Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 99

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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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#099

Namgung Hwi began to stammer.

“Assassins… I heard they’re the ones used by martial artists, especially those from the Imperial Court to eliminate political enemies. Honestly, I never had any reason to encounter them. But why would those bastards suddenly…”

“Tsk tsk… Brother, you’ve lived such a peaceful life. Yes, that’s right. Rather, those bastards are dirty and terrifying creatures that even getting involved with them is like a nightmare.”

In truth, everything Namgung Taejin had said was an exaggerated lie.

It was true that there were sons of minor local tyrants and Imperial Court members, and it was true that they had been humiliated.

But they all valued honor above everything else.

Moreover, since there were no traces of martial arts techniques that could identify a specific sect, they seemed to have already judged internally that this was a situation caused by disputes among the Black Dao themselves.

In such circumstances, to spread the story further and stir things up once more, they had too much to lose.

Rather, they would all forcibly confine the respective heirs through mandatory closed-door training and wait for things to quiet down.

And after that, treating it as mere rumors when asked what happened would be the safest and most realistic approach.

But there was no reason to tell him that either.

Such things could only be known by those who had experienced this world to the point of being worn down and had learned about and encountered the workings of the upper world.

If one tried to imagine without knowing this, Namgung Taejin’s current haphazardly woven words would inevitably possess a plausible vitality in themselves.

Appealing with plausible lies is an abstract act that only novices who haven’t shed tears of blood think of when considering fraud.

Conveying something based on truth with clear evidence, but applying some embellishment when speaking.

This is exactly what penetrates through even the slightest gap,

the very starting point of all schemes and machinations, the trickery of the tongue.

And the effect of this was sufficiently proven by Namgung Hwi’s face, which had begun to break out in cold sweat.

Namgung Taejin shook his head.

“Assassins are truly vulgar, disposable hunting dogs used once and thrown away. No matter how fierce a dog might be, an adult with a sword shouldn’t be unable to kill it, but when surrounded by dozens of hunting dogs, being torn to death is no problem at all. Moreover, how much pressure it is to have them attack day and night, regardless of place, using any means necessary, solely to kill… Whew. You might not know, brother, but I was once targeted by assassins in my youth, and I only escaped because it was me – it was truly a chilling experience.”

“Ah… Aah.”

Namgung Hwi’s face was freezing over.

Namgung Taejin thought.

‘And this will finish it.’

Namgung Taejin approached with heavy steps.

“In that sense, I’d like to ask brother Hwi, who has thankfully come to me first.”

He looked at Namgung Hwi.

“You’re not by any chance the one who caused that fire scene, are you? The very target that everyone is stirring up trouble to find.”

“…!”

Namgung Taejin looked at Namgung Hwi with concern.

“To a degree you can’t even imagine, my information network is quite extensive. But what they’re sniffing out now is that information about you being near that area during that time period is spreading here and there. Soon, regardless of what the truth might be, setting aside evidence, they might identify you as the culprit.”

“…!”

Namgung Hwi’s face turned pale.

Namgung Taejin shook his head at that.

“Tsk tsk… Moreover, because of your sense of justice, you happened to mess with the Black Dao around that similar time, so this makes it even more impossible to escape.”

“Brother, elder brother. I really…”

Namgung Hwi now wore an expression as if he might cry. His voice trembled.

“Elder brother, I, I actually, that…”

“But regardless of what the truth might be, don’t worry.”

Namgung Taejin raised his hand.

“What is blood relation? What is family? What does it mean to be of the same household in this heartless martial arts world?”

Namgung Hwi, who had been in despair, lifted his head like lightning.

“…What?!”

“I’ve already silenced people everywhere, saying that you simply went to buy medicinal herbs at my request and the timing just overlapped, and that the conflict with the Black Dao was literally a separate matter. And I said one more thing. That suspecting brother Hwi any further would be suspecting me, Namgung Taejin, the third young master of the Namgung Family.”

He let out a hearty laugh.

“I also made sure your name wouldn’t leak to the Yaxiang Guild side. You don’t need to worry for the time being. I have that much power, you know? Even the first and second young master brothers wouldn’t dare touch me. Especially when it comes to finances.”

Namgung Hwi’s eyes widened.

“Elder brother… you did that for me?”

“Of course! We’re brothers, aren’t we? Whether Hwi did it or not, I’m not interested in that. I just thought how heartbreaking it would be if you suffered from those sharp-edged assassins and everyone else through unnecessary misunderstandings, even if you might not realize it.”

Namgung Taejin wore a satisfied expression.

“Even if we compete for the position of Young Master, we four young masters should compete fairly and in good faith. If other bastards interfere, my pride as Namgung Taejin won’t allow it.”

“Aah…!”

Namgung Taejin shrugged his shoulders.

“How about it, brother Hwi, haven’t you received quite a favor from me?”

Namgung Hwi bowed his head deeply.

“I almost faced misunderstanding, and an assassination order almost came down, but I will never forget elder brother’s grace.”

His face looked like he had returned from hell itself.

“Actually… I had some misunderstandings about you, elder brother. Since we four are competitors for the Young Master position. That’s why I acted a bit thorny last time.”

“Hehe. That’s understandable. I’d be the same. What is youthful passion? I understand.”

“Elder brother…”

Namgung Taejin patted the shoulders of the moved Namgung Hwi.

“But you know, brother.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I blocked this incident for you, but what will you do going forward?”

“…Pardon?”

“Brother, do you happen to have any personal soldiers you’ve built up, or at least business premises or forces that bring in funds?”

“I… don’t.”

“What about an information system? Without that, you’re a blind man.”

“I don’t have one.”

“Oh my…!”

Namgung Taejin sighed.

“You have nothing at all? This can’t be. Father is being too harsh. No matter how much you’re competitors, isn’t this like throwing a naked child onto a mountain!”

“…”

Namgung Taejin sighed.

“I at least prioritize my humane aspects, but brother Hwi, you haven’t met the first and second young master brothers yet, have you?”

“No.”

“You don’t know yet how frightening those two are. If you really get into it seriously, you’d be devoured in an instant.”

Namgung Taejin clicked his tongue.

“How can you go around so helplessly like this? Wandering through sinister alleys at night, having your name mentioned among Black Dao bastards, almost having an assassination order issued, and even being in a blind state where you knew nothing until you came to me because you have no information network.”

“…”

“Haa.”

Namgung Taejin rubbed his face with his palm. While doing so, he glanced at Namgung Hwi through his fingers.

Namgung Hwi had a completely won-over expression.

At that sight, Namgung Taejin struggled to suppress the sneer trying to escape through his lips.

‘To trust people so easily.’

It seemed he had built sufficient trust.

That bastard had already completely fallen for him.

“Brother Hwi. You won’t do. No matter how much of a competitor you are, how can this elder brother’s heart be at ease as a senior and elder in the martial arts world with things like this?”

Behind Namgung Hwi, Kwak Hyeong was constantly nodding, indicating he was doing well.

He was certain.

Now it was time to gradually enter the main topic disguised as goodwill.

“I happen to have an organization called Thousand Mile Manor that I don’t use much anymore.”

“Thousand Mile Manor?”

“Yes. I’ll sell it at a reasonable price, so are you interested in buying it? It’s one of the secret organizations I used to operate. It specializes in handling information. It gathers news from various places and collects rumors, and it’s quite capable.”

Namgung Hwi jumped up.

“Elder brother. No. You’ve already helped me so much that I’m incredibly grateful… I know better than anyone how much money and time it takes to build such an information organization. To give me such a precious thing. I would be too shameless.”

“Precious? No, not really.”

Namgung Taejin waved his hand dismissively.

“To be honest, it has some very minor flaws. Recently, the manager there made a small mistake and ran away, so it’s been unmanaged for a while.”

“….”

“But if you maintain it properly, it’ll be useful. It’ll be your eyes and ears, little brother. The building, subordinates, and organizational structure are all intact. If nothing else, you can’t survive in this harsh world without at least one subordinate who handles information.”

Namgung Hwi’s eyes sparkled.

“For you to think of me so much, hyung-nim, I don’t know where to put myself….”

“Of course, I’ll have to charge at least something for it. No matter how close we are as brothers, business is business. And actually, this kind of transaction will be more trustworthy for you than something based on flimsy trust.”

“Of course. If it’s hyung-nim’s word, I trust it. How much would it be?”

“One thousand silver coins. Five pouches.”

Namgung Taejin held up five fingers.

“Normally, I’d have to charge five thousand. Do you know how difficult it is to build an information network from scratch? How precious something like this is in itself…. This isn’t even an organization handled by the Black Dao, evil sects, or minor factions—it was built for use by the third son of the great Namgung Family. To sell this for two thousand is practically giving it away for free.”

Namgung Hwi bowed his head.

“Hyung-nim, I… I really want to do this, but.”

Namgung Taejin frowned.

“What is it?”

“Currently, scraping together all my spare money, I only have one hundred silver coins total.”

“…What?”

“I know this is an opportunity you’ve given me, hyung-nim. But as you pointed out, I don’t have businesses generating funds like you and the other hyung-nims do. Including the reward money from a small family commission I recently completed successfully, this amount is everything I have.”

Namgung Hwi’s shoulders drooped.

“Having already caused so much trouble… I have my pride too. Asking you to lower it further would be unreasonable, so I’d rather give up. I’m sorry for being such a pathetic younger brother who can’t even properly seize the opportunity you’ve given me.”

“….”

Namgung Taejin’s brow furrowed deeply.

‘…Well, he’s not wrong.’

No backing.

No source of income.

But he hadn’t expected him to be this broke.

‘Damn it all…. No matter how I calculate it, this guy isn’t bluffing. There’s no source of money. He went on a family commission recently, but only the Five Great Patriarchs and the Vice Patriarch would know the details…. Whatever it was, it was meager compensation to begin with.’

Namgung Taejin looked at Namgung Hwi.

Namgung Hwi just kept his head down.

He muttered.

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m not a true man like you, hyung-nim.”

Namgung Taejin desperately calculated in his head.

‘…If I sold this properly, it would be worth ten thousand… No. Think big picture, realistically, Namgung Taejin. It’s completely unrecoverable anyway, nearly impossible to sell, and the monthly maintenance costs alone… Most importantly, if I fold over a mere nine hundred difference, my dignity as a man….’

In a moment of deliberation.

Namgung Taejin made his decision.

“…Fine!”

“Hyung-nim?”

“One hundred!”

Namgung Taejin’s words became subtly slower.

“I’ll… really. Really… truly be magnanimous…! Damn it!”

After sighing briefly, Namgung Taejin shouted.

“As my little brother said, as a true man, I’ll be magnanimous and hand it over for one hundred!!”

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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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