Chapter 120: Shining Bald Head (1)
Chapter 119 – Shining Bald Head (1)
“Good morning, Sister.”
Namgung Pyo came to visit Namgung Seol-hui today as well, wearing a broad grin.
Namgung Seol-hui, who had been sitting cross-legged and regulating her breathing, slowly gathered her energy and opened her eyes slightly.
“What is so good?”
“Haha, isn’t there only nine days left now? Once nine days pass, that eyesore of a bastard will have to leave the main family.”
“I told you that removing someone from the family register is not that easy.”
“Of course, but can’t we arrange for him to be shoved away in some remote place for a few years?”
“He is still your grandnephew.”
“He is your grandnephew too, Sister.”
“Do you hate the child that much?”
“Isn’t that the same for you, Sister?”
At Namgung Pyo’s words, Namgung Seol-hui slowly got up from her seat and walked to the window.
She looked up at the sky and muttered as if to herself.
“Well. I do not know anymore either.”
“What do you mean by that? Don’t tell me you have grown attached to that bastard?”
“Nonsense. How much have I even seen of him?”
“But to say such things…”
“I saw Seon in that child.”
“Well, he is Seon’s son, so…”
“I do not mean it that way. I am saying I saw his mother in that child’s eyes.”
“Are you saying that rascal misses his mother?”
Namgung Seol-hui nodded and turned around.
“It seemed that way.”
“You certainly are sentimental, Sister.”
“I hear all kinds of things.”
“I couldn’t tell at all.”
“It is not a matter of sentimentality, but a matter of observation. For a martial artist, closely observing others is also a talent…”
“Now, now, let us skip the tedious talk. I am also at an age where I have entered my golden years.”
Namgung Seol-hui was about to say another word out of habit, but closed her mouth.
Was he not a younger brother who could hardly accept even a single word, even if she spoke a hundred? Of course, the problem was that he himself always mistakenly believed that he listened to everything submissively.
‘I wonder when he will ever grow up.’
As Namgung Seol-hui clicked her tongue and turned away, Namgung Pyo noticed the awkward atmosphere and said with a grin.
“Don’t be like that, and let’s go outside together.”
“No need.”
“They say the Azure Eagle Squad is gathering in the front yard soon.”
“The Azure Eagle Squad?”
“Yes. It seems they might declare their refusal to submit. The rumor is already rife among the servants.”
“Is it certain?”
“It seems to be true to some extent. I heard that even yesterday, the bastard ran away in the middle of the spar. Good grief.”
“He ran away?”
“Yes, they say the Azure Eagle Squad members shouted at the fleeing Cheon to spar more. Yet, he reportedly came down the hill without even looking back. What is that if not running away? He probably felt he couldn’t handle it once they actually clashed swords.”
“Did you have a servant spy again?”
“Spying? Isn’t it only natural to closely monitor family matters?”
“Tsk… I told you not to act so frivolously.”
Even as Namgung Seol-hui rebuked him, she could not erase her inner disappointment in Namgung Cheon.
‘When did he step forward as if he were so great, only to run away? Pathetic…!’
Had there been a story that he fought back like a stubborn demon even after being beaten half to death, she might have thought otherwise.
But to abandon the squad members who wanted to continue the spar after clashing swords a few times and run away?
‘I had my doubts, but as expected. What on earth was Brother thinking, choosing such a child…’
While Namgung Seol-hui shook her head, the door opened and Namgung Won entered.
“Sister, ah, you were here as well, Brother.”
Namgung Seol-hui narrowed her eyes and rebuked him.
“Where on earth do you leave your manners every time…”
“Sister, more importantly, the entire Azure Eagle Squad has gathered in the front yard. Won’t you go out and see?”
For once, even Namgung Seol-hui’s interest was piqued, so she stopped talking and fell into thought.
Namgung Pyo quickly egged her on.
“Sister, it is a matter concerning the Young Patriarch after all. Let’s go out to see how things are going with our own eyes. We can also take a look at the faces of the Azure Eagle Squad members for the first time in a while.”
It was somewhat reasonable.
Moreover, she was curious about how the Azure Eagle Squad would present their justification if they declared their refusal to submit.
Namgung Seol-hui nodded.
“Very well. Lead the way.”
“Yes, let’s go, Sister.”
Namgung Won turned around again and began to lead the way. Namgung Pyo followed him with an excited heart, and Namgung Seol-hui moved her steps with her usual cold expression.
Moving along the relatively short corridor, they turned the corner, and indeed, the Azure Eagle Squad stood assembled, looking sharp.
‘It has been a long time.’
Seeing the Azure Eagle Squad, Namgung Seol-hui felt her heart swell slightly.
Seeing their sharply honed aura, the thought that they were indeed an elite organization naturally came to mind.
Captain Son U-gon, who had reached the Transcendental Realm, and Vice-Captain Cha Mu-jin, who stood at the cusp of the Peak Realm, and squad members who would not be considered weak wherever they were put.
It could be said that the only reason these precious talents still remained in the Namgung Clan was out of affection and loyalty.
Yet, they were told to waste such people on that greenhorn of a boy…
‘They had no choice but to be furious.’
Namgung Seol-hui, Namgung Pyo, and Namgung Won stopped their steps a short distance away and did not approach any further.
For they wished to avoid provoking the disgruntled Azure Eagle Squad members and having the sparks fly towards them.
Thus, they simply watched in silence from a distance relatively far for exchanging greetings.
Namgung Seol-hui lowered her voice and asked Namgung Won.
“Has the child not come yet?”
“Yes, he has not appeared yet.”
“What else could someone like him do but hide? With them honing their sharp aura like that, he would be lucky not to get beaten to a pulp if he showed his face.”
“I told you to maintain your dignity.”
At Namgung Seol-hui’s stern scolding, Namgung Pyo bowed his head.
“I apologize, Sister. I was just angry for no reason. Running away in the middle of a spar? Good grief!”
“Let us watch for now. If that child has any sense, he will not leave the Azure Eagle Squad neglected like that indefinitely.”
“I am also curious. What kind of expression will Cheon have when he appears?”
At Namgung Won’s words, Namgung Pyo laughed.
“Isn’t it obvious without even looking? He would be lucky not to show up crying, completely intimidated—”
It was then.
Clack!
The side door of the yard burst open, and Namgung Cheon appeared.
“Yaaaawn!”
Yet, contrary to everyone’s expectations, was he not stretching languidly and yawning?
Namgung Cheon happened to open his eyes slightly, looked at the Azure Eagle Squad, and spat out nonchalantly.
“What? Do you guys not sleep?”
The expression of Namgung Pyo, who was watching, crumpled instantly.
‘That pathetic…! He must have just woken up and doesn’t understand the situation! Once you hear Captain Son’s words, you will faint… Huh?’
But was Son U-gon not approaching Namgung Cheon with the most benevolent smile in the world and whispering softly?
“My Lord, the sun is high in the sky.”
At that moment, the three people, including Namgung Seol-hui, seemed to freeze on the spot.
Namgung Pyo and Namgung Won stared blankly at each other.
What did Captain Son just say?
Lord? Lo-o-ord?
Whether the two did so or not, Namgung Cheon scratched his head roughly and said.
“Hmm. Come to think of it, it’s already that time. Shall we head out to Yixian soon?”
“Yes, My Lord. We are ready.”
“Understood. Then wait a moment. I will go change my clothes and come out.”
“Yes, My Lord. As of today, the Azure Eagle Squad will dedicate our full loyalty to you!”
As Son U-gon cupped his fists and bowed his head, the Azure Eagle Squad members lined up behind him knelt on one knee in unison and shouted in one voice.
“We will show our utmost loyalty!”
Perhaps because they had infused internal energy into their voices, it was a resounding shout that made the roof tiles rattle.
At a sight they had not expected in the slightest, Namgung Seol-hui, Namgung Pyo, and Namgung Won each opened their mouths wide and froze like stone.
Only Namgung Cheon waved his hand dismissively, opened the door, and went inside.
“Why are you shouting so loudly about something so obvious?”
* * *
‘No, what on earth happened here?’
Jang Won-sik did his best to suppress his discomfort as he looked at Namgung Cheon sitting opposite him.
The stories that reached his ears until just this morning were completely different.
The story that Namgung Cheon had sparred with the Azure Eagle Squad yesterday, and ended up running away because he could not withstand it.
And the story that the Azure Eagle Squad, furious, had flocked to the Namgung Clan in a crowd since morning.
He had thought that it would finally end that way.
But now this was…
“Is this Huangshan Maofeng?”
At the sound of Namgung Cheon’s innocent question, Jang Won-sik snapped out of his thoughts and nodded.
“Indeed.”
Even as Jang Won-sik replied half-heartedly, he stared intently at Son U-gon and Cha Mu-jin standing behind Namgung Cheon.
‘Are they really the ones who supposedly went to confront Namgung Cheon? At this rate, they look completely like lackeys.’
“Why are you looking like that? Do you have business with my boys?”
At Namgung Cheon’s words, Jang Won-sik quickly snapped back to his senses.
But soon, his mind went blank.
‘My boys? Did he just refer to the Captain and Vice-Captain of the Azure Eagle Squad as his boys?’
Even so, the two showed no reaction whatsoever.
They simply stood like totem poles, guarding Namgung Cheon’s back.
‘Good grief!’
While he was too dumbfounded to speak, Namgung Cheon opened his mouth again.
“Still, it’s quite livable here.”
“Hmm?”
“Ah, because I returned after halfway crossing to the underworld. When I came to, all my memories were gone. And the place called the Namgung Clan was completely ruined, looking like a beggar’s nest.”
Whose fault is that, you brat!
‘I know. I know it’s because of me. Even so, don’t glare at me so openly with that kind of face.’
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and smirked.
“But here, you serve precious famous tea. I also see things worth money here and there. It looks good.”
It wasn’t as if some thief had come to scope out the place.
Jang Won-sik was dumbfounded inwardly, but he controlled his mind and responded.
“I am glad to hear that. In fact, the commercial district of Yixian was handed over at the very end among the jurisdictions held by the Namgung Clan. So there is still some leeway left.”
“Let’s hear the details.”
“Hmm. It is embarrassing to say, but the situation is like this.”
Originally, the commercial district of Yixian was managed by the Namgung Clan.
Since that tradition had continued for hundreds of years, it was difficult to even imagine another force seizing control of Yixian’s commercial district.
However, everything changed rapidly after the Namgung Clan became entangled with the Great Killing Star.
When the Jianghu turned its back, the clan began to decline, and as the clan declined, the world also began to turn its back one by one.
Ultimately, when the family fortune declined to its lowest, they had no choice but to hand over the commercial district of Yixian to another force.
Although many reached out, they all blatantly ignored the Namgung Clan and only put their greed first.
In the midst of that, what appeared was…
“The Shining Monk Association?”
“Indeed.”
“Shining Monk Association… Well, bald monks’ heads do shine.”
What do you mean shine, you brat!
Jang Won-sik shook his head and continued.
“In any case, that Shining Monk Association said at first that they would take over the commercial district with truly good intentions. They were all gentle men, and their martial arts were also outstanding, so we thought they would protect Yixian well.”
“But when you opened it up, it wasn’t the case, was it?”
Jang Won-sik let out a sigh.
“It is all due to my carelessness. Who would have known that monks would turn so vicious? Caring for the Namgung Clan was all a lie, and devoting themselves to sentient beings was all empty talk. They were actually defrocked monks who were expelled for failing to keep the precepts at Mount Jiuhua. They formed a coalition, and that was their group.”
Mount Jiuhua in Anhui Province had been a famous Buddhist site since ancient times. The number of temples alone was countless.
Therefore, it was not unusual for those who became defrocked monks to drift into nearby Yixian.
The problem was that once they took control of the commercial district, they did not hesitate to commit all kinds of atrocities. Charging exorbitant profits was basic, and they also engaged in threats, verbal abuse, and violence.
“Since then, I have made countless efforts to reclaim the commercial district of Yixian. However, the Shining Monk Association demanded a price five times higher than what they bought it for.”
Namgung Cheon jumped up from his seat.
“Understood. Then I will be on my way now.”
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“Where else? I have to make sure those shining heads cannot run wild anymore.”
“R-Right now…?”
“Yes, as you know, I do not have much time. Farewell.”
“W-Wait a moment! They are truly terrifying people. Why else would they be called the Mad Monk Association, using the character for ‘madness’ instead of ‘light’? It is common to hear that they do not hesitate to rape or murder…”
“All the more reason to trample them so they can never run wild again.”
Namgung Cheon spat cold words and turned away without any regret.