Chapter 137: Come On, Come On! (1)
Chapter 136 – Come On, Come On!(1)
“I mean, why are you following me there?”
When Namgung Cheon asked with a lukewarm expression, Son U-gon replied with a face that took it completely for granted.
“That is… because we are the Azure Eagle Squad who serves the Young Patriarch.”
“Enough. I am not some one or two-year-old child. I will go alone, so go back.”
“We cannot.”
“What? Is this disobedience to an order?”
“It is the clan rule.”
“Clan rule…?”
“Yes.”
Son U-gon replied with a firm expression, as if he could not back down even an inch.
At that, Cha Mu-jin, who had been watching from the side, frowned slightly and asked suggestively.
“Excuse me… you didn’t happen to not know, did you? Once you become the Young Patriarch, the Azure Eagle Squad must follow you like a shadow. Wherever the Lord goes.”
“What? Where is such a thing? Is there no concept of privacy protection?”
“Since it’s a clan rule, even if you argue with us…”
As Cha Mu-jin spoke while scratching the back of his head, Namgung Cheon exhaled a long sigh.
Ah, damn it. I’ve gained a burden.
After rolling his head for a moment, Namgung Cheon turned around as if he had made up his mind.
“Alright. Then it can’t be helped.”
“Thank you for understanding…”
“Try to follow me if you can.”
“…Yes?”
“Then, here I go!”
Whoosh!
The moment it seemed a gust of wild wind raged, Namgung Cheon, who had been standing in front, disappeared without a trace.
“C-Captain…! Over there!”
In the direction Cha Mu-jin pointed, Namgung Cheon, who was running while dragging a long trail of dust, was already far in the distance.
Son U-gon shouted with a panicked expression.
“Ch-Chase him!”
“Understood!”
In an instant, shouts were heard from the air, and the Azure Eagle Squad in deep blue martial robes rushed forward in a dark mass.
On the hill, which looked as if a typhoon had just swept through.
The luxurious carriage and the servant left alone stood blankly, blinking their eyes like goldfish.
“Uh… me… then what about me…”
On the shoulder of the servant who was standing at a loss, a stray mountain bird landed, squirted urine, and flew away.
* * *
A shabby eatery.
In this place where customers were barely visible, an old man who seemed to be the owner sat and nodded off.
Just then, the door opened, and a young man drenched in sweat strode inside.
“Welcome.”
Shaking off his sleep, the old man stood up and set out water and utensils.
The young man was Namgung Cheon.
“Huff. Give me a bowl of noodles.”
“Yes. I will prepare it right away.”
As the old man went into the kitchen, Namgung Cheon let out a long sigh and muttered.
“Argh, persistent bastards. This should be enough. By the way, should I have thrown them some money to buy food?”
Namgung Cheon, who was gulping down a glass of water, casually looked to his side and spat the water straight out.
“Pffffft!”
“Pant, pant, pant…! Blegh…! Pant…!”
A man who gasped for breath continuously while even dry-heaving. He was none other than the Azure Eagle Captain, Son U-gon.
With a pale face that looked as if he might collapse at any moment, he spoke.
“L-Lord… pant, pant. We will also… make it noodles. Blegh. Pant, pant…”
“Ah… you leeches! Why on earth are you clinging to me like this?”
“I-I told you. Pant, pant. It is the clan rule…”
“This is driving me crazy. What happens if I disappear from before your eyes?”
“The Azure Eagle Squad will be disbanded and formed anew.”
“Unbelievable.”
Namgung Cheon stared at Son U-gon with his mouth wide open, then shook his head.
He had truly gained a burden.
For Namgung Cheon, who had wandered his whole life, it was hard to adapt to this kind of situation.
Especially since Namgung Cheon was someone sick of being followed around by people.
Yet, he could not just let another Azure Eagle Squad be formed either.
In the end, Namgung Cheon let out a long sigh and spoke.
“Instead, do not show your faces to me until I call you. Hide yourselves thoroughly.”
“Understood!”
Only then did Son U-gon’s face brighten slightly as he answered vigorously.
* * *
The long winter ended and spring arrived.
Although Wuhan, the center of the Jianghu, was always a place bustling with people, the floating population increased even more as the weather warmed up.
On top of that, as the Three Great Academies of Wuhan opened, new cadets gathered, making the streets even more lively.
Of course, this was a sight that could be seen every year.
However, there was a slightly different phenomenon this year, and such were the stories circulating among the cadets.
Until last year, only stories about the cadets of the Valiant Martial Academy or the Righteous Chivalry Academy rolled off people’s tongues.
Yet this year, nine times out of ten, it was about the Dragon Heaven Academy.
In particular, Namgung Cheon, the winner of last year’s Joint Conference, was the most popular.
In addition, the market streets around the Dragon Heaven Academy, which had always been quiet, were bustling with new students this year.
Among them, the place crowded with the most cadets.
Just then, three new cadets who were to enter the Dragon Heaven Academy this year looked up at the signboard of a four-story pavilion with deeply moved expressions.
“Oh, this is…!”
“The famous Ghost King Tavern! It is a place I have definitely wanted to visit!”
“It is the same for me. I heard that its unique theme and the quality of its dishes are excellent.”
“They say it originally started as a small eatery but expanded into a four-story tavern as business got better and better.”
“Ah, that is why the building is so clean.”
“Yes. It reportedly took only three months to get to this point.”
“Wow, that is truly amazing.”
The new cadets let out continuous exclamations.
Actually, the influence of the Obscurity Society was quite large in allowing the Ghost King Eatery to grow this much.
The Obscurity Society members scattered in key positions within the Martial Alliance had taken the lead in promoting the Ghost King Eatery.
Since even such influential figures praised the Ghost King Eatery, the eatery, which already attracted attention with its unique theme, achieved tremendous rapid growth in just three months.
“Well, let us go in. I heard the food here is fantastic.”
“They say there aren’t many varieties, though.”
“Does that matter? Since I traveled a long way to Wuhan, my stomach is practically sticking to my back. Right now, I could even chew and eat rocks.”
“Haha. Let us go in.”
The three strode into the Ghost King Tavern, which had become a symbol of the Dragon Heaven Academy due to its location nearby.
Sure enough, the inside of the tavern was packed with people.
Ghost servers could be seen carrying food and dishes here and there.
Every single one of them had a menacing appearance, and their speech and actions were blunt.
Even after seeing the three enter through the doorway, they ignored them.
Just as a ghost server carrying empty dishes passed by and almost collided with the three, he glared.
“Damn it! What is this! Stop getting in the way, and if you came in, shouldn’t you quickly find an empty seat and sit down!”
“Ah… S-Sorry.”
The three, who unconsciously used polite language toward a waiter.
Receiving the ghost server’s gaze head-on, the three felt their knees tremble.
Only after the ghost server passed did one of them scratch the back of his head sheepishly.
“Geez… it feels less like a theme and more like the real thing.”
“Well, isn’t that why it’s more famous?”
“Come, let us not just stand here and sit down quickly. There seems to be some seats on the second floor.”
As the three went up to the second floor, fortunately, two tables next to the railing were empty.
“We were lucky.”
Delighted, they quickly claimed one of the tables and sat down.
Originally, they did not know each other, but they had met by chance and become acquainted while traveling from afar to enter the Dragon Heaven Academy.
While the three conversed about the Dragon Heaven Academy, a ghost server came up to take their order.
“Brats, are you new cadets?”
“Yes? Ah, yes. We are.”
One new cadet smiled with effort and thought:
Right, this is just a theme.
If I fly into a rage over such a trivial thing, I wouldn’t have the quality of a great hero.
The ghost server nodded and asked.
“What the fuck are you going to eat?”
“Hmm… I will have the Dongpo pork.”
“Then how about two plates of Dongpo pork and a bottle of Dujiang liquor?”
“Sounds good. Let us do that.”
“Give us two plates of Dongpo pork and a bottle of Dujiang liquor.”
At that, the ghost server glares.
“What?”
“Why… is that…? Did something go wrong?”
Once again, polite language came out automatically.
The look on his face was truly too fierce.
The ghost server shouted abruptly.
“You’re new cadets, right? Why are you green, young bastards drinking in broad daylight? Just eat noodles. Three bowls of noodles!”
The ghost server made the decision on his own, spun around, and went back downstairs.
In the place where a gust of wind had passed, the three new cadets sat with dumbfounded expressions.
“Geez…”
“I expected it, but it’s a much more amusing place. I’m just not quite adjusted to it. Haha.”
“Indeed.”
The three smiled with effort.
Just then, a somewhat clamorous noise was heard from the stairs, and a group of people came up.
“Ah…”
Just then, one of the new cadets let out an exclamation upon seeing the group that had just ascended to the second floor.
The other two new cadets followed his gaze and gasped.
She was beautiful. Mesmerizing.
Spotless, clear skin, large eyes, and bright martial robes.
She was none other than Baekli Hyang.
The one who came up with her was none other than Song Won-gyo and the cadets who followed him like shadows.
They sat down in the remaining seats near the railing and continued their conversation.
The new cadets paid them no mind and continued their talk.
“They say it used to be hard to even see a person here before.”
“Is that so? When it’s this crowded now.”
“Indeed. Isn’t this all thanks to Senior Namgung Cheon? Haha.”
At the new cadet’s words, Song Won-gyo, who was sitting right behind them, flinched and listened in.
The new cadets continued their conversation about Namgung Cheon.
“Correct. Because last year, Senior Namgung Cheon won the Joint Conference, raising the reputation of the Dragon Heaven Academy.”
“Right. Actually, I felt rather proud to enter the Dragon Heaven Academy.”
“In the future, the standing of the Dragon Heaven Academy will rise even further. We are lucky. If the Dragon Heaven Academy becomes more and more famous, it will become difficult to pass the exams to enter, just like the Valiant Martial Academy.”
“Wow. For the Dragon Heaven Academy to become this famous. I really think Senior Namgung Cheon is amazing.”
“Me too. Once I enter, I hope I can see Senior Namgung Cheon, even if from afar.”
“Me too, but… it would probably be hard, right? Since Senior Namgung Cheon is the Joint Conference winner, I heard he is entering the Martial Alliance directly as an apprentice warrior.”
“Ah, then it will be difficult. Senior Namgung Cheon is really no different from a hero to me.”
As the new cadets all praised Namgung Cheon in unison, Song Won-gyo, who was listening silently from behind, tightly gripped his chopsticks.
As the chopsticks finally snapped, he stood up abruptly from his seat.
“Hey, new students over there.”
A harsh yet heavy voice burst from Song Won-gyo’s mouth.
The new cadets, who had been talking in high spirits, glanced back.
Song Won-gyo cracked his neck and asked.
“You say you are the cadets entering the Dragon Heaven Academy this year?”
“Yes, we are, but…”
“Do you guys not even greet a senior when you see one?”
“Yes? Who might you be…?”
At that, Baekli Hyang, who was sitting next to him, laughed coldly and spoke.
“He is the person who once held Namgung Cheon, whom you worship like an idol, under his feet.”
“Ah, yes. Indeed. You could say it was Hero Song who raised Namgung Cheon.”
As another cadet who followed Song Won-gyo like a lackey chimed in, the expressions of the new cadets stiffened slightly.
One of them opened his eyes wide as if recalling something.
“Ah…! Senior Song Won-gyo of the Zhengzhou Sect…?”
“Yes, Zhengzhou Sect’s Young Sect Leader, Song Won-gyo. That is me.”
At that, the three new cadets clasped their fists and showed respect.
“We apologize for not recognizing you, Senior!”
However, Song Won-gyo’s expression did not soften easily.
Maintaining a stiff expression, he let out a cold voice.
“There is such a saying in the Jianghu.”
“…?”
“A single word pays for a life, and if you make a mistake, you must pay the price.”
“…”
“That is the Jianghu. Kneel.”
“…Yes?”
“Can’t you hear me? Did I not just tell you that you pay the price when you make a mistake? Did you think a simple apology would let you off? What do you think you can learn at the Dragon Heaven Academy when you cannot even recognize a senior and do not know how to greet them? Kneel!”
As Song Won-gyo shouted, the three new students flinched.
One of them gathered courage and stepped forward.
“Senior… is this not a bit too harsh of a measure…”
Whoosh, thwack!
“Urgh! Cough!”
As the scabbard, flying in the blink of an eye, struck his solar plexus, the new cadet collapsed on the spot and gagged.
Looking at the fallen new cadet, Song Won-gyo shook his head and muttered.
“Look at these bastards who don’t even have the basics.”