Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: I Have Too Much (4)
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Seok Ung was surprised too, but the most shocked of all was Murong Bi.
"Patriarch?"
"That's right."
"Why me?"
"Why? Naturally, you should become the patriarch."
He was so flustered that no words came out.
As Murong Bi made foolish sputtering noises, Murong Sujing spoke with utmost seriousness.
"Do you remember? The day you brought back the Bright Truth initiation token and sent me to the Bright Truth Temple."
"...I remember."
"Even then, you were already the head of the main house. All I was doing was handling the family's affairs on your behalf as a proxy, not because I was the patriarch."
"... ."
"Until the moment I left for the Bright Truth Temple, I was effectively the patriarch up to that point. If the Chief Steward hadn't been there, I couldn't have even managed that much."
Was it just his imagination?
Murong Sujing looked immensely relieved, as if she'd finally set down a burden she'd carried for far too long.
"You are the head of the main house. You were then, and you still are now. All I did was lighten your load for a time."
"... ."
"Now, take up the role of patriarch once more."
It was truly touching.
Regardless of the family's standing, handing over leadership of an organization so easily wasn't something just anyone could do.
It was a position that commanded people even without personal strength. In a world where people turned against parents and even killed siblings for power, cases like Murong Sujing's—yielding the patriarch's seat without hesitation—were exceedingly rare.
So Murong Bi gave this response.
"No thanks."
Murong Sujing and Seok Ung were taken aback by his nonchalant reply.
"No?"
"You're the head of the main house, Sister. You're already managing it so well, so why hand over the title? Getting tired of it?"
"Th-that's not it!"
"Just keep being the patriarch. No need to tire your mouth calling yourself 'acting' anymore."
Truth be told, it was something he'd wanted to say ever since returning. The circumstances had kept him from voicing it until now.
Murong Sujing grew serious once more.
"When you sent me away, you promised to take responsibility for the family. You said you'd look after Suhyang well and told me not to worry. You were the patriarch from that moment on."
"In reality, I couldn't even take care of Suhyang and caused every worry imaginable. What qualification do I have to be patriarch?"
"That's—!"
"If anything, I've been the one leading the family in your stead. You know how that turned out, right? It wasn't just feeding them poorly; I turned it into invalid gruel."
"... ."
"Truth be told, you only took it over because I left. It was never a position I wanted in the first place."
Even if it meant playing on her guilt, he had to be firm on this point.
'On what face could I become patriarch, you fool?'
He already felt sorry for dying so suddenly in his mid-fifties. If he'd lived, he would have at least fought for the family.
Of course, this body he'd slipped into belonged to Murong Bi, the legitimate heir of the Murong family.
But was there a rule saying only men could be patriarch? The one with ability and who managed the family well—that was the best choice.
Even inscribing "co-patriarch" on the ancestral tablet out of pity made him ashamed enough to die; he had no desire whatsoever to usurp the family head's position as her granduncle.
And there was one decisive reason.
"I'm not cut out to be patriarch."
"Bi-ya."
"Even if it was an act, someone without a nasty temperament couldn't have pulled off that stunt. There's a madness in me that doesn't suit the role of family head."
This was true.
"Tell him, Chief Steward. Do you think I'd manage the family better than my sister?"
He deliberately turned his head, directing Sujing's gaze toward Seok Ung.
Murong Bi shamelessly winked at Seok Ung with one eye, sending a silent signal.
Seok Ung, who had been thoroughly flustered, cleared his throat and spoke.
"I haven't seen all of Young Master's talents... but the eldest young lady's abilities are exceptionally outstanding."
He'd phrased it politely, but it ultimately meant Murong Sujing was better.
Murong Sujing was stunned. She hadn't expected the ever-kind Chief Steward to say it so outright.
"See? Even the Chief Steward says you're infinitely better than the likes of me."
"Young Master, when did I say it quite like that... ."
"So don't ever mention handing over the patriarch's seat again after today."
Confusion clouded Murong Sujing's face.
"I never imagined you'd refuse the patriarch's seat... ."
"Did I seem like someone crazed with lust for power?"
"No, that's not—!"
"I know my place. Who knows what mess I'll cause next? The patriarch represents the family's dignity— it doesn't suit me."
His tone made it clear there would be no debate on this matter.
Murong Sujing looked back and forth between the two with complicated eyes before bowing her head with a sigh.
"I've been waiting all this time for the day I could hand the patriarch's seat to you."
"Must have been tough. I get it."
"That's not it. Of course there were hard moments, but I've been looking forward to the day I could pass on a well-tended family."
Murong Bi understood that sentiment all too well.
His persistent joking was just to soothe his kind, responsible grandniece.
"Far from tending the family well, even the people we had started leaving one by one. Honestly, I felt guilty handing over the patriarch's seat in this state, but I thought the current you could lead the main house just fine."
"You're wrong."
Murong Bi's voice carried firm conviction, utterly serious.
"It's not that you couldn't manage the family, Sister. It's because of you that the main house has held on this long. Isn't that right, Chief Steward?"
Seok Ung replied with equal gravity.
"Yes. If it hadn't been for the eldest young lady, the main house might have collapsed entirely."
He had taught the young acting patriarch much, but it was Murong Sujing who had truly run the family. He sincerely acknowledged her talent and ability.
"I told you before, right? A warrior without pride is like a sword without a scabbard."
"Yes, I remember."
"Don't lose pride in yourself. Believe in your ability to lead the family this far without money or power."
Murong Bi grinned.
"I'll have your back solidly from here on out."
Murong Sujing felt a surge of emotion.
Over the brightly smiling face of her brother floated the faint image of their father from her memories.
And not just that.
The hazy face of her grandfather, whom she couldn't even remember, and even the face of their granduncle who had commanded the world as Martial Alliance Leader—all swirled around like mist.
It was as if the great men of those bygone eras had returned to her brother's body, gazing down at her.
"... ."
Silence lingered in the patriarch's chamber.
Murong Bi was the one who broke it.
"Anyway, leave the Ten Sword Sect to me. I'll bring piping hot nourishing stew, so you and the Chief Steward prepare some spotless bowls."
Seok Ung asked,
"May I inquire as to your plan?"
"Don't we still have that one pot of fresh beef bone broth we boiled just once?"
"Pardon?"
"Even if they're up to all sorts of dirty tricks behind the scenes, the Ten Sword Sect is nominally a righteous sect on the surface. Roasting a face-conscious sect like that isn't hard at all."
Seok Ung couldn't imagine what method Murong Bi would use.
'Young Master.'
He still felt uneasy. There was no helping that.
But now, he wanted to believe.
'If Young Master had suddenly accepted the patriarch's seat, I might have lived in anxiety forever.'
Even accounting for the secret realm's circumstances, as Murong Bi himself said, without that temperament, he couldn't have caused such a scene.
But now, he was ready to trust.
Not as much as with Murong Sujing, but he would make the effort to believe in the troublemaking young master.
"One more question."
"Go ahead."
"About the secret realm."
Murong Bi's eyes sparkled.
"Yes."
"You met with the Ten Sword Sect's second daughter to find the secret realm. Correct?"
"That's right."
He seemed to have been pondering that deeply.
"That means you've had dealings with the Ten Sword Sect in mind from the start, yes?"
No?
"Exactly."
"So when you said this wasn't just about taking down some back-alley thug den, that was what you meant?"
Having it pointed out so directly stirred up needless guilt.
"Well, something like that."
"Impressive."
Seok Ung clicked his tongue in admiration.
"I had no idea you'd planned this so deliberately—and so long ago... ."
Murong Bi held his tongue.
Seok Ung, lost in thought for a moment, asked once more.
"Leaking the secret realm's existence to Lady Hwang Inhwa was quite a risky move, in my opinion. But now that I think about it, would they even believe it exists?"
Murong Bi smiled.
'Finally using your head.'
He'd considered that himself.
"At first, I thought they might, but upon reflection, I leaned toward no."
"May I hear your reasoning?"
"From their perspective, isn't it like a worthless drunkard who only caused trouble without doing a thing suddenly returning as a master who smashed the Black Tiger Gang?"
"Y-yes, that's true."
Seok Ung, and even Murong Sujing, coughed awkwardly. Murong Bi's words were too harsh to take in stride.
This was proof of his rough edges.
"In other words, they've been fooling themselves for years. Put yourself in their shoes—would you believe a sleazy guy like that revealed a real secret realm to their dim-witted daughter?"
"Ahem, Young Master. Your words... ."
"Absolutely not. They'd start getting nervous instead. 'This guy's up to something. He must have something to rely on.'"
Murong Bi pointed to the closed window.
It faced the direction of the recent fight, next to the patriarch's chamber.
"And that's the result. With so many eyes around, they couldn't send a large force. But they did dispatch an elder, a guard warrior of comparable skill, and even their somewhat competent daughter."
"I hear Hwang Jihwa serves as the Ten Sword Sect's finance elder with a keen eye, also acting as the sect's brain."
Seok Ung gave a wry smile.
"Brain? This incident proves she lacks insight."
"They had little information on me. They didn't even properly know my strength."
"I see."
"Against those three, there would have been nothing to fear. No matter how strong I am, anyone would think I couldn't handle all three."
This was exactly what he'd hoped to hear.
Through his recent conversation with Murong Bi, Seok Ung realized something. Overestimating the enemy was a problem, but underestimating them was too.
Now that he'd revived a long-forgotten wisdom, he wanted to know what thoughts Murong Bi harbored.
The result was utter satisfaction.
"Young Master's insight and wisdom are truly remarkable."
"Just street smarts and cunning."
"People call that street smarts and cunning 'insight and wisdom.'"
"Then I'll take it as a compliment."
Murong Bi stood from his seat.
"We have much to do ahead. I'll have much to learn from you, so I look forward to it."
"No need for such words. If anything, I should learn from you, Young Master."
Before leaving the patriarch's chamber, a sudden thought struck Murong Bi, and he turned back to Murong Sujing.
"Sister."
"Yes."
"Remember when the Black Tiger Gang came for collections?"
"Of course."
"You were ill then, but no one was more dignified and imposing. Yet now you're all soft like a baby's cheek."
Murong Sujing smiled awkwardly.
"Put that burden you tried to give me back on your shoulders. If it's too heavy, I'll carry our patriarch—body and all—so run without worry."
Murong Bi grinned and opened the door to the patriarch's chamber.
"I'm off. Stay inside; it's cold out there."