Crossing the Line

Having desperately persuaded Tang Suryeon to delay her departure by using her filial son as an excuse, Namgung Bu-ryun quickly wolfed down his lunch and hurried out. He hadn't even practiced martial arts since Tang Suryeon became the Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Clan, but his past experience didn't go anywhere. He skillfully executed the Boundless Steps and leaped forward.

To avoid suspicion, he pretended to be leisurely after finishing his meal and returned to his room first. From there, he ran like mad toward the site where the Mudok Chae's plan was to unfold, but it was already the hour of Mishi.

The plan had to be executed on the mountain path managed by the Mudok Chae, which meant it had to be outside Uibin City. Because of this, the distance from the Patriarch's Pavilion to the execution site was considerable. Even for a Super-Peak master, it was not a distance that could be covered in a short time. However, considering the time he needed to return to the Patriarch's Pavilion, Namgung Bu-ryun had no time to waste.

'If I don't hurry, I'll be caught! If that happens, the Namgung Clan might take responsibility themselves and try to kill me!'

The reason Namgung Bu-ryun had survived all this time while living like a parasite in the Tang Clan was because he had always walked a tightrope, barely staying within the lines. He had joined this operation thinking it would be his last... but that one time had become a massive problem.

Hurrying to the execution site, Namgung Bu-ryun spotted the bandits of Mudok Chae hiding in the roadside bushes.

"Hey! Chief! Where is the Chief?!"

"What is going on so suddenly, Lord Namgung? We are hiding here to accomplish our grand undertaking. If you show up so suddenly like this..."

The Bandit Chief, who had been hiding in the bushes, came ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out and tried to complain about what would happen if they were caught, but Namgung Bu-ryun didn't give a damn and shouted.

"Now is not the time for that! I managed to delay her somehow, but the Sword Empress is coming to subjugate you all!"

"What in the absolute hell?!"

The Bandit Chief's jaw dropped. To think that a lofty Transcendental Realm master would personally come to wipe out a mere bandit fort like theirs? They had been a bit cheeky lately, but they never dreamed a Transcendental master would personally make a move.

"Damn it! Should we abandon the plan and just run?"

"You're fine for now. I managed to convince her to delay it until the hour of Yushi. Otherwise, you ignorant fools would have already become a handful of fertilizer scattered across this mountain."

"I-I see. But the escorts are scheduled to arrive at Yushi, so what do we do...?"

"Tsk! You brainless bandit. The only place we need to squeeze money from is the Cheongeuk Merchant Group anyway! Forget about the escorts."

"U-Understood."

His tone was incredibly offensive, but if not for what Namgung Bu-ryun had done, they really might have become mountain fertilizer by now.

"We proceed with the plan. But we must handle it swiftly and cleanly. Since this is the last job anyway, use every means at your disposal. Who cares if a few merchants die? Grab the target as quickly as possible and flee Uibin City immediately."

"W-Where do we flee? We're confident in running away in the mountains, but against a Transcendental master, we're nothing but insects..."

"Tsk. Pathetic bastard. Anticipating that, I will give you the location of a safe house I've prepared. For now, live there with the hostage and figure out a way to extort money from the merchant group."

"Yes, sir. We'll do exactly that."

The Bandit Chief decided not to share this fact with his subordinates. After all, those stupid, hairy bastards needed to be busy raping and enjoying the other women to serve as a proper decoy. Kidnapping the merchant leader's daughter vs. a bandit fort engaging in a wild orgy with captive women. No matter how you compared the two, the latter would definitely be prioritized by any pursuers. Unless the Bandit Chief himself was a notorious public enemy or a peerless genius, which he certainly wasn't.

"We have to finish this as quickly as possible. I'll even help you capture the merchant leader's daughter."

The Bandit Chief never dreamed that a member of the orthodox faction would offer to help, so his response was delayed.

"......Ah. Thank you, Great Hero."

Bowing his head, the Chief felt a sense of relief inside. He comforted himself with the pathetic thought that he was still a better person than the man standing before him.

The owner of the Cheongeuk Merchant Group, Baek Yeo-gun, was a distant offshoot of the Baekli Clan. To be precise, the bloodline was so distant that calling them an offshoot was almost embarrassing. Therefore, Baek Yeo-gun himself did not consider his self-made merchant group to be under the umbrella of the Baekli Clan. The Baekli Clan felt the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠same way; they weren't a family with enough surplus power to care about a distant, obscure relative. However, Baek Yeo-gun knew very well how important martial power was to expand one's influence into the wider Jianghu. That was why, at the request of Namgung Bu-ryun—who was nothing more than a kept man—he had sent his daughter to build a proper connection. After all, physical intimacy often led to deeper bonds. He hoped his daughter, Baek Ye-ryeong, would seduce Namgung Bu-ryun and somehow establish a connection with both the Tang Clan and the Namgung Clan. And this was something his daughter, Baek Ye-ryeong, had also agreed to.

'If a mere merchant's daughter can use her virginity to secure a connection with two of the Five Great Clans, it's not a bad trade.'

Baek Ye-ryeong was a thorough merchant. She put a price tag even on her own virginity, and if she could get a chance to build connections with the Five Great Clans by selling it to the pathetic Namgung Bu-ryun, she considered it a fair deal. However, she had ignored the old saying that one should fear a foolish ally more than a brilliant enemy. Now, she still couldn't comprehend how things had turned out this way.

"Ugh! Master Namgung! Why are you doing this?!"

"Silence. Keep quiet, and your life will be spared."

"......!"

Having her mute acupoint struck out of nowhere, Baek Ye-ryeong was rendered speechless. Seeing this, a martial artist of the Cheongeuk Merchant Group gnashed his teeth and shouted.

"Namgung Bu-ryun! How can a man of the orthodox path commit such an act? Have you no shame before your family?!"

Namgung Bu-ryun had suddenly appeared, blocked the Cheongeuk Merchant Group's caravan, and requested a dialogue. So, Baek Ye-ryeong, the person in charge and of higher status, had stepped down from the carriage to speak with him. But the moment she approached, Namgung Bu-ryun had suddenly subdued her and pressed a sword to her neck. The merchant group's martial artist was driven absolutely mad with frustration. Despite the warrior's shout, Namgung Bu-ryun remained unmoved, bringing the blade even closer to Baek Ye-ryeong's neck. Perhaps the blade had grazed her, as a thin line of blood appeared on her throat.

"Silence. All of you, drop your weapons. Otherwise, Lady Baek's life is forfeit."

"Damn it...!"

If it had been any other high-ranking member of the merchant group, they would have resisted without hesitation. It would be a tragedy if they died, but how valuable could a mere executive of a merchant group be? But the hostage taken this time was the daughter of the merchant group's leader. If she lost her life, they would have to worry not just about their jobs, but their very livelihoods. What merchant group would hire a guard who failed to protect the leader's daughter? Even he himself would throw salt at such a martial artist and kick them out.

"......Everyone, drop your weapons."

"B-But, Captain!"

"Then what do you propose we do? As long as that man holds the young lady hostage, there is nothing we can do. Or would you rather let the young lady die?"

If anyone answered yes to that, they would have to take the blame. And none of them had the capacity to bear the responsibility for Baek Ye-ryeong's life. In the end, following Namgung Bu-ryun's demands, they all let go of their weapons and dropped them to the ground. Confirming that everyone had disarmed, the captain said to Namgung Bu-ryun.

"We have disarmed as requested. We demand the young lady's safety and humane treatment."

"Is that so? ...Now!"

"What does he mean...?! It's an ambush! Everyone, eva—!"

The sharp-witted captain quickly gave the order, but it was already too late.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

A rain of arrows poured down. The archers of Mudok Chae, who had been hiding on both sides of the road, released their bowstrings all at once, sending arrows flying. It felt as if they were facing the Sichuan Tang Clan's Rain of Flowers Filling the Sky. The sky in all directions was filled with a rain of arrows, leaving the merchant group's caravan completely helpless. Since they had already dropped their weapons, they were utterly defenseless against the volley. Even the captain, who possessed the highest skill, hurriedly grabbed his sword to defend himself, but a single hand could not block so many arrows. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠To make matters worse, luck was not on his side; a stray arrow struck him squarely in the back of the head, killing him instantly. Amidst the scene where the maids who had accompanied Baek Ye-ryeong were screaming in terror, Namgung Bu-ryun nodded in satisfaction and struck the crown of the weeping Baek Ye-ryeong's head.

Thud!

He struck the Baihui acupoint, a spot that could turn a person into an idiot if mishandled. Having rendered the merchant leader's daughter senseless, Namgung Bu-ryun tossed her like a sack of baggage to the approaching Bandit Chief.

"You did... well."

"Now, there are no witnesses left. Silence those women. Well... once you feed them that drug, they'll be taken care of anyway."

"Indeed. Thanks to your help, Great Hero, we finished this easily without even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠having to use our traps. By the way, it would be best for you to head back now. It won't do any good if someone sees us together."

"True. Well then—"

Before Namgung Bu-ryun could even finish his sentence.

"Hold it right there."

The two men whipped their heads around. The Bandit Chief grew wary at the unfamiliar voice, while Namgung Bu-ryun stared with disbelief at the familiar tone. Standing there was a man with a contradictory physique—seemingly robust yet slender at the same time.

"Father."

Tang Hwi was glaring at Namgung Bu-ryun with freezing eyes.

"Did you tail me?"

"You have finally crossed the absolute last line. Even if you are my father, this is not something that can be easily overlooked."

"Hmph! You foolish boy. You might be stronger than me, but do you really think you can take on an entire bandit fort by yourself?"

"...Are you saying you will abandon your son and side with bandits now?"

"I didn't want it to come to this either."

His expression showed absolutely no sign of regret. In other words, he had zero parental affection for his son.

"But when a foolish son tries to take his father's head, how can I just stand by? It's been a while since this father has had to discipline you like an adult—!"

It was at that moment.

"You."

As if a frost-laden wind was blowing, the entire area sank into a heavy, suffocating silence. The shoulders of everyone present grew heavy, and their breathing turned ragged, as if a colossal presence was crushing the very air around them. Despair settled deep into Namgung Bu-ryun's eyes.

"Because I am an inadequate woman, I was willing to overlook your many complaints. I believed I did well enough as the Patriarch, but as a man's wife and a family's mother, I felt I was sorely lacking."

Shring.

The moment her sword was drawn, the bandits felt a phantom sensation of their own throats being slit. Like prey facing the absolute apex of the food chain, they could not budge an inch under the skin-piercing killing intent.

"But human trafficking, and even trying to harm your own son... This is something I absolutely cannot tolerate."

"D-Dear..."

"I shall declare this as the Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Clan."

Her tone shifted. From this moment on, she was acting not as a wife, but as the Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Realizing this, Namgung Bu-ryun's face turned completely pale.