Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 49

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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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#049

 

‘That Namgung bastard finally…?’

 

Sparks flew from Dangmutae’s eyes.

 

‘I told him I would go with him and not to act recklessly, but he still went and ransacked the silver mine alone?’

 

Dozens of suspicions began to interlock and spin in Dangmutae’s mind.

 

‘And of all places, he encountered the Wol Ak O Seong gang at that silver mine and fought them, and coincidentally they spilled the Mandokgihae while fleeing…?’

 

No way.

 

Dangmutae’s eyes flashed like lightning toward the dead-eyed Sichuan Tang Family head sitting directly in front of him.

 

‘Dangmujin, that family head bastard who I thought was dying…?’

 

But that was quickly denied by Dangmutae himself.

 

And the conclusion reached at the end was one.

 

‘…The most likely thing is still the betrayal of those lowly bandits, Wol Ak O Seong.’

 

From the beginning, he hadn’t trusted them when they were introduced as skilled but rootless bandits.

 

Once he grasped the thread, his mind began to organize itself.

 

Whatever the circumstances, either the Wol Ak O Seong bastards didn’t trust me and pulled some other scheme that would bring more money, or they recognized the value of the Mandokgihae and tried to steal it behind my back, causing things to go wrong.

 

‘Yes, there’s nothing else. The betrayal of lowly bottom-feeders is always…’

 

“If I may be so bold. Let me summarize what we have discussed so far.”

 

Dangmutae was awakened from his thoughts by Steward Gam’s statement.

 

“From the recent ghost disturbance at the silver mine to the Young Master’s weakening, everything appears to be connected to Jacheonamsa.”

 

“…”

 

Silence settled over the assembly.

 

“The reappearance of Jacheonamsa, the lost poison of our predecessors, suggests there may be a traitor within our Sichuan Tang Family cooperating with outside forces.”

 

“That’s right!”

 

Elder Lee and Elder Sam, who had gentle personalities, shouted out in righteous indignation.

 

“This should not be dismissed as mere ghost play! Even if it means tearing apart that traitor bastard! We must thoroughly search the silver mine and surrounding areas first to find the unidentified monsters that Young Master Namgung Hwi encountered! We must also thoroughly analyze this rubbing of the Mandokgihae and root them out completely.”

 

“Jacheonamsa…! That the Tang Family’s secret arts were used to cut off our lineage – this heaven-defying act must be punished.”

 

“The elders speak correctly. Finding the culprit must take priority above all else. No matter how our Tang Family’s reputation may not be what it once was! How dare they! Even right now, we should mobilize all of the Sichuan Tang Family’s elite forces…”

 

As everyone stepped forward to shout their piece, the hall rapidly became chaotic.

 

‘Damn… it. As expected.’

 

Elder Yi Dangmutae’s face rapidly darkened.

 

Unless one was a fool, it was obvious.

 

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like Wol Ak O Seong had been caught or anything, but if the atmosphere continued in this direction, the person who would receive the arrows of suspicion first would be Elder Yi himself, who was in charge of managing the silver mine.

 

He was someone who had survived countless strategic and political battles over a long time.

 

Warning bells rang in his head.

 

‘This is getting dangerous. I need to change the subject…’

 

That’s when it happened.

 

A clear voice rang out like cold water poured on the heated atmosphere.

 

“I am an outsider who doesn’t know the detailed circumstances of the Tang Family well, but may I offer a word?”

 

It was Namgung Hwi.

 

“If it’s none other than Young Master Namgung Hwi, of course! Please, go ahead.”

 

The response came from Elder Lee, who was sending favorable glances.

 

“Before discussing tracking the culprit, since we’ve learned about Jacheonamsa’s formula and the identity of the poison tormenting the Young Master through the Mandokgihae, how about focusing on solving that first rather than the culprit, and discussing things step by step?”

 

Namgung Hwi’s strangely calm voice enveloped the assembly.

 

“Regarding poisons, the Sichuan Tang Family is second to none under heaven, so I believe detoxification is now just a matter of time.”

 

And those words were like pouring ice water.

 

-…

 

Everyone fell silent.

 

All conditions disappeared and were covered over.

 

Those who had been fired up with thoughts of finding the culprit and taking revenge fell into silence as they recalled the forgotten fact. Particularly the other two elders and several close associates openly watched the family head’s expression with anxiety.

 

“That… that is. Ahem…”

 

Elder Sam cleared his throat and stammered.

 

And at the end of that gaze was Family Head Dangmujin.

 

“…”

 

Dangmujin’s face was filled with discomfort.

 

The most flustered by this suddenly changed atmosphere was none other than the only outsider who had spoken up, Namgung Hwi.

 

“Did… did I make some verbal mistake? I spoke up thinking detoxification and treatment should take priority.”

 

And among the assembly observing the situation, Dangmutae smiled with apparent absurdity.

 

‘Stupid fool! Did you think others weren’t pointing it out because they didn’t know that?’

 

Steward Gam spoke to the flustered Namgung Hwi.

 

“With even the rubbing of the Mandokgihae containing the formula appearing, the poison affecting the Young Master is likely Jacheonamsa, as you pointed out. However.”

 

Steward Gam answered with a regretful voice.

 

“Even if it’s not a perfect complete version but an imperfect one, if it’s truly Jacheonamsa, then to detoxify it requires an essential medicinal ingredient called Baekhwamodo… Without it, nothing else has any meaning.”

 

“Does that mean the medicinal ingredient Baekhwamodo is that rare? To the extent that even the Sichuan Tang Family, which handles all poisons under heaven, doesn’t have it?”

 

“It is rare, but we certainly had it. However…”

 

Steward Gam hesitated before speaking.

 

“Our last remaining stock of Baekhwamodo was transferred in its entirety to the Hwangbo Family a year ago as a token of friendship, under Elder Yi’s strong advocacy. He said the Hwangbo Family head had a hobby of collecting rare medicinal ingredients.”

 

Instantly, the air in the Grand Hall froze.

 

“That’s right, back then for sure.”

 

Even those who had forgotten that fact began to recall it and looked at Elder Yi Dangmutae one by one.

 

In those unfavorable gazes, there were clearly some who looked with suspicion, even connecting it to the doubts about the silver mine that had been discussed and then stopped.

 

‘Damn… of all things, that Baekhwamodo is also connected to me…!’

 

Dangmutae had already been scheming to change the subject.

 

At the gazes suddenly focused on him, Dangmutae struggled to suppress his face from contorting.

 

And in that instant, a lightning-like thought struck Dangmutae’s mind.

 

‘Wait, if I use this as an opportunity, I could actually…!’

 

Dangmutae looked at Namgung Hwi again.

 

He really looked lowly and ugly. He appeared like someone who had never overcome any adversity.

 

Moreover, seeing his shoulders rise with pride over his achievements, he was a truly pathetic fellow who knew no fear of the world.

 

A greenhorn new to the martial world whose only asset was the honor of the family behind him.

 

He had seen many of this type.

 

‘Then this will be easy.’

 

As soon as he reached his conclusion, he moved.

 

Dangmutae opened his mouth toward the gazes focused on him.

 

“Young Master Namgung Hwi is right. He has pointed out an important fact we almost forgot at just the right moment.”

 

“Elder Yi…?”

 

“First, regarding the Baekhwamodo, it is indeed my fault. It’s true that I advocated transferring the Baekhwamodo to the Hwangbo Family, and since the Hwangbo Family now harbors hostility toward our Sichuan Tang Family, it’s certainly true that this unintended situation arose from my actions.”

 

Everyone was surprised and paid attention, not expecting Elder Yi to speak so boldly.

 

“But all of that was done as Elder Yi, with the heart of wanting the Sichuan Tang Family to prosper, and I deeply regret that things turned out differently from my intentions.”

 

Dangmutae looked around at everyone and strengthened his voice.

 

“But in this moment of crisis, rather than debating past rights and wrongs, what we should focus on now is the Young Master’s safety, as Young Master Namgung Hwi said. The enemies trying to harm the Sichuan Tang Family want exactly this – for us to suspect and divide among ourselves internally. In times like these, we must unite. First, to save the Young Master, we must focus on securing the Baekhwamodo-”

 

“How utterly shameless. Who’s the reason we don’t have that Baekhwamodo?!”

 

Elder Lee frowned and spoke.

 

Dangmutae glared.

 

“Didn’t I already address that matter? Who could have known such a thing would happen, especially something from a whole year ago! If you had predicted it would suddenly be needed like this, Elder Lee should have opposed it!”

 

“What nonsense is that! Moreover, the most suspicious person regarding the silver mine matter is Elder Yi Dangmutae – you yourself are the one in charge, so how can you say such things?!”

 

“What?! Are you saying that you’re now definitively labeling me as the mastermind behind all this without any evidence? Is Elder Lee insulting me in this public setting? Me, Dangmutae, who has devoted twenty years of his life to the Sichuan Tang Family?!”

 

“…!”

 

Elder Lee flinched.

 

He gritted his teeth and growled.

 

“Just as you say, that might be-!”

 

Elder Sam grabbed Elder Lee’s collar.

 

“….”

 

He slowly shook his head along with his white beard.

 

As if to say now was not the time.

 

As if reminding him that uttering those words now would be irreversible.

 

Elder Lee looked at Elder Sam.

 

Then he looked at Elder Yi again.

 

Soon after, he bit down so hard his teeth might crack and sat down.

 

Elder Lee’s eyes glaring at Dangmutae looked ready to explode, but in the end, he stopped speaking further with a grunt.

 

They were too old to act without thinking.

 

They had too much experience.

 

They knew better than anyone what consequences a single action or statement carelessly uttered in this official setting could bring.

 

That’s why they stopped their actions.

 

But one person in this place was different.

 

“Elder Lee is right!”

 

It was Namgung Hwi.

 

The shoulders of the outsider from Namgung, wrapped in youthful vigor, were tense with strength.

 

That Namgung Hwi looked directly at Dangmutae with eyes that couldn’t understand and said.

 

“Even though I’m not a member of the Tang Family, I believe Elder Yi’s actions are wrong. Blaming the other party for not stopping you – is this truly the conduct of the righteous faction? I’ve seen countless times gifts of swords, silk, or even gold and silver treasures sent as tokens of friendship. I can understand that. Why? Because they can be replaced. But-.”

 

The look in his eyes toward Elder Yi was one of contempt.

 

“Hastily handing over precious medicinal materials that might be needed in the future, and not leaving even one behind but giving them all away – where exactly does such conduct originate from? Everything has the principle of being prepared for any contingency-.”

 

“You brat!”

 

Dangmutae shouted angrily.

 

“What does a young fool know to run his mouth so carelessly! How important the relationship with the Hwangbo Family was at that time, and how much benefit we gained through that friendly relationship! Ignorant fool, shut your mouth!”

 

Namgung Hwi’s complexion changed drastically at Dangmutae’s scolding.

 

“Ignorant? So you’re saying that the benefit you so proudly obtained is more important than the Young Master’s life right now?! What ridiculous nonsense!”

 

“What did you say? I was being lenient because you’re from the Namgung family!”

 

“Let me ask Elder Yi directly about the results! Thanks to your grand plan and diplomatic achievements, the Sichuan Tang Family is now facing the crisis of its lineage being cut off. How do you plan to take responsibility for this situation? You couldn’t even properly manage the silver mine, allowing strange people to lurk around!”

 

Everyone held their breath.

 

“What Elder Yi should be doing right now is not scolding Elder Lee for not stopping you, but either stepping forward yourself to directly steal that Hundred Flower Ink Blade, or stepping forward to negotiate! That would be the true attitude of a ‘warrior’ and ‘elder’ taking responsibility! And it would also align with your claim that the Young Master’s safety should come first!”

 

When Namgung Hwi finished speaking, Dangmutae fell silent for a moment.

 

While he slowly caught his breath, the air in the Grand Hall grew heavy.

 

“Ha.”

 

Dangmutae’s short sigh.

 

“Truly youthful vigor indeed.”

 

Dangmutae’s following voice was calm.

 

He spoke to Namgung Hwi in a cold voice.

 

“That pathetically ignorant foolishness – it would be meaningful as a senior of the Martial Arts World if this old man personally enlightened you.”

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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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