Chronicles of the Martial God’s Return - Chapter 61

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A moment of silence settled over the courtyard.
Not only Gwon Mu-jin, watching from a distance, but also Namgung So-hye—who stood witness with her own two eyes and ears to such audacious words directed at the Sword Emperor—found herself unable to speak hastily.
She had thought she knew Dan Woo-hyun’s temperament well enough, yet she never imagined he would dare to approach the Sword Emperor with such boldness.
She laughed awkwardly.
‘This is going to turn into a fight at this rate.’
That was not why she had brought him here.
Besides, if they did fight, the victor was already decided.
Everyone in the world knew that the title Sword Emperor had not been earned lightly.
Dan Woo-hyun would not withstand even a single move of his blade.
Yet here was Namgung So-hye, possessed of such confidence, stepping between them.
“Grandfather! We’re your guests.”
“Heh, I said nothing at all.”
“And Master Dan should show a bit of respect to his elders too!”
“An elder, you say……”
Dan Woo-hyun stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The Namgung Cheon before him certainly appeared to be of considerable age. With his snow-white hair, his long whiskers cascading freely, and the bright formal robes he wore, he cut the figure of a sage of the martial world.
Even Gwon Mu-jin dared not approach too closely, such was the force of Namgung Cheon’s presence.
But an elder?
Was he truly an elder?
When Dan Woo-hyun was sealed away, he was past fifty years of age. It was only because of his youthful appearance that he seemed barely in his early thirties, but in truth, he possessed far more years than Namgung Cheon by several dozen times over.
“Quarreling with words only proves tiresome. What business brings you here?”
“Well, you see……”
“I merely wished to spend some time viewing Dongjeong Lake with my granddaughter after so long. The recent affair ended poorly, and my heart has been in no good spirits.”
Namgung So-hye pressed the bridge of her nose.
Did he have to voice such an embarrassment aloud? Soon enough, rumors would already be spreading that the Murim Alliance had seized nothing from the Mushin Secret Vault.
The eyes of the martial world had already turned unfavorable toward the Murim Alliance in recent days, owing to the two incidents that had occurred in Honam, and she had no wish to see such shameful tidings circulated further.
“The room is expensive.”
“We shall pay three silver coins per night.”
Watching Namgung Cheon open his mouth with a hearty laugh, Dan Woo-hyun’s eyes suddenly gleamed. Three silver coins was quite a substantial rate for a room.
“Then…… I shall provide meals at no charge.”
Dan Woo-hyun led them to their quarters.
Namgung So-hye could use her usual room, but Namgung Cheon was visiting for the first time and paying a considerable sum, so it seemed right to offer him a better chamber.
“You shall use this room.”
“Heh, am I truly permitted to use such a room? It seems hardly different from the master’s own quarters.”
“It is a spare room. Think nothing of it.”
Having spoken, Dan Woo-hyun turned sharply on his heel and departed. With Namgung So-hye, there was at least something that might be called a connection between them, yet he conducted himself as if he had nothing to say to her.
Namgung So-hye watched him go with evident displeasure.
“Heh, an amusing fellow.”
“He’s not a friend.”
Clearly piqued, Namgung So-hye settled herself at the table. Why did it feel as though her frustration had only deepened, even though she had come to soothe her spirit?
This was precisely why she had not wished to come to Ak-yang.
Lost in such thoughts, she lifted her gaze suddenly to regard Namgung Cheon.
“Grandfather.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Why…… are you remaining silent?”
“Hmm?”
“He was discourteous and failed to use proper language…… if this had been the usual you, I’d have thought you’d have said something by now.”
Namgung So-hye recalled a recent matter.
Among the Eight Great Families, and if Namgung was the foremost, there was a family called eternal second—the Moyong family.
They had their seat in Liaoning.
Their eldest son was two years younger than Namgung So-hye, and at birth, it was said his exceptional talent would make him a future hope of the orthodox school, and rumors of his reputation had spread far.
Some said he was talent enough to elevate the Moyong family to primacy.
In any case, she had recently encountered this eldest son of the Moyong family, and Namgung Cheon had administered him a stern rebuke, a memory that remained clear in her mind.
The man had conducted himself as if he were a king.
It seemed little different from the current situation.
Dan Woo-hyun’s conduct had also been quite disrespectful.
“I see. Yet…… strangely, my mood is not displeased.”
Namgung Cheon stroked his beard, his mind drifting to Dan Woo-hyun. The moment the gate doors swung open and he saw that figure standing before them, a strange vertigo seized him.
In all his years, Namgung Cheon had never once experienced such a sensation—it was decidedly novel.
“That man… the Hukdo Society…”
“Yes. He hasn’t said as much, but I’m certain of it.”
A sigh escaped Namgung So-hye’s lips as she rested her chin on her hand. She’d turned it over in her mind countless times, yet the mere fact that such a person possessed such formidable martial power sat poorly with her.
If it weren’t for that, she would have struck him down then and there.
Crunch—
She clenched her fists, swallowing her anger.
“Leaving that aside, are you truly certain about this? The Alliance must be in absolute chaos by now… just the two of us…”
“Ha ha! It’s fine, quite fine. An old man about to retire anyway—they’ll forgive a little shirking of duty.”
“Surely not the Commander-in-Chief.”
As she sighed, Namgung Cheon’s expression grew strained. Indeed, while the others might overlook it, the Commander-in-Chief would never accept such a thing.
The very thought of him brought a wave of apprehension.

***

“Is this man not the Sword Emperor?”
“Sword Emperor?”
“The current Lord of the Murim Alliance.”
“I see.”
Dan Woo-hyun considered this.
So this was the one whom Namgung So-hye had mentioned so often—the Sword Emperor. Indeed, he bore a presence altogether different from the martial masters he had encountered thus far.
Even the Qi Aura he emanated at first sight was extraordinary.
‘Yet that is all it is.’
The Martial Presence flowing from his entire being was undoubtedly formidable, but within that overwhelming force, he could discern no hidden sharpness—no edge. This signified that the man did not truly comprehend his own martial power.
‘Had she understood this, she would have beaten her fists against the ground in despair.’
Dan Woo-hyun’s mind flickered with the image of someone, but the warmth of an approaching hand drew him back to the present, and he turned his head.
Dan So-mi had drawn near without him noticing.
“Sister’s arrived, hasn’t she?”
“Ha, yes. She’s here.”
“Wonderful! Shall we go see her?”
“Wait a moment. She didn’t come alone.”
“Who did she come with?”
“That’s right.”
Dan So-mi turned her gaze toward the room, her expression bright with curiosity.
The sight of the beautiful Namgung So-hye arriving with someone else had clearly piqued the girl’s interest. Yet no matter how hard she peered, she could not see into the depths of the chamber.
She crept forward, her steps soft as shadow, toward Namgung So-hye’s room.
Watching the child’s retreating form, Gwon Mu-jin and Dan Woo-hyun both smiled. Yet in the next moment, Gwon Mu-jin’s expression shifted, and he spoke in a voice too low for anyone else to hear.
“Has the military commander come on official business?”
“I doubt it. For official business, he’s far too quiet.”
It made no sense for merely the two of them to have come.
Moreover, Dan Woo-hyun was confident that he had moved Sam-cheon’s remains without anyone knowing, and that no one had detected him in the process.
Not even if Namgung Cheon had been beside him.
“I’m uneasy. It troubles me that he is here of all places.”
Gwon Mu-jin was a man of Sapha.
Naturally, the fear Namgung Cheon inspired had not faded. The one known as the Sword Emperor was truly invincible on the battlefield, and to his enemies, he was nothing short of the grim reaper himself.
This was what the Five Emperors were—beings of such nature.
No matter how aged they grew, how placid their temperament became, their essence never truly diminished.
“Are you afraid?”
“The moment I saw his face, my mind went numb.”
Gwon Mu-jin laughed despite himself.
This was not the first time he had laid eyes upon those called the Five Emperors.
Jeok Mu-seong, the Emperor of Sapha, was himself counted among the Five Emperors.
Yet Jeok Mu-seong, whom he had observed from a distance, and the Sword Emperor, whom he now faced at close range, were as different as night and day.
The moment that Martial Presence washed over him, his senses reeled.
Merely to look upon him drained the strength from his limbs, forcing him to deliberately brace his legs to remain standing. He had no wish to embarrass Dan Woo-hyun.
Then Dan Woo-hyun let out a soft chuckle.
It was the kind of smile he always wore.
In that instant, Gwon Mu-jin felt strength gradually return to his body.
“One must gaze upon that which is higher to truly recognize one’s own powerlessness. And in the moment that recognition dawns, a step by which to climb higher is laid bare.”
“I understand perfectly what you’re saying.”
Don’t be discouraged simply because you lack strength now.
Don’t tremble in awe before a mountain so vast you cannot even conceive of scaling it.
Climb steadily, and one day you will reach the summit.
Gwon Mu-jin felt as though he were hearing such words spoken to him.
Of course, they were nothing like what Dan Woo-hyun had actually said.
“But where in blazes has that fool Sam-tae gone?”
Dan Woo-hyun’s brow darkened.
A guest had arrived, and the one supposed to bring tea or prepare food had vanished.
‘If something’s come up, say so. If you’re going somewhere, say where. That’s how it should be.’
Dan Woo-hyun clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
“The man’s grown lazy.”
In that moment, he resolved to work Jang Sam-tae harder in the days to come.

***

Meanwhile, Jang Sam-tae had slipped out behind the estate and was wiping sweat from his brow, constantly glancing about. His expression soon twisted in frustration, and he climbed back up the mountain path.
“Damn it all, where on earth is this ball?”
It was only a little thing that a child had thrown.
It couldn’t have gone far, yet somehow it was nowhere to be found.
No matter how thoroughly he searched, there was no trace of it—whether an eagle had snatched it or the wind had carried it away, he couldn’t say.
For over an hour now, he’d been searching in vain for a ball that didn’t seem to exist.
The sun had climbed high, and his stomach gnawed at him.
Long past the time when he should have returned to the estate to prepare a meal, yet he couldn’t abandon the search—not after seeing the child’s tear-stricken face.
Jang Sam-tae clenched his fists.
Whatever else happened, he burned with the resolve to find that ball.
He gazed up at the sky and called out loudly.
“I swear I’ll find your ball for you, So-mi!”
He pressed on, scanning the area carefully once more. How fierce the wind must have been to make such a small ball disappear without a trace.
After another half hour of searching, Jang Sam-tae cried out.
“Damn it! There really has to be something here!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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