Chapter 111: This Makes Absolutely No Sense (4)
Chapter 110 – This Makes Absolutely No Sense (4)
Namgung Hyeon-do quickly ran and supported his falling son.
“Kuuugh!”
“Jin! Are you all right?”
“F-Father…”
Namgung Jin looked at Namgung Hyeon-do with a pale face.
At that moment, anger flared in Namgung Hyeon-do’s heart.
Just as he was about to jump up in anger, Namgung Won, who had approached before he knew it, quietly placed a hand on his shoulder.
When Namgung Hyeon-do hesitated and looked back, Namgung Won quietly shook his head.
It was a fair duel.
Moreover, it was a place watched by everyone.
Having drawn a real sword against an empty-handed opponent and ended up like this, there was no longer any room for excuses.
Furthermore, although it was frustrating, wasn’t their opponent the Mount Huang Yun Clan, which enjoyed more power than the Namgung Clan?
It was a situation where it was not easy to save face in terms of either justification or reputation.
As Namgung Hyeon-do ground his teeth, Yun Jong-seung ran over with a flustered expression and asked.
“Oh! Are you alright?”
If it had been a sarcastic tone, they could have found fault with it, but Yun Jong-seung was worrying with a sincere expression.
At the unexpected result and reaction, it was a moment when everyone looked at Yun Jong-seung in a new light.
“Is it true that Yun Jong-seung is the good-for-nothing of the Mount Huang Yun Clan?”
“Well, looking at him like that, he doesn’t seem like it at all.”
“Anyway, rumors are not to be trusted.”
“No, I definitely saw him doing underhanded things before… but it seems like he has changed.”
“Tsk, you never know.”
Amidst the murmurs, Namgung Jin ground his teeth and stood up.
He clasped his hands with difficulty.
“I… lost. As expected of someone with the skills to reach the quarterfinals of the Joint Conference. I now understand why the Mount Huang Yun Clan is so famous today.”
“You flatter me. I was the one who learned a lesson from Brother Namgung. Thank you for going easy on me.”
Yun Jong-seung returned the greeting in a dignified manner.
At this point, the onlookers let out gasps of admiration and clapped.
Wasn’t it essentially a duel that money couldn’t buy, which they happened to witness by chance?
As Yun Jong-seung did not act arrogant and showed proper etiquette, Namgung Hyeon-do, whose heart had flared with anger, also gradually calmed down.
Namgung Jin frowned deeply as if he still felt pain, then continued his praise.
“I am not just saying this; I had no idea Brother Yun’s martial arts level was this high. If you had better luck with the bracket, the winner of the Joint Conference would have been Brother Yun.”
It was a way of speaking that subtly raised his own level while praising the opponent.
However, Yun Jong-seung, who was expected to accept it readily, shook his head and blurted out something unexpected.
“That is truly high praise. Rather, it was just luck that I reached the quarterfinals. It is your clan’s Namgung Cheon who truly deserved to be called the Divine Dragon.”
At first listen, it sounded like he was saving the Namgung Clan’s pride, but for those including Namgung Won, it was also the last thing they wanted to hear right now.
Namgung Cheon was the Divine Dragon?
“Haha! Brother Yun is not only outstanding in martial arts, but also overly humble…”
“It is not humility. Namgung Cheon is the real Divine Dragon.”
The moment Yun Jong-seung responded with a serious expression, the crowd buzzed again.
Since he spoke with such a serious face, Namgung Jin could not find anything to say.
Namgung Won, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward and asked.
“If Namgung Cheon of our main family is that great, how does he compare to you?”
“With me?”
“Indeed.”
Yun Jong-seung chuckled.
As Namgung Won frowned, Yun Jong-seung shook his head.
“He cannot even be compared to me. If I had to compare… if I am a firefly, Namgung Cheon is the full moon.”
It was a brilliant comparison.
Yun Jong-seung admired his own words.
Wasn’t that what Xu Shu had said in the old days when comparing Zhuge Liang to himself?
For some reason, did he feel like he had become Xu Shu at this moment?
This was why people had to be educated.
Although Yun Jong-seung’s shamelessness was gradually resembling Namgung Cheon’s, he himself was not aware of it.
In any case, thanks to Yun Jong-seung’s expression, Namgung Won ended up with a face like he had chewed on feces.
‘That illegitimate child is at that level…?’
It made absolutely no sense.
It had been quite a long time since he last saw Namgung Cheon. Since their family’s fortune declined, there had been little interaction with the main family.
Had it been about six or seven years since they last saw him?
Didn’t they say that a tree that will grow well can be recognized by its early sprouts?
Recalling Namgung Cheon back then, he was by no means a promising tree. He was a tree that looked like it would wither and die at any moment.
Such a weak child was the Divine Dragon? What? The full moon?
Just then, his brother-in-law, Jang Won-sik, approached and whispered to Namgung Won.
“It seems that boy is exaggerating. Well, since he fell in the quarterfinals himself, raising the winner’s status doesn’t hurt him either.”
Indeed.
Rumors were bound to swell up like this.
Namgung Won said with a faint smile.
“Anyway, it was a fine duel. Thanks to you, this old man has broadened his horizons.”
“It was a trivial skill. Then, this junior will take his leave first.”
Yun Jong-seung bowed politely and turned around.
If he had lacked manners, they could have found some flaw, but the youth was too upright.
This uncomfortable feeling was hard to put into words.
But what could they do?
He had won in a fair duel and was leaving like this.
On the other hand, Yun Jong-seung’s steps heading home were as light as if he were flying.
Yun Jong-seung clenched his fist tightly and shuddered with excitement.
‘I can become strong too! No, I am becoming strong!’
His heart felt like it would burst.
Even though he had deeply regretted it right after challenging him in a drunken state, to think he would win like this!
Suddenly stopping in his tracks, Yun Jong-seung looked back toward the Namgung Clan.
It was unclear how much the people remaining in front of the inn would acknowledge his words.
Because even until the very end, they did not erase their eyes full of distrust toward Namgung Cheon.
However, he had said everything he wanted to say.
Namgung Cheon was definitely an amazing guy.
No matter what anyone said.
‘Namgung Cheon… thank you!’
* * *
“Is someone talking about me? My ears are itchy.”
When Namgung Cheon muttered while scratching his ear, Bok-seong responded with a broad grin.
“Of course. The whole world must be filled with talk about you, Young Master.”
“Why?”
“Why else? Do you really not know? You are the Divine Dragon! The winner of the Joint Conference! Keuuu!”
Bok-seong shuddered with an expression of pure ecstasy, as if he had won the tournament himself.
Namgung Cheon smirked.
“Anyone would think you were the one who won.”
“I am happier than if I had won myself. Hehehe.”
“Why do you like me so much?”
“Hmm. Well.”
Bok-seong rested his chin on his hand and fell into serious thought.
It seemed he himself didn’t know why he liked Namgung Cheon this much when he thought about it.
Foolish fellow.
Just as Namgung Cheon was about to ignore it, sit cross-legged, and circulate his energy, Bok-seong suddenly spoke.
“To be honest, it feels somewhat irreverent to say this, but… at first, I felt so sorry for you, Young Master.”
“What?”
Dumbfounded, Namgung Cheon opened his eyes without realizing it.
He had wondered if there was some heart-wrenching story behind it. But simply because he felt sorry for him?
Whether he knew what was on Namgung Cheon’s mind or not, Bok-seong kept scratching the back of his head and continued speaking while looking only at the floor.
“You probably don’t remember… but when I first saw you, Young Master, you were being beaten up by the local hoodlums. Even though you were a member of the Namgung Clan… they really beat you like a dog. No one even tried to stop them. Everyone just pointed fingers, calling you the child of the Great Killing Star.”
“And then?”
“First, I stepped in to stop them. I even argued, asking what you had done wrong, Young Master.”
“And after that?”
“Well, I got beaten half to death as well. For daring to take the side of the Great Killing Star’s bloodline.”
Namgung Cheon slapped his knee.
“I see. At that time, I stepped forward and saved you in return. Or did I try to save you?”
“Eyy, no.”
“No?”
“Yes. No, you didn’t.”
“Then?”
“At that time, you ran away crying, Young Master. You were so fast that you disappeared in the blink of an eye.”
“Ahem. Well… that might indeed run in the family.”
“It was truly a relief. If you had kept getting beaten like that, something terrible might have happened.”
Bok-seong grinned like a simpleton and continued.
“Seeing people condemn you like that when you did nothing wrong made me angry. You were a young and small master, yet they pointed fingers and beat you as if they were looking at some evil spirit… Whew, I really felt so sorry for you, Young Master. That was why my heart went out to you.”
“So that was it.”
“With those feelings of pity, I took care of you, and gradually, my heart opened up more. I suppose I just grew attached.”
Namgung Cheon silently nodded.
“Yes, that is only human nature.”
“Now that I think about it, there is no special reason.”
Bok-seong scratched the back of his head again and laughed simplemindedly.
Namgung Cheon smirked as he looked at Bok-seong.
“In fact, that is why it feels more sincere.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that…?”
“Just as you said, isn’t it human nature to want to help someone in pity, and to want to protect someone who is weak? That is the basic duty of a human being.”
“Hmm. I suppose so?”
“Yes. But as you have seen, this damn world is running backward. It has become a world where falsehood runs rampant and sincerity is cursed. In such a world, you are a true man.”
“Am I really that great?”
Bok-seong’s eyes widened.
Namgung Cheon nodded deeply.
“Of course. Without a doubt.”
In truth, he had expected a grand story to come out of Bok-seong’s mouth at first.
But after hearing the whole story, he liked Bok-seong even more.
Couldn’t goodwill born of a specific circumstance change depending on the situation? One could also change their mind as memories faded.
However, Bok-seong’s goodwill stemmed from human nature.
Compassion, after all, comes from benevolence.
Wasn’t the benevolence of Bok-seong, who was a mere servant, qualitatively different from that of a certain sly old man leading the Martial Alliance?
‘That sly old man branded a powerless child as the Heavenly Killing Star, making him into the Great Killing Star.’
Swallowing his resentment for a moment, Namgung Cheon looked at Bok-seong and said.
“You are the exact opposite of that old snake.”
“Huh? An old snake?”
“It means you are admirable.”
“Ah… yes.”
Bok-seong nodded, pretending to understand.
Looking at Bok-seong, Namgung Cheon stood up from his seat.
“Let’s go. Today, I will buy you something delicious.”
“So suddenly?”
“Yes, to celebrate becoming the Divine Dragon, I will treat you to a feast. Follow me.”
“Oh! Then I will not decline! Ah, please go on ahead, and I will quickly change my clothes and catch up!”
As Bok-seong ran off with a goofy smile, Namgung Cheon chuckled and set off.
It was just when Namgung Cheon was about to step out of the main gate at a leisurely pace.
A group of people happened to enter.
But wasn’t a young man with bandages wrapped tightly around his chest being supported by a middle-aged man, looking as if he were about to die at any moment?
It was none other than Namgung Jin, who had just dueled Yun Jong-seung, and his party.
Not recognizing them, Namgung Cheon tilted his head.
“This is not a clinic.”
Flaring up instantly, Namgung Hyeon-do raised his eyebrows sharply.
“What?”
“I didn’t mean anything by it. Your situation just looked urgent. If you came to the wrong place, wouldn’t it be better to turn back quickly?”
Then, this time, Namgung Jin flared up.
“You bastard! Do you think that makes any sense to say right now?”
By this point, Namgung Cheon couldn’t help but get angry as well.
“Where did you get beaten up, and why are you taking your anger out on an innocent place? I kindly informed you that this isn’t a clinic. Well, the main family’s estate might look a bit run-down on the outside, so it could look like a neighborhood clinic, but it is strictly…”
“Shut up! Are you trying to mock me? Even so, I am two years older than you!”
“Older brother? Who are you?”
“You, you…! You have really become arrogant just because you won the Joint Conference!”
It was at that moment.
Bok-seong ran over and quickly intervened.
“Oops, I’m sorry! Our young master has lost his memory, so please be understanding.”
Turning to Bok-seong, Namgung Cheon asked with an indifferent expression.
“Is this guy who goes around getting beaten up someone you know as well?”
Stop saying ‘getting beaten up,’ you crazy bastard!
Namgung Jin was now on the verge of foaming at the mouth.