Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 101

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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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Chapter 101

Sichuan Dang Clan’s Medical Hall.

The acrid smell of blood mixed with the scent of medicinal herbs, stinging the nostrils.

In the center of the pavilion were makeshift beds, upon which lay Jukrim Uiseon and five survivors that Namgung Cheon had rescued from Nakwachin Village.

Around them, physicians of the Dang Clan dressed in green robes busily moved about, inserting acupuncture needles and administering herbal medicine.

“…Hmm.”

Dangpaecheon stroked his beard as he watched the scene with dry eyes.

Soon, Dangun, the head of the Medical Hall who had finished taking pulses, approached while wiping the sweat from his forehead.

“I report to you, Head of the Clan.”

When Dangpaecheon nodded, Dangun continued.

“All of them are out of mortal danger. Young Master Namgung injected his internal energy to suppress the demonic energy as soon as they escaped Nakwachin Village, which prevented the worst outcome. However….”

Dangpaecheon’s eyebrows twitched.

“Speak.”

“I cannot guarantee a complete recovery. Since they are ordinary people who have not learned martial arts, forcibly extracting the demonic energy could sever their lifelines.”

“Then, have you discovered the method used to inject the demonic energy?”

“Currently… we cannot determine it. And the poison detected was extremely diluted, only causing labored breathing with no further toxicity.”

Deep wrinkles formed on Dangpaecheon’s brow.

“I understand. If you discover any new facts, report immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Dangun withdrew, Dangpaecheon slowly turned and approached Namgung Cheon, who was standing in one corner of the pavilion.

“I greet the Head of the Dang Clan.”

Namgung Cheon bowed first.

Dangpaecheon stared intently at Namgung Cheon, then let out a hollow laugh.

“You’re the spitting image of him with those arrogant and stubborn eyes. As I heard, you’ve grown much. And….”

Seriousness entered Dangpaecheon’s voice.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, the members of the Dang Clan saved their lives.”

It was sincere.

If they had recklessly sent in martial artists without knowing the internal situation, the Dang Clan would have also shed considerable blood.

However, gratitude was gratitude, and the family’s prestige was a separate matter.

“But this is where it ends.”

“…?”

“The Dang Clan will handle the rest from here. It wouldn’t look good for a young master of the Namgung Family to become more deeply involved in the Dang Clan’s affairs.”

A clear line being drawn.

For the proud Dang Clan to rely on a junior member of another family for an incident that occurred near Chengdu, their own stronghold, was unacceptable.

But Namgung Cheon did not back down.

He looked at the patients lying on the beds and continued speaking.

“The situation doesn’t look good enough to worry about appearances.”

At Namgung Cheon’s words, Dangpaecheon’s gaze turned coldly sharp.

“Does the Namgung Family not teach manners?”

“I was taught that those who walk the righteous path should follow chivalry and righteousness rather than etiquette. The righteous thing now is not to consider family status, but to find the culprits and their methods as quickly as possible.”

Dangpaecheon’s eyes narrowed.

It wasn’t wrong.

For the Dang Clan too, identifying the culprits was the urgent priority.

However.

“Do you dare think you have such capability?”

A mere youth barely past his coming of age accomplishing what even the great Sichuan Dang Clan couldn’t?

It was preposterous.

‘I heard reports from the Qinghai Branch, but….’

He thought the Kunlun incident was simply due to Kunlun’s incompetence or good luck.

What cunning could those who spent their lives chasing after the Dao possess, and how thoroughly could they have thought to conceal everything?

Therefore, Dangpaecheon thought the Kunlun incident was certainly not because Namgung Cheon was remarkable.

However, Namgung Cheon’s following answer was.

“Yes, I can do it. I’ve already grasped some clues.”

A glimmer appeared in Dangpaecheon’s eyes.

One person had found leads that the Poison Shadow Hall and Medical Hall couldn’t discover despite working on it for days?

It was absurd.

“Boasting should be done in moderation. They say ‘a tiger father begets a dog son,’ and you’re bringing shame to your father’s face.”

“That dog son brought back the survivors. No, he was the only one to enter that village and come out alive. That’s why only I can recognize those clues.”

“Hmm….”

It was an undeniable fact.

Namgung Cheon was the only survivor and witness who had seen the scene.

But then why did he insist on moving personally?

‘Just passing on the information would suffice.’

As if reading Dangpaecheon’s suspicion, Namgung Cheon drove the point home.

“The Kunlun incident and this incident. I think the culprits are the same. That’s why I must verify it personally. I’m the only one who knows all the circumstances.”

“….”

Dangpaecheon glared at Namgung Cheon in silence for a moment.

Then soon.

“Dangmu.”

At Dangpaecheon’s call, a man emerged from the shadows behind a pillar.

Pale face with sunken eyes.

Every movement suggested someone who hadn’t slept for days.

Aside from this, he was quite handsome.

Dangpaecheon continued.

“This is Dangmu, who can distinguish all poisons in the world by scent alone. He can detoxify most poisons too. Since there might be poison, accompany him.”

A glimmer appeared in Namgung Cheon’s eyes as he quietly observed Dangmu.

‘His martial prowess is quite high.’

At least at the peak level.

And simultaneously, Namgung Cheon felt an inexplicable sense of unease from Dangmu.

He couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but something felt awkward.

‘Is he hiding something?’

There was no way Dangpaecheon wouldn’t notice what he had slightly detected.

That meant Dangpaecheon was either overlooking it or had intended it.

‘He must be quite an important figure in the Dang Clan.’

If so.

‘Good. I can show them more definitively.’

Namgung Cheon’s lips curved up imperceptibly.

There was a famous unwritten rule about the Dang Clan in Gangho.

―The Dang Clan never forgets grudges or favors.

They repaid received hatred with blood and always returned received kindness several times over.

Therefore.

An undeniable favor that the Dang Clan couldn’t refuse.

This was Namgung Cheon’s goal.

‘That’s the only way I can obtain it.’

The minimum preparations needed for the next Bigo in Yunnan.

Namgung Cheon’s eyes gleamed coldly.

* * *

The next morning.

In front of the main gate of the Sichuan Dang Clan, a thicker fog than usual had settled.

While the Dang Clan warriors vigilantly guarded the surroundings, three men walked out through the gate.

Namgung Cheon and Mujin.

And a man with a still pale complexion and dark circles under his eyes—Dangmu.

“…Phew.”

Mujin stretched and let out a sigh.

It seems even the air is different between the Namgung and Dang clans. My body feels stiff as if someone poisoned me during the night.”

“That’s because you drank last night.”

Namgung Cheon replied nonchalantly.

He pulled out a map from his chest and unfolded it.

It was a map with detailed drawings of Chengdu and its surrounding terrain.

Dangmu, who had been looking at it, asked in a dry voice.

“Where do you plan to start?”

Namgung Cheon briefly traced his finger over the map, then answered shortly.

“The remaining five villages. We’ll visit them all.”

At that answer, both Mujin and Dangmu’s gazes turned toward Namgung Cheon simultaneously.

Bewilderment flashed in Dangmu’s sunken eyes, and Mujin’s mouth fell wide open.

“…?”

After standing dazed for a moment, Mujin stepped forward and asked again.

“Young Master, are you serious?”

“I am.”

“Those… what were they called again, those things with rolled-back eyes that charge at you….”

As Mujin scratched his head as if he couldn’t remember, Dangmu added dryly.

“They’re called Silhonin.”

“Ah, right. Thank you. You’re really going to visit all those places crawling with Silhonin? We nearly died yesterday. Isn’t the risk too great?”

Going to just one place would be risking their lives, yet he wanted to visit all five locations.

It could only be considered insane.

But Namgung Cheon remained calm.

He folded the map and looked at Mujin.

“If we don’t do that, we won’t be able to find the common factor.”

“Common factor? Isn’t it all the same anyway because of demonic energy? They’ll all just have Silhonin, so what more is there to see?”

“We need to thoroughly examine how they lived and what they shared. Looking at just one place could be dismissed as coincidence, but if all six places are the same, then it’s inevitable and becomes evidence.”

At Namgung Cheon’s resolute attitude, Dangmu cautiously spoke up.

“If I may be so bold, didn’t you say you already found a clue? Even without visiting all the sites, if we cross-reference with the materials and records our Dang Clan possesses….”

“It’s still close to speculation, so confirmation is needed. Records are from the past, but the scene speaks of the present, doesn’t it? I trust my eyes more than words written on paper.”

“Then wouldn’t checking just one or two sample locations be sufficient? There’s no need to risk danger by visiting them all….”

Dangmu’s words were reasonable.

But Namgung Cheon shook his head.

“Checking them all is more accurate. The real clue might be in the place we don’t visit.”

Namgung Cheon stared directly at Mujin and Dangmu.

“If you don’t want to go, drop out. I’ll go alone if I have to.”

“….”

Both fell silent.

As Namgung Cheon started walking again, Mujin scratched the back of his head and hurriedly followed.

“Who said I didn’t want to go? I was just worried because it seemed like you were looking for unnecessary trouble.”

“For someone who’s worried, your attitude was quite insolent.”

“…It’s a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding. Aren’t we already comrades who’ve shared all kinds of life and death experiences together?”

Mujin protested earnestly as if he felt wronged, standing side by side with Namgung Cheon.

The two bickered as they walked, sometimes ahead, sometimes behind each other.

Dangmu quietly stopped and silently watched the backs of the two men.

And.

“Hmm.”

His nose twitched slightly.

“…How curious.”

Dangmu muttered with a strange smile.

At that moment, Mujin, who had been walking ahead, saw Dangmu lagging behind and shouted.

“Young Master Dang! Come quickly and explain my sincerity to this young master!”

At Mujin’s shout, the smile on Dangmu’s lips instantly vanished.

“Yes, I’m coming.”

Dangmu, returning to an indifferent expression, slowly began walking.

However, until they reached the first village, Dangmu never opened his mouth.

He simply followed silently behind Namgung Cheon.

“….”

Only savoring that strange scent.

—————
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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