The Demonic Supreme Sword Novel - Chapter 79

Chapter 79
## Chapter 79: A Tooth for a Tooth, An Eye for an Eye (3)

“People call me Juyu the Wanderer. Does that name ring a bell?”

The traveler posed the question directly to Sima Geon.

“It does. I caught sight of you once at the Living Immortal Medical House. The master there spoke of you frequently.”

“Ho, ho. Is that so? And what exactly did my old comrade have to say about me?”

“That you are a person of great importance within the Beggars’ Sect.”

“Nothing else?”

Juyu the Wanderer pressed further, his expression flickering between a sense of letdown and a tiny spark of expectation.

“He said you have a terrible temper and are an absolute nuisance to deal with.”

Cheol Woo spoke up bluntly before Sima Geon could answer, causing Juyu the Wanderer’s features to twist in annoyance.

“Bah! If anyone is a foul-tempered nuisance, it is that old fool.”

Juyu the Wanderer looked toward Ha Hu Song, hoping for some support, but the man simply shifted his gaze away. The wanderer let out a frustrated huff.

“Typical. Family loyalty above all, I suppose. Regardless, would you mind explaining what is happening here? I am aware the Shadow Moon Sect walks a gray path, but they are not known for causing significant grief to the innocent.”

The tone of his inquiry was uncharacteristically cautious, lacking his usual bravado. This shift in energy left Mo Wook and the surrounding Beggars’ Sect members completely baffled. However, Ha Hu Song, Ha Hu Yeon, and even Ha Hu Je—who had felt Cheol Woo’s power firsthand—found the elder’s hesitation entirely appropriate.

“You are misinformed. They didn’t hesitate to crush others if it helped their bottom line.”

Sima Geon cast a disdainful look at Ma Yang. When he spoke again, his voice was low, vibrating with a rage that seemed ready to shatter his composure.

“The Shadow Moon Sect took a contract from the commander of the eighteen mountain bandit strongholds. This man holds a deep-seated vendetta against me. Using the Hongik Hall as their tool, they kidnapped my younger brother. Furthermore, they played the Ha Hu Clan for fools during the process.”

The warriors of the Ha Hu Clan were stunned to hear their house mentioned, but the sharp-minded Ha Hu Yeon put the pieces together instantly.

“The stories! Are you saying the Shadow Moon Sect started those lies?”

“Precisely. They circulated those reports to draw you away, old man. They assumed you’d only complicate things if you remained present.”

A sharp profanity escaped Ha Hu Yeon’s lips as she processed Cheol Woo’s explanation.

“Those absolute lunatics!”

Sima Geon raised a hand to steady Ha Hu Yeon, who looked ready to tear Ma Yang apart. He then turned to Juyu the Wanderer, offering a grimace of a smile.

“Are you aware of the Hongik Hall’s actions in Soheung while they were en route to take my brother?”

“I am not.”

“They descended upon the Clear Heart Clinic. They murdered every doctor and patient on the premises. More than a hundred souls were extinguished.”

“The Clear Heart Clinic!”

Juyu the Wanderer’s eyes widened in horror. The name was very familiar to him. He turned sharply toward Mo Wook.

“Is there any truth to this? Did the Clear Heart Clinic face such a massacre?”

“Sir, we haven’t been able to verify the details personally, but those are indeed the reports coming in.”

“I see.”

Juyu the Wanderer let out a pained sound from deep in his chest. He turned his attention toward the broken figure of Ma Yang.

“Is the testimony of this man accurate?”

“……”

“Did the Shadow Moon Sect fabricate the rumors regarding the death of the Ha Hu Clan’s patriarch?”

Ma Yang remained silent even under Ha Hu Song’s interrogation.

“Keep your mouth shut if you like. You’ve seen what we can do; there are plenty of ways to make you scream the truth.”

As Cheol Woo moved menacingly toward the remaining members of the Shadow Moon Sect, cries of pure terror broke out among the survivors.

“Yes! Yes, every word is the truth!”

Ma Yang squeezed his eyes shut and hung his head, finally confessing to the sect’s transgressions.

“Ha! Simply incredible!”

Juyu the Wanderer shook his head, laughing in sheer disbelief at the audacity of it all.

“I never imagined the Shadow Moon Sect would have the nerve to mock the Ha Hu Clan in such a way. And here I was, asking you to find the source of the lies. How utterly pathetic.”

Ma Yang trembled at the freezing tone in Ha Hu Song’s voice. By crossing the Ha Hu Clan—one of the prestigious Five Great Clans—he had invited a doom he couldn’t even fathom.

But the anger didn’t stop with the Great Clan.

“You committed these atrocities and then had the gall to ask for our protection?”

Mo Wook’s fury was palpable. He had broken his own leg leading his men to help these criminals. Every one of his disciples who had fought Sima Geon was wounded. It was clear their opponents had held back, or the floor would be stained with the blood of the Beggars’ Sect.

“We completely misjudged the situation. I offer my sincerest apologies.”

Mo Wook bowed low to Sima Geon, seeking forgiveness for his interference. Ha Hu Je, who had been standing in somber silence, stepped forward as well.

“I apologize as well. I should have sought the truth before drawing my blade.”

“True enough. That boy was just fast enough to keep his skin—anyone else would have been decapitated by the opening move.”

Ha Hu Je could only cough in embarrassment at Cheol Woo’s remark, nodding toward Noe Jeon while trying to hide his shame.

“I believe the situation is clear now,” Sima Geon stated.

Juyu the Wanderer and Ha Hu Song both nodded solemnly.

“More than clear.”

“Indeed.”

“In 그 case, we shall finish what we began.”

The expressions of the two elders shifted slightly at Sima Geon’s cold declaration. However, they possessed no moral ground to stop him—and likely lacked the strength to do so anyway. The disciples and retainers who had been manipulated saw the coming retribution as only just.

“We have wasted too much time. Let’s conclude this business and—”

“He admitted it was his own doing! I beg you, spare these young ones!”

Ma Yang’s voice cracked in a final, desperate plea before Sima Geon could finish. In a sudden motion, he struck his own Heaven Spirit Acupoint with his right hand, ending his life instantly.

As a heavy silence fell over the room following the suicide, Cheol Woo cuffed Noe Jeon on the back of the head.

“What are you standing around for? Clean this up. We are on a schedule.”

“Ugh! Fine!”

Noe Jeon muttered in annoyance but blurred into motion. Like a ghost moving through the room, he struck, and the terrified remnants of the Shadow Moon Sect collapsed one by one.

Within seconds, the majority of the sect members were dead.

“Hey, what about those ones?”

Cheol Woo pointed toward the courtesans who were huddled in the corner, paralyzed by fear.

“The Leader said to let them live.”

Cheol Woo spun around to face Noe Jeon.

“Why is that?”

“You know how it goes. The leaders make the plans, but we’re the ones doing the killing. There’s no point in executing helpless women.”

Sima Geon did not mention that Juyu the Wanderer had whispered a plea to him, feeling a sense of pity for the innocent women despite his disgust for the sect.

“But you still don’t know where the Hongik Hall went?”

Ha Hu Yeon asked, her concern for the victim overriding her lingering anger.

“We could have discovered it with enough patience, but time is a luxury we lack. Instead, we followed the trail they left behind. Identifying the predator is enough of a victory for now.”

“You are going to the Hongik Hall?”

“We must.”

Sima Geon nodded. Mo Wook, who had been listening closely, spoke up with a note of warning.

“I don’t believe traveling to the Hongik Hall’s headquarters is the right move.”

“What are you saying?”

“Earlier today, some of our young scouts spotted a group acting suspiciously near Hangzhou. They bypassed the city entirely. We didn’t think much of it then, but it seems they were…”

“In what direction? Where were they headed?” Sima Geon asked sharply.

“Toward Soju.”

“Soju? I was under the impression their base was located near Poyang Lake,” Juyu the Wanderer noted.

“That is correct. But they were definitely moving toward Soju.”

“That’s strange. Do they realize they are being hunted?”

While the wanderer was confused, Sima Geon was simply glad to have a fresh lead.

“I thank you. I will remember this assistance.”

Sima Geon gave a respectful bow to Juyu the Wanderer and Mo Wook.

“Don’t mention it. There is no debt here.”

Mo Wook waved the thanks away. He meant it. Stories had reached Hangzhou about the heroes who had defended the Living Immortal Medical House. Though no names were given, Mo Wook realized Sima Geon’s group were the ones from the tales. To have survived a fight with such legends was a blessing in itself.

“Nonetheless, we will return the favor in the future.”

Sima Geon offered his thanks once more, shared a brief word with Ha Hu Song, and began the journey toward Soju.

As the three men moved out, Juyu the Wanderer turned to Mo Wook.

“Branch Leader.”

“Yes, Elder?”

“I require a disciple who is exceptionally fast on his feet.”

Mo Wook knew exactly what he wanted, thinking of a specific disciple who was currently nursing a hangover.

“I will have him ready immediately.”

“A guide needs to know every inch of the path.”

“He knows this region better than his own home. Don’t worry.”

“Excellent. Send him at once.”

“As you wish.”

Mo Wook limped away to find the disciple and give him his instructions. Watching from the sidelines, Ha Hu Yeon spoke with resolve.

“I can’t just stay here. I’m going too.”

“Going? Where is this coming from?” Ha Hu Song asked, shocked.

“Jeon Mae was taken—I have to be there to save her. If I tell Great-Grandfather the situation, he will agree with me. I’ll return soon.”

Without waiting for his consent, Ha Hu Yeon bowed and ran after the group.

“Good grief!”

Ha Hu Song sighed, shaking his head as he began the grim task of cleaning the site.

The warriors of the Ha Hu Clan were battered, though not as severely as the beggars. Ha Hu Je’s injuries from his clash with Cheol Woo were particularly concerning.

As the clan and the Beggars’ Sect eventually departed, the ruined Shadow Moon Sect was left behind. No one offered help; they simply turned their backs.

With the departure of the outside forces, Brothel Heaven’s Fall was left in a state of pure grief and terror. The surviving courtesans sobbed, completely lost in the wake of the violence.

Han Seol, however, was different. Whether by luck or a final bit of mercy from Noe Jeon after his earlier cruelty, she had been left alive. She began to calm the others and started the gruesome task of moving the bodies of the sect members.

Once the main area was cleared, Han Seol reappeared, holding a messenger bird.

‘I will never forgive this. I will have my revenge!’

As she let the bird fly, Han Seol’s face was twisted into a terrifying mask of malice, a dark energy radiating from her.

—

“With your skill level, you’ll just be a burden on us.”

“That won’t happen. I’d die first.”

Cheol Woo gave a mocking grin in response to Ha Hu Yeon’s intense stare.

“Are you going to try and hit me again?”

“If that’s what it takes to stay.”

“Excuse me?”

Cheol Woo stared her down, but she didn’t blink. Seeing her stubbornness, Cheol Woo rubbed his temples.

“Damn kid. Boss, what do we do with her?”

Sima Geon didn’t even look back as he answered.

“Do whatever you want.”

He picked up his pace, focused entirely on the road ahead. The group of four was now making its way out of the Hangzhou area.

“Wait! Please, wait a moment!”

A youth came running toward them from a side trail. He looked barely out of childhood, gasping for air as he skidded to a halt. His belt featured the two knots of a Beggars’ Sect disciple.

“Kid, if you want our attention, just yell.”

Cheol Woo grabbed the boy by his collar.

“Who are you, and why are you following us?”

Terrified by Cheol Woo’s fierce look, the boy—Mo Wook’s disciple, Man Chu—stammered out his reply.

“M-my master sent me here!”

“And who is your master?”

“The leader of the Hangzhou branch of the Beggars’ Sect.”

Sima Geon reached out and gently moved Cheol Woo’s hand away.

Man Chu straightened his clothes, his pride as a disciple and the leader’s student returning to him. Because he had been sent after the fact, he had no idea what had happened at the brothel. His only job was to act as a guide.

“What is your purpose?” Sima Geon asked.

“I was told to guide you to Soju. And you’re looking for some group… their name was…”

As Man Chu struggled to remember, Ha Hu Yeon whispered the name.

“Hongik Hall.”

“Right! Hongik Hall. I’m here to help you find them.”

Normally, Sima Geon would have refused the help, but wanting to save every possible second, he accepted the sect’s gesture.

“We appreciate it.”

“I could walk these roads with my eyes shut. You’re in good hands.”

Man Chu boasted, though he smelled strongly of alcohol.

“Kid, have you been drinking today?” Cheol Woo asked, sniffing the air.

“No, no. I just had a bit too much last night. Is the smell that bad?”

As Man Chu breathed into his hand to check, Cheol Woo recoiled.

“It’s not just a smell—you’re fermenting. How much did you actually drink?”

“I’m not sure. I was taught that if you’re counting the drinks, you aren’t doing it right.”

“……”

Cheol Woo was left speechless by the boy’s wide, innocent smile.