Chapter 24 – The Namgung Clan (2)

The Western Heaven Demonic Cult.

A religious group known to be the strongest among the outer sects, alongside the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the Potala Palace.

But this group, which pursued the principle of survival of the fittest, possessed a notorious reputation that could not be compared to either the Northern Sea Ice Palace or the Potala Palace. It was so bad that the martial artists of the Central Plains referred to the Western Heaven Demonic Cult as simply the Demonic Cult.

Its followers, led by the Heavenly Demon, boasted the largest force of any single sect in the entire martial world.

Countless demons emerged from the cult, and the Heavenly Demon led them in relentless assaults on the Central Plains. As a result, they gained a reputation for always being behind any event that drenched the world in blood.

However, the Western Heaven Demonic Cult had not attacked the Central Plains for over a century, and the martial world had slowly begun to forget the threat they posed.

Within a vast, dimly lit hall, a great number of people had already gathered. Before them lay a dizzyingly long flight of stairs.

At the top of the stairs sat an ornate throne, upon which a man was seated. He was the one at the apex of the Western Heaven Demonic Cult, the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon has no human name. The moment one receives the title of Heavenly Demon, they cast aside their mortal name.

They abandon their human name, emotions, and memories. The one forged from this process was the demon who defied heaven itself—the Heavenly Demon. But after reading a letter, he smiled for the first time in a long while and spoke.

“So, the Third Elder’s plan has failed? How curious. Is this the true strength of the Central Plains?”

He hadn’t particularly liked the plan itself, but he knew it was flawless. He had approved it because it would undoubtedly strengthen their forces.

The death of the Steel Corpses at the hands of martial artists was an expected outcome.

After all, the purpose of this plan was to test the power of the Steel Corpses, not to bring them back to the main cult.

The only problem was that the damage was less than anticipated, and…

“To think that even the Third Elder would die. Was the Moon Empress truly that skilled?”

Tak Un-jin had become a Living Corpse and reached the Pinnacle of Demonic Arts, so he was not officially recognized. The Heavenly Demon personally bestowed titles containing the word ‘Demonic King’ upon all others who reached that realm, but Tak Un-jin was an exception.

Nevertheless, that didn’t mean he was weak. And the Heavenly Demon was well aware of the two Living Corpses Tak Un-jin had with him.

“Even for the Moon Empress, it would be impossible to defeat Elder Tak Un-jin and the two Living Corpses protecting him. Even I am not confident I could face Elder Tak Un-jin and two Living Corpses simultaneously and claim victory.”

The Heavenly Demon nodded at the words of the Asura Demonic King, Neung Sa-han. He, too, did not think it possible.

Facing the endlessly regenerating Living Corpses, even the Moon Empress would find it impossible to fight more than three at once. She might somehow defeat one, but she would surely be overwhelmed by two, and three would mean certain defeat.

“Then that means another master has revealed themselves, but we have no such information, do we?”

Yang Se-won, the head of the Secret Demon Pavilion, which was in charge of intelligence for the Western Heaven Demonic Cult, quickly bowed his head and exclaimed.

“The Moon Empress was definitely the only master at or above the Transformation Realm! It’s true, my lord!”

“I do not think the Pavilion Head has reported falsely. This is interesting, isn’t it? A mysterious master who has eluded our eyes.”

An unknown master was a great threat, but the Heavenly Demon felt no fear. He was the ultimate demon, feared even by the heavens. There was no one left in the martial world who could stop him, the one who reigned as the strongest of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters.

“Talent, as they say, will always out. Though this master remains hidden, their identity is bound to be revealed soon enough. Pavilion Head, redouble your efforts in gathering information.”

“I obey the Heavenly Demon’s command!”

The Pavilion Head bowed his head again and shouted loudly as the Heavenly Demon rose from his seat.

* * *

After sharing a night of passion with Na Ye-jin, Yu-jin returned to Namgung Hwi and Namgung Hwa-rin. Na Ye-jin, of course, did the same.

Yu-jin smiled and patted the heads of the four maids who had regained consciousness a little later than the others, and each of them hugged him tightly.

“What happened to Yong-hoon?”

“He has likely returned to his clan. It seems Yong-hoon also had an epiphany, just like the others.”

Namgung Hwi nodded at Yu-jin’s words. He was about to ask more about the fight with Yong-hoon but decided against it.

Yu-jin looked no different than when he had left. Namgung Hwi found it hard to believe that he could face Kang Yong-hoon, whom he considered his equal, and come away unscathed.

‘Does that mean he was truly hiding his real skills? But why would he do that?’

Though curious, Namgung Hwi somehow couldn’t bring himself to ask.

‘Is it pride? I still have a long way to go.’

With that thought, Namgung Hwi watched Yu-jin approach Namgung Hwa-rin. Yu-jin began to speak with her.

“Are you alright, Hwa-rin?”

“Yes, Young Master. I’m fine. I was lucky enough not to be attacked by those fiends.”

Although Hwa-rin said as much, her face was gaunt, likely from nursing so many people. Since Namgung Hwi was watching intently, Yu-jin couldn’t be openly affectionate and simply offered her a smile.

“You’ve worked so hard. And I’m glad all of you are safe, too.”

“We were able to recover because Lady Hwa-rin nursed us.”

Yu-jin nodded at Yeon’s words. Yeon, whose martial arts were relatively weaker than the others, had survived the Living Corpse’s poison thanks to Namgung Hwa-rin’s devoted care.

“Thank you so much, Hwa-rin. In the clan, these girls were my only allies besides my mother.”

Namgung Hwa-rin didn’t show a hint of jealousy at his words and simply smiled. She had already spoken with them and knew just how important they were to Yu-jin, and how he felt about them.

“I only did what I had to, Young Master. You don’t have to thank me so much.”

Yu-jin nodded with a smile. Just then, Namgung Hwi approached them and spoke.

“A lot of time has already passed. Let us stay at Mount Huang for today and depart for the Namgung Clan tomorrow.”

“Let’s do that.”

Yu-jin readily agreed to Namgung Hwi’s suggestion. They spent one more day on Mount Huang before setting out early the next morning for the Namgung Clan in Anhui Province.

* * *

The Namgung Clan.

Until the appearance of the True Dragon Sword Clan, they were a family so formidable they were always called the ‘Greatest Sword Clan Under Heaven’.

Even now, having lost that title, they played a pivotal role among the Five Great Clans, and for that reason, no one dared to underestimate the Namgung Clan.

The Thunder Sword Emperor, Namgung Jin, one of the Ten Great Heavenly Masters and the former head of the clan, and the current head, the Flying Thunder Sword King, Namgung Ok, one of the Twelve Kings.

The presence of these two alone made the Namgung Clan one of the most powerful forces not just among the Five Great Clans, but in the entire orthodox martial world.

Furthermore, with their various combat units like the Emperor’s Sword Brigade, the Azure Sky Sword Brigade, the Flying Swallow Sword Brigade, the Unhindered Sword Brigade, and the Heavenly Thunder Brigade, it was no exaggeration to call them the masters of Anhui Province.

The current head leading such a clan, Namgung Ok, was smiling as he read the letter his son had sent via carrier hawk.

“This child has finally grown up.”

Not only had he successfully led the members of the Seven Dragons and Five Phoenixes through the great ordeal of the Mount Huang Bloodbath, but the letter, which spoke of realizing his own shortcomings and dedicating himself to further training, was more than enough to make Namgung Ok smile.

“He is one thing, but I find myself more curious about Young Master Kang.”

At Kang Su-yeon’s words, Namgung Ok’s smile faded slightly as he nodded. Namgung Hwi’s letter also mentioned Yu-jin, and that part had piqued both his and Kang Su-yeon’s interest.

“Equal to or greater than Hwi… If that’s true, it means he has been hiding his true self.”

“There must be circumstances we are unaware of. It’s not an easy thing for someone so young to conceal their abilities.”

There was a reason young men were said to be full of vigor.

“Well, since he is coming here himself, we can see with our own two eyes.”

As he said that, Namgung Ok suddenly began to chuckle softly. His smile provoked Kang Su-yeon, who frowned and read further down the letter.

And then she saw it. The ‘Moon Empress’ Na Ye-jin, who had saved Namgung Hwi and his party, would be visiting with them.

“Husband…? I believe I’ve mentioned this before.”

A terrifying killing intent erupted from Kang Su-yeon, and Namgung Ok’s face turned deathly pale.

“It-it’s a misunderstanding! My dear, there’s no way I’d pay attention to other women when I have you, is there? I was smiling out of anticipation, because it’s been so long since I’ve had the chance to see a master of the Transformation Realm other than myself!”

“Husband… surely you don’t think I’d believe that, do you?”

Kang Su-yeon threw a punch, and her fist landed squarely on Namgung Ok’s face.

“Gwaaargh!”

The Flying Thunder Sword King, Namgung Ok. A master ranked among the top three of the Twelve Kings and expected to one day join the Ten Great Heavenly Masters, was a henpecked husband.

All his tremendous martial might vanished before his wife, and today, once again, he had misspoken and earned himself a beating.

“Tsk, tsk, he’s getting hit again today.”

Passing servants clicked their tongues. They knew very well. The true master of the Namgung Clan was not the former head, Namgung Jin, nor the current head, Namgung Ok, but Kang Su-yeon.

“Well, this is just how they show their love. I suppose I can work with a smile today, too.”

The servants smiled and went about their duties.

* * *

“So this is the Namgung Clan.”

Yu-jin was in awe. As befitting the clan that was called the strongest before the True Dragon Sword Clan appeared, the estate was vast.

The buildings were constructed according to a specific pattern, their arrangement resembling a single sword. Those who harbored ill intentions toward the Namgung Clan would feel overwhelmed just by the sight of its architecture.

“Welcome to the Namgung Clan.”

As Namgung Hwi spoke, Namgung Hwa-rin also smiled brightly and bowed to Yu-jin and Na Ye-jin. The Namgung warriors, who had been away from the clan for a long time, broke into wide smiles and dispersed.

Namgung Hwa-rin instructed her maids to ensure Yu-jin’s maids were comfortably settled.

Since Ran and Eun Seol-rin couldn’t come due to their positions, Yu-jin had already instructed them to stay elsewhere before arriving at the Namgung Clan.

“Please, follow me.”

Namgung Hwi and Namgung Hwa-rin led the way toward the residence of the clan head. Along the path stood warriors of the Namgung Clan, each one exuding a subtle aura of power.

“Truly the Namgung Clan. For every single warrior to have such an aura.”