Chapter 59 - The Black Flame Dragon Playing with the Dragon and Phoenix

The Cangqiong Merchant Group's Hefei branch was decided to be abolished.

The institutions acting as the headquarters would return to the family at Mount Huang, and until the Taiyi Sect moved in, it would be operated as the Cangqiong Merchant Group's Hefei branch.

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword handled it with lightning speed.

By immediately establishing the Cangqiong Merchant Pavilion to manage the merchant group, mines, tea houses, guest houses, and the like, and appointing Namgung Songju to the position of Pavilion Master, he silenced the backlash from the Elder's Hall and the branch line.

With Namgung Songju, the leader who had spearheaded the collateral faction until now, keeping quiet, there was nothing else they could do either.

While these events unfolded over two days, I spent my time in the Sovereign Pavilion inspecting my martial arts and reflecting on my enlightenments.

And two days later, when I sat down to receive the transfer of the Cangqiong Merchant Group's deeds, surprisingly, the person who came out to draft the deeds was Namgung Songju.

"…."

"Have a seat."

Namgung Songju handed over the deeds calmly, as if nothing had happened.

I meticulously inspected the deeds to see if Namgung Songju had played any tricks with them.

I was someone who had memorized thousands of deeds in the Murim Alliance. Even the high-flying Wang Geumsan couldn't read deeds better than I could.

As I was inspecting the deeds like that, Namgung Songju muttered as if talking to himself.

"My father was the one who established the foundation of the Cangqiong Merchant Group and expanded its business, laying the groundwork for the Namgung Clan's golden age."

"…?"

"The Namgung Clan had only produced 100 Daeyeon Divine Pills over the past 200 years, but since my father took over the Cangqiong Merchant Group, they were able to produce at least ten Daeyeon Divine Pills every five years. Thanks to that, the direct line was able to receive a Daeyeon Divine Pill once every five years."

"…What are you suddenly talking about?"

Namgung Songju continued speaking, as if he couldn't even hear my words.

"My father was saddened that the fruits of his labor did not reach me. But I didn't care. In the Namgung Clan, the branch line only exists for the sake of the direct line, and only when they grow stronger does the Namgung Clan grow stronger."

"…."

"And yet, my father, who spent his entire life sweating blood and toiling outside the Namgung Clan, didn't receive a single Daeyeon Divine Pill before he died."

Namgung Songju's eyes stared into the empty air. It was a gaze reminiscing about something.

Did he come out here to make me feel a guilty conscience over my actions?

"Because they had already gone into the bellies of the direct line."

"…."

"What you have done is trample the dream of the Namgung Clan's branch line, who have been persecuted for hundreds of years. Are you satisfied?"

After listening to his story, I asked.

"I just need to sign here, right?"

"…."

I spoke while signing the document.

I did not feel an ounce of guilt at his words.

"Everyone feels their own circumstances are the most pitiful. They feel their situation is the most irrational, and their plight the most unfortunate."

"…We…."

I know how he feels.

No, more accurately, I can feel it.

"If you felt it was so unfair, shouldn't you have just left the Namgung Clan?"

"!"

How much had I resented my weak sect in my past life as well?

I had endlessly resented my sect, which gave me nothing and only took from me.

"The leap of the Cangqiong Merchant Group. It is a remarkable achievement. However, would it have been possible without the name of the Namgung Clan?"

I was blinded by that resentment and failed to see properly. What I had received from the Taiyi Sect, what kind of protection I had received from the Taiyi Sect.

What I had run away from. I only realized it after losing everything.

"It would have been impossible. And I understand that once one becomes part of the branch line, they are no longer bound by the clan. Is that correct?"

"…."

"You have no rights because you have no obligations. Yet you remained in the Namgung Clan to lean on the name of the Namgung Clan, did you not?"

"…."

The man in front of my eyes right now.

In my past life, he achieved everything he wanted and died at the hands of the Azure Emperor Divine Sword.

Was he satisfied watching the Namgung Clan burn and seeing the branch line die at the hands of the Divine Sword?

"I, too, once deeply resented being born into the Taiyi Sect. Furthermore, since my father was the External Hall Leader, I couldn't even leave the Taiyi Sect to live elsewhere. After only harboring resentment and losing countless precious things I took for granted, I finally realized."

"…And what was that?"

"That the things I take for granted are not a given."

"…."

"Merchant Group Leader, you may find your situation infinitely unfortunate, but from my perspective, you have enough to live without envying anyone. At the very least, people won't mock you when you mention the Namgung Clan."

"…."

"Of course, my misfortune does not make you happier, Squad Commander, but still, if you're going to complain, shouldn't you do it in front of a high-ranking official rather than a beggar pleading under a bridge?"

"…Then let me ask, are you satisfied now?"

I spoke while showing him the deeds.

"I am more than satisfied; it is overflowing. To you, Merchant Group Leader, this may just be one of dozens of branches you own, but to our sect, with this single branch, everyone in our sect will be able to eat warm meals three times a day and won't have to wear worn-out, patched clothes."

"…."

"If you are truly that dissatisfied, leave at any time. That is the only advice I can give you."

I carefully folded the deeds, tucked them into my robes, and stood up from my seat.

Only then did Namgung Songju open his mouth as if he had just remembered something.

"About that matter…."

"I already got rid of the corpses a long time ago. Do you think wild animals would just leave shallowly buried corpses alone?"

"…I was tricked."

Namgung Songju did not react much.

"I look forward to working with you."

I walked out, leaving the unresponsive Namgung Songju behind.

* * *

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword decided to enter closed-door training with Namgung San.

Namgung Seonhwa was supposed to enter as well, but because of the upcoming Murim Academy exam and not knowing when the closed-door training would end, her training for the new sword technique was postponed to be done alongside Namgung Jinmyeong later.

Despite the fact that the entire Namgung Clan would inevitably become chaotic due to the branch line's businesses suddenly returning to the main family, leaving the Patriarch's seat empty was a bold move; it seemed he believed that completing the Ascension Form was the only fundamental solution to silence all this turmoil.

"It's the Cangqiong Woonwi Sword Technique."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the name of the new sword technique."

I clicked my tongue at the Azure Emperor Divine Sword's words.

"Why does the character 'Woon' have to be included? Wouldn't 'Cangqiong Muwi Sword Technique' be better?"

"Isn't your name Jin Sowoon?"

"…."

I was left speechless, my mouth just opening and closing.

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword continued speaking with a smile on his lips.

"You are planning to take the standard exam for the Murim Academy this time, right?"

"Yes."

"Then please take good care of my granddaughter."

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword said while pointing at Namgung Seonhwa, causing Namgung Jinmyeong and Namgung Seonhwa, who were listening next to us, to tilt their heads.

"Shouldn't it be me asking you for that favor? I'll probably be taking the exam alone or with just a few of my junior disciples."

Namgung Jinmyeong and Namgung Seonhwa were shocked by my words.

"What nonsense is that!"

"Young Master Jin! You can't do that!"

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword clicked his tongue looking at them.

"He is that kind of kid. So you will have to help him a lot."

"Why are you doing this? I thought our calculations with each other were already finished?"

"Dear me…. I jotted down a few words in a letter to be sent to that Poison King fellow. I suppose I should tell them not to send it."

I had previously asked him to put in a good word with the Sichuan Tang Clan regarding my use of the White Hair Fire Tube, and he was bringing that up now.

"That was all to save your grandson and granddaughter, Divine Sword…."

"Ahem, regardless, you bought and used it through an unverified route, did you not? Perhaps the Tang Clan might wonder if you have other artifacts in your possession."

"Haa…."

Since I used an artifact that is one of the Sichuan Tang Clan's forbidden hidden weapons, it's only a matter of time before this news reaches the Tang Clan's ears. If someone like the Namgung Clan—no, a figure on the level of the Azure Emperor Divine Sword—doesn't step up, there's no telling what kind of disaster might strike the Taiyi Sect while I am away.

Not only are they a clan specialized in poison, but they are also as ruthless as any Underworld sect, so I couldn't afford to leave any seeds of doubt.

"We won't be able to move together, but if our routes are the same, I will pay attention to her. Will that be enough? I'll likely have to bring my junior disciples along as well, you see."

"Good. Good."

Watching the Azure Emperor Divine Sword nod, Namgung Jinmyeong and Namgung Seonhwa still wore expressions of incomprehension.

* * *

The closed-door training cave of the Namgung Clan was structured to only open from the inside.

And that door could only be opened by the Patriarch, Namgung Taeha.

Namgung San, who had entered the closed-door training cave, stood at the entrance, quietly pondering.

"What are you doing there? Every second counts to complete and master the sword technique."

"Ah, it's not that, it's just that there was something I needed to relay… and I don't think I did."

"To whom?"

"To Young Master Jin."

"What was it about?"

"The fact that the Dragon-Phoenix Summit is visiting the Taiyi Sect this time."

"Goodness, what is the big deal about some kids visiting a martial sect?"

It seemed that even the Dragon-Phoenix Summit, an honorable position that could only be entered by graduating from the Murim Academy with excellent grades and achieving a certain level of martial arts accomplishment, looked like child's play in the eyes of the Azure Emperor Divine Sword.

Namgung San spoke with a bitter smile.

"The thing is, they are reportedly visiting for the purpose of an inspection this time."

"An inspection?"

"Yes. Originally, visiting for an audit is an annual event, but… for some reason, the Taiyi Sect was caught in a special audit this time."

Namgung Taeha, who was listening to the story, furrowed his brow.

"Tsk, are they still going around pulling that kind of crap?"

Namgung Taeha seemed to have a rough idea of what was going on.

That made sense, since Namgung Taeha was also a member of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit in his youth.

"…Shouldn't I go back and tell him?"

"Leave it be. He is a kid who will surely handle it well on his own. Hurry up and come here."

"…Yes."

Despite finishing the conversation, Namgung San felt a sense of unease, and soon realized the reason wasn't because he failed to deliver the news to Jin Sowoon.

"…."

It was exactly because his grandfather, Namgung Taeha, had used words on Jin Sowoon that he had never once used on him, his younger sister, or even his father.

"'A kid who will handle it well on his own'. Hah."

Right then, a bellow echoed from deep inside the closed-door training cave.

"What are you doing not coming here right away!"

"Y-Yes! I'm coming!"

* * *

Jin Taesan, who had recently been cutting his reports to the Sect Leader down to a minimum because even time spent sleeping felt like a waste, visited the Sect Leader's quarters holding a letter.

"…Are you alright?"

Upon seeing Jin Taesan's face, Hong Mungi's eyes filled with worry.

"…Ah, yes, I'm fine. More importantly, take a look at this."

"It's from the Murim Alliance Hefei Branch."

"It says the Dragon-Phoenix Summit will be visiting. It's the customary audit procedure."

Hong Mungi, who had been reading the letter, nodded and folded it.

"I see."

"How should we prepare? I think we should start with cleaning the pavilions."

"It's fine."

"But, Sect Leader."

"Isn't it something they've always done? And from what I see, the Taiyi Sect is in far better shape than during the last audit. Doesn't Wangga Manor send servants over every week?"

"…I suppose that's true."

"Just empty out one pavilion and prepare new bedding for them. The Dragon-Phoenix Summit will need a place to stay when they arrive, won't they?"

"Yes. Understood."

"At any rate, the kids will be happy."

The Dragon-Phoenix Summit's audit mission was, in reality, closer in nature to a touring performance by young idols who served as symbols of the Murim Alliance.

It was a system nominally started with the intent of letting young experts untainted by conflicting interests uphold the laws of Jianghu, but nowadays, its role in fostering dreams and fantasies of Jianghu in children had grown much larger.

Those belonging to the Dragon-Phoenix Summit also tended to enjoy that status.

"More importantly, go get some sleep. You look like you're about to drop dead any moment."

"…Yes, once the Dragon-Phoenix Summit's visit is over, I plan to do nothing but sleep for a while."

"Alright. Good work."

Watching Jin Taesan stagger out of the quarters, Hong Mungi let out a soft chuckle.

"Is he really that happy doing what his son asked him to do? Hoho."

* * *

I rested for one more day to absorb the Daeyeon Divine Pill that was Namgung Seonhwa's share.

Then, I immediately packed my belongings and told the servant girl that I would be returning, and the servant girl in charge of the Sovereign Pavilion informed Namgung Jinmyeong and Seonhwa of the news.

The two of them came directly to the Sovereign Pavilion to see me off.

"Are you returning already?"

"I have received more hospitality than I deserve during my stay. Thank you for your consideration."

"Until now, you've been hosted as my father's guest, so how about staying as my guest from now on?"

Regret was practically dripping from Namgung Jinmyeong's eyes.

"I'd love to, but I think I'll have to put that off for later."

"Hmm? Has something happened?"

"I heard the Dragon-Phoenix Summit will be visiting the Taiyi Sect."

"Ah… I see. You're at the age to admire the people from the Dragon-Phoenix Summit too."

Namgung Jinmyeong nodded as if he understood.

At that moment, Namgung Seonhwa interjected.

"Father, couldn't I go to the Taiyi Sect as well?"

"With the standard exam just around the corner, what are you saying about chasing after the Dragon-Phoenix Summit? You should be focusing on getting into it."

Namgung Jinmyeong shook his head from side to side looking at Namgung Seonhwa, who was pouting her lips.

Unfortunately, the reason I wanted to return so quickly was precisely the opposite of what the Namgung father and daughter thought.

Just thinking about them in my past life makes my teeth grind naturally.

'The Dragon-Phoenix Summit….'

Right around this time in my past life, the Dragon-Phoenix Summit visited the Taiyi Sect.

And because of them, the Sect Leader fell into Qi Deviation.