Namgung Clan’s martial artists surrounded the scene, watching to assess the situation. Given the gravity of the term “Demonic Cult,” they were initially cautious due to the Daoist’s accusation.Namgung Pae, who had been wary of Envers since the carriage attack incident, had his hand on his sword hilt, ready to subdue him immediately if concrete evidence emerged.
The Namgung siblings were dumbfounded, unable to speak up and frozen in shock.
The words had already been thrown out, so now they had to be resolved. No one knew how it would end, but clearly, one of the two would either be expelled from the Namgung Clan or face an even worse fate.
“Why such a false accusation…!”
“That guy is definitely a pawn of the Demonic Cult! Without a doubt!”
Thus, this chaos turned into a war of words between Daoists. A small trial had begun.
The guests who had gathered to celebrate Namgung Chaegong’s birthday, the residents who had come for a free meal, and the clan’s warriors and guests all gathered around.
All eyes focused on the center. Envers was dizzy from the sudden commotion. He was perplexed. Of course, he was bewildered by the baseless accusation of being part of the Demonic Cult, but…
“Look here, I will clearly explain why I suspect this fellow, so listen carefully and pass judgment! As esteemed guests worthy of attending the Namgung Clan’s banquet, I believe you will make a wise decision!”
Envers, who had truly “fallen from the sky” without any connections, had neither favors nor grudges in the dusty Jianghu. His only interaction with that Daoist had been their verbal dispute.It didn’t make sense to corner someone so aggressively over a mere argument. Moreover, there was no reason to cause such a commotion at a joyous occasion celebrating the Clan Lord’s birthday.
Then, for what reason?
“…Then go ahead and explain why you falsely accuse me of being part of the Demonic Cult!”
“Very well, listen carefully! First–”
Discovering the reason for this would be a crucial turning point in the story.
===============================================================
The Daoist raised his voice, pointing accusingly.
“First, about the Dog Beating Staff Technique. It should have been lost in the final battle of the Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic! How could you possibly have it?”
“…I obtained it through certain connections.”
“Yes, and I’m saying those connections are suspicious! Isn’t it more logical that a minion of the Demonic Cult scavenged it from corpses than the secret manual of the Dog Beating Staff Technique somehow flowing to the West and you obtaining it by chance?”
This was forced reasoning.
Envers tried to speak the truth but stopped short of explaining about the other world and the Tower of Trials, fearing he would sound like a madman.
Telling such an outlandish story would make them think he was strange.
Instead, he pointed out the flawed logic. While it was odd to be so suspicious when coincidences clearly exist in the world, it was even more suspicious to force a connection to the Demonic Cult.
After all, the Demonic Cult wasn’t the only evil organization in the world, was it?
Was there really a need for it to be specifically the Demonic Cult?
“You are forcing your reasoning! If we talk like that, I could attach all sorts of reasons too. Why are you specifically linking this to the Demonic Cult in the first place?”
“That’s because you deceived the Namgung Clan’s Young Master, received treatment as a benefactor, and snuck into the banquet!”
At this, Namgung Myeong, who had been watching from the side, raised his voice in defense of Envers.
“Do not insult my benefactor! Daoist Cheonghwi saved me from the Demonic Cult’s attack!”
“That could have been a staged act!”
The Daoist closed his fan and pointed at Envers.
“The Namgung Clan’s Young Master was attacked by Demonic Cult members in the forest! And then this big-nosed Daoist appeared and chased them away. What reason would those vicious fellows have for willingly giving up their target?”
“It is because Daoist Cheonghwi’s sorcery has reached a high level!”
“Or they were in cahoots from the beginning! I can create smoke too, but look here. Do you think it makes sense for martial artists to run away just because of some black smoke? Especially those infamous Demonic Cult members?”
That was a fair point. Even Envers thought it was a bit strange. The group calling themselves the Demonic Cult had given up more easily than expected.
They were numerous, and judging by the speed of their Qinggong, they weren’t lacking in strength. They should have been able to push through mere black smoke. That was why Envers had been prepared to activate the Massive Explosion Scroll at the time.
Envers dug into his memories and spoke.
“…I saw those pursuers too. But, they were a bit strange. They called themselves the Demonic Cult, but as far as I know, the Demonic Cult refers to itself as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
“…!!”
“I think they might not have been the Demonic Cult. Some people might have just been using the Demonic Cult’s name to cause harm. In this case, wouldn’t the false accusations against me naturally be resolved?”
If those pursuers weren’t the Demonic Cult, the connection between Envers and the Demonic Cult would be severed. Then they couldn’t make a fuss about the Dog Beating Staff Technique being obtained through the Demonic Cult.
To this, the Daoist replied.
“No, those bastards must have been from the Demonic Cult!”
“What is your reason for that?”
“It’s because the Demonic Cult members hate the Namgung Clan intensely! As everyone knows, the Namgung Clan’s Sword Dragon, the great virtuous expert Namgung Zhao, has achieved grand merits by eliminating numerous Demonic Cult minions! The Demonic Cult trembles at the name Namgung!”
“…?”
Envers turned to look at Namgung Myeong.
The boy nodded with an uneasy look and added an explanation.
“Yes, Hyungnim… has achieved great merit several times by uncovering Demonic Cult remnants hiding in Anhui Province! So, I thought I was being targeted because of that grudge…”
Then the Demonic Cult had actually existed in Anhui Province.
Now Envers understood the Namgung Clan warriors’ wariness. At first, he thought they were discriminating against him for being a foreigner when they cautiously surrounded him despite the Daoist’s baseless accusation…
If it wasn’t a sect that disappeared 30 years ago, but groups still causing trouble to this day… If they were in constant conflict, it made sense that they would be so sensitive.
This time, Namgung Seungah questioned with a flushed face. What on earth was he doing to their benefactor?
She had been holding back out of consideration for Namgung Zhao, who had invited the Daoist, but now her temper flared as he cornered Daoist Cheonghwi with incomprehensible false accusations.
“This is too much, Daoist! If you drive away our benefactor, who helped Myeong, with such nitpicking, how will the world view us? They’ll call us shameless people who repay kindness with enmity!”
“That’s…!”
The Daoist’s eyes trembled slightly. He seemed unable to understand why Namgung Seungah was defending Envers.
He seemed to have thought that since peeking at the training ground was a great rudeness, Envers, who had been tricked, would naturally be in conflict with Namgung Seungah.
Did he think it would be easy to falsely accuse someone who had made such a bad impression?
Then the Daoist tilted his ear. As if listening to someone’s words. And then he suddenly said:
“…Then show your Immortal Powers here. If you show them, I’ll give up cleanly! You! Try summoning storm clouds to the ground right now!”
“What?”
“If what you say is true, if you’re really a highly cultivated Daoist, then show your Daoist Techniques here! If you’re not from the Demonic Cult, it will be pure without wickedness, and if you are from the Demonic Cult, the evil will be palpable at a glance!”
The Daoist pressed him to use that technique again.
However, Envers had already used the Smoke Scroll made by Selvier, and what remained were only convenience magic like Drying Clothes and Lethal Scrolls. He couldn’t suddenly unleash lethal magic here.
Envers spoke, exasperated.
“…I have no reason to follow your words, and that talisman has already been used so I cannot use it now. You are missing the point from the start. Can you corner someone like this without evidence?”
“Evidence! Yes, it is good that you brought that up!”
“…?”
The Daoist spread his fan wide and spun a lie.
“This Demonic Cult minion was staying in the room next to mine, and all sorts of terrifying ghostly sounds were coming out in the middle of the night! And I’ve heard that the Demonic Cult’s martial arts are so evil, they are nothing different from essentially playing with ghosts!”
“Utter nonsense!”
“If this were all a misunderstanding, I’d kneel down right here. But this humble one is certain. We’ll know if we search his luggage! Evidence will be found!”
“…!!”
So this was the ploy!
It seemed the purpose of pressuring with flimsy false accusations was to force a luggage inspection, even if unreasonably. And probably with a high probability— to frame Envers, they must have planted suspicious items in his luggage.
Since he was often away from his room, the Daoist in the next room would have had plenty of time to tamper with it.
Could he explain it away?
If strange books about the Demonic Cult or symbols were found in Envers’ bag, would they believe him if he claimed they weren’t his?
Could he escape this place unscathed? If he had to run around with a false charge, would he have to fight even the Namgung siblings…?
As Envers tried to sort out his confused thoughts and moved his hand to his chest.
At that moment, a clear boy’s voice rang through the hall.
“Boundless Firmament!”
Namgung Myeong stepped forward before the crowd.
“If you ask anyone to name one of our clan’s sword techniques, everyone would say the Boundless Firmament Sword Technique. And its meaning is that the sky is vast and distant, without end.”
“……”
“True to its name, the Sword of Boundless Firmament extends boldly and widely. We don’t just imitate the movements, but wield it by accepting the vastness of the sky in our hearts! That’s why the Namgung Clan’s family spirit is clear and without shame!”
Whoosh!
The boy demonstrated a move with a sword. Though immature, it was an exhilarating swing that seemed to clear one’s mind. Namgung Myeong showed that sword to everyone gathered.
“I know… that you can doubt! You can worry that a passing stranger might stab you with a knife, that the ground might cave in, that a benefactor might be an enemy. However!”
However.
“The sky does not act that way. The sky makes friends without doubt, and rightfully bears the consequences of its magnanimity! Daoist Cheonghwi is my benefactor, so if you want to harm him, you’ll have to step over me first!”
As he commanded so maturely, the Namgung Clan members opened their eyes wide.
Then, nodding their heads, they one by one broke into smiles. With the recent frequent occurrences of vile incidents targeting the Namgung Clan, how could they speak of Boundless Firmament if they acted pettily?
Even Namgung Pae, the person responsible for security, had a realization.
He rightfully had to suspect people and protect the Namgung name. That was his duty. However, if he became too fixated on that purpose, he would lose the sky-like spirit that makes Namgung what it is.
Namgung Pae spoke.
“It is true that there are suspicious aspects about Daoist Cheonghwi due to the complicated situation… but the Daoist’s words seem to have much forced reasoning. It’s difficult to tolerate any more disturbance, so please leave the clan.”
“No, no, this is…”
The Daoist’s face turned pale.
Envers stood up, shaking off his seat. Though bewildered by the suddenly changed atmosphere, he didn’t miss the moment to drive home the point.
“You seemed to want to see Daoist Techniques, so I shall show you.”
Saying this, the young Semu Daoist took out a strange-looking talisman and tore it in half. Then, the skin of the sweating fraudulent Daoist suddenly dried up!
The martial artists with the discernment to understand this change were greatly surprised and talked excitedly.
“I-Is this the True Fire of Samadhi? Are you saying he released heat from such a distance?”
“No, I didn’t feel any heat. He instantly removed only the sweat with a mysterious sorcery technique!”
Indeed, if he could handle such an exquisite technique, even the Demonic Cult would have retreated. People greatly admired and whispered among themselves. Those who had sided with the fraudulent Daoist flinched in surprise and shrank their shoulders.
Thanks to young Namgung Myeong’s magnanimity, he overcame the crisis of almost incurring the Daoist’s resentment! They had almost failed to recognize a noble person and driven him away.
The fraudulent Daoist looked at Envers in shock, then hurriedly ran out through the main gate.
Even as Envers wrapped up the situation like this, he was too dumbfounded to follow what was happening. He had essentially been accused of being a Black Wizard. In that case, they should have thoroughly searched him down to his underwear.
To have their suspicions dispelled after being persuaded by such a young boy… Had they all been put under a mass hypnosis spell?
Envers, utterly unable to understand, asked Namgung Myeong, whose shoulders were puffed up proudly with an Ahem . The boy was in a very good mood, feeling like he had protected his benefactor.
“…How did you do that? Why did the Namgung Clan members immediately change their attitude?”
As Namgung Myeong opened his mouth slightly, about to explain his thoughts in detail, a handsome young man’s voice was heard from the side.
“That’s because the Namgung Clan’s spirit is as such. Myeong’er, you’ve learned so well! Your maturity and magnanimity were a gift to me, so you don’t need to prepare a birthday present.”
“…?!”
As Envers jumped in surprise at the sudden voice, a middle-aged man had appeared silently beside him.
Wearing a blue robe and with a stylishly grown beard, he looked at first glance like someone who enjoyed the finer things in life. But looking at his hands, deformed with calluses, and his two legs standing as firmly as if they wouldn’t fall even in a storm…
Even if he didn’t want to know, he couldn’t help but know. He was an extremely well-trained swordsman, and…
“Father!”
He was Namgung Chaegong (南宮採工), the Clan Lord of the Namgung Clan.
===============================================================
After clearing up the atmosphere that had sunk due to the commotion, Namgung Chaegong led Envers to the reception room. He sat comfortably in a chair and spoke naturally without formality.
“Ignition, was it? You use quite an unorthodox technique, don’t you?”
“…!!”
Envers had only used Ignition once during his sparring with Namgung Seungah. He hadn’t shown it anywhere else. If so, it seemed he had been watching everything. Then…
This, are you actually lying just to tease us, Daoist Cheonghwi…?!
When he was intensely staring at Namgung Seungah for Gaze Insight training…!
Envers broke out in a cold sweat.