Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 56

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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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#056

 

“Urgent news!”

 

Main Hall of Sacheon Manor.

 

A messenger burst through the door and shouted.

 

“The Hwangbo Family’s Jiak Paegyeong Fortress has been turned upside down!”

 

Steward Gam and Master Dangmujin shot to their feet.

 

“What…?!”

 

Following that, messengers sent to monitor Jiak Paegyeong arrived one after another.

 

“White and yellow signal flares are going off consecutively.”

 

“Guards are pouring out like water into an ant hill, searching the entire area. I think I’ll be discovered too-.”

 

Steward Gam looked at Dangmujin with trembling eyes.

 

“Master, the alternating white and yellow signals… this is the official signal for the Hwangbo Family to conduct the highest level search of the surrounding area.”

 

At this point, this could only mean one thing.

 

The Hwangbo Family’s Jiak Paegyeong Fortress had been breached head-on and something inside had been stolen.

 

Master Dangmujin’s eyes filled with amazement.

 

“…Really… he stole the Baekhwamodo? Alone, without any support?”

 

“Namgung Hwi… what happened to Young Master Namgung Hwi? Did it seem like he escaped the encirclement in time?”

 

At Steward Gam’s urgent questioning, the messenger said.

 

“I saw the Hwangbo Family guards shouting that someone had escaped and searching everywhere, but there definitely wasn’t anyone coming toward the Sacheon Tang Family.”

 

“No one at all?”

 

“From the circumstances, the escape was successful, but it seems he went straight to somewhere other than toward the Sacheon Tang Family.”

 

“Master, this is terrible!”

 

Another messenger practically rolled in shouting.

 

“Elder Dangmutae…! He attacked the Danak Heavenly Storehouse, and many disciples who tried to stop him were injured!”

 

Dangmujin’s face turned bright red.

 

“What…? Dangmu…tae?! No, why on earth? There’s no reason for that?”

 

The Danak Heavenly Storehouse was a place that stored various poisons and secret techniques of the Tang Family, managed solely under Elder Yi’s authority.

 

After the silver mine incident, Elder Yi’s authority was suspended and Dangmutae’s access was prohibited.

 

“Dangmutae was at the Danak Heavenly Storehouse-.”

 

-Crash!

 

During the report, Elder Lee and Elder Sam burst in one after another, cutting off the words.

 

“Master!”

 

Especially Elder Lee’s face was flushed red with anger.

 

“Did you hear the news?! That bastard Dangmutae broke the arms and legs of three of my disciples.”

 

“More than that, right now the Hwangbo Family, the Hwangbo Family!”

 

Elder Sam shouted in a voice pale with shock.

 

“Under the pretext of searching, they’ve approached the northeastern boundary of the Sacheon Tang Family’s territory, Master, how should we handle this situation…?”

 

“Let me finish the report that was interrupted earlier!”

 

The messenger from the Danak Heavenly Storehouse urgently continued his previous report.

 

“According to those who were injured, when Dangmutae came out of the Danak Heavenly Storehouse, he was carrying multiple confidential documents related to the Sacheon Tang Family along with silver-white roots presumed to be Baekhwamodo!”

 

Elder Lee was shocked.

 

“Baekhwamodo?! Didn’t it all go to the Hwangbo Family?”

 

Dangmujin pressed the messenger.

 

“Which direction did Dangmutae disappear in last?”

 

“They said it was definitely northeast.”

 

Elder Sam said.

 

“Isn’t that toward the silver mine? It’s also where the Hwangbo Family is currently approaching.”

 

Dangmujin’s eyes became bloodshot.

 

“That bastard Dangmutae is trying to make contact with the Hwangbo Family while carrying the Baekhwamodo. He’s making a desperate move thinking everything will be exposed through Jiak Paegyeong anyway.”

 

“Wait, then could it be…?”

 

Steward Gam said urgently.

 

“Master! Could it be that Young Master Hwi had some conviction and is directly pursuing Dangmutae without returning to Sichuan? If it’s him who pointed out those ten locations before, it’s certain.”

 

Then Steward Gam’s face turned deathly pale.

 

“If Elder Yi succeeded in restoring his danjeon with the Baekhwamodo, even if he couldn’t stabilize properly, his level would be at least late-stage master. If Young Master Hwi faces him alone, he’ll definitely die…!”

 

That’s when it happened.

 

A pale-faced maid came running frantically.

 

“Steward… Steward Gam…! Master Dangmujin…!”

 

“What else is happening in the midst of all this?”

 

Steward Gam shouted with a stunned expression.

 

The maid sobbed.

 

“Right now… right now! The Young Master is… the Young Master is coughing up blood… The physician is doing his best but his condition is rapidly deteriorating! The physician says it’s hard to hold on without the Baekhwamodo now…”

 

“All members of the Sacheon Tang Family, listen!”

 

Dangmujin shouted.

 

“From this moment, starting with the Master’s direct elite Dangheongjeongma unit, all martial artists of the Tang Family who can stand, including the injured, will pursue the Elder who betrayed the Sacheon Tang Family.”

 

Even with his clearly sickly pale complexion, Dangmujin shouted with bloodshot eyes.

 

“I will personally go out as well, so we must prevent Dangmutae’s contact with the Hwangbo Family at all costs, even if it means the Tang Family’s destruction…!!”

 

***

 

“You… you…!”

 

Killing intent flowed in streams from Dangmutae’s eyes.

 

Rather than killing intent, it was madness stained with hatred.

 

“Elder Dangmutae.”

 

I caught my breath.

 

Within two breaths, my slightly irregular breathing became steady.

 

I looked at the altar next to Dangmutae.

 

There, moonlight passing through the moonstone forming the ceiling of the hideout was concentrated. In the center of it was a root of Baekhwamodo emitting a bluish light.

 

It was completely different from the three roots of Baekhwamodo in my possession.

 

“Don’t think you can slip away with word games like last time.”

 

“…Grk!”

 

Dangmutae turned red and blue with rage.

 

Then suddenly he hesitated and looked around again.

 

After a moment of silence, he spoke.

 

“You… are you alone?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I’m asking if you didn’t break in with others. I don’t see anyone but you.”

 

“Of course.”

 

“…Ha.”

 

Ha…

 

Haha…

 

Ahahahaha…!

 

Dangmutae laughed thunderously.

 

“Heaven is helping me! Yes, thinking about it, it’s natural…! No matter how much you caught on, the timing doesn’t make sense…! There’s clearly time required for such things!”

 

“That sounds like you’re saying I alone am no problem.”

 

I said.

 

“Dangmutae. From now on, I’m dropping the respectful tone with you.”

 

My words echoed through the vast hideout.

 

“Even now, hand over one root of Baekhwamodo you have and surrender. I heard your danjeon is already ruined anyway.”

 

“Did Steward Gam tell you?”

 

“Let me tell you in advance. Without that one root of Baekhwamodo enhanced by moonlight beside you, it would just be troublesome, but it’s not essential for the Young Master’s recovery.”

 

I patted the three roots of Baekhwamodo inside my chest.

 

“So don’t do such foolish things like this hostage situation that won’t work anyway.”

 

“So it was you who made them fire signal flares at Jiakpaekyeong. Skills that don’t match your age. Indeed, you have reason to be confident.”

 

“Thanks for the compliment.”

 

“And I can see you’re wounded.”

 

“….”

 

My entire body had scratches from breaking through the shell of phosphorus at Jiakpaekyeong.

 

My clothes were torn like rags.

 

There was also a long torn mark across my chest.

 

Pointing at it, Dangmutae said.

 

“How excellent you are, all your capabilities have been revealed.”

 

“Regardless of what level you’re at, I don’t think it’s at a level where it would lose to you with your ruined danjeon.”

 

I looked around.

 

I gazed at the countless documents and traces covering the hideout.

 

“It’s also true that Family Head Dangmujin and the others aren’t here right now, but eventually they’ll come bursting in here soon. When they see these traces as well, you’ll never be able to escape.”

 

“Do you really think so? And do you think you can save the Young Master with those three roots?”

 

Dangmutae grabbed the iron chain hanging beside him and pulled it.

 

At that moment, I heard the sound of a massive mechanism shaking, gears grinding as they turned.

 

-Thud…!

 

A faint vibration echoed from the mine tunnels in the distance.

 

-Thud…! Thud! Thud thud thud…!

 

Sounds of explosions rang out from here and there.

 

The speed gradually became faster and more violent.

 

Water began seeping abundantly onto the floor.

 

The underground waterways were bursting open.

 

“What is this…?”

 

“With this, the method to keep the Baekhwamodo you have fresh along with the evidence disappears. Do you still say you don’t need mine? Haha…! Can you really be confident that those withered and twisted Baekhwamodo will be sufficient to detoxify the Young Master’s Jacheon-amsa? Even bluffing has its limits!”

 

As expected, that bastard knew what condition the Baekhwamodo I possessed was in.

 

“I endured all this time for this moment. To manage the silver mine where no one’s surveillance matters, to become Elder Yi for the sole management of Danak Heavenly Storehouse, I worked hard, and even after that, I avoided countless gazes while going back and forth between Danak Heavenly Storehouse and this hideout, exposing Baekhwamodo to moonstone light…. But what? At the very end, what did you say…?”

 

“Anyway, the warriors of Sacheondang will come bursting into this place soon. You’ll lose it. So stop this meaningless act-.”

 

“How long have I endured waiting only for this day when I could recover.”

 

Dangmutae picked up the Baekhwamodo that was emitting brilliant silver light and cold energy.

 

“How dare you bastards try to steal this from me!!”

 

And without any hesitation, he chewed and swallowed the Baekhwamodo in one gulp.

 

“Kraaak…!”

 

Blood vessels bulged throughout Dangmutae’s body.

 

Latent power exploded from his entire body.

 

-Thud thud…thud thud thud thud…!

 

Rough winds scattered about.

 

Clearly, Dangmutae’s rapidly aged face was changing into a middle-aged form.

 

But his graying hair was rapidly turning white.

 

That was definitely not a positive change.

 

‘Is this the collapse of innate energy…!’

 

Without any breathing techniques, and even before stabilization, he ate the Baekhwamodo whose energy had been amplified by moonstone all at once.

 

The stronger something is, the faster it circulates wildly.

 

Originally, even if it were an elixir that could completely restore the danjeon, it would circulate through the body for half a hour before dispersing.

 

“Are you sane, Dangmutae!”

 

I shouted.

 

“If you do it that way, even a danjeon that could have been completely restored will be permanently ruined!”

 

Finally, Dangmutae’s body began showing materialized internal energy in the form of green wind pressure, which appears when circulating internal energy of more than sixty years.

 

“No one… can steal what’s mine!”

 

Dangmutae shouted.

 

“And anyway, if the Young Master dies from this and I eliminate those who come after me by cooperating with the Hwangbo Family to make Sacheondang mine, that would also be something to rejoice about!”

 

“…!”

 

The opponent was resolved.

 

My experience as an assassin told me.

 

‘Retreat…!’

 

I cooled my head in the scattering wind.

 

If I eliminated Dangmutae within half an hour and used Bukmyeong Singong, I could probably recover the enhanced Baekhwamodo’s energy again.

 

Because of Baekhwamodo’s characteristic of attracting similar properties, it would circulate without being absorbed.

 

But it was too dangerous.

 

There were limits to taking risks and acting.

 

A direct confrontation that an assassin should avoid.

 

I even had memories of being brutally destroyed in a direct confrontation with a warrior in my previous life.

 

Moreover, he was Elder Yi.

 

No matter how fallen and declined Sacheondang was, and even though his danjeon was ruined, he was someone who had secured the position of Elder Yi.

 

A direct confrontation with such a warrior?

 

No.

 

This wasn’t right.

 

I should retreat like this, appropriately inform the Sacheondang warriors who would soon come bursting in about his escape route, and withdraw.

 

I wasn’t confident whether I could treat the Young Master with the withered Baekhwamodo, but that couldn’t be helped.

 

This much was sufficient.

 

There was no reason for me to step forward and become Sacheondang’s complete savior.

 

‘It would be hard to shake him off, but if I use lightness skills to the maximum and escape right now-.’

 

“You puppy who hasn’t experienced enough wouldn’t know, but in this martial arts world, there’s a ritual of greeting in life-and-death battles where one reveals everything about oneself…!”

 

“…?!”

 

Emitting green light from his eyes, Dangmutae shouted.

 

“But I looked into you. You acted arrogantly saying you were Namgung’s representative, but ultimately you’re the child of some lowly servant born of bloodline you want to hide!”

 

I flinched.

 

“So for trash like you, there’s no need for a formal greeting including my alias that would be preceded by the will to definitely kill the opponent and simultaneously acknowledging that the opponent has enough value to be respected!”

 

“…What did you say?”

 

“I, Dangmutae, who once made a name with fist techniques in Sichuan!”

 

Dangmutae shouted while gathering his collapsing innate energy.

 

“As a senior of the martial arts world, I shall personally blow off this weak junior’s head to bestow a lesson…!”

 

-Flash!

 

His form disappeared.

 

‘…!’

 

My eyes widened.

 

-Swoosh!

 

My hands moved like lightning-.

 

-CRASH!!!

 

With a thunderous sound, as if my neck would fly off, Dangmutae’s fist struck directly. Blood splattered.

 

My head turned.

 

-Whoooosh!

 

Massive wind pressure swept through all directions a beat later.

 

And-.

 

“…Huh?”

 

That was Dangmutae’s voice.

 

“The head….”

 

“….”

 

Dangmutae’s bewildered voice spreads through the hideout.

 

“It should have flown off…. Why…?”

 

-Drip… drip….

 

Blood drops fall.

 

Through my clenched teeth, blood flows out and drips to the floor.

 

-Clank.

 

A cold metallic sound.

 

What fell to the floor was the jade belt that had been around my waist, the one the former Sword Master Hwirong had given me.

 

“What… no…. This can’t… be?”

 

Dangmutae muttered in a daze.

 

“No matter how much my danjeon has just been restored… you’re just a puppy who hasn’t even reached one jiazi….”

 

-Crackle….

 

There was a sound rising in the silence. My head was still turned to the side from being hit by Dangmutae’s fist. Even so, my eyes were fixed on Dangmutae with burst blood vessels.

 

-Guk guk…. Gu gu gu….

 

My cheek gradually pushes away Dangmutae’s fist.

 

The light of red lightning that wraps around my entire body, boiling up from beneath my feet, grows stronger and stronger.

 

-Wooong… woo woong…!

 

The traces of my past life that should never have connected continue and merge with the experiences built up in this life, becoming one.

 

Based on the internal energy boiling throughout my body, the enhanced Pasabeolsik responds.

 

“This is….”

 

Dangmutae mutters.

 

“Materialization that only appears when wielding internal energy of one jiazi or more…?”

 

Dangmutae raises his head.

 

“No. That can’t be.”

 

Hesitating, Dangmutae retreats.

 

“You couldn’t possibly have… this kind of internal energy….”

 

“I was going to retreat.”

 

I said.

 

“But if I have to listen to such words, I can’t retreat.”

 

“What…?”

 

I turn my head.

 

-Ptui.

 

What fell to the floor was my broken molar along with the blood that burst out.

 

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth.

 

“If this is a greeting… before a life-and-death duel.”

 

And slowly, I clasp both hands together toward Dangmutae.

 

“I formally greet you.”

 

“…A greeting?”

 

Throughout my past life,

 

I always lived running away, and as an assassin, all I did was ambush from behind.

 

Even if those were victories in countless life-and-death battles, my heart constantly said this wasn’t right.

 

And at the end, there was a time I faced a warrior head-on, but being miserably defeated by a rising dragon who had emerged in the martial arts world for less than five years was my last memory of a frontal confrontation with a warrior in my past life.

 

I hesitate until the very end.

 

And,

 

I decided to advance.

 

“Your words are correct. I, Namgung Hwi, am the fourth son of the Namgung Family, and while half of me carries Namgung blood, the other half carries blood so lowly that some would call me a mule.”

 

-Crackle… crackle crackle…!

 

What wraps around my entire body is the internal energy that had been suppressed until now, and that I had never properly used even once.

 

The full power of everything I have.

 

Purely through the time I’ve spent absorbing the Imperial One-Thousand-Cycle Pill and more, what appears in my body is clearly internal energy surpassing one jiazi or more.

 

“But at the same time, I am the direct disciple of the twelfth Dark Emperor, Hyeokryeon Muak. Though I burned to death and traveled back through time to reach the present, there is a title I achieved and seized with my own power, and that is the First Dark Emperor.”

 

“What… did you say?”

 

I speak even information that would be better left unknown in a life-and-death duel.

 

I speak of all the honor I possess.

 

I speak of everything I have.

 

I speak of everything I will build.

 

To reveal this means,

 

If I lose this fight, I’m prepared to have everything I am trampled upon.

 

In other words,

 

This means I will definitely kill my opponent…!

 

“In this place, I, Namgung Hwi, the First Dark Emperor, request a life-and-death duel with Elder Yi of the Sichuan Tang Family, Dangmutae. Furthermore, to the senior before this life-and-death duel, I, Namgung Hwi, declare-.”

 

-Click…!

 

Amidst the brilliant red lightning, I drew two dark-colored Ebony Dragon Bracers from my waist and fitted them on my wrists.

 

-Wooooong!!!

 

-Crackle! Crackle crackle!!

 

My vision turns crimson.

 

What bulges within it,

 

What was reflected in Dangmutae’s pupils were my red eyes, like blood itself.

 

“As a junior of the martial arts world, I declare that I have graciously yielded the first strike to a weak senior…!”

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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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