Chapter 153

Chapter 153
## Chapter 153: Thousand-Li Plateau (4)

Cheol Woo had successfully crushed the pincer attack from Ghost Soul Fist and Blood Tribulation Hand Pingan. Now, he was busy finishing off the remaining members of the Wind Demon Unit while dodging the stray effects of Dang Cheonhwa’s strikes. Nearby, Noejeon lent support with his one functional arm, while Manchu and Gwayu remained stationary, their fighting done for the moment.

“Are you holding up?”

Sima Geon asked, his eyes lingering on the red stain on Manchu’s sleeve.

“It’s just a scratch,” Manchu replied steadily.

Gwayu caught Sima Geon’s questioning look and offered a small shake of her head. “I am unharmed as well.”

“Quite the display of prowess. Those villains certainly weren’t lacking in martial skill.”

Dang Cheonhwa had witnessed the capabilities of the Sword Demon Dragon firsthand during the strike against Sima Geon and his protectors. He knew the leader was a formidable opponent—one that even he, with all his experience, would find difficult to subdue easily.

*Who is this person, truly?*

Dang Cheonhwa felt a wave of shock. Seeing Sima Geon dismantle the synchronized assault of the Sword Demon Dragon and his cohorts with such effortless grace was staggering. He had known Sima Geon was powerful, but seeing the reality of that strength was a transformative experience.

Looking at the sheer competence of Sima Geon’s party, Dang Cheonhwa felt a bitter realization. It had been a catastrophic error for their allies to refuse the journey to Bicheon Fortress.

*Sanggwan Cheon, you absolute moron!*

Thinking of the Bicheon Fortress Lord, who had turned away such vital assistance like a prideful fool, Dang Cheonhwa felt a spike of irrational fury.

“Your own performance was quite impressive, Elder,” Sima Geon remarked.

At the compliment, the edge of Dang Cheonhwa’s mouth twitched. “You were watching me?”

“I was.”

“And you had the mental breathing room to observe others in the thick of that chaos?”

“It simply happened that way.”

“Hah! Those wretches would have lost their minds if they’d known. Actually, it’s better they died in ignorance. Far better.”

Sima Geon gave a slightly pained laugh at the elder’s boisterousness and turned his attention back to the lingering pockets of conflict.

While Cheol Woo and Noejeon had secured their perimeter, So Surin was still engaged in a violent struggle.

“What is her status?”

“She’s holding her own, though she’s far from refined,” Dang Cheonhwa noted. “That internal poison energy she carries is the main issue—she hasn’t mastered its flow. She can contain it with focus, but once the adrenaline hits, it leaks everywhere.”

“In a fight, that might be an advantage,” Sima Geon mused.

He watched as the Wind Demon Unit members struggled to get close to So Surin, kept at bay by the invisible, toxic mist radiating from her skin.

“Perhaps, but a leak is a liability. It doesn’t discriminate between foe and friend.”

Sima Geon shifted his gaze toward Manchu and Gwayu.

Recalling how much poison had escaped during her previous medical treatment, he knew those two would be paralyzed by it. Even Noejeon would find it difficult to stay close. Only a man of Cheol Woo’s physical constitution could ignore it entirely.

The Wind Demon Unit seemed to realize the danger as well; they were holding their breath and trying to use the reach of their weapons. Despite their caution, several of them were already collapsing, their faces turning a sickly shade.

“Still, that physical form of hers is a marvel,” Dang Cheonhwa admitted, watching So Surin shrug off blows that should have broken bone.

“It is,” Sima Geon agreed.

Cheol Woo had trained for his Diamond Indestructibility, but So Surin’s body was a different beast entirely. Her resilience hadn’t come from a manual; it was forged through a level of agony that would have killed any normal human.

Cheol Woo eventually walked over, his chest heaving as he caught his breath.

“Phew!”

“Finished?”

“Clearly. Those guys were a lot more stubborn than they looked.”

Sima Geon nodded, noting the various rips and tears in Cheol Woo’s attire.

“I can see that. Are you hurt?”

“Nothing serious. That old Ghost Soul Fist man managed to tag me once or twice. His style reminded me of Poison Eagle Eyes—similar power level, too. I got annoyed and just snapped his neck.”

Cheol Woo mimed the act of twisting a neck with a grin, causing Manchu and Gwayu to look away in slight disgust.

“One of us is still at it,” Noejeon remarked, his face pale with fatigue.

He had clearly struggled more than Cheol Woo, his skin covered in a map of shallow cuts.

“That’s to be expected,” Cheol Woo said. “In the past, she wouldn’t have lasted a minute against them. They might look like cannon fodder, but they’re an elite unit.”

“Brother, here.”

“Oh! Much appreciated.”

Cheol Woo beamed at Manchu, taking the water pouch offered to him and drinking deeply before continuing.

“She’s gotten scary, though. When did she gain that much power?”

“It’s the poison. It’s a total cheat code,” Noejeon grunted, shuddering. “Just being near her makes your skin crawl. I hate it.”

He had fought briefly alongside her and had felt the suffocating pressure of her escaping qi. Manchu and Gwayu nodded in silent, fervent agreement.

Sima Geon watched the ongoing struggle for a second longer, then reached down and slid the Heavenly Demon Ring from his wrist.

“What are you doing?” Cheol Woo asked.

Sima Geon didn’t answer; he simply flicked the ring forward.

The Heavenly Demon Ring streaked through the air like a falling star, shifting its form into a sharp blade mid-flight. It tore through the Wind Demon Unit members who were surrounding So Surin.

Caught off guard while focusing on the poison-wreathed girl, the cultists were defenseless. In a heartbeat, seven men fell dead. With their formation shattered, the rest were quickly overwhelmed by So Surin’s relentless counterattack.

The Heavenly Demon Sword carved a high arc through the air before returning to Sima Geon’s hand.

The moment he caught it, the blade retracted back into the shape of a simple ring. Dang Cheonhwa, seeing the transformation for the first time, stared in disbelief.

“What… what kind of treasure is that?”

“This is the Heavenly Demon Ring. It was once the personal weapon and holy relic of the Heavenly Demon himself.”

Sima Geon spoke casually, but Dang Cheonhwa was floored. To a martial artist, seeing the legendary tool of the man considered the greatest in history was a profound, almost religious experience.

“Would you… allow me to examine it?”

Dang Cheonhwa asked with uncharacteristic humility. He knew that asking to handle another warrior’s weapon was a massive breach of etiquette.

“Be my guest.”

Sima Geon handed it over without a second thought.

Dang Cheonhwa took the ring with shaking fingers, his eyes wide as he scanned every millimeter of the metal.

While he was occupied, So Surin finished her slaughter and walked back toward the group. Despite her victory, she looked deeply irritated.

“Hey, sis. You okay? You look hurt,” Noejeon said, stepping forward to check on her.

“Keep your eyes to yourself,” So Surin hissed.

“What?”

“I said look away!”

She turned her back to him and held out a hand toward Sima Geon.

“I need a change of clothes, Division Leader.”

Sima Geon looked at her shredded tunic and immediately unfastened his outer robe, handing it to her.

“Ah!”

Noejeon finally realized why she was so angry and let out a dry, awkward laugh.

“Tsk, tsk. What use is a body made of iron if you don’t have the skill to protect your clothes? That’s why she’s in this mess,” Cheol Woo joked.

So Surin shot him a look of pure venom but remained silent as she wrapped herself in the robe.

“Incredible. How can it change shape like that? It’s a masterpiece,” Dang Cheonhwa muttered, finally handing the ring back to Sima Geon.

“It reacts to the infusion of internal energy?”

“That is correct.”

“I thought so—no hidden buttons or gears. Truly marvelous. My clan prides itself on exotic weaponry, but we have nothing that compares to this.”

A brief spark of curiosity and desire flickered in the elder’s eyes before he suppressed it. Sima Geon saw it, but he knew the elder wasn’t craving the power of the Heavenly Demon; he was simply a craftsman fascinated by a miracle of engineering.

—

“We are almost at Thousand-Li Plateau,” Ha Hu Geun said, absentmindedly snapping the tops off the pampas grass as they walked.

“Indeed. It has been a long time since I walked this path. The view is as grand as I remember,” Ha Hu Hyo added, running his hand over the silvery stalks.

“The plateau is most beautiful at dusk. It’s a shame we’ll miss the sunset. I still remember the flavor of the wine I shared with friends on these hills while we watched the light fade,” Ha Hu Myeong said with a nostalgic smile.

“We can visit again on the return trip. It is on the way home, after all,” Ha Hu Geun noted.

“Assuming we survive the trip there.”

“True enough.”

Ha Hu Hyo’s expression darkened as he glanced back at their followers. He knew the coming conflict at Bicheon Fortress would be a bloodbath. Even if they won, many of the faces he saw now would not be there for the journey back.

“We will take a short rest once we reach the plateau,” Ha Hu Geun decided.

Ha Hu Hyo agreed immediately. “Yes. We’ve been moving since before dawn. The men are flagging.”

Suddenly, Ha Hu Hyo stopped talking. His body went rigid, and his gaze sharpened as he scanned the horizon. Ha Hu Geun and Ha Hu Myeong noticed the shift and immediately reached for their hilts.

“Someone is approaching.”

Ha Hu Myeong closed his eyes, expanding his sensory field. “A large group.”

“Prepare for combat!” Ha Hu Geun roared.

The warriors of the Ha Hu Clan drew their blades in a synchronized chorus of steel.

Moments later, a group of people burst from the tall grass, running as if their lives depended on it. There were roughly thirty of them, their clothes tattered and stained with blood.

“Stop right there!” Ha Hu Geun’s voice boomed like a drum.

The fleeing group skidded to a halt, their chests heaving.

“I am Ha Hu Geun of the Golden Flower Ha Hu Clan! Identify yourselves!”

The strangers didn’t respond.

“I said—”

Before he could repeat himself, the group turned as one and bolted in a different direction, disappearing back into the wilds. They were so terrified that they didn’t even acknowledge the challenge.

“What is happening? Who were they?”

The answer awaited them as they finally stepped onto the main expanse of the Thousand-Li Plateau.

“Are those… members of the Heavenly Demon Cult?” Ha Hu Hyo asked, staring at the carnage.

“Yes. To be specific…”

Dang Cheonhwa started to explain, but Noejeon cut in.

“That’s the remains of the Wind Demon Unit. Likely part of the Ghost Gate Clan. We saw their leader and a few stragglers tuck tail and run a few minutes ago.”

“But why were they stationed here?”

Dang Cheonhwa clicked his tongue. “Isn’t it obvious? They knew you were coming to reinforce Bicheon Fortress and set a trap. We came here specifically to break that ambush. If we hadn’t arrived first, you would have walked right into a slaughter.”

The Ha Hu retainers looked at the bodies scattered across the field—nearly two hundred of them. Even if their individual skill was mediocre, an ambush of that size would have decimated the Ha Hu Clan’s ranks.

“I see. We owe you a great debt, Elder. Thank you. Without your intervention, this would have been a disaster,” Ha Hu Hyo said, bowing deeply toward Dang Cheonhwa and Sima Geon’s group.

“I had heard that travelers were being harassed on the road to Bicheon Fortress, but I never expected an army of this size to be mobilized. It is strange—we received no intelligence from the fortress about such a threat.”

“They likely knew about the plan, but couldn’t get word out.”

“How so?”

“The Cult is hunting down every messenger. It’s standard procedure for a surprise offensive. We only found out because we happened to intercept a hawk that had killed one of our carrier pigeons.”

Ha Hu Geun, who had been listening intently, felt a flicker of confusion.

“You caught a hawk by chance? So… you weren’t originally traveling from your home to help Bicheon Fortress?”

“Bicheon Fortress?”

Dang Cheonhwa’s face soured instantly.

“Yes. We assumed you were heading there to coordinate, since we’ve met here on the road.”

“Don’t talk to me about Bicheon Fortress! I’ll have nothing to do with those arrogant, brainless idiots!”

Dang Cheonhwa’s shout echoed across the entire plateau, leaving Ha Hu Geun and his men standing in stunned silence.