Chapter 191

Chapter 191
## Chapter 191: The Cicada Discards Its Shell (2)

“There you are.”

Cheol Woo stepped out from the interior of the vessel and approached Sima Geon. The latter was propped against the wooden railing, his eyes fixed on a moon partially hidden by a veil of dark clouds.

“Care for a drink?”

Cheol Woo gave the bottles in his grasp a light rattle, prompting Sima Geon to reach out and take one.

“Why the somber expression at this time of night?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Thinking about the boy?”

Sima Geon remained silent, simply taking a long pull from the bottle.

“With a mentor like you—someone who’d jump into a fire for his student—watching his back, what’s there to fret over? Besides, that older brother of his is quite the character. Heh heh heh! Though, it’ll be a few days before those marks on his face vanish.”

Cheol Woo let out a rough chuckle, the image of Dokgo Ryong’s battered and bruised face fresh in his mind.

“Was it necessary to be so ruthless with him?”

“He was arrogant. Likely because he’s got such an elite master honing his skills—he’s practically bursting with pride. It’s rare to find anyone his age who can match him, but he needs a firm reminder of what happens when you speak recklessly in the martial world. And did you catch the way that captain was eyeing our little one?”

“I didn’t notice.”

“Grinning like a complete fool, totally entranced. That expression didn’t sit right with me. Heh heh heh!”

“Even so, you probably pushed it too far.”

“I’m aware. Just look—Sima Jin’s pinch still left a bruise here.”

Cheol Woo held out his massive, trunk-like arm. Given the web of old battle scars covering his skin, it was impossible to discern where a simple pinch might have occurred.

“Regardless, we should return soon. We’ll bring Hyeon and Ho with us. Even with the letters we’ve sent, those two must be pining for our return.”

“Yes, we should do that.”

As Sima Geon gave a nod and raised the bottle to his mouth again, the door to the sleeping quarters creaked open. Yawning Thunderclap emerged, followed closely by the looming silhouette of Black Wolf.

“What brings you out?”

Cheol Woo inquired.

“This fellow has been stuck inside for far too long.”

Thunderclap ran a hand over Black Wolf’s head as he answered.

“And the other passengers are getting twitchy.”

Black Wolf gave his fur a vigorous shake, seemingly protesting that the discomfort wasn’t his doing.

Just as it had been a struggle to find a vessel in Sichuan willing to transport Black Wolf, the task proved equally difficult in Wulin. Fortunately, through the influence of the Living Immortal Medical House, they had secured passage on a merchant ship headed for Nanking. To the rest of the crew and passengers, however, Black Wolf was a source of pure dread. Despite the group’s solemn oaths that the beast was under control and harmless, the atmosphere remained tense.

“Smart move. Keep him right here. It’ll put everyone at ease.”

Sima Geon remarked, watching as Black Wolf leaned his weight against his leg.

“That’s the intention.”

“Wait, is there nothing for me to drink…? And why is she lurking out there?”

Cheol Woo squinted at Jin Lim, who was peering out through the narrow gap of the doorway.

“You moron! Referring to a person as ‘that thing’ again?”

Jin Lim shot Cheol Woo a sharp look, then softened her expression as she stepped forward to hand a tray to Sima Geon.

“Sister Su Rin mentioned you were out here on deck, Young Master Sima.”

“What is all this?”

“Some late-night food. I figured everyone was feeling hungry, so I threw together a few simple dishes. It turned out to be a bit more than I expected. My cooking isn’t much to brag about, but please, have some.”

“Ha ha! Don’t say that.”

Sima Geon gave a soft laugh. Over the course of their journey, he had come to realize that Jin Lim was actually a very talented cook.

“Snacks at this hour?”

“Dunderhead, that’s exactly why they’re called midnight snacks—because the sun is down.”

After snapping at Cheol Woo, Jin Lim took a bottle from the woman trailing behind her.

“Food alone felt incomplete, so I brought this along as well.”

“Oh, spirits! What did you find…? Jian Nan Chun!”

Recognizing the prestigious Sichuan liquor, Cheol Woo’s hand shot out automatically.

Jin Lim delivered a sharp slap to the back of his hand.

“Get your grubby paws away. This isn’t intended for you, so don’t even dream about it.”

She set the bottle firmly on the tray and turned back to Sima Geon.

“The branch leader sent this over, thinking you might be feeling unsettled about your brother. He remembered that this specific brand was a favorite of the Tang Clan.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Sima Geon nodded, looking slightly embarrassed.

“Please convey my gratitude to Leader Neung.”

“I will. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Cheol Woo beamed a wide, mischievous smile and trailed after Jin Lim as she turned to walk away.

“Is that really the only bottle?”

“What are you implying?”

“You know I’m out here, yet you only bring that tiny bit? Come on, I know you have more stashed away.”

Cheol Woo coaxed her shamelessly.

“No.”

“I bet there is.”

“I said no.”

“I’m certain of it.”

“……”

Jin Lim let out a heavy sigh and fixed him with a fierce stare.

“Say ‘that thing’ one more time!”

“Ah, my apologies. It was a slip of the tongue.”

“……”

“Honestly.”

After maintaining her glare for a long beat, Jin Lim finally produced a hidden bottle from her person.

“Address me like that again and see what happens.”

“It was an accident.”

Cheol Woo grabbed the bottle with a look of pure delight and started to turn away, but Jin Lim caught his sleeve with a gentle tug.

“This is significantly more potent than the stuff you drank with the Tang Clan. Be sure to eat something while you’re at it.”

“What? High-quality booze like this should be taken neat. That’s the mark of a real drinker.”

Cheol Woo struck his chest with pride and marched off. A faint, weary sigh left Jin Lim’s lips.

“Moron.”

—

“Kugh!”

With a strangled cry, Pung Yang, a former elder of the Mount Hua Sect, collapsed into the dirt.

His once-pristine robes were reduced to bloodied rags, and his silver beard was stained crimson.

As he lay dying, Pung Yang’s eyes wandered instinctively toward the opening of the Lotus Flower Cave. In his fading state, his only thought was for the safety of the young disciples trembling inside—yet he failed to realize that his concern was a beacon for his murderers.

“It seems a few vermin have gone to ground.”

Wol Ju, the Red Sand Hall Leader, his head wrapped in the scarlet cloth of his organization, let out a chilling sneer as he began walking toward the cavern.

The conflict that had erupted at midday had stretched long into the dark hours. Standing atop Lotus Peak—the West Peak—which provided a commanding view of the world below, Palace Lord Um Jeok So called out to his subordinate.

“Wol Ju.”

“Yes, Palace Lord?”

“Leave them be.”

“But…”

“We require a few survivors to witness and recount the tale of how the Mount Hua Sect fell.”

“As you wish.”

Wol Ju stepped back with a respectful bow.

Um Jeok So took a moment to appreciate the tranquil moonlight and the density of the stars, which looked as though they might fall from the sky. Before departing the peak, he flicked a small stone toward the entrance of the Lotus Flower Cave.

A sharp, panicked sound echoed from within for a second before falling into a dead silence.

“Listen up, brats! This elder brother’s name is Um Jeok So. If anyone asks who did this, that’s the name you give them. Kahahaha!”

With a manic laugh, Um Jeok So turned his back on the cave and began his descent.

When he reached the Golden Chain Pass, the junction where the West, East, and South Peaks met, his followers had already gathered, having finished their respective slaughters.

“What took you so long, Palace Lord?”

Ma Uk asked while letting out a wide yawn.

“I didn’t expect it to drag on this long; I was starting to get concerned.”

Um Jeok So glanced back at the dark silhouette of Lotus Peak before responding to Left Sword’s comment.

“The scenery from the West Peak was simply too magnificent to leave.”

“I can relate. It was the same for me.”

Left Sword, who had led the charge on the South Peak—Falling Goose Peak—nodded in agreement.

“Is that so? It was impressive enough, I suppose, but I had no desire to linger.”

Ma Uk, who had cleared out the shrines and temples on the East Peak—Morning Sun Peak—looked unconvinced.

“In any case, we should move. The strategist is likely waiting with bated breath.”

Ma Uk took point, increasing his speed.

They moved toward Jade Heaven Garden, checking every shrine along the path to ensure not even an insect remained alive. The members of the Iron Blood Palace who were stationed there stood ready to welcome Um Jeok So upon his arrival.

Entering the brightly illuminated Jade Heaven Garden, Jong Yo stepped forward and offered a deep, formal bow.

“I offer my congratulations on your grand success, Palace Lord.”

Um Jeok So smirked and gave a casual wave of his hand. Immediately, the area erupted into thunderous cheers of triumph.

The victory cries rolled through the mountains like thunder.

Waiting for the noise to subside slightly, Jong Yo moved closer to Um Jeok So.

“Please, enter. We have organized a modest banquet to celebrate this historic victory.”

Um Jeok So nodded and signaled with his hand. The shouting ceased instantly.

“Our strategist has prepared a feast for us. Everyone, let us eat.”

“Waaah!”

Another deafening roar rippled across the slopes of Mount Hua.

By the time Um Jeok So had finished carousing with his men and sat down with Jong Yo again, the first hints of dawn were appearing.

“Damn it all, how can a mountain full of Taoists be completely devoid of alcohol?”

Um Jeok So began complaining the second he hit his seat.

The celebration with his subordinates had been lively, but the lack of liquor clearly soured his mood.

“I offer my sincerest apologies. I dispatched men to find some, but the nearest town with a supplier is too distant, and the local farms had nothing but water.”

“Forget it. I’m not laying the blame on you. What about the food? Did we take it from the peasants?”

“We hunted for it.”

“Well done. No booze usually means no meat either, right? It’s a relief we caught something, or we’d be eating grass like the monks. I wonder if the Zhongnan Sect is this miserable.”

Jong Yo observed Um Jeok So’s face carefully before answering.

“The Zhongnan Sect is a different matter entirely.”

“Different? Aren’t they the same brand of Taoists?”

“Technically, yes, but they are far more integrated with the mundane world. While Mount Hua disciples might indulge in meat and drink when they travel, it is strictly forbidden on their home soil. Zhongnan, however, doesn’t seem to care much for such restrictions.”

“You’re joking.”

“……”

“Are you serious?”

“I am.”

“Blast it, I should have led the raid on the Zhongnan Sect. No wonder those old bastards went there without a single complaint.”

The Iron Blood Palace had split its strength to strike both Zhongnan and Mount Hua simultaneously. Um Jeok So felt a surge of annoyance remembering how eager the elders had been for the Zhongnan assignment.

“They must be having a real celebration, unlike us.”

It never even crossed Um Jeok So’s mind that the other group might fail. He acknowledged that Zhongnan—as one of the Nine Great Sects—was formidable, but the force Iron Blood Palace sent was too massive to be repelled.

“It likely wasn’t as simple a victory as you might imagine. Unlike Mount Hua, which sent more than half its strength to aid Shaolin, Zhongnan kept a larger portion of its power at home.”

“That is exactly why we sent the bulk of our army there. If they can’t win with those numbers, they don’t deserve to live.”

“The raid was successful, certainly. There were just more losses than we sustained here.”

“They weren’t going to roll over, so that’s expected. What’s the tally on our side?”

“Exactly twenty-nine confirmed dead.”

“That many?”

Um Jeok So asked, his eyebrows rising.

This was the Mount Hua Sect. Even with their ranks thinned by reinforcements to Shaolin, taking down such a legendary sect with fewer than thirty casualties was an incredible feat.

However, Um Jeok So’s surprise came from a different place.

He hadn’t stayed in the rear during the Huashan assault.

When they hit Jade Heaven Garden to execute the sect leader, or when they engaged the elders—the true heart of Huashan—he had been at the forefront. He had personally neutralized the most dangerous opponents.

“The deaths occurred among the units clearing the smaller, outlying temples. It seems there were a few hidden masters we didn’t account for.”

“It’s unavoidable. That old man on Lotus Peak would have killed several of our men if I hadn’t stepped in. It was probably the same elsewhere.”

Um Jeok So gave a slow nod, acknowledging that Pung Yang had been a cut above the rest.

“Oh, by the way—has there been any word from the Blood Cult?”

“It’s too early for a response. Our messenger likely hasn’t even reached their high command yet.”

“I see.”

“Yes. We moved with great speed. We could have waited to see how the wind blew first.”

Jong Yo let out a small sigh.

“Who can say? We’ve come this far; I had no interest in stalling. We’ll wait. Once they get confirmation that Huashan has been pulverized, they’ll take our proposal for an alliance more seriously.”

He spoke with an air of indifference, showing no sign of second-guessing his choices.

“On that note—is there any news regarding the Divine Demon Division Leader?”

“We’ve confirmed they are traveling back from the Tang Clan, but we still lack a precise location.”

“Hmph. It doesn’t matter. The news will reach them soon enough. I’m curious to see if they’ll come looking for me again.”

His gaze turned icy, fueled by the absolute certainty that a confrontation was inevitable.