Chapter 262: Chapter 262

“If it’s the Murong Family, was it that bastard’s family?”

Dan Woo-hyun asked, recalling a face he could barely remember. He had only seen him briefly at the time, and because he had run amok like a madman, he could not even recall his face well.

“I don’t even remember his name. I know for sure he was the former leader of the Martial Alliance… but he was a strange-looking fellow.”

At his mocking words, they flinched.

If the Sword Emperor of the Namgung Family was its pillar, then Murong Hyeok-mun was likewise the pillar of the Murong Family.

Since there were those who would live and die for him, Dan Woo-hyun’s single remark was equivalent to trampling on their hearts.

Naturally, their killing intent soared.

“You bastard…! You speak so carelessly.”

“What ridiculous fellows.”

If they walked the path of the orthodox sects, it was right for them to act to execute Murong Hyeok-mun, who had tarnished the family name.

However, their minds seemed to work differently.

“It is you bastards whose actions go too far.”

Dan Woo-hyun lightly moved his hand.

Thud!

It happened in an instant.

The upper body of the man who stood before Dan Woo-hyun vanished from sight.

He was not holding a sword, nor did he grasp any other weapon, yet he killed his opponent simply by moving his hand.

Until the moment their companion died before their eyes, the warriors of the Murong Family could not even know what Dan Woo-hyun had done, nor could they even perceive it.

“I will send you all together soon, so go on ahead.”

Dan Woo-hyun wore a smile as cold as ice.

* * *

“So-hye?!”

Namgung Cheon was startled as he looked at Namgung So-hye, who came rushing in.

He felt that her expression as she ran in holding Dan So-mi was unusual, and the moment she set the child down, she collapsed to the ground.

“Haa, haa, haa…”

Unable to even answer, she could only gasp for breath.

Bloodstains covered her body.

Some were hers, while others were not. Furthermore, the wound on her back was deeper than expected, to the point where her life would be in danger if she were not treated immediately.

“What on earth happened?!”

Even Jang Sam-tae cried out in surprise.

The condition of Namgung So-hye, whose face was pale and lifeless, did not look good at all.

“Call a doctor! Quickly!”

Zhuge Un shouted at Jang Sam-tae. Since he was the fastest on his feet, if he moved quickly, there would be no disaster.

Jang Sam-tae hurriedly rushed out of the manor.

The entire household was thrown into an uproar.

A horrified Mae-hyang covered her mouth, and Gwon Mu-jin and Ma Jang-gang hurriedly approached and carefully lifted and carried Namgung So-hye.

Their actions were extremely swift and careful. Soon, they entered Namgung So-hye’s room and laid her down on the bed, then quickly left the room upon seeing Namgung Cheon’s stiff, hardened expression.

Left in the room, Sa Do-hak examined So-hye’s body here and there before speaking.

“It is a sword wound.”

“I know!”

Namgung Cheon shouted, grinding his teeth.

Who dared to make his granddaughter look like this? He felt like he would go mad with anger, as if his blood were rushing backward.

Namgung Cheon examined the wounds one by one. Since the one on her back was the most serious, he cut away the clothes stuck to her blood with a knife. A deep sword wound came into view.

“Which bastard dared!”

Kuoooo!

A violent momentum swirled in the room. A pressure so heavy spread out that anyone other than Sa Do-hak would have wet themselves.

“Is this the time for that? First aid comes first, you rascal!”

“Kuh…”

Suppressing his anger, Namgung Cheon quickly wiped away the blood and applied hemostatic herbs. Even so, it was nothing more than simple treatment.

If a doctor did not arrive soon, it would lead to a more serious situation.

“Haa… haa… Grand… Grandfather…”

“Yes, yes, So-hye! I am here!”

Namgung Cheon held her hand at the sound of her faint breath.

With her eyes faintly open, Namgung So-hye’s lips parted as if she absolutely had to say this.

“So… So-mi… So-mi is.”

“I know! So-mi is fine, so do not worry!”

Namgung Cheon squeezed the hand he held. To think she would worry about Dan So-mi more than herself even when she was dying.

Grit!

However, since he could not vent his anger in this situation, he only asked back quietly.

“Who was it… which bastard made you like this!”

“Haa…”

However, Namgung So-hye closed her eyes without answering.

Steadying her faint breath, she seemed to have finally felt relieved, lost her strength, and passed out.

“Look at this.”

At that moment, Sa Do-hak pointed to a wound.

Inferring from the location of the cut and the situation in which she must have been cut, only one martial art came to mind.

“The Murong Family!”

“Yes, it is not a direct line, but a collateral branch’s martial art…?”

As a master who had also clashed with the Murong Family countless times, Sa Do-hak grasped the martial arts they performed to some extent.

Although it was a small wound, there was no doubt that it was the sword play of the Murong Family.

That alone changed Namgung Cheon’s demeanor.

“These bastards…!”

Namgung Cheon turned his back.

If they were from a collateral branch and not the direct line, the members of that Murong Family were surely staying somewhere in Yueyang.

No longer did friendship for his close friend or the path of righteousness he had wanted to walk remain in his eyes.

“He said… I would regret it.”

“Yes! I do regret it! I should have killed him and eradicated his bloodline! This old fool acted needlessly and is now regretting it!”

Boom!

Knowing it was not something to say in front of Namgung So-hye, Namgung Cheon could not contain his rage and shouted. It was the first time in his life that he had been this angry.

He had not been this angry even when Murong Hyeok-mun did that to him and lost an arm, nor when he learned of that fact.

But now was different.

He could not control his boiling rage.

Biting his lips hard, he waited for the doctor to arrive as quickly as possible.

* * *

“Incredible. Those wounds were not inflicted by just one or two people… yet in the midst of that, So-mi does not have a single scratch.”

Ma Jang-gang shook his head as he recalled Namgung So-hye’s wounds. The wounds were so deep that it made no sense for her to have carried the child all the way here.

Anyone else would have collapsed after walking a few steps.

Yet, running this long distance was something that anyone could not easily do.

“She is no different from a mother to So-mi. The same goes for Lady Namgung. That is why she must have grit her teeth and run, right?”

Gwon Mu-jin replied with a bitter smile.

He wondered if he could have done the same in her position.

Had it been Gwon Mu-jin, he would have collapsed long ago, unable to move.

He instinctively realized that it was not something that could be achieved simply by having a strong will.

It was truly nothing short of maternal love.

Though she sometimes showed a clumsy side, he thought that this very side of her was indeed the Leader of the Phoenix Squad, and the Namgung So-hye known to Gwon Mu-jin, Zhuge Yeon, and the orthodox Martial World public.

“Who on earth…”

The voice of Zhuge Yeon, who sat on the veranda biting her lips, could be heard.

The white tiger and white cat kept watch by her side, but perhaps due to the unusual atmosphere, they simply sat still and kept their place.

Though they bickered every day, they had been friends since childhood, and that affection does not simply fade away.

To Zhuge Yeon, Namgung So-hye was an irreplaceable best friend, and she did not even want to see her friend injured like that.

Zhuge Yeon had always thought.

‘I want to be like Namgung So-hye.’

Her figure… not having an extraordinary mind, but possessing outstanding talent in martial arts, commanding the Central Plains, and never losing heart before anyone… was nothing short of an object of admiration.

That was why she teased her, played pranks, and tormented her even more.

Seeing Namgung So-hye so severely injured was truly a shock.

“It is turbulent.”

“Manor Lord!”

Stepping inside the manor, Dan Woo-hyun looked around at the fierce energy felt from all directions.

It felt somewhat subdued rather than the usual bright atmosphere.

It was like the calm before a storm.

Dan Woo-hyun frowned, as if he did not like it.

“My Lord, Lady Namgung…”

“I know.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s single word, everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

Come to think of it, he had suddenly disappeared while playing an absurd game of spinning tops, was that all because of this?

Zhuge Yeon sprang up from her seat and approached Dan Woo-hyun.

“Who is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean those who made So-hye like that. You know who they are, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

Zhuge Yeon’s eyebrows twitched at Dan Woo-hyun’s single word.

This was because, although he said he knew, he looked as if he would not answer. She unconsciously frowned and glared fiercely at Dan Woo-hyun.

“Do not worry. When the time comes, they will crawl out on their own.”

“…”

Unlike the others who wanted to swing the blade of vengeance immediately, Dan Woo-hyun spoke rather calmly and took a seat on the veranda.

He even took his time, dusting off the dirt on his clothes.

“My Lord… I do not think this is a matter that can be passed over so easily, however?”

Gwon Mu-jin muttered, looking at him sharply.

Namgung So-hye, who had gone outside, was attacked.

That meant it was no different from someone picking a fight with the Hunan Dan Family.

Although Namgung So-hye could not be said to completely belong to this family, considering the time they had spent together, she was now no different from family.

Moreover, since she ended up like that while protecting Dan So-mi, they had committed two acts that could never be condoned.

But Dan Woo-hyun let out a small sigh.

“Everyone’s killing intent is thick.”

Dan Woo-hyun was also human.

Therefore, he knew well what kind of feelings the others were experiencing.

When thinking of Dan So-mi, he too was filled with the desire to immediately capture those fellows and tear them limb from limb.

But there was a time for everything.

Even if he found and killed them right now, what would be left to gain?

What meaning would it have?

At the moment they achieved everything from one to ten, watching their painstakingly built sandcastle crumble before their eyes… would that not be the greatest revenge?

That was why Dan Woo-hyun kept his anger bottled up on one side and waited for the right time.

The way he smiled slightly was like a sharply honed blade.

Gwon Mu-jin, who stood before him, shuddered.

“Sam-tae, go and call the Hao Sect Leader.”

“Yes!”

Jang Sam-tae, who would usually frown at being ordered on an errand, also hurriedly ran out.

He was one who instinctively realized that Dan Woo-hyun was in a very bad mood.

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