Discussions about what?

The Sword Saint scoffed. He addressed the Carnage Demon, whose tone had shifted.

You and I are in different situations.

The Sword Saint and Carnage Demon were seeking Choi Jung Soo for vastly different reasons.

The public believed the Sword Saint sought the Sword Demon to restore his confidence after a lost spar.

In contrast, the Carnage Demon sought revenge as the leader of the School of Carnage.

Their motivations were on entirely different levels.

What is there to discuss when you’re here to kill the Sword Demon? Wait, you damn old man!

The Carnage Demon feigned shock, as if questioning the Sword Saint’s harsh words.

Why must I kill him?! You make it sound like I kill anyone who catches my eye! Seriously, where did you hear such nonsense?!

The Carnage Demon gasped, as if rebuking the Sword Demon’s absurd claim.

What?

The Sword Saint stared at her, incredulous.

The Carnage Demon, unfazed, slowly averted her gaze from the Sword Saint, then smiled benignly at Cale.

Survive! The top priority is to get out of here alive!

Survival was paramount for the Carnage Demon.

Despite her age, well past sixty, she desired to see another day.

Her killing the leader of the School of Carnage, her ten thousandth assassination, was also for survival.

The extraordinary assassin, having successfully completed ten thousand kills.

The leader, fearing her power, sought a way to eliminate her. Upon realizing this, she acted first.

This is how she became the leader of the School of Carnage.

She then calmly assumed the title of Carnage Demon and led the school.

Mm!

The Carnage Demon flinched, smiling at Cale.

Her smile, meant to appear harmless and benevolent, only hardened his expression.

As if he knew her true intentions.

I truly cannot take this guy lightly!

The Carnage Demon felt a surge of anxiety.

I have survived this brutal world of martial arts and assassins! I cannot die here!

This thought made her smile more sweetly.

Mmm.

It only further unsettled Cale.

The Carnage Demon’s smile—

It reminded him of Ron.

Do all assassins smile like this?

This fake benign smile—

It made Cale uneasy about the Carnage Demon.

The Sword Saint noticed this.

Shh.

The golden tip of his sword moved closer to the Carnage Demon.

S, Sword Saint! Calm down!

The Carnage Demon urgently addressed Cale.

Young Master Kim-nim! May I speak with you? I believe we can resolve this misunderstanding through words.

She pointed at Choi Jung Soo with both hands.

I absolutely have no intention of harming the Sword Demon standing there! Nor will I in the future! Young Master Kim-nim, I promise to never approach you or the Sword Demon again! On my honor!

Aigoo. Do you even have any honor?

The Carnage Demon pretended not to hear the Sword Saint’s sneering remarks.

Honestly, honor was completely useless to her.

Cale stared at her, and the Carnage Demon stood politely.

Silence fell.

However, stillness did not mean inactivity.

Flick.

Sui Khan gestured, and Choi Jung Soo slowly approached him. Choi Jung Soo met Choi Han’s gaze, then averted it.

Choi Han frowned slightly, then relaxed when he saw Choi Jung Soo cautiously observing him and Cale.

Ron observed this before meeting Sui Khan’s gaze. Sui Khan returned the stare, and Ron chuckled, looking away.

A weary smile touched Sui Khan’s face as he placed a hand on Choi Jung Soo’s shoulder.

Ugh.

He gripped it tightly.

Choi Jung Soo was about to protest the pain, but someone else broke the silence.

Not Cale.

Human, keep eating.

Pat pat. It was Raon, patting Cale’s back.

Raon then walked past Beacrox, who stood in a corner.

Cale watched Raon move away before turning to the Carnage Demon.

You will never come near us again if we let you go quietly?

Excuse me? Y, yes, sir!

The Carnage Demon vigorously nodded.

Cale didn’t hear Raon’s whisper to Beacrox, his gaze fixed on her.

Hey Beacrox.

Raon called him by his name, not his alias.

Give me the thing on your back.

Beacrox, who had begun putting on white gloves, looked confused. Raon whispered in his ear.

The stone statue. Give me the stone Central Plains.

Beacrox saw the fire in Raon’s eyes.

His dark blue eyes burned intensely.

I have something to say to stone Central Plains.

His voice was grave.

Beacrox hesitated, then spoke.

You cannot destroy it, Raon-nim.

Of course! I won’t destroy it! I may destroy the Central Plains, but I will not touch the stone Central Plains! I’m just going to chat with him! Just like our human!

Beacrox’s lips curled up.

Chief Eunuch Wi, hearing the conversation, felt a tremor of unease, but Beacrox happily pulled the stone young monk statue from his pouch.

Thank you, Good Beacrox.

Raon grabbed Central Plains, glanced at Cale, and headed toward a corner of the deserted house, curling up.

The stone Central Plains was in his arms.

Hey stone Central Plains, can you hear my voice?

Raon’s conversation began.

Of course, a one-sided conversation.

Stone Central Plains, release our human’s seals. Do you want to watch me destroy the entire Central Plains? I am capable of that. I am a great and mighty Dragon. A single spell can send a mountain flying.

Chief Eunuch Wi flinched and backed away from Raon.

He heard the Carnage Demon’s desperate plea as he moved.

Not only will I never appear before you, the School of Carnage will never accept any requests concerning you or the Sword Demon! We will not even look this way, sir!

Cale remarked casually.

That will not work.

Excuse me?

Cale smiled at the Carnage Demon, who flinched and asked.

Of course, there was still dried blood on him.

Carnage Demon. It won’t work if you leave my sight.

What do you mean by that, sir?

Cale pondered.

Though encountering the Carnage Demon was unexpected—

He considered it fortunate.

The Carnage Demon is a renowned expert of the Unorthodox faction.

According to the Imperial family’s information on the martial arts world, the Divergent Coalition represents the Unorthodox faction. The School of Carnage, led by the Carnage Demon, is a top assassin organization within the coalition.

Essentially, she wields influence within the Unorthodox faction.

If someone like that falls into my lap—

I should use her, right?

He had been concerned about eliminating the living jiangshi planted within the Unorthodox faction.

Since the Namgung Clan and the Beggars’ Gang were cooperating with Cale, the Orthodox faction should face no obstacles.

As for the Demon Cult, the Martial Arts Alliance, through the Nine Sects One Gang, planned a meeting, allowing him to observe.

However, he lacked connections to the Unorthodox faction.

I was so desperate I even considered throwing Toonka into the Green Forest.

There was a leader in the Divergent Coalition, but it was divided.

One faction was the bandits, led by the leader of the 72 Green Forests.

That’s why Cale considered using Toonka.

But the Carnage Demon is better than nothing.

Having stealthy assassins would be beneficial.

He knew from his experience with the House of Molan.

Mm.

Thinking of the Molans, Cale slowly approached Ron.

Ron, whose face was calm, smiled benignly at him. Cale avoided his gaze.

With Choi Jung Soo present, Cale pondered how to address this with Ron and Beacrox.

The Carnage Demon’s first issue is dealing with her!

He had much to discuss with Choi Jung Soo, but that was postponed.

They both seemed too distraught to exchange pleasantries.

The Carnage Demon flinched when Cale looked at Ron.

That guy—

This half-white-haired man was the first she saw when she destroyed the ceiling and landed.

This formidable individual had seen through her stealth in the inn.

Fuck.

Is Young Master Kim planning to have that guy cut my head off?

Why was Young Master Kim saying she couldn’t leave his sight?

Carnage Demon-nim, you have seen something you shouldn’t have.

Young Master Kim-nim, is it your friendship with the Sword Demon that I’m forbidden to know? Or perhaps it’s because I’ve learned of your relationship with the Namgung Clan? I promise to keep my mouth shut! Please trust me!

Hmph.

The Carnage Demon ignored the Sword Saint’s scoff, clapping her hands and looking at Cale.

Please? Young Master Kim-nim, please trust me.

Young Master Kim laughed.

Then he said:

Carnage Demon. You’ve witnessed a living jiangshi healing session.

The Carnage Demon didn’t understand.

Young Master-nim-!

Chief Eunuch Wi, alarmed, called out to Cale, then spoke through sound transmission.

Young Master-nim, are you going to reveal this to the Carnage Demon? She’s a major figure in the Unorthodox faction! Cunning and untrustworthy—

The Sword Saint relaxed his shoulders, commenting casually.

Young Master Kim, are you planning to involve the Carnage Demon in this?

Ah.

Chief Eunuch Wi understood Cale’s plan and stopped the transmission.

Sword Saint, will it be alright?

The Sword Saint nodded.

It will get out anyway. Protecting the family’s reputation isn’t the priority. Protecting it from harm is.

The Sword Saint sounded resolute.

Excuse me, what are you saying?

The Carnage Demon was the only one confused.

Oh.

Choi Jung Soo, equally bewildered, tactfully gasped in admiration.

Let me simplify this for you, ma’am.

Cale spoke lightly.

The Blood Cult has created living jiangshi from beneath the martial arts world and planted them throughout the Triumvirate. One victim was in the Namgung Clan.

Then—

The Carnage Demon’s pupils fluttered, unfocused.

She looked at Namgung Tae Wi. Namgung Tae Wi, peacefully sleeping, didn’t fit the scene.

Yes, ma’am. Noble Warrior Namgung Tae Wi was the victim, and I healed him.

The Sword Saint smiled slightly at Cale’s considerate phrasing.

However, the Carnage Demon scowled, raising her voice.

What unbelievable nonsense! How can you heal a living jiangshi?! That—that—

The Carnage Demon noticed the red cloth on Namgung Tae Wi’s chest.

She hadn’t paid attention before, focused on other matters.

Carnage Demon. He’s telling the truth.

The Sword Saint confirmed Cale’s words.

S, such—

The Carnage Demon couldn’t believe the Sword Saint’s admission.

At the same time, she understood everything.

Why Young Master Kim, a Nature Realm expert, had to use such powerful, life-threatening techniques.

Why the Sword Saint looked so old.

Why Namgung Tae Wi was the only one sleeping.

Why Young Master Kim was now the Sword Saint and the Namgung Clan’s benefactor.

The meeting between a major Martial Arts Alliance force and the Imperial family.

Everything made sense.

Including her situation.

Carnage Demon.

Cale called out quietly.

If you hadn’t seen this, you wouldn’t be involved, but you have.

Shit!

The Carnage Demon realized.

“Carnage Demon-nim, it doesn’t look like I can let you go until this is over.

She realized she’d gotten herself into something deeply troublesome.

Honestly, she didn’t care about the Blood Cult or the martial arts world.

What bothered her was the prospect of an endless battle.

You will need to start working with us from today.

Cale smiled brightly.

And gently.

Carnage Demon-nim, I had many things to do with the Unorthodox faction, but it seems I’ll receive much help from you regarding my dealings with the Unorthodox faction and the Blood Cult issue.

The Carnage Demon never agreed to help.

However, Young Master Kim was already claiming her assistance.

And the Carnage Demon couldn’t argue.

Fuck!

Young Master Kim was at the Nature Realm, possibly the strongest expert in the martial arts world.

The Sword Saint and Sword Demon were with him.

And that mysterious half-white-haired assassin expert.

Roll. The Carnage Demon rolled her eyes.

Is there a way out of this?

Cale remarked gently.

“We have the Sword Saint, the Sword Demon, and the Carnage Demon. We also have the Fist King, a past-generation expert. It seems I have no reason to fear the Blood Cult from now on.

The Fist King!

Even with her pupils trembling, the Carnage Demon saw an old man smiling at her.

That guy is the Fist King! One of the Three Kings!

The Carnage Demon closed her eyes tightly.

Fuck! I walked right into a tiger’s den!

The Tiger, the King of the Mountain—

Or, in this case, Cale, looked at the Carnage Demon and smiled with satisfaction.

I’ve found Choi Jung Soo, and it looks like I can quickly resolve the Triumvirate and Blood Cult issues.

Umm, Cale?

The whimpering old man asked.

How many more living jiangshi do we need to purify?

The old man sounded tearful.

Cale’s expression hardened.

He’d forgotten about it for a moment.

Translator’s Comments

More. A lot more. Welp.

TCF is currently posted Mondays and Fridays at evening time GMT. Join our discord to be notified as soon as the chapter posts!

If you can’t wait, please subscribe to advanced chapters on our EAP website to get access to up to 8 chapters! Almost all tiers already have access to part 2 of TCF!