Chapter 130: Empty-handed Come, Empty-handed Go (4)
Chapter 129 – Empty-handed Come, Empty-handed Go (4)
Namgung Pyo, who had hastily blurted out the words, stole a glance at him, but Namgung Geom also quietly nodded, adding weight to his order.
As the members of the Azure Eagle Squad withdrew, the commoners who had swarmed in wore even more triumphant expressions as they shouted.
“We have only one thing to say! We oppose the Namgung Clan taking back the commercial rights of Yixian!”
“That’s right! I feel the same way!”
“Namgung Clan, do not interfere in the commercial rights of Yixian!”
Then, another commoner, who had entered at some point, pointed a finger and shouted.
“What do you mean by that? How much has the Shining Monk Association tormented us all this time! Why are you saying such a thing?”
He was none other than the owner of the Yixian Tavern.
Having heard about what had happened last night from the waiter, he had come to verify the truth with his own eyes and witnessed the current situation.
However, the merchants who had swarmed in earlier did not back down easily either.
“The Shining Monk Association did use somewhat harsh methods. But it wasn’t as if they didn’t do their job! Thanks to them, thieves and bandits didn’t run rampant in our Yixian.”
“How can you call that a justification! The Shining Monk Association, which took absurd exorbitant profits, was the real band of thieves and bandits!”
“That’s right! The Shining Monk Association was practically a band of bandits!”
A few merchants agreed with the owner of the Yixian Tavern and stepped forward.
At this, the merchants who had arrived first shook their heads.
“It seems everyone has forgotten.”
“Forgotten what?”
“Have you completely forgotten that the Namgung Clan was the one who handed Yixian over to the Shining Monk Association in the first place?”
“…….”
As the opposing merchants fell silent, the man shouted with even greater momentum.
“I can never accept the Namgung Clan! When their family’s fortunes declined a bit, they sold us out to the Shining Monk Association! And now they want to take control of the commercial rights again? Hmph! In my eyes, the Shining Monk Association and the Namgung Clan are the exact same kind of people!”
“But the Namgung Clan doesn’t take exorbitant profits…….”
“When the Shining Monk Association was taking those exorbitant profits, what did the Namgung Clan do? What did they do right? Did they ever reach out to help us even once while we were suffering under the Shining Monk Association?”
“…….”
The commoners who had welcomed the Namgung Clan shut their mouths one after another.
Namgung Pyo, who was watching this process, wore a faint smile.
This was exactly how the world worked.
It never flowed in only one direction.
People’s hearts were like reeds, and public sentiment was bound to sway this way and that according to the wind blowing at any given moment.
Right now, a headwind was blowing.
Accordingly, public sentiment was also being swept away by the headwind.
Namgung Pyo glanced at Namgung Cheon with a mocking expression.
‘Look at that. You were conceited in front of everyone, and now you are paying the price for your conceit.’
Clearing his throat after putting his thoughts to rest, Namgung Pyo directed a sharp question at Namgung Cheon.
“You said there would be no repercussions. What on earth is all this? How did you handle the matter for the commoners to oppose you instead?”
“Hey, you should speak accurately. They aren’t opposing me, they’re opposing the Namgung Clan.”
“What? Even if that is so, are you just going to stand by and watch this situation? If they do not accept our clan, can we really say we have reclaimed the commercial rights of Yixian?”
At Namgung Pyo’s point, Namgung Seol-hui, Namgung Hwa, and Namgung Geom turned their gazes toward him.
Namgung Hwa sighed inwardly, but she still thought Namgung Pyo’s point made sense.
‘In any case, if opposition arises when our clan attempts to reclaim the commercial rights, it will be difficult to proceed with the work. Although this is a harsh environment for Cheon, this must also be a task he has to overcome. Cheon, what are you going to do now?’
Contrary to Namgung Hwa’s concerns, Namgung Cheon still wore a relaxed expression.
Namgung Pyo pressed him with a cold smirk.
“Go ahead and speak. Can you resolve this situation as well?”
Even as he asked the question, he considered the answer as good as decided. Rather than resolving it, it would be fortunate if he didn’t make it worse.
“In the end, the person who made the mess is someone else, and the one who cleans it up is always someone like me…….”
“I’ll resolve it, then.”
“Right, of course you would resolve—what?”
“Shall I do it now?”
“R-right now? Do what?”
“Resolve it.”
“R-resolve it……?”
Namgung Pyo’s eyes grew as wide as lanterns.
No, it wasn’t as if he were just cooking rice in a pot. He was going to resolve it right now?
‘Ha! Just because you got lucky with handling one task, you’ve become completely arrogant! Did you think I would coax you to take it slowly if you acted like that? It will never go your way!’
Perhaps this was for the best.
It would be good to teach him the weight of his words at this opportunity and ensure he would never covet the position of Young Patriarch again.
Namgung Pyo slightly twisted the corners of his mouth and raised his chin.
“Fine, resolve it right now.”
“Uncle. That makes no sense…….”
Namgung Hwa quickly stepped in to stop him, but Namgung Pyo responded coldly.
“That boy said he could do it. A Young Patriarch must know how to feel the weight of his words. Since he blurted it out from his own mouth, he will keep it. Namgung Cheon! Let’s see you resolve it just as you said. Right now!”
Namgung Hwa looked at her father, hoping for help, but Namgung Geom merely observed the situation with an entirely expressionless face throughout.
As she quietly let out a sigh, Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and walked away with deliberate steps.
“Then I will be back after resolving it.”
Not only Namgung Hwa but also Namgung Pyo gaped in disbelief.
Was he not displaying an attitude as innocent as a child going out for a stroll?
Meanwhile, as Namgung Cheon walked over, the commoners who had been protesting in a furious rage faltered and drew back.
Then, one of them gathered his courage, stepped closer to Namgung Cheon, and lifted his chin.
“W-what is it?”
“You seem to have a lot of complaints.”
“O-of course! What has the Namgung Clan ever done for us all this time? Do we look like we wouldn’t have any complaints? Now?”
“We haven’t done anything. And in the future, we have even less to do for a bastard like you.”
“What?!”
“Because I like people who listen well.”
“W-what are you talking about! Is the Namgung Clan intimidating helpless commoners right now?”
Namgung Cheon cracked his knuckles with a loud pop.
“I don’t know if you’re a helpless commoner, but it is true that I am intimidating you.”
“What in the……!”
Thwack!
In an instant, Namgung Cheon’s fist struck the commoner’s face, and the watching members of the Namgung Clan gaped so wide their jaws nearly dislocated.
‘T-that crazy bastard!’
Although Namgung Pyo was dumbfounded, he inwardly thought that the issue of the Young Patriarch was finished with this.
Namgung Hwa was so shocked that she could not even think of anything.
However, Namgung Cheon’s shocking behavior did not end here.
The commoner, who had slumped down with a nosebleed, screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Aigo, I’m dying! The Namgung Clan is beating someone! They are thrashing a helpless commoner! Help! Help……!”
Whoosh, crack!
In the next moment, Namgung Cheon mercilessly kicked the man’s stomach.
Crash!
Sent flying just like that, the commoner collided with the wall and went limp.
His arm was bent at a bizarre angle, and judging from how his upper abdomen looked crushed and abnormal, it was clear that several of his ribs were also broken.
The ones who were shocked now included the observing commoners as well.
The corners of Namgung Pyo’s eyes, who was gaping open-mouthed, began to curve slightly.
This was the end.
‘I knew he would do that. A bastard without any roots thrashes a commoner under the guise of resolving the matter? This crazy……!’
He spun around and shouted so that everyone could hear.
“Sister! Look at that! It seems a person’s innate nature cannot be helped! As expected of the Great Killing Star’s bastard child, look at him throwing a fist instead of resolving it with words! How can he beat a helpless commoner so recklessly? Is that our clan’s way? How on earth could such a…….”
“You, be quiet.”
When Namgung Seol-hui reacted with unexpected coldness, Namgung Pyo asked in surprise.
“S-sister?”
“…….”
Instead of replying, Namgung Seol-hui narrowed her eyes and gazed intently at Namgung Cheon.
Indeed, Namgung Cheon’s response completely shattered her expectations.
However, since this was not the first time Namgung Cheon had shattered expectations, she was not particularly surprised.
‘If you didn’t really come this far by luck, there must be a rationale behind what you did just now.’
Meanwhile, when Namgung Seol-hui did not agree with him, Namgung Pyo ran over to the patriarch and vented his anger.
“Brother! Does this make any sense right now? Look at that fellow! He beat a commoner! This is not something we can just overlook! Namgung Cheon, you bastard! How dare you use physical force to suppress helpless commoners! What is the meaning of this!”
By this point, the observing commoners also began to whisper and scan the room.
Namgung Cheon approached Namgung Pyo.
“Helpless commoner, you say. You sound exactly like that guy.”
“What?”
“Listening to the voice of the commoners is good, but is it not also a virtue of the Young Patriarch to distinguish which is genuine?”
“Just what are you saying……!”
While Namgung Pyo raised his eyebrows high, Namgung Cheon pulled out a ledger from his robe and offered it to Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom, who had merely watched quietly until now, narrowed his eyes slightly and asked.
“Can you explain?”
“Everything is recorded in this ledger.”
Namgung Geom stared at the ledger with a cold gaze, then looked at Namgung Cheon.
His eyes seemed to ask what kind of ledger it was.
“It is a list of other apostate monks who have colluded with the Shining Monk Association and masqueraded as commoners. About thirty percent of Yixian’s commercial rights are composed of such bastards, and that fellow just now is one of them.”
“Is it reliable?”
“This ledger contains facts directly admitted by the lecher…… no, the Leader of the Shining Monk Association. There is no mistake.”
As Namgung Cheon turned around after speaking, the dozen or so commoners who had swarmed in hiccuped and retreated.
Namgung Cheon took a large stride forward and continued.
“For such fellows, our clan reclaiming Yixian’s commercial rights would never be to their liking. Since all the benefits they have enjoyed so far will vanish. Isn’t that right?”
“Uh…… w-well…… w-we are…….”
The crowd of a dozen or so who had appeared in high spirits faltered and backed away.
Namgung Cheon went and stood in front of them, resting his weight on one leg.
“Now, let us have a conversation again. You seemed to have a lot of complaints earlier. Why don’t you spout them off once more?”
“Ah…… it wasn’t exactly a complaint…… hehe!”
The people’s faces turned pale.
Namgung Cheon approached them step by step.
The scent of a grim reaper drifted from him.
It was not a flesh-cutting killing intent, nor did it carry a fishy scent of blood.
It was simply an aura of death surrounding his entire body.
That strangely chilling atmosphere pressured the people.
The restless people suddenly prostrated flat on the ground and began to bang their foreheads against it.
“W-we have committed a mortal sin! Please, spare our lives!”
A situation that was practically a confession.
With this, the expression of the once-triumphant Namgung Pyo also turned dark.
Namgung Cheon stood in front of them and curled his lips.
“Why is everyone acting like this? If anyone saw, they would think I’m killing people.”
Namgung Cheon turned back to Namgung Geom and asked.
“How should we handle them?”
“It is a matter you started. Finish it yourself as well.”
“May I do it my way?”
“Do it your way.”
Once Namgung Geom gave his permission, Namgung Cheon turned back with a wicked smile.
He cracked his neck with a loud pop and let out a grim voice.
“Our monks with non-shiny heads. Shall we lay down everything at this point and practice non-possession in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings? Or would you rather get beaten?”
“Uh…… still, taking away everything in this manner is a bit…….”
The apostate monks, who kept backing away until they were blocked by the wall, felt a chilling sensation and swallowed dry saliva.
In an instant, Namgung Cheon emanated a cold aura and wore a wicked smile. Soon after, he whispered like a demon.
“What did you say? Your voice is too quiet, I can’t hear well. Why don’t you speak up a bit?”
At that moment, the most gentle Buddhist smiles appeared on the faces of the dozen or so apostate monks.
They responded in unison.
“Is life not originally about coming empty-handed and going empty-handed? Empty-handed come, empty-handed go. Amitabha.”