Chapter 188
Chapter 188
Chapter 188
Clang clang—
On a deep night when dark clouds swallowed the moon.
Sharp clamor shattered the silence.
The sharp sound of swords and air-splitting sounds flowing from family head Nam-gung Hwi's quarters.
Nam-gung Hwi blocked the sword of his younger brother, Master of the Finance Pavilion Nam-gung Heun, and shouted.
"Nam-gung Heun, you bastard! How dare you point a sword at your own blood!"
After the banquet ended, Nam-gung Hwi returned straight to his quarters and went to bed.
Though his consciousness fell into sleep, his trained body unconsciously realized something was wrong with the circulation of his energy.
As his body's nerves instinctively stood on edge, using his sixth sense instead of energy sense to be wary of enemies, at that moment an intruder infiltrated his quarters.
It was none other than his younger brother Nam-gung Heun.
Nam-gung Heun sneered and pointed his sword at Nam-gung Hwi.
"Hmph, aren't you the one forcing death upon family and retainers?"
Woong—
At the same time, bright blue sword energy burst from Nam-gung Heun's sword.
Realizing for some reason he couldn't use his internal energy, Nam-gung Hwi barely deflected that sword energy and shouted.
"Didn't I tell you to leave if you truly didn't want to fight? But why!"
"Why should we have to leave our homeland? Though we can no longer transmit martial arts, the Nam-gung Family is a prestigious family dominating Anhui Province! If we pledge loyalty to the imperial palace, we can live luxuriously for life!"
What problem would there be if some skill at handling blades was cut off?
If the wealth and honor the Nam-gung Family accumulated remained intact, descendants could live affluently for generations.
Yet to kick that away with his own feet and choose a dog's death—one couldn't make such a judgment without being insane.
At those words, Nam-gung Hwi widened his eyes and asked.
"Loyalty? Did His Majesty say he would accept your loyalty?"
"Yes, since the last daughter of the Gongsun Family rolled here on her own feet, if I offer that girl's and elder brother's heads, His Majesty will forgive us too!"
Having already completed negotiations with the White Lotus Cult behind the scenes.
He received a promise that if they only purged family head Nam-gung Hwi who was hostile to the imperial family and White Lotus Cult, and his faction, they would guarantee safety and status.
Nam-gung Heun finally pointed his sword at Nam-gung Hwi, who was driven into defense, and twisted his lips.
"Don't make futile resistance and die for the remaining retainers, elder brother."
Rustle—
At the same time as those words, warriors revealed themselves behind Nam-gung Heun.
'Family head Nam-gung Hwi is a master who reached the supreme master level.'
Since he was a martial arts master who proudly had his name listed among the Orthodox Faction's Ten Great Masters, even having fed him Meridian Dispersing Poison, he was a difficult opponent for Nam-gung Heun alone to handle.
'Originally I planned to kill him alone.'
Yet with a body unable to even use internal energy, he was blocking and even dodging his sword wrapped in sword energy.
Though elder brother was currently flustered by his inability to handle internal energy, if by any chance he became accustomed to that state, the tables could turn.
Though his pride was hurt, if he could definitely kill him through coordinated attack.
Nam-gung Heun gave orders to the warriors.
"Strike that bastard. He's a traitor trying to annihilate the Nam-gung Family with his own hands."
"As you command!"
Whoosh—
It was when the warriors all rushed at Nam-gung Hwi at once.
Swish—
Clang—!
Someone kicked open the door and blocked Nam-gung Hwi's front.
At the unexpected person's intrusion, Nam-gung Heun and the warriors widened their eyes and shouted.
"Who are you!"
The path here should have been securely controlled by the Dharma Protector Elder who joined the deed.
At their question, Nam-gung Cheon shouted while fluttering his sleeve.
"Who else? It's Lord Nam-gung Cheon here to correct the family going astray."
Nam-gung Cheon putting on airs to the fullest, unable to do so until now due to being treated as Nam-gung Rin's younger brother.
Nam-gung Heun was shocked upon seeing his face revealed in the darkness.
"Y-you bastard!"
He'd definitely confirmed that bastard greedily stuffing food containing Meridian Dispersing Poison into his mouth, so how was he in such a fine state?
Nam-gung Heun trembled in fury and pointed accusingly.
"A beggar not even in the family register, where do you!"
At this, Nam-gung Cheon sneered and shouted.
"Right, you'll have to die by this guy not in the register's blade to come to your senses. Come!"
***
While a fight broke out at Nam-gung Hwi's quarters, battle was also raging at the inner court.
"Hiyah!"
Clang clang—
Se-yeon striking away the swords of the charging traitors.
Each time her staff shone under the moonlight, five or six people went flying through the air.
Seo-jin too, and Medicine King Dan Mok-hyeon too participated in the battle, subduing the traitors one by one.
How much time had passed?
The battle situation was gradually being organized.
Whoosh—
Having thrown an unconscious Nam-gung Family warrior to the ground and caught his breath, Dan Mok-hyeon asked Seo-jin.
"How on earth did you detect their betrayal?"
Not only was he not poisoned by the Meridian Dispersing Poison the enemies appeared to use, but his response speed in reacting immediately when the enemy attack began.
It was difficult to respond to without knowing of their betrayal in advance.
At that question, Seo-jin shrugged his shoulders with his hands clasped behind his back.
"It's nothing special. I just used some spells to eavesdrop on their voices."
Earlier, Seo-jin had summoned Glize in spirit form to eavesdrop on their secret talks.
Even if they whispered while blocking the door and setting up energy barriers, they couldn't prevent a spirit's infiltration.
'Of course, I only shared this fact with the Reverse Heaven Society group.'
Nam-gung Hwi and his close associates never dreamed Nam-gung Heun would plot betrayal and consumed the Meridian Dispersing Poison.
As a result, Nam-gung Hwi's faction had their internal energy completely sealed, while Nam-gung Heun and the traitors could use their internal energy fully.
If the situation had flowed as is, Seo-jin's group alone wouldn't have been able to easily subdue the traitors.
However,
"Kuk, why is my energy!"
"The sword is strange!"
Those whose internal energy use was blocked weren't only those who consumed Meridian Dispersing Poison.
'The traitors were the same.'
Seo-jin smiled and recalled last night's events.
Seo-jin, pretending to go to the toilet, commanded his summon Tam (貪) to split minutely and stick to the traitors one by one.
The finely split Tam stuck to their weapons, devouring the internal energy as soon as it was injected, interfering so they couldn't exert their strength.
Though they might notice, he didn't attach Tam to Nam-gung Heun and his guards, but this alone seemed sufficient.
From the traitors' standpoint who needed to eliminate family head Nam-gung Hwi and his close associates in a quick decisive battle, even such minor interference would greatly catch their ankles.
'They probably planned to kill family head Nam-gung Hwi who was the focal point of resistance and his close associates, then appease the retainers thrown into chaos.'
With this, that plan was foiled.
Since it was difficult to explain this process step by step, he just said it was spells.
When battles stopped in various places and traitors were dropping their weapons and surrendering one by one.
Burst—
Nam-gung Hwi's quarters burst open and his resounding voice was heard.
"The fight is already over! I command in the family head's name! Everyone drop your swords and surrender! I'll at least spare your lives!"
The rebellion was suppressed easily enough to be anticlimactic.
***
Dawn breaking bluish after last night's rebellion was suppressed.
In the training ground, hundreds of traitors were kneeling bound in ropes.
From retired elders at the high end to elders holding important family positions, to low-rank warriors at the low end.
Their lower energy centers were all destroyed last night, so they became bodies that could never use martial arts again.
Nam-gung Hwi let out a deep sigh and asked Nam-gung Heun, the ringleader of the rebellion.
"Why did you do such a thing?"
"……Do you really ask not knowing? Since elder brother was trying to annihilate our family like the Gongsun Family, isn't this the result!"
He shouted at the top of his lungs in front of everyone as if attempting a last reversal.
"This isn't just my thought alone! Do you think others pretending to follow elder brother are different? Those who stake their lives on a fight with no chance of victory are rare! Me too, them too! We want to live!"
"……."
Nam-gung Hwi turned his gaze without saying anything. And glimpsed the fear and anxiety in the retainers' eyes.
Perhaps Nam-gung Heun's words were right. Among them, few possessed the same passion and righteous spirit as himself.
Most were just staying because this was where they were born and raised to make a living, simply because they were born in the Nam-gung Family.
The reality was there were few beings who would practice chivalry risking death.
Though he'd issued a family head's order saying those who would leave should leave, who could easily turn their back on the hometown where they were born and raised?
However,
"That's no reason to point a sword at blood. And if you truly wanted to live, you should have left earlier. Having pointed a blade at family coveting the family's wealth and honor, dare not speak of survival!"
"Kuk."
"Also, look at the Gongsun Family's case. They went first to express loyalty, yet only that girl survived. Look, does humiliating submission truly guarantee peace?"
"……."
Toward those who lost their words, Nam-gung Hwi proclaimed proudly.
"No! Submission never means survival! Even if you survive for now, you don't know when you'll be swept up by another whim and purged. Having lost martial lineage and disbanded disciples, in a state with no power to resist!"
"Then does elder brother plan to become a traitor?"
"No. As Young Lady Nam-gung Rin said, true loyalty lies in correcting what's wrong. A loyal subject doesn't spare his life in remonstrance. If our deaths can bring His Majesty the Emperor some enlightenment, wouldn't that be true loyalty!"
Shing—
Nam-gung Hwi drew his sword and raised it high to the sky.
"We are a sword family. We were established by the sword and will end by the sword. However."
He lowered the sword again and continued speaking.
"I have no intention of forcing my will even upon powerless retainers and those without the will to fight."
Thud—
He stuck the sword in the training ground floor and proudly declared.
"As of today, the Nam-gung Family is disbanded. Divide the family's wealth and all leave Anhui Province. Only those who wish to share my will shall hold swords. This is the last order I give as family head."
***
A certain family's estate.
"Hmm, perhaps because it's an insignificant family, it's easy."
Twang—
Yelena plucked the bowstring and clicked her tongue as if disappointed.
Below her feet lay corpses with pierced heads scattered haphazardly.
The strategy team carried out purges according to the World Quest the emperor issued.
The well-maintained garden had long since become blood-soaked, transformed into a hellish landscape of the mortal world.
"Phew."
Robert let out a deep sigh and wiped the blood on his shield.
Though he knew such purge actions would ultimately bring greater stability and peace, his heart being heavy couldn't be helped.
"……."
Meanwhile.
Rustle—
Ju Won-jae, holding his sword, pushed through the bushes searching for survivors.
And he soon discovered a mother and child hiding in a corner of the estate.
The woman clasped her young son tight and rubbed her hands together.
"Pl-please, mercy……."
Ju Won-jae's gaze silently watching them turned to the status window.
[Eliminate all related persons. (92/94)]
'These two are the last.'
Though their circumstances were pitiful, he couldn't spare them. He let out a small sigh and swung his sword.
Slash—
As the sword brushed past their necks, the mother and child's heads fell powerlessly.
Along with it, a notification window appeared.
[Quest completed.]
[Choi Family Estate (崔家莊) purge complete.]
[Contribution to the Ming Dynasty increases.]
After confirming the quest was complete, Ju Won-jae shook off the blood on his sword and turned his steps.
The three who finished their work gathered at the estate's entrance.
At the entrance, one intelligence agent from the Eastern Depot was waiting for the three.
The Eastern Depot should definitely be an organization established during the Yongle Emperor's time later, but now it was operating as Hongwu Emperor's intelligence agency.
"You've worked hard, warriors from another world. This is the information you requested."
Ju Won-jae received and read the secret letter the intelligence agent handed over.
After confirming the contents, when he released magical power to burn the secret letter, Yelena asked curiously.
"What does it say?"
"They say guests visited the Nam-gung Family. Afterward, a disturbance occurred in the middle of the night, and the family head who suppressed the disturbance ordered the family's disbandment."
"Something must have happened there? Even the Brocade Guards tracking the Gongsun Family's survivors were brainwashed, right?"
"Right, that brainwashing was probably Nam-gung Rin's Taoist Arts."
The series of events were all saying one thing.
That Reverse Heaven Society was there.
Having organized his thoughts, Ju Won-jae pointed in one direction.
"Good. We also head to the Nam-gung Family."