Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 45
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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 45
Tianxia.
The illusion formation that Jegal Myeong had unfolded was manifesting the world itself.
Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes and gazed at the vast landscape.
Beneath his feet flowed the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the lifelines of Junghwon, while above his head stretched an overcast sky in its entirety.
And then.
Waaaah―!
With tremendous roars that shook heaven and earth, countless martial artists appeared and charged at each other.
The metallic sounds of clashing blades and gruesome sounds of tearing flesh rang out piercingly.
The fishy scent of blood burrowed into his nostrils.
The sensations were far too realistic for an illusion formation.
“Do you see it?”
Jegal Myeong’s voice echoed through midair.
He was no longer in the pavilion, but floating in midair as if looking down upon Tianxia, gazing at Namgung Cheon.
“This is the current state of the martial world.”
Jegal Myeong raised his hand and pointed to the four directions of Junghwon.
Following his gesture, four massive banners rose up.
“The Four Hegemons of Tianxia. Orthodox, Heterodox, Demonic, and Merchant. These four aim at each other’s throats while maintaining a precarious balance.”
He first pointed to Junghwon.
A white banner—the territory of the Murim Alliance.
“The Orthodox Faction tries to maintain order by putting forth righteousness.”
Jegal Myeong frowned as he continued.
“But internally, it’s rotting away with power struggles between countless sects. Even within, they divide themselves into the Northern Alliance and Janggang Alliance.”
Then his hand turned toward the south, where black energy surged.
It was the Sable Alliance.
“The Heterodox Faction, as always, lies low while securing practical benefits.”
A sneer crossed his lips.
“While preparing to stab anyone in the back, whenever the opportunity arises.”
And to the east.
The territory of Sangdo-cheon, where brilliant golden energy surged blindingly.
“Meanwhile, the merchants have built their own castle with money.”
Jegal Myeong narrowed his eyes as he looked at the golden banner.
“They’ve learned how to win without fighting by forming connections regardless of Orthodox, Heterodox, or Demonic affiliations. The result is the force called Sangdo-cheon.”
Finally, to the west.
The land of Makyō, shrouded in eerie silence and purple energy.
“Lastly, Makyō. It has remained silent for decades.”
His expression grew serious.
“However, one thing is certain—that silence won’t last much longer. Even recently, they’ve been showing strange movements.”
Jegal Myeong turned his cold gaze from the banners to stare at Namgung Cheon.
“In the end, this martial world appears peaceful on the surface, but inside, it could explode at any moment.”
His voice dropped low.
“A precariousness like walking on thin ice. That is the reality of the martial world you stand upon.”
He placed another black stone on the Go board—no, on Tianxia.
Thoom―!
With a vibration that seemed to shake the earth, the banners in the illusion fluttered violently.
“Will this balance last forever?”
Jegal Myeong’s question was sharp.
Namgung Cheon remained silent for a moment.
His gaze slowly swept across the four directions where the Four Hegemons held dominion.
A balance maintained paradoxically because each aimed at the others’ throats.
But this was only temporary.
If any one side became even slightly weakened.
“It cannot last forever.”
Namgung Cheon spoke calmly.
“Balance is ultimately nothing more than a standoff of forces.”
He met Jegal Myeong’s gaze with unwavering eyes.
“If one side weakens or a stronger force appears, it will collapse in an instant. Like how stagnant water can only rot or dry up—it cannot maintain its level forever.”
Jegal Myeong’s eyes deepened.
“If you’re right, then chaos will eventually come. Orthodox and Heterodox, Demonic and Merchant will become entangled.”
He continued while looking at the battlefield where swords and blades ran rampant.
“A hellscape will unfold where blood forms rivers and corpses pile into mountains. Then, you…”
Swish―.
As Jegal Myeong waved his hand once, the four massive banners that had commanded heaven and earth approached Namgung Cheon.
Simultaneously, the momentum possessed by the Four Hegemons materialized and began pressing down on Namgung Cheon’s entire body.
“Will you shine even in chaos, or will you…”
Kwaaaaah―!
The massive banners slowly tilted as if to crush Namgung Cheon.
“Be swept away and shattered by that torrent?”
Various energies bursting from the banners pressed down on Namgung Cheon.
It felt like a massive mountain pressing on his shoulders.
An ordinary martial artist would have collapsed on the spot, trembling.
But Namgung Cheon instead smiled.
‘Swept away by the torrent.’
That would never happen.
Rather, he might be the one to create that torrent.
Swoooosh―!
Blue energy rose from Namgung Cheon’s body.
While withstanding the pressure with his internal energy, Namgung Cheon recalled the principles of formations.
‘Flow.’
Formations were ultimately flows of energy.
No matter how complex and massive a formation might be, at its foundation lay paths through which energy flowed and a center that controlled those paths.
If he could fully read and change that flow…
Namgung Cheon’s eyes swept across the world within the illusion.
More precisely, the countless intertwined flows of energy.
The white energy of the Murim Alliance, the black energy of the Sable Alliance, the purple energy of Makyō, and the golden energy of Sangdo-cheon were tangled like threads.
As if he could only break the formation by completely unraveling these tangled energies.
However, if he spent time trying to control these energies, the banners of the Four Hegemons would completely crush him.
It wasn’t the answer from the start.
‘Then.’
His gaze turned toward the center of the tangle.
The place where all energy began and ended.
The place where all forces collided, canceled each other out, and began anew.
The exact center of the Go board and the center of Tianxia.
‘Tianyuan.’
Namgung Cheon reached his hand toward midair.
As if picking up a Go stone.
Uuuuuung―!
The internal energy concentrated at his fingertips vibrated with a resonant sound.
And he thrust his fingertip toward the very center of Tianxia, the heart of Junghwon.
Clack―!
A clear and crisp sound of placing a stone echoed throughout the world.
At that moment.
Kwaaaaah―!
An invisible wave exploded outward from Namgung Cheon’s fingertips like a burst.
And then.
“…!”
The world changed.
Surprise filled Jegal Myeong’s eyes.
The countless flags that had been pressing down on Namgung Cheon all lost their strength at once and retreated.
And in the center, where Namgung Cheon had placed his hand, a massive flag rose up.
Majestic characters carved in black on a blue background.
(Namgung).
It was the flag of the Namgung Clan.
A flag so massive it could easily suppress all other flags.
Even the golden light of Sangdo-cheon and the darkness of the Sable Alliance lost their brilliance before that overwhelming presence.
Namgung Cheon pointed to that flag and looked directly at Jegal Myeong floating in midair.
“There will be no being swept away.”
Just as Jegal Myeong had done before, Namgung Cheon’s voice resonated magnificently.
“Namgung, and I, will stand at the center of that chaos. With everything beneath our feet.”
“….”
Jegal Myeong was left speechless.
This was a formation he had devoted his entire life to perfecting.
Within this space, he was both god and heaven itself.
Yet this grandson, barely past his coming of age, had carved his own will into his heaven.
Jegal Myeong quietly gazed at the fluttering Namgung flag.
The sight of the blue flag standing tall was both shocking and simultaneously filled him with heart-stirring exhilaration.
After remaining silent for a long while, Jegal Myeong suddenly threw back his head and burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha!”
His hearty laughter shook all of Tianxia.
He laughed for a long time, even shedding tears.
“What an audacious brat. To dare overturn the board I created.”
Jegal Myeong stopped laughing and looked at Namgung Cheon.
His gaze was no longer sharp.
It was affectionate and gentle.
With a tone as gentle as his gaze, Jegal Myeong spoke.
“You surpass even your father.”
Swish―.
Jegal Myeong waved his hand.
The formation lifted, and they returned to the tranquil scenery of Jeongsimnu.
The sheer cliff, and the ordinary Go board placed on the table.
But in the very center of that Go board, at the tengen, a single black stone sat alone.
Jegal Myeong looked down at the Go board and muttered quietly.
“Yes, perhaps you may be right.”
He smiled bitterly.
“The current martial world is far too precarious. It appears peaceful on the surface, but inside it’s rotting away.”
He paused and let out a deep sigh.
“If someone doesn’t hold the center, we might all perish together.”
Jegal Myeong rose from his seat.
He clasped his hands behind his back and stood at the pavilion’s railing, looking down at the distant cliff below.
“A new wind is needed.”
His eyes gleamed sharply.
“A strong wind that will cut away the rotten branches and rebuild from the roots.”
He slowly turned his head to gaze at Namgung Cheon.
In Jegal Myeong’s eyes, expectation and concern dwelled simultaneously.
“Can you become that wind?”
Namgung Cheon also rose from his seat.
He approached Jegal Myeong’s side and stood alongside him.
“A wind would be insufficient.”
Namgung Cheon’s gaze turned toward the distant sky.
“It must be a storm. One that can sweep everything away and allow a fresh start.”
At that answer, Jegal Myeong’s lips curved upward.
“A storm… Yes, it would need to be at least that much.”
He patted his grandson’s shoulder.
And then added.
“However, remember this.”
Weight filled his voice.
“A storm can sweep away not only enemies, but allies as well.”
“I will keep that in mind. Then, I shall take my leave now.”
“Yes, go and rest.”
Namgung Cheon bowed deeply in respect and left.
Jegal Myeong quietly watched his grandson’s retreating figure.
‘It’s been a while.’
It was the first time since facing his son-in-law Namgung Mugang.
A premonition that great upheaval would come to the martial world that had stagnated to the point of rotting.
And the fact that a child who carried his blood would stand at the center of it all pleased him greatly.
“How exciting.”
A deep smile spread across Jegal Myeong’s lips.
And he murmured quietly.
“Yes, go ahead and stir up Tianxia to your heart’s content.”
He slowly stroked the black stone placed at the tengen on the Go board with his finger.
“This old man will be sure to watch over you.”
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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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