Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Betrayal at the Harmony Gathering
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“Kill all who resist!”
With a roar, the Heavenly Wind Squad sprang into action.
The squad, which had split in half, suddenly turned their blades on their own comrades.
Slash!
Splat!
“Gaaahhh!”
“Urk! How could you...!”
“Grrgh!”
Their strikes carried no hesitation whatsoever.
The fractured Heavenly Wind Squad soon tangled with itself in savage combat.
The Heavenly Wind Squad Leader yanked the sword from his side and severed the neck of the Third Squad Leader.
Slice!
“Urgh! You bastards! How dare you, how dare you!”
“Forgive us, Squad Leader! We’ve merely found a better path!”
“Shut your mouth!”
“Sorry! Just die already!”
Clang! Scraaape!
Starting with the Heavenly Wind Squad’s schism, those attending the Harmony Gathering began dividing into two factions.
The Head of the Great Escort Agency, along with countless Nangong clansmen who managed outer businesses and collateral kin, drew their swords.
“Why, why are you doing this!”
“Brother, why would you strike me... Urk!”
“Guh! Urgh, you... you?”
It was a catastrophe that unfolded in the blink of an eye.
Attendees of the Harmony Gathering dropped one by one, letting out indignant screams.
In an instant, the floor was slick with blood, and the Celestial Bow Squad waded through it, methodically cutting down their foes.
Swoosh! Slash!
The Celestial Bow Squad consisted of the Nangong Clan’s elite warriors.
No one in the hall could stand against them.
They swept aside any who blocked their path like leaves in the wind.
Their momentum was like a gale-force storm.
Corpses piled up along their advance, yet no one could halt them.
At that moment, a group rose from the head table and charged toward the Celestial Bow Squad.
“Go stop them!”
“You bastards!”
“Stop this at once!”
The Sword Guard Unit, tasked with protecting the Family Head, moved to intercept the Celestial Bow Squad.
Clash! Clang-clang-clang! Kang!
The two forces rushed at each other.
Sword auras flashed chaotically in all directions.
Amid the radiating sword lights, blood sprayed and screams filled the air.
“Gaaahhh!”
“Uwaaaah!”
“They’re fleeing! Pursue!”
“You traitors! How dare you draw blades against the main house!”
“I’ll kill you all!”
Shouts echoed as limbs were severed, and loyalists clashed with betrayers in the melee.
The sudden brawl devolved into total chaos.
Grand Elder Nangong Wigeong’s white beard trembled with fury.
He drew his sword and glared at the Third Elder.
“You scum! What is the meaning of this outrage? How can you defy clan law and turn your blades on kin!”
His voice boomed like thunder, shaking the heavens.
Infused with inner energy, it pierced eardrums and churned stomachs.
Those with shallow cultivation nearby doubled over, unable to endure the overwhelming power.
The Third Elder flicked his sword lightly and stepped forward.
“For the good of the main house! How can we elders stand by while it strays down the wrong path?”
“You filth! What nonsense is this? For the main house? You call drawing swords on clansmen and spilling their blood ‘for the main house’?”
“If necessary! If a small sacrifice allows greater growth! Words of persuasion are long past due! We must beat sense into them!”
“Silence, wretch! That’s no excuse for traitors! I’ll make you pay dearly!”
Nangong Wigeong summoned the Great Nangong Divine Art.
A surging wave of aura flowed into his sword.
The Third Elder’s face tightened slightly.
The elder’s skin-prickling pressure was truly befitting the Grand Elder.
“It won’t be easy!”
The Third Elder also channeled the Great Nangong Divine Art.
The two locked in a fierce contest of auras before raising their swords.
Soon, the Grand Elder and Third Elder clashed.
Boom! Rumble!
A massive explosion flipped nearby objects into the air.
The silent elders drew blades on one another.
Clang! Clang-clang-clang! Boom!
Each sword clash unleashed gales that shredded the surroundings, with shockwaves rippling outward.
* * *
Crash! Crunch! Smash!
Furniture flew as sword winds and auras battered the hall, leaving Gold Summit trembling under a table.
“Eek! Eeeeek!”
He rolled his eyes wildly and huddled lower.
Crash! Boom!
Something heavy thudded atop his hiding table, then a warrior crashed down, vomiting blood.
“Cough! Cough!”
Gold Summit collapsed in a heap.
“Eeeeek!”
He plugged his ears, curled tighter, and shook uncontrollably.
‘What the hell is happening? Rebellion? Rebellion?’
It felt more shocking than a bolt from a clear sky.
People who’d just shared meals, drinks, and talk were suddenly slaughtering each other—what madness was this!
‘The Heavenly Wind Squad and Celestial Bow Squad betraying us! No, why is that elder drawing on the Family Head! Eek, the other elders too?!’
Worse, outsiders at the Harmony Gathering leaped up, swinging swords mercilessly—his hands shook at the brutality.
‘Where’s the Thunder Dragon Squad? If they’re here, they’d protect the Young Master and me... Huh? Young Master?’
Terror-stricken Gold Summit jerked his head up.
“Young Master! Gasp! Where are you, Young Master? Don’t tell me...?’
Dread surged as he peeked out, scanning around.
But a sharp wind whistled overhead, tousling his hair—he ducked like a mole, peeking only with his eyes.
Rolling his eyes, he spotted Nangong Hyeok.
“Y-Y-Youn... Master?”
Gold Summit’s eyes widened, mouth agape.
Amid flashing swords and slashing winds, Nangong Hyeok sat calmly in his chair.
He glanced around casually, utterly detached from the chaos—serene, even.
‘What... what is he doing right now?!’
He’ll get himself killed!
Why isn’t he running?
As Gold Summit gawked in confusion and shock,
Tap.
Nangong Hyeok set down his cup and lifted his head.
His gaze swept the hall.
‘That one’s Nangong Baek. That side’s ours. That guy’s Nangong Baek too...’
Surveying the pandemonium, he began sorting allies.
‘Over there’s ours too. Then...’
His head tilted, eyes tracking the flashing sword lights.
Crack!
He ripped off the armrest and stepped forward.
As Nangong Hyeok moved, the Heavenly Wind Squad warriors’ eyes snapped to him.
“It’s Nangong Hyeok!”
“Seize him! Grab that bastard—!”
“Hiyaap!”
Eyes bloodshot, Heavenly Wind Squad warriors lunged at him.
For the rebels, capturing the Family Head’s son was like taking a general or prince prisoner in war.
Moreover, Nangong Hyeok was the easiest prey.
A late-stage disciple was still just that, no matter how skilled.
Despite his recent feats, Nangong Hyeok had only shown prowess against Sword Tiger and bandits.
To the Heavenly Wind Squad, no easier mark existed.
They grinned ferociously at him.
“Don’t kill him—capture alive! We need a hostage!”
“Come quietly now.”
“Understandable. Might have to lop off an arm or so.”
As the Heavenly Wind Squad closed in,
Nangong Hyeok swung the armrest—now a club—toward the lead warrior’s head.
Bam—!
It burst like a bloated pig bladder, sending the warrior crashing into the left wall.
Boom!
He embedded there.
Shake.
Crumbles.
Stone chunks fell, kicking up white dust.
The Heavenly Wind Squad’s eyes bulged.
What just happened?
The dangling warrior twitched violently.
“......”
“......”
Drip. Drip.
Blood dripped from Nangong Hyeok’s club, spotting the floor.
‘Hit by that?’
‘Impossible!’
The Heavenly Wind Squad were Nangong Clan elites.
Though confident no late-stage disciple could touch them, they couldn’t accept the scene.
Mouths agape, they grimaced.
“Hraaap!”
“Haaap!”
Two charged simultaneously without a word.
Heavenly Wind Ten Swords.
A free-flowing, ever-changing sword art like the wind.
Among Nangong Clan techniques, it ranked mid-to-high elite...
Pwang! Pwaaang!
Air burst as the two, mid-leap with their technique, flew backward.
“Gaaack!”
“Kraaah!”
They sailed opposite, smashing into the wall side-by-side.
Boom-boom!
The wall shuddered, dust raining down.
Nangong Hyeok scowled and advanced steadily.
Crack!
He bashed the head of one swinging from the side, then leaped left to smash another.
Bam!
Each swing sent Heavenly Wind warriors or rebels flying indiscriminately.
Boom-boom-boom! Kwang!
Eyes widened further.
Crash, boom!
Swoosh! Boom!
Warriors rolling like balls or shooting like cannonballs into walls—it was shocking, absurd.
A storm swept the clustered Heavenly Wind Squad.
Their eyes popped, jaws dropped.
Beaten senseless by Nangong Hyeok wielding a chair arm like a club—not even a proper weapon.
Even they grew genuinely flustered.
A mere late-stage disciple batting aside Nangong elites.
With wild club swings, scattering them like fallen leaves—it defied belief.
“Bl-block him!”
“K-kill! Kill him!”
“It’s just a stick! Don’t falter!”
“Hraaap!”
One charged bodily to grapple his waist.
But.
Smack!
Splat!
No exception—his head burst like struck by an iron mace.
Slump, thud!
The warrior stiffened, then toppled.
Splat. Splat.
Blood pooled on the floor; their faces paled.
...That really just a stick?
Even an iron mace wouldn’t hit that hard.
A makeshift weapon wielded with otherworldly power.
This was no late-stage disciple’s level!
Nangong Hyeok proved any sloppy charge meant a shattered skull.
Their gazes flicked to the sword at his waist.
If a mere club did this, what of his blade?
The thought chilled them.
Grinding teeth, the Heavenly Wind Squad steeled themselves.
Fleeing left nothing—no retreat from blades drawn on their lifelong clan.
Failure meant no survival.
Success was their only path.
“Heavenly Wind Sword Formation!”
“Form the formation!”
“He’s alone!”
Eyes murderous, they arrayed in the Heavenly Wind Sword Formation.
A razor-sharp gear of blades pressuring and overwhelming foes.
Optimized for numbers against few.
Ssssh!
Sword lights assailed from all sides.
They became a raging storm, intent on shredding him.
Shifting Heavenly Wind Ten Swords bit like gears, heavy with infused power.
Light flickered in Nangong Hyeok’s eyes.
Grip!
Power surged into his grip; Soaring Heaven King Divine Art flowed into the club.
Flinch!
As the formation faltered at the sudden chill,
Nangong Hyeok swung mightily.
Rrrumble! Kraaak!
Thunderclap Wall Force struck; the lead sword clashed with the club.
Spploosh!
Ziiing!
Eardrum-shattering roar.
Lightning engulfed, blasting the front warrior.
Craaack!
“Gaaahhh!”
His arm twisted like wrung cloth, body spinning far into a crash.
Kwaaang!
Even as one embedded, the club swept the formation.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!
Lightning flashed wildly, wrenching the five warriors’ bodies.
“Gaaack!”
“Urk!”
“Guh!”
Screams trailed as the five spun through air.
Crash!
Sizzle!
Black smoke rose from their fallen, charred forms—like rolling through hellfire.
Three Thunders Sword Method, executed with a club.
The Heavenly Wind Squad’s First Sub-Leader gaped.
“Wh-what the hell...!”