The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 157
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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 157
“Kuk…!”
Ha Jinho let out a groan.
At this rate, he would return empty-handed without gaining anything.
If that happened, his influence within the family would surely plummet.
If he wasn’t careful, he might become the next target for expulsion.
His siblings, especially the second son Ha Jinhyeok, would not tolerate his mistakes.
Therefore.
“Ridiculous! Do you think I’ll yield to such threats!”
Ha Jinho shouted with a fierce expression.
He infused his voice with internal energy to avoid being overwhelmed by the other’s presence.
At this, Namgung Hyeok’s expression changed subtly.
It was a look of disdain.
“Are you truly going to be stubborn? If you die from this, no one will acknowledge you.”
“Shut up!”
Ha Jinho raised his hand to redirect the crossbow unit’s target.
He changed their aim from Ha Jinseong and his subordinates to focus solely on Namgung Hyeok.
However, Namgung Hyeok showed no sign of yielding.
Instead, he looked at Ha Jinho with eyes that seemed to say ‘try it if you can.’
“Shoot if you can. But I’ll hold you accountable for what comes after. You’ve already crossed the line.”
“This…!”
Ha Jinho gritted his teeth, his mind confused by anger and panic.
He brought his hand down to signal the attack.
But.
Thwack!
“Stop this.”
A young man intercepted his movement midway.
Ha Jinho looked at him with a surprised expression.
“E-Elder Brother!?”
The young man’s identity was the eldest son of the Ha Family, named Ha Jinhwi.
He had secretly followed to assess the situation, and stepped forward when it seemed things would become irreversible.
Leaving the surprised Ha Jinho behind, he looked toward Namgung Hyeok.
When their gazes met, Ha Jinhwi quickly bowed his head.
“My younger brother has committed a grave discourtesy. Please, Seonghwa Gate Master, forgive him with your magnanimous heart.”
“Younger brother, then you must be the eldest son, Young Master Ha Jinhwi.”
“That’s correct. Allow me to pay my respects to the Seonghwa Gate Master, albeit belatedly.”
Ha Jinhwi bowed respectfully with a cupped fist salute.
Namgung Hyeok looked at him with cold eyes.
Honestly, the moment Ha Jinho crossed the line, he had been planning to teach the Ha Family troops a lesson.
However, Ha Jinhwi had cleverly avoided that situation.
‘He’s more perceptive than his brothers.’
However, Namgung Hyeok had no intention of just letting it slide.
“I’m sorry, but your brother was trying to attack me directly just moments ago. That means he was trying to threaten my safety. What do you think about this?”
“That’s…”
“I don’t think this is something that can be settled with just an apology.”
Namgung Hyeok looked over the Ha Jinhwi and Ha Jinho brothers with cold eyes.
Ha Jinhwi let out a small sigh and spoke.
“I will provide compensation for this matter. So please forgive us.”
“Compensation, you say. How?”
“The Ha Family will directly issue a public apology to the Seonghwa Sect and guarantee the safety of the departing Salt Blade Faction and Ha Jinseong.”
“That’s not enough. The safety of the Salt Blade Faction and Ha Jinseong was already guaranteed the moment I arrived.”
“Then…”
“At the very least, you should offer compensation worth Ha Jinho’s life, shouldn’t you? In exchange for me not killing him.”
“…!”
Ha Jinhwi’s eyes trembled.
Namgung Hyeok’s words didn’t sound like a joke.
But Ha Jinho’s life’s worth – how exactly could they measure that?
“What you give is up to you. However, I’d prefer something you can provide right now if possible.”
“Kuk…”
Ha Jinhwi pondered for a moment.
But his contemplation didn’t last long.
He took out something wrapped in paper from his chest and handed it to Namgung Hyeok.
“What’s this?”
“It’s called a Small Thunder Pill. It’s one of our Ha Family’s treasures.”
“Ho.”
“I offer this, so please forgive us.”
Ha Jinhwi said this while bowing his head.
Namgung Hyeok chuckled and nodded.
“Good. I’ll let it slide this once. However, if you try to kill me again next time…”
His gaze turned cold.
“Then I really won’t let it slide so easily.”
“…!”
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
Namgung Hyeok gathered those who had been confronting the Ha Family troops and left the scene.
Ha Jinho, Ha Jinhwi, and Im Guok watched them leave with dark expressions.
As soon as they left, Ha Jinho burst out with complaints.
“Elder Brother, is it really okay to let them go like this? No matter how much the Seonghwa Gate Master is with them, we should have captured them…”
“Shut up!”
Crack!
Ha Jinhwi struck Ha Jinho across the cheek.
Thud crash!
Ha Jinho, who had been violently slapped, rolled on the ground and let out a pained groan.
Ha Jinhwi glared with fierce eyes and said.
“Because of you, we wasted a precious Small Thunder Pill! And yet you’re still bragging about what you did well!”
“B-but…!”
“Don’t make excuses! If you hadn’t lost your temper and aimed your bow at the Seonghwa Gate Master, we could have ended this more amicably. I’ll report this properly to the Family Head, so keep that in mind.”
“…!”
Ha Jinho’s face turned pale when he heard about reporting to the Family Head.
He became fearful of what punishment he might receive.
Meanwhile, Ha Jinhwi ground his teeth.
Rationally speaking, it was right to submit and avoid fighting even while handing over the Small Thunder Pill, but…
‘What kind of humiliation is this.’
Emotionally, it was an unbearable humiliation.
He looked in the direction Namgung Hyeok had departed with fierce eyes.
‘That Seonghwa Gate Master bastard. Someday I’ll make him pay for this humiliation.’
It seemed his anger wouldn’t be quelled unless he did so.
If an opportunity arose in the future when he seized power in the Ha Family and could attack the Seonghwa Sect, he would certainly do so.
Of course, until then…
‘I must endure while sharpening my blade in my heart.’
Ha Jinhwi thought this and shouted to everyone.
“We’re returning!”
Soon the Ha Family forces also began withdrawing toward their main base.
* * *
A moment later.
“The enemies are leaving.”
Namgung Hyeok’s group, who had been waiting nearby and watching the situation in case of any unforeseen circumstances, relaxed their tension.
The possibility was low, but they thought there might be a chance of a rear attack while pretending to let them go.
But now that they confirmed those people were leaving, there was no need to be tense anymore.
“T-truly, thank you. Sect Master.”
“No need for thanks. More importantly, you all worked hard.”
The condition of Ha Jinseong and his group was terrible.
Thanks to continuing their forced march for several days and nights, their entire bodies were in tatters.
Some of them were even in quite seriously injured states.
Namgung Hyeok ordered his subordinates to give them priority first aid.
“More importantly, how did this happen?”
“That’s…”
“The restraint against Young Master Ha Jinseong was more severe than expected.”
It was Hahou Yeon who explained this.
He bowed respectfully to Namgung Hyeok and began his explanation.
“Do you remember why you sent me to Young Master Ha, Lord?”
“I sent you to prevent any assassination threats and to build influence within the Ha Family.”
“As you said, I was able to faithfully prevent assassination threats. Those Ha Family bastards tried to kill their own blood relatives like some demonic sect. But there was a reason for this.”
“A reason?”
“The reason is that Young Master Ha was born with special bloodline. A bloodline that other Ha Family siblings would feel threatened enough to restrain.”
“Is that really true?”
Namgung Hyeok asked, looking at Ha Jinseong.
Ha Jinseong nodded with an ambiguous expression.
“It seems to be the case.”
“It seems to be?”
“Actually, I don’t know well myself, so I can’t give you a definitive answer. I… don’t know much about my mother’s bloodline.”
“I see. Then Yeon, how did you find out that Young Master Ha was born with special bloodline?”
“I was able to hear it by chance. Of course, I overheard it secretly, so I couldn’t investigate it properly.”
“Hmm. If that’s certain, then it explains this strangely excessive restraint against Young Master Ha. If he had special bloodline, the possibility of Young Master Ha becoming the family head would have been high.”
“…”
Ha Jinseong fell silent for a moment.
Honestly, he probably didn’t know what to say.
Namgung Hyeok looked at such Ha Jinseong and spoke.
“Well, whatever the reason, the fact that you were persecuted by the Ha Family doesn’t change. I promise you, such things won’t happen in the Seonghwa Sect.”
“Thank you, Sect Master…”
Ha Jinseong’s voice trembled.
He was probably quite moved by the thought that his hardships were finally over.
Namgung Hyeok smiled slightly and handed him something.
Ha Jinseong was startled when he saw it.
“Sect Master. What is this?”
“It’s proof that you have completely become one of us. If you learn this martial art and generate Fire Essence in your body, you’ll be able to act as a proud member of the Seonghwa Sect.”
What Namgung Hyeok handed over was the Fire Crystal Cultivation Method.
It was also a martial art that he had specially modified to ensure versatility so that others could easily learn it.
But the fact that he was sharing such a thing like this…
“My potential, you mean?”
“That’s right. I already knew to some extent from Hahou Yeon’s report. You were hiding your abilities even within your family, weren’t you?”
“…!”
Ha Jinseong flinched at Namgung Hyeok’s words.
Indeed, he had never properly revealed his true abilities in order not to stand out within his family.
But he had been hiding it so well that even Hahou Yeon hadn’t noticed….
To think he had seen through it.
“Don’t be too surprised. It’s because my comrade is capable.”
“I see.”
“That’s why I’m trying to provide you with a proper foundation for growth. You could say it’s a kind of investment.”
“Investment….”
“If you succeed, the Seonghwa Sect will gain a new master, and if you set your mind to it, you could even take revenge on the Ha Family. If that happens, the Seonghwa Sect could obtain the Ha Family’s territory as well.”
“…!”
“Now do you understand what I’m expecting?”
Ha Jinseong nodded his head.
The slight legitimacy he held regarding the Ha Family and the outstanding abilities to claim it.
Those were exactly what Namgung Hyeok was demanding.
And he was asking him to repay that as the price for his life.
‘Originally, I would have refused because I didn’t want to get involved in family disputes….’
But Ha Jinseong now was different.
He hated his siblings who had tried to kill him without trusting him to the end, even though he had remained quiet.
In other words, he had come to desire revenge.
To such a person, the opportunity Namgung Hyeok was offering was worth its weight in gold.
So Ha Jinseong immediately knelt down and bowed his head.
“I, Ha Jinseong, swear my loyalty to the Seonghwa Gate Master. Please, I beg you to make me strong.”
His eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
“If you do, I will offer the Ha Family to you.”
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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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