Chapter 468
Chapter 468
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 468
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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Upon arriving in Anhui Province where the Shadowless Sword Emperor resided, the Nangong Family had a completely different atmosphere from before.
The grand scale of the buildings had shrunk to less than half, and the family grounds had visibly diminished as well.
When I met the Shadowless Sword Emperor and asked what had happened, he gave a straightforward answer.
"Those involved in wicked deeds have all been rounded up and handed over to the authorities, and the incompetents have been expelled. Naturally, things shrank as a result."
"Will that be alright?"
"Of course, it'll be tough in the short term with fewer people, but it was unavoidable for restoring the Nangong Family's honor. We're not the kind of house that would collapse without those sorts."
The Shadowless Sword Emperor replied nonchalantly, then said to me,
"Did something happen to the Sword Demon?"
"Yes, that's right."
He listened to the full story from me, then pondered for a moment before speaking.
"I know about that convenient flying vessel of yours—it allows instant travel. It's certainly enough to make one worry for the Sword Demon's safety."
"Will you come with me to Luoyang?"
"You're saying there's a chance of clashing with the Incarnation Style's guardian warriors?"
"In the worst case, yes."
"......"
The Shadowless Sword Emperor agonized over it.
Then, with great difficulty, he said,
"If I fall in battle there, the Nangong Family will be utterly ruined. It's too big a gamble."
My eyes sharpened slightly at his words.
"What are you saying? The Sword Demon's life might be in danger, and you're prioritizing the Nangong Family's safety now?"
He hesitated, averting his gaze elsewhere.
"Slaying Myeong-i and the Nangong Eight Swords was the righteous choice, but because of it, I'm the only one left who has fully inherited the family's martial lineage. It would take at least five years to raise someone worthy of shouldering the Nangong Family. If I die or go missing in this situation, the family will be exterminated..."
"Damn it..."
I felt like cursing, but I held my tongue.
And I strongly sensed the disconnect.
'He doesn't know about my reincarnation, so he's naturally prioritizing immediate safety!'
If he knew of my reincarnation ability, he wouldn't act like this.
He'd understand how crucial it is to rescue the Sword Demon now and cooperate.
But for him, life is only once, so he inevitably thinks of himself and his family first.
Moreover, it seemed the Shadowless Sword Emperor had no obligation to abandon his family for the Sword Demon or the Shadowless Alliance.
I wanted to lash out in anger, but through my many reincarnations, I'd come to understand such positions well enough.
So I swallowed my frustration and said to the Shadowless Sword Emperor,
"I can understand. But isn't the Shadowless Alliance and Shadowless Gate also your sect? Doesn't the Sword Demon, their sole successor, concern you?"
Uncharacteristically flustered, the Shadowless Sword Emperor said,
"...Nothing's certain yet. Let's wait a bit longer."
"Understood. Then I'll go alone."
"I'm sorry."
I turned my back coldly and walked away.
And inwardly, I thought it was for the best.
'What a profitable deal!'
Now I knew what kind of man the Shadowless Sword Emperor was.
He was strong in righteousness and embodied the demeanor of a righteous warrior, but he couldn't escape the fundamental principle of protecting his family and bloodline.
I'd gauged whether I could rely on him in critical moments, so it was a good outcome.
*Thud thud thud*
I began racing from Anhui toward Luoyang.
It was quite a distance, but with my lightness skill, I figured I could arrive before long.
How long had I run?
As the familiar outer walls of Luoyang came into view, I began deploying my movement technique stealthily.
Seizing a moment when the guards' attention had a blind spot, I swiftly scaled and vaulted over the wall.
Gliding elegantly inward, a vast space leading to the inner city came into sight.
'Should I head straight to the Han Family...'
When I reached the vicinity of the inner city where the Twin Gate Temple resided, I fell into thought.
I'd considered it before leaving, but charging straight into the Han Family wasn't wise.
With Incarnation Style experts and Han Baek-ryeong crawling all over it, I could easily end up dead.
Moreover, if I stirred things up and the Sword Demon truly wasn't there, I'd be in a tough spot afterward.
I wasn't here to fight the Incarnation Style.
Finding out the Sword Demon's whereabouts was top priority.
That meant I needed to scout the Han Family and contact someone who could provide information.
But considering the Han Family's core was the Incarnation Style, even the Beggars' Sect might not grasp the truth.
After agonizing for a while, I decided to seek out someone in Luoyang I could turn to for help.
*Swish...*
I cautiously entered Doctor Shangguan's residence and headed upstairs.
The household staff were all focused on medical duties, seemingly unaware of my presence.
Upon reaching the upper floor, I sensed someone's aura from an inner room.
Knowing who it was, I sent a transmission from the corridor.
[Shangguan Hyeok. I need to talk. Prepare a private room.]
[Very well.]
Soon, Doctor Shangguan Hyeok led me to a side chamber, and we met alone.
He glared at me with unkind eyes but still poured me tea.
Staring blankly at the tea, I said,
"It's not poisoned, is it?"
"Then don't drink it. If I were poisoning someone of your caliber, I wouldn't use such a simple trick. I'd use a colorless, odorless poison smoke or a forbidden toxin."
Thorns bristled in his voice.
With a smirk, I said,
"Do you have reason to be angry at me? In the end, I sealed what you'd spent your life maintaining, so if anything, consider me your benefactor."
"I'm grateful for that. But I still haven't forgotten how you showed up out of nowhere and threatened my life."
"You're narrow-minded."
"......"
Shangguan Hyeok didn't retort and sipped his tea.
Then he said,
"You must have a reason for seeking me out. Speak."
"Do you know the Sword Demon Seo Moon Dae-ryong, leader of the Shadowless Alliance?"
"Of course. He's one of the most famous figures in the current martial world."
"I heard he visited the Han Family recently. If you have any information on that, tell me."
"Why ask me? I'm just a lowly doctor."
"I came because I thought you'd know."
I looked at Shangguan Hyeok with eyes full of conviction.
Even if the Beggars' Sect or Eastern Depot didn't know, the man before me likely did.
He was a demonic cultivator and the White Lotus Cult Leader's planted confidant in Luoyang, so he'd be monitoring the city through every means possible.
Plus, as the Cult Leader's tool for watching the Incarnation Style, he couldn't be ignorant.
As I stared piercingly at Shangguan Hyeok, he eventually sighed.
"Haa... You hold more grace over me than resentment, so I'll tell you specially. But first, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"What happened to the Fire Dragon Divine Sword? It's what keeps me up at night, wondering."
I drew only the Fire Dragon Divine Sword from my spatial pouch.
Normally, trying to draw it would burn my hand with its extreme fiery energy, but after serving so long as a conduit for the Fire Spirit's energy, I could now hold the Fire Dragon Divine Sword without injury.
My palm felt warm, but I could grip it.
"As you see, it's fine."
"Hmm... To hold the Fire Dragon Divine Sword unscathed... You must have been acknowledged as its master or possess extremely pure inner energy."
"But it hasn't awakened yet. If it had, you'd be dead right here."
"I know."
As the divine sword of universal truth and purity, the Fire Dragon Divine Sword had an instinct to slay demonic cultivators and evils.
Shangguan Hyeok had probably been prepared to die just to see it.
After staring at the Fire Dragon Divine Sword for a while, Shangguan Hyeok said,
"It's true that the Sword Demon entered the Han Family for some kind of meeting. And he hasn't come out since."
My heart sank, but I kept my expression steady and said,
"He hasn't come out?"
"As you know, I'm a demonic cultivator, so I monitor all of Luoyang with demonic arts. The Han Family is especially important, so I watch it without blind spots using servant spirits. But my servant spirits didn't see the Sword Demon leave."
"......"
"The Sword Demon is still inside the Han Family."
Something had definitely gone wrong.
'He could have escaped using the flying vessel... but then it doesn't explain why he hasn't returned straight to the Shadowless Gate.'
Either way, I had to find out the Sword Demon's whereabouts at the Han Family.
As I pondered, Shangguan Hyeok said,
"My advice: if you want to find the Sword Demon, prepare to die. If the Han Family head killed or imprisoned him, they won't let that leak out, so a clash with the Han Family is inevitable."
"......"
"I don't know your connection to the Sword Demon, but I recommend giving up. Even a sect leader of the Nine Great Sects would die fighting the Han Family."
I replied calmly.
"That's for me to handle. Mind your own business."
"I'm giving sincere advice because you're the benefactor who erased my karma... Do as you please."
"I planned to anyway."
I tried to withdraw from Shangguan Hyeok.
Then, looking troubled, he grabbed my sleeve.
"Damn... Wait a moment."
"What's wrong?"
"No matter what, I can't let my benefactor die. I'll introduce someone who can help you."
I grew interested.
"Who?"
"Just wait half a shichen. He'll definitely be useful to you."
"Alright."
I knew charging into the Han Family for a confrontation would just mean fighting Han Baek-ryeong to the death, so I decided to wait for the 'ally' Shangguan Hyeok mentioned.
For the half shichen, Shangguan Hyeok and I talked about the Five Great Physicians and medical arts.
There was more to discuss than expected, and time flew by.
After half a shichen, as Shangguan Hyeok predicted, someone visited the Shangguan Family.
The visitor strode up to the upper floor and entered the side chamber.
Shangguan Hyeok immediately stood and offered a courteous fist salute.
"My lord, thank you for coming."
The one called 'my lord' stroked his beard and said,
"It's been a while, Doctor. Has something come up that you'd call me directly?"
"Yes. It's to help my benefactor... I desperately need your strength, my lord."
The one called 'my lord' approached the table, looked me over silently, and said,
"This is the one?"
"Yes."
I sensed an extraordinary, profound inner energy from this 'my lord'.
In an instant, I clenched my fist tightly.
'What kind of inner energy is this...?'
Immense power!
It reminded me of the Shaolin Temple's divine monk Master Myeongho—an astonishing level of inner energy.
If this man and that divine monk ganged up on me with their inner energies, I'd surely be overwhelmed.
Excluding the Heavenly Spirit Pills, it was inner energy among the top three in the human world.
Yet, contrasting that immense power, his attire was completely that of an official or scholar, creating a jarring sensation.
Undoubtedly a high-ranking official.
Based on what I'd learned during my time in the Brocade Guard, that official robe was one only very senior officials could wear.
Just to check, I said,
"Are you with the Brocade Guard or Eastern Depot?"
The lord gave a strange look, and Shangguan Hyeok hurriedly said,
"Don't spout nonsense. This gentleman despises and loathes such people the most."
"Huhu. What an interesting fellow. He looks rejuvenated like a youth... Where did such an expert pop up from..."
The lord burst into hearty laughter and took a seat.
Then Shangguan Hyeok revealed the 'lord's' identity to me.
"My lord. This is the expert Baek Woong from the Shadowless Alliance. Baek Woong, hurry and pay respects to Elder Deng Guo!"
"......!!"
A chill ran through my mind, and I clenched my fist.
'D... Deng Guo?'
I'd heard that name before.
The sworn brother of my former master, Azure Dragon Lee Gwang.
And the leader of the Pure Stream faction among the officials steering the current Great Ming Empire!
The Deng Guo I'd only heard tales of until now had appeared before me.