Chapter 131: Because it's the Namgung Clan
Chapter 130 – Because it’s the Namgung Clan
As the apostate monks personally practiced non-possession and turned back without any lingering regrets, Namgung Cheon also returned, smacking his lips as if in disappointment.
Namgung Geom looked at Namgung Cheon and spoke.
“I heard a strange rumor on the way.”
“What do you mean?”
“That Patriarch Jang colluded with the Shining Monk Association?”
“Ah, yes. I was planning to guide you there anyway.”
“Guide us where?”
“I have accommodated Patriarch Jang in the Guest Hall here.”
At those words, the eyes of Namgung Pyo, who was observing the situation, narrowed.
‘Accommodated?’
Indeed.
From Namgung Cheon’s perspective, since Jang Won-sik was still a family elder, it would have been difficult to treat him recklessly.
Furthermore, wasn’t Namgung Cheon not even the official Young Patriarch yet?
Even if Jang Won-sik was suspected of a serious offense, it would have been awkward and cautious in many ways for a youth dealing with a family elder.
‘He is still young, after all. Wait, could letting that fellow interrogate Jang Won-sik at this opportunity be a way instead?’
Namgung Cheon was someone who had only watched the reactions of others since childhood.
Well, although he had suddenly changed, his deep-seated habits would surely emerge when dealing with a family elder.
Perhaps he would be so intimidated that he wouldn’t even be able to interrogate him properly.
Moreover, he was still very young.
Since his experience was immature, even if he interrogated him clumsily, it would be difficult to get anything out of Jang Won-sik’s mouth.
Rather, Namgung Cheon might be overwhelmed by Jang Won-sik’s momentum.
Reaching this conclusion, Namgung Pyo hid his sneer and spoke.
“Family Head, since things have turned out this way, how about having Namgung Cheon interrogate Patriarch Jang? After all, it was Namgung Cheon who drove the Shining Monk Association out of Yixian, so wouldn’t it be good to conclude it properly?”
At that, Namgung Hwa stepped forward carefully with a worried expression.
“But for Cheon, his uncle is a family elder. It will be difficult for him to face him. It is too much in many ways for Namgung Cheon to interrogate…”
“If one wants to become the Young Patriarch, he must strictly separate public and private matters. Is this not also a process to test his quality as the Young Patriarch?”
Namgung Pyo strongly insisted again, but this time, even Namgung Hwa did not easily back down.
“Uncle. But he hasn’t become the Young Patriarch yet, has he?”
“That is why I said it is to test him, is it not?”
“But…!”
As Namgung Hwa was about to argue back, Namgung Cheon suddenly intervened.
“Now, now, please don’t fight, you two. As for the interrogation, I have already tried it.”
“What?”
Namgung Pyo and Namgung Hwa looked back at Namgung Cheon at the same time.
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders.
“I tried interrogating him. But there wasn’t much to get out of him.”
Namgung Pyo sneered.
“That is because you were weak-hearted and couldn’t do it properly. Or, as Hwa said, you couldn’t separate public and private matters because you thought of him as a family elder, so you interrogated him clumsily.”
“Hmm. I tried my best in my own way. Should I do it again?”
As Namgung Cheon muttered and scratched his head, Namgung Pyo smirked and continued.
“Even if he is a family elder, if he brought a serious crisis to the clan, it is natural for him to receive severe punishment. Even if it sounds a bit harsh, it is ridiculous to discuss private warmth or manners with a criminal.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind. Then I will interrogate him again.”
“When will you do it?”
“When would be good?”
As Namgung Cheon asked back, Namgung Pyo replied with a sneer.
“What is there to delay? It would be good to proceed today with the Family Head watching.”
Namgung Pyo quietly gauged Namgung Geom’s reaction.
Meanwhile, Namgung Hwa could not calm her anxious heart.
‘Uncle is determined to use Cheon’s lack of experience to prevent him from becoming the Young Patriarch.’
Apart from being strong in martial arts, human relationships required maturity and experience.
One had to go through life to some extent to show proper conduct fit for the situation, but Namgung Cheon was still too young for that.
Namgung Pyo was persistently biting onto that weakness of Namgung Cheon.
Would Namgung Cheon be able to properly interrogate a family elder under the gaze of the Family Head?
There would be too many things to be cautious about in this situation.
She glanced at Namgung Seol-hui standing next to her, but like Namgung Geom, she did not offer any opinion.
As Namgung Geom did not object, Namgung Cheon nodded.
“I understand. If you insist, I will try it now. Ah, we have arrived. It is here. Please come inside.”
Namgung Cheon stood at the entrance of the Guest Hall and pointed inside.
Namgung Geom led the way into the Guest Hall.
The moment Namgung Geom stepped fully into the room, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and frowned.
Namgung Pyo, who was following closely behind, almost bumped into Namgung Geom’s back and quickly stepped aside.
However, as soon as he looked around the room, his jaw dropped in shock.
Namgung Hwa and Namgung Seol-hui, who entered after him, were the same.
Everyone’s eyes grew as wide as fists.
In the middle of the room, Jang Won-sik was tied tightly to an iron chair, completely covered in blood and battered to a pulp.
Jang Won-sik, who was hanging limply like a wet rag soaked in blood, felt their presence and slowly opened his swollen eyes.
The moment he saw Namgung Geom, he was startled and began to squeeze out his voice with difficulty.
“F-Family Head… s-spare… me… please… spare… me…!”
He had been beaten so severely that not a single intact spot could be seen.
Since two or three of his front teeth were missing, his pronunciation was also unclear.
Indeed, it was a miracle that he was still alive and moving.
Shocked out of his wits, Namgung Pyo asked in a cracked voice.
“W-What…! How… did he end up in this state?”
“I told you. I interrogated him.”
“I-Interrogation… just how did you do it to…”
Namgung Pyo’s voice trailed off, his face turning pale.
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and asked.
“How? Should I keep going?”
“Huh…? Wh-What?”
“The interrogation. Should I proceed further? I don’t think anything more will come out, but still, I was thinking of doing it again without separating public and private matters.”
“If you do more… he will die?”
“Hey, you told me not to be weak-hearted. I’ll let him live.”
What do you mean let him live! You crazy bastard!
While Namgung Pyo was too dumbfounded to speak, Namgung Cheon strode toward Jang Won-sik.
An earthquake occurred in Jang Won-sik’s pupils.
“Uaaargh…! S-Spare meee! Save meee! G-Go away! You demon! Family Head! Please! Spare meee!”
Jang Won-sik struggled like a man having a seizure.
At that desperate reaction, not only Namgung Pyo but everyone in the room felt a chill.
‘Just what in the world did he suffer to react like that…’
Even while Namgung Pyo gaped, Jang Won-sik cried out in a voice full of despair.
“I-I don’t know anything else! Ugh! R-Really! I only decided to hand over the business rights to the Shining Monk Association because they promised to give me a certain amount of money every month! Please…!”
“That is what you said earlier. Well, I’ll let you live.”
Namgung Cheon, who had just stopped right in front of him, cracked his knuckles.
At that moment, a peaceful smile bloomed on Jang Won-sik’s face, as if he had attained enlightenment.
“Just kill me instead.”
“Wait.”
Finally, Namgung Geom stepped forward, speaking in a voice as cold as ice. He narrowed his eyes and glared at Jang Won-sik.
“Then, did you hand over the business rights knowing from the beginning that they were apostate monks?”
“I-I am sorry, Family Head. I was wrong. Please forgive me. Ughhh!”
Jang Won-sik shed thick tears with a miserably distorted face. The sight was so pitiful that even Namgung Pyo felt a sense of compassion.
However, Namgung Cheon ruthlessly grabbed Jang Won-sik’s hair and pulled it back.
“Forgiveness? If you did wrong, you must be punished. Hell begins now.”
“Ugh…! Please… stop now…!”
Ignoring Jang Won-sik’s words, Namgung Cheon spoke to everyone.
“Now, then, I will start the interrogation again.”
“Y-You are going to continue?”
As Namgung Pyo asked stutteringly despite himself, Namgung Cheon asked back with an expression of incomprehension.
“Didn’t you tell me to do it?”
“Uh? Ah… well… that is…”
At that, Jang Won-sik began to plead with Namgung Pyo.
“Please… just kill me. I told you everything. I don’t know anything more.”
“…Is what he says.”
At Namgung Cheon’s final words, Namgung Pyo could only swallow his dry saliva.
Since he had already spoken those words, he could not take them back.
Just then, Namgung Geom let out a voice as dry as a sandstorm.
“That is enough.”
“Hmm. It is a bit disappointing, but I will follow the Family Head’s will.”
As Namgung Cheon bowed his head, Namgung Pyo was horrified.
Disappointing? What do you mean disappointing, you punk!
Seeing him smack his lips even after beating a man to a pulp, he wondered if Namgung Cheon was truly human.
Namgung Geom gave Jang Won-sik a cold glance and asked.
“Is there nothing more revealed?”
“Yes, well, there is one thing…”
Namgung Cheon’s gaze slithered toward Namgung Pyo.
Feeling an ominous premonition for some reason, Namgung Pyo grew tense and glared.
What? Why is that fellow looking at me?
Namgung Geom asked.
“What is it?”
“Coincidentally, it seems a portion of the funds received from the Shining Monk Association flowed toward Wuhan.”
“Wuhan? Do you mean the Martial Alliance, by any chance?”
“Ah, not that.”
Namgung Cheon’s gaze directed at Namgung Pyo.
Namgung Pyo was the only member of the Namgung Clan who had settled in Wuhan.
In an instant, Namgung Pyo’s expression turned pale.
Belatedly realizing the situation, Namgung Pyo faltered backward and waved his hands.
“Uh…? No! Family Head! It is not me! Brother, sister! It is really not me!”
“That’s strange. They said the funds definitely moved over there. Isn’t that right?”
As Namgung Cheon asked while still clutching his hair, Jang Won-sik nodded with difficulty.
“Y-Yes. Every month, I sent a portion of the funds to Brother Namgung Pyo, who is in Wuhan.”
“Th-That was money you gave me to use for rebuilding the clan, was it not!”
As Namgung Pyo shouted desperately, Namgung Cheon asked with a pitiful expression.
“So… you did receive it?”
“What? Ah, no. Th-That is…”
At that moment, Namgung Geom glared fiercely at Namgung Pyo.
“Is it true?”
“Brother!”
“I asked if it is true.”
“Brother, I am innocent! I truly thought it was money that Patriarch Jang had saved and handed over to rebuild the clan! I never dreamed there would be such an inside story! Please believe me!”
“Even so, are you saying you received it without even verifying the source of the money!”
As Namgung Geom rebuked him more severely than ever before, the blood completely drained from Namgung Pyo’s face.
While the atmosphere in the room felt like walking on thin ice, Namgung Cheon spoke in a bright voice.
“Then should we press this side after all?”
Namgung Cheon asked, pulling back Jang Won-sik’s hair.
“Please tell us clearly. Is all of this the wicked and terrible sole crime of my uncle? Or is it just a mistake committed by going along with the flow with someone else here?”
You… You…! What kind of question is that, you punk!
Namgung Pyo was now on the verge of foaming at the mouth.
Meanwhile, Jang Won-sik’s mind was working complexly in the midst of the crisis.
For some reason, Namgung Cheon was threatening him with his eyes.
Whether to die gloriously alone, or share the guilt with Namgung Pyo.
Jang Won-sik’s hesitation was not very long.
In any case, it was a relief if he did not die as a price for betraying the clan.
If he dragged even one person down, his guilt might be mitigated if he was lucky.
Even so, he could not tell a lie that would be exposed someday. If his slander was revealed, he might really die then.
Quickly ending his deliberation, Jang Won-sik chose the best answer.
“That is… I cannot answer! Just kill me instead!”
At that moment, Namgung Pyo’s face turned as pale as a sheet.
W-What? You punk! Who is he dragging down right now!