Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 25

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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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#025

I couldn’t understand why Baekjao’s Guk had suddenly made such a decision.

There must have been various discussions within Baekjao as well.

Surely that process couldn’t have been smooth.

Especially since I knew that Baekjao’s creed was to avoid getting entangled in complex politics.

And among the four young masters competing for the position of Soga Clan head, I knew that none of the other three had ever personally entrusted their safety to Baekjao.

This was the first case I knew of.

And it was certainly something I had never experienced in my past life.

“Well, I’ve told you everything I needed to tell you, so once the remaining procedures are completed, I’ll come here prepared to live here. My lord.”

With that, Baekjao’s Guk completely finished all the follow-up paperwork related to the family head’s eighteenth position and disappeared again, saying he would return.

“Ah, I’ve also arranged for my quarters, so don’t worry.”

“Arranged? With whom? What?”

Baekjao pointed to one side.

-Startled.

The servants who had been frantically hammering and sawing nearby were startled.

Baekjao clenched his fist and showed it, then disappeared again as if melting into the shadows.

“I have something I’m curious about.”

Wu Biaoyun, who had been following alongside, spoke.

“Is that person also a retainer being added to this annex?”

“…Probably.”

At my words, Wu Biaoyun scratched his head.

“The family has grown. Since that person is also a martial artist, he’ll eat tremendously, right?”

“Probably.”

“Right. Well, let’s eat breakfast for now. By the way, after you finished your training at Taecheong-won on Mount Cheonju, did you stop somewhere else instead of coming straight here?”

I looked at Wu Biaoyun.

There was something unsettling about that question coming from Wu Biaoyun, who wasn’t someone deeply involved in the martial arts world.

“Is there some problem?”

Wu Biaoyun scratched the back of his head and sighed.

“No, even though I told him you weren’t here, Sword Master Hwirong visited this place three times during that period. He was looking for you, saying there’s no way you wouldn’t have arrived yet, tilting his head in confusion.”

One of the Five Great Patriarchs.

And the person my father Namgung Cheonhyeok had mentioned as the place where I would temporarily belong and carry out tasks to pay the price for the Imperial One-Thousand-Cycle Pill.

But he’s already looking for me…?

“Anyway, that rumored purple-black hair is strange no matter how many times I see it. His skin is pale and his limbs are long and slender, like the most handsome ice sculpture in the world.”

Listening to Wu Biaoyun’s muttering, I narrowed my eyes.

Sword Master Hwirong.

The strongest among the five patriarchs of the Namgung Family, and simultaneously evaluated as the most uncontrollable except for family head Namgung Cheonhyeok.

His background as the last survivor of the Kunlun Sect, which was destroyed by the demonic path, and his personal friendship only with family head Namgung Cheonhyeok who took him in, meant there was no particular relationship of interest with me, who had just been appointed as a boatman.

At the same time, he was someone I had never been involved with even once in my past life, and even in this life, he was the least considered among the family forces I planned to recruit.

Because Sword Master Hwirong would die a violent death within three months.

“…Sword Master Hwirong was looking for me? Did he happen to say anything else?”

“Well. He was muttering something like he had urgent family head duties to attend to and would be leaving briefly, but wanted to have a chat before then… something like that? And he told me to deliver this to you.”

Wu Biaoyun handed me a letter.

“He said since you’re now an official boatman, don’t forget and make sure to attend in two days.”

The letter was written with ink mixed with golden powder.

-Secret Banquet.

Thump.

A feeling like ice piercing the center of my head.

I looked at it several times.

It was certain.

Secret Banquet.

I had been there before to be interrogated, treated like a prisoner, but now it was different.

A mule who couldn’t even dare to attend the Monthly Political Gathering would now, beyond that, attend the main political meeting of the Secret Banquet as a boatman, where only a select few among the many Namgung Family members could go.

‘Finally…!’

Now, I enter the deepest heart of the Namgung Family.

‘That position I could never reach.’

Now it’s really beginning.

Now I’ve finally reached the starting line I had in mind.

Toward those who ruined me, and to bring everyone down, the stage for my revenge.

‘Now it begins.’

Wu Biaoyun spoke to me as I made a resolute expression.

“But are you still keeping your distance from me? I’m a bit hurt.”

“What?”

“I heard everything earlier. Even though I’ve eaten with you hundreds of times more than that Baekjao.”

Wu Biaoyun frowned.

“How long are you going to speak to me in such a stiff manner? You immediately spoke casually to that Baekjao. I’m a bit hurt. I prepared a feast from morning today too.”

“…”

I let out a short sigh.

I turned around.

Looking at the prepared table, I said.

“If the fish dish… isn’t fishy, I’ll consider it.”

“A sigh? You’re sighing? Did I say something so wrong?”

“Of course I’m sighing.”

I hesitated whether to say it or not, but finally spat out the words I had been swallowing.

“In this life too, hearing such words not from women, but surrounded by men…”

“Are you full? Do you think I, Wu Biaoyun, say such things to just anyone? Fine. Whether you eat or not, I’m eating first.”

“That’s what I mean.”

“Ha! You suddenly barged in at dawn, but still, since you passed the boatman test, I thought you might be tired from the long journey and hurriedly prepared food…! Ah, right! As if such things count as hardship for martial artists! I don’t know! I’m leaving!”

Wu Biaoyun stormed off.

Then he turned back.

“Ah, what are you doing?! The food I prepared is getting cold! Come quickly!”

In the distance, I could see hot, pure white rice piled high on the prepared table.

White steam rising from it was spreading over the morning air.

Next to it, neatly placed chopsticks and dishes were clearly set for me.

“…”

Taking in that unfamiliar scene I had never seen in my entire previous life, I muttered.

“…It’s because I like it.”

***

Two days later.

I took a deep breath at the entrance of Taecheong-won, at the foot of Mount Cheonju.

I had visited this place before, going through to Jeongmu Hall and the Confidential Discussion Hall.

But then and now were completely different.

I couldn’t even call the previous time a visit, because looking back, I had come not for the Secret Banquet or even a formal invitation to the lower-level Monthly Political Gathering, but merely to be unilaterally interrogated.

Therefore, even the attitude of the accompanying maid, though she called me young master, was inwardly high-handed, and even the guards looked at me with bewilderment, or worse, those who knew my background and usual status sent looks of contempt.

The Confidential Discussion Hall I entered had all its lights dimly extinguished, as if wary of showing me the center of the family.

Of course, even while facing such things, I had passed by pretending not to feel what I felt, pretending not to see what I saw, pretending not to hear what I heard.

That was something that left scars, even though I had certainly said I would act indifferently while recalling my past life.

No matter how much it was a strategic choice out of necessity in this life.

But this time-.

“My… My goodness! Young Master?!”

As I walked down the long corridor leading to the interior of Taecheong-won, I began to encounter the cries of maids here and there who would blink their eyes upon seeing me, then belatedly recognize me and cry out in shock.

“Y-Young Master! Wait! Wait! We’ll guide you!”

“Young Master, is there anything you need?”

“Young Master, welcome to Taecheong-won.”

“Young Master, no, these girls have gone crazy, how could Young Master come all the way here without any word or guidance, what is this-!”

I hadn’t thought about anything.

Past the entrance guarded by Taecheong-won guards, at the second inner guest entrance before truly entering the interior, there were certainly guards in black uniforms as before.

But unlike before, they looked at me and quietly, very quietly offered respectful silent bows while maintaining silence.

“…?”

This was my first time passing through Taecheong-won from the position of Fourth Young Master, so seeing their reaction with no guards blocking my way, I simply entered.

Having entered the interior of Taecheong-won like this, as if I had exploited a gap in the maids’ defenses, the shock coming from all directions was deafening.

“…I’ll escort you to the Monthly Gathering Hall!”

“I can go alone.”

“Alone? Young Master! Then we’ll be scolded, killed by the Baekjao!”

Among the flustered maids, one who appeared to be a senior stepped forward to quickly guide me.

“You stay inside. I’ll personally.”

And pushing aside that senior maid, the Maid Manager stepped forward.

“I apologize for the disgraceful display. Right now the girls are so frantic preparing for the suddenly arranged Secret Banquet. Usually when there are attendees for the Monthly Political Gathering, the guards at the Naedam corridor entrance would bow silently and call out titles, and hearing that, the girls would respond – it was a bad habit. They probably couldn’t hear even though the guards called out. It seems the children let their guard down, but I’ll give them a stern warning afterward to prevent such incidents.”

“The guards at Naedam were maintaining silence rather than calling out titles… Is something wrong?”

At those words, the Maid Manager flinched.

“By any chance, were you invited directly as a Secret Banquet member, skipping the Monthly Political Gathering from the start?”

“That’s right.”

“…The Master wouldn’t.”

“Is there a problem?”

The Maid Manager’s mouth moved wordlessly before she seemed to come to her senses and spoke.

“No. But now I understand a bit.”

“Understand what?”

“The Naedam guards thoroughly memorize the faces of those attending the Secret Banquet, unlike the direct lineage attending Monthly Political Gatherings. And considering the tradition that Secret Banquets were quietly held in secret chambers when the family faced extinction in the past, they offer the highest courtesy with silent bows. Of course, accordingly, young masters usually travel with many messengers and escorts, so they arrive and give advance notice… That’s probably why the maids were defenseless until you entered the Naedam corridor.”

The Maid Manager bowed her head humbly.

“However, all of this is an excuse. Today’s disrespect is clearly an accident caused by relying on the system and responding with complacent safety. I’ll take responsibility and scold the subordinates. So please direct any punishment for damaging Young Master’s dignity to me, not the subordinates.”

“…I don’t mind. I have no intention of punishment either.”

The Maid Manager raised her head.

“…You won’t punish?”

“You said not the subordinates.”

I said.

“I understood that wasn’t your intention. Just please take care next time.”

The Maid Manager looked at me quietly.

At first glance, it was bewilderment in her eyes, as if she couldn’t understand me.

But it changed to a calm gaze.

And after a moment of silence, she answered.

“…Thank you. I’ll take responsibility to ensure the same mistake never happens to Fourth Young Master.”

…To me specifically?

I thought it would usually end with just “I won’t make the same mistake again,” but I said nothing more.

Entering Taecheong-won, I could see things had changed.

Their watching my every move was certainly a symbolic indication that my status and position among them had changed.

That’s when it happened.

“Huh!”

Hearing a strange sound from a distance, I looked over to see Namgung Cheon who had visited Taecheong-won.

“Bastard… No, no, Fourth Young Master?!!”

As soon as he spotted me, he ran toward me with his heavy body.

Soon he was bowing repeatedly and pouring out words like a waterfall.

“Brother Hwi! Have you been well lately? I heard the news. Congratulations on becoming Fourth Young Master. I always believed Brother Hwi would naturally achieve it. And I heard from Baekjao that you want to continue staying in the annex you’re residing in, that you like it, and I immediately agreed. As expected, Fourth Young Master, how do you already have that legendary Baekjao serving under you? Amazing. Ah, why am I here? Isn’t today the Monthly Political Gathering? So I’m also showing my face while… Anyway, I, Namgung Cheon, although I’m direct lineage, having grown up in the same space as Brother Hwi throughout childhood, I treasure those memories, so I too want to be your right arm-.”

I looked at the Maid Manager and guards beside me.

“Please.”

“Of course.”

The guards grabbed Namgung Cheon’s arms and legs and dragged him out mercilessly.

“Kyaaaah! Brother Hwiii!!”

The pitiful voice disappeared as the door closed.

Thus I entered the long corridor leading past Jeongmu Hall where the Monthly Political Gathering was held, toward the Oak Tree Gate of the Secret Banquet.

The sound of footsteps walking alongside the Maid Manager echoed through the air.

The Maid Manager walking ahead turned back and whispered in a small voice.

“Since the Master is absent, this Secret Banquet will proceed informally under Bugaju’s supervision.”

That was unexpected news.

“Informal? But why is the Master absent?”

“I don’t know the details. However, since Sword Master Hwirong and Sword Master also have urgent business directly ordered by the Master, today’s Secret Banquet will definitely proceed even more informally. Of course-.”

The Maid Manager trailed off.

“That doesn’t mean today’s purpose will be diluted just because of the supervision. Please be careful.”

Now I could understand what the Maid Manager was trying to say.

“The purpose of today’s Secret Banquet proceeding despite the Master’s absence is none other than me, I see.”

“…I’m merely a Maid Manager.”

Those words were tantamount to agreement.

Silence filled the space between us again.

Even taking one step felt like walking through stirred ink.

This Secret Banquet gathering the Five Great Patriarchs and Three Young Masters was, in a way, a place with the highest probability of containing the enemy who killed me.

In other words,

This might be the first occasion where I meet the true culprit of my previous life.

Though the relationships formed so far are few, if I imagine candidates with the possibility of being the culprit among them, two clearly come to mind.

Among them, the first would undoubtedly be Sword Master, who is also the substantial patron of Namgung Cheon whom I destroyed.

‘Then what’s the probability that Sword Master is that Masked Man from the bamboo forest?’

…No.

Moreover, Sword Master at least wouldn’t be that Namgung Family member who burned me to death.

‘Different caliber. Too petty.’

The Masked Man certainly had domineering momentum and was emotional, but simultaneously I felt something more – a distortion and meticulousness of hiding his true nature for decades.

The current Sword Master’s characteristic gloominess and immediate reactions are, no matter how I think about it, a different color from that Masked Man.

If it’s the Sword Master I’ve seen so far, rather than a honeyed words and hidden daggers approach, he would display clear hostility toward me directly, not someone who would create schemes.

Of course, the hypothesis that Sword Master is the culprit and his disposition changed over the years is possible, but my intuition is shouting that it’s not him.

-Creeeeak.

The place I was dragged to before,

That massive oak door opens while looking only at me.

Below it, the Confidential Discussion Hall filled with enormous light becomes visible.

Numerous people come into view.

‘Then excluding Sword Master, the remaining one is indeed…’

Among the members gathering for this Secret Banquet’s exploratory battle, the one who would definitely hate me like a mortal enemy is, for now, just one person.

“I wondered if you’d really come despite the invitation, but you came? The young master with those cruel hand movements.”

The center of the Namgung Family.

The Confidential Discussion Hall of the real powers among real powers.

At the very center, the deputy family head, Namgung Seong-tae, was glaring at me with sparks flying from his eyes.

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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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