Chapter 147

Chapter 147
Chapter: 147

Chapter Title: The Path We Must Take (1)

—

“Haa…”

A heavy breath escaped Gwa Yu as he took a seat upon a jagged stone. Whether it was the lingering pain of his physical toll or the sickly, pale radiance of the moon peering through the clouds, his features were cast in a somber gloom.

His vacant gaze was fixed on the heavens when a container of spirits was suddenly thrust into his field of vision.

“You claimed you needed some fresh air, yet I find you here wallowing in solitude?”

Man Chu gave a light-hearted laugh, giving the bottle a playful rattle.

“It’s nothing…”

Taking a spot on the rock beside Gwa Yu, Man Chu proferred the drink once more.

“I’ll pass.”

Gwa Yu turned him down, prompting Man Chu to give a casual shrug. He took several deep gulps, then tracked Gwa Yu’s stare up toward the lunar disk for a silent interval before asking in an easy tone,

“Still feeling the weight?”

“It isn’t exactly a burden, but… in a way, yes.”

“Then it’s a burden. Is this about your uncle?”

“It is.”

Gwa Yu released a soft, tired sigh, the image of his uncle’s countenance during their final meeting flashing through his mind just before the man passed away.

Constrained to a seat—likely the victim of brutal interrogation—his uncle had let out predatory howls, suffering through agony that surpassed human limits. The instant Heo Ok perished while gripping Mogo, the organism nesting inside his uncle’s frame had lost all control.

Even so, his uncle had remained defiant to the end. In the midst of that horrific torture, he maintained that the leadership of the Four Blood Grove was his birthright, stolen by his sibling, and he stood by the morality of his coup.

Nevertheless, he felt a stinging remorse for being unable to seize power on his own merit, forced instead to rely on the backing of the Blood Fiend Cult. He had expressed sincere appreciation for preventing the Four Blood Grove from falling entirely under the thumb of the Blood Fiend Cult.

“My uncle pleaded for an end to the suffering. He begged for the mercy of the one who won.”

Man Chu gave a solemn nod. He had been a witness to those desperate cries and lamentations himself.

“Yet I refused him. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. He was the murderer who took the lives of my father and my brothers. I didn’t believe he deserved a peaceful transition into death.”

“I would have made the same choice. Most anyone would. The saying that one cannot live under the same sky as their enemy exists for a reason.”

“But now… I’m uncertain. I achieved the retribution I sought, yet there is a strange, hollow feeling in my chest.”

Struggling with the internal tension, Gwa Yu took another deep breath. He suddenly reached out, took the spirits from Man Chu, and finished the liquid in a single, long draft.

“I was once told that vengeance carries this specific sting. You hunger for it with everything you have, but once the deed is done, the void left behind is more painful than the wound itself. Some people lose their internal compass entirely. They say it’s because you are chasing a version of the past that is gone forever.”

“…”

Gwa Yu lapsed into a contemplative silence, his face a mask of conflicting emotions.

Man Chu gave him the space he needed, waiting in the quiet until Gwa Yu managed to pull himself together. He then gave the man a firm slap on the shoulder and rose to his feet.

“Put the introspection aside for now. We don’t have the luxury. There is chaos breaking out back there.”

“What? What happened?”

Gwa Yu’s expression shifted to one of shock at the sudden update.

“Well, listen to this.”

Man Chu went on to give a focused and energetic summary of how the Biheaven Fortress Lord had made a shocking decree and the level of rage Dang Cheon-hwa had displayed upon receiving the news.

“The words of the Poison Freak elder make sense. With our foes closing in, isn’t that decision absolute lunacy?”

Gwa Yu looked completely bewildered as he asked.

Having seen the incredible power of Sima Geon and Cheol Woo with his own eyes, he found it impossible to understand why anyone would discard their help just because they originated from the Heavenly Demon Cult.

“It would seem crazy to any rational person. But it’s complicated. Many—actually, a significant number—are actually praising the Fortress Lord for his guts. They think he’s defending the honor of the righteous path.”

“They have lost their minds.”

“Indeed. Even after what happened with the Golden Sword Sect, they still don’t realize how lethal the warriors of the Heavenly Demon Cult truly are. Don’t stress it too much. That’s the same place that produced those two freakishly strong brothers of ours.”

Before Man Chu could conclude his thought, a gravelly voice interrupted.

“Who are you calling freaks?”

Noe Jeon walked toward them, accompanied by Black Fang.

“Who else? Our comrades in the other room.”

“Does that include me?”

“You’re at least within the realm of humanity, brother.”

“Hahaha! Fair point. The Division Leader and the Deputy are definitely beyond ‘human.’”

Noe Jeon, Man Chu, and Gwa Yu looked at one another and shared a sudden burst of mirth.

“So, what brings you out here?”

“What do you think? The one who went out for air never came back, and the one sent to find him vanished into the shadows. I had to check for myself.”

Noe Jeon moved with blurring speed, ruffling the hair of both Man Chu and Gwa Yu.

“Let’s get moving. The Division Leader wants to hear what you think. By the way, Man Chu—have you made up your mind?”

Man Chu fixed his messy hair with a grimace but answered without any doubt.

“Yeah. I’m going to stay with the brothers.”

Noe Jeon raised his eyebrows, surprised by the directness.

“What’s the reasoning?”

“I still have plenty to gain from them. Biheaven Fortress is important, but my priority is honoring the Supreme Elder’s wishes. Staying with the brothers allows me to pursue his vengeance as well—killing two birds with one stone.”

“And what about your superiors?”

“It won’t be an issue. The Supreme Elder passed his personal martial arts down to me, and following the guidance of the Sword Freak senior, I’ve reached a level where I can dictate my own path.”

Listening to Man Chu, Noe Jeon and Gwa Yu realized he had essentially been chosen as the next in line for the Beggars’ Sect.

“Man Chu is decided, then.”

Noe Jeon shifted his focus to Gwa Yu.

“How about you?”

Gwa Yu merely lowered his head in a quiet gesture, offering no words.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“The military forces of the Ha Hu Clan have passed through Yun Pass. Given their current velocity, they should be clearing the Haeseong district about now.”

An operative from the Dark Fragrance named Gang Hwang gestured toward a small parchment map. Ju Seung-geun, the Wind Demon Division Leader, knit his brows in thought.

“They are moving quicker than I anticipated. Will we miss our window?”

“It’s doubtful. It looks like a great distance on paper, but when you factor in the actual paths, we are scheduled to arrive at the perfect moment.”

“Excellent. Where shall we strike?”

Gang Hwang paused to consider before pointing to a specific landmark.

“At this pace, this is the spot—the Thousand-Li Plateau. This location is…”

Ju Seung-geun’s eyes lit up with certainty as the details were laid out.

“A perfect choice. We will wipe them out there and then head to Biheaven Fortress without any further setbacks.”

Ju Seung-geun was clearly aiming for more than just stopping the Ha Hu reinforcements; he wanted to make a major impact at Biheaven. Noticing this boldness, Gang Hwang spoke up with a bit of hesitation,

“We shouldn’t underestimate their strength, regardless of the troop count. Ha Hu Hyo is the one in command—he is the premier master of the Ha Hu Clan now that the Sword Freak has departed.”

Ju Seung-geun sneered.

“Are you suggesting we aren’t capable of handling them?”

“No, that’s not it, but…”

“Stop worrying. I’m not just relying on the strength of the Wind Demon Division.”

“I’m aware Ghost Path Hall is providing backup. But they aren’t exactly on the same level as the Ha Hu Clan.”

Gang Hwang looked toward the Ghost Path Hall area and spoke in a hushed tone.

“You think I’d place my trust in those Ghost Path Hall bottom-feeders? They are just there for show. I’ll be happy if they just stay out of my way.”

Ju Seung-geun gave a sharp laugh, his eyes wandering toward a tent set apart from the rest.

“Haven’t you heard? The Sword Demon Dragon Protector has arrived to assist the Wind Demon Division. The Ghost Soul Fist elder is present as well.”

“Ah!”

A soft gasp escaped Gang Hwang.

Now he understood why Ju Seung-geun was so full of self-assurance. To anyone in the Heavenly Demon Cult, the presence of the Sword Demon Dragon was a massive game-changer.

“So, ensure our path is accurate—no wandering while the enemy is on the move.”

“I’ll make sure of it. Oh, one other detail.”

“What is it?”

Ju Seung-geun took a sip from his cup, appearing unbothered.

“There are accounts that the group led by the Divine Demon Division Leader—the ones thought to have disappeared from the Ha Hu Clan—have been spotted near Biheaven Fortress.”

Ju Seung-geun stopped moving the moment the title ‘Divine Demon Division Leader’ was mentioned. His expression turned cold and rigid.

“Is that information verified?”

There was a slight tremor in his tone.

“It is confirmed.”

“Are they involving themselves in the Biheaven conflict?”

“They were seen traveling with warriors from the Namgung Clan and the Dang Family. We aren’t entirely sure of their goal, but that is the current assessment.”

“Hmph! They turned their backs on the Cult, ran away, and now they act as lackeys for the righteous sects. Disgusting!”

Ju Seung-geun didn’t hide his vitriol for Sima Geon, a hatred deeply rooted in the death of his sibling, Ju Pung-gi.

“Does the Supreme Elder know?”

“A report has been sent.”

“The Divine Demon Division Leader of all people. He must be incredibly concerned.”

An involuntary sigh left Ju Seung-geun. Regardless of his personal spite, the prospect of facing the Divine Demon Division Leader as an adversary was a terrifying thought.

As Ju Seung-geun had suspected, the base of the Bloodlight Demon Emperor was in an uproar once the Divine Demon Division Leader’s arrival was verified. Strategies were debated long into the darkness. However, Sima Geon and his companions departed at the crack of dawn—not toward the fortress of Biheaven, but in a completely different direction.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“You feeling alright?”

Man Chu walked up to Gwa Yu and gave him a friendly tap on the arm.

“What do you mean?”

“You look different. You’ve been in a fog for days, but you seem sharper now.”

“I have figured out which way I need to go.”

“Which way?”

“A fresh objective, if you will.”

“What are you talking about? A fresh objective?”

“Retribution.”

Seeing Man Chu’s confusion, Gwa Yu offered a small grin.

“I thought about what you said last night—you were right. Once my revenge was finished, I felt empty. I didn’t know how to move forward. But when you mentioned you were heading toward the Heavenly Demon Cult, it all clicked: my mission isn’t over yet.”

“But the Four Blood Grove and your uncle are already dealt with…”

“There is still the Blood Friend Cult.”

“Ah!”

Man Chu let out a sound of realization.

“They used my uncle to try and dominate the Four Blood Grove. They are the next targets—and since they are currently at odds with the Heavenly Demon Cult, the state of the jianghu ensures our paths will cross.”

“So you’re staying with the brothers to wait for your chance at the cult?”

“Correct.”

“That explains why you decided so fast. You’re looking at the big picture, aren’t you?”

Man Chu gave a mischievous smirk, nudging Gwa Yu in the ribs.

“It’s thanks to you, brother.”

“Me?”

“You said there was plenty left to squeeze out of them. That was my wake-up call. I’m going to do the same—I’m going to get everything I can out of you brothers.”

“Hahaha! Hahaha!”

Man Chu laughed loudly, finding the whole situation incredibly entertaining.

Cheol Woo, who was walking ahead, caught the exchange and gave a dry snort.

“So that’s the grand design?”

“If that’s what they want, let them do it.”

A subtle smile touched Sima Geon’s lips.

“Did you two have your fun while we were away?”

So Su-rin cast a glance back at Man Chu and Gwa Yu, who were following a short distance behind.

“They’ll learn the truth once things actually get difficult.”

Noe Jeon gave a mock grumble but reached down to pet Black Fang, a visible smile on his face.

“Why are we moving so slowly? If we keep this pace, when are we ever going to get there?”

The sudden shout came from Dang Cheon-hwa, who was already far in front.

Cheol Woo let out a sigh and shook his head at the sight of Dang Cheon-hwa’s irritated face, a small stalk of grass hanging from his mouth.

“Ha! What on earth convinced that old man to join us?”

“Who knows? But there is one certainty.”

“And what’s that?”

“I have found someone else I can learn from.”

So Su-rin gave a brilliant smile as she looked toward Dang Cheon-hwa.