Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 92

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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 92
The middle-aged man stopped abruptly in his tracks. A chilling gaze pierced through Cheon So-hyun.
“Did I mishear? You’re telling me to wait?”
Cheon So-hyun nodded.
“You heard correctly. There’s still much more to discuss—why are you in such a hurry? Is this how one conducts themselves?”
“…Conducts themselves?”
His displeasure at the insolent words manifested as a subtle edge in his voice. The Warriors standing behind him reacted similarly.
“How dare you speak such nonsense? To address an elder of the Main Family Residence in such a manner….”
“Enough.”
He raised his hand to silence the Warrior, then fixed Cheon So-hyun with a look that invited him to continue.
“I’ve observed all proper protocols, yet I fail to understand your discontent. Did I not grant you permission to remain at the Main Family Residence for several more days?”
The implication was clear—he should be grateful merely for the opportunity to tour the Family Estate, not to question his treatment so shamelessly.
Cheon So-hyun studied the middle-aged man’s refined yet subtly condescending tone and the contempt glinting in his eyes.
‘Hmm.’
Now it became painfully apparent that I was being treated as some provincial bumpkin from a third-rate sect.
I nearly laughed at the absurdity, but the real problem was that this elder seemed fundamentally opposed to outsiders.
At this rate, I wouldn’t even meet the direct lineage, let alone obtain the golden token—I’d simply be treated like a borrowed sack of grain and cast out.
‘That won’t do.’
It was far better to draw attention and entangle myself in this situation somehow than to be driven out empty-handed from the Namgung Family.
“From what I gather, you must be an elder of the Namgung clan. Is this the attitude you present to invited guests? Does the Namgung Family commonly treat visitors as provincial yokels and neglect them?”
The moment the Namgung Family was mentioned, the man’s expression hardened instantly.
“How shamefully uncouth for a disciple of the Cheonghwa Sect, of which I’ve never even heard. You dare insult the Main Family Residence?”
“I’m not criticizing the Namgung Family—I’m questioning your conduct. Is this how one who learned the Namgung way, renowned throughout the White Path Martial Arts World for its fairness and integrity, treats a guest?”
The middle-aged man, Namgung Myeong, glared at Cheon So-hyun in silence.
‘A pup who doesn’t know to fear the tiger,’ he thought bitterly.
It was baffling what gave this boy such audacity.
‘This is precisely why I opposed accepting the Crown Prince’s request.’
Hadn’t rootless rabble gathered like moths to a flame, oblivious to their station?
As the argument escalated, Retainers and family guests began slowly gathering around them.
“What’s happening?”
“It seems some trouble has arisen….”
For Namgung Myeong, who valued face above all else, retreat was no longer an option.
“Propriety is difficult to master without noble birth, so I won’t belabor the point. However, you mustn’t shift responsibility to me. Shouldn’t you first blame whoever provided false information that caused this confusion? Don’t insult me with meaningless words. If you wish to discuss conduct, then….”
“Discuss conduct?”
“Shouldn’t you first blame the source of the false information rather than shift blame to me? Don’t try to insult me with empty talk. If you want to discuss propriety….”
Cheon So-hyun let out a soft laugh and cut him off.
“This isn’t the Black Path underworld, yet you speak such amusing words.”
“What?”
“In other words, since my martial skills are far inferior to what I claimed and I’m not even worthy of a proper match, it’s only natural you’d neglect me, isn’t that what you’re saying?”
“….”
“So the Namgung Family’s idea of propriety is to flip your hand like a pancake, changing your attitude depending on the situation and the person you’re facing?”
Crunch.
Namgung Myeong’s jaw clenched as he glared at me.
“You should understand that the reckless words spilling from that three-inch tongue of yours can come back to haunt you like a thousand-pound stone. Taking you into the Family on the strength of Yu Danju’s letter was already more than enough consideration. And yet you repay it with such shamelessness? What audacity is this?”
What nonsense was this now?
“You call it consideration?”
I asked, bewildered, and Namgung Myeong’s sneer deepened.
“Did you really think the Main Family wouldn’t know that the Yoo Hyun Merchant Guild has colluded with the Black Path?”
The hall erupted in whispers.
This was Hefei in Anhui Province—the very heart of the White Path’s martial world, the Namgung Family estate.
“Tsk. As expected.”
“I could tell from the way he speaks.”
Though connections to the Black Path weren’t treated as outright crime, they were more than enough to be seen as a flaw by the rigid martial artists of the White Path.
Sensing victory from the spectators’ cold mockery, Namgung Myeong continued with absolute conviction.
“They say the Guild Master has abandoned righteousness and fallen prey to greed, engaging in illicit dealings? Word of it has even reached the inner chambers of the Family, yet the Main Family didn’t refuse Yu Danju’s request. Why do you suppose that was?”
Namgung Myeong’s voice grew louder.
“Because we wished to extend a hand to a latecomer in the martial world! It would have been a shame for a promising seedling just beginning its journey through Jianghu to miss such an opportunity due to mere factional logic.”
His eyes grew cold. Contempt seeped into his resolute gaze.
“So why do you insist on repaying kindness with insult?”
“Tsk. Utterly shameless.”
“Indeed.”
As the spectators chimed in, I found myself at the center of their contempt.
Huff.
My chest heaved. Hot breath escaped my lips, and the rising heat refused to subside.
Though this was the situation I’d intended, I couldn’t help but feel my insides roiling.
Yu Yang-deok is not a merchant corrupted by greed.
Yu Yang-deok is a father.
He exhausted every avenue trying to cure his family’s illness, and when he finally found no path forward, he made his decision at the end of desperation.
If they criticized his entanglement with the Black Path as a misjudgment, I could accept that. But for someone ignorant of the circumstances to dismiss his resolve as base without even attempting to understand—that was utterly intolerable.
“In any case, you invited him because he was a renowned merchant, so you must have seen some potential as a martial artist in him, yes? The fact that your attitude has changed now must mean he fell short of expectations.”
Namgung Myeong let out a hollow laugh.
“You’re trapped in delusion. Even if what you say were true, would it change anything? It’s an undeniable fact that the Main Family’s retainers and elders went to needless trouble based on false information.”
His response was as if an apology wouldn’t even suffice. As his arrogance intensified, my tone grew sharper.
“Is it really needless trouble, though?”
“…What?”
“Would a man who built a merchant guild on vision alone really fail to see a single young man properly, to the point of writing a letter? Don’t you think the Elder’s eye might not match Dan Ju’s?”
My bold retort fell like cold water, and the atmosphere froze.
It was a statement that disrespected him directly in front of everyone and stripped away his dignity.
Despite the heavy silence, I remained unmoved.
“Setting aside the gossip spread in the absence of the person involved—in any case, if his skills are in question, let’s measure his martial prowess first. There are plenty of witnesses here, so there’s no need to bring anyone else.”
“A martial duel?”
“Whether you’re a country bumpkin or whatever else, the fact remains you’ve visited the Family Estate as a guest, does it not? Let us settle this matter properly—as warriors do. Through martial combat. What say you?”
“How absurd. Why would the Family Estate do such a thing? And more importantly, who exactly are you proposing to duel?”
Cheon So-hyun fixed his gaze directly upon Namgung Myeong.
“Is there someone else here qualified to face me in combat?”
Namgung Myeong’s eyes widened as he stared at him, then he burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahahaha!”
Not only Namgung Myeong, but the Retainers and onlookers watching from the sidelines let out undisguised snickers.
“You truly cannot distinguish heaven from earth. Do you not understand what position a Namgung elder holds?”
“I’m aware enough that it’s not a position for merely wagging one’s tongue.”
Confronted with such relentless arrogance, Namgung Myeong’s laughter faded and his expression hardened.
“So you’ll do it? Or will you back down?”
“I cannot overlook youthful recklessness any longer.”
Namgung Myeong shook his head slowly and exhaled a sigh. He glanced around once, then gestured for the Retainers to withdraw. Murmurs of concern rippled through the crowd.
“W-wait, Elder Myeong!”
“Surely you don’t intend to cross hands with such a person?”
For an elder of the Namgung Family to suffer such insult in silence would surely damage his honor.
Since the opponent had been the first to request combat, it would be proper to impart a lesson and show him the vastness of the heavens.
Yet the Retainers unanimously tried to dissuade him. His face was growing increasingly flushed.
‘This will only end in embarrassment.’
It was better to end the situation cleanly and cast him out than to risk an unfortunate incident that would create further disturbance.
But Namgung Myeong’s resolve was firm.
“If he ventures into the Jianghu in such a state, he will meet with great calamity before long. To turn a blind eye to his inevitable destruction would not be the way of an elder. I will restrain myself appropriately, so set aside your concerns and withdraw.”
“But Elder…”
Namgung Myeong’s piercing gaze turned toward him.
“Must I repeat myself?”
At his firm command, the Retainers hesitated before stepping back. As they formed a circular perimeter and created distance, Namgung Myeong surveyed Cheon So-hyun.
“You won’t back out now, will you?”
“Why would I?”
A spark of interest flickered in Cheon So-hyun’s eyes.
In truth, I could not accurately gauge Namgung Myeong’s true capabilities.
He had never made a great name for himself, so I had never heard of him, yet neither could I guarantee victory.
The Namgung disciples typically began learning martial arts from their first steps, growing under the tutelage of renowned masters with vast resources at their disposal.
“Since we’ve come to this duel, I hope you’ll demonstrate at least one proper technique. I know not what martial arts the Qinghua Sect practices, but I advise you to fight with full strength rather than expect mercy.”
Thus they grew without worthy opponents, developing such arrogant bearing…
This too was my failure—I had not properly guided them in my previous life.
‘Amitabha Buddha.’
Whoooooosh!
Victory or defeat was secondary from the start. With singular resolve to reshape his afflictions, I circulated the Shadowless Qi.
“I shall grant you three opening moves, so show me everything you’ve learned…”
Crash!
The blue stone floor trembled as I pushed off the ground and surged forward.
Closing the distance with successive stomps, Namgung Myeong flicked his hand out sharply.
“Tsk.”
The motion seemed casual, yet the energy coiled within his palm was far from ordinary.
Heavenly Wind Palm—the signature palm technique of the Namgung Family, capable of shattering boulders with a single strike.
He intended to use the overwhelming might of this renowned technique to shatter the trajectory of my incoming fist and demonstrate the vast gulf between us.
But.
“…!”
“E-Elder Myeong!”
It was the Heavenly Wind Palm that scattered helplessly instead. My fist, brilliant as a shaft of light, deflected his palm and burrowed straight into his chest.
‘What… what is this…!’
Namgung Myeong reflexively twisted his torso and shifted his footwork. He barely avoided a direct hit, yet my assault did not cease.
Crash!
Once more, I struck the earth with a stomp.
Drawing terrestrial energy from the soles of my feet and cycling it through rebound momentum to amplify the force—this was the martial principle behind the stomp technique.
“…!”
My fist, now far more ferocious, descended toward his face. The overwhelming presence, reminiscent of Mount Tai itself, left Namgung Myeong aghast.
‘Has he… been concealing his true strength all along?!’
If he could not evade, he must defend. But he had already lost his balance and momentum alike. His palm technique alone was utterly insufficient.
Crash!
With the deafening impact, acrid dust billowed upward.
My lips curled wide, baring my teeth in a grin.
“Three moves? That’s nonsense.”
“…!”
Namgung Myeong’s hand had drawn his sword without conscious thought, driven by the mortal threat he sensed.
Yet his blade cut through empty air, while my fist hung suspended precisely beneath his jaw.
“From this moment forward, fight with genuine intent. I have no interest in hearing excuses about losing because I went easy on you.”
I withdrew my hand with a dismissive gesture, as though bestowing mercy. Namgung Myeong’s face flushed crimson to the tips of his ears.
“This… this…!”
His sword trembled violently in his grip, quivering with rage.
Had he ever endured such humiliation in his life?
And before so many witnesses, at the hands of a mere boy?
“You dare…!!”
Fury that obliterated reason swept through his entire being.

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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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