Chapter: 122
Chuckle…
Hehehehe!
My head started to throb at the sound of laughter ringing in my ears. What was so funny that they could chuckle all day long? It was quite a sight.
“Could you please keep it down?”
Oh, what a delightful moment… In my entire lifetime, I can count such satisfying moments on five fingers.
“You’ve lived so long, and only five moments are that thrilling…?”
Hahaha!
I could no longer endure Elder Shin’s rambunctiousness, so I stepped out of the training area. The cool breeze blew outside, yet I couldn’t feel much of it due to the heat radiating off my body.
It had been a day since my duel with Namgung Jin. Did I cause quite the uproar, or was it just my significant mishap that caused the entire clan to be thrown into chaos?
Not only had I fought the head of the Namgung Clan, but the actual problem lay in the fact that he admitted defeat.
“Why did he suddenly…?”
If only I could have just taken what I wanted while still counting it as a loss! He could have maintained his lordly image as well. Now it kind of put me in a tricky situation.
One fortunate detail was that I didn’t mention using a sword.
Bringing the duel about was my doing, and although I may have been a tad excessive, Namgung Jin also acknowledged his mistake, so there shouldn’t be any major fallout between the clans now.
However, aside from that, there was another significant problem.
‘This is all Elder Shin’s fault…’
Look at you…? Just yesterday, I lent you a helping hand, and now you’re blaming others?
‘If you’re going to help, at least do it properly until the end…!’
A disciple. A freaking disciple, for crying out loud!
I told the exalted lord of the Namgung Clan that he should be my disciple!
And after saying such an absurd phrase to a man so steeped in arrogance and pride… my head was pounding.
It only got worse when I gazed at the man leaning against a tree, his eyes closed.
He spoke to me.
“You’ve arrived.”
“…How long have you been waiting?”
“Not long.”
The Azure Heavenly Sword, Namgung Jin, was leaning against the tree, patiently awaiting my arrival. This was the first time seeing him since they had dragged him away halfway yesterday.
“Are you alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your body.”
“I’m fine. Nothing’s broken.”
It might have been a duel with real swords, but both Namgung Jin and I were unharmed. Elder Shin didn’t swing his sword with the intent to kill, and Namgung Jin’s blade didn’t even touch me.
Namgung Jin continued to gaze silently at me. I couldn’t decipher the look on his face, but it was name-brand pressure, particularly coming from someone so similar to Namgung Cheonjun.
“I made sure there would be no trouble for you, Young Lord.”
“…”
“What’s wrong?”
It was the change in how he addressed me that bothered me. The title itself and even the way he was speaking was alien. Young Lord… Just yesterday, he was calling me brat, punk, and whatever else.
“If you don’t like that title, I can call you Master instead.”
“No.”
Hehehehe…!
Upon my resolute refusal, Namgung Jin pressed on.
“I don’t believe you meant that sincerely.”
“Of course not. It was insincere.”
Why do you disregard my sincerity? I was being sincere, you know!
I ignored Elder Shin’s comment. My mind was overwhelmed with thoughts about how to fix this mess.
The reason I wielded a sword against him was that I had a rationale to back it up. Not only was Qi forbidden, but my physical state had reached the peak realm, and the Gu Clan was renowned for combining fist and sword techniques in combat.
I was able to achieve victory thanks to my talent; would that provide a convincing excuse? It wasn’t as if he could counter that even if he sensed something was off.
In the end, I had no good explanation for my use of Namgung Clan’s sword technique. It was, logically speaking, unexplainable.
Neither was I a hidden lovechild of the Namgung Clan nor a secret disciple trained there.
‘How could you expect me to handle such a situation…’
You left me with work to do, remember?
‘Ugh…’
I faced Namgung Jin’s gaze. The rage he held yesterday was nowhere to be seen—his eyes were calm, as serene as a tranquil lake.
After a brief silence, Namgung Jin spoke again.
“I haven’t made this incident public yet.”
That sounded cold.
“I’m not threatening you, as I’m not in a position to do so. I’ll accept that I lost our wager since my daughter is already set to marry you.”
It didn’t seem like he had any underhanded motives. But did he ever consider Namgung Bi-ah’s feelings in this? It felt odd hearing him decide his daughter’s fate without her input.
In the end, I did get what I wanted, but the unease still lingered.
“As I mentioned yesterday, I will fulfill any request you have. If you need something from me, or if you wish for me to kneel, just say the word. I will gladly do anything to be recognized as your disciple.”
‘How can he so casually say those frightening and uncomfortable words?’
“What does it mean for you to do this much?”
“What does it mean? How ridiculous. Young Lord, do you truly not know what you were employing yesterday?”
I was aware. I knew the value of the blade Elder Shin had showcased. Namgung Jin would have surely comprehended it better.
Now I questioned if it genuinely held that much significance to him to act this way.
“It’s something I need now more than anything else.”
To Namgung Jin, he might see it as the last piece of enlightenment he requires to ascend to a higher level, or perhaps he was just mesmerized by the swordplay.
An esteemed martial art is like poison for a martial artist. If they were to fall into addiction, escaping it would be nigh impossible.
The main issue, though, was that I had no means to pass on what he desperately sought.
‘I displayed the technique, but now I can’t teach it to him? What kind of twisted logic is that?’
If I merely claimed, “I’m actually not well-versed in it myself…”
‘There’s no way he’d buy that.’
Yeah, he wouldn’t believe that.
‘…’
I halted my thoughts, distracted by Elder Shin’s chuckle that interlaced with his laughter. Suddenly a thought struck me, and I posed the question to Namgung Jin.
“Aren’t you curious how I can utilize the sword art of the Namgung Clan?”
This was a crucial query. Despite its importance, Namgung Jin never asked despite it being the first thought that sprang forth.
Wasn’t that odd? As much as he was enchanted by the sword art, the most crucial question didn’t cross his mind.
Namgung Jin gave me a peculiar look upon hearing my inquiry.
“Must I inquire?”
“Huh?”
“The Young Lord must be one of them. Is it something I should question?”
‘Them?’
‘Who is he referring to?’
Namgung Jin’s words were unexpected. It wasn’t as if I knew nothing about our world, so he caught me off guard.
Could he be talking about the Black Palace? But that didn’t feel right. That name shouldn’t be familiar to many at this point.
So who were the ‘them’ that Namgung Jin was referencing? Who were they that he dismissively brushed it off?
Noticing my silence, Namgung Jin furrowed his brow.
“Young Lord…?”
“Indeed. I just didn’t think the head of the Namgung Clan would be aware.”
As Namgung Jin was about to delve deeper into questioning me, I confidently lied. After all, if I denied it, I wouldn’t have anything else to lean on.
How can you be so shameless…
‘This entire mess is your fault, so don’t say a word.’
Are you sure it’s fine for you to do this?
‘No, it’s not fine, and this is all your doing.’
You simply don’t give a thought to the messes you make and choose to blame me for it. Truly, a rotten piece of work you are.
The head of the Namgung Clan was this close to becoming my disciple, so I needed to take action.
I didn’t know who he meant by that ‘them,’ but at least their existence was helping me persuade him.
A group that would make it entirely reasonable for a blood descendant of the Gu Clan, like me, to understand the sword art of the Namgung Clan.
‘What did he mean by that?’
Considering that, I truly had no group that sprang to mind. The Black Palace alone was overwhelming; now I had to think of another group? And you tell me that such a far-fetched group exists?
‘I can’t recall anything like that either.’
At this juncture, it could either refer to an unknown organization, or perhaps it was merely Namgung Jin’s master scheme.
My mind was racing with too many thoughts. As I was caught in this web of complexity, Namgung Jin spoke again.
“You even revealed your true identity to give me a lesson, so I assumed you had a desire you wish to fulfill.”
“Yes… Of course.”
There was no chance Elder Shin had done this for personal gain. Even if he had motives, he wouldn’t have consulted Namgung Jin.
This is getting interesting.
‘Do you find this amusing?’
My mind felt like it was about to combust from confusion regarding the situation’s origin, while Elder Shin continued to cackle as if enjoying it. What group was Namgung Jin considering?
“Before we dive in, I need to discuss what transpired yesterday with my servants.”
“What about it?”
“Yesterday, I heard that one of the Young Lord’s servants was attacked by mine and now lies in a hospital bed.”
“…Correct.”
One of my servants mentioned a name—Beehee. Even upon hearing it, the name didn’t evoked any memories, as I had no relationship with her till now.
However, I still remembered the way she looked at me during our last encounter.
“And because of that, you made my servants half-dead.”
“I don’t feel you are trying to pin the blame on me, so do keep talking.”
“Of course, I’m not blaming you. This is an important matter; while the Namgung Clan holds significant prestige, it doesn’t grant anyone the right to mistreat a servant from another clan like that.”
Yeah, that was why it was utterly absurd and utterly unfathomable.
The Gu Clan was not someone to be looked down upon, especially not in a place where a marriage agreement was at stake. For them to treat my servant like this? It was downright illogical.
There was no conceivable reason for such behavior other than they viewed us as lesser beings, like ants.
As I reached that conclusion, Namgung Jin spoke.
“None of us were responsible for that.”
“…What?”
“Including myself, I declare that no one from Namgung was involved in what happened yesterday.”
He came to learn under me, yet he chose to lie rather than apologize? My anger swelled, threatening to burst out of my chest.
“Then are you implying that what I encountered yesterday were apparitions?”
I recalled the man I confronted before the guesthouse. My instincts kicked in as I felt something strange about my servant’s disappearance leading me to find her collapsed on the floor.
Namgung Jin then asked, “So I’m inquiring of you. Who was that man?”
“What on earth are you talking about…?”
“I’m saying that the person you encountered was not one of our men. They were not involved in your servant’s situation either. Our escort had no clue about who that individual was.”
At his confession, I could only look back at Namgung Jin in disbelief, my eyes wide with bewilderment.
“Are you seriously asking me to believe something so outrageous?”
“To be accepted into the Namgung Clan, one must first receive a lock spell for proper order. If you wish, I can summon my attendants for confirmation. If you cannot believe me, sure I have plenty of means to ensure proof that isn’t lacking.”
Namgung Jin didn’t seem to be lying based on his expression or demeanor, but that didn’t clear my skepticism.
The man who had blocked me at the gate—I twisted his arm, shattered ribs, and knocked him unconscious with a single hit to the jaw.
Since I had engaged physically, I could sense his Qi.
Face. What did his face look like again?
It was vague, despite the brief encounter. There was no way I should forget something like that.
“I had already informed Lord Gu about this, however I came seeking additional clarification. I may need to send a letter summarizing the incident as well.”
“And what did your servants propose?”
“They said they had no idea who it was, as if their memories were collectively wiped.”
I audibly swallowed, as no matter how much I pondered, it was an explanation that made no sense.
If Namgung Jin were indeed right, then whether he became my disciple or not was just a minor detail compared to my real predicament.
“…We should wait for your servant to regain consciousness first—”
Namgung Jin attempted to speak further, but I stepped away, ignoring the remainder of what he had to say.
Where are you heading? It seems he has more to convey.
‘I need to see my father.’
The complications with everyone’s memories; the foggy visage I couldn’t remember; Namgung Jin’s claims kept sending chills down my spine as if some significant event was unfolding right beneath me.
There’s no way…
All of these clues pointed towards ‘him’, but that shouldn’t be the case.
He was supposed to remain locked away beneath the Gu Clan’s grounds.
Crack crack.
The sound of bones being broken echoed throughout the room. The man massaged his oddly contorted arm, trying to rewrite it into its original state.
Crack!
“What an interesting kid, to think I’d end up like this. Did you know he broke my ribs?”
The man spoke toward the darkness. He presumed there was nobody around, yet an answer echoed back.
“You could have certainly fled; instead, you chose a needless path.”
“Flee? You make it sound easy, old man. How do you imagine I could simply leave when facing the Namgung Clan?”
“That part held to our agreement; you are expected to hold up your end.”
“Unbelievable…”
He tossed a book into the darkness.
“I wrote it exactly as you desired. Is this satisfactory?”
“Set that aside, what about your secondary mission?”
“Why ask when you likely already know? It failed due to an interference.”
“You refer to the one who left you in that pathetic state?”
“I couldn’t avoid or defend myself; if I tried, I would have been uncovered immediately. It would have been far simpler to just kill him and bury him underground…”
“Enough of the nonsense. Failure is acceptable; it wasn’t a pivotal task anyway.”
Had he acted not merely as a servant, but as a martial artist, events might have played out differently. The man found it challenging to comprehend the old man’s words.
The elderly man responded, “You’ve outgrown that face. You needn’t stay in the Namgung Clan any longer. Depart.”
“I did grow attached here; such a pity.”
With a hint of disappointment in his voice, the man’s facial muscles began to contort abnormally.
Twist…
Transforming from the face of a middle-aged man into that of an elderly person, then to a middle-aged woman, and finally to the boy’s visage.
Now as a child, the individual asked the old man, “Can I take a rest now?”
Though the tone was unchanged, his voice had completely transitioned into someone else.
“Next, turn your attention to Shaolin.”
“You’ve got to be kidding! You’re not allowing me even a brief respite?”
“If you wish to regain your freedom swiftly, simply follow my orders.”
“Goddamn… Fine. What should I do?”
The elderly man calmly replied to the boy’s sharp words, “As always, your theft target remains unchanged. Winter’s end serves as your deadline. That should suffice, correct?”
“You’re dishing out tight time frames. Do you know what I’ll do once I’m free?”
“I’ve heard it more than a hundred times; you’d claim you’d kill me.”
“Absolutely right. Just you wait.”
“I shall await news of your success at Shaolin.”
After the elderly man’s statement, silence hung in the air as the boy vanished.
This was an occurrence the old man had become accustomed to, hence he paid it no mind.
His focus shifted to the letter in his grasp. Its contents were intriguing—information related to his recent failure.
At the letter’s bottom, a name was inscribed—Gu Changjun—the seal indicating it was sent by him.
The old man slowly read through the letter, and near the conclusion, he decisively stamping it.
Thus, the request was accepted.
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