Chapter 481: Damned Bastard (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 481: Damned Bastard (5)
The Heavenly Venerable had four children.
Three were born to his primary wife, and the last was the son of a concubine. Yet, against all expectations, it was this concubine’s son who ultimately succeeded the Heavenly Venerable as the Lord of the Namgung Clan.
His name was Namgung Jeohui.
While not the most talented, his political acumen secured him victory in the brutal struggle for the lordship. Like other great clans, the Namgung Clan’s succession battles were vicious, a bloody affair among kin, and that time was no exception. Upon Namgung Jeohui’s victory, his defeated siblings met their end.
The shocking outcome drove the Heavenly Venerable’s primary wife to take her own life, yet the Heavenly Venerable himself remained largely unmoved. He found satisfaction in the fact that a child of his had proven himself worthy through conquest. That was the kind of man he was. Whether from his primary wife or a concubine, he respected only those who demonstrated their worth. It was his core belief.
After Namgung Jeohui became Lord, he fathered two children with his primary wife and one with a concubine.
The second son from his primary wife was the man now known as the Sword King, Namgung Jin. His path to succession was smooth, unlike his father's bloody rise. The first son died young from illness, and the third, a bastard, was treated with contempt. Thus, Namgung Jin, hailed as a genius prodigy, was the natural choice to be the next Lord. The clan's Elders, alongside the Heavenly Venerable, raised no objections.
That is, until that incident occurred.
The Thunder Fang, the clan's sacred treasure, chose a different bloodline member instead of Namgung Jin.
An ancestral decree, left by the Thunderous Sword, Namgung Myung, on his deathbed, stated that the one chosen by the Thunder Fang would rule the Namgung Clan. However, this tradition had lost its meaning generations before the Heavenly Venerable. Men became Lords without the Thunder Fang's blessing, and the clan had only grown more glorious. The Heavenly Venerable saw no need to dwell on the matter.
But then, the incident erupted.
[Fu…ck…]
In a blood-splattered storeroom, a young man glared at the Heavenly Venerable, his grip tight on the collar of Namgung Jin, who was beaten to a bloody pulp.
[Whatever, I’m done with you fucking bastards.]
His eyes burned with resentment, his sword held in a harsh, unyielding grip. His hair bristled with energy, resonating with the explosive lightning that crackled along his blade. Seeing this, the Heavenly Venerable finally understood.
This was the true power of the Thunder Fang. This was what it meant for the treasure to choose its master.
However.
[I’m leaving. This shitty clan… I swear I’m never coming back.]
The one chosen by the Thunder Fang abandoned the Namgung Clan to join a Taoist sect.
It became one of the Heavenly Venerable’s few regrets.
His first regret was failing to recognize the child's potential.
His second was not stopping him from leaving.
His third was realizing the clan's slow decline when it was already too late.
“So, what the hell do you want from me?”
The Heavenly Venerable turned towards the voice. There, a man who looked like a beggar was gulping down water.
“Why do you keep chasing me just to annoy me?”
“Chasing you? Don’t get it twisted,” the Heavenly Venerable responded with a smile.
The man clicked his tongue. “Don’t get it twisted, my ass. I’m running to avoid your face. If that’s not you chasing me, what is?”
“Hyung, my dear child.”
Namgung Hyung frowned in disgust at the address. “Ugh, don’t call me that. It’s irritating.”
“Shouldn’t you return to where you belong now?”
Where he belonged. Hearing those words, Namgung Hyung gulped down the rest of his water as if parched. “You still haven’t let that go?”
“You are of the Namgung Clan. You should return when the time is right.”
“Bullshit. Why do I belong to the Namgung Clan?” Namgung Hyung began digging his ear with a finger, as if he’d misheard. “I threw that identity away when I left. I belong to the Wudang Sect now.”
He gazed at the Heavenly Venerable with pure disgust. He had no other choice. The day he left, he had discarded everything—the clothes on his back, even his surname. He’d never been treated well anyway; there was little to leave behind. The thought drew a bitter smile from within.
There was one thing he’d been wrong about. He had failed to discard one thing, and that was why the old man now pestered him.
Namgung Hyung pulled something out and threw it at the Heavenly Venerable.
Thud.
What landed on the ground was a handle with a gem embedded in its top. It looked like junk, but it was anything but.
The Thunder Fang.
The treasure of the Namgung Clan, and a curse upon Namgung Hyung.
“You obviously came for this. Take it and screw off.”
“…”
The Heavenly Venerable didn’t deny it. Instead, he bent down and reached for the Thunder Fang.
Then—
Zaaap-!
A tremendous burst of lightning exploded from the treasure, flashing brightly. The Heavenly Venerable snatched his hand back and stood up.
“…”
He examined his hand, still burning from the impact. The force had been strong enough to shake the Qi barrier surrounding him.
“Unfortunately, the Thunder Fang still seems to disagree,” the Heavenly Venerable said, smiling.
Swish-!
The Thunder Fang on the ground suddenly levitated and flew back into Namgung Hyung’s hand. He hadn’t used any Qi to summon it; it was the weapon’s own will.
Tap-!
Catching it, Namgung Hyung frowned. “How tiresome. Can’t you just leave me alone after all this time?”
“It seems the Thunder Fang is still fond of you.”
“Fond?” Namgung Hyung smirked. This old man still knew nothing. He wouldn’t say that if he knew this thing’s true nature.
Only he understood the Thunder Fang’s nasty personality. He was certain the Heavenly Venerable would act differently if he knew. But because he was ignorant, he could say, “You should return now. You don’t belong here.”
How many times had it been? Namgung Hyung had lived alone with the Thunder Fang after running away, yet the Heavenly Venerable periodically appeared to pester him. It was getting old.
“How can you decide where I belong? I’ll say it again: I belong to the Wudang Sect.”
“Do you truly love the Wudang Sect so much, when they cast you out and showed you no respect?”
“…Sigh.” Namgung Hyung couldn’t hold back his sigh. “Says the man who treated me the way you did.”
“…”
The Heavenly Venerable had no retort. It was true; Namgung Hyung had been treated poorly in his youth.
“You’d be better off killing me for the Thunder Fang.”
“How could I do such a thing to my own grandson?”
“Fucking hell. You never acted like a grandfather, so how can you say that? You must be getting senile.”
Chuckle.
The Heavenly Venerable almost scowled at the insult but managed to control his expression. “Even if you return now, what would the Sword King think? Does he even know you’ve been doing this?”
“Do not worry about Jin. What matters is you, Hyung.”
“ ‘Don’t worry,’ my ass. My life would be on the line.”
Namgung Hyung doubted Namgung Jin would easily accept his return, especially since he was partly responsible for tarnishing Jin’s reputation. His memory of Namgung Jin made him even more certain.
Hearing this, the Heavenly Venerable gazed at him intently. “If you are serious about this, I am willing to make you Lord over Jin.”
“…”
Namgung Hyung’s eyes widened at the shocking proposition. The offer of the lordship meant the Heavenly Venerable still held more influence than the Sword King and could overturn the succession effortlessly.
“Haha.”
Namgung Hyung laughed. He actually felt grateful. “I really am thankful to you, grandfather.”
His grandfather kept proving that his decision to leave had been the right one. How could he not be thankful?
“You’re still a piece of shit.”
Stifling his laughter, Namgung Hyung responded by flipping the Heavenly Venerable off. “Fuck off.”
“…”
“Even if I have to die with my limbs chopped off, I will never return to that clan.”
Crack.
Had Namgung Hyung’s harsh words finally pushed him to his limit? A cracking sound emanated from the Heavenly Venerable’s body.
Was he drawing his sword? That suited Namgung Hyung just fine; he was more than ready to fight. Though he wasn't sure if that was what the Thunder Fang wanted.
Just as Namgung Hyung began to gather his Qi,
Swish.
The Heavenly Venerable turned his back. “…I will take my leave for today.”
Watching him depart just like that, Namgung Hyung spat on the ground. “Don’t come back. I’ll hide again.”
“The next time we meet, I hope you have a different answer for me.”
Zap-
With a final flash of lightning, the Heavenly Venerable vanished.
Finally enveloped in silence again, Namgung Hyung went back to shoveling his leftover rice into his mouth.
“I’ll have to meet my disciple somewhere else.”
His disciple had sent word he was coming for a visit. Because of this interruption, Namgung Hyung decided to change the meeting place. He didn’t want his disciple’s visit tainted by the bad memories created here.
* * *
The Qi Body Transformation Technique.
A gift from Tang Jaemoon, this technique could alter one’s body, even changing gender and age. It was about to prove immensely useful.
My body had undergone significant changes in the other world, changes that would be difficult to explain given how little time had passed here. This technique would allow me to conceal those alterations.
It feels a bit strange, but it’s not too bad.
Aside from the considerable Qi and stamina required to maintain the transformation, there were no major drawbacks.
What a fascinating technique.
The difference between my true form and the transformed state was vast, but it was manageable. However, I don’t think I can change my gender.
Unlike Tang Jaemoon, I couldn’t perform that particular change. Perhaps she hadn't taught me that part of the technique, or I simply hadn't learned how yet.
But that part doesn’t matter anyway. I had no desire to become a woman, so it was no loss. I was simply grateful to her. In a way, this was its own form of enlightenment.
Though this thing, unfortunately, remains.
I stared at my hand. This was the most significant change to my body. The blue scales covering my left arm and shoulder persisted, even with the transformation technique active. I could shrink them somewhat, but I couldn't make them vanish completely.
Tsk.
The bandage covering my arm was now dyed blue, hiding the scales, but their presence still bothered me.
Oh, and there was one more extremely important thing.
Shaaaak-!
I nodded, seeing the creature that cried out softly from my pocket. This is the part I’m most glad about.
I had successfully applied the transformation technique not just to myself, but to the Red Water Snake as well. I’d been worried about how to handle the creature after its growth, but the technique allowed me to shrink it back down to pocket size. A huge bonus.
I’ll check the rest later…
There were many other aspects to test, but they would have to wait. I had more immediate problems to deal with.
“…Young Master Gu, what did you just say?”
A smile touched my lips at the confused, trembling voice.
“Could you repeat that? What did you just say?”
“…I mean, um.”
The man’s expression darkened, anger clearly rising at my words. This was none other than the ruler of the Tang Clan, the Poison King. I stood facing him in his audience room, there to discuss several matters, including the affair of the lake.
What did he ask me to do?
Repeat myself? That was simple enough.
The problem was…
“I think I’ll have to kill the Elders of the Tang Clan. Is that okay with you?”
It was a strange thing for me, of all people, to say.
As expected, a terrifying expression descended upon the Poison King’s face, and the room grew thick with his killing intent.