Chapter 246: I Learned Magic From Books (4)
Chapter 245 – I Learned Magic From Books (4)
“They found something?”
“Yes, I heard they found a treasure map.”
“A treasure map. What is the treasure map about?”
“I do not know that much either…”
“I understand. I will know when I get there.”
Namgung Cheon hurried to the Patriarch’s Hall.
Indeed, inside the Patriarch’s Hall, Namgung Geom, Namgung Seol-hui, Namgung Hyo, and Namgung Hwa were gathered.
“Have you come?”
At Namgung Geom’s words, Namgung Cheon walked over to the large table.
“I heard you found a treasure map.”
“Yes, look. It is this.”
Namgung Geom stroked his beard for a moment and showed the thin, worn paper placed on the table.
Son U-gon, who had arrived first, added an explanation:
“After dismantling all the boxes, this came out of one of them. It was sandwiched between thin wooden boards.”
“Hmm.”
Namgung Cheon groaned softly and stared silently at the thin paper.
‘Here is…’
He seemed to know the approximate location. It was not a treasure map that was geographically difficult to find or hard to interpret. Of course, it would have been a different story if Namgung Cheon had not been a fugitive who had traveled to most places in his past life.
At any rate, only the words ‘Demonic God’ were written on the location marked on the drawing.
“A Demonic God…”
“What do you think it is?”
“Well. Looking only at this, it seems to refer to the Demonic God Sword.”
“What is your reason for viewing it as a demonic sword rather than an elixir?”
“Because the elixirs were all in the Demonic Pill Valley.”
“However, the Demonic God Pill was not found.”
The Demonic God Pill could be considered the highest grade among the elixirs manufactured by the Demonic Cult.
One that only the Heavenly Demon could consume.
Namgung Cheon nodded and said:
“We have to look further. If there is no Demonic God Pill, we might be able to combine the found elixirs to manufacture it. Since the storage condition of elixirs is important, I don’t think they would have gone through the trouble of storing them separately.”
When Namgung Cheon answered indifferently, the martial artists in the room all looked at each other with impressed expressions.
In particular, Son U-gon looked extremely encouraged, as if saying, ‘This is how our lord is!’
Namgung Seol-hui asked with an expression of great pride:
“How does the Young Patriarch know such things?”
“I learned about the Demonic Cult from books.”
“Indeed. That is truly remarkable. Actually, we have more to show you.”
Namgung Seol-hui expressed her admiration and flipped the paper over. And when she brought the paper close to the candle flame, faint letters began to appear on the back, which had been blank.
“This is…”
Namgung Cheon narrowed his brow and carefully read down the words.
Surprisingly, it was a method to manufacture elixirs. Yet, the ingredients used in that manufacturing method were all the Demonic Pill Valley’s elixirs.
“It is the method to manufacture the Demonic God Pill.”
“Yes. I understand that by the time the Demonic Cult fell, most of the elixirs were exhausted. Even so, it seems they left extra elixirs behind to manufacture the Demonic God Pill.”
“That makes sense.”
“That is why I purposely asked you without showing this to you. I was curious to see how you would interpret those words with no information. Now, what do you think we should do with this?”
“Let’s manufacture it.”
At Namgung Cheon’s blunt proposal, Namgung Geom narrowed his eyes.
Namgung Seol-hui also asked with a cautious expression:
“What is the reason?”
“Because we must know the enemy. We must also know how great the Demonic God Pill is. They took every risk to attack our clan. If so, we need to know how great the efficacy of that Demonic God Pill is. As for the demonic sword, since we have the treasure map anyway, we can go find it slowly.”
“Is there a way to know its efficacy just by manufacturing it? Since a martial artist of our clan cannot possibly consume the Demonic God Pill… Wait, don’t tell me you…?”
“Grandaunt. I do not think evil lies within the elixir. In the end, I believe it depends on the person. I will master that evil-filled elixir with righteousness.”
Understanding the meaning of Namgung Cheon’s words, Namgung Seol-hui shouted sharply:
“Absolutely not! Even if you are right, that elixir was manufactured through various despicable means! There is no telling how even a normal person might change if they consume such an elixir! Are you going to do something only scoundrels would do?”
“Cheon, I share the same opinion as Grandaunt on that. It is far too dangerous for a martial artist who has learned righteous arts to consume an elixir manufactured through foul methods.”
Namgung Hwa, who had only been listening until now, also stepped in to support Namgung Seol-hui’s words. The reactions of the others were not much different either.
Namgung Geom, who had recently accepted Namgung Cheon’s opinions as much as possible, also remained consistently silent.
Actually, from Namgung Cheon’s perspective, it was somewhat amusing.
Was he himself not a scoundrel among scoundrels who had completely mastered all kinds of miscellaneous martial arts and miscellaneous spiritual medicines?
When Namgung Cheon did not respond, Namgung Hyo also quickly stepped forward and supported the two of them again:
“Young Patriarch, I also think it is too dangerous. From what I have heard, if someone who has not learned the Heavenly Demon Divine Art consumes the Demonic God Pill, they will suffer qi deviation or become a public enemy of the world. It is not a matter to be decided so easily.”
He had expressed it in a roundabout way.
If translated as it was known, consuming the Demonic God Pill would turn anyone who was not the Heavenly Demon into the Heavenly Great Killing Star.
However, was the term ‘Heavenly Great Killing Star’ not a word regarded like a deep wound in the Namgung Clan?
Especially since his biological father had died after being branded as the Heavenly Great Killing Star, they had no choice but to be more cautious with the words they spoke to Namgung Cheon.
On the other hand, Namgung Cheon smiled bitterly inwardly.
‘If it turns out that way, at least I won’t feel wronged. In a world that turns even normal people into the Heavenly Great Killing Star.’
Namgung Cheon looked around at the people, including Namgung Hyo, and said:
“Absorbing an elixir is also, in the end, a matter of controlling the flow of internal energy. No matter what martial art one has learned, as long as one can control the flow of internal energy well, they will be able to prevent themselves from becoming a madman or an evil person. Becoming an evil person is also ultimately a case where internal energy runs wild and causes a problem at the Yintang acupoint.”
“It is easy to say, but is that not precisely the difficult problem!”
Namgung Seol-hui pointed it out sharply, but Namgung Cheon did not back down.
“We cannot defeat the world by doing only easy things.”
“You…!”
Namgung Cheon also stared straight into her eyes. Namgung Seol-hui burst into a wry laugh and shook her head.
“What on earth do you plan to do… Brother, please say something to him as well.”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom, who hesitated for a moment, stared at Namgung Cheon with a blade-like gaze.
“Are you confident?”
“Brother!”
“Father!”
Namgung Seol-hui and Namgung Hwa shouted at the same time.
Namgung Geom raised his hand to stop them, and then waited for Namgung Cheon’s reply with cool eyes.
Namgung Cheon replied with a faint smile:
“I am confident.”
“Is it because you learned about the Demonic Cult from books?”
At the question whose playfulness or seriousness was unclear, Namgung Cheon thought for a moment before deciding on a serious tone and replying:
“Although I learned it from books, I am ready to understand it with my head and execute it with my heart.”
“I did not hope for a vague answer like catching floating clouds.”
However, Namgung Cheon paid no heed and continued speaking.
“Our clan is a family of sovereigns.”
“And?”
“Why do you think it is a family of sovereigns?”
At that, Namgung Seol-hui frowned and interrupted:
“What are you trying to say all of a sudden? Naturally, it is because our clan’s martial arts vie for the number one under heaven that it is called a family of sovereigns. But why, in the middle of talking about the Demonic God Pill…”
“No, it is not.”
“What?”
“A sovereign is not the number one under heaven.”
“What does that mean?”
“A sovereign embraces the world. It is not about climbing to the highest place, but the position of embracing the world is precisely the sovereign’s seat.”
“…”
“A sovereign is not high, but wide.”
“…”
“The reason our clan is a family of sovereigns is not because our martial arts are the number one under heaven, but because they are martial arts that can embrace the world. That is the essence of the Azure Emerald Art I have learned.”
Namgung Cheon’s gaze finally turned to Namgung Geom.
The corners of Namgung Geom’s eyes trembled.
He recalled the time he clashed hands with the Demonic Cult bastards last night. At that time, had he himself not vaguely realized the true meaning of the Namgung Clan’s martial arts?
Accepting any change and ultimately containing it.
If that was indeed the Azure Emerald Art…
And so, if the Azure Emerald Art truly possessed the power of a sovereign…
Was it not worth trying?
Containing it.
Whatever form of internal energy it was.
That was precisely the essence of the blue, azure sky.
An unusual light shone in Namgung Geom’s eyes. As he thought repeatedly, an enlightenment that seemed just out of grasp brushed past his chest.
A desire to immediately sit cross-legged and circulate his energy arose.
However, they were in the middle of a meeting right now.
He looked at Namgung Cheon with a new gaze.
‘Without my realizing it, your trust in our family’s martial arts has grown even deeper.’
To reach such a thought, one had to acknowledge that the Namgung Clan’s martial arts were truly sovereign.
Yet, Namgung Cheon was casually acknowledging that fact, which even he himself could not be sure of.
‘Ah! Come to think of it, if he has the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes…’
He had temporarily forgotten about it.
That amazing ability.
Perhaps because it did not feel real enough, it had naturally been erased from his mind.
‘Yes, the fact that this child could learn the Azure Emerald Art so quickly must also be due to the influence of the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes.’
Of course, that would not be all.
Looking at Namgung Cheon’s face now, his expression was not one that could be judged merely by talent. Surprisingly, was he not filled with near-perfect confidence?
Usually, such eyes were felt in elders based on experience. Yet, a child who had not even reached twenty made such a face.
‘What makes you so confident?’
‘You wouldn’t know, old man, how terrible a life I have lived. To me, this looks like the greatest opportunity.’
‘Can you truly embrace it?’
‘If I cannot even embrace this, how could I embrace the world? That would not be a sovereign.’
The gazes of the two clashed violently in the air.
Finally, Namgung Geom spoke:
“The world does not always flow as one wishes.”
“I know. So, I have also thought of an alternative.”
“An alternative?”
At Namgung Geom’s question, everyone’s eyes turned to Namgung Cheon.
A moment later, an earth-shattering answer flowed from Namgung Cheon’s mouth:
“If I become possessed by the energy of the Demonic God Pill and run wild… strike off my neck on the spot.”
“…!”
Because they were so shocked, no one spoke first. They merely stared with wide eyes, their mouths agape enough for three or four flies to enter without their noticing.
Nevertheless, Namgung Cheon continued speaking without any change in expression.
“That is better than being possessed by evil energy and becoming a true Great Killing Star.”
“Cheon! What kind of nonsense are you saying right now…!”
“Of course, it won’t turn out like that. I am simply telling you that I have also considered the worst-case scenario. That this is the extent of my determination.”
“How…”
Namgung Hwa closed her mouth with a stiff expression.
No one in the room dared to speak hastily.
For that, Namgung Cheon’s will seemed too strong. They felt that if they added words in vain, his resolve would only harden.
Because of this, everyone looked only at Namgung Geom.
Since Namgung Geom was the only person who could stop Namgung Cheon right now.
But…
“In the worst-case scenario, I will strike without delay.”
“Ah, Father!”
“Brother!”
“Patriarch!”
At that moment, all the martial artists in the room cried out in shock.
However, there was not a single tremor in Namgung Geom’s expression. Namgung Cheon, who was looking at him, also had a hardened face.
“Naturally.”
“However, there must be no worst-case scenario.”
“Of course.”
The two stared straight at each other with deep eyes.
Namgung Hwa sighed as she looked back and forth between the two of them with a pale expression.
‘It is like looking in a mirror.’
Namgung Hwa knew well from experience that when these two made such expressions, they would never listen to anyone else’s words.
‘This is truly a big trouble.’