Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 108

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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 108

Deep into the night on the seventh day since leaving Chengdu.

Sichuan’s fertile plains and bamboo groves gradually disappeared from view, replaced by bizarrely jutting stone mountains and serpentine valleys that filled Namgung Cheon’s vision.

Gwiju.

A lawless land where the influence of Junghwon’s martial realm grew faint and dark sects too small to be called factions had taken root.

Namgung Cheon had finally set foot in that treacherous territory.

‘…How quiet.’

If Mujin had been here, he would have already complained about how bizarre this land was.

A faint smile crossed Namgung Cheon’s lips as he briefly fell into thought.

After walking for quite some time, Namgung Cheon sat on a rock halfway up the mountain and pulled out a black case from his bundle.

Click.

As the case opened, a brilliant jade-colored radiance poured forth.

‘The Jade Poison Dagger.’

Namgung Cheon carefully gripped the dagger’s handle and drew it out.

Shing—.

Moonlight cast a cold gleam across the jade-colored blade.

From the dagger rose a chilling aura along with a subtle poisonous energy.

‘An incredible sword.’

Namgung Cheon lightly channeled his internal energy into the hand holding the dagger.

The Jade Poison Dagger then absorbed Namgung Cheon’s energy like a starving beast, making the blade shine even more brilliantly.

As he quietly gazed at the blade, Mujin’s words suddenly flashed through his mind.

—You’re smiling. More happily than ever before.

A bitter smile played around Namgung Cheon’s lips.

‘Happiness… Is that so?’

When he sparred with Mujin at the end of the martial competition, when he fought against Namgung Dan.

Even when he truly risked his life crossing swords with Hyeolnachal.

He had felt a thrill in all those moments.

If someone asked whether that thrill was his happiness, he couldn’t deny it.

‘And in that sense…’

Namgung Cheon’s gaze turned toward the forest shrouded in darkness.

‘Cutting down those people would also fall on the same level.’

Namgung Cheon slowly rose from his seat while holding the dagger.

As he focused his senses for a moment.

Whooosh—.

In the forest where even the wind sounded eerie.

He could feel extremely subtle killing intent directed at him from every corner of that forest.

‘Whether they’re Sangdocheon’s minions or dark sect members of this Gwiju, it doesn’t matter.’

If they were things that obstructed his path, it was only natural to weed them out.

Whoosh—!

Namgung Cheon’s form instantly scattered.

“…!”

The eyes of the black-robed assailants hiding in the darkness widened in shock.

Namgung Cheon, who had clearly been standing on the rock, had vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

Shing.

An eerie metallic sound brushed past one man’s ear.

Before the man could even scream, a brilliant jade-colored radiance gracefully swept across his throat.

Hiss.

A chilling sound of something burning flesh could be heard.

“Gak!”

Blood poured from every opening in his body.

“Every—… Gak!”

Five or six black-robed assailants leaped out from all directions and swung their weapons, but Namgung Cheon’s footwork transcended their common sense by far.

Namgung Cheon swam between their blades and lightly swung the Jade Poison Dagger.

Slice. Slice.

Each time the dagger swept through, the black-robed assailants’ limbs fell away helplessly.

That alone was sufficient.

The poison that penetrated through their wounds would take care of claiming their lives.

“This, this monster…”

The last remaining black-robed assailant staggered backward in terror.

He forgot even the sword in his hand as he stared at Namgung Cheon approaching expressionlessly before his eyes.

Namgung Cheon’s eyes, backlit by moonlight, glowed red.

Swish.

A jade-colored flash pierced through the last black-robed assailant’s forehead.

“…”

The black-robed assailant died with small convulsions, spilling blood.

Swish—.

Namgung Cheon lightly shook off the Jade Poison Dagger and put it back in its case.

The surroundings fell into a sickeningly deep silence once again.

“…Happiness.”

Namgung Cheon murmured softly and resumed walking.

Yes, he had endured for far too long.

Under the pretense of being part of the Orthodox Faction.

Namgung Cheon melted into the deeper darkness of the forest without hesitation.

Now there was nothing to hold him back.

Because everyone except himself was an enemy.

* * *

The next night.

As Namgung Cheon emerged from the forest, a strange sight unfolded before his eyes.

Between sheer cliffs, houses were connected in layers as if hanging from rocky ledges and narrow gaps in the gorge.

Old wooden bridges and palisades connecting the cliffs swayed precariously in midair.

‘A village between cliffs. That must be Seonghwajin.’

Despite its name meaning a village that worships the guardian deity, the energy felt throughout the village was nothing but evil aura and a terrible stench of blood.

Seonghwajin, the first gateway into Gwiju and a gathering place for dark sect members.

Namgung Cheon’s reason for seeking this place was clear.

‘I know the location of Eumwolbigo, but…’

He needed to confirm whether there were others who had sought that place before him.

And if possible, their scale and level as well.

Only then could he punish every single one of those who dared to covet the secret archive without leaving any survivors.

Step. Step.

Namgung Cheon set foot on the old wooden bridge suspended in midair.

With each step, the rotting wooden planks screamed and swayed, and through the gaps he could see the black river flowing below the thousand-foot cliff.

“Hmm.”

From somewhere, the fishy smell of blood mixed with the smell of burnt oil created an unpleasant stench.

‘What a terrible stench.’

Namgung Cheon pulled his bamboo hat low and headed toward the village center along the narrow rocky path crossing the cliff.

‘There are quite a few people here.’

There were people scattered throughout the narrow passages.

However, whether intoxicated by something or not, he only glanced briefly at Namgung Cheon passing in front of him with hazy, unfocused eyes, taking no particular action.

After walking for quite some time, Namgung Cheon’s steps stopped at a tavern built on pillars driven into the middle of a cliff.

Creak―.

As he opened the unoiled door and entered, the pungent scent of strong liquor and acrid smoke hit him.

Low ceiling and narrow interior.

The gazes of the men filling the space all turned toward Namgung Cheon at once.

Namgung Cheon paid no mind to this and sat in a corner seat.

“Bring me a bottle of bamboo leaf wine and any side dish.”

When the innkeeper approached with frightened eyes, Namgung Cheon threw a silver coin onto the table.

The innkeeper grabbed the money and disappeared as if fleeing.

The tavern began to grow noisy again.

But even amid that commotion, the blatant stares directed at Namgung Cheon did not subside.

“Hehe, looks like he’s got quite a bit of money on him?”

Behind Namgung Cheon, five or six men sitting around a narrow table snickered mockingly as if wanting him to hear.

They all had vicious faces that looked like they had killed a few people without batting an eye.

A moment later.

Thud.

The innkeeper brought the liquor and side dishes, then disappeared once again as if fleeing.

After confirming the innkeeper had left, Namgung Cheon filled his cup.

At that moment.

“Hey there, young master.”

A man approached Namgung Cheon’s table.

It was a burly man with black tattoos carved on his face.

He plopped down heavily in the chair across from Namgung Cheon and placed his dirty hands on the table.

“This is a place where Orthodox Faction bastards like you disappear without anyone knowing.”

“….”

Namgung Cheon silently emptied his cup and refilled it.

“Hey, is this bastard ignoring what I’m saying?”

Killing intent flashed in the burly man’s eyes.

He drew a dagger from his chest and stabbed it into the table right next to Namgung Cheon’s hand.

Thunk!

Splash.

The table shook violently and the wine in the cup overflowed.

“So while I’m being nice about it, hand over your bundle and that sword at your waist. Then I’ll let you off today.”

“How noisy.”

Namgung Cheon spoke quietly.

“…What?”

“Let me ask you something. Answer, and I’ll only make you bleed as much wine as you spilled.”

“….”

“Manmangok. Has any group entered that place recently?”

The air in the tavern froze in an instant.

The Heukdo members looked at each other as if dumbfounded, then burst into laughter.

“Hehe, he must have lost his mind.”

“Heukwoong, how about we lightly cut off his tongue first?”

The complexion of the burly man called Heukwoong turned red and blue.

Shing―.

Heukwoong instantly drew his dagger.

“This crazy bastard is hastening his own death! Die!”

Heukwoong’s dagger aimed for Namgung Cheon’s neck and struck like lightning.

A surprise attack in a narrow space.

An ordinary martial artist would have had their throat pierced with nowhere to dodge.

However.

Clang―!

A chillingly clear metallic sound rang out.

Namgung Cheon neither rose from his seat nor drew a weapon.

What blocked Heukwoong’s dagger was.

“…A wine cup?”

Heukwoong’s eyes bulged as if they would pop out.

The dagger infused with internal energy had stopped, unable to pierce through a single wine cup.

“I asked you something.”

Namgung Cheon slowly raised his head.

His eyes revealed beneath the bamboo hat were emitting a red gleam.

“Manmangok. I asked if there were people who entered that place.”

Namgung Cheon’s right hand moved, leaving an afterimage.

Slice!

“Aaaaah!”

Heukwoong’s scream echoed through the narrow tavern.

It was instantaneous.

The motion of Namgung Cheon drawing and sheathing the poison dagger at his waist was invisible to anyone’s eyes.

Only Heukwoong’s severed right hand was rolling around on the table.

The deadly poison on the dagger instantly penetrated through the cut surface.

Heukwoong’s arm grotesquely curled inward.

“Kraaah!”

“Does anyone know?”

Namgung Cheon’s indifferent question rang out once more.

This damn bastard!”

Clang clang clang!

Twenty Heukdo members in the tavern all rose from their seats at once and drew their weapons.

And they slowly surrounded Namgung Cheon.

The precariously hanging tavern tilted to one side from the sudden movement.

Crash.

The wine bottle on Namgung Cheon’s table fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

Creak―.

Namgung Cheon slowly rose from his seat.

“I ask again. In Manmangok….”

Before he could even finish speaking.

Whoosh―! Swish swish swish!

Instead of an answer, sharp sounds of cutting through air erupted from all directions.

All kinds of weapons rushed toward Namgung Cheon.

Then a cold smile spread across Namgung Cheon’s lips.

“Yes, this is much more comfortable.”

Namgung Cheon lightly drew his poison dagger and took a step forward.

“Since you’re not the type to listen to words.”

Flash―!

A jade-colored flash deflected the rushing weapons and pierced into the midst of the enemies.

Everyone except me is an enemy.

That obvious truth heated Namgung Cheon’s heart more intensely than ever before.

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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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