Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 90

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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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#090

‘Look at this bastard…?’

My eyes instantly narrowed.

This was not a greeting between equal brothers.

It was typical treatment of a subordinate – pretending to encourage while confirming the hierarchy.

For martial artists, contact that restrains joints like the elbow is close to an insult.

Unless one is openly an elder or a great senior of the Martial Arts World, it’s an action rarely taken.

But what was clever was,

it wasn’t the blatant suppression of grasping the wrist, but rather an ‘elbow embrace’ that could appear to show friendliness.

A delicate tightrope walk of rudeness disguised as courtesy and friendliness.

If I considered this provocation and got angry, he would obviously paint me as petty, saying ‘Why are you being so uptight when your brother was just encouraging you?’

I could be counterattacked as someone rude who acts oversensitive.

But if I stayed still?

My momentum would be crushed below his, and I’d crawl beneath him for life.

“…Hmm.”

I didn’t avoid his eyes and smiled lightly while meeting his gaze.

“I am also honored to meet the Third Young Master Namgung Taejin whom I’ve only heard about in rumors. May I dare to call you brother?”

“Of course. After all, you’re now officially the Fourth Young Master. If you’re the Fourth Young Master, you’re naturally my younger brother too, so of course you should call me brother.”

He pressed down on my shoulder with even more force, full of vigor.

Certain.

This bastard.

He’s continuously showing off that he’s above me, one by one.

Not just to me, but even to his subordinates positioned on both sides.

I bowed my head as if grateful and said.

“Thank you. I also feel reassured that Brother Namgung Taejin is leading me like this and approaching me first.”

Along with my words, I naturally reached out and grasped his elbow.

“Hehe, yes. Our little brother should tell me if there are any difficulties. Haven’t you been unable to eat even porridge? Your body should have good build like mine. The ladies would dislike a younger brother, wouldn’t they?”

“Haha, I’m also troubled by that. I try but it doesn’t work well.”

“Oh my. I should treat you to a meal sometime.”

“Is that so? Then I would be grateful.”

I did exactly what he had done to me. And grasped softly enough that the escort warriors on both sides wouldn’t notice.

“I’m so grateful.”

“Pfufu. Yes, well, I’m not so stingy that I’d chase away someone coming to mooch a meal… am… I?”

Bewilderment flashed across Namgung Taejin’s face.

“I’m not that kind of… person…”

His words slowing down.

Generally, a person’s elbow is a much harder mass of bone than a soft palm. The fact that a martial artist allowed it meant it was that safe. But unfortunately, my grip strength, forged through hellish training, exceeded that.

-Crack. Creeeeak…

Namgung Taejin looks at me.

“Eek… eek…?”

If it had been to the degree of flowing in inner energy, the escort warriors would have noticed from the distorting air long ago.

But this used no internal energy whatsoever.

All there was was pure physical pressure from my five fingers, crushing and compressing. The sensation of hard bone being crushed like mud.

Namgung Taejin looks at me. His smiling face, the corners of his mouth trembled faintly as if convulsing.

“Ha… haha. Little brother also has quite good… energy.”

“Brother’s build is also truly admirable. Your elbow is so solid.”

I whispered quietly.

“It doesn’t fit properly in one hand, so I can’t put strength into my grip.”

“Is… that so?”

“Of course.”

“Ha… haha. We, we really… look like we have good… brotherly affection from the outside.”

He wanted to scream but couldn’t.

It was mischief he had started first, and there were too many watching eyes around.

If he screamed over a mere handshake, the Third Young Master’s dignity would hit rock bottom.

Cold sweat began flowing mixed with grease.

I didn’t withdraw my smile and pulled him toward me while adding grip strength like crushing a lump of metal to my grasping hand.

“Brother. I’m really shy around strangers, but with a reliable brother like you. Can I really trust and depend on you like this?”

-Creeeeak…

I gripped once more strongly at the end as if delivering a finishing blow.

“Yes? Why aren’t you answering?”

“No… no! It’s… it’s fine! Hwi, little, brother!”

“Ah. I see.”

Only then did I let go.

And I stepped back slightly while smiling broadly.

“I gratefully accept that sentiment.”

“Huff… huff…!”

Then Namgung Taejin hastily stepped backward. Beyond his fluttering silk sleeves, five bruised finger marks would already be embedded like tattoos on his forearm. It was a miracle the bone wasn’t broken.

“Third Young Master? Your complexion is pale. Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

The guard who had been beside him belatedly approached.

“Oh, oh no! It’s nothing!”

The Third Young Master frantically waved his hands to stop him.

Still, befitting a Third Young Master, he seemed to have some final pride.

Actually, if he wanted to be more unsightly here, he could have had his subordinates take revenge on me.

Of course, as a prerequisite, he would have to confess that he was an idiot who was inferior in both body and internal strength after making a pathetic provocation.

He hastily straightened his disheveled clothes.

“Ah, the chicken leg I ate earlier got stuck! I seem to have indigestion! I need to go back first!”

Just before leaving, he reached for the box on the table.

“I’ll take this! Little brother Hwi, let’s meet again next time! I’m busy with work right now so I have to hurry back.”

-Thud!

What he snatched away was the ‘blue thread spool.’

With his eye for detail, he didn’t seem to know what this was for yet.

Perhaps the red one looked ominous, or he had just watched me hesitate particularly in front of the red one, misunderstood something, and wanted to be spiteful to the end.

The Third Young Master left the Great Hall with his escort warriors on both sides, fuming.

“…”

Still, just before going out the door, Namgung Taejin glared at me one more time.

In that gaze that flashed by just before the door closed, there was bewilderment and anger.

I could feel that a deep grudge remained.

After he disappeared like a storm, only silence remained in the Great Hall again.

“Then what’s left is the red thread. Will you choose this?”

The steward, who was just a simple low-ranking sect member, seemed to have no idea what had transpired before his eyes.

He only spoke in a voice worn down by work.

“Please take it quickly. Is there anything else you’d like to request?”

I picked up the red thread spool left all alone. Sword Master Seo Ganghyeok had earnestly warned me. Under no circumstances, no matter what happened, don’t choose the red thread, but my thinking was wrong.

‘No, this would be better than the blue thread anyway.’

I carefully treasured the red thread in my hands and kept it close to my chest.

A rough, coarse texture was transmitted to my fingertips.

“There’s one thing I’d like to request. I want to request the private opening of one of the Mount Cheonju halls for personal use right now—is that possible?”

“Of course. Which location would you like opened?”

The answer was already decided.

I’d need to open other places sequentially as well, but this was the top priority for now.

“The alchemy lab. I request the opening of Mount Cheonju’s alchemy lab under the authority of the Third Young Master.”

The steward nodded his head.

“Understood. From this moment, I’ll arrange for constant access to the main residence’s alchemy lab with your entry badge.”

I nodded and looked down at the red thread I had received.

The red color of burning crimson lotus.

A strange luster flowed like living blood vessels.

There were no secret manuals or incantations written about how to use this object.

All that was handed over was just a single ball of thread.

‘How unhelpful.’

But at the same time, I could see this was intentional.

‘The fact that they give this to the young masters through the Monthly Political Gathering without any separate explanation means they’re telling puppies who can’t even figure this out not to use it.’

If you don’t have the capacity to handle it yourself, don’t even touch it. And I knew how to use this object.

‘Not now. But I might need to use it soon.’

I stuffed the thread deep into my robes.

I turned around without lingering.

“Thank you for your work.”

I left the Great Hall and went straight to the alchemy lab.

-Creeeeak…

As soon as I pushed open the heavy iron door and entered, dry, hot air struck my entire body.

The sulfur smell that stung my nose,

The bitter-sweet scent of licorice, and the fishy smell of animal musk mixed together in the space.

The Cheonju Mountain Main Alchemical Laboratory.

Unlike the Yakwangdang in the annex that focused on saving people and treatment, this place was one of the family’s core centers, specializing in manufacturing everything from elixirs and secret medicines that formed the foundation of the Namgung Family’s martial power to poisons.

“Hey there, can’t you control the fire properly? I’ve told you countless times that if Sanchigeun touches strong fire, all its medicinal properties will evaporate! Or are you trying to tarnish the name of me, the Medicine Immortal!”

The booming scolding of the alchemy lab’s master, Medicine Immortal Hwang Nosa, echoed through the space. Among dozens of medicine apprentices moving busily about, Hwang Nosa was weighing medicinal ingredients while frowning.

‘That old man still has the same personality.’

In the Namgung Family, the alchemy lab was famous as a place most people were too scared to visit.

Especially the eccentric personality of its master, Medicine Immortal Hwang Nosa, was well-known.

I slowly approached him with my hands clasped behind my back.

“Can’t you see I’m busy? Tell the errand boys to come back later slowly!”

Hwang Nosa waved his hand without even turning his head.

His attitude treated me as just a servant who came to run errands or some troublemaker.

I silently untied the badge from my waist and placed it on the table.

-Thud.

A heavy sound.

Only then did Hwang Nosa’s gaze flick over. The inscription of “Blue Heaven” along with the pattern of four coiled azure dragons.

His eyebrows twitched.

“…Well, who do we have here. It was the Third Young Master. I didn’t recognize 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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