Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Rebellion
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Tiger Heaven Squad, Tiger Ground Squad, Tiger Human Squad.
The three martial forces representing the Zhuge Clan had left the manor, leaving behind an inexplicably chilling atmosphere in the estate.
Was it because over a hundred people had suddenly vanished?
Or was it because of what was about to unfold?
"Preparations? All done?"
"Yes. All that's left is to carry it out."
Zhuge Geun-yeong answered my question with firm resolve.
Her eyes showed no trace of hesitation, as if she had steeled her heart overnight.
I nodded and turned my gaze to the others.
Hwa-ryeon, my master, Seol-i, along with Zhuge Geun-yeong's older sister Zhuge Seo-ryeong, and Im Chun-sam peeking around nervously beside her.
Im Chun-il wasn't here right now.
He had gone to the forest with his subordinates to guard the cave in case of any contingencies.
And then there were Hyeok Ri-gwang and the guest warriors he led.
Though only a minority among the many guest warriors residing in the outer quarters, a fair number had still stepped forward to help us under Hyeok Ri-gwang's lead.
"You're surprisingly popular, huh?"
"Why the 'surprisingly'?"
"Even though getting involved in this could make continuing as a guest warrior tough, they still came. Honestly, I didn't expect this many."
Hyeok Ri-gwang grumbled playfully before shrugging his shoulders and resolving my curiosity.
"Don't worry. I was planning to end my days as a guest warrior soon anyway."
"What do you... oh."
I recalled something Hyeok Ri-gwang had said before.
A long time ago, he had mentioned carrying on the lineage of the Fallen Leaf Sect, which had been wiped out.
I turned to look, and sure enough, Hyeok Ri-gwang was grinning.
"Seems you've figured it out. Yeah, once this is over, I'm leaving the clan. It's time to hang up the Fallen Leaf Sect's signboard again."
His distant gaze, as if envisioning the fulfillment of a long-held dream, curved into a smile as it met mine.
"This is all thanks to you. My long-stagnant Ho Leaf Sword has been perfected through the Absorption Technique, and I've finally made up my mind."
"The Zhuge Clan will just let you go?"
Zhuge Geun-yeong answered my question first.
"We can't rely on guest warriors forever. As payment for their help this time, we've agreed to support the Fallen Leaf Sect's revival."
"...Ah, I see."
So that's the public reason.
Of course, Hyeok Ri-gwang's real reason for stepping in was the leak of the Fierce Beast Manifesto and his son Zhuge Cheon-sang, who had absorbed the blood jade.
But with too many people knowing the Zhuge Clan researched demonic arts, it was best kept secret from the guest warriors.
Thus, publicly, it was framed as that deal.
I nodded and glanced at Hyeok Ri-gwang as I asked slyly.
"But what about your wife? Is she coming along?"
To my question, Hyeok Ri-gwang replied confidently.
"Well, she's my wife. If I grab her hand and say 'Let's go!', she'll follow."
-Ooh...!
Mischievous exclamations rose from among the guest warriors.
And amid them, one person stared at her husband with sharp eyes.
Im Chun-sam, the pitiful husband who hadn't touched his wife in five whole years, flinched under that gaze.
Yeah, good luck with that.
I subtly averted my eyes from the scene and looked at Zhuge Geun-yeong.
"Then, before we move out, shall we go over the plan one last time?"
"...Yes."
Zhuge Geun-yeong nodded gravely and began her explanation.
"The clan head and the clan's elders are currently holding a meeting in the Great Heaven Pavilion at the center of the estate. We'll go there and expose the clan head's corruption in front of everyone."
The group nodded as if understanding the main objective.
Seeing this, Zhuge Geun-yeong continued.
"The problem is that the Crouching Dragon Squad will be guarding the Great Heaven Pavilion. Though few in number, they are the clan's elites. Underestimate them, and we'll come to regret it."
The Crouching Dragon Squad, the clan head's innermost guard, numbered only ten.
I knew this well from sensing them hidden nearby in the clan head's office last time.
Their auras were anything but ordinary.
Even Hyeok Ri-gwang might not find it easy to take them all on.
But Hyeok Ri-gwang and the guest warriors had their own task.
"We'll proceed as planned and seal off the Council of Elders. Those scheming old fogies won't dare act rashly with me around."
"Yes, we appreciate it."
Zhuge Geun-yeong nodded and turned to the rest of us.
"Given the situation, we'll have to deal with the Crouching Dragon Squad ourselves."
So the confrontation and fight with the Crouching Dragon Squad would fall to the remaining group.
Hwa-ryeon, my master, Seol-i.
And Zhuge Geun-yeong too.
Honestly, I could step in and wrap it up quickly, but I'd decided to hang back for now.
The reason, of course, was Zhuge Cheon-sang.
The blood jade formed within the bodies of demonic art cultivators.
We had to prepare for the bastard absorbing that unknown item somewhere.
Just gaining vast inner energy wouldn't be enough to handle me, but we had to account for any possibilities.
"We still haven't located Zhuge Cheon-sang, right?"
"...Yes. We don't even know if he's still in the clan or if he's left."
Zhuge Geun-yeong couldn't hide her bitterness.
I comforted her.
"It's a miracle we even tried to find him in the first place, so don't stress too much."
Of course, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.
Leaving a variable like this before such an important event was unsettling.
According to the chief steward, today was the day the grand ritual ended.
If things went well, we could dethrone the clan head and locate the ritual site to stop it.
But if it ended before then....
I'd have to deal with him myself.
"I'll join you for that."
"Hyeok Ri Hero."
Hyeok Ri-gwang cut in midway.
I'd thought that discussion was over, but apparently not.
"I've told you several times, but in the worst case, we might have to kill Zhuge Cheon-sang."
In other words, it might end up with Hyeok Ri-gwang helping kill his own son.
Reminding him of this, he replied with a hardened expression.
"...I already understand fully."
"And yet you still want to face Zhuge Cheon-sang together?"
"He's my son."
Hyeok Ri-gwang's response left me speechless for a moment.
Seeing me like that, he spoke bitterly.
"He took the Zhuge name, but he's still my son. I can't say I bear no fault for what he's become."
A strained smile appeared on Hyeok Ri-gwang's face, tinged with faint regret.
"Besides, if the boy truly must die, I want it to be as a warrior."
Before the resolve of a father willing to strike down his own son, I finally nodded.
"...Understood. If your will is firm, then so be it."
"Thank you."
With that, we left the guest hall.
Hyeok Ri-gwang and the guest warriors headed straight for the Council of Elders, while the rest of us made for the Great Heaven Pavilion at the heart of the estate.
*
"...You gonna be okay?"
On the way to the Great Heaven Pavilion.
Hwa-ryeon, walking beside me, asked quietly.
"With what?"
"Facing Zhuge Cheon-sang."
I gave a wry smile at her worried face.
"Why worry so much? He's a guy I already beat once."
"The situation's different now."
Even at my confident words, worry lingered in her clear eyes.
"That blood jade—it's something they go to the lengths of a grand ritual to absorb. It can't be just some ordinary spirit pill."
"Probably. I'm curious just how effective it is."
"...Ja-seong."
She glared at me piercingly for my flippant reply.
I chuckled sidelong at her.
"Don't worry too much. Just boosting his inner energy won't let him beat me."
"......"
Hwa-ryeon fell silent at my assured words.
Worried she'd keep fretting if I left it like that, I gently changed the subject.
"Honestly, it's not Zhuge Cheon-sang that's bothering me most."
"...The grand ritual, right."
I nodded at Hwa-ryeon's quick understanding.
The first question that popped into my head when the chief steward explained the blood jade.
How did they know a grand ritual was needed to absorb the blood jade in the first place?
And who told them about the ritual itself?
The answer to those questions had been truly astonishing.
"Who would've thought Elder Gok was the one who told them...."
That's right.
The source of the grand ritual was none other than the brewer, Elder Gok.
None of us, myself included, had expected that at all, and we were all greatly surprised.
"...How did the elder even know about the blood jade?"
"Who knows...."
My first thought was that Elder Gok might be connected to the Demonic Cult.
But I immediately shook my head.
I recalled how Elder Yeon, who harbored considerable resentment toward the Demonic Cult—not quite as much as the imperial family—felt.
Elder Gok, close enough to Elder Yeon and Lady Yeon Ga-ya to share the "Gok" name, couldn't be tangled up with the Demonic Cult.
So how did Elder Gok know about the Demonic Cult's grand ritual? And why pass it on to the clan head's side?
"Guess we'll have to ask him directly."
After this is over, that is.
I turned my gaze to the massive pavilion looming in the distance.
Our target, the Great Heaven Pavilion.
*
Right at that moment.
Inside the Great Heaven Pavilion, the meeting was in full swing.
The topic, of course, was how to respond to Tyrant Heaven Fortress going forward.
"Honestly, I can't believe it. Why would a massive sect like Tyrant Heaven Fortress do something so reckless? They could even be branded traitors."
The Financial Pavilion Master, in charge of the clan's finances, was countered by the Secret Heaven Pavilion Master, who handled external intelligence.
"It's no lie that Tyrant Heaven Fortress tried to oust the Nangong Clan. Word of the martial tournament in Hebi is already spreading."
"Is that all? And it wasn't even under the pretext of demonic arts—it was a tournament held with the branch lord's permission. The guests' claims are utterly absurd."
The Financial Pavilion Master and Secret Heaven Pavilion Master.
Watching the two sides deadlock with their factions split, Su-gyeong chuckled inwardly.
'Hearing all this useless chatter is getting boring.'
Indeed, their talk was utterly pointless.
Soon the grand ritual would end, and the world's greatest warrior would be born.
No matter what tricks Tyrant Heaven Fortress pulled, they would kneel before that power.
Su-gyeong truly believed that.
-What is the meaning of this!?
And it was right then.
That the clamor erupted from outside.