Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 118

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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 118

Crunch—.

The last Blood Rager fell with a merciless sound of flesh being torn.

Hyeok Muhwi steadied his blurring vision.

The Blood Ragers who had been trying to kill him just moments ago were now cold corpses rolling on the ground.

And among those corpses, figures in white martial robes moved back and forth continuously.

With practiced movements, they gathered the bodies in one place and began digging into the ground.

As if it were work they had done for a long time, their movements were calm and efficient.

The place where he now stood was near Imseong in Honam.

‘…The White Lotus Sword Sect?’

Hyeok Muhwi wiped the blood from his lips and let out a hollow laugh.

No matter how much they were called venomous, their roots were still Orthodox Faction.

Since when had they become so accustomed to such bloody slaughter?

‘Moreover, their skill at disposing of corpses is just like assassins.’

As Hyeok Muhwi felt puzzled.

“You seem to find it strange that we’re skilled at disposing of corpses.”

A man approached Hyeok Muhwi and spoke.

Red bloodstains were vivid against his white martial robes.

He glanced sideways at the disciples digging into the ground and added bitterly.

“Since we bury dead martial brothers more often than we kill enemies… only our skills have improved.”

The tragic history of the White Lotus Sword Sect contained in those brief words.

Hyeok Muhwi’s eyes wavered.

Soon the man who had stopped walking bowed politely with cupped fists.

“I am Lee Ja-seong, Minor Sect Leader of the White Lotus Sword Sect.”

“…Hyeok Muhwi, Soryeonju of the Sable Alliance.”

At Hyeok Muhwi’s words, Lee Ja-seong nodded.

“As I thought. Are you alright?”

Instead of answering, Hyeok Muhwi gripped his Blood Forest Blade properly.

Though he had received help, the other party was from the Orthodox Faction.

There was no telling when they might turn their blade tips toward him.

Then Lee Ja-seong shook his head.

“There’s no need to be wary. If we had intended to harm you, you would have been buried over there long ago.”

Lee Ja-seong gestured with his chin toward the dug-up pit.

It was an undeniable fact.

In his current state, he couldn’t have handled those dozens of men.

Thud.

Hyeok Muhwi’s blade, with his guard lowered, stuck into the ground.

“…But is it alright for the Orthodox Faction to interfere in Sable Alliance internal affairs like this?”

Instead of answering, Lee Ja-seong raised his hand and signaled to the disciples.

At his gesture, the warriors who had been burying the corpses moved in unison and disappeared back into the darkness.

A situation where only the two of them remained in an instant.

Lee Ja-seong spoke.

“If the Soryeonju dies, it seems the muddy current of this Honam will become even murkier.”

“…?”

Lee Ja-seong continued with a bitter smile.

“In recent years, numerous Orthodox Faction sects in Honam have disappeared without a trace. So even those who survived lived each day in fear that though they didn’t die today, they could die tomorrow.”

Lee Ja-seong hardened his expression and continued.

“But when I thought about it carefully… the timing when such incidents burst forth like bamboo shoots after rain was strange.”

His eyes gleamed sharply.

“It coincided exactly with when the Sable Alliance leader stopped showing himself and Gunsa Samu Ryun began seizing real power. In other words, it wasn’t the Ryeonju’s intention but Gunsa’s arbitrary decision.”

“…”

“So I thought it was right to keep the Soryeonju alive. The fact that the Hyeolrangdae is trying to kill the Soryeonju is also proof that this choice is correct.”

Hyeok Muhwi remained silent.

Lee Ja-seong’s insight was accurate.

Gunsa had trampled the Honam Orthodox Faction, saying that now while the Ryeonju was in seclusion, he needed to solidify control over Honam.

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Hyeok Muhwi slowly nodded.

Then Lee Ja-seong gestured and continued.

“Then please leave now. If you delay further, the next pursuit team will come.”

But Hyeok Muhwi didn’t move readily.

He stared intently at Lee Ja-seong and spoke quietly.

“…What if I survive and later become Ryeonju, then turn a harsher blade toward the Orthodox Faction… What will you do then? You’ll regret today’s choice forever.”

Even at that chilling warning, Lee Ja-seong looked at a disciple who had become a cold corpse and soon spoke.

“Regret…”

Lee Ja-seong’s gaze turned toward the red lotus emblem carved on the corpse’s chest.

“Now the White Lotus Sword Sect, including myself, no longer has regrets. Even if you do such things, we will survive by all means.”

His eyes turned toward Hyeok Muhwi.

“Because we promised to become blood lotuses that bloom to the end, even if we put our feet in the mud and get soaked in blood.”

“Promise…?”

“That’s what we decided. With someone.”

A smile full of pride appeared on Lee Ja-seong’s lips.

“And if the Soryeonju becomes Ryeonju and threatens us, then we’ll meet the Soryeonju with a sword befitting that. But at least not now, so survive. The dead can’t change anything.”

“…”

The dead can’t change anything.

At these words, Hyeok Muhwi’s weary body tingled.

Right, in the current situation, if I die, I can’t change anything.

So.

‘Is it time to bend?’

A hollow laugh spread across Hyeok Muhwi’s lips.

Swoosh.

Hyeok Muhwi drew his Blood Forest Blade and looked at Lee Ja-seong with deeper eyes.

“Lee Ja-seong of the White Lotus Sword Sect. This debt from today… I will definitely remember it.”

“No need to remember. We only moved for ourselves.”

Lee Ja-seong turned his back.

“Go.”

With those final words, Lee Ja-seong disappeared as if melting into the darkness.

Left alone, Hyeok Muhwi quietly stared in the direction where Lee Ja-seong had disappeared.

‘White Lotus Sword Sect…’

Deep in his dantian, hot flames blazed up once again.

Hyeok Muhwi gripped his Blood Forest Blade properly and slowly moved his steps.

Throbbing pain pierced through his entire body, but his mind became clearer instead.

The dead can’t change anything.

That one sentence from Lee Ja-seong kept echoing in his ears.

‘Getting soaked in blood yet blooming to the end…’

A bitter smile spread across his lips.

If the Orthodox Faction harbored such poison, then as someone from the Heterodox Faction, he should harbor even greater poison.

‘…I mustn’t break.’

He had to survive to the end and watch with his own eyes the red flowers those bastards would bloom.

And.

I must make the blood lotus bloom in chaos within the Alliance as well.

* * *

A secluded cave near Manmangok.

Namgung Cheon retrieved the bundle he had hidden deep inside the rocks.

A heavy weight.

As he unwrapped the bundle, two swords revealed themselves under the moonlight.

Cheoncheon in its white scabbard.

Mukhon in its pitch-black scabbard.

Namgung Cheon reached out and grasped both swords simultaneously.

Tingle.

The familiar thrill transmitted through his palms.

It was a resonating sensation he couldn’t feel with poison daggers or stolen swords.

‘I’ve kept you waiting too long.’

A feeling of finally being complete.

A reassuring strength filled him, like a general who had gone to battle empty-handed finally reclaiming his armor and weapons.

Namgung Cheon organized his bundle and turned around.

‘White Lotus Sword Sect…’

Why was the Sable Alliance targeting the White Lotus Sword Sect?

Of course, it was understandable since it was basically an Orthodox faction within Heterodox territory.

But from the Sable Alliance’s perspective, this would only serve as a catalyst for the Orthodox factions in Honam to unite more closely, making it closer to a bad move.

A move that was incomprehensible for now.

‘…I’ll have to go and see to understand clearly.’

Namgung Cheon slowly began walking.

However, Namgung Cheon soon stopped.

“Come out.”

Namgung Cheon’s quiet voice echoed.

Then a man cautiously emerged from behind a thick tree.

As soon as their eyes met, he hurriedly showed proper respect.

“Gong Cheol of Haowen Clan greets the Third Young Master.”

Namgung Cheon looked down at him with indifferent eyes.

“Did Amseoh send you?”

“That’s correct.”

Gong Cheol answered while bowing his head.

“The Branch Manager continuously ordered me to confirm your life or death, Young Master.”

“You’ve confirmed I’m alive, so return.”

Namgung Cheon said indifferently.

Despite the dismissal, Gong Cheol observed Namgung Cheon’s mood and cautiously spoke.

“Ex-excuse me, but may I ask just one thing?”

“Speak.”

“What happened to the Sayeongdae and their leader? There was intelligence that the main Sayeongdae force entered the Sable Alliance branch, but we didn’t see them come out. Perhaps…”

Gong Cheol’s voice trembled.

The thick scent of blood that emanated despite the distance between them.

He could tell without asking, but he had to ask.

Because it was such an unbelievable matter.

“I cut them down.”

Namgung Cheon’s brief answer.

Gong Cheol’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

Sohan, the Sayeongdaeju who was one of the Sable Alliance’s ten division leaders and famous for countless assassinations, and the Sayeongdae.

The fact that they had been beheaded by a mere young master was an event that would shake all of Gangho.

“I didn’t cut down all of the Sayeongdae. They disappeared on their own before I could cut them all down.”

Namgung Cheon added indifferently.

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

Having finished speaking, Namgung Cheon slowly began walking.

But after just a few steps, his feet came to an abrupt stop.

“Wait.”

“Y-yes! Please speak!”

Gong Cheol answered in surprise.

Namgung Cheon briefly raised his head to look at the sky.

The eastern sky was growing dimly bright.

Soon the news would spread.

The annihilation of the Sayeongdae and the death of their leader Sohan.

It was shocking news that would turn the Sable Alliance headquarters upside down.

But it wouldn’t be only the Sable Alliance that would be turned upside down.

‘The clan will learn of it too.’

The fact that the Sable Alliance had sent their direct assassins, the Sayeongdae, to target the bloodline of the Namgung Clan.

What kind of reaction would the clan show to this?

‘War.’

At that moment, a chilling coldness ran up his spine.

‘I see. That was the real target.’

Namgung Cheon’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Samu Ryun, that cunning strategist, couldn’t have been unaware of what kind of repercussions touching a direct descendant of the Namgung Clan would cause.

Regardless of his own life or death, that bastard wanted the Namgung Clan to move in anger.

If the Namgung Clan led the main house’s full strength and marched into Honam, this would become an all-out war between the Alliance and the clan, and the signal for a great war between Orthodox and Heterodox.

‘I don’t know his true intentions, but…’

His intuition was warning him.

He must never let things flow according to that bastard’s intentions.

Above all, dancing to the enemy’s tune was the worst of all bad strategies.

Of course, that didn’t mean he could or should overlook this humiliation.

‘I need to break the board.’

The board that Samu Ryun had set up.

If that was meant to induce the movement of the massive mountain called the Namgung Clan…

Namgung Cheon turned to look at Gong Cheol and quietly spoke.

“Can you send a message to the main house?”

Gong Cheol nodded vigorously.

“Yes, I will deliver it exactly without missing a single word.”

“Good, then tell them this. The Sable Alliance tried to kill me…”

Namgung Cheon’s eyes gleamed coldly with a blue light.

“And to hold them accountable for that, I am personally going to Honam.”

“…!”

“And lastly, make sure to add this as well.”

His gaze turned toward the sky that was gradually brightening.

Since Samu Ryun tried to move the mountain called the Namgung Clan.

“That after so long… I want to see father.”

I will move the heavens.

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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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