Chapter 08
Namgung Hyuk kept his eyes open and carefully observed the movements of the men in black.
Had they trained together in advance?
Their coordination was precise and seamless. It was as if they moved as a single body.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
But it was useless against Namgung Hyuk.
He swung his sword three times, deflecting all incoming attacks.
The black-clad men froze for a moment.
They had not expected their coordinated assault to be blocked so easily.
“Is that all you’ve got?”
Namgung Hyuk scoffed and unleashed the first form of the Sacred Flame Limitless Sword.
Flame Dragon Piercing the Heavens (炎龍破天).
At the tip of his sword, terrifying sacred flame energy condensed and took the form of a blazing fire dragon.
In an instant, the black-clad men saw the dragon open its massive jaws and rush toward them.
Thud!
“Uwaaaagh!”
The attack was too fast and too powerful to block. One of the men was struck directly.
Whoosh!
Flames erupted from the wound, instantly engulfing his entire body.
The remaining two froze in place, staring in disbelief.
One move.
Just one move, and their comrade had fallen. That alone proved their opponent was no ordinary warrior.
“Damn it! Retreat!”
They immediately fled in opposite directions.
Namgung Hyuk stepped forward using his movement technique toward the one closest to him.
The black-clad man, startled by the sudden closing distance, swung his sword.
Clang!
But the strike was effortlessly deflected.
With a blank expression, Namgung Hyuk swung his burning sword.
The blocked attacker was sent flying, rolling across the ground.
“You… monster…”
“Who sent you?”
Namgung Hyuk’s voice was cold.
There was no way such coordinated attackers had no backing.
Someone had clearly ordered them.
“That’s none of your concern!”
The black-clad man suddenly grabbed dirt from the ground and threw it.
Namgung Hyuk did not flinch. He formed a blade wind, scattering the dirt back at him.
“Ugh!”
The man screamed as the dust blinded him.
Namgung Hyuk struck his right shoulder.
Slash!
“Aaaagh!”
The arm holding the sword was severed, and he collapsed in agony.
Namgung Hyuk sealed his pressure points, intending to capture him, then immediately chased the escaping man.
But the second assassin had already vanished without a trace.
The other side…
Namgung Hyuk expanded his senses across the entire Gold Crow Trading Company.
From distant shouts, it seemed the assassin targeting Geum Won-tae had already been repelled.
On the opposite side, the sound of weapons clashing continued.
It seemed the attackers targeting Geum Won-tae’s younger sister had clashed with So Yeon and Jeon Wook.
No need for reinforcements.
Just as his subordinates trusted him, Namgung Hyuk trusted them as well.
And with one assassin still missing, there was no telling when they might attempt to burn the warehouse.
So he stayed where he was.
He stood silently, waiting for dawn.
About an hour later—
“What… what is this?!”
The Gold Crow martial artists who had returned after chasing off attackers discovered the scene late.
They froze in shock at the battlefield before the warehouse.
“What happened here?”
“There was an intruder trying to set fire to the warehouse. I stopped him. The same likely happened on the young lady’s side as well.”
Namgung Hyuk spoke calmly and sent them off.
Soon, the entire Gold Crow Trading Company began moving in a panic.
The mission had ended.
* * *
The leadership of the Gold Crow Trading Company was thrown into chaos.
It was revealed that the attack had been a diversion.
Not only had they targeted Geum Won-tae, but they had used him as bait to strike the warehouse and Geum So-hyang, the daughter of the company head.
It was an outcome they had never anticipated. Had things gone wrong, the entire trading company could have been ruined, and even the family line of the company head kidnapped.
But…
The Gold Crow Trading Company had survived the crisis.
All thanks to Namgung Hyuk of the Namgung Family.
Because he had anticipated the situation and deployed forces in advance, they suffered no damage at all.
Company Head’s Office
“Thank you sincerely, Young Master Namgung.”
Geum Tae-sang, the company head, respectfully clasped his hands in gratitude.
“If not for you, this would have been a disaster. The warehouse would have burned, and my daughter would have been kidnapped. You saved everything.”
“I only prepared for the possibility.”
Namgung Hyuk replied calmly.
“How is your daughter? I heard she was the real target.”
“She was shaken, but she is fine now. Your companions also performed excellently.”
According to reports, three black-clad assassins had attacked her side as well—but So Yeon and Jeon Wook had eliminated them.
Namgung Hyuk nodded. In the end, everything had been resolved cleanly.
“Have you discovered who is behind this?”
“Not yet. The captured assassin refuses to speak…”
“I see.”
Namgung Hyuk knew many methods to make someone talk.
But he saw no need to show off such skills here.
He was merely a hired escort. His job was protection—not investigation.
The rest was up to the trading company.
Still… a small hint should be fine.
“Think carefully about who benefits most if your daughter is kidnapped and the warehouse is burned. That is likely your culprit.”
“…!”
Geum Tae-sang’s eyes sharpened instantly.
A man who ran such a large organization understood exactly what that implied.
“I see… I think I have a rough idea now. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. You would have realized it soon enough.”
“Now then, we must discuss your reward. Considering your contribution, the original payment is not enough. I would like to add this.”
He gestured, and a subordinate brought a small box.
Namgung Hyuk’s eyes lit up when he saw what was inside.
“Medicinal pills.”
“Yes. They are called So-cheongdan. Each one grants about three years of internal energy.”
“You’re giving this many?”
There were as many pills as the number of Namgung Family members involved.
Even if each only granted three years of cultivation, they were still valuable elixirs.
This was no small burden even for a major trading company.
Geum Tae-sang shook his head.
“It is fine. Without you, they would have all been destroyed in the fire anyway.”
“So the warehouse was filled with medicinal supplies.”
“Yes. We primarily deal in herbs and medicine.”
He smiled faintly.
“And if we can form a connection with a young hero like you, this is a small price to pay.”
“I appreciate your words.”
“I am sincere. I see in you a heroic spirit rarely seen among the younger generation. As a mere merchant, investing in someone destined for greatness is only natural.”
Namgung Hyuk smiled lightly in response.
He wants to build ties not just with me, but with the Namgung Family as well.
Without the Namgung Family’s backing, he would never have received such a reward.
That was simply how the world worked.
Still—
It works in my favor.
He accepted the box without hesitation.
“I gratefully accept. However, since danger may not be completely gone, I will remain here a few more days as escort.”
“Of course! That would be a great help.”
“Then I look forward to your cooperation.”
Namgung Hyuk stood and left.
But before returning, he still had something to do.
* * *
He gathered everyone who participated in the operation.
Ho Yeong, So Yeon, Jeon Wook, Namgung Pyo, and the Heavenly Sky Unit.
They all looked at him with bright expressions, already aware the mission had succeeded.
“What’s going on, boss? Why gather us all?”
“It’s nothing serious. I just have something to give you.”
“Something to give us?”
“Look.”
Click.
He opened the box.
Inside were the So-cheongdan pills.
Their eyes widened instantly.
Everyone recognized it immediately as an elixir from its scent and appearance.
“This is So-cheongdan. One pill grants three years of internal energy.”
“You… we received this as reward?”
“Yes. And I intend to give one to each of you.”
“…!”
Shock spread across Namgung Pyo and the Heavenly Sky Unit.
Give them away?
Such precious elixirs?
Even if he had kept them all, no one would have questioned it.
After all, they were politically opposed factions.
But instead, he was sharing them?
Namgung Pyo asked hesitantly.
“Why… give something like this to us?”
“Is it strange to reward those who worked together on the same mission?”
“…!”
They froze.
His words were undeniably correct.
He continued:
“If you bring this back to the family, it will likely be confiscated as a ‘family reward.’ You would lose it after all your effort. I do not want that. If those who worked on the mission don’t receive direct rewards, who would work properly?”
“You mean…”
“Extend the mission a few more days and continue escort duty. Distribute the pills in turns. As for the family, I will take responsibility for any criticism.”
With that, he took his share and turned away.
The others followed, smiling as they took theirs as well.
Namgung Pyo and the Heavenly Sky Unit stood frozen.
They had originally come to monitor Namgung Hyuk…
But now, they no longer felt that way.
To them, Namgung Hyuk looked more like a true leader than Namgung Jangcheon ever did.
And without realizing it—
Their respect for him had begun to grow.
