Chapter 244: I Learned Magic From Books (2)
Chapter 243 – I Learned Magic From Books (2)
The sun set and the moon rose.
Namgung Geom, having finished the rough cleanup for the day, had simple refreshments set up on one side of the Deep Blue Courtyard’s back garden and held a Clan Meeting.
Originally, they should have continued the Clan Council that had been open since yesterday afternoon, but a larger problem had suddenly piled up like a mountain.
Consequently, the atmosphere was chaotic with the people gathered in their seats already talking about this and that.
What was even more frustrating was the fact that many of the leaders who had sat around and held a meeting together just yesterday evening could no longer be seen.
Those who were heavily injured and could not attend the meeting were at least fortunate.
However, hadn’t Namgung Heon-sang, who could be called the center of the Elders’ Court, lost his life to the Demonic Cultists while trying to protect the Demonic Pill Valley elixirs?
Consequently, they were also fully occupied with conducting funerals for the dead in one corner of the manor.
Since the atmosphere was like this, the survivors could not fully enjoy their joy, and the problems at hand were too urgent to merely grieve.
At least, the emptiness was lessened because the Mount Huang Yun Clan and the cadets were filling the seats vacated by the leaders.
In any case, Namgung Geom, having finished the discussion on funeral procedures and the clan’s reorganization, stared blankly at the Hefei Branch Leader sitting close by.
“Still, thank you for seeking out our clan first like this and extending a helping hand. Thanks to you, what would have been a bleak matter has been resolved a little.”
“Mmm. I am glad to hear that.”
The Hefei Branch Leader, who was firmly caught, wiped his cold sweat while wearing the most awkward smile in the world.
When he saw Namgung Cheon sitting over there with a broad grin, his anger flared up for no reason.
‘This is all because of that fellow!’
Well, looking at it closely, there was nothing to make a problem of. Indeed, when he came to the Namgung Clan, the unorthodox paths had launched a surprise attack, and he had appropriately provided help.
However, his anger over Namgung Cheon striking the crown of his head as if to smash it did not dissolve easily.
Feeling that sitting here long would only make his mood worse, he stood up tactfully.
“In that case, please continue your discussion. It is late, so I will head out first.”
“Where would you go at this late hour? Although the Guest Hall is slightly damaged, it should be habitable for a day.”
“No, thank you. You must have many things to reorganize, so I will stay at a nearby inn. Thank you for your concern. There will be various support from the branch in the future. I will discuss that part with the Lord of the Golden Cauldron Pavilion.”
“Understood. Safe travels.”
“Yes, then.”
The Branch Leader bowed his head and turned around.
Once he left, the leaders poured out words, wearing bright expressions this time.
“It is truly a good thing that the Branch Leader will help our clan.”
“Indeed. The disaster support funds were more generous than expected.”
“Honestly, while casualties are hard to reverse even with a fortune, it seems most of the physical damage will be more than fully restored.”
At that, Yun Cheom-san also nodded and chimed in.
“Our clan has also benefited from Clan Leader Namgung this time.”
“Don’t mention it. It was only natural.”
At Namgung Geom’s blunt tone, Yun Cheom-san smiled bitterly.
Instead, Namgung Hyo smiled and said.
“Honestly, I was surprised when Clan Leader Yun arrived. It was something you could have ignored, yet to help us like this. How did you make such a bold decision?”
“Well, otherwise, my son would be a pusho…”
“Hmm?”
“Ahem! Is it not the duty of a neighbor? It was simply what ought to be done.”
“Hahaha! I have come to see Clan Leader Yun in a new light today.”
“Just how did you see me all this time…”
As Yun Cheom-san wore a feigned look of offense, Namgung Hyo waved his hand.
“It was a remark with no deeper meaning, so do not mind it.”
However, because the Namgung Clan members already knew the underlying meaning, they wore faint smiles.
Even so, just as Namgung Hyo said, they did see Yun Cheom-san in a new light this time. Had he not truly come to support them, and even stayed and fought to the end despite suffering significant damage?
That was all…
‘Likely due to the Young Patriarch.’
Everyone’s gaze momentarily rested on Namgung Cheon.
Was Namgung Cheon using some sort of black magic that captivated people’s hearts?
Everything had changed since Namgung Cheon returned from death.
It was a truly strange thing.
Looking back, the downfall of the Namgung Clan was due to the Great Killing Star, while the stepping stone for its resurgence was being built due to his son.
Namgung Geom also looked at Namgung Cheon blankly while observing people’s reactions.
‘You are changing everything.’
Although such a noisy problem occurred today, it felt as if the clan were alive and breathing.
He realized that perhaps his way had not been entirely correct all this time.
He might have been a sturdy pillar to prevent the clan from collapsing, but he could not step off the floor and grow again.
Yet, Namgung Cheon was achieving that.
Just then, Namgung Cheon looked over here and met eyes with Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom threw a question with a silent gaze.
‘Was my way wrong all this time?’
‘You weren’t wrong, old man. Isn’t it because you held out through the most difficult times that I can soar like a dragon today? Thank you sincerely for holding out and holding out.’
Namgung Cheon bowed his head slightly once again, conveying such thoughts.
Meanwhile, Namgung Hyo casually spoke up.
“Well then, although the situation has become somewhat ambiguous, why don’t we wrap up what we were discussing last night? Regarding granting a reward to the Young Patriarch.”
At that, there was not a single person who opposed this time.
Hadn’t the clan, which had been on the verge of extermination just a few hours ago, completely reversed the tide with Namgung Cheon’s appearance?
Since they had seen it clearly with their own eyes, they only wanted to give him even more.
As they say the ground hardens after a rain, the Namgung Clan members were more united in mind now than ever before.
However, Namgung Cheon brought up other words.
“Thank you for the words, but I don’t think now is the time to discuss that. And I already have as much as I need. Instead, there is another important problem.”
“Another problem?”
As Namgung Hyo looked back, Namgung Cheon nodded and spoke.
Everyone listened intently to Namgung Cheon’s words in silence. Before they knew it, they all recognized Namgung Cheon as a pillar of the clan, just like Namgung Geom.
“First, I think we must make clear who our enemy is. Although the Hefei Branch Leader returned believing it was the deed of the unorthodox paths, since you have personally clashed hands with them, you must have noticed their true identity.”
Many nodded silently.
Yun Cheom-san let out a heavy voice.
“The Demonic Cult.”
“Correct. It’s the Demonic Cult.”
“Do remnants of the Demonic Cult still remain?”
“A martial artist’s life is as light as a mayfly’s, yet it is also tougher than a cockroach’s.”
“Fine, let’s say it is so. Well, since I experienced it firsthand, I can’t deny it. But why did the Demonic Cult, which had been holding its breath until now, suddenly strike the Namgung Clan?”
Yun Cheom-san asked, knitting his brow deeply. He did not even realize the fact that he had just referred to them as the “Namgung Clan.”
That was how much the Namgung Clan, centered around Namgung Cheon, no longer looked like a falling clan.
An unexpected reply flowed from Namgung Cheon’s mouth.
“It is because our clan possessed the Demonic Pill Valley elixirs.”
“I see. The Demonic Pill Val… Wh-What? The De-Demonic Pill Valley elixirs!”
Yun Cheom-san widened his eyes and stood with his mouth wide open. There was someone else who was surprised.
“Wh-What do you mean? No, are you really talking about that Demonic Pill Valley, the treasury of the Demonic Cult?”
The other person shouting at Namgung Cheon was none other than Yun Jong-seung.
“Yes.”
“Why is that here?”
“I brought it.”
“Huh? When?”
Yun Jong-seung wore a blank expression.
The Demonic Pill Valley elixirs were not some plaything bought from a pack merchant down the street.
No, more than anything, they had stayed only in Mount Huang until now and spent almost all of their cadet life together, so just when on earth did he pack the Demonic Pill Valley elixirs?
Wait a minute…
‘But why are these guys acting like it’s nothing?’
Yun Jong-seung turned his head to look at the other cadets. Weren’t all three of them completely composed?
“Wh-What? Did you guys know! How? Why? Why only excluding me! W-Wait… surely such a sad thing didn’t happen where you guys already tasted the elixirs excluding me… did it? W-We are friends, right? Right?”
Now, Yun Jong-seung looked pitiful.
Jin So-hong even felt a slight, sincere apology rising as she looked at Yun Jong-seung.
“Sorry…”
“Don’t apologize! Don’t say anything! Such a thing… I don’t even want to imagine such a thing… sniff…”
As Yun Jong-seung’s eyes even turned red, Namgung Cheon shook his head and continued.
“In any case, that’s why the Demonic Cult fellows invaded this place. However, it’s hard for us to wander around looking for the Demonic Cult’s base right now.”
“Then wouldn’t it be fine to inform the Martial Alliance?”
“That’s where a problem arises.”
Namgung Cheon said, looking straight at Yun Cheom-san.
Yun Cheom-san furrowed his brow.
“What problem?”
“The reason I came here is because, looking at various circumstances, I thought our clan would be in danger. The news conveyed by the Beggars’ Sect was like that, but what was also concerning was that they chose that specific moment to draw out a large number of martial artists from the Hefei branch. It’s the perfect setup to feign ignorance even if something happens to the Namgung Clan. And we couldn’t even borrow horses until we used force at the Hefei branch.”
“Then are you saying the Martial Alliance will be uncooperative?”
“It would be fortunate if it was only to that extent, but what if the Alliance opened the way for the demonic cultists…?”
“Wait! What are you saying right now? Could it be you are doubting the Alliance now?”
When Yun Cheom-san wore a look that showed it was absurd, Namgung Cheon smiled faintly.
“As I told you, that’s what the circumstances indicate. Actually, finding out the location of the Demonic Pill Valley was also not unrelated to the Alliance. Also, as you know from seeing it at the Joint Conference, the Alliance does not look upon our clan favorably.”
“Even if they did so for a while, wasn’t it also the Alliance Leader who nominated you as the Divine Dragon of the Jianghu?”
What Alliance Leader?
I won it all myself.
Namgung Cheon sneered coldly in his heart and continued.
“Perhaps the person who wishes the most for that Divine Dragon of the Jianghu to fall is the Alliance Leader. From the Martial Alliance’s perspective, they won’t look favorably upon the illegitimate child of the Heavenly Great Killing Star becoming the symbol of the Jianghu.”
“Even so, for the Alliance Leader to join hands with the Demonic Cult! What nonsense! In my view, you have severe paranoia!”
Yun Cheom-san looked at Namgung Geom and said.
“Clan Leader Namgung, please say something too. That child is currently talking nonsense…”
“He is the Young Patriarch.”
“Yes?”
“Not that child, but the Young Patriarch of our clan.”
“Ah… ahem… that Young Patriarch is talking complete nonsense…”
“What if it makes sense?”
“What?”
Yun Cheom-san widened his eyes like saucers once again.
“No, Clan Leader! Do you not know the Alliance Leader better than anyone? Yet how can you say such words…!”
“Because I know him better than anyone, I am saying this. The Alliance Leader is a man capable of doing so.”
“…!”
Instantly, the faces of the people in the gathering froze as if they had swallowed ice. Especially, the cadets could not clear their minds at the story that suddenly proceeded in an unexpected direction.
Namgung Geom fell into thought, keeping his mouth tightly shut.
‘Yes, that fellow Mok Cheon-ak is a man fully capable of doing that.’
Had Mok Cheon-ak not spared the remnants of the Demonic Cult long ago? Namgung Geom had seen it himself. It was also due to the conflict at that time that he had left the Alliance slightly earlier.
‘Mok Cheon-ak, are you truly going this far?’
Certainly, as Namgung Cheon said, the series of processes was not natural.
For the Thieving Ghost to be entangled with the Alliance is too suspicious to be a simple coincidence.
Also, could the Martial Alliance’s eyes and ears be this blind and deaf until a large-scale force of Demonic Cultists emerged from their sanctuary and struck our clan?
Unless they closed their eyes and blocked their ears.
Even when the Beggars’ Sect noticed the movement.
However, the Beggars’ Sect also did not know they were Demonic Cultists.
They mistook them for unorthodox paths.
Was it not an extremely meticulously well-crafted script?
The person who could create all these environments was only one man.
Martial Alliance Leader Mok Cheon-ak.
At the end of a suffocating silence, Jin So-hong barely opened her mouth.
“Then… do you truly believe the Martial Alliance joined hands with the Demonic Cultists?”
“It is unknown. However, the possibility is not zero.”
“How could…!”
Jin So-hong also seemed not a little surprised. Not only she, but all the cadets were astonished.
This was no ordinary matter.
Having heard such terrifying words, their faces were about to twitch.
At this rate, wasn’t it a situation where they would make the Martial Alliance their enemy!