Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 30

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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 30

On the promised day, when the sun reached its zenith.

Namgung Cheon left his residence.

His steps were directed toward Jacheon Hall, located at the heart of the clan.

He headed straight to the top floor.

It was a space where one could see not only the entire clan but also the scenery of Hefei at a glance, where Jegal Hwa often drank tea alone.

When Namgung Cheon arrived, the door was open.

Jegal Hwa leaned against the railing, not sparing even a glance at her son entering behind her.

Her gaze was directed toward the clan grounds stretching endlessly in the distance.

Namgung Cheon looked at her back and spoke.

“I have come because I have something to tell you.”

Even at Namgung Cheon’s words, her gaze remained fixed outside.

A brief silence flowed.

“Cheon.”

Her quiet voice echoed.

“What do you see with your eyes?”

Her gaze still directed outside.

Namgung Cheon slowly approached and looked out the window beside Jegal Hwa.

Pavilions rising as if to pierce the sky. The clan members moving busily about.

And the walls as high as fortress ramparts embracing everything.

A scale and majesty worthy of being called a palace.

This was the appearance of the Namgung Clan, the hegemon of Anhui.

Namgung Cheon took in each of those pavilions with his eyes and spoke.

“I see the walls I must overcome.”

Then his gaze turned toward Gajujeon.

“And I see the sky beyond those walls that I have yet to reach.”

At that answer, Jegal Hwa turned her head to look at her son for the first time.

An interesting light flashed in her eyes.

“Do you think you can reach that sky?”

“I will reach it.”

It was an answer without hesitation.

Jegal Hwa looked into her son’s eyes for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“A good answer. But did you come to report to me about the Baekcheon Trading Company matter?”

Namgung Cheon nodded.

Then Jegal Hwa asked with a light laugh.

“What is your surname?”

“It is Namgung.”

“A man of Namgung does not doubt the steps he takes.”

She turned her gaze back outside the window.

“I know what you intend to do tonight. Go and do as you will. However…”

Jegal Hwa’s voice sank low.

“You must bear all the consequences entirely on your own. That is Namgung, and the path the Sword Emperor’s son must walk.”

Namgung Cheon spoke with proper courtesy.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Then Namgung Cheon turned without lingering and descended the stairs.

Namgung Cheon’s presence growing distant.

Left alone, Jegal Hwa looked briefly at her son’s empty spot.

Then she gazed again at Gajujeon standing tall in the distance.

A deep smile crossed her lips.

“Someday, the sword in the sky will not be lonely.”

* * *

When evening came, a strange silence flowed through the top floor of Geumokru.

The Hwangbo Clan, Shandong Ak Clan, Sable Alliance, and Nambyeok Trading Guild and Baekcheon Trading Company.

Those with different natures and purposes were all waiting for one person.

Akmugyeol sat with his eyes closed, holding a teacup.

His senses were already sweeping through all the currents in the room.

The anxious sound of Nambyeok Trading Guild leader Sagong Pyo’s fan beside him, the cold silence of Ak Soyou across from him.

And even Hwangbo Gun’s excited breathing next to him and the faint trembling of Baek Jungseon sitting at the lowest seat.

‘…What a strange combination.’

Akmugyeol muttered inwardly.

Ak Soyou, who sat without exchanging even a glance with him, was also lost in his own thoughts.

A few days ago, Namgung Cheon’s letter that arrived at the clan.

It caused quite a stir.

‘Certainly what was written in the letter was groundbreaking. If successful, we could gain enormous profits.’

Ak Soyou slowly tilted the teacup in his hand.

The tea in the cup reflected the brilliant lights of Geumokru.

The darkness hidden behind the splendor.

A turbid interest group that appeared glamorous on the surface but whose true nature could fester and burst at any moment.

That was what Ak Soyou thought of the Sable Alliance.

To join hands with such an existence.

‘The clan head also said to refuse if it meant directly joining hands with the Heterodox Faction.’

But when he came, there was the Heterodox Faction, and even Akmugyeol, the leader of the Black Wind Division.

Ak Soyou could not understand Namgung Cheon at all.

That was when.

“Everyone has gathered.”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the door as if by agreement.

Namgung Cheon and Mujin entered the room.

Mujin immediately leaned against the wall beside the door with his arms crossed.

His gaze turned toward Akmugyeol.

Though no emotion was contained in those eyes, Akmugyeol read the warning within them.

Not to cause trouble.

Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon sat at the head seat without delay.

He looked over the people in the room one by one, then spoke.

“I’ll cut to the chase and get to the point.”

Namgung Cheon concisely explained the structure of the deal.

The structure was that Nambyeok Trading Guild would hand over goods to Baekcheon Trading Company, and Baekcheon Trading Company would distribute them in Gangbuk using the distribution networks of the two clans.

As soon as the explanation ended, Nambyeok Trading Guild leader Sagong Pyo smiled cunningly and tapped the table with his fan.

“I listened well to the explanation, but I have one doubt. It seems our Nambyeok Trading Guild’s share in this structure is too small.”

It was a statement meant not to lose the initiative in negotiations.

Then Namgung Cheon smiled lightly and asked Sagong Pyo in return.

“A share. Then let me ask.”

Namgung Cheon’s gaze alternated between Sagong Pyo and Akmugyeol.

“Can Nambyeok Trading Guild sell goods directly in Gangbuk?”

Such an obvious question.

At those words, Sagong Pyo’s mouth shut tight.

For them, being from the Heterodox Faction, to sell goods in Gangbuk where the Orthodox Faction stood firm was impossible.

“…”

When Sagong Pyo couldn’t give any answer, Namgung Cheon continued coldly.

“However, if you still think your share is too small, we can pretend this meeting never happened.”

Namgung Cheon slightly leaned forward as if about to rise from his seat.

At that moment, Akmugyeol let out a short sigh.

He quietly sent a voice transmission to Sagong Pyo, who had a stern expression.

―Stop it. This is already an order from the commander. Conduct yourself properly.

At Akmugyeol’s words, Sagong Pyo swallowed dryly and opened his mouth.

“I spoke rashly. Please continue…”

Namgung Cheon nodded briefly and sat back down.

Then he took out a booklet from his robes.

It was a contract.

Namgung Cheon first placed the contract in front of Akmugyeol and Sagong Pyo.

“A goods trading contract between Baekcheon Trading Company and Nambyeok Trading Guild.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ak Soyou opened his mouth.

“Wait. There’s something I need to clarify, Young Master.”

“Please speak.”

Ak Soyou looked back and forth between Sagong Pyo and Akmugyeol as he continued.

“If our Ak Clan’s name is written on that contract, this conversation ends here.”

At Ak Soyou’s sudden words, the air in the room froze.

Even Hwangbo Gun looked at him with a bewildered expression.

A contemptuous light flashed in Akmugyeol’s eyes.

However, Namgung Cheon, as if he had anticipated this reaction, showed no sign of disturbance and took out two more contracts from his robes.

He placed the contracts in front of Ak Soyou and Hwangbo Gun respectively and said.

“And these are Gangbuk distribution contracts between Baekcheon Trading Company and each clan. Only the names of the two clans will be written here.”

The contracts Namgung Cheon presented contained only the names of Baekcheon Trading Company and each respective clan.

The names of Nambyeok Trading Guild or the Sable Alliance were nowhere to be found.

Namgung Cheon had avoided the worst-case scenario that Ak Paesan had worried about with a perfect solution.

Ak Soyou let out a hollow laugh.

‘If it’s done this way…’

There would be no direct connection between the two clans and the Heterodox Faction.

‘Then other clans or alliances won’t be able to point this out later.’

He had followed his father’s orders.

At the same time, he had also protected the enormous profits the clan would gain.

There was no reason for Ak Soyou not to stamp the clan’s seal.

Thud.

Then Namgung Cheon stamped Namgung’s seal on the contract and opened his mouth.

“This way, those who don’t trust each other don’t need to be in the same boat…”

Namgung Cheon looked at Akmugyeol and continued.

“And everyone clearly knows what they should do and what lines they shouldn’t cross. Isn’t that good?”

At those words, a bitter smile appeared on Akmugyeol’s lips.

He snatched the seal from Sagong Pyo’s hand, who was still hesitating.

Thud.

Akmugyeol stamped the seal on the contract with such force that it made a sound.

Then he stared directly at Namgung Cheon and said.

“Your mind works quite well. I hope it continues to do so.”

* * *

One month later, at Gajujeon of the Namgung Clan.

A heavy silence flowed through the gathering where the clan head, Jegal Hwa, and all the elders were present.

Everyone’s gaze was focused on Grand Elder Namgung Gyeong standing in the center.

In his hands was the ledger that Third Young Master Namgung Cheon had personally submitted recently.

Namgung Gyeong swallowed once and began his report with a trembling voice.

“…These are the profits that Baekcheon Trading Company earned over the past month.”

He turned the first page of the ledger.

“Net profit of five thousand taels of silver from trading with the Hwangbo Clan. Net profit of five thousand taels of silver from trading with the Shandong Ak Clan.”

“Gasp!”

Sounds of shock burst out from here and there.

One month.

A profit of ten thousand taels of silver in just one month.

This was an amount that exceeded the annual budget of any decent mid-sized sect.

However, the Grand Elder’s report didn’t end there.

“This is only the direct trading records with the two clans. The total value of goods sold through the distribution networks of both clans is… difficult even to estimate.”

The faces of the elders, including Seventh Elder Namgung Do, turned pale.

When the report ended, heavy silence descended upon Gajujeon again.

No one dared to open their mouth.

It was Jegal Hwa who broke that silence.

She rose from her seat and looked around at the elders who were still unable to recover from their shock, then declared.

“The Third Young Master has proven that he can solve problems that cannot be cut with a sword.”

Her gaze slowly swept across the assembly.

“As announced, I will give him the qualification to represent Namgung at the upcoming Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly.”

At those words, the faces of several elders hardened.

Representative of the Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly.

This meant the most certain stepping stone toward becoming the young clan head.

However, this time no one dared to raise any objections.

Because the results had proven everything.

When Jegal Hwa sat down, Namgung Mugang, who had been silently watching everything until now, opened his mouth for the first time.

“You’ve worked hard.”

A quiet word.

Namgung Mugang looked at his son for a moment before continuing.

“However, attending the Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly is merely fulfilling a promise. It cannot be considered a complete reward for your achievement.”

“…!”

Everyone in Gajujeon stirred.

A reward given directly by the clan head.

Its value would be beyond imagination.

“Tell me.”

Namgung Mugang gazed intently at Namgung Cheon.

“What you desire.”

Without avoiding that gaze, Namgung Cheon fell into thought for a moment.

‘A reward.’

He had already obtained a peerless sword.

He had also found his own path in swordsmanship.

But was that enough?

‘No.’

Sword Emperor Namgung Mugang.

And First Young Master Sword Dragon Namgung Hwi.

To surpass them, his current strength alone was insufficient.

He needed more overwhelming power, faster growth.

At that moment, the Forbidden Domain of the Clan came to mind—a place he had never once entered.

The secret repository of Namgung that only the master of Namgung had the qualification to open.

There would surely be something there that could elevate his current self to the next level.

Namgung Cheon spoke quietly.

“Please grant me the qualification to enter the Heavenly Armory.”

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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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