Chapter 89 : The Shadow Cast

Chapter 89: The Shadow Cast

"How is Hwangbo Geon doing."

Namgung Myeong sipped his tea and spoke to the man seated across from him in private conversation.

The middle-aged man, seated respectfully beneath Namgung Myeong who occupied the clan head’s seat in the Clan Head’s Chamber, answered with utmost courtesy.

"Though he writhes from the aftereffects of his shattered dantian, he has kept his mouth shut to the end."

The man’s temples were flecked with gray, showing the years he had lived.

But the impression he gave was like that of a wolf hiding its fangs, still shooting forth an icy, piercing gaze.

This was none other than the Blood Wolf of the Azure Sky, Namgung Taeyun—second-in-command of the Namgung Clan and the man who held Namgung Myeong’s unwavering trust.

"He is not keeping his loyalty to me in this situation."

"Indeed. He must know for himself that the only thread left for him to cling to is you, Clan Head."

At Namgung Taeyun’s words, Namgung Myeong set his teacup down and continued.

"I expected that the fool, cornered, would wag his tongue recklessly. Yet even a lacking man seems to bring forth hidden wit in the final moment."

In truth, much of what Hwangbo Geon had done in the Kaifeng Blood Massacre was tied to the Namgung Clan as well.

But still, Hwangbo Geon never opened his mouth.

Because he believed that even if he did not survive, Namgung Myeong and the Namgung Clan would protect his family.

"Before long, his execution will take place. Until then, coax him properly and make sure he keeps his mouth shut through the dungeon’s gatekeeper."

"As you command."

But in truth, Namgung Myeong had no intention of saving the Hwangbo Clan at all.

At that moment, a sharp gleam of greed rose in Namgung Myeong’s eyes.

"What became of the wealth and interests they held?"

"A subsidiary branch of Namgung in Qinan had one of their sects take the lead and succeeded in seizing all of Hwangbo’s financial routes. Now, all that remains to Hwangbo is an empty manor."

"They only enjoyed those gains because we deigned to shelter the likes of the Hwangbo. To take them back is only right—they cannot resent it."

"Yes. With this, not only do we plant Namgung’s banner in Shandong, but we also stand to gain at least thirty percent more than the clan’s projected total earnings this year."

Tak.

Namgung Myeong set his teacup down.

"Too little."

"…Pardon?"

"It is far less than I expected. There must be hidden vaults beyond what is known."

"Ah."

"After the Kaifeng incident, abduct those whose movements have been suspicious and force the truth from them. We can extract more than double."

"At once!"

In chaotic times, the Namgung Clan moved swifter than any other.

And instead of suffering from crisis, they turned it into opportunity.

They stripped the Hwangbo Clan of all their wealth and made it Namgung’s own.

‘…Truly terrifying.’

And all of this began from the man before him.

Namgung Taeyun trembled with awe.

The Sword Emperor Yoo Jinhak lacked a gift his own lord possessed.

"Having cut off a useless slave and even made the unyielding Shaolin bend into this hand—how can this not be Heaven’s will for me?"

"Those are fitting words!"

The very talent of an "Emperor," one who would tower above all.

Namgung Taeyun was certain: the man who would soon ascend to the throne of Murim’s supreme sovereign was none other than Namgung Myeong.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, a voice called from outside.

"Clan Head, this Young Master has come to see you."

"Baek?"

As soon as Namgung Myeong permitted entry, the door of the Clan Head’s Chamber opened and a man with a lofty, imposing spirit appeared.

Seemingly in his mid-twenties, he immediately bowed deeply before Namgung Myeong.

"…This son, Namgung Baek, greets the Clan Head."

In the jianghu, his name was spoken as the foremost of the young successors.

He was the successor to the Sword Dragon of Mount Hua from the previous generation—now known as the Thunder Dragon of Swords.

And due to an unexpected accident, he had become the Namgung Clan’s sole heir.

Namgung Myeong’s eyes flashed with surprise at the sudden visit from his second son.

"Ho, you have broken through the wall of Supreme Peak."

"…Yes, Father."

"At the same age, the same achievement as I. You have worked hard."

"…Father, I beg forgiveness for the discourtesy, but I came because I have urgent words to speak."

"Hmm?"

A flicker of suspicion passed through Namgung Myeong’s eyes.

For Namgung Baek, who usually observed etiquette excessively, had skipped formalities and spoken directly of his purpose.

Sensing the seriousness, Namgung Taeyun saluted and withdrew, dispersing the guards stationed outside as well.

Now, with only the two of them left, Namgung Myeong spoke.

"What is it?"

Namgung Baek then revealed a shocking truth.

"…The death reports of Elder Brother and Sister were fabricated."

"The coroner discovered traces of demonic arts entirely different from the martial arts of the Blood Sea Dragon King, but those traces were covered up by someone."

The bodies of Namgung Jun and Namgung Hoyeon had first been delivered to the Namgung Clan, not the Murim Alliance.

This was because Namgung Myeong had declared that no outsider would lay a blade upon his children’s corpses.

Thus, an in-house coroner had completed the autopsy before the report was forwarded to the Alliance.

If Namgung Baek’s words were true, then this was a crime on par with Hwangbo Geon’s case.

Recognizing the gravity, Namgung Baek had rushed here the moment he realized it.

"This is proof that the claims of the Demonic Alliance were not lies. We must swiftly root out the spy who infiltrated the clan, contact the Alliance, and quickly resolve the misunderstanding between orthodox and unorthodox…"

"There is no need."

"…Pardon?"

Namgung Myeong spoke with finality.

At his father’s unexpected reply, Namgung Baek was stunned.

In a flat, emotionless voice, Namgung Myeong spoke.

"I already know."

"How could I not know what you know?"

"F-Father? Then why, why would you—?"

Already knew everything?

Namgung Baek trembled in dread.

"Do you know why Namgung has never stood above Wudang?"

“Pardon?”

“It was because the era in which I stood was an age of peace.”

“T-That is—!”

“But!!”

At once, Namgung Myeong shouted loudly.

A rapt expression had come over his face.

“Finally, that era came to an end!”

“My son. Whether the Demonic Alliance is the enemy, or the lackeys hiding in the dark are the enemy, that matters not a whit.”

“What is important is that the golden opportunity to forge the order of the new age has come into our hands! No — into my hands!”

Namgung Baek’s face was stricken with shock.

No wonder he was stunned.

He had seen his father’s true nature for the first time.

If the split between orthodox and unorthodox intensified as it was now, the blood that would flow through the jianghu in days to come could not be guessed.

And yet his father called that very thing an opportunity without hesitation.

“Tomorrow you will ascend to the position of Young Clan Head.”

“F-Father! My elder brother’s and sister’s ancestral rites are not yet finished.”

“They were bound to be left behind anyway. This will suffice to soothe their spirits.”

“Father!!”

“The jianghu will change, and the order will be newly written!!”

Swaaah!!

Kurrrr!

At that moment, an overwhelming, untouchable aura surged from Namgung Myeong’s whole body like a tide.

An absolute sovereign’s qi, hot on the heels of the Sword Emperor’s, filled the room.

Thud.

‘Guhk!!’

Namgung Baek sank to one knee.

No matter that Namgung Baek had reached Supreme Peak, the gap in power in that place was such that he could not properly endure it.

Then Namgung Myeong murmured in a low voice.

“That new order will be forged not by Wudang or the like, but by us Namgung. Should anyone dare obstruct my great undertaking, even if it is my only remaining child……”

Looking upon the father possessed by madness, Namgung Baek’s eyes were painted with shock and terror.

“They must be prepared to lose everything.”

At the same time.

The Blood Cult’s main hall.

“Ha, so the conclusion is that Baek Yacha really did die.”

Elder of the Eights, Yo Uirim, said with a look of disbelief.

“Tch, what a fool. I knew the moment that bug started acting recklessly.”

“Amitabha. The one who could not even carry out the Cult Leader’s simple order deserved to die.”

When the Seventh Elder Sura Ssanggwa clicked his tongue and spoke, Fifth Elder Sa Bul rolled his prayer beads and casually spat curses.

Once more, five elders were holding a meeting for their master, who lay in a brief sleep.

“Hmm, yet again the Tang Clan’s name arises.”

At that instant, Chief Elder Gui Yeong shook his head as if pained and spoke.

“What does the Vice-Cult Leader think?”

“The Tang Clan is not the problem.”

To the question, the Sword Demon Jo Yangpung answered in a chill voice.

“It is Tang Sewoon. That man is the problem.”

At the mention of Tang Sewoon’s name, a killing light gleamed in the elders’ eyes.

During the last Poison Demon incident they had dismissed it as an accident caused by Yelü Sheng’s weak skill and carelessness.

But the thing that had ultimately rendered the Kaifeng Blood Massacre only a half-finished “failure” was overwhelmingly the result of Tang Sewoon’s actions.

“Tch, a talent of the Divine Body, huh. I hadn’t expected it — a filthy nuisance of power.”

“Catching the Poison Demon was no fluke then……”

“Amitabha. Rumor even says he didn’t refuse the Alliance Leader’s disciple offer; he accepted it in secret and is currently training under them.”

“If he continues to be an obstacle to our grand plan, wouldn’t it be better to kill him at once?”

“That has become difficult.”

“What?”

When Sura Ssanggwa scattered murderous intent and spoke, Gui Yeong answered firmly.

“If the truth of this incident spreads through the jianghu, that man becomes a hero. A clumsy assassination now would turn into poison for us.”

“That brat’s death wouldn’t be—!”

“If his death provoked a massive Murim Alliance investigation, the cult’s tail could be exposed.”

“Our success in what we gained from the Demonic Alliance could be tarnished.”

Unlike the Murim Alliance, the Demonic Alliance’s operations had succeeded perfectly.

They had not caused losses on the scale of the Kaifeng Blood Massacre, but—

They had secured a lackey who could cause damage greater than any of Hyeolla-Do’s poisons later on.

They had obtained vast war funds for future conflict.

They had, amid the chaos, spread darkness to take root within the cracks.

If such successes could be rendered meaningless, prudence was called for.

Sura Ssanggwa, who had been troubled by Gui Yeong’s words, clicked his tongue in regret.

“Tch, the runt suddenly turned into a heavyweight.”

“Well, he used his innate True Qi to the extreme in the fight with the Poison Demon before and now as well. Even if left be, his death would not be far off.”

“That is true. The vanity’s substance is an insect who couldn’t even reach Transformation Realm, who barely won by gambling his Divine Artifact’s power and innate qi.”

Sword Demon Jo Yangpung continued.

“What matters to us now is to further foment the split between orthodox and unorthodox, and to ultimately drive them into full-scale war.”

In an instant, every elder’s gaze fixed on Jo Yangpung.

What he meant by war was clear.

The Great War between the Orthodox and Unorthodox.

“If the three elders stationed in the Central Plains and the Outer Regions take action, and the second great plan is executed……”

The moment Jo Yangpung finished, a horrible malicious qi rose from all the elders.

“In that massive flow of blood, that kind of bastard will be crushed to death.”