The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 7

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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 7

Golden Crow Trading Company.

One of the Ten Great Trading Companies and the largest trading company in Anhui Province.

It was located not too far from the Namgung Family Estate.

Therefore, Namgung Hyeok’s group was able to arrive at the Golden Crow Trading Company before long.

“Are you the people from the Namgung Family?”

The person who welcomed them was Heo Jiwon, the general manager of the Golden Crow Trading Company.

“I am Namgung Hyeok. These are the companions who came with me.”

Namgung Hyeok greeted him as the representative of the group.

Namgung Pyo felt bad about being treated as just a companion, but since Namgung Hyeok was strictly the person in charge of this mission, he didn’t step forward carelessly.

“I’ve heard the general situation, but could you explain exactly what kind of incident this is?”

“Of course. Please come inside first.”

Heo Jiwon guided the group to a large reception room inside the Golden Crow Trading Company.

He had servants serve tea to the group, then began his explanation.

“The incident began twenty-five days ago. Suddenly, an arrow flew and stuck into the main gate of our trading company. Written on it was a message saying they would take the young master’s head thirty days later, on the night when the full moon rises.”

“Could I see that warning letter?”

“Yes. Here it is.”

As if he had prepared it in advance, Heo Jiwon took out yellow paper from his chest and showed it to Namgung Hyeok.

Written there was a menacing warning just as Heo Jiwon had described.

“That’s why our trading company requested cooperation from the great warriors of the Namgung Family. Although there are renowned individuals among our trading company’s retainers, they couldn’t match the people of the famous Namgung Family.”

“You did well. Preparing for contingencies is always a good habit.”

Namgung Hyeok answered thus and returned the yellow paper to Heo Jiwon. After thinking for a moment, he asked Heo Jiwon.

“Do you have any suspects in mind?”

“We can’t be certain, but our side suspects a demon called the Blue-Eyed Sword Demon.”

“The Blue-Eyed Sword Demon?”

“Yes. He’s a demon famous for his goblin-like blue eyes, and he was previously humiliated by our young master at an inn and driven away.”

“For someone called a demon, he retreated quite obediently.”

Namgung Hyeok tilted his head.

If he was a demon with such an alias, there’s no way he would have retreated obediently after being humiliated by the trading company’s young master.

“At that time, Master Eom, our trading company’s greatest expert, was with the young master. Since Master Eom is a supreme expert, even the Blue-Eyed Sword Demon had no choice but to retreat.”

“Is this Master Eom no longer around?”

“No. However, Master Eom usually serves as the personal guard for our company head. So he can’t move around freely.”

“I see. Understood.”

Namgung Hyeok nodded.

“Then I’d like to meet the young master first, if that’s alright?”

“Please do so. I’ll send word ahead.”

Shortly after, they were able to meet the young master, Geum Wontae.

He appeared quite anxious.

“Y-you must be the people dispatched from the Namgung Family. Nice to meet you. I’m Geum Wontae, the young master of the Golden Crow Trading Company.”

“I’m Namgung Hyeok of the Namgung Family. Since we’re here, nothing will happen to you, so don’t worry.”

“Thank you so much. Then I’ll trust and leave it to you.”

“There are five days left until the full moon night mentioned in the warning. But even after that day passes, they might still attack, so we’ll guard you at the main house for at least the next ten days. Ah, and.”

Namgung Hyeok asked as if he had just remembered something.

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“I have one younger sister. But why do you ask that…?”

“There’s a reason for that. Then we can set up guards starting today. Pyo.”

Namgung Hyeok immediately changed the subject while calling Namgung Pyo.

“Yes.”

“From today, guard Young Master Geum thoroughly together with the Changcheon Unit. Don’t let any suspicious person approach him.”

“You mean us?”

Namgung Pyo asked with slight surprise.

He had naturally assumed that Namgung Hyeok himself, as the person in charge of protection, would directly take on the guarding duty, so he was puzzled that it was being entrusted to him.

Namgung Hyeok chuckled and asked.

“So you don’t want to? If that’s the case…”

“N-no. We’ll take on that mission.”

Namgung Pyo quickly answered, worried that Namgung Hyeok might change his mind.

Namgung Hyeok looked at Geum Wontae and said.

“That doesn’t mean I won’t be standing guard as well. And these friends’ skills aren’t bad either, so you can rest assured.”

“Of course. How could I doubt the skills of people who came from the very Namgung Family?”

“I’m grateful. Then could you first prepare lodgings for us to stay in?”

“I’ll have you guided there immediately.”

Geum Wontae called servants to guide them to the rooms where they would stay.

After each person unpacked in their lodgings and gathered again, they met to hold a conference.

“Is this Blue-Eyed Sword Demon really the culprit?”

Namgung Pyo asked with a slightly doubtful tone.

Namgung Hyeok narrowed his eyes and answered.

“Of course not. If he were the culprit, would he have done something that leaves such obvious traces?”

“Then brother, do you think he has no connection to this incident?”

“I can’t tell whether he’s connected or not. However, I think the target isn’t the young master.”

“What? Not the young master?”

“It’s simple logic. What assassin in the world gives advance warning before committing a crime?”

“…”

The point was so valid that Namgung Pyo was left speechless.

“There are two types like that. One is someone confident in their skills who wants to show off, and the other is someone with different ulterior motives. The former doesn’t make sense. No matter how confident someone is in their skills, it would be strange to mess with a trading company as large as Golden Crow, and even if that were the case, if it were to show off, they would have written their name in huge letters on the warning.”

“Then brother, do you think it’s the latter?”

“Yes. I think they’re probably targeting something else that has relatively lighter security while attention is focused on the young master.”

“I see, so that’s why you asked about siblings earlier. Because they might actually be the target.”

A faint admiration appeared on Namgung Pyo’s face.

“Then shouldn’t we inform the trading company about this? It would make it easier to respond…”

“That won’t do. If there happen to be enemy spies among the trading company people, the information could leak out. If that happens, all the discussions we’ve had now would become garbage.”

“You’re saying we can’t carelessly trust the trading company people either.”

“Right. That’s why I want to divide our personnel here. As I said earlier, Pyo, you guard the young master together with the Changcheon Unit. There’s still a good possibility that he really is the target.”

“Understood.”

“And Ho Young, you guard around the company head. If the young master isn’t the objective, the company head might be.”

“Understood. Then what about these guys?”

Ho Young pointed to Jeon Wook and So Yeon.

“You two guard the company head’s daughter. So Yeon will openly stay by her side, and Jeon Wook will hide and watch the surroundings. With your skills, no one will detect you.”

“Understood.”

“I will follow my lord’s command.”

The two people bowed respectfully. Namgung Hyeok nodded and said.

“I’ll guard the warehouse and provide support to places that are short on manpower. The enemies’ objective might be the treasures in the warehouse.”

“Understood.”

Namgung Pyo and the warriors of the Changcheon Unit showed surprised expressions as they watched the subordinates bow their heads in unison and disperse.

‘I really wonder if this is the same person from ten years ago. He has excellent situational judgment ability plus leadership skills. It’s admirable.’

Although his father Namgung Jangcheon had sent him to keep Namgung Hyeok in check, Namgung Pyo had somehow come to admire him and follow Namgung Hyeok’s command.

He didn’t notice that his respect for Namgung Hyeok was gradually growing without his awareness.

* * *

Five days passed like that.

On the night of the fifth day, vigilance reached its peak.

Because it was the very day that had been foretold.

Most of the Golden Crow Trading Company’s retainers and affiliated warriors kept watch near the young master’s quarters with tense expressions, and the same was true for the Changcheon Unit including Namgung Pyo.

“The day that bastard foretold has finally arrived. However, since security is tight, the young master can rest assured.”

“I-if that’s the case, then that’s a relief.”

Geum Wontae answered with a slightly trembling voice.

Since his own life was at stake, he seemed quite nervous.

As the full moon grew deeper in the night, Geum Taesang, the head of the trading company, visited Geum Wontae.

By his side were his personal guard Master Eom and Ho Young.

“F-Father!?”

“I was worried about you, so I came to see. This father will stay with you tonight.”

“Father…!”

Geum Wontae raised his voice as if moved.

Not only was he touched by his father’s consideration, but Geum Taesang’s personal guard Master Eom was a supreme master.

So even if enemies were to attack, it meant his chances of staying safe had greatly increased.

Of course, Geum Wontae was also considering the possibility that nothing would happen tonight. As Namgung Pyo had said, with security this tight, what could possibly happen?

‘Besides, an assassin announcing his arrival like this and actually coming—that’s ridiculous.’

Rather than attacking now while they were on guard, he thought they would wait for when tensions relaxed, not now.

Not only Geum Wontae, but anyone with even a bit of sense thought the same way.

However…

“I-intruder!”

That thought was shattered by a voice that suddenly rang out.

From where the sound came, a masked man dressed in black robes was running toward them with his blade drawn.

Geum Wontae couldn’t help but be truly terrified.

To actually show up on the very day he had foretold? Was he in his right mind?

“Stop him!”

The trading company’s warriors and retainers stood in his way.

But the masked man cut through them with incredibly fluid swordsmanship. Just from that alone, one could tell the enemy was a considerable master.

“Changcheon Unit, capture that bastard!”

Judging that leaving him alone would only increase casualties, Namgung Pyo gave the order.

The Changcheon Unit members who had been waiting around Geum Wontae formed ranks and rushed forward.

They blocked the masked man with sharp movements different from the Golden Crow Trading Company’s warriors. Soon a fierce sword fight ensued between them.

Clang! Clash! Clang!

While this sword fight was taking place in the middle of the night.

“…”

Namgung Hyeok, who had been leaning against a wall in the relatively quiet warehouse, rose to his feet.

Shing.

A sword was drawn from his waist.

He looked at the enemies before him with expressionless eyes that revealed no emotion whatsoever.

Three black-robed men reeking of oil were glaring at him with swords drawn. Namgung Hyeok could instantly grasp the situation.

‘As expected, they were pretending to target Geum Wontae while actually aiming for somewhere else.’

The ones who went to attack Geum Wontae would probably just draw time and attention before retreating.

These men were planning to use that opportunity to burn down the granary and commit arson in the warehouse.

Perhaps there were others who had gone to different locations as well.

‘Still, it’s somewhat unexpected that they actually showed up on the foretold day.’

Did they think committing arson while attention was focused on Geum Wontae would be more effective?

‘Or perhaps today is the day some important goods arrived.’

But that didn’t really matter.

Whoosh!

Flames erupted from Namgung Hyeok’s sword.

Seeing this, the black-robed men hesitated and glanced at each other.

At that sight, Namgung Hyeok twisted his lips and spoke mockingly.

“Come at me.”

In that instant, the black-robed men’s forms rushed toward Namgung Hyeok in a flash.

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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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