Chapter 163 Dragon-Phoenix Assembly (5)
Sorcery?
Pa Cheon's words left me utterly baffled.
Who was Namgung Jin? Not some no-name Namgung-jin, but Namgung Jin of the Namgung family.
The young master of that Namgung family, no less. The one that always popped up in wuxia tales as the clichéd, arrogant, insufferable righteous faction powerhouse—but a genuine giant of a clan all the same.
For their young master to fall victim to sorcery? Even at the entry level, a Super Peak expert?
[By that logic, you and Hyeok Mun fell to it too.]
'That's because the sorcerer was Chu Tae Su.'
Chu Tae Su had used sorcery to climb into the top twenty ranks of the Divine Cult.
'Besides, I wasn't Super Peak to begin with, and Hyeok Mun's a borderline case at best.'
The Red Dragon Revolution Family's arts ran on a completely different track from ordinary martial techniques. Most focused on self-tempering to ascend to transcendence, but theirs aimed to become a vessel for the "great" Red Dragon itself—to serve as its incarnation later on.
That made them even more vulnerable to sorcery. If the vessel's mind was too fortified, the possession wouldn't take hold properly. Their arts offered no mental safeguards.
'But the Namgung family is different.'
Even by Murim Returner's lore, the Namgung clan was an ancient house predating the First Heavenly Demon.
Any force enduring in the murim world that long had to possess immense might and foundations.
With their own formidable arts, their heir would get chaebol-level pampering and oversight. Room for sorcery to slip in?
[That sensation is unmistakably sorcery.]
'Hmm.'
I couldn't just dismiss Pa Cheon's words, of course.
As a spirit dwelling in a Heavenly Grade treasure artifact, his senses were exceptionally keen. He'd been the first to detect the sorcery on me back then.
'True, it was weird. Incredibly weird.'
This Namgung Jin looked nothing like the one from Murim Returner—not even a little. The original was arrogant, sure, but carried himself with refined dignity.
Not some fool blinded by jealousy, unable to control his own emotions like this.
[If someone stuck close for a long time, layering it gradually, it's possible.]
Fair point. Chu Tae Su hanging sorcery with a single brush was the outlier. True sorcery was like a curse, requiring constant proximity to torment body and mind over time.
[Just summon Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa and have it check. He'll snap out of the delusion naturally.]
'If this were the Divine Cult, sure, splash some holy water and call it done. But this is the orthodox world.'
Word getting out that the Namgung young master was ensorcelled and deluded? Catastrophe. It could shake one pillar of the righteous factions, led by the Five Great Clans.
And if it happened in the Tang family parlor? Conspiracy theories would explode.
[Face is no meal ticket. Orthodox murim folk are all so damn stuffy.]
'It's not just empty pride. Paeng Yu-gun mentioned the Blood Cult stirring trouble. Could be them for real.'
[You gonna play it safe?]
'Yeah.'
I was leaning toward sorcery too.
Dispelling it was simple—one blast of Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa's flames would shred even Chu Tae Su's spell.
But the caster might bolt. If this was Blood Cult work, we could net them now. Those fanatics were all a few screws loose, itching for their blood apocalypse.
Not that I'd handle the cleanup myself. My job? Point and yell, "Blood Cult's over there!"
[Finding the caster comes first, then. Yi Seong Ryeong?]
'Suspicious, yeah.'
She'd acted like she had ulterior motives throughout the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
But...
'She's panicking.'
When the debate spar kicked off—the incident's trigger—panic had flashed across her face.
Plus, could the North Sea Ice Palace's young lady even wield sorcery?
Theoretically possible, but why bother?
"Are you prepared?"
"...Yes."
So In-gyeol hesitated but nodded.
Namgung Jin laughed boisterously yet slyly.
"I'll use the Three Calamity Swordsmanship myself, but my knowledge is limited, so I'm unfamiliar with Young Master So's arts. Might I ask what technique you'll employ?"
It sounded polite, but the subtext screamed, "I don't know your nobody clan's moves."
What a punk.
I sent a transmission.
'No sweat. Say you'll counter with Three Calamity Swordsmanship.'
So In-gyeol's back stiffened. But cornered, he seized the momentum.
"I've mastered my family's heirloom, the So Family Swordsmanship. But I'll use Three Calamity Swordsmanship as well."
Namgung Jin's brow twitched savagely, mirroring his mood.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
"Very well. You strike first, then. All Phenomena Subdue."
At Namgung Jin's call, Je Gal Hye stepped forward reluctantly. Sharp as she was, she sensed something off with him—but couldn't rein in his pride. Frustrating.
"Then, begin."
[It's on. I'll handle Namgung Jin—you hunt the likely caster.]
'Got it.'
I scanned the crowd. Debate spar or not, no left-hand penalty—Namgung Jin was toast against Pa Cheon. That sword mocked Super Peak itself, a genius of the ages.
Dividing tasks was efficient.
'Namgung Jin can't use his left. Target it relentlessly...'
I relayed instructions to So In-gyeol while strolling through the onlookers, scrutinizing faces.
Candidates were few, Yi Seong Ryeong included.
Namgung Jin's arrogance kept him aloof from lesser talents.
Save the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, minimal contact.
He'd chatted superficially with mid-tier disciples, but no closeness.
Access: Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, Tang's Dang Si Hyeok, and Paeng So So.
Dang Si Hyeok and Paeng So So? Nah.
Un Yeop Ja and Jang Yeong-o? Out—taoists and sorcery don't mix. Energies clash perfectly.
Left with—
'Mount Tai Press to target the left shoulder.'
Another instruction to So In-gyeol, then back to it.
Another figure caught my eye: Mo Yong Hak.
He sat alone at a Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes table, feigning disinterest in the spar—but his darting eyes betrayed him.
Mo Yong Hak was plenty suspicious. Seethed with inferiority toward Namgung Jin.
And guilt by association—his grandfather Mo Yong Su already had beef with me.
But rash suspicion felt off. During our drinking contest, he'd apologized sincerely enough.
'Shift half-step left, announce Horizontal Little Heaven Army form. Feint.'
Couldn't be Je Gal Hye either. Paeng Yu-gun later said she'd warned about the Blood Cult—her father was the Alliance's strategist.
That left Seongsu Bong Jin So-cheong. Granddaughter of the famed physician Yi Seong. No reason to touch Namgung Jin.
Jin So-cheong was entertaining bored Paeng So So now that clingy Je Gal Hye was judging. Target switch.
Unlike distracted Paeng So So, Jin So-cheong watched eagerly. Physicians preferred bloodless debates over real fights.
"Ugh~ Boring~."
Paeng So So yawned nonstop.
Made sense—Pang blood found verbal jousts dull.
'Hold up.'
A sudden thought hit.
In Murim Returner, Paeng So So later led the Spear Phantom Group, raiding and torching her own vaults—a utter scoundrel, committing patricide and inhuman acts without batting an eye.
But now?
'Simple-minded, food-obsessed, but no villain.'
Almost pure at times.
I'd chalked it up to timeline differences, no catalyzing event yet.
'What if it was sorcery all along?'
Reframe it.
Not motive—opportunity mattered. Free, unhindered access to both Namgung Jin and Paeng So So.
[Monster.]
Lost in thought, the spar neared its end.
Explained the thoughtful quiet.
Silence. No whispers.
Even with concessions in a debate, So In-gyeol dominating Namgung Jin? Shocking.
[Almost done. Judge if it's right.]
'Bit risky.'
Circling to find the culprit, I now saw So In-gyeol's face—grinning ear to ear. Namgung Jin's shoulders heaved ominously from behind.
My danger sense pinged—like when I iced the Little Witch and Jo Yang in the ruins.
Weaklings surviving amid giants needed one look: untouchably strong, or harmlessly frail.
So In-gyeol straddled the line—perfect target.
Only he, tensed then victory-focused, was oblivious.
'Throw it. He's gonna get wrecked.'
[Tch. Not thrilled.]
'This performance alone changes his standing. Namgung Jin snaps out of it, no more punk moves.'
I transmitted: lose on purpose. He balked, then paled at my explanation.
The match fizzled to Namgung Jin's "win."
Crowd praised So In-gyeol's gallant loss. Namgung Jin stiffly clasped hands, lips twitching, stormed off—face like a CEO mid-heart attack.
"Let me apply some acupuncture."
Jin So-cheong rose—same thought as me? Physicians can't ignore the ailing—
'...'
[...]
'Approaches without a raised eyebrow.'
[Can do anything to the body, zero suspicion.]
Found the culprit.
I Pretend to Be the Heavenly Demon