Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 84

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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 84

One week after the Taeju Trading Guild incident.

Jegal Hyeon came to visit Namgung Cheon’s guest room.

“What brings you here, Military Strategist?”

Jegal Hyeon answered with a gentle smile.

“What grand reason would an uncle need to visit his nephew?”

“….”

“And Military Strategist, you say. I often tell my son Hwi this too, but when we’re alone together, feel free to call me Uncle.”

A voice dripping with kindness.

However.

“If we were truly alone, I would do so, Military Strategist.”

Namgung Cheon declined and glanced toward midair.

More precisely, toward the ceiling of the guest room.

“….”

The smile lingering on Jegal Hyeon’s lips slowly faded.

He remained silent for a moment before asking quietly.

“How did you know?”

“If you ask how I knew what I can feel and see, I have nothing to say.”

“Hah.”

Jegal Hyeon let out a small exclamation.

‘To notice instantly what even Hwi couldn’t detect….’

Naturally, Jegal Hyeon had a bodyguard with him.

Moreover, it was a master who had reached the pinnacle realm and perfected the Shadow Guard Technique passed down to the League’s covert protectors.

Therefore, except for a very few individuals within the League, no one could detect his presence.

Yet Namgung Cheon had noticed such a bodyguard instantly.

“Hehe, very well. I understand.”

Jegal Hyeon, who had regained his smile, soon tilted his head slightly.

Then the presence vanished in an instant.

Confirming that the bodyguard had withdrawn, Namgung Cheon spoke first.

“Did you come about the Taeju Trading Guild matter?”

Jegal Hyeon nodded.

“Yes, for now we’ve imprisoned Woe Chongwan and Joja Geon in Noeok. They insisted to the end that it was their independent action. And….”

Jegal Hyeon narrowed his eyes as he continued.

“In just one week, twenty percent of what Taeju Trading Guild possessed has disappeared.”

Namgung Cheon nodded.

That was to be expected.

The important thing wasn’t that a week had passed, but the six-month gap that would follow.

“At this rate, in six months Taeju Trading Guild will barely be able to maintain its existence. Ah, and there was almost no information leaked. Thanks to cutting it off before Eunuigye could deepen.”

Namgung Cheon nodded silently.

However, he soon opened his mouth with an indifferent expression.

“But I don’t understand why you’re telling me all this.”

Jegal Hyeon’s eyes grew coldly calm.

“Because I haven’t yet heard the most important story I need to hear from you.”

He leaned forward as he continued.

“The real reason you immediately took action that day.”

Jegal Hyeon’s eyes deepened.

Facing this, Namgung Cheon answered calmly.

“Haven’t you already figured it out?”

“Yes. In such situations, there’s only one reason to move with lightning speed.”

Jegal Hyeon’s expression hardened gravely.

“When you suspect there’s a spy within.”

Namgung Cheon nodded.

The branch managers and regional heads of the Orthodox Faction were people who had experienced all kinds of hardships.

And they fundamentally held positions and possessed considerable insight.

‘Approaching such people and drawing them into Eunuigye is by no means an easy task.’

That meant, in other words.

‘There’s a connection. There’s someone from the Orthodox Faction who arranged for them.’

And they were likely within the League that encompassed all Orthodox Factions.

Jegal Hyeon sighed and continued.

“However, we investigated those who were arrested, but hardly any traces emerged. They put painstaking effort into avoiding having their tails caught.”

The air in the room grew heavy.

Namgung Cheon spoke quietly.

“It’s surprising that even the League’s intelligence network can’t handle it.”

“It’s not because our intelligence is lacking.”

Jegal Hyeon shook his head.

Deep fatigue flashed in his eyes.

“The League has grown too massive. As it grew, procedures became complex and the justifications we must uphold became heavier. Even to verify a single piece of intelligence requires dozens of approvals, and to interrogate a suspect requires considering conflicts between sects.”

He let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Namgung Cheon found the limitations of the League that Jegal Hyeon was revealing not at all unfamiliar.

‘The Sect also appeared to be one group on the surface, but in reality was full of power struggles among the Seven Great Demonic Families.’

The subtle psychological warfare and tug-of-war that occurred between them.

If even Makyō was like that, how much more so would the Murim Alliance, which was born as an alliance of countless sects?

‘This will be difficult.’

It was a frustrating situation.

But even amid this, there was a fortunate aspect.

The fact that Taeju Trading Guild, which caused this incident, belonged to Sangdo-cheon.

This meant giving a tangible form to an intangible enemy.

Just as Namgung Cheon was about to voice this thought, Jegal Hyeon struck first.

“Sangdo-cheon has already pulled out.”

Jegal Hyeon smiled bitterly.

“They announced it today. This incident was Taeju Trading Guild’s independent deviation and has nothing to do with Sangdo-cheon. They even stripped Taeju Trading Guild of its Seven Merchant Council qualification this morning. They’ve been expelled from the merchant world.”

“That was fast.”

“Since they’re merchants, their cutting of losses is lightning-fast. But naturally, I don’t think Sangdo-cheon is uninvolved.”

Namgung Cheon nodded.

Even a three-year-old would know.

No matter how much Sangdo-cheon tried to distance itself, they were behind this incident.

As if picking up on this thought, Jegal Hyeon continued.

“The hidden struggle of Tianxia’s four powers. An invisible war has begun. And in this war, the League’s justifications and massive body are actually becoming weaknesses.”

A strange light appeared in Jegal Hyeon’s eyes.

“So I thought. Instead of this sluggish League, isn’t there a blade that can move in their manner?”

Jegal Hyeon’s gaze slowly settled on Namgung Cheon.

“And so, one person came to mind. Someone who destroys the Heterodox Faction while also gathering them, who moves in the name of righteousness but never shuns the methods of evil.”

Jegal Hyeon paused briefly and smiled kindly.

“My sister’s son and Namgung’s Third Young Master, Namgung Cheon. I make you this proposal.”

Jegal Hyeon took out a jet-black wooden plaque from his bosom and placed it on the table.

On it, the character for League was carved clearly in blood-red.

“In the darkness where the League’s eyes and ears cannot reach. Wield your sword on behalf of the League in those depths.”

Namgung Cheon’s calm gaze rested on the wooden plaque.

The empty title of acting on behalf of the League wasn’t important.

What he wanted wasn’t justification, but practical benefits.

That’s why he asked.

“What compensation will I receive?”

At Namgung Cheon’s question, Jegal Hyeon immediately answered.

“Everything.”

Jegal Hyeon’s eyes flashed coldly.

“Everything that those you cut down enjoyed. I’ll give you all those interests completely.”

* * *

Hefei, Anhui Province, Geumokru, the headquarters of Jinquanpa.

Geumokru, which had been nothing more than a successful tavern in Hefei just a few months ago, now had a completely different grandeur.

They had bought up all the surrounding shops, torn them down, and built massive stone walls around the area.

Though it was still insufficient to be called a manor, it had become magnificent enough to be believed as the main base of any decent mid-sized sect.

And inside those walls, in the center of a newly built spacious training ground.

Baekdwang strutted with his hands behind his back, pacing in front of the lined-up gang members with an arrogant gait.

Then he opened his mouth in a deliberately lowered voice.

“Ahem! You lot, do you comprehend how the current martial realm situation is unfolding?”

“…?”

Grandiose literary language picked up from who knows where.

This was the result of his own interpretation of Naengcheolsan’s nagging that merchants needed dignified speech to become great traders.

But there was no way the gang members, who were similarly lacking in education, could understand this.

Seeing the gang members staring at him with their mouths agape, Baekdwang sighed deeply as if frustrated.

“Sigh, it seems you cannot follow my profound insights. Well then, ask questions. I shall answer anything.”

Silence flowed.

“Um… Boss.”

After a moment, Cheolgwi, the sub-leader standing in the front row, cautiously raised his hand.

Baekdwang nodded with a benevolent smile as if he were the leader of the great Daebang Sect.

“Yes, speak up. What are you curious about?”

Then Cheolgwi asked with a genuinely worried expression.

“Did you eat something wrong?”

“….”

“Your complexion looks fine, but the way you’re speaking is…”

Baekdwang’s face hardened.

His lips, which had been curved in satisfaction, trembled.

The ‘dignity’ he had been trying to maintain seemed about to crumble.

“You ignorant fool!”

Just as Baekdwang couldn’t hold back and was about to shout in his original rough voice.

Naengcheolsan, Jinquanpa’s strategist, appeared at the entrance of the training ground.

“Boss, it’s not ‘mumimongmae’ but ‘mujimongmae’ (ignorant and benighted).”

“….”

Baekdwang froze, swallowing empty air.

Naengcheolsan, as if unconcerned with his expression, held up a letter.

“More importantly, a message has arrived.”

At those words, Baekdwang quickly looked around at the gang members again and cleared his throat.

“Ahem! Cheolsan, am I not currently conducting crucial education for our gang members? Handle such trivial matters at your level.”

Naengcheolsan stared at Baekdwang with an expressionless face.

“Trivial… did you say?”

“That’s right! What could be more important to me right now than this education? Handle trivial correspondence yourself. What are you doing? Hurry up and withdraw.”

Naengcheolsan’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Then he turned around without hesitation and muttered quietly.

“Understood. Then I’ll send a reply to the Young Master saying ‘the boss called it trivial correspondence and told me to handle it without even looking.'”

“…Huh?”

Baekdwang’s thoughts stopped for a moment.

Young Master.

The moment those two words struck his mind.

“!”

Baekdwang, who belatedly came to his senses, urgently turned his head and spoke.

“Young Master, you said!”

But Naengcheolsan was already far away.

Baekdwang’s face turned pale.

“Oh, oh no! Cheolsan! Wait there! I was wrong!”

Baekdwang frantically ran across the training ground.

Throwing away all dignity and grace, as fast as possible.

But Naengcheolsan didn’t stop.

“It’s fine. I’ll handle this ‘trivial matter’ myself.”

Naengcheolsan, now far away, replied coldly and unfolded the letter in his hand.

And.

Stop.

Naengcheolsan’s steps halted.

Naengcheolsan, who usually showed little emotional change.

His mouth gaped open as if it might tear.

Moreover, the hand holding the letter was trembling slightly.

Seeing this, Baekdwang’s heart sank.

“Why, what’s wrong? Is the Young Master angry? Did he scold us for earning less money in Anhui?”

Baekdwang turned pale and peeked at the letter over Naengcheolsan’s shoulder.

And the moment he confirmed the contents.

“Gasp!”

Empty air was sucked into Baekdwang’s mouth.

His eyes trembled wildly.

“What in the world is this….”

The content of the letter was concise.

―Come to Hannam to acquire Cheonripyoguk.

Baekdwang roughly rubbed his face with his coarse hands as if washing it dry.

Wondering if it was a dream, he rubbed his eyes and looked again, but the letters hadn’t changed.

Cheonripyoguk.

Though it might not be among the Five Great Pyoguk of Tianxia, it was a massive pyoguk whose reputation reached even Anhui.

To come and acquire such a place.

Baekdwang spoke with a trembling voice.

“…Cheolsan.”

“Yes….”

“This isn’t a dream right now, is it? The Young Master really told us to take over Cheonripyoguk, right?”

“…We need to pack and head to Hannam today.”

Even Naengcheolsan’s voice, usually devoid of emotion, was trembling faintly.

Baekdwang stared blankly up at the sky for a moment.

The blue sky looked particularly high.

Truly the azure sky.

And seeing such a sky, something hot surged up from deep within Baekdwang’s chest.

“Uaaaaaaah!”

Baekdwang roared so loudly it seemed the training ground would collapse.

At his booming shout, the guards standing in the Training Ground flinched.

Then Baekdwang yelled at the guards who were staring at him blankly.

“Why are you standing there like idiots! Start packing right now!”

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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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