Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Ghost Shadow's Decision
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Nangong Baek headed to the top floor of the Full Sails Tower.
True to its reputation as the finest establishment in Hefei vying for supremacy, colorful lanterns hung everywhere, displaying the pinnacle of splendor.
Unlike the other floors, however, the top floor was shrouded in pitch-black darkness, with a single lamp barely illuminating the room that spanned over a hundred pyeong.
From the deep blackness came a low voice.
"Report."
Nangong Baek's gaze turned toward the darkness.
A black-clad masked figure stared straight at him.
The corner of Nangong Baek's mouth twitched.
"...Before that, I want to know what happened at the Huabei Plains."
"There's no need for you to know."
"Don't I need to know if we're in the same boat? Things wouldn't have come to this if you'd properly dealt with him at the Huabei Plains!"
The black-clad figure, Ghost Shadow, narrowed his eyes.
"Are you blaming us?"
"..."
"If you'd followed our advice from the start, there wouldn't have been any such variables."
"No, it was entirely possible. If you'd definitively killed Nangong Hyeok at the Huabei Plains, Nangong Jangcheon's suspicions wouldn't have been aroused!"
"Enough."
Ghost Shadow cut off Nangong Baek as his voice rose.
As he silently regarded Nangong Baek, the latter steadied his ragged breathing and glared back.
"Report."
He said again.
Nangong Baek ground his teeth and spoke.
"...Most of the elders are showing favorable responses toward Nangong Hyeok. Even the four elders I was trying to persuade are now beyond reach."
"..."
"But if just a little more time is given..."
"After this incident, I doubt they'll place any more trust in you."
Ghost Shadow's eyes, visible through the mask, darkened in an instant.
"In the current state, your ascension to Family Head is practically impossible."
"There's still time..."
"We've given you plenty of time. In that time, you've barely proven half of what you needed to. You've missed all the crucial parts."
Nangong Baek fell silent under the scolding tone.
Ghost Shadow spoke in a cold voice.
"We've waited long enough."
"..."
"Your proposed plan is no longer feasible. The board we set up has long been overturned, and the leadership is beyond control."
With each word from Ghost Shadow, Nangong Baek's face twisted further.
It struck at the core.
'Damn it.'
Nangong Hyeok's interference had shattered the board Nangong Baek had meticulously prepared.
And now, it was almost certain that Nangong Jangcheon would not step down from the Family Head position on his own.
He had to admit that things could no longer proceed as originally planned.
There was nothing he could do in his current position.
'In the end, it's all gone awry.'
He had tried his utmost to avoid this situation.
"...So what do you propose we do?"
Ghost Shadow paused for a moment before speaking.
"We've made our decision."
Ghost Shadow cut off Nangong Baek and spoke lowly.
"We will intervene directly. You are to actively cooperate so that we can naturally insert ourselves into the Nangong Clan."
"...There is an order to things. If we do that, it will only cause great chaos..."
"We decide the order."
A chilling edge laced Ghost Shadow's voice.
His pitch-black eyes, like those of a demon from the abyss, slowly swept over Nangong Baek.
Nangong Baek's shoulders stiffened for a moment.
"Our intervention will proceed as discreetly as possible. The fewer who know of this, the better."
"..."
"You will assist us."
In an instant, the roles had reversed.
From leading the Nangong Clan's affairs, he had been reduced to a mere aide supporting Ghost Shadow's faction.
Nangong Baek exhaled a turbid breath and glared at Ghost Shadow.
"...Does it have to be this way?"
"..."
"Hoo! Fine. Contact me once the plan moves forward. Don't reach out until then. With the plan derailed, we must proceed with even greater caution."
Ghost Shadow nodded slightly.
"Go back now."
Nangong Baek ground his teeth, shot Ghost Shadow a fierce glare, and stormed out of the Lotus Pavilion.
Nangong Baek muttered to himself.
"...Half-baked, half-baked."
No, with Ghost Shadow's faction intervening directly, it wouldn't even be half.
It was like driving out a fox only to invite a tiger.
It was certain to be a position in name only.
And yet...
A venomous glint filled Nangong Baek's eyes.
'I'll take even that hollow position.'
My position.
My thing.
Nangong Baek resolved to seize that seat, even if only in that manner.
Nangong Baek quickened his steps.
A wind blew in from afar, piercing into his body.
It was a bone-chillingly cold wind.
Ghost Shadow watched intently as Nangong Baek exited the Full Sails Tower from within the darkness.
The corner of his mouth, hidden beneath the mask, twisted slightly.
"Hmm..."
He made a light gesture with his hand.
The shadow on the floor rippled and took on human form.
"An old fox."
Ghost Shadow said to the shadow.
"We'll need to put a leash on him to keep him from biting."
"..."
"His second son is said to be dim-witted, isn't he?"
"..."
"Capture him."
The shadow writhed for a moment before vanishing in an instant.
Ghost Shadow stared blankly at Nangong Baek, now a mere dot in the distance, then turned his gaze away.
"Winter has come to Anhui as well."
Heh.
A strange gleam flickered in his previously emotionless eyes before vanishing.
* * *
Geon Cheon-hwi unfurled the Thunder Dragon Ten Sabers while bound with an iron ball.
Each swing of the blade brought immense pressure on his shoulders from the heavy iron ball trailing behind.
Even amid the pain as if his arms might tear off, the Thunder Dragon Ten Sabers moved with fluid grace.
The Thunder Dragon Ten Sabers were swift strikes executed with a heavy blade.
The Ten Thunder Arts, infused with lightning essence, amplified the destructive power and acceleration.
In Geon Cheon-hwi's mind, the techniques of the demon he had encountered during the bandit suppression flickered vividly.
Recalling that sensation, he approached each swing with utmost care.
His body drenched in sweat, he endured the agony with gritted teeth as if they might shatter.
A frustrating sense that something was just within grasp yet slipping away.
'But when did I start doing this?'
At first, he had only done it because he was told to, but at some point, it felt like he was the one obsessing over it.
'...My skills are improving, after all.'
It was an undeniable reality.
He felt distinctly different from his past self, who had preached enjoying peace and plenty.
Yet on the other hand, perhaps this too was merely the instinct to survive.
After all, a stronger body did mean greater comfort.
'...Getting stronger.'
Geon Cheon-hwi looked at his blade with a peculiar gaze, then turned his head toward Takhyeok Cave.
"Huat-cha! Hup-hup!"
"...Be a little quieter."
"Hup-hap!"
"Ah, try being quiet for once!"
"Quiet? This is how I do it best!"
"Then go do it over there, you punk. You're so damn noisy."
"No way! The young master told me to do it here! And he said ten thousand times!"
"Sigh, then shut your mouth at least..."
"I can't do it quietly!"
Ah, what am I doing with this brute around.
As Geon Cheon-hwi let out a deep sigh, he caught sight of Nangong Hyeok leaping over the wall between the fences.
"...What are you doing?"
Nangong Hyeok glanced around and pressed a finger to his lips.
"No old folks around?"
"They were looking for you just a bit ago..."
"Hah, they couldn't find me so they came here. Is this their house? Why do they come and go as they please!"
Frowning briefly, Nangong Hyeok shook his head.
"No, actually, this is perfect timing. Now's the moment."
"Pardon?"
"You pull the ox horn while it's hot, they say."
What horn?
Before the question could form, Nangong Hyeok beckoned with his finger.
"Don't you think it's time for you all to serve in Hefei territory too?"
"...What kind of service do you mean?"
"You've secured a decent position in the Nangong Clan, so now it's time to manage the outside as well."
"...We're Nangong Clan warriors, though."
Manage the outside too?
As Geon Cheon-hwi looked puzzled, Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Hey, I don't tolerate other punks stirring up trouble in my turf."
"...May I ask where your young master's turf begins and ends?"
"For now, Hefei."
"Hefei?"
Geon Cheon-hwi stared at Nangong Hyeok with a blank face.
"Why that?"
There's management already, and the main clan, so why handle it personally...
"I'm setting up a base. If I hole up here, too many annoying bastards bother me!"
"...But we have the main house."
"The Nangong Clan isn't mine."
...But it's not yours either.
Geon Cheon-hwi swallowed dryly.
Just what method would he use to establish a base?
No, why does the Nangong Clan's second young master even need such a base?
He seemed ignorant of common sense and convention.
Yet his body was already positioned beside Nangong Hyeok.
With loyalty transcending will into the realm of instinct, Geon Cheon-hwi let out a long breath and asked.
"...Shall we go right now? To meet the Hefei branch heads?"
"I'm just telling them to keep watch. Now it's time to reel in the bait I've scattered."
"...When did you scatter bait?"
"There's some. Follow me!"
Nangong Hyeok trudged forward.
Geon Cheon-hwi and the Thunder Dragon Squad followed, puzzled but forming up properly.
Then he suddenly asked.
"But why go over the wall?"
Nangong Hyeok looked left and right, pressing a finger to his lips.
"Shh."
"..."
"What the right hand does, the left hand need not know."
...No matter how you look at it, it didn't seem like a legitimate method.
Nor was it a saying for such occasions.
Nangong Hyeok hopped over the wall with practiced ease, like a master bandit.
He scaled it without a sound, as if he had mastered the Wall-Climbing Technique.
"Come up quietly."
As Nangong Hyeok glared from atop the wall, Geon Cheon-hwi hurriedly climbed up.
'...If he says climb, I climb.'
Geon Cheon-hwi clambered over the wall with effort and chased after Nangong Hyeok entering Hefei's bustling streets.
* * *
Amid the throngs of people and the dense cluster of shops lining the main avenue.
Merchants hustled with calls to attract customers, while porters darted busily here and there with goods.
In the midst of it, Merchant Wang was bustling about to open his inn.
As he grunted and set up tables on the roadside, a group entered the street.
Over thirty burly men parted the avenue like a wave, naturally drawing all eyes toward them.
Behind a young man strolling along with a bright smile dangled warriors carrying swords and axes, trudging after him.
Merchant Wang stared blankly at the approaching group.
The young man in splendid black silk robes at the lead grinned affably.
"Hey, you look like you're struggling! Hurry and help him out."
"Yes, sir!"
One of the sturdy young men from behind sprang forward and set up Wang's table.
Wang gawked at the youth in astonishment.
"Clear out that trash over there. Can't have the street looking filthy! Hey, that elder's passing by. Help him!"
The group that appeared began energetically pitching in.
It was perfect coordination.
They swept trash, assisted with carrying goods, and patrolled the street.
Their speed and precision even left Wang, who had done this for over a decade, tongue-tied.
He wanted to grab one of them on the spot and train him as an apprentice.
"...Wait, where have I seen them before?"
More than just familiar.
It wasn't just Wang—the fabric shop's Jeong and the butcher's Kang felt the same.
"Nangong... right?"
"Y-yeah, it's the Nangong Clan, but..."
"...Why do they look so rough? They've got axes and iron maces too."
"Imposters?"
"No way. Who'd dare impersonate the Nangong Clan..."
People whispered among themselves.
Then, Wang's eyes lit up as if struck by a thought.
"Wait a sec."
"What?"
"Isn't that the guy who took the horse from here before?"
"Oh! Yeah, that's him!"
"Gasp! Then that must be the Nangong Clan's Second Young Master!"
Eyes widened all around.
Wasn't he the star of the hottest rumors in Anhui lately!
Nangong Hyeok's sudden appearance like this sparked both surprise and curiosity.
Nangong Hyeok smiled gently and asked Merchant Wang.
"No troubles, I hope?"
"...N-no, sir."
"If anything comes up, call on these guys. Don't hesitate, alright?"
"...Y-yes, thank you."
Wang nodded as if entranced.
Nangong Hyeok patted his shoulder reassuringly and sauntered past.
He exuded a friendly yet untouchable aura.
Wang stared blankly as Nangong Hyeok entered the fabric shop.
"No troubles, right? If anything hard comes up, come find my boys. No need to hold back."
"Ah, y-yes!"
"Alright then!"
Leaving the same words and smile, Nangong Hyeok strolled across the avenue.
As he passed, he casually greeted merchants he knew and even waved leisurely.
Nangong Hyeok and the Thunder Dragon Squad came like the wind and vanished like the wind.
Wang, who had watched in a daze, muttered.
"...What the hell is that about?"
"Yeah, what on earth..."
"So random. Face-stamping tour or something?"
"Hah, they say the Nangong Second Young Master's odd, and yeah, he's definitely quirky."
"Ahem, they'll hear. Back to work!"
"Yeah!"
Leaving the merchants' questions behind, Nangong Hyeok grinned happily and picked his next destination.
"Alright, where to next?"