The Heavenly Demon of the Blue Sky - Chapter 27

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Cheongtian Heavenly Demon Episode 27
“M-my lord……!”
Namgung Gyeong dismounted, his breathing ragged and labored.
“What have you done out there to bring back such a throng?”
“I’m not leading them, my lord. I was scouting the vicinity when I noticed this vast multitude gathering of their own accord, moving toward Cheonju Mountain. Fearing some calamity had befallen, I rushed ahead to investigate and escort them!”
Namgung Gyeong’s eyes narrowed at the urgent tone as he studied the approaching crowd.
“If you’re not the one guiding them, then who are these people that they would seek out Namgung of their own volition?”
“They are the residents of our Namgung who survived the catastrophe of Hyeolgyo and scattered across the realm……!”
“What?”
Even as he spoke, the procession reached the gates of Namgung.
Seen up close, the assembly was remarkably diverse.
Peasants bearing farm tools on their backs, craftsmen with calloused hands, physicians with medicine bags, and merchants laden with bundles.
These were the people who had once made their livelihoods within Namgung’s walls.
“Ah! It’s real! The rumors were true!”
“Namgung has truly been rebuilt!”
Neat rows of houses stood where ash-covered ruins had been, and broad fields lay freshly tilled.
Those who beheld the reconstructed Namgung with their own eyes sank to their knees on the spot, tears streaming down their weathered faces.
An elderly man with white hair, who seemed to be their elder, pushed through the crowd and approached.
Recognizing Namgung Gyeong, he prostrated himself, his forehead touching the ground.
“That you, young master, who was once frail in health, have grown so strong and raised our house anew—I could die with no regrets!”
The elder introduced himself as Han Seok-san, and said he had long practiced blacksmithing within Namgung.
Beginning with him, the gathered residents knelt and wept openly.
“We fled in terror when Hyeolgyo attacked, each thinking only of saving our own hides and scattering to the four winds. Yet…… when we dispersed beyond these borders, we found no place in all the world as safe as Namgung’s shadow, nor any that treated us as human beings.”
“Not a single day brought us peace! We suffered endless plunder from bandit gangs and government soldiers, able only to long for Namgung’s clear winds.”
The earnest confessions of the townsfolk, raw as if coughing blood, deepened the quiet sobs around them.
“And above all…… the guilt of having failed to protect our lord made it impossible to draw breath. Please, allow us to gather once more and lay true foundations for Namgung!”
A thousand-strong chorus of anguished pleas, faces streaked with tears.
For the single hope that the fortress of Namgung had risen again, they had endured the long journey without hesitation.
As Namgung Gyeong looked down upon them, he felt something stir within him.
‘So this is what a Great Family truly is.’
It was not merely a matter of shared blood.
It was these people who had lived sheltered beneath the name and influence of the clan.
A vast community built through struggle and toil alongside one another.
The timing was fortunate—he needed labor desperately.
A thousand loyal souls who would willingly abandon all for their house had walked straight into his grasp; any man in his position would welcome them with open arms.
And yet.
He folded his arms and spoke in a voice turned sharp and cold.
“I am grateful that you have come upon hearing the news.”
His voice, glacial and measured, silenced the noisy crowd.
“As you can see, only a small village has been rebuilt thus far. I lack the means to take in thousands upon the instant.”
It was harsh, but it was truth.
Building and sustaining a power requires endless wealth and grain.
No matter how deep their loyalty, one cannot carelessly multiply mouths to feed.
And yet, not a single person rose from where they knelt.
“When the demons of Hyeolgyo attacked and all faced death, you and the heroes of Namgung arranged a defensive formation to save us alone, and opened a path for our escape……”
Those who remained prostrate behind him also added their voices through their tears.
“For so long we enjoyed peace beneath the grace of the Namgung Clan. How could we turn away from this time of hardship when our house struggles to rise again……?”
“Allow us only to remain! We shall fell trees and move stones ourselves to build our own shelter!”
“We have brought emergency rations to sustain us, seeds for the fields, and tools for our trades, gathered by the contributions of all. We harbor not the slightest thought of depleting the family stores……!”
“We shall undertake all the arduous labor of the clan! Please, we beg you—let us remain at Namgung’s side!”
They had not gathered for profit.
This was a vow of devotion, staked upon the gratitude the Namgung Clan had once shown them and the righteousness of a debt of life itself.
‘Hmm.’
In his days as the Heavenly Demon, tens of thousands of followers had prostrated before him—moved only by his overwhelming might and the terror he inspired.
But what of those who knelt before him now?
‘The rigid righteousness peculiar to the Righteous Path…… it may well prove useful.’
Then this was no bad bargain. They had already agreed to provide for themselves, had they not?
To raise a force against Hyeolgyo, he would need sturdy cornerstones to support the foundation.
Laborers for the fields and craftsmen to forge weapons had literally walked to his door of their own accord—there was no reason to turn them away.
“Very well. If such is your resolve, I welcome you as the lord of Namgung.”
At that moment, a thunderous cheer erupted from Cheonju Mountain, as if the very sky were splitting open.
“Waaaaaa-!!”
The villagers wept and embraced one another, overcome with emotion. Then I called for my sisters.
“Sister.”
Seol-hwa stepped forward, brush and ledger in hand.
“Begin by compiling a new census of all these people. I want a detailed accounting of each person’s skills and strengths. Then divide the farmland fairly among them so we avoid unnecessary friction.”
“I was already running the numbers in my head. It’ll be tight at first, but I’ll allocate everything precisely so no labor goes to waste. Leave it to me.”
With Seol-hwa’s gift for administration, there was no need to repeat myself.
Next, I summoned Yu-hwa.
“Our population has grown considerably, and so has the perimeter we need to defend. Select the healthiest among those who’ve arrived and station them as sentries around the outer reaches. They’ll serve as our eyes and ears—watching for intruders while maintaining order within the village itself.”
“Understood. I’ll make Hyo-myeong a squad leader and establish a proper system.”
Even if we couldn’t expect much military strength from them just yet, their torches and patrols would still be of value.
Then I gestured to Dang-suk, who had been standing quietly at my side.
“Dang-suk.”
“Yes, Master!”
“Find those with quick minds and sharp eyes among the newcomers. Keep them close and teach them how to run a trading operation.”
“These people have traveled such a distance for the sake of the Namgung Clan alone—they are certainly trustworthy. I shall do exactly as you command!”
Next came Namgung Gyeong, who stood gasping in the corner, trying to catch his breath.
“Select those with nimble feet and keen ears. And expand our scout range. I’m told bandits have become numerous in the surrounding areas since the Namgung fell—we need to identify them beforehand.”
“Yes! Several promising candidates have already caught my eye!”
I then called upon a physician named Baek and entrusted him with the herbalists.
“Cultivate new medicinal herb gardens throughout the Cheonju Mountain region.”
The mountain was deep and rich with spiritual energy—perfect for growing rare herbs.
“But that’s not all. Train them in medicine so they can support the new medical pavilion we’ll build. As our numbers grow, so will our sick and injured.”
Developing skilled physicians was essential to maintaining our strength as a force.
Physician Baek’s eyes glistened with profound emotion.
“Ah… I never thought the Namgung’s medical pavilion would regain its vitality. I swear to give my utmost effort.”
Finally, I turned my attention to Yeon-hwa, who held a sheaf of architectural plans.
“Sister, I need you to sort the craftspeople who’ve arrived here. Separate them by specialty—carpenters, stonemasons, blacksmiths, and so on—so they can be deployed immediately to construction of our new facilities.”
“Of course. And…”
Yeon-hwa’s eyes sparkled as she approached an elderly man with white hair.
“Master Han! It’s you, isn’t it? The greatest blacksmith the Namgung ever had!”
“Hehe, young lady. How kind of you to remember this old man.”
Yeon-hwa clapped her hands together in delight and turned to me with a bright voice.
“Hyuk, Master Han is numbered among the finest craftsmen in all the realm. Every celebrated blade of the Namgung was forged by his hands.”
I studied Han Seok-san’s calloused, weathered hands with interest.
“With skill like yours, you could have sought refuge with any Great Family or sect when the Namgung collapsed. You would have been honored and lived comfortably.”
Han Seok-san’s eyes crinkled into a smile as he answered.
“It is true that many wished to take me in. Yet my heart held only one thing—the deep debt of gratitude I owed to the former masters of the Namgung. How could I abandon my lord’s kindness and slip through another man’s door like a dog?”
His gaze then fell upon the Cheonghae Gowol strapped to my back.
“I myself have honed that blade many times over the years. To see it return to the clan’s embrace once more… my heart overflows with joy.”
With a soft ring, I drew the sword partway and examined its blue steel.
Despite the passage of a century, it still radiated a keen, chilling edge.
I realized this was only possible because a master craftsman’s spirit had been poured into it. I nodded with satisfaction.
“Should anything trouble the blade, I’ll come to you.”
“Anytime. It would be my honor to receive you.”
It was then that Yeon-hwa gently tugged at my sleeve and spoke hesitantly.
“Um, Hyuk? Would it be all right if I studied metalwork under Master Han too? I want to do more than just draw plans—I want to forge the Namgung’s facilities and weapons with my own hands.”
Han Seok-san broke into a nostalgic laugh.
“What a wonderful reunion this is. You were always remarkable even as a child, young lady. While other noble girls your age played with cloth dolls, you would sneak away to my blacksmith shop and play with metal scraps and hammers.”
“Oh! Master Han, please—not in front of Hyuk!”
“Every time, your father would find you and scold you harshly until you wept and retreated. Even then, I recognized your keen eye and uncommon talent… but I dared not speak of it to your betters, thinking it unbefitting for a lady. As a craftsman, that is a regret I carry.”
Her talent had flourished, yet she had been caged by others’ expectations and her station.
I gave a short, dry laugh and spoke to Yeon-hwa without ceremony.
“In my Namgung, we have no need for such dusty customs.”
“What…?”
“If you have talent and it serves the clan, station and birth and gender mean nothing. Sister, if you wish it, go and toil by the forge, crawl through construction sites, live however you please. You have my blessing.”
It was not only my sisters whom I meant. The same applied to all who had gathered here.
“If you have talent and effort, I will not regard birth or station. If there is something you wish to pursue, pursue it freely. You have only one life—you ought to live it properly.”
I had learned that regret always comes too late, after death.
So in this life, I hoped that both I and those who followed me could challenge ourselves freely.
It was also partly because it made them easier to manage.
But it seemed the people around me interpreted it in an entirely different way.
“Sob…… Hyeok…! To think you’d encourage the dreams of so many people!”
Yeon-hwa’s eyes glistened with tears.
“Remarkable! What a boundless and merciful heart you possess!”
Even Han Seok-san, for whom this was a first, covered his lips and trembled with emotion.
“In an age when everyone is preoccupied with questioning and comparing their origins and station, how could you offer such an open mind and such generous opportunity?”
The other craftsmen nearby regarded me as though I were an enlightened sage king, untainted by prejudice.
An unbearable awkwardness crept up my spine.
“Don’t get the wrong idea! I’m doing all this for myself!”
My face burned, and before I knew it, I blurted it out loudly.
“Because I’m comfortable only when you all deploy your talents without reservation!”
I frowned deeply and raised my voice, but—
“Ah, you fear we might feel burdened, so you take all responsibility upon yourself!”
“How noble a heart you must possess!”
They simply smiled sweetly and nodded in agreement.
“Stop reading between the lines!”
I had no idea why everyone turned into this whenever they stood before me.
I wanted to live selfishly, so why did they keep making me into an altruistic person?
I struck my chest in frustration, but it seemed their scales had already fallen firmly over their eyes.
What’s more, Namgung Gyeong withdrew from his bosom a thick ledger and a brush wet with ink.
Inscribed across the cover of the book in large characters was “Cheongtian Household Master’s Records.”
“Great Master…! Today I shall record these sacred teachings and pass them down to future generations.”
Then, his eyes sparkling, he began brandishing the brush furiously.
“The Master has said: Before talent and effort, there is no distinction of origin or status. Moreover, to lighten the spiritual burden that our people must carry, he deliberately assumes a harsh demeanor and frames all things as his own selfishness…… Ah! What sublime and tearful virtue this sage king displays!”
“Hey, you lunatic! Aren’t you going to erase that?! Hand it over right now!”
I reached out in alarm to snatch the ledger, but Namgung Gyeong quickly hugged the records to his chest and rolled across the floor to escape.
“If you wish to take my life, then take it! But I can never surrender this record—it shall become the greatest treasure of our clan!”
He declared this solemnly, as if he were a martyr offering his life for the greater cause.
The assembled craftsmen erupted in applause at his fanatical devotion.
“Hurrah! What a loyal and noble retainer!”
“Long live the Master! Long live the Namgung Clan!”
Cheers and acclamation poured forth.
Having given up any hope of reclaiming the ledger, I held my forehead and exhaled a long, defeated sigh.
‘……I’m finished. I’ve thoroughly miscalculated with these rigid-minded fools.’
In that moment, the clear and blind devotion of the Orthodox Path felt twice as exhausting as the blood-soaked life of the Demonic Sect.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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