Chapter 196: Courage To Face The Typhoon (2)
Chapter 195 – Courage To Face The Typhoon (2)
“Because… you feel too good?”
When Namgung Hwa replied blankly, Namgung Cheon smiled faintly and looked back at Son U-gon.
“It seems I should tell you first. Bring it.”
“Understood.”
As Son U-gon bowed politely and left, Namgung Geom, Namgung Hyo, and Namgung Hwa took turns looking at each other with bewildered expressions.
Namgung Hwa felt anxious for no reason and was on pins and needles. Although he said it was something to feel good about…
‘Since there is no way to know where he might bounce.’
As she managed her nervous heart, a chuckle suddenly escaped her.
Come to think of it, how did Namgung Cheon change this much?
The child who was always dispirited and could not say a word was now leading the situation. The elders of the family were only watching Namgung Cheon.
She had never even thought that a day like today would come.
Just then, as Son U-gon entered along with a presence, Namgung Hwa’s train of thought was also broken.
In the hands of Son U-gon, who had returned, a large box was held, and Vice-Captain Cha Mu-jin followed him in.
Thud! Thuuud!
The two men, who set the box down on the floor, took a step back.
Namgung Geom narrowed his eyes and asked.
“What is this?”
“Seeing is believing. I shall show you now. Open it.”
At Namgung Cheon’s command, Son U-gon bowed his head, approached, and placed his hand on the lid of the box.
Why was she so tense over such a trivial matter? There was no way a severed head would come out of that box.
Namgung Hwa clenched her hands for no reason, and Namgung Hyo, perhaps feeling his throat burn, raised his water cup to his mouth.
The moment Son U-gon finally opened the lid of the box, a pure fragrance filled the room. Just inhaling that scent seemed to clear one’s mind.
Wooden boxes were packed tightly inside the chest.
When Son U-gon took out one of them and opened its lid, the fragrance grew even thicker.
“Ah…”
Namgung Hwa let out an exclamation without realizing it.
Namgung Geom also realized, just by smelling the fragrance, that this was no ordinary elixir.
Namgung Geom looked back at Namgung Cheon.
“What is it?”
“It is the Superior Clarity Elixir.”
“Superior Clarity Elixir…!”
Namgung Hwa repeated the words in surprise.
If it was the Superior Clarity Elixir, although it was not on the level of the Shaolin Sect’s Lesser Returning Pill, was it not a precious elixir that could accumulate a significant amount of internal energy?
Namgung Hyo, who was drinking water, also widened his eyes.
And the next moment.
“Everything in that box is Superior Clarity Elixirs. In addition, there are Lesser Returning Pills and Great Returning Pills. Of course, there are also things like Purple Cloud Pills. There are dozens of chests of that size.”
“Pfffft!”
Finally, Namgung Hyo spat out the water he held in his mouth. When everyone’s gaze turned toward him, he quickly wiped his mouth with his sleeve and apologized to Namgung Geom.
“I-I am sorry, Patriarch. Cough, cough! Oh my god! Dozens… no, hundreds of Superior Clarity Elixirs? Then? Where did all those elixirs come from…”
“I raided the Demonic Pill Valley.”
“D-D-D-D… Demonic Pill Valley!”
Namgung Hyo was now on the verge of rolling his eyes and passing out.
Where was the Demonic Pill Valley?
It was a place where the Demonic Cult scraped together and stored all kinds of elixirs. There were even many rumors regarding whether the Demonic Pill Valley actually existed.
There was only one reason why the orthodox Martial World paid attention to this Demonic Pill Valley.
It was because it was known that there were generally more elixirs manufactured by the orthodox Martial World than elixirs manufactured by the Demonic Cult.
In any case, such a Demonic Pill Valley… the Young Patriarch in front of him right now had gone there?
And… raided it?
Namgung Hyo, so startled that he barely held onto his fading consciousness, hurriedly asked.
“Just where on earth was the Demonic Pill Valley? No, how did you know about the Demonic Pill Valley?”
Namgung Cheon smiled faintly.
“I was lucky. I was able to learn of the Demonic Pill Valley’s existence in the process of transferring a prisoner.”
“Then, did the Alliance dispatch the cadets to the Demonic Pill Valley?”
“No. Our directions coincidentally overlapped, so I was able to go.”
“Heh, it seems the Young Patriarch was born under a lucky star.”
As Namgung Hyo muttered with a dazed expression, Namgung Geom opened his heavy mouth.
“Was there no difficulty?”
No matter how he knew the location, he could not have gone to the Demonic Pill Valley as if taking a stroll.
Was it not obvious that all kinds of traps and formations would welcome the uninvited guest?
However, hard-to-understand words popped out of Namgung Cheon’s mouth.
“Yes, fortunately, there was a cormorant, so it was good for hunting.”
“Cormorant?”
“Ah, it is a metaphorical expression. A slight issue was that I met unorthodox forces there. Also, someone who appeared to be a remnant of the Demonic Cult.”
Namgung Hyo stood up from his seat, startled once again.
“Unorthodox forces! And even Demonic Cult remnants! So? What happened? Since you are here, it means there was no big problem, right?”
Namgung Cheon replied with a grin.
“Yes, fortunately, it was resolved well.”
“Then those bastards…”
“They are all dead.”
“Ah… what a relief.”
Only then did Namgung Hyo plopped down into his seat.
“However…”
Namgung Cheon continued.
“The one who appeared to be their leader survived, and he knows me.”
At that, Namgung Geom spoke in a cold tone.
“Even so, there is no issue. They would not have the guts to target items that have already been delivered to our clan.”
No matter how much the Namgung Clan had declined, it was obvious that the orthodox Martial World would be outraged if they were attacked by the unorthodox.
Although it could not be said that the Martial Alliance and the Namgung Clan had a very good relationship, if public opinion worsened, the Alliance Leader would have no choice but to move troops to punish the unorthodox people.
In any case, an ownerless treasure was bound to become a target because anyone could become its owner.
However, since the Namgung Clan had already become the owner, they too would have no choice.
‘Although we must still be careful.’
Namgung Geom spoke again in a heavy voice.
“How many boxes did you bring in total?”
“Slightly over thirty chests.”
“Among them, how many are usable elixirs?”
In other words, he was asking how many elixirs were manufactured by the orthodox Martial World, rather than the elixirs manufactured by the Demonic Cult.
Namgung Cheon, also understanding his meaning, replied calmly.
“Except for two boxes, they are all usable.”
“Only two boxes?”
“Yes, they were the Great Yin Demonic Spirit Pill, Yin Blood Demonic Essence, and Blood Yin Demonic Divine Pill.”
Namgung Hyo’s and Namgung Hwa’s pupils dilated.
Namgung Hwa asked with a bewildered expression.
“Do you know all of those?”
“Yes, I could roughly infer it.”
Of course he knew.
Because he had seen all kinds of elixirs and spiritual medicines of the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic paths once in his past life.
Could it be said that living a rough life had such advantages?
The fact that he could experience all sorts of rare and precious things that a flower in a greenhouse would never see in a lifetime. Although, it meant there were just as many crises where he could die.
Of course, since he could not talk about his past life here, Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and spoke casually.
“It was similar to what is written in books.”
“Ah… in books…”
“Yes, roughly when looking at the density, fragrance, color, and so on of the elixirs.”
Namgung Hyo let out a hollow laugh and muttered.
“Heh. To think you can distinguish them regardless. Is it true that when a person dies and is resurrected, they gain abilities they did not have before?”
“In any case, the rest are things that can be consumed immediately.”
The reason why there were not many elixirs manufactured by the Demonic Cult despite it being the Demonic Pill Valley was simple. Around the time the Demonic Cult collapsed, they had fed almost all of the elixirs to the cultists to make their final desperate struggle.
On the contrary, the elixirs of the orthodox Martial World were often just kept in storage because their affinities did not match or they took time to digest.
“Hmm.”
Namgung Geom let out a low groan.
“If indeed they are all usable elixirs except for those two chests, you have accomplished a great feat.”
For once, something akin to praise fell from his mouth.
Namgung Cheon laughed inwardly.
‘I told you it is true. Old man, have you lived only being deceived?’
Namgung Hwa stared quietly at the chest and asked.
“Then what should we do with the Great Yin Demonic Spirit Pills, Yin Blood Demonic Essences, and Blood Yin Demonic Divine Pills?”
“We must burn them.”
Namgung Geom spoke resolutely.
He did not seem to find it a waste in the slightest.
‘As expected.’
Namgung Cheon looked at Namgung Geom with a somewhat satisfied expression.
He had felt anxious thinking the Patriarch might covet even the elixirs of the Demonic Cult, but it was a needless worry.
Generally, elixirs manufactured by the Demonic Cult often contain extreme Yin energy, but unless they are the North Sea Ice Palace, an outer-realm force, it is very difficult to manufacture elixirs with extreme Yin energy.
Therefore, the Demonic Cult mainly used atrocious methods, which was to kill children and women to supplement the Yin energy.
In such cases, even those who practiced demonic arts ran the risk of falling into qi deviation, risking their lives or becoming madmen if they consumed them incorrectly. How much worse would it be for those who practiced orthodox arts?
‘Even though my internal energy was a complete hodgepodge, I barely survived.’
Truly, it was his first time experiencing such dreadful Yin energy. His entire body had frozen, and as a chill set in, it felt as though his meridians were hardening like a corpse’s.
Since he also had connections with the Demonic Cult bastards, he had barely managed to digest it using their demonic arts, but he did not wish to experience it ever again.
That uncomfortable, sticky…
‘Anyway, a feeling like vomiting.’
If one consumed energy that was not pure, that was how one suffered.
For that reason, Namgung Cheon agreed entirely with Namgung Geom’s opinion.
Needless greed invites disaster.
“Since we must first transport them safely to our clan, I wonder if it would be best to use the Azure Eagle Squad for the time being.”
In fact, even the Azure Eagle Squad alone would be insufficient.
Namgung Pyo, who was said to be staying in Wuhan, would also have to help, and they would have to summon Namgung Seol-hui to assist in the relocation.
Gulp.
Namgung Hyo swallowed hard and let out a slightly trembling voice.
“Heh, the Demonic Pill Valley… just what on earth are you… Hahaha. Patriarch, no matter how much I think about it, it seems you selected the right Young Patriarch.”
As Namgung Hyo spoke with a wide grin, Namgung Geom only let out a low groan and picked up his spoon.
“Let us eat first.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes! We must eat. Our Young Patriarch, please eat. Have some meat here too! Is your rice not enough? Shall I scoop some of mine over? No, how on earth did you… Hehehe. How did you think of entering that place? Drink some tea here too and eat slowly!”
Namgung Hyo smiled broadly as he looked at Namgung Cheon, finding him absolutely adorable.
And indeed, since he dropped such bundles of gifts every time they met, how could he not find him precious?
He had actually raided the Demonic Pill Valley.
If they were the elixirs inside those chests, they would be more than enough to raise the Namgung Clan once again!
Namgung Hyo’s eyes welled up with tears for no reason.
Namgung Geom spoke in a flat voice while eating.
“Lord of the Golden Cauldron Pavilion, contact Namgung Pyo and Namgung Seol-hui. And let us discuss how to dispose of the useless things after sorting them out.”
“Understood, Patriarch!”
Namgung Hyo replied energetically.
“You will participate in the Seven Great Clans Conference with me soon. I am telling you in advance, but it may not be a very pleasant gathering. Our clan is currently not included in the Seven Great Clans, and excluding gazes will still be prevalent. Even so, the reason they invited our clan is because you won the Joint Conference. Be sure to behave in a manner fitting of the occasion.”
“I shall do so.”
Namgung Cheon replied calmly.
However, Namgung Geom was not certain whether Namgung Cheon would behave in a manner fitting of the occasion.
His maternal grandson had certainly changed.
If a subtle battle of nerves broke out at the Seven Great Clans Conference, would Namgung Cheon stay still?
The courage to face a typhoon.
A chuckle escaped him.
In the past, he would have called it bravado.
But now, he was curious about the ending that bravado would bring.
He even looked forward to it slightly.
If he took that child to the Seven Great Clans Conference, what on earth would happen again?
Since he performed amazing feats every time, he could not even guess anymore.
Even up to this point, Namgung Geom did not know.
That Namgung Cheon would make an incredible contribution at the Seven Great Clans Conference.
Namgung Geom picked up a piece of meat and placed it indifferently on Namgung Cheon’s rice bowl.
“Eat.”