Chapter 45
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: The Hidden Dagger
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Huangbo Wungyeong, who had rushed out upon hearing the news, met Huangbo Taeseong in front of the grand hall. The man wore a grim expression.
"...I have no face to show you, Grand Elder."
As he bowed his head in silence, Huangbo Wungyeong turned to the other Heavenly Kings Brigade members.
"You there, the squad leader. Speak."
"It was like this..."
Upon hearing that warriors from the Four Celestial Gates were still lingering at the Myeongseong Pavilion, Huangbo Taeseong had immediately led two squads from the Heavenly Kings Brigade to confront them.
But it had been a trap. They were ambushed by lying-in-wait members of the Blood Rain Gang.
Of course, the Blood Rain Gang thugs couldn't stand against the elite experts of the Heavenly Kings Brigade, but there were simply too many of them.
In the end, the two squads and Huangbo Taeseong became isolated, and casualties were inevitable.
The enraged Huangbo Taeseong and Heavenly Kings Brigade warriors eventually annihilated the Blood Rain Gang members, but that wouldn't bring back the dead.
It was obvious whose backing lay behind the Blood Rain Gang's ambush.
'The Four Celestial Gates, those bastards!'
Huangbo Wungyeong asked with a hardened expression.
"And the Myeongseong Pavilion?"
"A Four Celestial Gates elder had already visited to apologize and offer compensation... I had to hold back the squad leader who was about to explode and drag him away."
Huangbo Wungyeong closed his eyes tightly.
"...You did well."
At that moment, Huangbo Taeseong suddenly dropped to his knees.
"Grand Elder, let me strike the Four Celestial Gates. Grant me permission!"
"...!"
The other Heavenly Kings Brigade members followed suit, kneeling behind him and shouting.
"Grant us permission!"
Huangbo Wungyeong asked with a stern face.
"Do you have confidence you'll win if you clash with the Four Celestial Gates?"
"We've lost three Heavenly Kings Brigade members who were like family to us! We can't just sit idly by!"
Huangbo Wungyeong stated firmly.
"I cannot permit it."
"Grand Elder!"
"Take the injured Heavenly Kings Brigade members straight to the Medical Hall, and recover the bodies properly."
He turned away as if he had no desire to say more.
It was then that Huangbo Taeseong swallowed a groan.
[Follow me.]
"...!"
Hearing the transmission, Huangbo Taeseong immediately trailed after him.
Huangbo Wungyeong's chambers.
Huangbo Wungyeong and Huangbo Taeseong sat facing each other.
"What? You want to strike the Four Celestial Gates? Are you trying to destroy our Huangbo Family right now?"
"Uncle..."
Huangbo Wungyeong's scolding continued.
"That's exactly why the family head entrusted full authority to me instead of you. To think you'd rush into things so emotionally! What will the other Huangbo Family warriors think if they hear that?"
Not only was the justification lacking, but attacking the Four Celestial Gates right now would leave the Huangbo Family—a force already short on manpower—with a much higher chance of defeat.
"We must endure some losses for now. Even the Four Celestial Gates would find a frontal assault burdensome. If we don't make a move, they won't escalate to all-out war."
Huangbo Wungyeong patted his shoulder as if consoling him.
"Now is not the time. But a day will surely come when we can exact proper vengeance!"
Grit!
Huangbo Taeseong knew his uncle's words were entirely correct. It was just that the rage from losing Heavenly Kings Brigade members was too much to bear.
"By the way... it seems the Four Celestial Gates are aware their time is running short. They might pull even dirtier tricks from here on. We need to mobilize our intelligence network to the fullest and not miss a single move they make."
"Understood, Uncle."
Huangbo Wungyeong muttered with a heavy expression.
"The next month ahead... it'll be a long and agonizing time. Steel yourself."
* * *
Hunan Province, Yiyang.
Here stood the Four Celestial Gates, renowned as one of the Eight Great Demonic Sects.
The Four Celestial Gates boasted twice the scale of the Huangbo Family—not just in buildings, but in personnel as well, with more than double the numbers.
However, due to the significant gap in individual martial prowess, most evaluations held that the two forces were roughly equal, or that the Huangbo Family held a slight edge.
Into the grand hall of that Four Celestial Gates stepped one of their disciples.
He immediately prostrated himself flat on the ground.
"I come before the Sect Leader!"
In the direction he bowed was a large throne, upon which sat a middle-aged man.
"..."
With sharp eyes and a long dangling chin beard, he was the Blood Yin Evil Lord, Mok In-gyeom.
His eyes gleamed red, a side effect of the Blood Yin Demonic Art he cultivated.
Thanks to that, anyone who looked upon him felt an involuntary chill.
Standing beside him was a woman with a voluptuous figure.
She appeared to be in her early thirties, her beauty unremarkable but her mesmerizing gaze striking.
Even the most steadfast man might find himself captivated by her eyes alone.
The Blood Yin Evil Lord, who had been silently gazing down at the disciple, finally spoke.
"Report."
"Yes, sir!"
The disciple slowly rose to one knee.
"The Blood Rain Gang suffered near-total annihilation, while the Heavenly Kings Brigade took around a dozen casualties."
"How many Heavenly Kings Brigade members died?"
"Three."
The Blood Yin Evil Lord furrowed his brows.
"Only three? Even with the ambush?"
As his gaze turned fierce, the woman spoke up.
"Please calm down. Their opponents were the Huangbo Family's elites, the Heavenly Kings Brigade. You can't expect mere Blood Rain Gang rabble to handle them."
"Weren't the deployed numbers over a hundred Blood Rain Gang elites?"
"Even so, they were a motley crew. They only managed three kills by making the most of the surprise."
"Hmph, worthless scum."
This time, the woman questioned the disciple.
"What of the Huangbo Family's movements?"
"No reaction yet."
She looked disappointed.
'The one holding full authority is the Grand Elder, huh? As expected, not to be underestimated.'
With a wave of the Blood Yin Evil Lord's hand, the reporting disciple withdrew.
Now alone, the Blood Yin Evil Lord spoke again.
"Hong Strategist."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
The woman called Hong Strategist was Hong Yeo-mong, the Four Celestial Gates' strategist known as the Viperous Venom Woman.
"This is how we'll take down the Huangbo Family? We need to clear them out of Zhangsha within a month."
"Exactly. But don't be too impatient, Sect Leader. A month is longer than you think."
"Hmm."
Hong Yeo-mong flashed a sinister smile.
"We'll torment them plenty before cutting off their breath."
Her eyes sparkled.
"The Blood Rain Gang took heavier losses than expected, but it should still rattle the Huangbo Family plenty. It's the first time their warriors have died, after all."
"I see. By the way, I heard figures from the North Sea Ice Palace—who attended the grand assembly—visited the Huangbo Family."
"Yes."
"They say the North Sea Ice Palace's Young Palace Lord and the North Heavenly Dragon are quite meddlesome. What if they decide to help the Huangbo Family?"
"I've already gauged their tendencies. But the odds of them stepping in are far lower."
"Why?"
"Those who clashed with the North Heavenly Dragon were Green Forest bandits and Black Dao tyrants. It might seem like they're opposing all unorthodox sects at a glance, but they share another common thread."
"What's that?"
"Commoners were involved. For some reason, the North Heavenly Dragon utterly despises murim folk who harm civilians."
The Blood Yin Evil Lord's eyebrow twitched.
"Hmph, playing at being a fake righteous knight."
"True. But this incident is between our sect and the Huangbo Family—a matter between murim factions. As outsiders, they have little ground to intervene."
"But what if their ties to the Huangbo Family run deeper than expected, and they barge in?"
Hong Yeo-mong gave a chilling smile.
"That could happen. But the North Heavenly Dragon's group visiting the Huangbo Family will actually turn into a blessing in disguise for us."
The Blood Yin Evil Lord looked intrigued.
"Oh? You've got something planned?"
"I'll show you with results. Hehehe, feel free to look forward to it."
"Very well. I will."
* * *
The next day, in the Huangbo Family's guest hall.
Seol Hwa-un asked Eom Mu-hwi, who had returned from scouting.
"How's the situation?"
"The death of Heavenly Kings Brigade members yesterday has the whole place in disarray. The leadership is doing their best to calm the family warriors, but some unrest is inevitable."
"I see."
Seol Hwa-un couldn't help worrying about the Huangbo Family, which he had taken a liking to in both his past and present lives.
'The pressure from the Four Celestial Gates will only intensify.'
The North Wind Brigade Leader spoke up.
"Given this, why not advance our schedule and leave the Huangbo Family early?"
It sounded cold at first glance, but it was actually said with the Huangbo Family in mind.
"They won't have the bandwidth to worry about us in this situation. Leaving sooner would actually help them."
It made sense. If they couldn't offer active aid, better to be out of the way.
"..."
As Seol Hwa-un pondered, Dong Ho-won entered.
"Young Palace Lord."
"What is it?"
"Just now, a Huangbo Family warrior brought a message from the Grand Elder."
Dong Ho-won tilted his head as he continued.
"He asked if you're free to honor yesterday's agreement now..."
"Agreement?"
The North Wind Brigade Leader's eyes widened.
"You're not saying the sparring match from yesterday, are you? In this situation?"
"..."
Seol Hwa-un fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"It's not a bad response."
"Pardon? What do you...?"
"After such an incident, unrest among the Huangbo Family is unavoidable. So the Grand Elder wants to show everyone a picture of business as usual."
Nothing's wrong with the Huangbo Family, so no need to worry.
"He plans to demonstrate that composure by sparring with our palace members and signaling to his people that they have the luxury for it."
"Ah!"
Seol Hwa-un gave a faint smile.
'As they say, old ginger is hottest. Fitting of the Grand Elder.'
Seol Hwa-un selected Eom Mu-hwi, Dong Ho-won, and ten North Wind Brigade members eager to test the Huangbo Family's martial arts, then headed to their training grounds.
There, Huangbo Wungyeong waited with about a dozen warriors.
Huangbo Wungyeong smiled as he spoke.
"Thank you for coming, Young Palace Lord."
"No need. We already agreed yesterday, didn't we?"
"Hahaha."
'As expected, he read my intentions.'
Huangbo Wungyeong realized from Seol Hwa-un's calm demeanor that he had grasped his true feelings.
"Shall we get started, then?"
The training grounds were spacious enough to pair them up in groups of three or four rather than one-on-one, and the sparring began.
"Please go easy on us!"
"Likewise!"
The Huangbo Family warriors who stepped forward were from the Lying Tiger Brigade, the youngest in average age among their three major combat units.
Their power was comparatively lower, but as they consisted of promising young experts, their future potential was the highest.
With the Fist Tiger Brigade unavailable and the Heavenly Kings Brigade still reeling from their losses, it was an inevitable choice.
"Hah!"
"Eyah!"
Shouts echoed as the fierce sparring unfolded. The North Wind Brigade generally held the advantage.
With their older, more experienced members, it was a natural outcome.
Off to one side stood Huangbo Wungyeong and Huangbo Taeseong, watching side by side.
"The North Sea Ice Palace's North Wind Brigade is impressive indeed. Even with the Lying Tiger Brigade going all out, they have room to spare."
"We're getting pushed too hard. Let me send out the Heavenly Kings Brigade tomorrow."
At Huangbo Taeseong's words, Huangbo Wungyeong chided gently.
"Look further ahead. They're losing now, but this sparring will be great fertilizer for the Lying Tiger Brigade's growth."
The matches were proceeding smoothly when something pricked at Seol Hwa-un's senses.
'This is... killing intent?'
It was extremely subtle, but it couldn't fool Seol Hwa-un's senses—honed to a razor edge from his past life's realm.
In truth, none of the advanced experts present—not Huangbo Wungyeong, Huangbo Taeseong, or the North Wind Brigade Leader—detected it.
Seol Hwa-un's expression changed as he traced the killing intent to its source. There was someone there.
'Hm?'
He was a young Lying Tiger Brigade warrior who had just been defeated by his North Wind Brigade opponent and lay on the ground.
"Are you alright?"
"Ah, you're impressive as expected."
The North Wind Brigade member naturally extended a hand.
"Come on, grab on."
"Yes."
The young warrior naturally took the North Wind Brigade member's hand and stood.
"Huh? Whoa!"
Perhaps from the impact of the bout, his legs gave out, and he staggered.
"Oh, careful..."
The North Wind Brigade member's eyes widened as he instinctively moved to support the young warrior. A sharp dagger was plunging toward his chest.
The young warrior sneered venomously.
"Die, you filthy northern scum."
The situation was too sudden for him to react.
'Damn...!'
Swish.
Just as the blade pierced flesh and neared his heart—
Whoosh!
A figure suddenly appeared before the North Wind Brigade member.
'This is... Phantom Shadow Shift?'
Grab!
The dagger halted as if by magic. The figure's hand had seized the blade.
It was Seol Hwa-un.
"...!"
The young warrior belatedly realized something was wrong and strained to thrust deeper, but the firmly gripped dagger wouldn't budge.
Not even a drop of blood flowed from the bare hand clutching the sharp edge.
The young warrior doubted his own eyes.
'No way... impervious to blades?'
Seol Hwa-un said coldly.
"As if."
His fist smashed into the young warrior's head.
Crack!
"Guack!"
Thud!
The impact was so tremendous that the warrior slammed into the ground and passed out.
"You dare touch my palace?"
Seol Hwa-un's eyes gleamed with icy menace.