The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 46

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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 46

“Repaying a debt of gratitude.”

Namgung Hyeok said.

“Those are words not easily dismissed.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed. Human debts of gratitude and resentment are weighty matters that cannot be handled carelessly. So naturally, it would be burdensome for the one receiving such words.”

“But since I have already received your grace, I wish to repay you.”

“Then let me ask you one thing. Are you speaking of repaying the debt for saving your life just now?”

“Yes.”

“Then how do you plan to repay this debt of gratitude?”

“I will work under Young Hero for a while to repay the debt of saving my life.”

“Haha.”

Namgung Hyeok burst into hearty laughter.

“You speak of repaying a debt, yet you’re trying to use me.”

“What…!”

“You don’t need to bother hiding it. In the end, you’re too afraid to return to the Ha Family, and you’d face threats to your life if you fled like this, so you want to come under my wing, isn’t that right?”

“…!”

Shock appeared on Ha Jinseong’s face.

“It seems I’ve hit the mark.”

“That, that is…”

“Well, I’m not particularly offended, so don’t worry too much about it. From your position, it’s a reasonable enough thought. It’s quite a rational deal too.”

“Phew.”

At Namgung Hyeok’s words, Ha Jinseong let out a sigh.

“You’re right. I was trying to save my life by serving under you. I apologize for not being truthful from the start.”

He admitted it readily, perhaps thinking there was no point in denying it further.

The ones surprised by this were Ha Jinseong’s attendants. They looked at Ha Jinseong with bewildered expressions.

“Fo, Fourth Young Master!”

“The power struggle over the Young Family Head position, never knowing when I might die, was too exhausting. So I tried to choose the easier path. If my intentions seemed impure, I apologize.”

“No. As I said earlier, from your position it was a reasonable enough thought. You don’t need to apologize to me.”

“Then…”

“However, I have no intention of taking you under my wing right now.”

Namgung Hyeok said firmly.

“You know the reason without me having to explain. Considering the relationship between my Main House and the Ha Family, it’s only natural. If it became known that you were under my command, you would never be able to return to the Ha Family.”

“I’ve already prepared myself for that much.”

“Do you really think so? This isn’t something that ends with just your resolve. Look around you. Look at the close associates who trusted and followed you here.”

“…!”

“If you give up on returning to the Ha Family, these people would have to give up everything as well. Can you truly do that? Do you have the right to force such sacrifice upon them?”

“I, I…”

Ha Jinseong seemed quite shocked by Namgung Hyeok’s words.

He probably never expected to hear such a rebuke.

But Namgung Hyeok didn’t mind.

He met Ha Jinseong’s gaze with calm eyes.

“This is precisely why I won’t accept you. However… that doesn’t mean I can’t help you.”

“Wh, what do you mean?”

“You’re ultimately afraid of dying after getting caught up in the succession struggle, aren’t you? I can help you with that.”

“What?! Is that really true?”

Ha Jinseong asked in shock.

Namgung Hyeok nodded gently.

“That’s right. If you do exactly as I tell you, you should be safe from your brothers’ threats.”

“Wh, what is it?”

“Take the letter I’m about to write for you and seek out the Yeomhwa Trading Company established in Kaifeng, Henan Province. There, find someone named Hahou Yeon or So Baek and deliver the letter. Then they’ll take care of everything.”

“What do you mean they’ll take care of everything…”

“I mean they’ll become your strength. I can guarantee their abilities, so even if you face such attacks again, you’ll be safe.”

“Such…”

“Of course, whether you go there and deliver this or not is up to you. All I can do is connect you with them. However, one thing is certain – you won’t find a better option than this.”

Ha Jinseong bit his lips, lost in thought, then asked with difficulty.

“…Why are you doing so much for me when we’ve just met?”

“That’s simple.”

Namgung Hyeok said with a slight smile.

“By bestowing this favor upon you, I’m expecting something to come back to me later.”

“…!”

“Surprised by how materialistic that sounds? But without such a reason, there’d be no point in helping someone from a hostile family like this. In a way, it’s only natural.”

“Flame Dragon Young Hero must think I might stand at the center of the Ha Family someday.”

“Haha. That would be ideal. But it’s fine even if that doesn’t happen. What’s important is that there will be a faction within the Ha Family that has friendly relations with us.”

“But what if I die before then?”

“Then it can’t be helped, can it? That’s what investment is like. You have to accept a certain degree of risk.”

At Namgung Hyeok’s words, Ha Jinseong showed a firmly resolved expression.

He bowed his head to Namgung Hyeok and said.

“Thank you for your help. I will definitely repay this debt someday.”

“I hope fortune follows your future.”

“Thank you. Then I’ll head to Kaifeng now.”

Ha Jinseong left with the letter Namgung Hyeok had written for him.

Once their figures disappeared, So Yeon asked curiously.

“Lord. Are you planning to take over the Ha Family through that person?”

“If that were possible, it would be nice. But just having an ally planted inside would be helpful enough.”

“Hmm. He didn’t seem particularly useful though.”

“That Ha Jinseong might not be. But if our comrades join him, the story would be different, wouldn’t it?”

“That’s true too.”

So Yeon said that and smiled broadly. As Namgung Hyeok said, their comrades would be trustworthy.

“Besides, sending someone to the Ha Family has another purpose.”

“What purpose do you mean?”

“We still haven’t properly identified those who poisoned Father and Elder Brother. It could be Uncle, or the Evil Path Alliance, or perhaps the Ha Family or Murong Family.”

“…!”

“So I want to plant our people in the suspicious places to conduct secret investigations. I wrote those contents in the letter using cipher text, so the Yeomhwa Trading Company will handle it.”

“Hahaha! As expected of our leader!”

Ho Young burst into loud laughter.

Namgung Hyeok leaned back against the carriage backrest as if he had nothing more to say.

This time, Ho Young sat on the driver’s seat instead of So Geomlip, saying it was boring to stay inside the carriage.

They departed toward the Namgung Family Estate again as if nothing had happened.

For a while, only the sound of horse hooves echoing could be heard.

* * *

A few days later.

Upon arriving at the Namgung Family Estate, Namgung Hyeok immediately had the Evil Path Alliance Leader’s gifts incorporated into the family’s assets.

“Th, Third Young Master. What is all this?”

“These are traps the Evil Path Alliance Leader sent to sow discord among us.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll explain the details at the meeting.”

Namgung Hyeok held a family council and explained everything from the beginning to avoid any misunderstandings.

From meeting the Evil Path Alliance Leader to how he sent gifts with the intention of sowing discord.

He was concerned that rumors might spread otherwise.

“The Third Young Master handled this really well.”

“Indeed. The family almost split apart if not for this…”

“It was truly a wise choice.”

The family’s senior members praised his decision to inform them of the facts and dedicate the riches to the family.

As they said, if Namgung Hyeok had kept the Evil Path Alliance Leader’s gifts for himself, people might have become suspicious of him.

But since he brought everything to the family, even those who wanted to doubt him couldn’t do so.

Most people came to believe in Namgung Hyeok’s sincerity.

“How much is all this worth…”

“Haha. The Evil Path Alliance Leader would be sick to his stomach if he knew.”

Moreover, the amount was quite substantial.

It was enough to operate at least one Third-Class Battle Unit for a full year without any problems.

While that amount would be quite regrettable to lose, Namgung Hyeok showed no sign of finding it wasteful. His magnanimous attitude won the favor of quite many senior members.

“As expected of the Third Young Master.”

“No one in the Noble House could match that boldness.”

This meant that those who had been neutral were gradually moving over to Namgung Hyeok’s faction.

Namgung Hyeok’s influence over the Noble House grew even stronger this way.

Now, even comparing their solid support bases, he had become nearly equal to Namgung Jangcheon.

‘But I mustn’t let my guard down.’

Though he was in the process of seizing the family’s financial and military power, Namgung Jangcheon’s faction was still a formidable force.

If he made a half-hearted mistake, he would face a backlash.

So Namgung Hyeok acted cautiously.

He acted as carefully as making moves in a grand strategic game.

Naturally, Namgung Jangcheon’s side was in a state of emergency.

“We must somehow resolve this problem.”

He gathered the senior members who followed him.

“…”

The faction members maintained silence and only glanced at each other.

Though he said they needed to solve the problem, it was a problem with no answer from the start.

How could they stop Namgung Hyeok’s growing presence at this point?

If they were going to do that, they should have actively checked him from the beginning. But having missed that opportunity, there was nothing they could do.

“Why is everyone silent? Does no one have a solution?”

Namgung Jangcheon spoke in an uncharacteristically impatient voice.

Then one of his faction members sighed and stepped forward.

It was a man named Maeng Seung.

“Let me speak frankly, Acting Family Head. The balance has already tilted. At this rate, the Young Family Head and Third Young Master will steal all our power.”

“…!”

“Of course, on the surface it still looks evenly matched. We still have greater numbers, and more subordinate families support us. But we don’t know what will happen in the future. If the Third Young Master continues expanding his influence at this pace, there will be no answer.”

“Then what do you suggest we do?”

“I want to say that we also can’t be choosy about our means and methods. If necessary, we should use somewhat drastic measures.”

“Drastic measures?”

“Remove the Third Young Master from the family.”

“…!”

Namgung Jangcheon’s eyes widened.

The same was true for the other faction members who were listening. But Maeng Seung continued speaking calmly.

“If you think about it, didn’t everything start going wrong after the Third Young Master arrived? Then if the Third Young Master weren’t here, everything would return to normal.”

“Now. Are you suggesting we assassinate that bastard?”

“Of course I’m not saying that. If we tried such a thing and failed, getting caught in the process, we’d be the ones in trouble. But if we send the Third Young Master away temporarily under the pretext of a mission, wouldn’t we have time to reorganize ourselves?”

“Hmm.”

“We happen to have quite a good excuse available.”

“An excuse?”

“Yes.”

Maeng Seung nodded and continued speaking.

“The whereabouts of Yaksha Sword Namgung Jihak have been discovered.”

“Jihak’s…!?”

“Yes. Give the Third Young Master and the Pungwoon Unit a mission to find him and bring him back to the family. Then we should be able to buy some time.”

At Maeng Seung’s words, everyone fell silent as if pondering.

But on the roof of the main hall where they were gathered.

Only one person who had climbed up there to eavesdrop on their conversation didn’t stay still and moved busily.

‘Yaksha Sword Namgung Jihak.’

He, Jeon Wook, thought as he leaped swiftly between rooftops.

‘I must inform my Lord.’

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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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