Chapter 113: Testing is About Tearing Apart (2)
Chapter 112 – Testing is About Tearing Apart (2)
“What? Just because you have a mouth to speak, do you think everything is resolved once you blurt it out?”
As Namgung Seol-hui glared at him venomously, Namgung Cheon tilted his head.
“Is there any reason it wouldn’t be?”
“W-What?”
“You have to speak up first to take action. Isn’t that better than sitting around a table having endless armchair discussions?”
“Why, you…!”
“These are problems that couldn’t be handled until now because no clever plan came up anyway, aren’t they? I am telling you that I will solve it all.”
“Since you won the Joint Conference, you have become incredibly arrogant! Does the Jianghu look so easy to you?”
“Hey, don’t go too far. We aren’t talking about the Jianghu right now, but rather the issue of the Young Patriarch.”
“Why, you…! What on earth is wrong with that brat’s manners! Look at him talking back so persistently!”
“Isn’t this a meeting? If you describe presenting an opinion as talking back, how can we have a meeting? If only superiors are allowed to speak, that is an order, not a meeting.”
“No, how could such a…”
“Besides, if you look at it that way, it would mean my grandaunt is also talking back persistently to the Clan Leader.”
By this point, Namgung Seol-hui was on the verge of collapsing while clutching the back of her neck.
Watching from right beside them, Namgung Hwa’s face turned pale white, and she could only open and close her mouth like a goldfish.
‘What in the world is this child trying to do…!’
She had thought she was getting used to Namgung Cheon by now, but he was still so unfamiliar.
To talk back like this to a grandaunt he rarely even saw?
Whether he knew of Namgung Hwa’s anxious heart or not, Namgung Cheon continued speaking while scanning the gathered crowd.
“Even if we reassemble the Azure Eagle Squad, we don’t have the financial power to maintain them anyway, do we?”
“Then are you saying you can solve that?”
“I am saying I can.”
“With what confidence on earth can you say such a…”
“You will see if you just watch. Whether I can do it or not. And if I fail, you can curse me or cast me out then as you please.”
Now, not only Namgung Hwa but also the other high-ranking leaders had their mouths wide open and could not close them.
However, since every single word he uttered was correct, they could not particularly scold him.
Namgung Cheon continued speaking clearly.
“I will reassemble the Azure Eagle Squad, lead them, and resolve the issue of the commercial district in Yixian. If I do, won’t my qualifications be proven?”
Because he acted so confidently, it strangely looked like a clash of pride between Namgung Seol-hui and Namgung Cheon.
In fact, this was exactly what Namgung Cheon had aimed for.
In most cases, when opinions conflicted sharply, the facts would eventually become irrelevant and escalate into a battle of pride.
Furthermore, it would be even more so if the opposing opponent was as young as he was now.
Sure enough, an infuriated Namgung Seol-hui roared.
“Fine! Then try it if you can!”
She took the bait!
While Namgung Cheon cheered inwardly, Namgung Pyo was startled and stopped her.
“Sister! This is not an issue to be resolved emotionally!”
“You stay out of this.”
“Sister!”
“Did that child not say it? That he would assemble the Azure Eagle Squad and reclaim Yixian’s commercial district.”
“That is…”
Namgung Pyo was about to reply reflexively, but quickly shut his mouth upon seeing Namgung Seol-hui’s expression.
‘I see. Sister intends to completely bury that child right now. Perhaps that is also a way!’
Having reached this realization, Namgung Pyo nodded and stepped back.
“Understood, if that is indeed your wish, Sister.”
Namgung Seol-hui turned back to Namgung Cheon.
“Since you confidently spat those words from your own mouth, I believe you will surely accomplish it.”
“Of course.”
“However!”
“…?”
“Trust in the Clan Leader is something that bears the fate of the clan. If you fail to keep the words you uttered, what do you intend to do?”
‘I knew you would react like this.’
Namgung Cheon pretended to think deeply before shrugging his shoulders and asking back.
“What would you like me to do?”
“Leave.”
“Excuse me?”
“Leave on your own two feet. From the main family.”
“…!”
In an instant, an icy silence settled over the room.
Moments later, as someone opened their mouth, a stir spread like ripples.
To leave the main family.
In a word, did that not mean she would remove him from the family registry?
However, no one expressed the opinion that the words were too harsh.
Instead, everyone merely nodded as if they had been inwardly waiting for those words.
Except for one single person.
“Aunt! That is too…”
“What is too much? If the one who is to become the Young Patriarch thoughtlessly spits out words he cannot keep, what will become of this clan in the future? The Young Patriarch means the one who will eventually become the Clan Leader. The future of the main family. And yet, you would challenge this without even that much resolve?”
“Even so…”
Namgung Hwa tried to step forward again, but Namgung Geom raised his hand to stop her.
Namgung Geom’s cold gaze drifted toward Namgung Seol-hui once before flying back to Namgung Cheon.
“Seol-hui’s words also make sense. The Young Patriarch is the future of the main family. It is by no means a light position. One must know how to take responsibility for the words they uttered themselves. What will you do? Are you prepared to accept this?”
Now, everyone’s gaze directed toward Namgung Cheon’s mouth.
Namgung Seol-hui harbored a sneer inwardly.
‘How is it, you brat? You must want to take back your words right this instant, don’t you? Kneel down and beg for forgiveness even now. Then we won’t go so far as to remove you from the family registry. Although the main family has declined to this point, did you think just anyone could become the Young Patriarch…’
“Of course I should be prepared for at least that much. I will accept it.”
What?
She said she would remove him from the family registry?
Namgung Seol-hui’s pupils trembled violently, but Namgung Pyo, who sat opposite her, quietly sneered and sent her a look.
‘Rather, this is for the best. We will be able to completely expel that fellow from the main family on this occasion.’
Even so, Namgung Seol-hui could not wipe the displeased look from her face.
Namgung Geom nodded.
“Understood. Then from this moment on, assemble the Azure Eagle Squad and reclaim the commercial district of Yixian.”
“Understood.”
“Wait a moment!”
The person who stepped forward abruptly again was Namgung Seol-hui.
She scanned the crowd and continued speaking.
“What about the time limit? We must set a time limit as well. Since we cannot just wait endlessly while the years pass by.”
“How long do you think is good?”
“Well. Shouldn’t it be resolved within three months at the latest?”
As Namgung Seol-hui spoke, Namgung Pyo shook his head.
“If he is that confident, he should be able to solve it in just two months. Let us give him a time limit of two months.”
“Brother, Sisters. In my opinion, even two months is too long. How about one month?”
“Still, wouldn’t one month be too tight?”
“Then how about giving him an additional half-month on top of one month?”
Namgung Cheon let out a hollow laugh at Namgung Won’s words.
These old geezers were really too much.
They couldn’t solve it for years, and they wanted me to do it in what? One month?
Now, even the high-ranking leaders stepped in and began to hold a heated debate over whether it should be one month or two.
Eventually, Namgung Cheon clapped his hands together.
“Is there any need to be so serious over something like that?”
“…?”
“I will resolve it within fifteen days. If I fail, I will walk out on my own accord.”
“…!”
* * *
Bok-seong panted as he climbed up the hill overlooking the village of Shexian near Mount Huang.
“Huff, puff…! Young Master. Please go a bit slower.”
“We only have fifteen days.”
“Why did you do that then? The family members already consider you an eyesore, so why fifteen days?”
“Then what?”
“Pardon?”
“Are you saying I should live quietly with bated breath just because they consider me an eyesore?”
“Oh, that is not what I meant. I just mean we shouldn’t at least give them an excuse. Resolving those matters in fifteen days is actually impossible…”
“Bok-seong.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
When Namgung Cheon called him with an unprecedentedly serious expression, Bok-seong bowed his head in a slightly tense manner.
Namgung Cheon asked while looking down at the village.
“Do you know what one must do when the world puts them to the test?”
“Well. Shouldn’t we pass that test?”
“Yes, that’s right. Then another question.”
“…?”
“Do you know what one must do to live and share meals with those who consider them an eyesore?”
“…”
“It is one of two options. Prostrate flat and crawl for the rest of your life, or rise completely above them.”
“That is a very difficult problem.”
“Is there anything in life that is easy?”
“That is true, but…”
Bok-seong nodded his head while massaging the back of his neck.
Looking at him at times like this, did Namgung Cheon not seem much more like an adult than himself?
Namgung Cheon turned back to Bok-seong with eyes full of bright light.
Because that gaze was so cold and firm, Bok-seong gulped involuntarily and waited for his words.
“If the world puts you to the test, you must be at a level where you can trample that test. Otherwise, the world will refuse to acknowledge you to the very end. Merely passing it comfortably is not enough.”
“Still, fifteen days is too…”
“It is just right. Only then would it be at the level of tearing apart the test they threw at me. Now, let’s go.”
“Yes, Young Master. But please be careful. The Azure Eagle Squad Leader is very sensitive these days due to family matters, and toward you, he is not particularly…”
“Friendly?”
When Bok-seong nodded without denying it, Namgung Cheon waved his hand dismissively.
“Why bring that up now? It does not matter. Whether he has goodwill or not, it is fine as long as he listens well.”
“Will he listen well when there is no goodwill?”
“I must make him listen. If everything you told me is true, he will listen well.”
As Namgung Cheon strode forward, Bok-seong quickly followed behind him.
Entering the village, Namgung Cheon went straight to the house of the Azure Eagle Squad Leader as guided by Bok-seong.
It was a thatched cottage so shabby that it was hard to believe it belonged to someone who had served as a squad leader of a great clan.
“Is anyone home?”
Bok-seong called out loudly as he opened the brushwood gate.
“Is Azure Eagle Squad Leader Son U-gon not here?”
However, there was no sign of presence inside the house.
Bok-seong tilted his head and looked back at Namgung Cheon.
“It seems no one is home.”
“No, they are here.”
“Pardon?”
Just then, the worn door opened, and an emaciated woman revealed herself.
“Who is it?”
The woman’s appearance was so gaunt that it was difficult to look at her with open eyes; dark shadows hung under her eyes, and both cheeks were so hollowed out that she looked almost like a mummy.
When the woman, who looked as if she might collapse at any moment, coughed into a cloth, dark, reddish-black blood seeped out.
“Oh dear, are you alright?”
As Bok-seong fretted, the woman smiled awkwardly and waved her hand.
“I am sorry. My body is not very well. But who might you be?”
“Ah, we are from the Namgung Clan. We came looking for Squad Leader Son U-gon.”
Bok-seong did not bother to introduce Namgung Cheon.
Because he knew better than anyone that almost no one had a good impression of Namgung Cheon.
The woman gasped for breath with difficulty and replied.
“He has gone out now and has not returned yet.”
“When will he return?”
“I do not know. Would you… like to wait inside?”
Bok-seong glanced at Namgung Cheon.
His expression asked if it would be better to return next time since the woman did not look well.
Namgung Cheon nodded and stepped forward.
“Let us head back for today. Before that…”
“…?”
“May I take your pulse for a moment?”
“Mine…?”
When Namgung Cheon nodded, the woman hesitated for a moment before offering her wrist with a resigned expression.
“Go ahead.”
Namgung Cheon strode over and grabbed the woman’s wrist. Soon after, as he infused a stream of internal energy, the internal energy flowing through the woman’s body was grasped in detail through the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes.
‘It is quite serious.’
It was at that moment.
“Who are you bastards! Let go of that hand this instant!”
Turning at the sudden roar, a middle-aged man with copper skin and a robust build stood there with a fierce expression.
He was indeed the Azure Eagle Squad Leader, Son U-gon.
Upon recognizing Namgung Cheon, Son U-gon raised his eyebrows sharply.
“Are you the Great Killing Star’s bastard son?”