Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 24

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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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#024

Carrying all the wealth stolen from Yanhua Xianglou across the Dairim Mountain Range to the center of Anhui,

traveling through the deep night without encountering anyone was as nerve-wracking as fighting fifty men on the streets of the Red-Light District.

Just before dawn broke.

When the black sky turned indigo and golden dawn began to shine, I was able to finish hiding all the wealth in the forest near the annex, breathing heavily.

Without a moment to catch my breath, I lifted my heels and climbed over the annex wall.

I went to the well behind the annex and continuously poured cold water over my head, washing my body vigorously.

To save even a little time, while washing my body, I placed my removed clothes under my feet and trampled them repeatedly, doing laundry and bathing simultaneously.

Only after reaching that point could I let out a big sigh of relief.

‘Now I can finally breathe a little.’

Though it was intentional, my body was steeped in the terrible smell of alcohol and debauchery.

But more importantly, I was relieved to see the blood that hadn’t dried yet washing away.

From the outside, I now looked like just a young master who had a light drink outside and returned at dawn to pour water over himself to wash away his hangover.

Though it was dawn, the water was cold.

Anhui’s seasons brought autumn early and briefly.

Outside, red autumn leaves were falling.

The well water was cold, cold enough to make my teeth chatter.

But my mind was endlessly cold.

‘What’s next?’

This was what currently filled my head.

To sublimate my hatred and desire for revenge against the Namgung Family, I decided to devour the Namgung Family. I became the fourth young master for that purpose, but this is only the beginning.

‘Bonds… I need friendly forces that won’t stab me in the back.’

Not subordinates I directly command. I’m not suited to be a leader anyway, and past betrayals made me abandon expectations of others. Believing and being betrayed, considering them family only to receive contempt – a repetitive life. That’s why this life is different. Moving independently but bound by loose trust – ‘bonds’, my allies. That’s enough.

No matter how outstanding one’s skills, being alone ultimately has limits, as I know all too well.

Of course, my insufficient skills were also to blame. During my past assassin days, I had experience killing a transcendent mid-level master using all sorts of irregular methods. My master was shocked, saying it broke the premise that ‘assassins cannot kill martial artists at the transcendent level or above,’ but I didn’t care much at the time.

I just thought I was lucky.

Just because I killed an opponent using every means available didn’t mean I had reached that level.

I clearly knew my real skill was still two levels below that – at the complete mastery level of peak expertise, and if I fought as martial artist against martial artist without any irregular tactics or strategies, my head would fly off before thirty seconds of combat passed – I knew this better than anyone.

In that sense, looking back comprehensively, the reason my past life met such a miserable end was certainly due to the lack of skill as an ‘assassin’ – an inferior version compared to orthodox martial artists – but ultimately, until that moment of being hunted like a rabbit and dying in humiliation, while the enemies were many, I who resisted was thoroughly ‘alone’ – that was decisive.

Therefore, in this lifetime, creating my allies and my group is essential.

And this process naturally allows me to achieve another purpose simultaneously.

The most certain way to find the ‘Masked Man’ who burned me to death, who must be somewhere within the Namgung Family.

By repeatedly placing everyone around me under my influence and into my bonds, those who refuse to enter will stand out. Among them, or behind them, my enemy will be.

‘Wait… come to think of it, what about the cult members who were with him…?’

Were they from the Sun and Moon Sect?

Or were they from the Cheonmasineugyo that recently began opposing them?

The clue about ‘Hwasaengsimdan’ obtained from the Red-Light District might also be connected to them. But this is too distant a matter. I need to put out the fire at my feet first. Nothing is more foolish than dying in an internal trap while worrying about external enemies.

What I need to focus on now is the final piece of the three evil connections that led my past self to complete ruin.

Right. I had forgotten. Right now, things like Cheonmasineugyo or Hwasaengsimdan aren’t what’s important.

“The Jegal Family… how much time is left until the banquet?”

“Yes, and here’s a towel.”

I received the white towel handed by Guk, who stood beside me as Baekjao.

“Thank you.”

“I’ve prepared two more towels, so please let me know if you need them. The dawn wind is sharp as we enter autumn.”

“Right.”

I finished bathing with the towel I received and wiped off the water.

As I stepped back, Guk quickly bent down to pick up the laundry I had been trampling under my feet while speaking.

“I’ll wash this and leave it with the maids. No matter what, you now have the dignity of a young master, so you should wear proper clothes to avoid damaging the Namgung Family’s prestige.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

And looked up at the sky.

Then looked back down.

“…But why is Baekjao here?”

“Honorifics? That makes me sad. You can speak casually to me, Young Master.”

“…”

I blinked.

“Really, why is Baekjao Guk here…?”

“I came to congratulate you. I also had something to deliver accordingly, so I came… but…”

Baekjao Guk’s eyes suddenly darkened.

“…I was shocked by the system here at the annex.”

“Shocked?”

“I knew the fourth young master was here, so I went straight from here to your quarters. But… but do you see this?”

Guk showed the white gloves he was wearing.

I looked.

There was nothing.

I tilted my head.

“What is this?”

“Dust.”

Baekjao Guk said coldly.

“There was dust on the threshold and railing I touched.”

“…Really?”

“How dare they – this is where the fourth young master of the great Namgung Family stays, how does this make sense?”

Baekjao Guk’s eyes flashed under his white hood as his accumulated feelings burst forth in his words.

“During the chaotic times when our group served the Master, we even dismissed the cleaning maids and did it ourselves for perfect protection. We guarded while cleaning, and I, who was the youngest then, took the lead in frantically sweeping and wiping from window frames to floorboards. It was natural to melt candles and wipe frantically with rags until it was so slippery that even flies would slip, and if we couldn’t do that, we couldn’t sleep at night even if we weren’t beaten. But how dare these servant bastards, these annex servant sons of bitches, slack off and let dust accumulate on thresholds and railings? As they say, you can tell ten things from seeing one – these servants are being so negligent in their primary duty of cleaning? This is an atrocity I couldn’t even imagine in my time- Ah. Finally one is coming out.”

In the distance under the golden sun of breaking dawn, a servant can be seen yawning and slowly coming out, perhaps to sweep the courtyard.

“That son of a bi-, no, that servant – I’ll go deal with him briefly. I’ll also entrust him with your laundry, Young Master.”

…What did I just hear?

I think a word just came from Guk’s mouth that wouldn’t normally come from someone so dignified and calm.

-Swoosh.

Baekjao disappeared as if melting into the shadows while holding my laundry.

Then he appeared in front of the servant who was just coming out yawning to sweep the courtyard.

“Yawn-. Starting work this morning too… Aaah shit, gh-ghost-?! No, Bae… Baekjao sir…?!!”

I don’t know what words were exchanged.

But seeing the servant start running around frantically as soon as he received the laundry from Guk, it was probably some rough words about doing the laundry properly-.

-Clang clang clang clang…!

The servant frantically rang the bell to wake the others, and soon servants were running around with hammers, chisels, and various cleaning tools following Baekjao’s instructions like a disturbed beehive from dawn – what on earth were they talking about?

“It’s nothing serious.”

Guk appeared before me and spoke calmly.

“Anyway, by now the Five Great Patriarchs’ approval should be complete and the martial world announcement should have spread to major strongholds, so from now on, no matter what anyone says, Namgung Hwi sir is our Namgung Family’s fourth young master. I, Guk, wanted to be the first to inform you of this and came this long way. At the same time, I’m creating an environment befitting that status.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Additionally, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

Guk looked at me.

“If it’s alright with you, would you like to continue staying here, Fourth Young Master?”

The answer to that is already decided.

This place has wealth, but it’s certainly also a heaven-sent fortress for my future goals.

And above all, I will use this place, which was the beginning of my nightmare, as a complete foundation for my new beginning.

Most importantly, while this place is a nightmare to me, it’s also certainly the last place where happiness I can reminisce about lingers.

“If it’s possible? But why?”

Guk smiled with his eyes.

“I thought so. So though it may be presumptuous, I, Baekjao Guk, quietly suggested to the original manager, Young Master Namgung Cheon, that this annex be changed from a place for the Sword Master or Young Master Namgung Cheon to an official residence where Young Master Namgung Hwi will stay. The process has been initiated and only needs final approval to be completed.”

“That’s possible?”

“All assets under the Namgung Family belong to Master Namgung Cheonhyeok. This is temporarily approving and delegating operational rights, and regarding preparing the foundation for the young master’s basic needs, it’s natural for everyone to yield when necessary. Furthermore, in anticipating and understanding such natural rights and proceeding accordingly—”

Baekjao Guk tapped his chest.

“Baekya Eighteenth Brigade—even within our unit, I, Guk, have that level of proxy execution authority.”

“No, that’s all fine.”

I said.

“But why would Guk do this for me? I understand delivering the message, but there’s no need to go this far.”

“What do you mean?”

Rather, Guk seemed puzzled by my question.

“Didn’t I tell you my name?”

“Why does that matter?”

“In the world of Sal-gye, the world of killing, if telling someone your name necessarily means killing you.”

Baekjao Guk said quietly and calmly.

“Then in the world of Ho-gye, telling you my name means that at least I intend to protect you from others who would insult you.”

“…?”

Something about this conversation is taking a strange turn.

“I, Baekjao Eighteenth Brigade Guk, will serve Young Master Namgung Hwi as my lord, and even if my waist is cut in half, even if everyone betrays you.”

Facing me as I blinked, Baekjao Guk said.

“At least I will protect you, even if I have to crawl.”

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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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