Chapter 268
Chapter 268
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: Manuals and Merits
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone seated around the table stared at the towering stack of manuals, utterly dumbfounded.
"They're all genuine..."
"I had no idea our family's martial arts were so diverse."
"Just who was it that made their home on this Mount Huang?"
"How many ancestors must have buried their manuals here...?"
Before they knew it, the one who had left the manuals in the annex had become "the ancestors."
And rightly so, for the discovered manuals contained a comprehensive collection of the Nangong family's martial arts—one could say without exaggeration.
The sheer quantity and quality were impossible to believe had been compiled by a single person.
Even though the handwriting was uniform throughout, they couldn't help but think the same, precisely because it was so unbelievable.
"Could it be the Sword King who left them?"
"Indeed! If it was him!"
"Exactly. Who else but him could elevate our family's martial arts to such heights!"
The Sword King.
The greatest sword hero in the eight-hundred-year history of the Nangong family, renowned for his unparalleled achievements.
He had mastered the family's martial arts by the tender age of twenty and elevated its swordsmanship to new heights before turning thirty.
He was evaluated as the greatest figure alongside the family's founding Family Head.
The elders considered it possible that even the Sword King could have left behind such an immense legacy.
*'Sigh, damn it. The Sword King couldn't have done this like I did, you fools!'*
As if it were that easy!
Compiling and organizing all that would take at least a year, even for him.
*'What do these kids know?'*
Ignorance is bliss, my ass.
*'Fine. Whatever. Think some great warrior like the Sword King left it, and keep slaving away like dogs.'*
Nangong Hyeok cleared his throat as he watched the leadership still lost in a daze.
"Ahem!"
At his cough, the elders snapped back to attention.
In the face of such an astonishing event, they had momentarily forgotten Nangong Hyeok's presence.
No matter who left them, they owed a debt of gratitude to Nangong Hyeok, Nangong Ryong, and the three Thunder Dragon Squad members who found them.
As Nangong Zhangcheon raised his head, Nangong Hyeok spoke up abruptly.
"You gonna reward the merits or what?"
...We were about to, you punk.
Whether Nangong Zhangcheon groaned or not, the elders smiled warmly.
Even that impudence looked like endearing mischief from a grandson in their eyes.
"Hahaha! What should we give him?"
"This is no small feat! We should settle all the pending rewards for his merits while we're at it."
"Right, right. We must properly address the backlog first! But what to give..."
"Hahaha!"
The elders fell into contemplation.
Were Nangong Hyeok's contributions just one or two?
The benefits he had brought to the family by roaming far and wide were incalculable, allowing the clan to expand and dream of past glories.
No ordinary reward would suffice.
They felt ashamed recalling how they had once hounded him over a few spirit pills.
Nangong Zhangcheon asked with a sigh.
"We know your merits are great. Is there something specific you desire?"
"Yes!"
"Hmm! What is it?"
Nangong Hyeok replied without a moment's hesitation.
"Grant me authority over the training of all ordinary warriors, from the outer to the inner quarters."
"Hm?"
"I want to help those guys—no, the ordinary warriors—with their training. Quite earnestly."
Nangong Hyeok grinned, baring his canine teeth.
Nangong Zhangcheon's mouth fell slightly open.
*'Did this punk plan this from the start?'*
To bring up the training matter they'd discussed just recently, here of all places!
The silver lining was that the elders weren't privy to that conversation.
*'What kind of luck does this guy have? Secret annexes and spirit medicines wherever he goes?'*
Was he charmed or something?
The elders stirred.
"You want to oversee their training?"
"All the ordinary warriors? Yourself?"
"Hmm! Helping with the ordinary warriors' training..."
The elders' reactions grew awkward.
Vivid images flashed in their minds of the ordinary warriors writhing at Nangong Hyeok's feet.
Having already witnessed the Thunder Dragon Squad in such a state, they couldn't help but hesitate.
*'Can we entrust this to him?'*
*'It wouldn't hurt...*
*'Ahem, we should hear from the ordinary warriors' side too.'*
*'Hmm...'*
As the elders wavered briefly, Nangong Wi-gyeong's clear voice rang out.
"Hahaha! Splendid, truly splendid!"
Hm?
Great Elder Nangong Wi-gyeong nodded with a satisfied expression.
"Family Head, isn't it commendable? For Second Young Master to step up and offer to assist with the ordinary warriors' training."
"Great Elder, this isn't so simple..."
"It's the same Second Young Master who transformed the Thunder Dragon Squad. Entrusting the ordinary warriors to him should be fine. What do the other elders think?"
Nangong Wi-gyeong smiled warmly.
In truth, he would grant any request from Nangong Hyeok—even if it was to shave off his beard.
*'How many times has Second Young Master bolstered the family's spirit? How many times has he enhanced our prestige?'*
They couldn't carry him on their backs enough, so what was handing over training authority?
To Nangong Wi-gyeong, the family's honor and gains came above all.
Thus, everything Nangong Hyeok did was tantamount to serving the family.
"Since Second Young Master is so enthusiastic, it wouldn't hurt to let him try."
"Hmm!"
"If everyone trains like the Thunder Dragon Squad, won't our family's forces grow even stronger?"
At Nangong Wi-gyeong's hearty words, the elders soon nodded in agreement.
There were concerns, but from the clan's overall perspective, it was no loss.
Nangong Hyeok had turned the ragtag Thunder Dragon Squad into elite-level fighters and racked up immense merits.
No—these days, the Thunder Dragon Squad's name rang louder than even the Imperial Sword Squad.
"Elite-ization."
"Hmm! Either way, it's about strengthening the family, isn't it?"
"We can trust Second Young Master."
"Haha! Then we should start by adjusting the ordinary warriors' schedules!"
Amid the elders' harmonious mood, Nangong Zhangcheon let out a hollow chuckle.
*'Heh, hehehe. These folks aren't the ones getting trained...*
Entrust it to the one in charge of training, sure.
But to Nangong Hyeok of all people... with madness gleaming in his eyes like that!
Nangong Hyeok smirked as he surveyed the proceedings.
He shot Nangong Zhangcheon a subtle glance of pressure.
*Follow the flow, won't you?*
Nangong Zhangcheon nodded heavily.
"If that's what you desire..."
"Aigoo, thank you! Then I'll thrash—er, train them diligently!"
Did he just say thrash?
Regardless of Nangong Zhangcheon's twitching brow, Nangong Hyeok beamed happily.
"However, remember that the ordinary warriors are precious blood of the Nangong family."
"Of course, of course. Would I kill them?"
"That's not what I—"
"Don't worry! I've picked up some tricks rolling the Thunder Dragon Squad around! This Nangong Hyeok isn't that brutish."
"Good, that's heartening. What are these 'tricks' you speak of?"
Nangong Hyeok grinned.
"No real swords."
"..."
"Ah, and no submersion training either. That's my compromise."
Nangong Hyeok said brightly.
Nangong Zhangcheon gaped at him, watching him smack his lips regretfully even as he spoke.
*'...Just where did this punk go wrong?'*
Whose child is he, really...?
Ah...
*'...He's Nangong blood, alright.'*
Nangong Zhangcheon sighed.
The three Thunder Dragon Squad members behind Nangong Hyeok quietly shook their heads.
They offered silent condolences in advance to the ordinary warriors who would roll under his hand.
Nangong Hyeok smiled and said.
"Then we'll take our leave for now!"
* * *
Once the commotion over the manuals settled, Nangong Zhangcheon requested a private audience with Nangong Cheong.
As Nangong Cheong entered the branch master's office, Nangong Zhangcheon sat waiting for him.
After a simple bow and taking his seat, Nangong Zhangcheon's gaze turned to him.
Nangong Zhangcheon silently regarded Nangong Cheong for a long while.
The suffocating silence seemed to choke Nangong Cheong.
The aura emanating from Nangong Zhangcheon pressed down on his shoulders like a mountain.
*'...His internal energy has deepened tremendously.'*
The last time he'd seen Nangong Zhangcheon was during the Harmony Pavilion incident with Nangong Baek's rebellion.
The man from then and now felt like entirely different people.
Even then, he'd sensed overwhelming presence and profundity, but now it was on another level.
Without deliberately raising his aura, Nangong Zhangcheon's presence filled the room and then some.
Nangong Zhangcheon spoke softly.
"It's been a while since we've met like this."
"I-it's an honor, Family Head."
"I received the report on the Sword Commander. You handled it cleanly."
"Th-thank you."
"Keep it up consistently, and you can return to the main family."
"Ah...! Th-thank you, Family Head!"
Nangong Zhangcheon gazed steadily at Nangong Cheong before speaking.
"But as you know, bringing you back to the main family won't make the blood kin accept you."
"...B-back then, I must have been mad. I'll shatter my bones and scatter my ashes in atonement. How could I dare point a blade at kin? Family Head! Please believe me!"
"I already know you didn't lead the rebellion."
"Family Head!"
Nangong Cheong looked at him with a faintly emotional expression.
Nangong Zhangcheon lightly placed a hand on Nangong Cheong's shoulder.
A weight like a thousand catties pressed down from the gentle touch.
"But some original sins are unavoidable."
"...Yes, Family Head."
"To atone, you'll have to live for the main family your entire life. Even a lifetime of penance might not wash away your guilt."
Nangong Cheong held his breath at Nangong Zhangcheon's words.
He was right.
Whether he'd led the rebellion or not, the fact that he'd tried to betray them remained unchanged.
Public opinion never forgave traitors.
Especially in the Nangong family, bound by blood.
Who would forgive one who raised a blade against kin?
"Shatter your bones and scatter your ashes... Yes, with that resolve, you might sway the blood kin's hearts."
"..."
"With the main family's forces expanding rapidly, we're short-handed. Can you and the Yellow Mountain Sword Commander go to Zhejiang Province and lend a hand?"
"Z-Zhejiang Province?"
Nangong Cheong's eyes sparkled.
Zhejiang Province—home to Hangzhou.
In other words, the core region where the Nangong family was vigorously expanding its businesses.
Sending him there meant allowing him to accumulate merits for reinstatement in the main family, right?
*'This hellish life is finally over.'*
His face flushed with color at the thought of ending his despised existence.
"Of course, Family Head! Just entrust it to me, and I'll do my utmost."
Nangong Zhangcheon nodded slightly and patted his shoulder lightly.
"Thank you for stepping up so readily."
"It's only natural for the family's sake!"
"Yes, just like now. Just like now."
Nangong Zhangcheon's voice dipped low before rising.
As Nangong Cheong swallowed dryly, Nangong Zhangcheon stood and said.
"I'll soon send official orders dispatching you to Zhejiang Province."
"Ah! Then what will my duties be..."
"Ah, you'll learn that upon arriving in Zhejiang Province."
"Pardon?"
Nangong Cheong blinked.
It sounded like the Family Head wasn't issuing orders directly, but someone in Zhejiang Province would assign him work.
Nangong Zhangcheon spoke calmly.
"The head of the Soaring Heaven Merchant Guild will give you your tasks."
*'...Go to Zhejiang Province and work under the merchant guild head? Me?'*
This was blatant demotion.
No, it was tumbling into the abyss.
Nangong Cheong immediately protested.
"Family Head! This won't do! Tell me to bite my tongue and die instead!"
Nangong Zhangcheon regarded him with a silent gaze.
"Didn't I say to atone for life?"
"Family Head!"
"I personally recommended you, so serve the Soaring Heaven Merchant Guild head with utmost sincerity. Understood?"
Nangong Zhangcheon quashed Nangong Cheong's outburst in one breath and turned away.
"No need to see me out."
Nangong Cheong's expression went blank as he watched Nangong Zhangcheon's retreating back.
The price for supporting the rebel faction was brutally harsh.
His face began to slowly contort.