Chapter 112
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Broken Promises
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“What did you just say?”
No Dan-yang couldn't hide his bewilderment at his subordinate's report.
“He confirmed that those two were Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi, and he just turned back? The prideful Namgung Baek did that?”
Finding it utterly unbelievable, No Dan-yang asked for confirmation several times.
A moment passed.
“Gah!”
Unable to contain his rage, No Dan-yang unleashed a wave of killing intent, causing a member of the Evil-Shattering Corps to vomit blood and collapse, his insides ravaged.
No Dan-yang didn't even glance at his subordinate.
He needed somewhere to vent his uncontrollable fury.
It was then.
“Commander.”
Another member of the Evil-Shattering Corps called out to him urgently.
As No Dan-yang's eyes, blazing with a savage light, turned toward him, the approaching corps member shuddered.
His face pale, he quickly began to speak.
“A... a carrier pigeon has arrived... from the Alliance.”
“Who sent it?”
“The sender isn't listed. Only that it was addressed to you, Commander...”
When No Dan-yang extended his hand, the corps member handed him the message. He quickly dragged his fallen comrade away.
A chilling light erupted from No Dan-yang's eyes as he read the message.
'This venomous vixen...?'
The message was simple.
—If you want what you desire, come find me alive. He will never keep his promise to you.
The sender wasn't named, but No Dan-yang knew instantly who had sent it.
It was Jegal Yeon.
'Just how much does she know?'
At this point, his suspicion turned to certainty.
He didn't know how she found out, but that cunning woman clearly knew about the deal between him and Namgung Baek.
And she intended to use it to manipulate him.
What infuriated him was that he knew it and yet could do nothing about it.
The part mentioning that Namgung Baek had no intention of keeping his promise especially troubled his mind.
Crumpling the message in his fist, No Dan-yang shot forward.
He immediately began running toward Namgung Baek's location.
He had already pinpointed his whereabouts through his subordinates.
Before long, No Dan-yang found Namgung Baek drinking tea at a shabby tavern.
Namgung Baek was startled to see No Dan-yang.
Then, after a moment, he sighed and shook his head.
“So, in the end, you chose the Commander of the Heavenly Ear Corps over me.”
The implication of No Dan-yang's presence was clear.
One only had to look at the members of the Evil-Shattering Corps arriving nearby.
No Dan-yang had believed Jegal Yeon's opinion that the two were Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi, and had been preparing for a fight.
Seeing him leading a large force, following behind without the Alliance Leader's permission, Namgung Baek curled his lips into a cold smile.
'Our relationship was destined to end up like this anyway.'
He was never my man from the start.
“What are you so pleased about?”
“I'm just happy to meet the Commander of the Evil-Shattering Corps in such an unexpected place.”
“Ha! I'm sure you are.”
Namgung Baek offered a smile to No Dan-yang, who let out a hollow, incredulous laugh.
“Why? Does it sound like a joke?”
“Alliance Leader!”
No Dan-yang roared, his face flushed red as he glared at Namgung Baek.
“How could you do this?”
A bitter smile touched Namgung Baek's lips.
He found No Dan-yang's blatant, vein-popping protest pathetic, but at the same time, it wasn't as if he couldn't understand his feelings.
“And how could you do this to me?”
“...?”
“Who was it that gave you a new lease on life when you were being hunted as one of the Ten Great Villains, destined to die?”
Not missing the moment No Dan-yang faltered, Namgung Baek continued.
“And yet, you follow the will of the Commander of the Heavenly Ear Corps, not mine.”
“Th-that's...”
Stammering in bewilderment, No Dan-yang soon began to make excuses.
“I was certain of their identities from the beginning.”
“Then why didn't you report it?”
“I didn't have conclusive proof.”
No Dan-yang raised his voice at the smirking Namgung Baek.
“I apologize for not following your will, Alliance Leader. But it was all for your sake. It was obvious you wouldn't grant permission given your nature, so I brought the Evil-Shattering Corps in secret.”
“You speak as if you care for me so deeply.”
The smile on Namgung Baek's lips deepened.
“Then why do I feel like you're making a show of force?”
The eyes of Yang Bul-wi and the other warriors of the Azure Sky Corps changed.
Their purpose for existing was not for the Martial Alliance, nor for the righteous martial world.
Their sole supreme task and life's goal was to protect and report to Namgung Baek. To that end, they would not hesitate to shed blood, even if it belonged to others within the Martial Alliance.
This was especially true if the target was No Dan-yang.
He was originally from the Unorthodox Faction.
And one of the infamous Ten Great Villains, no less.
Furthermore, the Evil-Shattering Corps he led operated differently from the existing organizations of the Martial Alliance.
From its inception, the Evil-Shattering Corps was essentially a special task force.
From recruiting its members to handling their deaths.
No Dan-yang held all authority, and as such, he wielded absolute control over the Evil-Shattering Corps.
In other words, it was no exaggeration to call it his private army.
Seeing the Azure Sky Corps exuding a frosty aura, No Dan-yang's brow twitched.
However, he struggled to suppress his surging anger once more.
“So you're saying we should just go back like this?”
“It seems you intend to continue.”
“Of course I do!”
Namgung Baek smiled faintly.
“Then you go and bring me their heads.”
“...!”
At Namgung Baek's words, No Dan-yang ground his teeth so hard they could have shattered.
He had heard reports that they were injured and near death, but the Blood Hand Honored One was still the Blood Hand Honored One. Then there was Mang Mountain's Thistle, that madman, and the ageless monster known as the Ice Jade Fairy.
If it were just one of them, maybe, but No Dan-yang had no confidence he could face all of them at once, not even in his wildest dreams.
It would likely be impossible even if he threw himself and the entire Evil-Shattering Corps into the fray.
Only if Namgung Baek joined in would they have a fighting chance, and only with the addition of Yang Bul-wi's Azure Sky Corps could they hope for victory.
Namgung Baek spoke again.
“The subjugation of the Ten Great Villains is over.”
“What do you mean...?”
“Exactly what I said. I cannot harm them. That is not the way of the Namgung Family.”
“You are the Leader of the Martial Alliance! Not the Patriarch of the Namgung Family, but the Alliance Leader!”
“Not anymore.”
“You madman!”
So consumed by fury, No Dan-yang revealed his true feelings.
Yet, Namgung Baek remained composed.
Glaring at the calm Namgung Baek with crazed eyes, No Dan-yang spat out his words.
“Then fulfill your promise right now.”
“Your tone has changed quickly.”
“You're the one who gave up the position of Alliance Leader.”
“Is that so? I see.”
Surprisingly, Namgung Baek readily agreed, nodding his head. But that was all.
He made no further mention of his promise.
After all, it's the way of the world for the thirsty to dig the well.
Burning with impatience, No Dan-yang spoke again.
“Fulfill our promise...”
“Why should I?”
Cutting No Dan-yang off, Namgung Baek's eyes turned cold.
“You failed to complete your mission.”
“How can you say that...?”
“I'm sure I made it clear. I told you to bring me their heads, even now. But who was it that gave up that chance?”
No Dan-yang trembled with rage.
“You had plenty of time. Since you failed to fulfill the promise within that time, the deal is off.”
*Snap.*
Something inside No Dan-yang's mind broke.
It was the last thread of reason he had been clinging to.
“Namgung Baek!”
With a furious roar, No Dan-yang charged at Namgung Baek.
*Crackle.*
A bluish lightning crackled in No Dan-yang's hands as he clenched them into fists.
It was his signature art, the Thunder Essence Sphere Arts.
Specifically, it was the divine might only achievable by the Annihilating Thunder Essence Hammer at the tenth stage. However, No Dan-yang couldn't close the distance to Namgung Baek.
This was because four short spears, thrust from four directions simultaneously, were flying toward his vital points.
“Get lost, you minnows!”
*Kla-ka-kang!*
No Dan-yang's hands tore through the air, batting away the incoming spears.
The four members of the Azure Sky Corps couldn't withstand the impact and were pushed back about thirty feet.
Deep furrows were carved into the ground beneath their feet.
Their faces were pale, and thin trickles of blood flowed from the corners of their mouths.
On the shafts of the spears they still clutched, remnants of bluish lightning writhed. Yet, there was no sign of defeat on their faces.
It didn't take long for No Dan-yang to realize why.
“...!”
No Dan-yang flinched.
A sudden, terrifying chill ran up his spine.
Following his instincts, he turned his head.
It was then that his gaze met a pair of eyes.
They were the eyes of a predator stalking its prey, filled with boundless coldness and ferocious killing intent.
'Yang Bul-wi!'
No Dan-yang quickly grasped the situation.
The Azure Sky Corps had been nothing but a decoy from the start, meant to divert his attention.
The real attack was hidden behind them.
That's when he noticed Yang Bul-wi's hand gripping a spear shaft.
But the spearhead that should have been at its tip was nowhere to be seen.
Realizing the reason a moment too late, No Dan-yang felt a chill in his heart once more.
A sharp aura, felt from a blind spot outside his vision!
The spearhead, attached to the end of the bent shaft, flew in on an unpredictable trajectory.
*Sschk.*
With a gruesome sound, blood blossomed on No Dan-yang's shoulder. He had narrowly avoided a fatal blow but hadn't managed to evade it completely.
“One after another. You're all just a bunch of black-hearted, sly old foxes.”
The Martial Alliance was truly a place that perfectly fit the description of a den of demons.
It was his first time seeing it in person, but the martial arts of the Azure Sky Corps Commander far exceeded his expectations.
And yet, No Dan-yang was smiling.
In contrast, Yang Bul-wi's face hardened.
Because No Dan-yang's hand was gripping the spearhead.
'To catch a spear infused with internal energy, and with his bare hands at that!'
Yang Bul-wi poured all his strength into the spear shaft, channeling his true energy. He intended to shake No Dan-yang off with his internal energy, but in that instant.
No Dan-yang grinned.
'Damn it!'
Yang Bul-wi sensed that the situation had twisted against his intentions.
An immense repulsive force, clashing with his own internal energy, surged through the spear shaft he held.
But it was already too late.
*KWAANG!*
With a deafening roar, the middle of the spear shaft exploded.
From the shock, Yang Bul-wi staggered back violently.
He took a full four steps back before he could barely regain his balance.
In that moment, something bluish shot toward him.
Spotting it too late, Yang Bul-wi's face went pale.
The lightning that had been crackling in No Dan-yang's hand.
The moment he realized it had coalesced into a sphere, an intense heat was already searing the skin of his chest.
*BOOM!*
With a sudden explosion, Yang Bul-wi's body was engulfed in the blast, sent flying, and slammed into the ground.
“Cough.”
Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Yang Bul-wi staggered to his feet.
His expression was one of utter disbelief that he was still alive.
Conversely, No Dan-yang's face was twisted into a demonic scowl.
Just before he could take Yang Bul-wi's life, a sword had flown out of nowhere and completely disintegrated his Annihilating Thunder Essence Hammer.
No Dan-yang glared at Namgung Baek with eyes full of venomous hatred.
Namgung Baek met his gaze with emotionless eyes.
“What I said earlier.”
“...?”
“When I said I was glad you came here... it wasn't a joke.”
Namgung Baek extended his hand. The sword he had thrown flew back toward his hand as if pulled by a string.
It was the sword that had blown away No Dan-yang's energy attack and embedded itself in a tree trunk.