Chapter 776
Chapter 776
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 776
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Sword
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"...Hoo. So you've figured out who I am. I knew you weren't ordinary, but you're more capable than I thought. Did Jong-woo tell you?"
"What do you think?"
"Are you asking because you don't know? Of course Jong-woo didn't say anything. That guy's got a tight lip. Too tight, even."
"Yes, exactly."
I'd tried to sow discord, but the atmosphere told me it wouldn't work. I switched plans on the spot.
"Is the reason you're hiding your identity and sticking with Shin Jong-woo because you've lost your power?"
"......"
Dun Mok-jeong shut his mouth. His sunken eyes studied me intently. His mind was probably racing right now.
Would he deny it? Or admit it?
"...How did you know?"
"Isn't it strange that the world's most notorious Muyoung Shintu is holed up in the Namgung family with Shin Jong-woo? Even after digging up your info, I doubted it for a while. Who'd have thought the Muyoung Shintu would be hanging around with some greenhorn, bold as brass in the Namgung estate?"
"So you guessed I'd lost my power?"
"Yes. First off, the man before me doesn't match the fearsome reputation of Muyoung Shintu—he looks weaker than me."
"They say in the jianghu to beware women, children, and the elderly."
"I've been plenty cautious, and that's my conclusion. Second, you can't subdue me right now."
"And the third reason?"
"If you hadn't lost your power, you wouldn't be with Shin Jong-woo."
"...Hmm. Fine. You're right. I've lost my power. I'm weaker than you right now. But don't you dare underestimate me. Even in this state, I can kill a punk like you."
It was bravado.
If he truly had the strength to kill me, he wouldn't be spouting lines like that.
"Let me say it again. I have no intention of fighting you, sir."
"Then why come here without telling the Namgung family my identity? You want something, right?"
"Heh. What else would one want from Muyoung Shintu?"
Muyoung Shintu's fame ran high.
Thirty years ago, he burst onto the scene, roaming the land and stealing treasures everywhere. The golden phoenix's inner core, peerless martial arts manuals, a heavenly jade bigger than a man's head. They say Muyoung Shintu stashed them all in his secret vault.
It was a rumor you could hear anywhere.
And it wasn't just idle gossip—Muyoung Shintu's exploits were real. The Jin Empire alone had slapped a bounty of 20,000 gold taels on his head. For reference, one gold tael was worth about ten million won. That made his bounty two hundred billion.
'No wonder, with all the high officials and nobles he's robbed.'
That massive bounty lent credibility to the rumors, making people believe. Some even deified him as a god rather than a man.
"Heh... You believe that absurd nonsense too?"
"Isn't it true?"
"There's no secret vault. Why would I stash stolen goods in a warehouse? I'd sell jewels, give martial manuals to friends. Elixirs? Save 'em too long and they turn to shit, so I ate them myself. Advice for a young punk like you: don't hoard elixirs."
"...I'll take that advice with a grain of salt."
Muyoung Shintu's vault did exist.
It did in the original story. I even knew its location. But since this world diverged a bit from 'Otherworldly Heavenly Demon', it might not be there.
"Still, you've got a few stashed away, right? Nothing at all? That's a huge letdown."
"...Heh. Too many elixirs are hard to consume. As you said, I've squirreled a few away."
"I want those."
"So it's blackmail after all."
Dun Mok-jeong gripped his dagger tightly. A bluish sword aura flickered along the blade.
"I don't deal with thieves."
"That's rich coming from you."
"Don't underestimate me. I'm the one who stole the emperor's treasure and lived. You think I'd fall to the likes of you?"
"How many times do I have to say I don't want to fight?"
"I'm not sharing my stuff with you."
"But you share with Shin Jong-woo? No, wait—you're just using him one-sidedly, so no need to share."
"...You've just given me more reason to kill you here."
Thick killing intent washed over me. My breath caught. Even weakened, that condensed experience didn't vanish.
"Let's make a deal. I'll help you in Shin Jong-woo's place."
"......"
"I can do better than him. I'm the Namgung family's son-in-law, with skills on par with his. Connections, wealth, martial arts—overall, I'm the better fit."
"Fair point. But you won't do. You don't know why I lost my power. Once you do, you'll run."
"You mean the betrayal by the Black Willow Sect."
"How?!!"
Dun Mok-jeong's eyes widened. His shock scattered the killing intent filling the space; he even staggered back.
"Heh. I'm sharper than you think, sir. Changed your mind yet?"
Dun Mok-jeong quickly regained his composure amid the panic.
"Yes. I have."
He gnashed his teeth, bent his knees, and assumed a battle stance.
"I realized joining hands with you would end badly! Unlike Jong-woo, you're the type I can't control. I'll kill you here!"
His voice burned with fury, but his movements were cautious. He closed the distance slowly.
I drew my Hwaryeon Sword. Blue sword aura rippled along the red blade.
"You really have to do this? We could be great partners."
"Partners? You think I'm dumb enough to fall for that?"
Dun Mok-jeong drew closer. Before his dagger could fly, I spoke first.
"Xinjiang Province. Danmok family. Back mountain. Danmok So-ha."
"You bastard...!"
His focus shattered. I seized the opening.
'Moment.'
The first Moment closed the gap instantly.
'Moment.'
The second slashed his abdomen.
'Moment.'
The third severed his right arm clutching the dagger and grabbed the falling Dun Mok-jeong's head.
"Gahk, h-how did you know that info...? What the hell are you...!"
Dun Mok-jeong didn't die right away. With a name like Muyoung Shintu, instant death from losing half his limbs would be suspicious.
"That reaction confirms it—the Muyoung Shintu vault is in the Danmok family back mountain."
Dun Mok-jeong's real name was Dan Mok-jeong. Only two people knew: him and his granddaughter, Danmok So-ha. Officially, Dan Mok-jeong was dead.
The Danmok family was in Xinjiang, and Muyoung Shintu's vault was in their back mountain. Good—this matched the original.
"So-ha...! What did you do to So-ha!"
"Nothing. Yet. Heh."
"You bastard, you bastard...!"
He squeezed out his last qi, swinging his left arm. His fingers twisted, nails elongating and sharpening like a beast's. Muyoung Shintu's secret ultimate from the original. Touch that hand, and your heart gets stolen.
'I predicted that last struggle.'
I swung coldly. His left arm flew off.
"......If I'd accepted your offer, would you really have helped me?"
"I'd have used you moderately, then killed you."
Dun Mok-jeong opened his mouth wide to shout for help.
'Moment.'
I thrust into his throat, severing his neck. Now Dan Mok-jeong was definitely dead. I pulled a box from my inventory, stuffed him in roughly, and stored it back.
Before leaving, I magicked away the blood on the floor. His sudden disappearance would stir up the Namgung family.
'A body turning up would blow it up into a murder case. Disappearance is cleaner.'
Invisibility from Illusiter on, I masked my presence fully and slipped back to the annex. Traces gone—no one would notice.
???
A week after Dun Mok-jeong vanished.
Namgung Lin, Shin Jong-woo, and I left the Namgung estate. Unlike before, Namgung Lin didn't hide her looks, drawing stares. No one didn't know her identity. Her face aside, her clothes boldly bore "Namgung."
We headed for a forest outside Anhui Province. Home to some eccentric sorcerer. Namgung Lin and I tagged along under the pretense of helping Shin Jong-woo.
"...Young Master Shin."
Namgung Lin called to him. He glanced back slowly.
"Miss Lin. Speak."
"You've seemed on edge since Elder Dun Mok-jeong disappeared. Are you all right?"
"......It's a shock. He's not the type to vanish quietly. Maybe.... No, that's imprudent. Elder Dun Mok-jeong is a seasoned jianghu man. He probably had reasons to part ways. I can guess them roughly."
Shin Jong-woo trudged ahead. I watched his back, lost in thought. If today's sorcerer yielded nothing, he'd leave Anhui tomorrow or the next day.
'Kill him before then? Or tail him when he leaves and do it then? Sneaking after and striking on departure seems best?'
Tough call.
'Why'd I even come with Namgung Lin today? If chance arises, kill him now. While letting her know her real master.'
Walking, Shin Jong-woo asked Namgung Lin.
"Miss Lin. About that question before—can I hear your answer today?"
His prior question: would she leave Anhui with him?
Namgung Lin glanced at me, then replied.
"......Sorry, Young Master Shin. I left the family to find a cure for Seol-i. I've found it now, so no reason to leave. Even if I wanted to, the family wouldn't allow it."
"I see."
Shin Jong-woo answered flatly.
"Sorry."
"No need to apologize. I expected as much. I asked anyway because..."
"Because...?"
"...Nothing."
Shin Jong-woo replied emotionlessly, staring ahead. His pace quickened. Good. I checked for bystanders, then groped Namgung Lin's ass.
She flinched but didn't swat my hand. Firm and nice, as always.
We entered the forest.
"Ugh."
I let out a small groan. My body felt heavy. Namgung Lin wobbled similarly. Only Shin Jong-woo was fine.
"A barrier. Looks like we found the right place. How about you two?"
"...A bit stifling, but okay."
"I'm good."
Namgung Lin and I answered.
"I can go alone from here."
"No, Young Master Shin. This might be the last, so I'll see it through."
"No need for that."
We walked on. Time passed; we adapted, the oppression fading.
Flutter flutter.
A pigeon flew toward us from the sky. Odd—small animals usually avoid people. We stopped and looked up.
The pigeon perched on a branch and spoke.
"What business brings you into the forest? There's a Namgung girl, but you're not here as family reps."
A deep, resonant voice from that cute form.
Eunjo-sa, the Hidden Bird Master.
The sorcerer living quietly in the Anhui woods, controlling pigeons with magic. Had to be him.
"We came to ask Master Eunjo-sa something."
"Me?"
"I'm Shin Jong-woo. I've been seeking answers from renowned sorcerers."
Shin Jong-woo cupped his fists politely.
"Hoo. Intriguing. You coming to me means the others couldn't answer, right?"
"...Yes. None could."
"What question?"
"About another world. I want to go to another world."
"...Haha. Outside the Jin Empire?"
"Not the empire's borders, heaven, or hell. A world truly different from this one."
"......I see. I'm interested in talking. Follow this pigeon."
The pigeon took flight.
Then an arrow from afar pierced it, spraying blood as it plummeted. An irritated voice leaked from its beak.
"Damn it... intruders..."
Gray energy flowed from the pigeon, vanishing into the air.