Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: The Benevolent Smile
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Namgung Hyeok sat at the table, grinning ear to ear.
A smile so benevolent it was practically Buddha-like.
He looked like the type who’d still be smiling even if you smacked him in the back of the head, asking for another hit.
Geon Cheon-hwi muttered under his breath.
“…How long’s it been?”
“All afternoon, non-stop.”
“Half a day, huh…”
“That’s about right. He’s been like that ever since the sun started setting.”
After receiving the prize, he’d bolted from the arena like he was fleeing and stayed in this state the whole day.
Geon Cheon-hwi grabbed Tak Hyeokdong as he tried to sneak closer.
“You madman, what do you think you’re doing?”
“Gonna check if he’s still breathing.”
“Sigh, you hopeless idiot. Don’t you know he’s most dangerous with a face like that?”
“It’s just benevolent, what’s the big deal?”
“You carp-brained fool. Already forgotten what happened at the Northern Peng Family?”
Tak Hyeokdong shut his mouth, the nightmare of the Northern Peng Family flashing in his mind.
Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine on instinct.
How could he forget Namgung Hyeok’s benevolent face as he rolled his eyes back?
Geon Cheon-hwi stared with trembling eyes at the Azure Spirit Oil sitting in front of Namgung Hyeok.
“A guy who’s already overflowing with power, and now he eats that Azure Spirit Oil too…”
Whoa, shit.
That’s kinda scary, isn’t it?
Having seen Namgung Hyeok go berserk on drugs before, just imagining it gave him goosebumps.
‘Should I knock it over and pretend it was an accident?’
It was an extreme thought, but for the peace of the Namgung Family, maybe he should.
“But why hasn’t he taken it yet?”
He figured he’d toss it straight down his throat the moment they got back to the lodgings.
“It’s not fake, is it?”
“Fake?”
“Didn’t the Nine Great Sects pull some shady tricks during the tournament? They’re stingy bastards—probably watered down the Azure Spirit Oil so they wouldn’t have to give us the real deal.”
Geon Cheon-hwi let out a hollow laugh as Tak Hyeokdong guffawed.
“If it was fake, you think that young master would just sit there?”
He’d turn the Orthodox Alliance upside down.
He was the type to rip out Mount Wudang’s Heo Won’s beard if that’s what it took to get the real Azure Spirit Oil.
Namgung Hyeok had come all the way to the Orthodox Alliance with stars in his eyes at the mere mention of Azure Spirit Oil—he was more than capable of it.
‘And would the Orthodox Alliance be insane enough to pull that?’
That’d be humiliation beyond humiliation.
They’d incite the wrath of the entire martial world’s people.
As Geon Cheon-hwi tilted his head, a small commotion arose from outside.
Geum Cheom-sang poked his head in.
“Young master!”
Hee-hee.
The corner of Namgung Hyeok’s mouth curled up again.
“What?”
“…”
“Well?”
“…Word is the Northern Peng Family’s hosting a celebration banquet at their lodgings. You’re not going, right? I’ll make some excuse and brush it off.”
Geum Cheom-sang was already answering before the question was even out.
Geon Cheon-hwi and the others nodded along.
They all assumed Namgung Hyeok would refuse, of course.
“I’m going.”
“…Pardon?”
Everyone flinched at Namgung Hyeok’s benevolent smile.
Ignoring them, Namgung Hyeok rose to his feet.
The others stared blankly as he stood up smoothly.
Namgung Hyeok smiled gently.
“There’ll be booze, right? Gotta give ‘em their congratulations.”
His expression was benevolence incarnate.
“Hey, bro. Let’s go. The eldest son’s gotta show.”
As Namgung Hyeok stood, Namgung Ryong shot to his feet too.
Clang!
The Thousand-Year Cold Iron Sword dangling from Namgung Ryong’s waist swayed.
It was the sword Namgung Hyeok had tossed him carelessly right after coming down from the arena.
Stroking the precious blade carefully, Namgung Ryong chased after Namgung Hyeok as he headed out.
Geon Cheon-hwi and the others blinked for a moment before hurriedly following.
* * *
Ding! Ti-ding! Ding! Ding-ding!
As dusk fell over the banquet hall, the clear plucking of strings rang out.
The heavyweights and young experts of the Five Great Families, lodged at the Northern Peng Family’s quarters assigned by the Orthodox Alliance, bobbed their shoulders and chattered noisily.
The elders and young experts exchanged smiles and toasts.
“Wahahaha! To think one of our Five Great Families produced the tournament champion. What a joyous occasion!”
“Hahaha, I’d love to preserve those Nine Great Sect bastards’ faces in a frame forever.”
“Did you see Mount Wudang’s horse-face? That old nag was so arrogant when he visited our main house. Blathering on about the Dao this, the sword that… Tch! Felt so good to watch him squirm.”
The Five Great Families had achieved a highly significant result in this tournament.
From the preliminaries to the finals, they hadn’t fallen short of the Nine Great Sects in anything.
And they took first place to boot.
It was a complete reversal, with the Five Great Families dominating the Nine Great Sects.
The pent-up frustration from years of being suppressed finally burst free.
But some voiced concerns.
“Isn’t it a bit much to celebrate so wildly? It wasn’t even us who won. The gossips are already calling it a fight between the Namgung Family and the Nine Great Sects.”
“Hmm.”
“One misstep, and our standing could shake. It’s heartening that we pushed out the Nine Great Sects for the win, but it’s not something to unconditionally rejoice over.”
From this tournament onward, the martial world would start debating the Five Great Families’ future.
The Namgung Family’s prestige would soar immensely, drastically altering the positions of the other families within the alliance.
That was why the Hwangbo Family members looked especially grim.
As the only ones among the Five Great Families who hadn’t made it to the main rounds, their evaluation would be the harshest.
Hwangbo Seong put force into his voice.
“A tournament’s just a tournament! Even if our fame rises from this one event, how much can it really rise? It’s just the young experts fighting! The gap built over decades won’t close from a single event, will it?”
“Momentum is like wildfire. Think back—before the tournament, the Namgung Family wasn’t even mentioned alongside us.”
“Why don’t you get it? A sect’s power doesn’t close like that. It’s just a fleeting buzz on people’s lips.”
Hwangbo Seong spoke coldly, his displeasure plain on his face.
Moyong Chang, who’d been listening silently, clicked his tongue.
“If that’s the case, then the Nine Great Sects have no reason to grit their teeth and try to suppress us, do they?”
“No matter what, how can our main family compare to the Namgung Family!”
Moyong Chang gave a wry smile at Hwangbo Seong’s words.
‘Why can’t he see the Namgung Family is still a beast?’
Even with dulled claws and worn teeth, the Namgung Family was a predator on par with the Moyong or Hwangbo Families.
And beasts like them could clash over territory at any moment.
Everyone knew the real power in the Orthodox Alliance lay with the Nine Great Sects—yet why were they desperately trying to crush the Five Great Families?
Because they didn’t know when the tables might turn.
Even a weakened beast has the fangs to kill at any time.
The Namgung Family was no different.
No matter how much it declined, a Namgung Family was still a Namgung Family.
And hadn’t this tournament shown just how deep and sturdy their roots were?
Hwangbo Seong said.
“If their spirits are up, then kill ‘em to break it.”
“Huh? How?”
“I’ll handle that. Crushing the Namgung Family’s spirits? What’s so hard about it? I’ve done it ten times over…”
“Quiet!”
Boom!
Hwangbo Seong and Moyong Chang flinched as Peng Cheonwi slammed the table and stood.
Peng Cheonwi glared ferociously at them.
“Are you saying we should disgrace the Namgung Family, who saved face for all the Five Great Families?”
“Th-that’s not…”
“Without the Namgung Family, we wouldn’t have even made the main rounds properly and would’ve been humiliated—yet instead of praise, you plot behind their backs!”
Hwangbo Seong and Moyong Chang looked sheepish under Peng Cheonwi’s thunderous scolding.
He was right, in truth.
No matter how much they schemed or dismissed it, the fact remained that the Namgung Family had preserved the Five Great Families’ dignity.
Feeling exposed, the two flushed with embarrassment.
“Family Head Peng, we were short-sighted.”
“Yes, we shouldn’t have stirred trouble at the celebration.”
Peng Cheonwi clicked his tongue.
“No matter how harsh the world gets, that’s going too far. And we’re all Five Great Families!”
“Yes…”
“To think people could be so petty. Right?”
“…Family Head?”
His wording felt a bit off?
Who’s he asking?
Hwangbo Seong and Moyong Chang looked up in confusion.
Huh?
Between them bulged a round, black object.
What’s that?
When did this get here?
But it felt strangely familiar…
“Huh, hup?”
“N-Namgung Hyeok, young master…!”
The two recoiled in horror.
They glanced around in shock.
Before they knew it, the Northern Peng Family folk had split into two factions with the Hwangbo and Moyong Families, coughing awkwardly.
“Hah! Never pegged you for the type.”
“I don’t know these people.”
“Talking like that right in front of the man himself. Ahem!”
“Talk about shameless.”
…Wait, that’s not it!
Hey! You’re from our families!
Moyong Chang and Hwangbo Seong gaped.
Peng Cheonwi clicked his tongue at them before beaming at Namgung Hyeok.
“Hahaha! I was just thinking of heading over myself, and here you come. Sit, sit! Pay no mind to those over there.”
“I heard there’s a celebration.”
“And a celebration it is! I’ve given them a good scolding for their nonsense, so don’t worry. They get it now. Come, take a seat here!”
Peng Cheonwi laughed heartily before shooting glares at Hwangbo Seong and Moyong Chang.
The two flinched and shrank back.
Peng Cheonwi raised his voice.
“What are you lot doing? Clear some seats! Honorable guests from the Namgung Family are here—honorable guests! Serve them well!”
Namgung Ryong, Namgung Wi-gyeong, and the Namgung Family folk received the Northern Peng Family’s utmost hospitality as they ascended to the seats of honor.
Hwangbo Seong and Moyong Chang slunk to the corner under the crowd’s murderous stares.
The two had a bone-deep taste of the jianghu’s harshness(?).
With the Namgung Family’s arrival, the banquet kicked off in earnest.
* * *
“What’re you doing? My cup’s empty!”
“Yes, Father!”
At Peng Cheonwi’s words, Peng Jung-hyeok hurriedly tilted the酒 bottle.
Glug glug glug!
“Here, have a drink, Namgung Hyeok!”
Namgung Hyeok’s cup, swaying lightly, filled to the brim.
“Side dish!”
“Yes!”
Peng Jung-hyeok dashed to grab chopsticks and piled appetizers onto Namgung Hyeok’s plate.
“Special ordered just for you.”
Namgung Hyeok took it as if it were natural, smiling.
“Whew! Great booze.”
“Hahaha! I put special care into it.”
“What’s with all this?”
“We’re not strangers, are we? This is the least I could do. You have no idea how thrilled I was when you won. Ha, haha!”
This was genuine.
How long had it been since one of them beat the Nine Great Sects for the championship!
A blessing among blessings.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
“You’re not thinking this squares us, right?”
He meant payment for the match-fixing(?).
Peng Cheonwi’s eyebrow twitched.
“How do you see me? You think my word’s worth so little?”
“Ah, I was just gonna split it up if it was too much for you. Gotta claim that million taels of gold, after all. Or lump sum it if you prefer.”
“…”
This punk’s toying with me.
Namgung Hyeok grinned slyly at Peng Cheonwi’s expression.
“What?”
“…You’re offering installments, how can I refuse? Figured there was something special about you.”
Peng Cheonwi’s cheek muscles twitched.
Namgung Hyeok’s mouth curved higher.
“Want me to cut you a deal on the gold?”
“Discounts too?”
“Nah, more like equivalent exchange.”
“Equivalent exchange?”
Peng Cheonwi’s eyes rolled suspiciously.
What’s this guy scheming?
‘It won’t be a normal deal.’
Knowing Namgung Hyeok’s mad antics, Peng Cheonwi couldn’t help but tense up.
“I’ll knock off half.”
Half?
Half?
Then it’s a go.
“Alright, what do I trade for that?”
Peng Cheonwi chuckled.
Namgung Hyeok grinned and pulled a note from his sleeve.
“Nothing big. Just procure a few herbs for me. You Northern Peng Family run big trading companies, right?”
“Haha, true enough. There’s scarce few herbs our family can’t obtain.”
“Oh, as expected of the Northern Peng Family. Tops among the Five Great Families!”
“Hahaha, yes. This all I need to fetch?”
Peng Cheonwi smiled pleasantly as he read down the list.
Millennium Herb, Crimson Fire Leaf, Spirit Cloud Mushroom, Heavenly Mountain Frost Ginseng…
Wow.
All the herbs even our family struggles with?
‘Just ask for the gold, you bastard!’
Peng Cheonwi crumpled the note, glaring at Namgung Hyeok with bloodshot eyes.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
“What? Didn’t the Northern Peng Family Head say his word is his bond?”
“…”
…Goddamn it.
Peng Cheonwi let out a hollow, defeated laugh.
Since when?
When did things start going sideways?
Peng Cheonwi looked to the sky and sighed deeply.
Beside him, Namgung Hyeok snickered, while Namgung Wi-gyeong and the others stacked booze towers.
Ah, you Namgung Family bastards.
Peng Cheonwi’s worries deepened.