Chapter 80
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Namgung Jia
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1 Channel.
The Shaolin Abbot Hye-gak, who had once been the head of the Shaolin Temple, had gathered everyone at the command of the Alliance Leader, Namgung Jin.
Hye-gak had no intention of killing innocent people either, so after much deliberation, he had selected a few individuals.
"Abbot Hye-gak. You called for me?"
At that moment, a tall, handsome young man who had arrived first clasped his hands together in greeting and spoke.
It was Jin Cheong-un, the Azure Clarity Sword, who had been designated as the next sect leader of the Qingcheng Sect before the Old Gods appeared.
"Amitabha. Young Patron Jin, you seem full of energy today as well."
"I must grow stronger even a day sooner, so I have no time to be downcast."
"Rather, this monk should learn from you, Young Patron Jin."
After that, others arrived one by one, and soon there were about twenty people gathered.
Hye-gak glanced around at them, confirmed everyone was present, and got straight to the point.
"The reason I called you all here is due to an order from the Alliance Leader."
"From the Sword Emperor?"
Hye-gak nodded at Jin Cheong-un's question.
"Yes. The Alliance Leader saw the text that appeared this time and wishes to investigate what this 'gallery' is."
"...But didn't he say the gallery is a trap set by the Old Gods?"
"His thoughts on that remain unchanged. However, it's also true that we haven't confirmed it directly."
In short, these people had been gathered to check out this gallery thing.
Realizing this, their expressions darkened, but Hye-gak spoke again with an understanding look.
"Therefore, I would like one of you to step forward as a representative to verify it."
"What if something goes wrong while checking the gallery?"
"I will help as much as possible, but if by any chance I can't, I will handle it myself."
"..."
In plain terms, he meant he would kill them directly.
They understood this perfectly and let out small groans.
"Also, our current location might be revealed to the Old Gods. So, we plan to check the gallery elsewhere."
"Wouldn't that risk encountering the Old Gods' minions in another place?"
Hye-gak readily admitted it.
"That's why I called you all. You've all fought the Old Gods' minions and overcome the unknown voices in your heads."
Only after hearing that did Jin Cheong-un and the others nod in understanding.
However, despite understanding, no one stepped forward easily, and they began eyeing each other.
At that moment.
"I'll do it."
A woman stepped forward, declaring she would take it on.
She had refined features and jade-like skin that seemed to glow even in the shadowed hall.
"If it's Grandfather's order, then as his granddaughter, it's only right that I do it."
It was Namgung Jia, granddaughter of the Sword Emperor Namgung Jin.
With Namgung Jia stepping up, the flustered one was none other than Jin Cheong-un.
"N-Namgung Junior Sister?"
"What's wrong?"
Jin Cheong-un hurriedly tried to dissuade her as she stepped forward.
"You know this is dangerous, right? Let me do it instead."
"As I said, it's Grandfather's order."
"The Sword Emperor wouldn't want this either."
Namgung Jia shook her head at Jin Cheong-un's words and turned to Hye-gak.
"Does Abbot Hye-gak think the same?"
"Amitabha. Since Namgung Patron stepped forward first, if you don't withdraw now, we shall proceed."
"Yes."
As Namgung Jia replied with a resolute expression, Jin Cheong-un looked troubled and spoke up as well.
"Abbot Hye-gak. I'll go with her."
Hye-gak immediately understood Jin Cheong-un's intentions but accepted without comment.
"Very well. Then you two, follow me."
After that, the three deployed their lightness skills and swiftly left their quarters, traveling far away.
It was to prepare for the possibility that their location might be exposed to the Old Gods, drawing their minions.
"This should be far enough."
Having traveled nearly a hundred li, Hye-gak finally stopped at a suitable spot.
Both Jin Cheong-un and Namgung Jia were peak experts, showing only faint signs of fatigue.
"Namgung Junior Sister. Please reconsider once more."
"I've already decided."
"It's not too late. And I'm here, aren't I?"
Jin Cheong-un did not want to lose Namgung Jia in any way.
He could not let the Azure Moon Flower, one of the Five Flowers of the Martial World, be lost like this.
"I don't want to go back on my word."
"Junior Sister."
"Or did Young Master Jin follow to stop me?"
"I'm not here to stop you; I'm here to do it in your place."
Namgung Jia let out a small sigh at that.
"That's not what I want. Abbot Hye-gak. Can I use the gallery now?"
"Yes. Please examine it slowly, one thing at a time."
"Leave it to me."
Namgung Jia immediately opened the Doom Salvation Gallery and began checking it item by item.
Hye-gak and Jin Cheong-un watched her tensely, knowingly or not.
"There are posts left by people before. Nothing special otherwise."
"Posts... Perhaps posting something is the key."
"Just in case, I'll try posting one."
"Please do."
Namgung Jia then wrote a post in the gallery.
Is this how you post here?
"..."
"..."
But nothing happened even after posting.
"Namgung Patron. Do you hear any voices in your head?"
"No."
"If you feel anything at all, tell us immediately without hesitation."
"Got it."
Soon after Namgung Jia posted.
Unified Channel Administrator, 'Castaway★' has requested a 1:1 conversation.
"Ah."
The Castaway had requested a 1:1 chat, and Namgung Jia reacted slightly upon seeing it.
"What's wrong?"
"The Unified Channel Administrator, someone called Castaway, requested a 1:1 chat."
"The name on the floating text."
"Yes. Shall I accept?"
"Please do."
Namgung Jia nodded and accepted the 1:1 chat.
After accepting and talking with the Castaway, Namgung Jia obtained various information about the gallery.
"This gallery connects seven worlds in total. The Doom Salvation Gallery appears when over ninety percent of a world's population dies."
"Seven different worlds..."
"The Castaway said his goal is to unite the strength of these worlds to escape this crisis. And..."
"And what else?"
Namgung Jia hesitated briefly but answered honestly.
"He said he's been eating nothing but roots for months, so I'm sending him food."
Currently, in Namgung Jia's gallery window, the Castaway was offering a large amount of food via 1:1 trade.
"It's a considerable amount. Should I take it like this?"
"Is it too much for the three of us to carry?"
"Probably."
"Then ask him to send only some food."
Namgung Jia immediately messaged the Castaway.
I'm in a remote place right now. So please send just a little.
Ah, really? Then I'll send two sacks of rice.
The Castaway withdrew the offered food, replaced it with two sacks of rice, and completed the trade.
Thud―
At the same time, two sacks of rice appeared in mid-air and fell to the ground, astonishing everyone with the mystical phenomenon.
"Rice appearing from thin air..."
As Jin Cheong-un spoke in surprise.
"It seems you can exchange items between different worlds."
Having grasped the gallery's purpose, Hye-gak remarked oddly.
"Yet even leaving the Central Plains makes communication impossible. I don't understand how one can converse with people from other worlds."
"You're right. I'll ask about that too."
Namgung Jia shared the same doubt and asked the Castaway.
The Castaway explained the gallery functions without hiding anything.
It's a function of this gallery. Right now, only I can do it alone.
Because you're the Unified Channel Administrator?
Right. But if you have points, others can communicate too.
Can I ask what points are?
It's like currency used in the gallery. Look at the bottom right...
Afterward, the Castaway patiently taught Namgung Jia how to use the gallery in detail.
The more Namgung Jia learned about the gallery, the more convenient it seemed, and seeing photos and videos from other channels felt like encountering new wonders.
'There really are other worlds in this universe.'
Unfortunately, she couldn't understand the speech there, nor read the text.
She relayed all this information and story to Hye-gak, who nodded calmly and said as if relieved.
"There's now a possibility it's not a trap from the Old Gods. That's a great achievement in itself."
But his wariness toward the Castaway remained unchanged.
"..."
Unlike Hye-gak, Jin Cheong-un gritted his teeth watching Namgung Jia's smile gradually bloom as she used the gallery.
'Castaway, huh. What a ridiculous nickname.'
Moreover, Jin Cheong-un learned for the first time today that Namgung Jia could smile like that.
Believing that smile was caused by the Castaway, he inwardly cursed the man from another world.
Thank you for telling me. But since we can't communicate with other channels, we'll have to receive items through you, Castaway.
Usually, people from the same world trade things among themselves.
The problem was that people in Channel 1 were too insular, with no one using the gallery.
I'll try using the gallery more and recommend it to others. How do I contact you, Castaway?
If you add me as a friend, you can request a 1:1 chat through there.
Friend registration... Does that make us friends?
Pardon? Well... yeah, you could see it that way.
The Castaway felt something was off but lacked the confidence to explain clearly, so he agreed.
We're friends then. How do I register as friends?
You need to set a nickname first. Once you do, I'll add you.
A nickname? Like a title?
Title? Yeah, you can think of it that way.
Namgung Jia soon set her nickname as the Castaway instructed.
Nickname has been set.
Nickname: Azure Moon Flower
Done.
Azure Moon Flower?
It's the title people gave me.
Pretty name.
With those words, the Castaway added Namgung Jia as a friend.
Unified Channel Administrator, 'Castaway★' has requested to add you as a friend.
Accept?
[Yes] [No]
Namgung Jia immediately pressed [Yes].
Now my nickname should be in your friends list. Contact me through there.
Yes.
Namgung Jia gazed at the reply for a moment before messaging the Castaway again.
But now that we're friends, won't you speak casually?
Casually?
We're friends now. Keeping formal speech feels weird.
The Castaway was flustered by Namgung Jia's direct words.
Unable to say that his idea of friendship differed from hers, he went along with it.
Got it. I'll do that then.
Okay.
Hearing the Castaway's words, Namgung Jia felt inwardly pleased.
Until now, people like Jin Cheong-un had only approached her with ulterior motives toward her appearance or out of envy.
'A friend...'
But the Castaway knew nothing of her name, looks, or background.
She felt he could be a real friend, and now that it had happened, Namgung Jia smiled faintly.