Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Hard to Drink Peacefully
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That bald old man is something else.
Even if the Lion Sword King thinks highly of me,
how did he decide to use the supreme ruler of Guizhou's martial world as a mere evaluator?
For someone of his stature, it wouldn't be the least bit strange to honor him as the Alliance's honorary leader upon its founding.
But by keeping him by my side, the bald old man stood to gain two major benefits.
First, it publicly declared that the Lion Sword Sect and Guizhou's martial world had formed an unbreakable alliance with the Tang Clan.
Second, it protected me—a valuable asset to the Alliance—while laying the groundwork to spread his reputation even further.
Charging into battle under the Stormwind Squad's banner, guarded by the Lion Sword King, scattering the Western Thousand Armaments?
And that fighter is Namgung?
What propaganda could top that?
"Everything about him, from one to ten, is calculated to perfection. It's downright impressive now—"
"He's so averse to losses that even as a merchant, he'd surely become a tycoon!"
"That's why he went bald... Mmph-mmph!"
Plus, with the Lion Sword King evaluating me, no one— not even sworn brothers—would dare question my feats or scores.
Doubting such an absolute powerhouse would be tantamount to making an enemy of all Guizhou's martial world.
As I silently marveled at the bald old man, the Lion Sword King's gaze upon me intensified.
His eyes still burned hot.
Plenty of time had passed since Guyang County, so his fervor for me should have cooled by now.
Yet he seemed to harbor a passion as youthful as mine—if not more so.
"I'm doing just fine, as always. Thanks to you, brother."
"Hahaha! Is that so? Even knowing it's polite flattery, hearing it from you fills this foolish brother with pride."
"But it seems hard to drink comfortably here. Probably—"
"I know. The spot's a bit ominous, huh?"
"Yes. And to strike while the iron's hot against those bastards, we need to move as quickly as possible right now."
I was dying to catch up with the Lion Sword King over drinks.
Guizhou's famed liquor? Irresistible.
But since Namgung struck first, we couldn't just sit here idly.
We'd already packed up our nearly finished campsite.
Thud!
The Lion Sword King lightly leaped down from his Fierce Lion Colt and landed.
"I was just about to bring that up."
He must have agreed it wasn't the time for drinks, as he hung the gourd back on his belt.
"You're showing such an opening, unlike a proper little brother? Deduct one point for the evaluation."
The Lion Sword King grinned mischievously, nodding toward the dead Heavenly Red Swallow.
I played along.
"If anything, I'm the one who suffered damage from the evaluator here."
"Damage?"
The Lion Sword King tilted his head.
I nodded.
"Yes. I was planning to chase this swallow. With how close the pursuit was, Namgung's hidden safehouse should show itself."
"You're being stubborn again, like no little brother should."
"It's not stubbornness."
"Haha. At your young age, with only the righteous path under your belt, it's natural to think that way. I understand. But do you know what this swallow is?"
"Heavenly Red Swallow."
"Right. The Heavenly Red Swallow. Namgung's prized swift that covers a thousand li a day with ease... Oh? You knew?"
The Lion Sword King's expression turned peculiar.
"Yes. Didn't I tell you? I could definitely catch it."
"...How?"
"Like this."
I raised my right arm high and whistled sharply.
Whiii!
Onma swooped in stylishly, circling once before landing on my forearm.
Kiyoooo!
Onma spread its wings far wider than its body and let out a long cry.
"The lesser demon Onma answers the Young Leader's call! Grant me permission to pursue until that old man's shiny pate gleams!!"
'No.'
"Understood."
Onma sent a telepathic message only to me, rubbing its head against my arm.
To onlookers, it looked like a falcon fawning over its master.
Of course, it wasn't your average falcon.
The Lion Sword King's pupils trembled.
"Could that be...?"
"Yes. The spirit beast called Onma(?)."
"Spirit beast my foot! Get that thing away from you right now! What if its curse spreads?!"
The Lion Sword King knew far more about spirit beasts than I'd thought.
He seemed aware of Onma's true nature, despite its ordinary divine bird appearance.
"No need to worry. It's a lucky bird for me."
"But—"
"Forget? I wield curse poison."
"Ah...! Are you using it to enhance the curse poison's potency?"
"Yes. Nothing better than this specimen."
That's why the curse poison excuse was so handy.
Even forbidden demonic arts shunned by the orthodox sects could be brushed off with that one line.
A vague wrap-up, and everyone nodded along.
They'd even look at you with concern for treading a tough path.
And it wasn't entirely wrong for boosting toxicity.
I gently scratched under Onma's chin.
Onma shuddered pleasantly.
"The lesser demon... the lesser demon is overwhelmed with emotion at being of even small help to the Young Leader!! I am eternally grateful for the Great Demon God's grace in allowing my rebirth!!"
What?
I thought it was just enjoying the chin scratch?
And I made you into a spirit, so why bring up the Great Demon God?
Absurd, but Onma's loyalty rang true, so I let out a hollow chuckle.
This one's words weren't empty flattery like other spirits.
Telepathy confirmed it.
Pure sincerity.
"Noooo, Young Leader! To think our loyalty is mere lip service!!"
"Grant us a chance toooo!"
"Grant us a chaaance!"
The spirits read my mind and prostrated like hermit crabs, sobbing.
They wanted vessels for possession like Onma's? Fat chance. Shoo, shoo.
"Then... does that mean this foolish brother truly only hindered you...?"
The Lion Sword King's shoulders slumped like a rain-soaked cat (not a dog. He's a lion, after all.).
"Unable to help my little brother, only getting in the way... I'm useless... I, I..."
His eyes were losing focus now, this guy?
Leave him be, and he'd dig a tunnel straight to the underworld.
No, this elder, a pillar of Guizhou's martial world, only acted like this with me—his son's age.
I quickly sidled up and playfully poked his side with my elbow.
"Ah, kidding. Kidding. Brother, if you react like this, who's the embarrassed one now?"
"Kidding...?"
Focus slowly returned to the Lion Sword King's eyes.
"Yes. It was a joke. Chasing the Heavenly Red Swallow blindly with just this guy would've been tough."
"Then?"
"Like this."
I slightly raised my elbow, and Onma lightly took flight.
Flap flap!
Onma approached the Heavenly Red Swallow's corpse and gaped its beak wide.
"Spirit beasts are my tonic! I'll savor the Young Leader's gift!!"
Fortunately, the Fierce Lion Colt hadn't badly damaged the inner core.
Onma gleefully tore into and devoured it.
Soon, a hazy white smoke-like essence seeped from the corpse.
It eyed Onma warily, waiting for a chance to flee.
"Where?!"
But to Onma, it was a mere morsel.
Snatched up and gulped— like a sparrow eating a worm on a rainy day.
Crunch crunch, munch!
The sound was anything but dainty.
"!"
The Lion Sword King gawked at Onma in stunned silence.
To him, unfamiliar with the shaman world, this was a bizarre spectacle.
Onma soon finished digesting and screeched at me.
Kieeeek!
"It knows where their safehouse is. Luckily, not too far."
"...You really found out like this?"
"Really. And want to see something even more fun?"
"Hm?"
I nodded lightly at Onma.
That instant.
Crunch.
Onma's body twisted violently and began to change.
It shrank dramatically, its feathers turning purple.
In Onma's place stood the Heavenly Red Swallow.
Kiiii!
"Huh!"
The Lion Sword King chuckled dryly as he sheathed his Fierce Lion Sword with a click.
Clank!
"You're planning to prank them with this, huh?"
"Fun, right?"
"Fun... yeah. Nothing beats tormenting enemies."
The Lion Sword King laughed ferociously.
As expected, he was only soft with me— a true hothead otherwise.
Qualified to be a Tang Clan ally.
I called Gong Son-bum and had him forge a letter to send to Namgung.
Gong Son-bum stared at me, exasperated.
"No need to add 'dumbass, falling for it again' at the end?"
"You'd think so?"
"Shame."
Still salty about last month.
Such a narrow vessel for a great man, Gong Son-bum. No wonder your hair's thinning daily.
Half a shichen later, we sent Onma off.
The Heavenly Red Swallow boldly soared through the skies.
A pumpkin seed to blind Namgung's eyes and ears.
* * *
Near Kongtong Mountains, Tudo Plain.
Dark Thunder Division Third Vanguard Secret Branch.
"By now, they've met."
Third Vanguard Vice-Leader and Dark Palace Squad Leader, Black Sky Martial Thunder Namgung Gilyeong, quietly set down his teacup and gazed out the window.
Somewhere south, the thorn-in-side Dark Mist Squad was clashing fiercely with the Tang Clan's new Stormwind Squad or whatever.
"Dark Mist Leader, I hope you haven't made the wrong choice. The lifeline you grabbed thinking it was a rope was actually the wrong one."
Unlike the warm teacup in his hand, a cold smile curled on Namgung Gilyeong's lips.
Did Namgung Fortress know?
That the report from Bi Cheon-ho, which he intercepted en route and thought linked to the Northern Fate Path, was actually Namgung Gilyeong's trap?
The Leader was currently swamped with negotiations with the Demonic Cult's Phantom Sect.
Namgung Fortress seemed to think he was under the Leader's scrutiny... but who knows?
Would the Leader bother with some greenhorn not even a formal executive?
It wasn't the Leader who wanted Namgung Fortress gone. It was Namgung Gilyeong.
He despised everything about Namgung Fortress.
His bloodline. His subordinates' loyalty. His retainers' popularity.
All stoking the inferiority complex of branch-family-born Namgung Gilyeong.
It might even interfere with the Third Vanguard Leader he served.
So, Namgung Gilyeong aimed to eliminate him this time.
He'd secretly watched Namgung Fortress contact the White Thunder Sword Division, even knew about Elder Six Swords Yin Thunder Divine Sword's involvement.
Thus, Namgung Fortress and Dark Mist Squad should easily dispatch So Saengbanak and Banakbeol.
The issue was what came after.
"Whether you safely retrieve the Northern Fate Path and Hell Arts. Or play games. Your life hangs on that."
If Namgung Fortress hid recovering the Northern Fate Path and Hell Arts?
Battlefield spoils must be reported upward. Violating meant insubordination; in this case, massive enough for treason charges.
Thus, execute Namgung Fortress on the spot, and slap chains on the White Thunder Sword Division for covering it up.
If he reported properly?
Then pin him for unauthorized extraction of their forces, nearly breaching secrecy, and toss him in the Underground Thunder Prison.
Then stage his death in Kongtong Faction's civil war as an 'unfortunate accident.'
Die early or a bit later—same fate.
Namgung Fortress was doomed.
"It's here."
Just then, the Heavenly Red Swallow quietly alighted inside the window.
It seemed more majestic than usual.
Namgung Gilyeong's beaming face reflected in its eyes.
"My cute child. Let's see what good news you bring."
Namgung Gilyeong fed it its favorite treat, then quietly drew out and unfolded the letter.
—Stormwind Squad Subordinate Banakbeol Annihilated. So Saengbanak Dead. Thousand Leaf Immortal, Pure Sword Fairy, White Sword Orchid Captured.
A standard report.
The capture of the Three Pure Sword Wonders was particularly pleasing.
Leverage to blackmail Qingcheng and Emei.
It'd also maintain ties with Blue Flower Manor, awkward for open hostility.
All initial orders to Dark Mist Squad completed successfully.
But what caught Namgung Gilyeong's eye was the end.
—Special Note: During interrogation of So Saengbanak, acquired what appears to be Heavenly Horse Divine Cult Northern Sea Sect's Sect Leader Secret Manual and Sacred Relic. Verifying authenticity.
—Evaluation of item and prisoner transport may delay return slightly.
—Will send follow-up if additional reports arise.
"Trying to outsmart me for once, eh?"
Realizing the trap, reporting only on Northern Sea Path and Hell Arts to buy time.
Namgung Gilyeong laughed.
It'd only buy a few more moments.
Pathetic effort.
He was glad, though.
The longer Namgung Fortress stalled, the more justification to take his head.
"I can give the Leader a nice gift amid his negotiation frustrations. Hahaha."
Namgung Gilyeong burst into laughter.
Kiii....
The Heavenly Red Swallow stared at him blankly.
*What a fool, splitting hairs over 'good.'*
"Hm? Did I hear something odd?"
Namgung Gilyeong scratched his ear with his pinky.
The Heavenly Red Swallow pretended innocence, preening its feathers.