Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 115

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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 115

“Choose. Will you die by my hand, or will you take my hand?”

Upon hearing Namgung Cheon’s question, Akmugyeol let out a hollow laugh.

A young master of the Orthodox Faction asking the leader of the Sable Alliance to join hands.

It was something he had never heard in his entire life.

“Do you think that makes sense? And what exactly do you mean by taking hands?”

At Akmugyeol’s counter-question, Namgung Cheon lowered his sword and slowly approached while answering.

“Haven’t you noticed that the current martial world is becoming increasingly strange?”

“….”

Akmugyeol remained silent for a moment, then nodded his head.

As he said, a great upheaval was stirring in the martial world that had been peaceful for some time.

The Green Forest was running wild, and the Demonic Sect, which had been quiet for so long, was gradually revealing itself.

Moreover, the situation inside the Sable Alliance was even more serious.

‘The Alliance Leader entered seclusion and hasn’t given any particular orders for quite some time.’

However, recently, the Sable Alliance’s military force, the Sipbangjin, had been going out much more frequently.

Orders to eliminate perfectly fine sects under various pretenses, or simple reconnaissance missions all the way to distant Guangxi.

They were all incomprehensible missions.

And above all, the most incomprehensible mission was….

Namgung Cheon spoke as if he could see through Akmugyeol’s thoughts.

“Blood Flame Blade Emperor Hyeokgwigwang. It doesn’t seem like someone called the sky of the Heterodox Faction would send assassins just to capture me. Unless it were an army.”

“…!”

Namgung Cheon’s words pierced deep into Akmugyeol’s heart like a dagger.

To the warriors of the Sable Alliance, Hyeokgwigwang was like a god.

In life, in martial prowess.

And he possessed the temperament to match.

Therefore, if the Alliance Leader had truly broken his seclusion, he would have roared directly to the world.

Breaking seclusion would mean he had achieved significant results.

However, he had handed over the Heukrangrin, the Alliance Leader’s symbol, to the strategist and had not appeared.

‘The lord I know is not someone who would do such a thing….’

But regardless, the fact that the strategist possessed the Heukrangrin.

And that he was giving orders based on this.

There was no other justification to refuse the command.

“…It was an order directly from the Alliance Leader.”

Akmugyeol answered with difficulty. But there was no conviction in his voice.

Namgung Cheon’s eyes narrowed.

“If he had appeared directly to give the order, you wouldn’t be showing such a shaken appearance right now… Did he perhaps show you the Heukrangrin?”

A sneer played at the corner of his mouth.

“Ridiculous. A sky that can be replaced by a mere seal.”

“….”

Akmugyeol couldn’t say anything. His trembling fists spoke for his state of mind.

“By the way, is the Young Alliance Leader’s safety not a concern?”

At Namgung Cheon’s sudden question, Akmugyeol’s head snapped up.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? If the strategist used some method to harm the Alliance Leader….”

Namgung Cheon’s eyes flashed.

“The Young Alliance Leader would be next on his list.”

Akmugyeol’s breath caught in his throat.

The strategist had harmed the Alliance Leader.

And would harm the Young Alliance Leader as well.

The worst-case scenario he had feared most but tried to ignore came crashing into reality through Namgung Cheon’s words.

“Then now would be the perfect timing.”

Namgung Cheon added coldly.

“Send the troublesome Black Wind Division away, and dispose of the Young Alliance Leader in the meantime… Perfect.”

“…!”

Akmugyeol’s pupils shook.

The words the strategist had said to him flashed through his mind.

―An anonymous tip came in.

The strategist had pressured him using the tip as an excuse, ultimately making him lead the Black Wind Division all the way here to Gwiju.

What if that tip itself was a lie fabricated by the strategist?

What if it was a scheme from the beginning to separate him from the main headquarters?

‘What have I done?’

The Black Wind Division was the only military force that met with the Young Alliance Leader most frequently and could protect his safety from the closest position.

That Black Wind Division had left the main headquarters empty.

“If it were me….”

Namgung Cheon continued, raising one corner of his mouth.

“Orders or not, I would make up an excuse about receiving a tip that the Young Alliance Leader was in danger and immediately return to protect him. Even if it meant disobeying the strategist’s command.”

Akmugyeol stared blankly at Namgung Cheon.

That’s right.

Protecting the Young Alliance Leader, who was the future of the Alliance, was far more important than killing Namgung Cheon.

Akmugyeol’s gaze changed.

Namgung Cheon chuckled.

“It seems you’ve organized your thoughts. Then let me show you what you need to do.”

Namgung Cheon raised Mukhon again.

“Just returning won’t give you proper justification. The strategist would find fault with that. So let me help a little.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Namgung Cheon, who was thought to be at the Transcendent level, had reached the Supreme level, and you were injured while fighting him. Then you received a tip about the Young Alliance Leader’s safety and hastily retreated. Wouldn’t that be sufficient?”

As soon as Namgung Cheon finished speaking, his form became blurred.

Swoosh―!

Mukhon instantly pierced into Akmugyeol’s side.

Slash!

Fresh blood spurted from Akmugyeol’s left forearm.

“Ugh!”

Akmugyeol groaned and stepped back.

But he didn’t counterattack.

Because he realized what reason this action came from.

Namgung Cheon didn’t stop.

He swung Mukhon to cut down the massive ancient trees around them and shattered the cliff face with sword energy, causing a commotion.

Crash! Boom!

All of Manmangok shook.

―There should be a Sable Alliance branch in Guiyang. Let’s meet there.

After Namgung Cheon sent the telepathic message and was about to leap into the darkness.

― …What do you gain from going this far?

Akmugyeol urgently asked through telepathy.

At that question, Namgung Cheon’s steps stopped.

“I have no interest in gaining anything. However….”

Namgung Cheon’s head slowly turned.

His pupils glowed redder than blood.

“The price for trying to kill me. I’m only trying to make them pay that cost.”

* * *

Late at night.

A man walking along a narrow mountain path through dense forest.

“….”

The man suddenly slowed his pace and looked around.

‘It’s quiet.’

Out of habit, he glanced to his left, half a step behind.

The person who should always be silently guarding that position was not there.

Akmugyeol, the Black Wind Grand Master.

Within the Alliance, he was the only one he could trust to watch his back.

‘He’s probably wandering around Gwiju by now.’

Chasing the prey designated by the strategist.

‘Namgung Cheon…’

A faint sneer crossed the man’s lips.

Recently, the talk of Gangho was undoubtedly that prodigy of the Namgung Clan.

A genius who defeated Jeokmeolgeom, beat Janggang Gyoryong on the river, and still wasn’t satisfied, stirring up all of Tianxia as he pleased.

Strategist Samu Ryun claimed that this Namgung Cheon was trying to single-handedly destroy the Heterodox Faction in Gwiju, and that the Black Wind Division was needed.

‘The justification is good.’

But the man knew better.

‘It means I was troublesome enough that he had to separate the Black Wind Grand Master from my side.’

Strategist Samu Ryun.

A man with a serpent’s tongue and a fox’s head.

Right after his father entered secluded training, Samu Ryun had been manipulating the main organization as if he were the master of the Alliance.

On the surface, he played the role of a loyal advisor.

‘He’s definitely targeting it. The position of master of the Sable Alliance.’

The greatest obstacles to realizing that ambition would be his father, the Alliance Leader, and himself, who had inherited that bloodline completely.

However, if not everyone in the Alliance had sided with the strategist.

‘That won’t happen.’

Having finished his brief contemplation, the man—Hyeok Muhwi, the Young Alliance Leader of the Sable Alliance—resumed walking.

And at that moment.

Rustle.

The sound of a dry branch breaking somewhere rang out unusually loud.

Simultaneously.

‘Killing intent.’

Dense killing intent wafted over.

But Hyeok Muhwi didn’t stop walking.

Instead, he straightened his shoulders defiantly and spoke quietly toward the forest shrouded in thick darkness with an even more relaxed demeanor.

“Do you think I wouldn’t notice you hiding? When killing intent is vibrating like this.”

At that moment.

Swish swish swish—. Thud.

Red-uniformed warriors instantly surrounded Hyeok Muhwi from front, back, left, and right.

A number that looked to be at least twenty.

Hyeok Muhwi’s eyes narrowed upon seeing them.

‘Hyeolrangdae…’

One of the Sipbangjin formations, they were always at the Alliance’s vanguard.

For such people to dare surround him, the Young Alliance Leader, and emit killing intent.

Killing intent began to subtly rise from Hyeok Muhwi’s body.

Then one of the Hyeolrangdae stepped forward and spoke.

“We greet the Young Alliance Leader.”

Hyeok Muhwi asked in a sharp tone.

“Did the strategist send you?”

“Yes, recently the Young Alliance Leader’s actions have often conflicted with the Alliance’s policies, so we have orders to escort you outside the main organization for a while.”

“Orders…”

A sneer spread across Hyeok Muhwi’s lips.

“There’s one thing you’re mistaken about. The only one who gives orders is my father, the Alliance Leader alone. How dare you call the words of that viper Samu Ryun ‘orders’ in front of me.”

Hyeok Muhwi took a step forward.

Boom—!

Just from placing his foot down, the ground shook and heavy vibrations spread in all directions.

The domineering aura emanating from his entire body instantly crushed the killing intent emitted by the Hyeolrangdae.

“Stand aside. I’ll meet him directly.”

Killing intent as red as fresh blood spread magnificently from Hyeok Muhwi’s entire body.

Killing intent that would make ordinary warriors’ knees buckle and collapse.

But instead of retreating, the Hyeolrangdae moved their hands to the swords at their waists.

“…If you will not comply, we have no choice but to escort you by force. Please understand that this is loyalty for the Alliance’s sake.”

“By force?”

Hyeok Muhwi burst into low laughter.

His appearance, laughing with shaking shoulders, even felt tinged with madness.

“Hahaha! By force. Yes, this is how it should be.”

His hand tightly gripped the handle of the red blade at his waist, the Hyeolrindo.

The rough texture of leather against his palm sent a thrill up his arm.

The real reason for sending Akmugyeol to Gwiju became clear.

The variable called Namgung Cheon was just an excuse; it was a scheme to remove his strongest shield and devour him while he stood alone.

The strategist intended to erase the existence called Hyeok Muhwi here tonight.

Hyeok Muhwi briefly closed his eyes.

In the darkness, he seemed to hear his father’s voice.

—One must break rather than bend. That is the way of dominance needed for the position above all others.

Hyeok Muhwi slowly opened his eyes.

A light redder than blood filled his pupils completely.

‘Yes, I’d rather die by the blade than live by bending pathetically.’

Screech—.

The Hyeolrindo was drawn, emitting a bizarre sword cry.

And.

Whoosh.

Sword energy shot up like flames over the blade.

“Come.”

Hyeok Muhwi pointed his blade diagonally.

Even if my flesh burns to ash.

“I’ll burn you all to death.”

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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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