Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 91

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 91
‘Heh, even the Namgung clan proves useful from time to time.’
The paper I received from Sa Ma-ryang before leaving the sect was densely filled with information that would prove invaluable throughout the Central Plains.
It clearly outlined the extent of the Demonic Cult’s influence across the region, and the place where their vigilance was most lax was precisely here—Hefei.
The Namgung Family, the eldest among the Five Great Families, had taken root here for centuries and ruled like a hegemon.
Not a single merchant guild or escort station in Anhui Province, nor any of the various sects, existed without connection to them, and the shortest route to Songshan itself lay within Namgung’s domain.
‘Perfect, absolutely perfect.’
In other words, it was the optimal path to reach Shaolin as swiftly as possible while evading the Demon Cult’s gaze!
Shortly after, Cheon So-hyun stood before the main gate of Changryong Manor. The endless stone walls and the magnificent blue halls visible beyond them were truly impressive.
‘Ridiculously vast.’
The placard above the gate and the banners hung throughout the estate all bore the radiant characters “Changcheon.”
“What brings you to our estate?”
When the Gate Keeper asked, Cheon So-hyun offered a respectful bow.
“I am Cheon Gang of the Qinghua Sect. Having heard of the Namgung Family’s renown, I came to broaden my horizons.”
In any case, since I was visiting as a guest, I had purchased appropriate attire and changed into it, and had also refined my appearance beforehand.
“We haven’t received prior notice… Did you arrange an appointment in advance?”
“I sent word ahead through the Yuhyeon Merchant Company.”
“The Yuhyeon Merchant Company, you say…”
The Gate Keeper pondered for a moment, then nodded as if recalling something.
“Ah, you must be referring to Dan Ju Yu. My apologies for the confusion—you’ve arrived earlier than the message indicated. Please, come inside.”
The Gate Keeper led Cheon So-hyun through the gate.
And as I passed through the main gate and entered the family estate, I suddenly realized something.
‘Come to think of it, this is my first visit to the Namgung Family since the Hye Gwang incident, isn’t it?’
In truth, Shaolin and Namgung had never been on particularly good terms.
When would neighboring great sects ever maintain amicable relations?
To be precise, Shaolin harbored no particular ill will, but Namgung—they hadn’t drawn their blades, yet they regarded us with the fury of mortal enemies, foaming at the mouth. It was hardly a relationship one could describe as cordial, even in jest.
And there was a clear reason for this.
—”…Hye Gwang, a letter arrived from the Namgung Family. Their eldest son has fallen into despair and will be unable to attend this gathering… Do you have any idea what might have caused this?”
—”Why ask when you already know? He was lost in the delusion that he was supreme, so I merely awakened him to the duties of a Buddhist. You can be quite devious when you wish to be.”
—”So that’s why you shattered both his arms?! You demon!”
‘I’ve certainly transformed many people.’
How many had awakened to humility through my guidance during those later years?
They had learned discipline, regained their senses, and grown to become the faces representing the White Path’s martial world. One could even say I had accumulated merit.
‘Indeed, that’s exactly right.’
And the place led by the one who had reformed most dramatically was precisely here—the Namgung Family.
Shortly after, the Gate Keeper led Cheon So-hyun to the guest hall.
“Rest here and recover from your journey. Someone from the family will come to greet you shortly. Please make yourself comfortable.”
The Gate Keeper reiterated his invitation to rest and departed, but naturally, I had no such intention.
‘Which direction should I head?’
Cheon So-hyun asked the servants for directions and made his way toward the Namgung Escort Station.
Merchant goods passed through constantly, escort workers rested and switched horses—it was a hub for the merchant routes and the departure point for the trade roads heading toward Henan Province, where Shaolin Temple stood.
‘Is that the place?’
Clatter! Clatter!
As Cheon So-hyun passed between carriages laden with merchant goods, a swarthy middle-aged man leading workers stopped him with a wary gaze.
“Who are you? I haven’t seen your face around here before… You don’t look like you came to work. Are you a guest of the Main Family Residence?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Tsk. You’ve taken a wrong turn. The Changcheon Training Ground is behind there—go around that way.”
Since people frequently arrived lost, he dismissed it without much concern.
“I think I found the right place. This is Namgung Escort Station, isn’t it? Isn’t this the center of the Namgung Family?”
But at Cheon So-hyun’s next words, Cho Yeok, the Namgung Station Manager, stopped in his tracks.
“…Center?”
“Whether it’s workers or direct family, they all live on supplies that come from here, right? So it should count as the center. Am I mistaken?”
“Well… you’re not exactly wrong.”
“Ha, so I found the right place. Thank goodness. Then let’s have some of this while we talk.”
“What is it?”
“I couldn’t very well visit an important location of the Namgung Family empty-handed, so I brought along some liquor and dishes.”
As Cheon So-hyun produced a large bundle he’d brought from a restaurant, the fragrant aroma of food made Cho Yeok’s lips twitch slightly.
“….”
Though the Namgung Family extended their influence across various fields, they were fundamentally a martial clan.
Anything unrelated to martial arts was typically neglected, but when the family’s guest treated him with such courtesy, even his sharp eyes softened.
“Hmm. It’s lunchtime anyway, so I’ll enjoy this.”
Cho Yeok called over a worker to hand off the bundle, then regarded Cheon So-hyun with curious eyes.
“You seem quite interested in merchant routes? That’s unusual for a young person these days.”
“I’m very interested. In fact, the moment I heard about Namgung Escort Station, I rushed right over. I heard there’s also a merchant route heading toward Henan Province from here?”
Cho Yeok nodded.
“So that’s why you came. That’s right. There are carriages that regularly travel to Luoyang in Henan.”
Cheon So-hyun’s eyes brightened. Songshan lay along the path to Luoyang. With rising anticipation, he asked immediately.
“Is there one departing right away?”
“That won’t be possible. The carriage to Luoyang just left three days ago. You’ll have to wait another two weeks for the next merchant convoy.”
“…Two weeks?”
Cheon So-hyun’s brow furrowed.
“There’s no way to go faster?”
I couldn’t afford to wait two weeks.
Rather than waste that much time sitting idle, it would be better to abandon all caution about the demons’ gaze and sprint forward using lightness technique with all my might.
Cho Yeok stroked his chin as if troubled.
“That won’t work. Maintaining schedules is tied directly to the Namgung Family’s reputation. Besides, there are no carriages heading in that direction. Going faster won’t be possible.”
Cheon So-hyun pondered alternatives while surveying the area, then pointed to a carriage sitting in a secluded corner of the relay station.
“What about that one?”
An unusually large and ornate carriage bore a fluttering flag inscribed with the characters for Namgung (南宮).
“You should give up on that one. It’s a carriage reserved for the family’s senior members. You need a golden pass to use it.”
“A gold token?”
I’d heard tales of the Namgung Family’s gold tokens before—credentials bestowed only upon honored guests or direct bloodline members.
“With just that, we can depart immediately?”
“That should be the case. Once approval comes from above, it can be used anytime. Though honestly, it’s a carriage that rarely sees use, so I wouldn’t get my hopes up….”
“Well, you never know!”
A Worker eating dumplings in the back suddenly interjected.
“They said there was a use for it, and we’ve already finished the maintenance, haven’t we?”
“Tsk. Don’t talk nonsense.”
“What did I say wrong? It’s common knowledge anyway, isn’t it? The increase in guests at the family estate is related to that very thing!”
The surrounding laborers nodded in agreement.
“Right. It’d be shameful to eat such fine meals and keep our mouths shut.”
Cheon So-hyun’s eyes gleamed at this unexpected revelation.
“Related? What do you mean by that?”
Cho Yeok frowned with difficulty and asked quietly.
“If you’re a guest of the family, then you’re a Warrior too, aren’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right?”
“Then you’ll understand soon enough, so it doesn’t matter.”
Cho Yeok lowered his voice.
“The family is in quite an uproar because of the Crown Prince. That’s why they’re recruiting guests.”
“An uproar?”
What was this about?
The Workers in the back chuckled and added their comments.
“We maintained that carriage on his orders! He was very insistent that we inspect it carefully since he’d be traveling far, and apparently his destination is Jiangxi and Guangdong! Tsk tsk.”
“To be precise, it was all the way to Guangxi?”
My eyes narrowed.
‘…Guangxi? Is he insane?’
I immediately grasped why the Namgung Family was in such turmoil. The Ten Thousand Great Mountains lay precisely along the border between Guangxi and Guangdong.
So the Crown Prince was essentially planning to rush into the territory of the Cheonma Divine Cult?
“Then they’re recruiting masters from outside to correct his reckless—no, dangerous thinking?”
“Well, something like that. I’m not sure what conditions the Crown Prince set, but apparently he’s inviting peers of his generation to hold martial contests. It’s a major decision for the family.”
A major decision?
It wasn’t uncommon for martial families to invite outsiders for contests. But this was a situation that should be stopped by any means necessary, wasn’t it?
“A major decision?”
“Yes, since you’re an outsider, you wouldn’t know. The Namgung Family tends to avoid inviting outsiders for martial contests. It’s a family tradition established quite long ago.”
The laborers, eating greedily, each added their own remarks.
“It started after a direct bloodline member became crippled, didn’t it?”
“Crippled? Are you still believing such nonsense? What madman in the world would come to the Namgung Family and cripple a direct member?”
“No, well, crippled is an exaggeration, but apparently both arms were broken and he was left a mangled mess….”
“Stop spouting such garbage!”
“No, I’m serious! I heard it directly from Elder Heo!”
Cheon So-hyun blinked with a bewildered expression. He had immediately grasped what incident they were spitting and clamoring about.
‘Are they talking about the Family Head when they say direct line? And calling me the madman?’
Now that he thought about it, unlike the other Five Great Families, he hadn’t heard any news of the Namgung Family hosting a martial arts tournament.
‘Tsk. Not even grateful.’
I had reshaped his arrogant nature into something resembling a proper person, yet it seemed he was creating strange family customs and spreading rumors behind my back.
However, since hoping for the complete truth to be conveyed was itself an attachment, Cheon So-hyun quickly let it go.
‘Well, it worked out anyway.’
If the tournament was the objective, then subduing the Crown Prince and obtaining the golden token would resolve everything swiftly, wouldn’t it?
I’d shorten the journey to Shaolin, prevent the Crown Prince’s foolish antics, set the Family Head straight like the Family Head himself, and accumulate merit!
It was truly a plan that accomplished three things at once.
Cheon So-hyun exchanged a few more words before excusing himself, saying he should take his leave.
“You’re leaving already? Why?”
“You must be quite busy. Do visit again! Such a refreshing young man!”
“Yes, I’ll be going.”
* * *
It was when I returned to the Guest Hall after finishing my business.
‘Hmm? What’s this now?’
Cheon So-hyun’s brow furrowed.
A group of people appeared to be searching for something, glancing around the area. From the fact that they all wore blue martial robes, they seemed to be warriors of the Namgung Family.
“Ah?”
A middle-aged man with narrow, slitted eyes spotted Cheon So-hyun and strode toward him.
“You’re Cheon Gang of the Qinghua Sect, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Ah, finally found you.”
The middle-aged man asked with a sullen expression. His voice carried a thick displeasure, as if precious time had been wasted.
“Where have you been wandering about so carelessly?”
“Well… I had some business to attend to, so I went out.”
“Business? I understand your heart might be excited, having fallen into this separate realm, but you should still observe propriety. Don’t you know it’s proper etiquette to first pay respects to the elders of the family when visiting a great house?”
“I apologize for that…”
“Never mind.”
“…”
“I heard from Yu Danju that your martial prowess is so exceptional it’s rarely seen in a lifetime. Is that true?”
Cheon So-hyun remained silent for a moment before answering.
“It seems to be somewhat exaggerated.”
“Well, there’s bound to be some exaggeration.”
He scrutinized Cheon So-hyun from head to toe with obvious disdain.
“That’s precisely the problem.”
A place like the Namgung Family received visitors nearly every day. And this man, having observed numerous guests over the years, was forming this assessment of Cheon So-hyun.
‘Another provincial bumpkin brought into the family.’
A dull appearance and the lingering scent of sweat.
Unable to contain my excitement at having set foot in the Namgung Family, I found myself wandering about like a fool—a sigh escaped unbidden.
‘So Dan Ju lost his vigor and became entangled with the Black Path… Tsk.’
What troubled me most, however, was his cultivation base. No matter how I probed his aura, I sensed nothing but the mundane emptiness of an ordinary man.
The middle-aged man exhaled deeply and shook his head.
“In any case, since we’ve accepted him as a guest of the Main Family Residence, we must treat him accordingly. Let him spend a few quiet days here, then he can be on his way.”
Cheon So-hyun finally let out a hollow laugh.
Where in the world did this fool crawl out from?
In an instant, transformed from guest to a forgotten sack of grain, a slow-burning resentment began to kindle within me.
Cheon So-hyun turned and called out to the middle-aged man, who was already striding away without hesitation.
“Wait a moment, if you please.”

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