Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 21

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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 21

A few days later, late in the evening.

Namgung Cheon visited Geumokru again.

It should have been the time when crowds would normally gather.

‘They’re not doing business.’

Not only were there no people to be seen, but even the lanterns weren’t lit.

‘Right, they must have more important matters now.’

If they could completely control Anhui’s underworld, a single brothel like this would be nothing.

Namgung Cheon thought this as he pushed open the door to Geumokru.

The moment the door opened, sharp presences lurking in the darkness all focused on him at once.

However, as if recognizing who the visitor was, all the killing intent vanished like a lie.

The guards who revealed themselves from the darkness bowed their heads deeply.

“…Please go to the top floor.”

Namgung Cheon nodded and headed straight for the top floor, crossing through the first floor shrouded in darkness.

In contrast to the quiet first floor, as he climbed the stairs, people’s voices and busy movements gradually became clearer.

Finally arriving in front of the Steward’s Chamber.

Creak.

When he opened the door, inside the room Baekdwang and Naengcheolsan were engaged in a heated argument over a large map spread out.

“So what I’m saying is! We need to open this waterway to make money! Do you know how much money those Gangeo bastards make from that single route?”

“Master, waterways at this point? Do you have the money? It’s a losing business.”

Those absorbed in their argument belatedly noticed Namgung Cheon’s presence at the door.

“Gasp!”

The color drained from Baekdwang’s face.

He threw down the brush he was holding and rushed over at an unbelievable speed, prostrating himself at Namgung Cheon’s feet.

“Oh my, Young Master! What brings you here! You should have sent word ahead.”

Behind him, all the subordinates in the room knelt down in unison.

Namgung Cheon paid no mind to their commotion and went to sit in the chair placed at the head seat.

“Report.”

At Namgung Cheon’s words, Naengcheolsan stepped forward as if he had been waiting and opened his ledger.

He began his report concisely in an emotionless voice.

“First, we have completely taken control of Hefei’s heterodox factions. Most of the remnants have also been dealt with.”

Naengcheolsan paused his report briefly and pointed to a heavy money chest placed in one corner of the room.

“…And this is the first tribute payment to the Sable Alliance.”

Namgung Cheon’s brow furrowed slightly.

When he had previously visited the Gold Money House, it was before he had made his deal with the Black Wind Division leader.

Therefore, he had never ordered tribute payments to the Sable Alliance.

Then, Baekdwang stepped forward and spoke.

“Young Master, though I may be ignorant, I have spent years rolling around in this world.”

Baekdwang scratched his head gleaming in the lamplight as he continued.

“The Bloodsword Sect. For our Gold Money House to replace them who dominated Anhui’s heterodox factions, doesn’t that mean we must also take over their tribute payments to the Sable Alliance? That is, if we don’t want to die at the hands of the Sable Alliance.”

Naengcheolsan stepped forward further, opening his ledger to add explanation.

“Yes, so according to the master’s judgment, we investigated through the Haowen Clan all the periods and amounts that the Bloodsword Sect previously paid in tribute to the Sable Alliance. We prepared everything without a single discrepancy from before. The tribute date is the day after tomorrow.”

Namgung Cheon nodded.

It was quite good.

Baekdwang had grasped the essence of the situation, and Naengcheolsan had perfectly executed it.

Rather than simply waiting for orders, they understood his intentions and moved one step ahead.

‘I didn’t know they would be this useful.’

While Namgung Cheon was having such thoughts, Naengcheolsan pointed to a much more ornate rosewood chest placed beside it.

“And this… is the Gold Money House’s gesture of sincerity to you, Young Master.”

“Sincerity?”

When Namgung Cheon questioned, Baekdwang spoke with a smile full of flattery.

“We plan to offer ten percent of our total monthly income to you, Young Master. Of course, we’ll show you the ledgers as well.”

At those words, Namgung Cheon reevaluated them inwardly.

‘Better than expected.’

It wasn’t about the money.

The judgment to clearly understand what they could do to prove their loyalty.

Plus the cunning to set exactly the right proportion of ten percent—neither excessive nor insufficient.

He was pleased.

Namgung Cheon’s silence grew long.

Then Baekdwang mistakenly thought Namgung Cheon was unsatisfied.

Cold sweat ran down his spine.

“Young Master!”

Baekdwang began to plead.

“Are… are you angry that the portion we set aside for ourselves is too small? Then, twenty percent… no! Thirty percent! We’ll give you thirty percent!”

Namgung Cheon looked indifferently at Baekdwang bowing his head before him, then opened his mouth.

“Store it anonymously at Guryong Jeonjang and bring me the certificate. Continue storing it there from now on.”

“…!”

At those words, the expressions of both the flattering Baekdwang and the quietly standing Naengcheolsan hardened simultaneously.

Guryong Jeonjang.

The largest money house south of the Yangtze River.

But this was only their public face.

Baekdwang, who had dealt with money for a long time, knew what Guryong Jeonjang’s true nature was.

A shadow money house that stored all kinds of funds of unknown origin from the martial world, asking no questions about their owners.

This was Guryong Jeonjang’s true identity.

‘How does he know?’

Baekdwang swallowed dryly.

Certificate trading. Did he know about that secretive transaction method known only to people like them?

‘No, he could know enough.’

Because he’s from the Namgung Clan.

But knowing something and naturally utilizing it were completely different matters.

A young master of Namgung, the foremost family under heaven and paragon of the orthodox faction.

‘Using a shadow money house?’

And without the slightest hesitation or reluctance at that.

‘Just what…’

Baekdwang unconsciously bowed his head again.

He couldn’t tell whether the being before him was truly a young master barely past his coming of age, or something else wearing that guise.

Namgung Cheon, paying no heed to their shock, asked quietly.

“Is there nothing more to report?”

“Pardon? Ah, no! Nothing!”

Baekdwang answered frantically.

“Then.”

Namgung Cheon left only those words and rose from his seat.

Thud.

Soon the door closed, and silence settled over the Steward’s Chamber.

After quite some time had passed, Baekdwang cautiously raised his head.

“…Is he gone?”

“He has left.”

At Naengcheolsan’s answer, Baekdwang finally seemed to relax and slumped down onto the floor.

“Whew… I thought my heart would stop.”

He wiped away the cold sweat and stood up from his seat.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he patted Naengcheolsan on the shoulder and spoke triumphantly.

“Did you see that! The young master entrusted everything to me! As expected, big jobs are meant for someone with great courage like me! But what are you doing?”

Baekdwang’s gaze turned toward Naengcheolsan.

Naengcheolsan was flicking the beads of an abacus.

“I was calculating the thirty percent to offer to the young master. Hmm, with the Sable Alliance tribute and operating expenses… we’ll be running at a deficit in no time.”

Baekdwang’s face instantly hardened.

“You fool, did you take that literally! Ten percent! It’s ten percent as usual!”

* * *

Namgung Cheon, who had returned to the family estate, did not make a separate report about this incident.

‘He already knows.’

Family head Namgung Mugang.

What he had done in Hefei, even what conversation he had with the Black Wind Division leader.

‘What he needs is not his child’s trivial reports.’

Only results.

‘And I have brought results.’

There was no need to diminish their weight by running his mouth unnecessarily.

Finally arriving at his residence.

Namgung Cheon discovered that Mujin, who had returned to the estate first, had not yet gone to bed and was standing in front of the storehouse next to his residence.

Originally a place where firewood was stacked. It was the temporary quarters that Namgung Cheon had given him.

Mujin was leaning against the storehouse, gazing up at the moon in the sky.

There was something inexplicably melancholic about his appearance.

As Namgung Cheon approached, Mujin greeted him.

“Did you finish your business well?”

Namgung Cheon nodded.

“It’s done.”

Then Mujin yawned and stretched.

“Ah, you’ve worked hard. Then rest well. I haven’t slept properly for almost two days, so my body feels terrible. I wonder if I’ll be able to spar tomorrow.”

Saying that, he turned around, opened the creaking storehouse door, and went inside.

Inside were only cold straw bundles and a single worn blanket.

An endlessly shabby space for one person, especially a guest of the Namgung family, to stay in.

Namgung Cheon’s brow furrowed slightly as he silently watched this scene.

‘That was a bit too much. He is a guest, after all.’

No, before being a guest, he was now his person.

He should receive treatment befitting that status.

‘I should ask them to prepare something proper.’

With that thought concluded, Namgung Cheon entered his own residence.

Upon entering his room, he stood in the darkness for a moment, reflecting on the events of the past few days.

Especially about the Black Wind Division leader.

‘Our martial prowess wasn’t greatly different.’

If they fought, he would surely win thanks to his past life’s experience.

However.

‘It’s insufficient.’

To have martial prowess merely similar to someone like the Black Wind Division leader.

The image of Namgung Mugang he had faced in Gajujeon flashed through his mind.

The overwhelming presence that dominated the space just by sitting there.

The vast sky that he couldn’t even dare to fathom.

‘I’m still far away.’

Just recalling that overwhelming gap made fighting spirit boil up throughout his body.

‘To reach that realm even a little faster, I must push harder.’

Moreover, he was currently unable to use his demonic arts.

He had to raise his martial prowess through Namgung’s martial arts or something other than demonic arts.

‘In that case…’

Namgung Cheon immediately sat cross-legged in the middle of the room.

His breathing slowed, and his senses sank inward.

His consciousness submerged into a deep and dark mental image.

And when he opened his eyes again.

He was standing before a magnificent and grand massive door.

The space where the strongest being existed, excluding Namgung Mugang.

It was Cheonmajeon.

Creak—.

Namgung Cheon opened the door and stepped inside.

Though the hall was empty, the killing intent seeping from all directions pressed down on the entire space.

Cheoncheon was already gripped in his hand.

At that moment, warriors in red martial robes appeared as if materializing from midair, blocking his path.

They were Makyō’s elite, the Blood Shadow Squad.

And at their head stood the Blood Shadow Spear Demon, holding a spear at an angle while looking at him with emotionless eyes.

‘Blood Shadow Squad.’

Overcoming them as the current Namgung Cheon.

That was his first goal.

Namgung Cheon took a step forward.

Swoosh—!

At that moment, ten swords rushed forward, drawing cold trajectories.

If it were his past life self, he would have turned them all to dust with a single gesture.

But now.

‘I must block them.’

Namgung Cheon swung Cheoncheon to deflect the swords.

However, his body, which thoroughly embodied the current Namgung Cheon.

Clang! Scrape.

“Kugh!”

Was slow.

He succeeded in deflecting three swords, but the fourth sword pierced his shoulder.

Blood spurted out.

‘My body is too heavy.’

Without time to regain his composure, a blade charging from the left aimed for his side.

Namgung Cheon hastily blocked with Cheoncheon, but couldn’t withstand the heavy internal energy contained in the blade.

Crash!

His sword was pushed back, and his vision turned red with an eerie sound of tearing flesh.

And when he opened his eyes again, Namgung Cheon was sitting on the throne of Cheonmajeon once more.

There wasn’t a single wound on his body.

However, the pain from moments before was as vivid as reality.

Namgung Cheon neither raged nor despaired.

He coldly analyzed the cause of his defeat.

‘The movements of the Celestial Boundless Sword Technique are too deeply ingrained in my body.’

Each step and movement of the Celestial Boundless Sword Technique carried weight.

Solid and flawless movements.

However, in chaotic battles like this, they only became shackles that held him back.

‘The memories from my time as Cheonma demand the irregular movements of the demonic path, but my body still moves with Namgung’s honesty.’

This disparity had to be reduced.

He had to use the Namgung clan’s footwork, Neungunbo , as the foundation, but meld the unpredictability of the demonic path within it.

Swish―!

This time he dodged the swords of three Blood Demon Soldiers and channeled his energy into Cheoncheon.

However, he couldn’t avoid the spear that followed next.

Death greeted him once again.

He faced Cheonmajeon once more.

He repeated death dozens of times.

Reliving the final moments of his past life in his mind’s eye, he painfully realized the limits of his current body’s strength.

He died, and died again.

His arms were severed, his neck was cut, his heart was pierced.

The pain did not dull.

Rather, it became even sharper.

However, within this hellish repetition, his swordsmanship began to change little by little.

Cheonma’s instincts, forged through survival and struggle, gradually seeped into Namgung Cheon’s body and the Namgung martial arts.

Swish―!

A sword flew toward his left arm.

Instead of dodging, Namgung Cheon took half a step forward and dove into his opponent’s embrace.

Scrape―.

The enemy’s sword grazed his shoulder, scattering blood.

At the same moment, Namgung Cheon’s Cheoncheon sliced past the enemy’s neck.

Give up one, take two.

It was the most demonic way of survival.

The fighting continued.

The number he cut down gradually increased.

And finally.

When the formation maintained by the Blood Shadow Squad collapsed, the Blood Shadow Spear Demon stepped forward.

Simultaneously.

Swish―!

Without any preliminary movement, the Blood Shadow Spear Demon’s spear charged straight ahead.

Namgung Cheon slightly twisted his body, letting the spear blade graze his side.

In that moment, his feet moved strangely.

The Namgung Clan’s footwork, Neungunbo.

Originally, Neungunbo was a heavy and linear footwork technique.

However, the Neungunbo unfolding from his feet showed a transformation, bending at right angles and penetrating the opponent’s flank.

Tap!

Namgung Cheon’s body slid through the empty space where the spear had passed.

And.

Thunk!

The tip of Cheoncheon’s blade precisely pierced the Blood Shadow Spear Demon’s heart.

Thud.

With the sound of the Blood Shadow Spear Demon’s massive frame collapsing, the movements of the surrounding Blood Demon Soldiers momentarily stopped.

Namgung Cheon didn’t miss that fleeting opportunity.

His body shot toward the remaining Blood Demon Soldiers.

Bang!

A body moving according to fighting instincts.

Constantly executing footwork, moving his sword.

And.

Scrape―.

The moment the last Blood Demon Soldier’s head fell.

Beyond the hellish scene filled with blood and corpses, at the throne in the deepest part of the hall.

A man who had been sitting there slowly rose from his seat.

The blood throughout his body that had been boiling with killing intent instantly turned ice cold.

Blood dripping from his sword tip. Ragged breathing.

Namgung Cheon forgot all of that as he faced the opponent walking down from the throne.

The one who had stood at the pinnacle of ten thousand demons and commanded the world.

A wall that must someday be overcome.

And his everything.

Namgung Cheon looked at him with cold eyes and opened his mouth.

“Cheonma.”

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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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