Chapter 280
Chapter 280
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 282
Chapter Title: Denied Reinforcements
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Nangong Sang, seated as the representative elder of the Nangong Family in the Orthodox Alliance, was startled by the urgent missive that suddenly flew into his residence. He widened his eyes in shock.
His hand, clutching the missive, trembled faintly.
“……War?”
The densely packed text clearly stated as much.
It reported that the unorthodox sects in the north were marching on the Nangong Family all at once and requested aid from the Orthodox Alliance.
His mind went blank.
What was this bolt from the blue in the peaceful Anhui Province?
Why were these unorthodox sects, with whom they had no quarrel, suddenly attacking?
Why had such a heaven-sent calamity struck the Nangong Family, which had anticipated only good days ahead?
“This isn’t the time for this.”
Nangong Sang quickly gathered his wits and rushed to the elders’ hall.
The Nangong Family was in dire straits right now.
The sects converging on Anhui Province were no ordinary foes.
How desperate must the situation be to send an urgent missive begging for the Orthodox Alliance’s help?
‘That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?’
When he arrived at the elders’ hall, people were already gathered inside.
A flicker of agitation crossed Nangong Sang’s face.
His voice carried a slight tremor.
“How did you all know to gather here?”
Perhaps it was only natural.
Would the Orthodox Alliance, which concerned itself with all matters great and small in the world, be unaware of such a grave event?
Nangong Sang composed his expression.
The elders spoke one by one.
“We came because we heard something major happened to the Nangong Family.”
“They were saying the south felt off, and sure enough, this is what happened.”
“Hmm…… We need a precise explanation of the situation.”
The elders of the Nine Great Sects turned their gazes to Nangong Sang.
Nangong Sang steadied his breathing.
He had to convey the situation calmly and carefully to achieve his goal.
“I assume you’ve all heard the rough details via transmissions. Currently, dozens of sects, including the White Cloud Sword Sect of Jiangxi Province and Ghost Valley Manor of Fujian Province, are advancing on Anhui Province.”
Nangong Sang’s low voice filled the elders’ hall.
The elders’ expressions subtly hardened.
“Well, that’s the situation.”
“The southern unorthodox sects are suddenly stirring up trouble.”
“What reason do those bastards have to rampage like this?”
Sighs erupted, laced with underlying anger.
Amid the growing murmurs, Nangong Sang cautiously continued.
“……The Nangong Family has requested support. Please help us obtain the Alliance Leader’s approval to dispatch available forces as swiftly as possible.”
Nangong Sang spoke in a firm tone, sweeping his gaze over the elders.
The murmurs gradually died down.
It was a heavy silence that made the earlier commotion seem out of place.
The elders’ expressions and the atmosphere sank as gravely as the quiet.
The initial excitement had faded, replaced by an indifferent attitude.
Nangong Sang’s face subtly stiffened.
After a brief silence, the Heavenly Emptiness Scholar of the Kongtong Sect tilted his head.
“Why are they heading for the Nangong Family?”
“Nothing has been confirmed yet, but they’re approaching with clear hostility.”
“Clear hostility…… That’s too vague to serve as proof that they’re attacking the Nangong Family.”
The Heavenly Emptiness Scholar responded indifferently.
Nangong Sang’s eye twitched faintly.
“……Regardless of their intentions, the Beggars’ Sect guarantees they’re heading toward the Nangong Family.”
“What use is invoking a nonexistent Beggars’ Sect? We should first summon their envoy to ascertain the truth, then decide on support. Don’t you agree?”
The Heavenly Emptiness Scholar looked at the other elders with a blunt gaze.
Though no one replied, it was as good as agreement.
Nangong Sang’s expression wavered.
‘These guys can’t be serious?’
“……Can you provide aid?”
The elders did not respond readily.
Nangong Sang’s gaze turned to the Wudang Sect elder seated at the head, True Man Heo Won.
Heo Won stroked his lush beard and met Nangong Sang’s eyes.
Overwhelmed by the deeply沉 gaze, Nangong Sang faltered unwittingly.
“This old man thinks not. A great peng does not flap its wings lightly.”
“……Does that mean you won’t provide support?”
“I mean we must be cautious. Considering the ripple effects of the Orthodox Alliance’s actions, we cannot move rashly. Think of the chaos that could arise if we do.”
Nangong Sang’s jaw clenched.
“Our family is a duly affiliated martial clan of the Orthodox Alliance!”
“The Alliance’s power must be used for the justice and greater good of the martial world. To that end, we must first thoroughly investigate the truth and understand the unorthodox horde’s intentions.”
“With unorthodox sects rising in rebellion, who will step forward if not the Orthodox Alliance? Doesn’t the Alliance have a duty to protect its member sects?”
“I didn’t say we won’t help. I’m merely saying there’s an order to things.”
True Man Heo Won regarded Nangong Sang with an inscrutable gaze.
Nangong Sang’s face flushed red then pale.
His eyes scanned the other elders.
The Nine Great Sects’ elders coughed lowly and averted their gazes.
“I agree with True Man Heo Won.”
“Nothing has happened yet, so pulling the Alliance’s forces lacks justification.”
“It’s not just the Nangong Family that’s urgent. Chaos erupts constantly across the land, and they all await the Alliance’s hand.”
“We’re not saying no support at all!”
Nangong Sang ground his teeth.
‘They never intended to step in from the start!’
Trembling with rage, he then wore a hollow expression.
He hadn’t expected the Nine Great Sects to comply readily, but this level of dismissal was unforeseen.
True Man Heo Won stroked his lush beard and looked at Nangong Sang.
‘There’s no reason to sacrifice Wudang disciples for the Nangong Family, is there?’
If the Alliance’s internally trained warriors couldn’t be mobilized, they’d have to use their sects’ own forces, but the Nine Great Sects saw no need to suffer losses just to aid the Nangong Family.
There was no loyalty or sense of justice toward them, nor any benefit to gain.
Though the Nine Great Sects claimed to act on grand principles of upholding martial world justice, how many knew those principles were filled with calculations of profit and loss?
Their meticulous weighing of gains allowed the Nine Great Sects to stand atop the world.
‘Deploying a sect’s forces isn’t a decision I can make alone.’
It required consensus from the sect leader and elders at headquarters to dispatch disciples.
It wasn’t wrong that neither the Orthodox Alliance nor the Nine Great Sects moved easily.
True Man Heo Won said quietly.
“Then I’ll convey today’s discussion to the Alliance Leader well. We recognize the gravity of the situation, so expect good news.”
“…….”
“Then let’s end the meeting here. Ah, True Man Baek Jong. If it’s not too much trouble, could you contact the Beggars’ Sect and clarify the situation?”
True Man Baek Jong, about to leave, glanced at Nangong Sang and nodded.
“Yes. I’ll look into it as quickly as possible.”
The elders dispersed like an ebbing tide.
The Hebei Peng Family and Moyong Family elders approached the dejected Nangong Sang.
“Nangong Elder, I know it’s disappointing, but please understand. I’ll contact my family.”
“They’re sects allied with the Moyong Family. Not sure if it’ll help, but it’s the best I can do for now.”
The two elders handed Nangong Sang a piece of paper.
Looking at them bitterly, Nangong Sang clasped his fists and bowed deeply.
“Thank you.”
The two regarded him with similar expressions before leaving.
Nangong Sang stared at the paper in his hand with a despairing look.
“……What am I supposed to say?”
Thinking of the Nangong Family members waiting desperately for the Alliance’s response, he couldn’t bring himself to move.
“Our family…… might collapse…….”
A deep shadow fell over Nangong Sang’s face.
How on earth could they overcome this crisis?
* * *
Nangong Hyuk looked at Ha Baek with a calm demeanor.
“That’s all?”
“W-well, time was short…… I made as many as I could.”
“So seven pills? Even after drawing my blood, just seven?”
Ha Baek bowed his head like a criminal, wearing an awkward expression.
“No, I told you to make them, and you only managed seven? Who’s supposed to use these? It’s not like materials were lacking.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Come on, I said we needed them. Wow, only seven pills?”
“I’m sorry, I really am sorry for only managing seven…….”
As he spoke, Ha Baek blinked.
Wait a minute.
‘……Spirit pills of Divine Wood grade— even the Orthodox Alliance produces maybe fifty a year?’
If he’d made seven in such a short time alone, shouldn’t he be praised?
Then why was he bowing his head like a criminal?
“No, Young Master! This is…….”
“Whatever, it’ll have to do since we’re in a rush.”
“…….”
“You gave me the Golden Immortal Pill recipe, drew my blood, the Great Return Pill, even the incomplete Golden Immortal Pills.”
He’s acting so incredibly apologetic, this guy……
Nangong Hyuk let out a light sigh.
“Sigh. Sorry, I guess my expectations were too high. I thought you were the Orthodox Alliance’s top physician, but my standards were off. Sorry. If the Alliance’s best can’t do it, who can?”
Ha Baek’s pupils shook.
‘……This stingy, parched man thought so highly of me?’
Orthodox Alliance’s top physician……
He didn’t even register the qualifiers.
Only those words stuck firmly in his ears.
Of course, he had become a beast physician at a young age and was a key figure in the Medical Hall.
He was very likely to become the Alliance’s Medical Hall Leader someday, so it wasn’t wrong.
Ha Baek clenched his fist tightly.
His well-developed forearms from various labors bulged with power.
“Yes! You’re right! As the top physician, how could this be all? I can do more.”
“Really?”
“Of course! I’m the Orthodox Alliance’s top physician!”
“For real?”
“Yes, absolutely!”
Nangong Hyuk seized Ha Baek’s hand.
“Urgh! I’m impressed by your resolve. The Nangong Family’s fate rests in your hands!”
“I’m working with a strong sense of duty!”
“As expected of the Orthodox Alliance’s top physician! No wonder I recruited you!”
“Recruited…… Ah, yes! That’s right! Haha!”
“Then put some effort into it.”
Nangong Hyuk patted Ha Baek’s back lightly.
Ha Baek’s shoulders straightened proudly.
“Don’t worry! How many do you need?”
Nangong Hyuk’s lips curved into a sly grin.
Numbers flashed quickly through his mind.
‘First, three from the Thunder Dragon Squad, Peng siblings, Beggars’ Sect beggar, Tang Family? Yeah, Tang Family too. And…….’
Nangong Hyuk grinned.
“About fifty?”
“Yes. Five would…… Yes?”
Ha Baek blinked.
Did I hear that wrong?
No, he must’ve misspoke.
“Five…… right?”
Nangong Hyuk clapped his hands.
“Ahhh, I said it wrong.”
“Right? Five…….”
“Sixty.”
“…….”
“You can do it, right? My top physician?”
Ha Baek stared at Nangong Hyuk with a blank face.
……Asking him alone to produce sixty spirit pills that even the Orthodox Alliance makes only about fifty of per year?
‘Ah. I get it.’
Saying an impossible number meant one thing.
‘……He’s just telling me to drop dead and churn them out.’
Make them any way possible, without even breathing……
Why did Nangong Hyuk’s face look like a demon’s silhouette?
That demon smiled gently.
“Then I’ll take these and use them?”
“…….”
“Now sixty left.”
Heh heh heh……
Leaving behind Ha Baek, who laughed as if losing his mind, Nangong Hyuk pocketed the Divine Wood Pills and headed to the training ground.
‘Gotta use them where it’s urgent for now.’
With enemies at the doorstep, they needed to bolster their inner strength first.
Nangong Hyuk entered the training ground.