Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Victory Out of Reach
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As the preliminaries of the Orthodox Heaven Alliance's martial tournament neared their end, the heavyweights of the Five Great Families gathered in one place.
In the heavily sunken atmosphere, Elder Moyong Chang of the Moyong Family furrowed his brow slightly and opened his mouth.
"What in the world... How could this be?"
The elders of the Five Great Families present let out low breaths.
"From the Nine Great Sects, twenty made it to the finals—twenty."
"Hmph, didn't five of ours advance as well?"
"Only five! More than half got eliminated—more than half! Word is already spreading. They say the Five Great Families lost to the Nine Great Sects!"
That was why the Five Great Families' heavyweights couldn't simply rejoice, even though their younger generation had advanced to the main tournament stage by defeating the Nine Great Sects' disciples.
In conclusion, the Nine Great Sects' younger experts had advanced to the finals in overwhelming numbers.
It was the worst result since the Orthodox Heaven Alliance's martial tournament began.
For the Five Great Families of the world to send only five into a main tournament of thirty-two competitors was a disgrace.
On top of that, most had fallen to the Nine Great Sects, making it an even more painful outcome.
People sighed.
Having suffered a crushing defeat to the Nine Great Sects that split the Orthodox Heaven Alliance, the mood couldn't help but sink.
"Even worse than three years ago..."
"It's turning into the Nine Great Sects' party, bit by bit."
"Hmph! At least one from each advanced, didn't they?"
"The Huangbo Family got completely wiped out..."
"Urgh!"
The faces of the Huangbo Family elders rotted away.
The Huangbo Family was the only one among the Five Great Families whose participants were entirely eliminated.
They would normally raise their voices, but now they just clamped their mouths shut.
Moyong Chang vented his frustration.
"This is all because the Nine Great Sects pulled strings! We knew they'd try something, but we never imagined they'd rig the brackets like this. Those petty bastards!"
"It's not certain, so slandering them..."
"Then you think this is coincidence? With so many participants, how is every opponent our kids face from the Nine Great Sects?"
The seated elders nodded.
It was a situation too incomprehensible to chalk up to mere coincidence.
The elders merely sighed.
In any case, what was done couldn't be undone.
Even they, well-versed in the Orthodox Heaven Alliance's affairs, hadn't noticed a thing until it happened, leaving them flustered.
Moyong Chang looked frustrated, then turned his head.
"But it's a relief. The Peng Family Head came in person! Please say something. If we stay like this, the Five Great Families' prestige will hit the dirt."
The elders' gazes turned to Peng Tianwei.
Peng Tianwei had entered the Orthodox Heaven Alliance abruptly just as the preliminaries began.
They'd been caught off guard not expecting the Peng Family Head from Hebei to come himself, but in this situation, nothing could be more reassuring.
As the leader of one of the Five Great Families, the Peng Family Head had the status to raise his voice against the Nine Great Sects' elders in the alliance.
Moreover, the Hebei Peng Family, at the peak of its power, rivaled even Shaolin, Wudang, and Huashan.
Peng Tianwei quietly opened his mouth.
All eyes focused on him.
What would he say?
The Peng Family Head was bold, composed yet sharp as a blade.
His build belied a quick mind, so he must have a way to counter the Nine Great Sects' schemes.
That was what the elders thought.
Peng Tianwei spoke with a sullen face.
"Victory's already out of reach anyway, so what..."
"Yes, victory's out of... What?!"
Victory out of reach?
The main tournament hadn't even started?
"W-what do you mean? That's why we're trying to stop the Nine Great Sects from pulling any more strings, isn't it?"
"What good would blocking the Nine Great Sects do? Might be better if they block us."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Forget the Nine Great Sects. Think about how to avoid the Nangong Family."
...What?
The elders' eyes widened as they stared at Peng Tianwei.
What nonsense was this?
Worry about the Nangong Family?
No, he was the head of one of the Five Great Families—he couldn't say that!
"Is it... because of that Nangong Hyeok kid?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
The elders gasped at Peng Tianwei's curt reply.
For the Hebei Peng Family Head to say such a thing!
Peng Tianwei took a sip of tea and let out a deep sigh.
The elders forced awkward laughs.
A face already given up before the tournament even began.
Moyong Chang showed clear displeasure.
"Wei is impressive, sure, but there's no guarantee that kid will win it all, is there?"
"Yes, exactly. It would be wonderful—truly wonderful—if a winner came from the Five Great Families! But what we should be wary of is the Nine Great Sects!"
"Of course! The Nine Great Sects are teeming with hidden young experts!"
The elders began raising veins on their necks.
Some seemed absolutely unwilling to consider the Nangong Family a threat.
"The Nangong Family is family anyway—one family! We should be wary of the Nine Great Sects!"
"The Nine Great Sects are clearly grinding their teeth this time. They sent out a horde of geniuses we've never seen before! We need to prepare countermeasures!"
"The Nine Great Sects are full of prodigies rivaling the Four Saints or Seven Dragons—the Nine Great Sects! Now's not the time to worry about the Nangong Family!"
The elders raised their voices like a blaze.
Peng Tianwei let out an awkward laugh.
'You only learn pain after getting hit.'
Wasn't there a saying like that?
Everyone has grand plans—until they get smacked.
'Victory's that monster's anyway.'
Even Peng Tianwei had never seen such a monster in his life.
A being beyond common sense, perhaps.
Peng Tianwei smiled bitterly.
'I hope our Zhonghe avoids that guy in the early rounds.'
Please don't meet early.
As high as possible, honorably...
Even avoiding Nangong Hyeok, Nangong Ryong remains, so it's pointless.
'Sigh, Nangong Family fields everywhere. Damn it!'
How did it come to this?
Peng Tianwei let out a sigh full of worry.
* * *
Slurp!
"Kwaaaah! Good stuff! Hahaha!"
Nangong Wi-gyeong downed his cup in one go and laughed heartily.
He naturally tilted the bottle to refill it.
"Kuh! The booze hits sweet—sweet! Our family should've seen this joyous occasion, haha!"
And another cup.
"Kuh!"
What's this?
Empty cup on his head?
Was that a Nangong Family elder?
His drinking prowess was no joke.
Nangong Hyeok forced an awkward laugh as he watched Nangong Wi-gyeong.
"Oh, my Ryong, Hyeok! You're raising our family's prestige! Haha!"
"......"
"You should've seen the Five Great Families' sour faces. Heh, that damn Huangbo Gong nearly cried—thinking about it still thrills me, thrills!"
"......Not the Nine Great Sects?"
"What about the Nine Great Sects? What'd they do wrong? Why?"
Huh?
Nangong Hyeok stared at Nangong Wi-gyeong in bewilderment.
Weren't the Nine Great Sects the Five Great Families' main enemies?
'Well, the Five Great Families probably did more to us.'
Had the Nangong Family ever been treated that way by fellow Five Great Families?
They'd been openly antagonized by the Five Great Families, so the grudge might run deeper there.
Just recalling a few incidents with the Hebei Peng Family was enough.
Nangong Wi-gyeong muttered as he tilted his cup.
"Thinking of all I've endured, I want to grab those bastards by the hair!"
Slurp!
"......Next time we meet, break their damn legs! So they never stand again!"
Isn't that a grudge?
"Twist their necks..."
The sake's too much?
"It's a tournament anyway—what's fair? The jianghu's always been about schemes..."
Sigh, the Nangong Family's thriving.
This guy's straight-up unorthodox—unorthodox.
Slurp slurp! Slurp!
Nangong Wi-gyeong gulped down cups, his flushed face rambling on.
'How long is he gonna keep pounding it?'
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue at Nangong Wi-gyeong flailing with half-lidded eyes.
He abruptly stood.
Nangong Ryong blankly watched him.
"Let's go out and grab a drink ourselves. You wanna listen to this booze-soaked old man's stories forever?"
"......Manners."
"Manners can freeze. I deserve manners!"
Who is this punk with blood not even dry on his head throwing a tantrum?!
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue at the fully sloshed Nangong Wi-gyeong.
"Adult..."
"A slurring drunk ain't an adult! Dog—dog!"
"......"
Nod.
Nangong Ryong nodded and stood.
Nangong Hyeok grumbled as he headed out.
"If you're crashing sacred rest time, at least pass out nicely, geez!"
"Where..."
"Don't know. Anywhere's better than here!"
Nangong Hyeok strode forward.
Three members of the Thunder Dragon Squad, scribbling away in one corner of the residence, shot to their feet.
"Where to?"
"Drinking! To the tavern."
"We'll guide you."
"You know the area?"
"Full prior recon done. Haha!"
Geon Cheon-hwi took the lead, guiding Nangong Hyeok to a tavern.
The Orthodox Heaven Alliance had several famous taverns.
Nangong Hyeok's group entered Yicheon Tavern, the largest among them.
It was already packed full of people who'd come for a drink after the matches.
As Nangong Hyeok entered, gazes pierced like arrows.
The patrons widened their eyes upon spotting the Nangong Family attire.
"Nangong Family."
"Hmm! Isn't that the younger expert who beat the prodigy?"
"......The handsome guy in the back?"
"No, the skinny one up front."
"Huh? Looks like he couldn't catch an ant. For real?"
I can hear you, you punks.
In the old days, Yicheon Tavern would've been a bloodbath.
But Nangong Hyeok's goal was just to drink here.
Nangong Hyeok glanced around.
"Seats, seats... none? Waiter! No seats?!"
The waiter hurried over.
"Aigoo! Young masters! Those waiting got seated first—could you wait a bit? Just a quarter-hour."
"A quarter-hour? Fine, we'll wait."
Better than going back to Nangong Wi-gyeong by a hundredfold.
Nangong Hyeok nodded readily, when a Taoist in a blue robe entered his view.
'Jeomchang Sect's Jongbaek?'
Jongbaek of Jeomchang Sect smiled faintly.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Jongbaek of Jeomchang Sect. You look hungry—take this seat first."
"For real, Daoist?"
"Haha, yes."
"Oh! Won't hold back then. I'll buy you one later."
Nangong Hyeok chuckled and dashed to the empty seat before Jongbaek could respond.
"Bro! What're you doing over there?"
Nangong Hyeok looked puzzled at Nangong Ryong standing blankly.
"What? Saying thanks or something?"
Must be really grateful?
He's standing a while.
Nangong Hyeok narrowed his eyes and approached.
Jongbaek smiled leisurely.
"Long time no see, Young Master Nangong Ryong."
"Long time no see."
"Haha, your skills have improved leaps and bounds since three years ago. Watched your matches well."
"Three years passed... just got better."
"Seems you've got more words now too."
"......"
Nangong Ryong's brow twitched faintly.
Jongbaek spoke with a relaxed smile.
"Not sure if it's good luck or bad, but we might meet in the mid-finals."
"......It'll be different from before."
"Indeed, your sword feels heavier and faster than before. Not sure if it'll reach me, though. Hahaha!"
Nangong Ryong clenched his fist tight.
Jongbaek laughed as he turned away, and Nangong Ryong's gaze chased his back.
Suddenly, Nangong Hyeok entered his view.
"What? You know him?"
Nod.
"How?"
"Match... three years ago."
"Lost, huh?"
"......Lost."
"Got wrecked?"
"......"
Oh? Look at those eyes?
Tension locked Nangong Ryong's jaw, his face hardening like stone.
Like he'd been mugged in a back alley—wronged and furious.
"But now..."
Nangong Hyeok glanced at Jongbaek mingling with his senior brothers behind.
In that instant, a razor-sharp aura stretched to here.
Nangong Hyeok scratched his cheek.
'......Damn, this one's gonna be tough.'
Er... um.
His gaze turned to the frozen Nangong Ryong.
"Let's drink."
Nangong Hyeok patted Nangong Ryong's shoulder and turned.
Even as Nangong Ryong turned, he stared at the distant Jongbaek.
Uncharacteristically, his eyes blazed.