The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 136

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 136

Martial Arts Alliance Master’s Hall, Hwajongdang.

From early morning, elders bustled in at the Alliance Leader’s summons.

The atmosphere was heavy beyond measure due to the tragic news they had heard on their way.

Due to the nature of the incident, Dang Cheol-woo, Namgung Cheon, and Moryong Gil attended the meeting alongside the elders.

They sat at opposite ends as if taking sides.

Once everyone was seated, Alliance Leader Yeon Un-jang spoke.

“You must have all heard already. Last night, Hwangbo Un, the second son of the Hwangbo Family, took his own life.”

“Amitabha.”

At the sorrowful news, Master Gong Myeong closed his eyes and chanted a Buddhist prayer.

“Are you certain it was suicide?”

“Yes.”

To one elder’s question, Chief Strategist Jegal Mun-gi nodded and replied.

“This is the will he left behind.”

Jegal Mun-gi handed the will to Yeon Un-jang.

“And this is the statement recorded at Jipbeopdang yesterday.”

Yeon Un-jang spread them side by side and examined them alternately.

He could quickly see that the comparison showed no significant differences.

The core of both the will and statement was one thing.

That his testimony about Dang Yeong-ryeong, who had been the leader of the Dark Four 17 years ago, was false.

There was no other noteworthy content.

When questioned about why he gave false testimony, he chose silence.

‘Hwangbo Sik.’

Yeon Un-jang thought of him, the Supreme Family Head of the Hwangbo Family and Hwangbo Un’s father.

According to Jegal Mun-gi’s report before the meeting, he had visited Jipbeopdang yesterday to meet his son Hwangbo Un.

‘And then he committed suicide…’

Yeon Un-jang’s gaze turned to Namgung Cheon, who was talking with Moryong Gil.

He and Hwangbo Sik were close friends who called each other brothers.

Just like Bang Il-gi, who had been the master of Geommyeong Mountain Manor.

‘Foolish man.’

When their eyes met, Namgung Cheon raised his eyebrows as if asking what was wrong.

Yeon Un-jang’s eyes narrowed.

There was no evidence.

Only circumstances suggested it.

“Show it to the elders as well.”

At Yeon Un-jang’s command, Jegal Mun-gi circulated the will and statement around the meeting table.

Looking at them, the elders each let out sighs.

“Huh!”

“Amitabha.”

“What a tragedy!”

“How pitiful.”

When the documents made a full circle and returned to Jegal Mun-gi, Yeon Un-jang gave him a look.

It meant to quietly wrap things up.

“Hwangbo Un, who was a key witness in the past Geommyeong Mountain Manor massacre case, has confessed in good conscience that his testimony about former Dark Four leader Dang Yeong-ryeong was false. As you confirmed through the attached documents in the statement, it is a handwritten document created without any coercion, and the witness’s signature proves this.”

Jegal Mun-gi paused to catch his breath and looked around the assembly.

“For reference, this Alliance made efforts to find the other witnesses who came forward at that time, but our investigation found that they have all died.”

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

“Good heavens! What in the world…”

“Amitabha.”

“Therefore, we wish to declare Dang Yeong-ryeong innocent. Are there any objections?”

As soon as Jegal Mun-gi finished speaking, gazes naturally focused on Dang Cheol-woo and Namgung Cheon.

Jegal Mun-gi also watched them closely.

Though their expressions were completely unreadable, they raised no particular objections.

“If there are none, we will confirm Dang Yeong-ryeong’s innocence.”

It was the moment Dang Yeong-ryeong’s name was deleted from the Martial Arts Alliance’s criminal records.

“This is truly a most regrettable matter.”

Then, as if he had been waiting, Namgung Cheon spoke with grief.

“The deceased Hwangbo Un was my nephew-in-law in private. That the child should end his life so meaninglessly – I cannot contain my sorrow!”

Namgung Cheon glared at Dang Cheol-woo defiantly as he continued.

“Though I must withdraw like this for now, I swear I will reveal the truth and achieve revenge for Hwangbo Un and Geommyeong Mountain Manor!”

Namgung Cheon’s will was firm and resolute.

“Your shamelessness truly knows no bounds.”

Dang Cheol-woo did not hold back either.

“Kindness tenfold, grudges a hundredfold. The Sichuan Tang School will also surely find and punish the culprit!”

The cold gazes of Dang Cheol-woo and Namgung Cheon crossed in midair.

The air in Hwajongdang instantly filled with tension like a taut bowstring.

“Hmph!”

At that, Namgung Cheon snorted and stood up.

“Alliance Leader, I shall withdraw for today. I’ll visit you once before returning to my family home.”

Namgung Cheon bowed with cupped fists to Yeon Un-jang and leisurely left Hwajongdang with his robes fluttering.

Moryong Gil quickly followed behind him.

A corner of the courtyard in front of the Alliance Leader’s hall.

I stood holding Grandmother’s hand tightly.

“Grandmother, don’t worry. Everything will be fine. You know that, right?”

“This old woman is fine.”

What do you mean fine?

After what happened to Uncle Hwangbo Un, it seems like your mind has gone on a little trip.

“Now, Lady Shin Geum. Look at me.”

I raised both hands above my shoulders and pretended to exhale deeply, then gently lowered them.

“Grandmother, try it too. Whoo— whoo— okay?”

“What’s that? Feeding cattle?”

…Grandmother, you’re making jokes at a time like this?

Not appreciating your granddaughter’s tearful efforts.

But today I’ll be patient.

Because our grandmother’s heart must be aching.

‘By the way, when will the meeting end?’

With Hwangbo Un’s will, Grandmother’s innocent verdict would be unavoidable.

The problem was Namgung and Moyong.

If he had just left one word saying he was ordered by them, they could have started an investigation, but he left no words about that at all.

‘He did it intentionally.’

To protect the Hwangbo Family.

‘Sigh!’

Frustrating, so frustrating!

This can’t end so unsatisfyingly like this.

I desperately need a bowl of refreshing resolution!

“Oh? They’re coming out!”

“It’s Sword Saint Namgung!”

How could I strike back at those bastards?

It was just as I was agonizing over this.

When the doors of Hwajongdang opened in the distance, the murmuring of the gathered crowd grew louder.

Even among the elders walking out one by one, Namgung Cheon’s presence was remarkable.

He walked with dignity and lightly raised his hand toward the people.

“How did it go?”

Someone shouted and asked.

Then Namgung Cheon stopped walking and raised his voice to answer.

“This Namgung will swear before all of you!”

Is that what they call the bearing of a great man?

If I had seen him without knowing his true nature, I might have genuinely admired him.

That old geezer must have attended acting school – his pretense was absolutely first-rate.

“The injustice of Sword Cry Manor, massacred by the hands of a fiend…”

That, that crazy old man!

Why is our grandmother looking at him?

“My sworn brother’s second son, Hwangbo, who was unjustly driven to suicide…”

He sure loves his sworn brothers.

Uncle Hwangbo Un must be grinding his teeth in the afterlife!

“Brother!”

‘Huh? Who?’

Some elderly man suddenly appeared from somewhere and called out to Namgung Cheon.

“Sworn brother.”

Namgung Cheon welcomed him warmly, then immediately showed a sorrowful expression.

‘Sworn brother?’

Then this grandfather is Hwangbo Sik, the Supreme Family Head of the Hwangbo Family?

Why is the father of the deceased Uncle Hwangbo Un here?

“Brother!”

Hwangbo Sik called out to Namgung Cheon loudly once more.

“I’m sorry. It’s all due to my lack of virtue…”

“Is this what you wanted?”

Hwangbo Sik’s tone as he glared at Namgung Cheon was filled with resentment.

What’s this atmosphere?

Weren’t they on good terms?

“Did you so desire my son’s life?”

“…What are you saying?”

When Namgung Cheon asked back, trying hard to hide his flustered state, Hwangbo Sik shouted.

“Why did you call me to the alliance?”

“Sworn brother.”

Namgung Cheon tried to calm Hwangbo Sik, but from my perspective, it seemed too late.

“Why did you tell me to meet my son? Why did you tell me to go to Jipbeopdang? Why exactly!”

Hwangbo Sik was beyond desperate – his heart was burning.

“Seventeen years ago!”

Namgung Cheon’s eyes changed.

“My son disappeared after meeting you, brother! Did you think I didn’t know?”

Tears streamed down Hwangbo Sik’s eyes.

“Now, now! Sik, I understand you’re upset about your son, but this won’t do!”

Moryong Gil, who had followed behind, gave him a look to stop, but Hwangbo Sik didn’t cease.

“When my brother told me to come, I came; when he said go, I went. When he said sit, I sat; when he said stand, I stood.”

“Sworn brother! What are you trying to say?”

Namgung Cheon’s complexion turned coldly dark.

“I barked and cried and laughed like a dog. If I had a tail on my rear, I probably would have wagged that too.”

“Did I ever tell you to do such things?”

“No. But I had to. Because you made it so I couldn’t help but do it, cleverly.”

“Sworn brother, watch your words. You’ve crossed the line.”

Namgung Cheon gave a final warning.

Moryong Gil had already stepped back.

“I pretended not to know even when my son disappeared, just trying desperately to save my family once. But the result of that… Heh, heheheh!”

Hwangbo Sik burst into hollow laughter.

“You must have gone senile from shock. Go back and rest.”

“Senile?”

Hwangbo Sik’s laughter stopped abruptly.

Shing—

He drew the sword at his waist and charged without warning.

A tremendous bundle of sword energy struck down on Namgung Cheon.

Flash!

At that moment, a brilliant burst of light erupted from Namgung Cheon.

After the light faded, Hwangbo Sik’s right arm holding the sword lay there alone.

“You bastard!”

Hwangbo Sik grabbed his severed right arm with his intact left hand and charged at Namgung Cheon again.

He seemed to have come prepared to die today.

“Tsk!”

Just as Namgung Cheon irritably raised his sword again.

Clang!

An invisible force flew over and struck Namgung Cheon’s blade.

“Put away that sword.”

Am-wang Grandfather walked out through the open door.

Tap tap tap!

‘G-Grandmother!’

In the meantime, Grandmother hurriedly ran over and pressed Hwangbo Sik’s pressure points.

“How dare you interfere with this lord’s…!”

Just as Namgung Cheon was about to explode in anger, watching Grandmother carry the fallen Hwangbo Sik and quickly retreat.

Boom!

Am-wang Grandfather blocked his path.

“Grr!”

I can see him cursing about damned father and daughter who wouldn’t be satisfying even if he devoured them.

“Ch-Cheon…”

It was Moryong Gil who stopped Namgung Cheon, who couldn’t control his excitement and was seething.

Only then did the surrounding scenery gradually enter Namgung Cheon’s vision.

The gazes looking at him were far from kind.

Namgung Cheon seemed to have forgotten, but this was in front of Maeng-ju Palace, the center of the Martial Arts Alliance Headquarters.

Not only had he shed blood in such a place, but he had severed Hwangbo Sik’s right arm, cutting off even his life as a martial artist.

His opponent was Hwangbo Sik, whom he had called sworn brother and openly shown friendship with.

And someone who had lost the child he met for the first time in seventeen years.

All of this had been said directly by Namgung Cheon himself.

It was a coldness far too different from the fair and just image he had shown until now.

Hmph! Old man Namgung, you’re screwed.

You’ve made a fool of yourself in every way, haven’t you?

But I wonder if you know this.

I’m going to give you a big middle finger now too.

You’d better prepare your blood pressure medication in advance.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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