Chapter 332
Chapter 332
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 340
Chapter Title: The Decision-Maker Arrives
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Hwang Bo-ryun swept his fierce gaze over Peng Jung-hyuk, Namgung Ryong, and Tang Myeong-ok.
Peng Jung-hyuk's eyes filled with bewilderment at the man's suddenly transformed aura.
*...Why is this...*
It was something he hadn't even considered.
He had assumed this was a formal gathering representing their families, and that the Huangbo Family held similar intentions. But this attitude completely contradicted that.
Hwang Bo-ryun spat out his words in a mocking tone.
"Are you sending mere fledglings not even out of their apprenticeship to test the main family's resolve? Is this formal seat, meant to discuss the futures of our houses, a joke to you?"
He paused briefly before bellowing in a voice heavy with gravity.
"If not, then why would you dare face me without even a single elder!"
Peng Jung-hyuk let out a groan.
"It's to evade the eyes of the Righteous Heaven Alliance..."
"Evasion of the Righteous Heaven Alliance? Hah!"
Hwang Bo-ryun let out a long sigh as he shot back at Peng Jung-hyuk.
"If you're so concerned about the Alliance's gaze, you shouldn't have set the time and place like this from the start!"
"That's..."
"Or are you saying those who set the time and place arranged this meeting without a second thought?"
The ones who had set the time and place were the family heads of the Namgung, Peng, and Tang Families.
Hwang Bo-ryun was lumping all three together in his criticism.
"Sending naive children ignorant of the world as proxies—it's enough to make me doubt if you even intend to hold a proper meeting."
Peng Jung-hyuk fell silent at his biting words.
He understood exactly what Hwang Bo-ryun was nitpicking. If one wanted to find faults, there were endless ones from start to finish.
In a gathering to discuss family futures, one could endlessly harp on propriety and status.
In fact, their side had sent an elder close to wielding real power, while anyone could see these three were mere youngsters.
*What a sly fox.*
As Peng Jung-hyuk groaned inwardly, the silent Namgung Ryong spoke up curtly.
"We are the proxies."
Namgung Ryong stared at Hwang Bo-ryun with a blunt but composed expression.
Peng Jung-hyuk and Tang Myeong-ok turned to him with sparkling eyes.
"Young or not, we are here representing our families."
"..."
"As proxies, you must engage in proper discussion."
Hwang Bo-ryun shifted his gaze.
*So this one's the leader.*
Rumors had spread that the Namgung Family would claim the top seat among the Five Great Families, and it seemed the hierarchy among their youths was already set.
*Insolent.*
He let out a scoff.
"Proxies, you say?"
"Yes."
"Fine. Even if lacking, a proxy is a proxy. Aren't you the young heirs representing your houses?"
Hwang Bo-ryun straightened his posture.
He looked quietly at Namgung Ryong and spoke.
"Then let's cut to the chase. We've gathered for mutual interests, haven't we?"
"The meeting, the alliance..."
"There must be a reason the three family heads sent youths like you to such an important gathering. Surely not without cause?"
Each word sealed the mouths of Namgung Ryong, Peng Jung-hyuk, and Tang Myeong-ok.
"There must be something, at least, for you to come here as proxies."
Hwang Bo-ryun's voice sank low as it turned toward the three.
"Very well. Let's hear it—what have you brought?"
"..."
"What do you offer?"
Hwang Bo-ryun stared at Namgung Ryong with an expressionless face.
Peng Jung-hyuk's mouth fell open.
*...He's demanding we make an offer?*
This wasn't some street thug—this was a brazen demand as if retrieving a deposited item.
Negotiation was supposed to involve gauging each other's goals and compromising, yet there was none of that here.
His sheer audacity left them speechless.
No, they couldn't even properly counter his words.
Facing a Hwang Bo-ryun who never once yielded control of the conversation filled them with despair.
At that moment, Hwang Bo-ryun spoke.
"You want the main family to join your alliance, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then shouldn't I first know what you can offer?"
"The trade rights in Hangzhou..."
"Is that all the Namgung Family has to put on the table? You think that alone will convince me, so they sent you? Nothing more?"
Hwang Bo-ryun pressed on, silencing Namgung Ryong.
Peng Jung-hyuk and Tang Myeong-ok, watching, felt as if they couldn't breathe.
Hwang Bo-ryun continued without pause.
"The Namgung Family says they'll share Hangzhou's trade rights, but the main family has no need for that."
Seeing Namgung Ryong's brows subtly furrow, Hwang Bo-ryun pressed on.
"The trade rights of mere Hangzhou aren't enough. The sacrifices the main family would make for that one prize are far too great."
"..."
"Shandong is the void of Eastern Murim, the center of four among the Five Great Families. To the east lies the coast, overflowing with resources, opening trade routes to the eastern lands. Even the distant northern Moyong Family secures supplies through sea routes we've opened. To the west, paths pierce through Henan and Shanxi."
"..."
"Shandong boasts mines of fine iron, abundant grains, and endless goods to trade. Manpower is never lacking."
With each measured word from Hwang Bo-ryun, the expressions of Namgung Ryong, Peng Jung-hyuk, and Tang Myeong-ok darkened.
"All that falls under the main family's influence. Isn't that what you're after?"
"..."
"Let's ask again. What will you give the main family?"
No one could easily respond.
The Huangbo Family seemed to lack nothing in resources or geography.
Hwang Bo-ryun watched the silent three and proposed.
"Very well, then. Cede half of Hangzhou's rights and half of southern Zhejiang Province's to the main family."
"..."
"The Hebei Peng Family adjusts its commercial shares, and the Sichuan Tang Family sends skilled poison masters to us. How does that sound?"
"That's absurd!"
Peng Jung-hyuk's face paled as he raised his voice.
Hwang Bo-ryun's words meant the Huangbo Family would absorb the power of the Five Great Families and expand its influence further.
It was worse than highway robbery.
It sounded not like harmony, but a threat to surrender real power.
"This is..."
"Why? Can't give that?"
"Of course not! That's outrageous! We should make mutual concessions..."
"Concessions?"
Hwang Bo-ryun said coldly.
"What you're demanding isn't concessions from the main family—it's sacrifices."
"If you consider the gains, you couldn't possibly see it that way. With the Nine Great Sects checking the Five Great Families, even the Alliance..."
"Speak precisely."
"Pardon?"
As Peng Jung-hyuk furrowed his brows, Hwang Bo-ryun clarified.
"The Alliance is wary of your three families. The main family maintains far better relations with the Nine Great Sects than you do."
"..."
"Enough—I'm growing bored. What will you do?"
Peng Jung-hyuk glanced at Namgung Ryong, sweat beading on his brow.
Granting the Huangbo Family's demands would weaken their own families' power and influence.
Even if they could accept, it wasn't something to decide here and now.
Tang Myeong-ok sent a transmission.
[We need to contact the main family. This is beyond my authority.]
Peng Jung-hyuk nodded faintly.
[The Huangbo Family demands too much. We need to step back.]
[Yes. Reschedule and rethink our strategy.]
[Agreed. What does Young Master Namgung think...]
It was then.
Boom!
Hwang Bo-ryun slammed the table and rose.
The three flinched at his sudden overwhelming presence.
"Did you send powerless fledglings without logic, offers, or even authority to this meeting?!"
"..."
"Sending the likes of you—doesn't that mean you hold the main family in contempt?!"
His bloodshot eyes turned toward Namgung Ryong, Peng Jung-hyuk, and Tang Myeong-ok.
Unbearable fury etched across his face.
The three drew sharp breaths.
They never dreamed he'd explode like this.
But no rebuttal was possible.
To the opponent, it could indeed seem insulting.
Huang Bo-chung, observing the meeting, inwardly exclaimed.
*It was touch-and-go, but he resolves it like this!*
He'd seized control and created an opening to demand more.
Admiration upon admiration welled up.
"Decide here. If you don't scorn the main family, then make the call."
Hwang Bo-ryun drove the wedge home.
"Fail to decide here, and there will be no more meetings."
"..."
The eyes of Namgung Ryong, Peng Jung-hyuk, and Tang Myeong-ok wavered wildly.
*'D-decide now?'*
They were certain this threat to end the meetings was no jest, but the Huangbo Family's true intent.
Hwang Bo-ryun kept up the pressure with his unrelenting gaze, silently bearing down on them.
Cold sweat beaded on the three's foreheads.
They never imagined things would turn so urgently against them. The Huangbo Family was far more domineering than expected.
"If you can't decide, then this meeting is..."
It was as Hwang Bo-ryun finished his words.
Boom!
A commotion erupted outside, and suddenly, the annex door burst open as if about to shatter.
Dust scattered as someone strode in.
"Eek!"
"W-what the?!"
"Who's there!"
All eyes turned to the annex door.
Hwang Bo-ryun stared in disbelief at the fool who had barged through(?) the door.
What madman would charge into a gathering of the Five Great Families!
"...What are you?"
He demanded, but the intruder—Namgung Hyeok, who had "broken through" the door—snorted.
"I'm here for the meeting."
"...What? Meeting?"
What nonsense was this?
Hwang Bo-ryun turned to Namgung Ryong and the others in bewilderment.
Namgung Ryong, Peng Jung-hyuk, and Tang Myeong-ok's pupils shook violently.
"..."
"H-how are you here?"
"Did you overcome the main family's anesthetic needles?"
No way—he'd taken several hits from needles that could fell an elephant, yet gotten up and run here?
Weren't the others guarding him?
Ah, but once Namgung Hyeok woke, no one could stop him.
Peng Jung-hyuk spoke in a trembling voice.
"Y-young Master Yi, h-how did you get here..."
Namgung Hyeok snorted again.
"You left me behind? I almost missed it!"
Damn it, we'd drugged you to sleep so you wouldn't come!
"Why, why..."
Namgung Hyeok glared at Peng Jung-hyuk and grinned murderously. Peng felt his legs go weak involuntarily.
"I'm here to do what your fathers ordered. Why?!"
"..."
"Y-you, I'll remember this. We'll settle up later."
Ah... damn, it was Tang Myeong-jin who administered the needles!
"F-Father..."
At Namgung Hyeok's glare, Peng Jung-hyuk cowered.
Hwang Bo-ryun, who had watched the exchange in a daze, snapped to his senses.
The sheer absurdity had left him stunned.
Then, Namgung Hyeok turned and faced Hwang Bo-ryun squarely.
"Now, let's proceed."
"Huh? P-proceed with what...?"
"What else? The meeting."
Namgung Hyeok grinned and enunciated clearly toward him.
"You said we need a decision-maker, right?"
"...Y-yes."
"So proceed. I'm that decision-maker."
Namgung Hyeok's voice echoed through the annex, freezing the atmosphere like a biting north wind.
Everyone was rooted in place, while only Namgung Hyeok smirked at Hwang Bo-ryun.