Chapter 376
"Why are you leaving so suddenly?"
Namgung Heon's face, bathed in moonlight, looked eerily beautiful—almost bewitchingly so.
"Because if not now, I won't be able to leave at all."
"I see."
Namgung Heon let out a sigh as he spoke.
"Then leave the Gratitude Coin behind."
Bu Eun-seol raised an eyebrow.
Looking back, Namgung Heon had been the one to push for the secret duel between Namgung Un and Namgung Hwan. Moreover, until now, his true martial prowess had remained shrouded in mystery.
Could he be the masked figure—the enigmatic "Mystery"?
Was that why he knew Namgung Un had given him the Gratitude Coin and sought to take it by force?
"The Gratitude Coin is a treasure the Divine Calculator promised to our main house."
At Namgung Heon's words, Bu Eun-seol let out a dry chuckle.
"Don't tell me you think I secretly stole the Gratitude Coin?"
Namgung Heon's expression turned bitter.
"I know Un gave it to you. But... he's still just a reckless child, isn't he?"
His voice was firm.
"The Divine Calculator's Gratitude Coin is a priceless treasure beyond monetary value. No matter how much you helped Un, shamelessly taking it for yourself is hardly acceptable, is it?"
"So,"
Bu Eun-seol said coldly, scanning their surroundings,
"you brought the Namgung Clan's sword brigade with you? To take it by force?"
Though invisible to the eye, Bu Eun-seol had already detected the presence of over fifty martial artists radiating sharp energy within a three-hundred-foot radius.
Namgung Heon wore an awkward expression.
"This is my own decision. There's no need to drag the main house's name into it."
Then, with resolve, he added,
"But if it's for the sake of the clan, I'll bear the shame a hundred times over."
"Haa."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply.
His gaze held pity for Namgung Heon.
This conversation had finally unraveled all the tangled threads. He had uncovered which of the Namgung brothers was the masked man.
'So it wasn't him.'
Namgung Heon, the second most likely suspect after Namgung Su, was not the masked man either.
'He's just a pawn.'
Namgung Heon, oblivious to Bu Eun-seol's thoughts, asked,
"Is parting with the Gratitude Coin really so difficult for you?"
"No. Frankly, if giving it to you would settle this, I'd gladly hand it over."
"Then do so."
"I can't."
Bu Eun-seol's voice was resolute.
"Not only is this not something that can be resolved by surrendering the coin, but Namgung Un would also be in danger."
Namgung Heon's expression twisted in confusion.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Why would Un be in danger?"
"You're his pawn, so of course you wouldn't know."
Bu Eun-seol turned away.
He needed to return to the Namgung estate—to save Namgung Un, who was likely already ensnared in a trap.
Shhk—
But dozens of martial artists descended from the sky, blocking his path.
They were the Hwan Sword Brigade, Namgung Heon's personal elite force.
"Cheap tricks."
Namgung Heon smirked.
"You plan to return to the main house, report this to the Family Head, and slip away unscathed, don't you?"
Bu Eun-seol sighed deeply.
Namgung Heon was all looks—tragically lacking in wit or strategy.
"Such a waste of a handsome face."
"What did you say?"
"With a mind that simple, you're just being used by your younger brother, aren't you?"
Bu Eun-seol had already seen through everything.
The masked man who had orchestrated the attack by Dan So-ok—
He was none other than Namgung Poong, who was even manipulating Namgung Heon.
"Preposterous. You claim I'm being controlled by my younger brother?"
Bu Eun-seol chuckled dryly.
"You suggested the duel between Namgung Hwan and Namgung Un because Namgung Poong ordered you to, didn't you?"
At the time, Bu Eun-seol had been shocked when Namgung Heon proposed the duel.
Because someone had secretly used Voice Transmission—and immediately afterward, Namgung Heon had made the suggestion.
Namgung Su was the eldest; there was no need for anyone to use Voice Transmission to instruct him.
That left only one person who could have sent the transmission: Namgung Poong.
"I wonder what weakness he's exploiting to make you obey his orders."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You received a Voice Transmission. From him."
For a moment, Namgung Heon's face stiffened.
Detecting Voice Transmission was something only Grandmasters capable of surveying the entire martial world could achieve.
Yet this wandering outcast had sensed it?
"I have no more time to waste. Step aside."
Bu Eun-seol turned his body.
But Namgung Heon made yet another foolish choice.
"Stop him."
Cha-cha-cha-chak!
In an instant, over fifty members of the Phantom Sword Unit surrounded Bu Eun-seol.
The Namgung Family's Sword Formation was a peerless martial skill—so renowned that it served as the foundation for the formations used by the Martial Alliance itself.
Namgung Heon believed that this Phantom Sword Unit alone would be enough to subdue Bu Eun-seol.
Flash!
But that belief shattered along with a brilliant light. In a single stroke, Bu Eun-seol destroyed the formation in an instant.
Pa-pa-pa-pak!
At the same time, a dazzling sword aura split into dozens of sword rings, targeting their vital points.
Bloody Tears Seven Forms, Third Move—an application of the Half-Life, Half-Death Saber Move.
'There's no time!'
Thud-thud-thud!
After effortlessly felling the fifty swordsmen, Bu Eun-seol unleashed his full power, activating his Movement Technique at maximum speed.
Namgung Heon, who had been watching the scene, dropped to his knees.
Among the Namgung bloodline, he was the most handsome, with a personality that naturally drew people in.
He had been so confident that he would become the next Family Head, surpassing even the cold and emotionally distant Namgung Su.
But that expectation had been utterly shattered.
Years ago, Namgung Poong—who had always hidden his sharp fangs—had finally bared them at him.
"It seems that if I want to become the Family Head, I'll have to make Second Brother one of my people."
Namgung Poong had smiled brightly as he spoke.
"Eldest Brother's cold temperament, Fourth's arrogance, and the youngest—well, that reckless ruffian was never suited to be a Family Head Candidate in the first place."
Namgung Heon had tried to discipline Namgung Poong as an elder brother should, despite Poong pointing his sword at him.
But Namgung Poong's sword techniques far surpassed his own.
In fact, they might even rival those of the masters who dominated the martial world.
"How...?"
Namgung Poong had narrowed his eyes into crescents.
"Apologies, but from now on, Second Brother will have to follow me obediently. That is, if you wish to remain part of the Namgung bloodline."
Namgung Heon had been terrified.
Namgung Poong's martial arts were so overwhelming that he could kill him without leaving a trace.
And not only that—he had already secured the support of the Elders and major faction leaders.
"Poong has been hiding an extraordinary level of martial skill. And he's even managed to manipulate several of the Namgung Family's Elders and faction leaders with ease."
Even if he had reported this to his father, all he would have received in return was ridicule.
What father would dislike his own son for being strong and capable?
"Second Brother, do you understand the situation now?"
Namgung Poong had seen through his thoughts and smiled as he spoke.
After all, it was only natural for the most outstanding to become the Family Head.
Namgung Heon had realized that no matter how hard he tried, he could never surpass Namgung Poong.
And soon enough, the same would be true for his eldest brother and the rest of his siblings.
"If you follow my lead from now on, I'll make sure Second Brother gets a position that won't disappoint you."
Even without becoming the Family Head, there were many positions within the Namgung Family that wielded immense authority.
And so, in the end, Namgung Heon had chosen to go with the flow.
"Turns out, Father has been keeping Un in mind all along."
But then, suddenly, Namgung Un—the reckless wastrel who had always been a troublemaker—had crushed the Beggars' Sect's conspiracy and returned in glory.
And that seemed to have unsettled Namgung Poong.
"Second Brother. It's about time we dealt with Un as well."
Somehow, he had even learned that Namgung Jeong had obtained the Bowun Sword Manual and given it to Namgung Un.
"Poong is colluding with an outside faction."
Only after seeing how Namgung Poong monitored the Family Head's movements as if reading palm lines did Namgung Heon realize that he was connected to an external force.
But by then, it was already too late to turn back.
Namgung Poong would inevitably become the Family Head and take control of the Namgung Family.
So Namgung Heon had resolved to continue following him.
"It's... pointless anyway."
Namgung Heon shook his head as he watched the direction Bu Eun-seol had disappeared in.
No matter how formidable Bu Eun-seol's martial arts were, no matter how brilliant his strategies—
There was no way he could stop Namgung Poong, who not only had the backing of an outside faction but had also laid countless schemes in preparation for this moment.
Hall of Gathering Worthies.
This was where the Family Head of the Namgung Clan resided.
The front courtyard of the Hall of Gathering Worthies was vast, and unlike other halls, it had a high set of stairs installed.
In the Namgung Clan, all ceremonies and rituals were conducted before the Hall of Gathering Worthies where the Family Head resided.
Whether issuing commands to departing war units or conferring positions upon key figures, everyone would gather before this hall.
Yet now, the courtyard before the Hall of Gathering Worthies was not filled with the clan's dependents—instead, hundreds of bloodied martial artists knelt in submission.
Atop the steps stood Namgung Jeong, towering over them.
"So the main house seemed laughable to you, did it?"
A mix of killing intent and contempt radiated from Namgung Jeong's eyes as he looked down upon the martial artists.
"Did you truly believe us so inept that we wouldn't notice outsiders infiltrating us for so long?"
The Namgung Clan stood first among the Eight Great Clans, so renowned that it was even called the Martial Alliance of Jiangnan.
Their intelligence network and influence were unrivaled, allowing Namgung Jeong to oversee not just the affairs of the martial world but even the minutest details within his own clan—all from the comfort of his office.
He had long been aware that hostile forces had infiltrated the Namgung Clan.
Yet he had not purged them immediately for two reasons:
First, he did not yet know their true objective.
Second, he was waiting for the perfect opportunity to wipe them out in one sweep.
But then something strange happened.
The moment Seol-so, the wandering warrior who had been staying at the main house, secretly departed, the hidden forces suddenly converged and launched a surprise attack on the Hall of Gathering Worthies.
However, Namgung Jeong, who had already detected every trace of their movements, swiftly deployed his forces and subdued them in an instant.
The Namgung Clan.
As the leading family of the Eight Great Clans and a power that commanded influence across the martial world of the Central Plains, the idea that they could be overthrown by outsiders was utterly, completely impossible.
"Which faction do they belong to?"
When Namgung Jeong asked, the Hall Leader bowed his head.
"No matter how much we interrogate them, they refuse to speak. Their weapons, clothing, even their shoes—all are untraceable."
Namgung Jeong narrowed his eyes.
The infiltrators numbered over three hundred.
Though he had gathered intelligence beforehand, their martial arts were formidable enough that the Namgung Clan had to mobilize its strongest warriors to suppress them.
What kind of faction could have sent so many skilled martial artists?
"Heh heh heh."
Then, the man who appeared to be their leader, among the captured, curled his lips into a sinister smile.
"You'd best let us go unharmed, Family Head Namgung."
His teeth, stained with blood, glinted as he grinned.
"Otherwise, your beloved youngest son will lose his life—forever."
Namgung Jeong's eyes widened instantly.
"Hall Leader."
"Yes."
The Hall Leader immediately ordered his subordinates to verify Namgung Un's safety.
But when the Unit Member returned, his face had turned ashen.
"There are signs of abduction."
"Hohohoho."
The masked leader spoke with unwavering confidence.
"If you don't release us, he will die within two hours. We've locked him in such a place."
"Where is it?!"
The Hall Leader drew his sword and pressed it against the leader's throat, but the man didn't even flinch.
"Do you really think I'd tell you?"
"You bastard—!"
As the Hall Leader bit his lip, Namgung Jeong slowly descended the steps.
Then, he seized the leader's Pulse Gate.
Crrk.
The leader's body began to convulse grotesquely before he vomited blood.
Namgung Jeong had unleashed the Sevenfold Organ-Severing Torture—one of the most vicious interrogation techniques that forced the victim to expel internal energy, rupturing their organs while leaving them conscious.
"GAAAH—!"
Even as he screamed, the leader laughed.
"Huuuuh... No matter how much you torture me, you won't save your son!"
Just as Namgung Jeong's expression darkened—
"Father!"
A figure rushed forward in a single stride.
It was Namgung Poong.
"I've found where Un is being held!"
"What?"
"While pursuing someone who broke into my quarters, I discovered the location. But with my level of internal power, I couldn't open the gate—"
As Namgung Jeong's brow twitched—
BOOM!
An explosion erupted from the northern gate of the Namgung estate, flames surging into the sky.
There were still remnants of the enemy hiding within the clan.
"We must hurry! If we delay, we won't be able to save Un!"
For a moment, doubt flickered in Namgung Jeong's mind.
Namgung Poong's sudden appearance was far too convenient, and the fact that he had single-handedly tracked down the abductors seemed suspicious.
'What am I thinking?'
To doubt his own son, of all people?
Namgung Jeong shook his head and shouted to the Hall Leader and his retainers.
"Eradicate all remaining remnants with full force!"
Then he shouted to Namgung Poong,
"Where is Un?!"
Whoosh—
The place where Namgung Jeong and Namgung Poong arrived after running like madmen was a clearing deep in the forest, far from the Namgung estate.
"Over here."
Pointing at a boulder in the clearing, Namgung Poong shouted,
"We must move that rock to open the passage!"
As Namgung Jeong gathered his internal power—
Rumble—
With a low vibration, the boulder—as large as a house—shifted sideways.
Without even touching it, he had moved the massive rock, which weighed at least ten thousand jin, using sheer overwhelming internal energy.
Grrrk—
Once the boulder was removed, a mechanical sound echoed from the ground, and a passage leading underground opened up.
It was an ingeniously crafted mechanism.
'To secretly build such a mechanism near the main estate...'
Namgung Jeong couldn't hide his astonishment.
To construct something like this under the Namgung Family's very nose? This faction must have been preparing for this for years, at the very least.
Moreover, the fact that they had kidnapped Namgung Un—his own son—meant they had thoroughly studied Namgung Jeong himself as well.
Shing—
Drawing his sword, Namgung Jeong spoke to Namgung Poong.
"You, return to the main estate and inform Chief Steward Nam of this. Then relay my orders to the Silver Radiance Sword Unit Commander—he is to take full command of all forces."
Without another glance back, he shot forward into the underground passage.
Clang! Whizz-whizz-whizz!
As he raced through the winding tunnel, countless hidden weapons rained down.
But Namgung Jeong didn't even bother defending—instead, he merged sword and body into one, breaking through in an instant.
Finally, at the end of the passage, he arrived at a sealed-off cavern. And there, shackled and hanging against the wall, was Namgung Un.
"Family Head."
"Are you unharmed?"
Namgung Jeong swiftly scanned the interior.
No hidden enemies. No concealed mechanisms.
Clang!
In an instant, he slashed at the shackles binding Namgung Un's wrists.
But with a sharp metallic clang, only deep gouges remained—the shackles remained uncut.
"Mysterious Iron shackles."
Gathering his internal power once more, a white radiance surged from Namgung Jeong's blade.
BOOM—
A deafening explosion echoed as cracks spiderwebbed across the cavern walls.
Shhk—
Simultaneously, the wall where the shackles were anchored crumbled completely.
Namgung Jeong had used the Heavy Sword Technique to shatter the stone wall in a single strike.
Thud—
As Namgung Un collapsed limply, Namgung Jeong swiftly caught him.
"Are you unharmed?"
"Family Head..."
Namgung Un's eyes were dim, and blood stained the corner of his lips.
He must have fought a formidable master and suffered severe internal injuries.
"Don't speak. Focus on your inner training."
Namgung Jeong extended his hand and began channeling true qi into Namgung Un's Great Vertebra Acupoint.
Tap-tap-tap—
But then, hurried footsteps echoed from deep within the passage.
Namgung Jeong paused, his grip tightening on the sword in his right hand as he tensely watched the darkness.
"Father!"
Yet it was Namgung Poong who came running.
Drenched in sweat, he stood panting beside Namgung Jeong.
"Why have you returned?"
"It's— A massive force has already surrounded this area."
"What?!"
"You must retreat immediately."
Namgung Jeong glanced at Namgung Un, whose eyes were barely open, then shook his head.
"Stand guard for a moment. I must stabilize Un's condition with true qi."
"Understood."
Taking a deep breath, Namgung Jeong turned back and placed his hand on Namgung Un's Great Vertebra Acupoint once more.
Flash—
But then, Namgung Un—whose vision had been fading—suddenly snapped his eyes wide open and shouted.
"Family Head, WATCH OUT—!"
Thud—
Before the words even finished, Namgung Jeong felt as though the heavens and earth had collapsed upon him.
Turning, he saw a sharp dagger buried deep into his Body Pillar Acupoint from behind.
When he looked back, Namgung Poong stood there—eyes narrowed, staring at him with an eerie calm.
The one who had ambushed him was none other than Namgung Poong himself.
"A pity. Your Mystic Gate Protective Qi was too dense—I couldn't pierce the Body Pillar Acupoint cleanly."
Couldn't pierce it cleanly?
Yet Namgung Jeong's body was already paralyzed, his movements nearly impossible.
And with every breath, his internal energy leaked out like a sieve.
The dagger's blade had lodged deep near the Body Pillar Acupoint—where the central nervous system converged.
Had his Mystic Gate Protective Qi not shielded him, Namgung Jeong would have either died instantly or been left half-paralyzed.
"Poong... why?"
"Why? You already know."
Namgung Poong wore a bitter expression.
"You killed my real father and disguised me as your son—did you really think I wouldn't find out?"