Chapter 198: Courage To Face The Typhoon (4)
Chapter 197 – Courage To Face The Typhoon (4)
One double-hour ago.
Namgung Cheon and Namgung Geom, who had ascended to the top floor of the Yellow Crane Tower, let out exclamations of admiration as they watched the Yangtze River flowing in the distance.
“It is beautiful.”
“Indeed.”
The two men silently stared at the flowing river water for a while without speaking.
Sometimes, silence conveys more than a hundred words.
That was currently the case for Namgung Geom and Namgung Cheon.
Although they did not share any conversation, they felt they were fully together in this space.
Like the river flowing majestically in the distance, the Namgung Clan would flow heavily forward in the future.
Since they had passed through harsh trials, now only flowing once again remained.
And that flow was somehow felt to depend on Namgung Cheon’s hands.
Namgung Geom, who quietly watched Namgung Cheon’s profile, turned his gaze back to the river.
Indeed, it was time to step back from the front line.
Should the future of the clan not be left to the young people now?
In that sense, this meeting would be a good opportunity for Namgung Geom as well.
An opportunity to predict the future of the Namgung Clan. Furthermore, it would be an opportunity to see how Namgung Cheon faced the raging typhoon.
‘The courage to be cowardly.’
Namgung Geom repeatedly chewed over those words he had spat out a few days ago.
Perhaps that statement itself was a cowardly excuse.
What if his way of handling things was wrong?
Was Namgung Cheon, who said he would face the world proudly, correct? Was it not reckless bravado?
‘In any case, he would find out to some extent today.’
Namgung Geom let out a low groan and sat at the long table.
Although a quarter-hour had passed since the promised time, none of the Seven Great Clans’ leaders showed themselves.
Occasionally, the server came up, checked the situation, and went back down with an awkward expression.
“They are very late, these people.”
“Indeed.”
Namgung Geom replied bluntly with his usual icy, expressionless face.
However, he knew inwardly.
This was also an act of the Seven Great Clans blatantly ignoring the Namgung Clan.
Although it seemed like a malicious joke at first glance, it was precisely such things that made a person weary.
To argue made one look narrow-minded, while to just let it pass made one a pathetic person.
When the server came up again, Namgung Geom ordered tea and waited silently.
Thus, another quarter-hour passed.
Now, it meant the time to have a meal and finish it had already passed.
Namgung Geom’s expression was unchanged from the beginning. However, his eyes had cooled even more coldly.
Even so, since it was nominally the Seven Great Clans Conference, he had not expected them to act in such a petty manner.
It was so absurd that he was on the verge of letting out a hollow laugh.
Just then, as a presence was felt from the stairs, he turned his gaze, and none other than Son U-gon cautiously revealed himself.
“What happened?”
At Namgung Cheon’s question, Son U-gon shook his head with a grim expression.
It meant none of the Seven Great Clans had shown up at the Yellow Crane Tower.
“These bastards are crossing the line.”
“Is this really not going too far?”
Son U-gon checked Namgung Geom’s reaction and continued his anger.
“I believe we must make a formal protest to the Seven Great Clans Conference. What kind of behavior is this after inviting someone?”
“Until when is the top floor reservation?”
At Namgung Cheon’s question, Son U-gon replied while huffing.
“I heard it is reserved for the whole day today.”
“Then, does that mean they will hold the Seven Great Clans Conference anyway?”
“They probably will. Since the Alliance Leader was also known to attend. However, it seems they deliberately informed us of the wrong time.”
“Then, is the reservation fee already paid?”
“Yes. Seeing that the cost of alcohol and food has also been generously prepaid, it seems certain that the meeting will take place. However, at this rate, I do not know how long we must wait…”
As Son U-gon trailed off, Namgung Geom stood up from his seat.
“Let us leave.”
In an instant, Namgung Cheon and Son U-gon turned their gazes.
Namgung Geom’s gaze was colder than ever. If the purpose of the Seven Great Clans was to make Namgung Geom angry, they had at least succeeded in that.
“Are you just going to return like this?”
At Namgung Cheon’s question, Namgung Geom quietly looked back at him.
“Yes. Normally, I would have done so.”
“Then…”
“What do you think?”
“Pardon?”
“Normally, I would have left without looking back.”
Namgung Cheon nodded quietly.
With the old man’s personality, it was completely plausible. Since he would consider even staying until the end to argue right from wrong to be wretched.
However, that was not his way.
‘Although I do not hold grudges, I have to resolve whatever makes me feel bad on the spot.’
Namgung Cheon replied with a grin.
“I am not leaving.”
“Then?”
Namgung Geom, as if he had already expected it, asked back calmly instead.
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and replied.
“Since they laid out the board, we must play to our heart’s content.”
“Playing on the board that was laid out. Is that your way of facing a typhoon?”
As Namgung Geom muttered quietly, Namgung Cheon shook his head.
“No. Before the typhoon blows, I must become the typhoon.”
A strange light shone in Namgung Geom’s eyes.
“Becoming the typhoon yourself?”
“Yes. Landing the first blow is always advantageous, is it not?”
“First blow…”
“However, for now, I shall follow the Patriarch’s will.”
When Namgung Cheon replied politely, Son U-gon, who had been watching anxiously, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
However, an unexpected response flowed from Namgung Geom.
“No, do it your way today.”
“Pardon?”
“Patriarch?”
Namgung Cheon and Son U-gon turned their heads simultaneously and looked at Namgung Geom.
Namgung Cheon’s expression seemed to scream, ‘What a windfall!’ while Son U-gon’s seemed to shout, ‘Please pull yourself together!’
Namgung Geom stared at Namgung Cheon with settled eyes.
“Since you changed, our clan is in upheaval. Since you have become the official Young Patriarch, it is no exaggeration to say the future of our clan depends on your hands. Today, in this place, I shall leave all decision-making to you.”
Namgung Cheon’s lips stretched wide.
Oho, look at this old man. He is saying something I like for once.
On the other hand, Son U-gon, who was beside him, hurriedly shook his head in a desperate mood.
‘No, Patriarch! That is really not it! Please reconsider!’
However, Namgung Geom remained still as a rock, waiting for Namgung Cheon’s words.
Finally, Namgung Cheon smirked and asked.
“Are you truly fine with it?”
“Yes.”
“I just need to break through my way?”
“Yes.”
“You will not go back on your word or regret it later, right?”
“As for regret… I do not know, but I shall not go back on my word.”
Namgung Geom, who was slightly shaken as he became a little anxious, quickly put on a serious face and replied.
Today, he would simply watch the grandson who said he would become the eye of the typhoon. After all, a child could not remain under one’s wing forever, could he?
Most of all, he also wanted to see the courage to face… no, to become the typhoon himself.
Namgung Cheon squared his shoulders and replied.
“Understood! Then I shall try to become the eye of the typhoon in my own way!”
And so…
* * *
“I am telling you to try it once. The taste is extraordinary.”
Jo Geom-myeong saw the chicken leg suddenly thrust in front of his nose and frowned heavily.
The half-eaten chicken leg was dripping oil in front of him.
“You… you…!”
Because he was so dumbfounded, words would not even come out.
In all his life, this was the first time he had experienced such a situation.
Throwing a drinking party at the place where the Seven Great Clans Conference was to be held? Moreover, to thrust a half-eaten chicken leg at him? It was not even a new one!
‘No, that is not what is important right now.’
Because he was so bewildered, even his thoughts flowed strangely.
Murong Hwan, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward and spoke in an icy voice.
“There is no need for many words. Empty your seats.”
“Uh… that is a bit difficult.”
“What?”
“Do they not say that even dogs are left alone while eating? The atmosphere is in full swing right now, so we cannot suddenly drive them out.”
At that, Jo Geom-myeong shouted out loud once again.
“No, does that make any sense right now! I told you this was originally the location of the Seven Great Clans Conference!”
“Then you should have come a bit earlier.”
Namgung Cheon looked away and grumbled to himself.
Jo Geom-myeong’s fingers trembled, as if he were about to foam at the mouth.
“That, that, that…!”
Since his blood pressure rose suddenly, he was on the verge of collapsing while clutching the back of his neck. What kind of guy was this who could not even be reasoned with?
Only Tang Go-ryun watched this situation with a somewhat interested expression.
‘They praised Namgung Cheon in the world, and indeed he is no ordinary person. Interesting, interesting.’
He stepped forward with a faint smile.
“It seems the messenger made a mistake. Since there is also fault on our side, it seems we cannot blame you entirely.”
“Now you are talking sense.”
“However, there is one thing we must address.”
“What is it?”
“This alcohol and food is eaten with the money paid by the Seven Great Clans Conference, is it not? Since our conference paid a day’s rental fee.”
“Hmm. That is correct.”
“Then, you must have guessed that the Seven Great Clans Conference would be held, so does that not mean you used that money recklessly?”
When Tang Go-ryun pointed out the details, Jo Geom-myeong nodded heavily and glared at Namgung Cheon.
However, there was no way such logic would work on a person like Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders with his characteristic sarcastic expression.
“Well, because I think differently.”
“Differently how?”
“Ah, as expected, wealthy families splash money like this. They book a meeting that they might not even hold and throw money first.”
“Haha. We do not schedule meetings that might be canceled.”
“So, just in case, I prepared for it.”
“Prepared how?”
“Over there, I left some seats empty. If you do not mind, why don’t you hold the meeting there?”
Everyone’s gaze turned in the direction Namgung Cheon pointed.
A round table set up in a corner of the top floor.
However, it seemed it would be full if about eight people sat.
In other words, there were no seats for the rising generation.
“It seems a bit narrow.”
“Because I did not expect you would be late by a whole double-hour.”
When Namgung Cheon smirked sneakily till the end, Jo Geom-myeong, unable to bear it, strode forward again.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking! This is undeniably no different from embezzling public funds!”
“If money is the problem, I shall pay you.”
“What? Where would you get money? The Namgung Clan would not even have a penny to eat and die even if you dug the earth!”
As emotions grew rough, words also poured out without filter.
Namgung Cheon furrowed his brows slightly and pulled something from his sleeve to show them.
“This should be more than enough.”
In an instant, the clan leaders’ eyes widened.
“T-That is…?”
“Is that not the Gold King’s plaque!”
“Why does Namgung Cheon possess that?”
By this point, Tang Go-ryun stepped forward with a loud laugh.
“Come now, is this not something to resolve so emotionally? Since there are empty seats, let us sit. As there is fault on our side too, we shall pay for the food.”
When Tang Go-ryun spoke open-mindedly contrary to expectations, Namgung Cheon quietly watched him.
‘The father and son are remarkably different.’
And indeed, was the Tang Wu-gi he had already experienced not beyond help?
Compared to him, his father was somewhat reasonable.
Indeed, he remembered that Tang Ho-jin, whom he met in his past life, also possessed a relatively open-minded personality. Since they parted without hard feelings after exchanging blows once.
Come to think of it, Tang Ho-jin would be Tang Wu-gi’s grandfather. Ah, the current Red Wave Corps Leader Tang Ye-seol also had a refreshingly cool and decent personality.
‘Then… is only that guy a fool?’
While he was lost in thought for a moment looking at Tang Wu-gi, Jo Geom-myeong cut in while huffing.
“That cannot be! Clan Leader Tang! We must deserve to punish this fellow who dared disrupt the clan conference!”
At that moment, a voice as cold as a cutting wind pierced through the crowd.
“Who dares punish the Young Patriarch of our clan?”
Where everyone’s gaze was directed, Namgung Geom, who had appeared at some point, stood with an icy expression.