Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 5

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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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#005

I thought it might be a mistake.

I don’t know how many times I looked again.

The shape of the gold needle embedded in the wall.

I examine in detail the dozens of bloodstain marks on my body.

“There’s no room for doubt.”

My entire body shows signs, but especially concentrated around my danjeon, five areas of bloodstains are visible on my skin in a circular pattern.

The other eleven areas are obvious.

In my previous life, I lived at the bottom of the assassin world.

Having lived seeing all sorts of dirty things, there’s no way I wouldn’t recognize the Gold Gate Prison Needle Technique – these gold needles.

Without my knowledge, they had been applied to my body at some point.

Judging by how they’ve already partially dissolved, if I had realized it just a little later, they would have melted inside my body and fused, permanently crushing my blood vessels.

Without leaving any trace.

Who was it?

No, when exactly did they do this to me?

When exactly did I receive such treatment?

Not only did they make me miss the time for learning, but they even did this…?

What wrong did I commit?

What am I exactly?

I’m just a dullard who can’t do anything-.

“…Heaven Slayer?”

The demonic cult bastards who killed me definitely called me that.

‘…There’s definitely something about me.’

I don’t know which came first, the chicken or the egg.

But someone who definitely knows something about me performed this procedure to prevent my growth.

If I hadn’t simply given up and accumulated at least twenty years of internal energy in my previous life.

If my danjeon hadn’t been configured as it is now when I returned to the past.

These gold needles would still be unable to be expelled and would be stuck to my body forever, melting into it.

The current me succeeded in absorbing nearly seventy percent of the Taeulji Summoning Elixir in one go.

My current internal energy is thirty years’ worth in total, adding to the twenty years inherited from my previous life.

Of course, compared to the current trend where noble family and sect disciples start with sixty years after taking spiritual medicines, it’s still insufficient, but it’s an amount I’ve never experienced in my life.

“And this absorption too. Seeing this again, it’s not just a simple mistake.”

Originally, it should have been a situation where different types of internal energy would clash and I could fall into qi deviation. But my danjeon smoothly absorbed the Taeulji Summoning Elixir’s energy without any disturbance.

‘…Wait, could it be.’

The fundamental cause might be something else entirely.

Since starting this life, after all the gold needles were removed, there’s been a thought that occasionally surfaced.

From long ago, my master often marveled that I could accept any martial art without conflict.

Perhaps from the characteristics of this danjeon that embraces everything, to my past tendency to freely learn various martial arts and techniques without worrying about heart demons compared to others-.

What if it’s not that something new was created that didn’t exist before, but rather related to a constitution I originally possessed?

Yes.

For instance, if it’s related to that very ‘Heaven Slayer’ that even those who burned me to death mentioned.

“In the end, this is also connected to that bastard.”

The white Masked Man who burned me to death.

And those who cooperated with him, inserting gold needles into my infant body and mocking and trampling my entire life.

-Crunch.

The gold needle crumbles to pieces in my grip.

This grudge.

Where should I start unraveling this hellishly twisted life of mine?

“…Still.”

I cool my head.

I must be calm.

My master always said.

That my greatest weakness was being emotional.

I artificially suppress the emotions that boil up passionately along with the illusion of reddening.

Think of positive things,

Think of the path forward,

Identify what will benefit me and make plans to strengthen it.

Finally, acknowledge the cold reality once more and refocus on what I must do ‘right now.’

That is the answer I found after living for decades in my previous life – though it was a wretched existence, I certainly lived clearly and left my own footprints.

-…

Beyond the window, in the middle of the courtyard, I gaze at the golden dawn.

I breathe the fresh, cold and cool air.

This place is truly an annex at the outermost edge of the five prefectures that the Namgung Family overlooks, centered on Mount Cheonju in Anhui Province.

It’s called an annex, but I’ve been banished here no different from exile.

Living this life again for several days, I’ve vividly felt this nightmare once more.

Even during the process of being beaten like a dog and rolling in the dirt, no one pays attention to me.

Including even the servants, in the dim night they enter their rooms with lights on and do their own tasks.

A thorough sense of isolation, as if the world turns without me.

The current me has nothing.

No money, no status.

Only sunken cheeks with protruding temples, and a frail body.

‘But I have to try.’

Having nothing means

There’s only a path to build up from now.

Being at rock bottom means

There’s no lower bottom than this, so I just need to look up and climb without looking down.

At least I won’t give up on myself.

If I let go, I’ll just collapse.

What I must do right now is just one thing.

“Even for my survival, I will definitely surpass the level of my previous life.”

Even though I built some reputation in the assassin world, in the end even that was insufficient and I met a miserable end.

This world is a world of endless heavens.

To prevent tragedy from repeating, at minimum, I must achieve the level called ‘Dark Emperor’ that inherited my master’s reputation in the shortest time, and surpass even that.

And above all.

The second of the three evil connections that ruined my previous life.

I must overcome the Heir Apparent Selection Competition.

“And surely according to Namgung Cheon’s words, there are only two months left until the Heir Apparent Selection Competition-.”

“Young Master Hwi? Did you perhaps cough?”

“…?”

I looked toward the door.

The shadow visible beyond the closed door was hesitating.

The voice was also very cautious.

‘This never happened once in my previous life.’

It was definitely early morning, just as dawn was breaking.

But more than that, in this annex I’m like a non-existent being.

It’s a place where I have to scoop my own rice, and where everyone ignoring me is just part of daily life.

In such a place, it was extremely rare for the former guard to come looking for me as soon as morning arrived.

“What’s the matter.”

“…Ah, ah! That, that is…”

The face I see when I open the door is definitely a familiar one.

The former guard who was in charge of security for the annex and involved himself in all aspects of my life under the pretext of being my guard within the annex.

Guard in name only, but closer to a servant – a man with weasel-like eyes.

In my life before regression, he was the lowest-ranking person I encountered most often in the annex, and at the same time, he was the one who began to subtly ignore me after I crawled around the courtyard with Namgung Cheon on my back.

Moreover, at this moment, he couldn’t even meet my eyes.

‘At least he has some sense.’

The former guard must have seen Namgung Cheon being dragged away yesterday. He doesn’t know what happened, but he must have sensed something was amiss.

Anyway, no one would believe the words of a mere underling. Seeing that no rumors are circulating anywhere, it’s certain he hasn’t told anyone.

But still, I was puzzled.

Even so, what business does this guy who clearly finds me troublesome have coming here this morning.

“This is a message from the family head, delivered through a messenger from the main house.”

“From the family head?”

“Yes, according to what was conveyed through the messenger, he said you must attend the Monthly Political Gathering at Jeongmu Hall this afternoon.”

Monthly Political Gathering.

In my previous life, I would never have been summoned even once – a meeting held once a month where all key officials of the Namgung Family gather at Jeongmu Hall under the family head’s supervision to officially discuss the major and minor affairs of the Namgung.

For those who wished to stand at the center of the Namgung, attending the Monthly Political Gathering was realistically the greatest honor they could aim for, excluding the Secret Banquet – a closed-door meeting attended only by the chosen highest ranks.

“Suddenly telling me to come to Jeongmu Hall? And the family head directly asking for me?”

“I, I didn’t say anything! Young Master Cheon must have definitely fallen into the well and gotten hurt!”

He shouted without realizing it, then showed an expression as if he’d made a mistake.

I blinked.

“What are you talking about? So you’re saying there’s another reason why Brother Cheon got hurt, not the well?”

“No, no… that’s not it.”

“And I know what you saw. I also know you didn’t tell anyone.”

“Ah.”

Dozens of expressions flashed across the former guard’s face.

Just as his face brightened and he was about to say something, I spoke briefly.

“If rumors spread, I’ll definitely think it was you. So this summons from the family head must be unrelated to Namgung Cheon.”

“Of, of course. The matter regarding Young Master Cheon is probably just under investigation, and more than that, as you know, the main purpose of the Monthly Political Gathering is to discuss recent events around the family along with blood relatives, so there’s no need to worry much…”

“I understand. I’ll attend.”

The former guard brightens up and tries to quickly retreat.

“Ah…! Yes, understood! Then I’ll hurry and deliver this news-.”

“Wait.”

The former guard freezes.

“There’s something you must do for me while I’m attending the Monthly Political Gathering.”

“Yes?”

I pulled over the ink and paper from the desk beside me.

“I’m going to record the types of clothes, shoes, and other items I need and specify here. From material to color, there must be absolutely no deviation or improvisation – everything exactly as specified.”

I took out paper, dipped the brush thoroughly in ink, and instantly wrote with the momentum of a single stroke, scribbling certain drawings and text on the paper.

I recited in a soft voice, speaking gently.

“For the fabric shop, don’t go to the Jung family’s fabric shop right in front of you when you leave this annex, but pass by there to the somewhat shabby but Lee Hajeong’s fabric shop where the son also runs a blacksmith business. If you show them this drawing and description, they’ll do it right away. This is the down payment.”

I roughly gathered three silver coins from the silver pouch the courtesan had dropped and flicked them over.

“And handle this I’m giving you now with the highest priority. Starting tomorrow, recruit someone to regularly supply the foods and ingredients I’m writing down here to this annex.”

I scribbled dozens of items on paper and handed it to the former guard without hesitation.

“There should be a man named Kwak who runs a general store next to the Ilseong County, Chilmok Salt Fields. Since he’s a local, you must know him well from frequently encountering him.”

“I know Uncle Kwak, but.”

“Ask that person to do this job. Every three days, purchase the freshest and best items from the market and supply them here. Promise him 60% of the purchase cost as payment and give him 20% of the purchase cost as advance payment. Don’t forget the contract, and bring it to me-.”

“No, wait a moment, Young Master. What are you suddenly talking about?”

The former guard looked incredulous and then looked at the list I was handing him.

“All this? And you want me to receive and carry this every three days?”

The former guard’s tone began to reveal undisguised surliness.

A moment of silence.

The former guard’s gaze blatantly swept from my head to my toes.

Behind his gaze wrapped in politeness, contempt briefly flickered.

His dissatisfaction with the workload piling up on him, my soft voice, and after confirming my small and shabby appearance, his tension must have momentarily relaxed.

“Ha, what kind of nonsense is this. Listen here, Young Master, I wasn’t going to say this.”

The former guard was incredulous. He let out a scoffing laugh mixed with ridicule as he looked at me.

“Why would Kwak who runs the general store do this job just because you give him money? No, I was wondering what you were suddenly talking about.”

That was the former guard’s true attitude that flowed out in his momentarily relaxed tension.

He had unconsciously, habitually maintained this kind of attitude toward me all along.

Toward the fourth blood relative stuck in the annex who couldn’t make any statements.

“Young Master seems to not know about the world. This is, you see-.”

“That person’s general store isn’t doing well business-wise, so he wouldn’t be picky about the type of work as long as it pays. He’s done courier work for the Bureau of Seals before, so he’d be perfect for this job. If you propose it, he’ll definitely do it.”

“…What?”

The former guard’s mouth fell open.

Everything connects.

In the past, while living as an assassin, I had completely mastered how various systems operated, if only for supply and information distribution.

Based on that and the past information I’d observed while stuck in this annex, how things work in this rural corner of Anhui is obvious.

“Why, was I wrong? Did I know incorrectly?”

“No, Uncle Kwak’s past as a courier and his recent operational difficulties are correct… but how do you… know all that.”

“You.”

I speak toward the former guard.

This was also something I was saying with everything from the past included.

“Did you think that just because I sit here in this annex rotting away like a dried pollack, rolling my eyes and sitting around blankly, I wouldn’t know anything?”

“What…?”

“You must have thought I lived like an idiot, like an empty scarecrow, pretending not to know even when I knew, pretending not to see even when I saw. That’s why you showed such an attitude all this time, even though you’re just a guard of the Namgung Family. What could a mule bastard whose string has been cut do, even if he receives Namgung Cheon’s favor?”

“Don, don’t joke around, Young Master. How could I do such a thing.”

“….”

The former guard’s eyes meet mine as I stare at him intently.

“Joke?”

I don’t raise my voice.

I don’t make it sharp or serious either.

Just.

“A joke…”

I slowly stand up.

I stand before the servant.

My body is small.

I have narrow shoulders and am emaciated from poor eating.

My cheeks are sunken, and my cheekbones and temples protrude in an ugly face.

With such a body, I stare intently at my former guard, the servant, before me.

-…. …. ….

A quiet room with no one else.

The servant’s breathing and my breathing alternately fill the empty space like ink.

“Shall I show you one of the jokes from the stable that nearly made Brother Cheon die laughing?”

“….”

I don’t know what he saw in my eyes.

I don’t know what he felt.

However, in my previous life, he always

served by my side while secretly mocking his pathetic master, that corner of his mouth that used to curl up arrogantly and swagger—now it was drooping down like a dead mouse.

“So… so, that is, well.”

An ink-black oppression fills the space between him and me.

My face reflects in his pupils.

What fills that reflection is a gradually reddening gaze like blood.

-Drip… drip drip.

Cold sweat formed and dripped from the chin of the former guard who bowed his head, staring only at the floor as if his neck might break.

“So… so, that is, well.”

“Do you have something to say?”

“Ah… no, I mean. I’m not rebelling. That… young master. Please don’t misunderstand. So, that is. Ah, right. Wh-what you ordered! I have a question about this!”

Until the moment he left, the former guard could not meet my eyes for even the time it takes for a single drop of water to fall, not even for a single moment.

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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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