Chapter 598: Side Story 98

Chapter side_98

About ten years ago, the Namgung Family suffered a downfall and lost its status in Anhui. They lost more than half of their strength, and because of that, they stepped down from the pinnacle of the Eight Great Families, their status falling to that of just a prestigious family with tradition.

Thus, for about ten years, many people came to Anhui and built up their strength to become new forces, and in the process, they put effort into striking down the Namgung Family, which was an obstacle.

However, just because a tiger lost a fight once does not mean it stops being a tiger.

Ten-odd years.

In that time, which was short if short and long if long, the Namgung Family united more firmly than before and straightened out their foundations one by one from the very beginning.

Thus, centering around the eldest son Namgung Gang, who became the new Family Head, they began to expand their influence once again, and by protecting the Namgung Family and their sphere of influence without a single defeat in countless power struggles, they became the leader of Anhui once more.

The Family Head’s office inside such a Namgung Family.

Originally, it was a place used by his father, Namgung Yong, until a few years ago, but Namgung Gang, who had now inherited it, was sitting at his office desk reading a letter.

A neat and clean handwriting.

The content was also not excessively packaged, and it was a letter written so that the main point could be understood quickly.

After staring at it for a long time, Namgung Gang stood up from his seat. Soon he opened the door, left the office, and moved toward the place where his father’s residence was located.

His steps were very fast, looking as if there was an urgent matter. And at some point, the two feet he was walking on gradually gained speed, and now he was running in a hurry.

“Father! Father!”

Soon, the voice calling his father, Namgung Yong, sounded vigorously. Even the light in his eyes was sparkling, as if there was something very good.

Soon, when he flung open the tightly closed room door, Namgung Yong, who was resting comfortably, glared at his son with a bothered expression.

“What on earth is the matter that you are making such a fuss! The Family Head must maintain his dignity!”

“No, that’s not the problem! She… she is coming!”

“What is coming? Is a tiger coming down?”

Namgung Yong shook his head as he looked at Namgung Gang, who was still like an immature child. If he was going to speak, he should speak properly; what was he supposed to do if he cut off the beginning and end without any dignity?

“No, it’s not that! So… So-hye… So-hye is coming!”

“What?!”

As Namgung So-hye’s name popped out, Namgung Yong stood up abruptly. She was a child who had not budged despite being told to return for ten years.

Therefore, he could not contain his joy at the news of So-hye’s return.

However, Namgung Yong wore a strange expression.

“But… what wind blew that a child who would not budge is returning? Could she… have been dumped?”

“Ayy… that So-hye? No way…”

Both of them also shook their heads and denied that thought. She was a child who carried the modifier of the greatest beauty of the Central Plains.

Although the Central Plains was vast, rumors circulated that it was not an exaggeration to say there was no woman as beautiful as So-hye, and even now, marriage talks were still going on with numerous prestigious martial families or high-ranking officials.

She was a child who could even seize the position of empress if she set her mind to it.

But being dumped?

That was a laughable story.

“Then what on earth could it be…? What is written in the letter?”

“Yes? Just that she is coming…”

At that moment, Namgung Gang realized his mistake, going ‘ah!’. Because the phrase that Namgung So-hye was returning touched his heart so much, he had run over without properly checking the other details.

Thus, he could not know exactly what it was about.

“You foolish bastard! To think I trusted someone like you and handed over the position of Family Head…”

“Ha, haha. H-Here it is.”

Namgung Yong frowned and received the letter.

Although he understood how urgent it must have been, a sigh leaked out at the sight of the Family Head failing to grasp even the content of the letter properly.

Soon, glaring at Namgung Gang with a reproaching look, he slowly turned his eyes and began to read the letter.

From the first paragraph to the end.

Namgung Yong could not take his eyes off it.

Even though it was clear that the content was concise and didn’t even require a long read, his eyes did not leave it for a long time. Soon, the sound of gulping dry saliva was heard, and Namgung Yong’s hands trembled violently.

“Father? What is wrong?”

“…Gather.”

“Yes?”

A very soft sound was heard.

Thus, when Namgung Gang, who did not understand, asked again, only then did he raise his head and shout loudly.

“Gather all the members of the family. Do not distinguish between direct or collateral lines! Also, tell all those who have gone out to return!”

“S… Suddenly?!”

Namgung Yong folded the letter carefully and nodded.

Soon, placing it carefully on the table, he glared fiercely at Namgung Gang once again.

“Those who do not follow… will no longer be considered members of the Namgung Family!”

* * *

A large carriage stopped in front of the Namgung Family.

Soon, as person after person began to get off the carriage, those nearby bowed and threw open the gates of the Namgung Family.

Those who got off the carriage went inside the wide-open gates, and behind them, members of the Namgung Family pulled the stopped carriage and followed.

“It has been a long time, young lady!”

“We are glad you still look healthy!”

Entering like that, Namgung So-hye bowed and responded to each of the words pouring from here and there. The feeling of seeing the faces of those she had been with since childhood after a long time was truly unique.

Thus, the smile on her face did not fade.

And it was the same for another person as well.

“Hahaha. It has been a long time, you guys.”

Namgung Cheon also smiled pleasantly and greeted his surroundings. Just by seeing the scene where countless members of the family were gathered together, Namgung Cheon could not contain his overwhelming emotions.

But he soon suppressed it.

Where would there be anything more embarrassing than showing tears when fully aged?

“So-hye!”

And at that moment, familiar faces were seen in the distance.

They were Namgung Yong and Namgung Gang, who had changed a lot over the past ten years.

Although they felt somewhat aged, perhaps because they had suffered severely in the meantime, there was no change in the fact that they were still her father, son, and brother.

In particular, there was no need to speak of their affection for Namgung So-hye.

Namgung Yong, who rushed in suddenly, tried to hug the daughter he was seeing after a long time. At that moment, Namgung So-hye reached out to block him and widened the distance.

“Ah, please…!”

“This girl? Is that what you say to your father whom you haven’t seen in a long time?”

“Think of my age!”

“To me, you are always a child!”

“I am not!”

Looking at Namgung So-hye strongly denying it, Namgung Yong wore an awkward expression. He had raised his daughter really well, but now that she was fully grown, she wouldn’t even let him touch her.

There would be no sadder thing than this.

“Haha. Have you been well?”

And at that moment, a familiar voice was heard.

Namgung Yong and Namgung Gang, whose eyes naturally turned, opened their eyes wide as they looked at Namgung Cheon, who had the appearance of a Daoist immortal.

Soon, they bowed their heads and showed respect.

“Welcome… back, Father.”

Tears welled up in Namgung Yong’s eyes as he slightly raised his head. How many things had Namgung Cheon experienced before returning here once again?

Also, how much effort had they put in to build up their reputation to make the Namgung Family not ashamed of his name?

It was enough to make tears blur his vision.

Perhaps Namgung Cheon also knew that heart, as he smiled gently and looked with a proud gaze at his son and grandson who had rebuilt the Namgung Family of the past.

“Yes, have you made the preparations without any setbacks?”

“Do not worry. We can start right away.”

At Namgung Yong’s confident answer, Namgung Cheon nodded with a satisfied expression. There should be no loophole in such a matter. Since it was the task of enshrining none other than the ancestor, he had no intention of tolerating even a small mistake.

“Then let us begin. You are alright with it too, right?”

Namgung Cheon slightly turned back and looked at Dan Woo-hyun.

Knowing well Namgung Cheon’s heart to enshrine the ancestor as soon as possible, and also to release Dan Woo-hyun who was trapped in the past of the Three Heavens, they had journeyed while relieving their fatigue as much as possible.

They had even arrived in Hefei, the provincial capital of Anhui, a few days ago. While the Namgung Family made preparations to enshrine the ancestor, they spent time touring Anhui sufficiently while relieving the fatigue of the journey.

Thus, there was no need to delay.

That thought was the same for Dan Woo-hyun as well.

“Yes… I must let her go.”

At his single word, Namgung Yong and Namgung Gang nodded and began to move quickly. Although all preparations were already finished, they were going to check each one meticulously once again to prevent even a tiny mistake that might occur.

The grand front yard of the Namgung Family.

In such a place, about hundreds of people stood with solemn expressions. All of them looked straight ahead and captured the sight of Namgung Cheon writing down the ancestral tablet with one hand.

Some shed silent tears, and some clenched their fists tightly.

Although Namgung Cheon, who could be called the pillar of the Namgung Family, had returned, he had lost an arm because they failed to attend to him properly. Thus, those filled with loyalty could not help but lament despite it being a past event.

And because that was already a past event, and they buried the past in the past, no one said they were sorry, swallowing only their resentment.

Moreover, wasn’t today a celebratory day?

It was a monumental day when the ancestor of the Namgung Family returned.

Namgung Cheon lit the incense and bowed his head.

As if that action was contagious to the surroundings, everyone in the yard also bowed their heads and commemorated Nam Ju-ryeon, who was one of the Three Heavens and the beginning of the Namgung Family.

Soon, a quiet melody began to echo.

As Namgung Gang, the young master of the Namgung Family, began to blow the short bamboo flute, Namgung So-hye, who had been waiting, held the lute in her hand and created a melody.

Simultaneously with the start of the two’s duet, other sounds from here and there echoed, filling the gaps between the music.

The melody symbolizing the Namgung Family, which had been passed down from long ago.

It was a sound that felt as if it were mourning and remembering someone, yet sorrowful, while wishing for their future.

“Wow… it’s wonderful.”

Dan So-mi, who was listening to that sound from afar, was also speechless. It was the first time in her life she had heard a song so sad yet touching her heart.

“Yes… I am hearing it after a long time.”

“Yes? Do you know it? This song?”

“…”

Dan So-mi asked, opening her eyes round.

But she soon shut her mouth tightly, because Dan Woo-hyun closed his eyes gently as if recalling something. Not wishing to disturb his contemplation, she also closed her eyes and engraved the deeply echoing melody into her ears.

-What is that song?

-Ah… It is a song for the beloved who will leave one day.

-…I do not understand the meaning.

-You are going to leave anyway, aren’t you?

The image of Nam Ju-ryeon smiling was drawn in his mind. But since her eyes looked sadder than ever, he remembered that he did not talk to her any further.

Even though the memory of that time was so vivid, to think that it was already a thousand years ago?

Wasn’t it truly laughable?

Dan Woo-hyun wore a bitter smile.

“There is indeed something that does not change… even after a thousand years.”

“Yes?”

Dan Woo-hyun spat out words of unknown meaning and stroked the head of Dan So-mi beside him. Since it was a word toward her who no longer existed, there was no need to reply, nor did he make an effort to hear an answer.

He just quietly looked up at the sky.

It was a sunny weather with not a single cloud.

The wind was also calm, making it feel as if it were watching her funeral with bated breath.

Thus, even Nam Ju-ryeon, one of the Three Heavens who had guarded Dan Woo-hyun’s side until the very end, was now laid to rest where she belonged.

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