Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 68

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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 68

 

A separate room of Jacheon Hall.

 

The moment they entered the room, the fragrant aroma of food was the first thing to greet the three men.

 

On the round table, a veritable feast of delicacies was spread out magnificently.

 

From dongpo pork glistening with rich oil to freshly steamed fish dumplings with steam rising from them.

 

Even delicately crafted lotus pastries.

 

The dishes neatly arranged in white jade bowls looked like works of art in themselves.

 

“Sit down.”

 

Namgung Hwi took the seat of honor and gestured to his two younger brothers.

 

Namgung Cheon hesitated for a moment before taking a seat to Namgung Hwi’s right.

 

Across from him, Namgung Jin sat with a somewhat stiff posture.

 

An awkward silence flowed.

 

Namgung Hwi acted as if he didn’t mind and pulled out a bottle of liquor he had placed under the table.

 

Though it was a crude bottle, the fragrance that wafted out the moment the cork was opened was extraordinary.

 

“Come, take this.”

 

Namgung Hwi first offered a cup to Namgung Jin.

 

“This is Bongsan aged wine that I specially brought for this occasion.”

 

Clear and transparent liquor like amber filled the jade cup.

 

Namgung Jin received the cup with both hands.

 

Then Namgung Hwi filled Namgung Cheon’s cup.

 

“You’ve worked hard.”

 

A brief word.

 

Namgung Cheon silently nodded and received the cup.

 

As he lifted the cup, the rich yet fragrant aroma of grain liquor brushed his nose.

 

Though he had tasted all kinds of famous wines throughout Tianxia in his previous life, liquor with this level of fragrance could be counted on one hand.

 

‘…What an exceptional wine.’

 

A gleam appeared in Namgung Cheon’s eyes.

 

Namgung Hwi didn’t miss that momentary change.

 

“Haha, I didn’t know our youngest had an eye for liquor.”

 

Namgung Hwi laughed with satisfaction as he filled his own cup.

 

“When I told Chwirong I wanted to have a drink with my brothers, he insisted I must take this liquor. So on my way back from Gansu, I deliberately stopped by Shaanxi. To obtain this precious thing that’s only brewed in Bongsan County.”

 

At those words, Namgung Jin suddenly spoke up.

 

“Ah, how did the matter in Gansu turn out? If it required going all the way to Cheonui-dae, it couldn’t have been an ordinary affair.”

 

At Namgung Jin’s words, Namgung Hwi shook his head with a light smile.

 

“No, let’s talk about such things slowly. We can’t just look at this precious liquor without drinking it. Besides…”

 

Namgung Hwi’s gaze turned toward Namgung Cheon.

 

“It seems our youngest is eager to drink it.”

 

Namgung Cheon’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

The way he spoke as if treating a young child was irritating…

 

‘…I am a young child.’

 

The age difference between Namgung Hwi and himself was five years.

 

He was much younger.

 

Namgung Cheon’s frown deepened.

 

Seeing this, Namgung Hwi glanced around and raised his cup.

 

“Ahem, let’s have a drink first.”

 

Clink—.

 

The three cups clinked together once.

 

Thus, in the awkward silence, only the sounds of filling and emptying cups repeated.

 

Had the liquor gone around two or three times?

 

Thud.

 

Namgung Jin quietly broke the silence by setting down his cup with a sound.

 

Then he gazed at the empty cup and quietly opened his mouth.

 

“That day… it was remarkable.”

 

Who he was addressing and what he was talking about was clear.

 

The martial contest between Namgung Cheon and the Jinsan Sword Division, and with Namgung Dan.

 

Namgung Hwi also knew about this matter already, so he quietly watched Namgung Jin.

 

“…Honestly, I couldn’t even see it properly.”

 

At Namgung Jin’s self-deprecating words, Namgung Hwi smiled bitterly.

 

Namgung Jin’s level was at the early stage of peak mastery.

 

Considering his age, it was by no means a low achievement.

 

But this was the Namgung Clan, called the Realm’s Greatest Swordsmen.

 

Ordinary talent was rather poison in this place.

 

Outside the clan, he was compared to the rising stars of other clans, and inside, he was compared to himself as the eldest son.

 

Moreover, now even his youngest brother had reached the distant realm of transcendent mastery.

 

How great must that sense of loss be?

 

While Namgung Hwi pondered what to say about this, fidgeting with his cup.

 

“So instead, I felt relieved.”

 

Namgung Jin raised his head and spoke.

 

His eyes were no longer sunken.

 

“I’ve been chasing my whole life.”

 

Namgung Jin quietly spoke while filling his empty cup.

 

“Elder brother’s shadow and the clan’s expectations. I believed that as a son of Namgung, I should naturally stand at the pinnacle with the sword. I never doubted this for even a moment.”

 

He downed the liquor in one gulp.

 

Was it because of the hot energy flowing down his throat?

 

Namgung Jin’s voice grew a little louder.

 

“But that day I realized. That there is a sky I can never reach no matter how much I struggle. And that sky… is my brother.”

 

Namgung Jin set down the empty cup.

 

Thud.

 

A clear sound echoed through the room.

 

“So I decided to put down the sword.”

 

“…Jin.”

 

Regret was evident in Namgung Hwi’s voice.

 

Then Namgung Jin waved his hand and laughed.

 

“Ah, it’s not that I’m putting it down completely. It’s just that I won’t cling to it like before.”

 

He pointed to himself with his finger and added.

 

“I should know how to protect my own body, shouldn’t I?”

 

At that jest, Namgung Hwi let out a hollow laugh.

 

Even Namgung Cheon slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

 

The atmosphere became much lighter.

 

Namgung Jin continued speaking.

 

“And it’s not giving up. It’s a choice.”

 

He held up his empty cup.

 

In the cup that had once rippled with amber liquor, now only the moonlight from the window was emptily contained, wavering.

 

“This empty cup. Can it be filled with a sword?”

 

Namgung Cheon and Namgung Hwi silently shook their heads.

 

A sword could cut, but it couldn’t create something from nothing.

 

Especially if it was liquor crafted by an artisan.

 

“Yes, it cannot be filled.”

 

Strength entered Namgung Jin’s voice.

 

“So I intend to take the path of filling this wine cup. I will fill with my own hands what cannot be filled with a sword. I will go to the Jaegyeongdeon.”

 

“…!”

 

Namgung Hwi’s eyes widened greatly.

 

Jaegyeongdeon.

 

The place where all matters related to the Namgung Clan’s wealth and merchant groups were decided.

 

Financial power was another pillar that maintained the clan, one that could never be ignored.

 

But ultimately, Namgung was a martial clan.

 

Therefore, within the clan, the Jaegyeongdeon was strongly perceived as a place where those who couldn’t shine with their swords went.

 

His still very young brother, the son of the Sword Emperor and direct descendant of Namgung, was saying he would go to such a place.

 

And Namgung Hwi knew all too well what that choice meant.

 

As if sensing Namgung Hwi’s thoughts.

 

“…I will be distancing myself from the position of young clan leader.”

 

Namgung Jin spoke calmly.

 

His voice contained not a trace of lingering attachment or regret.

 

As if simply reciting an obvious fact.

 

“…Jin.”

 

Namgung Hwi’s voice sank low.

 

He could no longer continue speaking and just looked at his brother.

 

More than the words about giving up the sword, the weight of voluntarily stepping down from the young clan leader position struck him harder.

 

“…Won’t you regret it?”

 

It was Namgung Hwi’s question that came after a long while.

 

“Regret….”

 

Namgung Jin chuckled softly.

 

“How can I regret a path I haven’t even tried? Rather, clinging to the sword and living while watching elder brother’s and youngest brother’s backs would be something to regret for life.”

 

His gaze was unwavering.

 

“I have found what I can do well. Reading the flow of money, moving people. I will obtain with my own hands what cannot be gained with a sword.”

 

Namgung Hwi looked at his brother for a moment, then let out a small sigh.

 

Right, how could he keep telling painful stories to a brother who was choosing a new path?

 

He personally lifted the wine bottle and filled Namgung Jin’s empty cup to the brim.

 

“Yes, you will do well. That’s good. The clan will become wealthier than ever before.”

 

Namgung Hwi smiled.

 

Matching that smile, Namgung Jin also smiled and drank his wine refreshingly.

 

Namgung Cheon silently watched the conversation between his two brothers.

 

In his previous life, brothers in the Demonic Sect were enemies who had to kill each other.

 

No, even if they weren’t brothers, they had to kill each other.

 

Because that was how I survived.

 

But the brothers here were different.

 

They acknowledged each other’s paths, filled each other’s lacking parts, and moved forward together.

 

‘This is….’

 

Namgung Cheon was swept up in an unfamiliar emotion.

 

“Come, let’s raise our cups once more.”

 

Namgung Hwi raised his cup high.

 

“To our brothers who will advance toward their respective skies.”

 

Clink―.

 

The three cups clashed together in midair once again.

 

A much clearer and more cheerful sound rang out than before.

 

As the night deepened, their words decreased, but the flowing atmosphere became much more comfortable.

 

After quite some time had passed and dawn was approaching.

 

Namgung Jin stood up first, trying hard to hide his staggering steps.

 

“I need to visit the Jaegyeongdeon tomorrow, so I’ll take my leave first.”

 

Pride that refused to show a disheveled appearance until the end.

 

Namgung Cheon thought as he watched that retreating figure.

 

‘Still the same.’

 

But he didn’t dislike it.

 

That uprightness would be the strength that sustained Namgung Jin.

 

After Namgung Jin left like that, only Namgung Hwi and Namgung Cheon remained in the private room.

 

A moment of silence flowed with the empty drinking table between them.

 

Namgung Hwi gathered the last remaining wine and filled his cup.

 

“It puts my mind at ease that Jin seems to have found his own path now.”

 

Namgung Hwi spoke quietly while looking at the faintly brightening sky outside the window.

 

He lifted his cup and took a sip.

 

Then slowly turned his head to look at Namgung Cheon.

 

A gaze that was gentle but unfathomably deep.

 

“I’ve heard all about your exploits, Cheon.”

 

Namgung Hwi’s voice sank low.

 

“From Anhui to Honam, there’s no place your name hasn’t reached. However….”

 

His gaze turned toward the window, toward the distant world beyond the clan.

 

“Shouldn’t you now advance to a bigger world?”

 

Namgung Cheon tilted his wine cup without answering.

 

Because he could guess what Namgung Hwi was trying to say.

 

“Come with me to the Murim Alliance.”

 

A direct proposal.

 

Namgung Cheon’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

Namgung Hwi read his brother’s change in expression and chuckled.

 

“I know what you’re thinking. You probably consider it a stuffy and boring place. That’s not wrong.”

 

He set down his wine cup.

 

“But everything in Gangho gathers there. Information, people, and countless strong warriors you haven’t seen yet. There’s no better place to test your sword and rise to higher places.”

 

“….”

 

“And.”

 

Namgung Hwi smiled mischievously.

 

“There’s one more reason you should go.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“You should meet Rin too.”

 

Namgung Rin.

 

At that name, Namgung Cheon’s pupils hesitated.

 

A face that remained faintly in his memories.

 

But that was all—there were no special memories.

 

All he knew was.

 

‘That she’s always wandering outside, I suppose.’

 

Namgung Rin was free-spirited to the point where clan rules meant nothing to her.

 

She hadn’t even returned to the clan for several years now, so even her face was blurry.

 

‘My memories aren’t complete to begin with….’

 

That’s why he was curious.

 

“Why is she at the Murim Alliance, and what is she doing there?”

 

Namgung Hwi shrugged as he set down his wine cup.

 

“To be precise, I should say she’s in Kaifeng where the Murim Alliance is located. But I don’t know the details either. If you’re curious about the reason, go and ask her directly.”

 

A strange smile lingered on Namgung Hwi’s face.

 

Namgung Cheon chuckled softly.

 

‘He knows the reason.’

 

There was no way he wouldn’t know.

 

We’re in Kaifeng where the League is located, so how could I not know about my sister’s activities?

 

Even so, the reason he was being evasive was likely a clumsy invitation born from his desire to go to the Murim Alliance together.

 

“So, to see the world and also see my sister’s face after a long time. How about it?”

 

Namgung Cheon fell silent for a moment.

 

The Murim Alliance, Kaifeng, and his sister.

 

It was a destination that hadn’t been in his plans at all.

 

But there was no particular reason to refuse the proposal.

 

Rather.

 

‘I should go.’

 

A new world, and new connections.

 

He knew that was the path he needed to take now.

 

“Very well.”

 

At Namgung Cheon’s concise answer, a bright smile spread across Namgung Hwi’s face.

 

Like that smile, the bright dawn light gradually filled the room.

 

And.

 

‘The beginning of a new journey, is it?’

 

A faint smile had also begun to play around Namgung Cheon’s lips.

—————
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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