Chapter 264
Chapter 264
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 264
Chapter Title: Echoes of the Demonic Path
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Nangong Jangcheon's eyebrow twitched.
His expression shook little by little, as if he had heard a name he shouldn't have.
“……Did you say Demonic Path?”
The Demonic Path was a name like a nightmare to those living in the Central Plains.
Dozens of years ago, the Demonic Path had risen all at once, sweeping through the Central Plains and laying it to waste. The terror brought by that massive bloodbath was branded into the sects of the Central Plains like a burn mark.
Records of that horrific massacre naturally flashed through his mind.
Nangong Jangcheon swallowed dryly.
His pupils trembled violently.
The name Demonic Path, which he had heard so often since childhood that his ears had worn out, suddenly popping up like this left him bewildered and absurd.
It was true that the name Demonic Path had left an indelible scar on the martial world of the Central Plains, but that had faded into the distant past.
The fear from back then was still vividly transmitted, but now it was just a record.
A name that had been merely a record had become reality, and his mind couldn't process it.
“……Are you certain?”
Only after a long while did Nangong Jangcheon exhale the breath he had been holding and ask cautiously.
“Is it really the Demonic Path's martial arts?”
Nangong Hyeok shrugged his shoulders.
“Probably? At least there's a connection.”
“Hmm!”
Nangong Jangcheon let out a groan.
Though he said "probably," the conviction in Nangong Hyeok's voice made it feel like his breath had stopped.
‘Demonic Path, of all things.’
It felt like he had opened a door that should never be touched.
The presence of that name was that heavy.
Recalling those legendary records made his fingertips tremble.
Nangong Jangcheon's gaze lightly swept through the empty air.
A sticky unease scratched at his throat.
‘Should I contact the Righteous Heaven Alliance…….’
But no evidence had emerged yet.
The Nangong Clan was still pursuing traces, but the enemies were too thorough and secretive.
He couldn't request help from the Righteous Heaven Alliance without any proof.
The Nangong Clan's name alone wasn't enough to move the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
Nangong Jangcheon furrowed his brow as he mulled over the Demonic Path.
‘Why are such secretive bastards getting tangled up with our clan like this…….’
Nangong Jangcheon's demeanor grew somber, his complexion hardening like stone.
Seeing Nangong Jangcheon's intense reaction, Nangong Hyeok nodded to himself.
‘Yeah, that's normal.’
It hit him anew that the terror of the Demonic Blood Cataclysm still lingered.
He had thought it would just be treated like some old folktale.
‘It's because of all the exaggerations.’
The terror of the Demonic Blood Cataclysm remained intact, but the fabricated truths had already become legends.
Tsk tsk, he involuntarily clicked his tongue.
“Wait a minute.”
“……?”
“But how do you know that?”
Swish.
Nangong Ryong turned his head.
His eyes widened round.
He had naturally accepted Nangong Hyeok's words, but now he wondered.
Nangong Hyeok let out a hollow laugh.
How to explain this?
Oh, I recognized it at a glance!
Do you think I, who fought in the Demonic Blood Cataclysm, wouldn't know?
But explaining it that way would probably get his collar grabbed.
“It's not a name to joke about. It must be spoken with the utmost caution, considering the storms it could stir even on flat ground.”
“Hmm…….”
“If it's a joke, say so now. It might be more than you can handle.”
Nangong Hyeok stared straight at Nangong Jangcheon before shrugging.
“He said so.”
“What?”
“Black Flame Demonic Beast of the Demonic Path.”
“……!”
Nangong Jangcheon looked at Nangong Hyeok with shocked eyes before composing his expression.
‘This kid isn't one to spout nonsense.’
He was extreme, but not the type to joke about something like this.
‘But words alone aren't enough.’
In a situation where even the existence of the Demonic Path wasn't confirmed, there was nothing to do.
The ripple effect of that name could shake the entire Central Plains.
In the end, the Nangong Clan would have to uncover the Demonic Path's presence on its own and then inform the Righteous Heaven Alliance to request aid……
“You need to prepare.”
“Prepare?”
“Yes! You don't think those guys will just let it go, do you?”
Nangong Jangcheon nodded.
“I've already given the orders. We're tracking their traces and strengthening our defenses…….”
“That won't cut it.”
“Hm? Do you have another idea?”
“Leave it to me.”
Leave it to him?
What?
Nangong Jangcheon stared at Nangong Hyeok with wide eyes.
“A sect's power comes from its experts. We need to raise experts and devour them!”
“You think experts fall from the sky?”
“Leave it to me. I may not make them true experts, but I'll get them to the point where they won't die getting hit anywhere.”
Nangong Hyeok said to Nangong Jangcheon with fire in his eyes.
“At least to the survival level of the Thunder Dragon Squad.”
This bastard, how many can even endure that!
“Just gather all the elders and hand them over to me!”
Elders?
The image of the Thunder Dragon Squad rolling around under Nangong Hyeok flashed in Nangong Jangcheon's mind.
The sight of the elders and leaders tumbling at his feet brushed through his thoughts.
His face paled as he pictured them all foaming at the mouth and crawling on the floor.
Seeing Nangong Hyeok's merciless gaze made the sense of crisis surge even more.
“No, no way.”
“Yes?”
“Nooooo!”
What kind of madness is this for the elders in their twilight years, you punk!
Nangong Jangcheon looked at Nangong Hyeok with flustered eyes.
“No? Why not?”
“…….”
“What?!”
Nangong Hyeok leaned forward as if to grab Nangong Jangcheon's collar.
His eyes burned as if he would tear apart or beat to death anything in front of him.
This kid looks like he'll soon not recognize his own father.
Nangong Jangcheon glanced sideways.
Nangong Ryong was looking away into the distance.
‘……The eldest has had it rough.’
Ah, no wonder there are dark circles under his eyes.
Nangong Jangcheon cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking calmly.
“They're people who have already reached a certain realm. They're experts who can't be casually interfered with in their training.”
Experts my ass!
They'll only snap out of it after getting stabbed by Demonic Path bastards!
“Father.”
“Yes.”
“Nothing is impossible. Beat them and it's done. Do experts not feel pain when hit? They hurt too.”
That's the problem, you punk!
Nangong Jangcheon looked at Nangong Hyeok with bewildered eyes.
Ah, his eyes are half-rolled back.
Dangerous.
Nangong Jangcheon said firmly.
“No. Go back.”
“No, how can you say that? It's the Demonic Path! We have to prepare! We can't handle it!”
“Will the clan elders follow your words? No matter how superior your martial arts or how many merits you've earned, teaching and meddling in martial arts is a different matter.”
“There is no order in learning!”
“You punk?”
As Nangong Jangcheon glared, Nangong Hyeok pouted his lips.
Nangong Jangcheon forcibly calmed his mind and spoke steadily.
“The martial world has etiquette and propriety. Do you think it's easy to teach someone by ignoring seniority?”
“…….”
“Even if you're better than them, their own martial arts have already reached a realm. Rash interference could even be poison, which is why I'm against it.”
Nangong Hyeok sighed inwardly.
‘Ah, so frustrating. That damn seniority!’
Etiquette and propriety won't save you from sword thrusts!
But the Nangong Clan was a prestigious orthodox sect.
They couldn't ignore the hierarchy based on seniority.
Even if the overall atmosphere was freer than the Nine Great Sects, it was even stricter in this regard.
It was hard for clan elders to learn martial arts from someone twenty or thirty years younger.
"Not ashamed to learn from those beneath you," it was said.
It meant there were lessons even from those inferior.
Of course.
Everyone in the world is a teacher.
But why had such an obvious truth become an idiom?
Because it's hard.
If it were easy, dogs and cows would be experts, and no one would be ashamed to learn.
The orthodox martial world, which valued face, found it even harder to do such things.
Frankly, which adult wants to roll in the mud with punks thirty years younger?
“So it's a no?”
“It's not possible.”
“Yes, I figured.”
“It's not like everyone is just playing around as you think. Due to the string of incidents, the clan's experts are already on high alert and working hard.”
With Nangong Baek's rebellion and Nangong Hyeok's successive exploits, the Nangong Clan's warriors were changing.
Especially the warriors stimulated by the Thunder Dragon Squad's rise were training day and night without rest.
The Thunder Dragon Squad's exploits, once scorned by the clan, had become a good stimulant.
The clan was changing, preparing to soar higher.
At Nangong Jangcheon's firm expression and tone, Nangong Hyeok exhaled lowly.
‘So my words won't get through at all?’
Damn, I can't tell the guys walking diligently to run instead.
‘Then I have to make them run on their own!’
But to make them run on their own, I have to suffer first?
‘Damn it. Fine, the Nangong Clan has to grow together.’
Sigh, such is my fate.
I have to climb, climb.
‘For now, handle the spirit pills first. Then immediately beat the old folks.’
Nangong Hyeok shrugged and said.
“Yes, that makes sense.”
“Yes, your feelings are…… Hm? It makes sense?”
“Yes.”
……Why is this guy backing down so easily?
Just moments ago, he looked ready to flip the table and charge.
Nangong Jangcheon eyed Nangong Hyeok suspiciously.
Nangong Hyeok still had a listless face.
After observing his intentions for a moment, Nangong Jangcheon soon sighed and said.
“Fine. You must be tired from the long trip, so rest.”
“Yes, sir!”
Up!
Nangong Hyeok shot up from his seat as if he had been waiting.
With strength in his eyes, Nangong Hyeok left the Spear Palace without another word.
Nangong Jangcheon let out a hollow laugh.
That kid, his eyes seemed a bit rolled back just now?
Even when he listens, it feels uneasy.
Nangong Jangcheon cleared his throat and turned to Nangong Ryong.
Nangong Ryong stared at him blankly.
“No. It's too early to inform anyone yet.”
“…….”
“I know too. That he's not lying. But for the Righteous Heaven Alliance to move, we need solid evidence, so we have to investigate first.”
Nangong Ryong nodded.
Nangong Jangcheon lightly patted Nangong Ryong's shoulder.
“You've worked hard. Go rest. Father will handle this.”
Nangong Ryong quietly rose and left the Clan Head's chamber.
Nangong Jangcheon turned his head to look out the window.
The Nangong Clan's blue roofs, as if the azure sky had settled upon them, came into view.
“Demonic Path, Demonic Path…….”
Spotting Nangong Hyeok running off, kicking up dust in the distance, Nangong Jangcheon sighed again.
“Demonic Path or whatever, that kid is the biggest problem.”
What accident is he planning to cause this time……
* * *
Ha Baek was ceaselessly refining spirit pills in the workshop Nangong Hyeok had built next to the Medical Hall for pill refining.
Having devoted himself to pill refining for over ten hours a day, his complexion was not just haggard but pitch-black and deathly.
‘Spirit pills! Amazing spirit pills!’
Nangong Hyeok had promised to teach him the Golden Immortal Pill's refining method once he completed the task given before leaving for Sichuan.
For that one promise, he could even laugh through the endless all-nighters.
It was while he was engrossed in making the spirit pills.
Boom!
The door flew open as if it would shatter, and Nangong Hyeok appeared.
“Ha Baek!”
“Eek, you scared me!”
Ha Baek jumped in fright and turned his head.
Nangong Hyeok glared at him with fire in his eyes.
No, he was just looking, but the madness in his eyes made Ha Baek's legs tremble.
“Y-Young Master?”
Nangong Hyeok, eyes blazing, blurted out.
“We have work to do!”
“Pardon?”
Back after so long, and the first words are about more work?
Regardless of Ha Baek's despair on his haggard face, Nangong Hyeok's eyes burned fiercely.