Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 82

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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 82

Taehwajeon, which oversees the administrative affairs of the Murim Alliance.

Outside the window, darkness had already engulfed everything like pitch black, but inside the pavilion was as bright as broad daylight.

At the head seat, a middle-aged man sat with his chin resting on his hand, staring at a map spread across the table.

Fair skin and slender fingers.

He looked like a scholar who had never learned martial arts, yet no one in all of Tianxia would dare to belittle him so.

The greatest strategist of this generation who succeeded Jegal Myeong, head of the Jegal Clan, and secured a seat among the Twenty-Eight Stars of Tianxia.

Because he was Jegal Hyeon, the military strategist of the Murim Alliance and the Mysterious King.

He slowly waved a white feather fan while following the red dots on the map with his eyes.

Across from him.

Namgung Hwi was holding his breath while following Jegal Hyeon’s gaze.

After a moment, Namgung Hwi pointed to a spot on the map with his finger and spoke respectfully.

“Military Strategist, their movements are gradually heading south. At this rate, not only Sichuan but even Shaanxi could fall within their sphere of influence.”

At Namgung Hwi’s words, Jegal Hyeon stroked his chin and nodded.

Then he soon chuckled and spoke.

“However, Hwi. When we’re alone like this, I told you to call me uncle, not military strategist.”

“My apologies, …uncle.”

Namgung Hwi smiled awkwardly and bowed his head.

Jegal Hyeon nodded with satisfaction, then looked down at the map again with a serious expression.

“You make a good point. Their momentum is quite unusual.”

Jegal Hyeon pointed to Gansu Province on the map with his feather fan.

“However, it could be a feint. They’ve always caused trouble in places beyond our expectations. They might be planning to focus our attention elsewhere and then strike in other regions.”

“When you say other places…”

It was the moment Namgung Hwi was asking back.

“Brother! Brother!”

An urgent voice came from outside the door along with the sound of frantic knocking.

Namgung Hwi, who immediately recognized the voice’s owner, stood up in surprise.

“…Rin?”

When Namgung Hwi hurriedly opened the door, Namgung Rin entered, breathless.

She looked back and forth between her brother and Jegal Hyeon standing behind him, trying to show proper courtesy.

Then Jegal Hyeon shook his head to stop her.

“No, if you came in such urgency, there must be a reason. Tell me. What brought you here at this hour?”

“It’s about the Taeju Trading Guild.”

“Taeju Trading Guild?”

Jegal Hyeon asked back.

The foremost trading guild in Hannam.

A guild that maintained friendly relations with the League – why would they be involved?

At Jegal Hyeon’s puzzled reaction, Namgung Rin immediately poured out everything Namgung Cheon had told her.

The trap called Eunuigye, information gathering using debt as leverage, and the transcendent beauty Chongwan at the center of it all.

As the story continued, Namgung Hwi’s face grew increasingly rigid.

“…To think they were committing such vile acts.”

In contrast, Jegal Hyeon simply listened silently with his arms crossed.

Instead of surprise, a strange light flickered in his expression.

Namgung Rin’s report was nearing its end.

“…So right now, Cheon-i and the branch manager have gone inside. They only told me to inform the League.”

Namgung Hwi shot up from his seat.

“You’re saying the two of them went there alone?”

“Yes. They said they had to act immediately…”

Namgung Hwi felt dizzy.

His younger brother had rushed into the heart of enemy territory.

“I must go there right away!”

“Wait.”

Jegal Hyeon’s quiet word, who had remained silent until then, stopped Namgung Hwi in his tracks.

“Uncle, Cheon-i is in danger!”

Namgung Hwi cried out urgently, but Jegal Hyeon remained unmoved.

He looked down at the map and asked calmly.

“Rin, didn’t the boy give a reason? The reason why he had to act now.”

“…No, he said he would explain that later.”

At that answer, a faint smile appeared on Jegal Hyeon’s lips.

“Indeed.”

Jegal Hyeon’s eyes flashed sharply.

Recently, there were two main Jegal family members Namgung Cheon had met.

Jegal Myeong of Cheongi Myosan and Jegal Seoyeon of Hyeonbong.

‘Father and Seoyeon both praised him so highly.’

They said Namgung Cheon was deep not only in martial prowess but also in scheming.

Very much so.

‘Then he couldn’t possibly not know that coordinating with the League beforehand would be safer.’

Yet he deliberately risked danger by rushing into enemy territory before sending a messenger.

‘There’s only one case when someone handles things this way.’

Finally, Jegal Hyeon raised his head as if he had made a decision.

“Hwi.”

“Yes, uncle.”

“Go find Cheonui Daejoo right now. Tell him that in my name, I command the deployment of Cheonui-dae, and to immediately lead troops to the Taeju Trading Guild.”

“Understood! But what about the Alliance Leader…”

He meant shouldn’t they report and receive official deployment orders.

But Jegal Hyeon firmly shook his head.

“I’ll report afterward. Right now, even that time is precious.”

His eyes gleamed coldly.

“This is an opening that Cheon-i created by risking his life. We must strike before that opening closes. I will follow soon after, so go ahead.”

At Jegal Hyeon’s decision, Namgung Hwi hesitated no longer.

“I accept your command!”

Namgung Hwi immediately turned and rushed out of Taehwajeon.

Jegal Hyeon, left alone in the room, looked down at Kaifeng’s night view shrouded in darkness outside the window.

“Namgung Cheon…”

He quietly murmured his nephew’s name.

“You’re far more bold and cunning than I heard.”

And thanks to that cunning.

“Starting tomorrow, very rough winds will blow through the martial world.”

A bloody storm at that.

* * *

Creak―.

The door of Byeolchae opened carefully, and Wisa approached Joja Geon to whisper something.

“…!”

Joja Geon’s eyes widened instantly.

But the surprise was brief, as a cunning smile spread across his lips.

He approached Chongwan sitting at the head seat and whispered in his ear.

“The Namgung Clan’s Hannam Branch Manager has come to visit.”

The manager’s eyebrows twitched with interest.

“Ho, let them in.”

At those words, Joja Geon bowed his head and headed toward the door.

“Tell them to enter.”

With quiet permission, Wisa stepped back, and two people entered, crossing paths.

“…?”

Doubt appeared in Joja Geon’s eyes as he was about to introduce Namgung Seon.

Behind Namgung Seon, a bodyguard warrior wearing a bamboo hat was following closely without falling a single step behind.

Joja Geon shouted toward the outside.

“Don’t you know bodyguards cannot enter!”

Despite his sharp outcry, the bodyguard didn’t move at all.

Then Joja Geon turned to Namgung Seon with a forced smile and said.

“Branch Manager, I’m sorry, but only invited guests can enter this place. Please have your bodyguard wait outside.”

However, Namgung Seon shook his head at his words.

“No, I didn’t come here to enjoy some banquet in the first place.”

“…?”

The moment puzzlement crossed Joja Geon’s face.

“Then what business brings you here?”

The manager asked with a sharp voice, narrowing his brow.

But Namgung Seon ignored those words and.

“I’ll ask the people gathered here.”

He looked around at the branch managers and district heads and spoke.

“By any chance, was the reason you fell into debt… investment failure or accidents like fires or theft?”

“…!”

People’s eyes widened.

They began murmuring to each other, looking at one another as if wondering how he knew.

“The storehouse caught fire…”

“The ship sank in a typhoon…”

As they began speaking one by one, a chilling common thread was revealed.

Everyone had experienced similar accidents at similar times as if by arrangement.

And it was precisely then that Taejusan Guild had appeared.

Circumstances too contrived to be coincidence.

Namgung Seon confirmed their agitation and continued speaking.

“And as soon as you all fell into difficulty, Taejusan Guild extended their hand as if they had been waiting. Could this really be coincidence?”

At those words, Branch Manager Hwangbo fell deep in thought.

‘Come to think of it…’

The merchant who had first leaked the speculation information.

‘He’s not now, but he was from Taejusan Guild. That’s why I trusted him.’

Others seemed to have similar thoughts as their expressions grew serious.

‘Then…’

Anger began to frost over Branch Manager Hwangbo’s face.

Though only circumstantial, if you fit one piece, everything fell into place.

That all of this was Taejusan Guild’s conspiracy.

“This, this is absolutely outrageous!”

“You people really…”

Deceived.

Thoroughly fooled, exploited with their weaknesses seized.

“….”

The manager’s expression turned coldly grim.

The situation was turning unfavorably.

But he still had room to maneuver.

It was just suspicion, after all.

“Why do you speak so hurtfully?”

The manager put down his wine cup and spoke gently.

“What would we have to gain by doing such things?”

“Nothing to gain?”

Namgung Seon snorted.

“Binding us and extracting information. And furthermore, swallowing up all of Hannam’s martial world except the League. Isn’t that your purpose?”

“…You go too far.”

Killing intent began to frost in the manager’s eyes.

“Even being from Namgung Clan, there are limits to my patience. If you don’t apologize immediately and withdraw…”

“Or what will you do? Kill me?”

At Namgung Seon’s provocative question, the manager said nothing.

Instead, he tapped the table with his finger as if weighing something.

‘There’s still room to maneuver.’

Dealing with Namgung Seon alone would be nothing.

But the problem was Namgung Clan backing him up.

It would be troublesome if things escalated by acting rashly.

‘For now, I should suppress him with momentum.’

The manager slowly rose from his seat.

Simultaneously, energy emanated from his entire body.

It was clearly the energy of a transcendent master.

Under that overwhelming energy, Namgung Seon clutched his chest.

“Kugh!”

The manager raised one corner of his mouth seeing that sight.

“I didn’t want to do this…”

The manager took a step toward Namgung Seon, pressuring him.

“Last chance. If you kneel and apologize even now…”

Cough.

Namgung Seon coughed up blood-mixed spittle.

Even so, he glared at the manager with bloodshot eyes and shouted.

“Don’t waste your effort! Your atrocities have already been exposed!”

Namgung Seon’s voice rang loudly throughout the byeolchae.

“Cheonripyoguk master Ma Daesan. We subdued that man. And the mastermind that came from his mouth was you people!”

“…!”

The manager’s eyes wavered slightly, but he soon snorted.

“You want me to believe the nonsense of some lowly escort agency master?”

“If you can’t believe it, let’s have a confrontation right now. Of course…”

Namgung Seon smiled bitterly.

“In front of the Murim Alliance’s Cheonui-dae!”

“…What?”

“Did you think I came here alone? I’ve already informed the League of everything. Ma Daesan’s confession and your atrocities.”

“…!”

The manager’s face hardened stiffly.

Murim Alliance.

The moment that name came up, he realized his calculations had gone wrong.

The situation had completely escaped his control.

If the League got involved…

‘Things will escalate further.’

He had to kill him.

All possibilities vanished from Chongwan’s mind.

Only one option remained.

Kill to silence witnesses.

Right now.

He had to eliminate them all before the League arrived, destroy the evidence, and flee.

A murderous glint flashed in Chongwan’s eyes.

“Foolish bastard… hastening your own death.”

Kwaaaaang!

Explosive energy burst from Chongwan’s body.

At the same time, his hand swept across his waist.

Seureureu—

A soft sword shot out like a viper.

“Die!”

Chongwan charged toward Namgung Seon.

Swish—!

His soft sword curved like a snake, aiming for Namgung Seon’s neck.

An unavoidable speed.

However.

Thud!

With a dull explosive sound, Chongwan’s sword was deflected in midair.

“…!”

Chongwan’s eyes filled with shock.

The sword that should have severed Namgung Seon’s neck had been blocked by something and deflected.

The sharp shock traveling up his wrist made him unconsciously step back half a pace.

And before his eyes.

A black shadow that had appeared without him noticing stood blocking Namgung Seon.

Namgung Seon’s bodyguard.

The man wearing a bamboo hat pulled low.

He had blocked his full-power strike with one hand holding a scabbard.

‘What the hell is this?’

Grip.

Chongwan’s grip tightened with tension.

Then, the man wearing the bamboo hat pulled low.

Namgung Cheon slowly raised his head and spoke quietly.

“Since you drew your sword first…”

Seureu—

A jet-black blade slowly revealed itself.

“This is no longer a matter of the Commercial Realm, but of the Martial Realm.”

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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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