Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Translator: Penny
Chapter 88
Han Yuseong evaporated the Sword Qi he had been channeling into his sword.
Then, he scanned the faces of the family heads.
The family heads who had come down from the broken roof all wore expressions that seemed to demand an answer from him.
Han Yuseong stared at Hong Gi-ryun, who was standing blankly.
Hong Gi-ryun had not yet regained his senses.
Han Yuseong thought this was an opportunity.
A chance to strike first before Hong Gi-ryun could say anything.
“I have subdued the attackers who came to harm Yeon Seol-ah, the daughter of the Hubei Yeon Family.”
He pointed at Hong Gi-ryun, who was standing awkwardly, with his right index finger.
“That man seems to be the leader of this operation.”
That bastard is the bad guy!
─That was the meaning.
- Famous Thing) When something happens, you need to grasp the flow of the situation first. The higher-ups like to be treated with respect.
- Famous Thing) Can you do it?
- Shrine Maiden) Hawaawa, I need to pretend to be wronged.
The moment Hong Gi-ryun opened his mouth to say something.
Someone approached him from the side.
“Han Yuseong is right.”
The eyes of the Martial Arts Alliance’s core members turned to Yoo Hwa-yoon of the Mount Hua Sect as she spoke.
Those gathered around were not only Martial Arts Alliance officials but also some Martial Artist from various places.
The Martial Arts Alliance’s Warriors tried to stop them, but they couldn’t control the gazes that had already been drawn.
“I directly witnessed Yeon Seol-ah being attacked.”
Compared to the words of Yeon Seol-ah, whose family situation was not good, or Han Yuseong, a Shinji expert who appeared out of nowhere, Yoo Hwa-yoon of the Mount Hua Sect had strong credibility.
Namgung Won, the Martial Arts Alliance Lord, nodded.
“Thank you for your testimony.”
Namgung Won’s gaze was on Han Yuseong, but the target he was focusing on was not Han Yuseong but Peng Mu-il, the head of the Hebei Peng Family.
There’s a verified witness, so it’s okay to condone you. But I can’t just let the Baekri Family off the hook.
Namgung Won’s voice echoed in Peng Mu-il’s head.
It was a Telepathic message.
Peng Mu-il felt a surge of curses, but he did not express his anger outwardly.
As the Martial Arts Alliance Lord said, things had escalated.
Namgung Won raised his right hand and placed it on Hong Gi-ryun’s head.
Golden currents flickered from Namgung Won’s grasp.
Hong Gi-ryun’s knees buckled at once.
Hong Gi-ryun was forced to kneel.
“Keureureuk…keureuk!”
Foam formed at the corners of Hong Gi-ryun’s mouth.
Hong Gi-ryun had to feel the pain of his brain burning.
“Speak.”
Namgung Won’s words pierced sharply into Hong Gi-ryun’s ears.
“Who ordered you to do this?”
Hong Gi-ryun looked at Namgung Won with bloodshot eyes.
Everyone except the heads of the Martial Arts Alliance’s major families was controlled.
However, most of the Martial clan and Sect present in this Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly were well-versed in the affairs of the Central Plains martial world.
Why Yeon Seol-ah, the daughter of the Hubei Yeon Family, was suddenly attacked.
Most of them were guessing who had instigated the attack.
Although many did not know that the Hebei Peng Family was behind the Baekri Family, which had led the kidnapping of Yeon Seol-ah.
Namgung Won’s quiet voice continued to echo in Hong Gi-ryun’s ears, who was about to say that he had led the kidnapping out of loyalty to the Baekri Family.
“It would be best not to utter nonsense that you acted alone. If you confess the truth, I will end it with your death. I mean, I will spare your bloodline.”
Namgung Won drew his sword.
“You will have to die, though.”
Hong Gi-ryun thought.
“…Baekri Hwi, the second son of the Baekri Family, gave the order.”
“I see.”
There was no change in Namgung Won’s expressionless face.
Hong Gi-ryun realized that Namgung Won already knew the truth before he even spoke.
Namgung Won looked at the heads of the core families surrounding him and Hong Gi-ryun.
“If anyone has any complaints about my decision, speak up.”
Moyong Jincheon of the Moyong Family opened his mouth.
“I have no complaints about killing this guy right away. But what are you going to do about the Baekri Family?”
“I plan to impose an appropriate punishment. On the person who gave the order.”
Moyong Jincheon raised the corners of his lips at Namgung Won’s words.
“Hoo, you’ve become somewhat lenient, Martial Arts Alliance Lord.”
“Defiling this sacred Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly is a serious crime, but the death of the eldest son is a major misfortune for the Baekri Family, so I plan to end it with minimal punishment.”
Except for Moyong Jincheon, no family head considered Martial Arts Alliance Lord Namgung Won to be lenient.
Dang Myeongheo, the head of the Dang Family, was one of them.
‘With this incident, the Baekri Family’s position will be even smaller than that of the Hubei Yeon Family.’
If the Baekri Family had succeeded in carrying out their planned scheme, they might have swallowed the Hubei Yeon Family whole, but the plan completely failed.
Now that they had received this kind of attention from the Martial Arts World, the Baekri Family’s revival would be a distant prospect for decades to come. Perhaps for life.
“Bring Baekri Taekyung, the head of the Baekri Family, and his second son, Baekri Hwi. You may use force if they resist.”
Martial Arts Alliance Lord Namgung Won ordered Hoi Baek, his right-hand man and a Rank 6 Warrior.
Hoi Baek bowed his head and left the scene.
Namgung Won’s gaze turned back to Han Yuseong.
“Your injuries are quite deep.”
Namgung Won, looking at the straight wound on his upper body, looked back.
“Celestial Healer, heal this man’s wounds.”
“Understood.”
The woman with long hair, called Celestial Healer, answered and stepped forward.
The woman’s hand was wrapped in green light.
The currents that stretched out like threads stitched together the open wounds.
“You’ll be fine in three days.”
Han Yuseong had thought that the title ‘Celestial Healer’ might be an exaggeration.
But if those words were true, it didn’t seem like an exaggeration.
The pain, which had been bearable but definitely heavy, had clearly dissipated.
Moyong Jincheon said, looking at Han Yuseong.
“Did you achieve Rank 6 after the battle with Jaseon of the Shaolin Sect?”
Han Yuseong nodded.
“Yes.”
Moyong Jincheon’s lips curled up.
“You’re quite the remarkable fellow. If you were my disciple, I would have cherished you dearly.”
Not long after Moyong Jincheon finished speaking, the space became noisy again.
The head of the Baekri Family and his second son had arrived.
Baekri Taekyung and Baekri Hwi approached with stiff faces.
They had brought a dozen or so of their subordinates, who were their means of force, but they realized that the situation would not allow them to use them.
“Baekri Taekyung, I never thought this would happen when you greeted me the day before the start of the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly.”
Baekri Taekyung frowned as he looked at Hong Gi-ryun, who was kneeling and trembling.
“This man has already confessed that it was your son, Baekri Hwi, who led the operation. Is that correct?”
Baekri Hwi lowered his head.
Rank 5.
It was a high Rank that would not be ignored anywhere among those of similar age, but here, where old monsters were gathered, he was just a youngling.
“I, I…!”
“Of course, you will say that you didn’t. But there are few in this Martial Arts World who don’t know that the relationship between the Hubei Yeon Family and the Baekri Family is not good.”
Baekri Taekyung looked at Namgung Won’s face with a face full of anger.
“…What responsibility must my son take to save his life?”
Namgung Won answered with an indifferent face.
“He will have to cut off one arm and destroy his foundation.”
Destroying the foundation.
That meant that a Warrior would completely lose the existing internal energy they had built up and would not be able to live as a Warrior in the future.
It was a statement that he would completely cut off Baekri Hwi’s life as a Warrior.
“And Baekri Taekyung, you also know well that the fault of a member of the Martial clan is the fault of the entire Martial clan.”
Baekri Taekyung had no choice but to listen silently to Namgung Won’s continued words.
“I will have the Baekri Unit, one of your main forces, transferred to the Martial Arts Alliance.”
Baekri Taekyung tried to hide the Killing Intent that was rising within him.
It was a declaration that he would let the Martial Arts Alliance Lord do as he pleased, whether it was to kill a member of the Baekri Unit or use them as a complete military force of the Martial Arts Alliance.
‘…Literally, it’s a punishment that’s better than annihilation.’
Namgung Won had no intention of retracting anything he had said earlier.
“You know that I, the Martial Arts Alliance Lord, am trying to give you very lenient treatment, right?”
Jegal Siheon, the head of the Jegal Family, clicked his tongue inwardly.
He shuddered at Namgung Won’s ruthless judgment.
‘If the Baekri Family had succeeded in quietly kidnapping the daughter of the Hubei Yeon Family as they had planned…they would have achieved the growth of their Martial clan without suffering any losses.’
The price they paid for failing was too great.
Perhaps it was even more so because they had seen the possibility of failure as non-existent.
Namgung Won had ordered them to stand by and watch even when it was confirmed that a Formation was being deployed on the side where the daughter of the Hubei Yeon Family was.
He must have done so because it was not a matter of great concern to Namgung Won.
Now, he had stepped in because the ‘Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly’ hosted by the Martial Arts Alliance had been publicly defiled.
Even that seemed close to Namgung Won’s private amusement.
Namgung Won now looked at Yeon Seol-ah, who was standing blankly.
“You are Yeon Seol-ah of the Hubei Yeon Family, is that right?”
Yeon Seol-ah nodded urgently at the Martial Arts Alliance Lord’s words.
“Yes…!”
“While it has not yet been revealed whether the massacre committed by your brother is true or not, the crimes of those who tried to kill you are clear.”
Namgung Won suddenly changed the direction of his sword and held it out so that Yeon Seol-ah could grab the handle.
“It means that you are in a situation where you can cut off that Baekri Hwi’s arm.”
When Yeon Seol-ah remained still as if frozen, the Martial Arts Alliance Lord’s gaze turned to Han Yuseong.
“If not, Han Yuseong, was it? You can cut off that guy’s arm.”
Han Yuseong shook his hands and refused.
“Well, if I cut off Baekri Hwi’s arm, wouldn’t I be too hated? I think it’s better to be careful.”
“Keuhahahahahaha!”
Martial Arts Alliance Lord Namgung Won burst into hearty laughter at Han Yuseong’s words.
“Yes, that’s right. I was trying to tarnish the hands of the new star of the Martial Arts World too easily.”
Namgung Won handed the sword to Hoi Baek, who was next to him.
“You do it.”
“Yes.”
Hoi Baek, who answered without hesitation, approached Baekri Hwi.
And.
Sseogeok!
“Kuaaaaaak! Haeuaaaaak!!”
Baekri Hwi’s screams began to be heard.
‘Ugh, I don’t want to see it.’
Han Yuseong was not watching the scene.
He himself had created a rather gruesome sight, but he didn’t want to see the gruesomeness that others created.
The clear white sky.
Instead of facing the screams, the sound of flesh tearing, and blood, he was looking at the sky, which was devoid of clouds.
< You guys sure have fun playing around sometimes. >
That’s why he was the first to witness the moment when something went wrong in that sky.
Pressure.
Han Yuseong wiped under his nose.
Blood was flowing. His body was being crushed by an intangible force.
The pressure was so strong that the Formation he had experienced just before felt insignificant.
Bang!
His right knee was forced to buckle.
Han Yuseong gritted his teeth and turned his head back.
To check on Yeon Seol-ah’s survival.
He could see Yeon Seol-ah, huddled up and trembling behind the barrier that Celestial Healer had erected.
As long as she was alive, that was enough.
Thick Killing Intent emanated from Namgung Won’s body.
Namgung Won opened his mouth.
“Heavenly Demon….”
Heavenly Demon?
Han Yuseong raised his head with curiosity.
After making the Bodyguard Qi surrounding his entire body even stronger.
“…….”
A woman was standing in the clear sky.
As naturally as a god.
[NPC – Heavenly Demon 8 Rank]
A quiet, beautiful voice echoed in his ears.
=You managed to keep your balance, you’re very commendable.=
‘Ah, fuck.’
Han Yuseong lowered his head again.
He didn’t want to receive this kind of direct attention.
Rank 8.
To be exact, he had heard about the dangers of existences of Rank 7 or higher from the Transcendence Gallery seniors on the night of his entry into the 15th floor.
-
Archmage) The Constellations mocked us, calling us hopeless cowards, but that’s mostly because they’re Rank 8. They’re being criticized because they’re Rank 8 and they give up.
-
Heavenly Demon) When you’re Rank 8, those below you in Rank look like ants, not humans.
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Scum Sword Saint) That’s actually true.
-
Pioneer) You can kill them without touching them.
-
Pioneer) In fact, even Rank 7 can do that if they put their heart into it. From Rank 6 onwards, you’ll die if you approach it with the concept of a simple numerical difference.
-
Water King) Friend!!! You also become such an existence to those below Rank 5!! When you become Rank 6!!
-
Elf) You’ve won against Rank 6 monsters a few times even when you were Rank 5, right? That’s because it’s you. It’s not usually like that.
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Sword of Light) So, you have to gauge the situation well. If you want to survive when you meet real monsters.
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Absolute Monarch) You shouldn’t experience such ridiculous sudden deaths…like being killed for saying one wrong word. Because the place you’re climbing is Pandemonium.
-
Secret Room Theorist) Pandemoㅋㅋㅋniumㅋㅋㅋumㅋㅋㅋ – This world is made up of a giant secret room
=Thanks to you, I was able to kill time.=
‘Fuck….’
Yeah, it seems like that gauging was a bit off.
Han Yuseong thought so as he listened to the Heavenly Demon’s Telepathic message that continued in his head.