Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Floating Weed
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Right after the report in the presence of the clan head.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
My companions—the Iron Palm Trio—and I exited through the back door of the office.
Gong Son-beom came out with us, as if seeing the four of us off.
The matters related to the South Palace Clan and the Divine Cult were still top secrets that couldn’t be leaked outside.
With so many eyes around, it was a signal to leave as discreetly as possible.
But the way out was too quiet. Perhaps because there was no common topic bridging the five of us, there was nothing worth talking about.
In particular, the Iron Palm Trio, who had clashed fiercely with Gong Son-beom earlier, wore distinctly uncomfortable expressions.
It was hard to keep sharpening their blades now that they knew his true identity, yet reconciling felt off due to all the unresolved suspicions.
On the other hand, Gong Son-beom looked utterly unperturbed.
As if he’d been through this countless times.
It was a familiar face.
But at the same time, it seemed a bit lonely.
He’d lived his whole life as a spy, after all.
Not truly part of the Hao Clan, the Ghost Sect, the South Palace Clan, or even properly affiliated with the Tang Clan.
Just drifting aimlessly, with nowhere to rely on.
No real family or comrades, either.
The term “floating weed” naturally came to mind.
‘Right. So, will you follow me? I’ll help make you more special than anyone in the world, you old man.’
For some reason, memories of first meeting my master surfaced.
“…So, creating that Lake Alliance and clashing with us was all part of your mission as a spy, right, old timer?”
I asked in a flat tone.
Gong Son-beom’s eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn’t expected me to speak first, then one eyebrow twitched.
“I’ve been wanting to point this out since earlier. ‘Old timer’? Mind your words. I’m still an unmarried bachelor, you know?”
I snorted lightly.
Where does this old timer get off?
“Around forty is old timer territory, isn’t it? Aren’t you being a bit greedy?”
“Forty? I’m only thirty, and you’re spouting nonsense at me?”
Gong Son-beom jumped up on the spot, as if I’d said something outrageous.
The hitherto silent Iron Palm Trio all turned their heads toward him at once.
“Th-thirty?”
“Huh?”
“This guy’s… the same age as Big Bro?”
Gong Son-beom jumped even higher than before.
“Why the shock? And this hero here is exactly thirty-one. I’m precisely thirty—thirty! Calling him ‘bro’ and me ‘old timer’ is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“…Even younger than Big Bro here.”
Yu Su-min looked aghast, as if she’d seen a ghost. Dang Gyu-jin’s pupils dilated wildly.
Sa Ma-seon said nothing, but her tightly pressed lips were clearly trembling.
And why not? Judging by appearances alone, Gong Son-beom could pass for brothers with Dang Gon.
At the very least, he looked forty. At the very least.
His actual visible age… late forties, roughly.
Yet he claimed to be younger than Yi Cheol-san. No wonder the shock.
「Oh no!」
「Look at that—」
「How much hardship must he have endured for his face to end up like that?」
「His skin’s all dry and rough, but worst of all, that thinning hair—it’s heartbreaking.」
I inadvertently glanced at the top of his head, and our eyes met.
Gong Son-beom hastily covered his head with his hand and stepped back.
“Where are you looking!!”
“…Old timer, out of pity, let me give you one piece of advice.”
Gong Son-beom bristled.
“Not old timer!”
“Our clan, with centuries of history, has researched countless herbs and poisons, yet we’ve never developed a cure for that. It’s not something human hands can fix, so if you’re clinging to straws, you’d best give up early—”
“Sobok Banak, you think I’m sticking around the Tang Clan for a baldness cure, don’t you! Right!?”
“……My condolences.”
“That’s not why I’m here!”
“I understand completely.”
“I said no! How many times do I have to say it!! No! Nooooo!”
Gong Son-beom flew into a rage, but I stood still, head bowed in silent prayer.
To the late departed follicles of the world, may you rest in peace. Amen.
The Iron Palm Trio unwittingly followed my lead.
“You little punks!! And anyway, you could tell just by looking at the clan head’s head—why would I stay for something like that!”
Huh?
Come to think of it, that’s a fair point.
Or maybe it’s some camaraderie unique to bald folks, shared suffering or—
Crackle-crackle-pop!
A fierce yellow lightning surged over Gong Son-beom’s shoulders. His bulging eyes looked ready to pummel me any second.
He seemed angrier than when I’d snatched his badge. Time to wrap this up.
“Well, joke’s over. Anyway, creating the Lake Alliance was all part of the mission, right?”
Gong Son-beom stared at me in disbelief.
Unfazed, I blinked innocently with a look that said, ‘Not gonna answer? Huh?’
Grrrrrind!
“…Yes. What you’re… thinking… is… correct.”
“As expected. Got it. Thanks for the answer. I’ll keep that in mind from now on.”
The topic had shifted completely, leaving him unable to lash out.
Gong Son-beom just scratched furiously at his head.
「Stopping just a hair’s breadth before the brink of fury—that’s the advanced technique of being so infuriating it pushes people even further over the edge!!」
「Ah, what a ruthlessly devious proof that our Young Cult Leader is fit to lead the Divine Cult!」
Gong Son-beom glared at me for a good while before letting out a heavy sigh.
“…Falling for tricks like this again. Ha! To explain simply, both the Heavenly Mountain Sect and South Palace Clan are wary of the Tang Clan’s rise. So I stirred up chaos on orders. The clan head saw that creating the Lake Alliance could quickly form factions and encouraged it from the sidelines.”
Given those bastards’ and the Dark Lord’s personalities, it made sense. I nodded.
“Even if it was all an act to deceive, if it hurt you deeply… sorry about that.”
Gong Son-beom turned his head slightly aside and muttered softly. The end was too quiet to catch, but his reddening nose bridge showed considerable embarrassment.
Dang Gyu-jin nodded that it was fine. Since she’d clashed with him the hardest, the other two accepted the apology without issue.
“…But I’ll keep treating you harshly as before. Sharpening blades and all. Wouldn’t want others seeing us suddenly reconcile and getting suspicious, right?”
I nodded at Gong Son-beom’s words.
“Fair point. In that spirit, then—”
Toss!
I lobbed his badge right in front of Gong Son-beom.
“By tomorrow morning, compile and organize every scrap of intel on the South Palace Clan and Ghost Sect. Make it a neat report for easy reading.”
“…….”
This time, half of Gong Son-beom’s face twitched.
I grinned.
“What? Do it like always, you said? I’m the boss. You’re the underling. You took the punishment, so follow orders.”
“…….”
“What’re you waiting for? Move!”
“…….”
Grrrrrind!
Gong Son-beom glared at me with blazing eyes.
For a long while.
* * *
「The Dark Lord said to trust the Lowly Lake as much as himself, but can we really trust him—」
「He’s a spy from the start, isn’t he? Sly tongue that’s fooled countless people—no law saying he can’t fool the Dark Lord too.」
「What worries me is if info on the Young Cult Leader leaked to the Ghost Sect or South Palace Clan.」
Just from the specters’ reactions, it was easy to see why Gong Son-beom never fully fit in anywhere.
Of course, I didn’t fully trust him either.
No foundation of trust or friendship had built up, nor any shared rapport.
It was just that him being a floating weed tugged a bit at me.
Had I not met my master, I might’ve ended up in a similar state.
Floating weed.
Floating weed…
Maybe because so many things had happened in succession.
Though it’d only been a single day since arriving at Tang Clan HQ, it already felt like days had passed.
Tonight, I should crash properly at the lodgings.
The primary exam results and secondary exam notice were days away, so I could relax in the meantime.
‘Some word on the vampire demon would be nice too—’
“What, just coming from the clan head’s now? I’ve been waiting here forever. Thought I’d die of boredom.”
My steps halted in front of the Black Tortoise Pavilion.
Tang Ryong stood there, hands in his pockets.
Five people around him stood like perfectly tempered swords.
The examinees merely glanced around the pavilion, too intimidated by their presence to approach rashly.
“I couldn’t properly greet you earlier. Yunhwi of the Nine Dragons Branch Family pays respects to the main house’s Dragon Brother.”
It was easy to guess why this guy was waiting for me. Probably curious about Namgung Oh-related matters.
You know the type.
Not even officially picked as successor yet, but already slurping the fatty broth like they own the place.
The kind who’re paranoid about things happening behind their backs.
Tang Ryong was exactly that.
“Hey, what’s with the awkward ‘brother’ talk between us? Long time no see, and you’re keeping distance?”
Tang Ryong approached with a friendly smile, slinging an arm around my neck.
To onlookers, it might look casual, ignoring status and position.
But for the one on the receiving end, it was immense pressure.
「Tch, this pup’s already strutting around pulling stunts like this. Tsk tsk.」
「Our Young Cult Leader won’t fall for it so easily—」
「He’ll wake up with his pockets picked clean except the important bits.」
From the fragmented childhood memories of ‘Tang Yunhwi’ still lingering, Tang Ryong had always been like this.
He instinctively knew.
How high his position was in the martial world.
And how to leverage it effectively against others.
The leisure of the privileged.
In a way, he’d perfectly inherited only the Dark Lord’s worst traits.
Of course, whether the vessel matched would reveal itself from here on.
In Tang Clan life ahead, enemy or ally?
“True, right? Honestly, the distance felt off to me too—made it awkward. Thanks for opening up first, bro.”
Grinning, I slung my arm around Tang Ryong’s neck just the same.
His guards flinched instantly. Some even reached into their robes.
Tang Ryong raised a hand to stop them.
His eyes curved into a smile.
“Our little Hui’s really changed, huh? Back then, you’d just shrink away even when I talked to you—such a shame.”
“Living like that got frustrating for me first. Watching you changed a lot.”
“Me?”
My unexpected words made Tang Ryong’s eyes widen slightly.
“Yeah. You’ve been popular since you were a kid, right? Getting close to strangers in no time. I was jealous, so I tried imitating you. Hope it shows.”
“Oh. So I was like your idol or something?”
“Something like that?”
“Hahaha! Hear that, everyone? I’m the idol of Sobok Banak, the one shaking today’s Sichuan martial world! What a thrill!”
Kid, I butter him up a few times and he’s over the moon, splitting his sides.
Tang Ryong turned to his guards, laughing heartily.
The guards bowed, offering congratulations. Onlookers watching us gaped in surprise.
Then Tang Ryong tightened his arm around my neck. Bringing his filthy mouth to my ear, he whispered softly.
“So, gonna give this bro a heads-up on what went down at the clan head’s? As someone who might lead the great Tang Clan someday, I can’t ignore stuff like this. Pretty please? Huh?”
Like it was nothing between us.
Subtly gesturing for me to align with him.
Pfft.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Tang Ryong chuckled back.
We smiled at each other, and I slowly brought my mouth to his ear.
Tang Ryong slightly lowered his head, focusing intently.
His face now serious, I whispered softly.
“Nope.”