Chapter 31: The Disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 31: The Disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest (3)
“Phew.”
As I stepped down from the porch of the Peony Hall, I couldn't remember the last time I felt this refreshed.
In my hand were two sheets of paper. They contained detailed accounts, written by their own hands, of everything Lady Yang and Guard Jo had done to me.
As if that weren't enough, I had even secured Lady Yang’s personal seal.
The Lesser Conversation Sword clicked its tongue in amazement.
This was nothing. Did it really think I would trust that wicked woman with just a poison pill? I needed written evidence in her own hand to ensure she wouldn't try any desperate schemes to flip the situation.
Well, if they were both prepared to die, there was nothing I could do.
Probably not.
Surprisingly, Lady Yang and Guard Jo shared a bond that went back to their childhood, and their attachment to one another was genuinely strong. That was likely why Guard Jo had covered for her even when she acted independently.
If not for that bond, Lady Yang could have easily sacrificed Guard Jo, claimed ignorance, and continued to pressure me.
But that would be difficult now. I had told them that if Guard Jo stepped out of line, I wouldn't give Lady Yang the antidote—and if Lady Yang acted up, I wouldn't give Guard Jo hers.
The Namcheon Iron Sword and the Lesser Conversation Sword were right. If humans were perfectly rational, there would be no conflict or mistakes. But all humans are more emotional than rational, and because those emotions interfere with everything they do, they are bound to be imperfect.
Of course, the same applied to me.
There might be peaceful methods like forgiveness or mercy, but to hell with that. I wanted them to suffer truly. That was what real revenge looked like.
‘Dismissing the servants turned out to be her undoing.’
I mocked Lady Yang’s foolishness as I walked away. Out of pride, she had ordered all the maids to stay far away from the Peony Hall, leaving only Guard Jo by her side. Given their distance, the servants wouldn't have a clue what kind of conversation had taken place inside.
Ignoring the bewildered looks of the maids standing in the peony garden, I leisurely made my way out of the Peony Hall’s grounds.
That was the plan, but I’d changed my mind. Since they had struck first, why should I bother sticking to the "best" path of waiting peacefully?
The Family Head and the rest of the main family were likely racking their brains right now. If it weren't for the guests they were currently hosting, the Family Head might have already summoned the Hall Masters for an emergency meeting.
Actually, the Hall Masters had probably gathered already.
‘This works out well.’
I might as well make them move first. I hurried toward the guest quarters.
*
Sama Yeong and Jo Seong-won followed behind me.
We were heading toward the Inner Hall of the manor. Inside the Inner Hall was the meeting room where the Hall Masters gathered for discussions.
[They’re following us.]
Sama Yeong sent me a message via Sound Transmission.
As soon as I led them out of the guest quarters, several warriors and maids had hurriedly begun trailing us. When they asked where I was going, I gave no answer, leaving them to follow in a state of flustered confusion.
[Leave them be.]
No matter where I went within the manor, I was under surveillance anyway.
—Murmur, murmur!
In the courtyard of the Inner Hall, the assistants of each Hall Master were waiting. There were only eight of them, but they represented the eight halls that led the Yikyang So Family. Their presence confirmed my suspicion: the Hall Masters were currently meeting inside.
Those who recognized me began to whisper and stare. Ignoring them completely, I approached the Inner Hall, only for the eight assistants to hurriedly block my path.
“Please stop, Young Master.”
“Why are you blocking me?”
I knew why, of course. They were likely holding a meeting to discuss my demand for the position of representative for the younger generation, so they couldn't just let me walk in.
The assistants looked at each other, troubled. In the past, they would have coldly told me to leave, but because of my status as the disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest, they couldn't treat me recklessly.
One assistant spoke cautiously.
“A meeting regarding family matters is currently in progress, so no one is allowed to enter—”
“Who said that?”
The assistant bit his lip, realizing his slip of the tongue. The Family Head wasn't in the meeting room right now. That meant one of the Hall Masters had given the order to bar entry. However, the only people in the Yikyang So Family who held a higher rank than me were the Family Head and my two half-brothers.
“If the Hall Masters said that, then there should be no problem.”
“Ah... Young Master.”
“Step aside.”
At the commanding tone of my voice, they finally stepped back to either side. Their behavior made it clear just how powerless I had been in the past. Before my Regression, they wouldn't have just stepped aside; they might have forcibly kicked me out.
I stepped onto the porch of the Inner Hall and headed for the meeting room. I didn't even bother knocking.
Thud!
As the doors swung open, the eight Hall Masters sitting at the long table turned their heads simultaneously to look at me. I gave them a fist-and-palm salute.
“It has been a long time, Hall Masters.”
At my greeting, they wore expressions similar to the assistants outside—a mix of discomfort and bewilderment. None of them had expected me to barge in like this.
Yet, they remained firmly planted in their seats.
“It’s a familiar sight, but it seems no one is going to return my greeting.”
At those words, the five Hall Masters sitting in the lower seats hurriedly stood up. They bowed their heads to show respect.
“Fourth Elder Mok San-young of the Fourth Hall greets the Third Young Master.”
“Fifth Elder Gam Woo-mun of the Fifth Hall greets the Third...”
Even then, the three sitting in the upper seats did not stand.
Great Elder Ha Jang-gyun of the First Hall.
Second Elder Jin Ki-hyung of the Second Hall.
Third Elder Yang Mun-seok of the Third Hall.
Ha Jang-gyun, the Great Elder, never bowed his head to anyone except the Family Head, So Ikheon. He was a stiff, upright man, so I understood his reaction.
On the other hand, Jin Ki-hyung and Yang Mun-seok—the latter being from the Jogok Yang family—were supporters of the children of the legal wife. They were clearly trying to maintain their pride before me.
Ha Jang-gyun, the Great Elder sitting at the head of the table, spoke up.
“I believe you were told outside that a meeting was in progress. Why have you entered as you please?”
“You speak as if I’ve entered a place I’m not allowed to be.”
“Only the Family Head, the Successor, and the Hall Masters are permitted to attend the Hall Masters' Council. Surely you are aware of this.”
He lived up to his title as the Great Elder. He spoke his mind without caring whether I was the disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest or not. Perhaps because he was the oldest vassal of the Yikyang So Family and a master who had surpassed the wall of the First-Rate, every one of his actions overflowed with confidence.
“The Great Elder is right. No matter if you are the Young Master, this is an act of insolence. If you have something to say, schedule a separate time,” added Yang Mun-seok, the Third Elder.
He was itching to kick me out. Looking at him brought back memories—very unpleasant ones.
“Hall Master Yang Mun-seok.”
“Yes?”
“It’s been a while, so I’m having trouble adjusting. Why don't you just yell at me to get out like you used to?”
“...I have no idea what you are talking about. I don't recall such a thing.”
Playing innocent, are we? Right. The perpetrator rarely remembers such things.
“Ah, then I shall have to remind you. Didn't you personally kick me out of the main family back then, Hall Master Yang?”
The memory was still vivid. Yang Mun-seok had personally brought warriors from the Third Hall to forcibly evict me. He had even said that since I was cast out by the clan, I was no longer a person of the Yikyang So Family.
“What was it you called me back then? Ah, right. ‘Don't you ever come sniffing around the main family again, you piece of trash.’ Wasn't that it?”
Yang Mun-seok’s face turned as hard as ice. Does it ring a bell now?
I gave him a bright smile and continued.
“It’s hard to get used to you calling me ‘Young Master’ all of a sudden. Please, call me what you did back then.”
A few of the other Hall Masters frowned as they looked at him. They were the ones who, at the very least, hadn't crossed the line with me in the past.
Yang Mun-seok’s gaze turned quite sharp. He probably hadn't expected me to bring up the past in a place like this.
“Sigh.”
Yang Mun-seok relaxed his expression and spoke.
“Ah, did I really? Ever since I passed forty, my memory hasn't been what it used to be. I tend to forget things even after just a year. If I caused the Young Master any discomfort because of that, then I, Yang, shall offer my apologies.”
Indeed. He had always been a slippery snake. Coming from the Jogok Yang family, he had never liked me and had used all sorts of schemes to put my mother and my sister in difficult positions.
But it seemed he was confusing the past with the present.
I smiled at Yang Mun-seok and asked, “Ah, is that so? But are you alright?”
“Pardon? About what?”
“If you can’t even remember things from a year ago, it seems you’re too overwhelmed to continue your duties as a Hall Master. Shouldn't you consider retiring?”
Yang Mun-seok’s eyebrows twitched. He might have pushed me around in the past, but did he really think I’d lose to him in a war of words now? And did he think he could just gloss over it?
“I’m joking. Just a joke.”
I laughed and waved my hand dismissively. Yang Mun-seok was annoyed, but his expression softened slightly, perhaps out of a sense of hollow relief.
Then, I hardened my expression into a cold stare.
“But does a vassal like Hall Master Yang really think he can brush off such insolent remarks toward the third son of the current Family Head with a single sentence of apology?”
“What do you mean by...”
“Offer a proper apology, with the respect I am due.”
As I spoke, I intentionally released my Energy Sense. Once one reaches the Supreme Peak Realm, they can exert pressure on others just by leaking their aura.
Feeling the energy radiating from me, Hall Master Yang Mun-seok’s face turned pale and rigid.
“Ugh.”
Could he maintain his pride in the face of this?
Just then, Second Elder Jin Ki-hyung intervened.
“What exactly are you trying to do? Are you, the disciple of the renowned Namcheon Sword Guest, trying to dig up the past just to seek some petty personal revenge?”
He used my status as the Namcheon Sword Guest’s disciple against me, coming to the rescue of the struggling Yang Mun-seok. Yang Mun-seok shot a grateful look toward the Great Elder, Ha Jang-gyun.
That was when Sama Yeong, standing behind me, let out a scoff.
“Since when is pointing out a vassal’s excessive insolence considered ‘petty revenge’? My goodness, the hierarchy in the Yikyang So Family is truly a mess.”
It sounded like she was just talking to me, but she made sure everyone heard. It was a valid point, but Jin Ki-hyung, the Second Elder, tried to use her intervention as an excuse to explode in anger.
“How dare an outsider interfere in the affairs of this family! Young Master, how could you bring such an insolent person to a place where the vital matters of the family are being discussed—”
Flinch!
Jin Ki-hyung stopped mid-sentence. The sharp aura emanating from Sama Yeong had suddenly choked the words in his throat. Her gaze had become the same as when she was about to kill someone.
‘Ah.’
Sure enough, a flurry of Sound Transmissions reached my ears, asking for permission to strike. If I hadn't placed restrictions on her, Jin Ki-hyung might have been sent to the afterlife long ago. Even now, he looked incredibly distressed.
The Lesser Conversation Sword chattered excitedly. I thought the news about me had spread through the family to some extent, but apparently, they didn't know everything.
I spoke up, pretending to restrain her.
“Junior, calm yourself.”
“Junior?”
Jin Ki-hyung’s expression froze. If I called her "Junior," then her status was naturally that of another disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest. He was bound to be bewildered.
“It seems the Second Elder was quite displeased that I brought my Junior along.”
At my words, Jin Ki-hyung’s expression shifted instantly. It was a complete reversal of attitude.
“What do you mean? Of course you can bring her. I, Jin, committed an act of insolence without realizing she was such an honored guest. I hope the young hero can find it in her heart to forgive me.”
Even the Lesser Conversation Sword was amazed by how quickly he changed his tune. He must have been deeply concerned about the Namcheon Sword Guest’s reputation.
Then, the Great Elder Ha Jang-gyun, the leader of the Hall Masters who had been watching in silence, finally spoke.
“It seems we should proceed with the meeting once the Family Head arrives. Hall Masters, please vacate the room for now.”
Realizing the situation was spiraling, he tried to end the meeting quickly. But I couldn't let that happen.
Without looking back, I gave an order.
“Close the door.”
“Yes, sir!”
At my command, Jo Seong-won closed the meeting room doors and slid the bolt shut. Then, Jo Seong-won and Sama Yeong stood in front of the doors like gatekeepers, blocking the exit.
The Hall Masters’ faces hardened.
“!?”
Great Elder Ha Jang-gyun spoke, his eyes narrowing sharply.
“What is the meaning of this?”
In an instant, the room was thick with tension. It was only natural for them to be on guard now that the exit was blocked.
“I felt that if I didn't do this, I wouldn't be able to have a proper conversation with all of you, led by the Great Elder.”
“It looks more like you have other intentions, Young Master.”
Slide.
Ha Jang-gyun’s hand moved toward the hilt of the saber at his waist. As if that were a signal, the other Hall Masters also took up combat stances.
The air in the meeting room grew heavy.
That was when I broke the silence.
“I have a good proposal for you.”
“A proposal?”
The Hall Masters frowned at my sudden words. Looking at their bewildered faces, I gave them a smirk.
“I’m going to give you a chance to switch sides.”