Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: I'll Take the First Swing!
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The Governing and Conception Vessels.
Without opening them, one can never reach the absolute realm. Of course, simply opening them doesn't guarantee entry into the absolute realm.
What is certain is that one must have these vessels open to even challenge the absolute realm.
"Why are you just standing there blankly? Hurry up and get into your room."
He boasted, 'This uncle of yours is about to bestow a great gift upon you.'
"...Uncle."
"You rascal. You're moved, aren't you? This uncle of yours may not look it, but I'm always worried about you..."
"Uncle. That's not what I mean."
"...Then what? Is your body not in good condition right now?"
"That's not it either."
"Then what in the world is it?"
"My Governing and Conception Vessels are already open."
"Right, they're already op—"
Namgung Yul couldn't believe his ears.
"What? Your Governing and Conception Vessels... are already... open?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"You crazy bastard. You think you can just open them because you want to..."
*Though, if anyone could, it would be him...*
*Still, that doesn't make any sense...*
Only those who have reached a certain level of enlightenment and mastery can open their own Governing and Conception Vessels.
It's not something you can just do, no matter how much of a genius you are...
*And yet, if it was his nephew, Namgung Urin, it just might be possible...*
Namgung Yul shook his head vigorously to clear it.
"Is what you're saying truly the truth?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"How?"
"They just opened."
"Not that you opened them... but they *opened*?"
*Doesn't that mean someone forced them open for him?*
*That means there's someone in the Namgung Family, other than himself, who can open his nephew's vessels...*
*'Namgung Geon?'*
No, not Namgung Geon, the leader of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade. He doesn't have that kind of ability yet.
"Who opened your Governing and Conception Vessels for you?"
"Is that important? What's important is that they're open."
It happened the day Namgung Urin first saw Honwon.
The day his Governing and Conception Vessels were opened.
It was when Honwon was freely entering and exiting Namgung Urin's body.
It was a truly easy, almost accidental, gain. Opening the vessels was supposed to be accompanied by immense pain.
"Well... I suppose that's true, but..."
"Uncle. I need to train."
"Oh? Oh, right... If you need anything, just say so."
*Though he'll probably cause trouble on his own without saying a word.*
As Namgung Yul turned to leave, he asked a question out of curiosity, just in case, even though it was a truly ridiculous thought.
"Urin."
"Yes."
"Have you by any chance... surely not... undergone Bone and Body Transfor—"
"I haven't."
"R-right. Of course."
*That's what makes him human. Yes.*
"Alright, train hard."
Bone and Body Transformation was a phenomenon that occurred upon stepping into the absolute realm. Those who surpassed human limits and entered the realm of the gods needed a body to match, in order to wield power befitting their station.
Namgung Urin finished his training around sunset. Until yesterday, he would continue training for a long time even after losing, but not today.
After washing up, Namgung Urin left the Namgung Family estate and headed for the place where the Black Serpent Gang was staying.
Fortunately, Hefei had become much more bustling compared to six months ago. It would take a long time to return to its former glory, but seeing it improve still made his heart swell for some reason.
It was such a small thing.
Namgung Urin was beginning to realize it himself. That he was changing, little by little.
Having relocated to a new base within Hefei, the Black Serpent Gang was fully prepared when they welcomed Namgung Urin.
"You've arrived, big brother!"
A booming voice echoed through the hall.
The corners of Namgung Urin's mouth lifted. He was glad to see them too. It had been a month. The Black Serpent Gang, the five members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade, and that beggar bastard.
The five members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade—Namgung Hyeon-u, Namgung Jun, Namgung Seol, Namgung Chi-hyeok, and Namgung U—now fit in so seamlessly that anyone would mistake them for members of the Black Serpent Gang.
No, they actually exuded an aura fiercer than that of the underworld. They seemed a far cry from the Namgung Family. This was because Namgung Urin had trained them harshly.
And Geolgae, the designated next leader of the Beggars' Sect, now had an attitude of being willing to give his all for Namgung Urin.
It was because he had received an elixir pill.
Namgung Urin spoke to Geolgae.
"Beggar. Why are you so worked up?"
"Me? I'm not."
*'This bastard. He could have just pretended not to notice and let it slide.'*
*He just has to point it out. What a way to ruin the mood.*
Anhui was rotting. And so was the martial world.
He was filled with the hope that the Namgung Family would rise again, turn this decaying Anhui and the martial world upside down, and forge something new.
And Geolgae the beggar knew that today was the beginning.
And that this was also the start of their revenge.
He had always hoped someone would do something like this one day, and watching it happen from the sidelines made him flush with excitement.
"If you say so."
Namgung Urin's gaze shifted to the Black Serpent Gang and the members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade.
They too seemed to sense something, looking restless with anticipation.
"Are you all ready to leave?"
"Yes, sir!"
A thundering voice echoed through the hall.
Without the hellish training and elixirs, the Black Serpent Gang would have needed more men, but now, they alone were enough.
The aura of martial artists was now faintly emanating from every member of the Black Serpent Gang. In other words, most underworld thugs were no longer a match for them.
Namgung Urin said to Geolgae.
"Beggar, lay it out."
Geolgae stood before the Black Serpent Gang and the Azure Sky Sword Brigade members and cleared his throat.
"Ahem."
Namgung Urin didn't let him get away with it.
"Stop posturing and get on with it."
"Tch, really... Fine."
Geolgae showed a flash of annoyance before continuing with a smile.
"Starting today, we will unite the underworld factions scattered across Anhui and create a single power! We begin in Lu'an County."
Lu'an County is where the Hyeoncheon Sect is based.
Instead of a roaring cheer, all the members of the Black Serpent Gang clenched their fists.
As if they were determined to unify the entire martial world.
The feeling was profound.
That they could be a part of something like this. Who would have thought?
They had been too busy just trying to survive from one day to the next.
Geolgae continued.
"There are three underworld factions in Lu'an. The Jangdae Gang, the Seokdu Gang, and the Black Bone Gang. I believe we can take over the Jangdae and Seokdu Gangs without much effort. However, the Black Bone Gang is a bit more dangerous. Not only do they have some skilled members, but more importantly, they are backed by the Hyeoncheon Sect."
The Black Bone Gang, with the Hyeoncheon Sect's backing, kidnaps women with nowhere to go and forces them into prostitution. This was unthinkable in Anhui before the fall of the Namgung Family.
But now, to say it's thriving would be an understatement.
The majority of the profits from this prostitution flows to the Hyeoncheon Sect. And a portion of that, in turn, flows to the Baekri Family.
The Baekri Family is essentially reaping the rewards without lifting a finger. It was obvious that even if this issue came to light, the Baekri Family would feign ignorance.
"Therefore, we will deal with the Black Bone Gang after we've taken care of the Jangdae and Seokdu Gangs. That is all."
Geolgae's head turned towards Namgung Urin.
"You should say something at a time like this."
Namgung Urin reluctantly opened his mouth.
"You've been eating free food and free elixirs. It's time to earn your keep. Let's go."
Geolgae was utterly dumbfounded.
"...Is that all you have to say?"
"What."
"Never mind. I'm the fool. I'm the fool."
The members of the Black Serpent Gang and the Azure Sky Sword Brigade clutched their stomachs, snickering.
*You should know what to expect.*
*You're the fool for expecting anything more.*
By now, everyone knew what Namgung Urin was like, but Geolgae still seemed to expect a lot from him.
"What are you doing? Let's get going."
And so, the Black Serpent Gang, the five members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade, Geolgae, and Namgung Urin headed for Lu'an.
Arriving near Lu'an County late at night, Namgung Urin's group headed straight for the Jangdae Gang without hesitation.
In-geol, who was at the front, kicked the Jangdae Gang's main gate open and stormed in.
A few members of the Jangdae Gang who were still awake saw In-geol and the Black Serpent Gang members following him. Their eyes widened in shock, and they scrambled away, shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Intruders!"
"Boss!"
"Emergency!"
Still, one courageous man among them puffed out his chest and walked toward In-geol.
"What son of a bi—"
*Thwack!*
With a single punch from In-geol, the brave man collapsed to the ground, flopping around like a freshly caught fish.
In-geol couldn't help but marvel at his own fist, which had taken down an opponent in one blow.
"Whoa."
*I never knew it could be this easy.*
He was once again realizing just why everyone went on about internal energy.
In-geol shouted at his Black Serpent Gang brothers, who were marveling behind him.
"What are you doing, you bastards! Drag them all out!"
"Yes, sir!"
All the members of the Black Serpent Gang, except for In-geol, surged like a wave into the building where the Jangdae Gang was sleeping.
Just then, the five members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade, who were watching from the back as if it were none of their business, commented.
"Is this really necessary..."
"They would've come out anyway if we just waited here."
"My thoughts exactly."
"Aren't they just wasting energy?"
So they asked In-geol.
"Why are you doing this? They would have crawled out on their own."
In-geol replied with a look that said, *If you don't know, just shut up and watch.*
"Big brother. In this underworld, we have our own way of doing things. The first strike! The first strike decides the fight. It's about seizing the momentum first. The way martial artists do it, facing each other and exchanging useless words, that doesn't suit us underworld types. We're all the same kind of scum, so there's no reason to argue about who's right or wrong. It's either die or submit."
"Ooh."
"I like it."
Namgung Urin, who was listening from the back, also chimed in.
"That's a good method. From now on, we always strike first."
The five members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade answered in unison.
"Yes, sir!"
A moment later, the Black Serpent Gang dragged out over sixty members of the Jangdae Gang, all of them looking bewildered.
Yeop, who had forced the Jangdae Gang's leader to his knees, spoke to In-geol.
"Big brother..."
"What is it?"
"It's too easy. This is..."
"Don't get complacent."
"It's not complacency, it's just... this all feels like a dream."
"Right. I get it."
In-geol felt the same way, so he didn't scold him further.
All sixty-plus members of the Jangdae Gang were kneeling on the ground.
In-geol turned to Namgung Urin.
"Big brother."
Namgung Urin walked forward and squatted down in front of the Jangdae Gang's leader.
"Do you want to die, or do you want to submit?"
"I... will submit."
"An excellent choice. From now on, if you fail to obey even one of my commands, you will die. Understood?"
"...Understood."
"First, you will only collect half of the protection money you're currently taking."
"But that..."
"You want to die?"
"N-no, sir. But still... with that much, we..."
"We won't be taking a cut from you. That should be enough for you to live on. Wouldn't you agree?"
"...Understood."
"And be kind to the people struggling to do business in the market. They're your livelihood, after all. Got it?"
"...That's the harder part..."
"What in life is easy? Just do as you're told."
"...Understood."
"Lastly. If you get friendly with the market folk, you'll hear a lot of stories. Record every piece of information, no matter how small, and deliver it to the Black Serpent Gang in Hefei. If you happen to sell valuable information elsewhere, well, you'll die, won't you?"
"...Understood."
Namgung Urin stood up and said.
"Alright, on to the next one."
Namgung Urin, the Azure Sky Sword Brigade, and the Black Serpent Gang moved quickly to strike the Seokdu Gang. Then, they moved to take down the last remaining target, the Black Bone Gang.
The Black Bone Gang didn't have a separate estate. They operated out of an entire inn.
The first floor of the inn was a tavern where people drank. The second and third floors were used for prostitution. It was a place frequented by those whose pockets were too light for a proper courtesan house.
The prostitutes here didn't drink with the customers. They simply waited in their rooms to sell their bodies, and when a customer arrived, the transaction took place.
The majority of the prostitutes here were women who had been kidnapped or captured for failing to repay debts. There were some who had come willingly to earn money, but they were a very small minority.
Even though the sun would be rising soon, business was still ongoing. There were still people drinking.
Namgung Urin looked at the inn and spoke.
"This time, you're in the lead."
He was speaking to the five members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade. Even at a glance, this opponent didn't look easy. There was a high risk of casualties among the Black Serpent Gang.
The Azure Sky Sword Brigade members nodded.
Namgung Urin's mouth opened again.
"Go! Strike first!"