Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Namgung Cheon was quietly staring at the plaque he had brought from Luoyang.

Seeing a brush in one hand and ink placed on the floor, it seemed he was about to scrawl something onto that plaque.

"Grandfather! Good luck!"

"Mmh… Yes, yes, I shall try my best."

Hesitating with a troubled look for a long time as if contemplating what to write, Namgung Cheon finally reached out his right hand and began brushing.

Although a slight trembling was felt in his hand at first, it soon disappeared and a grand calligraphy style was revealed.

Stroke by stroke, every single line was extraordinary.

Strength was imbued in the thick parts of the strokes, while the thinly finished tips of the strokes were as natural as flowing water.

Hunan Dan Family

It was only four characters, but the mental effort put into it was no joke. Before he knew it, cold sweat was dripping heavily from Namgung Cheon's forehead.

Since he was struggling to write character by character without making a mistake using his right hand and not his left, his mind and body could not help but tire out just as quickly.

"Wow-! It is really cool! So-mi has never seen characters like this before."

Smiling brightly, Dan So-mi stared at the plaque with twinkling eyes.

At that spotless and pure smile, Namgung Cheon smiled back pleasantly.

"Thank you. It was worth the effort. Hohoho."

"It is really amazing. I want to learn too! Calligraphy!"

"Haha, yes, I shall teach you. This old man will teach you with all his heart and soul."

Namgung Cheon looked extremely pleased.

He had never imagined that what he had learned when he had nothing to do during his time at the Murim Alliance would be this useful. Moreover, since Dan So-mi, who was as cute as a granddaughter, praised him, Namgung Cheon's joy grew twofold.

Right then, Dan Woo-hyun, who had approached them from the side, frowned.

"What are you doing?"

"I made a plaque. Shouldn't a main gate have a plaque after all?"

"…"

Dan Woo-hyun's frown showed no signs of easing. The meaning of that plaque, one could not help but realize with just a little thought.

"I do not recall asking you to make one…"

"Do not be so tense. There are places that hang plaques even if they are not martial clans. I did not do this with any particular meaning in mind."

"If that is the case, then it is fine…"

Even so, Dan Woo-hyun did not like it. Erecting a plaque meant that anyone passing by would also perceive this place as a clan rather than a manor, and if something were to happen soon, rumors would spread.

'The Hunan Dan Family over there.'

'That Hunan Dan Family.'

Just thinking about it already gave Dan Woo-hyun a headache. However, seeing how much Dan So-mi liked it, he could not bring himself to tell them not to hang it.

"Daddy! We are hanging this, right? Hehe, it will look cool."

"Yes…"

How could he say no to a child who liked it so much?

Dan Woo-hyun let out a small sigh. At the end of his gaze, he saw Namgung Cheon smiling awkwardly.

"That aside. Are you not going back? It has already been several months."

"Hmm… I am sorry, but I have no intention of going back."

Namgung Cheon muttered with a bitter expression.

He felt sorry for his family. However, the clan had already been handed down to his eldest son, and although its status had dropped somewhat due to the loss of the name Sword Emperor, he believed Namgung Yong was fully capable of overcoming this crisis.

In his youth, Namgung Yong possessed talent no less than his own, and he also had a knack for commanding and leading the clan.

If he returned, all the members of the clan would look only to him once again, so he judged that it would be better not to return. The current family head, Namgung Yong, would firmly protect his empty space.

"Can you not just think of this old man as having found his burial ground?"

"There is no place for you to be buried here."

"Hahaha, I would be grateful if you could bury me alongside the Three Heavens over there."

"They are not the Three Heavens."

"Whatever the case may be."

Namgung Cheon was speaking from the bottom of his heart.

As his internal energy dispersed, his body had begun to age rapidly. In a few months, he would not even be able to play the gentleman's sword game in Luoyang.

He could feel for himself that his mind and body were breaking down to that extent.

"At most, it is one year."

In the end, Namgung Cheon lowered his head with a bitter gaze.

He had lived a long life.

And he had lived a good life.

He had engraved his name upon the world, and had even ascended to the peak of the orthodox path while receiving the excessive title of Sword Emperor.

Although he was shabby now, his past had been glorious, so even if this body turned to dust upon death, he would be able to go with a smile.

His last remaining wish was merely to be buried beside the Three Heavens, who had been like the sky, even though he had not reached their realm.

That was another reason why Namgung Cheon had resolved to remain at the manor.

"Grandfather, are you going to die?"

Right then, a startled Dan So-mi grabbed the hem of Namgung Cheon's clothes. Although she did not fully understand the adults' conversation, retracing it piece by piece showed that things were heading in that direction.

Tearfully-

Tears filled her eyes.

At that expression which looked as though she would burst into tears at any moment, Namgung Cheon hugged Dan So-mi tightly.

"Do not worry about anything, So-mi. Humans are naturally bound to leave once they arrive, and that is a providence that no one can stop. Although it is sad, it is enough for you to just remember this grandfather."

"Waaah-!"

Dan So-mi burst into a loud cry.

He had spoken those words to comfort the child, but they had the opposite effect instead. Not knowing what to do as he hugged Dan So-mi, Namgung Cheon looked up at Dan Woo-hyun.

It was an appeal for help.

However, Dan Woo-hyun shook his head while pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Handle it yourself. More importantly, was the energy-dispersing poison really that potent?"

"Haha, well, it could be that this old man is lacking, but it does seem to be potent."

It was no ordinary energy-dispersing poison. It felt as though it had been created through continuous improvements. Otherwise, there was no way it could be this toxic.

He had thought the toxicity would weaken somewhat after a few months, but the poison blocking all his energy channels was eating away at his body even faster and stronger.

Dan Woo-hyun recalled the past.

It had already been a thousand years since he was affected by energy-dispersing poison.

Since a significant amount of time had passed between then and now, everything would have naturally developed.

Since energy-dispersing poison was manufactured to kill martial artists, it would have been improved to be that much stronger in order to catch those who had reached high realms.

Therefore, it was difficult to see it as the same situation as when Dan Woo-hyun had overcome it in the past.

Dan Woo-hyun reached out and took Namgung Cheon's pulse. After checking his pulse for a long time, he frowned.

It was certainly a bit different from the energy-dispersing poison Dan Woo-hyun knew. However, it was not to the extent that it could not be resolved.

"It might be a bit better if you have something like a spiritual herb."

"Huh? What did you just say?"

"I said that if you have a spiritual herb, you should be able to clear the blocked energy channels."

"Is… Is that true?"

"Yes."

"No, then why have you not said anything until now?!"

Namgung Cheon raised his voice sharply.

Until now, Dan Woo-hyun had only spouted incomprehensible Zen-like riddles. And Namgung Cheon had been struggling to expel the energy-dispersing poison while reflecting on those words until now.

Yet, because it did not work well and he felt his body gradually losing strength, he had consequently reached the point of giving up on detoxification.

But to say it could be detoxified?

Thinking up to that point, Namgung Cheon tilted his head.

"Huh? A spiritual herb?"

"Yes, a spiritual herb."

"What on earth is this spiritual herb you speak of?"

"It is simple. It refers to a herb where spiritual energy is gathered."

"…"

Namgung Cheon shut his mouth.

What kind of nonsense was he talking.

He had not asked because he did not know that.

Even among spiritual herbs, there were many types, and their efficacy also differed individually. Some had yin energy while others had yang energy. Taking one that did not suit one's constitution would lead to disaster.

Namgung Cheon frowned.

"Any spiritual herb does not matter. After all, you only need to borrow its efficacy."

"Is it… possible with just that? Would a spiritual elixir not work? In our Namgung Clan, there is a spiritual medicine called the Clear Brightness Elixir…"

"Something made by human hands is not suitable. Is that not merely for increasing internal energy?"

With a groan, Namgung Cheon let out a sigh.

Just as he said, spiritual medicine was something humans directly created by harvesting spiritual herbs. Although it could produce many good effects including the increase of internal energy, the innate energy originally possessed by the spiritual herb would disappear.

That was exactly what Dan Woo-hyun was referring to.

A pure spiritual herb.

One in which everything originally possessed by the spiritual herb was freshly alive.

Thinking up to that point, Namgung Cheon felt as if he was blocked by a massive wall once again.

"It must be expensive…"

"It would be expensive."

By nature, spiritual herbs were expensive. High-quality ones required so much money that one could buy dozens of manors like this one and still have money left over.

Since he had resolved to cut ties with the Namgung Clan and was already considered a dead person, it was also impossible to ask the clan for help.

If so, he ultimately had to find a spiritual herb himself.

However, this was by no means an easy task. Even people who gathered spiritual herbs professionally said they were lucky if they found one once a year.

Thus, for Namgung Cheon, who knew nothing, to climb mountains and discover one in a few months truly required heavenly luck.

"If it is really difficult, requesting help from the Namgung Clan is also a way."

"Hahaha."

At Dan Woo-hyun's words, Namgung Cheon merely laughed it off.

He had no desire to make them spend a fortune just for an old man who was practically dying. Even if his internal energy returned, how much longer would he live?

Namgung Cheon would try to obtain a spiritual herb, but he did not want to obsess over it excessively. He did not cling to life with extreme regret either. He only wanted to laugh and enjoy himself with the people beside him until the moment he died.

"Oh, my aching bones."

Right then, Jang Sam-tae, who entered through the main gate of the manor, tapped his waist. After returning from Luoyang, he had watered the crops around the manor and caught bugs, which made his waist throb.

Then he looked at Namgung Cheon in the yard.

Dan So-mi was held in his arms, and her eyes were swollen as if she had burst into tears. The tear marks were clearly visible.

"No, why on earth are you making the child cry?"

"Haha, it just happened that way."

"Anyway, this is why people from the Murim Alliance are a problem. They either make a child cry or cause strange rumors to spread."

Namgung Cheon frowned. Although making the child cry was his fault, Jang Sam-tae's tone was somehow more cynical than usual.

As he set down Dan So-mi from his arms and was about to leave, Namgung Cheon suddenly became curious about Jang Sam-tae's words.

"What do you mean? Strange rumors?"

"You really do not know?"

"Well, am I not asking you what it is."

Sam-tae scratched his head vigorously and hesitated for a moment, wondering whether he should speak or not.

Of course, it could just be people gossiping, but since it was a rumor about a prestigious orthodox sect, and the Murim Alliance at that, his thoughts leaned toward letting Namgung Cheon know.

"Well, you know? The current Leader of the Murim Alliance, the Sword Saint…"

"Murong Hyuk-mun? What about him?"

"I heard he does not care about governing and is only interested in wielding his power. They say there are already over a hundred merchants who were blackmailed by the Murim Alliance into bringing them money."

"What nonsense!"

"Ah, did I not say it is a rumor? The Murong Clan is in high spirits, holding the real power of the Murim Alliance and shaking it. Furthermore, they say the groans of women never cease from the alliance leader's residence every night."

"Heh…"

Namgung Cheon froze on the spot with a shocked face.

It could simply be words spoken by jealous people. However, rumors raise doubts unless they are verified, and consequently drag down the trust of the Murim Alliance. If left like this, the position of the Murim Alliance would never head in a good direction.

Namgung Cheon sighed with a frown.

'What are you trying to do, friend?'