Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 191
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Chapter 191: Why Are You Making Me Look Like a Villain?!
In the Council Hall of the Justice Alliance
It was late at night, and the representatives of the Seven Great Sects and the prominent families of Murim had yet to return to their accommodations, remaining in their seats.
Sitting around a long table, everyone’s faces were tense. Since hearing the report about the Demon Warriors, the atmosphere had turned icy.
Opinions were divided between those who believed it was “black magic” and those who thought that “the Blue Cloud Swordsman and the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower were just rambling.”
The strong personalities present made it difficult to reach a consensus. Frustrated, Jang Kangho, the Justice Alliance Leader, passed the responsibility to the chief strategist, Jegal Seun.
“What does the Great Strategist Jegal think of this matter?”
Among his confidants, Jegal Seun was known as the wisest, a well-earned reputation. All eyes turned to him.
“I have received reports about the Demon Warriors for some time. All are related to Yeon Jeokha, the Grand Inspector of Nokrim. This aligns with the testimonies of the members of the Zhengzhou branch who witnessed the events. I believe it is highly likely that the abilities of the Demon Warriors are black magic.”
Jegal Seun’s words caused an uproar among those present.
“I will give two reasons. The first is the age of Yeon Jeokha. A mere 21-year-old thief, how could he manage the Demon Warriors, whom even the Blue Cloud Swordsman could not defeat? Since practitioners of the side path are often adept in magic, it’s not surprising.”
Even those who denied the existence of magic nodded at Jegal Seun’s explanation.
The testimony about the Demon Warriors transforming into “thunder gods and demon dragons” gave them reason to believe. Creatures like thunder gods or demon dragons always appeared when side path experts acted.
Seeing people nodding, Jegal Seun smiled in satisfaction.
“The second reason is that there were no mentions of the Demon Warriors participating in the massacre of Eunha Manor and the Namgung Family. This suggests that the strength of the Demon Warriors is insignificant, unable to surpass the martial prowess of the Namgung Family and the Uicheon Sect.”
After finishing, Jegal Seun looked at his audience with a calm expression.
Seeing everyone nodding in unison, Jegal Seun felt more confident.
At that moment, a clear voice interrupted from one end of the table.
“Great Strategist, although you have given two reasons, I do not agree.”
It was Namgung Yeon.
Jegal Seun’s face showed an uncomfortable smile as he recognized the speaker.
Among them, people often said, “there are two mountains in Nanjing,” and one of those mountains had just objected.
The representatives of the Seven Great Sects looked at Namgung Yeon and Jegal Seun with curiosity.
It was not uncommon, considering the rivalry between the recently destroyed Namgung Family and the emerging Jegal Family.
“I’ve heard of your fame as the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower. In what aspects do you disagree?” Jegal Seun asked calmly.
Namgung Yeon responded serenely.
“First, you mentioned the youth of Yeon Jeokha. But in Murim, strength is not determined by age but by the survival of the fittest.”
People murmured, nodding.
It was true; martial skill had no relation to age. Even within the Seven Great Sects, the martial hierarchy was disordered.
Namgung Yeon continued once the commotion had settled.
“Secondly, you mentioned that the Demon Warriors did not stand out in the massacres of Eunha Manor and the Namgung Family. That’s a misunderstanding. The Great Demon Generals and the Demon Warriors were equally as powerful as the sect leaders and masters. At Eunha Manor, Cheok Jingyeong, the Swordsman of Chaos, was present, and at the Namgung Family, there were Lee Maehwa, the Martial Mountain Maiden, and the Lunar Fairy. It was the overwhelming main force of the Yoomyung Cult that overshadowed the performance of the Demon Warriors.”
“…”
All eyes turned to Jegal Seun.
Though his pride might have been hurt, Jegal Seun nodded with an unperturbed expression.
Namgung Yeon’s critique was not incorrect.
He himself had had similar thoughts before.
However, it was all “speculation.” Jegal Seun had gathered “results” to make a more reasonable assessment.
“What you say, Miss Namgung, is not wrong. But all of that is just speculation without evidence.”
Namgung Yeon responded without backing down.
“Isn’t what you’re saying about side path magic also speculation?”
“True. But my speculation is based on the information gathered by the Alliance. It doesn’t seem that the Alliance’s reports have reached you, has it?”
People laughed at Jegal Seun’s words.
There was no comparison between the information handled by the strategist of the Justice Alliance and that available to the fallen Namgung Family.
With that single phrase, Jegal Seun ended the discussion. Namgung Yeon, without further objections, withdrew from the dispute.
Jang Kangho, the Justice Alliance Leader, concluded the meeting upon seeing no further disagreements.
As they exited the hall, Jang Kangho approached Jegal Seun.
“Good job.”
“It was nothing. The greater effort was yours, Leader.”
“Now, we just need to form the attack team and fight. I’m counting on your help.”
“Many people have come to Nanjing. The Alliance will win.”
“I’ve heard that those aligned with the Yoomyung Cult are beginning to retreat.”
“That’s right. As they say, the heart of the people is the heart of heaven. I expect good results.”
“I trust you. By the way, is there any way to leverage the strategies of the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower? They say her cunning rivals that of Zhuge Liang…”
Jang Kangho realized his mistake in saying this in front of the Gaju of the Jegal Family and corrected himself awkwardly.
“I’ve heard of her strategies, but today I wasn’t impressed. Still, I’ll consider using her if you suggest it, Leader.”
“I trust your judgment. Until tomorrow.”
Jang Kangho left, leaving Jegal Seun alone in the hall.
Jegal Seun frowned.
He had heard that the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower didn’t get along well with people, but that didn’t seem to be the case today.
‘Damn it. How dare she humiliate me in front of the leaders of the Seven Great Sects?’
Though he wanted to ignore her entirely, the leader’s words echoed in his mind.
Despite the decline of the Namgung Family, Namgung Yeon’s reputation remained high.
She was sought after first to solve difficult problems in Nanjing.
The leader made that comment for that reason.
Thinking about her continued presence was like a thorn lodged in Jegal Seun’s side.
———————
In Hwasang Village
After breakfast, Yeon Jeokha headed to the Suicide Rock.
Although Nok Dampyeong had said he would come, Yeon Jeokha had no intention of giving up his favorite spot.
He saw an improvised hut on the rock. With autumn in full swing, the nights were cold, so it seemed hastily built.
Inside the hut, the snoring was deafening.
Nok Dampyeong, it seemed, was still sleeping despite the morning.
“Wow, this guy is worse than me.”
Yeon Jeokha sat at the edge of the rock without waking him.
Below, the brown water flowed turbulently, and across, a mountain covered in autumn leaves stretched far.
Though the color of the water was strange, the scenery never got boring.
After swinging his feet playfully for a while, Yeon Jeokha meditated out of habit.
Gruu, gru…
Nok Dampyeong woke up to the noise in his stomach.
While he had been asleep, he hadn’t noticed, but once awake, the hunger was overwhelming.
Today was the second day of his three-year duel. Three years living like this, like a dog!
Despair was already beginning to set in.
Unable to bear the hunger, he got up abruptly.
“Damn it! What’s going on? Why isn’t anyone coming? Didn’t the external leader Wan tell my father? That seems impossible.”
If his father knew he was trapped there, he would have come to see him.
The fact that there was no response was frustrating.
Biting his nails, Nok Dampyeong lifted the hut’s flap and saw a familiar figure.
Yeon Jeokha was sitting at the edge of the rock, his sword beside him.
Was he unaware?
Or was it a test?
He quietly emerged from the hut and softly called out.
“Young Master Yeon.”
“…….”
Yeon Jeokha neither turned nor responded.
There was no sound of breathing or movement, indicating that he was in meditation.
‘Great!’
Nok Dampyeong wanted to shout for joy.
He knew that masters of internal energy meditated morning and night to deepen their internal power.
However, no one did so with an enemy nearby.
During meditation, they were vulnerable to attacks, so they did it in safe places.
Why?
Because even a small child could severely injure someone in meditation.
The internal circulation of energy during meditation was delicate, and any interruption caused a strong energy backlash.
Depending on the intensity, this could cause internal injuries or energy deviations.
“Young Master Yeon is meditating. Why not do it in a quiet place? The greater the internal energy, the stronger the backlash. This is dangerous.”
Approaching mockingly, Nok Dampyeong grabbed Yeon Jeokha’s sword.
No doubt, he was deeply meditating.
Yeon Jeokha did not react.
Nok Dampyeong unsheathed the sword and spoke with a chilling tone.
“Is it arrogance? Ignorance? Thank you… huh? Huh?”
The sword wouldn’t budge.
‘What is this?’
He pulled with all his might, but the sword didn’t move.
Then, Yeon Jeokha’s voice echoed in his ears.
“It seems you can’t distinguish between meditation and meditation with energy circulation. You’ve learned in vain.”
Nok Dampyeong’s eyes widened.
‘Meditation? Then why won’t the sword come out?’
Suddenly, the sword, which seemed stuck in the scabbard, slid back with tremendous force, nearly tearing Nok Dampyeong’s hand.
Clang.
With a clear sound, the sword flew into the sky, spinning over the river like a hawk.
After a moment, it plummeted into the river.
Shortly after, something emerged from the muddy water.
Splash.
Nok Dampyeong saw the fish skewered on the sword and stood agape.
He knew Yeon Jeokha was a master, but using the sword control technique for fishing was incredible.
Finally, the sword returned and fell at Nok Dampyeong’s feet.
Flip, flop.
Seeing the fish flopping on the sword, Nok Dampyeong silently placed the scabbard down.
“Brother Nok.”
“Yes.”
“I am not a bad person.”
Nok Dampyeong, feeling guilty, could only lower his gaze.
“Then why are you making me look like a villain?”
“What?”
Confused, Nok Dampyeong looked up.
At that moment, Yeon Jeokha’s fist struck his face.
“Ah!”
A flash of lightning seemed to flash before his eyes as he clutched his face and curled up.
Yeon Jeokha kicked him mercilessly as he was curled up.
“Why?! Why?! Why are you making me look like a villain?! Do you think this makes me happy?”
Each word was accompanied by a kick.
Nok Dampyeong’s pitiful cries echoed into the distance.
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