Chapter 163
Chapter 163
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: The Trap Closes
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Though he suddenly heard curses hurled his way and his face twisted in response,
Namgung Cheon-hu's reaction remained composed.
"You dog bastard. Are you referring to me, your Young Clan Leader, Baek Yang-hui?"
In stark contrast, Yang-hui raised his voice even higher and began pointing accusingly.
"Is there anyone else here who fits that description besides you?"
It was an insult too severe for the Young Clan Leader of the Great Namgung Clan to endure.
Especially since it even demeaned the Clan Leader himself.
The Soaring Heaven Sword Squad members seated around them unleashed sharp killing intent, each thumbing the hilt of their swords.
A silent warning that they would draw and strike if he continued speaking.
But Yang-hui paid it no mind.
Instead, he brazenly countered their killing intent with his own and drew his sword first.
As if rage had boiled over to the top of his head, causing him to lose all composure.
"I'm sick of your schemes, Namgung Cheon-hu! You filthy dog!"
Ching! Ching! Ching! Ching! Ching!
Amid the flashing blades of ten swords, only Namgung Cheon-hu refrained from drawing his.
He quietly scanned the surroundings before posing a brief question.
"Did you come alone?"
"What, planning a murder and annihilation? That's just your style."
Several Soaring Heaven Sword Squad members took a step toward Yang-hui.
Namgung Cheon-hu extended his hand to restrain his subordinates.
"You're misunderstanding. I'm merely curious why the great young master of the Baek Clan would seek us out in the dead of night. Alone, no less."
"Ha!"
Yang-hui let out an incredulous laugh before continuing.
"You think I wouldn't know you've joined hands with the Hyeong Mountain Yin Blood?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Are you slandering your Young Clan Leader right now?"
Yang-hui's entire body trembled with fury.
His eyes bloodshot with rage. His emotions erupted through his voice.
"Today... hundreds of black faction scum stormed our main house. We suffered unspeakable damage! All because of you!"
He showed no outward sign, but upon hearing that enraged shout, Namgung Cheon-hu felt immense satisfaction.
'The fact that he's come all the way here means they've won. I succeeded in inflicting serious damage.'
A partial victory, but the first fruit borne since arriving in Gangseo.
He had steeled himself for tarnishing his reputation upon coming to Gangseo, yet every plan had failed.
'Baek Yang-hui. Baek Yang-hui.'
The man who always carried himself with the unshakable confidence of inevitable victory.
Now, that same man was losing control, swept up in surging emotions.
Even suspecting the Namgung Clan of espionage, he had come here alone, bereft of composure.
'If I kill him now. I can uproot a massive future threat.'
Not long ago, Namgung Cheon-hu had sworn it.
Even if it meant staining his entire body with ink, he would end Baek Yang-hui's life.
'But I need to confirm a bit more.'
With no intelligence network, he couldn't grasp the Baek Clan's current situation.
It seemed unlikely, but... with this guy, even this could be an act.
"You seem agitated, so I'll overlook the rudeness. Baek Yang-hui. What do you mean the Baek Clan suffered because of me, your Young Clan Leader?"
"Don't deny it!"
"Hmm, I still don't understand what you're saying."
"Namgung Cheon-huuu!"
Namgung Cheon-hu deliberately let a faint sneer play across his face.
At the same time, he reviewed Yang-hui's reactions from the beginning until now.
'He spewed profanities at me. That means he's convinced of my collusion.'
This was a man who always laced his speech and demeanor with respect for the Namgung Clan's Young Clan Leader, whether sincere or not.
For such a man to suddenly unleash curses.
-Namgung Seong-il. Send three men to scout if anyone else is nearby.
-Understood.
He issued the telepathic order and posed a question.
"Baek Yang-hui. First, tell me this. What on earth makes you think I've colluded with the black factions?"
"Ha! There are dozens of reasons!"
Upon hearing Yang-hui's subsequent words, Namgung Cheon-hu became certain of one thing.
'All circumstantial evidence and suspicions. Not a single piece of proof to substantiate the collusion.'
The flimsy claims from a mere Baek Clan upstart couldn't override the lofty authority of the Namgung Clan.
And the Baek Yang-hui he knew wasn't one to pull such a foolish stunt without decisive evidence.
In other words, it was far more likely he had lost his cool and was swept up in emotion.
"Fine, let's say that's true. Then you've walked right into the grasp of the enemy you accuse me of colluding with. Aren't you afraid of murder and annihilation?"
"Heh, senile and stupid at your age. Then go ahead and kill me."
"Oh? You think your Young Clan Leader can't?"
"I told the clan members I was coming to meet you, Namgung Cheon-hu."
Suddenly, Namgung Cheon-hu felt a thrill of excitement.
No way, no way, really?
Did he really leave such a warning as insurance?
"You, Namgung Cheon-hu, would never reveal your dirty intentions. Murder and annihilation? Try it."
To Namgung Cheon-hu, Baek Yang-hui appeared to be defying him with absolute confidence that he wouldn't be killed.
'His attitude... is the same as always.'
The demeanor of a man uncannily skilled at reading and exploiting others.
Arrogant self-assurance that knew no bounds.
The only difference was that his confidence was a miscalculation.
-Young Clan Leader. No one within ten li of the area.
-I see. Understood.
He wasn't acting to create witnesses.
Thus, whether the man intended it or was simply blundering no longer mattered.
'Haha, this easily? An opportunity to kill him falls into my lap?'
The months spent in Gangseo. From what he'd gauged, the Baek Clan's driving force was entirely Baek Yang-hui.
In other words, kill him,
and all failures would vanish like bubbles.
'No. Once more.'
The humiliations suffered at Baek Yang-hui's hands raised his final guard.
Namgung Cheon-hu retraced Baek Yang-hui's every attitude and word from start to finish.
Then he was convinced.
'Killing him today will cause no issues.'
Unless a renowned orthodox master of a great sect comparable to Namgung suddenly appeared—one at peak realm, no less, skilled enough to fool the eyes of multiple absolute experts.
-Yes, kill him. No repercussions.
He told his clansmen he was coming?
Baek Yang-hui died en route here from a black faction ambush.
That would be the story.
-Kill him. To claim what's yours wholly. Kill all who seek to stand above you!
In that instant, his younger brother Namgung Cheon-yeong's face overlapped with Baek Yang-hui's.
-Kill.
-I will kill.
Everything learned since birth was for the sake of possession.
How could there be hesitation in wielding what he had learned?
-I will kill.
'I will kill.'
Darkness welled up in Namgung Cheon-hu's spirit.
He didn't realize it himself, but it was darkness originating from outside.
He lifted his head to gaze at Baek Yang-hui, at his brother Namgung Cheon-yeong.
'Father wanted me to tarnish myself for the clan.'
Those near ink grow black. Thus, the Clan Leader deserved no blame.
'I will kill.'
The Soaring Heaven Sword Squad members, receiving the telepathic command, spread out an encirclement.
Only then did Namgung Cheon-hu look at Baek Yang-hui—whose face now showed anxiety and fear—and grin ear to ear.
His next words needed no elaboration.
A future Namgung Clan Leader's tongue should be swift, after all.
"Fine, you were right about everything. So die."
The ten Soaring Heaven Sword Squad members simultaneously unleashed their sword qi.
'No matter how genius you are, you're still just a sprout.'
A monstrous sprout that had reached the absolute realm, but still a sprout.
A fragile existence that could be crushed.
"Namgung Cheon-hu! Don't do something you'll regret!"
"Hahaha! Regret!"
He wouldn't commit such folly.
His hands were already stained with ink.
'I want to savor his end... as long as possible.'
"Kill him swiftly."
A dangerous foe. Namgung Cheon-hu hunted Baek Yang-hui without a shred of carelessness to the end.
About half a shichen passed like that.
"Impressive. Holding out this long alone, and in an exhausted state no less."
"Hah... hah..."
"Won't you activate your latent power?"
"......"
"Ah, I see. You already did so before coming."
This guy's innate true qi recovery was abnormally fast.
But even for him, attempting latent power activation twice in a day seemed impossible.
"I'll finish you myself. Die, Baek Yang-hui."
Namgung Cheon-hu raised his sword high.
The Great Namgung Clan's ultimate art, the sword qi of Soaring Palace Without Obstacles, dyed the blade.
The moment he swung it down.
A chill ran through him!
Baek Yang-hui, head thrown back, had a glint of amusement in his eyes.
At the same time, Namgung Cheon-hu realized someone had appeared before him.
"Amitabha. Amitabha."
A middle-aged monk chanting the Buddha's name sorrowfully with eyes closed.
As Namgung Cheon-hu, who had handled clan duties as Young Clan Leader, he recognized the man immediately.
Disciple of the Shaolin Abbot and elder handling external affairs for Shaolin's Benevolent Guardians.
Righteous Mind Arhat Beop-gak.
'Heavens. Are you truly abandoning me?'
Namgung Cheon-hu simply closed his eyes.
Of all days, why today? Why a Shaolin elder here?
'Baek Yang-hui. Your shadow work.'
But even so.
Heaven's fortune.
Favoring not him, but the opponent.
'I see. So you possess not just talent, but heaven's fortune as well.'
The darkness deepened.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The perennial problem in dealing with Namgung Cheon-hu had always been evidence.
'He's definitely colluded with the Hyeong Mountain Yin Blood.'
Chui-dal had even stolen a glimpse of the letter, so that much was certain.
The issue was that it amounted only to circumstantial evidence and suspicion.
'The raid warning letter was the closest thing to hard proof. But without proving it came from Namgung Cheon-hu's quarters, it's useless as evidence.'
It was enough to drive one mad.
He was undoubtedly colluding, yet unable to expose it.
Publicly accusing him rashly would invite backlash from the Namgung Clan's prestige.
Thus, Yang-hui had reset the board.
'No evidence? Then create a witness.'
One the Namgung Clan couldn't bury, objective enough for anyone to see.
'I originally planned to ask Uncle Yi-suk.'
The moment he learned of the raid three days hence, he had dispatched a messenger bird to the Jeonmyeong Clan.
Jeonmyeong Seol-ha was likely out now greeting Jeonmyeong Seon, who should be rushing over.
However, they hadn't arrived in time; no word yet.
Then, one man appeared amid it all.
Shaolin Abbot's disciple and elder, Beop-gak.
'Perfect as a witness. Far more objective than Uncle Jeonmyeong.'
Yang-hui smirked, lifting the corner of his mouth as he gazed at Namgung Cheon-hu.
"Finally... it's over."
"......"
"It was a long road, Namgung Cheon-hu."
Relief washed over him. Like gulping down a large bowl of cool water after a throat parched dry.
As Yang-hui savored that sentiment, Beop-gak's telepathic message imprinted itself in the minds of everyone present.
🔔 Telepathic Message 🔔 "Amitabha." "This monk is Beop-gak of Shaolin." "The Namgung Clan has committed deeds they should not." "As one who follows the righteous path, I could not stand idly by and intervened." "Did the Namgung Clan truly collude with ink-stained villains to persecute the orthodox way, and even attempt to murder this young man when that wasn't enough?"