Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 75

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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 75

Release it through the pipa.

At these words, Lady Namgung Rin’s consciousness became clear.

‘That’s right.’

Until now, she had only regarded the demonic energy of Cheonwolhyeon as an enemy.

A massive wave trying to swallow her, a poison that gnawed at her mind.

That’s why she had desperately tried to block it out.

But her younger brother’s words were the complete opposite.

‘Let it flow, and release it through the pipa.’

At that moment, the sound of the bamboo flute her master had played for her flashed through her mind.

A bamboo flute does not reject the wind that blows.

It accepts the wind into its hollow interior, transforms that rough breath into sound, and releases it back into the world.

‘My body is the bamboo flute, and the demonic energy is the wind.’

If you block the wind, the bamboo flute cannot make any sound, but if you open a path for it, it becomes melody.

What she needed to do was not block the demonic energy, but become a passage that converted it into sound.

Lady Namgung Rin gritted her teeth.

‘I will succeed.’

If she collapsed here, not only herself but also her younger brother who trusted her and came this far would be in danger.

Most importantly, she would forever lose the only chance to save her master.

She withdrew her internal energy that had been circulating through her blood vessels back to her dantian.

Then.

Kwaaaaah—!

A massive torrent, the demonic energy, swept through her meridians.

A bone-piercing cold and heat that seemed to burn her flesh.

In her dantian, pure internal energy and ferocious demonic energy collided and churned as if about to explode.

“Ugh…!”

A groan burst from between her lips.

It was pain that made her consciousness grow distant.

It felt as if thousands of venomous snakes were coiling around her entire body and biting her.

A sensation as if each blood vessel was being pierced with red-hot iron skewers.

Just as her consciousness was swaying precariously on the verge of breaking, Namgung Cheon’s telepathic voice reached her once more.

—Focus your mind on the Shanzhong acupoint.

Lady Namgung Rin instinctively followed that instruction.

As she concentrated her mind on the center of her chest, the colliding energies became a massive whirlpool and swept toward that point.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

A pressure as if her heart would burst.

A massive storm was raging inside her chest.

Her breath was choked off, and it felt as if her heart would break through her ribs and burst out.

But the telepathic voice did not stop.

—To the Jianyu acupoints on both shoulders.

Crack.

Lady Namgung Rin bit her lips to grasp her fading consciousness and followed Namgung Cheon’s words.

The massive stream of energy split in two and flowed along both shoulders into her arms.

Crack crack.

Her joints screamed, and her blood vessels swelled as if they would burst.

From shoulders to elbows, from elbows to wrists.

Wherever the energy passed, excruciating pain followed as if her skin was being torn.

Even in the agony of her entire body being butchered, she did not stop.

No, she could not stop.

If she stopped here, everything would be over.

—Through Quchi to Laogong in the palms, without leaving anything behind.

She gathered that explosive power to her fingertips.

Each finger joint was hot as if burning in fire.

Dark red smoke seemed to rise from her fingertips.

And.

—Now!

Namgung Cheon’s sharp command followed.

Lady Namgung Rin gathered everything at her fingertips and poured it onto the strings.

Jang—!

A single resonance.

Jang—!

A magnificent resonance filled Munhyangryu.

Swooooosh—!

Starting with that resonance, Lady Namgung Rin’s fingers began to dance frantically.

The final movement of Shimyeonmaebok that had been suppressed swept forth like a storm.

Da-da-da-dang! Bang! Kwang!

A fierceness as if tens of thousands of cavalry were shouting and charging toward the enemy lines.

A magnificence as if the encirclement surrounding all sides was being torn apart and the heavens were opening.

It was a melody that had never existed in the world, created by perfectly controlling the massive demonic force.

As the performance reached its climax, the melody itself became an energy that filled Munhyangryu.

And.

“…!”

A blood-soaked battlefield, crumbling castle walls, and the figures of generals running across them.

The metallic sound of spears and swords clashing struck their eardrums, and the sound of horse hooves shook the ground.

That vivid scene unfolded before everyone’s eyes.

The audience was bewildered by the sudden situation but were captivated by its vividness and could not look away.

Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon watched that scene silently with his arms crossed.

The sight of perfectly dominating Cheonwolhyeon and freely manipulating that power.

And.

‘Is this the manifestation of mental images, the ultimate technique of sound arts? Impressive.’

What he had given her was merely a small clue.

But with that single clue, she had broken through the wall herself and entered a new realm.

Demonic and righteous.

And like her, melding free sound into one—a path that only she could walk.

It was her own Cheoncheon.

A faint smile unconsciously appeared on Namgung Cheon’s lips.

* * *

Dong-dong-dong—.

While Lady Namgung Rin’s performance continued for quite some time.

Kwang—!

Suddenly, the door of Munhyangryu was torn apart like paper and someone entered.

It was Namgung Hwi.

His face was filled with urgency.

“Rin!”

What immediately caught his eye was the sight of Lady Namgung Rin at the center of the dais, playing the pipa while wrapped in dark red demonic energy.

“…!”

Judging that she had already lost her reason and been consumed by demonic energy, blue sword energy exploded from Namgung Hwi’s entire body.

Without hesitation, he launched himself toward the dais to save his sister.

He was determined to smash that hideous pipa first.

At that moment.

Swish.

A black shadow blocked his path.

It was Namgung Cheon.

“Move aside.”

Namgung Hwi shouted, but Namgung Cheon didn’t budge.

He looked at the irrational Namgung Hwi with calm eyes.

“You must not interfere.”

“Interfere? How can you say that after seeing her like this! Move aside immediately.”

The energy surrounding his body grew even stronger.

Self-blame for being late and fear of possibly losing his sister were paralyzing his reason.

But Namgung Cheon remained composed.

“Look.”

Namgung Cheon gestured toward the dais with his chin.

“Does that look like someone consumed by demonic energy?”

At those words, Namgung Hwi’s gaze turned back to Namgung Rin.

Certainly her entire body was wrapped in demonic energy.

But it was strange.

She wasn’t writhing in pain or struggling.

Rather, in terrifyingly perfect tranquility, her fingers flowed like water across the strings.

A bizarre harmony, like dancing gracefully in the eye of a storm.

“This is…”

Namgung Hwi was at a loss for words.

The demonic energy he knew was destruction and madness itself.

But Namgung Rin’s current appearance was far from that.

“Trust her.”

Namgung Cheon took a step closer.

“…”

At those words, the blue energy surrounding Namgung Hwi’s body gradually subsided.

At that moment, the flow of the performance changed.

Jang—!

The previous intensity vanished like a lie, and an infinitely clear and pure sound resonated.

The battlefield’s roar ceased, and a tranquility like dawn’s first light emerged.

An illusion of flower petals falling like rain spread across the blood-stained battlefield.

At that beautiful sight, the audience unconsciously opened their mouths.

Then the light reflected in their eyes.

Whoooosh—!

A brilliant blue light burst forth from Namgung Rin’s entire body and the Cheonwolhyeon she held.

A clear and cool energy, as if moonlight had been melted down, filled Munhyangryu.

Dong—.

At the same time, her fingers stopped on the final string.

The last resonance lingered long in the space before seeping into silence.

It was a complete performance.

“…”

Everyone stared spellbound at the woman on the dais.

Still wrapped in blue light, she looked not human but like a fairy descended from the moon.

And.

Thud.

Someone dropped to their knees.

“Finally…”

It was Taeag, the master of Munhyangryu.

He had somehow approached the front of the dais and muttered with a trembling voice.

“It has found… it has found its master. At last…”

For decades he had guarded Cheonwolhyeon, watching countless performers go mad.

But seeing that demon bow its head like a docile lamb was a sight he had never witnessed before.

Then, Namgung Rin slowly opened her eyes.

Her pupils were much deeper and clearer than before.

She looked down at Cheonwolhyeon cradled in her arms.

Cheonwolhyeon no longer emitted sinister demonic energy.

It lay docilely in her embrace as if it had been hers from the beginning.

The touch of the strings against her fingertips felt warm, like holding an old friend’s hand.

“…Thank you.”

Namgung Rin whispered softly.

After speaking words directed at no one in particular, she rose from her seat holding the pipa.

And with her usual confident stride, she descended from the dais.

Her steps led toward where Namgung Hwi and Namgung Cheon stood.

“Brother.”

Namgung Rin looked at Namgung Hwi and smiled faintly.

At that smile, Namgung Hwi finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Rin… are you alright?”

“Yes. I feel wonderful. I’ve never felt this good in my life. It’s like all my acupuncture points have been completely opened.”

Namgung Hwi looked at Namgung Rin for a moment, then turned his head toward Namgung Cheon.

Shame and embarrassment crossed his face.

He felt his face burn with shame for not trusting his sister and acting recklessly.

“…I’m sorry, I was hasty.”

“It’s alright.”

Namgung Cheon answered briefly.

Then Namgung Rin looked between the two and laughed mischievously.

“What, did you two fight? Did brother scold our youngest?”

At her teasing words, Namgung Hwi’s face reddened.

Seeing this, a deep smile also appeared on Namgung Rin’s lips.

“By the way…”

Her gaze shifted to Namgung Cheon.

“Thanks to you, I survived. Thank you.”

Namgung Cheon nodded silently.

“You have to keep your promise, right?”

Namgung Rin smiled with her eyes and pointed toward Namgung Cheon’s chest.

“Let’s go right away. I can’t be the only one to see a new world.”

Namgung Rin took the lead and walked forward.

Her footsteps were light as feathers.

Namgung Hwi watched his two younger siblings’ backs for a moment, then let out a hollow laugh.

‘I didn’t need to worry.’

The frail siblings he once knew were nowhere to be found.

Rather, they had far surpassed him and were walking far ahead.

Like phoenixes breaking out of their shells and spreading their wings toward the sky.

“…How wonderful.”

A sincere smile spread across Namgung Hwi’s lips.

Soon that smile spread into his heart.

‘I don’t know when I’ve ever felt such emotions…’

He smiled lightly and followed behind his two younger siblings.

Night had fallen before they knew it.

Warm moonlight illuminated the three siblings walking side by side.

Leaving behind a shadow that had become one.

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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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