The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 55

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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 55

Namgung Hyeok tilted his head and asked back.

“The black market, you mean?”

Of course he had heard of it.

Black market.

It was an underworld market that dealt with various items that couldn’t be found in ordinary markets.

Spiritual medicine, secret martial arts manuals, and even slaves often appeared there.

“But why such a black market…?”

“According to the Shadow Unit’s report, a black market will open soon.”

Namgung Cheon spoke in a calm voice.

“There’s word that a Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp inner core will be sold there this time. You should take one thousand silver taels and go obtain it.”

“A, a Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp inner core!?”

“Quite a precious item has appeared.”

The senior members stirred.

The Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp inner core was a precious spiritual medicine that possessed extreme yang energy, and when consumed, could provide tremendous internal energy enhancement effects.

But to be able to obtain such a thing.

“No matter how expensive the Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp spiritual medicine is, one thousand silver taels should be enough to obtain it. And after you get it, you should take it yourself. This is an order as the Young Family Head.”

“Young Family Head!”

Everyone looked at Namgung Cheon with surprised faces.

Namgung Cheon looked at them and spoke calmly.

“Hyeok is currently one of the greatest forces existing in the Namgung Family. He has also achieved merits worthy of that status. So as I said earlier, I think this level of reward is not wasteful at all.”

“…!”

“Moreover, as you all well know, Hyeok’s martial arts deal with extreme yang energy, don’t they? It will surely match well with the Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp inner core. If things go well, he might achieve great accomplishment.”

“Ce, certainly…”

“Besides the Third Young Master, there’s no one else who could consume the spiritual medicine even if we obtained it.”

“I will agree.”

“I agree as well.”

Agreeing opinions came from various places.

They were those from Namgung Cheon’s faction and those who wanted to look good to Namgung Hyeok, the rising star.

Namgung Hyeok quietly looked at Namgung Cheon.

Toward such a younger brother, Namgung Cheon smiled gently.

[Accept it. It won’t be a bad proposal for you.]

Namgung Hyeok eventually nodded with a calm face.

“Thank you for thinking of me. I will follow the Young Family Head’s command.”

“…!”

“You thought well. Then let me tell you the location where this black market will open and the method of entry.”

Namgung Cheon brought a map and pointed somewhere.

“The Taijiang region of Guizhou Province is exactly where this black market will open. There’s still plenty of time, so if you depart now, you’ll be able to arrive without being late.”

“I see. Then I’ll depart as quickly as possible.”

“Good. However, just in case, take your comrades as escorts. Now that a ceasefire agreement with the Evil Path Alliance has been concluded, we have some leeway, so it should be fine to take all four of them.”

“There’s no need to go that far. Just in case, I’ll leave So Yeon behind and depart with just the four of us: So Geomlip, Ho Young, and Jeon Wook.”

So Yeon’s archery would be of great help in defending against any possible re-invasion by the Evil Path Alliance.

In that sense, it would be good to leave So Geomlip behind as well, since he was skilled in strategy and tactics and had excellent leadership abilities next to himself, but…

‘I’ve left him alone too much until now.’

So Geomlip had been cooped up almost entirely within the family estate, guarding Namgung Cheon.

It would be good to take this opportunity to go out and travel around together.

“If that’s what you think, then so be it. Then I’ll hand over horses and money, so have a safe trip.”

“Yes. Thank you, Elder Brother.”

Namgung Hyeok felt Namgung Cheon’s caring heart and smiled gently.

Soon he left the Namgung Family Estate with the three people.

Their destination was Taijiang in Guizhou Province.

It was where the black market would open.

* * *

There was considerable distance from Anhui Province to Guizhou Province.

Even by murim standards, it would take more than ten days.

However, Namgung Hyeok’s group didn’t hurry that much. There was still considerable time left before the black market would open.

“Guizhou. This is my first time coming to Guizhou.”

Namgung Hyeok said while looking at the surrounding scenery that was entirely composed of mountainous terrain.

Ho Young chuckled at that.

“It’s not particularly interesting. Wherever you go, there are only mountains, and the further east you go, the gloomier the weather gets.”

“Ho Young, weren’t you from Sichuan?”

“I stayed in Guizhou for several years too. I was active here before going to the battlefield.”

“Then if we’re lucky, we might meet some familiar faces.”

“Haha. How could such a thing happen? Captain, you have an interesting imagination.”

Ho Young answered with a giggle, and Namgung Hyeok also chuckled in the same way.

Even though he had said it himself, it was certainly unlikely.

“By the way, we’re starting to see murim people. They’re probably all heading to Taijiang.”

So Geomlip was right.

On the main road they were traveling, several people who appeared to be murim people or from wealthy families were moving in the same direction.

Most of them were probably moving to participate in the black market.

‘Perhaps there might be competitors among them.’

The Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp inner core would be coveted by many martial artists due to its rarity alone.

‘Well, there probably aren’t any guys like us who brought as much as a thousand silver taels.’

However, Namgung Hyeok didn’t let his guard down.

Auctions were unpredictable things.

‘Perhaps other variables might arise.’

The important thing was that they’d have to see when they got there. Namgung Hyeok organized his thoughts that way and slowly rode his horse.

But then it happened.

“Hmm?”

Namgung Hyeok reflexively turned his head at the cool energy he felt from afar.

His companions did the same, and everyone looked in one direction.

“Ho.”

What was there was a splendid carriage.

And about a dozen martial artists were guarding the front of that carriage as escorts.

Namgung Hyeok looked at the one in front among them.

For a moment, the two people’s gazes met.

‘Quite a master.’

He was someone who had at least the same level as Namgung Jihak, whom he had faced before, or perhaps even greater power.

The fact that such a person was taking the lead meant…

‘The person inside the carriage must be of quite important status.’

They might be a great merchant with tremendous wealth, or perhaps precious blood of some murim force. But his investigation went only that far.

Namgung Hyeok turned his head again as if uninterested.

After all, whoever the other party was, there was no need to cause friction.

The martial artist leading the carriage also seemed to recognize this point and went his own way. Soon the carriage disappeared ahead of Namgung Hyeok’s group.

“It seems quite a few big shots are gathering for this black market.”

So Geomlip, who had been quietly watching the situation, muttered softly.

At that, Ho Young burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! So Geomlip. What are you worried about? The biggest shot here will be our leader anyway.”

“That’s true too.”

Jeon Wook replied with a chuckle. So Geomlip also smiled awkwardly and said.

“Elder Brother Ho Young is right. No matter who comes, no one more impressive than our Lord will arrive.”

“That’s enough flattery from all of you. No matter how hard you flatter me, nothing’s coming out of it.”

Namgung Hyeok said this as he spurred his horse.

Ho Young still laughed heartily as he followed behind him.

The four men continued exchanging various conversations as they headed toward their destination.

How much time had passed like this?

Before long, they were able to arrive at their destination, the county.

* * *

At first glance, the place looked like an ordinary town.

However, the presence of martial artists visible from the entrance reminded them that this was no ordinary place.

‘The security is tight.’

They didn’t particularly stop people from entering, but they seemed prepared for any potential incidents.

They were probably sent by the forces operating the black market.

Namgung Hyeok and his party ignored them and entered the town. They soon found a suitable inn and were able to unpack their belongings.

“The black market starts in two days. And it continues for seven days and nights.”

“It goes on for quite a long time.”

“It’s a gathering where people from all over the Central Plains participate. They say it’s done this way to accommodate those who might not make it on time.”

“That’s why the important auctions dealing with the most expensive items are held on the last day.”

So Geomlip and Jeon Wook each shared what they knew.

Namgung Hyeok nodded and drank a cup of alcohol.

“Then we’ll have to wait until the last day. The Ten Thousand Year Fire Carp Inner Core we’re after will likely appear that day.”

“Probably so. Leader, what do you plan to do in the meantime?”

“You all must be quite tired, so rest well. Or I’ll give you some money to have free time and buy whatever you want.”

“The leader is truly generous.”

“Then let’s take turns standing guard until the last day.”

“Just rest however you want. Guards aren’t really necessary.”

“That would make us more uncomfortable. We can’t feel at ease unless at least one of us stays with you, Lord.”

“I’m not a child…”

“Hahaha. This all comes from our concern for the leader, doesn’t it?”

Ho Young said with a hearty laugh.

Namgung Hyeok let out a light sigh.

“Fine. Then do as you please.”

“Let’s take turns standing guard, one day each. Today I’ll stay by the leader’s side.”

“Do as you wish.”

“If it’s Elder Brother Ho Young, we can entrust this with peace of mind.”

Jeon Wook and So Geomlip nodded as they spoke.

Ho Young raised the corners of his mouth in a grin.

“Then it’s decided.”

“We’ll look around to see if there’s anything threatening in this town, so Ho Young, take good care of our Lord.”

“We’ll be back. Lord.”

After finishing their meal, the two men said this and swiftly disappeared somewhere.

Namgung Hyeok watched them and let out a light sigh.

“Even when I tell you to rest, you don’t rest. You guys.”

“Well, nothing happened on the way here anyway, right? Since there are still several days until the auction, it’s not bad to scout the area in advance.”

“That’s true, but… Well, handle it yourselves.”

Namgung Hyeok shook his head as if giving up, and Ho Young asked with a laugh.

“Haha! So what do you plan to do now?”

“I’m thinking of looking around the area too. The black market hasn’t started yet, but I might be able to pick up something useful in advance.”

“Something useful, you mean?”

“For example, human skin masks or hidden weapons that are hard to find in regular markets. Things like that could probably be obtained even before the black market starts.”

Ho Young nodded, then spoke as if something occurred to him.

“That’s a good idea. Ah, leader. How about some skewers on the way? I saw a place earlier that smelled delicious.”

“We just ate.”

“Haha. Don’t you know that the stomach for meals and the stomach for snacks are separate?”

The two men chatted as they wandered the streets of the black market.

But then it happened.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, a young man who burst out from an alley bumped shoulders with Namgung Hyeok.

The young man looked flustered and immediately bowed his head.

“S-sorry! I was moving in a hurry and didn’t watch where I was going… Gasp!”

But at that moment, the young man felt a terrifying grip pressing against his throat.

Ho Young’s large hand had grabbed the young man’s neck and lifted him up.

Ho Young asked in a voice that was still playful but simultaneously felt chilling.

“Leader. What should we do? Should I just snap his neck?”

“Why, why are you doing this… Gasp!”

“Why, you ask.”

Ho Young said with a giggling laugh.

“Your little hands that were about to do something wicked should know the answer to that, shouldn’t they?”

The young man flinched in surprise and reflexively looked down at his left hand.

But there was nothing there.

Seeing this, Namgung Hyeok chuckled and waved something.

“Looking for this?”

“…!”

There was Namgung Hyeok’s money pouch that the young man was certain he had stolen.

‘Wh-what!?’

Terror appeared on the young man’s face.

It seemed he had messed with the wrong people, seriously wrong people.

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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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