Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Downpour in the Darkness
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“Hmm... It's not that I know, but more like I think I know. I've never actually done it before.”
“Well, it's not like... something could go wrong and I'd die, right?”
“I never said I'd do it for you.”
So Hwi was dumbfounded.
“Didn't you bring it up to save me?”
“No. I just mentioned it because I saw it.”
“Hoho. Our Young Lord is truly strange. Why mention it if you have no intention of fixing it?”
“Why were you following me? Are you with the Lower Five Gates?”
The reason for tailing him was obvious, after all.
To kill him or to gather information.
Since there was no killing intent, it had to be for information, right?
The primary intelligence organizations were the Beggars' Sect and the Lower Five Gates. While the Martial Alliance had a decent intelligence agency, it couldn't compare to the other two. Besides, So Hwi and Chanjo's demeanor seemed far removed from the Martial Alliance.
That was why.
It was obvious.
*'What a monster!'*
Chanjo was astonished by Namgung Urin's sharpness.
So Hwi was no different.
“...They say the smart ones die young.”
“Depends on the person.”
“So, you're just going to leave a dying person behind?”
“I'm not a physician.”
“Aren't you the Young Lord of the Namgung Family?”
She was asking if the Namgung Family didn't help the unfortunate.
“I'm not a fan of the old, rigid Namgung.”
“But you let all those Hyeoncheon Sect bastards who deserved to die live.”
“That wasn't my doing. It was my uncle's.”
“Wow.”
So Hwi had never met a man so much like a brick wall; she was completely flabbergasted.
“So, you're really going to let me die?”
“It has nothing to do with me.”
In the end, So Hwi was only human, and she broke. She plopped down, squatting, and buried her head between her knees.
“You wicked man! You terrible man! *Hic*.”
“Oh dear, what will our Branch Leader do?”
Chanjo looked at Namgung Urin with pleading, sorrowful eyes.
“Can't you do something?”
“It's not that there's no way. But even if I try, there's no guarantee I can fix it.”
“You may not be certain, but you can at least try. That's enough.”
So Hwi shot to her feet and stared at Namgung Urin. He met her gaze directly and spoke.
“But it won't be for free.”
So Hwi said.
“What do you want? I could even bear your child!”
“...I don't need that. Do you happen to know where the Yeongunbang Master might have fled?”
“Ah, so you were chasing the Yeongunbang Master?”
“Yes.”
A gleeful smile spread across So Hwi's lips.
“I do.”
Once a year, the Yeongunbang Master takes courtesans to Sahong County in Jiangsu Province to relax. Near Sahong County is a beautiful lake called Hongtaek Lake.
And when it came to courtesans, who knew more than the Lower Five Gates?
That was how she knew.
But she couldn't be certain. He might have hidden there, or he might have fled somewhere else entirely.
“Help me catch him, and I'll make an effort.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Then I'll guide you to where he might be. But your companions can't come. My face can't be seen.”
Unlike the Beggars' Sect, the Lower Five Gates did not readily reveal themselves to outsiders. This was because members would not hesitate to kill each other to climb to higher positions within the organization.
Moreover, the martial world was full of people who would commit heinous acts or inflict unbearable torture to obtain vital information. Thus, those in positions handling high-level intelligence were especially careful not to reveal their identities.
“Fine. I'll be right back.”
So Hwi nodded.
*Flash.*
And Namgung Urin vanished.
“Wow. It was like he disappeared right before my eyes.”
“He did. What an incredible guy.”
“You must secure his seed.”
So Hwi and Chanjo looked at each other and nodded firmly, as if making a solemn vow.
Meanwhile, Namgung Urin returned to where the Azure Sky Sword Brigade members and Geolgae were.
“You all should head back now.”
“...Suddenly... why?”
“...Young Lord?”
“We had orders from the Family Head. To assist you, Young Lord.”
“Just go. I'll be moving with those people from the Lower Five Gates.”
The beggar, Geolgae, exploded.
“What! The Lower Five Gates! Hey, you punk. Why them when you have the Beggars' Sect?!”
The Beggars' Sect and the Lower Five Gates were essentially rivals.
Namgung Urin replied.
“You lost him. But the Lower Five Gates seems to know his location.”
“That... damn it.”
Geolgae was speechless. The Lower Five Gates had succeeded where the Beggars' Sect had failed; there was nothing he could say.
“So, you all go on ahead.”
“Be careful. Those bastards from the Lower Five Gates are like vipers.”
“It doesn't matter. Whether they're vipers or dragons.”
True.
Even the king of vipers would struggle against Namgung Urin. It would be a blessing if it didn't get eaten instead.
And so, Geolgae and the Azure Sky Sword Brigade members headed straight for Hefei. The Yeongunbang without its master... no, even with its master, it wouldn't have been a time-consuming matter.
***
Namgung Urin, along with So Hwi and Chanjo, was looking down from a distance at the pavilion where the Yeongunbang Master was expected to be staying.
So Hwi spoke first.
“That bastard. When did he gather so many mongrels?”
At the estate where the Yeongunbang Master was thought to be, about twenty martial artists were vigilantly guarding a two-story pavilion. Since it was an hour when everyone should be asleep, it was presumed that a similar number of guards were sleeping inside.
In conclusion, the scene confirmed So Hwi's belief that the Yeongunbang Master was indeed in that estate.
Chanjo also spoke.
“We were a bit late, so he had enough time.”
“True.”
So Hwi asked Namgung Urin.
“What's the plan? For the record, we won't risk our lives to help.”
So Hwi had no intention of fawning over Namgung Urin anymore. What was the point of such things when she could die at any moment?
It might be a different story if he actually saved her.
But she would cross that bridge when she came to it.
“You mean you *won't*.”
“Same difference.”
“It's different.”
“Bastard. You really hate losing, don't you? You won't concede a single word.”
“Good that you know.”
“Tch! So. What are you going to do?”
“I'll go alone.”
So Hwi and Chanjo looked at him as if he were insane.
Okay, they knew he was strong. But this was reckless.
It was difficult to even gauge the strength of those currently guarding the Yeongunbang Master. At a glance, each and every one of them looked like a sharp sword.
They definitely didn't seem like ordinary men.
Furthermore, they had no idea how many people were inside the pavilion, or how many experts there were.
On top of that, wasn't the Yeongunbang Master there too?
And yet?
He was going alone?
Unless he had a death wish, no one would say they were going in alone.
“Hey. You said you'd cure my illness, didn't you?”
She meant, who would cure her if he died?
“I said I would after this is over.”
“But if you die, it *is* over, isn't it?”
“Don't worry. That won't happen.”
“...But...”
She couldn't understand what gave him such confidence.
Just as So Hwi was about to say this was a bad idea and they should think of another way...
*Flash.*
Namgung Urin was gone.
“...That bastard... he's a complete lunatic.”
“Indeed. I didn't know the Namgung Family had someone like him.”
“He's one of a kind. Truly.”
“It's obvious he's going to die. Should we just leave?”
So Hwi glared at Chanjo.
“You idiot... If he dies, I die too.”
“Ah. Right. Then shouldn't we help a little? It really looks like he's going to die.”
“What if we die today trying to help?”
“That's also a problem.”
“Ah, fuck!”
Unable to decide, So Hwi could only curse at the night sky, taking shelter from the sudden downpour.
Meanwhile.
Aided by the rain that fell so hard it was difficult to see even a step ahead, Namgung Urin silently scaled the wall into the estate. Despite the torrential downpour, the area around the pavilion was brightly lit by numerous lanterns. But the moment Namgung Urin's feet touched the ground, every single lantern went out as if by magic.
As his mastery of the Primordial Chaos Art grew, Namgung Urin had reached a state where he could freely control water and fire.
The sources of life in the world could be said to be water, fire, and the air people breathe. And the source of these three was primordial chaos. To be able to handle primordial chaos was no different from being able to control water, fire, and air.
The estate, now with all its lights extinguished, became one with Namgung Urin's deep, dark eyes.
Amidst the fiercely driving rain, only Namgung Urin's eyes shone.
The twenty warriors guarding the pavilion where the Yeongunbang Master was staying were briefly disoriented by the suddenly extinguished lanterns, but as So Hwi had expected, these were no ordinary martial artists.
They soon calmed down, circulated their internal energy, and scanned their surroundings.
The torrential rain might have obscured the vision of others, but for them, the rain was no obstacle.
They confirmed Namgung Urin's presence in the courtyard in front of the pavilion.
The warriors exchanged glances and nodded. Five of the twenty on guard began to walk slowly toward Namgung Urin, who stood alone in the rain-soaked courtyard.
Namgung Urin lifted his head and spread his arms, welcoming the downpour with great pleasure. Although he could have avoided getting wet, he chose not to.
As a child, he had hated rainy days so much.
“This feeling...”
It was wonderful.
This refreshing coolness lashing against his face.
It felt like a consolation, telling him not to worry, for the blood he was about to shed would be quickly washed away.
Was that why?
He was welcoming this sudden downpour as if it were a cherished guest.
The five men who had started walking slowly toward Namgung Urin quickened their pace. Soon, they drew their swords and began to run, charging forward at an incredible speed.
*Splash, splash, splash!*
The five men seemed to run on water.
But Namgung Urin, still with his arms spread wide, was lost in the sensation of the fiercely falling raindrops.
One of the five men, who were rushing at an immense speed, leaped into the air.
*Whoosh!*
The water pooled on the ground splashed in all directions.
The man who had leaped high into the air instantly reached a position above Namgung Urin's head, poised to cleave him in two.
Finally, the man's sword came down, aimed to split Namgung Urin. It was faster than the lashing raindrops.
Slicing through countless raindrops, the man's sword was about to reach the crown of Namgung Urin's head.
In that instant, Namgung Urin's sword was also drawn. The speed of his draw was too fast for the eye to follow.
*CLANG!*
*Flash.*
Sword energies, infused with immense internal power, shattered from the blades and scattered in all directions.
For a moment, the area for ten feet around them lit up.
And at the same time, the man who had swung his sword at Namgung Urin was sent flying back even faster than he had leaped.
In the instant their comrade was sent flying, the four men following behind simultaneously leaped toward Namgung Urin.
At those four men, Namgung Urin unleashed the Namgung Family's palm technique, the Thousand-Mile Thunderclap.
The four men curled their lips, thinking they could easily dodge such an attack.
However.
The Thousand-Mile Thunderclap Namgung Urin had launched was not meant to hit anyone directly, but to detonate in mid-air and send the men flying with its explosive force.
A moment later, the Thousand-Mile Thunderclap exploded in the air with a tremendous roar.
*BOOM!*
Along with the massive explosion, the four men who had leaped forward were unable to withstand the force and were thrown back.
Namgung Urin did not miss that moment.
He quickly used the Lightning Flash Step, kicking off the ground hard.
*Whoosh!*
Before the four men who were flying back could hit the ground, Namgung Urin cut them all down with the Namgung Family's Falling Star Soul-Chaser Sword Art.
*Swish, swish, swish, swoosh.*
The faint groans of the dying men were drowned out by the harsh sound of the rain.
Subsequently, the man who had been thrown back first charged again, but he too was no match for Namgung Urin's sword and coughed up blood.
In that time, twenty more warriors who had been sleeping inside the pavilion rushed out, bringing the number of men blocking Namgung Urin's path to forty-five.
And the torrential rain continued to wash over Namgung Urin.