Chapter 158: Really Rude Guy (1)
Chapter 157 – Really Rude Guy (1)
Hearing Namgung Cheon’s shout, the Branch Leader and Yeon Chu-ryang looked at each other and chuckled.
Indeed, they thought he had come to the wrong place. They wished he would leave quickly, as they were in the middle of preparing to welcome precious guests.
However, since Namgung Cheon did not leave, a sense of anxiety gradually began to creep in.
Before long, another kid entered.
It was none other than Yun Jong-seung.
Yun Jong-seung, who looked somewhat intimidated, looked around and opened his mouth wide.
“There are seriously so damn many.”
No, why did these kids keep…
Veins bulged on Yeon Chu-ryang’s forehead as more cadets continued to appear behind them.
Following Jin So-hong, Paeng Su-hyeok, Yun Gyeong, Baek Mu-geuk, Murong Gang, and others entered.
Lastly, Bi Ryang walked in and said.
“We didn’t come to the wrong place. This is definitely the Guilin Branch… Huh? But there really are a lot of people. Is some event going on?”
Bi Ryang looked around and wore a surprised expression.
Yeon Chu-ryang and the Branch Leader looked back and forth at each other’s faces again.
Didn’t that man just say this was the Guilin Branch? If so, it meant they had not come to the wrong place…
Unable to watch any longer, Yeon Chu-ryang approached Bi Ryang and asked.
“Greetings. May I ask what brings you here…”
“Ah, hello. We have been dispatched from the Martial Alliance. I am Bi Ryang, the instructor in charge of the cadets.”
Bi Ryang wore his usual bright smile.
“Ca… dets?”
“Yes, they are the cadets. They are outstanding cadets who reached the quarterfinals of this year’s Joint Conference.”
“Greetings.”
The cadets clasped their hands in unison and paid their respects.
Yeon Chu-ryang, who wore a blank look for a moment, soon grasped the situation and smiled brightly.
“Ah, I see. So you are the cadets. No wonder you still look quite young. I am Yeon Chu-ryang, the Leader of the Biyue Sect.”
“Ah, you are the Biyue Sect Leader. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Welcome. I am Jeok Mun, the Guilin Branch Leader.”
“Yes, pleased to meet you, Branch Leader.”
“…….”
“…….”
An awkward silence ensued.
In the end, Yeon Chu-ryang spoke first.
“When will the elite forces arrive?”
“Excuse me?”
“Ah, I mean the reinforcements officially dispatched from the Alliance. I apologize for bringing up the main point right away when you have traveled a long distance leading the cadets, but our circumstances are rather urgent.”
“Ah, I see. But we are the support personnel dispatched from the Alliance.”
“Pardon…?”
Yeon Chu-ryang wore a blank expression for a moment. Bi Ryang still wore a fresh smile as he looked at Yeon Chu-ryang.
“…….”
“…….”
After a brief silence, Yeon Chu-ryang burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Instructor Bi Ryang is quite a humorous person. I was almost fooled.”
“I don’t know what you were fooled by…”
“Now, that is enough. Thanks to you, my tension has eased.”
At Yeon Chu-ryang’s words, the martial artists lined up in ranks also chuckled.
However, Bi Ryang continued speaking with an expression of not knowing the reason.
“We really are the support personnel, though.”
“Haha, how could that be?”
The corners of Yeon Chu-ryang’s mouth trembled slightly.
Somehow, he was starting to feel anxious.
Whether he knew his inner feelings or not, Bi Ryang replied with a smile.
“It is true.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Really…?”
“Yes.”
“So… the Martial Alliance sent support personnel… but they only sent cadets?”
“Yes. I came along with them as well.”
“…….”
Now, Yeon Chu-ryang’s expression gradually distorted and turned dark.
Trembling all over, he stiffly turned around.
Confronted with a completely unexpected situation, Branch Leader Jeok Mun also could not hide his embarrassment.
Jeok Mun scratched his forehead and muttered.
“Uh… this… this shouldn’t be happening…”
Yeon Chu-ryang approached Jeok Mun and growled softly.
“Branch Leader. Are you playing with me right now?”
“Sect Leader. Why would you say such a thing? There must have been some mistake…”
At that, Bi Ryang stepped forward again.
“Mmh. Is this not the Guilin Branch? Our assigned mission is to come to the Guilin Branch and help the Biyue Sect.”
Ah, what an oblivious person!
Jeok Mun fidgeted, watching Yeon Chu-ryang’s reaction.
Yeon Chu-ryang was now trembling all over, unable to contain his rage.
“Branch Leader, I shall return now!”
“W-wait a moment! Sect Leader, there must be some problem…”
“Of course it is a problem! Didn’t you just hear it too, Branch Leader! He said they are only cadets! The Martial Alliance couldn’t have done this unless they looked down on our sect! I never expected to receive such treatment when we pay our dues on time every single year! They shouldn’t have sent anyone at all! Sending cadets! If this isn’t playing with our sect, what is it?”
“T-that cannot be. Playing with you? It is absurd. Why would the Alliance do such a thing?”
“Then how do you explain this situation? Branch Leader! Did you even send the letter to the Alliance properly?”
“Of course. I clearly wrote the current situation in detail and sent it. Even the stories about the Three Peaks Sect and the Black Mountain Stronghold.”
“Then what on earth is this? Am I supposed to lead those kids who are still wet behind the ears?”
“Ugh…”
Jeok Mun groaned and fidgeted.
He too could not understand the current situation at all.
How on earth did this happen?
Since he heard that the Law Enforcement Hall had dispatched reinforcements, he naturally assumed a portion of the Blue Wave Corps or the Iron Blood Squad would come.
Yet… only cadets?
As someone who had acted as a mediator between the Alliance and the Biyue Sect, Jeok Mun had nothing to say even if he had ten mouths.
Just then, one of the cadets abruptly spoke up.
“Geez, what a strange way to treat guests. We traveled a long way, so you should at least offer us some food.”
It was none other than Namgung Cheon.
As Yeon Chu-ryang was already venting his anger on the innocent cadets, Namgung Cheon’s oblivious behavior caused his patience to explode.
“Branch Leader! Did you just hear that? Am I supposed to lead such immature things? How are you going to resolve this situation now? In this state when the transport mission is only a few days away!”
“No, what does asking for some food because I’m hungry have to do with being mature?”
As Namgung Cheon muttered again, Jeok Mun’s face turned pale.
You oblivious bastard! Please just shut your mouth!
However, Namgung Cheon went a step further and spoke to Yeon Chu-ryang.
“I heard you are the Biyue Sect Leader? Shouldn’t we head to the Biyue Sect now? Let’s move quickly. I’m hungry. Did you boil some meat?”
“…….”
Yeon Chu-ryang’s cheeks trembled.
What kind of fellow is this?
Can he not read the room right now?
Of course, Namgung Cheon was fully aware of their reactions.
That was why he reacted even more contrarily.
He had thought that being treated as an unwelcome guest in his past life was more than enough.
Receiving such treatment here as well, his irritation flared up alongside the fatigue and hunger of the long journey.
However, Yeon Chu-ryang did not care about such circumstances.
Yeon Chu-ryang turned to the Branch Leader and spoke with a stiffened expression.
“It seems the Martial Alliance is washing its hands of Guilin just because it is a frontier. No, this is worse than washing their hands. Aren’t they just showing off after sending a few cadets? Especially after sending completely useless cadets!”
“Geez, you are really too much. How do you know whether we will be useful or not?”
Please just shut your mouth!
Jeok Mun glared at Namgung Cheon once and then placated Yeon Chu-ryang.
“Now, now, Sect Leader, please do not be like that and calm down first. Doesn’t the Alliance have a plan? What would the cadets know? Perhaps the main force will arrive separately.”
“No, no. They are definitely not coming. There is only us. If you give him useless hope, the disappointment will only be greater, you know?”
Sigh, I really can’t even kill this bastard.
Jeok Mun’s insides boiled furiously.
However, Namgung Cheon’s words were the truth.
In the first place, the Alliance did not care much about the affairs of the Guilin region.
It was far down the list of priorities.
But was the fact that even cadets had come not entirely because Namgung Cheon had pulled strings?
Yeon Chu-ryang spun around.
“Enough! Branch Leader, I am truly disappointed!”
“Ah, please do not be like that and bear with it. For my sake. I will contact the Alliance again.”
“I said it is too late! Even if they send a new dispatch now, it is too late! Have you forgotten? The Lord of the Jangheung Escort Agency has already entrusted his final request! If we fail this time, it is the end of the Biyue Sect!”
“Then how about trusting those kids for now? The instructor came with them as well. Since they are the kids who made it to the quarterfinals of the Joint Conference, they might still be of quite some help. We must put out the urgent fire.”
“You put out an urgent fire with water, is there a way to put it out with oil? This is the equivalent of pouring oil onto a spark!”
At that, Namgung Cheon stood with his weight on one leg, picked his ear, and abruptly chimed in again.
“Well, whether we become water or oil is something we’ll only know by waiting and seeing, isn’t it? Anyway, talking all day won’t solve anything, so let’s go get some food. I’m hungry.”
Shut that mouth of yours! Please!
Jeok Mun rubbed his hands together and stepped forward again.
“Sect Leader… please appease your anger first…”
“Damn it! There seems to be nothing more to hear today! Let’s go!”
Yeon Chu-ryang, filled with rage, spun around and strode forward. Behind him, the Biyue Sect martial artists followed with slumped shoulders.
* * *
Returning to the Biyue Sect, Yeon Chu-ryang immediately called the leadership and held an emergency meeting.
*Thud!*
An elder with a thick white beard slammed his fist on the long table and protested.
“Cadets! Ha! Cadets! Sect Leader, what else is this but the Alliance looking down on our sect? Let’s take this chance to withdraw from the Martial Alliance!”
“You are absolutely right! This is nothing but playing with us! What on earth has the Martial Alliance done for our sect anyway? Joining the Alliance is only meaningful if there is help in times of difficulty, is it not?”
“If they find out about this, the Three Peaks Sect will look down on our sect even more! We must formally protest to the Alliance and withdraw!”
“Indeed. They shouldn’t have sent anyone at all!”
The Hall Masters and Pavilion Lords protested one after another.
The meeting hall soon became rowdy.
And for good reason, as their high expectations had deflated in an instant, so their sense of helplessness was bound to be immense.
Yeon Chu-ryang let out a long sigh.
In his heart, he wanted to declare their withdrawal immediately as they said, but he could not react purely on emotion.
At the tail end of his anger, only a directionless sense of helplessness remained.
Yeon Chu-ryang asked the Welcoming Hall Master.
“What are the cadets doing?”
“They are eating alcohol and meat in high spirits.”
“Alcohol and meat…”
His stomach burned.
That alcohol and meat had also been prepared in anticipation of the Blue Wave Corps or the Iron Blood Squad coming.
Yet they ended up going into the bellies of immature cadets who would be of no help at all.
Ah, his stomach really burned too much.
In his heart, he wanted to run over right now and take it all away.
Regardless of that, a noisy feast continued in the Welcoming Hall.
Since it was a rare feast, all the cadets could not help but admire it as they savored the food and drink.
However, there was one person among them who was filling his belly at a particularly rapid pace…
“*Chomp, chomp… gulp! Chomp, chomp…*”
Why did even the act of him eating look like watching a martial arts technique?
Where everyone’s gaze gathered, Namgung Cheon had stacked empty dishes like a tower next to the table, burying his nose in his plate and eating like a glutton.
Having traveled a long distance, it seemed his instinct from his past life—to eat as much as possible when food was available—had manifested.
At any rate, Namgung Cheon, who emptied his plate in an instant, shouted while holding a chicken leg.
“Give me another plate of meat here… No, make it three more plates! And add a bottle of alcohol!”