The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 171

The Black Death Society was on high alert.

The reason was the recent aggressive expansion of the Black Cloud Gang, which had begun to establish its presence nearby.

It had started by drawing in smaller factions one by one, and in just a few months, they had even managed to bring in groups with established names.

But the problem did not end there.

Bang—!

“An alliance, they say! Have they gone mad?! What do vagabonds who pillage one day to survive the next need with an alliance?!”

“They are clearly trying to use the term ‘alliance’ to swallow up the smaller forces and expand their influence! And now they dare to reach for our Black Death Society? Does that not mean they look down on us?!”

“Those damn bastards! Let’s trample them all! Let’s wipe them out once and for all, Chief!”

The Society Leader pressed his throbbing temple and raised a hand to silence his subordinates.

“I understand what you're saying, so shut up for a moment. You're giving me a headache.”

He tossed the letter from the Black Cloud Gang onto the table and continued speaking.

“But isn’t this a bit strange? If they were really looking down on us, like you said, then why would they bother sending grain with the message?”

“That’s just to blind us to their real intentions!”

“Is it really necessary to go that far? What do you think, Jade-Faced Master?”

The Society Leader turned his gaze toward the man who had been silently listening from the side.

Unlike ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) the rough and burly men surrounding him, the man called Jade-Faced Master had a youthful, refined face that suited the name.

The man glanced around at the gathered men, then slightly bowed his head toward the Society Leader and replied.

“I do not believe it is a bad offer.”

At that, murmurs spread among the gathered crowd.

The Society Leader raised a hand again to silence them and asked Jade-Faced Master,

“Why do you think so?”

“Just from observing the Black Cloud Gang’s actions. If their goal were to expand their own faction under the guise of an alliance, they would have completely absorbed the smaller groups. But those factions still remain intact. Rather, they seem to be under the protection of the Black Cloud Gang.”

“Hmm...”

“I believe it would be best for you to meet with the Black Cloud Gang’s leader in person. Speak directly and discern his true intentions.”

Had there ever been a time when following Jade-Faced Master’s counsel led to poor outcomes?

Was it not thanks to him that the Black Death Society had grown this much while avoiding Mount Hua’s attention?

Some began shouting not to speak nonsense, others growled not to be deceived, but a few nodded in agreement with his words.

“Hey, quiet down already! My head’s pounding!”

The Society Leader bounced his leg anxiously, lost in thought.

Should he follow Jade-Faced Master’s suggestion and meet the Black Cloud Gang’s leader?

‘But somehow, it irks my pride to be the one to propose the meeting.’

He could not afford to lose face in front of his subordinates.

‘Damn it, what should I do?’

As he bit his nails, two shadows stretched across the floor of the Chief’s Hall.

“What has you so troubled?”

Clack— The door to the hall opened.

Everyone except the Society Leader flinched back in surprise, and even Jade-Faced Master’s expression tensed.

“Oh, my brothers have arrived!”

The Society Leader greeted the two with a bright smile.

Alongside Jade-Faced Master, these two were another pillar of the Black Death Society’s power—none other than the Poison-Handed Twin Ghosts.

“Come, sit. What took you so long?”

“Heh, some wench got on my nerves.”

“We were late because we had some... fun.”

Their lewd laughter caused several faces to twist in discomfort.

Yet every one of them turned away, masking their displeasure to avoid offending the Twin Ghosts.

Even the Society Leader waved them off with a displeased tone.

“Again with that nonsense? You filthy bastards, show some restraint. Sit down already. We're in the middle of a pain-in-the-ass discussion.”

But the Poison-Handed Twins made no move to sit. The gaze of Il-Gwi, the First Ghost, turned toward Jade-Faced Master.

“...I heard bits of it from outside.”

Faced with the blatant gaze, Jade-Faced Master did not look away and met it head-on.

“...”

“...”

Il-Gwi grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.

“But hey, what if it’s a trap?”

“?!”

“!”

Jade-Faced Master and the Society Leader both stiffened.

“...What?”

“I mean, what if the Black Cloud Gang is calling you out just to swallow you whole? Why are they asking you to go to them? Hey, are you sure you're not one of their agents?”

“!”

“What nonsense! Do not be ridiculous!”

“Why is that nonsense? Come to think of it, how did Jade-Faced Master end up joining the Black Death Society?”

“That’s...!”

“Who knows? Maybe he’s been trying to sell us out from the beginning.”

Jade-Faced Master shot to his feet.

“What lunacy is this! Why would I ever betray the Society Leader?!”

Il-Gwi casually picked his ear.

“Well, how should I know? Maybe they made him a better offer.”

“What nonsense...! Chief, that is completely unfounded—!”

He turned to the Society Leader to plead his case—but his words halted.

The gaze directed at him was no longer warm. It had turned cold.

‘Damn it...’

Jade-Faced Master and the Poison-Handed Twin Ghosts had never gotten along.

The Society Leader had kept both around out of necessity, but in truth, the two factions had always vied for influence.

And now, the Twin Ghosts had seized their opportunity.

“But hey, Chief.”

“Hm?”

“If this pretty-boy here is right, then there’s no reason for you to go. Shouldn’t we just summon the Black Cloud Gang’s leader instead?”

“Hoh...”

That was true.

Why bother going? They could simply summon him.

And that way, he would not lose face in front of the subordinates.

“Send word to the Black Cloud Gang. Tell them to cut the crap. Spread some nasty rumors about them to slow them down—let’s see if they can resist showing up after that. Keh-heh.”

“Excellent idea. Let’s do that. But... Jade-Faced Master, how come you didn’t think of something so simple?”

“!”

Embarrassment flickered across Jade-Faced Master’s face.

“I—I intended to bring it up gradually...”

“Anyone can say they meant to say it. That guy’s hiding something, I’m telling you.”

Jade-Faced Master looked desperately toward the Society Leader.

But he only turned his head away with a bored expression.

It was not that he had chosen not to say it—he simply had not had the chance yet.

He had planned to suggest calling the Black Cloud Gang’s leader here instead, to preserve the Society Leader’s dignity...

It was over now.

The Society Leader’s face was already clouded with distrust, and the subordinates who had always opposed Jade-Faced Master clearly had no intention of backing him now.

“Chief, I’ve got a good idea.”

“What is it?”

“When the Black Cloud Gang’s leader arrives, we should scare him a little. That way we can have a real conversation, eh?”

The Poison-Handed Twin Ghosts chuckled and grinned at Jade-Faced Master.

The once-proud gleam in his eyes was now trembling with confusion.

Staring into those shaken eyes, the Twin Ghost smacked his lips.

****

“W-Who goes there?!”

Shhhh—!

As Ryeong swung her sword, the Black Death Society’s executives were swept away.

A dark, heavy aura was coiled around her blade.

– Kill that one.

Thud—

“Guh—!”

Following Seolhwa’s sound transmission, Ryeong quickly cleared out the Society’s leadership.

Seolhwa, watching from somewhere, was directing her—whom to kill, and whom to spare.

‘Miss... please be alright...’

As she fought through the Black Death Society’s men, Ryeong worried about Seolhwa.

When they first trained with sword qi wrapped around her blade, Seolhwa had coughed up an entire bowl’s worth of blood.

Even with a constant nosebleed and weakening frame, Seolhwa had not backed down.

One month, two months... nearly six months had passed, and in that time, the two had become so synchronized they could understand each other without speaking.

Clang—! Clatter—! Slash—!

“Aaaargh!”

Not a single one of the Black Death Society’s warriors could last more than a single exchange.

There was no one capable of blocking sword qi.

“B-Block her...! Stop her, somehow!”

From the back, a man shouted while pushing his subordinates forward.

At that moment, Seolhwa’s sound transmission reached Ryeong.

– That man is the Society Leader. Do not let him escape.

Ryeong’s gaze locked onto the Society Leader.

Clang—! Slash! Clack—! Slash! Clang! Thud—!

Step by step.

Ryeong advanced without hesitation.

At last, she reached the Society Leader.

“Ugh...!”

She brought her sword to his neck.

His legs gave out, and he collapsed, glaring up at her from the floor.

A black mask and black robes.

“W-Who... are you...?” 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

But no answer came.

He asked again.

“Did the Black Cloud Gang send you...?”

Again, silence.

This one had no intention of saying anything?

Just as his face contorted with fear and frustration—

“Order your subordinates to surrender. If you do, there will be no more needless bloodshed.”

A low, firm voice rang out.

Even Ryeong herself was startled by the sound of her own voice.

‘It really does sound like a man...’

Before coming here, Seolhwa had struck a point that altered her vocal cords to produce a male voice.

It was a technique called Resonant Tone Point.

‘I’ve never heard of such a martial art...’

How had the Lord known about it?

– Get the Society Leader on his feet.

“Stand up.”

Trembling under Ryeong’s blade, the Society Leader stood.

– Bring him outside.

“Walk.”

Ryeong led him out ahead of her.

Clang! Clatter! Clang-clang-clang!

“Attack!”

“Don’t falter! Kill them!!”

Outside, it was utter chaos.

Caught off guard by the Black Cloud Gang’s ambush, the Black Death Society’s men had no time to form a proper defense and were fleeing in all directions.

Ryeong stood atop the stairs with the Society Leader beside her.

If the Society Leader surrendered now and called for the fighting to stop, it would all be over.

“Keh-heh...”

“...?”

A deflated, mocking laugh came from the side.

Ryeong turned her head.

There stood a tall pole.

And hanging from the top of that pole—was a man, laughing.