Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Poison Flower's Shadow
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I had been complacent. And arrogant, like a child dawdling.
At the thought that my plans were coming to fruition.
It had made me indolent.
I hadn't even reached the state of transcendence, hadn't even glimpsed its fringes, yet I'd deemed my progress sufficient.
In my hazy state, I wandered through a dream. I faced a colossal foe I'd never met before, fighting with all my strength. This enemy was stronger and faster than Namgung Sun.
It was grueling. Just like when the Namgung Byeok of my past life was drenched in crimson blood on the battlefield.
I swung my sword furiously. Like a madman.
Would someone be harmed?
I swung my sword with all my strength, fraught with anxiety.
If I didn't, the people who had only just begun to trust me, the people I had come to trust
I subconsciously felt they would all vanish like dust.
So, in my dream, I circulated Heavenly Thunder Energy as if in a convulsion. I fed the budding kindling of the Great Expansion Divine Art to the flames of the Heavenly Thunder Imperial Divine Art.
The Heavenly Thunder Imperial Divine Art ravenously devoured the Great Expansion Divine Art, sweeping through my damaged blood vessels. My tattered vessels and meridians were in such a state they seemed incapable of functioning.
And each time.
Thump.
Thump.
A certain energy flowing into my revitalized body carried a healing aura.
An elixir?
It began to course through the remnants of my forced circulation. The external healing energy merged with the Heavenly Thunder Imperial Divine Art, and a familiar energy guided me whenever my strength flagged.
My blood vessels and meridians, which had been so tattered I wondered if recovery was even possible, healed at a visible rate, the pace gradually quickening.
Just as the ground hardens after rain.
My blood vessels and meridians expanded, and circulating the Heavenly Thunder Energy became much easier. Though there was no outward change, the speed at which it coursed through my body was different, as was the internal energy it carried.
The Lesser Heavenly Circuit became the Greater Heavenly Circuit, signifying the growth of the Heavenly Thunder Imperial Divine Art.
The divine art, which had only been at the third stage, had now reached the fifth.
I trembled unconsciously.
Simultaneously, the fifth-stage Heavenly Thunder Imperial Divine Art completely drained my energy. Was it perhaps due to my depleted innate energy?
I slept a deep, unparalleled sleep. When I staggered awake, I'd have a spoonful of rice and fall asleep again. Sleeping for a full day and night, melting elixirs in my mouth, and slathering on wound salves became my daily routine.
The aftereffects of drawing on my innate energy were severe. As if a day or two of recuperation wouldn't be nearly enough, my muscles and organs felt twisted.
Despite this, as I spent day after day steeped in nothing but sleep and rest, my body gradually began to mend.
With this aching body, I grasped a sword.
Or rather, I tried to, but was immediately stopped by two scolds who rushed over.
The scolds were so thorough.
They never considered leaving my side. They just glared daggers at me and growled.
However.
...What are you so happy about to be smiling like that?
Apparently, I couldn't hide the smile that had crept onto my face. My uncle, watching me with a gruff expression, let out a deep sigh.
It was a sigh of relief that the troublemaker had come to his senses, and a sigh of reprimand.
After facing that crisis, we all came out of it perfectly fine, so how could I not smile?
If we face a crisis like that a second time, there won't be anything left of us to bury.
...That's right. If you throw yourself into a crisis like that one more time, be prepared. I will tie up all your limbs and lock you away.
It was a chilling threat. I shivered. At the same time, not liking how the two of them were in perfect sync, I spoke up.
I get it, so stop it. You two don't even talk to each other normally, but only when you're scolding me...!
That's because you cause so much trouble.
Indeed. Please stop causing trouble.
Ill just shut up.
I kept my mouth shut for a moment, then changed the subject.
More importantly, tell me more about that story from before.
What story?
The Guangdong Seven Kills. Didn't you say you encountered them?
When did you hear that? Your hearing is sharp when it comes to useless things.
If a dying patient could hear it, that says it all, doesn't it?
My uncle, as if it were nothing, slowly unfolded the story of facing the Guangdong Seven Kills.
They appeared when I had just about caught the leader of the guys who first attacked us. It seems someone hired them to hold me back while the Eighth Elder approached you.
How did you know they were the Guangdong Seven Kills?
I knew there were scum in the underworld who kill for money, treating lives as cheaply as flies. It's not every day you see seven of those vermin traveling together.
...In any case, that's amazing, Great Hero An.
I tilted my head at Black Tiger, who was looking at my uncle with eyes full of awe.
Was it such a great feat?
I vaguely remember my uncle appearing covered in blood, but...
They aren't just seven members of the underworld?
To my question, Black Tiger answered with what he knew.
Daoist Cheongu of Wudang, Abbess Jujin of Emei. Not just them, but quite a few lesser-known figures of the orthodox martial world have fallen to them.
The reason?
My uncle continued the answer.
Theyre unpredictable, and the seven of them move as one. And most importantly.
Most importantly?
They use formations. And rather flashy, dirty ones at that.
Formations, you say.
It was surprising that underworld scum used formations, but on the other hand, I understood.
Formations are what you deploy in battle when groups clash. Depending on its structure, a formation can unleash boundless power.
Of course.
Huh?
I looked at my uncle, wondering if he had more to say.
It didn't work on me, though. Heh heh.
I squeezed my eyes shut at the sight of my uncle boasting. Why was he puffing out his chest?
Anyway.
Looking only at the facts, I could only conclude that Namgung Sun had hired the Guangdong Seven Kills.
I don't think so.
But Black Tiger offered a different opinion.
The Eighth Elder I know is someone with no connections to the underworld.
Can you be so sure?
I am certain. Even when he last drew his sword on you, Great Young Lord, he was a man focused on persuasion. Even if he had thought of joining you, I believe that possibility would have been set aside for a later time.
Black Tiger had watched Lady Pyeon and the Eighth Elder's conspiracy at every step. Among our group, the person who knew the Eighth Elder best was Black Tiger, so I nodded at his words.
Most likely, faced with your firm and stubborn attitude, Great Young Lord, he decided in his heart that he would rather just kill you.
At Black Tiger's words, I laid my body down on the bedding, which was filled with the scent of medicine and, for some reason, made me feel at ease.
Then that means there are others who approached the Guangdong Seven Kills and orchestrated this situation.
It seems likely.
I lifted my head and looked at my uncle.
Uncle.
I spoke to my uncle, who was lost in thought with his chin in his hand.
By any chance, did anything come to mind or seem suspicious?
He too had emerged into the martial world after a long time and needed to organize his complicated thoughts, but after all, it was my uncle who had closely pursued the Guangdong Seven Kills and the leader of the masked men.
You failed?
...Yes, Lady Dang.
Do you even know what you're saying right now, Elder Yi?
A woman with captivating, upturned eyes, dressed in clothes beautifully embroidered with green thread in the shape of flowers, looked at Elder Namgung Bon.
Yes, the Eighth Elder has been captured.
Looking at Elder Namgung Bon's troubled expression, Dang Miyeon frowned. Her expression was one of utter disbelief.
Was the Sword Saint that strong? So much so that he far exceeded expectations?
...
Looking at the silent Namgung Bon, Dang Miyeon's face crumpled like paper. Then, she quickly smoothed her expression and spoke softly to Namgung Bon.
If we don't eliminate the evidence and the witness, we'll be in danger. Do you understand what I mean?
Elder Namgung Bon nodded. Elimination of evidence, and elimination of the witness.
This was an important matter not only for Dang Miyeon but for Elder Namgung Bon himself.
Do not worry.
Elder Namgung Bon began by telling her not to worry. He was someone who had spent a long time in the Namgung family. As such, he knew precisely what crimes Namgung Mubaek would punish, or who would be made to take the fall.
Elder Namgung Bon understood every detail. It meant that even key positions were within his grasp.
It's in the palm of my hand. I can see it all clearly.
I trust you. However, poison is not an option.
Due to the precedent of problems arising from the use of poison, the Namgung family had become extremely sensitive about it. It wasn't a good method, and besides, wasn't she Dang Miyeon, the Poison Flower, from the Dang family?
It could needlessly cause suspicion.
I heard his dantian was shattered. Now that he's a criminal, no matter how much he struggles, his mental state won't be what it used to be.
At those words, Namgung Bon's eyes lit up.
You don't mean
If something were to happen to those around him, he would be helpless, wouldn't he?
Are you suggesting we use the Eighth Elder's blood relatives?
Just mention it. The Eighth Elder isn't that foolish, so he'll make the right choice himself.
At her words, Elder Namgung Bon clicked his tongue inwardly.
Without using poison.
Without being noticed by others.
Just by mentioning the name of the granddaughter that the Eighth Elder, Namgung Sun, so dearly loved.
Whether he bites his tongue or bashes his own head in. Let him handle it himself.
It was a merciless suggestion. At that, Namgung Bon steeled his resolve and stood up.
More than human decency, preventing their own positions from being endangered was the priority.
Just as he opened the door to leave.
More importantly, they won't find out we're involved, right?
They won't. That's why we used the Guangdong Seven Kills.
If by some chance they find out the Dang family is involved
They are no different from newcomers to the martial world, and the Sword Saint has stayed only within the Namgung family for over five years. And there probably weren't any major giveaways to suggest they were from the Dang family. I told them to refrain from using Dang family martial arts as much as possible.
Dang Miyeon was relieved at his words.
Although the failed strategy was a great disappointment, hiding their involvement came first. They could always devise a new strategy, and it was they who still held a solid position.
As he was thinking this, Elder Namgung Bon's expression hardened at a nagging feeling that settled like a lump of lead in his chest, without him even realizing it.
After some thought, my uncle slowly laid out his thoughts.
It was strange. Whenever things got critical, he would throw hidden weapons.
Skilled in the art of hidden weapons.
The other guys showed signs of having studied my sword enough to be mistaken for people of the Namgung family. But the one I chased at the end felt different.
There aren't many in the martial world skilled in hidden weapons. Even so, I couldn't be certain based on that alone.
But if there was one thing everyone was overlooking.
It was the instinct that martial artists possess, a sense rivaling a sixth sense.
An eye that sees the world with profound insight, a realm of the subconscious that makes one wonder, What if?
Because of that.
...The Dang family.
At my uncle's words, Black Tiger thought deeply before reaching a conclusion.
Are you talking about the Sichuan Dang family?
I want to believe it's not them.
The Sichuan Dang family...
The three of us, including me, all fell silent. There was only one connection to the Namgung family.
...The Poison Flower, Dang Miyeon.
At my softly spoken words, my uncle and Black Tiger could only harden their expressions.