Chapter 309
Chapter 309
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 313
Chapter Title: The Family Heads Convene
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Inside the Heavenly Palace Hall, Nangong Jangcheon, Paeng Cheonwi, and Dang Uicheon had gathered together.
For the past five days, they had been endlessly busy sorting out the outer courtyard and holding funerals for the dead.
There was still a mountain of tasks left to handle, but the urgent matters had been somewhat resolved, allowing the heads of the three families to convene in the Heavenly Palace Hall.
Nangong Jangcheon gazed at the two men for a moment before rising to his feet.
He then offered a respectful clasped-hands salute.
"Nangong Jangcheon offers his deepest gratitude to the two Family Heads. The united efforts of your families saved our main house. I am truly thankful."
It could have ended with a simple reward or a word of thanks.
But Nangong Jangcheon was not one to do so.
He was sincerely grateful to the two Family Heads who had risked their lives fighting for the Nangong Family.
Thanks to them, the family had been protected, and even one more clan member had survived.
Who else deserved his thanks if not these men who had raced thousands of li breathless to aid them?
He was willing to bow his waist to all who had come to the Nangong Family's aid and given their lives.
Bowing one's waist was not difficult.
Conveying true sincerity was.
Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon rose silently and returned the salute.
"As a father who entrusted his son to you, it was only natural. I was planning to offer my thanks as well."
"The Tang Family came to repay the debt we owed the Nangong Family. Did the Nangong Family not race thousands of li to Sichuan? There is no need for the Nangong Family Head to thank us."
Nangong Jangcheon looked at the two Family Heads.
A faint smile played on the lips of Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon.
After exchanging glances for a moment, the three men sat back down.
Paeng Cheonwi savored the aroma of Tieguanyin tea before speaking.
"The Tieguanyin from Anhui Province is truly one of the finest in the world. Its deep fragrance and flavor would appeal to high officials and nobles."
"I'm not sure if it suits Hebei tastes."
"No, I can guarantee it. The rougher the place, the more one falls for such flavors."
"Then that's fortunate."
"Our main house's merchant group seems very interested in this Tieguanyin. How about arranging a meeting later?"
A gleam lit up in Nangong Jangcheon's eyes.
Hebei had long been Paeng Family territory, making it difficult to supply Tieguanyin there.
For Paeng Cheonwi to bring up trade with Hebei Province was a tremendous favor.
Dang Uicheon nodded silently in agreement.
Holding such a discussion in the presence of all three was meant to expand ties between the families.
"The Nangong Family Head didn't arrange this meeting just to express thanks, did he?"
"Hmm..."
Nangong Jangcheon looked at Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon as he got to the main point.
"First, thank you again for making time. To cut to the chase, the Tang Family Head is right. I called this meeting because this incident gave us matters to discuss. Who knows when we might gather again if not now."
Dang Uicheon sharpened his gaze and spoke.
"It's about the Orthodox Heaven Alliance, isn't it."
"...Yes."
"Their intentions are obvious, aren't they?"
Nangong Jangcheon and Paeng Cheonwi nodded at Dang Uicheon's words.
Though only a few words had been exchanged, their thoughts aligned perfectly.
Nangong Jangcheon organized his thoughts and spoke.
"Since the Paeng Family, Tang Family, and even the Beggars' Sect participated directly or indirectly in this war, the Orthodox Heaven Alliance must be on high alert."
Paeng Cheonwi sipped his Tieguanyin and said,
"It's just surveillance, isn't it? If we hadn't gathered here, the Alliance wouldn't have paid this war any mind."
They too had eyes and ears in the Alliance.
With representatives from each family holding elder positions, they couldn't be ignorant of internal affairs.
"You can tell just from the Subduing Demon Corps' attitude. Trying to take credit with nonsense about handling the remnants shows exactly what the Alliance is thinking."
Irritation was evident on Paeng Cheonwi's face.
Dang Uicheon said offhandedly,
"I even think the Alliance deliberately arrived late."
Though spoken casually, it was no remark to brush off.
It was what they had all been vaguely considering, now stated bluntly by Dang Uicheon.
Nangong Jangcheon let out a soft breath and said,
"This incident has given our house much to contemplate—particularly our inability to fully trust the Alliance and our relationship with it."
A heavy silence fell.
The space filled with silence, suffocating.
Breaking the quiet, Paeng Cheonwi spoke.
"There's nothing to gain by staying in the Alliance, but leaving it means losing much, Nangong Family Head."
The center of the current martial world was the Orthodox Heaven Alliance.
Paeng Cheonwi's words were extreme, but what might happen if they left was unpredictable.
The martial world's sole transcendent alliance.
Sole meant there could not be two.
Had the Orthodox Heaven Alliance moved solely under the banner of "Upright Heaven" for over a decade?
Reaching the pinnacle meant many had been trampled beneath.
All who prided themselves as prestigious sects in the land were the same.
They crushed those rising and smashed any who opposed.
They pulled in what they needed and discarded the rest.
Though divided into righteous and unrighteous, the logic of power was not greatly different.
The Orthodox Heaven Alliance stood at its apex.
Moreover, it was currently led by the Nine Great Sects.
If one seceded or a new alliance formed, the Orthodox Heaven Alliance would never stand idly by.
One only needed to consider why the once-central Evil Cult Alliance had been driven to distant Sichuan borders.
Nangong Jangcheon replied in a heavy voice.
"I too realize from this that seceding from the Alliance brings no benefit. I have no intention of endangering my clan out of personal pride. At least not now."
Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon mulled over his trailing words.
Nangong Jangcheon spoke lowly.
"The Five Great Families will also need change because of this."
The Nine Great Sects' relationship with the Five Great Families was much the same—mutual checks and balances for growth, with measured opposition.
The difference was that they would never tolerate any challenge to their authority.
That was what Nangong Jangcheon was pointing to, and Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon knew it better than anyone.
Having led their families for decades through the jianghu, how could they not?
They simply hadn't felt the need or lacked the catalyst.
"Indeed, change is necessary."
"Mmm..."
Paeng Cheonwi stroked his chin beard, furrowing his brow.
"But isn't the truly important matter something else?"
He alternated glances between Nangong Jangcheon and Dang Uicheon as he spoke.
"Why did those unorthodox groups target the Nangong Family? And why did it feel so coordinated?"
"Without someone manipulating them from behind, it's impossible, isn't it?"
"A manipulator behind the scenes... behind the scenes..."
Paeng Cheonwi chewed over Dang Uicheon's words.
The incident of complexly intertwined unorthodox groups uniting to invade the Nangong Family was no simple affair.
For a force powerful enough to control them to lurk in the shadows was gravely serious.
'I've known the jianghu's currents have been unusual lately, but could it be...'
'Are the same ones who manipulated the Poison Dragon Sect behind this too? Does that even make sense?'
The more they thought, the more absurd it seemed.
It was then.
"Our house has a suspicion."
At Nangong Jangcheon's words, Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon lit up.
"What is it?"
"Have you obtained information?"
"It's better heard from him than from me."
Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon both showed puzzlement.
"Him?"
Nangong Jangcheon rinsed his mouth with tea and gazed at the distant mountains.
* * *
Crunch crunch.
Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon watched Nangong Hyuk vigorously chewing and eating wild ginseng in front of the Heavenly Palace Hall.
Nangong Hyuk stared back at them with a sullen, slouched posture.
'...This guy again?'
'Hmm? What does he know?'
Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon eyed Nangong Hyuk with curiosity and unease.
'But really, is this the same guy whose arms and legs were broken just days ago? Why's he so fine?'
His skin glowed, and color bloomed in his cheeks.
Far from fine, he looked healthy...
"I guess my looking so healthy doesn't sit well with you?"
"...What did I say?"
"No, everyone thinks that."
Nangong Hyuk grinned at Paeng Cheonwi.
Paeng Cheonwi groaned and turned his head.
As a martial artist, Paeng Cheonwi could overlook a tough one like Nangong Hyuk walking around with a broken arm, but Dang Uicheon was different.
'Torn muscles and broken bones already healed? I heard not only his internal energy depleted but his congenital essence damaged too.'
It was an absurd recovery.
Separate from his skills, that recovery was worthy of a feat.
Regardless, Nangong Hyuk turned to Nangong Jangcheon.
"Have you finished talking about the Orthodox Heaven Alliance?"
"Hm? How do you know that?"
They hadn't mentioned it at all—how did Nangong Hyuk know?
Nangong Hyuk shrugged.
"Obvious, isn't it? Those bastards aren't thinking of going out or working, so you must've discussed whatever schemes they have."
"..."
"But what does it matter what you talk about? Just wipe them out."
Nangong Hyuk mimed slitting a throat and chuckled.
"Claim they died in battle and bury them."
Ah, please.
Nangong Jangcheon sighed deeply, clutching his head.
Paeng Cheonwi looked at him with pity, while Dang Uicheon stared blankly at Nangong Hyuk.
Nangong Jangcheon hurriedly said,
"Enough nonsense."
"I mean it."
"This punk?"
"...Why did you call me?"
Nangong Jangcheon regarded Nangong Hyuk with a serious gaze.
He cleared his throat a few times before asking lowly.
"I called you to explain about them to the two Family Heads. You have ties to both families, and you've experienced them the most."
"Ah, that."
Nangong Hyuk immediately grasped what Nangong Jangcheon wanted.
Receiving puzzled looks from Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon, Nangong Hyuk exhaled lowly.
"Where should I even start explaining this?"
Nangong Hyuk trailed off oddly, gathered his thoughts, and began lightly.
"Heavenly Void Mountain in northern Beiping, Hebei."
"Hm?"
"The Black Dragon Sect."
"Hmm?"
"And the Sichuan border."
"Yeah?"
"Anhui's Nangong Family."
At the sudden list, Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon tilted their heads, then realized something and widened their eyes.
"N-No way?"
"You're saying they're all the same group?"
"Why not?"
When Nangong Hyuk spoke as if it were obvious, Paeng Cheonwi and Dang Uicheon could only be aghast.
They spanned the ends of the Central Plains.
And the incidents at those far ends involved countless sects.
Even one would be shocking, let alone a single force encompassing them all!
"A force rivaling the Orthodox Heaven Alliance in the current jianghu..."
At Dang Uicheon's voice, like a groan, Nangong Hyuk curled one lip.
A subtle smile, mocking yet bitterly wry.
"Worse than that."
"...?"
Nangong Hyuk regulated his breathing and stared quietly at the two.
Then he spoke lowly.
"The Demonic Path."
"...What?"
"The Demonic Path. That's what those bastards are."
At Nangong Hyuk's words, the heads of the two families gaped.