Chapter 661
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 661
Chapter Title: Will You Block Me?
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“Have you heard? The clan laws are clear, so you can't leave tomorrow.”
Jin Na-yeon bit her lip at those words spilling from Yeon Baek-pung's mouth.
Seeing that, Yeon Ha-min—who had been standing by her mother's side with a shadowed expression—snapped her head up.
Was it Yeon Baek-pung's infuriating tone that awakened her?
Or had her mother's heartbreaking sight finally stirred her?
“Then why not just go ask the clan head for permission directly?”
Yeon Ha-min stepped forward boldly and spoke up.
Her mind, which had been lost in the joy of reuniting with her mother after so long, began to spin at full speed.
“What did you say?”
Yeon Baek-pung furrowed his brow at her sudden words and actions.
“According to what Brother In-hu explained earlier, Mother needs the clan head's permission to leave the Yeon Clan—to form a branch family. But since the clan head isn't at the clan right now, we'll have no choice but to go find him ourselves.”
That meant, no matter what, they were getting out of the Yeon Clan.
Everyone in the clan knew that the current head of the Hubei Yeon Clan, Yeon Ja-kyeong, was staying at the Righteous Heaven Alliance headquarters in Luoyang.
In other words, it was a declaration of their intent to leave the clan tomorrow as planned.
The pretext had shifted.
From leaving the Yeon Clan to going to meet the clan head.
Jin Na-yeon gazed at her daughter in astonishment.
She hadn't even thought of such a solution.
The moment she heard about the clan law requiring the clan head's permission, she had unconsciously given up.
She was certain the clan head would never approve.
But Yeon Ha-min was thinking this was actually perfect.
Now that she was using her head.
After all, wasn't Corps Leader Ha Mu-baek right there with them?
They didn't know.
What divine feat Ha Mu-baek had displayed in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
They might not know, but the clan head at the Righteous Heaven Alliance headquarters? Yeon Ja-kyeong?
Would he really be unaware?
That man?
He wasn't the type to ignore all the information and rumors swirling around the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
So he must know.
In that case, sending a messenger pigeon here asking Yeon Baek-pung to request permission on their behalf was far inferior to going directly.
With the corps leader accompanying them, it would put direct pressure on the clan head.
Of course, since he had mentioned needing to head somewhere else regarding Seol Ran, they planned to move as quickly as possible.
At Yeon Ha-min's unexpected response, Yeon Baek-pung's gaze naturally turned to his son, Yeon In-hu.
Yeon In-hu wore an expression that said he hadn't anticipated this either.
He'd been caught off guard.
For now, they needed to buy time.
“Do you think you can just barge in and meet the clan head whenever you want? There are procedures and laws even for official matters. The first step is to inquire about the clan head's will on this.”
That was also a valid point.
There was no helping it.
“Then please convey our intent to visit to the clan head as soon as possible.”
At Yeon Ha-min's request, Yeon In-hu glanced back at Yeon Baek-pung.
For he was the one with the authority to do so.
Yeon In-hu's look toward his father said it all.
This was as far as he could go under the pretext.
Yeon Baek-pung gritted his teeth, clearly displeased.
And then he spoke.
“We'll send a messenger pigeon to the Righteous Heaven Alliance immediately. Come back tomorrow evening for the reply, Jin Na-yeon.”
His eyes blazed with fury as he glared at Jin Na-yeon, then turned and walked away.
As he departed empty-handed, an intense desire burned fiercely in his eyes.
'No choice now. This is all your own doing, you wench.'
It wasn't just deep in his chest.
His entire chest burned with raging lust for Jin Na-yeon.
Early dawn.
A Thousand-Li Black Pigeon—used only for urgent matters—landed at Yeon Ja-kyeong's residence in the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
Yeon Ja-kyeong frowned upon seeing it.
It had only been a few days since the last one.
Regarding Yeon Ha-min's issue.
Unfurling the message, sure enough, this one was about Yeon Ha-min too.
“Sharp mind, as expected.”
Requesting permission for a branch family directly from him meant they were determined to escape the clan no matter what.
The third son must have blocked them, so they needed a pretext to leave.
And the reason Yeon Ha-min was so bold and brazen in requesting a meeting with him was surely because she had backing.
“Ha Mu-baek is behind her...”
He chuckled, but his expression was that of a vicious demon.
Ultimately, it meant placing Ha Mu-baek above Yeon Ja-kyeong himself.
And the reality was, he couldn't shatter that intent.
He had no choice but to yield, even knowing full well.
It was an undeniable fact that he couldn't handle Ha Mu-baek right now.
He'd even created the Mountain-Scattering Poison for it.
But that had been a wasted effort too.
“Now's the time, just now.”
Yeon Ja-kyeong muttered while suppressing his rage.
“If you're going to use Ha Mu-baek, then I'll use that bastard this time too.”
The Supreme Poison Master.
He decided to borrow that man's hand to clean up the Yeon Clan.
Clean up the clan, create clan achievements to rally the clan members' strength.
The best way to unify internally was always an external enemy, after all.
With that, he quickly wrote a reply and sent off the pigeon.
A single short phrase.
-Approved.
That was the entire response.
“Mother, you absolutely cannot go alone.”
A day had passed before they knew it.
The reply had come from Luoyang, and someone from the clan head's quarters arrived to say they should come hear it.
As Jin Na-yeon moved to go, Yeon Ha-min grabbed her.
They could have just informed them whether permission for the visit was granted, but they insisted on coming in person.
It was proof of Yeon Baek-pung's sinister intentions.
Obvious as it was.
That's why Yeon Ha-min was blocking her from going alone.
Yeon Ha-min looked to Yeon Gong-hu with pleading eyes.
“Ha-min is right.”
Yeon Gong-hu backed her up.
“They said it's fine if you all come together.”
The messenger sent by Yeon Baek-pung spoke indifferently, as if it didn't matter.
At that, Yeon Ha-min and Yeon Gong-hu flanked Jin Na-yeon on either side.
Ha Mu-baek watched the scene calmly with his disciples.
“Then we'll be off, Corps Leader.”
Yeon Ha-min gave a slight bow.
As an outsider and guest, he could only stand by.
And so the three headed to the clan head's quarters.
The guide leading them ahead couldn't help feeling envious of Jin Na-yeon, whose face was veiled with silk.
She had two peak-level martial artists as escorts.
It was common knowledge in the clan that Yeon Gong-hu had reached the peak realm.
And rumors were already spreading through the clan about how Yeon Ha-min had manifested sword aura last night.
As a result, some elders were even saying they should recognize her as a true Yeon Clan member.
Until now, Yeon Ha-min's position had been publicly seen as little more than a tool for political marriage.
But if she had such exceptional martial talent, that changed everything.
Upon arriving at the clan head's quarters, as Yeon Gong-hu familiarly headed for the stairs to the upper floor...
“This way.”
The guide led them to the grand hall on the first floor instead.
Yeon Gong-hu tilted his head in puzzlement as he followed.
The first-floor grand hall was only used for major clan meetings.
For something like this, the young clan head's office should have sufficed, so why the grand hall?
Yeon Gong-hu tried to signal Yeon Ha-min, but she already had her hand near her sword hilt.
Ready to draw at any moment.
At the grand hall entrance, the clan's chief steward was waiting.
He gazed at the three impassively.
No—beneath that impassive gaze lay deep contempt toward Jin Na-yeon and Yeon Ha-min.
Not a true Yeon, yet he valued the Yeon bloodline more than anyone.
Go Gwang-un.
The head of the vassal Go Clan, who had served as chief steward for generations.
The moment Yeon Gong-hu saw him, he flinched.
He hadn't expected this man, who rarely showed himself, to be waiting here.
'I should have asked Brother Ha to come along...'
Yeon Gong-hu couldn't deny his own carelessness.
Yeon Ha-min might not know, but the chief steward was a terrifying figure.
The transcendent-realm expert with absolute loyalty to the Yeon Clan—that was Go Gwang-un.
He hadn't been seen much since Yeon Baek-pung became acting young clan head.
Yet here he was, guarding the grand hall.
And about to join them in meeting Yeon Baek-pung, no less.
“I'll guide you from here.”
With a slight bow, he opened the grand hall doors and led them inside.
[Be careful. Chief Steward Go is a transcendent expert.]
Yeon Ha-min flinched at Yeon Gong-hu's sudden sound transmission.
Her gaze shifted to the sword at his waist.
She knew of Chief Steward Go, but hadn't realized he was such a high-realm master.
At the deepest and highest point in the grand hall sat a massive throne.
The clan head's seat—yet Yeon Baek-pung occupied it now.
He looked down at the three with arrogant eyes.
The chief steward led them before Yeon Baek-pung.
Then stopped a few steps from the elevated platform where the throne stood.
“You two stop here.”
Go Gwang-un said lowly to Yeon Ha-min and Yeon Gong-hu.
They gauged the distance from their spot to the throne.
A single leap would cover it in an instant.
If not for the chief steward's interference.
They wanted to move together, but he wouldn't allow it.
As the clan's chief steward and a transcendent expert, breaking past him wouldn't be easy, so they had no choice but to halt for now.
“Madam, please ascend this way.”
He guided Jin Na-yeon to the stairs leading to the platform.
At that moment.
Yeon Ha-min and Yeon Gong-hu channeled their inner energy to its limit.
Yeon Gong-hu's position was right beside Chief Steward Go.
In case of emergency, he'd take on the steward.
It was absurd to think Yeon Ha-min could handle a transcendent expert.
[If anything happens, go straight to Mother. I'll handle Chief Steward Go.]
Yeon Ha-min gave a small nod at Yeon Gong-hu's second transmission.
She didn't know his exact level, but now was the time to trust and follow her brother.
Everything was for her mother's safety.
Yeon Ha-min relaxed her body for the quickest launch, her hand poised for an instant draw.
Preparations complete.
Her sharp eyes pierced Yeon Baek-pung and Go Gwang-un.
“Has the reply come?”
Jin Na-yeon asked from one step below the throne, and Yeon Baek-pung nodded.
“Approved. That's the entire reply.”
Yeon Baek-pung spoke calmly.
Utterly serene, unlike his demeanor yesterday.
“Ah... Aah.”
As the thrilled gasp escaped her at the news of leaving the Yeon Clan.
Yeon Baek-pung remained seated on the throne.
And opened his mouth again.
“Father approved, but I'm not letting you go that easily.”
Unlike his prior calm, his voice dripped with thick lust.
The instant those words were heard.
Ching! Ching!
Yeon Ha-min and Yeon Gong-hu drew their swords and charged at full speed toward Yeon Baek-pung.
Bam!
Yeon Gong-hu's attempt was blocked by Chief Steward Go's sword.
However, even Go Gwang-un failed.
He had intended to stop both with a single sword.
But Yeon Gong-hu's sword exceeded his expectations, so he couldn't block Yeon Ha-min too.
Rumble...
At that moment, the grand hall shook violently.
Something caused a change in the hall.
Creak.
The platform with the throne sank straight into the floor.
It was the very instant Yeon Ha-min's foot touched the platform.
The platform vanished in a flash, replaced by a solid iron door.
Not even Yeon Gong-hu had known of such a trap mechanism in the clan head's grand hall.
The important thing was they had to pursue immediately.
But Chief Steward Go stood loftily before Yeon Gong-hu, sword in hand.
“Will you block me?”
At Yeon Gong-hu's question.
“Of course.”
Go Gwang-un replied calmly.
In that instant.
A terrifying killing intent exploded from Yeon Gong-hu's body.