Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 98

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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 98

In front of Xining’s North Gate.

White breath still rose through the cold dawn air.

Namgung Cheon, Mujin, and the Wandering King.

The three men silently gazed at the road leading outside the city gate.

Eventually, the Wandering King was the first to adjust his bundle and speak.

“I’ll go first.”

He glanced at Namgung Cheon and added one more thing.

“What cannot bend easily breaks.”

“….”

A strange light flickered in Namgung Cheon’s eyes.

Those were the words he had said to him in his previous life.

To him who had been filled with emptiness and rage toward the world.

The Wandering King continued.

“So try to be a little more flexible. Learn a little, just a little from this fellow here. And you, learn a lot in return.”

At the Wandering King’s scolding, Mujin chuckled and retorted.

“What I’ve learned won’t go anywhere, will it?”

“….”

Mujin whispered to Namgung Cheon with a triumphant smile.

“You must never lose even a single word to the old man. Understand?”

At those words, the Wandering King glared at Mujin once and turned around.

His retreating figure looked strangely lonely, yet free like a bird soaring through the vast sky.

Watching his master’s back grow distant, Mujin finally couldn’t hold back and shouted.

“Stay healthy! Don’t drink too much!”

Instead of answering, the Wandering King only waved his hand once and didn’t stop walking.

The two men stood there until the Wandering King completely disappeared from sight.

After a moment.

“I wonder when I won’t have to listen to his nagging.”

Mujin grumbled and kicked the ground with his foot.

But Namgung Cheon could clearly see it.

The relief and bitterness that crossed Mujin’s eyes.

Relief that his master, whom he’d met after so long, was still strong, and the bitterness of having to part again without knowing when they’d meet.

“What do you plan to do now?”

Namgung Cheon asked.

Mujin shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, now that I’ve met my master….”

Trailing off, he glanced sideways at Namgung Cheon.

“What about you, Young Master? Will you return straight to your family?”

Namgung Cheon shook his head.

There was no particular reason to return to his family, and he needed to find the Cheonma Seven Vaults one by one again.

‘Of course, that’ll be difficult for now.’

Since they wouldn’t open without the energy of Cheonma Sinkong anyway.

“I have no such plans for the time being.”

At Namgung Cheon’s words, Mujin clapped his hands as if he’d been waiting.

“Oh, then come somewhere with me.”

“Where?”

“Sichuan.”

“Sichuan?”

When Namgung Cheon made a puzzled expression, Mujin smiled and added an explanation.

“Actually, I have a benefactor in Chengdu, Sichuan. Have you heard of the Bamboo Forest Immortal Physician?”

“This is the first I’ve heard of him.”

“Well, he quietly practices medicine rather than making a name for himself in Gangho, so you might not know. But his skills are incredible. In my opinion, he’s the reincarnation of Hua Tuo.”

Mujin lightly tapped his chest.

“Ten years ago, when I first entered Gangho, I was dying from poison and that gentleman saved me. Since then, I’ve made sure to visit him every three or four years to pay my respects. So, since I’ve come this far, I want to visit him.”

His words carried sincere respect.

Namgung Cheon fell into thought for a moment.

Sichuan.

Southwest of Junghwon.

It was where the Sichuan Dang Clan, one of the Five Great Families, and Cheongsengpa and Emei Sect of the Nine Sects were located.

‘And below that, there’s also a Bigo in Guizhou.’

With no particular destination set for now, it wasn’t a bad choice.

“…Good. Let’s go.”

At Namgung Cheon’s acceptance, Mujin’s face brightened.

“Thank you. Well then, let’s go right away!”

The two men obtained two horses in Xining and set off.

The road heading south from Xining.

The scenery changed moment by moment.

After leaving the desolate and barren foothills of Kunlun, they were gradually greeted by dense greenery and humid air.

Jando.

The horses carefully walked along the narrow path precariously hanging on the waist of a sheer cliff.

Below their feet yawned a thousand-foot abyss, through which rough rapids flowed.

Mujin looked down and shivered lightly.

“If we fall, they won’t even be able to collect our bones.”

“You’re quite timid.”

Namgung Cheon replied indifferently.

“It’s not fear, it’s survival instinct. People like you whose guts have spilled outside their belly wouldn’t understand.”

Mujin grumbled and continued.

“By the way, Young Master, do you have enough money? Inn fees and food costs in Sichuan won’t be cheap.”

“Don’t worry.”

The promissory note Namgung Hwi had prepared for him, plus the money he’d brought separately.

On top of that, there was the money he’d received for escorting the Iron Flying Merchant Guild to Kunlun, so there was no way it would be insufficient.

At that moment, a thought crossed Namgung Cheon’s mind.

“…Come to think of it, what happened to the money you received for the escort job?”

“Whoa!”

As soon as Namgung Cheon’s words fell, Mujin’s body swayed and leaned toward the cliff.

In the heart-stopping moment when his upper body tilted precariously over the thousand-foot abyss.

Nevertheless, Namgung Cheon even crossed his arms and spoke in an indifferent voice.

“Please continue.”

“….”

Mujin, who had been stopped with half his body hanging in midair, quietly straightened himself and cleared his throat.

“Ahem, isn’t your reaction a bit too much when someone’s in crisis?”

“So you’ve already spent all the money?”

At Namgung Cheon’s persistent question, Mujin hugged his money pouch and answered.

“This won’t do. This is my retirement fund and seed money for my future dreams.”

“Dreams?”

“That’s right. When I retire later, if I want to build a big house in a scenic place and live there, I have to save penny by penny. So I can’t touch this money. Absolutely not.”

What a sight, guarding his money pouch with such a serious face.

Namgung Cheon chuckled and shook his head.

“Fine, stop pretending to fall and just lead the way.”

“I understand.”

Mujin’s expression brightened again.

Namgung Cheon shook his head as he watched Mujin.

The speed of his attitude change was so fast that it was hard to believe he had just shown a bitter expression while parting from his master.

But he didn’t dislike that lightheartedness.

It was just right for shaking off the heavy and solemn atmosphere from Kunlun.

Then a thought suddenly occurred to him.

‘Perhaps this is the flexibility the Wandering King spoke of.’

A faint smile spread across Namgung Cheon’s lips.

* * *

About two weeks after departing from Xining.

“We’ve arrived.”

Mujin wiped the sweat from his forehead and pointed ahead.

In the distance, a magnificent city situated on a vast basin revealed itself.

The center of Sichuan, called the Land of Abundance.

It was Chengdu.

“Coming here after so long brings back memories.”

Excitement was evident in Mujin’s voice.

The two men rode their horses through the city gates.

Inside the gates was truly another world.

The streets were bustling with crowds so thick there was no room to step, and the stalls lining both sides of the street overflowed with all kinds of precious goods.

Silk, medicinal herbs, spices, tea leaves.

The sound of merchants from all over Junghwon haggling over goods was loud enough to hurt one’s ears.

“Chengdu is indeed Chengdu. The atmosphere is completely different from Xining, isn’t it?”

Mujin looked around in admiration.

Namgung Cheon also surveyed his surroundings with interested eyes.

Prosperity.

That was Chengdu’s first impression.

Abundant products from fertile land and enormous wealth flowing in through waterways that connected in all directions.

People’s expressions showed leisure, and their clothing was splendid.

But Namgung Cheon’s eyes narrowed as he walked mixed in with the crowd.

Dang Clan warriors in green martial robes were scattered throughout.

Their gazes were sharp, as if wary of something.

‘How strange.’

Then, Mujin quietly spoke.

“If we go a little further, there’s a clinic on the outskirts. It’s in a place thick with bamboo forest.”

The two slowly headed toward the outskirts of Chengdu.

After walking for quite a while, a clinic nestled quietly among lush bamboo groves came into view.

On the signboard, the characters for Bamboo Forest Clinic were written in powerful brushstrokes.

“This is the place… hm?”

Mujin’s brow furrowed as he stopped in front of the clinic.

Normally, this place should have been bustling with patients who came for treatment.

But the main gate was tightly closed, and there was no sign of life, making it eerily desolate. Like a haunted house that had been abandoned for a long time.

“…This is strange.”

Mujin looked around in confusion.

“Did Wang Jin go out on a house call? But even so, the disciples should have stayed to see patients.”

He tilted his head and approached the gate, grasping the door handle. It was firmly locked.

“Is anyone there! Master! It’s me, Mujin!”

Bang bang bang.

Mujin knocked on the gate, but there was no response from inside.

“Hmm.”

Mujin scratched his head in perplexity. Then, Namgung Cheon, who had been quietly observing the situation, spoke softly.

“There are people inside.”

Mujin’s eyes narrowed.

He too had been sensing a faint presence, but wasn’t certain.

The energy was too weak and vague.

“However…”

Namgung Cheon’s eyes grew coldly serious.

“They’re terrified.”

At those words, Mujin’s expression hardened.

He knocked on the door once more, this time more carefully.

A strange tension also crept into his voice.

“Master? Are you inside? It’s me, Mujin. I’ve come to pay my respects after five years. Is something wrong?”

After a moment.

Step, step.

Cautious footsteps crossing the courtyard could be heard.

Then with a creaking sound, the gate opened just enough for a finger to slip through.

Through that gap, someone’s eyes were visible.

Bloodshot eyes filled with wariness.

“…Who are you? The clinic is closed. Please leave.”

It was a sharp woman’s voice.

But as soon as Mujin heard that voice, his face lit up.

“Yuol? It’s me, Brother Mujin!”

“…!”

The eyes in the gap between the doors shook greatly.

“Mujin… Brother?”

Creak.

The door opened wide.

What appeared was a woman who looked to be around twenty.

Though she wore plain hemp clothes, she was a beauty with elegant features.

But her condition was a mess.

Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were full of dirt and stains.

Most of all, her face was gaunt and haggard.

“Brother… are you really Brother Mujin?”

Tears quickly welled up in her eyes.

“Yes, Yuol. No, what’s this state you’re in? What on earth happened?”

Mujin asked in surprise, but instead of answering, Soyuol hurriedly looked around.

Then she spotted Namgung Cheon standing behind Mujin and stepped back in alarm.

“This person is…”

“Ah, this is Young Master Namgung Cheon, the third son of the Namgung Clan. He’s trustworthy, so don’t worry.”

Mujin introduced her to Namgung Cheon.

“Young Master, this is Soyuol, the granddaughter of Master Namgung Mukhon.”

Even with Mujin’s introduction, Soyuol’s wariness didn’t easily fade.

She grabbed Mujin’s sleeve with trembling hands.

“First… please come inside. This isn’t something to discuss outside.”

The three people hurriedly entered the clinic.

Only after Soyuol firmly locked the main gate did she let out a sigh of relief.

Mujin couldn’t hold back and asked again.

“Yuol, tell me. Where did grandfather go? And why is the clinic in such a state?”

Mujin pressed her.

Soyuol bit her lips and lowered her head.

After a long silence, she struggled to open her mouth.

“Grandfather went… to Nakwachin Village.”

“Nakwachin Village? Where is that? I’ve never heard of such a place.”

“It’s a small village deep in the mountains, north of Chengdu.”

Soyuol’s voice trembled faintly.

“About half a month ago… someone came from that village. They said a strange disease was spreading and begged us to save them.”

“A strange disease?”

“Yes. At first, we thought it was just another epidemic… but the symptoms were bizarre.”

Soyuol swallowed dryly and continued.

“People would suddenly go mad and rampage. They became incredibly strong and couldn’t feel pain…”

She raised her head to look at Mujin.

“Most of all… their eyes would turn red, and they wouldn’t recognize their own family members and would kill them.”

“…!”

Mujin’s mouth fell open.

“Wh-what do you mean…”

“When grandfather heard that, he immediately prepared to leave. I said I would go with him, but he said it was dangerous and only took his disciples. And then…”

Tears streamed down Soyuol’s eyes.

“We lost contact after that. The road leading to the village was completely blocked too. So we don’t even know if grandfather is still alive…”

Mujin was too shocked to continue speaking.

A situation where life or death was unknown.

However, Namgung Cheon, who had heard the story, narrowed his eyes.

‘Increased strength, inability to feel pain, and eyes turning red.’

And then killing people around them.

Namgung Cheon knew all too well when such symptoms appeared.

It wasn’t a disease at all.

‘These are symptoms that appear when someone is consumed by demonic energy while practicing demonic arts.’

In the Demonic Sect, such people were called Lost Souls because they seemed to have lost their minds.

‘But ordinary villagers who don’t even practice demonic arts becoming Lost Souls…’

Then there was only one answer.

‘Someone is intentionally turning the entire village into a living hell.’

Namgung Cheon’s eyes grew coldly sharp.

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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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