Chapter 109: This Makes Absolutely No Sense (2)
Chapter 108 – This Makes Absolutely No Sense (2)
On a hill overlooking the entrance of the village in the distance, the four-horse carriage came to a halt.
Alighting from the carriage, Namgung Cheon stared at the distant Mount Huang and let out an exclamation of admiration.
“They say that after seeing the Five Sacred Peaks, other mountains do not catch one’s eye, and after seeing Mount Huang, even the Five Sacred Peaks do not catch one’s eye. It is indeed true.”
It was not the first time he had seen Mount Huang in this life.
Even in his past life, when he roamed the world, he had frequently visited famous mountains like Mount Huang and Mount Tai.
To him, a ‘scenic beauty’ simply meant a good place to hide.
Therefore, he had lacked the leisure to enjoy a famous mountain as a famous mountain.
However, now that his circumstances had changed and he had gained some peace of mind, the beauty of Mount Huang became visible to him.
Instead of just ‘a good mountain to hide in,’ it now appeared as a famous mountain containing the finest scenery under heaven.
That was how a person’s perspective changed depending on their circumstances.
And once one’s perspective changed, one’s realizations would change as well.
‘To think I would have such deep thoughts even in this situation. I really am something.’
Controlling his proud heart, Namgung Cheon looked back at the path the carriage had traveled.
It should be about time for him to appear by now…
Sure enough, he saw a figure running toward him at a rapid pace in the distance.
Though the figure was clearly exhausted, the tips of his feet kicking off the ground and soaring were relatively light.
‘He has improved considerably.’
The one running without rest while performing lightfoot work was none other than Yun Jong-seung.
He was running all the way to Mount Huang, relying solely on lightfoot work instead of riding the carriage, just like when they had departed for the academy.
“Huff, huff, huff…! Finally… arrived!”
Arriving right in front of him, Yun Jong-seung walked toward a nearby rock as if collapsing and stretched out on the ground.
His chest repeatedly rose and fell.
Even though he wore a rather thick robe due to the chilly weather, it was completely drenched in sweat and damp.
Namgung Cheon smirked.
“Good work.”
“Huff, huff, huff…! Still… I’ve improved a lot compared to when we went, right?”
“Do not be satisfied. The moment you are satisfied is when you get caught by the scruff of your neck.”
“Still, I need to feel myself growing to find it rewarding…”
“Looking for a sense of reward is how you miss the moment to escape.”
No, so why on earth did he have to escape?
When Yun Jong-seung only stared at him with an incomprehensible expression, Namgung Cheon waved his hand and glossed it over.
“Anyway, life is not that easy. If you are not careful, pursuers will be hot on your heels.”
So, who was pursuing him?
As Yun Jong-seung pointlessly looked back at the path they had come from, Namgung Cheon spoke nonchalantly.
“I am talking about the other young experts. You need to read the context, punk.”
“Ah… I thought…”
Yun Jong-seung grinned and scratched the back of his head.
Still, it was definitely a good change.
When they had gone to the academy, Yun Jong-seung had run semi-forcibly, but for the return trip, Yun Jong-seung had declared on his own that he would run back.
In fact, while traveling solely using lightfoot work for a few days, Yun Jong-seung felt his internal cultivation method and physical stamina improve by leaps and bounds.
Namgung Cheon’s occasional advice on the method of circulating qi had also been of great help.
Yun Jong-seung looked at Namgung Cheon and asked.
“But why aren’t you running?”
“Because I am sick of it.”
“Ah…”
Indeed. I used to harass him, forcing him to repeat running back and forth to the academy every time.
While Yun Jong-seung misunderstood in his own way, Namgung Cheon muttered to himself as he looked at Mount Huang.
“Since I have spent my whole life doing nothing but running… I should also walk a bit and ride in carriages.”
Yun Jong-seung, who misunderstood those words again, shrank back like a turtle, but just then, a faint shouting voice echoed from below the hill in the distance.
“Young masteeeer!”
When Namgung Cheon turned around, Bok-seong was running toward them in a hurry, a broad grin on his face.
As Bok-seong drew closer, his face was filled with a bright smile.
“Young Master! How long has it been? Boohoo. I missed you!”
Reaching the top of the hill, Bok-seong gasped for breath with his hands on his knees, yet he still beamed brightly at Namgung Cheon.
Even tears were welling up in the corners of his eyes.
He was still the fellow who had treated the boy most affectionately.
Namgung Cheon smiled softly.
“Have you been well?”
“I am always the same. I heard the news about you, Young Master! Heavens! You won the Joint Conference? I was truly so anxious, fearing that you might have to return to a difficult life. Every day, I set out bowls of water and prayed to the spirits. *Sniff*. But to think you won the Joint Conference! This really isn’t a dream, is it? Our Young Master is truly amazing!”
Bok-seong streamed tears now, overwhelmed with emotion.
Seeing how much he had worried made Namgung Cheon’s heart feel a bit sore.
“Hey, Bok-seong. Have you been well?”
Just as Yun Jong-seung walked over with a welcome expression, Bok-seong flinched and reflexively took a step back.
Not only had he harassed Namgung Cheon all this time, but wasn’t Yun Jong-seung also the one who had visited the clan last time and beaten him up?
Although he had heard the news that Namgung Cheon won the Joint Conference, his body still feared Yun Jong-seung.
Bok-seong trembled, not even daring to meet Yun Jong-seung’s eyes.
“Yo-Young Master Yun, you were here too. I apologize. I did not realize you were together…”
*Smack!*
At that moment, Bok-seong’s eyes widened.
For Namgung Cheon had suddenly smacked the back of Yun Jong-seung’s head.
Namgung Cheon furrowed his brows deeply as he watched Yun Jong-seung groan while holding the back of his head.
“Just how did you treat him normally for the kid to be this terrified?”
“T-That… *Cough*! Bok-seong. I sincerely apologize for what happened last time. Please forgive me.”
“Yes? Ah, yes. Ye-es?”
“I committed a great mistake against you. Will you please forgive me?”
To think Yun Jong-seung would bow deeply at the waist to apologize.
Bok-seong was startled and waved his hands in denial.
“Oh my, why are you doing this? No. It is fine.”
“Fine, my foot.”
Namgung Cheon suddenly cut in.
As Bok-seong looked back with a troubled expression, Namgung Cheon pointed at Yun Jong-seung with his chin.
“If this guy did wrong, he should naturally apologize and receive forgiveness. Just how much has he harassed you all this time?”
“T-That… it is too much to speak of, but… hey, I am really fine. Truly.”
“You were harassed beyond words, and you are really fine after just a single apology?”
“Yo-Young Master, why are you being like this? I am truly fine…”
Bok-seong now looked as if he was about to burst into tears.
However, Yun Jong-seung did not back down either.
“Bok-seong!”
“Yes? Yes!”
“Hit me instead!”
“Wh-what?”
“If one blow is not enough, then two, or three. Hit me as much as you want. I will take it. If that vents your anger, then do it. I will consider it training, so hit me quickly.”
“Uh, uh, uh… Why do you keep… I am really fine…”
At that, Namgung Cheon stepped forward again.
“It seems Bok-seong is too faint-hearted, so I must step in. Jong-seung, I shall hit you on Bok-seong’s behalf.”
Then, Yun Jong-seung stepped right up to Bok-seong and shouted.
“Bok-seoooong!”
“Yes? Yes! Yes!”
“Just hit me once, quickly! Do you want to see someone get killed?”
“But no matter what, how could I…”
“Hurry! Otherwise, that bastard… no, Namgung Cheon said he would hit me! Hurry, hit me…”
*Thwack!*
At that moment, Bok-seong’s fist flew forward, causing Yun Jong-seung to stumble back.
Because the punch had landed when he was completely off guard, his nose even started bleeding.
“I-I am sorry! I am sorry! I am sorry!”
As Bok-seong apologized repeatedly, Yun Jong-seung waved his hand.
“No. You did very well. Your punch is harder than I thought.”
“Ah… well, since I handle all sorts of chores, I’ve developed some fine muscle…”
“Anyway, can you forgive me even a little with this?”
“O-Of course.”
“Thank you.”
“Um… is your nose okay…?”
“Do I look that weak?”
“Oh! How could that be? I apologize!”
“It is fine. In any case, though this might not be enough, let us shake off our old feelings and start anew.”
“O-Of course.”
“Then I shall take my leave now. Namgung Cheon, I plan to train even harder during the break. I will get stronger. Even if I cannot defeat you, I will make sure the gap is not too wide! I will see you again when the academy reopens.”
“Yeah, you worked hard.”
Yun Jong-seung smirked, waved his hand, and trudged down the hill.
The carriage Namgung Cheon had ridden also quietly followed behind him.
Bok-seong, who had been staring blankly at Yun Jong-seung’s retreating figure, asked Namgung Cheon tentatively.
“Um… Young Master Yun isn’t terminally ill, is he?”
“What?”
“Well… you know, they say that when it is time for a person to die, they change.”
Watching Bok-seong whispering with his voice lowered as much as possible, Namgung Cheon burst into laughter despite himself.
“Who knows? Maybe it is not entirely wrong. To be completely reborn, one needs to kill oneself once. Let us go as well.”
“Ah, yes.”
Bok-seong muttered as he followed behind, not understanding even half of Namgung Cheon’s words.
“The Patriarch has summoned a Clan Council, so clan members from various regions are flocking in.”
“I know.”
Namgung Cheon nodded with a meaningful smile.
* * *
Upon entering the town, Yun Jong-seung went straight into a tavern and ordered alcohol and food to satisfy his hunger.
“Argh… that fellow has a hard punch.”
Yun Jong-seung twitched the bridge of his nose as he pulled out the cloth that had plugged his nostrils.
The nose he had been hit on was still tingling.
Even though it was a fist with no internal energy infused into it, to think he would get hit squarely on the bridge of his nose of all places and bleed.
‘Well, if I can wash away my past mistakes with this, it is not a losing business.’
He had almost been beaten by Namgung Cheon, so wasn’t it a relief that he had at least passed that crisis?
Just as the waiter brought out the alcohol and food, a group of people poured into the tavern.
Though they looked somewhat shabby, each carried a sword at their waist, and judging by the dignity exuded from their entire bodies, they appeared to be from a rather prestigious family.
Judging by the terms they used to address one another, they all seemed to belong to the same family.
As they happened to sit at the table behind Yun Jong-seung, their conversation naturally drifted over.
“To think he is going to decide on the position of Young Patriarch. What on earth brought this on so suddenly?”
“Didn’t they say that child, Namgung Cheon, won the Joint Conference this time? With that as a turning point, a new wind might blow in the Namgung Clan, so he is probably trying to decide on the Young Patriarch at this opportunity.”
“I heard that rumor as well. Heavens, who would have thought Namgung Cheon would become the winner of the Joint Conference?”
“I only thought of him as the shame of the family, but it seems even dog dung can be useful sometimes.”
“He must have been lucky.”
Even as Yun Jong-seung brought food to his mouth, his attention was naturally drawn to the conversation that kept continuing.
‘Are they from the Namgung Clan?’
‘But what? Dog dung?’
His hand naturally reached for his cup at the absurd comparison.
A middle-aged man spoke.
“True. I think so too. But no matter how lucky he was, to win the Joint Conference. Isn’t this proof that the level of the Joint Conference itself has dropped significantly?”
“I agree. If a fellow like Namgung Cheon could win, there must have been nothing to see in this Joint Conference.”
No, these people really…!
As Yun Jong-seung listened to the story, the number of times he refilled his cup gradually increased.
Just then, a young man who looked to be around twenty smirked and spoke.
“Had I known it would be like this, I should have participated too. Then the championship might have been mine.”
“Haha, indeed. But those who do not attend the academy cannot participate in the Joint Conference.”
“Actually, unless one can enter the Righteous Chivalry Academy, it is better not to go even if only to save one’s pride.”
At the young man’s words, the others nodded in agreement.
The eldest-looking man stroked his beard and spoke.
“Even so, I heard that the kids from the Tang Clan and the Murong Clan were at the Righteous Chivalry Academy. Moreover, they say the young expert of the Mount Hua Sect at the Valiant Martial Academy was quite outstanding…”
“Wasn’t it just bluff and bluster in the end? I heard that an unheard-of child made it to the finals.”
“Or perhaps his match luck was good. It is as if he reached the finals by reaping the spoils of others’ fight.”
The more he listened, the more absurd it became.
Wasn’t this a case of them deliberately refusing to acknowledge it?
‘No matter how much they hate Namgung Cheon, how can they be so narrow-minded…!’
*Thud!*
Finally unable to contain himself, Yun Jong-seung slammed down his cup and sprang up.
With his face already flushed red from the alcohol, he strode over to the table behind him.
“Nice to meet you! I am Yun Jong-seung of the Mount Huang Yun Clan!”
“…?”
“I happened to overhear your conversation from the neighboring table, and it seems you are all very curious about the level of the Joint Conference. If you do not mind, could the young man over there give me a lesson? For your information, I am someone who participated in this year’s Joint Conference and slipped up in the quarterfinals.”