Chapter 71: Hidden Dragon (2)
Chapter 70 – Hidden Dragon (2)
It was a hidden dragon.
Without a doubt, he was a hidden dragon.
Until now, Namgung Cheon’s actions and the impression he gave were ringing in his mind like that.
He had to secure him! By all means…!
The Gold King barely suppressed his wildly beating heart as he stared at Namgung Cheon.
Certainly, a strange atmosphere flowed in the Namgung Clan.
There was Namgung Cheon, who was practically the root of the clan’s downfall; Namgung Pyo, who seemed to resent this; Namgung Hwa, who sent affectionate gazes to her nephew; and lastly, Namgung Geom, whose inner thoughts could not be known.
It was a truly subtle combination.
Normally, in this kind of situation, Namgung Cheon should have bowed his head low and lived with bated breath.
Yet Namgung Cheon did not do so.
What did he say just now? Give him the position of the Young Patriarch?
‘Ha!’
Even to the Gold King, who had no connection to the Namgung Clan, it was an astounding remark.
But because of that, he was certain.
A hidden dragon!
A true hidden dragon was bound to always surpass the thoughts of ordinary people.
However, merely showing unexpected behavior blindly was not enough.
The aura of a hidden dragon was bound to emanate from the attitude, expression, and tone of voice when making a sudden remark.
Just like now!
And normally, in such cases, ordinary people…
“What did you just say?”
…could not accept it so easily.
Just like Namgung Pyo now.
His eyebrows knitted in anger as he raised his voice.
“I am asking you! What did you just say?”
Namgung Pyo’s face was as red as a ripe persimmon that looked ready to burst at any moment.
Namgung Cheon cast an indifferent gaze at Namgung Pyo.
‘What kind of brat’s gaze is…!’
Namgung Pyo’s brow twitched.
Although he had pressed for an answer, he had clearly heard Namgung Cheon’s words.
What? Give him the position of Young Patriarch?
‘What a crazy bastard of a child…! Because of whom is this clan declining? How dare a wretch like you…?’
If there were no people around, he would have slapped his cheek immediately.
That cold gaze now must be because he inherited the blood of the Great Killing Star.
Namgung Cheon’s mouth opened again.
“I said I want to become the Young Patriarch of the Namgung Clan.”
“W-what did you…? Ugh…!”
Before Namgung Pyo could say anything, Namgung Cheon turned back to Namgung Geom and continued.
“Please accept me as the successor.”
Now Namgung Pyo was on the verge of collapsing while grabbing the back of his neck.
Namgung Hwa’s face turned pale, and the Gold King watched this entire process with interest.
Namgung Geom maintained an unwavering expression, like a rock submerged in water.
Namgung Pyo bit his lips repeatedly.
‘What are you doing, Brother? How can you just stand there listening to such nonsense!’
Although he felt the urge to argue immediately, he knew Namgung Geom’s personality, so he waited in silence.
Finally, Namgung Geom’s mouth opened heavily.
“It is not a matter to be spoken of so simply in a place like this.”
It was a subtle answer.
It was confusing whether it was a polite refusal or a suggestion to talk about it privately later.
Yet Namgung Cheon did not back down here.
Bold statements continued to flow from his mouth.
“Is it not a declining clan anyway? I heard there is no one who wants to become the Young Patriarch.”
This time, even Namgung Geom slightly furrowed his brow.
Unable to bear it any longer, Namgung Pyo finally erupted in anger.
“Yes, you are right! Becoming the Clan Leader of the Namgung Clan, who is criticized by everyone, is by no means an easy task! Frankly speaking, do you know how many people in our clan are simply enduring it because they cannot change their surname? That is all because of your father! Because of that bastard who seduced your mother and ruined our clan! Surely you do not say such nonsense without knowing that? Are you asking us to hand over our clan to the bastard of the Great Killing Star right now?”
Having poured out his words like beans spilling from a sack, Namgung Pyo panted, his shoulders heaving.
However, Namgung Cheon turned back to Namgung Pyo with an expression that had barely changed from the beginning.
At that sight, the Gold King could not help but admire him inwardly.
‘Did he inherit his grandfather’s personality?’
Namgung Cheon asked in a voice as cold as ice.
“Do you really think so?”
“What?”
“Do you only think of me as the bastard of the Great Killing Star? Is that how you look at me, Granduncle? Or are you simply following the gaze of the world?”
“What on earth are you trying to say? What the world calls you means the world has acknowledged it as such. A mere nobody like you trying to go against the ways of the world…”
“Since when did the Namgung Clan become a family dragged around by the world?”
“What?”
“Do you want to say it became like that because the clan declined? That cannot be it. Even if the world ignores us, the pride of our clan has not vanished, has it?”
“Shut up! How dare you, what do you know…!”
“I do not know much. However, I do know that the Namgung Clan was once a family that led the world. Yet, just because the world flows in a different direction now, are we to follow closely at its heels?”
“What nonsense!”
“It is not nonsense. Is that not exactly what you are saying now, Granduncle? Slandering your own grandnephew as the bastard of the Great Killing Star, having discarded even your pride? Does that not mean you will accept whatever the world has acknowledged? Where there is a will, there is a way. If you are going to conform to the world and only walk the path set for you, why not just discard the Namgung surname altogether?”
“You wretch! How dare you right now…!”
“I!”
At that moment, Namgung Cheon shouted in a ringing voice.
The impact was not great due to the roaring cheers from the spectator stands, but the voice pierced clearly into the ears of the surrounding people.
“Even if my birth was as the bastard of the Great Killing Star, I am currently a member of the Namgung Clan who inherited the Namgung surname.”
Namgung Cheon turned back to Namgung Geom as he finished speaking.
“If you had intended for me to remain as the bastard of the Great Killing Star until the end, you should not have passed down the Namgung surname to me either.”
“…”
Namgung Geom did not avoid Namgung Cheon’s gaze and stared back at him quietly.
A suffocating silence flowed between the two.
Only after a long time passed did Namgung Geom’s voice flow out heavily.
“You seem confident.”
He was referring to winning the Joint Conference.
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders.
“Is that important?”
“It is not important. What is important is the result accompanied by a fair process.”
“Then please watch until the results are out and give me your answer.”
“I will think about it.”
“Brother!”
Namgung Pyo suddenly interrupted, but Namgung Geom raised his hand to stop him.
Namgung Cheon faintly smiled and bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
As Namgung Cheon turned around without regret and left the place, Namgung Pyo beat his chest and vented his anger.
“Brother! This is not right! Surely you do not mean what you said? That young kid’s nonsensical…”
“Winning the Joint Conference has great symbolic significance.”
“Brother! No matter what, wrong is wrong! Winning the Joint Conference? Yes, it is great. It will surely have a massive impact enough for everyone to look up to. However, the rumors of that child being the bastard of the Great Killing Star will also be highlighted just as much.”
“Is there anyone in the Jianghu who does not know that the child is the bastard of the Great Killing Star?”
“Well, that is…”
“That is already an exposed weakness of our clan. If he wins the Joint Conference, that weakness might be highlighted a bit more, but the advantages are greater.”
“Even so, the world will mock us, saying that the bastard of the Great Killing Star has become the Young Patriarch!”
“So, are you afraid?”
“What?”
“Are you afraid of the world’s mockery? Is that why you are living so obediently submissive to the world?”
At Namgung Geom’s sharp gaze, Namgung Pyo felt as if even his heart froze for a moment.
It was an undeniable fact.
After the clan’s downfall, Namgung Pyo had stayed in Wuhan, doing nothing but watching the Martial Alliance’s reactions. He had been lying low, only seeking an opportunity for the clan’s reconstruction.
Since even the Great Killing Star was dead, he believed that an opportunity would return someday.
Yet, who would have thought that Namgung Cheon would suddenly appear and run wild like this.
As Namgung Pyo ground his teeth, unable to continue speaking, Namgung Geom spoke in a quiet but firm tone.
“Our clan is a family of sovereigns.”
“…!”
“Although it is currently in decline, it was once a clan that led the Martial World. Yet how can you think of only chasing the tail of the Martial World, just as that child said?”
“Brother… surely you are not looking at that rascal seriously?”
“As I said before, I am only watching the results. If that result is accompanied by a fair process and bears fruit worthy of recognition in its own way…”
Namgung Geom did not finish his sentence, but the surrounding people could fully guess the meaning that would follow.
“Brother!”
“That child’s martial arts are not ordinary.”
“Yes, I know. I saw it too. He certainly seemed to have grown. However, he has only won once so far. Moreover, no matter how outstanding his martial arts are, the stigma of being the bastard of the Great Killing Star will not be easily erased. Think of the clan’s future!”
“Then, will you inherit it?”
Namgung Geom’s cold gaze shot into Namgung Pyo’s eyes.
Namgung Pyo hesitated.
His mouth did not open easily.
In the past, he would have agreed without asking or questioning.
But now, it was a crumbling clan.
Was it not a situation where even putting forward the Namgung surname was shameful?
For a moment, a cold sneer brushed past Namgung Geom’s lips.
“If you have nothing more to say, leave.”
“Brother!”
“How can someone who considers the clan shameful become the Clan Leader? A clan is not some robe that one can throw off if it becomes cumbersome.”
“…!”
Namgung Pyo clenched his fists tightly and bit his lip.
Still, of all people, why did it have to be Namgung Cheon…!
If only it were not Namgung Cheon, anyone else would be fine!
As Namgung Pyo stood there without leaving easily, Namgung Geom frowned.
“When you, who are ashamed of the clan and chase the tail of the Martial Alliance, suddenly dispute the clan’s affairs, I feel burdened as the Clan Leader.”
His tone of voice was cold beyond measure.
Namgung Pyo flinched with a stiffened expression and bowed his head.
“I hope you make a wise decision.”
There was nothing more to talk about.
Since things had turned out this way, there was no choice but to watch for now.
After Namgung Pyo left, Namgung Geom stared blankly in the direction where Namgung Cheon had disappeared.
‘By the way… why did that fellow suddenly ask for the position of Young Patriarch…?’
* * *
To achieve success in martial arts, he had to become the Young Patriarch.
It was the conclusion he had reached after repeatedly agonizing over it for the past few days.
‘To enter the Boundless Sky Library, that is the only way.’
Namgung Cheon drew the Emerald Silk Sword, quietly examining the blade as he thought.
A foundation that did not exist in his past life had been established.
However, he felt that this foundation was a bit lacking.
Therefore, he wanted to properly check the martial arts of the Namgung Clan.
Of course, in his past life, Namgung Cheon knew the martial arts of the Namgung Clan inside out through Namgung Seon.
However, even Namgung Seon might have missed something. He wanted to solidify his foundation more clearly.
Therefore, he demanded the position of Young Patriarch.
To utilize the Boundless Sky Library, a place that was protected more thoroughly than gold and silver treasures even if the clan fell.
For the authority to use the Boundless Sky Library was given only to the Clan Leader and the Young Patriarch.
‘First of all, even to win the old man’s heart, an overwhelming victory is necessary.’
Namgung Cheon slightly curled up the corners of his mouth.