Chapter 155

Chapter 155
## Chapter 155: The Variable (2)

Roughly sixty li to the south of Cheonri Plain sat the modest settlement of Sekyo.

The company commanded by Sima Geon, having recently liberated the reinforcements of the Ha Hu family, reached the solitary tavern in Sekyo long after the sun had dipped below the horizon.

Following a grueling day of travel and combat, they satiated their hunger with a mediocre spread whipped up by a drowsy chef, then began to soothe their weariness with liquor, nibbling on a few modest snacks.

Cheol Woo and Manchu took to the spirits with a fervor that bordered on the fanatical, draining flask after flask at such a startling speed that it looked as though they might deplete the cellar entirely. The middle-aged proprietor and his cook watched on, their complexions turning ghostly pale, as if they were witnessing their livelihoods vanish into thin air.

Nearby, Dang Cheonhwa and So Surin engaged in a solemn exchange regarding the morning’s skirmish over their drinks, while Noe Jeon and Gwa Yu added their voices to the mix, cultivating a cozy and spirited ambiance.

Only one individual, Sima Geon, appeared slightly detached from the merriment at the table.

While he occasionally offered a comment to maintain the social flow, a shadow of melancholy seemed to cling to his shoulders. So Surin was the first to detect the shift in his mood.

“Division Leader, is there a problem?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Concern is written all over your features.”

“Is it?”

Sima Geon instinctively brushed his fingers against his cheek.

“Your posture is rigid. Even when you force a smile, it doesn’t reach your eyes. It is clear your mind is elsewhere.”

Sima Geon offered a self-deprecating grin in response to So Surin’s observation.

“Was I being that transparent?”

“Beyond a doubt. Wouldn’t you all agree?”

When So Surin addressed the table, everyone gave a reserved nod of affirmation—they even noticed Manchu, who was busy matching Cheol Woo drink for drink, nodding along in agreement.

“Why bother asking about the obvious?”

Cheol Woo shook the final droplets from a hollow jug and swallowed them before chiming in.

“Obvious?”

So Surin knit her brows.

“The Ha Hu family—or more specifically, that fellow Ha Hu Yeon. He’s the one our leader is ruminating over.”

“Is that the case?”

Sima Geon remained silent at So Surin’s inquiry, merely raising his vessel to his lips.

“That guy is a stubborn one. You’d think he’d have the sense to request our assistance directly, but he remained tight-lipped until the very end.”

Cheol Woo let out a dry laugh, thinking back to how Ha Hu Yeon had spent his final moments cracking pointless jokes instead of asking for backup.

“The circumstances didn’t really permit it. The Ha Hu kin were incensed when they realized how that branch leader from the Walless Sky Pavilion had slighted us—they looked ready to burst with rage. To be honest, I expected them to plead for us to join them anyway. They have a certain pride themselves.”

The group nodded collectively at Noe Jeon’s assessment.

The members of the Ha Hu family had been legitimately scandalized by the Walless Sky Pavilion leader’s arrogance, going so far as to apologize on the man’s behalf. Given that tension, it was understandable why Ha Hu Yeon felt he couldn’t speak up.

“Is that why this is weighing on you? He represents the first genuine bond we’ve forged since we turned our backs on the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

Sima Geon let out a weary breath and nodded at Cheol Woo’s question.

“That is a factor, certainly, but the predicament of Sword Ghost Senior only makes the situation more bitter.”

“If it’s causing you this much distress, we should simply go and provide aid.”

Cheol Woo looked frustrated by So Surin’s blunt suggestion.

“Have you no self-respect? The man stated clearly that he didn’t desire our involvement. He didn’t say it in so many words, but the subtext was plain. We are ex-members of the Heavenly Demon Cult, so to him, we should just ‘vanish.’ After being treated like that, how are we supposed to offer help? Even if we showed up, there would be no welcome—only more friction.”

“It isn’t about assisting those people—it’s for the sake of the Ha Hu family. What does pride matter in that context? Keep the perspective simple, Division Leader. If your heart wants to help despite the insults and the potential for mockery, then go. If it doesn’t, then stay here.”

“Who would dare mock us? I’ll personally break the neck of anyone who tries.”

Dang Cheonhwa added his voice with a subtle, sharp edge.

Though he hadn’t spoken impulsively, no one in the group wanted Sima Geon to change his trajectory and head toward the Walless Sky Pavilion more than he did.

Even if the branch leader was a short-sighted fool, he couldn’t bring himself to completely disregard the Walless Sky Pavilion—or the people currently assembled there.

As Sima Geon lapsed into a thoughtful silence, Cheol Woo gave a knowing smirk.

“Don’t lose sleep over it, boss. We decimated the Wind Demon Division. That was the primary strike force the Heavenly Demon Cult intended to use against the Walless Sky Pavilion—and we erased them, so they’ve suffered a massive setback. The auxiliary disciples from the outer sects might fill the ranks, but their effectiveness is gone. Consider this: nearly two hundred elite fighters were neutralized at Cheonri Plain. That’s at least a third or a quarter of their total martial power gone. They won’t topple Walless Sky Pavilion easily without our presence.”

“However, given the momentum they gained from crushing the Golden Sword Sect, it won’t be a simple defense. Particularly since the commander for the Heavenly Demon Cult is rumored to be a top-tier master.”

Manchu gave voice to his lingering anxiety.

“The one referred to as Mok Noe Gang?”

“Precisely.”

“Boss, have you ever encountered a Mok Noe Gang?”

“No.”

“What about the rest of you?”

Noe Jeon and So Surin shook their heads simultaneously.

“The name never came up during our time in the Heavenly Demon Cult. Where could a man like that have originated? To push aside veterans like Sword Demon Dragon or Ghost Soul Fist for such a vital command, he must be someone of immense power.”

Cheol Woo, looking perplexed, suddenly raised his volume.

“Hold on a moment. It’s not just the Wind Demon Division we dealt with. We sent Sword Demon Dragon and Ghost Soul Fist packing—all those major players. There’s no real reason to fret.”

So Surin and Noe Jeon, fully aware of the terrifying reputations and skills of those figures within the Heavenly Demon Cult, nodded in firm agreement with Cheol Woo’s logic.

“Nonetheless, if the thought haunts you, we should act. We still have time—take a moment to decide. On another note, these rats just won’t stop shadowing us. I assumed breaking a few of them would have discouraged the rest.”

“But this particular one is behaving differently. I’ve never encountered a spy who made his presence so blatantly obvious.”

Before Dang Cheonhwa could even finish his sentence, Cheol Woo had lunged outside and returned, dragging a man by the scruff of his neck who had been lingering near the entrance.

He dumped the man onto the floor with a thud, then tilted his head as he observed the groaning intruder.

“What’s this? Why are you in such a state?”

The group understood the moment they saw the man struggle to pull himself up.

His left eye socket was a hollow ruin. The cavity was still weeping pus, the wound far from healed. His left sleeve hung limp and empty. His right leg dragged heavily across the floorboards.

It was a body that had been systematically broken.

“A bit pathetic for a spy…”

Cheol Woo addressed the trembling man.

“State your name.”

“Pyo… Pyo Yeong.”

Pyo Yeong directed his bow toward Sima Geon, ignoring Cheol Woo.

“Have we crossed paths? Your face seems familiar.”

“In Sohung, a while back. You were the only one who allowed me to live, Division Leader.”

“Ah!”

The memory clicked, and Sima Geon’s brow furrowed.

“If I recall correctly, I let you leave with your limbs intact. What on earth happened to you?”

Sima Geon took in the full extent of Pyo Yeong’s injuries.

The man’s face contorted with a deep, visceral pain. He gnawed on his lip until a bead of blood appeared, fighting back a wave of fury.

“You were aware we were staying here?”

“I was.”

“And you have something to tell us.”

“Yes.”

“Hey, take a seat first. I can’t stand watching you wobble like that.”

Cheol Woo awkwardly guided Pyo Yeong into his own chair, feeling a flash of regret for his earlier roughness now that he saw the man’s condition. The rest of the group suppressed their amusement at his sudden change of heart.

“I appreciate it.”

Pyo Yeong thanked Cheol Woo, drained the cup Sima Geon pushed toward him, and began his tale.

“This occurred some time after you spared me. I was finishing up my business in Sohung and preparing to return—when I was suddenly ambushed by an assassination unit from the Dark Fragrance.”

“The Dark Fragrance? You were hunted by your own organization?”

Cheol Woo tried to interrupt, but Sima Geon signaled for him to let the man speak.

“I couldn’t fathom the reason. Those units are only deployed for cases of high treason. I initially thought it was a penalty for the failure at Sohung—but that made no sense; my personal mission was a success. As an operative of the Dark Fragrance, my job was to collect data on your group and scout the terrain. The results of the battle weren’t my burden to carry.”

“Fair enough. So why the execution order?”

Cheol Woo snorted.

“I was in the dark then. I didn’t even care at the time. I barely escaped with my life, sacrificing an eye and an arm—I was just happy to be breathing. But as I recovered, my curiosity turned into an obsession. I began a quiet investigation. Given my state and the fact that I was a marked man, I turned to a comrade I trusted for assistance. That was my undoing. Everyone who helped me is now dead.”

“Did you find the motive?”

“I found fragments. I didn’t see the full picture then, but recent developments allowed me to piece the puzzle together.”

“Go on.”

Sima Geon topped off the man’s drink.

Pyo Yeong downed it, letting out a long, heavy sigh.

“Do you recall the ultimatums and the deal you sent back through us?”

“I do. I promised to kill everyone if my family was targeted again. And I offered to trade Heavenly Demon Pills for the captives from the Divine Demon Division.”

“Correct. I submitted that report exactly as you said it. However, word has reached me that my report was fundamentally different from what the Cult Leader discussed in the high council. There was no mention of the threats, and no mention of the trade offer.”

The air in the room grew heavy. The expressions of the listeners shifted from curiosity to a grim seriousness.

“At first, I thought it was just politics. There’s no need to broadcast a humiliation in a formal meeting. But a sliver of doubt remained. Then, rumors surfaced of Blood Slaughter Cult infiltrators within both our ranks and yours.”

“Ah!”

So Surin let out a sharp breath.

“I began to wonder: Did a mole intercept my report before it reached the Cult Leader? Did they rewrite it?”

“What led you to that suspicion?”

“The Blood Slaughter Cult gains everything if the Heavenly Demon Cult and your group are at each other’s throats.”

“I see.”

Sima Geon let out a low, guttural grunt.

“I also uncovered disturbing news from the Myriad Poison Valley.”

So Surin’s gaze turned lethal at the mention of that place.

“The prisoners from the Divine Demon Division, who were supposed to be sent to the Thunder Prison, were instead diverted there for human experimentation. That information only leaked out a few days ago, and it has thrown the Dark Fragrance into a state of chaos. When I connected the doctored report, the presence of the Blood Slaughter Cult, and the horrors at Myriad Poison Valley—I finally understood why I was marked for death.”

Pyo Yeong let out a hollow, bitter laugh.

“If I disappear, the evidence of the tampered report disappears with me. The people behind this are desperate to prevent any reconciliation between the Heavenly Demon Cult and you—or they are hiding the fact that the prisoners were sent to Myriad Poison Valley. My primary suspects…”

“The Blood Slaughter Cult?”

“Yes.”

Pyo Yeong nodded with conviction, his face finally relaxing after unburdening himself.

“Why bring this to me first? You should be reporting this up your own chain of command.”

Pyo Yeong’s face clouded over at Sima Geon’s question.

“Only the highest levels of the Dark Fragrance can command assassins and alter reports. I made the mistake of trusting the wrong person once—my friends died, and I ended up a cripple. I can’t make a move without knowing exactly who the mole is.”

Sima Geon nodded in understanding, then pressed further.

“Even so, why come to me?”

“I wanted to sabotage whatever the Blood Slaughter Cult is planning. Knowing that they are manipulating your circumstances should be enough for you to act. And don’t worry, I intend to report this properly now.”

“You just said you had to avoid the spies—now you’re going to report it? That makes no sense.”

A ghost of a smile touched Pyo Yeong’s lips as he looked at Cheol Woo.

“The landscape has shifted. A man who is indisputably not a spy has just arrived on the scene.”

“Who is it?”

Pyo Yeong cast a quick glance around the room.

“The Blood Light Martial Emperor, the Supreme Elder.”

“Who…?”

The color drained from the faces of Sima Geon and Cheol Woo.

Pyo Yeong didn’t seem to notice their reaction.

“The command structure here has been overhauled. To ensure the destruction of the Walless Sky Pavilion, the Supreme Elder himself has taken charge. He is currently in the middle of a brutal purge of any Blood Slaughter Cult infiltrators. He hasn’t found them all yet, but he is someone you can trust.”

“This is bad.”

Cheol Woo surged to his feet, his voice rising in alarm.

The faces of So Surin and Noe Jeon turned stone-cold.

“He is powerful, I take it?”

Dang Cheonhwa asked in a low, measured tone.

He could feel the sudden weight of the atmosphere based on his companions’ reactions.

“He is terrifyingly strong. But his strength isn’t the only concern.”

“If it’s not just his power, then what is it?”

“The Eighteen Blade Guests of the Iron Blood Family—they are the Blood Light Martial Emperor’s personal shadows.”

Sima Geon, holding his cup mid-air, looked more somber than he had all night.