Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 480 (Part 1)



480 (Part 1)

**Chapter 481 – The Decayed**

The Heavenly Sovereign (天尊) had four children.

Three from his legitimate wife and one from a concubine making a total of four.

Among them the one appointed as Clan Head after the Heavenly Sovereign was the child of the concubine. He was also the youngest.

His name was Namgung Jeohwi.

Though not exceptionally talented his political acumen and ability to manipulate people were outstanding and he ultimately emerged victorious in the struggle for Clan Head.

It was likely the same for other prominent families.

However the Namgung Clan was particularly notorious for the brutality of its Clan Head succession battles and this time was no different.

When Namgung Jeohwi ascended as Clan Head the defeated brothers all met their demise.

This shocking event led the Heavenly Sovereign’s legitimate wife to take her own life as well.

Yet the Heavenly Sovereign was not particularly concerned.

The victor is the law. He was simply pleased that his child had become Clan Head.

That was the kind of person the Heavenly Sovereign was.

Whether the child was from his legitimate wife or a concubine he respected them if they had value. That was the Heavenly Sovereign’s will.

Thus Namgung Jeohwi rose to the position of Clan Head.

Later he had two children with his legitimate wife and one with his concubine.

Among them the second child born to his legitimate wife is the current Sword King Namgung Jin.

When Namgung Jin was set to become Clan Head after Namgung Jeohwi there was no one to oppose it.

Unlike the fierce competition that Namgung Jeohwi had faced Namgung Jin’s ascension to Clan Head was not particularly difficult.

The eldest had died in childhood due to illness.

The youngest was treated as a disgrace and was even a bastard child cast out by the Namgung Clan.

Thus it was only natural for the prodigy Namgung Jin to become the next Clan Head.

It was also not surprising that the Heavenly Sovereign and the Elders expressed no dissatisfaction.

That was until ‘that’ incident occurred.

The incident was that the divine beast Nohya chose a bloodline other than Namgung Jin’s.

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The Namgung Clan has a tradition passed down through generations.

The one chosen by the divine beast Nohya becomes the master of the Namgung Clan.

This was the last will of the Thunder Sword Namgung Myung left before his death.

It was a hope that it would become the will of the Namgung Clan.

However from the generation just above the Heavenly Sovereign that will had already crumbled.

They had become Clan Heads without being chosen by Nohya.

The Heavenly Sovereign was no different.

A time had come when no one even understood what it meant to be chosen by Nohya.

The Heavenly Sovereign had not thought deeply about it either.

Even without that one could become Clan Head and the Namgung Clan was flourishing even more.

As time slowly passed.

The incident finally erupted.

[Shit… you bastard…]

Inside a blood-stained warehouse.

A young man grabbed the collar of the bloodied Young Master Namgung Jin and glared at the Heavenly Sovereign.

[Yeah I’m not doing it because it’s fucking annoying. You bastards.]

With resentful eyes and a tightly clenched sword.

Hair stained with energy and the vibrating blade of the divine beast.

The Heavenly Sovereign realized late what he was witnessing.

That was the power possessed by Nohya.

And that was what it meant to be chosen by Nohya.

One.

[I’m leaving. This damn place. Don’t expect me to come back.]

The one chosen by Nohya was actually leaving the Namgung Clan and heading towards the Demonic Gate.

This day was one of the few regrets of the Heavenly Sovereign.

The first regret was not recognizing the child.

The second regret was not being able to stop the departing child.

The third regret was realizing too late that the clan was beginning to twist.

But by then it was already too late.

“So what do you want me to do?”

At the sound of the voice his head turned.

Where the Heavenly Sovereign’s gaze landed a beggar was gulping down water.

“Why do you keep following me around and making my life miserable?”

“Following you? That’s a strange thing to say.”

As the Heavenly Sovereign smiled and spoke the man clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Strange? What the hell? I’m trying to escape because I don’t want to see you and you keep following me. What else would you call that?”

“Brother.”

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When the Heavenly Sovereign called Namgung Hyung he grimaced in disgust.

“Don’t call me that. It’s annoying and grating to hear.”

“Isn’t it time for you to return to where you belong?”

Return to where?

At that bitter remark Namgung Hyung gulped down the remaining water in one go.

“Are you still clinging to that foolish sentiment?”

“You are a member of the Namgung Clan. Therefore you should return when the time comes.”

“Nonsense. Why would I be a member of the Namgung Clan?”

As if he had heard something he shouldn’t have Namgung Hyung vigorously dug at his ears with his hands.

“I left that behind a long time ago. I’m a disciple of the Wu Dang now.”

Namgung Hyung was glaring at the Heavenly Sovereign with disdain.

It was only natural.

On the day he fled the clan.

He had left behind not only his surname but everything.

The clothes he wore the surname he had received there.

He had never been treated well so even if he left there wasn’t much to miss.

Thinking this Namgung Hyung smirked inwardly.

One thing was wrong though.

He hadn’t been able to completely abandon everything and it was because of that one thing that the old man was bothering him.

Namgung Hyung pulled something from his pocket and threw it at the Heavenly Sovereign.

Thud.

The object that fell to the ground was a stick with a jewel embedded at the end.

It looked like a worthless trinket.

But this was definitely not just an ordinary antique.

Nohya (雷牙).

The divine beast of the Namgung Clan and a cursed object for Namgung Hyung.

“Your grandfather must have come for this. So hurry up and take it and get lost.”

“…”

The Heavenly Sovereign did not deny Namgung Hyung’s words.

He simply bent down and reached for Nohya.

Then.

Crackling—!

A tremendous energy burst forth from Nohya emitting a blinding light.

Immediately the Heavenly Sovereign withdrew his hand and stood up.

“…”

He examined his hand still warm from the heat.

It was pressure strong enough to momentarily shake the Heavenly Sovereign’s protective qi.

“Unfortunately it seems that Nohya’s will is still not aligned with yours.”

As the Heavenly Sovereign spoke with a smile.

Whoosh—!

The Nohya that had fallen to the ground suddenly began to float in the air and flew towards Namgung Hyung.

Namgung Hyung did not lift it with his own energy.

This was solely the will of Nohya.

Thud—!

Namgung Hyung’s face twisted as he lightly grasped the flying Nohya.

“This is getting tiresome. Can’t you just leave me alone already?”

“Nohya still seems to favor you.”

Favor? At the Heavenly Sovereign’s words Namgung Hyung burst into laughter.

The old man still knew nothing.

‘If he knew the nature of this object he wouldn’t say such things.’

No one knew.

Only he alone knew the true nature of Nohya.

If the Heavenly Sovereign had known this he would never have acted this way.

On the contrary because he didn’t know.

“Just go back. This is not where you belong.”

That was why he could say such things.

How many times had it been already?

He had run out with Nohya and lived alone yet the Heavenly Sovereign would occasionally come to torment him like this.