Chapter 768
Chapter 768
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 768
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Path
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Namgung Lin's sword traced a massive arc, driving them back. They raised their blades in defense before charging at her once more.
A palm strike from Namgung Lin slammed into one man's gut. His body flew through the air, crashing into the waiters and tumbling across the floor. The kimchi stew spilled everywhere.
Shin Jong-woo shot to his feet. His face twisted in fury and annoyance at the sight of the ruined stew.
"Shin Jong-woo! Hold it in! Hold it... Damn, his eyes have gone completely feral."
Dun Mok-jeong gave up on calming him and retreated to the corner of the room.
"There's a saying that even dogs don't disturb folks while they're eating. Did you have to drag Lin away right in the middle of our meal? It wouldn't have been that hard to wait until we finished!"
Black energy began to seep from Shin Jong-woo's body. Demonic qi.
I tilted my head. It had to be from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, but it felt fundamentally different from the one I knew.
Just because it shared the same name didn't mean it was the exact same art.
"A demonic cultivator, eh? Consider this a warning. This is Anhui Province, and we're warriors of the Namgung Clan. Rein in your energy."
In a typical murim world, they'd have lost their minds the moment demonic qi appeared. But the main backdrop of this world was the cultivation novel Radiant Ascension Path. Cultivating demonic arts didn't automatically make you a criminal here. This world recognized demonic arts as legitimate martial arts.
Kiiiiiing.
Energy from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art coalesced in Shin Jong-woo's hands, forming black orbs. His version of the art focused mainly on fists and energy blasts.
"I won't kill you. So don't make me."
"...What an insolent fool. Subdue him. He's the young lady's companion—don't kill him."
The Namgung Clan warriors kicked off the ground and lunged forward.
Shin Jong-woo took a single step. In that instant, the air grew heavy, and my insides churned. The Namgung warriors staggered too, it seemed.
I knew it instinctively. He'd just used the Heavenly Demon Overlord Step.
"Revenge for my kimchi stew. I'll settle it right here."
Shin detonated the black orbs in his hands. Demonic qi swept through the room in all directions. I hurriedly circulated my energy to shield my body. Fortunately, I wasn't too late.
When the energy finally dissipated, the scene was a sight to behold. Food was scattered everywhere, and the Namgung warriors—including Namgung Lin—lay sprawled unconscious. Chunks of the ceiling exposed its beams, and even the walls had crumbled.
Dun Mok-jeong sidled up beside me and spoke.
"You shielded yourself with energy, huh? I knew you had some skill, but damn, you're decent. Still, this is bad. Messing with the Namgung Clan... Sigh. Shin Jong-woo's the problem—cool-headed most times, but he explodes like a bomb outta nowhere."
"......"
I half-listened to Dun Mok-jeong as I peered out the window. Dozens of Namgung Clan warriors were visible. They were dead set on taking Lin, it seemed.
This isn't how it went in the original Isekai Heavenly Demon... And who was the Seol that Lin mentioned earlier? Was she even in the original?
As far as I knew, Namgung Lin had run away from home out of a longing for the jianghu. In the original, she was called the Sword Phoenix, but not here.
With five different stories mashed together, tons has changed. Can't rely too much on the originals.
Soon, the innkeeper and a swarm of Namgung warriors burst in.
The mess got sorted out somehow. But I ended up getting hauled off to the Namgung Clan along with Shin Jong-woo and Dun Mok-jeong. They didn't tie us up, but the clan's stares weren't friendly.
???
Namgung Lin bolted upright the moment she opened her eyes.
"...Ugh."
Her body ached all over.
"Oh dear! Miss Lin! Please, lie back down!"
The elderly maid at her side fussed dramatically. Namgung Lin recognized her—one of the maids who'd cared for her since childhood.
"...Ma-so."
Tears welled up in the old maid's eyes at the sound of her name.
"...Yes, Miss. It's Ma-so. You're finally back...! Thank the heavens...!"
"Ma-so. What happened? Explain."
"The warriors brought you home. No injuries, but you must be exhausted from pushing yourself."
"Yeah. I am tired... What about the guys I was with? You didn't kill them, right?"
"Oh, don't worry. By the clan head's orders, they're being treated as honored guests."
Namgung Lin nodded in relief. If they'd been killed, she might have carried that guilt forever.
"......And Seol?"
"Miss Seol..."
Ma-so's face darkened. That alone made Namgung Lin's heart sink.
"I need to see Seol."
"M-Miss Lin! You should see the clan head first!"
"No. Seol comes first."
As Namgung Lin tried to get out of bed, the door opened and a man entered. He looked to be in his thirties, dressed impeccably with a neat goatee. His calm gaze turned to her.
Namgung Ho-cheon. Namgung Lin's father and the current head of the Namgung Clan. Ma-so bowed to him hurriedly and scurried out.
Only father and daughter remained in the room.
"Father..."
"I figured you'd wake up, so I came. How's your body?"
"I'm fine. Can we talk later? I want to see Seol first."
"So harsh to your father after all this time. And there's no need to worry about Seol."
"Seol will die at this rate! You knew that and did nothing!"
Namgung Lin scowled and shouted. Her voice carried years of pent-up rage.
"Lin. Seol is my daughter too. You think I really did nothing? Who's the one who actually did nothing—you."
"I left the clan to save Seol! The world is vast—there has to be a way out there! But what have you done?! All you did was feed her spirit elixirs!"
"Spirit elixirs are essential if she's to live even a little longer. And what did you do? Run off into the jianghu to find a cure? Did you? Think wandering solves everything? Was the world that easy for you?"
"J-Just a bit more time, and I would've had results!"
"No excuses. I gave you four years. That was plenty. And you think you roamed the jianghu safely on your own strength?"
"......You tailed me?!"
"The jianghu is a dangerous place."
"......!"
Namgung Lin ground her teeth. She glared daggers at Namgung Ho-cheon. But he didn't change expression.
"I've found a cure for Seol."
Her eyes widened.
"N-No way."
"Have a little faith in your father."
"What... what method? Spirit elixirs can't save her!"
"A method that isn't elixirs. It wasn't practical, so I shelved it... Though in a way, it's thanks to you."
"...Thanks to me? What do you mean?"
"The man you were with—he's the key."
"......Shin Gongzhu? He's certainly a mysterious guy. With that unconventional demonic art of his...!"
Namgung Lin found herself nodding. Shin Jong-woo was an enigma unlike anything she'd seen.
But Namgung Ho-cheon gave her a puzzled look.
"Shin Gongzhu? No, not the demonic cultivator. The man named Sung Yu-jin."
"...That guy? Why him?"
He explained calmly as she stared in confusion.
"...I'll keep it brief—listen. I climbed Nakwol Mountain and asked the Nakwol Divine Maiden for a way. Her reputation precedes her, so I figured she'd know how to save Seol. And I was right. She agreed to help—for three conditions."
"She might've been able to. Tell me the details of the method—and what conditions she set."
"Well..."
He sighed and relayed the method and conditions from the Nakwol Divine Maiden. Namgung Lin grew more horrified by the second until she couldn't hold back and punched him in the gut. Namgung Ho-cheon didn't dodge— he took the hit from his daughter.
???
I gazed at Namgung Seol, who lay asleep on the bed.
Namgung Lin's younger sister, Namgung Seol.
She was a petite woman. Her coming-of-age rite was long past, yet she looked quite young. If Namgung Lin was a pure, healthy beauty, Namgung Seol was a frail, pitiable one. She had a vibe similar to Park Ga-in, Park Su-ho's little sister from back home.
Her hair was snow-white, her eyes red. Classic albinism. Even her eyebrows were pure white.
Namgung Seol suffered from Nine Yin Severed Meridians.
She was originally from Fallen Heavenly Demon as Baili Seol.
In the original Fallen Heavenly Demon, she appeared as Baili Seol. With the protagonist's help, she recovered from her Nine Yin condition and became head of the Baili Clan, aiding him both openly and covertly as a key side character.
But here, she was Namgung Seol of the Namgung Clan, not Baili. The original Fallen Heavenly Demon had been twisted. Not surprising at this point. What mattered was something else.
Heh. Who'd have thought I'd end up engaged to Namgung Seol.
The Namgung Clan had found a cure for Nine Yin Severed Meridians: the Yin-Yang Illumination Great Law.
In simple terms, it neutralized the excess yin through sex with a man possessing pure yang energy. But as a "great law," plain sex wouldn't cut it. Performing the Yin-Yang Illumination Great Law required the aid of the Guwol Divine Maiden.
The engagement's already set.
I'd finished talking with the clan head, Namgung Ho-cheon. I'd become the Namgung Clan's adopted son-in-law, but it wasn't a bad deal for me—I accepted right away. Free access to a beauty and the Namgung Clan as backing? No reason to refuse.
Namgung Seol agreed too.
She accepted the situation with a faint airhead vibe, calm as could be. I couldn't quite read her thoughts or feelings. My guess? She just didn't want to burden the clan.
I grasped a lock of Namgung Seol's hair where she lay on the bed. It wasn't silver—it was pure white, like her eyes, devoid of any color. My hand slid upward, stroking her cheek. Soft and warm.
As of today, Namgung Seol was mine. We weren't formally married yet, but Namgung Ho-cheon would never give her up, so it'd happen soon. My hand drifted to her chest. B-cup. A shame, but up close, it wasn't just small.
Thud thud thud.
Footsteps rushed in, and the door flew open. It was Namgung Lin, panting hard.
"G-Get away... right now...! You filthy rapist!"
"Sister-in-law. What's that all of a sudden? I'm Seol's husband."
"Don't make me laugh—not even formally engaged!"
"That'll happen soon enough. I don't care if you break it off... but are you sure you wanna?"
"......!!"
Breaking the engagement meant Namgung Seol's death. Was there another man in this world with yang energy as pure as mine?
If they could've found one easily, they'd have done it before I showed up. Heh.
I could tell from Namgung Lin's frozen expression. I was Namgung Seol's only hope. My hand moved over her chest. Once asleep, she didn't stir even amid the noise.
"Stop it! What are you doing to a sleeping girl?!"
"Seol looked uncomfortable, so I was helping. Stop interfering."
"I-I won't accept it! A guy like you, just lounging in brothels, as Seol's husband?!"
"What if you don't accept it? Gonna kill me?"
"You... grrr!"
Namgung Lin clenched her teeth, trembling in rage. Killing me would be as good as killing Namgung Seol.
Not that I planned to take her right now anyway. Gotta wait till the formal engagement to avoid drama.
Namgung Lin hadn't thought that far. Fair enough—my nickname was Lustful Young Master. Her opinion of me was probably in the dirt, if not straight to hell's basement.
"Sister-in-law. Keep this up... and I might take it out on Seol."
"...You bastard...! You think you'll get away with that?!"
"No plans for anything physical. But once she's my wife? Mentally, it's a different story. I could give her a hellish newlywed life. Sweet Seol wouldn't even tell the clan. Heh."
Namgung Lin's face drained of color. She knew Namgung Seol would endure any abuse without a word.
"D-Don't. Please. Spare at least Seol..."
"Heh. Fine, sister-in-law. But I've got a condition."