Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: End of the Tournament
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In the end, just as Cho Un-yeop had cleanly decided to give up, Cheol-u's voice wormed its way into Chilji's ear.
“Is that really okay? Public opinion about Tyrant Heaven Fortress in Hefei is already bad enough, and on top of that, you've been thoroughly marked by the branch leader. If you mess up even a little, it could turn into something irreversible.”
“That’s probably true. Which is why I need all of you to sign here.”
Chilji held out a scroll to Cheol-u.
Cheol-u unrolled it and checked the contents, his eyes bulging wide.
“Th-this is…!”
The scroll stated that this incident had been carried out solely on the initiative of the Heavenly Light Corps, and to avoid troubling Tyrant Heaven Fortress, all members would withdraw from the fortress.
Ignoring Cheol-u's trembling gaze fixed on her, Chilji continued her explanation.
“Once you sign here, you’ll no longer be affiliated with Tyrant Heaven Fortress. Naturally, the fortress won’t bear any responsibility for your actions.”
In other words, the Nangong Clan raid would be treated as nothing more than the Heavenly Light Corps running amok.
Of course, Tyrant Heaven Fortress couldn’t completely escape responsibility.
Whether the Heavenly Light Corps withdrew or not, they had been part of the fortress.
It was just a way of covering their eyes and crying foul, creating a pretext to dodge direct blame.
‘And that’s good for “us” in all sorts of ways.’
“Go on, sign it.”
Her words were light, as if merely asking them to write a few characters, but their weight was anything but.
Chilji was essentially telling them to create a justification for Tyrant Heaven Fortress to abandon them.
Any sane person would refuse or hurl curses at Chilji on the spot.
But there was no one sane in this group.
“You all acted of your own free will. Got it? Which means… you firmly believe that to protect the common people’s lives from the murim world, the Nangong Clan must be eradicated.”
Chilji spoke as if explaining roles in a play.
Before they knew it, her eyes had turned crimson.
The entire Heavenly Light Corps, Cheol-u included, stared blankly into those eyes.
And at some point, they thought,
that for the greater cause of Tyrant Heaven Fortress, to safeguard the lives of the common folk from the murim world, they were prepared to offer their bodies.
Even if it meant dying to the last man, they would reduce the Nangong Clan to ashes.
They couldn’t comprehend how they’d arrived at that conclusion, but their hearts were now ablaze with a profound sense of mission.
-Clunk!
Cheol-u shot to his feet with a loud noise, then immediately signed the scroll.
Not stopping there, he drew a dagger from his bosom, pricked his thumb lightly, and pressed a blood-red thumbprint beside it.
“At the very least, this shows our resolve.”
Cheol-u gazed at Chilji with intense eyes.
He thought it was a gaze filled with grim determination, but to the one manipulating even his thoughts, it was simply laughable.
“That resolve will definitely be conveyed.”
Suppressing a sneer, Chilji nodded solemnly as if the moment were grave.
Starting with Cheol-u, signatures and thumbprints followed one after another.
It didn’t take long for the scroll to be filled.
‘Now the Heavenly Light Corps is our pawn, no longer Tyrant Heaven Fortress’s.’
They’d probably prove quite useful even after this affair ended.
Chilji rolled up the scroll and tucked it into her bosom.
“I’ll entrust this to the returning warriors and have it sent to the fortress.”
“…Right.”
Nodding at her words, Cheol-u turned to face his subordinates.
“Tonight, we lay down our lives for the greater cause of Tyrant Heaven Fortress. Finish up whatever you need to do.”
“Yes!”
What exactly was this “greater cause of Tyrant Heaven Fortress” in their minds?
Chilji let out a chuckle at the sudden thought, picturing the Nangong Clan burning fiercely in her head.
‘You lot are just the beginning.’
The Nangong Clan was merely the start.
The Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Clans—all of them would meet miserable ends.
‘If you want to curse someone, curse your ancestors.’
The beasts who, clinging to the imperial court, mercilessly slaughtered our brothers and families without knowing right from wrong.
What expressions would they make in hell, watching their descendants meet wretched ruin?
“Huh, hahaha…!”
Overcome with joy that the long years of endurance were finally at an end, Chilji let out a cold laugh.
Her laughter spread eerily out beyond the inn,
“…….”
and reached someone leaning against the wall by the alley outside the inn.
A woman with her face veiled in blue cloth—Cheong.
Staring through the wall as if peering directly into the inn, she soon nodded and murmured softly.
“…Found you.”
With that mutter, Cheong slipped out of the alley and vanished into the crowd.
*
The three of us who returned to the clan were welcomed by the remaining group.
That evening, the dinner with everyone gathered together began in a rare warm and lively atmosphere for once.
“Hahaha—!”
But the mood was so cheerful that someone brought up how no alcohol could be absent on a day like this,
“Come on, have another drink!”
and before we knew it, the drinking party had begun.
Master and the Nangong Clan head were exchanging drinks between themselves, while Nangong Hyun and Miss Seol were cautiously sipping one cup each.
And I was
-thud
“Absolutely not. Don’t even think about it.”
desperately stopping Hwa-ryeon from drinking.
With everyone else drinking while she alone couldn’t, Hwa-ryeon’s eyes naturally sharpened.
“…Just one cup should be fine.”
“No, it’s not.”
At my firm refusal, Hwa-ryeon made a frustrated face and swiftly grabbed the liquor bottle.
And that bottle was immediately snatched into my hand.
Even I had to admit it was a pretty impressive hawk’s swoop.
“…You’re really gonna do this?”
Hwa-ryeon glared at me for snatching the bottle in the blink of an eye.
Ha, glaring like that won’t work?
For the safety of everyone here, I absolutely cannot let you have any alcohol.
Thus began the standoff over the bottle.
In this hair-trigger moment where we eyed each other’s openings, a cheerful laugh cut between us.
“Haha, why go that far? Not letting her have even one drink on a day like this. Already playing the manager?”
Nangong Hyun flashed a strangely creepy smile, who knows what he was thinking.
Miss Seol, sitting beside him, was giggling as if it were amusing.
To those unaware of the situation, this must look funny.
It wasn’t funny at all.
I’m protecting your safety right now.
Grumbling inwardly, I kept moving the bottle in my hand to dodge Hwa-ryeon’s reaches.
“…Hmph!”
In the end, she seemed to give up, slumping back into her seat.
She might suddenly lunge for it, so stay alert.
I carefully set the bottle down on the opposite side from Hwa-ryeon, keeping a close watch on her movements, and asked Miss Seol,
“The Nangong Clan’s situation has more or less stabilized, but what about the Seol Clan?”
At the rather sensitive question, Miss Seol wiped the smile from her lips, thought for a moment, and shared her thoughts.
“The marriage alliance talks with Tyrant Heaven Fortress will probably fizzle out. My father only cooperated with them out of ambition to make the Seol Clan the new hegemon in Anhui after the Nangong Clan was gone.”
“…And Miss Seol cooperated in shattering that ambition. No repercussions?”
No matter that she was the clan head’s daughter, she had gone against his wishes.
It was hard to imagine nothing would come of it.
“Of course there’ll be repercussions.”
Miss Seol affirmed my concern far too lightly.
Her nonchalant reaction made me wonder if I’d misheard.
“Er… you don’t seem too worried about it?”
“Why worry? I acted of my own will, with no regrets. Even if the clan exiles me, I’ll gladly accept it.”
I was inwardly impressed by her response.
Contrary to her endlessly gentle appearance, Miss Seol had a remarkably steadfast core.
The type they call outwardly soft, inwardly strong?
I thought I should learn that quality too, when suddenly Nangong Hyun, sitting beside her, grasped her hand.
“No need to worry about my betrothed. Father-in-law wouldn’t dare cast out the wife of the Nangong Clan’s young lord.”
Calling the Seol Clan head “father-in-law” and confirming his marriage to Miss Seol, Nangong Hyun soon added playfully,
“Unless, of course, my betrothed changes her mind.”
“My feelings haven’t changed. I have no intention of marrying any man but from the Nangong Clan.”
A firm reply to his jest.
Seemingly moved anew, Nangong Hyun gazed at Miss Seol with trembling eyes.
“My betrothed….”
“Young lord….”
And just like that, the pair dove into their own little world.
Ah, they’re at it again.
As I turned away from the nauseating sight, I sensed Hwa-ryeon’s hand reaching out again and swiftly snatched the bottle.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
“Argh, seriously…!”
Hwa-ryeon scowled sharply and shot me a glare.
“Can’t I just have a sip?”
“No. You know full well what happens when you drink, so why keep asking?”
“…M-maybe the alcohol’s gotten milder in the meantime…”
“No. Absolutely not. Dream on.”
At my cold response, Hwa-ryeon finally gave up completely, letting all tension drain from her body.