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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Chapter 109
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Yuk Hyeolju dropped to his knees before the Emperor.
Namgung Mucheon stood calmly before Yuk Hyeolju, his sword pointed at the man's neck, channeling his energy.
At Namgung Mucheon's gesture, Yuk Hyeolju's mouth gaped open. Immediately, a molar, tied with something, was pulled out of his mouth.
Namgung Mucheon looked at the poison pellet tied to the molar, then flung it far away.
"Who sent you, and from where?"
Yuk Hyeolju Jeokgoesu chuckled, spitting out the blood pooled in his mouth.
"Jeokgoesu, the Hyeolsachae Chief."
"Do pirates carry poison pellets in their mouths?"
"Could be."
"Nonsense."
He knew from the aura emanating from the man that he was no ordinary pirate.
A foul aura.
‘It’s similar to the residue of internal energy left in Seolhwa’s body.’
"Are you from Hwaoru?"
"Heh. Did the Soruju tell you?"
"Spill your identity quickly. Don't waste my time."
"Bring the Soruju here."
Jeokgoesu's gaze drifted towards a distant hill.
Both Namgung Mucheon and Jeokgoesu already knew there were two people there. And they knew who they were.
"Don't play your tricks."
"I'll tell you everything in front of the Soruju."
"..."
A faint frown creased Namgung Mucheon's brow.
With him and Mugwang present, the child wouldn't be in grave danger, but being far away was still riskier than being close. So, he couldn't help but hesitate.
"I'm a man who's already prepared to die anyway. You, the Sword Emperor, could easily cut my throat if you wished. What's the problem?"
"..."
"I'll tell you everything, without holding back."
Namgung Mucheon, looking down at the man who was grinning slyly, sighed with a tired expression.
"No closer than three zhang."
"Alright."
Namgung Mucheon sent a telepathic message to Seop Mugwang, telling him to bring Seolhwa.
Soon, Seop Mugwang came down with Seolhwa and stood three zhang away, as promised.
It was a distance where they could clearly see each other's faces.
Seeing Seolhwa, protected by Seop Mugwang, Yuk Hyeolju chuckled.
"It's been a while, Soruju. Does the position of a Namgung young lady suit you well? Your complexion seems brighter."
"Don't call me Soruju. I'm not anymore."
"...Khaha, hahaha! Khahahahaha!"
Jeokgoesu burst into laughter. His laughter echoed across the empty field.
Seolhwa found his appearance a little unfamiliar.
‘To think that Yuk Hyeolju would look so pathetic.’
In her previous life, he had been the ruler of the Yangtze River Surochae, leading them and forming one of the pillars of the Hyeolgyo rebellion.
Thanks to Yuk Hyeolju controlling the waterways, the transportation of supplies and support in Jungwon could be obstructed, which led to severe hardships for the common people, causing more to convert to the Hyeolgyo.
A being feared by all of Jungwon and its martial masters.
The hegemon of the Yangtze River, whom no one could defeat on the water.
And now, *this* was him.
"Well, there's no reason I can't call you that. Miss Namgung. Now, are you satisfied?"
Seolhwa silently watched Yuk Hyeolju, who was baring his teeth and grinning at her.
Yuk Hyeolju, too, soon fixed his gaze on her, his smile gone.
"Do you know? When that crazy Hwaoru Master brought some crying child and said he'd make her the Soruju, I objected."
Although she was named Soruju due to the restriction, Yuk Hyeolju was talking about the time Hyeolma one day stood Seolhwa before the six Blood Lords and declared her the Junior Cult Master.
At that time, the Fifth and Sixth Blood Lords fiercely opposed Hyeolma's will.
Of course, Hyeolma's declaration was merely a notification, so their objections were dismissed.
"You don't raise a beast cub. Once it's grown, it can't distinguish between its master and its prey, and it'll pounce. Look. Isn't this exactly what's happening now?"
Yuk Hyeolju chuckled again.
When Hyeolma said he'd make the Namgung child, brought from somewhere, the Junior Cult Master, Yuk Hyeolju thought Hyeolma had finally lost his mind.
No, he was crazy to begin with.
Even when he erased her memories and raised her, it seemed plausible, but this is the result now.
‘How can you say it’s tamed when it tries to bite its own master?’
Heh heh, that crazy Hyeolma bastard. He's tripping himself up.
"Since it's come to this, try to win."
"Why? My winning wouldn't be good for you."
"If I had to say, I like the Soruju side better than that crazy Hwaoru Master. I always wanted to get one over on that crazy Hwaoru Master."
The Hyeolgyo pretends to be heroes saving the world, but in reality, they are just a group entangled by self-interest.
At least, that's the relationship between Hyeolma and the six Blood Lords. A relationship where they received Hyeolma's power and gave their lives over through blood servitude.
At first, it might have been a fair transaction based on mutual interest, but humans, by nature, are grateful for what they receive when they have nothing, and then forget past favors when they have an abundance.
In her previous life, the six Blood Lords cooperated with Hyeolma, yet they hated the blood servitude that bound their necks.
They always wanted to break free from that leash.
And all six of them, to some extent, hated Hyeolma, who held their leash.
‘It was annoying how they'd unleash that hatred only when they saw me.’
To Seolhwa, both Hyeolma and the six Blood Lords were just crazy bastards.
"Anyway, it's a bit of a shame I won't see the outcome... but I'll give you a final gift."
Yuk Hyeolju shifted his fixed gaze from Seolhwa to Namgung Mucheon.
"You asked who sent me, and from where?"
The corner of his mouth twisted into a vile sneer.
"Listen carefully. I, Jeokgoesu, am..."
At that moment, blood vessels burst in Yuk Hyeolju's eyes, and his body began to tremble violently.
Seolhwa looked at Yuk Hyeolju with startled eyes.
‘He’s trying to break the restriction…?’
He'd give information, even if it meant breaking the restriction?
"Dae...sura..."
Gurgle, gurgle, blood-flecked foam poured out, and blood flowed from all his orifices.
Starting with his fingers, every joint in his limbs twisted, and his bones bent.
The restriction, unlike the poison pellet meant only for death, was designed to inflict pain on anyone who tried to break it.
"Ugh...ugh..."
Even amidst the agony of his intestines being torn to shreds and his heart shattering, Yuk Hyeolju did not lose his vile smile.
His bloodshot gaze turned towards Seolhwa. In Yuk Hyeolju's eyes, as he rushed towards death, there was nothing but madness.
"Hyeol...gyo..."
Simultaneously, *Pwah!* blood spurted from all of Yuk Hyeolju's orifices. With a gurgling, bubbling sound, his body began to swell.
It was a truly gruesome sight to behold.
"Kuh...h-huk..."
Even as his eyes rolled back, he laughed.
As if he was delighted by the fact that the fragment he had left behind would vex the arrogant Hyeolma.
Seolhwa did not see his final moments.
Seop Mugwang covered Seolhwa's eyes, and with a *thump*, something splattered on her cheek.
"How gruesome..."
The faint murmur of Seop Mugwang's voice in her ear was the last she heard.
‘He’s really… dead.’
Yuk Hyeolju, he really died.
So futilely.
Thump, thump.
Heavy footsteps approached.
A large shadow fell over her, past Seop Mugwang's hand covering her eyes. And then, Seolhwa was suddenly lifted, as if plucked up.
"Whoa there."
Namgung Mucheon scooped Seolhwa into his arms.
With her back to where Yuk Hyeolju's corpse lay, his thick fingers gently tapped Seolhwa's forehead.
Immediately, his energy flowed throughout her body. It was a refreshing feeling that cleared her head.
"You weren't seriously hurt."
After examining Seolhwa's body, Namgung Mucheon withdrew his hand.
Holding Seolhwa, he slowly walked, as if taking a stroll.
"You said you followed Hwarin."
"Yes."
"That was brave of you."
Namgung Mucheon gently stroked Seolhwa's head.
"However, next time, call an adult first. Or bring your escort. An escort is assigned to protect you from danger, not to alert you to others' danger."
"...Yes."
She felt a little sorry, thinking Ryeon must have been scolded quite a bit.
‘An escort should always be by my side….’
I'll remember that.
"It's better to be late and safe than to rush and lose your life. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Good."
Namgung Mucheon did not say it twice.
It was a short, sincere piece of advice, filled with his concern for Seolhwa.
"Still, it's fortunate that we gained something."
Yuk Hyeolju spoke the name of the Hyeolgyo just before he died.
It would have been normal for him to writhe in pain and say nothing, but because he was Yuk Hyeolju, he displayed that level of mental fortitude.
"We can now ferret out the spies."
All they had to do was write down the Hyeolgyo's name and have people read it.
Whether it was false information or not had already been proven by Yuk Hyeolju's death.
"By the way, it's strange. He was truly a wicked man. Yet, why did he betray his own faction just before dying?"
"Because they have no such thing as loyalty."
"Hmm?"
"They are merely a force composed of individuals who seek to gain power, wield it, and enjoy it. At least, that's how the rulers of that force are."
"Hmm."
"The Hyeolsachae Chief's help wasn't exactly for our sake. So, you don't need to be too grateful."
Since he was going to die anyway, he probably just wanted to throw dirt at Hyeolma.
"Is the Hwaoru Master stronger than him?"
"Yes."
In her previous life, and even now, Seolhwa didn't know Hyeolma's true level. But what was clear was that he was vastly stronger than those called the Ten Great Masters of the World, and perhaps...
‘He might have reached a realm beyond Hwagyeong.’
"Why is that man hiding himself? If he's as strong as you say, Jungwon should have already fallen into his hands."
Despite being so powerful, Hyeolma waited another five years from now. The reason was...
"Because what the Hwaoru Master desires isn't to become the strongest person in the world."
