Chapter 32

Chapter 32
Chapter: 32

Chapter Title: Ha Hou Clan (1)

—

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

The ground shuddered under the weight of nearly three hundred head of cattle, sheep, and swine moving as a single mass.

Sima Ho, who had been assigned the task of overseeing the ranch, scurried around shouting frantic directions, though his commands were utterly swallowed by the thunderous lowing and grunting of the animals.

Sima Hyeon walked up to Sima Geon, who was leaning against the perimeter fence with a look of quiet satisfaction, and spoke in a low, questioning voice.

“Are you really going to keep me in the dark?”

“About what?”

“That sudden windfall of gold.”

“I’ve already explained it. An old comrade from my days as a mercenary finally settled a debt he owed me.”

“So you say. But no matter how much I turn it over in my mind, the math just doesn’t work out.”

Sima Hyeon shook his head, looking deeply troubled.

They had practically worn the soles off their boots trying to secure enough funds for the livestock, visiting every contact they knew, yet they had come up empty-handed. Now, not only had they secured the herd, but they had purchased Old Man So’s entire ranch—and paid a significant premium to boot. The scale of it left him speechless.

“Just how much did you lend this person for him to return enough to buy all these beasts and this land?”

Sima Hyeon pressed, his curiosity reaching a breaking point. Cheol Woo stepped in then, sliding a heavy arm across the man’s shoulders.

“The coin is one thing, but it was really a matter of life and death. That fellow… well, he’s made quite a name for himself lately, so don’t lose sleep over it. To be honest, no pile of silver can truly compare to a life debt.”

“Ah!”

The mention of a “life debt” caused Sima Hyeon to let out a small gasp of realization.

Cheol Woo had a point. All the wealth in the world meant nothing if a person wasn’t alive to spend it.

“Does it make sense now?”

Sima Hyeon nodded, a wide grin breaking across his face as if a fog had finally lifted.

“What’s the word on the workers from the previous ranch? It might be a lot for that lad to handle alone.”

Sima Geon inquired.

“I was just coming to that. The majority are staying on, but a handful seem intent on moving on.”

“That might leave us shorthanded.”

“Likely. They aren’t many, but they are all veterans of the trade, so their absence will be felt.”

“We’ll observe for a while. We have one person who is desperate to prove himself. He asked for our confidence, so we should give it to him. If the burden becomes too heavy, he’ll let us know.”

Sima Geon chuckled, gesturing toward the energetic Sima Ho who was still racing about.

“Fair enough. We’ll keep an eye on things as you suggest. For the time being, at least.”

While Sima Geon offered his total trust, Sima Hyeon’s expression remained clouded with skepticism—he had spent far too many years fixing the messes Sima Ho left in his wake.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Good heavens! What a chaotic state of affairs.”

The middle-aged Ha Hou Guang, who served as the vice chief steward of the Ha Hou Clan, clicked his tongue in clear disappointment.

Sima Jin, who was presiding over the butcher shop, could manage nothing more than a sheepish grin in response to the man’s blunt assessment.

“In that case, who is actually managing this establishment?”

“My elder brothers.”

“I see.”

Ha Hou Guang nodded, though he didn’t look particularly convinced.

Judging by the girl’s youthful appearance, these “brothers” were likely just inexperienced youngsters. They required a butcher with the skill and precision of old So Hang, if not someone even more refined—a true master of the craft.

“This is a problem. What’s the best course of action here?”

Completely overlooking Sima Jin’s presence, Ha Hou Guang let out a series of heavy sighs.

Just as he was preparing to leave in frustration, Sima Geon, Sima Hyeon, and Cheol Woo returned from their ranch inspection, deep in conversation.

“Oof! My apologies.”

Ha Hou Guang stammered out an apology after accidentally walking right into Cheol Woo’s massive chest.

“Ha! No harm done at all.”

Cheol Woo brushed it off with a booming, friendly laugh.

“Forgive us. It seems we didn’t have what you were searching for,” Sima Geon remarked politely, noting that the man was leaving empty-handed.

“Actually, I wasn’t here to purchase meat.”

“Not for meat?”

Sima Geon’s eyes shifted past Ha Hou Guang to look at Sima Jin.

“He represents the Ha Hou Clan. He’s looking to commission a butcher.”

Upon hearing Sima Jin’s explanation, Sima Geon and Cheol Woo traded a quick look as the situation became clear.

“Are you perhaps looking for the late Mr. So?”

Ha Hou Guang nodded sadly at Sima Hyeon’s query.

“Yes. Every year at this time, we place an order for beef jerky for the clan’s grand banquet and hire the old gentleman. It’s been a tradition for over twenty years. I had no idea he had passed away.”

Replacing a master for the banquet was a logistical nightmare, but the loss of So Hang after two decades of partnership was a heavy emotional blow.

“I assume this is for the patriarch’s seventieth birthday celebration,” Sima Geon said with great respect.

“It is, but I’m at a loss for what to do now.”

“Mr. So spoke of this before his passing. He instructed us that if anyone from the Ha Hou Clan arrived, we were to assist them in any way possible.”

“Truly?”

Ha Hou Guang’s expression instantly brightened.

“Yes. Please wait a moment.”

Following Sima Geon’s signal, Cheol Woo went into the back of the shop and returned with a paper envelope.

“He left this specifically to be shown to a representative of the Ha Hou Clan.”

“Let me see.”

Ha Hou Guang took the letter and read through it rapidly.

The message was clear: The individuals taking over his business were his hand-picked heirs, possessing talent equal to his own—they were more than capable of handling the clan’s needs.

‘If their proficiency is truly that high, it solves everything.’

Tucking the letter away, Ha Hou Guang took a moment to study the group.

The rugged, bandit-like Cheol Woo and the somewhat nervous Sima Hyeon didn’t immediately impress him, but Sima Geon held his gaze with a steady, reliable intensity. His aura and focus reminded him very much of the late So.

“We host a birthday gala every year, but this one is on a much grander scale. The amount of food and meat required will be staggering. Are you certain you can handle it?”

“We will give you our absolute best.”

It was a standard promise, but coming from Sima Geon, the words carried a weight of sincerity.

“The celebration falls on the full moon in two weeks. Ensure you are not late.”

“Rest assured. Is there any specific equipment we should prepare?”

Ha Hou Guang paused to consider, then shook his head.

“The animals for slaughter are already on-site. The location is prepared as well. We provide all necessary tools, though you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.”

“Understood. We shall do exactly that.”

“I will see you then.”

With a short, formal bow, Ha Hou Guang took his leave.

“Safe travels to you.”

Sima Geon smiled, returning the bow with polite grace.

Cheol Woo let out a celebratory shout, pumping his fists in the air, while Sima Hyeon gripped his own hands tight in a silent gesture of victory.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Argh!”

A final, agonizing shriek rang out as the doors were splintered into pieces.

Gwan Hyo bit down on his lip until it bled as he watched Yul Sarim collapse into a bloody, motionless heap. He had anticipated a struggle, but seeing the leader of the Sky Guard Unit—their final line of defense—fall so decisively left him in a state of shock.

A figure emerged slowly from the dust and debris.

Standing well over six feet tall, the man possessed eyes as fierce as a predator’s, a sharp, high nose, and a jawline that looked as if it were carved from stone.

He strolled into the room with an air of leisure, clicking his tongue as he looked down at the broken form of Yul Sarim.

“Tsk, tsk. If you had just stepped aside when I asked, it wouldn’t have ended this way, would it? You really shouldn’t make me feel so guilty.”

His tone, however, was completely devoid of any real regret.

“You animal! Do you have any idea whose halls you are standing in?!”

Gwan Pae stepped in front of Gwan Hyo, his voice a thunderous roar.

The intruder looked at him with genuine pity.

“I’ve always suspected it, but you truly are incapable of reading a situation.”

“What did you say?!”

“Still haven’t figured it out? This isn’t the time for empty threats—you should be worrying about whether your head stays on your shoulders.”

“Hold your tongue! You fatherless—” “Gack!”

Gwan Pae’s insult was cut short as he was slammed into the ground by an invisible force.

“Fatherless? That’s a bit uncalled for. Regardless of what the clan whispers, the Heavens know I carry my father’s blood. The Divine Demon Clan was my birthright. It wasn’t meant to be stolen from a young nephew by a conniving uncle. Am I wrong, Uncle?”

Gwan Woong flashed a predatory, white-toothed grin at Gwan Hyo.

“I have nothing to say to you. No matter what I say, you’ll just dismiss it as an excuse.”

Gwan Woong let out a booming laugh, nodding in agreement.

“Hahaha! As expected of my Uncle—you’re certainly no simpleton like this one. You have a very sharp grasp of the current reality.”

“There is one thing I wish to know, however.”

“Ask away.”

“How? I may be an aging tiger, but I am not so weak that I should fall in the blink of an eye. Why did they turn against me?”

Gwan Hyo waved a hand toward the warriors gathered in the courtyard outside.

He had only discovered the internal coup half a day ago.

In that short window, before he could even begin to organize a defense, his most loyal followers had been butchered.

Most devastating of all were the betrayals by the All-Demon Division and the Loyal Demon Division—the primary pillars of the cult’s power. The idea that the elders would defect was a nightmare he hadn’t thought possible.

“It’s quite simple. The leaders of the All-Demon and Loyal Demon Divisions have been under my command for years. A decade, perhaps?”

Gwan Woong glanced over his shoulder.

“That is correct, Lord Leader.”

A man stepped into the room and bowed low. It was Blood Flame Blade Do Cheok, the commander of the All-Demon Division—his garments were drenched in blood, suggesting a violent path to the throne room.

“Do Cheok! You treacherous snake!”

Gwan Pae radiated a wave of pure killing intent toward the man.

His glare was sharp enough to cut, but Do Cheok merely offered a cold, unimpressed smirk. Gwan Hyo spoke again, his voice thick with bitterness.

“And what of the elders? How did you bring them to heel?”

Gwan Woong sneered.

“That’s a common misconception—they were never truly yours to begin with. At least a third of them were loyal to me from the start, a gift from my father’s era. As for the rest, I had a bit of help from an old acquaintance of yours to keep them in line.”

As the words left his mouth, an elder dragged a limp figure into the room.

Recognizing his second son, Gwan Jong, hanging lifelessly in the elder’s grip, Gwan Hyo let out a pained cry.

“Jong-ah!”

The elder threw Gwan Jong onto the floor like a sack of grain, his lip curling in a sneer.

“He’s still breathing—stop your whining.”

Now that the elder was in the light, Gwan Hyo stared at him in utter horror.

“You… how can this be?!”

His voice trembled with a mix of fear and disbelief.

“Quite a shock, isn’t it? Well, after that absolute humiliation, I suppose I can’t blame your reaction.”

The elder spoke with a voice dripping with poison, his eyes burning with a dark light.

“Did you think it would end there? You clearly didn’t know me at all.”

A murderous aura erupted from the North Heaven Sword Demon.

“I refuse to embrace death until I have settled the debt I owe him. Not even the gates of hell will claim me before then.”

The North Heaven Sword Demon, fueled by the shame of his crushing loss to Sima Geon, radiated a chill that felt like the grave.

Gwan Woong, the man responsible for saving the crippled, dying North Heaven Sword Demon and restoring his power, simply stood by with a satisfied smirk.