Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 18

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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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#018

Mount Cheonju.

The heart and sacred mountain of the Namgung Family.

At its base lies Taecheong-won where the family head resides, and surrounding Taecheong-won, the Five Branch Headquarters of the Five Sword Masters extend in five directions.

Each Sword Master expands their territory radially outward.

Rather than a family, it’s a ruling structure.

This is precisely the framework and foundation created by the current 21st family head, Namgung Cheonhyeok.

When Namgung Cheonhyeok rebuilt the Namgung Family, the Namgung Family was already in decline.

To save the family, Namgung Cheonhyeok boldly transfused new blood from outside. Among them, he gathered five whom he recognized and made an exception to establish them as the five leaders—these are the five pillars supporting the Namgung Family, the current five Sword Masters.

A system so radical and framework-shattering that other families moving by blood relations and single surnames couldn’t even dream of it.

A disposition that cares for no framework or gaze for the sake of the family’s revival and practical benefit alone.

The Crazy Dragon of Anhui.

This is precisely why this became the epithet of Namgung Cheonhyeok, who raised the current Namgung Family.

Certainly, his official epithet is Gwangryong following the character for light, gwang .

But those who witnessed his tyrannical and madness-filled concentration would ambiguously call him not Gwangryong but Gwangryong .

And—.

“Did you come knowing this? Or is it a coincidence?”

A massive full moon had risen.

There was nothing obscuring the sky.

Bluish moonlight spread across the black sky dyed in deep navy blue, and beneath it, a sea-like lake rippled at the summit of Mount Cheonju.

And before it stood Namgung Cheonhyeok.

The head of the Namgung Family and the Crazy Dragon of Anhui was glaring at me.

“Who whispered to you what Cheonwangbido means? Who was it?”

A sharp, fierce aura.

It was by no means an aura of goodwill.

Naturally.

This was the space where he uniquely spent his time.

A place where he maintained his own tranquility in contemplation and silence.

And for precisely that reason, I had come here.

His position within the Namgung Family is absolute.

No one can have a private audience with him.

More precisely—he doesn’t wish to have private audiences with anyone.

There are only two exceptions.

When receiving a death sentence.

Or when receiving an independent command.

It’s not a relationship of exchanged words.

That is the way of the man who elevated the family to the premier house among all Five Great Families.

The way of the Crazy Dragon of Anhui, Namgung Cheonhyeok.

“How could that be possible?”

I spoke first.

The moment I opened my mouth, my entire body tingled.

Living as an assassin, I had felt countless killing intents.

Most were just blade tips steeped in pretense.

Real killing intent is different.

It’s not like what those foolish dilettantes babble about—”the aura tingles” or “the spine grows cold”—

None of that exists.

Real killing intent has no sound, no presence.

No blade, no outcry.

Just quietly, somewhere in your head, an alarm bell rings.

Like when a vulture pecking at a corpse stops.

And looks at me with empty eyes.

This is instinct.

The body reacting before even assessing the opponent.

And now.

The aura Namgung Cheonhyeok emanated while looking at me was exactly that.

No murderous intent to kill, no wariness.

What he felt now was just one thing.

Pure and absolute displeasure at having his tranquil time disturbed.

“Shut up. Enough word games. I’ll ask one last time.”

Namgung Cheonhyeok said.

“Did someone whisper to you? That you could have a private audience with me if you climbed this Cheonwangbido on a full moon. Who was it? Sword Master Hwirong?”

“I came regardless of the family head.”

The family head’s murky gray eyes widened slightly.

“Rather, I was surprised that Family Head Namgung Cheonhyeok was here now. I’m just desperately suppressing that surprise.”

“Ha. How insolent.”

Namgung Cheonhyeok let out a brief sneer.

“On this moonlit night, at a time close to the hour of the rat, you climbed Cheonwangbido to gaze at the lake? At the summit of Mount Cheonju? Do you think such word games have even a shred of credibility as you flap your mouth? If you schemed to gain something through a private audience with me, it’s truly disgusting—”

“Mother said the Cheonju Mountain Lake under the full moon was beautiful.”

Family Head Namgung Cheonhyeok’s words cut off abruptly.

“I came to see it once, as someone of tainted blood, as someone confined to the annex who would never see it otherwise. Is that such a great sin?”

“….”

I don’t know what Namgung Cheonhyeok is thinking.

He was always expressionless.

His gaze seemed both empty and penetrating everything.

Even within that emptiness, there existed an irresistible sense of intimidation and the coldness to carry out any action if necessary.

“Yes. That would be so.”

Namgung Cheonhyeok muttered quietly.

“…If it were her.”

He reached to his side.

There was a rock beside him.

And on that rock was something.

He gathered what had been facing the lake into his embrace.

I couldn’t see clearly what it was due to the darkness.

If all four forms of Pasabeolsik had been fully unlocked to completely assist my body as in my previous life, I could have seen through the darkness easily, but my current state had only the first of the four forms of Pasabeolsik unlocked.

His gaze turned back to the full moon as he murmured.

“Get lost.”

“I understand that one who possesses the jewel of Cheonwangbido may purely enjoy their place here without heeding anyone’s commands.”

“It also signifies the right to a private audience with the family head that existed during the old Namgung Family era. Though no one among the young masters has ever grasped that meaning until now.”

He looked at me.

“Whoever whispered to you, yes. That recalls the old established family regulations I put in place, so I shouldn’t ignore it.”

He stood up.

Approaching me, he continued in an indifferent tone.

“What do you want? I can guess. It’s about absorbing the Emperor’s Life Transformation Pill, isn’t it? Originally, you couldn’t absorb even 30% of it, so do you want me as the Namgung Family head to guide your energy circulation? Forget it. There are rules and regulations. My direct assistance has limits for the sake of fairness with other young masters—”

“I’ve already absorbed all of it.”

“…What?”

It was the first time.

It was the first time.

Namgung Cheonhyeok’s eyes widened.

“That’s why a mere turbid-blooded existence who was confined to the annex could obtain this internal energy before even reaching the age of twenty.”

I spread my hand.

Wavering heat haze.

It was clearly the materialized and condensed internal energy of sixty years.

“I’ll say it once more.”

I raised my hand and said.

“I don’t need the family head’s help.”

“….”

It was a very brief moment, but surprise I’d never seen before appeared in the family head’s eyes.

‘I mustn’t show all my cards.’

Not knowing where the rot begins.

Not knowing how far my allies extend.

I absolutely had to keep one move hidden.

Crucially, I hadn’t even consumed the Emperor’s Lifetime Elixir yet.

My statement about having consumed the Emperor’s Lifetime Elixir was a lie.

The internal energy I showed now was

Twenty years inherited from my previous life.

Ten years from the Taeulji Summoning Elixir.

Twenty years from Manyeon Hanchul absorbed through Bukmyeong Singong.

Though it was my first attempt and I was inexperienced, letting much flow away, the total sum including the internal energy absorbed while fighting the Wi Family Quartet was sixty years.

It wasn’t an achievement accomplished by consuming supreme elixirs provided like those of noble family children, nor was it a result of relying unilaterally on fortuitous encounters.

It was purely the result of this life built up through my blood, tears, and obsession, and also the first achievement I couldn’t even dream of in my previous life.

The Emperor’s Lifetime Elixir I haven’t absorbed yet is an absolute opportunity I might not encounter more than a few times in my lifetime.

I would only absorb it after completing all the preparations I could make.

Of course, children of decent noble families have supporting forces like the Five Great Patriarchs or elders to help with energy circulation and breathing techniques, and could immediately and completely absorb the effects of supreme-grade elixirs like the Emperor’s Lifetime Elixir.

Of course, even with such backing, realistically about seventy percent would be the limit, but I don’t have even one person to provide such help.

Though I have experience absorbing the Taeulji Summoning Elixir with high purity, as it goes toward high-purity elixirs like the Emperor’s Lifetime Elixir, the difficulty level is different.

No matter how much I have Taihumuji Cultivation and the developed Buk Hai—no, Buk Myeong’s danjeon, this isn’t something to be rashly confident about, nor should I be confident about it.

It’s worth challenging only after sufficient, overflowing preparation, and if my prediction is correct, that time isn’t far off.

And crucially, I have absolutely no intention of consuming the Emperor’s Lifetime Elixir with only about seventy percent absorption.

“…So I was surprised too. I didn’t know the family head would be here.”

Of course, this is also a lie.

My choice of this Tianwang Bidao had two reasons, and one of them was my certainty that father, Namgung Cheonhyeok, would be here.

There’s a brief but indelible memory.

One day when I was driven from the annex.

Mother said this at my bedside.

‘If it’s him, he’ll be at Tianwang Bidao on nights when the full moon rises.’

At my bedside.

One day when I was driven from the annex.

Under the eaves where summer’s gentle breeze blew and wind chimes swayed.

To me who had been beaten for being ugly and skinny, she gave encouragement.

My mother, who gave me a lap pillow and stroked my hair, whose face has now grown dim, had surely said that.

“Therefore, since I’ve had the rare opportunity to meet you directly, I dare to ask.”

Coming to this place was also under meticulous calculation.

I came to obtain what I wanted.

Father-son affection?

Blood kinship?

Don’t make me laugh.

I felt my clenched fingernails digging into my flesh.

Such weak sentiments all disappeared when I burned to death.

‘…Really?’

I must have been training.

It seems I unconsciously muttered something.

Wu Biaoyun looked at my face and asked.

‘Do you really think so?’

I don’t know why Wu Biaoyun suddenly said that while observing my expression.

‘Then really, would it be fake?!’

‘No, I…. Alright, I got it.’

I’m serious.

In this life, I won’t retreat.

I won’t submit to anyone.

“Did you love my mother—. No—.”

Absolutely.

“Do you… remember her?”

“….”

Mother was from humble servant origins.

But they said mother had dignity.

She spoke calmly to anyone she met, and even wearing shabby clothes, no one dared treat her carelessly.

I don’t know how such a father and mother came to meet, or what story there was.

So this question is just thrown without any emotion, merely to approach the essence of what I want.

At the very least.

About mother who died a tragic death.

If that mastermind….

If by any chance the mastermind behind my current state is connected to that, then I—.

“And about mother’s death.”

Namgung Cheonhyeok’s pupils trembled slightly.

“If by any chance that was a death entangled with certain… people of the Namgung Family.”

“….”

“At the very least, if you know the inside story of how mother passed away…!”

“Shut up!”

Namgung Cheonhyeok shouted.

“Wasting the precious right to a private audience with the family head by asking such ridiculous questions makes me lose energy instead, when I was being cautious and suspicious! To think this brat is the fourth young master of the great Namgung Family!”

The head of the Namgung Family spoke coldly.

“Such nutritionless, weak arguments aren’t words for a man to speak! Or do you think the position of head of this great Namgung Family is swayed by such personal emotions?”

Namgung Cheonhyeok turned his gaze to look at the lake under the blue moonlight.

“Don’t be arrogant. How pathetic! You’re just one of my children who barely came up from the annex and only now entered the four young masters. Do you think I’ll give you special treatment? No, I had forgotten you even existed.”

“What… did you say?”

My voice begins to crack.

“Do you think this world revolves around you? No. Not at all. The world, you see.”

Namgung Cheonhyeok spoke in a dry voice.

“It’s the natural order that it’s built and progressed by those who’ve tasted hell enough to bash their heads against walls and die. Do you understand even a little of what I’m saying?”

“More than anyone.”

“You understand? You? Ha.”

He turned around.

He looked me up and down.

“Right. I suppose you did some intense training to overwhelm the Heir Apparent Selection Competition.”

Namgung Cheonhyeok’s gaze swept over my shoulders.

“Your physique has changed. No, even asking such questions is meaningless.”

He pauses for a moment.

“Let me ask you one thing. Recently, have your eyes ever turned red?”

“…?!”

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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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