Chapter 384
Translator: penny
Chapter: 393
Chapter Title: The Prepared Arena
Gal Wihyeon entered the underground Thunder Prison of the Justice Enforcement Division.
The underground Thunder Prison, where the Justice Enforcement Division conducted its interrogations, was originally a space filled with screams, groans, and curses.
Hearing the desperate screams made one wonder if this truly was hell itself—it was that horrific.
Yet, on the other hand, it could be utterly silent at times, with the wind blowing through the corridors roaring like thunder.
That suffocating silence sent chills down the spine in an entirely different way.
Right now was one such moment of eerie stillness.
Gal Wihyeon descended the stairs, as if entering the gates of the underworld.
"Anything unusual?"
"None, sir."
"And the prisoner?"
"Quiet as a dead mouse."
At the guard's words, a faint smile tugged at Gal Wihyeon's lips.
"As expected, he's just a greenhorn."
All that bluster on the way to the Righteous Heaven Alliance had been nothing but bravado.
They hadn't laid a finger on him by decree of the Nine Dragons Hall—no torture whatsoever.
Just a loudmouth.
Tsk tsk.
Wiping the smile from his face, Gal Wihyeon stood before the cell holding Namgung Hyuk.
"Open it."
"Yes, sir!"
Now, the door would open, revealing the prisoner's face twisted in terror.
Terror...
Screeech! Thud!
Slurp slurp slurp...
Gulp! Slurrrp!
"Huh?"
"......"
"Huh?!"
Namgung Hyuk's eyes met Gal Wihyeon's as he sipped from a flask.
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
Whiiiish.
The wind rushing in from the corridor screamed through the quiet prison like a banshee.
"You, you..."
Namgung Hyuk wiped the sauce from his mouth with his hand and flashed a bright smile.
He raised the酒 bottle in his hand.
"Want some?"
"......"
"Oh, you don't like booze? If you don't want any, just say so—why glare like that?"
Namgung Hyuk gulped down the liquor theatrically, grumbling under his breath.
Gal Wihyeon shot a glare at the guard.
The guard panicked.
"I-it's a misunderstanding, sir. When the shift change guard checked..."
"Shut your mouth. I'll deal with you separately later."
Gal Wihyeon's piercing gaze turned the guard's face ashen.
"Hey, why chew him out? Is booze banned in the prison or something?"
It is, you bastard!
"I got hungry and ate a bit. You got a problem with food?"
This damn dog...
Grit!
Gal Wihyeon took a deep breath.
He was genuinely grateful for the orthodox inner cultivation method.
If he'd had the volatile demonic arts or explosive energy of the unorthodox paths, he'd have smashed the prisoner's skull right then and there!
"Come out."
"Huh? Can't I stay a bit longer?"
"......"
"It's so comfy here. Feels great for the first time in ages."
Comfy in the Thunder Prison?
Great?
Maybe snap an arm before dragging him out?
Gal Wihyeon barely suppressed the impulse surging within him.
He could endure by thinking of the hell awaiting this fool from here on.
No, he could even smile.
It'd be fun to see how long that smug leisure lasted.
Gal Wihyeon spoke curtly.
"Come out. You need to face interrogation."
Namgung Hyuk stood, flask in hand.
"Aw, can't we just do it here?"
"......"
"But where we headed? Who's judging? Hey, any restaurants nearby? I'm starving. Heard the Righteous Heaven Alliance food is killer."
Gal Wihyeon walked ahead with a blank expression.
They moved along the passage bored through the heart of the Justice Enforcement Division.
"Ooh, nice and secluded. Perfect spot for a quick ambush, huh?"
"......"
"You're really setting the mood. Someone might think you're marching me to the execution grounds."
Namgung Hyuk's chuckling made Gal Wihyeon halt abruptly.
A cold smile crept across his face.
"Execution grounds?"
"Huh?"
"Once you see beyond this door, you'll wish it was hell instead."
"Hell?"
"Didn't I say you'd regret it?"
Gal Wihyeon chuckled dryly and reached for the massive sealed door.
The gate, weighing over a hundred jin, screamed under his touch.
Screeeeech!
Light poured through the widening gap, brightening Namgung Hyuk's view.
Hummmm!
Amid the buzz of voices, the sight beyond made Namgung Hyuk's eyes widen.
Whoa...
Crowd's insane?
This is a drill ground, right?
The Righteous Heaven Alliance's prepared drill ground was packed with spectators.
Namgung Hyuk stared blankly at the far end of the arena.
Gal Wihyeon sneered.
"Too late to turn back..."
"What're they all gathered for? Sparring match? Heh heh."
"......"
"Let's go!"
Namgung Hyuk strode into the arena, chuckling just as casually as before.
Gal Wihyeon gawked at his back in stunned disbelief.
"What're you waiting for? Coming or not? I'll go alone?"
...Bluffing.
Has to be.
Even after it's all over, he'd probably act the same.
Gal Wihyeon followed with a frosty expression.
He didn't even notice how unnatural it looked—him trailing behind Namgung Hyuk.
* * *
Paeng Yeonhwa glared at the packed crowd in the drill ground, fuming.
"Damn Righteous Heaven Alliance bastards! They're really going for the preemptive strike?!"
...You're part of the Righteous Heaven Alliance too.
"What's with opening the doors for an interrogation and calling in a crowd?!"
Wasn't the Justice Enforcement Division dragged in for the demonic sword investigation?
But from the looks of it, this was no ordinary affair.
Dang Myeongjin muttered.
"The Wudang Sect seems fully prepared. Unless they're out to humiliate the Namgung Family, this makes no sense."
His voice was flat, but his expression was grim.
If the Nine Great Sects weren't playing dirty, things wouldn't have escalated this far.
Even a kid like him could see their intent clearly.
They wanted to judge Namgung Hyuk before everyone's eyes.
"...Cowardly."
So Hye-yeon's gaze fixed on Namgung Hyuk striding into the arena.
Like her, countless eyes locked onto him.
This isn't fair.
Why should Namgung Hyuk suffer such public humiliation?
From what she'd heard, the Righteous Heaven Alliance hadn't even conducted a proper demonic sword investigation—they'd barged in aggressively and rudely.
And now, holding the hearing in front of all these Righteous Heaven Alliance people—could this really be called fair?
Paeng Yeonhwa exploded in frustration.
"Those horse-faced pricks must've pulled strings!"
"Keep your voice down..."
"We saw it at the Ironclad Tribunal—how sly those damn horse-faces are! It's obvious the Wudang Sect's behind this."
That much was true.
If the Wudang Sect was involved, this progression wasn't surprising.
"You can tell they're out for blood. Handling things like stir-frying beans under lightning—what is this, treating the Righteous Heaven Alliance like some backwater stall?"
"......"
"But where the hell's that ugly oppa? And the beggar young hero's MIA too! Do you know what time it is?!"
Looks like he bolted to avoid you.
Get caught, and he won't even leave bones.
The Radiant Dragon crew swallowed hard watching Paeng Yeonhwa rage.
Just then, Hwangbo Chong muttered quietly.
"It's over."
The Radiant Dragon crew shot him fierce glares.
Flinch.
Under that murderous aura, Hwangbo Chong's head ducked in.
"N-no... Even the Radiant Dragon—no, Namgung Hyuk—how's he getting out of this?"
"......"
"And that demonic sword..."
Hwangbo Chong glanced around before whispering.
"...He really has it, doesn't he?"
The Radiant Dragon crew fell silent.
That was their real worry.
Forget the unfair investigation—Namgung Hyuk actually possessing a demonic sword.
You couldn't hide what was already out.
Too many had seen it, and the Righteous Heaven Alliance hadn't given them time to cover up.
Plus, the Justice Enforcement Division hadn't even taken his sword.
Probably to stage a dramatic reveal.
If Namgung Hyuk—the Namgung Family's second young master and the world's top later-generation talent—drew a demonic sword before thousands, how shocking would that be?
The righteous faction's premier young expert could fall into infamy in an instant.
Hwangbo Chong shook his head.
"Just pray he goes peacefully..."
Boom!
Paeng Yeonhwa stomped the stair where Hwangbo Chong sat, leaving a clear imprint of her tiny foot.
Nearby spectators gaped at the astonishing sight, then averted their eyes when they met hers.
Paeng Yeonhwa glared at Hwangbo Chong.
"Wanna shut up?"
"I mean..."
"Should I pray for your peaceful passing first?"
Gulp.
Hwangbo Chong swallowed, tucking his neck further.
One more word, and his head might split open—that was the vibe.
'...Fuck, why carry around a damn demonic sword and invite trouble? Even if it's a rare treasure.'
That's why he couldn't understand sword nuts.
Risking your life for a chunk of metal?
'The Nine Sects bastards are dead serious.'
This wasn't just Namgung Hyuk's problem.
The family's survival hung in the balance, teetering on the brink.
To average folk, a single demonic sword toppling a great clan sounded absurd.
Sure, it was absurd.
By common sense.
But possessing a "demonic sword" was tantamount to holding a traitor's relic by imperial law.
That's what it meant to the righteous faction.
The repercussions were unimaginable.
That's the power of justification.
Justification!
An unbreakable pretext.
This demonic sword would be the Nine Great Sects' ultimate weapon to crush the Five Great Families.
It was the key to mobilizing the Righteous Heaven Alliance and shaking the righteous martial world.
'The alliance fractures, Namgung Family withers... Fuck, if no bloodbath follows, count us lucky.'
And it had already begun!
As Hwangbo Chong grumbled.
"Did you deliver the message properly?"
"Heh heh, sure did. What about Lady Paeng?"
"Me? Obviously!"
"Drooling all over it, right?"
"Haha! Yeah, couldn't resist."
What the?
Who're those guys?
Beggar and bear, arm in arm, chuckling as they approach.
'...Laughing?'
They're laughing?
What the hell did they do?
The rest of the Radiant Dragon crew gaped, minus those two.
Did they take drugs?
"But how do you know it'll work?"
"How? Our Paeng Family... er, with the Radiant Dragon of the world on it, bound to succeed!"
"Ah..."
Their eyes met, a flicker of shared emotion passing.
You too?
Me too.
The heated gaze of two who'd endured similar ordeals.
Blink blink.
Ah, thinking back makes my stomach churn.
Hwangbo Chong's jaw dropped watching them shift from grins to gloom.
What the hell with them?
Laughing then moping?
Hold up.
Mute guy and that damn servant incoming.
And... they're grinning too?
Hwangbo Chong tilted his head at the unfolding scene.
"What's up? What message?"
What'd they pull off?
Hey?
Why whisper among yourselves?
Include me, you bastards.
As Hwangbo Chong's eyes widened.
Heo Won, the Wudang Sect elder seated at the high seat, stood.
His deep, resonant voice echoed across the vast drill ground.
"Shall we begin now?"
His words ringing in their ears drew all eyes to Namgung Hyuk.
A strange tension permeated the arena.