Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Hefei's Ten Great Sects Arrive
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Namgung Baek stared at Namgung Jangcheon before turning his head toward Gwi Yeong.
"Why did it take you so damn long?"
Gwi Yeong replied in a flat tone.
"The resistance was fiercer than expected."
"I told you it wouldn't be a walk in the park."
"True. But things here look worse than I thought."
The deployment of the black-clad warriors had shifted the tide once more, but the fact that they'd been on the back foot beforehand meant things weren't unfolding as planned.
"There was a wildcard."
Namgung Baek's murderous glare shifted to Namgung Hyeok.
Gwi Yeong's eyes flickered with faint surprise.
Did Namgung Hyeok possess skills strong enough to sway the battlefield's flow?
Either he'd far surpassed what Gwi Yeong had witnessed earlier, or something close to it.
Either way, Namgung Hyeok had proven a far bigger stumbling block than anticipated.
Namgung Baek raised his voice, sneering.
"You bastard! Spit your nonsense like before. Who looks like wild dog chow now?"
Namgung Hyeok glanced back and forth between Gwi Yeong and Namgung Baek, then scratched his cheek.
"Looks like there's more dog food now?"
Namgung Baek let out a chill laugh.
"Fine, credit where it's due—that spirit of yours. I'll toss you to the wild dogs alive."
"Suit yourself."
"Hmph!"
Namgung Baek snorted in disdain and turned back to Namgung Jangcheon.
"If you lot don't want to die, surrender now. I don't want the main house trashed any further either."
Namgung Jangcheon's beard quivered.
His gaze swept over the black-clad intruders swarming into the Heavenly Palace Hall as he let out a low groan.
Namgung Jangcheon's eyes wavered.
Screams rang out from every direction, lives snuffed out one after another.
Namgung Jangcheon bellowed.
"You're dragging in outside forces!"
No way a bunch of masked and hooded thugs counted as a legitimate faction.
The auras seeping from them already marked them as far from orthodox warriors.
Namgung Jangcheon burned with rage at the thought of outsiders meddling to shake and topple the Namgung Family.
Namgung Baek spoke in a mocking drawl.
"Didn't I tell you? I've been preparing for ages!"
A storm of emotions churned inside him.
Namgung Jangcheon's mind reeled in disarray.
'I never would've believed it...'
Only now did all the recent events start clicking into place.
The suspicious incidents cropping up across Anhui Province lately.
It had started with the Silver Phantom Stables and escalated to mysterious figures showing up in Hefei soil.
All the way to Namgung Baek's Guicheon Ten Ultimates.
'I... I completely misread Namgung Baek.'
He finally saw the man for what he was—someone who'd do anything to feed his greed. No, even beyond that.
Never had he imagined that endless ambition would drive him to deny the Namgung Family everything it possessed.
Namgung Jangcheon roared, veins bulging in his eyes.
"Greed's blinded you! You think this is justified?!"
"What's wrong with it? I borrowed power 'cause I was short on it. Doesn't change me taking the Family Head seat."
"Who'll recognize a Family Head spot stolen like this? Who'll trust or follow a leader without any legitimacy?!"
Namgung Jangcheon's thunderous roar echoed as Namgung Baek smirked.
"Who'll recognize it, huh..."
His gaze twisted oddly, drifting past Namgung Jangcheon to the heart of the battlefield.
Warriors tangled in deadly combat, killing and dying.
Shouts and screams stabbed at the ears, metal clashing fiercely.
"You see that? That's what your precious legitimacy and loyalty built."
"......"
"Over half the family follows me. If you had what it takes as Family Head, why'd they side with me for this grand plan instead of you? You've lost their faith. You've shirked your duties!"
Having poured strength into his voice, Namgung Baek spoke leisurely.
"A real Family Head would've looked after them too. You were too busy scrambling with family infighting to spare them a thought. That's why you're unfit."
Namgung Jangcheon's pupils trembled.
It was true—while he'd been frantically handling internal crises, he'd neglected the bigger picture.
Grievances had piled up at the outer businesses, and Namgung Baek had seized on them.
The words cut to the bone, drawing a pained groan from Namgung Jangcheon.
The smirk curling Namgung Baek's lips grew even more venomous.
At that moment.
Namgung Hyeok chuckled as he cut in.
"What is this, a popularity poll?"
A popularity poll?
Namgung Baek scowled at Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok twirled his sword idly as he spoke.
"You're saying Family Head qualifications boil down to headcount support, right?"
"What nonsense are you peddling?"
"Don't just fixate on the inside—you gotta look outward too. What's an orthodox sect good for if it's only babysitting businesses? Might as well be black path thugs chasing profits."
"Ridiculous..."
"A proper Namgung Family Head earns trust from everyone in the territory."
Namgung Baek scowled at Namgung Hyeok again.
"If you're doing a popularity poll, make it fair. Fair."
"You scum!"
"Hang on. They should be here any second."
Namgung Hyeok muttered, peering outside.
Namgung Baek wasn't the only one—Namgung Jangcheon and Gwi Yeong followed his gaze with baffled stares.
'No way?'
Rumble rumble rumble.
The ground suddenly shuddered.
Dust clouds billowed hazily between the flung-wide main gates.
Namgung Baek channeled his inner energy, glaring at the dust surging toward the Heavenly Palace Hall.
Dark silhouettes rippled within the tidal wave of dust.
Flutter!
A towering flagpole erupted upward, a white banner snapping fiercely in the wind.
Another flag shot up right behind.
Blue this time.
As the flags rose, warriors in vibrant, multicolored garb came into view.
All mirth drained from Namgung Baek's face.
"Wh-what the hell...?"
Rooooar!
Warriors flooded endlessly into the Heavenly Palace Hall.
The hall quaked like it was caught in an earthquake.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
"Waaaaaaaah!"
"Waaaaaah!"
A human tide vast enough to call an ocean poured in.
Even the battling warriors froze at the earth-shaking roars.
It felt like a million-man army charging.
Step step step!
They moved in flawless unison, seizing the Heavenly Palace Hall in seconds.
Jaws dropped, eyes widened in shock.
Warriors in every color of garb claimed the hall in unison.
Ten flags whipped fiercely overhead.
As varied and bright as their attire.
Namgung Baek's bloodshot eyes shook with fury.
White Shadow Sect, Iron Cloud House, Hefei Armory, Black Tortoise Sect...
Hefei's Ten Great Sects.
Every one had marched in, elite warriors in tow.
Stunned by the impossible sight, Namgung Baek stammered.
"Th-those bastards, why...?!"
Why had ten unrelated sects barge into the Heavenly Palace Hall out of nowhere?!
That instant.
Joo Hyeong-un of White Shadow Sect stepped forward.
From the chaotic battlefield's center, he boomed.
"We ten sects heard the Namgung Family faces crisis—we've come to aid the Family Head!"
His voice thundered, resonant and mighty.
A thick silence blanketed the Heavenly Palace Hall.
Stifled groans rippled from all around soon after.
Namgung Baek could scarcely believe it.
"What... what?!"
When had the ten sects evolved to drawing blades for the Namgung Family?!
Namgung Hyeok flashed a grin.
"That's a Family Head's prestige for you. Tending the house is basic! Stabilizing the turf and winning hearts? Whole different league. Different league. Family Head, give 'em a wave."
Namgung Jangcheon was just as thrown.
Since when had Hefei's Ten Great Sects backed him?
"......"
Their eyes met, and Namgung Hyeok clenched his jaw, giving a quick head shake.
Namgung Jangcheon hardened his gaze.
"...Y-yes."
"...?"
"This is the legitimacy and conviction of a Family Head I spoke of."
Namgung Baek's face twisted at Namgung Jangcheon's words.
Namgung Hyeok twirled his sword as he said.
"Kneel, and I'll let you live."
Killing intent bloomed from beyond Namgung Baek's shoulder.
An odd sense of defeat washed over him.
He felt like a puppet dancing on Namgung Jangcheon and Namgung Hyeok's palms.
Something bottled up inside burst free.
The battlefield—where he'd held a momentary edge—was flipping completely.
Crushing numerical disadvantage.
The instant Hefei's Ten Great Sects packed the Heavenly Palace Hall, Namgung Jangcheon's side's morale pierced the heavens.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
"Cut down the enemy dogs!"
"Drive them out!"
As the cheers thundered and the tide surged beyond control once more, Namgung Baek snapped.
"You bastards! You're the ones blocking my throne, my future! I'll slaughter you all—every last—"
"Enough."
Gwi Yeong sighed softly, gripping Namgung Baek's shoulder.
Namgung Baek's eyes rolled, bloodshot as if dripping gore.
"Let go—I'll butcher those—"
"No need to lose your head."
"What?!"
Gwi Yeong eyed Namgung Jangcheon's side with icy detachment.
"Kill the Family Head, fight's over. Numbers are meaningless."
Namgung Baek, mid-rage, cooled off.
Right. He'd forgotten.
Warriors' clashes came down to slaying the top dog or not.
Numbers didn't matter.
It was all talk to justify the uprising, lend it legitimacy.
Just a flare-up from the surprise—nothing had changed.
Kill the Family Head. End the fight.
"Yeah. That's all it takes."
Namgung Baek tamped down his surging aura and relaxed his sword.
He gathered his energy, facing Namgung Jangcheon.
"Today, one of us dies for sure."
"You'll pay for your crimes!"
"Die!"
Namgung Baek lunged at Namgung Jangcheon, the duel reigniting.
Namgung Hyeok turned toward Gwi Yeong.
'Hmm.'
He marched steadily toward Gwi Yeong.
Gwi Yeong barked a hollow laugh.
"You think you're my match?"
"Why not?"
"Hah! Green as grass."
Gwi Yeong scoffed, jerking his chin.
The black-clad men behind him closed on Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok crooked a finger.
"You got minions? Me too."
Right then, Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung leaped out from behind Namgung Hyeok.
Geon Cheon-hwi slashed his broadsword to fend off Heavenly Palace Corps attacks, calling out.
"Young Master!"
Namgung Hyeok scowled.
"Why'd you tail me?!"
"These scum after you..."
"Drop it—handle things. Got business with him."
Geon Cheon-hwi scanned the black-clad foes approaching Namgung Hyeok.
Thunder Dragon Squad at their backs, black-clads ahead.
Geon Cheon-hwi ground his teeth and bellowed.
"Form ranks—cut 'em down!"
"Yes!"
The Thunder Dragon Squad that had pursued Namgung Hyeok swiftly arrayed into the Ghost Valley Chain Formation he'd drilled them in.
Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung formed one unit; the rest fell in smoothly, ten formations snapping into place.
Namgung Hyeok plodded toward Gwi Yeong.
Twirling his sword, he eyed him.
"Ready? Here I come."
Gwi Yeong's eyes, visible through his mask, hardened.