The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 15

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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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Spear Heaven Martial Emperor Episode 15

Namgung Hyeok nodded calmly.

“That’s correct. And you are?”

“We are members of the Yellow Dragon Corps under the Murim Alliance. We greet the honored guests of the Namgung Family.”

The two Yellow Dragon Corps members performed a cupped fist salute.

Namgung Hyeok and Namgung Pyo also responded with cupped fist salutes.

Yellow Dragon Corps.

It was one of the Five Great Military Corps of the Murim Alliance, famous for being directly under the Alliance Leader and responsible for maintaining order in Wuhan.

But why had such people called for them?

The reason was simple.

“We will guide you inside. Please follow us.”

They led the group to a different entrance, slightly separated from the main line.

It was a smaller passage than the main gate, where only a small number of people could enter and exit.

Namgung Hyeok could understand why they were doing this.

‘Special treatment.’

Although the Namgung Family was rapidly declining due to the sudden death of the family head and the absence of the next heir, they were still members of the Ten Great Families.

As such, they still had some influence within the Murim Alliance.

In fact, there were several people from the Namgung Family in important positions within the Murim Alliance. This was why they received special treatment unlike other sects.

‘Probably the Nine Sects One Gang, the Ten Great Families, and other major forces all receive this kind of treatment.’

Namgung Hyeok thought this as he followed the Yellow Dragon Corps members inside.

The interior of the Murim Alliance was quite bustling.

Everywhere he looked, the place was filled with guests.

The Yellow Dragon Corps members guided Namgung Hyeok’s group to the banquet hall, weaving through the crowds.

Though there was still time before the birthday celebration, a banquet was already underway.

“Excuse me, there are still several days left, so why is the banquet being held so early?”

Namgung Pyo, also curious about this, asked the Yellow Dragon Corps member who was guiding them.

“Ah, this banquet started early and will continue for several days. Since it’s the Alliance Leader’s 60th birthday celebration, people are coming from all over the Central Plains.”

“I see. It’s a consideration for those who can’t arrive on time due to distance.”

Ho Young nodded as if he understood. That certainly made sense.

“If we go now, can we meet the Alliance Leader immediately?”

When Namgung Hyeok asked, the Yellow Dragon Corps members showed troubled expressions.

“Whether you can meet him or not depends on the Alliance Leader’s will. We apologize for not being able to give you a definite answer.”

“I understand.”

Fortunately for the Yellow Dragon Corps member, Namgung Hyeok didn’t seem inclined to make an issue of it.

They soon arrived at the banquet hall.

He looked around just in case, but while various people were gathered socializing, the Alliance Leader was nowhere to be seen.

The Namgung Family group was also able to occupy a section.

They sat at several tables set with drinks, resting and filling their stomachs.

‘As expected of the Murim Alliance, the center of the Orthodox Faction martial world. It truly lives up to the saying “dragon’s pool and tiger’s den.”‘

Namgung Hyeok thought as he downed a cup of alcohol.

The extraordinary auras he felt from various places were considerable even by his standards.

‘Among those emanating such auras, there must be not only people from the Murim Alliance but also members of the Nine Sects One Gang and Ten Great Families mixed in.’

Indeed, each was a force with tremendous power behind them.

Namgung Hyeok fell into thought for a moment.

He wasn’t certain who among them were enemies and who were allies.

‘On the surface, the Orthodox Faction martial world is bound together through the Murim Alliance. But they haven’t achieved complete harmony.’

As evidence of this, there were plenty of sects within the same Murim Alliance that didn’t get along.

‘The most representative hostile relationship would be Mount Hua and Zhongnan.’

But they merely didn’t get along; their relationship wasn’t completely severed.

The truly severed relationships existed elsewhere.

‘The situation among the Nine Sects One Gang is relatively better, but…’

Among the Ten Great Families, there were many that treated each other like members of the Evil Faction.

‘Our Main House is also in a hostile relationship with the Ha Family and Murong Family. Besides them, various other families are watching for opportunities.’

In fact, this was precisely why Namgung Hyeok hadn’t completely pushed his uncle as the culprit for Namgung Cheon’s poisoning.

The Namgung Family actually had many enemies.

In reality, there was a possibility that someone other than his uncle had poisoned the previous family head Namgung Gong and attempted to poison Namgung Cheon.

The Evil Path Alliance that immediately began probing as soon as the Namgung Family weakened was already suspicious…

‘The other surrounding families can’t be ruled out as suspects either.’

Namgung Hyeok thought this as he drank again.

In any case, this was a matter that could be investigated and revealed gradually.

‘For now, let me try to build friendly connections.’

Just as he was thinking this and looking around…

“Well, well! Look who it is! Isn’t this the bastard son of the Namgung Family!”

A heavily slurred voice came from somewhere.

Turning his head, he saw a young man, flushed red with alcohol, approaching with a group of similarly aged companions.

Namgung Hyeok calmly looked at his face.

“It’s been a while. Jo Jiwon. Almost ten years?”

“Ahahaha. So you remembered me?”

He was Jo Jiwon, the heir from the Hanam Jo Family.

The Hanam Jo Family, while not among the Ten Great Families, was a family with considerable power.

This was because they had the backing of the Dokgo Family, which led the Ten Great Families.

The reason was blood relation.

Jo Jiwon’s maternal grandfather was none other than Murim Alliance Leader Dokgo Ryong. Because of this, he had been proud of his bloodline since childhood.

“So you’re the one who came from the Namgung Family this time? Hahaha. The Namgung Family must really lack talent. To think a mere bastard would come as their representative…”

“What did you just say?”

It was Namgung Pyo who flared up at Jo Jiwon’s words.

While Namgung Hyeok merely looked at Jo Jiwon with cold eyes, Namgung Pyo was different.

Though he might be his father’s political enemy, he couldn’t tolerate those who insulted Namgung Hyeok.

“Are you insulting my elder brother who came as the Namgung Family’s representative?”

“Hmph. I merely stated the facts. Well, I heard the previous family head died and the First Young Master is bedridden with illness? So they must have sent that coward… But who are you to talk back to me?”

Jo Jiwon looked at Namgung Pyo with the rambling speech typical of a drunk person.

The companions beside him were flustered by his continued rude manner.

They hadn’t expected him to hurl insults like “bastard” at the Namgung Family’s representative.

But Jo Jiwon had his own confidence.

‘That guy is a coward anyway, so he won’t be able to say anything. Besides, no one in the Namgung Family likes him, so with the First Young Master ill, there’s no one to take his side.’

So he judged that there would be no problem even if he looked down on and insulted him.

It was a notion he could have only because he knew Namgung Hyeok from ten years ago, when he was still young and timid, before going to the battlefield.

‘The Namgung Family may still be called one of the Ten Great Families for now, but… Hmph. Just wait. Before long, our Hanam Jo Family will take that position.’

And to solidify that perception, it was necessary to show the Hanam Jo Family crushing the Namgung Family.

This was why he had deliberately picked a fight.

Of course, alcohol played the biggest role in his judgment.

Jo Jiwon picked another fight with a mocking voice.

“As expected, even after I say all this, you can’t even respond. You’ve only aged but you’re still a coward…”

That was the moment.

“Urgh!?”

He couldn’t finish his words.

Suddenly, a massive hand grabbed his face and lifted him into the air.

And the owner of that hand was Ho Young.

Ho Young said with an indifferent expression.

“How noisy with all that chattering. Captain, should I just kill this guy?”

“…!”

Jo Jiwon’s face turned pale at the mention of killing.

Though his tone was casual, Ho Young’s voice carried an unmistakable sincerity that couldn’t be ignored.

“Urgh!”

He struggled desperately, grabbing at the arm to escape from Ho Young’s grip.

But no matter how much he flailed using his internal energy, he couldn’t overcome Ho Young’s grip strength.

“Re, release the young master!”

The guards who had been watching the situation from the side drew their swords in panic.

In an instant, the banquet hall became chaos as everyone nearby focused their attention on them.

Ho Young looked indifferent even as he saw countless blades pointing toward him.

And Namgung Hyeok.

“Just let him go. There’s no need to see blood when we came to celebrate someone’s birthday.”

“Tch. Fine.”

Ho Young clicked his tongue lightly and threw away Jo Jiwon who he had been holding.

Crash!

“Urgh!”

He rolled across the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Getting up with a pained expression, he circulated his internal energy and expelled the alcohol toxin in one go.

Shing!

“You damn bastard!”

Jo Jiwon, having returned to his senses, drew the sword hanging at his waist.

Even after expelling the alcohol toxin, his face was flushed red with embarrassment.

“How dare you humiliate me at the Murim Alliance? Did you think you could leave here unscathed after doing this!”

“Anyone listening would think the Murim Alliance belongs to him.”

Ho Young snorted, and Namgung Hyeok also chuckled.

He poured the contents of his wine cup into his mouth and spoke in a calm voice.

“Jo Jiwon.”

“…!”

“I recommend you sheathe your sword even now. If you truly swing that sword, then I’ll have no choice but to respond differently.”

“Sh, shut up! A coward who only relies on his guards acting so arrogant…”

Just as the enraged Jo Jiwon was about to say something.

“What is this commotion?”

At that moment, someone’s voice clearly echoed in everyone’s ears who were present.

“…!”

Jo Jiwon’s complexion turned deathly pale.

The owner of this voice was someone who could never be mistaken for anyone else.

“Great, great-grandfather…”

His identity was none other than the Sword Emperor Dokgo Ryong, one of the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven and the Murim Alliance Leader.

Jo Jiwon began trembling as soon as he saw him.

The aura flowing from Dokgo Ryong naturally made him tense.

But that was only momentary.

“Th, those guys tried to kill me!”

Jo Jiwon pointed at Namgung Hyeok and Ho Young while shouting.

Dokgo Ryong’s gaze turned toward Namgung Hyeok.

“…!”

And at that moment, Dokgo Ryong’s eyes widened greatly. As if he had seen something surprising.

But Jo Jiwon didn’t notice this and continued pointing accusingly.

“So your great-grandson tried to drive out those causing trouble at grandfather’s birthday feast…”

“Jo Jiwon.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Shut that mouth.”

Smack!

From the intense slap, Jo Jiwon’s body floated in the air before rolling on the ground several times.

Crash!

“Wh, why…!”

With his cheek split and blood flowing, he looked at his great-grandfather with disbelief.

His great-grandfather, with whom he usually had a decent relationship.

No matter how slightly unreasonable the situation was, he thought he would take his side.

But to suddenly slap him like this?

However, Dokgo Ryong only glared at Jo Jiwon with cold eyes.

“He is not someone you can act so arrogantly toward.”

“…!”

At that declaration, not only Jo Jiwon but everyone watching the situation showed surprised expressions.

It was clear who the ‘he’ referred to here.

Dokgo Ryong sighed once more and approached Namgung Hyeok.

“My great-grandson has caused trouble. I’m sorry.”

“Not at all. These things can happen.”

Namgung Hyeok calmly received Dokgo Ryong’s words.

The surrounding people were surprised once again at this sight. Dokgo Ryong’s tone was much more intimate and respectful than when dealing with his great-grandson Jo Jiwon.

Dokgo Ryong spoke with a gentle smile.

“Thank you for overlooking my great-grandson’s rudeness. By the way, when did you return from the Northern Region?”

He paused for a moment before speaking.

“Flame Dragon.”

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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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