Chapter 54

“The domain of the Southern Palace.”
Huang Bo Gyum sneered. Bai Xiaochun’s words about the Southern Palace’s territory made Huang BoGeom look incredulous.
“Do you really think so? Do you really think there’s a Southern Palace territory in Shandong now? I helped you form a branch with the castaways from my family, and now your liver has gone overboard.”
At those words, the members of the Southern Palace made faces. It was like a reverse lynching for the members of the Southern Palace staying in the Shandong branch.
“……He’s a fool.”
This was Nam Gung-han, the head of the Shandong branch. Nam Gung-han took Huang Bo-gyeom’s vitriol in stride.
“You may be right, but this is the name of a man who fought hard for Shandong, and it’s too presumptuous for him to say anything.”
Huang Bo Geng’s eyebrows twitched.
“Now in the land of Shandong……!”
“Before the land of Shandong, this place was a frontier. And this frontline is the one that the Southern Palace has built and maintains.”
The White Tooth Sword Southern Palace took a step forward and interrupted Huang Boqiong.
“Crossing the territory of an established front means you’ve crossed the line first, Huang Bo Gai.”
“Kuk.
Hwang Bo Gyeom’s two fists clenched tightly, or so it seemed.
In the distance, he could see the iron-black palace surrounded by the Southern Palace’s martial artists. He and the Grand Duke had been seduced and led here without realizing it.
In the end, it was nothing more than handing over the cause to the Southern Palace.
Even so.
How did I create an opportunity like this?
Is it right to back down from this opportunity that will never come again?
We’ve lost a whopping sixteen wall units. Is it right that we should return home with nothing to show for it?
Looking at Namgungseok and Namgunghan blocking the Grand Duke’s path, Huang Boqiong looked at the other three members of the Five Great Powers.
Despite their pale complexions, with the four of them, it shouldn’t be impossible for them to inflict fatal wounds on the dying Grand Duke and the weakened An Baek, even if they had to.
Huang Bo Gyum prepared a killing blow.
Kill two people here. Even if he were to be taken away in a coffin after accomplishing what he had in mind here, his trusted followers would be able to save him.
He felt that his own sacrifice was necessary to achieve the Bai Dynasty.
He clenched his fists. His legs tensed. Every muscle danced and compressed.
Kugukuk.
Then.
Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
A whistle sounded, and Huang Bo Gyum’s face contorted.
“If you ……had moved, you would have all become beehives.”
Chu Ling.
With the words of Shandong Branch Leader Nan Gonghan, hundreds of spear tips extended towards the members of the Huang Clan.
At those words.
The rationale,
income,
nothing.
Huang Bo Geng’s eyes turned grim as he realized that he had won nothing.
* * *
“I’m sure you don’t know about the inviolability of officialdom.”
“Of course.”
But if there was one thing that surpassed all others, it was Huang Tianhou’s ability to speak with authority.
He smiles as he sips his tea, commenting on its delicate flavor and smoothness.
Looking at him, Huang Bozhong’s cheeks twitched.
Huang Tianhou, the monkfish master.
Why would he suddenly come and disturb things?
“The tea smells good.”
“It’s said to be the finest green incense in Shandong.”
“You still don’t talk much.”
Huang Tianhou’s teacup was placed on the table. The ripples on it made Huang Bozhong’s breath catch in his throat.
“What’s the matter with you, why did you suddenly barge into the Huang Clan?”
The reputation of the Aggie Clan was well known in the Zhenyuan Martial Realm.
His name was like the cold and intense cold of the North Wind Snow.
It was impossible for such a man to come to him so blindly.
“It seems that you are the fox of the Huang Bao family, the one who has a great deal of tricks up his sleeve, but you still can’t judge the situation. Didn’t I just say that if there’s one thing that trumps everything, it’s a cause, and even if it’s not a cause, you’ve committed a sin.”
Huang Tianhou opened the wooden chest that the adjutant behind him had brought with him, and the smell of blood wafted out. Huang Bozhong, who had originally frowned at the smell of blood, twitched his eyebrows when he saw the contents of the box. This was not someone he should have seen here.
“You look familiar, your eyes are unwavering.”
“……Don’t look away.”
As Huang Bozhong looked at the head of the reddish-green horseshoe mountain, he sensed that something was wrong. When had the bandits of Shandong been destroyed? He thought he had a tight grip on everything in Shandong.
But as if it didn’t matter, Huang Tianhou’s head shook.
“You touched my only brother.”
Huang Bozhong’s mouth tightened. What kind of brother was this?
But before he could say anything, a ledger came out of Huang Tianhou’s arms.
“How dare you. I, Huang Tianhou’s only brother.”
His complexion gradually turned pale. His mind was turning white.
No way…….
“Nan Gongban, you’re my favorite aura. First.”
Huang Bozhong’s eyes contained a hint of the Yellow Sky.
“Let’s call in those who are out on the battlefield first.”
Once again, Huang Boshe was blocked by the name of the Southern Palace.
* * *
The smell of medicinal herbs pierced his nostrils. It was hard to lift a finger, as if his whole body was covered with medicinal herbs and ointments that had become a new medicine.
……I’m back safely.
The sound of the battle still echoed in my ears.
The moment I regained consciousness, I almost screamed. The pain in my lungs made my eyes roll back in my head. I had to clench my teeth against the full-body pain that hit me as soon as I opened my eyes.
Every inch of my body was numb. I couldn’t lift a finger, so what can I say? In my previous life, I had spent many more days at the sword in life and death struggles than this.
The thought of the higher walls that appeared the stronger I became lingered in the back of my mind. Surely you’ve climbed one staircase, spent the last hour, and now you’re standing on a new one.
I felt a bitter feeling in the pit of my stomach, knowing that I had tasted and endured the bitterness of defeat and was spending this time again.
“You’re sucking, man.”
The voice must have heard my grunting, because it came from somewhere. The voice, which could be said to have appeared like a drunkard and made my stomach turn, seemed uncomfortable.
“What. Where are you?”
“Where are you?”
I wonder why it’s coming from the bed next to me.
“It’s because you’re grunting, and you look like shit.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Do you know who you’re up against, Mr. Hwang Bo-gyeom?”
“……?”
Huang Baoqiong.
I had heard of him for over five years in Shandong.
The Five Great Powers.
The five power stars representing the Huang Bo family.
I hadn’t forgotten about them from the few times Namgung Han and Namgung Suk had mentioned them, but even so, the two characters for defeat loomed large over me. I never thought I’d have a moment like this again after the final battle with Elder Eight.
“……A defeat is a defeat is a defeat.”
“Someone said not to accept defeat, but it’s too funny.”
I was about to ask what was so funny, but my jaw dropped at what was said first.
“Has anyone in the Swordbranch Society ever been crushed by the bitter defeat you handed them?”
The Blade Society.
Why now, after more than five years?
“With Wu Wen and Dong Hui at your side, and the Second Duke Nam Gung-Hyeok bent on surpassing you on the Yangtze River, the defeat you inflicted on them must have been even more devastating than the defeat you feel now.”
Hagi, it’s inevitable.
A man his own age, a black man who was considered a failure, was broken in front of everyone.
“But they grow up, they move on, they rethink. And here I am by your side, as if to remind you.”
I was at a loss for words.
“Ruminate, and ruminate, and ruminate until your gallbladder feels sweet. That’s the least you can do with your meager talents.”
When he died, he didn’t say a word to me about how hard I’d worked or how well I’d fought. That’s the way of the old man.
“Speaking of the sword tournament, I’m sure you’ll recognize me if I win that time…….”
Boom!
Just as I was about to vent my frustration, someone pulled back the cloth between the bunks and gave me a pointed glare.
“……Nanny.”
“Why.”
“…….”
For some reason, I was speechless. No, she was gone. I should have asked her if she was feeling better, but the look in her eyes sent a chill down my spine.
Then I looked away.
“Why is Uncle …… there.”
I saw my uncle in the next bed with me, covered in medicinal herbs. I couldn’t believe it, after all, I was in the same condition. He was talking to me in such an impolite manner and discussing what to do.
Just as I was about to say something.
“They’re in pairs. They’re in pairs. What can I do about it?”
The nanny’s voice cut me off. I hadn’t said anything yet.
“Don’t care what I do from now on, go ahead and do it!”
I was really frustrated. But what the heck, it was the nanny.
“Come on, both of you, open your mouths! Can you do that?!”
I was terrified. I swear, scarier and fiercer than the gnome in Antibose Street. But I had to open my mouth if I wanted to live. She was the one against whom my sword could not penetrate, the one who would render my sword useless.
“Ah……!”
But with a nanny’s touch. Yumi-mi-pyo’s nourishing meal opened my heart.
Originally, the market was a side dish.
There is no business before hunger.
* * *
“Did you …… hear?”
“Hua, did Huang Boshega make a blockade?”
“It was so quiet, it was like a blockade.”
“Quiet as hell! It was quiet for the bandits. Not to us!”
“Hush! Hush!”
“You said the gates were sealed, but who can blame you, I must tell you now. Didn’t Huang Bo tell you that they sucked out all our blood, all our good blood, and yet he didn’t know about the bandits? If there’s anyone here who doesn’t know about it, let him come out and see!”
The rumor spread quickly among the gossips.
Huang Bosega declared the gates sealed. All in one day.
In the name of self-reflection, the people offered to give what they had, scattering tons of riches and food to the villagers. They even wrote in the announcement that they had joined hands with bandits, expressing their gratitude for the Namgung family’s work for Shandong.
He even said that it would be great if the Shandong branch could continue to do more for Shandong.
While everyone was dumbfounded.
“Brother …….”
“Brother, are you feeling well?”
“What happened?”
“What happened.”
The monkfish troupe leader, Huang Tianhou, my brother-in-law, responded with a smile.
“As an elder brother, this is the least I can do. I must go now. I’ve been away for too long.”
“……I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
“Ban Ao.”
“Yes.”
I looked Huang Tianhu directly in the eyes.
“You’re the one who trusted me and threw yourself into him.”
Surely we hadn’t been family long enough, but still.
“What could I not do for you, and I am grateful.”
He looked at me so warmly.
Is this friendship or family love?
I thought to myself.