Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 3

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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 3

Anhui Province’s heartland, the great city of Hefei where the Yangtze River’s currents fertilize the vast earth.

The Namgung Clan, the Realm’s Greatest Swordsmen, was situated right here in Hefei, commanding all of Anhui Province.

However, their sacred ground where their souls resided was in the Dabie Mountain Range that surrounded northern Hefei.

As the sun tilted westward, casting long red shadows between the strange peaks of the Dabie Mountain Range.

A deep silence descended upon the entrance to Geomhongdong of the Namgung Clan, nestled against towering cliffs.

The massive stone gate of Geomhongdong was firmly closed, and several figures stood before it like statues, idly passing time.

“…I thought he would come out soon, but it’s already been over half a day.”

The Seventh Elder Namgung Do, who was responsible for managing Geomhongdong, muttered quietly with displeasure while sitting in meditation on a rock.

His voice carried only boredom and annoyance.

He glared at the firmly closed stone gate.

A massive gateway that had tested the descendants of Namgung for hundreds of years.

But now in his eyes, it appeared as nothing more than a troublesome obstacle that wasted time.

He frowned with frustration and clicked his tongue softly.

‘He’ll come out anyway without any particular achievements, just filling time. Why is he dawdling like this.’

Namgung Do’s indifferent gaze turned toward a person standing near the stone gate with an anxious expression.

Namgung Baek.

Currently the Tenth Elder of the Namgung Clan, he was a frustratingly upright person who kept his distance from the clan’s power struggles and silently fulfilled only his duties.

Such a man seemed unusually restless today, appearing to have lost his composure.

He repeatedly paced in front of the stone gate and stopped.

He even strained his ears, hoping to catch even the smallest sound from within.

It must be because of the youngest master, Namgung Cheon, who had entered inside.

‘Tsk, that man still hasn’t given up his attachment to the youngest master. Though he briefly shone in childhood, his talent’s light has long been extinguished…’

Namgung Do inwardly mocked Namgung Baek’s expectations and finally spoke up.

“Tenth Elder, don’t you know well that no one can open the gates of Geomhongdong until a full day has passed since the trial began? Empty your mind and wait.”

“I know that. However…”

Namgung Baek couldn’t continue his words, only moving his dry lips.

Geomhongdong was a place of trial that all adult blood relatives of the Namgung Clan must pass through.

While the person inside was free to come out on their own, external intervention before the designated time was absolutely impossible.

Even if they died unable to withstand Geomhongdong’s energy or fell into qi deviation, that too was merely the individual’s inadequacy.

No one took responsibility.

Moreover, the subject of this trial was none other than Namgung Cheon.

Despite bearing the name of Family Head Namgung Mugang’s youngest son, his presence within the clan was faint.

Just an ordinary youngest master who had never shown outstanding ability nor devoted blood-sweating effort.

Originally, if it were a direct heir’s Geomhongdong trial, the clan’s major figures would have attended in large numbers to observe.

But now, those waiting for Namgung Cheon were the Seventh Elder and himself.

And including Namgung Cheon’s guard and maid who hung their heads like criminals, only four people in total.

This sparse, even pitiful scene was clear evidence of Namgung Cheon’s current status.

It had already been well over half a day since Namgung Cheon entered Geomhongdong.

According to the Namgung Clan’s rules, the Geomhongdong trial lasted completely until sunrise the next day, so there was still plenty of time remaining.

However, as the usually inconspicuous Namgung Cheon had been without any news for so long, dark anxiety began to sprout in the heart of Namgung Baek, the only one who worried about him.

“The Hour of the Rooster is almost ending now, would there be any meaning in waiting longer?”

Though he tried to appear calm, Namgung Baek’s voice that broke the silence was clearly filled with undeniable anxiety.

Seventh Elder Namgung Do slowly opened his closed eyes with annoyance.

There was not a trace of warmth in his eyes.

“Rules are rules, Tenth Elder. The Geomhongdong trial’s principle is to complete a full day. If he cannot come out within the designated time… that too can only be the young master’s fate.”

He continued speaking to the restless Namgung Baek in an even drier voice.

“In the past decades, the only one who received sword selection in this Geomhongdong was the current Family Head. Even the First Young Master had to retreat at the final threshold of sword selection, didn’t he? That is reality. Of course, even that alone could be called a remarkable achievement.”

Namgung Baek bit his lips.

It was an undeniable fact.

When even the First Young Master who bore all the clan’s expectations was like that, what could one hope for from the youngest master who had no presence at all?

Namgung Do continued as if he could see through Namgung Baek’s inner thoughts.

“The Second Young Master and Lady Namgung Rin were the same. Both completed the full day of trial and came out, but all they gained was slightly improved qi sensitivity.”

He paused briefly, then gazed at the stone gate with cold eyes and drove in the final nail.

“Don’t forget that even those two had much higher cultivation levels than the current youngest master when they entered Geomhongdong. Now then, what exactly do you expect from the youngest master who hasn’t even properly built his foundation? It would be fortunate if we could recover his corpse intact.”

“…”

Namgung Do’s final words pierced Namgung Baek’s heart like a dagger.

His words contained no expectations whatsoever for Namgung Cheon.

Just a dry tone as if stating obvious facts.

That cut away even the thread-like hope remaining in Namgung Baek’s heart.

Yes, what could he hope for.

In the end, the only conclusion he could reach was one.

‘May he at least preserve his life…’

That was all. He could not hope for more than that.

Not just Namgung Baek, but everyone in the Namgung Clan.

Did not expect Namgung Cheon’s sword selection.

* * *

The moment Namgung Cheon reached toward Mukhon, which had been both a token of promise and his sword.

What blocked him was a thick, cold chain.

The chain writhed like a living snake, emanating a chilling energy as if guarding against external intrusion.

But more threatening than that was the suffocating demonic energy leaking out despite being sealed within the scabbard.

If it had been the previous Namgung Cheon, he would have fainted before even touching this energy.

‘Quite something, has your temper worsened from being alone without a master for so long? Or are you testing your new master?’

However, Namgung Cheon instead burned with fighting spirit.

This level of demonic energy was merely a small obstacle to his previous life’s self.

Without hesitation, he reached out and lightly grasped the chain.

Crack—!

The chain screamed and twisted in his grip.

Thud—!

As the chain broke, Mukhon finally fell into his hands while still in its scabbard.

At that moment, Mukhon struggled violently from within the scabbard, spewing forth even more fierce and dense demonic energy.

The scabbard vibrated madly as if trying to escape from his grip, and the violent demonic energy flowing through his palm flowed backward through his blood vessels.

This was the process of sword selection where the sword chooses its master.

Perhaps this was Mukhon’s final rebellion, testing whether its new master was qualified to handle it.

‘Your original master is me!’

Namgung Cheon’s eyes flashed.

He concentrated all his nerves to subdue the ferociously rampaging demonic energy.

First, his Hundred Diseases Body reacted sensitively, instinctively detecting Mukhon’s subtle trembling and shifts in center of gravity.

Furthermore, he instinctively sensed the specific points on the blade where demonic energy was flowing out.

An instinctive understanding beyond mere sensation.

Cheonma’s experience and knowledge were layered on top of that.

‘Demonic energy is not meant to be suppressed by nature.’

If the orthodox path obtained pure energy by restraining and governing oneself, demonic energy was the complete opposite.

‘The essence of demons is freedom and expression.’

Rampaging like a wild horse was precisely the nature of demonic energy.

What such demonic energy needed was not a sturdy bridle.

Rather, it only needed vast grasslands where that tremendous power could be unleashed freely.

Cheonma released the consciousness that had been forcibly suppressing the demonic energy.

Then he faced head-on the violent flow of demonic energy that Mukhon was spewing forth.

Mukhon continuously spewed out demonic energy, testing him.

But Namgung Cheon received it without retreating even an inch and let it flow through him.

Cheonma’s experience of handling countless demonic weapons at the pinnacle of the demonic path.

And the perfect harmony created by the senses of Baekbyeongjiche that understood any weapon like his own body.

This was not a clash of power against power, but a process of understanding and domination.

How much time had passed?

Finally, Mukhon’s demonic energy that had been raging madly began to subside like a lie.

The menacing aura of the blade that had been emitting crimson light also gradually died down.

Wooong—.

Like a loyal dog meeting its master after a long time, Mukhon resonated with a low, satisfied sword cry in his hand.

The murderous aura that had been devouring the surroundings had also disappeared at some point.

‘Are you done venting your anger?’

Cheonma smiled with satisfaction and drew Mukhon from its sheath.

Mukhon, revealing its black blade, was still dangerous and beautiful.

He lightly swung the sword once.

Swish—!

The weight that fit perfectly in his hand, the familiar balance.

It was perfect.

Just holding Mukhon in his hand seemed to fill his entire body with strength.

He ended his brief moment of reflection and turned to leave this damned Graveyard of Swords.

His gaze naturally fell upon ‘Changcheon,’ the sword of the great-great-grandfather he had passed earlier.

A peerless famous sword that symbolized the history of the Namgung Clan.

Suddenly, an arrogant smile crossed his lips.

‘…Should I be satisfied with obtaining just one sword?’

He recalled the sword energies of Mangumsong that had surrounded him as if testing him.

‘Is obtaining just one sword barely while being crushed by such meager energy the way of those Namgung bastards?’

Namgung Cheon’s eyes gleamed coldly.

‘How ridiculous.’

His footsteps stopped.

And,

‘Just because it’s called sword selection doesn’t mean there’s a law that you must take only one sword.’

The reason for barely obtaining one sword from the sword selection was simple.

It was because controlling the energy contained in a sword and making it one’s own was an extremely difficult task.

When handling one properly was already burdensome, two or more was out of the question.

‘However, I am…’

Now that he had perfectly controlled Mukhon’s demonic energy.

Additionally handling another sword’s energy wouldn’t be such a difficult task.

If that was the case.

‘I should properly take what I can, shouldn’t I?’

The corners of Namgung Cheon’s mouth gently curved upward.

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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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