Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: To Prevent Their Unity of Spirit
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“…So you’re saying all this happened because of the weapons the elder crafted?”
Dang Hosan pressed his throbbing temples with his index finger as he surveyed the training grounds of the half-ruined White Fortress.
He had rushed over in a panic at the massive explosion, thinking the North Sea Sect had already launched their assault. But no—it was just another mess caused by Dang Chukyung.
He could still feel the chill running down his spine from that revelation.
Sending away the curious guests who had gathered to spectate as if it were nothing, and cleaning up the wreckage of the ruined White Fortress—both were headaches in themselves.
‘If I hadn’t guided away Dowang, who was whining about being hungry, to the dining hall beforehand, he would’ve thrown an even bigger fit, claiming someone tried to assassinate him. Just thinking about it gives me a migraine.’
He might even have had to scrap the original plan to lure the North Sea Sect leader deep into the branch family territory.
The real problem was that Dang Chukyung, after causing such a catastrophe, was grinning ear to ear like it was the best fun he’d had in ages.
‘And these traces left behind here are just—’
Dang Hosan’s eyes sharply scanned the training grounds.
Over the remnants of explosives and hidden weapons lay thick marks of sword winds.
They swept wildly across the area like a gale, yet possessed the keen cutting edge of a finely honed blade.
Proof that it hadn’t been just the hidden weapons exploding.
‘Hwi-a’s handiwork, huh? That kid’s wild gale has advanced another level.’
Was it because he wielded a weapon suited to his hand, or a moment of enlightenment?
Whatever the reason, Unhwi’s growth was dazzling to behold.
He had improved even beyond their exchange of blows at the Wind Flower Pavilion.
At this rate, even Dang Hosan couldn’t take him lightly anymore.
‘Especially this explosively spreading wild gale—it’s less “fierce” and more downright vicious.’
If someone were caught in it, wouldn’t they be endlessly torn apart by the swirling sword winds from all directions until they collapsed?
Now he understood why Dang Chukyung had called it a “terror gale.”
‘Hwi-a and the elder… I have to make sure they don’t unite in spirit.’
Who knew what chaos would ensue if the Nine Dragons Branch Family’s two biggest troublemakers joined forces?
Dang Hosan had learned that harsh lesson.
“Well, more or less. Hahaha! What do you think? It’s been a while since I cut loose. See? This old man’s craftsmanship is still top-notch!”
“Who would ever doubt the elder’s skill?”
Unless they wanted their head blown off by a cannonball.
Dang Hosan swallowed the words that had risen to the back of his throat and forced them down.
“Right? Hahaha! Well, my business here is done, so I’ll head back to the Night Chamber. Ugh, so much to do, and running around like this is a pain.”
His tone dripped with complaint, but his face was alight with anticipation.
Dang Hosan snapped to attention.
He recalled what Gwijegal had mentioned before.
“I heard the Clan Head arrived earlier than scheduled and is at the Night Chamber. Is he still there?”
“No idea. Since Yuan-a said it’s about time he shows up, he might’ve already left.”
“…Don’t tell me he slipped away from the Green Venerable Troops without a word again this time?”
“Like it’s the first time? He’s probably charging around with fire in his eyes right now.”
“…….”
Dang Hosan, who knew better than most how immature the Dark Venerable truly was—far from his public image—could picture the scene all too clearly.
It was par for the course.
The Dark Venerable pulling pranks, and his granddaughter Dang Yewon always fuming.
‘…I should give Yuan-a something extra next time I see her.’
He personally revered the Dark Venerable like a father, but serving at his side demanded no small amount of patience.
“So I’ll be off. Take care. Hehehe!”
Dang Chukyung gave a casual wave and departed.
‘When the hell is this going to end?’
With mountains of work piling up, he felt like he was dying.
Dang Hosan let out a deep sigh that seemed to sink into the earth.
* * *
A light drizzle fell.
“Damn it all! Why the sudden downpour?”
Grumbling, a man stepped into the bustling Clear Wind Inn.
Shorter than most by a head.
It was Dang Chukyung.
“Excuse me, sir. You must be tired from your long journey, but as you can see, we’re completely full. I’m sorry, we can’t take orders right now.”
Dang Chukyung paused in shaking the rain from his collar and smiled lightly at the apologetic, bowing waiter.
“Looks like you’re swamped with customers—tough luck. Besides, I’m already with my group.”
“Oh, I see. May I have the reservation name—?”
“Under ‘Noban.’”
“Ah, the private room! Your guest is already here. This way, please!”
“Thank you.”
The waiter led Dang Chukyung to a private room behind the building.
As he glanced around the inn’s interior, Dang Chukyung clicked his tongue softly.
There were too many people—way too many.
‘These are all the folks who came from afar just to catch a glimpse of our no-good big brother?’
The world called him a giant, the one shielding the Central Plains from the wild ambitions of the outer lands.
But to Dang Chukyung, such praise still felt awkward.
Having scrapped and bickered like siblings since childhood, his first reaction to such accolades was always, “Why?”
A mischief-maker who constantly caused trouble just to tease his cute granddaughter.
An immature old codger who seemed like he needed another half-century to grow up.
Now, that he could nod to.
‘Someday I’ll rip off that facade of his.’
Look at him now.
Hiding from his granddaughter—who was no doubt scouring the area with fury in her eyes—in a place as odd as this for their rendezvous(?).
As Dang Chukyung grumbled inwardly, the private room’s door swung open.
The Dark Venerable stood with his back to the door, quietly taking in the outside view.
“You’re here?”
“Come on, when someone arrives, at least raise a hand or look them in the eye.”
“You’re too short for me to easily meet your gaze—why blame me?”
“Hah! The nerve.”
There were two taboo topics never to bring up in front of Dang Chukyung.
One was disabilities.
The other was height.
Especially height—touch that, and you risked a full dose of his special spicy cannon fire.
Limbs lost to explosions could be replaced with prosthetics, but height? No fixing that.
And yet, this so-called brother casually poked at it.
Dang Chukyung hesitated for a split second.
‘Should I just close my eyes and blast him?’
Conveniently, he carried a special compact scattering crossbow for emergencies.
The old Gale Wind Corps’ favored crossbow.
Though small and single-use, its firepower was guaranteed.
He was confident it could take down even a supreme master in one shot. Firing it at that shameless mug would be a sight to see…
“Don’t do anything stupid—come sit.”
Tch! That old fox was sharp as ever.
“Why’d you drag me away when I was heading home? I’m swamped as it is.”
Dang Chukyung sat across from the Dark Venerable and lit his pipe.
Just then, waiters began bringing out the pre-ordered food. Liquor too.
“Have a drink?”
“Pass. Didn’t I say I’ve got mountains of work? Spit it out quick if you have something to say.”
“What a piss-poor attitude. Well, if you hate being Hangju Inspector, quit.”
The Dark Venerable chuckled as he uncorked the flask.
Pop!
A rich aroma wafted out with the sound of air rushing in.
Dang Chukyung watched the liquor fill the Dark Venerable’s cup, his mouth watering involuntarily.
“Ahem! What brew did you order?”
“Princess Consort.”
“Huh? Isn’t that supplied only to the imperial palace?”
“This body is basically Sichuan’s emperor—what wouldn’t I drink?”
Arrogant to the core.
If the Imperial Guards or Eastern Depot agents heard, they’d arrest him for treason without a second thought. But the Dark Venerable practically dared them to try.
It stemmed from ironclad confidence: even the imperial house couldn’t touch him on Sichuan soil.
Indeed, he exuded the dignity and authority of an emperor.
In moments like this, Dang Chukyung had no choice but to acknowledge his brother.
As the saying went, position shapes the man. Lately, his brother occasionally revealed sides Dang Chukyung didn’t know.
“Want some? Speak now, before I finish the flask and you whine later.”
“Damn! Can’t you offer twice to a guy who said no once? Stingy bastard—how do you call yourself Sichuan’s emperor?”
“True rulers are shameless. Heh heh heh.”
“Not embarrassed saying it yourself?”
“I said it: shameless. Quit stalling—drink or not?”
“Pour it!”
“Didn’t you say you’re busy?”
“Let the underlings handle the work. Why would I?”
“Hahaha! That’s the spirit! Delegation is pushing it onto the little guys—that’s the best part.”
A conversation that would spark mutiny from Dang Yewon or the Green Venerable Troops if overheard. Yet they bantered on as their cups filled.
“Mm?”
“Taste’s a bit unique, right?”
“Tasty, but… how to put it—”
“The flavor dancing all over is the Princess Consort’s signature quirk.”
“Made with spring water from Anhui, maybe?”
The exchange carried layers of meaning.
Anhui was the Namgung Clan’s domain for centuries.
“Aw, screw it. Let’s just polish off this booze and be done.”
“Good idea.”
The South Palace Clan’s thirst for control over the Yangtze had long been known.
They publicly denied any such intent, but their expansion—recently to the Grand Canal and Hunan with Dongting Lake—spoke volumes.
Thus, the Dark Venerable sought to check them, and eventually eliminate them.
That time was fast approaching.
This meeting was likely to discuss the first step.
‘The Special Task Force… He’s completely obsessed.’
After a few rounds, the flask was empty.
Thud!
The Dark Venerable set down his cup and asked,
“What’d you think?”
The subject was omitted, but both knew it was Unhwi.
The boy who might become the Task Force’s core.
Dang Chukyung snorted lightly around his pipe.
“You were watching too, weren’t you?”
“Watching from afar isn’t the same as seeing it up close. Looked like he’s truly awakened to the sword.”
“Spot on.”
“How was it?”
“Brutal as hell.”
Puff—
Dang Chukyung exhaled smoke into the air.
His gaze fixed on the ceiling.
“A kid not even in his thirties, brimming with regret and anguish. Tch! He poured it all into his sword.”
“Fits the wild gale perfectly.”
“Fits? It amplified it—made it fiercer, not weaker!”
“I was right on the money.”
“You said that fan would birth a terror gale wielder. You nailed it. That kid will master the terror gale. Might even shatter the Alliance!”
Dang Chukyung dubbed Unhwi’s sword style the “Terror Gale Lineage.”
The term had slipped from the Dark Venerable’s mutterings while crafting the Terror Gale Fan.
“And after he unleashes it all in one go? What then?”
It happened sometimes.
They charged like racehorses with clear purpose, only to drift through life afterward, drained upon reaching the goal.
Dang Chukyung briefly worried Unhwi might end that way, but he scoffed dismissively.
“Unleash it all? Don’t worry. He’s not the type.”
“Hm?”
“You’ll see when you witness it yourself.”
Dang Chukyung could still vividly see Unhwi’s wild gale outburst.
The Terror Gale Fan had raged violently and viciously, but beneath it all, it wept.
Desperately, wretchedly.
“The new Gale Wind Corps Leader belongs to him alone.”
“You sound certain.”
“Not certain—fact. A Gale Wind Corps without him? Hard to imagine.”
The Dark Venerable eyed Dang Chukyung with a peculiar glint.
He had sensed Unhwi’s talent in the Terror Gale Fan and tested him accordingly, but such high praise from Dang Chukyung was rare.
What about Unhwi had won him over?
‘He’s always been sharper than me at judging people… Hmm, tricky.’
Dang Chukyung tilted his head at the Dark Venerable lost in thought.
“You don’t seem convinced at all.”
“Frankly… no.”
“Which part?”
“Talent, ferocity, insight, skill, personality—even being Hosan’s son. He excels in every way.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“That’s the problem. He’s more than qualified to lead—overqualified. But—”
The faint smile vanished from the Dark Venerable’s lips in an instant.
From that emotionless expression, Dang Chukyung felt a chill crawl up his spine.
“How can he lead the unit if he’s not fit to even join it?”
“!?”