Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 69

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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 69

 

Namgung Cheon frowned as he looked at the simple belongings placed on the table.

 

‘Is this all there is…’

 

A couple of spare martial robes to change into, a Guryong Jeonjang token and antidote he had brought just in case.

 

And Cheoncheon and Mukhon to wear at his waist.

 

He pondered whether he needed anything else, but nothing came to mind.

 

Even this much was probably influenced by Mujin, who always carried loads of luggage wherever he went.

 

Just then, the door burst open and Mujin entered.

 

And.

 

“…?”

 

Namgung Cheon’s head tilted involuntarily at Mujin’s appearance.

 

A huge bundle was strapped to his back.

 

He looked as busy as someone preparing to flee in the night.

 

Mujin, who had entered the room, also looked puzzled as he stared at the martial robes and tokens placed on the table.

 

The two men silently stared at each other’s luggage for a moment.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Mujin was the first to break the silence.

 

He asked with a bewildered expression.

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“Kaifeng.”

 

At Namgung Cheon’s short answer, Mujin narrowed his eyes and pointed at the table.

 

“You’re going all the way to Kaifeng with just this luggage? It’s not like you’re just going around the corner.”

 

Mujin clicked his tongue.

 

“No matter how much a warrior only needs his body, there’s still dignity to consider. What is this?”

 

“I can get what I need when I get there.”

 

Namgung Cheon answered calmly and gestured toward Mujin’s bundle with his chin.

 

“I never said I was going with you.”

 

At his words, Mujin glanced at his own bundle and replied.

 

“Ah, this luggage?”

 

Mujin patted the bundle on his back and answered.

 

“Who said I was following you, young master? I also have somewhere to go.”

 

“Somewhere to go?”

 

Namgung Cheon asked with curiosity.

 

The places Mujin would go were obvious.

 

Either a giru or an inn.

 

Or at most the marketplace near the clan.

 

But Mujin’s expression was unusually serious, different from usual.

 

“I’m getting restless too. I thought I’d go look for my master.”

 

“Will that be alright?”

 

“Well, he told me not to look for him until I understood the meaning of extinction, but I should still go see him, shouldn’t I? A few beatings should do it.”

 

Mujin gazed at the distant sky outside the window.

 

Longing and bitterness flickered through his eyes.

 

“I’m also worried he might have died somewhere as a stranger.”

 

Though spoken in a joking tone, the sincerity contained within was unmistakable.

 

Namgung Cheon fell silent for a moment.

 

Actually, he had been planning to make a different proposal to Mujin.

 

While he was away in Kaifeng, he had thought about entrusting him to his uncle, Namgung Dan.

 

Namgung Dan, the Patriarch of Jeoncheon, was eccentric enough to be called a sword freak, but his skills were genuine.

 

If Mujin trained under him, it was clear his level would rise another stage.

 

But seeing that look in Mujin’s eyes, it seemed unnecessary to bring it up.

 

“…And.”

 

Mujin tapped the sword sheath at his waist.

 

His gaze met Namgung Cheon’s.

 

“Watching you all this time has made me realize many things.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I think it’s time for me to refine my sword more as well.”

 

Mujin’s voice dropped low.

 

“To be honest, I’m jealous. Watching you become monstrously strong with each passing day makes me feel like I’m just marking time.”

 

He gave a bitter smile.

 

“At first I thought I was a step above you, but before I knew it we were equals, and now…”

 

Mujin trailed off, but Namgung Cheon could understand the rest.

 

That now he was completely ahead of Mujin.

 

And that Mujin was keenly aware of this fact.

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to stay at the clan? There are plenty of sparring partners even without me.”

 

At Namgung Cheon’s words, Mujin smiled.

 

“Are you worried? I didn’t know you had that side to you, young master.”

 

Namgung Cheon frowned.

 

“It’s not like that.”

 

“Haha, I understand. But well, if I had to say, my life isn’t suited to comfortable training while eating at someone else’s house, is it? I need to roll around on the rough floor of Gangho again. That’s the only way I can catch up even a little.”

 

Despite his words, his eyes were resolute.

 

The will to forge himself in harsh storms rather than remaining comfortable in a peaceful clan.

 

That would be the wanderer’s way.

 

Namgung Cheon stared at him intently before opening his mouth.

 

“I understand.”

 

Namgung Cheon didn’t try to persuade him further.

 

Respecting each other’s path. That was the courtesy due between warriors.

 

He took out a bundle of tokens he had prepared in advance from his chest and placed them on the table.

 

“Use these.”

 

Mujin’s eyes widened.

 

Even at a glance, it was a considerable amount.

 

“Huh! Wh-what is all this?”

 

“Use it for drinks on the road. Buy good liquor to offer to the Wandering King too.”

 

Namgung Cheon said indifferently.

 

“This is too much…”

 

When Mujin hesitated, Namgung Cheon added.

 

“Think of it as payment since you worked hard as a retainer.”

 

“Payment? What work did I do? I just ate your food.”

 

“Then think of it as compensation for eating enthusiastically and stimulating my appetite.”

 

At Namgung Cheon’s stubborn attitude, Mujin finally burst into laughter.

 

“Ha! Only you would say that, young master. I was actually losing sleep worrying about money for drinks.”

 

Mujin readily took the tokens and tucked them deep into his chest while joking around.

 

But his eyes were slightly moist.

 

Because he could feel Namgung Cheon’s heart toward him, not just simple money.

 

That clumsy consideration trying to take care of him without saying so.

 

“Thank you. Really.”

 

Mujin continued in a serious voice.

 

“It was the same for me.”

 

Namgung Cheon answered plainly.

 

From cutting down the Heterodox Faction in Anhui to the great undertaking of annihilating Gwimyeon-gye.

 

Mujin was a comrade he could trust his back to, someone he could share drinks with and bare his heart to.

 

“Well then, see you again.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

Mujin shouldered his bundle again and turned around without hesitation.

 

His steps were light.

 

The sunlight pouring over his retreating figure as he left the residence was dazzling.

 

Listening to the fading footsteps, Namgung Cheon smiled faintly.

 

‘I wonder how much he’ll have changed when we meet next.’

 

He looked forward to it.

 

And that anticipation soon became a whip driving himself forward.

 

Namgung Cheon shouldered his bundle and stood up.

 

Then he looked around the empty residence once more.

 

The old, shabby room where he had first stayed after leaving Geomhongdong.

 

But the time spent here had left him with much.

 

A new body, new martial arts, and new connections.

 

All of it had begun in this small room.

 

‘Now I go to a wider world.’

 

Namgung Cheon stepped outside the room without regret.

 

The pouring sunlight and the endlessly blue sky spread dazzlingly before his eyes.

 

Cheoncheon.

 

To reach the distant end of that sky, Namgung Cheon took another step forward.

 

* * *

 

Namgung Cheon headed straight to Gajujeon.

 

At Gajujeon, Namgung Mugang and Jegal Hwa were waiting.

 

The two said nothing special upon seeing their son’s simple attire.

 

They were calm, as if they had expected this.

 

“I’ll be going now.”

 

When Namgung Cheon bowed deeply, Namgung Mugang nodded silently, and Jegal Hwa responded with a warm smile.

 

After finishing his farewell and leaving Gajujeon, Namgung Cheon headed to the promised meeting place at the clan’s West Gate.

 

It was the least crowded of the clan’s four gates.

 

Going through the main gate would obviously cause a commotion, so he had arranged this with Namgung Hwi in advance.

 

When he arrived at the West Gate, Namgung Hwi was already there waiting.

 

Beside him stood a sturdy carriage emblazoned with the clan’s emblem.

 

It was prepared for a thousand-li journey.

 

“You’re here.”

 

Namgung Hwi greeted him warmly and pointed toward the carriage.

 

“Everything’s ready. Get in.”

 

But Namgung Cheon didn’t even glance at the carriage.

 

He walked past it and headed straight outside the West Gate.

 

“…?”

 

Namgung Hwi called out with a puzzled expression.

 

“Where are you going? The carriage is here.”

 

Namgung Cheon stopped and turned around.

 

“Take the carriage and come leisurely.”

 

“…?”

 

“I’ll go ahead first.”

 

Before Namgung Hwi could even respond.

 

Thud!

 

Namgung Cheon lightly kicked off the ground.

 

In an instant, Namgung Cheon’s figure became a black dot and disappeared.

 

“Ha!”

 

The left-behind Namgung Hwi burst into incredulous laughter.

 

To travel a thousand li without a carriage, and to leave first after just throwing out a word.

 

He really was an unpredictable fellow.

 

But a smile hung on his lips.

 

“Alright, let’s see how this goes.”

 

Namgung Hwi gestured to the coachman to dismiss the carriage.

 

Then he adjusted his bundle and drew up his internal energy.

 

His eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

 

Whoosh!

 

Namgung Hwi also kicked off the ground and soared up.

 

His figure gracefully pursued Namgung Cheon like a crane.

 

Swoooosh―!

 

The sound of cutting through wind struck his ears.

 

Namgung Hwi unleashed his Floating Cloud Movement to its limits.

 

As if walking on floating clouds, his figure glided forward, minimizing friction with the ground.

 

The surrounding scenery became blurred afterimages rushing backward.

 

‘He’s fast.’

 

Namgung Hwi was inwardly amazed.

 

Even though he was chasing with full power, the distance to his younger brother far ahead wasn’t easily closing.

 

Moreover, the lightness skill his brother displayed was unlike any he knew.

 

‘It certainly contains the principles of Floating Cloud Movement.’

 

The foundation of flowing smoothly with the current was unmistakably the Namgung clan’s Floating Cloud Movement.

 

But the variations layered on top were difficult to call Floating Cloud Movement.

 

Suddenly changing direction, seeming to stop then instantly kicking off the ground with explosive power.

 

These were movements never seen in Floating Cloud Movement.

 

Stability and boldness, softness and fierce strength.

 

Things that could never coexist were forming a strange harmony.

 

‘Remarkable. But still….’

 

I can’t lose.

 

Namgung Hwi’s competitive spirit blazed.

 

He drew up even more internal energy.

 

Whoosh!

 

His figure accelerated once more.

 

After running like this for about an hour more, the distance finally closed.

 

Tap tap tap!

 

Namgung Hwi came alongside Namgung Cheon as they cut through the forest together.

 

“You’re too much. Making your brother suffer like this.”

 

Namgung Hwi spoke with not a single drop of sweat on his face.

 

But just like him, Namgung Cheon’s breathing was also completely undisturbed.

 

Namgung Cheon looked straight ahead and asked dryly.

 

“What about the carriage?”

 

“How could I travel comfortably when my younger brother is struggling?”

 

Namgung Hwi chuckled.

 

“And… when you provoke me like this, I can’t just stay still as your older brother.”

 

“I never provoked you.”

 

“Don’t lie to me. Your back is speaking for you. It’s saying ‘try to follow me if you can.'”

 

Namgung Hwi’s eyes gleamed.

 

“Since things have come to this, let’s have a proper race. How about we make a wager on who reaches Kaifeng first?”

 

“Good.”

 

Namgung Cheon answered briefly and then.

 

Swoosh—!

 

He began racing forward like an arrow.

 

A speed on a completely different dimension from before.

 

It was as if black lightning was cutting through the forest.

 

“What the!”

 

Namgung Hwi showed a flustered expression as he hurriedly drew up his internal energy.

 

Whoosh!

 

He too kicked off the ground without delay and chased after Namgung Cheon.

 

Above the forest path, white and black streaks of light began intertwining as they engaged in an intense chase.

 

Namgung Hwi’s movement technique was orthodoxy itself.

 

He did not go against the flow of the forest.

 

Between trees and rocks, he found the most efficient path that nature allowed and utilized his internal energy without wasting even an inch.

 

Like an ink painting drawn with a single brushstroke, his trajectory was elegant and unobstructed.

 

On the other hand, Namgung Cheon was different.

 

If there was no path, he made one; if it was blocked, he broke through.

 

He ran straight toward the shortest distance his instincts pointed to.

 

After racing like this for about an hour.

 

The path they were running on suddenly ended as a massive gorge blocked their way.

 

The distance to the other side was easily over ten zhang.

 

At their feet yawned a thousand-fathom precipice, and the only thing visible was a single dead tree that stretched out grotesquely long from the cliff edge toward the air.

 

“…”

 

Both their steps stopped for a moment.

 

Namgung Hwi looked at Namgung Cheon intently.

 

His eyes seemed to ask if he really intended to trust that rotting tree.

 

Then.

 

Thud!

 

Namgung Cheon leaped into the air without hesitation.

 

His foot precisely stepped on the tip of the bare branch that extended to the middle of the gorge.

 

Crack!

 

The moment the tree screamed and was about to break, he had already used that recoil to shoot toward the other side.

 

The most dangerous but fastest straight path.

 

Namgung Hwi watched that retreating figure and let out a hollow laugh.

 

“…Truly absurd.”

 

Instead of moving like Namgung Cheon, Namgung Hwi turned his gaze downward.

 

The protruding rocks on the inner wall of the gorge came into his view.

 

Tap! Tap!

 

His feet used the rocks on the cliff’s inner wall as stepping stones as he descended the cliff.

 

It had less risk but was a roundabout path.

 

A fast straight line that accepted danger versus a slow but sure curve.

 

The two brothers advanced in such different ways.

 

Just like their respective sword paths that reached toward the heavens.

—————
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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