Chapter 308
Chapter 308
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 312
Chapter Title: The Demon Slayers' Belated Arrival
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A strange tension settled over the hall alongside a heavy silence as Nangong Jangcheon fixed a weighty gaze on Geon Pilsang without a word.
‘Showing off, are they?’
The Demon Slaying Squad was one of the top elite forces among the outer affiliates of the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
With strength surpassing that of most mid-sized or smaller sects, it was precisely the kind of unit the alliance could trot out to make a display of power.
“I understand the alliance’s intentions well. Thank you for making such a difficult decision.”
“The elders set everything else aside and dispatched us given the dire and urgent situation facing your Nangong family.”
“Indeed. We are grateful.”
Nangong Jangcheon’s gaze flicked briefly to the side.
The face of Nangong Sang, an elder of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, flushed red then pale.
He had fought on the battlefield alongside mid-sized sects and ronin.
What else could it mean that the Demon Slaying Squad had arrived later than an elder?
The Nangong family retainers shot unkind glances at Geon Pilsang and his squad.
They too could now guess the reason for the Demon Slayers’ arrival.
But none dared voice such dissatisfaction openly toward the mighty Righteous Heaven Alliance that shook the world.
Nangong Jangcheon drew a steadying breath and spoke.
“You must be weary from rushing here. We’ll prepare quarters for you in the inner compound.”
“Thank you. Then…”
“Gold Division Head, please guide them.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
Geon Pilsang was straightening from his bow, inwardly pleased, when Kim Gwang-mo set down his ledger to escort the Demon Slayers.
“Coming in late to steal the show, huh? For real.”
The hall was nearly silent, so his mutter—no, it was practically spoken outright—reached everyone’s ears.
Geon Pilsang doubted his own hearing.
‘What did he just say…?’
His gaze turned toward the source of the voice.
“Tired my ass. What’re you tired from? Your face is gleaming like you oiled it up.”
Geon Pilsang’s eyebrow twitched.
The words went beyond sarcasm—they were a blatant challenge to fight—yet who in the world would dare hurl such insults at the Demon Slaying Squad?
“Y-Young Master!”
“S-Stop. That’s…”
“Cover his mouth!”
The Thunder Dragon Squad and Peng Cheonwi hurriedly tried to silence Nangong Hyeok.
‘What the hell kind of strength is this!’
‘His arm’s really broken?’
“Hngh!”
Nangong Hyeok, who’d thrashed the hardest and gotten hurt the most, wouldn’t budge.
“Ah, let go! My arm’s broken—why grab it there, you bastards—!”
“It’s the Righteous Heaven Alliance! The Righteous Heaven Alliance!”
“So what if it’s the Righteous Heaven Alliance! Does that make arriving late into arriving early? I’m just saying what’s true, why—mmph!”
“Anyone got sleeping pills? Sleeping pills?”
Nangong Ryong and the three Thunder Dragon Squad members sweated bullets.
It took five or six from the Thunder Dragon Squad piling on to finally calm Nangong Hyeok’s struggling.
Nangong Ryong quietly stepped in front to block him.
‘Damn, he’s mouthing off even to the Righteous Heaven Alliance?’
He knew Nangong Hyeok’s temper was no joke, but this was a live demonstration of what it meant to see nothing before his eyes.
Was it actually harder to shut him up than dealing with unorthodox riffraff?
Nangong Hyeok glared at Geon Pilsang, huffing and puffing.
Geon Pilsang let out a wry chuckle.
“…The Mad Dragon, Nangong young hero.”
“Mmph! Mmph? You know me? Me?”
“There’s no warrior in the current martial world unaware of the finest among the rising generation. They say his temper burns hot—truly, his youthful vigor runs strong.”
Geon Pilsang’s final remark was directed at Nangong Jangcheon.
Nangong Jangcheon gave a faint smile.
“Our retainers got swept up in the battle, and the boy got worked up. Please understand.”
“At that age, it’s to be expected.”
“Gold Division Head. Escort our guests to the inner compound at once.”
Kim Gwang-mo snapped out of his daze watching the scene.
He and the division heads guided Geon Pilsang and the Demon Slayers toward the inner compound.
As he left the outer compound, he stole a glance at Nangong Hyeok.
‘The Mad Dragon.’
Geon Pilsang gave a subtle look at the fuming Nangong Hyeok before turning away.
Nangong Hyeok bit the hand of Jang Woong clamped over his mouth and shook it off.
“Aaagh! D-Did he bite!?”
“Making us look bad like that? Hey, where you going! Hey! We helped you! Work, do your job!”
“P-Please calm down. They’ll hear!”
“I want them to hear! Damn it, even the Family Heads are working—why should some lackeys get to rest in the inner compound!?”
Nangong Hyeok yelled furiously, jabbing his finger at Geon Pilsang’s retreating back.
There was no way Geon Pilsang, walking ahead, hadn’t heard.
He paused for a moment, then clenched his lips tight and followed Kim Gwang-mo into the inner compound.
Nangong Jangcheon reined in Nangong Hyeok.
“Enough!”
“Yes, I was just about to stop.”
“…”
“Tch.”
Nangong Hyeok smacked his lips in disappointment, then turned meek as if he’d never exploded.
Everyone, including Nangong Jangcheon, was stunned by the sudden shift.
Nangong Hyeok scowled toward where the Demon Slayers had gone.
‘Don’t like ’em.’
He’d never liked the Righteous Heaven Alliance, past or present.
If others could read his mind, they’d be baffled and incredulous.
Throwing a fit at the leader of the alliance’s Demon Slaying Squad just because he didn’t like them?
Nangong Hyeok tsked and scowled.
‘But they’re the Righteous Heaven Alliance, huh?’
He’d planned to pick a fight and squeeze them for all they were worth as an excuse.
Nangong Jangcheon quietly scolded him.
“Don’t act so rashly. They are the alliance’s envoys. Your behavior nearly put us all in an awkward spot.”
“Yes.”
“…For now, you all head to the medical hall and get treated. We’ll handle things here.”
A trace of subtle concern laced Nangong Jangcheon’s voice.
Deep down, he felt a bit satisfied too.
Wasn’t it that youthful fire that let him speak out even against the Demon Slaying Squad?
Nangong Hyeok started to say something but turned away.
Those expecting more trouble watched him anxiously, then sighed in relief.
Nangong Hyeok glanced smoothly at the inner compound where the Demon Slayers had entered, then headed to the medical hall.
Nangong Ryong and the Thunder Dragon Squad followed behind.
* * *
Leaning back in a chair in the guest hall, Geon Pilsang wore a subtle expression.
“The Five Great Families live up to their name, don’t they?”
Even weakened compared to their heyday, they were no mere unorthodox rabble to be trifled with.
Today, Geon Pilsang finally understood why the Nine Great Sects—powers that be in the martial world—still regarded these faded Five Great Families with such caution.
Didn’t true colors only show in times of crisis?
The three families among the Five Greats had proven their mettle in this war.
This incident would send the reputations of the Nangong Family, Hebei Peng Clan, and Sichuan Tang Clan resounding across the land once more.
‘Three of the Five have banded together. Hmm…’
Officially, they’d come to support the Nangong Family, but privately, it was to gauge their true state.
To assess whether they truly had the foundation for an alliance, if relations had mended, and what their underlying strength was.
“Nangong Family, Hebei Peng Clan, Sichuan Tang Clan…”
Even hearing the names, it was a combination tough to tangle with.
And…
“The Mad Dragon, the Mad Dragon.”
His junior and subordinate, Baek Sang-un, furrowed his brow.
“An arrogant punk. Daring to spout such nonsense at you, senior brother.”
“At that age, they usually are.”
“He has no sense at all. Treating the leader of the Righteous Heaven Alliance’s Demon Slaying Squad like what? Just because he won some rising generation tournament…”
“Just.”
Geon Pilsang trailed off, then spoke quietly.
“One could call it that if he were ordinary. But the skills he showed at the tournament were beyond what a youth not even in his twenties could possess.”
“…”
“Those kinds soar to the heavens if the winds favor them. It wouldn’t be strange if he became the supreme martial artist of the world someday.”
Supreme martial artist of the world.
Who in the current martial world didn’t yearn for that title?
For those who lived by the blade, those mere words alone stirred the heart.
The symbolism and power of that name transcended imagination.
“The future supreme martial artist…”
“If even a tenth of the rumors hold true—no, even half—he could very well become it.”
“You believe he wiped out the Black Dragon Sect?”
“At the very least, he earned merits, so such rumors spread, no?”
“Mm!”
“That’s why we’re here to confirm.”
If Nangong Mad Dragon was just blindly rampaging without discernment, he was merely a rising generation talent.
No need to worry then.
Fools without judgment always met their end fittingly.
The odds of a tiger cub growing to lord over the mountains were less than one in ten.
“…But if he truly is something more than a rising generation talent…”
Geon Pilsang’s eyes grew icy.
“If he’s an obstacle to our sect, we’ll have no choice but to get our hands dirty.”
Geon Pilsang, a lay disciple of the Wudang Clan, recalled Heo Won Jin-in’s words.
- You must keep a close eye on the Nangong Family and the Mad Dragon. His rumors since my tournament have me uneasy.
Heo Won Jin-in’s concern might be an old man’s overcaution, but he wouldn’t have said it without reason.
Geon Pilsang too wanted to see firsthand the one who’d crushed Wudang’s Divine Sword and tarnished his sect’s name.
Baek Sang-un held his breath beside him.
Geon Pilsang spoke lowly.
“So you must monitor the Mad Dragon thoroughly.”
“Yes, senior brother.”
Geon Pilsang quietly savored his tea.
* * *
‘Fucking bastards.’
Perched on the guest hall roof with arms crossed, Nangong Hyeok let out a hollow laugh.
‘Is backstabbing etched into their damn blood?’
Were they still pulling the same crap from the Demonic Blood Tribulation era?
He’d had a hunch, and sure enough.
Pretending to head to the medical hall, he’d slipped over with Ghost Shadow Phantom Step and eavesdropped from the roof—and there they were, spouting that shit.
‘People can be reformed, they say? Not these Righteous Heaven Alliance fuckers.’
Taught to steal, now stabbing in the back.
Well.
Orthodox or unorthodox, it was all talk.
As factions grew, blood got spilled unwittingly, and hands got dirty inevitably.
Did that mean he had to understand them?
The ones who’d stabbed him in the back during his Poison King days, now debating whether to take his head?
In the past, alliance or no, he’d have charged in, half-twisted their necks, and started from there.
But not now.
Stabilizing the family and recovering from the war came first.
They didn’t seem inclined to leave anytime soon anyway, so think of it as keeping them penned in.
‘Count yourselves lucky. I’ve got more pressing shit to handle right now.’
Nangong Hyeok quietly slipped away from the guest hall, got treated at the medical hall, and returned to his quarters.
Sitting on his bed, he lightly circulated the Soaring Heaven Bright King Art.
The stagnant energies filling his body were devoured by the art.
As the majestic energy flowed through him, his mind cleared.
Nangong Hyeok slowly opened his eyes.
“…My attainment has risen.”
Vitality, energy, spirit.
As body, inner power, and mind harmonized, his Soaring Heaven Bright King Art naturally advanced.
“Can’t just get stronger alone.”
They had to grow strong together.
For the fence to expand and harden, it was necessary.
Nangong Hyeok’s eyes darkened.
What was their goal?
Why were they lurking in the depths of the martial world?
Doubt mingled with hostility.
‘An obstacle, huh?’
Whether tied directly to the Demon Sovereign, a branch of the demonic path, or something else entirely—he didn’t know.
But now they were aware of each other.
‘They’ll keep coming as a threat.’
Whenever the time came, they’d surely draw their blades again.
Then choices would have to be made.
He wouldn’t be the one just taking hits, at least.
Sorting his thoughts roughly, Nangong Hyeok sank back into meditative trance.