149 – S3. Learning From The Past -6
The Namgung family’s warriors surrounded and watched, as if to observe the situation. The word “demonic cult” was serious, so they decided to be cautious and observe the Taoist’s accusation first.
Namgungpae, who had already been wary of Envers since the carriage ambush incident, had his hand on his sword hilt, ready to subdue him as soon as concrete evidence emerged.
The Namgung siblings were stunned and speechless, frozen in place.
The words had already been spoken, so they had to be resolved now. No one knew how it would end, but it was clear that one of them would be expelled from the Namgung family or face worse consequences.
“Why are you making such false accusations…!”
“That bastard is a lackey of the demonic cult! There’s no doubt about it!”
Thus, this chaos became a quarrel between Taoists. A small courtroom had opened.
The guests who had gathered to celebrate the birthday of Namgung Chaekong, the head of the Namgung family, the townspeople who had come to get a bite to eat, the family’s warriors, and the guests all sat together.
All eyes were on the center. Envers was dizzy and confused by the sudden commotion. He was bewildered. Of course, he was bewildered by the endless accusations of being a demonic cult, but⋯⋯.
“Listen here, I will clearly state my reasons for suspecting the defendant, so listen carefully and make a judgment! As guests who are worthy of attending the Namgung family’s banquet, I believe you will make a wise decision!”
Envers, who had truly ‘fallen from the sky’ with no connections, had neither gratitude nor grudges in the turbulent world. All he had done with the Taoist was argue.
It made no sense to accuse someone of murder just because of that argument. Moreover, there was no reason to cause such a commotion at a celebration for the head of the family’s birthday.
Then why?
“…Then tell me, why do you accuse me of being a demonic cult!”
“Yes, listen carefully! First of all──”
Finding out the reason would be a major turning point in the story.
—- —-
The Taoist raised his voice as he spoke.
“First of all, about the Tagu Bongbeop. It must have been lost in the final battle of the Demon Suppression War! How did you get your hands on it?”
“…I somehow managed to get it.”
“Yes, I doubt that connection! It’s more plausible that a lackey of the demonic cult dug up a corpse and retrieved it, rather than you coincidentally obtaining it because the Tagu Bongbeop spread as far as the West.”
That’s absurd.
Envers tried to tell the truth, but he stopped when he realized that honestly explaining the other world and the Tower of Trials would make him sound like a madman.
If he told a story that was too far-fetched, they would think he was crazy.
Instead, he pointed out the flawed logic. It was strange to doubt something just because it was a coincidence, but it was even more suspicious to accuse him of being a demonic cult.
Aren’t there other evil organizations in the world besides the demonic cult?
Is it necessary for it to be the demonic cult?
“You’re being unreasonable! If you talk like that, the country will be able to come up with all sorts of reasons. Why are you linking me to the demonic cult in the first place?”
“That’s because you deceived the young master of the Namgung family and received his gratitude, and then you hid in the banquet!”
Namgungmyeong, who had been watching from the side, raised his voice and defended Envers.
“Don’t insult my benefactor! Taoist Cheonghwi saved me from the demonic cult’s ambush!”
“That could be a play!”
The Taoist folded his fan and pointed at Envers.
“In the forest, the young master of the Namgung family was ambushed by the demonic cult! And then this long-nosed Taoist appeared and chased them away. Why would those venomous bastards let their target go so easily?”
“That’s because Taoist Cheonghwi’s magic has reached a high level!”
“Or maybe the two of you are in cahoots and planned it from the beginning! I can also create smoke, but look. Do you think it makes sense that warriors would run away just because they’re afraid of some black smoke? Even the Notorious demonic cult?”
That was true. Even Envers thought it was a bit strange. The group that called themselves the demonic cult had given up more easily than he had expected.
They were numerous, and judging by the speed of their aerial techniques, they were not lacking in strength. They should have been able to get through the black smoke. That’s why Envers had been preparing to activate the Big Bang Scroll at the time.Envers spoke, dredging up his memories.
“…I saw those pursuers too. However, they were a bit strange. They called themselves the Demonic Sect, but as far as I know, the Demonic Sect calls itself the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
“…!!”
“I think it’s possible that they aren’t the Demonic Sect. Maybe some people are just using the Demonic Sect’s name to do evil. If that’s the case, then the harm directed at me would naturally be resolved?”
From Noble mtl dot com
If those pursuers aren’t the Demonic Sect, then the connection between Envers and the Demonic Sect is severed. In that case, they wouldn’t be able to make a fuss about the Tagu Bongbeop being obtained because of the Demonic Sect.
The Taoist priest said this:
“No, those guys must have been the Demonic Sect!”
“What’s your reasoning?”
“Because the Demonic Sect really hates the Namgung family! As you all know, the great hero Namgung So, the Sword Dragon of Namgung, has slain countless minions of the Demonic Sect! The Demonic Sect trembles at the name Namgung! “
“…?”
Envers looked back at Namgungmyung.
Male nodded with an anxious look in his eyes and added an explanation.
“Yes, my brother… found the remnants of the Demonic Sect hiding in Anhui Province and made great contributions several times! That’s why I thought that I was being targeted because of that grudge….”
So the Demonic Sect has really existed in Anhui Province.
Now he understood the vigilance of the Namgung family warriors. They had been wary of the Taoist priest’s groundless accusations and had surrounded Envers to protect him. At first, he had thought that it was because they were discriminating against him as a colored person⋯⋯ .
But if they weren’t a lost sect from 30 years ago, but people who were still causing trouble, and if they were in conflict with each other, then it made sense that they would be so sensitive.
This time, Namgung Seung-ah asked with a heated face what on earth they were doing to their benefactor.
Since he had been summoned by Namgung So, he had been patient, considering his reputation, but he was furious that they were hounding the benefactor who had helped Ming-i with incomprehensible harm.
“That’s really too much, Taoist priest! If you drive away the benefactor who helped Ming-i with such a quibble, how will the world see us? They’ll call us shameless people who repay kindness with enmity!”
“That’s…!”
The Taoist priest’s pupils trembled slightly. He seemed unable to understand why Namgung Seung-ah was defending Envers.
He seemed to think that Envers, who had inadvertently peeked into the training ground, would naturally have come into conflict with Namgung Seung-ah.
He must have thought that it would be easy to frame him since he had made such a bad impression.
Then the Taoist priest pricked up his ears. It was as if he was listening to someone. Then he suddenly said this.
“…In that case, show us your divine powers here. If you do, I’ll give up cleanly! You bastard! Summon a rain cloud to the ground!”
“What?”
“If what you say is true, and you’re really a Taoist priest with a high level of cultivation, then show us your Taoist techniques here! If you’re not from the Demonic Sect, then you’ll be clean and innocent, but if you’re from the Demonic Sect, then you’ll feel evil at a glance!”
The Taoist priest urged him to use that technique again.
However, he had already used the smoke screen scroll that Selvia had made, and all he had left was convenience magic like drying clothes and killing scrolls. He couldn’t just cast a killing spell here.
Envers said with a surge of energy.
“…There’s no reason to follow your words, and I can’t use that talisman anymore because I’ve already used it. The argument is flared from the start. Can you really hound people like this without evidence?”
“Evidence, he says!”
“…?”
The Taoist priest spread out his fan with a snap and lied.
“The minion of that Demonic Sect was staying in the room next to mine, and all sorts of horrible ghost noises came out at night! And the Demonic Sect’s martial arts are evil, so they’re like playing with ghosts!”
“Nonsense!”
“If this is all a misunderstanding, then I’ll kneel down. But I’m sure of it. If you search his luggage, you’ll know! You’ll find evidence!”
“…!!”
Was this a trap?
It seemed that he had been pressured with flimsy accusations in order to force him to have his luggage inspected. And with a high probability── they must have put something suspicious in Envers’ luggage in order to frame him.
Since he had been away from his room often, the Taoist priest, who had been in the next room, would have had plenty of time to do his dirty work.
Would he be able to clear his name?
If a strange book or symbol related to the Demonic Sect were to come out of Envers’ duffel bag, would they believe him if he claimed that it wasn’t his?Can I get out of here safely? If I have to be driven out with an unjust accusation, should I fight the Namgung siblings?
As Envers tried to organize his confused mind, he reached into his arms.
At that moment, a clear boy voice rang out in the hall.
“Cang Qiong Wu Ya!”
Namgung Ming stepped forward in front of the crowd.
“If I had to name one of our family’s sword techniques, everyone would say the Cang Qiong Wu Ya Sword Technique (蒼穹無会劍法). And its meaning is that the sky is vast and distant, and has no end.”
“……”
“As its name suggests, the sword of Cang Qiong Wu Ya is wielded boldly and widely. We do not simply follow the movements, but accept the vastness of the sky in our hearts and swing it! That is why the Namgung family’s tradition is clear and without shame!”
Swish!
The man showed off his swordsmanship with a single sword. Although it was immature, it was a refreshing swing that seemed to clear the mind. Namgung Ming showed the sword to everyone gathered there.
“I know that you can doubt it! You may worry that a passerby will stab you, that the ground will collapse, or that your benefactor is not your enemy. However!”
However.
“The heavens do not act in such a way. The heavens do not doubt and associate, and the price of generosity must be paid! Taoist Master Qinghui is my benefactor, so if you want to harm the Taoist Master, step on me and pass by!”
With such a dignified roar, the Namgung family’s servants opened their eyes wide.
Soon, they nodded their heads and smiled one by one. It was said that there had been frequent sinister incidents targeting the Namgung family recently, so how could they talk about Cang Qiong Wu Ya if they acted cowardly?
Namgung Pai, the head of security, also realized something.
He was supposed to doubt people and protect the Namgung family. That was his duty. However, if he were to be preoccupied with that purpose alone, he would lose the spirit of the heavens that made Namgung Namgung.
Namgung Pai said.
“It is true that the circumstances are coincidental and there are some suspicious parts about Taoist Master Qinghui, but… there seems to be a lot of sophistry in the Taoist Master’s words. I can’t tolerate any more fuss, so please leave the family.”
“No, no, this…”
The Taoist’s face turned pale.
Envers got up from his seat. He was bewildered by the sudden change in atmosphere, but he did not miss the moment to drive a wedge.
“I see you wanted to see Taoism, so I’ll show you.”
Saying that, the young Taoist priest took out a strange-looking talisman and cut it in half, and the skin of the swindling Taoist priest, who had been sweating profusely, dried up!
The warriors who had the eyes to grasp the change were greatly surprised and exclaimed.
“Is it, is it Samadhi Evolution? Are you saying that you released heat from that far away?”
“No, I didn’t feel any heat. It’s a mysterious technique that instantly collects sweat!”
Indeed, if one could handle such a difficult technique, even the Demonic Cult would have retreated. The people were greatly impressed and murmured. Those who had sided with the swindling Taoist priest were startled and shrugged their shoulders.
Thanks to the boldness of the young Namgung Ming, they had overcome the crisis that had almost made them resent the Taoist priest! They were almost to drive out the benefactor without recognizing him.
The swindling Taoist priest was greatly frightened and looked at Envers, then suddenly ran out of the front door.
Envers finished his work like that, but he was so surprised that he couldn’t keep up with the situation. He was accused of being a black magician. In that case, he should have been stripped down to his underwear and searched.
After being persuaded by a young man for a long time to give up his suspicions, was it a group hypnosis?
Envers couldn’t understand it at all, so he cleared his throat and asked Namgung Ming, whose shoulders were raised. The man was in a very good mood as if he had protected his benefactor.
“How did you do it? Why did the Namgung family’s servants change their attitude so quickly?”
As Namgung Ming opened his mouth slightly and tried to explain his thoughts in detail, a cheerful voice was heard from the side.
“That’s because it’s the Namgung family’s tradition. Ming’a, you’ve learned well! Your boldness and generosity are a gift to me, so you don’t have to prepare a birthday present.”
“…..?!”
Envers was startled by the sudden voice and jumped up, and a middle-aged man appeared next to him without a sound.
He was wearing a blue robe and had a stylish beard, and at first glance he seemed to be a man who enjoyed the wind and the moon. However, looking at his hands, which were deformed by calluses, and his two legs, which seemed to be so strong that they would not fall highly even in a storm.He had no choice but to know, even if he didn’t want to. He was a trained prosecutor.
“Father!”
It was Namgung Chaekong, the head of the Namgung Se family.
—- —-
After calming down the commotion, Namgung Chaekong led Envers to the reception room. He sat comfortably in a chair and spoke casually.
“Was it called the Explosive Scattering Formation? You used quite a flashy technique.”
“…!!”
The Explosive Scattering Formation was only used once in the duel with Namgung Seung-ah. There was no other time it was shown. In that case, it seemed like he had seen everything.
‘Is this actually a lie to tease me, Taoist Cheonghwi?!’
Even the fact that he had been staring at Namgung Seung-ah to practice his Eye of Insight…!
Envers broke out in a cold sweat.