Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 34

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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 34

Namgung Mugang and Jegal Hwa quietly gazed into the darkness of Cheonmuggo.

How much time had passed?

Namgung Mugang quietly opened his mouth.

“He’s come.”

Footsteps could be heard from within the deep darkness.

And soon Namgung Cheon revealed himself.

His black martial robes were torn and tattered in places.

It must have happened while passing through Geomrim.

Aside from that, he didn’t look much different from when he entered.

‘He’s changed.’

Namgung Mugang immediately read his son’s transformation.

Perfectly controlled energy.

Though he hadn’t reached the realm of returning to simplicity, his depth in handling energy had improved dramatically.

Namgung Cheon stopped before the two.

He silently bowed his head and showed respectful courtesy.

Even in each of those movements, a composure different from before was evident.

Namgung Mugang’s gaze turned toward his son’s chest.

Just like when he entered, his hands were empty.

The things sleeping in Cheonmuggo were each ancient treasures that could bring bloodshed to the martial world.

Had he not taken even a single one of them?

‘That can’t be.’

This was the child who had taken two swords from Geomhongdong.

There was no way such a child would have taken nothing from this Cheonmuggo.

Namgung Mugang looked straight into his son’s eyes and asked.

“What did you bring back?”

Namgung Cheon immediately saw through the deeper meaning of that question.

‘As expected, I can’t deceive him.’

Though he hadn’t taken any treasures, he had gained something more valuable.

Namgung Cheon looked deeply into his inner self.

The energy of the Jeongshim Formula engraved in his heart.

He raised his head again and looked at Namgung Mugang with unwavering eyes.

And he answered.

“I obtained what I needed most.”

That one statement was enough.

What treasure he had acquired, what secret manual he had learned – none of that mattered.

What Namgung Mugang had wanted to ask was ultimately not about results but about the size of his vessel.

‘…What he needed.’

Namgung Mugang looked deeply into his son’s eyes.

A deep tranquility that hadn’t been there before now dwelt within them.

He had thought he knew everything in Cheonmuggo.

‘Apparently not.’

To think he could find a pearl buried in soil that even he hadn’t paid attention to.

And not some flashy treasure that showed on the surface, but something to fill his inner self.

A clear smile formed on Namgung Mugang’s lips.

“That’s enough.”

A short, blunt statement.

It was both a passing judgment as clan head and recognition sent as a martial artist.

Then, Jegal Hwa, who had been standing beside them, spoke in a gentle voice.

“Cheon.”

“Yes.”

“Now you have no reason to remain only in Anhui, don’t you?”

At her words, Namgung Mugang silently looked at Namgung Cheon.

He too seemed not to disagree.

Jegal Hwa continued.

“The Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly. Though you’ve earned the qualification, I know you’re not particularly interested. However, the world is broader than you think.”

Namgung Cheon was silent for a moment.

The Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly.

He had considered it a gathering with no compelling reason to attend.

But now it was different.

With his enlightenment from Cheonmuggo, his martial arts had entered a new realm, and Anhui was now too small a vessel.

‘I must leave.’

Now that considerable time had passed since his death as Cheonma.

Junghwon was no longer the place he had known.

A changed world, new masters.

Only by seeing and confronting all of that with his own eyes could he finally complete his Cheoncheon.

A faint smile appeared on Namgung Cheon’s lips.

“Actually…”

His gaze turned toward the vast sky.

“I was just thinking it was time to go out.”

At that answer, a deep smile spread across Jegal Hwa’s lips.

“Good, prepare yourself. Go and broaden your horizons.”

Namgung Mugang also nodded and quietly added a word.

“Well thought.”

The three began walking again.

Behind them, the firmly closed gates of Cheonmuggo grew distant.

Namgung Cheon lightly clenched and unclenched his fist.

‘Now it begins.’

A new world to face as Namgung Cheon, not as Cheonma.

That first step was approaching.

* * *

The spacious plaza leading to the Namgung Clan’s Grand Training Ground.

Morning sunlight pouring between pavilions that soared as if to pierce the sky illuminated the blue steel stones laid on the ground, scattering dazzling light.

The massive training ground that would normally be filled with the spirited shouts of warriors.

But today, only one person stood on that training ground – Namgung Cheon.

He wore a deep navy overcoat over black martial robes.

At his waist, Cheoncheon, the symbol of Namgung, and Mukhon in its dark scabbard were worn side by side.

Namgung Cheon briefly closed his eyes and breathed in the surrounding air.

‘It’s just a gathering of children.’

He felt a strange tension that he would never have experienced as Cheonma.

‘Am I now becoming accustomed to this name Namgung?’

Namgung Cheon exhaled briefly and opened his eyes.

That’s when it happened.

“I’m not late, am I!”

A voice breaking the silence echoed through the training ground.

Everyone’s attention turned toward the source of the sound.

A man running breathlessly with a bundle as large as his body on his back and a sword in one hand.

It was Mujin of Jeokmeolgeom.

Namgung Cheon’s brow furrowed slightly.

‘He’s been missing for the past few days, where did he go?’

Surely something must have happened, yet he suddenly appears today.

And in such a conspicuous state at that.

Mujin stopped in front of Namgung Cheon and gasped for breath.

“Haa, haa. Thank goodness. You haven’t departed yet.”

“Are you going on some long journey?”

Namgung Cheon gestured toward Mujin’s bundle with his chin as he asked.

The bundle was packed so full it looked ready to burst.

Mujin grinned and adjusted his bundle.

“That’s right. Since I have to go all the way to Hubei, I can’t help but have a lot of luggage, can I?”

“Hubei?”

“That’s right, Hubei!”

Mujin answered as if it were obvious.

Namgung Cheon looked at him with an incredulous expression.

“When did I say I would take you along?”

“Ah, why are you being so cold? When did you accept me as a retainer?”

Mujin put on an aggrieved expression and dramatically clutched his chest.

Namgung Cheon let out a hollow laugh.

“A retainer following his master around is just being a burden, not helping. This journey is not a pleasure trip.”

Namgung Cheon was firm.

Moreover, Mujin was clearly an outsider.

It wouldn’t look good for a noble family’s young master to bring an outsider to an official event.

As Namgung Cheon ignored him and turned toward the carriage, Mujin quickly blocked his path.

“Wait, wait! Young Master, you seem to be seriously mistaken about something.”

Mujin cleared his throat with a serious expression.

“No matter how much I’m acting as your retainer, you haven’t forgotten my status, have you?”

“Status?”

“I’m the Wandering King’s disciple.”

Mujin tapped his chest with his thumb.

His expression held a strange pride instead of his usual playfulness.

“So?”

“So what! I’m going too, to the Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly.”

Mujin pulled something from his robes and thrust it right in front of Namgung Cheon’s nose.

It was an elegant letter decorated with luxurious gold leaf.

Two characters clearly stamped in red letters in the center: Invitation.

It was an invitation to the Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly.

“I may not look it, but I’m officially invited.”

Mujin smiled.

Namgung Cheon’s gaze lingered on the invitation for a moment.

Certainly, if he was the Wandering King’s disciple, he was more than qualified.

But Namgung Cheon still stared at Mujin with an unconvinced expression.

“…Isn’t the Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly a gathering of young talents?”

Namgung Cheon asked very seriously, with pure curiosity.

“…”

Silence.

Mujin’s laughter abruptly stopped.

His face instantly hardened.

Baekheun, who was standing nearby, unconsciously gasped and turned his head, while Soso covered her mouth and her shoulders shook.

Mujin’s eyebrows trembled.

“Young Master. Are you indirectly saying I’m old right now?”

“I wasn’t being indirect. I just asked directly.”

“I’m also clearly a young talent!”

Mujin protested as if wronged.

“I may have passed my coming of age by quite a bit, but I’m still within the range of young talents.”

Actually, Mujin’s words weren’t wrong.

In the martial world, the standard for young talents was usually from around coming of age to the age of thirty.

Mujin was precariously straddling that boundary line.

Mujin grumbled as he straightened his clothes.

“Anyway, I’m going the same way, so let’s go together. It’ll be good to have a travel companion, won’t it? With your personality, how suffocated would those two be on such a long journey? I should at least lighten the mood.”

Mujin slyly winked at Baekheun and Soso.

The two couldn’t quite agree and avoided his gaze with awkward expressions.

Namgung Cheon smiled bitterly inwardly at their reaction.

Was he really such a difficult and uncomfortable master?

Namgung Cheon fell into thought for a moment.

Eventually.

“…Do as you wish.”

When Namgung Cheon reluctantly gave permission, Mujin smiled.

“I knew you’d say that. My carriage driving skills are unmatched under heaven.”

That’s when it happened.

“Is everything ready?”

A heavy, dignified voice from behind instantly quieted the commotion.

A voice he could recognize without turning around.

Namgung Cheon slowly turned his body.

Inside the Main Gate, on the stairs leading to the Training Ground, Namgung Mugang stood.

Beside him, Jegal Hwa stood with a gentle smile, and behind them, the clan’s senior members including Grand Elder Namgung Gyeong were lined up.

A send-off.

All the family elders had come out to see him off on his departure.

Mujin and Baekheun also stopped what they were doing and hurriedly came down to pay their respects.

Namgung Cheon straightened his disheveled clothes and slowly approached them.

Step by step.

The closer he got, the more he could feel the tremendous aura emanating from Namgung Mugang against his skin.

It felt deeper and more immense than just a few days ago.

This was probably because he had grown and could now sense its magnitude more clearly.

Namgung Cheon stopped in front of his parents and formally cupped his hands.

“I greet the Head of the Clan and the Head of the Clan.”

Namgung Mugang silently looked down at his son.

Black martial robes and two swords.

It was an outfit without any excess.

Though there were no fancy decorations or displays of power to be found, the aura emanating from that simplicity was more overwhelming than any splendor.

Like a newly forged famous sword sleeping within its sheath, there was a chilling quality.

Namgung Mugang nodded briefly.

Jegal Hwa smiled beside him and spoke.

“Cheon.”

“Yes.”

“The Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly is a gathering where the pillars who will lead the martial world in the future come together. Therefore, you must show that the Namgung name is the most magnificent among those pillars.”

Jegal Hwa continued with a gentle smile.

“Hwi is busy with alliance matters and will join directly from Wuhan. Go and catch up with your brother after so long.”

“…I understand.”

Jegal Hwa gazed at Namgung Cheon with a quiet smile.

As if suddenly remembering something, she added a word.

“Ah, and.”

“….”

“If you have the leisure, do visit your maternal family as well. Yungjoong shouldn’t be too far away.”

By maternal family, she meant the Jegal Clan.

Namgung Cheon hesitated for a moment, but soon nodded his head.

“I understand.”

Afterward, Namgung Cheon politely offered his farewell greetings, turned around, and boarded the carriage.

“Depart.”

At his command, Baekheun cracked the whip.

“We shall depart!”

Neigh!

The horses cried out vigorously and struck the ground.

The Main Gate of the Clan opened wide, and the carriage moved out into the world, bathed in the pouring morning sunlight.

Watching that retreating figure grow distant, Jegal Hwa quietly spoke.

“The hidden dragon of Namgung has finally escaped its pond.”

Namgung Mugang watched the departing carriage and then nodded his head.

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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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