Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 106

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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 106

Three days had passed since the bloody battle at the Seven Killer Gate, and it was now midday.

The Sichuan Dang Clan’s Medical Hall was regaining its own sense of tranquility amidst the bustle.

“I’m dying. It feels like my back is going to break.”

Chungpungwan, a private residence for distinguished guests.

Mujin lay on the bed wrapped in bandages all over his body, whining dramatically.

Soyuol, who was beside him, set down the herbal medicine with an exasperated expression.

“Please stop being such a drama queen.”

“Drama queen? I took a palm strike head-on… It feels like all my internal organs are twisted.”

As Mujin said, his condition was quite poor.

However, Soyuol thought that Mujin was the type of person who would feel uncomfortable if she showed sympathy and pity.

“Seeing as you have the energy to complain like that, you must be fine. Here, take your medicine.”

When Soyuol held out the herbal medicine, Mujin turned his head away with disgust.

“Ugh, it’s bitter just from the smell.”

Despite grumbling, he obediently took the medicine and drank it.

Beside them, Jukrim Uiseon and his disciples were watching the two with pleased expressions.

When Soyuol turned around after giving Mujin the herbal medicine, Uiseon and his disciples quickly averted their gazes as if nothing had happened.

“Are you feeling alright, Grandfather?”

Soyuol, who hadn’t noticed this, asked Uiseon with a worried voice.

Uiseon answered with a much more relaxed expression.

“Thanks to the Clan Head personally looking after me, the demonic energy in my body seems to be gradually disappearing. I’m truly grateful.”

Soyuol nodded.

As Uiseon said, Dangpaecheon was personally caring for not only Uiseon and his disciples, but also the survivors rescued from Nakwachin Village.

Thanks to this, everyone’s condition was rapidly improving.

However, Uiseon’s expression soon darkened.

“I wish there had been a way to help those who became Silhonin as well.”

At those words, the air in the room grew heavy.

All the Silhonin from the six villages were eventually eliminated when the government office and the Dang Clan mobilized on a large scale.

It was an unavoidable choice since there was no way to restore them.

It was a tragedy that cost hundreds of lives.

As if trying to lighten the mood, Soyuol brought up a different topic.

“By the way… is Young Master Namgung alright? I haven’t seen him at all since that day.”

That day, Namgung Cheon returned from the Seven Killer Gate and silently went back to his guest room despite suffering the most severe internal injuries.

Although Dangpaecheon offered to treat him personally, he politely declined.

And for the three days since then, he hadn’t taken a single step outside his room.

Uiseon picked up the teacup beside him and spoke quietly.

“There’s nothing to worry about. He’s not someone that ordinary people like us need to worry about.”

Uiseon’s eyes held deep trust in Namgung Cheon.

That overwhelming figure who had carved a path through the hellscape of Nakwachin Village without even using his internal energy.

Since that day, Namgung Cheon had been imprinted in Uiseon’s mind as an existence that transcended human common sense.

Soyuol also quietly nodded.

Seeing the serious faces of those two, Mujin let out a groan but chuckled.

“Well, if that man were ordinary, we’d have something to worry about.”

The strange trust that the name Namgung Cheon evoked.

Thanks to this, the heavy atmosphere in the room became much lighter.

Mujin slowly closed his eyes, seeing the improved atmosphere.

As his body grew drowsy, one person suddenly came to mind.

The man with sunken eyes, Dangmu.

‘Hmm… I wonder if the Young Master noticed.’

In Mujin’s opinion, Namgung Cheon was ghostly sharp in many ways, but surprisingly seemed to have an indifferent side when it came to such matters.

‘Hmm. Did he really not notice?’

The corners of Mujin’s mouth slowly rose.

‘If he really doesn’t know, his expression will be quite worth seeing later.’

At the spontaneous laughter, Mujin pulled the blanket over his head.

* * *

Late at night, in Namgung Cheon’s guest room.

“Hmm.”

A quiet groan flowed from the mouth of Namgung Cheon, who sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.

This was already the hundredth time he was reviewing his fight with Hyeolnachal.

Refusing treatment and locking himself alone in his room was for this purpose.

‘…I still can’t win.’

Namgung Cheon slowly opened his eyes after experiencing yet another defeat.

The Mugeuk realm.

Moreover, Hyeolnachal had already reached that realm decades ago.

So it was natural to be defeated, but.

‘I won’t always be able to cross swords only with enemies I can handle.’

Rather, considering the path he was trying to walk now, the possibility of encountering enemies he couldn’t handle was much higher.

‘If Dangpaecheon hadn’t moved as I thought he would…’

If his body hadn’t been able to withstand Hyeolnachal’s strike.

‘I would have died.’

At that chilling conclusion, Namgung Cheon’s heart beat violently.

He had modified the Cheonggung Daeyeon Simbeop to gain explosive power, and even created his own unique martial arts called Changcheon Mansangryu.

He had reforged his body with the Jeongcheon Yeokgeun Daebeop and gained a mind that would never fall into heart demons through Taeheohosimgong.

Achievements that anyone would consider miraculous.

But Namgung Cheon couldn’t be satisfied.

Despite having all of this, he ultimately couldn’t defeat Hyeolnachal.

‘It’s not enough.’

Namgung Cheon closed his eyes again and gazed deep into his dantian.

The transparent energy sleeping there, Myeolhon.

And beside it, the red fighting spirit that was constantly watching for an opportunity.

‘I must be able to fully control these two.’

In his fight with Hyeolnachal, he had almost released Myeolhon.

He had almost been consumed by his fighting spirit, losing his reason and going berserk.

‘This wasn’t controlling power, but being controlled by power.’

True strength meant dominating power.

To do that…

‘Cheonma Sinkong.’

That name came to mind once again in Namgung Cheon’s head.

But with his current body, he couldn’t learn Cheonma Sinkong.

‘Still… it’s not impossible.’

What he had been pondering in his mind for the past three days wasn’t just his fight with Hyeolnachal.

Cheonma Sinkong without using demonic energy.

He had also repeatedly thought about this countless times.

And at the end of it, he saw a path, however faintly.

‘Use Myeolhon as a medium.’

Pass pure internal energy through Myeolhon to temporarily convert it into a nature similar to demonic energy.

Then operate Cheonma Sinkong based on that converted energy.

Theoretically, it was possible.

However.

What if the flow of qi moved differently than expected during the moment of converting internal energy?

Qi deviation would be an unavoidable outcome.

‘It needs to be more precise.’

He needed control as delicate as thread passing through a needle’s eye, and as natural as flowing water.

Namgung Cheon steadied his breathing once more.

He drew up the qi from his dantian very minutely, making it circle around Myeolhon.

Cautiously and persistently, like taming a wild beast.

Wooong.

A subtle vibration arose from his dantian.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, but Namgung Cheon did not stop.

‘Just a little more.’

He heightened his senses to the extreme.

The boundary where internal energy and Myeolhon touched.

He concentrated all his nerves to not miss the minute changes occurring there.

How much time had passed?

A very faint smile spread across Namgung Cheon’s lips.

‘…I’ve got it.’

Though it was only for an instant, he definitely felt his internal energy resonating with Myeolhon and changing in nature.

A different kind of energy that was neither demonic qi nor pure internal energy.

A power that was destructive yet did not possess the nature of demonic qi—a force only he could possess.

‘If I can perfect this…’

Someone like Hyeolnachal would be no match for him.

Furthermore, surpassing his past self and that distant wall might not be impossible.

Namgung Cheon slowly opened his eyes.

In his pupils, blue and red light mixed, rippling into a strange purple hue before disappearing.

“Whew…”

He exhaled deeply and rose to his feet.

‘Now that I’ve grasped the foundation of Cheonma Sinkong…’

His gaze turned toward the window, toward the night sky.

A crescent moon that seemed ready to vanish at any moment.

Seeing it, a name naturally came to mind.

‘Eumwolbigo.’

The failure at Seven Killer Gate would only make them more urgent.

‘I must set out no later than tomorrow morning.’

Just as Namgung Cheon was organizing his thoughts and about to move to pack his belongings.

Step, step.

Footsteps could be heard from the end of the corridor.

A familiar presence.

But the gait was different from usual—heavy and filled with hesitation.

“…Are you there?”

It was Dangmu.

“Come in.”

Creak.

The door opened and Dangmu entered.

As soon as Dangmu entered, he carefully closed the door and stood before Namgung Cheon, bowing deeply.

“I apologize for visiting so late at night.”

“It doesn’t matter. Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, Young Master.”

Dangmu smiled awkwardly.

Unlike his usual stoic demeanor, he clearly showed signs of restlessness.

His gaze kept turning toward the floor and his fingers nervously fidgeted with his clothes.

Namgung Cheon silently observed him.

He seemed to have something to say.

Something very important at that.

“Please sit.”

When Namgung Cheon offered a seat, Dangmu hesitated briefly before slumping into the chair.

Then he spent a long time deep in thought about something.

As the silence stretched on, Namgung Cheon spoke first.

“If you came to express gratitude, that’s unnecessary. I too would have died if the Head of the Clan hadn’t come.”

“…That’s not it.”

Dangmu shook his head.

“I just… came because there’s something I want to confirm.”

“Confirm?”

“Yes.”

Dangmu raised his head.

Complex emotions rippled in his sunken eyes.

“You said before, Young Master. That you cannot be with those who hide things.”

Namgung Cheon nodded.

“I did.”

“Those words… are they still valid?”

“Of course.”

At Namgung Cheon’s firm answer, Dangmu bit his lips tightly.

“Then… I am not qualified to be with you, Young Master.”

Dangmu’s voice trembled slightly.

“I deceived you, Young Master. My name, my identity.”

At those words, Namgung Cheon nodded without changing his expression.

“I know.”

“…!”

Dangmu’s eyes widened.

“You knew… Since when?”

“Probably after the battle at Seven Killer Gate ended.”

Namgung Cheon spoke calmly.

“The way the Head of the Clan looked at you was different from how he looks at ordinary clan members. That’s when I realized.”

Namgung Cheon let out a short sigh and continued.

“One person who wasn’t seen at the last Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly.”

“Ah…”

Dangmu’s mouth fell open in bewilderment.

“The precious daughter of the Sichuan Dang Clan. The Poison Phoenix, Dang Eunseol. That’s you, isn’t it?”

“…”

Dangmu—no, Dang Eunseol’s lips trembled finely.

It was a male disguise that had fooled even Poison Shadow Hall and the clan’s elders.

Yet Namgung Cheon had seen through her identity with just one brief glance.

“But why… didn’t you ask?”

“I thought it was courtesy to respect it if that was how you wanted to live.”

Namgung Cheon continued while looking into Dang Eunseol’s eyes.

“And from the village full of Silhonin to Seven Killer Gate, the one who fought back-to-back with me wasn’t the Poison Emperor’s daughter, but a warrior named Dangmu. What more is needed beyond that?”

At those words, Dang Eunseol’s eyes reddened.

She had lived her entire life trapped in the shell of being the Poison Emperor’s daughter, the Poison Phoenix.

No one treated her as a complete martial artist, and even the clan’s elders only regarded her as a precious daughter who inherited the clan head’s blood.

So she ran away.

She abandoned her name, concealed her gender, and threw herself into the harsh missions of Poison Shadow Hall.

All to be recognized solely by her own strength.

But Namgung Cheon had recognized those efforts that no one else had acknowledged.

“…Thank you.”

Dang Eunseol lowered her head.

And with trembling hands, she untied her hair ribbon.

Swoosh.

Her tightly bound hair flowed down like silk.

The gaunt-eyed man Dangmu was no more.

Only Dang Eunseol, daughter of Poison Emperor Dangpaecheon, existed now.

“Allow me to introduce myself again.”

Dang Eunseol rose from her seat and bowed respectfully with cupped hands.

“I am Dang Eunseol of the Sichuan Dang Clan.”

Namgung Cheon smiled and returned the courtesy.

“Pleased to meet you, Young Hero Dang. Or should I call you Young Lady Dang?”

“Please call me whatever is comfortable. Before you, Young Master, anything would be fine.”

Dang Eunseol smiled brightly for the first time.

Her face, having cast off her mask after so long, looked relieved.

She looked at Namgung Cheon and spoke with determination.

“From now on… I won’t hide. Like you have shown me, I too will walk my own path.”

The look in Dang Eunseol’s eyes as she spoke was so different from Dangmu’s gaunt eyes.

Though she wore no fancy ornaments, she had eyes that shone brighter than any jewel.

Namgung Cheon nodded.

It seemed she would be more than capable of doing so.

“I look forward to it.”

At Namgung Cheon’s brief response, Dang Eunseol’s smile deepened.

A warm silence flowed through the room.

The two of them gazed at each other wordlessly for a moment.

Not as man and woman, but as martial artist and martial artist.

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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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