of the southern provinces—had scrambled to send aid.

The Four Great Clans neighboring the Nangong Clan, along with the Beggars’ Sect, Hyeongsan Sect, Qingcheng Sect, and Jongnam Sect, had all committed their disciples to the front lines, turning the skirmishes into a bloodbath.

Though the Shaolin, Wudang, and Huashan—the pillars of the Nine Great Sects—had not yet fully mobilized, the conflict had effectively evolved into the second Great War between the Righteous and Demonic factions since the original purge of the Heavenly Demon.

The ripples of this war had reached the gates of the Hahou Clan as well.

“You seem to be in a particularly foul mood today.”

Hahou Yeon stepped back, observing the low, vibrating growl emanating from Black Wolf.

“They took another sample of his blood,” Lightning Stroke remarked, her hand moving rhythmically along Black Wolf’s muscular thigh.

Black Wolf snapped his head toward her, but Lightning Stroke’s gentle touch on his neck eventually soothed his aggression.

“It’s been a full week now. I can’t blame him for being irritable.”

“Poor creature. He should at least be fed well, yet he looks so thin.”

Hahou Yeon gestured toward the meal Black Wolf was currently tearing into.

“Manchu just left to find some higher quality meat for him. And trust me, he eats plenty. In terms of sheer appetite, he’s unmatched right now.”

“Heh heh! Though I imagine Black Wolf would trade all the meat in the world for an end to the needle pricks.”

“It can’t be helped. It’s the only way to save my Sister. He just has to hold on a bit longer.”

Despite her firm words, the way Lightning Stroke stroked the beast’s fur betrayed her own sorrow.

“By the way, I heard rumors that the Hahou Clan is finally preparing for war?”

“That’s correct.”

“When is the departure?”

“The decision was finalized just now. We leave tomorrow morning.”

“So, the clan is moving at last.”

“We are late to the fray. They used us as the excuse for their conquest from the very beginning. There were many elders who insisted on completing the Forty-Ninth Retreat first to maintain tradition, so we were delayed… but frankly, we’ve waited too long.”

As Hahou Yeon voiced her annoyance, Lightning Stroke gave a small shrug.

“We were the ones who fought them directly, yet the consequences hit everyone else.”

“They were looking for any excuse, so don’t take it to heart. If it hadn’t been our clan, they would have blamed the Beggars’ Sect. After all, that man was traveling with your group.”

Hahou Yeon gestured toward Manchu, who was approaching with a heavy basket filled with raw, blood-soaked meat.

“That’s a fair point.”

Lightning Stroke offered a thin smile. She knew Hahou Yeon was right, but it didn’t ease the guilt. Ultimately, the death of Hahou Gok was the spark that ignited this conflict between the Heavenly Demon Cult and the rest of the world.

The door creaked on its hinges as Cheol Woo entered, balancing a massive wooden barrel of water.

Seeing Hahou Yeon, he gave a friendly shout.

“Oh, you’re still here?”

“I am.”

Hahou Yeon watched in silent amazement as Cheol Woo handled the massive, water-laden barrel as if it were a light cup.

“The water looks clear this time.”

Cheol Woo gave a satisfied nod.

“It started clearing up yesterday. There’s almost no discoloration today. The physician says we are reaching the end of the process.”

“That is wonderful news.”

“This fellow here deserves most of the credit.”

Cheol Woo smiled at Black Wolf, who was busy with the meat Manchu had provided, though the beast only responded with a warning growl.

“Watch your manners, Black Wolf. If you keep showing your fangs, I’ll have to discipline you.”

Before Cheol Woo even finished his sentence, Black Wolf lowered his head and went back to his food, seemingly cowed.

“He truly is a creature of high intelligence.”

Hahou Yeon was constantly surprised by how the beast seemed to grasp human conversation perfectly.

“I’ll leave you to talk. I need to get rid of this. Even if it looks clear, the elder says it’s still lethal.”

Cheol Woo tapped the side of the barrel.

Over the last few days of purging the toxins from So Surin’s system, the water they used had become so poisonous that it couldn’t be poured away. It would kill any crop it touched or poison an entire waterway, so they had to haul it deep into the woods to be buried in secluded pits.

After Cheol Woo’s departure, Sima Geon and Tang Cheonhwa emerged from the inner rooms.

Hahou Yeon greeted them and recounted what she had just told Lightning Stroke.

“So, you are joining the front lines as well?”

Sima Geon asked after listening to the report.

“Yes. I was supposed to remain behind, but I fought for my right to go.”

She tried to sound nonchalant, but the edge of fury in her voice was unmistakable.

In that moment, a new voice joined them.

“The plans might be shifting.”

Everyone turned toward Manchu.

“I was just coming to find you. We received a message from the Beggars’ Sect. The Heavenly Demon Cult isn’t the primary concern anymore.”

“Explain yourself.”

“It seems the Zhuge Clan has successfully rooted out a network of Blood Slaughter Cult infiltrators.”

At the mention of that name, Gwa Yu—who had been helping Lightning Stroke feed Black Wolf—snapped her head up, her eyes wide.

“It seems the Sword Matriarch’s trip to the Zhuge Clan was fruitful,” Sima Geon remarked, remembering her mission.

“I’m not sure if she was the cause, but the results are massive. They did a sweep and found spies hidden everywhere. The headcount is huge, and many of them held high-ranking positions. They’ve been there for a long time.”

“In the Zhuge Clan? Good grief! If the Blood Slaughter Cult can hide in their ranks, no sect is safe.”

A heavy cloud of worry settled over the group as Tang Cheonhwa spoke.

“The Zhuge Clan has sent out high-priority missives to every sect leader. The scale is so massive they’ve asked for the Beggars’ Sect’s help, and they are fully committed to the hunt.”

“Wait, how do you have access to letters meant for sect leaders?”

In response to Lightning Stroke’s question, Manchu smirked and gestured toward Sima Geon.

“The Leader of the Beggars’ Sect sent a letter to the Hahou Clan Head—and he sent one specifically for me, too.”

Manchu pulled a yellow scroll from his tunic.

“I’ve been ordered to bring you all up to speed on the current state of affairs.”

“I see. The Sword Matriarch likely wanted to ensure you were informed.”

Tang Cheonhwa noted, recalling the various discussions Sima Geon and the Sword Matriarch had shared.

“That’s likely the case.”

“But Sir, if the Blood Slaughter Cult is pulling these strings, wouldn’t they have people inside the Heavenly Demon Cult too? We already dealt with their presence in our ranks a long time ago.”

Sima Geon nodded slowly at Lightning Stroke’s assessment.

“Most likely.”

“Did the Zhuge Clan mention if they were going to warn the Heavenly Demon Cult as well?”

Manchu shook his head at Tang Cheonhwa’s query.

“The letter doesn’t say. I’m just telling you what’s on the paper.”

He glanced back at the yellow scroll.

“I don’t know what they’ll do. Warning the Heavenly Demon Cult would be the logical path.”

“They probably will. I recall they’ve collaborated against the Blood Slaughter Cult in the past.”

Tang Cheonhwa scoffed at Sima Geon’s optimistic view.

“Logic is one thing, but the world rarely follows it. Back then, they didn’t partner up out of friendship. Both sides were being decimated by the Blood Slaughter Cult and had no other choice. Even if the Zhuge Clan reaches out—and being reasonable as they are, they likely will—do you think the Heavenly Demon Cult will just believe them? What’s your take?”

Sima Geon remained silent for a moment.

“I doubt they’ll take it at face value. Their first instinct will be suspicion. With the conquest of the South within their grasp, they’ll view it as a stalling tactic or a trap.”

“Even if they believe it’s true, I don’t see them stopping. they’ll likely deal with the Blood Slaughter Cult internally while continuing their push to destroy the Nangong Clan.”

“I agree. The immediate victory is right in front of them. They won’t halt a war over a problem they haven’t seen with their own eyes yet.”

“Which means the Blood Slaughter Cult is the only winner here.”

“That’s exactly how those vermin operate.”

Throughout history, many sects had fallen to the Blood Slaughter Cult, but few had been ravaged as thoroughly as the Tang Clan. It was widely known that it had taken them a century to recover from that devastation.

“Excellent! This is fine. It’s finally time to settle these old debts.”

Tang Cheonhwa’s lips curled into a predatory grin, his eyes burning with a murderous light.