Chapter 347
Chapter 347
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 355
Chapter Title: Triumphal Return
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Namgung Hyeok stretched languidly, gazing at the distant rooftops of the Namgung family estate.
It had been a long time since leaving Hangzhou.
“Whew, are we finally there?”
“Yes!”
Jin Cheom-sang politely placed a strip of dried meat in Namgung Hyeok’s mouth as he replied.
“Why does it feel like it’s been forever?”
“You stayed in Hangzhou for over a month, so of course it has.”
“Huh? That long?”
“...You lost track of time chugging booze non-stop after the meeting, but it’s almost been two months.”
“Do I look like someone who wouldn’t drink?”
Namgung Hyeok grinned and turned his head back.
If you stacked wagons like the Great Wall, would it look like this?
A sense of fulfillment washed over his face as he beheld the endless procession of wagons trailing along the low hills.
The wagons were piled high with riches that were surely worth three of the Huangbo family’s pillar industries.
“This is why I love heading out!”
“...”
“It started with one wagon, but now it’s a Great Wall! Hahaha!”
It was the complete opposite of the meager procession that had left Hangzhou.
They could form a proper merchant caravan right now!
Jin Cheom-sang gave a thumbs-up.
“You’re the best in the Central Plains at extortion and intimidation, Young Master!”
“Best in the Central Plains? Nah, best in history, you punk! Hahaha!”
Wow... He’s taking that as a compliment.
The Thunder Dragon Squad members pulling the wagons shook their heads.
Soon, the carriages entered Hefei.
The people of Hefei gawked at Namgung Hyeok’s group, which resembled a massive merchant caravan.
“Whoa, whoa!”
“It’s the Namgung family!”
“What’s all that? Did they go on an expedition or something? Why are those wagons so loaded?”
“It’s the Second Young Master! Gasp! The eldest is there too!”
“No idea what happened, but the Namgung family pulled off another big score!”
The Hefei folk buzzed with awe.
Geon Cheon-hwi whispered to them amid the murmurs.
“But is it okay to draw this much attention?”
Paeng Jung-hyeok turned his head.
“It’s fine.”
“Wasn’t this a secret mission?”
The Five Great Families’ meeting had been conducted in secrecy, so he worried about attracting eyes like this.
Paeng Jung-hyeok chuckled dryly.
“It’s the Second Young Master’s doing. Who are we to question it?”
“...Pardon?”
“Mortals like us can’t fathom the Second Young Master’s intentions.”
...Wasn’t this guy different before?
He’d been a bit off since the Huangbo family meeting.
Geon Cheon-hwi scratched the back of his head.
“They’ll just think it’s a merchant caravan anyway, so no issue.”
“Yeah, well...”
Geon Cheon-hwi blinked in confusion.
‘...What the hell happened at that meeting?’
He’d heard Namgung Hyeok had overturned negotiations with Elder Huangbo Ryeon, but what could make someone wear that expression?
As Geon Cheon-hwi pondered, the group neared the Namgung estate.
Namgung Hyeok gazed at the family grounds with a satisfied smile.
“Hm? What’s this?”
What’s going on?
Everyone’s out here?
The wide-open main gate was lined with Namgung Jang-cheon and the family’s leadership, who had received prior word.
The moment they spotted Namgung Hyeok, a commotion erupted at the Namgung gate.
“He’s here!”
“He’s back!”
Chief Steward Geum Gwang-mo let out a cry at the wagon train stretching to the horizon.
“Money’s walking in!”
Geum Gwang-mo, beaming ear to ear, stepped aside as the Family Heads came forward.
“Welcome back! You’ve worked hard!”
Namgung Jang-cheon spread his arms wide to embrace Namgung Hyeok.
“Why’d everyone come out like this?”
“Ha! How did the meeting go?”
“You already know without me saying.”
Namgung Hyeok grinned and nodded subtly toward the wagons.
“I made a slave... no, a friend.”
Sla...ve?
Namgung Jang-cheon’s eyes landed on Huangbo Chung, huddled in a corner of one wagon.
Anyone could see Huangbo Chung had endured harsh trials.
His anxious gaze was like that of a lost kitten.
“Ha, haha! You’ve brought back a fine trophy... er, friend!”
Namgung Jang-cheon pretended not to hear the word “slave.”
Chief Steward Geum Gwang-mo bellowed a laugh at Namgung Hyeok’s grin and the wagon train.
“Hahaha! Young Master, you fleeced them good! I knew you’d scrape them to the bone, but you hauled off the whole skeleton!”
Hey, man, mind your dignity...
“Did it go well, Family Head?”
“Well enough...”
“Couldn’t have gone better!”
Geum Gwang-mo raised his voice in excitement.
Having watched Namgung Hyeok closely, he instinctively knew this was just the tip of the iceberg.
Grand Elder Namgung Wi-gyeong spoke to Namgung Jang-cheon amid the pouring riches.
“See, Family Head? What did I tell you? The Second Young Master’s the best at making things roll—wealth and people alike! Haha!”
I know, since I’ve been on the receiving end.
“To squeeze such riches from those stingy Huangbo bastards!”
“Fight poison with poison, as they say! Your foresight is truly admirable, Family Head!”
“Hahaha, Family Head! Sending thunderbolt bombs to the Huangbo family was a brilliant move!”
Namgung Jang-cheon merely smiled faintly.
‘These guys... my son’s right here, and you’re calling thunderbolt bombs and poison in front of his dad?’
But he couldn’t really argue, which left him glum.
“I just told him to handle the meeting well on his own.”
Ahem!
‘The results are what matter.’
A disaster for the Huangbo, but a blessing for the Namgung.
‘Good thing that rascal’s my boy.’
Namgung Jang-cheon offered silent condolences to Huangbo Sung, who must have suffered under Namgung Hyeok, then said,
“Unpack your gear. We’ll hold a modest feast to celebrate your success!”
And so the Five Great Families’ meeting concluded.
* * *
Shweeeek! Shweek shweek!
Crash!
A cork shot like an arrow toppled the towering liquor pyramid, spilling perfectly mixed Seven-Color Chaos Brew into the cups below.
“Hoi! Hoi!”
“Hooo!”
“Mam mam mam!”
“Pour it! Drink up!”
Namgung Jang-cheon stared blankly at the Thunder Dragon Squad turning the feast into chaos.
How many cups is that?
Hoi hoi!
Horururu!
I said a modest feast, not a full-blown booze bash?
Namgung Jang-cheon let out a hollow laugh at Namgung Hyeok, lounging villainously in the grand seat at the center, drunkenly accepting drinks.
“...Isn’t the celebration a bit much?”
Chief Steward Geum Gwang-mo chuckled heartily.
“Let them be! They accomplished something huge! Against the Huangbo family, no less—the Huangbo family!”
Grand Elder Namgung Wi-gyeong chimed in.
“Of course! Haha, Family Head, you’ve gotta play hard when you play. I was the same at that age.”
Boom boom boom!
...Fireworks at a booze bash?
“Firecracker brew! Kyaa!”
“Explodes great!”
“Solid performance!”
“More?”
Isn’t that kid the chief steward’s son?
Geum Gwang-mo just laughed.
“Hahaha! That’s how it is. Celebrations should be hearty. He fleeced the Huangbo dry! Boosted the family coffers this much—this much!”
“Hahaha, those Huangbo fools had to pick the Radiant Dragon... the Second Young Master, of all people! Scoundrels deserved it!”
“Hahaha!”
Namgung Jang-cheon chuckled dryly at the two prattling brightly.
They’re starting to look like someone...
‘Not sure if this is good or bad.’
It’s good, but feels kinda off—what’s this weird vibe?
Geum Gwang-mo turned to Namgung Jang-cheon.
“Family Head, we’ve got mountains of work ahead. Top priority is setting up the Five Great Families’ communication network.”
Namgung Jang-cheon, snapping out of it, composed himself.
“Indeed. With the alliance complete...”
The Huangbo joining last sealed the Five Great Families’ full pact.
The Murong family in Liaoning hadn’t attended but had firmly stated their intent to join.
Thanks to them, they’d been the first to cut ties with the Huangbo during the pressure campaign.
Now that the alliance was set, a stable communication system was essential.
Plenty of future dealings ahead.
“Haha, who’d have thought the Five Great Families would unite! Never dreamed of it, Family Head!”
Everyone nodded at Grand Elder Namgung Wi-gyeong’s words.
“First such alliance since the Demonic Blood Tribulation, right?”
“The day the Five Great Families stand united for the future.”
“Ha, this is history—history!”
The elders gazed warmly at the feast hall.
It was unrecognizable as a feast or a flea market, but to them, it was heartwarming.
Behold.
The younger generation of the Five Great Families offering drinks in unison, pledging loyalty to Namgung Hyeok.
“This is the Tang family’s Chaos Brew!”
“Here’s the Paeng family’s!”
“Beggars gonna hold out or what? Huh?!”
“You beggar bastard?”
Paeng Jung-hyeok and Dang Myeong-ok fiercely mixed and offered Chaos Brew.
Since returning from the Huangbo estate, one thought had taken root.
‘Anything’s better with the Radiant Dragon.’
‘Nothing’s impossible with the Second Young Master stepping up.’
Mystical talent.
Namgung Hyeok’s unique gift, unmatched by any.
Not just strong in martial arts, but masterful in every way.
They couldn’t help but admire how he toyed with the notoriously tough Huangbo like marbles in his palm.
‘Still far from catching the Radiant Dragon. To close that gap in my generation...’
‘Just follow the Second Young Master, and you’re halfway there.’
Faced with a towering wall, yet inspired to bridge it somehow.
Swoosh.
Namgung Ryong slyly pushed Paeng Jung-hyeok and Dang Myeong-ok’s Chaos Brew aside.
And then.
Splash splash splash!
“Drink.”
“When’d you learn?”
“Here and there.”
Namgung Ryong grinned, offering his own mix to Namgung Hyeok.
Paeng Jung-hyeok and Dang Myeong-ok flinched at the sight.
‘...Damn, can’t beat blood.’
They watched bitterly as Namgung Hyeok downed Namgung Ryong’s brew.
Heartwarming.
The elders smiled fondly at the juniors drinking amiably.
Then.
Sniff sniff.
Namgung Hyeok scowled at the sound of someone bawling.
“Fuck, who’s bawling on a day like this?”
“It’s the Huangbo kid, Young Master.”
“You?”
“...Sniff, sniff!”
Huangbo Chung, kneeling in the corner, halted his sobs.
‘Goddamn...’
Kidnapped, imprisoned, now a hostage...
He couldn’t fathom how he’d ended up like this.
Being dragged around by that devil was hell enough.
Imprisoned alone, bawling his eyes out, almost felt happier now.
“P-please spare me...”
“Bark.”
“...Pardon?”
“Bark, I said.”
Huangbo Chung teared up as Namgung Hyeok shook a liquor bottle.
‘Father...’
Your son’s suffering this humiliation.
“Hahaha, you two get along well.”
“Getting along great.”
“Such a sight.”
You crazy old bastard elders?!
The elders averted Huangbo Chung’s gaze.
Namgung Jang-cheon shook his head.
“...We’ll expand influence into Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, and eastern Hunan, then negotiate and coordinate those interests with the other families.”
“We’ll coordinate as much as possible without drawing the Orthodox Heaven Alliance’s eyes.”
“The Orthodox Heaven Alliance...”
Namgung Jang-cheon lightly stroked his chin beard.
They couldn’t be unaware of the Five Great Families’ meeting.
Conducted in utmost secrecy, but the unusual stirrings among them would be noted.
If this alliance persisted, it’d catch their eye eventually.
Namgung Jang-cheon narrowed his eyes slightly.
‘The Nine Great Sects...’
The ultimate goal of the Five Great Families’ harmony was to reshape the Orthodox Heaven Alliance’s landscape and become each other’s shields.
Clashes with the Nine Great Sects might be inevitable.
“Best if they find out as late as possible.”
“Yes.”
Namgung Jang-cheon turned to leave, then paused.
“...How long are those kids gonna keep partying?”
No end in sight?
“They say three days at least.”
“Who?”
“...My son.”
“...”
Oh, son.
Namgung Jang-cheon groaned at Namgung Hyeok chugging from a bottle.
The second son had changed so much since rising from his sickbed.
Like the eye of a storm...
‘Eye... he’s the eye.’
Hahaha.
Namgung Jang-cheon turned away.
In any case, the Namgung family now had a springboard to soar.