Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 274
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Chapter 274: Beware of the Supreme Leader
After breakfast, the Sword Emperor, Namgung Byeok, rested with his usual serene expression.
Surprisingly, the Namgung Family suffered few casualties.
This was partly because the twelve stayed together, but mostly due to the excellent leadership of Namgung Yeon.
As he pondered his return to the Heaven and Earth Alliance, Namgung Yeon approached him.
“Father.”
“Yes? What is it?”
Although they were father and daughter, Namgung Byeok straightened up before his extraordinary daughter.
Unlike his son, who came to him for trivial matters, his daughter only sought him out for important issues, which always put him on alert.
“This morning, I heard from Jeokha that you left him to face the Demon of Illusion.”
For a moment, Namgung Byeok thought his daughter would scold him for letting the young man deal with the great demon.
“Ah, I did it to deceive the Demon of Illusion. I thought if he went to the Demon Warriors, the fight would end. I also explained this well to Jeokha.”
“No, I’m not asking about that.”
“Then what?”
“I heard you threw a stone at the Demon of Illusion. Was his martial skill so formidable that you had to resort to such means?”
Namgung Byeok then understood his daughter’s curiosity.
“Hmm. During the fall of the Namgung Family, I fought against two Great Demon Generals. Kang Sangpi was completely different, a true master. I realized that the Demon Warriors and Great Demon Generals vary greatly in skill. Kang Sangpi is on par with the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks. I had never felt such pressure before.”
“I see. Now I understand why you acted that way.”
“Did you use the fire because you foresaw this danger?”
“No. I suggested setting fire to Five Peaks Mountain because I saw an ominous star above it. I didn’t learn about Kang Sangpi’s ability until you told me.”
“Ah! So that’s why. Do you call it celestial?”
“I can only predict major trends. I don’t know the details until I experience them.”
“You said the threat in Gyoguhyeon (Gyogu County) was greater, right?” (Note: Gyoguhyeon is where Five Peaks Mountain and the Fairy Temple are located, also known as the Temple of the Goddess, and where the Mysterious Woman of the Nine Heavens, Shinmo, resides)
“Yes.”
“How great is it?”
“Even though we suffered great losses, we survived. But Gyoguhyeon is not just ominous; it’s deadly. If Kang Sangpi, known as the Demon of Illusion, caused such a change in the star, perhaps someone in Gyoguhyeon who caused the star to become extremely deadly is an existence beyond this world. Only the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks could come out alive.”
“Tsk! So, we can’t blame the Justice Alliance Leader for this.”
If the Justice Alliance Leader had sent the Jegal Family into such great danger, no one could blame him.
“That’s why it would be better not to join in the criticisms against the Justice Alliance Leader later.”
“Understood.”
Namgung Byeok pondered for a moment before casually asking.
“Didn’t you tell the Justice Alliance Leader about the danger in Gyoguhyeon because you had no evidence?”
“No. The Justice Alliance Leader sent us into danger with inaccurate information. With the capability of the Chamber of Commerce that he manages, he would have known how many Demon Warriors there were. But he only said that some had split off. Right now, he is an enemy of our Namgung Family. There’s no need to be lenient with an enemy.”
“Before a powerful enemy, we cannot afford internal divisions. Could we not resolve this by talking with him?”
“He has gone too far for that. Now he is on the path of justice and evil.”
“The path of justice and evil?”
“The Seven Great Sects and the Five Great Families are killing demons in the Jianghu. They are praised as heroes because they have a righteous purpose. But if someone kills for personal gain, they are just a murderer.”
“Are you implying that the Justice Alliance Leader is doing this in secret?”
“We will find out when we return to the Heaven and Earth Alliance.”
“What will we find out?”
“If he is a hero, those two people will be alive. If he is a villain, they will be dead.”
Namgung Byeok did not ask who those two people were.
Talking with his daughter for a long time often left him confused.
Even now, he regretted bringing up the Justice Alliance Leader.
As he reflected, Namgung Yeon’s voice brought him back to the present.
“Father, it seems you still do not accept Jeokha’s abilities. That’s why you threw the stone and deceived Kang Sangpi.”
Namgung Yeon held back the word “despicable.”
If it weren’t her father, she wouldn’t have omitted that word.
“Do you think Jeokha could face the Demon of Illusion?”
Namgung Byeok could not believe his daughter had so much faith in Yeon Jeokha.
Kang Sangpi was a formidable opponent even for him.
“I don’t know. But Jeokha wouldn’t be an easy match for Kang Sangpi. Do you think Kang Sangpi withdrew because of the Demon Warriors?”
“Are you suggesting that he didn’t withdraw just to save the Demon Warriors?”
“If he was certain of victory, he wouldn’t have cared about the Demon Warriors and would have continued fighting with Jeokha. But he withdrew without hesitation.”
“…”
Namgung Byeok realized he still hadn’t accepted Yeon Jeokha’s abilities.
He still saw him as the youngest of Waryong Manor.
“You said the Demonic Dragon flew through the smoke. Could you have caught it with sword control technique?”
“Hardly.”
“You said Jeokha’s sword was lodged in the Demonic Dragon’s head, and then he descended after it, right?”
“That’s right.”
“How do you think Jeokha managed to get so close to the Demonic Dragon’s head?”
“……”
Namgung Byeok shrugged, indicating he didn’t know.
“So, stop judging him just by the past.”
Namgung Yeon emphasized, “you too.”
Perhaps, she was saying that to herself.
Remembering Yeon Jeokha crying and calling her “mom” didn’t help.
He was no longer the abused child of the past.
Namgung Byeok nodded in acceptance.
His daughter was right; he still saw Yeon Jeokha as the youngest of Waryong Manor.
“I’ll admit it. I need to change my way of thinking. By the way, how about you? Lately, you seem very concerned about Jeokha.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t just take care of Jeokha; attend to your own matters as well.”
“What else should I do?”
“I’m not asking you to help me. I saw the young master of the Seonu Family hovering around you. You didn’t even look at him.”
“Feelings between a man and a woman don’t arise from intentional effort.”
“That’s true, but if you don’t give him a chance to get close, how can there be a change?”
“I didn’t know you considered the Seonu Family.”
“More than that, I want you to have someone by your side. You can’t live your whole life only with your family.”
“I think I have enough.”
“That’s true, but how can you live only with your family all your life? Well, I don’t mind if you stay by my side, but…”
“I don’t plan to stay with you my whole life.”
Namgung Byeok showed a surprised expression.
It was the first time his daughter said something like that.
But before he could respond, Namgung Yeon continued.
“Father, beware of the Justice Alliance Leader.”
“Don’t worry. No matter how hard he tries, he’s no match for me.”
“Always keep the option of killing him first in mind. He’s very cunning; if you hesitate, he could surpass you.”
“Tsk! Even so, he is the Justice Alliance Leader of the Heaven and Earth Alliance. How could he commit crimes openly?”
“They say you can know the bottom of a river, but not the heart of a person. If something seems suspicious, kill him first and then let me handle proving he deserved to die.”
“Alright. I’ll abandon any expectations I have of him.”
Namgung Yeon walked away after receiving her father’s confirmation.
Namgung Byeok watched her go towards Yeon Jeokha and Old Shim, shaking his head.
“What could she find there? It’s not like she left a treasure there. Tsk!”
Henan Province.
Zhengzhou City.
Chilriha Village.
The Heaven and Earth Alliance returned to Zhengzhou City two weeks after the battle at Five Peaks Mountain.
After their return, the alliance faced internal conflicts.
The Wudang Sect and the Seonu Family formally accused the Justice Alliance Leader.
Jegal Seun also responded by accusing them of setting fire to Five Peaks Mountain.
The fire was extinguished in a day, but the damage to civilians was greater than expected.
Representatives of the Seven Great Sects and the Five Great Families constantly debated the accusations.
Both sides had valid reasons, so no conclusion was reached.
Contrary to the expectations of the Wudang Sect and the Seonu Family, public opinion leaned towards the Justice Alliance Leader.
The reason was simple.
Although they recognized the lack of information, they didn’t see a major mistake in sending two divisions and a Great Swordmaster against a Great Demon General and seven Demon Warriors.
The Heaven and Earth Alliance had four of the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks and seven divisions.
The Yoomyung Cult had seven Great Demon Generals and approximately seventy Demon Warriors.
Comparing the total numbers on each side, it didn’t seem so wrong.
Some even said that the Heaven and Earth Alliance couldn’t compete with the Yoomyung Cult.
Two divisions and a Great Swordmaster had been severely damaged by a Great Demon General and seven Demon Warriors.
People tend to support the strongest, and the skill of the Great Demon Generals approached that of the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks, tipping public opinion towards the Yoomyung Cult.
The chambers of commerce began shifting their business from the Heaven and Earth Alliance to the Yoomyung Cult.
The sects and clans that had avoided the Yoomyung Cult began to approach them.
It was an unfavorable situation for the Heaven and Earth Alliance.
However, not everything was bad.
The use of fire at Five Peaks Mountain highlighted Namgung Yeon’s genius.
Her title of “Heart-Reading Solitary Flower” was solidified as “Undefeated in Ten Battles.”
While “Heart-Reading Solitary Flower” praised her appearance and talent, “Undefeated in Ten Battles” was a general recognition.
People hailed her for using fire to control the enemy and then taking advantage of the weather to extinguish it.
Disillusioned with Jegal Seun, they saw “Undefeated in Ten Battles” as a new hope.
Narrators openly said that Jegal Seun couldn’t hold a candle to her.
In the Uicheon Pavilion, two men and one woman sat with serious expressions.
They were Namgung Cheon, Namgung Yeon, and Yeon Jeokha.
“As we feared, Nam Rin and the Invisible Hand Baek Gyo are dead. Now we will never know who bought that sacred treasure. I should have been clearer in my warning to Baek Gyo. It was my mistake.”
Namgung Cheon spoke indifferently.
“Why would it be your mistake? They dug their own grave. Baek Gyo knew Nam Rin was dead and still rejected you. He was like a moth flying into the flame. He died by his own fault.”
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