Chapter 107: Then I Won't Decline
Chapter 106 – Then I Won’t Decline
“Hey. Are you alright?”
“It seems he has completely lost consciousness.”
“Only minor spasms remain.”
“Step aside. I will apply emergency acupuncture, so as soon as he stabilizes, transport him immediately.”
“Yes, Doctor!”
On one side of the Grand Martial Arena, which was filled with cheers, physicians were busy examining the fallen Baek Mu-geuk.
Baek Mu-geuk, who was even foaming at the mouth, only twitched his body intermittently.
Although he was unconscious, it was minor spasms caused by his muscles.
The physician carefully examined Baek Mu-geuk’s body.
Torn clothes, bruised skin, broken bones, and even scratches and cuts.
‘Tsk, tsk. He became a complete wreck. Yet…’
Was it not surprising?
It was normal for one’s life to hang in the balance after being beaten to this extent.
However, even though his limbs and body were in ruins, there were no fatal injuries.
Surprisingly, it meant that despite striking the vital points of his entire body, the force had been controlled so that it would not be life-threatening.
‘How could this…’
The physician, stopping mid-acupuncture, turned around and looked back at Namgung Cheon.
‘I don’t know to what extent this was intentional.’
As the physician stood in a daze, the apprentice physician carefully called out.
“Excuse me… Doctor?”
“Hmm?”
“The emergency acupuncture…”
“Ah, it is not needed.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean there is no need to apply emergency acupuncture. Move him quickly.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
The apprentice physicians quickly loaded Baek Mu-geuk onto a stretcher and began to move him.
The expression of Baek Mu-geuk, who was being carried away on the stretcher, looked strangely peaceful.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere of the Grand Martial Arena where the final match was held was highly excited to celebrate the birth of the Divine Dragon.
Namgung Cheon, having descended from the martial stage, was led by Bi Ryang’s hand toward the cadets of the Dragon Heaven Academy.
“Kid, well done. Wave your hand to your classmates at least.”
“I am tired.”
“Come now, still, thanks to you, our academy is gaining fame after a long time, is it not? Say a word or two.”
As Bi Ryang brought Namgung Cheon over, the Dragon Heaven Academy cadets each waved their hands and shouted.
“Oh! Namgung Cheon! The pride of our academy! The pride of the Dragon Heaven Academy! The representative of the Dragon Heaven Academy! Namgung Cheon! Namgung Cheon!”
“Namgung Cheon! Namgung Cheon…!”
As the Dragon Heaven Academy cadets began to chant Namgung Cheon’s name, the resonance gradually spread.
Namgung Cheon suddenly found it laughable.
When he was running away with his back to the world, he had been utterly alone.
There was not a single person who reached out a hand to him first.
Even those who approached him with a warm smile would shake off his hand coldly and turn away once they found out he was a public enemy of the Martial World.
Yet now, they were sharing the merit and rejoicing together.
“As expected… I cannot stand this sight.”
As Namgung Cheon muttered, Bi Ryang quickly raised his hand to stop the cadets’ cheers and asked.
“Hmm? What did you say?”
Namgung Cheon raised his head and stared blankly at the Dragon Heaven Academy cadets.
The cadets also looked at Namgung Cheon with highly encouraged expressions.
“Shh, everyone! It looks like Namgung Cheon is going to say something!”
“Quiet down. Our hero is about to speak!”
“Namgung Cheon! Say a word!”
If they wanted it that much, he should say a word.
Namgung Cheon twisted the corners of his mouth.
Seeing that, Yun Jong-seung frowned slightly.
‘For some reason, the signs are not good.’
His thought was not wrong.
Because the words that fell from Namgung Cheon’s mouth were a statement that completely departed from everyone’s expectations.
“Do not flatter yourselves, you bastards.”
“……?”
“Pushing all the bad things away while trying to share only the good? You parasitic bastards.”
“Huh…?”
“Why didn’t you act like that when I was living like a pushover?”
“…….”
“Victory for Dragon Heaven Academy? Raising the prestige of Dragon Heaven Academy? Don’t make me laugh. What did you guys even do? My victory is solely mine. It is my victory, not Dragon Heaven Academy’s, and it is my prestige, not Dragon Heaven Academy’s prestige, that has been elevated—the prestige of my clan. Got it? So don’t get the wrong idea and just do what you used to do, you bastards.”
At the extremely cold words, the Dragon Heaven Academy cadets shut their mouths as if they had become mute.
A strange situation where only the Dragon Heaven Academy cadets were silent amidst the cheers of the crowd.
It was then.
Clap, clap, clap.
The sound of clapping burst out from among the cadets.
As the cadets turned around, Paeng Su-hyeok was clapping with a twisted smile.
“As expected of my family’s enemy. Honestly, is there anything wrong with what he said? Everyone, pull yourselves together, you idiots. Don’t treat someone else’s victory as if it’s your own. Think about standing in that spot yourself.”
As Paeng Su-hyeok barked coldly, an unexpected reaction occurred.
“Oh! So that was what he meant! As expected, our Divine Dragon thinks differently! He is giving us an enlightenment!”
“That is Namgung Cheon for you! Even though it would be enough to just enjoy the joy of being the champion, to deliberately provoke his classmates to give them enlightenment.”
“Indeed, Namgung Cheon is an extraordinary man! Namgung Cheon, you are the true Divine Dragon!”
“I respect you, Namgung Cheon!”
“Namgung Cheon! Namgung Cheon! Namgung Cheon!”
The Dragon Heaven Academy cadets began to chant Namgung Cheon’s name once again.
Namgung Cheon frowned and shook his head.
What on earth were these idiots talking about?
‘Are these bastards all fools?’
It was simply surprising that humans could become this stupid once swept away by the atmosphere.
Bi Ryang, who was standing next to him, let out an awkward laugh and pushed Namgung Cheon’s back.
“Well, uh, anyway, it turned out well. Haha. The award ceremony will be held soon, so shouldn’t you go prepare? Let us go quickly.”
Unlike when he brought him, Bi Ryang was pushing Namgung Cheon to get him out of this place as quickly as possible.
* * *
Around the time the excitement cooled down a bit.
Finally, the award ceremony that would decorate the grand finale of the long Joint Conference was held.
For the Alliance Leader, it was truly the ending he least wanted to think about.
But what could he do?
For it was Namgung Cheon who had won a fair victory in every stage.
The Alliance Leader, who had climbed onto the stage, stared blankly at Namgung Cheon ascending the steps.
A faint smile hung on the corners of Namgung Cheon’s mouth.
‘Yes, laugh for now. Today is your victory. I shall acknowledge it. But the Jianghu is a much harsher place than you think. The Jianghu is precisely where your father, who was called the world’s most stubborn wretch, and your mother, who was called the world’s number one dragon, perished in vain. The day you follow in your parents’ footsteps will not be far off.’
The Alliance Leader glanced at Namgung Cheon with a cold expression and then looked around at the spectators.
Now it was his turn to praise Namgung Cheon highly with his own mouth.
The moment he had to deliver his most reluctant speech.
“Today, this Alliance has witnessed the birth of the Divine Dragon who achieved a miracle. Dragon Heaven Academy cadet Namgung Cheon not only established the merit of rescuing his kidnapped classmate, but also proudly won the championship in the Wuhan Joint Dragon and Phoenix Conference. Therefore, as is custom, this Alliance awards a root of Ten-thousand-year Snow Ginseng to the champion, Cadet Namgung Cheon. I hope everyone gathered here will celebrate the birth of the Divine Dragon with one heart.”
“Waaaaaaah!”
A standing ovation poured in from the spectators.
As Namgung Cheon stepped forward, the Alliance Leader presented the wooden box containing the Ten-thousand-year Snow Ginseng.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Namgung Cheon took hold of the wooden box.
“Congratulations once again.”
‘I got it, so why don’t you let go now?’
The wooden box did not budge, as if it were stuck to the Alliance Leader’s hand.
‘This old serpent, seriously…!’
As Namgung Cheon gripped the wooden box and exerted force, the veins bulged on the back of his hand.
Grip…!
Force was also applied to the Alliance Leader’s hand.
‘No, what is he trying to do right now? This old serpent!’
“It is a Ten-thousand-year Snow Ginseng that is difficult to obtain.”
‘I know that too! So let go of your hand!’
The Alliance Leader’s cheek twitched as he forced a smile.
Namgung Cheon also twisted the corners of his mouth, trembling.
“I will chew and eat it well. Thoroughly… and properly…”
“You should. As it is a spiritual medicine that is difficult to digest.”
“Do not worry in the slightest.”
Tremble…
Finally, the Alliance Leader loosened the strength in his hand.
“Do not think this is the end.”
“……?”
“For every end is another beginning.”
It was a warning disguised as advice.
“I will keep that in mind.”
“I will look forward to your many active contributions in the Alliance in the future.”
“I will do my best to live up to your expectations.”
Namgung Cheon curled the corners of his mouth.
The cadets who advanced to the quarterfinals of the main tournament in the Joint Conference would enter the Martial Alliance apprenticeship period starting from the next semester.
The Alliance Leader was likely referring to this.
The Alliance Leader’s gaze and Namgung Cheon’s gaze tangled complexly in the air.
As Namgung Cheon turned around after receiving the prize, the people’s cheers rose once again.
“Waaaah! Divine Dragon Namgung Cheon! Soar high!”
* * *
Pour…
The sound of clear tea filled the teacup.
A heavy silence descended upon the room after the waiter withdrew.
“Drink.”
As Namgung Geom spoke in an emotionless voice, Namgung Cheon nodded and took a sip of the tea.
“You worked hard.”
Namgung Cheon smiled bitterly at the first words that suddenly dropped.
‘Old man, would it hurt to give a word of praise?’
Well, even this was probably spoken as a form of praise.
After the awkward silence continued for a while like that, Namgung Geom brought up the main topic.
“I will convene a formal meeting to discuss the issue of the Young Patriarch.”
“Thank you.”
“It will not be easy.”
“I am prepared.”
He was the child of the Great Killing Star.
Furthermore, he was not of the direct line. Since he was adopted posthumously and forced to inherit the Namgung surname, he was a long way from the position of Young Patriarch.
The public opinion against it would likely be fierce.
Still, if the Patriarch’s support backed him up, it was worth a try.
In the end, the two did not share much conversation while emptying their teacups.
If Namgung Hwa had been in this place, she might have run out long ago, feeling suffocated.
“Let us leave.”
As Namgung Geom stood up first, Namgung Cheon followed behind.
As the two stepped out of the teahouse, the people on the street approached as if they had been waiting.
“It is the Patriarch of the Namgung Clan!”
“Great Hero Namgung, congratulations!”
“Young Hero Namgung, congratulations!”
“Patriarch Namgung, I was planning to visit you anyway. Our merchant group has some business around Mount Huang this time…”
“Hey, move aside. Oh, Patriarch Namgung, and Young Hero Namgung. My sincere congratulations. The reason I came is that I am leading the Wuhan Escort Agency…”
“Hey, let’s keep to the order!”
Great merchants flocked one after another, busy introducing themselves.
It was a natural phenomenon.
A Divine Dragon had been born in the Namgung Clan.
Since the declining clan came to be reevaluated with the birth of the Divine Dragon, it was an opportunity that merchants could not afford to miss.
Whatsoever was undervalued, it was the instinct of merchants to preemptively occupy it.
However, just then, the densely packed crowd began to divide to both sides like a parting stream of water.
“T-That person…?”
“Come to think of it, he seemed to be sitting with Patriarch Namgung throughout the main tournament…”
“My goodness, does that mean the Gold King is stepping forward himself?”
The one who appeared among the buzzing crowd was Gold King Jin Deuk-rang.
Since the wealthiest man south of the Yangtze River stood directly in front of Namgung Geom, even ordinary great merchants had no choice but to bow their heads and retreat.
Finally, the Gold King stopped in front of Namgung Geom and smiled softly.
“Congratulations, Patriarch.”
“I am not the one who should be congratulated.”
“Haha. Is that so? Congratulations, Young Hero Namgung.”
“Thank you.”
“And above all, thank you. For saving my daughter.”
“I merely did what I had to do.”
Although he disliked such cringeworthy conversations, Namgung Cheon replied as formally as possible.
Finally, the Gold King said in a loud voice so that everyone could hear.
“In the future, the Myriad Gold Merchant Association will support you materially and spiritually.”
“I decline.”
As Namgung Geom cut him off like a blade, the people flinched and widened their eyes.
Although they had heard that Namgung Geom’s character was as straight as bamboo, they had never expected him to humiliate the Gold King to his face like this.
Furthermore, was the opponent not the Gold King?
However, instead of wiping the smile from his face, the Gold King brought up unexpected words.
“Patriarch, it seems there is a misunderstanding… The one I intend to help is not the Namgung Clan.”
“……?”
As Namgung Geom frowned slightly, the Gold King looked at Namgung Cheon and smiled softly.
“If you need my help in the future, just say the word. I promise to go through fire and water to assist you.”
Having finished speaking, the Gold King took out a plaque from his sleeve and handed it over.
The Gold King’s plaque!
The pupils of the people shook.
Was the Gold King’s plaque not something that anyone in the Central Plains would want to hold, even in their dreams?
With just that plaque, one would have nothing to fear in any place where the hand of the Myriad Gold Merchant Association reached.
Namgung Cheon grinned and accepted the plaque.
“Then I will not refuse.”