Chapter 118: Get in Line (1)
Chapter 117 – Get in Line (1)
“The wind has gotten quite chilly.”
Namgung Seol-hui, setting down her teacup, looked out the window with calm eyes.
Only a few leaves remained on the bare branches.
It was the kind of weather that made one feel it was past late autumn and already early winter.
“Tsk. I don’t know what on earth we are doing. We need to prepare for winter, yet here we are wasting our time.”
Namgung Pyo, sitting opposite her, clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Namgung Seol-hui let out a shallow sigh.
“What choice do we have? The matter will be decided in a fortnight, and we cannot simply return and come back in the meantime.”
“No, sister, do you think that makes any sense? How on earth is someone like him supposed to resolve that problem in just a fortnight?”
“It must be youthful bravado.”
“You are too kind, sister. Packaging it as mere bravado.”
“Is that packaging?”
“It is. To me, that is not bravado, but sheer madness. He is out of his mind.”
“Your words lack dignity. Although the main clan is currently lying low, we were once a family that stood at the center of Jianghu. Refrain from such light speech.”
“Honestly, I cannot speak kindly when I look at that fellow. Think about it. A fortnight? Five days have already passed. He only blabbered such reckless words because he mistook his lucky victory at the Joint Conference for his own skills. Well, it is a good thing that we are removing his name from the family registry this time, anyway.”
“He is a clever child.”
“What do you mean?”
Namgung Seol-hui spoke again as she raised her teacup.
“Whether it was luck or not, he is a child who rose as a Divine Dragon by winning the Joint Conference. If the main clan casts out such a child, rumors will inevitably spread. What if the main clan casts him out when public favor toward him is on the rise?”
“You mean the main clan might be pointed at with accusing fingers.”
“Yes. Perhaps the boy calculated even that far. Otherwise…”
“Otherwise?”
Or he was truly confident he could pull it off.
However, Namgung Seol-hui swallowed that thought.
No matter how she thought about it, that was impossible.
Five days had already passed.
The remaining time was ten days.
Forget about recovering the commercial rights of Yixian; just reconvening the Azure Eagle Squad would be a major feat.
“Sister.”
At Namgung Pyo’s call, Namgung Seol-hui raised her head.
“……?”
“In any case, that bastard will fail to even assemble the Azure Eagle Squad and meet his end. Then, even if we cannot kick him out, shouldn’t we at least decide on the young patriarch?”
“And?”
“Pil’s martial arts have improved quite a bit lately.”
“Do you mean you want to make your son the young patriarch?”
“He is also your nephew, sister.”
Namgung Seol-hui chuckled.
“Is he not a bit too old to target the position of young patriarch?”
“Does age matter? Brother also became the young patriarch at a late age. If needed, there is also my grandson.”
“You had no interest in the young patriarch’s position before, did you?”
“Have the circumstances not changed?”
Namgung Pyo muttered with a faint smile.
His honesty was transparent enough to see right through him.
Yet, Namgung Seol-hui did not view it negatively.
Was that not simply how human psychology worked?
People hated to even cast a shadow on a declining household, but would desperately try to sneak a spoon onto the table of a household on the rise.
It was better to come forward openly asking for cooperation like this rather than pretending otherwise.
Namgung Seol-hui nodded.
“There is no need to ask. That is only natural.”
“Thank you, sister.”
“However, if by some chance that child, within a fortnight…”
Namgung Seol-hui stopped mid-sentence and soon shook her head.
Yes, that was impossible.
Namgung Pyo, guessing her thoughts, also chuckled.
“Sister, such a thing will not happen. You can assume that child poured out all the luck of his entire life at the Joint Conference. Miracles do not occur that often. By now, he is surely anxious because he cannot even assemble the Azure Eagle Squad…”
Right then, the door suddenly burst open.
When Namgung Seol-hui frowned and looked back, the youngest, Namgung Won, stood there panting.
Namgung Seol-hui rebuked him with an displeased expression.
“How can you not even observe basic etiquette…”
“Sister! Brother! That fellow assembled them!”
“What?”
“What do you mean?”
“My goodness, that fellow has reconvened the Azure Eagle Squad!”
The expressions of Namgung Seol-hui and Namgung Pyo stiffened.
Namgung Pyo sprang to his feet.
“What nonsense is that? Why would the Azure Eagle Squad…”
“I am telling you that the impossible has happened! All twenty members of the Azure Eagle Squad are gathered on the back mountain right now!”
“How could…! I must see this with my own two eyes.”
As Namgung Pyo made to stride out, Namgung Seol-hui’s voice caught his footsteps.
“Do not make a fuss.”
“Sister!”
“There is no need for us to show that we are shaken. He has only just assembled the Azure Eagle Squad. Recovering the commercial rights of Yixian is a different matter entirely.”
“Mmm.”
“If you run out in surprise to watch, that fellow will only become even more arrogant.”
Only then did Namgung Pyo calm his mind and sit down.
“I was rash.”
“Let us watch. Just how far that child will struggle.”
Namgung Seol-hui’s gaze drifted toward the bare branches outside the window.
* * *
Twenty martial artists were gathered on the hill.
Although they were all wearing their full uniforms, their expressions were uniformly harsh, suggesting they were full of discontent.
A martial artist with a long scar on his cheek grumbled to Son U-gon.
“Captain, are you serious?”
“Yes, I am serious. Do not ask any further.”
“Just what on earth did that bastard do?”
“Watch your mouth. He is the person who will become your master.”
“Captain! We gathered because of you, Captain! We still have not accepted that bastard as our master!”
“Think whatever you like. I will not force you. You may leave or stay here in ten days. I will not stop you beyond that.”
“Tsk, since you say so, Captain, we will endure for just ten days.”
As the scarred man grumbled, a clamor was heard from one side.
Turning their heads, they saw Namgung Cheon walking up the hill.
Son U-gon stepped forward to Namgung Cheon and clasped his hands.
“Have you arrived?”
“Yes. Did you gather all the boys?”
“Yes, everyone has been assembled.”
Namgung Cheon nodded and slowly scanned the members of the Azure Eagle Squad.
Every single member of the Azure Eagle Squad glared at Namgung Cheon with fierce eyes.
Although they had gathered at their captain’s command, it was clear they had no intention of accepting Namgung Cheon as their master yet.
Namgung Cheon shook his head.
“Well, you all look like you wouldn’t listen for the life of you.”
“……!”
Just as the members of the Azure Eagle Squad were about to flare up, Namgung Cheon spoke first.
“You guys don’t like me, do you? That is how men are. They never bend their waist to someone they do not respect. Indeed, that is how a true man should behave.”
“……?”
“So, I will give you a chance. Those who do not like me, step forward. I do not care if it is one or two, just come out.”
“What will you do if we step forward?”
When the scarred man asked sarcastically, Namgung Cheon looked back at him.
“Whether it is humans or beasts, they only listen after getting beaten.”
“Ha! So you are going to beat us? What kind of…”
“I am not saying I will beat you unilaterally by using my position. I am giving you a chance to have a fair duel.”
“A duel?”
The members of the Azure Eagle Squad murmured and looked at each other.
After a moment, the scarred man strode forward.
“Let us try it. If I truly win, can I go my own way like this?”
“Of course. Your name?”
“Park Chang-su.”
“Right. Anyone else stepping forward?”
As the squad members only exchanged glances, Cha Mu-jin, who had been standing in a corner, quietly stepped forward.
“Huh…? The Vice-Captain?”
“Then shall I step forward as well?”
Starting with Cha Mu-jin, five or six more squad members stepped forward.
Cha Mu-jin glared at Namgung Cheon and asked.
“If we truly win in a duel, will you let us go without a word?”
“I told you I would. Have you spent your whole life being deceived?”
“Very well. Let us try it.”
“No one else? Do not regret it later; step forward now while I am giving you the chance.”
But no one else stepped forward.
They all merely glanced at Son U-gon.
Since their captain did not step forward, they might have been respecting his intentions, or perhaps they thought to watch for now.
In any case, as no one else stepped forward, Namgung Cheon nodded.
“Seven in total. Now, let us begin. Who will attack first?”
As the situation escalated rapidly, Park Chang-su glanced back at Cha Mu-jin.
“Are we really doing this?”
“It seems so.”
“Ha! It seems he thinks winning the Joint Conference works in real combat too.”
As Park Chang-su murmured loud enough to be heard, Namgung Cheon turned his head and smirked.
“So you will find out once you try, you bastard.”
“What?”
“Why? Aren’t you guys going to become my boys anyway? Even if they aren’t boys I fathered, they are boys I will take in.”
“Damn it! Fine! Let us do this! Vice-Captain, may I go first?”
Cha Mu-jin narrowed his eyes, then soon nodded.
“Yes, do not let your guard down. He is still the winner of the Joint Conference.”
“I understand. Leave it to me.”
Park Chang-su strode forward and stood facing Namgung Cheon.
Fweeeeew.
A cold wind blew between the two, wildly fluttering a withered leaf.
Sheeeing.
As Park Chang-su drew his sword, a sharp qi burst forth, as if ready to hack their body to pieces at any moment.
Namgung Cheon’s gaze turned calm.
“You have good spirit.”
“Your acting relaxed ends here. You started this, so do not blame me.”
“Do you fight with your mouth?”
“Urgh…!”
Park Chang-su gnashed his teeth, then instantly kicked off the ground and lunged forward.
Thud, thud, thud!
“Then see how I fight with my body!”
Clang!
In the blink of an eye, the drawn Emerald Silk Sword blocked Park Chang-su’s sword.
‘A fast sword.’
Namgung Cheon instantly recognized Park Chang-su’s characteristic.
He mainly utilized the qi of the Earth phase.
‘It is fast, but excessively light. His footwork is hasty, too.’
Having finished his diagnosis, Namgung Cheon channeled the qi of the Wood phase, which counteracted the Earth phase.
The inner force running down Namgung Cheon’s fingertips and onto the blade penetrated Park Chang-su’s Earth-phase qi.
Just like tree roots burrowing into the soil!
Park Chang-su, feeling a sudden stinging pain, let out a short groan and retreated.
Clang!
“Urgh!”
Following that, Namgung Cheon swiftly rushed into Park Chang-su’s opening.
Swish!
“Huh!”
Park Chang-su tried to pull back in surprise, but a step ahead of him, Namgung Cheon extended his blade and slapped Park Chang-su’s calf with the flat of the sword.
“Bend your knees a bit more to add weight.”
Swoosh!
While Park Chang-su faltered, Namgung Cheon slipped behind him and tapped his Jianjing acupoint.
Tap!
“Gather your inner force a bit more when circulating it!”
“Argh!”
What on earth is he doing…!
Park Chang-su suppressed his rising annoyance and spun around.
Yet, Namgung Cheon had already moved behind him even faster.
Namgung Cheon struck a palm to the middle of his back.
Thud!
“Keep your toes light, but let the tip of your sword carry weight.”
Patter, patter!
Pushed from behind, Park Chang-su thrust his sword forward regardless of his own will.
It was an action to regain balance, but suddenly, Cha Mu-jin, who was standing opposite, found himself in a position where he had to parry the sword strike!
Clang!
Screech!
Parrying the sword with a deafening sound, Cha Mu-jin slid back by ten feet.
The two, who had exchanged blows in spite of themselves, widened their eyes and stared blankly at each other.
Before they could comprehend what had happened, Namgung Cheon’s voice drifted from behind Park Chang-su.
“Chang-su, remember that feeling well.”