Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 102

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 102
Namgung Family Elder Hall.
“Heh heh, so the Family Head went to find the Crown Prince himself, you say?”
Elder Myeong set down his teacup with a smile.
“He shared the insights gained from his seclusion, it seems. The Family Head has renewed his resolve.”
“Indeed, that appears to be the case.”
The other elders felt the same. Gathered for a family council, their faces bloomed with laughter.
“The family will regain its vitality in no time. Truly, this is a blessing.”
The concerns that had lingered for so long regarding the Family Head’s seclusion had now vanished without a trace.
Any leader of an organization must possess certain virtues.
The charisma to draw people in and the ability to command them, the discernment to read circumstances and sound judgment, and the wisdom that forms the foundation of all these things.
Even the master of an ordinary sect requires such virtues. But what of a family like the Namgung Family?
The elders cast off all their worries and burst into hearty laughter.
“Ha ha! What fortune. Truly precious fortune has come our way.”
“It seems like a dream. All our long-standing troubles vanishing in a single day…”
“But we still don’t know what Cheon Gang discussed with the Family Head, do we?”
Elder Myeong nodded.
“He seemed reluctant to answer. The Family Head also instructed us not to inquire about it, so I believe our best course is to regard it as a miracle and repay his kindness.”
“Indeed.”
Then, Namgung Hwa, who had been listening silently to the conversation, suddenly interjected.
“So what are you all thinking of doing?”
“Hmm?”
“About Cheon Gang. Setting aside what was discussed in the Family Head Hall, isn’t he a talent too valuable to let slip away? I believe we need to discuss what to do regarding him.”
“…Mm, that’s true.”
The elders, immediately grasping what she was driving at, let out low sighs.
“What should we do?”
The more they reflected on the figure of Cheon Gang, the deeper their admiration grew. The resolution of the Crown Prince and Family Head’s troubles, and the brightening of the elders’ faces—all of it stemmed from the changes set in motion by his visit.
“Finding a proven Later-Stage Martial Artist is like plucking a star from the sky. If we didn’t know, that would be one thing, but to let him slip away despite knowing would be foolish.”
“Quite right.”
The Crown Prince had not lost in a regrettable manner.
Everyone hushed it up and turned a blind eye, but judging by the results, it was nearly a complete defeat. In other words, not only had his martial prowess been proven, but he was also a talent whose future growth remained boundless.
Of course, the elders’ high regard for Cheon Gang was not solely due to his martial skill.
“Finding a talented youth with formidable martial prowess is not particularly difficult. Later-Stage Martial Artists who refine their techniques through bone-grinding effort are quite common. But temperament is another matter entirely.”
After concluding the martial contest, Cheon Gang had simply left behind a request that word of it not spread.
“Precisely. He covets no wealth and spurns even the honor rightfully due him, casting it aside like a worn-out rag. This touches upon the virtue of humility that the White Path and Martial Arts World preach until their ears ache.”
Whether sect or family, they constantly urge their disciples not to be swayed by vain desires—and they do so because such practice is extraordinarily difficult to achieve.
‘Cheon Gang will surely grow into a towering figure of Jianghu in the future.’
They wished to have such a giant stand beneath the Namgung name.
This yearning grew ever stronger in the elders’ hearts. It was not merely a matter of coveting his talent.
Elder Myeong, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.
“A needle hidden in a pocket will eventually poke through, and a jagged stone will eventually be struck by a chisel. Moreover, Cheon Gang possessed such overflowing talent without any intention of concealing it—he was bound to invite calamity upon himself sooner or later.”
The Elders nodded in agreement.
His exceptional nature had become a great blessing for the Family, yet none could predict how the seasoned masters of Jianghu, stagnant as they were, might perceive him.
Certainly, the majority of these veteran Jianghu figures would view his actions as an unwelcome tide, a troubling variable that unsettled them.
After all, had not Elder Myeong himself already clashed with him?
In the end, it was right to keep him bound to the Family—for Cheon Gang’s own sake as well.
The Elders reached their conclusion and began searching for a method.
“Then what should we do?”
“Make him an offer he cannot refuse. Grant him wealth sufficient to establish a formidable force of his own.”
“I doubt it. Had he been one to prize material wealth, he would not have left in the first place. And he hardly seemed ignorant of the great debt the Main Family owes him.”
“Hmm. Then….”
As the situation grew increasingly difficult and their worries deepened, Namgung Hwa spoke up.
“Is there not a most promising method?”
The Elders’ eyes brightened.
“Hmm?”
“A promising method? What might that be?”
“No matter how upright a man’s character, he remains a man nonetheless. I hear he was conversing with Seon-ah before the martial competition began. Why not arrange an opportunity for them to meet?”
“…Seon-ah?”
The Elders’ eyes rolled about as they exchanged glances with one another.
“Are you suggesting we discuss marriage?”
Namgung Hwa nodded.
“Is there a clearer way to make him one of the Main Family’s own?”
“Hmm, before we even consider whether it’s feasible, shouldn’t we discuss this with the Family Head first? His origins from the Cheonghwa Sect are also somewhat troubling.”
“We need only report it to the Family Head when he arrives. Has he not instructed us to handle all matters great and small until he returns from settling his wager? And his origins are hardly an issue.”
“Hmm?”
“Even if his knowledge, reputation, martial skill, and history all fall short of our standards, the Main Family possesses the power to elevate him to the position of successor.”
The Elders began nodding one by one.
“Well spoken.”
“Indeed! Now that it’s been mentioned, let us first confirm Seon-ah’s wishes!”
Ordering a servant outside to summon Seon-ah, moments later Namgung Seon-ah entered the Elder’s Hall. Elder Myeong asked her directly.
“Seon-ah, what do you think of Cheon So-hyup?”
“…Yes?”
Namgung Seon-ah stared at them with a bewildered expression.
“What do I think… What do you mean by that?”
“We ask for your honest feelings. Do not be burdened—speak what you truly feel.”
“Yes, what manner of man was he?”
“Tell us.”
Under the gaze of the Elders, Namgung Seon-ah hesitated briefly before answering honestly.
“I don’t know him well, but I think he’s a strong person.”
“Do you speak of his martial prowess, or of the man himself?”
“…It’s because the person himself is strong, so his martial techniques appear equally formidable.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Precisely.”
The Elders laughed brightly, their satisfaction evident.
Could there be a more striking first impression between two martial artists than this?
Moreover, what man in the entire Realm would refuse Seon-ah, counted among the most beautiful in Anhui Province?
‘Yes, it’s time for marriage negotiations to begin.’
‘Surely the Family Head will be delighted.’
The Elders naturally envisioned Cheon Gang becoming one of their family through marriage with Seon-ah, earning renown under the family name and showing them respect—the thought brought such satisfaction they could not suppress their smiles.
‘We should invite as many guests as possible for the wedding.’
‘Three children would be appropriate. Since Seon-ah possesses such exceptional martial talent, surely they will produce geniuses whose names will echo through the Jianghu for generations.’
Namgung Hwa spoke to Namgung Seon-ah, who stood with a bewildered expression.
“First, we need to prepare a proper setting. Seon-ah, go to the Western Courtyard and bring Cheon So-hyup here.”
“…Yes?”
“Quickly now.”
Pushed out by that commanding gaze, Namgung Seon-ah left the Elder’s Hall with a confused face.
‘I wondered what they wanted to say when they suddenly called me.’
In truth, anyone with sense could discern what the Elders desired.
They hoped for her marriage to Cheon Gang.
Or at the very least, they wanted to bind him to the family through such a union.
Given his carefree nature and unrestrained conduct, it would not be surprising if he departed at any moment.
‘They harbor futile hopes.’
Yet Namgung Seon-ah believed it impossible. She understood precisely what manner of man Cheon Gang was.
He was the type who would unhesitatingly cast aside everything he possessed for his goals. The fact that he participated in martial contests to obtain the golden token suggested it was merely a means to an end—a meaningless wish.
Namgung Seon-ah organized her tangled thoughts as she made her way to his quarters.
‘Still… there’s no harm in having a conversation, is there?’
The fact that he was a formidable martial artist remained unchanged, and she genuinely wished to have an honest discussion with him. There was so much she was curious about.
She arrived at the entrance to his quarters.
“Are you here? …Cheon So-hyup?”
When no answer came, Namgung Seon-ah’s face filled with confusion. Not only was there no response, but she sensed no presence within at all.
* * *
“There’s no time to waste—let’s depart at once!”
“Yes, we’re departing immediately.”
At that very moment, Cheon So-hyun was already at the Namgung Escort Station, his body settled in a carriage.
The power of the golden token was truly remarkable.
Perhaps because it bore the seal of the Family Head’s daughter, the workers completed their preparations with perfect coordination, and the carriage immediately set out toward Songshan.
‘There’s no time to dawdle.’
I had to reach Shaolin as quickly as possible.
According to what Yu Danju had told me, Shaolin was anticipating a closure lasting at least five years.
Why they had decided on such a prolonged closure, what calamity had occurred—the worries I had been suppressing churned through my mind in chaos.
‘Amitabha Buddha.’
I drew a deep breath and cast aside my wandering thoughts. Rushing would only sabotage what could otherwise succeed.
‘First, I need to replenish my inner energy.’
The fatigue and internal injuries from the match had not yet fully dissipated.
I smiled faintly and withdrew the wooden box that Elder Myeong had given me earlier from my robes.
Upon opening the lid, spirit pills infused with pure essence appeared—the Clarity Restoration Pills.
“Heh. All the effort I put into cultivation bears fruit.”
Gulp.
I swallowed the Clarity Restoration Pill without hesitation. A refreshing force, as if condensed from the azure sky itself, spread outward from my stomach.
Whooooom!
I replenished the vital energy I had exhausted to my limits and expanded my inner power, filling my dantian.
How much time had passed in this manner?
As the tingling sensation in my dantian grew stronger, sighs escaped me unbidden.
Whether this was a signal that the next realm was near or a harbinger of demonic corruption, I could not easily discern.
The depth of the Wuling Divine Art had increased, yet I had not yet reached the Third Boundary.
‘Damn it, it feels like only a few steps remain….’
Though it sometimes felt like a thousand-league journey, fortunately I had gained a clue toward the next realm from my match with Namgung Seon-wi.
Having completed my breathing cultivation, I slowly opened my eyes.
‘That thunder force the Crown Prince had drawn forth. It was certainly a method that could serve as the foundation for the Third Boundary.’
The difference between thunder force and fire force is stark. Yet in controlling and refining natural essence, they share common ground.
He must have been engulfed in the agony of his meridians being torn, so how did he control it and wield it without hesitation?
I had a premonition that resolving this question would become the path toward the Third Boundary.
‘Perhaps I should have exchanged more words before departing.’
As I was turning this question over in my mind.
Crash!
The ground trembled violently and the carriage lurched. The horse cried out in alarm, and the driver hastily gripped the reins.
“Pardon the intrusion. We need to take on one passenger for a moment. He’ll be getting off shortly.”
“Y-yes! Of course, sir.”
Looking out the window, I recognized the face approaching.
It was Namgung Seon-wi. With a haggard appearance, he greeted the driver and climbed onto the carriage.
“It’s broad daylight and you’re fleeing somewhere in such a hurry? You’re putting the person who came looking for you in an awkward position.”
“I have some business to attend to.”
Namgung Seon-wi sat across from me.
“Business, you say… Are you perhaps planning to return to the Main Family Residence afterward?”
“I’ll have to go back. It’s a chance to secure a substantial sum, and I’m no fool to let it slip away.”
I had long since discerned that the Namgung Family was desperate to establish a connection with me.
Since I would receive compensation regardless, it was only prudent to draw out the negotiation and raise my price. The more funds I could secure for use in the Central Plains, the more options I would have for deployment.
I nodded with a satisfied expression, and Namgung Seon-wi chuckled softly.
“It seems you’re intent on extracting the very pillars of the Main Family Residence.”
“There’s nothing preventing that. But why did you come all the way out here?”
Namgung Seon-wi paused briefly in contemplation.
In truth, there were many things he wished to ask—why the sudden urgency, why such haste in departure, what conversation had transpired with his father.
Yet there was something more pressing he needed to convey first.
“I realized I never properly expressed my gratitude. For the Family Estate, and for myself as well—we’ve received an immense debt of kindness.”
Cheon So-hyun’s eyes narrowed.
“You came all this way just to say that? In your condition?”
Namgung Seon-wi, bandaged in multiple places, bore the weary expression of exhaustion. He smiled as he replied.
“What else would make me rush here with such enthusiasm? Even now, my battered bones ache with every movement, making it difficult to get around.”
“So?”
“I despise being indebted to anyone. Once I’ve settled my affairs, I’d prefer to part ways with the Family Estate. I promise to repay whatever you desire to the fullest extent.”
“You’ll repay whatever I desire?”
“Yes. This is a vow made under the name of the Crown Prince. In Anhui Province, there exists no weightier promise than this. So whatever you ask—”
“You’re a man of propriety after all. As it happens, I’ve been curious about something. This works out perfectly.”
The corners of Cheon So-hyun’s mouth lifted faintly.
“They say the Namgung Family’s supreme mental cultivation technique is the Heavenly Thunder Barrier Heart Method, correct?”
An ominous premonition seized Namgung Seon-wi as he swallowed hard.
“Huh? Well, yes, that’s true. But why—”
“Start with the core verses.”
“….”
“Recite them.”
In Namgung Seon-wi’s vacant gaze, Cheon So-hyun’s smile burned with crystalline clarity.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————