Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Tournament's End
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“We’ve already reported the other corrupt acts that bastard Guman-deok committed to the Ministry of Personnel. By now, investigators should be on their way. Once they look into this incident as well, his dismissal will be decided.”
“…That’s for the best.”
Beside the Nangong family head, who answered cautiously, Nangong Hyeon let out a small sigh of relief.
He hadn’t said it outright, but it seemed our group had arrived just in time to save him from a lot of grief at Ji-hyeon’s hands.
“I’ll send a formal letter of protest directly to Tyrant Heaven Fortress as well. Separately, I’ll report this to the capital in Beijing, so they’ll pay the appropriate price. The Nangong Clan will receive the just compensation it deserves.”
“Thank you.”
The family head’s expression of gratitude brought a look of regret to the governor’s face.
“What’s there to thank? If anything, I should be the one apologizing.”
“How could you say that…”
“I apologize for summoning and berating you last time over the escort caravan issue. I never imagined something like this would happen behind the scenes.”
The governor shook his head slowly, then, as if struck by a sudden thought, posed a question.
“By the way, what happened with the escort caravan that set out afterward? No issues this time, I hope?”
“Yes, we received word not long ago. They should arrive in Hefei tomorrow.”
“At last, the people around Hefei can breathe easy…”
I watched the governor with unexpected respect as he sighed deeply in relief.
His words and demeanor marked him as a true official, worlds apart from that pig Ji-hyeon.
It seemed I’d unconsciously formed a prejudice because of that scum.
“I know the Nangong Clan suffered greatly from Tyrant Heaven Fortress’s schemes over this time. If there’s anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to say the word.”
“Thank you, Governor.”
A warm and cordial atmosphere.
Everyone happy in the end—except for Tyrant Heaven Fortress and that greedy pig…
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, there was one more person who wouldn’t be happy.
*
Leaving the governor’s office, I excused myself from the Nangong family head and headed straight to the county jail.
Through the bars, I spotted a goatee beard and gave it a casual wave.
“Hey, settling in okay? Must be drafty, though.”
“You—you bastard!”
The goatee beard spat curses the moment he saw me.
I smirked at Jo Un-chil, locked away in his cell.
“Sounds like you’re doing just fine, voice-wise. Good to know—I was worried.”
“You goddamn con artist! Our deal was bullshit!”
“Hm? Deal? What deal?”
He looked utterly baffled at my puzzled tilt of the head, on the verge of madness.
“You said if I joined your side, I’d live!”
“Hmm?”
Racking my memory for a moment, I soon realized what Jo Un-chil was on about.
“Hey, let’s get the words right. I didn’t say I’d save your life—I said it’d be way better than sticking with Tyrant Heaven Fortress.”
“That’s the same damn thing! How’s this better?”
“Looks a hell of a lot better to me. Just check the dates—you’ve lived a full half-month longer already.”
“…….”
Jo Un-chil gaped wordlessly, stunned by my response.
Thanks to this incident, all the illegal crap he’d pulled over time had come to light.
With crimes that heinous, there was no escaping the death penalty.
“That’s why you should’ve lived right. Hope you manage it in your next life. Anyway, I’m off.”
I tossed a parting blessing to the guy facing a long journey ahead and turned to leave.
Just as I stepped out of the jail, a bellow thundered from behind.
“Hey, you son of a bitch—!!”
“Who’s calling who a son of a bitch?”
Shrugging at the sheer audacity, I sauntered lightly toward the county office entrance.
The Nangong family head and Nangong Hyeon were waiting there for me.
“Why wait? I told you to go ahead.”
“How could we? It wouldn’t sit right to slight the Nangong Clan’s benefactor.”
“Hey, benefactor’s a bit much…”
Scratching my cheek at the flattery, we set off from the office.
“Hm. Can’t say for sure, but the street vibe feels different somehow.”
On the way back to the clan.
The atmosphere on the streets had subtly shifted.
Not that people’s faces were suddenly lighting up or their eyes sparkling with life, of course.
But… the gloom? Or whatever negative aura had hung over everything seemed lifted.
Nangong Hyeon, walking beside me, explained why.
“We leaked the news that the escort caravan returns tomorrow.”
“That’s all it took?”
“It’s more than that. We assembled that massive caravan—unprecedented in scale—to resolve the current crisis. Once it arrives in Hefei tomorrow, things should improve dramatically.”
The family head chimed in, backing up Nangong Hyeon’s bold claim.
“The governor’s deploying his soldiers to escort it the rest of the way, so no more worries about trouble. Not even Tyrant Heaven Fortress would dare mess with the military.”
“Ooh…”
I had no idea just how huge the caravan was to fix Hefei’s situation overnight, but if they were this confident, maybe no need to fret?
“Think Tyrant Heaven Fortress won’t pull some other stupid stunt?”
The thought popped into my head.
These guys had schemed a whole year to crush one clan—would they really back off this easily? Unease washed over me.
“Hahaha. No need to worry that much. Their plot’s out in the open now—no way they’d try anything unless they’ve lost their minds.”
“…Yeah, probably.”
I nodded awkwardly at Nangong Hyeon’s laughing reassurance.
My words agreed, but the nagging anxiety in my gut refused to settle, prickling at my nerves.
Surely nothing would happen, right?
*
After the martial tournament, the Tyrant Heaven Fortress warriors, led by the Heavenly Light Corps, were immediately expelled from the county office amid the governor’s fury.
With their misdeeds in Hefei laid bare for all to see, it was only natural.
“Damn it all—!”
-Crash! Shatter!
Cheol-u, who had implicitly led the Tyrant Heaven Fortress warriors in Hefei since the Heavenly Light Corps leader Sagong Chan’s death.
Unable to contain his rage, he flipped the table over.
Bowls and bottles atop it spilled and smashed to pieces.
Their current hideout was a rundown inn in a deserted corner of Hefei.
They’d half-threatened the innkeeper, shoved money at him, and booted him out to claim the place.
On the inn’s first floor, only Heavenly Light Corps members were visible.
The lower-ranking Tyrant Heaven Fortress warriors who’d been expelled with them were nowhere in sight.
A slender figure entering the inn just then revealed their whereabouts.
“The lower-ranking warriors are ready to withdraw. Now, all that’s left is…”
Chilji, stepping inside, frowned at the mess from Cheol-u’s flipped table.
“Making a mess again already?”
“Hah, sitting tight in this mess just chokes me up.”
“Either way, you made it—you clean it. Right now.”
“…Fine.”
At Chilji’s command, Cheol-u began tidying the wreckage without protest.
A bizarre sight: their leader meekly obeying Chilji, whom he’d long treated like an eyesore.
Yet not a single Heavenly Light Corps member raised a question.
In the eerie silence, Cheol-u finished cleaning and sat back down.
Confirming all eyes on her, Chilji slowly spoke.
“You all know already, but I’ll say it once more. Our year-long plan to drive out the Nangong Clan from Hefei has collapsed. A utter failure.”
“…….”
No replies came, but the heavy mood filling the inn spoke volumes of the members’ despair and gloom.
“We can’t just slink away after one failure, can we?”
“…!”
At Chilji’s follow-up, every Heavenly Light Corps member looked up.
Cheol-u voiced the question for them.
“What’s your plan?”
“Of course. We have one final measure.”
For something dubbed the “final measure,” Chilji said it quite matter-of-factly.
What came from her lips moments later was utterly shocking.
“Tonight, we raid the Nangong Clan manor.”
“…!”
The entire Heavenly Light Corps attacking the Nangong Clan directly.
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock at her words.
“You’re serious about raiding the Nangong Clan?”
Even at Cheol-u’s incredulous query, Chilji nodded lightly.
“Yes. Our elaborate plan failed, so brute force is all we’ve got left. Perfect timing, too—the Nangong Clan lost most of its titled experts to our schemes, and the rest won’t return until tomorrow. Strike now, or lose the chance.”
Currently at the clan manor: only young master Nangong Hyeon, family head Nangong Seon-u, and some guests of unknown identity.
With the full fifty-plus Heavenly Light Corps bearing down, they could handle it easily.
‘If only we can deal with that man.’
Chilji thought of Ja-seong.
The one who’d displayed otherworldly martial arts unlike any she’d seen.
Neutralize him, and the rest fell to the Heavenly Light Corps.
‘And I have the means.’
Chilji carefully touched something tucked in her bosom.
A precious item not to be used lightly, but worth it to bring someone like Ja-seong under her control.
Regret suddenly tugged at her there.
‘Too bad I couldn’t move Cho Un-yeop.’
Cho Un-yeop’s injuries from his bout with Ja-seong were severe.
He was stuck glued to Ho-jeong now, leaving no window for her soul-subduing arts.