The Demonic Supreme Sword Novel - Chapter 63

Chapter 63
Yeongho Jung sat in a heavy silence, his eyes shut tight as he drummed a steady, rhythmic beat against the wooden table with his fingertips. Beside him, Jwa Gong felt a cold sweat break across his brow, the moisture trailing down his face.

‘What could have happened?’

It had been nearly an hour since he was summoned, yet his master had remained mute, offering nothing but that relentless tapping. It was obvious that something had ignited his ire, but Jwa Gong remained entirely in the dark.

The drumming ceased. Yeongho Jung’s eyelids slowly lifted.

“Deputy Leader.”

“I am here, my lord.”

Jwa Gong gulped, lowering his head in a posture of extreme caution.

“That subordinate you dispatched to Shao Xing. Yong Jung, was it?”

“Yes… that is correct.”

“I seem to recall you praising him as a man of talent. Someone you relied upon.”

“He is, my lord. Did he perhaps commit some blunder…?”

Jwa Gong spoke tentatively, searching Yeongho Jung’s face for any sign of the storm brewing beneath.

“Tsk. Pitiful. To think you keep such a man as a confidant—it is a disappointment. Or perhaps the fault lies with me for keeping a deputy leader who employs such fools. Am I the one who is lacking?”

When Yeongho Jung let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh, Jwa Gong’s legs gave out. The specifics no longer mattered. He collapsed to his knees, his forehead striking the floor with a dull thud.

“I beg for your mercy!”

The room fell silent again, save for the sound of Jwa Gong’s head repeatedly hitting the boards as he pleaded for leniency. His skin split, and a crimson stain began to spread across the floor where he knelt.

“The Ha Hu Clan.”

The words finally stopped Jwa Gong’s desperate movements.

“The Sword Fiend of the Ha Hu Clan is currently in Shao Xing. Were you aware?”

Jwa Gong’s eyes widened, his face turning pale.

“You were not. Even the Flying Wing Unit Leader was stunned when Brother mentioned it so casually. If he was oblivious, there is no reason you would have known. And yet, both you and I should have been informed. Why do you think we weren’t?”

Jwa Gong’s thoughts began to spin at a frantic pace.

‘If the Sword Fiend’s presence in Shao Xing was public knowledge, Yong Jung would have reported it. Since he didn’t, the Sword Fiend must be operating in total secrecy. But why does the lord believe Yong Jung should have seen through the mask? And does the Sword Fiend’s location truly warrant this level of fury? There is no direct link between the Sword Fiend, the Ha Hu Clan, and…’

His internal monologue hit a wall of realization.

“Could he be associated with those individuals?”

“That crazed veteran from the Ha Hu Clan is currently laboring at their butcher shop.”

Jwa Gong’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

He searched his memory. A report had indeed mentioned that the target group had briefly departed, leaving the shop in the care of an elderly man who handled the butchery.

He had ignored it as an insignificance—just some fortunate old soul eking out a few more days before the Blood Forest arrived to end the matter.

The mention of the Blood Forest made Jwa Gong’s heart race.

Shortly after that report, the Blood Forest had sent word that they were withdrawing from the contract.

At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it. Rumors claimed the Eight Winged Sword, already crippled by a previous strike, had finally succumbed to his wounds, and the assassin responsible had fled to recover.

The Blood Forest’s reasoning—that they couldn’t balance two high-stakes jobs while their best man was wounded—had made him sneer, thinking their legendary status was a farce. Even Yeongho Jung, who usually loathed failure, hadn’t pressed them since they offered to return ten times the initial payment.

“So the Blood Forest backed out because of the Sword Fiend?”

“Is that not the question I should be putting to you?”

“I… I am deeply sorry.”

Yeongho Jung fixed Jwa Gong with a freezing stare, sighing heavily.

“Likely so. They have no desire to trade blows with the Sword Fiend over a few nobodies at a butcher shop. Ha! They must have been rattled—expecting easy prey and finding that old monster standing guard instead.”

In spite of his anger, Yeongho Jung chuckled at the sheer absurdity of the situation.

Jwa Gong, however, found no humor in it. Regardless of the circumstances, Yong Jung’s failure to identify the Sword Fiend while standing right in front of him was a catastrophic oversight. Even if he didn’t know the man’s face, a warrior of his level should have felt the pressure of his aura. As a veteran of the Flying Wing Unit and Jwa Gong’s most trusted hand, it was an inexcusable lapse.

“However, it was not a complete waste.”

Jwa Gong looked up, his expression one of confusion.

“Brother possessed knowledge that even the Flying Wing Leader lacked. It suggests the intelligence web he has spun—the one managed by the Hidden Dragon Unit—is far more formidable than we imagined. Even if it is built on the backs of street urchins. Losing the Black Ox Squad is a wound that goes deep.”

After a weary exhale, Yeongho Jung asked in an offhand manner,

“Tell me, is that fellow Yong Jung still monitoring the butcher shop?”

“He is.”

“Recall him. There is no point in leaving a blind man there any longer. He might irritate the Sword Fiend and spark a conflict we don’t need. Not that it changes much—our hand is already revealed.”

“But shouldn’t we investigate their connection to him? Confirm why they are staying there. Perhaps…”

“Perhaps what? That they aren’t just common thugs? It’s possible. The destruction of the Black Ox Squad might have been their doing rather than Brother’s. Warriors of that level wouldn’t be spotted by a commoner like Yong Jung. But what does it change? What is the use now?”

“My lord?”

Jwa Gong blinked, struggling to follow the logic.

“The Black Ox Squad, the men who were truly mine, are gone. Brother’s influence grows by the hour while my own support is being trimmed away. Even if I strip away his mask now, what move is left to me? From the very beginning, the Celestial Pure Jade Milk belonged to him. It was my own avarice that brought us to this point.”

Yeongho Jung offered a pained smile and made a dismissive gesture, looking suddenly exhausted.

“Just bring him back. There is no need for that poor fool to die for nothing.”

“As you command.”

Jwa Gong lowered his head, his voice hollow as he accepted the decree.

—

“Ha! What am I supposed to do now?”

Namgung Kyung sat within the Yellow Crane Tower, nursing a drink while deep sighs escaped his lips.

He finished his cup and turned his gaze to the window. Outside, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the old roofs of the Living Immortal Medical House were visible—sturdy and humble rather than grand.

“Just how far are they willing to take this gamble?”

Namgung Kyung’s eyes were filled with exasperation as he looked toward the medical estate.

Namgung Hak, who sat across from him focusing on his meal, spoke up softly.

“The Heavenly Demon Cult has set the limit at tomorrow. Surely even the Living Immortal Medical House will have to give in by then?”

“If it were that simple, I wouldn’t be sitting here in agony. They are completely immovable. They’ve closed all doors and stopped listening. All they say is that they are ‘considering the matter’ and that we must wait.”

Namgung Kyung thought back to his morning attempt at diplomacy, where he had barely managed to keep his temper, and poured himself another stiff drink.

“Tsk tsk. From the look of you, it went exactly as I expected. I told you your words would be wasted.”

Namgung Kyung glared at the newcomer.

“If you’ve come just to mock me, move along. I’m already at my breaking point.”

The elderly man sat down without being asked. He was a former dignitary of the Beggar Clan and one of the Murim Three Freaks, known as the Wandering Liquor Freak. He reached for the cup in front of Namgung Hak and let out a dry laugh.

“I understand your pain. I went through the same thing yesterday.”

“You also paid a visit to the Living Immortal Medical House, Senior?”

“I did. And I left feeling like my head was going to explode. I almost considered burning the place to the ground. But since it’s the Living Immortal Medical House, I stayed my hand.”

It sounded like a jest, but Namgung Kyung didn’t smile. Even if he had grown more relaxed with age, the Wandering Liquor Freak was a man capable of following through on such a threat.

“I cannot fathom why they are being so difficult. They should just surrender the man and be done with it.”

“So you believe they should fold as well.”

“Is that not the most logical path?”

“Oh, it’s the right choice, certainly. The Living Immortal Medical House claims they can’t turn over a patient who can barely stand just to be executed. It’s a farce, really—they’re just saying they’ll wait until he’s healthy before they let him be killed. It leads to the same grave. But that stubborn adherence to their code is why they are respected.”

“The trouble is that the Heavenly Demon Cult has the moral high ground here. They’ve shown a surprising amount of restraint.”

“Returning the stolen artifacts to the various clans was a brilliant move.”

“It caught me off guard, I’ll admit. Giving back those treasures with no strings attached.”

“If they had demanded something in return regarding the Living Immortal Medical House, there would have been an outcry. But they returned the items before the fugitive even arrived at the medical house. Now everyone is just watching in silence. I hear several sects have already received their property.”

The Wandering Liquor Freak idly spun his empty cup, and Namgung Hak immediately stepped in to fill it.

“They say the Namgung Clan has a hidden genius waiting for his moment. I see it must be you.”

“You flatter me, Elder.”

Namgung Hak gave a respectful bow.

“What is your plan then, Senior? Will you simply observe?”

The Wandering Liquor Freak laughed bitterly at Namgung Kyung’s inquiry.

“The Chief and those thick-headed elders have decided to stay out of it, but I find I cannot.”

“Are you sure? We have to weigh the Murim Alliance’s view and Mount Hua’s stance. Even the Blue Cloud Sword has yet to return.”

“What does any of that matter? We owe a massive debt to the Living Immortal Medical House. Others might turn their backs, but the Beggar Clan cannot. It’s a disgrace!”

The Wandering Liquor Freak growled in anger, drinking several cups in quick succession to vent his frustration. His expression softened slightly as he asked,

“And what of your people? What is the Namgung Clan’s move? I heard the Peng Clan still hasn’t seen their Wave Subduing Technique returned.”

“The clan had a heated debate, but in the end, they reached the same conclusion as the Beggar Clan.”

“Of course. The old fools in your family and the idiots in mine are cut from the same cloth. So how did you get here? It’s harder for you to act against your family’s wishes than it is for me.”

“The Patriarch made it clear: we cannot intervene officially, but he won’t stop individual actions. Then he gave me this assignment on the side.”

“Unofficial, eh? He gave the elders a public nod while giving them a private slap. That sounds like him. Now that I think about it, the Sword Fiend title belongs to that youngster now, doesn’t it? Not the old man from the Ha Hu Clan.”

The Wandering Liquor Freak grinned and tapped the table.

“We won’t jump in directly. We can’t. I didn’t bring enough men, and honestly, the Heavenly Demon Cult’s forces here are stronger than what I or my disciples can handle. Besides, those old monsters of theirs arrived a few days back.”

“I heard. It sickens me to see them walking freely. But I’m in the same boat. With them holding the justification, we can only do so much. We can only try to minimize the damage to the Living Immortal Medical House. If luck is on our side.”

“We will make it happen.”

“There is one small hope: the atmosphere at the Living Immortal Medical House is shifting.”

“Is it? I didn’t notice anything during my visit.”

Namgung Kyung’s eyes lit up.

“Tradition is important, but they are risking the lives of innocents. It’s not just their own people; the patients are in danger too. And there are some strange rumors starting to spread.”

“Rumors?”

“That the Living Immortal Medical House isn’t protecting the man out of principle, but out of greed.”

Namgung Kyung looked perplexed.

“They say the relic the fugitive took from the Heavenly Demon Cult belongs to the cult leader himself. That it might contain his secret techniques. And that the Living Immortal Medical House wants it for themselves. You haven’t heard this?”

“I heard it, but I thought it was garbage. Who would actually fall for that?”

“That’s the issue—people do. Doubt turns into a ‘truth’ very quickly. Half the people gathered here are just waiting to see if the rumor is true.”

“Hmph! And if it is? Do they plan to steal it?”

Namgung Kyung scoffed at the idea, insisting he wouldn’t believe it even if it were proven—but the look on the Wandering Liquor Freak’s face was grave.

“Greed doesn’t care about logic. Have you forgotten? How many wars have been fought in the murim over a single book or a rusted blade?”

“……”

Namgung Kyung remained silent, unable to argue against the countless historical examples.

“What’s left to do? We just have to hope those stubborn people finally make a sensible choice.”

But both men knew the chance was slim as the Wandering Liquor Freak raised his cup, and Namgung Kyung followed suit.