Chapter 93
Chapter 93
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: The Insult to the Gale Sword
-----------------------------------------------------------------
'What the hell is this?!'
Baek Yeorin returned to Baek Clan Manor in a foul mood.
It wasn't because she had given up the beautifully adorned rear garden for an honored guest. Nor was it because Jinmu had refused the lavish dinner spread out before him.
This was a gathering to host the now-honored guest Jinmu, attended by the manor lord herself as well as the elders.
Shuuut! Sususut!
Everyone was watching Baek Pyo demonstrate his swordsmanship.
The Nanpa Gale Sword, passed down only to direct descendants of Baek Clan Manor, was being executed at an astonishing level.
The way it sliced through the air without a sound showed that he hadn't neglected his training for even a single day.
The problem was the target.
A deer that Baek Pyo had caught to serve Jinmu.
He was using the Nanpa Gale Sword merely to butcher the deer into neat portions for eating.
'Such a humiliating...'
No matter that it was to honor someone who had done a favor for the clan, this was shameful conduct. For a warrior of a prestigious clan to use their secret sword technique like some slaughterhouse butcher.
And what was that sinister aura emanating from Baek Pyo's body? It wasn't the pure, wind-like energy that should flow from Baek Clan Manor's qi cultivation method.
It was more like... the kind of energy one saw from the unorthodox sects.
Baek Yeorin's face flushed red as she struggled to suppress her rising fury.
Baek Clan Manor was a place of unyielding pride that hadn't bowed even to Cheon U-myeong of the vile Evil Hegemony Heaven.
It was the manor she had defended against countless oppressions and assaults from the unorthodox factions.
The Nanpa Gale Sword represented that pride.
Yet here it was being used to slice meat.
With full effort, sweat pouring down his brow.
Sizzle.
Now he was grilling it?
He placed the perfectly cooked meat politely before Jinmu.
"Please, eat."
"Sure."
As Jinmu popped the meat into his mouth and grinned, Baek Pyo returned a satisfied smile with sinister eyes.
And moreover.
"You eat some too."
"......"
A plate placed before Baek Yeorin. And meat piled on top of it.
Baek Yeorin glared at Baek Pyo with eyes blazing like double steel nails.
Was this why he had come back? After dumping the massive burden of Baek Clan Manor on her and vanishing, just to show her this spectacle?
Crash!
"You trash! You worthless scum!"
Any thought of coaxing Jinmu into helping them vanished in an instant. Baek Yeorin hurled the plate to the ground and unleashed her surging rage at Baek Pyo.
"......"
Baek Pyo stood frozen, staring at the meat on the ground and the shattered plate.
Then he picked it up.
At that sight, Baek Yeorin's fury erupted as tears.
"Throw it away! Who would eat something like that?!"
In the end, she could bear it no longer and stormed out of the rear garden.
Jinmu watched her go impassively.
"What's her problem? It's delicious."
To Jinmu, their relationship was utterly incomprehensible.
"You wouldn't understand such behavior."
"......?"
What? Grilling meat?
"Using the Nanpa Gale Sword, the pride of our clan, for something as trivial as slicing meat."
"Ah, is that all."
Jinmu chuckled.
The pride of these so-called orthodox folks, honestly.
What was the problem? Martial arts existed for fighting, sure, but also to enrich human life.
"Tch, they have no idea how much tastier the meat is this way."
Use it where it's needed. That's all.
Baek Pyo nodded at Jinmu's words.
"Yes, exactly. We must change. Those maintaining solid power can cling to tradition, but those rebuilding must adapt. Sometimes you slice meat, sometimes gut fish. You do whatever's necessary. It seems my sister still doesn't get it."
For once, Baek Pyo was speaking sensibly, back to his true self.
Those rebuilding must change. His words carried deep anguish, a fervent longing for transformation.
And pathos, knowing it would draw condemnation from all.
"Wanna have a drink?"
Jinmu offered Baek Pyo a bottle with a smile.
His steps weren't hurried.
Even if he spent a moment sharing a drink like old friends.
"S-So, what should we do?"
In a meeting of Tyrant Hall's leadership.
No Yeongchan glanced around nervously before asking cautiously.
The subject was none other than the man called Mok Inggeom.
A sudden visitor. They knew his name was fake.
But what did it matter? How many in the martial world wandered using their real names?
He had promised to aid Tyrant Hall once the fight with Baek Clan Manor began.
They had already verified his skills.
He was strong. Arriving with five subordinates, he had forced Tyrant Hall's leaders to their knees single-handedly.
He wanted only one thing.
A single sword.
Baek Clan Manor followed the Taoist path, didn't they? Yet he wanted a sword?
It was odd, but there was no reason to refuse help. A sword? Let him have it.
Right away, No Yeongchan sent a provocative letter to Baek Clan Manor. To make them attack first. That way, they would have justification. This was their chance to erase the Baek Clan Manor name entirely through war.
But then an interloper appeared. A young expert far too strong for them to handle.
Mok Inggeom hadn't stepped forward, perhaps unsure of victory himself.
But he couldn't quell the boiling greed. Just closing his eyes brought visions of the stunningly beautiful Baek Clan lord.
'Those full, moon-like hips...'
No Yeongchan wiped his drooling mouth... Anyway, thoughts of Baek Clan Manor's vast interests made him too impatient to wait.
That expert was just a guest, right? Meaning he'd leave soon. Should they wait?
"We attack Baek Clan Manor."
"......Pardon?"
No Yeongchan, lost in thought, startled at Mok Inggeom's declaration, his face paling in shock.
"What do you mean?"
"Tonight, we wipe Baek Clan Manor from Gyerim."
"But we have no justification."
"Justification? That's for you to figure out."
No Yeongchan frowned.
Orthodox and unorthodox were different.
In raw numbers of warriors, Tyrant Hall far outmatched Baek Clan Manor. But Baek's sphere included over ten small factions. Combined, their forces would overpower Tyrant Hall.
Those small factions were scattered across twelve counties. Unlike profit-driven unorthodox groups, they moved on principle. That was what bound their alliance tight. Hence the provocation to make Baek strike first.
Of course, it wasn't impossible.
Strike Baek first, divide the spoils. Take the best cuts, distribute the rest to placate them.
The issue was crushing Baek's headquarters before they could unite.
Without that center, even orthodox groups wouldn't band together easily. Then it became about profit.
With the justifier gone, no one would refuse the one offering money. Once Baek fell, they'd choose whichever side profited them most.
But time was short. All negotiations came after Baek was utterly crushed.
Before they called for aid and reinforcements arrived, it had to end in one night.
Tyrant Hall alone wasn't enough. And besides.
"What about that expert from earlier today? If he aids Baek Clan Manor..."
Not only would victory odds drop, it might drag beyond one night.
"Leave him to us."
"......"
He was insanely strong.
Young, but at least Yi-gi level. Worst case, even stronger.
Undeterred by No Yeongchan's suspicious gaze, Mok Inggeom rose.
"Reinforcements besides us are standing by. The moment we launch the attack, we hit Baek Clan Manor."
"......!"
Reinforcements? First he'd heard of it.
If they existed, why not mention earlier?
Mok Inggeom's insistence sparked sudden doubt.
Why help Tyrant Hall this much? Was that sword truly so valuable?
But his next words erased all suspicion.
"I'll make sure you embrace the Baek Clan lord tonight."
Thud.
Sometimes greed overrides reason. Moths charge into flames knowing death awaits.
Embrace the Baek Clan lord.
Soon possess Baek Clan Manor.
Claim those vast interests tonight.
No Yeongchan shot to his feet and bellowed orders at his leaders.
"What are you waiting for? No time to dawdle! Outer hall leader, assemble the warriors immediately!"
"Yes, Hall Lord!"
"We strike before they notice and call for outside aid to gather forces!"
"Understood."
They had planned to fight from the start.
The sudden expert had only made them hesitate briefly. And now this man claimed to handle him.
Even if Baek requested aid nearby while Tyrant Hall mobilized, their response would be slow. With reinforcements too, time was on their side.
'Heh heh heh, after tonight, those vast Baek interests and that woman... will be mine.'
A lecherous smile spread across No Yeongchan's face.
Preparations were swift. The moment the order dropped, summons went out to Tyrant Hall warriors scattered across Gyerim.
"Then I'll rest until your main force is ready."
"Understood. It'll take at least an hour. Rest well!"
Leaving No Yeongchan's greed-tinged excited voice behind, Mok Inggeom returned to his quarters.
Back in his quarters, Mok Inggeom immediately donned night travel garb.
He had no intention of resting, just as he'd told No Yeongchan.
The reinforcements were a mere lie to spur Tyrant Hall into action.
"Our goal is Muhyeol."
Turning, he faced five warriors dressed identically, waiting.
"The time promised to the Grand Commander has been delayed far too long. We can't make him wait any further. We strike during the gap when Tyrant Hall attacks Baek Clan Manor, as originally planned."
No response was needed. They had been trained for absolute obedience to orders.
Sent to Gyerim on command, they had closely observed Baek Clan Manor.
Baek Yeorin, manor lord.
She possessed what they sought. But opportunity had been scarce.
She rarely ventured outside. She spent nearly all her time within Baek Clan Manor.
Infiltrating to attack her directly was impossible.
No matter how declined the clan, a tiger was still a tiger. Even declawed, its fangs were sharp, with strength to tear an enemy's throat at the last moment.
They alone couldn't take on the entire Baek Clan Manor. Hence using Tyrant Hall.
Baek Clan Manor versus Tyrant Hall, fighting over Gyerim—it was all too easy to exploit. A nudge of greed sufficed.
"When the battle begins, secure only the target. Remember that."
The masked figures nodded at Mok Inggeom's words.
"Let's go."
The night was darkening.
At twilight, six masked figures slipped out of Tyrant Hall.