Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Straight to the Tyrant Hall
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Tadak, tadak.
While Jinmu and Baek Pyo sat leisurely, sipping their drinks and passing the time, the night deepened and their intoxication grew. That was when the Baek Clan Manor began to stir with commotion.
Everyone moved about in a frenzy, like women rushing to gather laundry before a sudden rain, shouts echoing from every direction.
"What's going on?!"
Baek Pyo grabbed one of the clan's warriors hurrying through the rear garden, only to receive an irritated reply.
"We've just received word that a large group of unorthodox warriors is gathering at the Tyrant Hall."
For someone speaking of the eldest son who had returned to the clan, the tone was gratingly rude, but now wasn't the time to quibble over such things.
After all, hardly anyone in the current Baek Clan Manor acknowledged him anyway.
"What? Why?"
"Why? Isn't it obvious? Those damned bastards are gearing up to attack us!"
"……!"
It didn't make sense.
Even after witnessing Jinmu's prowess during the day, they still planned to launch an attack?
"Damn it! Where's the Clan Lord?"
"He's already started an emergency meeting with the elders. We're busy, so let go."
"Damn."
Jinmu nodded calmly as Baek Pyo's face twisted in frustration.
It was understandable.
He could tell without even examining closely.
In the past, the Baek Clan Manor's power had been formidable enough to block his path, but now their forces were far too weak.
In contrast, the Tyrant Hall's were strong. It was clear enough from what he'd seen at the inn during the day.
Of course, sheer numbers didn't always decide victory, but they certainly had a major influence.
The Tyrant Hall warriors on the first floor of the inn had outnumbered them several times over.
And the quality of their experts was superior as well.
And then...
'That Mok In-gyeom guy.'
Jinmu recalled his face.
He was the only one who had withstood Jinmu's presence at the gathering of the Tyrant Hall and Baek Clan Manor's leaders.
'Come to think of it, he seemed a bit familiar. Like I'd seen him somewhere before.'
But Jinmu hadn't even been active in the martial world for two years yet. The people he'd met were all too predictable, weren't they?
So why the familiarity?
Not the face, but that... feeling? That martial art?
At that moment, Jinmu shot to his feet with a scowl.
"Those sons of bitches!"
The old man from the Moonless Tower. And those guys near Hyeongju who targeted the young girl.
It was them.
"Ah, damn! Why didn't I realize sooner?"
Jinmu suddenly burst into incredulous laughter, prompting Baek Pyo to glance at him sideways.
Did he eat something bad? The Baek Clan Manor was about to be attacked, and he was laughing?
Baek Pyo scowled in annoyance, but Jinmu began gathering his sword.
"Benefactor? Where are you going?"
At a time like this!
"Tyrant Hall."
"……Pardon?"
What nonsense was this? Why the Tyrant Hall all of a sudden?
Wait, no—surely to help them?
Yes, that had to be it. Hadn't he helped the Baek Clan Manor at the inn too?
The current Baek Clan Manor needed more time to fight them. They had to request aid from the minor factions under their influence.
Heading to the Tyrant Hall now was clearly to delay their attack, buying time for the Baek Clan Manor.
Ah, Benefactor...
It was suddenly overwhelming.
"I'll prepare the warriors right away."
"……."
Jinmu gave Baek Pyo a puzzled look as he rose with a resolute expression, aura flaring fiercely.
"Huh? Why? I'm going alone."
"Pardon?"
Alone?
He knew Jinmu was strong. He was a sword aura expert, capable of taking on an entire sect.
But with the Tyrant Hall starting a war, there had to be countless experts gathered there.
If Jinmu was going to help the Baek Clan Manor, they absolutely couldn't let him go alone.
They needed to assemble a unit of warriors...
"I'm off."
"W-Wait, the warriors..."
Before Baek Pyo could finish, Jinmu waved casually as if going for a stroll and leaped away.
"Th-This..."
That crazy Benefactor?
Panicking, Baek Pyo urgently stopped a passing warrior.
"The Benefactor headed to the Tyrant Hall. Tell everyone to strengthen defenses against enemy raids—I'll follow him!"
There was no time to assemble a unit. He had to go help Jinmu alone.
"……."
The warrior blinked in disbelief at Baek Pyo's retreating figure after delivering his message.
Just the two of them? To that hellhole? They were suicidal?
"What?!"
Baek Yeorin, discussing countermeasures with the elders, was utterly dumbfounded by the rear garden warrior's report.
He went to the Tyrant Hall. The two of them.
'Damn it, is he too young to think straight?'
How could he be so foolish?
Her brother's guest was undoubtedly an expert.
But no matter how overconfident, charging into the enemy's headquarters with just two people?
Did he think himself an absolute sword aura realm master who could walk unchallenged?
Arrogance and hubris. She'd thought him capable, but he was just a hot-blooded fool after all. And her brother going with him too.
The fools were doing something idiotic in tandem.
"Clan Lord, what should we do? The benefactor said to reinforce the headquarters' defenses."
"Foolish talk!"
Baek Yeorin sharply rebuked the outer hall elder.
Time was critically short—they needed to read the enemy's intentions and prepare countermeasures. And now that brief window had been wasted on her brother and his guest. No time to hesitate; they had to move now.
Still, he was blood returned after ten years. No matter how trashy his actions, they couldn't let him die in enemy territory.
"Assemble warrior units immediately. Each elder, take twenty and attack the Tyrant Hall from five directions. I'll take the center. Grand Elder, guard the headquarters."
"Yes, Clan Lord!"
The elders swiftly replied and rushed out.
"Clan Lord."
Sima So called out, stopping Baek Yeorin as she rose to follow.
"I'll handle the Tyrant Hall."
"Pardon?"
"How can the head of the house move recklessly? The lord must guard the base."
"Grand Elder."
"Have you forgotten? The grudge from ten years ago?"
"……."
"The previous Clan Lord led from the front too. I witnessed it all. We can't repeat that."
"……."
Grand Elder Sima So. Ten years ago during the Baek Clan Manor's bloodbath, he had been the youngest elder—and the only survivor.
He still regretted not dying with the others.
"Clan Lord."
At Sima So's call, Baek Yeorin lifted her head with a hardened expression.
"Don't hate the Young Lord too much. He became that way because of that vile Cheon U-myeong."
"……."
She knew.
Even if his return disappointed her, the Baek Pyo of ten years ago had been the Baek Clan Manor's most reliable heir—and her one and only brother.
That's why she'd searched relentlessly for a decade.
Believing he'd return to revive the clan, she'd endured steadfastly.
"Then I'll be off."
Sima So bowed lightly to Baek Yeorin and exited the hall.
Tak.
As the hall door closed, leaving Baek Yeorin alone, she slammed her fist on the table.
"Damn it all..."
A small fortress on the outskirts of Gyerim, not far from the Baek Clan Manor.
"That's the Tyrant Hall."
Baek Pyo whispered sharply, hiding behind the wall and scanning the surroundings.
He knew. How could he not?
A small fortress utterly detached from the surrounding atmosphere. It screamed unorthodox sect architecture, devoid of any aesthetic sense.
"They're moving a lot. We should find a lightly guarded spot first..."
Hey, Benefactor. What the hell are you doing?
He was already walking ahead. Hands behind his back, utterly relaxed.
Baek Pyo's face twisted in shock at the sheer audacity—he'd lost his words momentarily.
That crazy bastard?
Wasn't this about buying time?
Then they should ambush, draw attention, fight and flee repeatedly—not strut to the front gate like this!
Was he planning a frontal assault? Did he know how many were in there?
With war declared, they'd gathered every possible fighter. And here they were, just two people.
And yet.
"What're you doing? Hurry up if you're coming."
He smiled brightly, even waving. And the gate guards saw it all.
That insane Benefactor bastard.
Baek Pyo inwardly cursed up a storm but had no choice but to follow.
"What the hell is this madness?"
Baek Pyo hissed so quietly it was barely audible as he drew near.
"Madness? This?"
"Then is this normal? Waltzing into enemy territory?"
"Enemy territory? What're you talking about?"
"……Pardon?"
Baek Pyo halted in confusion at Jinmu's response.
Jinmu approached the gate guards directly.
"Hey."
"……!"
"Open the gate. I came to see No Yeongchan."
"……?"
Gate guard Bu Ungtak gaped in disbelief.
What kind of out-of-nowhere lunatic was this?
The Tyrant Hall was Gyerim's largest unorthodox force. They'd just begun war, their momentum ferocious.
And now some young punk shows up, calling their lord No Yeongchan by name like a buddy, grinning.
"You crazy son of a..."
Cwajik! Buung! Teolseok!
Before he finished, Bu Ungtak flew through the air from a punch, crashing to the ground.
Of course, the last sound was teolseok, not tak.
"Wh-What? Who the hell are you?!"
Warriors patrolling outside rushed toward Jinmu and Baek Pyo one by one.
Sreung!
As the situation turned dire, Baek Pyo drew his crude saber to guard Jinmu's back.
"Why draw your sword too?"
"……."
You created this mess.
"Hey, open the damn gate. Go tell No Yeongchan I'm here to see him."
"You dog..."
Cwajik!
The second one.
Jinmu swatted him away like a fly, and the warrior's head snapped back as he collapsed mid-curse.
"You bastards. Can't you listen for once?"
Chajajang!
As two fell powerless, the Tyrant Hall warriors drew weapons en masse, exuding murderous intent.
"Hah, I tried to handle this nicely."
Jinmu sighed theatrically while Baek Pyo glared around tensely.
Tyrant Hall warriors brandishing blades, threatening them.
But Jinmu decided to be magnanimous. They were a group listed in the Evil Hegemony Heaven, even if minor fringe.
"I'm counting to three from now. One."
To reiterate, this was utterly absurd.
Would any unorthodox sect open their gates smiling to some random intruder demanding entry? Especially to those they'd attacked first? Not even if the sky split in two.
"You snot-nosed punk!"
Shukagak!
One of the encircling warriors swung his massive guandao with full force.
Kkang!
But Baek Pyo was faster than Jinmu.
Seuseut!
The short chef's knife—barely two cheon long—deflected the guandao, blocked Jinmu, and sliced through the air.
"Kuhuk..."
The warrior's throat parted, dangling as he spewed blood and collapsed.
"Hey! I said don't kill. We're not here to fight. Two!"
Jinmu scolded Baek Pyo's brutality and continued counting.
"Kill them!"
At someone's shout serving as signal, sword strikes flew from all sides.
'Damn it, what the hell are we doing?!'
This defeated the purpose of a raid!
Baek Pyo gripped his saber hilt tightly, drawing up all his qi.
Qi gathered via the Channeling Technique, refined by Jinmu's basic cultivation to fill his dantian, surged through his limbs. His eyes reddened.
"Hahp!"
With a shout, the swung saber created hundreds of afterimages, unleashing fully.
The Baek Clan's secret saber art, Wild Wave Storm Blade, manifested in perfect form.
With cruel bloodlust in his eyes.
Kkagang! Seuseut! Puak!
The chaotically whirling blade, infused with bloody qi, left trails of red blood wherever it passed.
"Three!"
Jinmu grimaced and stepped forward.
He'd kept his word on counting to three.
From here on, it was all on them.