Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Benefaction
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The Valley of Ghosts Fortress was filled to the brim with killing intent.
A sinister aura swirled about chaotically.
But for the first time, the ghostly mask of Dang Gyujin, who always grinned eerily, was not smiling.
It was weeping.
"Jin-ah, you—"
Namgung San-yeong's pupils trembled behind the barrier of the Azure River Sword.
Even steeped in demonic nature as she was, could she not bring herself to harm her own daughter?
It seemed maternal love was holding onto her last shred of sanity.
"Mother, please end it here."
"I, I—"
Namgung San-yeong's pupils wavered for a brief moment.
Then they hardened.
The whites of her eyes suddenly turned pitch black, becoming completely obsidian.
The wavering killing intent of qi deviation twisted into full demonic qi.
Kwaaaa!
"Daughter, if, you, block, me, too, you, die."
It was a demonic art.
「The Reverse Blood Exploding Demonic Art! How could a mere descendant of the South Palace Clan wield something long forbidden by the Divine Cult—」
'That must be proof the South Palace Clan allied with the Divine Cult. Namgung San-yeong probably learned it without knowing.'
Perhaps the South Palace Clan had taught it to her as a mutual destruction technique to use in emergencies?
The Reverse Blood Exploding Demonic Art reversed one's inner energy flow, forcibly exploding one's potential.
In a short time, inner energy multiplied several times over, granting immense power, but the backlash was certain death.
On top of that, it shattered the mind's gates, leading to complete loss of reason in the final stages.
All that remained was the pursuit of a single final goal.
Chaeng!
Dang Gyujin shoved Namgung San-yeong back and assumed her stance.
The tear stains evaporated in the heat.
All that remained in their place was resolute determination.
She had realized Namgung San-yeong was no longer the woman she once knew.
"Qingcheng Sect Celestial Fiend Messenger of the Heaven-Earth Chronicle, Concealed Sword Sovereign Benefaction Dang Gyujin. I now commence the rite of demon subjugation and evil extermination."
Paat!
With a brief incantation, Dang Gyujin fiercely kicked off the ground.
Benefaction.
It seemed to be the dharma name bestowed upon her.
Declaring one's dharma name meant renouncing worldly ties henceforth and devoting oneself utterly to duty.
Paaa—
Namgung San-yeong's demonic qi could not touch Dang Gyujin.
The Heaven-Earth Chronicle's methods could suppress even the ghostly qi of the Azure Ghost Face Technique, so crude demonic qi from the Reverse Blood Exploding Demonic Art stood no chance.
The Azure River Sword sliced diagonally through the waterfall of demonic qi, plunging deep toward the core.
And there.
Namgung San-yeong's neck.
Skeuk!
Pooo—
Namgung San-yeong's head flew into the air.
In her final moment, her face wore a gentle smile.
Only then did it become clear.
Namgung San-yeong had chosen this path for her children's sake.
「By bearing all the sins herself and dying at her daughter's hand, no further harm would come to them.」
「Still, she didn't want to leave them with the image of a worthless mother.」
「A twisted maternal love. If I had such love, I'd know others do too, tsk!」
The headless body of Namgung San-yeong crumpled to the floor.
Dang Gyujin turned her head away, unable to look.
Instead, Dang Yuchang collected Namgung San-yeong's head.
Je Gal wrapped it silently in the cloth he offered.
"Mother... I'll take her as a Namgung."
"So be it."
Je Gal nodded impassively.
Yet, as someone who had once served her as matriarch, a trace of bitterness tinged his gaze upon her end.
Dang Yuchang bowed politely to Je Gal, then offered a final bow toward the direction of the Wild Heroes Hall before departing the main hall.
There was no farewell to Dang Gyujin.
The earlier events had severed the bond between the siblings as well.
The guards dusted Namgung San-yeong's body with Bone Incinerating Powder to cremate it, swiftly erasing the bloodstains scattered about.
Je Gal spoke.
"We'll announce publicly that the lady is unwell and has gone on a long trip to her family home with Young Master Yuchang."
"Thank... you."
Dang Gyujin bowed her head.
It was gratitude for preserving her mother's honor to the very end.
"Little Branch Lord, care to have a word with me?"
I nodded and exited the main hall with Je Gal and Dang Gon.
Dang Gyujin needed time to compose herself.
* * *
"How long ago did I send you, and you're this late?"
I scolded Dang Gon the moment we left the main hall.
He promptly shifted the blame to Je Gal.
"This guy's the one who had to grab his hat and earrings and dawdle with all sorts of preparations, that's why. I'm innocent."
"Hey! I came as fast as I could! When striking the lady, don't I need to grasp the full situation first?!"
"Not my problem."
"You wanna get docked pay or what?"
"Ah, damn it! Quit with the pay docking threats!!"
"Why? This is fun."
"Son of a—!"
If I let them go, Dang Gon and Je Gal's bickering would drag on forever, so I cleared my throat loudly.
Fortunately, Je Gal caught my intent and deftly changed the subject.
"Impressive, though. I didn't expect you'd dispatch the lady so swiftly."
"No point dragging it out, right? The Demonic Cult could show up anytime. Better to eliminate her fast."
"Heh heh!"
"...What's with that look?"
Je Gal stared at me with sparkling eyes.
Like he'd spotted something delicious right in front of him.
I involuntarily stepped back.
Churp!
He even licked his lips as he spoke.
"Really no thought to coming to Wind Flower Pavilion?"
"Nope."
"Won't reconsider?"
"No."
"You're as unyielding as a rock. Makes me want you even more. Heh heh heh!"
Dang Gon glared daggers from the side.
As if he'd snap Je Gal's neck if the coaxing continued.
"Whoa! With this guy glaring, I can't even tempt you properly. Take this."
Je Gal tossed something over.
Thud!
I caught it reflexively.
A gourd flask.
"What's this?"
"Booze. Figured Lady Gyujin could use it, so I brought my favorite stash."
"......"
I glanced back and forth between the flask and Je Gal.
"I know you three drank earlier today. But the mindset then and now are bound to differ, no?"
Je Gal continued with a smile.
"In exchange, just sit quietly by the lady tonight. That alone will comfort her greatly."
Despite the mirth in Je Gal's voice, a hint of sorrow mingled in.
I glanced at Dang Gon.
He too pressed his lips thin, suppressing something.
Did Dang Gyujin's state remind him of someone?
Just staying by her side.
Perhaps it evoked memories of their fallen comrades.
「We had plenty of such cases in our youth. For demonic cultivators, it might even be fate. Those who fall to demonic nature are legion when practicing demonic arts. After dealing with them... the air grows heavy with bitterness.」
A familiar old demon's bitter voice echoed from somewhere.
I knew that scene well.
Demonic arts advanced faster than orthodox ones but carried greater risks.
The Divine Cult even had dedicated organizations to handle those lost to qi deviation.
Even the faithful lived with the awareness they might one day share their fate.
Especially the Elder Hall where great demons gathered always carried a prickly, indescribable atmosphere.
「Nothing sadder than losing someone—」
「But having an ally right there in that moment brings great solace.」
I hung the flask at my waist.
"Fine. I'll do that."
"That's enough."
Je Gal turned away.
"Then I'll take my leave. Need to move before those on that side catch wind of the lady. See you next time."
Je Gal winked one eye and departed the main hall with his two guards.
In shadow operations, information superiority was paramount.
He was hurrying to maintain it.
I wondered what faces the South Palace Clan would make when Namgung San-yeong's head arrived as a gift.
I stared quietly in the direction Je Gal had gone.
Tonight at Wind Flower Pavilion would be a long one.
* * *
—Eastern Emperor South Palace.
A moniker for the South Palace Clan, which reigned like kings over the Central Plains' eastern region.
Gyo Ilji took immense pride in being one of them.
Though she had to hide her true name, Namgung Ilji, and live her life in the shadows, contributing to the Eastern Emperor South Palace's fame filled her with glory.
One day, when the South Palace unified the Central Plains, her four true characters would be etched at its heart.
Thus, the Sichuan Tang Clan had to be eliminated preemptively.
Daring to claim primacy among the Six Great Clans alongside the South Palace?
Comparing them to insidious folk who couldn't even wield a sword properly, relying on poisons and hidden weapons? Unthinkable.
Yet the Sichuan region had long served as a massive bulwark, shielding the Central Plains from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Evil Outside martial world.
Accordingly, Sichuan's martial artists boasted more elite experts than other regions.
The Tang Clan of Sichuan was renowned for its disproportionate number of masters despite its small size.
Their insular nature especially made them a tough nut for the South Palace to crack.
Thus, the South Palace had long prepared covert operations to topple the Tang Clan.
Luring in the Demonic Cult, shaking the Nine Dragons Branch Family—preparations were complete.
Success in assassinating the Dark Venerable would seal their victory.
The South Palace, confined to the east, could finally advance west.
Their grand scheme to seize the Central Plains' rivers and ascend as the supreme clan could truly begin.
'Foolish Muyoung may have fallen easily, but not me.'
From the start, Muyoung and Gyo Ilji belonged to different divisions.
Muyoung was merely a watchdog assigned by the main house to monitor Namgung San-yeong, whereas Gyo Ilji was part of the shadowy intelligence unit, the Dark Thunder Division, and had long operated as a spy within the Nine Dragons Branch Family.
She was so trusted by headquarters—able to communicate directly with the Dark Thunder Division—that she was even floated as a candidate for next Division Head.
'Need to take out the Dark Venerable quick so I can end this damn maid life. My shoulders are killing me.'
As Gyo Ilji returned to her quarters and rolled her stiff shoulders, a tapping at the window snapped her attention.
Tok tok!
'Heavenly Messenger Dove!'
A carrier pigeon sent by the Dark Thunder Division only for critical matters.
Gyo Ilji tossed a dead mouse to it as payment, then extracted and read the letter.
Decoding the cipher yielded exactly eight characters.
—Execution date: Dark Venerable's quarters.
'Finally...!'
It was then.
"Oh ho, so that's how the South Palace exchanges messages?"
"!!"
At the voice from behind, Gyo Ilji spun around in alarm, but a swift blow robbed her of consciousness.
Puk!