Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 5

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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 5

Namgung Cheon looked down at Changcheon and Mukhon gripped in both hands.

‘My strength is still too weak to properly wield a sword.’

Though Cheonma’s soul had awakened, the vessel to contain that soul was still crude.

At this rate, his body would shatter from the sword’s momentum before he could even swing it.

‘I need to elevate my realm.’

He did not hesitate.

He placed both swords on the table and sat in meditation again.

His first goal was the Small Heavenly Circuit.

To open the major acupuncture points and circulate internal energy throughout his body twelve times.

“Huu.”

A long breath flowed from his lips.

Pure yet explosive energy drawn from his dantian was contained in that breath.

The original Namgung Cheon had never properly practiced energy circulation.

Because of this, his acupuncture points were thickly clogged with impurities like mud at a riverbed.

‘This is where I start.’

He condensed the internal energy gathered in his dantian.

Then without hesitation, he shot it toward the first gateway of the Small Heavenly Circuit, the Qihai Acupuncture Point.

Thud—!

The internal energy violently bounced back as if blocked by a wall.

A sense of helplessness like throwing an egg at solid rock.

The Qihai Acupuncture Point didn’t budge at all.

But this was only the beginning.

‘Break apart.’

Namgung Cheon did not give up.

If once didn’t work, then ten times. If ten times didn’t work, then a hundred times.

He relentlessly stabbed his internal energy at the same point.

Crack—.

Finally, the sound of tiny fissures forming in the solid wall could be heard.

As internal energy squeezed through that gap, the entire closed meridian convulsed and screamed.

“Kugh…”

Momentary pain swept through his entire body.

Blood vessels swelled as if about to burst, and muscles cried out in agony.

The original Namgung Cheon would have fallen into qi deviation with just one attempt.

But he was Cheonma.

‘This trivial pain is nothing.’

Pain was merely proof of being alive and a wall to overcome.

Internal energy began moving along the acupuncture points without rest.

The first circuit was like hell.

Each time he passed through an acupuncture point, pain like blades slicing flesh continued.

The second circuit was even more terrible.

The meridians, already tattered from the first attempt, now screamed as if they would snap completely.

But the real crisis came with the third circuit.

Thud.

Like a lamp running out of oil, the flow of internal energy suddenly became sluggish.

‘…I lack internal energy.’

Namgung Cheon’s brow furrowed deeply for the first time.

This was an unexpected problem.

The total amount of internal energy accumulated in this body was far more pathetic than he had anticipated.

Two reckless circuits had consumed almost all his internal energy.

If he stopped circulating energy now, the meridians he had half-opened would be shattered by the backflowing energy.

Qi deviation was as clear as day.

Yet breaking through the next acupuncture point with this meager internal energy was nearly impossible.

A dilemma with no way forward or back.

‘It’s not that there’s no method.’

A secret technique from his past life in Makyō came to mind.

The Pain Conversion Art—a technique that inflicted pain on the body and converted that backlash into internal energy.

It was an extremely evil demonic art born from madness that no sane person would dare attempt.

But he did not hesitate.

‘There is no power gained without pain anyway.’

He expanded his consciousness throughout his entire body.

“Kugh.”

Terrible pain as if flesh was being carved away assaulted him.

But he did not stop.

‘Pain that cannot devour me will ultimately become fuel to kindle my flame.’

The extreme pain finally transformed into a new spark in his dantian.

The dying flame of internal energy began blazing again.

In a form much more violent and explosive than before.

Using that flame of pain as driving force, he began circulating energy again.

And when he reached the third circuit.

Finally, change began.

Resistance weakened as if by magic.

The energy created by burning pain had melted away all the blocked acupuncture points.

Fourth, fifth…

With each circuit, the speed increased exponentially.

Internal energy frantically churned throughout his body.

And finally, the moment the twelfth circuit ended.

Wooong—.

His entire body resonated with a low harmonic sound.

Completion of the Twelve Circuits.

The moment the Small Heavenly Circuit was achieved.

Whoosh—!

Energy waves spread from his body, making the air in the room ripple.

Namgung Cheon slowly opened his eyes.

Before he knew it, morning sunlight painting the sky red was streaming through the door crack.

One night.

In that short time, he had been reborn.

This body was no longer the weak and powerless Namgung Cheon of the past.

It had become a new vessel capable of containing Cheonma’s soul and the power befitting it.

‘This much is sufficient for now.’

He rose from his seat.

His movements held a perfect balance different from before, without a single unnecessary motion.

‘Now it’s time to go reclaim what is mine.’

Yesterday’s sword selection was only the beginning.

He didn’t expect the old men of the three families to meekly give him the treatment he deserved with just that.

He had no intention of waiting.

Waiting for what would not come was the lot of fools.

Creak—.

As the door to his quarters opened, Baekheun, who had been guarding the entrance, startled and looked up.

“Young Master, did you cough? Gasp.”

Baekheun momentarily held his breath.

The aura he felt from his lord had changed once again.

If yesterday it was like a sharp sword, now it felt like facing a vast abyss that would swallow everything.

Namgung Cheon nodded lightly and threw out a single phrase.

“Follow me. We’re going to the Main Hall.”

Baekheun asked no more questions.

He simply bowed his head and followed behind Namgung Cheon.

Namgung Cheon turned his back on his modest quarters and began walking.

To seize what was rightfully his.

* * *

The Meeting Hall of the Main Hall, where all major affairs of the Namgung Clan were decided.

The highest seat of honor, the family head’s chair, was empty.

And his vacant seat was being filled by the lady of the house, Jegal Hwa.

Having received full authority from the family head, she gazed with an indifferent expression at the seated elders, while below her the clan’s elders were divided left and right in their seats.

In the tense atmosphere, no one spoke first, merely fidgeting with their teacups.

It was the Tenth Elder, Namgung Baek, who broke that heavy silence.

He slowly rose from his seat.

“As everyone knows, yesterday the Third Young Master achieved sword selection.”

He looked around at the other seated elders as he continued speaking.

“And the laws of our clan state that those who achieve sword selection should receive appropriate compensation.”

At his words, the eyes of several elders wavered slightly.

Particularly, faint interest appeared on the faces of the neutral elders who belonged to no faction.

Namgung Baek didn’t miss that opportunity and raised his voice.

“Sword selection means guaranteeing appropriate status and massive support to those who have shown great martial talent, so they can fully display that talent—this is precisely the iron rule of our Namgung Clan.”

His argument, backed by laws and iron rules, was closer to a declaration than a proposal.

As soon as he finished speaking, silence once again settled over the Meeting Hall.

It was difficult to argue against such obvious facts.

But the silence didn’t last long.

“I understand the Tenth Elder’s loyalty. However, following the law and its application are different matters.”

It was the Seventh Elder, Namgung Do.

He leisurely lifted his teacup and took a sip, intentionally slowing the flow of conversation.

“What specifically do the status and support specified in the law refer to?”

He slowly surveyed the assembly.

Particularly after resting his gaze briefly on the elders supporting the First Young Master, he spoke again.

“We cannot rashly give the Third Young Master, who has only just completed sword selection, treatment that surpasses the First Young Master, who is the eldest son, can we?”

Eldest son.

At this single word thrown by Namgung Do, the atmosphere in the Meeting Hall subtly changed.

Several elders began stroking their beards and nodding.

Namgung Baek’s face hardened for a moment.

After pausing briefly, Namgung Do glanced at Jegal Hwa and spoke again.

“Therefore, I can only hope that my impression of the Tenth Elder’s words sounding like an intention to plant seeds of discord in our clan is merely a misunderstanding.”

It was a cleverly twisted argument.

Then another elder who supported the First Young Master stepped forward as if he had been waiting.

“Those are correct words. While we respect the spirit of the law, we must carefully consider its procedures and scale. It hasn’t been verified yet what level the Third Young Master’s skills are at, or whether it was truly a sword selection worthy of the Young Master’s talent.”

Namgung Baek didn’t retreat an inch either.

His face flushed red with anger.

“Verification? What kind of sophistry is it to question the worthiness of sword selection?”

As the fierce debate continued, Namgung Do smiled leisurely and delivered a decisive blow.

“More than that, Tenth Elder, this is what I’m most curious about. How is it that the Third Young Master, who should be the beneficiary of this law, is not present at this meeting, yet you step forward as if you were the Young Master’s representative?”

“…”

Namgung Baek’s face hardened instantly.

Namgung Do didn’t miss that opening and continued.

“If that claim is truly the Young Master’s will, then naturally the Young Master should directly demand his own rights, shouldn’t he? We haven’t yet heard it directly from the Young Master’s mouth, so isn’t the Tenth Elder getting too far ahead of himself?”

Namgung Baek was momentarily at a loss for words.

His proposal was for Namgung Cheon’s sake, but since the protagonist of the sword selection hadn’t expressed any intention, his justification had weakened.

The atmosphere in the Meeting Hall instantly tilted toward Namgung Do.

Anxiety appeared on Namgung Baek’s face.

Just as he was about to open his mouth to somehow salvage the situation.

Creak—.

With a heavy grinding sound, the tightly closed doors of the Meeting Hall opened.

As if by appointment, everyone’s gaze turned toward the entrance.

A single silhouette standing with the brilliant morning sunlight at his back.

The one who slowly walked out from the shadows was none other than the subject of this debate, Namgung Cheon.

He carefully surveyed the entire Meeting Hall.

The various expressions of the seated elders.

And even his mother’s indifferent gaze as she sat in the seat of honor, observing everything.

He took it all in at a single glance.

Finally, his gaze settled on Namgung Do, who had just mentioned him moments before.

Namgung Cheon opened his mouth with a faint smile.

“Well then, as you said.”

His quiet voice echoed through the Meeting Hall.

“I’ll tell you directly with my own mouth.”

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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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