The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 108

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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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Spear Heaven Martial Emperor Episode 108

He hadn’t expected Namgung Hyeok, who had come with only two attendants, to give such an immediate answer.

“Sacred Fire Sect Master. This is not a matter you should decide so easily. They are a sect with considerable power. Even our Fire Essence faction has been unable to deal with such a formidable enemy. So please take your time to decide…”

“Haha. Merchant Leader. You’re saying strange things. Weren’t you the one who just asked for help?”

“…!”

With this response, he had nothing more to say.

As Namgung Hyeok said, he was the one who had made the request first.

Heo Jin pondered for a moment before nodding his head.

“Yes. However, I was just trying to tell you to be careful. As I mentioned earlier, the opponent is strong.”

“I understand. If they weren’t a formidable enemy, you wouldn’t have made such a request in the first place.”

Namgung Hyeok narrowed his eyes.

“However, I am also sincere. I’m prepared to do anything to gain the cooperation of the Fire Essence faction.”

“…!”

“Give me information about them. What is the scale of their sect, and how strong are they? Do they have any alliances or backing? Also tell me their location and distance.”

At Namgung Hyeok’s proactive attitude, Heo Jin gulped.

But soon he began explaining everything one by one.

“It’s an evil sect with roughly five hundred disciples. Among the sects active in this region, they’re strong enough to be counted on one hand. Moreover, while they don’t have equal alliances, they’ve risen as the leader of the smaller evil sects in the area.”

“So they have many places to draw troops from besides their disciples. Exactly how are they interfering?”

“At first, they proposed a deal asking us to share the secret method for making Fire Essence… but when we refused, they began pressuring the surroundings to prevent people from buying our goods.”

“But if it’s spiritual medicine, the demand should be too great to be covered by such methods, right?”

“Yes. So they disguise themselves as bandits to interfere with our merchant group’s business. Already, several merchant groups going to sell medicine have been attacked, and sometimes they even target merchant groups or escort agencies that supply us with materials.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Hyeok told him about the escort agency they had met on the way and the bandits who had attacked them. Upon hearing the story, Heo Jin exploded in anger.

“Those were probably either people directly from Thunder Sword Gate or those hired by them. They continue to interfere with us in this manner.”

“They’re vicious.”

“Yes. They are truly vicious. But since they’re larger than our merchant group, we haven’t been able to do anything about it…”

Heo Jin trailed off. He let out a light sigh and asked Namgung Hyeok.

“Do you perhaps have some plan? Or are there actually more troops you’ve brought instead of just the three of you…?”

“Unfortunately, it’s just the three of us. But I think three is enough.”

“What do you mean…?”

“For now, I understand the situation well. I’ll discuss countermeasures with my companions and return, so don’t worry too much.”

Namgung Hyeok said this as he stood up from his seat.

Heo Jin, who saw him off, wore an expression of incomprehension.

‘Does he really have confidence? Or is he simply bluffing to win us over?’

He couldn’t tell at all.

* * *

Returning to where Ho Young and Lee Cheolgun were, Namgung Hyeok briefly explained the situation to the two.

After the story ended, Namgung Hyeok asked them.

“What should we do?”

“Isn’t it simple?”

Lee Cheolgun said indifferently while shaking his wine bottle.

“You have something you’re good at, don’t you? Assassination and disruption. If you just cut down the leader of those Thunder Sword Gate bastards, the matter will be easily resolved.”

“As expected from someone who’s experienced it once, you know well.”

“Don’t be sarcastic. Anyway, that’s the simplest solution. Just slice up all the top guys and it’s over. Wow, how easy is that?”

Lee Cheolgun chuckled. This time Namgung Hyeok looked at Ho Young and asked.

“Ho Young, what do you think?”

“Well, I don’t think that bastard’s words are wrong. In the end, if we don’t get rid of those Thunder Sword Gate or whatever they’re called, this problem won’t end, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then we’ll have to get rid of them. However, there’s one problem.”

“Can you tell me what it is?”

“If we go in the dark of night and slice them up, no one will know who did such a thing. Then while chaos continues for a while, someone who ends that chaos might appear and do the same thing.”

“I think so too.”

Namgung Hyeok nodded.

“If they don’t know who attacked, they’ll just be confused but won’t change. Even if we strike Thunder Sword Gate, we need to clearly reveal who did it. So that the next guys won’t repeat the same mistake.”

“Hmm. So that means…?”

“I’ll officially announce that the Fire Essence Merchant Group is under the protection of the Sacred Fire Sect. And send a warning letter.”

After pausing for a moment, Namgung Hyeok smiled and said.

“If they don’t stop the foolish acts they’re currently committing, their sect will be cut down as is.”

“That sounds interesting.”

Lee Cheolgun grinned and chuckled.

“So when will you send the warning letter?”

“Of course.”

Namgung Hyeok answered immediately.

“Right now.”

* * *

Upon hearing Namgung Hyeok’s opinion, Heo Jin showed reluctance.

To announce that they were under the protection of the Sacred Fire Sect.

This was essentially the same as telling them to come under the Sacred Fire Sect’s ownership without any choice.

However.

“Sigh. I understand. If we can truly escape from Thunder Sword Gate’s interference…”

After long deliberation, he decided to bet on Namgung Hyeok.

It wasn’t a purely emotional decision.

Heo Jin was in his mid-seventies.

When he was young, the complete Sacred Fire Sect still existed. Therefore, he knew how powerful the master of the Sacred Fire Sect was.

‘If the Great Evil War hadn’t occurred and they hadn’t received combined attacks from all sorts of forces, the Sacred Fire Sect wouldn’t have fallen.’

And if Namgung Hyeok had inherited the martial arts of the Sacred Fire Sect Master from that time…

‘There’s sufficient possibility.’

Moreover, wasn’t Namgung Hyeok currently a person with great fame throughout the Central Plains?

A war hero who returned from the Northern Region.

The one who revived the declining Namgung Family.

The culprit who split the mighty Evil Path Alliance north and south.

All of these referred to Namgung Hyeok.

Also, from what he heard, recently he had destroyed Makriseoga, one of the pillars of Jiangsu’s Three Rivers, and taken control of all trade routes in Jiangsu Province.

As could be seen from this, he had never been defeated since returning from the battlefield. So he thought this time would be no different.

‘Perhaps he really will solve all these problems.’

And even if he failed, it would be fine.

Then they could hold the Sacred Fire Sect responsible and escape from their influence.

In other words, this was no different from a test that the Fire Essence faction was giving to the Sacred Fire Sect. They would decide whether to follow the Sacred Fire Sect based on the results of this matter.

Meanwhile, Namgung Hyeok was well aware of this fact.

“Merchant Leader Heo. I will use the nearby Beggar’s Sect members and Hao Sect members to announce this fact so everyone can know. Also, send a warning letter to Thunder Sword Gate and their forces that no further threats will be tolerated.”

He gave the order decisively, and Heo Jin followed Namgung Hyeok’s words without complaint.

Soon the Fire Essence Merchant Group’s warning letter was delivered to Thunder Sword Gate.

Thunder Sword Gate showed a reaction of disbelief.

“Heo Jin. This old man seems to have gone senile.”

Im Seongmin, the master of Thunder Sword Gate, laughed as if absurd and burned the warning letter.

It was the hand technique of Samadhi True Fire, using internal energy to create flames from his hands.

Im Hajin, the young master of Thunder Sword Gate who was watching this, asked with a worried expression.

“Father, you shouldn’t take this so lightly. Namgung Hyeok, the master of Sacred Fire Gate, is no ordinary person. So here we should move cautiously for now…”

“Hmph. No ordinary person? What nonsense! What’s there to fear from someone who’s merely of Rising Star age.”

He scolded his son who was voicing worried words. In Im Seongmin’s view, Im Hajin was worrying excessively.

“Anyway, his sphere of influence is in distant Jiangsu Province. The Namgung Family and Shandong Ak Family that could be called his alliance are also gathered in similar places. Even if they’ve built powerful forces there, do you think they can extend their influence all the way to Yunnan here? Absolutely not. Moreover, didn’t they say only a few of them came to Yunnan?”

“Of, of course that’s true, but…”

“Tsk tsk. You’re good in everything else, but having too many worries is your flaw. How will you lead this Thunder Sword Gate in the future if you’re so timid.”

Im Seongmin clicked his tongue and looked at the map.

On that map, the movement route of Hwajeong Trading Company obtained from spies was marked.

Among them, the path from Yunnan to Sichuan caught his eye.

“Rather, it would be good to show them properly with this opportunity. That distant Sacred Fire Gate or whatever is of no help at all. If they get properly beaten once, that old man Heo Jin will come to his senses too.”

“Are you planning to attack this trading expedition?”

“Yes. According to information, this time they’re trading superior grade Fire Essence. If we steal all of that, it will be of great help to our Thunder Sword Gate too.”

Fire Essence was divided from low grade to superior grade, and superior Fire Essence was known to provide nearly ten years’ worth of internal energy.

So the price of just one superior Fire Essence pill reached the level of dozens of taels of gold.

They couldn’t miss such an opportunity. For Thunder Sword Gate, Hwajeong Trading Company was appetizing prey.

“Hehe. We should quickly snatch it before other bastards get their hands on it.”

Therefore, Im Seongmin gave orders to his son.

“Go personally and bring the Fire Essence. If you succeed properly, I’ll give you the Fire Essence we obtain this time.”

“Is, is that really true?”

Im Hajin’s face brightened.

While Namgung Hyeok’s intervention was indeed worrying, he wasn’t without desire for Fire Essence either. This opportunity to receive Fire Essence sounded too sweet to him.

“Then I’ll go and return, father.”

“Yes. Go and return.”

Im Hajin went out excitedly to prepare, seemingly forgetting his earlier anxiety. Left alone, Im Seongmin looked at the map with gleaming eyes.

‘It seems like they’re trying to escape from us somehow… I absolutely won’t let that happen.’

For him, merging with Hwajeong Trading Company was the first step of the great enterprise to dominate the Yunnan region in the future.

So he had no intention of giving up no matter what interference came.

‘Hehe. I’m curious about that old man’s expression when everything is over.’

Im Seongmin twisted his lips. His laughter leaked out in the room where he was alone.

And…

Seven days and nights later.

A luxurious box with an unknown sender arrived at Thunder Sword Gate.

It was a box containing the head of Im Hajin, who had gone to steal the Fire Essence.

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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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