Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Two Giants
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The faces of Dang Gon and the Zheng Feng Sect agents lit up brightly.
“Clan Leader!”
“We pay our respects to the Clan—"
“Given the situation, we'll skip the formalities.”
The Dark Lord landed lightly on the ground, hands clasped behind his back.
Thud!
His face showed no trace of emotion whatsoever.
If the North Sea Sect Lord's face resembled a broken doll, his felt like he'd deliberately excised all emotion from the start.
“Is that you? The master of the Tang Clan, my old friend. It's been a long time.”
“Indeed. Long time no see. Not that I'm thrilled about it.”
“How harsh. I came all this way just to see the face of an old friend I missed.”
“Not planning to take my face with you, are you?”
“Among other things. There are plenty who'd rejoice if I brought your face back to the Heavenly Mountains.”
It was a reunion laced with warmth yet utterly murderous.
Yet neither man betrayed any emotion.
No anger, no grudge, no longing or scorn—none of the usual sentiments.
They simply responded reflexively to each other's words.
Like machines.
「The Dark Lord and the North Sea Sect Lord, huh. Wow.」
「What do the kids these days call this? Self-strong provoking heaven?」
「That's sarcastic.」
「Huh? It was sarcastic? I thought it meant the proud clash in the heavens—as a compliment, obviously?」
「Sigh! To understand the modern mindset, study the slang first! Slang!」
「Nah, nah. It fits them perfectly, doesn't it?」
「One's a gambler who knows about the assassination plot and boldly turns it to his advantage to raise the stakes. The other's a brute who charges in recklessly, fully aware it's a trap.」
「...Hearing it that way makes my head spin.」
「Is the martial world really okay like this? Does it have a future?」
The Dark Lord had approached unnoticed, his eyes flashing sharply.
My companions and I quickly moved behind him.
The North Sea Sect Lord twitched one eyebrow in displeasure but didn't dare step forward.
The Dark Lord had deliberately unclasped his hands behind his back.
Any sudden move, and hidden weapons would fly for sure.
The North Sea Sect Lord's face showed a brief moment of contemplation.
Enter or not?
Stepping in now would spark a fight with the Dark Lord.
He was calculating the stakes of that outcome.
Of course, his clear goal was assassinating the Dark Lord.
But the meeting's purpose wasn't that.
It was for when the welcoming event reached its peak.
Or when all eyes were on the Dark Lord.
Or when the Nine Dragons Branch Family's atmosphere hit its climax.
That's when he'd strike the Dark Lord down directly.
Only by crushing the Dark Lord in the name of the Heavenly Demon God Cult before everyone could he send the righteous sects of Sichuan into despair.
Only then could he proudly announce the Heavenly Demon God Cult's revival and launch a full invasion of the Central Plains.
So facing the Dark Lord here, with only Nine Dragons Branch Family members and young juniors as witnesses, gained him nothing worthwhile.
It would just waste all the effort and time he'd invested in setting up this game.
“...No choice.”
In the end, the North Sea Sect Lord withdrew his loosened hand and clasped it behind his back again.
Then he turned toward the carriage.
“Leaving already?”
At the Dark Lord's question, the North Sea Sect Lord nodded indifferently.
“I came here in the first place just to see that kid over there with my own eyes.”
His gaze remained fixed on me.
“That kid's been a major thorn in my children's plans. The Ghost Valley Lord insisted I see him at least once.”
The Dark Lord gave me a quick once-over and asked him,
“So, what's your impression?”
“The real deal. And enviable. How does the Tang Clan produce so many talents? Tsk!”
For the first time, emotion flickered as he clicked his tongue.
“It's the Tang Clan's good fortune.”
“Cherish that fortune. No matter how vast your wealth, ruin comes in an instant.”
“I'll keep your advice in mind, etched on my bones.”
“As expected of my old friend—such magnanimity. No wonder I liked you. Ah, mind if I retrieve my son's body?”
“Be my guest.”
“My thanks.”
The North Sea Sect Lord personally lifted Gu Min-chae's head and body from the carriage.
“Tsk. Fool. I told you not to overstep your place. And look at you now. You were never worthy to aim that high.”
His hollow gaze glared at Gu Min-chae, then shifted briefly to me.
Then he turned and headed for the door.
The Dark Lord called after his back.
“There will soon be an event at the Nine Dragons Branch Family. Many martial artists will attend this momentous occasion. You should come.”
Shocked gazes turned to the Dark Lord.
「Inviting the guy who wants him dead to his own home? Wow!」
「Is it boldness or actual madness—」
「Guess the top ten masters aren't for just anyone.」
Even the North Sea Sect Lord, caught off guard, paused and turned back.
“I graciously accept the invitation. I'll visit soon. With a fine gift.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Look forward plenty.”
One corner of the North Sea Sect Lord's mouth curled up slightly.
Then he vanished.
Whoosh!
“...Haa.”
“Phew...!”
Only after the chill he'd left fully dissipated did my companions finally exhale in relief.
Dang Gon especially was drenched in cold sweat.
“To rouse that ice block's interest.”
The Dark Lord, hands behind his back again, suddenly thrust his face toward mine.
I flinched, but he leaned in even closer, eyes wide.
“As Young Fusion said, maybe I'm the one thinking wrong? Tricky. I really don't know.”
Young Fusion?
Who?
Dang Chu-yong?
I couldn't make sense of it, but I bowed politely first.
“Dang Un-hwi, descendant of the Nine Dragons Branch Family, pays respects to the Clan Leader. Thank you for saving my life.”
“As long as you bear the Tang name, you're no different from my own child. It was only natural.”
The Sichuan Tang Clan didn't strictly distinguish direct and branch lines.
There might be differences in martial arts training, but if a branch member proved strongest, they could become Clan Leader. It was that flexible.
The Dark Lord was a prime example.
He'd risen to Clan Leader by sheer skill, defeating the previous one.
And now, as Sichuan's supreme master, he was one of the world's absolute powers.
He was the Tang Clan, and the Tang Clan was him—no exaggeration.
So his words were sincere, not empty.
“But you—”
As the Dark Lord started to say more, the world suddenly spun.
...Huh?
Are you okay?
Young Master!
Un-hwi, Young Master!
Ignoring those voices, I blacked out.
* * *
When I opened my eyes again, Dang Gon was staring right at me.
Blink, blink.
“Uwaaak!”
“You're awake... Eeeek!”
I jolted in surprise, and Dang Gon screamed too.
“W-what is it?! Why the sudden scream—"
“Damn! You scared me! I was startled!”
“I was more startled!
“Hey, mister! I open my eyes and there's some creepy old guy's nostrils flaring right in my face! You think that wouldn't startle me?!”
“Who collapses out of nowhere? I was checking your fever out of worry!”
Dang Gon and I pointed at each other, voices raised.
I really thought I'd die of fright!
I'm still a pure innocent who's barely held a girl's hand! I thought it'd be defiled(?) in that instant—how terrifying was that?!
「Young Cult Leader, thank goodness you're safe!!」
「Though you've gained great enlightenment, the long battle seems to have built up unseen fatigue. Perhaps return and rest—」
The spirits, also startled, groveled on the floor, chattering about their worries.
“Anyway, no pulse-checking without my permission from now on, master!”
“Damn it! I'm the aggrieved one here!”
Snicker.
Then a stifled laugh came from the side.
Only then did I realize there were two others in the carriage besides me and Dang Gon.
One was the Dark Lord, the other a woman I'd never seen.
She seemed to be the one laughing... but as our eyes met, her face stiffened, and she whipped her head toward the window.
What's her deal? Definitely a stranger.
“Looking so lively, seems your stamina's fully recovered. I was worried.”
At the Dark Lord's words, I quickly scanned my body.
And let out a deep sigh without realizing.
‘What the...?'
「The Tang Clan's skills are renowned, but I didn't know their healing arts were this masterful.」
「We knew they were adept with poisons and thus medicines, but their understanding of the body is incomparable.」
My body was perfectly healed.
Not just healed—harmonized to perfection.
Mind, energy, and body in exquisite balance; Black Dragon Energy circulating naturally, surging powerfully through my meridians.
Even the Extreme Yin Energy I'd saved for later Upper Dantian development was fully assimilated.
The Upper Dantian's size... expanded by about fifty percent.
Fortuitous encounter.
Utterly unexpected.
And that wasn't all.
“Here.”
I caught what the Dark Lord tossed me.
A Fear Wind Ball.
But not like the one I knew.
Far sturdier, yet lighter, fitting my hand perfectly...
A divine artifact.
“I tweaked it a bit. It didn't quite suit your hand. Now it's quite usable.”
Ah.
Then I recalled the spirits' guess that besides Dang Chu-yong, the Dark Lord might have crafted this Fear Wind Ball.
「Its demonic tool functions seem greatly enhanced.」
「Even Iron Horse Fortress couldn't match this... Wow!」
「Another fortuitous encounter for the Young Cult Leader. The Dark Lord favors you—this is a blessing. Congratulations!」
「Congratulations!!」
How much stronger had I become?
I already itched to test it.
I bowed deeper.
“Thank you. How can I repay this grace—”
“Grace? To me, Ho-san's child is like a grandson.”
Dang Chu-yong's eyes curved into crescents.
“So you knew I helped make it. Old Ban wouldn't have told you—who tipped you off?”
I felt a pang inside but kept a straight face.
“Who else in the world but you and West River Flower Master could craft such a thing, besides Old Ban?”
“Did you oil your tongue? How does a kid talk so smoothly?”
「Heh! The fool knows nothing! Oil the tongue?」
「How can he think that's all?」
「Eloquent, he's eloquent!!」
「The Young Cult Leader's tongue is his greatest talent among many! The devil's tongue itself!」
「Snap out of it, and you're either bursting with rage or handing over your guts willingly—one or the other. Naturally—」
Ignoring the spirits, I smiled as amiably as possible.
“Sincere words from the heart.”
“You really guessed?”
“Embarrassing, but yes.”
“If so, impressive. Means you have a good eye for items.”
The Dark Lord's gaze toward me seemed to shift slightly.
After that, he peppered me with questions, curious about me. Dang Gon beamed, pleased by the attention.
The more the Dark Lord favored me, the better my standing in the Tang Clan.
Meanwhile, the woman beside us looked displeased.
What's her problem?
『Master, who's that woman? Seems close to the Clan Leader. Not just a guard.』
『Huh? Forgot her face after a few years? Can't do that! Disaster!』
『?』
『It's Lady Ye-yuan!』
Ah.
Dang Ye-yuan—the prodigy granddaughter of the Dark Lord?
One of the Tang Clan Twin Flowers, the Poison Flower, praised effusively by the elders alongside Dang Gyu-jin as the Tang Clan's future.
But why does she look so annoyed at me—
『Lady Ye-yuan, your fiancée!』
...Huh? What?
Fiancée?