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00332  Celestial Realm ————————————————————————=

“What did you say?”

Mangnyang bellowed, aiming the Seven Fires, Seven Golds Line at them.

“Jin So-cheong showed great mercy that day! You all could have lost your lives and been utterly exterminated, but she only punished those who caused harm. So what you needed to do was appoint a new clan leader and simply change your name. Yes, the status of the Five Great Families would inevitably be stripped, but at least you could have avoided being scorned in Anhui Province’s martial arts circles.”

“……”

“Despite my numerous warnings, you merely moved your base and proudly held onto being the Namgung Clan… You must be some delusional fools who can’t grasp reality, or you simply underestimated Jin So-cheong. Continuing the infamous legacy of the Namgung Clan was your choice.”

“W-well…”

“If you want, I could wipe out your entire clan this very day.”

At this cold ultimatum, the experts of the Namgung Clan went silent, realizing Mangnyang’s words weren’t mere threats but sincere intent. Just as Mangnyang was about to press further, Jin So-cheong waved her hand.

“Mangnyang. That’s enough. They’ve understood.”

“Hmm…”

“Even though it’s come to this, you’ve finally realized. All your paths to seek external help are completely cut off. Yong Junil will surely try to eradicate you more thoroughly now that he’s involved.”

“……”

“Once the Wind Spirit Sect commits, even the peak Namgung Clan would struggle, and right now, there’s no way out.”

One expert from the Namgung Clan spoke as if resigned.

“What do you want us to do?”

“Tell me what transaction you were about to engage in and who the Namgung Clan was trying to connect with. If you share that, I’ll assist you in making a fresh start.”

“A fresh start…?”

“I mean to change your name and start over from scratch, just as Mangnyang said.”

The two Namgung experts exchanged glances, grimacing in agony before finally speaking.

“If we tell you that, can you ensure our families remain unharmed?”

Jin So-cheong replied firmly.

“Of course. I will make sure neither the Wind Spirit Sect nor any other martial arts forces lay a finger on you.”

“Understood…”

Eventually, they divulged all they knew about the transaction.

The deal was about the Namgung Clan bringing out their family treasures as a last resort to trade with the Wind Spirit Sect. They believed that with the Wind Spirit Sect’s martial arts being formidable, acquiring it would shake off surrounding interference and allow them to rise again. Thus, they had gotten in touch with Yong Junil, the representative of the Wind Spirit Sect, and planned to meet near the Yangtze River.

Hearing the conversation, Mangnyang asked, “Where’s that treasure?”

“In the possession of the Lord of Heavenly Sky.”

“Lord of Heavenly Sky?”

At Mangnyang’s question, he silently pointed to a corpse—the one who fell first, killed by Yong Junil’s shadow technique. He was likely the leader of the Namgung Clan’s strongest martial group, the Heavenly Sky Team.

‘No wonder everyone here seems to have formidable martial arts.’

The five experts from the Namgung Clan present were indeed among the most skilled right after the elders. Therefore, the average martial arts level had to be high. But having already lost three here, their future looked bleak.

With a gesture from Mangnyang, I began searching the Lord of Heavenly Sky’s body. I needed to acquire the treasure personally. To my surprise, I found a large fishing hook wrapped in silver cloth deep inside.

“A fishing hook?”

It was white.

I tilted my head, fiddling with the white fishing hook. It wasn’t made of anything special, just wooden, with the unique feature of being studded with glimmering white gems.

“What kind of treasure is this?”

“…We’re not quite sure either.”

“Hmmm. Could it be that Yong Junil didn’t know you had brought the treasures?”

If he did, he would have killed them after learning the treasure’s purpose. The Namgung expert responded with a grim expression.

“That’s likely. The Lord had intended to discern his true intentions before mentioning the trading conditions for the secret techniques…”

Looking at Jin So-cheong, he nodded in agreement, confirming their suspicions matched what she had sensed through her unique divination techniques. Mangnyang let out a bitter smile.

“You tried some trickery and got burned. Since you didn’t mention it, Yong Junil likely decided to kill before getting the info.”

Muttering like that, Mangnyang turned to me and Jin So-cheong.

“Plans just shifted suddenly. Since we’re at it, let’s go negotiate with the Namgung Clan.”

We immediately utilized the Golden Lamp technique to transport ourselves to the Namgung Clan. Upon arriving, we urged the two experts to change their name and make a fresh start, threatening to kill them immediately if they resisted. The remaining members of the Namgung Clan looked like they had no choice but to comply; after all, survival was paramount.

Namgung Min spoke as if resigned.

“Are the clan leader and the young master dead?”

“They’re not dead yet. However, you will never see them again.”

“……”

She sobbed as she spoke, “Please return the corpses. Even though they were the worst of people, must they be subjected to humiliation after death?”

Jin So-cheong and I felt a twinge of sympathy. The Sword King Namgung Myeong and Namgung Hwan lay in a half-dead state within my wooden armor, ready to be killed at any moment. Yet hearing such words in person made our hearts waver.

Then, Mangnyang, with a chilling demeanor, made a threat.

“I’m sorry, but that can’t happen. They must be punished for their crimes.”

“What kind of punishment are you proposing?”

“I’ll strip them of their martial arts skills before tearing them apart and skinning them. As for the victims, they will chew on their body parts and burn them.”

“Gah!”

Namgung Min gasped, her eyes wide, but Mangnyang continued calmly.

“Only after such a Thousand Kills Slash would it offer the slightest consolation to those who suffered at the hands of the sex slaves.”

“Ugh… Huhuh…”

Not just Namgung Min, but all those from the Namgung Clan collapsed in despair, weeping uncontrollably. It wasn’t just one or two who sobbed with tears streaming down their faces. Over a single night, their once-respected clan leader and young master had found themselves victims of a Thousand Kills Slash. For them, who were completely unaware, this was bewildering. Yet, Mangnyang remained unmoved.

“You might feel wronged. But the fact that you couldn’t notice your clan leaders committing inhumane acts for years is your fault. No one could have been blind to the abductions and imprisonments of hundreds of women by your clan leader and the young master! Someone might have known, but just turned a blind eye since it wasn’t their issue.”

“……”

I could sense a few in the crowd flinching. Mangnyang said coldly.

“Baek Woong. Let’s go.”

We returned to the Shadowless Gate and informed the Sword Demon of the plan’s changes. The Sword Demon didn’t care, as the Namgung Clan’s downfall was inevitable. After that, I retrieved both Namgung Myeong and Namgung Hwan from Jinrang Valley. I personally stamped on their Dantian to strip away their martial arts.

Thud! Thud!

“Ugh…”

“Gah…”

The father and son writhed in pain on the ground, but no one looked at them with compassion. Not me, not Mangnyang, nor Jin So-cheong. I took a deep breath and infused my energy to clear the mind of Sword King Namgung Myeong.

As clarity slowly returned to his gaze, I asked, “Namgung Myeong, what’s this fishing hook?”

“Wha… who are you…?”

Namgung Myeong seemed dazed. Understandably so, time didn’t pass much inside the wooden armor, leaving him with only the memory of being beaten by Jin So-cheong in the Namgung Clan. I replied, “The Namgung Clan has been exterminated.”

“……!!”

Horrified, he took in my words as I calmly recounted what had transpired. Namgung Myeong thrashed on the floor, trembling as he screamed.

“You bastard!! I won’t forgive you!!”

“Not forgiving me, huh?”

“Awawawawa!!”

Namgung Myeong tried to leap at me, but he staggered as soon as he sensed something was wrong with his body. Realizing his Dantian was shattered and his internal power gone, his expression morphed into one of despair. I looked at Namgung Myeong, his face now pale, and said, “This isn’t the time for such proclamations. If you want a peaceful death, it’s best to answer my questions willingly.”

“What… what grudge do you hold against me to do such atrocious things?!”

“Atrocious things? You and your offspring have been kidnapping and violating women!”

“Ugh…”

“This is your last warning. If you don’t answer my questions truthfully, you and your children will die the most excruciating death possible.”

Namgung Myeong seemed to read the sincerity in my eyes, hesitating. Finally, stutteringly, he said, “Will you spare me if I talk?”

“I might spare you. Your child’s life depends entirely on your answers.”

“……”

Namgung Myeong gritted his teeth, finding no options left, and eventually bowed his head.

“I’ll say anything. I’d rather die than see my child harmed.”

“Ha ha.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

‘Even a scumbag like this cares for his child.’

It wasn’t surprising; I’d seen how the village chief cherished Kim Manje. They wouldn’t even treat the abducted women as human, but they’d do anything to protect their blood relatives. Instead of admiration, a wave of disgust rose within me.

“Alright, then.”

I picked up the white fishing hook with my fingers and asked Namgung Myeong, “What is this fishing hook? You brought it out, claiming it to be your clan’s treasure.”

“Th-that’s…”

“Spit it out.”

Namgung Myeong hesitated before finally saying, “It’s a relic left by the first clan leader.”

“A relic? What kind of relic?”

“It’s said to exist since before the Xia Dynasty, but I don’t know the details.”

“It must possess some unusual ability or functionality, or else you wouldn’t treasure it so much.”

“……”

“Tell me what abilities this fishing hook possesses.”

Namgung Myeong looked hesitant. It seemed this fishing hook held greater value than expected. I promptly drew my sword and held it to the neck of Namgung Hwan, who lay bleeding on the ground.

“Speak before I count to three. One, two…”

“It’s called the Suspicious Fishhook!!”

Desperate to save his child, Namgung Myeong yelled. His face was as pale as the white fishing hook as he elaborated.

“The Suspicious Fishhook’s abilities are Purification and Thousand Miles Communication.”

“Thousand Miles Communication?”

We looked at Namgung Myeong in shock, especially Mangnyang, whose expression showed substantial impact.

“Could it be…”

With the blade still at Namgung Hwan’s throat, Namgung Myeong shouted.

“Get that knife away from my son’s neck! Please!”

“Fine. But only if you explain what Purification and Thousand Miles Communication are.”

Veins bulged on Namgung Myeong’s neck.

“Anything touched by the Suspicious Fishhook will be purified. Of course, it can remove poisons and even parasites or contaminants in an instant.”

“Any poison can be purified?”

“Of course.”

“Even if it’s from the Four Talents Sect?”

Namgung Myeong nodded.

“There are records from my clan indicating it even neutralized the poison from a thousand-year-old Great Demon. Though we’ve never tried the antidote, I believe it’s possible.”

“Hmm…”

I pretended to relax the blade for a moment before turning it back toward Namgung Hwan’s neck. That was a silent pressure for him to explain about Thousand Miles Communication. Grinding his teeth in frustration, Namgung Myeong eventually relented and spoke again.

“And if you possess the Suspicious Fishhook, you can convey your will to anyone.”

“Just convey your will?”

“No. You can also hear their responses.”

“……!!”

I finally understood why Mangnyang was so astonished a moment ago.

The capability of free bilateral communication over thousands of miles with the Thousand Miles Communication! Now I realized that no peerless master could replicate such performance. Moreover, it confirmed that the Namgung Clan’s sustained wealth and reputation over the years wasn’t merely due to luck.

“The usage method…”

Namgung Myeong spent a while explaining the mechanics of the Suspicious Fishhook’s abilities. Once he finished, I finally withdrew the blade from Namgung Hwan’s neck.

Mangnyang, who had been listening next to us, suggested, “Let’s give it a try.”

“How?”

“Take me to the Southern Continent.”

“Understood.”

Pa-at!

I used the Golden Lamp technique to transport Mangnyang to the shore of the Southern Continent. Then, I returned to Jinrang Valley and sent my will through the Suspicious Fishhook.

[ Mangnyang, can you hear me?]

They said if you visualize the receiving person and transmit your will, they would hear you. Just moments later, Mangnyang’s response echoed in my mind.

[ I hear you.]

[ How impressive.]

I brought Mangnyang back to the Central Plains’ Jinrang Valley. Then I looked at the Suspicious Fishhook anew.

The distance from here to the Southern Continent was at least thousands of miles. It could even exceed ten thousand. And yet, I communicated with Mangnyang as if having a conversation right next to him. I realized I hadn’t encountered a tool with such outstanding capabilities as the Suspicious Fishhook in my adventures.

Mangnyang said, “Baek Woong, this isn’t a magic artifact.”

“Eh? Not a magic artifact?”

I thought the Suspicious Fishhook was a clear-cut magic artifact, created through sorcery with immense power, much like my wooden armor or Golden Lamp techniques. Yet Mangnyang shook his head.

“There are records in ancient texts. King Shun went to a place where farmers were quarrelling over disputes, and after working the fields, one year later, the furrows were even. Fishermen by the Yellow River were fighting over fishing spots, and after King Shun fished there, one year later, they yielded their spots to Shun. The pottery made by the Eastern Barbarians was of poor quality, but after King Shun crafted pots, they improved within a year.”

“……?”

Listening to that made me tilt my head, completely baffled. After a moment, I grasped the meaning behind it and exclaimed in surprise.

“C-could it be…?”

“Exactly.”

Mangnyang, holding the Suspicious Fishhook with an admiring look in his eyes, continued.

“It is a fishing hook used personally by King Shun. Much like the National Seal in the Imperial Palace, this is a legendary treasure created and utilized by the peerless figure of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, King Shun!!”

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