Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 29

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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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#029

I awaken from my thoughts.

I look at the face of Bugaju in front of me.

“….”

His face is quite a sight to behold.

It must be complicated.

What on earth was he thinking when he chose Sacheondang Family,

since from the outside, it seems like an absurd choice.

‘Judging by his reaction, I’ve got the right answer.’

What made me even more certain of all this was considering Bugaju’s position from his perspective.

He’s being excessively kind.

Bugaju absolutely does not care about me.

Yet he pretended otherwise, giving a long speech explaining the difficulties of going to Sacheondang Family.

Even all that information appears to be true.

Regardless of his intentions in the current situation, if he were to spread fake information disguised as real information, it would only be disadvantageous to Bugaju later.

But all these circumstances actually heightened my vigilance.

“….”

People commonly mistake that con artists lie when they commit fraud.

That’s third-rate fraud.

People don’t fall for such things. You can’t expand the scheme on a large scale either.

The next level of fraud that people who think they know better imagine is the type that ‘cleverly mixes truth and lies.’

But that’s not it either.

Fabricated information lacks depth. No matter how well someone speaks, even if that person is perfectly skilled at lying, humans are creatures that notice it like ghosts. The moment people detect even a spoonful of lifeless falsehood mixed into truth, they avoid the con artist’s trap by choosing to deny everything rather than believe half-heartedly when facing a major decision.

The truly high-level fraud that people fall for, that almost everyone falls for, is

‘telling only the facts.’

That’s what it is.

Instead, they only speak ‘partially,’ and they simply omit ‘critical disadvantages that must be known.’

This is precisely political maneuvering, the highest level of fraud and scheming that even the most seasoned people can fall for if they let their guard down even slightly.

Their words and actions inevitably carry weight.

Because they’re not lies.

There’s no justification to attack them for fraud either.

Because there’s no ‘obligation to mention disadvantages.’

That’s why anyone can fall for fraud,

and the more someone thinks they’re an expert in one field, the more extremely vulnerable they become in other fields, combined with the complacency of being an expert in one area, making them easier targets.

The only ones with a chance of not falling for such first-class fraud are foxes who have personally accumulated countless experiences written in blood through such processes.

And I.

Though in a different realm, I had at least as much blood-written experience as Bugaju in my own world, from the bottom up.

The life-and-death battle of words and actions.

I had survived there too.

“Sacheondang Family, I’ll depart immediately. I have no intention of changing or reconsidering my words any further. Will Bugaju approve of this?”

Besides, going to Sacheondang Family worked out well in many ways.

It was an opportunity to leave Anhui appropriately without drawing anyone’s attention.

‘If I’m lucky, I might learn more about the Ashes of Heavenly Death.’

‘Moreover, if my memory is correct, Sword Master Hwirong will definitely die within a month at most… If so, either way, it has to be Sacheondang Family.’

Whether I made that resolution or not, Bugaju’s face in front of me was turning deathly pale by the moment.

Though he covered his mouth with a fan, the tip of that fan was trembling like an aspen leaf.

“This… damn… brat… My gold…”

“Bugaju, what’s wrong? You look quite unwell!”

At Sword Master Baekrang’s words, Bugaju, who had been breaking out in cold sweat, composed his face again while breathing heavily.

“What do you mean I look unwell? I was simply admiring Boatman’s spirit as Bugaju.”

“Haha! I also agree with Bugaju’s insight! Truly a rare future of the martial arts world!”

Sword Master Baekrang jumps up from the bamboo mat and shouts.

“A person knows shame and lives courageously by fostering pride! Isn’t that the spirit of a true man?!”

But why is that person so tall?

“If I weren’t leading White Wolf Hall, I would want to rush to Tang Gate with Boatman and courageously challenge this mission! What a pity!”

“My toad-.”

“Hm? What did you say, Bugaju?”

“Nothing!”

“Really? Oh, Boatman, wait a moment!”

A white flame instantly stops me as I try to slowly back away.

Then he speaks to Bugaju again.

“Speaking of which, isn’t it truly admirable? Even though he could rely on the great Namgung Family’s prestige, he doesn’t rely on it at all, and he won’t use any of the family’s influence. Going alone to Tang Gate in Sichuan for his first journey in the martial arts world! Even though it’s a mission, his spirit is like treating life as grass! And there’s no additional benefit either! Isn’t that right, Bugaju?”

“…Benefit… Y-yes.”

“In that spirit!”

Beyond the bamboo mat, a huge shadow points at the door with a snap.

“At least until the border of Anhui, the roads are famously rough and unpaved, so how about having Boatman use Bugaju’s personal carriage?”

“That’s a good idea.”

Sword Master Yeomjak speaks from the side.

“No matter how detailed the procedures, he’s still the Boatman of Namgung Family. That level of courtesy and encouragement should be acceptable. I heard Bugaju’s carriage is at Taecheong-won.”

“No, no, that won’t do!!! What nonsense-. Ahem, it won’t do!”

Bugaju shouted then composed his words.

“C-carriage… I don’t have a carriage! There’s none near Taecheong-won!”

“What do you mean none. You have that one you barely even ride anyway.”

Sword Master Baekrang scolded him.

“The carriage made of golden amber. Just yesterday I saw Bugaju humming under the moonlight, personally polishing it to death with a wet cloth.”

“…This damn…!”

Bugaju hastily composed his words.

“Damn good… eyes! Haha! Right! That one existed! Since I cherish it so much and don’t ride it, I was thinking of a regular carriage!”

“Fine then. Let’s use that one. Bugaju has plenty of wealth, so this much is nothing.”

“That carriage, I changed the seat to the finest sheepskin and I haven’t even sat in it once… The roads are rough so it’ll get scratched…”

“What?”

“….”

The Deputy Master closed his eyes.

He opened them quietly.

“Boatman… have Namgung Hwi wait. I’ll arrange for my golden carriage’s coachman to take you to the border of Anhui along with the necessary supplies.”

“….”

I blinked.

I looked around.

Sword Master Baekrang spoke.

“Boatman! The Deputy Master still ranks higher! It wouldn’t be proper to refuse a superior’s generosity!”

“I agree as well.”

Sword Master Amyeong said.

“Deputy Master, that should be fine, right? You’re the wealthiest among us anyway.”

The Deputy Master raised the corners of his mouth and spoke with his last shred of pride.

“Ha, haha. That’s… right. For me… that kind of carriage is common… thing. Of course. It’s nothing at all. That much. Yes, that much.”

“In that case.”

I cupped my hands in salute.

“I gratefully accept the Deputy Master’s kindness. And naturally.”

I spoke to the Deputy Master.

“Would it be alright to load my luggage on the carriage?”

“…What?”

“I have quite a bit of baggage… I’ll need to tie some ropes, and as the Deputy Master knows, the roads toward Sichuan are quite rough, so I’ll need various means to secure the luggage…”

I looked at the Deputy Master.

“Would it be unavoidably acceptable to drive a few nails into the carriage roof to secure the ropes?”

***

-Creeeeak…

The first massive door, gilded with gold, opens.

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty to the Deputy Master!”

“No abnormalities in the perimeter!”

“….”

The Deputy Master, Namgung Seong-tae, passes through seven layers of guards.

Then he suddenly stops.

He spoke coldly to a guard beside him.

“Give me what I told you to prepare.”

“Yes!!”

The guard quickly brought over something wrapped in cloth, about as tall as himself, that had been prepared in the corner.

“….”

The Deputy Master quietly checked it, then tucked it under his arm.

“Deputy Master! I’ll carry it inside for you-!”

“Shut up.”

“…Ah! Aah, yes! I’m sorry! I overstepped my bounds…! I’ll focus only on guard duty!”

The Deputy Master moved forward with the item tucked under his arm.

He walked along the massive corridor.

This place was for only one person in the great Namgung Family.

A path reserved solely for the Deputy Master.

This place alone was his absolute territory where no one could pass except the Family Head, not even the Five Great Patriarchs.

The red silk path, so soft that a pinky finger could sink into it with each step, was something Deputy Master Namgung Seong-tae had personally brought from the Western Regions and carefully selected piece by piece.

The jars placed every ten steps were also collected from various regions of the Central Plains, not randomly arranged but aligned by color and size.

The ceiling was embedded with luminous pearls, and unlike common, lowly warriors, he hadn’t crudely embedded only luminous pearls to show off wealth, but had properly arranged high-grade candles from Yunnan in bronze holders to control the lighting.

He fumbled in his robes and pulled out a golden key.

He opened the second door before him.

Then the third, fourth…

As he advanced, the doors became progressively smaller and thicker.

The last was a massive iron door made of Manyeon Hanchul.

When Namgung Seong-tae placed his palm on the stone panel before him, a mechanism detected the precise weight and size of his palm alone, and the door opened.

-Clunk.

The place that opened before him.

What spread out there was a massive chamber of gold and silver treasures.

In one corner were comfortable chairs and a table.

There were also armfuls of snacks that Namgung Seong-tae had personally carried here.

Though he hadn’t told anyone, as someone whose hobby was carving, there was also a half-finished small wooden puppy sculpture he’d been working on in his spare time.

“….”

Fifteen years since taking charge of the great Namgung Family’s finances.

While Namgung Cheonhyeok emphasized external appearances, the current Namgung Family’s wealth was achieved by none other than Deputy Master Namgung Seong-tae.

And this was the manifestation of that.

As the head of finances, Namgung Seong-tae had created this treasury where he could drag his work-weary body and enjoy his own life as himself, without watching anyone’s mood – this was that place.

Here alone, he could set down the heavy burden of being Deputy Master.

His internal energy was insufficient, his martial prowess lacking.

Living difficultly among rough and crude warriors without losing spirit, enlightening and pushing through with those stupid fools, even when upset or filled with resentment, he came here to calm his heart and rest comfortably.

Yes, here alone he could exist as his true self, Namgung Seong-tae.

-Clack.

He carefully set down what he’d carried under his arm beside the table.

When he unwrapped the cloth, what emerged was a wooden training dummy.

He fumbled in his robes.

What came out was a small portrait. And below it, he grabbed a brush and wrote “Namgung Hwi.”

He stuck it to the forehead of the wooden dummy.

And then-.

“My golden toad!!!!!”

He began beating the wooden dummy.

“My golden toad! My investment costs for Cheongwun Trading Company! Even my golden carriage! That damn bastard Namgung Hwi!!!”

The treasury rang and echoed.

“The road to Sichuan! Is so treacherous, and he’s fucking using my beloved horse! My golden carriage! What the hell is that bastard Sword Master Baekrang thinking! Something I only rode in the packaged inner courtyard of Taecheong-won because I was worried about scratches…! And what?! That bastard Namgung Hwi goes even further and loads luggage, what? Nails? Driving nails…? You damn savage bastard!! You don’t know how precious my beloved horse is, you dog-like… Aaaaah!!”

Namgung Seong-tae hung on the wooden dummy, swinging his fists and venting his frustration.

“Fine, Namgung Hwi! This is the path you chose…! I warned you! Let’s see you try! Do you think the Sacheon Party has the mental capacity to receive someone like you? No! You’ll definitely be turned away at the gate and come back!”

In the underground treasury of Taecheong-won at the center of the Namgung Family, where no one could hear, Namgung Seong-tae’s resentful cry echoed.

“Just try coming back! If you fail and return, I’ll show you exactly what humiliation means… Aaaaah! These damn ignorant warrior bastards, aaaah!!”

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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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