Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 50

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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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#050

 

Dangmutae sighed and spoke as if teaching a naive child.

 

“Young Master Namgung Hwi. Your sense of justice and concern for the Young Master are admirable, but you must understand why we cannot act rashly. Do you think if we went to the Hwangbo Family right now and shouted ‘We need it, so hand it over!’ they would readily give it to us?”

 

“Then shouldn’t we at least take responsibility and step forward ourselves to steal it or whatever it takes to resolve this?!”

 

“Resolve? Step forward ourselves to steal it? Haha!”

 

Dangmutae smiled coldly.

 

“I want to do that a hundred times over in my heart. As the one who advocated giving that Baekhwamodo to the Hwangbo Family and personally delivered that item to them! I know better than anyone where that item is stored.”

 

“Then don’t just talk—”

 

“Silence! Does our immature junior speak so carelessly without even knowing where they’ve placed the Baekhwamodo?!”

 

“…!”

 

Namgung Hwi flinched.

 

Pressing his advantage, Dangmutae continued.

 

“As the one who personally delivered it to the Hwangbo Family, I guarantee that the Baekhwamodo has been moved to Jiakpaekyeong, where all the treasures from around Sichuan gather among the Hwangbo Family’s branches. None other than the Jiakpaekyeong branch!”

 

Everyone stirred at Dangmutae’s words.

 

“Jiakpaekyeong…?”

 

“Good God. That place.”

 

Namgung Hwi frowned and shouted defiantly, though weakly.

 

“The Young Master’s life hangs by a thread right now, so no matter how treacherous that place is, what does it matter? We should negotiate first, and if they refuse, then proceed with theft—”

 

“Going to steal from that place where even the renowned Jegal Family has installed their Three-Gate Prohibition System? I can’t help but admire such ignorance.”

 

Dangmutae snorted.

 

“The Hwangbo Family Head personally paid a fortune to request the installation of three gates from the Eight-Gate Prohibition System that the renowned Jegal Family takes pride in—a system encompassing formations, geography, manpower, and techniques. Moreover, it’s built on the Jiakpaekyeong rock formations made of cold iron ore, one of the raw materials for Manyeon Hanchul ingots used in prisons, which absorbs and disrupts internal energy just by touch! You want us to break through such a fortress and steal from it?”

 

“The Jegal Family’s Eight-Gate Prohibition…? Surely…”

 

Namgung Hwi’s complexion changed.

 

“It must be a mistake. Surely, that… at a branch, not even the Jegal Family’s main house…!”

 

“I stake my life on it! I saw it with my own two eyes! From the guard deployment alone, it’s certain! If I could, I’d want to rush there myself a hundred times to retrieve it. Do you understand this old man’s feelings of being unable to do so?”

 

At that definitive answer, the atmosphere that had been ready to explode into action immediately deflated.

 

Low sighs flowed from various people around the room.

 

Dangmutae slowly looked around at their reactions.

 

Then Dangmutae drove the final nail.

 

“If we infiltrate with mediocre skills, we won’t even be able to collect our bones, and formally leading the Tang Family’s elite to attack means all-out war with the Hwangbo Family!”

 

Small murmurs arose from various places.

 

“Young Master Namgung Hwi.”

 

Dangmutae’s voice settled coldly.

 

“You’re not even a member of the Sichuan Tang Family but an outsider, and now you’re inciting the Tang Family to rashly go to war with the Hwangbo Family?”

 

“…Th-that…”

 

Namgung Hwi clenched his fists and spoke through gritted teeth with a groan.

 

“That’s not it.”

 

“Then watch your words! There are limits to what I’ll overlook for having a loose tongue and youthful passion!”

 

His face flushed red as if about to burst, Namgung Hwi couldn’t say another word.

 

It was completely Dangmutae’s show.

 

The assembly fell into silence.

 

He had lost in justification.

 

Though there might be dissatisfaction, those who witnessed the brief verbal battle seemed to have no intention of openly rebelling against the First Elder in this setting.

 

Dangmutae caught his breath and looked around.

 

Then calmly, toward the completely subdued martial arts junior and the assembly, he spoke.

 

“However, I don’t intend to completely ignore what you’ve said. Your heart is for the Tang Family, so I understand. And don’t worry.”

 

He addressed the assembly.

 

“I will take responsibility.”

 

Then he turned around.

 

Cupping his hands toward Family Head Dangmujin, he bowed his head.

 

“Family Head, I am truly sorry for bringing shame to the family through my inadequate failures. However, if you would give this old man a chance, I would like to make up for past mistakes. Please give me three days. I will take responsibility for all of this and negotiate with the Hwangbo Family to peacefully obtain even a single root of Baekhwamodo to help the Young Master’s recovery.”

 

With a haggard face and dark expression, Dangmujin spoke.

 

“…Will you do so?”

 

“Yes. If you permit me to visit, even at the cost of my life, I will take this old body to the Hwangbo Family and settle this matter through negotiation.”

 

Dangmujin, seeming deeply distressed, nodded weakly.

 

“…I permit it.”

 

Dangmutae smiled with satisfaction and was about to withdraw.

 

“Ah, First Elder. There’s one thing you should know.”

 

The Family Head called him back.

 

“Given the unsavory incident, until the investigation is complete, I’m suspending your authority over the silver mine management and Danak Heavenly Storehouse management, which are among your major duties as First Elder. Once matters are settled, I’ll restore your authority then.”

 

“…Not only the problematic silver mine, but also the Danak Heavenly Storehouse where the Sichuan Tang Family stores elixirs and goods?”

 

“That’s right. From this moment on, even you will be blocked by the Tang Family’s warriors, so keep that in mind.”

 

Dangmutae froze momentarily. But he hid his panic and answered.

 

“…I will obey your command.”

 

And as Dangmutae turned and left the Grand Hall, his face was coldly hardened.

 

His steps began to quicken rapidly as he exited the Grand Hall.

 

‘…Damn it, I need to move that thing as quickly as possible…!’

 

And all of this,

 

“…”

 

Namgung Hwi was watching intently.

 

***

 

[The day before the Grand Hall meeting.]

 

I spoke under the flickering candlelight.

 

“Today. Everything could end at once during this single night ahead.”

 

Both Steward Gam

 

and Family Head Dangmujin remained silent.

 

Ink-like silence pressed down on the space of three people.

 

“…One night?”

 

Finally, Dangmujin’s hoarse voice broke the stillness.

 

“Are you making fun of me right now? Or are you speaking recklessly in youthful passion without considering the consequences? Does this situation seem so trivial to you!”

 

In his voice, the spark of anger that had barely subsided after Steward Gam’s earnest persuasion was trying to reignite. The current threat to his son and heir’s life, and the betrayal by someone he trusted, had greatly affected his mental state.

 

But I wasn’t shaken in the slightest.

 

“I’m certainly not speaking lightly. I deeply sympathize with the intense anger you hold toward the First Elder and the Hwangbo Family, Family Head. However, to draw and swing a sword based on that alone, we lack three crucial things.”

 

“Three things?”

 

“That’s right. We must first firmly grasp both justification and practical benefit in both hands, then put the final period with action. If action comes first and we then scramble to secure justification and practical benefit for damage control, everything will surely be like a flour sack with a hole in the bottom—spilling everything we worked to gather onto the ground.”

 

“…”

 

Dangmujin gritted his teeth. He took a deep breath and exhaled.

 

“…Continue speaking.”

 

“Currently, while we can circumstantially assume and have strong suspicions that the First Elder is a clear traitor, we still lack sufficient physical evidence.”

 

“Physical evidence? How can you say that? I don’t know how this reappeared, but this copied manuscript of the Ten Thousand Poisons Record containing the Jacheonamsa formula and their secret transaction ledger—this alone would justify tearing that bastard limb from limb.”

 

Then Dangmujin stopped speaking abruptly.

 

“…Come to think of it, the report that those who died from poisoning cried out about seeing the Previous Patriarch’s spirit just before death—that was also only reported by First Elder Dangmutae…”

 

“Of course I completely sympathize with your desire to execute the First Elder immediately, Family Head. However, the First Elder is a veteran who has devoted his entire life to the Tang Family. His influence is deeply rooted throughout the family. If we purge him based only on physical evidence that has gaps and allows for other interpretations… unnecessary turmoil and division could arise within the Tang Family. It’s also problematic that I’m the one who discovered that evidence. Perhaps the First Elder might claim ‘You, an outsider, fabricated everything.’ Internal fractures are more frightening than external enemies, aren’t they?”

 

“…”

 

“And dealing with Elder Yi is a secondary matter. What we need to focus on is something else. It’s also the second point. We need to cool our heads, think about what our purpose is, and concentrate on that.”

 

Namgung Hwi’s breathing gradually calmed down. He pressed his hand to his forehead and muttered.

 

“What’s this important second point?”

 

“The second is securing the Baekhwamodo. That is our top priority.”

 

I spoke with emphasis in my voice.

 

“Regardless of the circumstances, regardless of the detailed process of how it was obtained, the poison currently affecting the Young Master and the main root cause of the ghost incidents in the mine is a poison inherited in an inferior form from the previous patriarch’s Jacheon-amsa that led the Tang Family to its golden age. Even if it’s not as potent as the real Jacheon-amsa, there’s no question that Baekhwamodo is needed first to detoxify it. Securing Baekhwamodo must be our top priority. The reason is obviously because of the Young Master.”

 

At the mention of ‘Young Master,’ Namgung Hwi’s shoulders flinched and trembled slightly. I spoke decisively.

 

“I don’t know what Elder Yi and the Hwangbo Family are scheming, but if the Young Master’s poisoning incident was also part of their plan, then ultimately the Young Master’s death would also be one pillar of their desired outcome. I don’t know how far their schemes are planned to reach, but rather, at times like this, overturning all the visible results they want would be perfect revenge, and we won’t be victimized anymore.”

 

When I finished speaking, Steward Gam, who had been quietly listening nearby, spoke heavily.

 

“As I mentioned before… there is currently no Baekhwamodo stock in the Sichuan Tang Family. Unfortunately, when our relationship with the Hwangbo Family was still amicable, they showed tremendous interest in that particular herb, and for that reason, we delivered it along with gold and silver treasures under Elder Yi’s responsibility to strengthen our friendly relations.”

 

Steward Gam then suddenly let out a short sigh.

 

“Come to think of it… even that was because Elder Yi emphasized the necessity of friendly relations and volunteered to personally handle the tribute transport… Just how long has he been secretly colluding with the Hwangbo Family?”

 

Steward Gam said nothing more, but that short sigh contained belated regret and anger.

 

I comforted Steward Gam.

 

“Don’t blame yourself. That’s not a disgrace.”

 

“Not… a disgrace?”

 

“It’s evidence that Elder Yi has been meticulously deceiving everyone for a long time, and when anyone gets drawn into a thoroughly planned scheme, they can’t help but be deceived. The same goes for me.”

 

Briefly, the bamboo forest flashed through my mind and disappeared.

 

“…But through such past events, we can at least trace back what kind of person our opponent is. From the hideout of Ilsikya that I discovered in the mine to these secret transaction ledgers, Elder Yi currently has no idea how much we actually know.”

 

Steward Gam said.

 

“Are you saying we should keep the fact that we know all this hidden until Elder Yi makes a critical mistake?”

 

“No, I actually think we should reveal the fact that we know these things first.”

 

Namgung Hwi spoke as if dumbfounded.

 

“Earlier you said we should be cautious, but now you want to show our hand to the enemy first?”

 

I shook my head and revealed the core of my plan.

 

“We’ll make Elder Yi himself recall that the last stock of Baekhwamodo was handed over to the Hwangbo Family due to his clear intention, making him realize that the responsibility for the Baekhwamodo lies with him, and psychologically corner him. Then we’ll clumsily pursue that responsibility from him.”

 

I paused briefly and stared into the family head’s eyes.

 

“Foxes like him won’t come out of their den unless they think it’s a scheme they didn’t plan themselves. If we pressure him clumsily with plausible justification, showing gaps, he’ll let his guard down and take the bait, and start acting boldly.”

 

“How can you be so certain?”

 

“The one who will pursue and provoke him will appear to anyone watching to be.”

 

I poked my chest with my thumb.

 

“A young, hot-blooded fourth son who’s full of ambition but relies only on family honor, an incompetent and ugly fourth son with no reputation in the martial arts world.”

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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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