Chapter 176: I Am The Owner.
Chapter 175 – I Am The Owner.
Paeng Su-hyeok looked at Namgung Cheon with a lukewarm expression.
“Where did you all appear from? And what do you mean by ‘My Lord’?”
“They are my vassals.”
When Namgung Cheon replied bluntly, Paeng Su-hyeok smacked his lips and said.
“Hey, still, the reason we made it here is because we pooled our strength together…”
“I believe I told you not to eye my things. I am the one who came in targeting this from the start. You guys just happened to roll in.”
“Forget it, forget it! I won’t take it even if you give it to me, you petty bastard!”
As Paeng Su-hyeok reacted testily for no reason, Namgung Cheon chuckled and let it slide.
Well, should he give him something like a Lesser Returning Pill later depending on the situation?
It was a treasure trove where the Demonic Cult had gathered all kinds of precious spiritual pills. Giving out one Lesser Returning Pill or a similar spiritual pill to each person would not make them run short.
‘Anyway, even I think I give away too much. I’ll become a beggar at this rate.’
Just then, the Azure Eagle Squad, who had cleared all the boxes below the platform, found something and shouted.
“My Lord, there is something here!”
Hearing Cha Mu-jin’s voice and drawing closer, there were indeed several long boxes placed below the platform.
Even at a glance, it did not seem like they stored spiritual pills or the like in them.
“Pull them out.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
At that, Cheol Un shouted sharply.
“Wait! How can you just pull them out carelessly when you don’t even know what they are? Do you not know that this is Demonic Pill Valley, where traps will trigger at the slightest mistake?”
“Is it dangerous?”
At Namgung Cheon’s question, Cheol Un inspected it with an extremely serious expression and then shook his head.
“No, it is fine to pull that out.”
Smack!
“Ugh!”
“This bastard is setting the mood to make us tense for no reason.”
“N-no. I only meant we should be careful…”
“Quiet. Pull it out.”
As Namgung Cheon gestured with his chin again, the Azure Eagle Squad members began to pull out the long boxes.
“Those Demonic Cult bastards buried a lot in the royal tomb. They literally used the royal tomb as a storehouse.”
“What is there to be surprised about now…”
Cheol Un, who spoke thoughtlessly, quickly backed away upon feeling a stinging sensation at the back of his head.
Namgung Cheon clicked his tongue and shifted his gaze.
A quick-witted bastard.
Thud. Thud, thud…!
As the Azure Eagle Squad set down dozens of boxes and opened the lids, weapons that appeared to be divine weapons were revealed.
“Ooh!”
“Demonic weapons were inside too.”
When Son U-gon spoke with a stiff expression, Namgung Cheon walked over and lifted a sword.
It was an ink-black sword, its blade completely dark.
Swish, swish! Whoosh!
The sword, lightly swung in Namgung Cheon’s hand, flew straight toward Cheol Un’s neck.
“Heph!”
The sword tip stopped a paper’s breadth away.
Gulp…!
As Cheol Un swallowed hard, Namgung Cheon turned around and threw it to Son U-gon.
Catch!
As Son U-gon quickly caught it, Namgung Cheon spoke nonchalantly.
“It is a decent sword. It should be better than the one the captain uses.”
“But is it not a demonic weapon?”
“What is a demonic weapon?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked, what is a demonic weapon?”
“That is… a weapon imbued with evil energy that might plunge its owner into qi deviation…”
“So, do you feel any evil energy in that sword?”
At Namgung Cheon’s words, Son U-gon flinched and looked down at the blade in his hand.
To be honest, there was no way he could feel such a thing.
Was it not just a soulless piece of metal?
Of course, a blade that had tasted much blood sometimes gave off a sort of sinister aura.
However, he had never heard of a demonic weapon that caused a martial artist to immediately lose their reason and become possessed by the weapon.
“I feel almost nothing.”
“Then it’s fine.”
“But…”
“Are you that concerned about the eyes of the world?”
“…”
“Whether it is a divine weapon or a demonic weapon, it ultimately depends on the will of the one holding it. It seems Captain Son lacks sword intent. Give it here. I’ll just give it to someone else.”
“Ah…”
Son U-gon hesitated and looked down at the ink-black sword again.
‘Sword intent…’
As Son U-gon narrowed his eyes, Namgung Cheon asked again.
“What thoughts come to mind when you hold that sword?”
“I want to slash. Anything.”
“And is that why you think it’s a demonic weapon?”
“I will not deny it.”
“Good, then…”
Namgung Cheon suddenly drew the Emerald Silk Sword from his waist.
While those around him, including Son U-gon, widened their eyes, Namgung Cheon threw the Emerald Silk Sword.
Catch!
Son U-gon quickly caught the Emerald Silk Sword.
“How is it? What do you feel?”
It was the Emerald Silk Sword.
The treasured sword of the Namgung Clan.
Although the ink-black sword held in his other hand was also emitting plenty of sharpness, the Emerald Silk Sword possessed an even greater sharpness than that.
‘Ah… is that so!’
At that moment, Son U-gon opened his mouth wide as if hit on the back of his head with a hammer.
He muttered in a faint voice.
“As expected… I want to slash. Anything!”
“Right. That is only natural. Because you are holding a sword filled with sharpness. When you hold a sharp blade in your hand, it is only natural to want to slash something. It is human nature. Does that make the Emerald Silk Sword a demonic weapon?”
“Absolutely not.”
Namgung Cheon walked over step by step and retrieved the Emerald Silk Sword from Son U-gon’s hand.
“Then do as you wish. Whether you keep that ink-black sword or not.”
Son U-gon gripped the ink-black sword tightly, tucked it into his waist, and cupped his fists.
“Thank you, My Lord!”
“Don’t mention it.”
As things turned out this way, several Azure Eagle Squad members searched for decent swords and wore them at their sides.
It was not just swords that were inside the boxes.
There was a variety of weapons of different types; some were usable, while others looked rather shoddy, perhaps due to the state of preservation.
Just then, Paeng Su-hyeok discovered a large saber in one of the boxes, similar to the one he was wearing, and his eyes gleamed.
“Ho! This is a treasure!”
Clang!
The blade, heavily covered in rust, was revealed under the light of the night-glowing pearl.
Thud!
When Paeng Su-hyeok struck the floor once with the flat of the saber, the rust on the blade fell off in pieces, clearly revealing a blade emitting a brilliant sharpness.
“Ooh.”
Those around him burst into admiration of their own accord.
Although it was chipped here and there, it was undoubtedly a precious saber.
Paeng Su-hyeok stole a glance at Namgung Cheon.
“Hey, you guys are a sword family. You don’t need a saber, right?”
“Why wouldn’t we need it?”
“Hey, don’t be so greedy! Why would a sword family covet a saber!”
“I plan to sell the saber and buy a sword.”
“Ha!”
He had not thought that far.
As Paeng Su-hyeok looked at him with a mock-pitiful expression, Namgung Cheon eventually chuckled and said as if tossing it away.
“I probably wouldn’t get much for that anyway. Keep it if you want.”
“R-really? Thank you, Namgung Cheon! Really…!”
Paeng Su-hyeok, who was shouting with delight, hesitated, feeling somewhat submissive.
No, why do I have to bow down like this? This doesn’t even belong to him.
At some point, he seemed to have really started thinking of the items here as Namgung Cheon’s.
Brainwashing was indeed terrifying.
‘Damn it, hearing it repeatedly made me acknowledge it without realizing it!’
As he turned his head with an awkward expression, this time Baek Mu-geuk was pulling something out of a box.
Rattle.
‘A chain sickle?’
What Baek Mu-geuk pulled out was a pair of sickles connected by a chain.
Baek Mu-geuk swung the chain sickle here and there toward the empty air.
Rattle! Rattle!
It was like watching a dazzling dance performance.
After warming up for a long time, Baek Mu-geuk held the chain sickle in both hands and muttered in a flat voice.
“I like it.”
“Then take it.”
As Namgung Cheon spoke generously, Baek Mu-geuk nodded silently.
Letting out a sigh of frustration, Paeng Su-hyeok flared up and shouted.
“Hey, why did you just give it to him, while acting so smug with me?”
“Where would I sell a sickle? Such niche weapons are hard to sell.”
“Damn it, what an excuse!”
“Taoist Yu Hyeon, is there no sword you want to have?”
At Namgung Cheon’s question, Yu Hyeon smiled gently and shook his head.
“I am fine.”
“Hmm. You certainly have no greed. The mindset of practicing non-possession is very excellent. Quite a contrast to someone.”
As Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes and looked at him, Paeng Su-hyeok shouted in a huff.
“Hey, why are you looking at me? Who is the greediest person here!”
“You.”
“What?”
“You, coveting someone else’s property. The greedy fellow from the Hebei Paeng Clan.”
“Y-you… damn bastard…! How is this yours? In the first place, the Demonic Cult fellows…”
“Now, now, calm down. Let’s wrap up and go.”
As Yu Hyeon smiled and intervened to stop them, Paeng Su-hyeok fumed continuously.
“No, get out of the way! I am so frustrated, really…”
“Quiet!”
At that moment, Namgung Cheon shouted loudly.
The atmosphere was so grave that even Paeng Su-hyeok, who had been shouting wildly, swallowed hard and became speechless.
“W-what? You…”
“Shh!”
Namgung Cheon warned him again.
Only then did the other cadets sense something and look around.
It was a presence!
Clang!
The cadets and the Azure Eagle Squad drew their swords all at once, guarding their surroundings.
As time passed, the direction from which the sound came became clearer.
The stone gate to the left with their backs to the platform!
Rattle!
As the chain was pulled, the connected bolt went up.
In that instant, Cheol Un shouted loudly.
“Ah! Block, block it!”
Almost at the same time Cheol Un’s voice burst out, Namgung Cheon flew across the air.
Swish!
However, the bolt had already slipped from the loop and had been lifted for quite a while!
Boom!
With a sudden explosion, the stone gate swam wide open, and Namgung Cheon was blown back.
Slide!
Landing as if sliding on the floor, Namgung Cheon raised his head and looked at the open gate.
Surprisingly, the unorthodox martial artists were standing there in a wretched state.
Their bodies were cut and sliced here and there, covered in burn marks, and their clothes were tattered like rags. It seemed only one of the Red Merchant Association elites who followed Yo Chung had survived.
They glared upon seeing the cadets and the Azure Eagle Squad preparing to leave the king’s chamber.
“These dog-like bastards…! As expected, the Young Master’s words were not wrong! You guys finally laid hands on our items!”
“Sigh, everyone here and there claims it’s theirs. Damn it.”
Paeng Su-hyeok muttered indifferently, brushing back his hair.
“You bastards! Will you not put those boxes back in their places?”
“What if we refuse?”
As Namgung Cheon glared with sunken eyes, Heuk Seon-ja snorted.
“Hmph! You are clearly the one who attacked when I was off guard…”
“Enough. You worked hard to get here, but you are a step too late. Finders keepers. This is all mine.”
“What? Hahaha! How audacious. Seeing this now, Bi Ryang was not the issue. Bi Ryang is nowhere to be seen, and some brat is running wild without fear!”
“Are you determined to fight?”
Namgung Cheon’s gaze sank heavily.
Heuk Seon-ja winced involuntarily at that sight.
‘What kind of brat has eyes like…!’
Did he not possess the aura of a Jianghu expert who had weathered all storms?
However, he had also experienced his share of hardships.
Moreover, the opponents were mere greenhorns who had barely reached adulthood!
“You said finders keepers? However, the world recognizes the one who beats the finder and takes it as the owner. That greed of yours will kill you. Do not think of returning alive!”
Clang!
Heuk Seon-ja drew his sword, and the Red Crone’s fingers turned red as they transformed into eagle claws. Yo Chung and Jade Flute Young Master also drew their respective weapons.
It was a touch-and-go situation.
As the unorthodox martial artists slowly approached, Cheol Un retreated hesitantly, his face pale.
“I-it is hopeless. We are all going to die…!”
At that, Paeng Su-hyeok snorted and brought forward his newly acquired Great Saber.
“Do not worry. My Great Saber will sweep them all away!”
Great Saber was the name he had given to the newly acquired weapon.
However, Cheol Un’s voice sounded strange.
“N-no, that is not what I mean! We are finished!”
“What are you talking…”
It was an instant.
Boom!
Suddenly, the lids of the golden coffins lining the side walls were violently thrown off, were they not?
Cheol Un muttered with a look of despair.
“Now we will be annihilated. O ye who have entered the wrong path, receive the wrath of the king and his subjects…”