Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: This Is What It Means to Be Namgung
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“Damn it.”
It was a trap.
That bastard Namgung Yul, his presence alone made this a trap.
Should I have been more cautious?
No.
Even if I had been, the result would've been the same. The information the Profound Heaven Sect gathered themselves and the intel commissioned from the Lower Five Gates were identical.
‘Could it be...’
Did the Lower Five Gates hide information?
That was unlikely. If the Lower Five Gates were an organization that played games with information, they would have lost all credibility and vanished long ago.
The Lower Five Gates themselves only learned the truth after arriving here in Hefei a short while ago.
Right now, in the distance, So Hwi, the Anhui Branch Chief of the Lower Five Gates, and her deputy chief were watching this very scene unfold.
The flabbergasted Anhui Branch Chief, So Hwi, spoke.
“Hey, you bastard. What is this?”
She was asking if he wasn't ashamed, being part of an organization ranked among the top two in the martial world for its information network.
“I apologize. But he shook us off like a ghost.”
It was true.
Ever since taking the commission from the Profound Heaven Sect, the Lower Five Gates had been constantly tailing Namgung Urin. But at the most crucial moments, he would vanish in the blink of an eye, leaving them with no way to uncover his true identity.
“So he’s that good?”
“You could say that.”
“That young punk? Is it because he’s a Namgung, through and through?”
“He’s more than that, ma’am. I didn’t mention it, but we even sent our first-rate agents, and they failed.”
First-rate agents were skilled enough to be recognized as masters in the martial world.
“What? Even the first-rate agents failed?”
“Yes.”
“Damn. Even I can’t shake off first-rate agents… Wow. He’s truly something else.”
“Makes your mouth water, doesn’t it?”
“Water? I’ve already pissed myself, you bastard.”
“Hehehe.”
Meanwhile, the Commander of the Profound Heaven Sword Brigade organized his thoughts. Then, he began to slowly back away.
A terrible memory from long ago resurfaced.
Back then, he had been the Vice-Commander of the Profound Heaven Sword Brigade. In Hefei, while drinking with the commander and his men at a brothel, the commander had suddenly gotten angry at a courtesan, dragged her outside, and slapped her mercilessly.
As fate would have it, Namgung Yul had been there. Unwilling to let it slide, Namgung Yul had beaten the commander, him, and all their subordinates so badly that none of them could walk straight.
And it had been Namgung Yul alone.
It was a terribly humiliating and dreadful memory.
That being the case, there was no reason to willingly carry firewood into a blazing inferno. Moreover, the men he had brought here were the elite of the Profound Heaven Sect. If all of them were to die here, what would become of their sect?
The outcome was as clear as day.
They would be torn apart by hungry wolves, leaving nothing but bare bones.
Just then, Namgung Yul, the head of the Namgung Family, who had been enjoying his drink, spoke up.
“Hey! It’s too late. It’s been a while, why don’t you sit and have a drink with us?”
‘Too late?’
He was sure they had scouted the area before entering.
Just in case, the Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander glanced behind him.
‘Damn it!’
In the distance, swarming over a hill like a black tide, the members of the Namgung Family's Azure Sky Sword Brigade were charging madly toward them.
“What did I tell you? Didn't I say it was too late? Don’t refuse, have a seat. They say even a ghost who has eaten its fill looks better, don’t they?”
“You son of a bitch…”
The Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander was plunged into confusion.
In that moment, his entire long life flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.
All the dirty deeds, the evil acts, the things he shouldn't have done, and so much more.
‘Why did I do it...’
Suddenly, regret and sorrow washed over him like a tidal wave.
There were few things in his life he could be proud of.
‘...’
He had heard that a person's life flashes before their eyes just before death...
‘Does that mean I'm about to...’
The Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander had, without realizing it, already accepted his own death.
‘No!’
He absolutely could not give up.
What about the eyes of the hundreds of subordinates who were looking only to him!
“What are you doing? Come over here and sit.”
Thud, thud.
‘Right...’
As long as he didn't give up. Not until the very last moment.
As the Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander approached the table, the members of the Black Serpent Gang and the five Azure Sky Sword Brigade warriors stood up and cleared a spot for him.
The Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander then sat down, facing the Namgung Family Head, Namgung Yul.
Namgung Yul spoke first.
“Have a drink.”
At that, Ingeol rushed over and poured a cup for the Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander.
The Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander looked up at Ingeol. It was a face he had seen a few times before.
“You’ve made it big. A member of the underworld, sharing a drink with the head of the Namgung Family.”
“I’ll have to live my whole life considering it an honor.”
“Your whole life, you say. That life might last a long time, but it could also end today. Be careful.”
“I would have no regrets if I died today.”
The Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander’s brow furrowed.
Was this lowlife from the underworld saying he had lived so well that he would have no regrets dying today?
He grew angry at his own life, which seemed worse than that of an underworld thug.
So he downed the cup in one gulp.
“Khk. It’s bitter.”
“Isn’t wine supposed to be bitter? Care for another?”
“I will.”
“Then, Urin, you pour this time.”
Namgung Urin stood up and poured a cup for the Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander without a word.
Meanwhile, Namgung Yul continued speaking.
“He’s my nephew. The Young Lord of Namgung. He’s a handful, never listens, but his talent is second to none.”
After receiving the cup from Namgung Urin, the Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander spoke.
“He looks better in person.”
The Profound Heaven Sword Brigade Commander had only seen Namgung Urin's face in a portrait.
“Is that so? I see him so often I can’t really tell.”
“Khk.”
The commander emptied his cup again.
“Impressive. The Namgung are truly the Namgung. I never thought you’d get back on your feet so quickly.”
Letting out a sigh deep enough to shake the earth, the commander drank again.
“I think we still have a long way to go. But this nephew of mine is just too impatient.”
The corners of the commander’s mouth lifted.
“Hah. So even you tell ridiculous lies sometimes. Are you trying to shift the blame to your young nephew because you have no one else?”
“Does it seem that way? Haha. Well, well. It’s not like I can take out my heart and show you. Haha.”
The commander’s eyebrows rose.
“Are you saying it’s the truth?”
“Why would I be telling you such an unbelievable story in a situation like this? Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Then the death of our Vice-Commander six months ago...?”
“That’s right.”
“Hah. How utterly absurd.”
Just then, the 295 warriors of the Namgung Family’s Azure Sky Sword Brigade arrived and surrounded the Profound Heaven Sword Brigade members.
To a man, the Profound Heaven warriors drew their swords, warning them not to come closer, that they would kill them if they did.
But the Azure Sky warriors paid them no mind, simply holding their ground. Despite this, the Profound Heaven warriors were so overwhelmed by their opponents' presence that their sword arms trembled and cold sweat poured down their backs.
‘We're dead...’
That was the single thought that flashed through the minds of the Profound Heaven warriors.
For any martial artist living in the world of Murim, accepting the possibility of death is fate.
But there is a vast difference between thinking one *might* die and being certain that one *will* die right now.
The Profound Heaven warriors prayed desperately.
‘Commander, please!’
Save us.
Don’t let us die here.
Then, the voice of the Namgung Family Head, Namgung Yul, rang out.
“You there, friend. Would you mind closing that gate?”
“Yes, sir!”
Ingeol quickly ran and shut the gate firmly.
Thud!
“Hooo.”
The commander’s long sigh filled the air.
The commander saw the desperate looks in his men’s eyes. He felt much the same way.
But the situation was trampling all over their hopes.
The commander lifted his head. White clouds drifted across a vast, blue sky that filled his vision.
“That sky.”
He drank again. Thinking it was his last drink made it taste even more bitter.
“I don’t know why the heavens always seem to favor the Namgung.”
They were mocking everyone who had predicted they would struggle to rise again, standing tall and walking with such confidence.
The aura of these young warriors, barely past their coming-of-age, was unbelievably fierce. It would have been believable if only a few of them radiated such intensity, but that wasn't the case.
Not a single one of them seemed to be lacking.
It was impossible.
And yet, despite it being impossible, the Namgung Family was achieving it.
The commander spoke again.
“The Namgung are truly blessed.”
“You think so?”
“Do you think otherwise?”
“Considering what happened five years ago, I don’t think that’s necessarily true.”
“That… was unfortunate, a stroke of bad luck. Such things are common in the martial world. You know that as well as anyone. But look at you now. It’s truly absurd, but it seems the heavens have not abandoned the Namgung. With your nephew, and all those children.”
“It’s all a matter of perspective, I suppose. Here, have one last drink.”
For a moment, the commander’s eyes shook violently.
How many in the martial world could remain unshaken in the face of death?
“The last cup… I’ll accept it gratefully.”
The commander downed the last cup.
“The best and sweetest drinks were always the ones I had while feasting on the Namgung’s misfortune.”
“Is that so? Haha.”
Namgung Yul also poured himself a drink and drank.
“Tell me, do you want to save your men over there?”
This time, a storm raged in the commander’s eyes. But he quickly calmed himself.
“Are you toying with me? In this situation?”
“No. I’m serious.”
‘Right...’
The Namgung weren't the type to trifle with a man over something like this, were they?
“If… if that’s possible… I can end my own life right here, with my own hands. My men over there, they aren’t bad people. You know that, don’t you? They were just following orders.”
“Haha. If you had such a heart, why have you lived the way you have until now?”
“You’re right. I suppose I… was no different from my men.”
Namgung Yul gazed at the azure sky for a moment before turning back to the commander.
“That heart of yours has saved you and your men. Don’t forget the way you feel right now.”
“……A-Are you serious? Me too?”
“I am. But there is a condition.”
The commander swallowed dryly.
“Name it.”
“You and your men will return to the Profound Heaven Sect and take the head of your sect leader with your own hands. What happens after that is, of course, up to you. That is my only condition.”
“……With our own hands…”
“That’s right. Think of it with pride. If you make your current feelings your new conviction, taking your sect leader’s head will be a simple matter. Am I wrong?”
“……I understand.”
“It isn’t betrayal. It’s building a new martial world for yourselves. So don’t trouble your heart over it.”
“Thank you.”
The commander looked Namgung Yul straight in the eye.
“After all you’ve been through… you still…”
The commander couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence. To speak his thoughts now, in the face of the Namgung’s immense magnanimity and conviction, would only make him feel all the more pathetic.
Namgung Yul knew what the commander wanted to say.
“What can you do? This is what it means to be Namgung. Now, you should be on your way. You ought to strike while the iron is hot, shouldn’t you?”
Namgung Yul and the commander rose from their seats.
The commander asked Namgung Yul.
“What do you plan to do about the Yeongunbang?”
“Those bastards aren’t worth thinking about. Birds of a feather flock together, I suppose. Honestly.”
“True. The Yeongunbang are like that. I’ll be going, then. And I won’t forget this kindness.”
“Kindness? Don’t be silly. Just live a proper life from now on.”
“Thank you, once again.”
And so, with a fervent heart, the commander set off toward a new Profound Heaven Sect.
But something was strange.
The Namgung Family Head, Namgung Yul, tilted his head.
His nephew wasn’t one to be this quiet; he had been silent the whole time. He was the type who would have jumped in with a comment or two by now.
Namgung Yul turned his head to look at his nephew, Namgung Urin.
“…”
He was sitting with the thugs from the Black Serpent Gang and the five Azure Sky warriors, chugging down drinks!
In a situation this grave!
The only saving grace was that the Azure Sky warriors and the Black Serpent Gang members seemed to be cautiously watching Namgung Yul.
However.
“It’s fine. Drink up, drink up. It’s not like we have anything else to do.”
“B-But…”
Agh, my head...
In the end, Namgung Yul had to clutch the back of his neck.
And Namgung Geon, the Commander of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade, who was standing beside Namgung Yul, just shook his head from side to side.
Regardless, this wasn't what it meant to be Namgung.
He wondered how on earth a Namgung like *that* came to exist.