Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 40

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

#040

 

Elder Dang Mutai’s eyes were filled with blatant hostility and wariness.

 

I faced him with a calm expression.

 

“By outsider, you must be referring to me.”

 

At my composed voice, Dang Mutai’s brow twitched.

 

“So you’re that boatman who came from Namgung. Since you’ve arrived at the Tang Family, you should have greeted the family head and stayed quietly in your guest room, but what have you been doing wandering around without permission? Is it proper etiquette for Namgung brats to rummage through other people’s warehouses?”

 

“Elder, I’ll explain that—”

 

“Steward Gam, stay out of this!”

 

At those words, Steward Gam flinched.

 

I placed my hand on Steward Gam’s shoulder.

 

“I’m fine, Steward Gam.”

 

“Young Master Namgung Hwi…”

 

“Hmph! The family head said he was calling for a guest, so I wondered what kind of remarkable person had come, but it’s just a brat who doesn’t even know proper etiquette. I can tell the level of education at the Namgung Family.”

 

“Elder. As a junior in the martial arts world, I’ll maintain proper respect, but—”

 

My voice in response was calm, but within it lay an icy coldness.

 

“Let me make it clear first—I didn’t come to Sichuan to exchange Namgung etiquette, nor am I some young master who came to study seeking Sichuan’s teachings. I am a representative who came to discuss the Sichuan Tang Family’s ‘problem,’ albeit unofficially.”

 

“What?”

 

“And when it comes to solving problems and having discussions, while polite greetings and etiquette are important, I believe accurate understanding of the situation comes first. As far as I know, what the Tang Family head instructed you wasn’t to preach Tang Family etiquette, but to provide the circumstances and guidance regarding the silver mine problem under your jurisdiction. Am I wrong?”

 

“This green… how dare a mere child…?!”

 

Dang Mutai’s face turned red and blue with rage.

 

“Fine, well spoken. I hear you’re the one newly selected as Namgung’s fourth young master? Since you just passed the Entrance Competition, your arrogance pierces the heavens!”

 

-Crack.

 

His hands curved like eagle talons.

 

Beneath his green martial robes, muscles that were hard to believe belonged to an old man bulged with veins.

 

A green tint swirled around his fingertips.

 

‘…Grappling techniques? Combat arts? No. Judging by the calluses on his hands, he uses short swords… daggers too… Does he possess various irregular attack methods?’

 

The Sichuan Tang Family was famous for hidden weapons and poison arts, but they also had expertise in combat using grappling techniques, whips, and daggers. Looking at Elder Dang Mutai’s hands, he seemed to specialize primarily in close combat rather than hidden weapons, which was rare for the Sichuan Tang Family.

 

‘His right wrist seems injured. That might be why he doesn’t handle the Tang Family’s specialty hidden weapons.’

 

Instead of hidden weapons, what particularly caught my eye was a snake-skin whip wrapped around his wrist beneath his martial robe.

 

“I already didn’t like you Namgung bastards. Ever since you’ve been devouring countless factions under the Namgung name here and there, growing your size!”

 

“What did you say?”

 

I didn’t back down from his intimidation. Instead, I took another step forward.

 

“What are you doing right now, Elder? Just now insulting a family, which is taboo even in the martial arts world—are you suggesting we stake our families’ survival on a life-or-death duel?”

 

“…!”

 

The Elder flinched.

 

I said,

 

“The Sichuan Tang Family isn’t some lowly clan, and no matter how much your prestige has declined compared to others, we’re essentially representatives of our respective families here. Yet you raise your hand blades just because you’re angry? An elder of the martial arts world who holds the position of Elder wants to have a scuffle with this green junior? Or are you, as an Elder, representing Sichuan’s prestige by dropping it to the level of the Black Dao? Is this official action reported to the family head?”

 

“You…!”

 

I quickly bowed my head to Steward Gam beside me.

 

“What I just said was not an official insult from Namgung toward the Tang Family. It was my foolish expression in the process of pointing out the Elder’s individual wrongdoing, but I offer my apologies to Steward Gam first.”

 

“It’s, it’s fine. No, you don’t need to apologize.”

 

Steward Gam said.

 

“Rather, I’m grateful that you ended it at this level even after hearing the Elder’s rude words.”

 

“Thank you. Then again—”

 

I looked at the Elder.

 

“And my wandering around was to follow the family head’s orders in my own way, and to make necessary preparations before departing for the mine. You know well, don’t you, Elder? That a ‘big problem’ has occurred at the Sichuan Tang Family’s silver mine. And regarding that problem, you would be the person who knows best in this Tang Family. Yet to an ‘outsider’ who is running around desperately to solve the problem under your jurisdiction more than anyone else, you speak rudely without asking about the circumstances upon first meeting—is this that proud Tang Family etiquette?”

 

Dang Mutai, struck at his weak point, seemed to lose his words for a moment.

 

“…Grr…”

 

He breathed roughly, then exhaled deeply.

 

“Hmph, fine. Your mouth is alive.”

 

It was the appearance of a cunning wolf.

 

“Listen carefully, Namgung brat. I personally had something to tell you and was looking for you. First, let me convey what I must tell you according to the family head’s orders, as you said.”

 

He spoke while suppressing his emotions with rough breathing.

 

“Investigation of the mine has already begun. In two days, we’ll enter the mine on a large scale with Tang Family elite warriors and a professional investigation team hired from outside. You just need to quietly follow along then. Don’t cause unnecessary commotion.”

 

It was not a suggestion but a notification.

 

And within it was a clear warning.

 

This isn’t your place to step forward, so behave and just watch.

 

“Until then, rest in the annex we’ve prepared. A guest from afar shouldn’t suffer. If you need anything, tell the servants. Don’t wander around backstreets and such places, losing face.”

 

“…”

 

Dang Mutai finished what he had to say and turned around as if he didn’t need to hear my response.

 

“I’ll say it once more. Don’t do anything foolish. As an outsider, stay quiet like an outsider and come to the training ground at the hour of the dragon in two days. And.”

 

Suddenly, Dang Mutai glanced at my wrist.

 

‘…Look at this guy.’

 

A sigh escaped me.

 

I knew what he was going to do, but I decided to stay still.

 

And as expected, Dang Mutai threw his hand like lightning to grab my wrist.

 

A beat later, I pretended to be flustered and panicked.

 

“Wh-what are you doing?! Suddenly!”

 

“…Hmph, as expected. Just a day-old puppy who gets his wrist grabbed so defenselessly and only has flowery words.”

 

He released my wrist as if throwing it away.

 

“The Namgung name would weep. Barely half a jiazi? Ha, I’m ashamed I got angry at such a guy.”

 

In that instant, he had examined even my internal energy by flowing his qi.

 

Dang Mutai seemed to have completely lowered his guard against me.

 

“You should know you’re lucky. I’m in a good mood because I’m on the verge of completing my personal ultimate technique. If not for that, you would have… ah, at your level you wouldn’t understand what this means anyway. Haha. Farewell.”

 

He snickered and disappeared through the door he had broken to enter.

 

In the empty space he left, only the uncomfortable coldness he had left behind filled the air.

 

“I… I will apologize on behalf of the Elder’s rudeness.”

 

Steward Gam exhaled deeply and slumped his shoulders.

 

“Elder is already famous in the Sichuan Tang Family for his rough behavior. No, setting that aside, I should have escorted you more quickly from the beginning… I’m sorry.”

 

“…Hmm.”

 

I sat silently on the wooden floor, maintaining my silence.

 

Steward Gam became even more restless.

 

“Even from my perspective, the Elder’s rudeness just now was too much. To grab someone’s hand like that—”

 

I responded appropriately to Steward Gam’s words while letting them flow.

 

At the same time, in my mind, I was reviewing Elder Dang Mutai’s face and his words that had passed by earlier, one by one.

 

‘Something’s strange.’

 

Large-scale investigation team.

 

Two days’ time.

 

Surveillance of me.

 

Strong recommendation that wasn’t really a recommendation to come along.

 

Strangely excited and… tense shoulders.

 

Even the displeasure that poured out from his entire body…

 

I tilted my head and muttered.

 

“No matter how I think about it, that emotion was too strong to be simple displeasure about being late…”

 

It doesn’t make sense.

 

‘Where have I felt this kind of feeling before?’

 

Living as an assassin in the past, I had encountered countless requests.

 

In that process, I had met countless types of clients and had various experiences.

 

The majority of clients have their own problems to deal with and at the same time, since what’s good is good, they try to maintain amicable relationships with assassins who solve their shameful secrets.

 

But the world is wide and there are many strange people.

 

Among clients, there were definitely those who would take the harvest of a successful commission but try to play games with the payment.

 

What I’m feeling now is exactly that strange uneasiness I would feel when facing those types with an unpleasant aftertaste.

 

In the past, I had thoroughly been wary of clients who gave me such déjà vu and uneasiness.

 

But since I’m also human, just once,

 

I had thought to deny this déjà vu and just handle what was in front of me, and that was precisely my last commission in my previous life.

 

“Steward Gam, I’d like to ask you something.”

 

Steward Gam was startled.

 

“Yes? Ah, yes. By all means!”

 

I asked the question in a nonchalant voice.

 

“You know that series of incidents at the Sacheon Dangga Silver Mine where workers died showing symptoms of the Previous Patriarch’s poison techniques, and later investigators died claiming they saw visions of the Previous Patriarch to Elder Yi. How long has it been since the mine was closed along with those incidents?”

 

Steward Gam thought carefully.

 

“Come to think of it, it’s been a good six months already.”

 

“Then after those incidents, has Elder Yi, who is the person in charge of the silver mine area, ever personally gone there with a large-scale investigation team as he mentioned this time?”

 

“Once at the beginning, and not since then. Ah, that first time he went was exactly when the investigators were wiped out, and the three survivors barely managed to report to Elder Yi that they had seen visions of the Previous Patriarch.”

 

“Setting aside the Master, didn’t any of the other elders of the Tang Family at least urge for additional investigations or related follow-ups? When the Tang Family’s financial lifeline is completely blocked and the pillars are openly tilting?”

 

“Of course the remaining Elder Lee and Elder Sam protested vehemently, but Elder Dang Mutai also didn’t back down an inch, claiming it was his domain. Even during that time, the other elders forcibly sent Tang Family investigators, but ultimately those investigators also went in once and never came back out. Eventually, they prepared for a whole month. They selected only first-rate experts with strong resistance to poison to sweep through the mine. But… the mine was clean at that time.”

 

“But the previous investigators definitely died showing the same characteristics as the Previous Patriarch’s poison techniques?”

 

“Yes, eventually the other elders also lost their standing under the justification that they had needlessly driven Tang Family members into a death trap. Of course, the Master who could be the only one to mediate this… well, you know without me saying.”

 

“…I’ll ask just one more thing.”

 

I asked in a quiet voice, interlacing my fingers.

 

“As an outsider from Namgung, didn’t Steward Gam send me a letter quietly and secretly? Would Elder Yi have known in advance that I was coming?”

 

“No.”

 

Steward Gam said decisively.

 

“To begin with, Elder Yi is famous for not coming out of his quarters. He has no interest either. So until just before the Master’s order came this morning to guide you regarding the mine, it would have been completely news to him.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Such a person who had been quietly staying put suddenly suggests going together since a large-scale investigation team is scheduled as soon as I, an outsider, appear.

 

‘Setting aside ghosts or curses, there’s definitely something at the mine.’

 

I stood up from my seat.

 

“Steward Gam.”

 

Steward Gam, who had been hanging his head low looking dejected, raised his head.

 

“After hearing Elder Yi’s story, I’ve changed my mind. Originally, I was planning to depart for the mine in two days when the equipment I ordered would be completed.”

 

“…Then?”

 

“I need to make the first move.”

 

Steward Gam’s eyes widened.

 

“Make the first move? No, setting everything else aside, didn’t Elder Yi clearly say he’s going in two days anyway and suggested we move together then? But if you move so openly like this, the friction with Elder Yi…!”

 

“This is just intuition.”

 

I walked out of the warehouse and looked out the window.

 

“I have a feeling that if we go then, we’ll just see a clean mine with nothing there, like those last investigators.”

 

There was the sun rising in the distance.

 

The cool and cold blue winter sky.

 

Under it, I spoke with white breath.

 

“It’s just my humble opinion, but especially when searching interiors, being one beat faster than the anticipated schedule has often been when you gain the most.”

 

Steward Gam was clever.

 

He seemed to catch the meaning contained in my words.

 

He swallowed and hesitated.

 

“But… if Elder Yi openly asks me about it in the meantime, what should I tell him?”

 

“Don’t worry.”

 

I smiled quietly.

 

“If Elder Yi happens to ask about my whereabouts in the meantime, just tell him that the guest from the Namgung Family went to survey the site first out of concern that he might be a burden to the Tang Family’s affairs.”

 

“Isn’t that too weak an excuse to tell Elder Yi? We need justification.”

 

“Justification? Then add this one thing.”

 

I turned around and said clearly.

 

“Tell him it’s a preliminary reconnaissance by a junior who was worried that Elder Yi might slip on the mountain path, departing first for the sake of a senior in the martial arts world.”

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