Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#100

“I’ll hand it over for one hundred!”

“What?!!”

Behind them, Kwak Hyeong’s eyes nearly popped out as he watched this conversation with a satisfied expression, nodding continuously.

“W-wait, Lord Namgung Taejin…!”

“One hundred!”

Ignoring that, Namgung Taejin boldly shouted again.

“This manly fellow can’t be bothered with writing debt certificates to a brother with such a weak heart. Besides, my reputation is at stake, and it would look bad to withdraw my offer just because I’m short nine hundred silver coins! I’ll specially hand it over at one-tenth of my originally proposed price!”

Namgung Hwi cried out in shock.

“What?! N-no, brother! There’s no need for that…!”

“No, no!”

Namgung Taejin waved his hand.

“Because you’re my brother. Because I’m your brother.”

“Brother, really…”

Namgung Hwi showed a moved expression.

“Thank you.”

“Enough. I’m a real man.”

“Yes, you truly are a real man.”

He raised his finger.

“But if problems arise there from now on, that’s entirely your responsibility, little brother. Understood?”

“Of course, brother.”

“Good.”

Namgung Taejin nodded with satisfaction.

“Then bring one hundred silver coins tomorrow. As soon as I receive them, I’ll process the Thousand Mile Manor transfer procedures…”

“Here it is, brother!”

“Huh?”

Namgung Taejin was surprised by the one hundred coins presented right before his eyes.

“You were carrying one hundred with you?”

“Yes, since it’s my entire fortune, I always have to carry it with me. Please take it quickly.”

“Uh… r-right.”

“Brother, you truly are a magnanimous person!”

At those words, Namgung Taejin gestured to Kwak Hyeong behind him.

“Kwak Hyeong, stamp the transfer documents and hand them over right away.”

“Ah… uh… uh… I… I understand.”

“And brother, since we’re talking, this inadequate and petty younger brother just thought of something. May I ask one more thing?”

Then he shrank back again.

“Ah, no. I know nothing about the world, so I almost said something foolish again.”

“What foolish talk! Go ahead and speak. This brother will listen.”

Now that I look at him, this Namgung Hwi fellow.

Even his gaunt and ugly face looks rather pitiful.

I didn’t know he was such a weak and trusting person.

“It’s about the Yaxiang Guild building that burned down and turned to ashes.”

Namgung Taejin’s eyebrows twitched.

“Why that?”

“If it goes up for sale… could I purchase it? I’ll soon have my monthly salary coming in as the Third Young Master, and if I somehow borrow money from you, brother, or someone else to add to that, I thought I might be able to buy it.”

“…What?”

Namgung Taejin frowned.

“Why that place of all things?”

Namgung Taejin’s vigilance rose sharply.

That place also had traces of his involvement.

Originally, the connection between himself as the Third Young Master and the ruined Yaxiang Guild carried the danger of potentially exploding at any time.

But now that he was targeting it, Namgung Taejin’s fading vigilance began to raise its head again.

“Why that place specifically? And what would you do after buying it? I know all the geography around there, and that burned building is in a corner, an invisible place. It would be hard to even set up a business that brings in money, little brother.”

“There are reasons for that. First, naturally it will be cheap since it burned down, and second, I heard in passing that there’s no place in that area that handles funeral preparations.”

“Funeral preparations…?”

Namgung Taejin frowned.

He wondered what kind of nonsense this was now.

“What’s this about funeral preparations? And that wouldn’t make much money either, would it?”

Namgung Hwi showed a simple expression.

“I’m also a Young Master of the Namgung family, but as you know, brother, I have nothing. If I could do something to help the common people even a little in the name of the Namgung Family, and if I could win over Anhui’s public sentiment to my side even slightly, I thought it might be helpful, so I tried to use my head.”

“…”

“If I establish a small Euijang and help with funeral preparations for the poor… Though I’m lacking, I thought it might spread my name before becoming the Young Master, and seeing that, various martial artists might come to pledge themselves to me… Of course, some modest money would come into my hands as funds too. I think monks would help as well.”

Namgung Taejin asked as if dumbfounded.

“Where on earth did you see and reference that idea?”

“Well, from books…”

“Books? Books…?”

Namgung Hwi said embarrassedly.

“I saw it in books about ancient martial arts heroes. Since such things exist in reality too, wouldn’t they also appear in those dilettantes’ stories?”

“…”

Namgung Taejin stared intently at Namgung Hwi.

‘This bastard is truly as hopelessly naive as his face is ugly.’

At this moment, the mask hiding Namgung Taejin’s true feelings crumbled.

His mouth naturally fell open.

“What kind of flower-brained… there’s a limit to everything, such ridiculous nonsense…”

“What?”

“Ahem, no! No! Hmm! It’s a good… idea. Ahem.”

He cleared his throat and composed his expression again.

And with this as an opportunity, Namgung Taejin completely let down his guard.

This one is a real sucker.

An absolute sucker that must not be let go.

With just a little manipulation, he’s the most perfect sacrificial lamb that can be used anytime.

No matter how simple and stupid he is, he’s still a Young Master of the Namgung Family.

This level of naive ignorance of worldly affairs was like an imperial princess I’d never encountered before, wasn’t it?

Oh heavens.

To give me such an opportunity.

Namgung Taejin desperately suppressed his grin that threatened to split his face.

And Namgung Taejin sighed.

“Little brother. This brother told you earlier. This Namgung Taejin doesn’t fall behind our elder brothers, the First and Second Young Masters, when it comes to funds.”

“Brother…?”

“How embarrassing would it be for you to borrow money for some burned-down building that costs so little, you penniless fellow.”

Namgung Taejin waved his hand.

“That place will probably be dirt cheap, so I’ll buy it for you. Take it.”

“Really, brother?”

“Yes. It works out well if my little brother will use it.”

That was true for Namgung Taejin as well.

There might be some traces left in the ashes.

With government officials among the customers, it was already more than troublesome enough.

Rather than that, it would be better to hand it over to Namgung Hwi, who trusts him completely.

Besides, wasn’t this guy a sacrificial lamb being fattened and fed to take the blame for everything in the worst-case scenario?

Actually, this worked out even better.

Looking at Namgung Hwi’s eyes now, it was clear he had fallen for Namgung Taejin’s magnanimous heart and become a perfect prisoner.

‘Yes, this is all an investment.’

All of this would surely return to him.

“Brother, I’m truly grateful!”

That stubborn guy who had gripped Namgung Taejin’s hand as if to crush it was now even bowing his head in gratitude.

‘Money is the best.’

Namgung Taejin smiled with satisfaction and waved his hand.

“Enough, enough. Anyone watching would think I actually provided you with a proper business.”

“Still.”

Namgung Taejin smiled inwardly.

‘I plan to use you as a scapegoat to pin everything on someday, so don’t cry and wail when that time comes.’

Hiding such thoughts, Namgung Taejin wrapped his arm around Namgung Hwi’s elbow again, just like when they first met.

He patted his shoulder.

“Since it’s come to this, let’s have some healthy competition, little brother.”

This time he didn’t shake it off or make an unpleasant expression.

Rather, accepting it willingly, Namgung Hwi even smiled.

“Oh my, what competition? If it’s really Brother Taejin, I would absolutely drop everything and come running.”

“Really? Haha! No, but then the First and Second Young Masters would be too pitiful. Let’s compete!”

“You’re truly a man among men…!”

Namgung Taejin laughed heartily.

His belly jiggled.

Namgung Hwi also laughed along and bowed.

“Then Brother Taejin, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yes, good work. Ah, Kwak Hyeong. Don’t forget to give Brother Hwi the deed.”

Then he clicked his tongue and pointed at Namgung Hwi.

“Really, Brother Hwi, you can’t act so carelessly. I have to take care of you until the very end. You’re really too naive.”

“Ah, I almost forgot. Understood, Brother!”

Namgung Hwi hurriedly received the deed and carefully tucked it into his chest. He cupped his fists and turned around.

He walked toward the door.

And the moment Namgung Hwi crossed the threshold, he paused briefly.

“…Hm?”

Kwak Hyeong, who was organizing the box after handing over the deed, tilted his head.

From his position, he could see Namgung Hwi grabbing the door handle from the side.

And Kwak Hyeong wondered if what he had just glimpsed from the side was an illusion.

‘For just an instant, it looked like the corners of his mouth went up…?’

Before Kwak Hyeong could confirm it again,

Namgung Hwi disappeared beyond the door like the wind.

***

As soon as Namgung Hwi left and the main gate closed, Namgung Taejin burst into the laughter he had been holding back.

“Kahahaha! Did you see that, Kwak Hyeong?!”

“Yes, I saw it.”

“That bastard came to clumsily threaten and test me, but instead paid good money to buy my rotten organization, and even took the cursed land!”

Namgung Taejin held his belly and laughed.

“Oh my stomach! Is there really such a sucker!”

He picked up a wine cup.

“But he wants to win the people’s hearts? Making money while establishing a mortuary for the common people will gather heroes from across the land? Kahahaha!”

He grabbed the wine bottle beside him and poured it into his mouth while laughing.

“Being so naive, how does he plan to survive in this cold martial arts world! I feel sorry as his brother for the harsh reality I’ll show that innocent soul! Puhaha!”

His laughter filled the room.

Kwak Hyeong laughed along.

And at the same time spoke with a worried voice.

“…Still, Lord Namgung Taejin. Didn’t you sell it too cheaply for one hundred silver? Though it’s hard to handle right now due to the manager’s incident and trust is at rock bottom making it hard to sell, the scale and well-established network is merchandise that would be hard to buy even for ten thousand.”

Namgung Taejin waved his hand.

“No!”

“…?”

“Do you know how much the monthly maintenance costs alone are? Eighty silver per month. Besides, it only has meaning if you can sell it for ten thousand or whatever, and even trying to sell it, there’s no buyer. And didn’t you see earlier? I bought perfect trust with that as the foundation. Do you think I did that thoughtlessly? There’s a meticulous plan behind it all.”

He raised his finger.

“I got rid of that money-eating burden while earning one hundred silver, and smoothly passed that ticking time bomb called Yaxiang Guild to that sucker without any suspicion. It’s better to sleep peacefully knowing it went to such an innocent guy rather than to a complete stranger. Kwak Hyeong, you know what?”

Namgung Taejin smiled with satisfaction.

“Money is money, but ultimately peace of mind is what really matters. Besides, such small change, I’ll earn more soon enough.”

Kwak Hyeong agreed.

“Now that I hear it, that’s true. You’re truly remarkable, Young Master.”

Kwak Hyeong bowed his head.

“…However, Young Master. I’m not sure if I should say this until the very end.”

“What now?”

“There’s one thing that bothers me.”

“What is it.”

Kwak Hyeong carefully opened his mouth.

“It went too smoothly. No matter what, he’s still the Fourth Young Master. And I remember those cunning eyes he showed at the Heir Apparent Selection Competition. But now he’s too… how should I put it.”

Kwak Hyeong hesitated then said.

“He seems like a different person.”

“What? No, no. Kwak Hyeong. You could think that, but.”

Namgung Taejin waved it off as if that was nothing to worry about.

“You have to look at the essence. No matter how much that guy acts up, he’s the one who rolled around in this Namgung Family’s annex, got his head dunked in horse troughs while being beaten by Namgung Cheon, and was called a mule. Such pathetic guys may bristle and rebel against immediate violence, but when faced with the vast world they can’t handle, they instantly become children.”

“…”

“And I extended a helping hand to that guy who became a child, as a man among men and as an adult. So like a fierce beast rolling over and wagging its tail, he became disarmed before me. You saw it, right? How he was genuinely admiring me. How he flinched when I mentioned assassins.”

“What if… that was all planned?”

“How could that be? Does that make sense? Kwak Hyeong, are you feeling unwell?”

Namgung Taejin frowned.

“What are you going on about with a naive guy who reads martial arts hero books and thinks people will recognize and seek him out if he runs a mortuary cleaning corpses? You’re ruining my good mood with such nonsense.”

Hearing even this from Namgung Taejin, Kwak Hyeong suddenly looked as if he had awakened from sleep, with an ‘ah’ expression.

“Now that I hear it, that’s really true. I’m sorry. I thought I saw Young Master Namgung Hwi smile for a moment earlier.”

“Of course, if you were in his place, wouldn’t you smile from excitement after receiving a Thousand Mile Manor from a brother like heaven, even if the actual thing was rotten?”

“…”

Kwak Hyeong’s eyes widened.

“I must have gone crazy. I’m sorry. Ah, that’s really true. Since the opponent is rather stupid and simple, I should think accordingly, but I was thinking too much at my level.”

“Watch your words. You’re spoiling the taste of alcohol.”

Kwak Hyeong bowed his head.

But doubt still remained in his eyes.

‘But could I have really seen that wrong too?’

The eyes that showed for just a brief moment when the Fourth Young Master crossed the threshold.

‘Something… feels like I’ve made an irreversible mistake.’

The smile wasn’t the problem.

In an instant, the smile that had briefly appeared on Namgung Hwi’s face had already returned to an expressionless state.

And,

instead, what began to shine in the darkness were blood-red eyes.

‘…It must be… my imagination.’

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