Chapter 381
Chapter 381
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 390
Chapter Title: The Red Blade Guards Arrive
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After meeting the Black Book King of Black Spot, Namgung Hyeok returned straight to his quarters.
He rested his chin on his hand, staring blankly out the window.
"We've caught their trail, but still can't see the real thing?"
Black Spot was an organization with branches scattered across the Central Plains.
It didn't have the vast information network of the Beggars' Sect, but its meticulousness was unmatched.
In terms of thoroughness and persistence, Black Spot was considered a cut above even the Beggars' Sect.
For such an organization to track their traces yet miss the culprits meant that this "Hui" group was incredibly secretive.
Clang!
Namgung Hyeok casually untied the demonic sword from his waist and placed it on the table.
"This thing's been through hell too. How the hell did it end up connected all the way to the north?"
It had been quite a distance from where it had taken the head of the Demon Lord.
Had this ownerless loot wandered the borderlands for nearly a century before finding its way back to the Central Plains?
Was it because of the symbolic value to those demonic path bastards?
Probably.
But...
"They didn't seem all that disappointed."
It was that nonchalant attitude that irked him—like it was nice to have, but no big deal if not.
They exaggeratedly called the Central Plains eighteen myriad li across.
Meaning it was damn huge.
No wonder so many people never even saw the ocean in their lifetime, let alone left their own city.
Martial artists could cover hundreds or thousands of li in a day, so they could see the sea or visit distant lands, but from an ordinary person's perspective, calling the world eighteen myriad li wasn't an exaggeration.
And the borderlands were even bigger.
Insanely, ridiculously bigger.
Not to mention the environment.
"Like a beggar's life."
The cold places were freezing cold, the hot ones scorching hot, some spots with extreme differences between freezing and blazing, all dialed up to the max.
Thinking of the borderlands made even the remote wilderness of the Central Plains seem like a paradise.
Thanks to that hellish environment, there were hardly any people, and those who did live there were as rough as the land itself.
Of course, to him, they were just a bunch of hotheads.
Anyway, few people and vast lands made tracing the demonic sword's origins as tough as finding a needle in a desert.
No wonder even the Black Book King of Black Spot had crossed into the north—maybe it was time to pull back?
"But there has to be a way."
Even if the sky falls, there's a hole to climb out through. It was just backtracking a demonic sword's origins.
Eventually, even a single link would lead to the connection.
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue.
"Damn slippery bastards."
After the demonic catastrophe that had spread like wildfire and upended the world, what had become of them?
The martial world, the righteous factions, remembered the hell of the Demonic Blood Tribulation but erased everything inside it.
Listening quietly, he sometimes wondered if this was the past he knew, so how must it be for later generations?
"Hmm..."
Namgung Hyeok let out a small breath.
"They've twisted it all to hell. Confusing everyone. If you can't kill 'em all, keep the real enemies close and let 'em drop dead or beat 'em down—that's the rule."
Cowardly bastards.
Cursing the invisible leaders of the previous generation, Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue repeatedly.
"Whatever. No point racking my brains."
Worrying wasn't his style anyway.
What unravels will unravel someday, and what doesn't, won't.
And Namgung Hyeok didn't think this was one that wouldn't.
"We'll clash eventually."
After sorting his thoughts for a moment, Namgung Hyeok crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and meditated.
* * *
Namgung Jangcheon sipped his tea while overlooking the newly expanding buildings.
Since Shaolin's visit, the Namgung Family had been buzzing with even greater vitality.
Not only were they constructing new halls, but they were also swamped organizing the goods sent from Shaolin.
Just reinforcing and reassigning personnel was exhausting.
On top of that, merchants with a nose for profit were constantly crossing the Namgung Family's threshold, making it no small task to deal with them.
"Haha! I never dreamed Shaolin's monks would build an entire hall before leaving."
Geum Gwangmo, who was gazing at the family grounds alongside him, grinned broadly.
"You're a charmer, Young Master. Even captivating Shaolin's monks—who else could do that? You're a real ghost!"
"......"
"It's been ages since our ties with Shaolin were cut, and you weave them back like this. And Shaolin's proposal? It's genius, isn't it?"
Let's collaborate and exchange for the Gold Immortal Pill's production.
Shaolin would actively support the Namgung Family's brothers.
It was a direct offer from Shaolin's precept master himself, who had rushed to the main house.
Being called the North Star of the martial world and revered by many, for a Shaolin monk to make such a proposal had Geum Gwangmo thrilled.
Not just him—everyone in the Namgung Family was energized.
Shaolin's appearance had brought surprise and excitement to them all.
"You must've missed the recent play, friend."
"Hahaha! The main house is growing in power and influence—what's not to like?"
"Good. Isn't the family returning to its golden age?"
Namgung Jangcheon sipped his tea, looking out the window.
As the mood shifted, Geum Gwangmo's expression changed too.
"What's worrying you, Family Head? This is our revival, our golden era! The Five Great Families have allied, even Shaolin is helping us. The eastern martial world revolves around us now—can't get better than this!"
The eastern martial world revolving around the Namgung Family.
This meant the martial order was shifting, and the family might surpass the Nine Great Sects once more.
Namgung Jangcheon spoke quietly.
"The higher you climb, the shakier the ground."
"Mm!"
"All misfortune comes hand in hand with fortune."
Geum Gwangmo's face flickered at Namgung Jangcheon's words.
"Are you concerned about the Righteous Heaven Alliance?"
"They must know by now. That something's brewing in the family. We've heard rumors they're on edge already."
"...Must be about Wudang."
"Exactly."
Namgung Jangcheon's voice sank.
"If the Nine Great Sects pressure us, we won't be helpless like before. But that doesn't mean our position is secure."
"Urgh! Still, they won't move rashly without cause. The Nine Great Sects need justification too..."
"Justification can be complicated, yet sometimes simpler and surer than anything."
"......"
Geum Gwangmo knew what Namgung Jangcheon meant.
In the martial world, justifications were sometimes forged through sheer brute force.
The Righteous Heaven Alliance was unmistakably led by the Nine Great Sects.
Just their unusual movements alone put pressure on the Namgung Family.
The Five Great Families' alliance didn't mean they'd surpassed the Nine Great Sects' stronghold.
It might have even provoked them.
"The family has just begun to spread its wings. We need time to soar."
"...Didn't you say that before?"
"Mm."
Namgung Jangcheon's gaze deepened.
It was then, as they conversed.
Commotion rose outside, and a gatekeeper rushed into the Family Head's quarters.
"F-Family Head!"
Namgung Jangcheon and Geum Gwangmo tilted their heads.
"What is it?"
"W-Wudang... no, the Righteous Heaven Alliance has sent people!"
A ripple stirred in Namgung Jangcheon's eyes.
Righteous Heaven Alliance?
They'd come already?
But there was no time for deep thought.
"Where are they?"
"W-We seated them in the guest hall for now..."
"Lead the way!"
The gatekeeper gulped at Namgung Jangcheon's stern face and guided them.
* * *
In the Namgung Family's guest hall sat a group of about a dozen.
They wore glossy red robes with red hero turbans, and the character "Blade" emblazoned boldly on their chests.
Only one group in the Righteous Heaven Alliance dressed like this.
The Red Blade Guards, inner castle warriors of the Alliance.
They managed and inspected affairs inside and outside the Alliance.
They were the Alliance's grim reapers, whether within or without.
The Red Blade Guards emerged for one of two reasons.
To execute enemies on the spot or escort them back to the Alliance.
The moment Namgung Jangcheon saw the red-clad figures in the hall, he drew a low breath.
'...Red Blade Guards.'
Just their presence filled the hall with heavy air.
No matter the reason, it proved the Righteous Heaven Alliance wasn't taking this lightly.
Namgung Jangcheon's face hardened like stone, but he maintained his composure.
"What brings guests from the Righteous Heaven Alliance?"
The slender man in the center rose, and the standing Red Blade Guards turned.
Their icy gazes, sharp as frost, fixed on Namgung Jangcheon.
Even the Namgung Family elders who rushed in at the news flinched at the Red Blade Guards' chill aura.
Gal Wihyeon, the top-grade Red Blade Guard and leader of this group, stared straight at Namgung Jangcheon.
Facing the lord of the Namgung Family, he showed no intimidation.
His eyes only grew colder, silently regarding him.
In the suffocating tension, Gal Wihyeon's gaze swept over the gathered crowd.
"An report reached the Alliance. We seek the Family Head's cooperation to verify it."
His formal, rigid tone evoked unyielding wood.
Namgung Jangcheon exhaled softly.
The Alliance meant business.
"What cooperation do you speak of? I haven't heard a word from the Alliance."
Gal Wihyeon replied.
"That's for us Red Blade Guards to handle. The Family Head need only cooperate."
The Namgung elders flinched.
Demanding cooperation without explanation, through sheer force—this went beyond excessive to outright rude.
They'd faced something similar during the Demon Subduing Squad, but this atmosphere was graver, the pressure heavier.
Namgung Jangcheon said lowly.
"Do you think it makes sense for a family head not to know what's happening in his own house?"
"......"
"The Alliance wouldn't handle things so arbitrarily, would it?"
Gal Wihyeon's brow twitched at Namgung Jangcheon's resonant voice.
After a brief contemplation, a cold smile curled his lips.
He scanned the Namgung leadership.
Gulp.
Someone swallowed dryly under his gaze.
As silence deepened, Gal Wihyeon's voice rang through the hall.
"We have intelligence that the Namgung Family's Second Young Master possesses a demonic sword!"
"......!"
Namgung Jangcheon's pupils shook, and the elders' faces turned to stone.
Second Young Master?
Demonic sword?
Their eyes darted uncertainly over the Red Blade Guards.
Gal Wihyeon continued at the expected reaction.
"By order of the Alliance, the Red Blade Guards will now escort Second Young Master Namgung Hyeok to the Alliance per procedure."
"......"
"We request the Namgung Family's cooperation in this execution. Where is Second Young Master Namgung Hyeok?"
His voice slithered unpleasantly, like a snake crawling up the neck.
The Namgung leadership clamped their lips, eyes on Namgung Jangcheon.
He spoke.
"On what grounds do you say this?"
"You'll know once we investigate. The Family Head need only tell us where Second Young Master Namgung Hyeok is. We'll handle the rest."
Namgung Jangcheon clenched his fist.
In a low but firm tone, he said,
"Fine. We'll cooperate."
"Then..."
"But!"
Gal Wihyeon narrowed his eyes at Namgung Jangcheon's stern voice.
"Conduct it here."
"What?"
"Investigate right here before taking him to the Alliance. No need to do it twice."
Gal Wihyeon scoffed.
"That won't be possible."
"......"
"I was ordered to bring Second Young Master Namgung Hyeok to the Alliance. This is now an action in the Alliance's name. Even the Family Head won't be tolerated in interfering further."
"Tolerated? You..."
Namgung Jangcheon and the leadership ground their teeth.
Who knew what the Alliance would do once they took Namgung Hyeok?
Namgung Jangcheon had no intention of letting the Red Blade Guards have their way.
He'd stop them by force if needed.
It was at that moment.
"Hey, why're you looking for someone who's smack in the middle of a good nap?"
Namgung Jangcheon, aura rising, whipped his head around.
There stood Namgung Hyeok at the guest hall entrance, picking his ear with a bored, lopsided expression.
Dude, why're you popping up there of all places?!