Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 32

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

#032

“You, are you an assassin?”

Those words felt like ice water being poured down the back of my neck.

I don’t understand his true intention.

There’s no way I could know.

This is something that, aside from martial arts advancement, cannot even be known in the first place.

The overwhelming aura of annihilation filling the land.

A life-or-death situation.

In this era of peace,

this isn’t the kind of casual killing intent that martial artists who only engage in sparring and competitions frequently spout about easily gathering and releasing.

In extreme tension, the pressure just before a life-or-death battle so dense it’s about who will take whose throat first along with sprays of blood.

Tension so intense that even if someone slightly touches you, you’d reflexively swing your sword and thrust it into their forehead without hesitation.

I know this better than anyone with my head, with my reason.

What is the intention behind those words?

What is the meaning of those three fingers extended toward me?

Most importantly, those words…?

What exactly are those words?

Does it mean he’ll take immediate action based on my response?

“Why no answer? Boatman.”

Denying it with all my might would also be ridiculous.

But to dismiss it as nonsense without denial or reaction, his behavior is too filled with certainty.

His words might be based on knowing something about the framework of reincarnation regarding regression and past lives, some cause-and-effect relationship I haven’t properly grasped yet.

Or perhaps there’s some decisive evidence that would make him mistake me for an ‘assassin,’ and he’s cornering me based on that.

If so, then I…

“Assassin?”

My gaze grows coldly distant.

The abyss of fear that any living being would have toward Hwirong’s annihilation settles down. What covers it is a dark red shadow.

Not the brilliant thousand victories as the Heavenly Killer Dark Emperor, but the instincts of a bottom-tier assassin who survived a thousand life-or-death battles while rolling through hell, covered in extreme excitement.

“Then what would you do? I have just one question for you too.”

“…”

Sword Master Hwirong’s laughter stops.

I strike right into that opening.

“If I am an assassin, would you draw your sword now, or would you open your purse?”

“…What?”

Sword Master Hwirong makes a bewildered expression.

“My price as an assassin would be higher than you think. More than anyone, as you well know, I’m Namgung Hwi, the direct bloodline of Namgung Cheonhyeok who holds absolute authority in the Namgung Family, the fourth among the four young masters of the Namgung Family who rose by my own hands. Of course—”

I grit my teeth.

“Since you’d be the first client, if you trust me with the job, I’ll handle it thoroughly. Though I’m not sure if you have the financial resources to cover my commission fee.”

“…”

Suffocating silence.

Sword Master Hwirong blinks.

The paper bundle containing dumplings in his fingertips remains frozen without even an inch of trembling.

I don’t avoid his gaze.

Though brief, my answer contained several meanings.

I neither hastily deny nor confirm.

That would be too dangerous in a state where I don’t know the opponent’s intention, as it could bring a second attack.

While maintaining an ambiguous state, I make him question himself.

Sword Master Hwirong, think about the position of the person standing before you. Think about that person’s birth and background. Is there anyone so transparently proven, with even a bit of unclear identity? Therefore, how foolish is your current question?

By making him question this, I throw an indirect answer to Sword Master Hwirong’s words…!

One count

Two count

Three count…!

We face each other’s gaze without avoiding it at all.

Not a single movement in our facial expressions. I show no expression with my rigidly hardened face as the limit, and Sword Master Hwirong remains frozen in time with his smiling expression, staring at me without even blinking.

“Ha.”

The corner of Sword Master Hwirong’s mouth twitches.

“Pahaha! What tremendous confidence. No, beyond confidence…”

He grins and nods his head.

“Wow, where did you learn that? That was a perfect answer, and I really thought for a moment that you came to commission an assassin, you know?”

“Is that so? Thank you for the compliment.”

Sword Master Hwirong said with a laugh.

“Anyway, my answer to that question was just a meaningless question I wanted to throw out once, regardless of the truth, you know? Don’t make such a scary face. As you said, there are few as transparently revealed as you, so what assassin. It was all a joke.”

“…That’s fortunate.”

Something about Sword Master Hwirong’s words seems a bit strange, but whatever works is fine.

Following Sword Master Hwirong’s laughter, the suffocating aura of annihilation loosens.

I feel the thread of tension that had been stretched taut throughout my body to the breaking point, ready to snap at the slightest touch, slowly and gradually becoming fine and loose.

“Right, relax. As you know, I’ll probably be taking care of you after this incident, and the Master mentioned something about you that made me curious. That’s why I brought it up.”

Sword Master Hwirong smiled and waved the dumpling bundle in one hand.

“Anyway, saying to open my wallet and commission you if I think you’re an assassin, really witty. In that sense, this is a gift…”

He lightly tossed the dumpling bundle wrapped in cloth toward me.

In the red dusk, the moment I tried to catch the dumplings thrown before my eyes—

—Clang…

Before I could even confirm with my eyes, a strange sound rang in my ears.

 —Chill.

 The loosening threads of tension throughout my body instantly tightened to maximum.

In the instant the dumplings blocked my view, the ground where Sword Master Hwirong had been standing caved in with a faint sound. Before his shadow could even follow, his figure positioned itself behind me. He reached out and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“I’ll give you a passing grade…”

 —Crack!!

My body spun around like lightning.

Just before touching my shoulder, I struck down at Sword Master Hwirong’s wrist with my palm like swatting it away.

“…Hmm?!”

Sword Master Hwirong’s eyes widen.

I grab his fluttering sleeve by sweeping his wrist. I pull.

—Thud!

I stomp down on Sword Master Hwirong’s instep with my heel while striking his solar plexus with my left foot like a spear thrust. Simultaneously, my fingers thrust toward the one eye not covered by Sword Master Hwirong’s hair—

-Whoosh…!

“Whoa… I was trying to surprise you from behind, but I almost fainted from shock myself.”

Sword Master Hwirong’s golden eyes blink.

“…!!”

Just one finger.

Like a spear forged through hellish training, my finger had thrust toward Sword Master Hwirong’s eyes.

The tip of that finger was stopped right in front of Sword Master Hwirong’s eyes, blocked by his similarly extended index finger.

“How… with just one finger…?”

Even my triple strike just now had been a reflexive action.

Reacting instinctively to Sword Master Hwirong’s overwhelming aura, and when he seized my back with lightning speed, it was the best defense I could manage in my current state that burst forth unconsciously.

‘He dodged them all?’

I thought I had struck his foot, but there was only bare ground. My left foot that had thrust toward his solar plexus was blocked by Sword Master Hwirong’s palm.

“Is that question directed at me, Boatman? You seem as surprised as I was. Since I’m the senior here, shall I ask one more question?!”

Sword Master Hwirong flicked my finger away as he spoke.

“How did you know I moved behind you?”

The answer is simple.

I don’t even hesitate.

“Because there’s no way I would miss you from the front.”

“…”

“If I had missed, I thought you must be behind me.”

At that moment, Sword Master Hwirong maintained the longest and most incomprehensible silence despite our brief encounter.

“Hmm, truly a rare fellow. You’re quite similar too.”

Then Sword Master Hwirong whispers.

“In that sense, it seems we’ll have a hard time becoming friends.”

“…?”

“Anyway, that’s that! Good! I’m sorry for startling you more than necessary… and I liked your answer to my question, so specially! I’ll tell you how I blocked your attack, the reason I had no choice but to block it as a martial artist, and the related martial truth and enlightenment. I don’t usually bestow teachings, so open your ears and engrave it clearly.”

“…What?”

I can’t make sense of it.

It’s really hard to keep up with the speed of his words and thoughts.

For a martial artist, martial enlightenment and insights would not be mentioned even in jest between master and disciple.

No matter how much this Sword Master acts crazy and playful, could this possibly make sense?

No.

There must be some reason, and from my past life I’ve felt countless times that every position has a reason for reaching that position.

Even if Sword Master Hwirong appears to be acting foolishly now, that’s just pretense.

Someone of Sword Master Hwirong’s caliber couldn’t possibly be insane.

“You know the saying that’s spread around – ‘I alone am honored in heaven and earth,’ right?”

“Of course I know it. But why bring that up suddenly?”

“That phrase is exactly me.”

“…?”

Sword Master Hwirong strikes his chest with his palm.

“That is precisely the only reason and truth why I can block lightning-fast attacks like yours!”

This guy really is crazy.

Sword Master Hwirong laughed “Haha!” while his dark hair fluttered.

“Actually, giving you dumplings and wanting to surprise you was my true intention! Whether you’re an assassin or whatever, that’s not my concern. Besides, an assassin? Common sense says that’s impossible, right?”

“Then why did you bother asking if I was an assassin?”

“I was just curious because usually my intuition and the reality before my eyes don’t differ.”

“…I’m glad you were wrong.”

“And for me, even if you really were an assassin, it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. After all, what’s important to me is just one thing.”

He whispered.

“As long as you’re ‘not a cult member.’ Here, this is an apology gift for my rudeness!”

He casually hands me the dumplings wrapped in cloth.

“And here’s one more thing! With this, we’re making peace.”

He places something on top of the dumpling bundle.

I blinked my eyes.

“A belt with jade embedded in it?”

“That jade belt is a training tool. You can return it when you come back later if you want. It seems like it would be a perfect training tool for your level, no explanation needed. Since a Sword Master is giving it to you, don’t embarrass me by pushing it back, okay? Come on, take the dumplings and everything together.”

I frown and speak reluctantly.

“There’s no need to give me such things-.”

And I stop speaking.

“…”

I look at Sword Master Hwirong.

…This man.

I blink my eyes.

Sword Master Hwirong is still smiling brightly.

‘When on earth…?’

Smiling is fine. But why are the dumplings that should have fallen to the ground somehow in this person’s hands…?

There’s no way I would miss such a big motion as picking up what fell to the ground.

Then there’s only one possible path.

‘Could it be that in that instant…’

While blocking my three consecutive attacks, he also caught the dumplings he had thrown in the air?

“My name is Sword Master Hwirong Seo Ganghyeok! My dream is to diligently save up my salary under the Master, set up my own modest trading company, and live comfortably and luxuriously with a pretty wife?!”

Before my confused self stood only a tall man fooling around.

The golden light in his eyes was nowhere to be seen, and only dark pupils were rolling around playfully.

“By the Master’s command, Namgung Hwi, you too will come to our Hwirong Hall later, so you’re my number one trading company member. So resolve small matters like the Sichuan Tang Family business decisively and come back! I’m leaving now?”

So that was the reason he looked after me.

He must have had some conversation with father.

While I briefly understood why he was acting this way…

Separately from that, what kind of nonsense is “modest and luxurious”?

I let out a short sigh.

Let me stop thinking.

Thinking deeply will only give me a headache.

Besides that, I also had something to discuss with him if I met him.

“Thank you for your consideration. Furthermore, as the Boatman, I would also like to say something with gratitude for the gift Sword Master Hwirong has given me.”

Sword Master Hwirong, who was about to turn and leave, hesitates.

He turns back to look at me.

“Hm? What is it?”

A plan I was unsure whether to execute, even to overcome the unfavorable situation within Bidamyeon.

And one of the ultimate reasons for coming to the Sichuan Tang Family.

Actually, I didn’t know until the last moment whether I would implement this or not.

But having faced him now, I’ve made up my mind.

“I heard from the Master that there are groups in the martial arts world lately causing trouble by playing with poison. Sword Master Hwirong seems to easily buy food outside, so I wondered if you have any thoughts about being careful regarding that?”

“Haha, I appreciate the concern, but I’m immune to all poisons anyway.”

“…”

“I am careful though. But for me, poison is like a health tonic – I don’t even worry about it?”

Those words are wrong.

If my memory is correct, Sword Master Hwirong will be poisoned to death within six months at most.

“Anyway, I’m getting excited that such an existence beyond my expectations is joining as my number one subordinate and employee. Well, then I’m really going. Oh, and.”

Sword Master Hwirong Seo Gang-hyeok suddenly gestured toward the back.

“There’s a ravine ahead. The things there are a bonus, so feel free to take them without burden.”

“…Back?”

“They were buzzing around right in front of my eyes and getting trampled, so I got a little…”

A faint golden light leaked from Sword Master Hwirong’s eyes.

“Annoyed.”

The golden light grew more intense.

“I said I was annoyed.”

“…”

And in an instant, the golden light disappeared and once again his jet-black pupils were spinning and smiling as they looked at me.

“Anyway, it would be good to pass through quickly. It’ll be troublesome if the smell spreads and wolves come flocking, right? And forgive pranks like me appearing behind you or on your back. Ah, I’ll give you one more thing. I was really planning to take this with me and savor it little by little.”

Sword Master Hwirong placed a luxuriously packaged bundle of jerky on top of the dumplings.

“What is this-.”

“It’s Habuk specialty jerky. Anyway, don’t think badly of it. You know too.”

Sword Master Hwirong winked.

“The Martial Arts World is cold and heartless, right?”

With those words as his last, he disappeared without hesitation.

“…Is he really crazy?”

I pressed my throbbing head.

“My head hurts. He looks perfectly normal, so why does he act like that?”

Then I suddenly pondered his last words.

“…Ahead? Buzzing around… trampled?”

I raised my head.

“What on earth is ahead that would cause that.”

And my movement stopped.

I unconsciously raised my head. What entered my vision was a forest shrouded in silence, and beyond it, the shape of a towering ravine.

At that moment, I felt a fishy smell that seemed to press down on all five senses beyond just smell. Such a terrible concentration was a sensation both familiar and strange.

“…”

I looked back.

I saw the unconscious coachman and the golden carriage.

I looked up again.

I looked at several protruding rocks above the rocky cliff.

I hardened my expression.

I immediately kicked off and leaped up.

‘No way…’

I crossed the forest and rushed up to the high ground in one breath. After breaking through a certain part of the forest and climbing up, an open vista spread before my eyes-.

“…Good heavens.”

The left and right walls of the ravine that gathered like a gourd.

There, nearly a hundred corpses of Green Forest bandits lay dead in all directions, like flies that had been swatted and burst on a palm.

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