Chapter 197: Courage To Face The Typhoon (3)
Chapter 196 – Courage To Face The Typhoon (3)
A place where a yellow crane was said to fly down and dance whenever one clapped hands and sang.
Although the one who first built a pavilion here was Sun Quan of the Three Kingdoms period, the Yellow Crane Tower had various legends handed down due to its breathtaking, superb scenery.
Up until a few decades ago, the Yellow Crane Tower had been partially destroyed and unsightly, but about twenty years ago, the current Tower Lord reconstructed it and was operating it as a tavern.
Since then, many people visited the Yellow Crane Tower again and praised it, to which the Tower Lord reportedly replied that he had merely used the site of the tavern where the yellow crane originally roamed according to its significance.
At any rate, today as well, the surroundings of the Yellow Crane Tower were crowded with many people as usual.
However, the atmosphere was quite different from usual. Could it be said that a somewhat solemn energy was felt?
Among the people moving back and forth in disorder, those who kept a razor-sharp guard and watched the surroundings could be seen occasionally.
Their neatly dressed martial robes were also of various kinds, and pride in their respective affiliations and high spirits emanated from their expressions.
They were the martial artists belonging to the Seven Great Clans.
And a few members of the Martial Alliance were also included.
Of course, it was not that only martial artists swarmed the place.
Since it was a famous spot in Wuhan, commoners who spent a bit of money frequently visited the Yellow Crane Tower.
People who visited the Yellow Crane Tower without much thought as usual whispered in low voices as they watched the exceptionally crowded martial artists.
“What is going on? Why are there so many martial artists?”
“I heard the Seven Great Clans Conference is being held at the Yellow Crane Tower today.”
“Ah, was that today? Then will the Alliance Leader come as well?”
“I think I heard he is coming.”
“If the Alliance Leader is coming, it would mean more than a simple regular meeting.”
“Rumors are circulating that the movements of the unorthodox martial artists are unusual lately. Perhaps they will discuss that?”
“I see.”
While they were chatting like that, another crowd on one side pointed near the Yellow Crane Tower and became restless.
“Oh, that is the Murong Clan over there!”
“Oh, just looking at them, their majesty is incredible.”
“By the way, Corps Leader Murong Sin did not come?”
“Since the Blue Wave Corps is busy now, it seems the second son came instead? That is Murong Gang, who climbed up to the quarterfinals of the Joint Conference.”
Where they glanced, a neat and handsome middle-aged man was entering, and he was none other than the Murong Clan Leader, Murong Hwan.
And beside him was Murong Gang, walking shoulder to shoulder with an expression as stiff as his father’s.
“This is a place to represent the Young Patriarch. You must behave properly.”
“Understood, father.”
Murong Gang replied, but Murong Hwan’s expression clearly showed that he was not very trustworthy.
And indeed, since his second son, whom he naturally expected to win the Joint Conference, had turned back without even passing the threshold of the quarterfinals, his disappointment was bound to be great.
Murong Hwan clicked his tongue with a cold expression and muttered to himself.
“Tsk, tsk. If only you followed even half of your brother’s lead.”
Crack.
Although Murong Gang bit his molars tightly, he did not reply. He knew well that whatever he said now would not even enter his father’s ears.
Just then, a buzzing sound was heard from another side, and Sichuan Tang Clan Leader Tang Go-ryun and Shandong Yue Clan Leader Yue Hyeon revealed themselves amidst the crowd.
Beside Yue Hyeon was his eldest son Yue Hu, and beside Tang Go-ryun was Tang Wu-gi.
Murong Hwan cupped his fists to greet the two men.
“Welcome, both of you. You must have had a hard time coming such a long way.”
“Murong Clan Leader must have also had a hard time coming all the way here.”
“It has been a while since I last saw you two.”
Tang Go-ryun and Yue Hyeon offered their greetings in turn.
Tang Go-ryun smiled gently and spoke.
“Since we all met at the entrance anyway, why don’t we wait for the others and enter together?”
“Let us do so.”
When Murong Hwan nodded, Yue Hyeon also accepted without showing any reluctance.
Murong Hwan glanced at Tang Go-ryun and spoke.
“No matter how much I think about it, I do not feel pleased about inviting the Namgung Clan to the Seven Great Clans Conference.”
It was an explicit complaint.
It was Tang Go-ryun who suggested inviting the Namgung Clan to the Seven Great Clans Conference. Although there was a debate for and against it internally, they ultimately decided to call the Namgung Clan.
Of course, Murong Hwan strongly opposed it. His feelings remained the same even now.
“The Namgung Clan is a family that betrayed the orthodox Martial World. Although they say everything is bound to fade as time passes, there are things that must not be forgotten.”
“But has the Great Killing Star not died already? In addition, since the Young Patriarch of the Namgung Clan won the Joint Conference, I thought it best to follow the current trend. If we hold a meeting among ourselves when we also missed out on the Joint Conference championship, would the public not laugh at us? It just so happened to be the year our children participated in the Joint Conference.”
Tang Go-ryun lightly glanced at Tang Wu-gi and Murong Gang.
Tang Wu-gi wore a grumpy expression, and Murong Gang bowed his head with an apologetic look.
At this, Murong Hwan rebuked Murong Gang once more with a stern expression.
“Just what kind of fellow are you to not even make it to the semifinals and bring such embarrassment upon us?”
“I am sorry, father.”
When Murong Gang bowed his head and apologized, Tang Go-ryun flashed a bitter smile.
“Since it is already in the past, do not scold him too much. Our kid did not even make it to the quarterfinals. Let us just think that the level of this year’s Joint Conference was high.”
“Father! That was because I was unlucky…!”
“Stop it. Did I not tell you? Luck is also skill. It would have been fine if your skills had been outstanding enough that bad luck could not reach you.”
“Urgh.”
Tang Wu-gi pouted his lips.
Tang Go-ryun shook his head and muttered.
“How can the only son I have be in this state? If only he resembled even half of his older sister. Tsk, tsk.”
Murong Hwan laughed coldly.
It seemed that anxieties and worries were pretty much the same in any family.
“At any rate, today will be the first and last time the Namgung Clan attends the Seven Great Clans Conference.”
Just then, a group of people appeared from one side and suddenly spoke to them.
“Naturally, it must be so. We must absolutely not invite the Namgung Clan every time. A person must fit in where they belong. Although I also agreed this year because I was curious about that child named Namgung Cheon, there will be no next time.”
Where everyone’s eyes turned, the remaining clan leaders belonging to the Seven Great Clans were gathered.
They were Hwangbo Clan Leader Hwangbo Chil, Luoyang Jo Clan Leader Jo Geom-myeong, and Baekli Clan Leader Baekli Yeong-san.
And Hwangbo Seung, Jo Gang-min, and Baekli Hyang, who followed them, were gathered slightly further away.
Tang Go-ryun greeted them with a faint smile.
“You have all arrived. By the way, is the Zhuge Clan Leader not here yet?”
“Ah, it was said that Zhuge Clan Leader cannot attend today because he has a meeting with the Chief Strategist.”
“I see.”
Since the timing was what it was, Tang Go-ryun did not seem to feel disappointed either.
Of course, Murong Hwan swept his gaze over the clan leaders once and spoke with an extremely cold expression.
“All of the Seven Great Clans have gathered like this, yet the Namgung Clan is still nowhere to be seen. Just what kind of guts do they have?”
At that, Jo Geom-myeong replied with a somewhat mean smile.
“That might not be the case. They must have already arrived and been waiting.”
“Already arrived and waiting?”
As Murong Hwan narrowed his eyes, Jo Geom-myeong smirked and whispered in a low voice.
“Just as Murong Clan Leader said, is it not the case that the Namgung Clan cannot dare to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Seven Great Clans? Therefore, I deliberately informed them of a meeting time that is one double-hour early.”
“One double-hour early?”
“It is an honor to dare to be in the same place as the Seven Great Clans, so should they not arrive that much earlier to wait?”
“Then, does that mean Namgung Clan Leader is already up there now?”
“He must be waiting with a long neck.”
Jo Geom-myeong grinned.
Tang Wu-gi, who was listening from the side, suddenly cut in and spoke.
“That serves him right. Keke.”
However, Tang Go-ryun quickly scolded his son with a stern look and clicked his tongue.
“You did a needless thing. Even so, they were invited to the Seven Great Clans Conference, and to play such a childish prank.”
“Yes, it is childish, but it is precisely such things that turn a person’s stomach.”
Certainly, Jo Geom-myeong was a man whose body was steeped in meanness.
This kind of mean tactics played a role in the Luoyang Jo Clan gaining its reputation today.
For example, they would schedule a duel and deliberately show up late to disturb the opponent’s peace of mind, or they would bring subordinates to execute joint attack arts even though it was a one-on-one duel.
Thus, rumors circulated that Jo Geom-myeong never dueled in places with many people.
At any rate, there was no way such a Jo Geom-myeong would have good feelings toward the Namgung Clan right now.
He thought his eyes would roll back when he heard the news that his son Jo Gang-min, who was praised as a genius, had been beaten up by Namgung Cheon and could not even attend the Joint Conference.
However, since an opportunity to give the Namgung Clan Leader a hard time arose like this this time, he had agreed to the invitation.
For that reason, it was also Jo Geom-myeong who took charge of delivering the invitation directly to the Namgung Clan.
Baekli Yeong-san burst into laughter.
“That is indeed interesting. That razor-sharp old man has been waiting for us at the top of the Yellow Crane Tower for a whole double-hour now? Hahaha!”
“Well, if he says anything, we can just say it was a messenger’s mistake.”
“If he does not tolerate that mistake, he becomes a narrow-minded person, and if he forgives it, he is treated like a fool. Haha!”
“Should he not go through at least that much of an initiation ceremony?”
“At any rate, thanks to Clan Leader Jo today, we will be able to see an entertaining sight.”
As Baekli Yeong-san spoke with a pleasant laugh, the others also wore faint smiles.
However, there was only one person among them who did not laugh, and that was Murong Gang.
‘Then does that mean the Namgung Clan Leader and Namgung Cheon are waiting up there right now for a double-hour? Somehow, I feel anxious…’
He did not know much about Namgung Geom.
He remembered hearing occasionally that he possessed an upright character.
However, was Namgung Cheon not a jagged stone whose direction was impossible to predict?
Just then, Murong Hwan took the lead and turned around.
“Now then, let us end the small talk here and enter.”
“Yes, let us enter. Since our Namgung Clan Leader must be waiting with a long neck.”
At Jo Geom-myeong’s words, the clan leaders followed behind with chuckles. They were just about to ascend to the top floor.
Suddenly, the server approached and blocked Murong Hwan’s path.
“What is this?”
An icy voice flowed from Murong Hwan’s mouth.
To dare block his path.
Unless they had lost their mind.
The server bowed his head with a pale face.
“Oh dear, I am sorry, milord. But you cannot go upstairs.”
“What?”
“Because it is already fully booked.”
At the server’s words, Murong Hwan’s eyebrows twitched.
“Fully booked?”
At that, Jo Geom-myeong, who was listening from behind, suddenly stepped forward and shouted.
“What do you mean by that? Our conference booked it a long time ago! Who dares take that spot!”
“B-But since you canceled it, there is nothing we can do. Please understand our circumstances.”
“Canceled? Who said they were canceling?”
“Well, that would be the person currently upstairs. Since an attendee of your conference canceled it, we had no choice but to accept it…”
“Good grief! What on earth are you talking about? Out of the way! I shall check myself!”
Jo Geom-myeong pushed the server aside and strode up the stairs.
The other clan leaders also followed behind him with quick paces.
Upon finally reaching the top floor, Jo Geom-myeong’s eyes widened in shock.
“No… what is all this?”
Was an unseasonal drinking party not taking place at the very top of the Yellow Crane Tower?
The one raising his cup high and shouting amidst the rowdy atmosphere was none other than Namgung Cheon.
“Now, you all did great work! Let us raise a toast! For the Namgung Clan!”
“For the Namgung Clan!”
The ones shouting and raising their cups in turn were none other than the members of the Azure Eagle Squad.
As Jo Geom-myeong’s mouth fell open as he stared blankly at the scene, his gaze met Namgung Cheon’s.
“Oh? Who are you?”
Jo Geom-myeong, who late regained his senses, repeated the words in disbelief.
“Who are you…?”
“Yes, who are you? You are not supposed to come up here.”
“T-That, crazy…! Then who the hell are you?”
“Hey, you are extremely rude upon our first meeting. I am the Young Patriarch of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Cheon. And you?”
And you? Ha!
‘How dare that wet-behind-the-ears punk look down on me…!’
“I am Jo Geom-myeong from Luoyang! Just why are you committing such an act at the reserved seats for the Seven Great Clans Conference! Where is the Namgung Clan Leader!”
At that, Namgung Cheon tilted his head and replied.
“The Seven Great Clans Conference? Was that not canceled?”
“Why would it be canceled? Nobody canceled it!”
“Ah, since you did not show up even after a double-hour, I naturally assumed it was canceled.”
“What on earth…!”
“Then why are you so late?”
“Who is late! It was originally scheduled for this time.”
“No. It was clearly said to be a double-hour ago.”
“The messenger must have made a mistake.”
“Oh dear. I did not know that. Well, it is not too late now, so come sit. You must be hungry, so if you do not mind leftovers, have some.”
Namgung Cheon lifted the plate of leftover chicken and smirked.
Watching that, Murong Gang let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.
‘Indeed, that is Namgung Cheon. A lunatic.’