Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 81

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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 81

“We greet you, Chongwan!”

Inside the Byeolchae, the branch managers and regional supervisors of the Orthodox Faction bowed their heads in unison.

The servile appearance of the power holders who occupied key positions in Hannam.

Seeing this, Chongwan instead scolded Deputy Manager Joja Geon standing beside him with cold eyes.

“Deputy Manager Jo, what kind of behavior is this among colleagues? Aren’t we partners planning the future together?”

He personally approached the branch managers and seated them.

“You are all distinguished individuals, so if you show such formality, wouldn’t I feel embarrassed? Please sit comfortably.”

Then Chongwan personally carried the wine bottle around and filled their cups.

It was Shaoxing yellow wine, called the finest liquor under heaven.

The fragrance of the expensive Shaoxing yellow wine filled the room, and the tense atmosphere gradually relaxed.

As the atmosphere gradually warmed up, Chongwan opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

“The situation in Hannam hasn’t been easy lately, has it? Especially Hwangbo Branch Manager, I heard you even spent your private fortune during the last famine? Your loyalty is truly remarkable.”

“….”

Hwangbo Branch Manager hardened his expression despite Chongwan’s kind words.

‘If only that incident hadn’t happened….’

The famine that struck Hannam last year.

At that time, an enticing rumor circulated.

‘If you buy grain now, the market price will skyrocket soon.’

He used up the branch’s remaining budget and his private fortune to purchase grain in large quantities.

But the result was disastrous.

When the government intervened to forcibly lower grain prices, he had to sell at a loss.

If he had reported to the Main House, he would have been reprimanded but the situation could have been resolved.

However, he ultimately couldn’t do that.

‘If I could just get through this year safely, the position of Deputy Pavilion Master at the Main House was promised.’

After rotting in the branch his whole life, it was finally his chance for promotion.

But if it became known that he had gambled and lost the clan’s money through speculation?

Forget promotion, he’d be lucky not to be imprisoned.

So he made a choice.

To secretly take out loans to fill the financial hole.

It was the Taeju Trading Guild that extended their hand at that time.

“Were you able to put out the urgent fire with the funds we arranged for you previously?”

“Yes… Thank you.”

“Thank you? We simply wanted to protect your noble intentions, Branch Manager. How could we let your future be blocked by a few coins?”

Chongwan filled Hwangbo Branch Manager’s cup to the brim with liquor.

“Come, forget all past matters and just look ahead from now on. We’ll provide solid support from behind.”

Hwangbo Branch Manager received the cup with trembling hands and drank.

As the strong liquor went down his throat, his tension seemed to ease a little.

Chongwan turned his gaze and offered kind words to the other attendees as well.

“Jongnam Regional Supervisor, please have a drink too. I heard you’ve been working hard teaching your disciples lately.”

“Jegal Branch Manager, your complexion looks better. The herbal medicine we provided must have been effective.”

He understood each attendee’s circumstances thoroughly.

He listened to their worries, comforted them, and encouraged them.

Like an old friend.

The branch managers’ hardened expressions gradually began to soften at his skillful rhetoric.

As the drinking session was ripening.

“…These days we’re too scared to conduct trade because of the Green Forest.”

He began with a worried expression.

“This time we need to send precious goods toward Shandong… Hmm, perhaps… could Hwangbo Branch Manager help us?”

“Help, you say….”

“It’s nothing major. Just things like patrol information for that jurisdiction area. Then we could move at the right time and it would be much safer, wouldn’t it?”

“…!”

Hwangbo Branch Manager’s hand hesitated.

Patrol information was classified by the clan.

Revealing this to outsiders was unimaginable.

“Th-that’s against the Main House’s policy….”

When the branch manager showed reluctance, Chongwan’s face gradually hardened.

“Haha, policy? Are we strangers? We even arranged massive funds for your promotion, Branch Manager, yet you won’t even care about our trading guild’s safety.”

He clicked his tongue lightly and continued.

“Tsk, what use is a relationship where we don’t help each other. Perhaps we should reconsider this relationship….”

“N-no! How could that be!”

The branch manager frantically waved his hands.

Ending the relationship would mean debt repayment would begin.

“I’ll look into it for you. So please don’t misunderstand.”

At the branch manager’s submission, Chongwan’s face brightened again.

“As expected, my trust wasn’t misplaced. Thank you.”

He firmly grasped the branch manager’s hand, then turned his gaze to scan the others.

“The same goes for the other gentlemen here.”

He raised his wine cup high and smiled.

“We are partners who fill each other’s lacking parts. Since I’ve lightened your burdens, surely you can listen to one small concern of mine….”

Chongwan’s words cut off abruptly.

Suddenly his eyes narrowed.

“Chongwan?”

At the strange atmosphere, Joja Geon called out carefully, but Chongwan stared at the ceiling without answering.

‘A presence….’

Chongwan pretended to put down his wine cup while gathering internal energy at his fingertips.

And.

Swoosh!

He shot finger wind toward the ceiling.

Thud!

A fist-sized hole was punched in one corner of the ceiling and dust fell.

“Ch-Chongwan?”

Ignoring the startled branch managers, Chongwan quietly stared beyond the hole.

There was nothing there.

‘Was I mistaken?’

Chongwan frowned in thought.

His senses as a supreme master couldn’t be wrong, yet there was nothing beyond the hole.

“What’s the matter?”

Joja Geon asked carefully.

Chongwan remained silent for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile.

“It’s nothing. I must have become too sensitive.”

He consoled himself.

He attributed it to his nerves becoming sharp since he had begun executing a grand scheme.

‘If I’m already like this, how will I handle the great affairs to come?’

Chongwan lifted his wine cup again and changed the mood.

“Ah, it just seemed too hot for a moment. Haha, please continue.”

At his jest, the hardened expressions of those present relaxed and the sound of clinking cups filled the room again.

On the surface, it was a perfectly harmonious banquet night.

* * *

Namgung Cheon emerged from the Taeju Trading Guild once more.

His gaze remained fixed on the still brightly lit Byeolchae.

‘Not bad.’

Just moments ago, the brief exchange that had taken place on the rooftop.

The finger wind that shot from Chongwan’s fingertips had been aimed precisely at his brow.

‘So he didn’t reach the Transcendent Realm for nothing.’

Whoo.

Namgung Cheon took a deep breath of the cold night air.

The chill that penetrated deep into his lungs cooled his heated mind.

‘This won’t be easy.’

Namgung Cheon concealed himself in the darkness and entered a narrow alley on the outskirts of the Taeju Trading Guild.

Then Namgung Rin and Namgung Seon, who had been waiting, approached him.

“Are you alright?”

Namgung Rin asked with a worried expression.

The wave of energy she had felt from the rooftop just moments ago.

Being sensitive to sounds, she already knew he had been attacked.

“I’m fine. However, the guild’s Chongwan was at the Transcendent Realm.”

“What did you say?”

Namgung Rin was shocked.

What kind of level was the Transcendent Realm?

Even among the Nine Sects, one could easily claim an Elder position, and if they established a sect, disciples would line up to join.

Yet this wasn’t a martial sect or noble family, and no matter how much they were part of the Seven Merchant Council, for a guild’s Chongwan to be at the Transcendent Realm.

It was unbelievable.

And at the same time.

“There’s definitely something fishy here.”

Namgung Rin’s eyes turned sharp.

At those words, Namgung Cheon nodded.

From the beginning, the Taeju Trading Guild’s methods were familiar to Namgung Cheon.

‘Seizing key strongholds and extracting information.’

This was the same method the Demonic Sect had used in his previous life when preparing for the Great War between Orthodox and Demonic factions.

In other words.

‘War… or something equivalent to it is coming.’

Namgung Cheon looked toward the Taeju Trading Guild and spoke.

“This matter could become quite serious.”

At Namgung Cheon’s words, Namgung Seon’s face turned pale.

“Th-then what should we do?”

“We cannot retreat.”

Namgung Cheon was resolute.

“If we don’t cut this off now, they’ll devour all the Orthodox faction branches and offices in Hannam, and even the smaller sects. We must strike before they notice something’s amiss and cut their losses.”

Namgung Cheon looked at Namgung Rin.

“I have one favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Please go to the Murim Alliance right now.”

“…You’re going to inform the League?”

“Yes, and I’ll go inside with the Branch Manager. I plan to start things immediately.”

At Namgung Cheon’s words, a look of surprise crossed Namgung Rin’s face.

It was far too dangerous an approach.

“Wouldn’t it be better to officially inform the League and move with their support?”

At those words, Namgung Cheon immediately shook his head.

There was a reason why that absolutely couldn’t happen.

“That won’t do. There are reasons for that. I’ll explain later, so please move for now.”

Namgung Cheon’s firm answer.

Namgung Rin looked at Namgung Cheon for a moment, then put away her worried expression and nodded.

“Alright, I understand. Be careful.”

She disappeared into the darkness with a brief farewell.

As soon as her presence vanished, Namgung Cheon turned his gaze to Namgung Seon, who stood with a rigid expression.

“Let’s go.”

Namgung Cheon pulled his bamboo hat down low.

“You will take responsibility to the end.”

Those words pierced Namgung Seon’s heart.

‘Responsibility…’

It had started as mere greed to make the branch more prosperous.

And wanting to solve everything at once and prove his abilities to the Main House, he had bet everything on transporting Cheonripyoguk’s silk.

‘Not knowing it was a trap…’

Still, he was afraid.

The thought of entering that guild where enemies waited with gaping maws.

The moment he set foot inside, he couldn’t guarantee he’d come out alive.

However.

‘There’s nowhere left to run.’

He glanced at Namgung Cheon.

Even the young master of the family was risking his life and moving forward.

How could he, someone much older, someone who held the position of Branch Manager, spare his own body?

‘That’s right, I too am a Namgung.’

Though he might be a distant branch member, infinitely removed from the direct line, his blood was that of the Realm’s Greatest Swordsmen.

And hiding cowardly to seek petty safety was not the Namgung way.

‘Even if this step becomes my last…’

He would not bring further shame to the Namgung name.

Namgung Seon clenched his trembling fists tight.

“I understand.”

He took a deep breath and straightened his clothes.

He smoothed his crumpled expression and returned to the dignified appearance of a Branch Manager.

“Let’s go.”

Namgung Seon took the lead.

Namgung Cheon followed behind him like a shadow.

Thus the two headed toward the Taeju Trading Guild.

Though their reasons might be different, at this moment, they were one.

Under the name of Namgung .

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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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