The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 23

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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 23

“….”

Namgung Hyeok silently gazed at Jang Huiwon for a moment.

His eyes were serious.

It seemed as if he was examining Jang Huiwon’s true intentions.

Jang Huiwon trembled slightly under that gaze.

After a moment.

“Will you be alright?”

Namgung Hyeok asked calmly.

“Becoming my right hand means keeping death by your side. You’ll always be carrying out dangerous missions and clashing with powerful enemies.”

In other words, don’t even think about following with half-hearted resolve.

But Jang Huiwon’s expression was resolute.

“When I fell into qi deviation, my life was already as good as dead. Third Young Master cured that for me. So my life is practically yours, Third Young Master.”

“I don’t think that way. Your life belongs only to you.”

“But the fact that I received your grace doesn’t change, does it? I want to repay that debt.”

“Hahaha! Captain. How about accepting him at this point? If you don’t accept him, he looks ready to follow you to the end.”

Ho Young laughed heartily as he spoke. But Namgung Hyeok shook his head.

“The problem isn’t just willpower.”

“Is there something lacking in me?”

“Your skills.”

“…!”

Jang Huiwon’s eyes widened at the surprisingly blunt words.

His expression showed he hadn’t expected such direct speech.

But Namgung Hyeok continued speaking calmly, as if he wouldn’t spare his feelings.

“Your current skills are at best only slightly better than ordinary Wind Cloud Unit members. That’s not enough to claim to be my right hand.”

“Th-that’s….”

“And I don’t know you well enough to recruit you based on other talents. So I must be cautious about accepting you.”

It was essentially a rejection.

Jang Huiwon seemed quite shocked.

But that was only momentary, as he made another proposal.

“Then please at least accept me as a guest member of the Wind Cloud Unit.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I want to follow you even in that capacity, Young Master.”

Jang Huiwon revealed his determination without being discouraged by such an assessment.

Namgung Hyeok looked at him with a penetrating gaze.

Soon.

“Very well then.”

“Third Young Master…!”

“As Ho Young said, it seems you won’t give up even if I refuse. Then I have no choice.”

“Thank you! I’ll work hard not to disappoint you, Young Master!”

Jang Huiwon said this while bowing his head.

Jang Hyorak simply watched this scene quietly.

Namgung Hyeok looked at him and asked.

“Aren’t you going to stop him, Family Head Jang? As I said earlier, it could be dangerous.”

“It’s the path my son has decided on. As his father, I cannot interfere. Besides, being by Third Young Master’s side seems worth risking one’s life for.”

“I see. Understood.”

“Please take good care of my boy.”

Jang Hyorak also bowed his head.

Namgung Hyeok quietly closed his eyes and accepted the courtesy.

Thus the long night passed.

* * *

Having finished all his business at the Xuanzhou Jang Family, Namgung Hyeok returned to the Namgung Family Estate.

The procession included gifts sent from the Jang Family to the Namgung Family Estate, along with Jang Huiwon.

The Wind Cloud Unit members were quite awkward around him at first, but they accepted Jang Huiwon when they heard he had joined because he wanted to follow Namgung Hyeok.

“Our captain certainly has an appealing charm that makes people want to follow him.”

“Where else in this world could you find someone like him? Young Master Jang made a good decision.”

“Someday, under his command, we’ll be able to escape from being a Third-Class Battle Unit and rise to First-Class Battle Unit or higher.”

The voices of the Wind Cloud Unit members speaking this way were full of faith.

Their loyalty had grown even stronger from their achievements so far and what Namgung Hyeok had shown them the previous night.

“Please take care of me in the future, seniors.”

Jang Huiwon also treated the Wind Cloud Unit members with a respectful attitude unbefitting a family heir.

The Wind Cloud Unit members were pleased by this.

Despite his high status, they felt favorably toward him for his humble demeanor.

Thus they returned to the Namgung Family Estate maintaining a much brighter atmosphere.

“…This is what happened.”

As soon as Namgung Hyeok returned, he convened a family council and briefly summarized the events that had occurred at the Xuanzhou Jang Family.

“The Evil Path Alliance, those scoundrels dare!”

“We must immediately send our military force to punish them!”

The senior members who heard the story became excited.

The fact that the Third Young Master of the Namgung Family had been openly attacked, regardless of factional politics, was enough to provoke their anger.

Moreover, this wasn’t even the first time, was it?

The previous attack could at least be dismissed as an individual’s arbitrary act of revenge, but this time the Evil Path Alliance branch had attacked Namgung Hyeok at an organizational level.

This could not be left alone.

If they let it slide, the Namgung Family’s reputation would hit rock bottom.

“First Young Master. What do you think would be best?”

At that moment, the Elder Council Head looked at Namgung Cheon and asked.

Several senior members flinched.

The Elder Council Head asking the First Young Master instead of Acting Family Head Namgung Jangcheon was a politically significant action.

Namgung Cheon pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Of course I think we should take revenge. The question is where, when, and how to attack.”

“This matter must be decided carefully. Of course, I have no objection to taking revenge, but the Main House’s current situation isn’t very good.”

It was Namgung Jangcheon who said this.

He glanced sharply at the Elder Council Head who had ignored him, then looked around at the senior members.

“You all know, don’t you? What would happen immediately if the Main House and the Evil Path Alliance engaged in all-out war.”

“….”

Silence fell over the meeting hall at his words.

Indeed, the Evil Path Alliance’s power was overwhelming the Namgung Family.

Especially with the current Namgung Family, there was no way to counter the Evil Path Alliance Leader’s martial prowess.

But then.

“I will handle this matter myself.”

Namgung Hyeok, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

Everyone showed surprised expressions.

Handle it himself?

Did that mean he would attack on his own?

“C-calm down, Third Young Master. Of course I understand you’re angry, but….”

“If you move rashly, there’s no telling what consequences might follow. So it would be better to calm down a bit.”

“Everyone, please don’t worry too much.”

But Namgung Hyeok remained calm.

He spoke as if the elders’ concerns were excessive.

“After all, it’s already a finished matter.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

“I mean there’s no need to debate this issue any further.”

Namgung Hyeok left only those words and didn’t explain any further.

As if there was no need to.

The elders were dying of curiosity, but none of them stepped forward to ask Namgung Hyeok what he was thinking.

The atmosphere surrounding him was too intimidating for that.

However…

A few days later.

They were able to understand what Namgung Hyeok meant by “already a finished matter.”

A report came in that the Evil Path Alliance’s Seonju Branch, which had attacked Namgung Hyeok, had been annihilated by an unidentified assailant.

* * *

Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.

The headquarters of the Evil Path Alliance.

“…So.”

Glug glug.

Lee Cheolgun, the leader of the Evil Path Alliance, poured liquor into his cup as he spoke.

“They’re all dead?”

“N-not all of them are dead. There are some survivors, but…”

“Still, quite a lot died, didn’t they?”

His voice sounded carefree as he said this.

As if he were talking about someone else’s business.

But right now, his subordinate was telling him about the Evil Path Alliance’s affairs.

It was a report that the Evil Path Alliance’s Seonju Branch had been annihilated just recently.

“Who’s the culprit? Is it that brat from the Namgung Family after all?”

“Well, we can’t be certain. The incident occurred after Namgung Hyeok left with his forces…”

According to the report, the Evil Path Alliance’s Seonju Branch had taken some time to reorganize after losing their leader.

They had gathered their scattered forces and were waiting for orders from above.

But during that time, an unidentified master attacked the Seonju Branch.

“According to the survivors’ testimonies, he wore a mask so no one saw his face.”

“What about his martial arts? Wasn’t there anyone who confirmed the characteristics of the martial arts he used?”

“Well, they were all too terrified and busy running away… Plus, they were overwhelmed one-sidedly, and the skill gap was so great that no one got a proper look.”

“I can roughly understand. Useless fools.”

Lee Cheolgun clicked his tongue.

In the end, they had only suffered losses without gaining anything.

They were truly the epitome of a ragtag bunch.

“How is the pursuit going?”

“The bastard appeared and disappeared like a ghost, so we can’t be sure. However…”

“However?”

“They say Namgung Hyeok left some meaningful words at the Namgung Family’s meeting.”

“Didn’t you just say earlier that we couldn’t be certain he was the culprit?”

“Yes. I still think we can’t be certain with just this much. But I thought I should report it…”

The subordinate reported the information received through intelligence to Lee Cheolgun.

Lee Cheolgun’s eyes gleamed upon hearing it.

“It seems Namgung Hyeok has capable subordinates under him. At least subordinates skilled enough to single-handedly sweep away a leaderless Seonju Branch.”

“What should we do? Should we retaliate?”

“No, we don’t have solid evidence that they did it right now, so we can’t openly attack. The Namgung Family itself isn’t frightening, but it would be troublesome if the Murim Alliance joined the fight.”

Moreover, wasn’t there even rumors circulating that Flame Dragon Namgung Hyeok was recognized and praised by the Murim Alliance Leader?

Unless there was proper justification, if they recklessly touched that side, the Murim Alliance would definitely intervene.

“Besides, this incident was caused by our guys going on a rampage on their own, wasn’t it? If anything, that side has more justification to attack us. So we won’t move.”

“Understood. But what if those guys use this as an excuse to attack us or demand something?”

“That won’t happen. That brat Namgung Hyeok probably thinks he conveyed his warning by annihilating the Seonju Branch. Hmph. How arrogant.”

Lee Cheolgun snorted.

“But at the same time, I’m curious. To hear that someone who was supposedly a weak coward changed so much and returned in just a few years. What exactly happened on the northern battlefield?”

“Should I investigate it?”

“Yes. While you’re at it, investigate his forces too. If we find out what kind of subordinates he commands, it’ll make future responses easier. Though it’s just a possibility, we might even find the culprit of this incident.”

“I receive your command.”

The subordinate bowed his head and left the room.

Left alone, Lee Cheolgun picked up the liquor bottle, gulped it down, and looked outside.

‘This has become troublesome.’

Honestly, he thought he could quickly devour the Namgung Family, which had lost its head and had an unclear succession structure.

But at some point, the variable called Namgung Hyeok had intervened, gradually disrupting his grand plan. It wasn’t at a level of major damage yet, but…

‘If I continue to be hindered by him like this, I might really be held back by just the Namgung Family alone.’

That would be troublesome.

His ultimate goal wasn’t the Namgung Family, but the Central Plains Martial World.

So he couldn’t afford to struggle with just this much.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Lee Cheolgun thought with sharp eyes.

‘If necessary, I’ll have no choice but to kill him, even if it means taking risks.’

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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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