Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Laughter in the Elders' Hall
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Namgung Jangcheon glanced at Namgung Hyeok with an awkward expression.
Since he had snapped at Namgung Hyeok previously, he couldn't help but feel a bit more uncomfortable around him.
Today, Namgung Hyeok's expression looked particularly displeased, which only amplified that feeling.
Namgung Jangcheon sipped his dragon well tea halfheartedly and quietly asked Namgung Ryong.
"Was there some incident today?"
"......"
"Nothing serious?"
"......"
"W-Well... you don't look to be in a great mood. Ahem!"
Suddenly dragged into the study and seated, Namgung Hyeok wore a displeased expression as he cleared his throat repeatedly.
His gaze was fixed on Namgung Ryong, who had hauled him there.
Namgung Jangcheon took a sip of his tea.
'Of course, those two wouldn't have fought. Which means... it's because of me.'
There was no way Namgung Ryong, who doted on his younger brother, would pick a fight with Namgung Hyeok. So it had to be because of him.
"Hyeok, if you're feeling upset or anything..."
"......No, I'm not."
"Good, that's a relief then. Ahem!"
Namgung Jangcheon cleared his throat and changed the subject.
"The reason I called you here is that the Harmony Gathering is coming up soon, isn't it?"
"......"
"I wanted to check if preparations are going well."
Namgung Hyeok stared at Namgung Jangcheon without a word.
"This Harmony Gathering may have been put together hastily and be a bit chaotic, but it's still one of the main events for the main family. It's where all the business operations and trading partners scattered across Anhui Province gather for settlements, so we can't afford any slip-ups."
"Ah, yes."
"It's an important occasion, so keep that in mind. We need to pay attention to every detail, from the food to the attire."
Namgung Jangcheon cleared his throat as he spoke.
"Ahem! And you in particular need to be extra careful, Hyeok. This is your first Harmony Gathering, so you'll draw a lot of attention."
Attention?
"That might be a bit tough."
"What did you just say?"
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Yes."
Namgung Jangcheon narrowed his eyes at Namgung Hyeok before continuing.
"Anyway, it's an important event, so don't make any mistakes..."
Namgung Jangcheon suddenly averted his gaze and asked.
"...D-Did you receive the clothes I sent? Ahem!"
Clothes?
Ah, those clothes...
'...No wonder they felt off.'
They weren't tailored with the Golden Needle Merchant's full expertise.
But why had this man been clearing his throat and fidgeting like this?
'What's with him? Did he do something wrong?'
Namgung Hyeok had pondered the reason and meaning behind Namgung Jangcheon's previous outburst but had quickly forgotten about it afterward.
Namgung Jangcheon lifted his teacup and said.
"And Ryong will be helping with your Harmony Gathering preparations, so learn well from him."
"I've got the Golden Needle Merchant."
"There's a lot to handle, so you'll need the assistance."
Namgung Hyeok shrugged.
"Oh, and before you arrived, I sent word to the Elders' Hall."
"......And?"
"On your way, stop by the Elders' Hall and show your face to the elders."
Again?
Namgung Hyeok's expression turned subtle. He sipped his tea and narrowed his eyes.
'The Harmony Gathering.'
Everyone would be frantically busy, with a ton of things to manage.
With all the Namgung family businesses and trading partners across Anhui Province gathering, it was bound to be a chaotic mess.
Yeah, no harm in it.
"Yes."
"Don't just say that—actually go... Huh?"
"Yes, I'll go."
Namgung Jangcheon blinked.
Huh?
This wasn't like him to agree so readily.
Namgung Jangcheon looked at Namgung Hyeok with newfound curiosity.
Namgung Hyeok stretched and stood up.
"Then, since it's on my mind, I'll head there now. That okay?"
"N-Now?"
"Strike while the iron is hot."
"Uh, y-yeah."
"Where was the Elders' Hall again?"
Seeing Namgung Hyeok move so proactively—and willingly—left Namgung Jangcheon dumbfounded.
It also felt off, as if he was scheming something else.
Was he trying to dodge it somehow, or did he have some other agenda? It was impossible to tell.
'Something feels ominous.'
Especially that twisted expression.
With a subtly twisted smile, Namgung Hyeok said.
"Then, I'll be off."
Namgung Hyeok waved casually and slipped out of the study before anyone could stop him.
Namgung Jangcheon couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.
"...Why is that punk so pleased?"
Namgung Jangcheon let out a hollow chuckle and turned his head.
He wiped the smile from his face and looked at Namgung Ryong with a stern expression.
His subdued voice rumbled lowly.
"No oddities around Hyeok lately?"
Namgung Ryong nodded lightly.
He had checked Namgung Hyeok's quarters while delivering the sword, but found nothing suspicious.
Namgung Jangcheon nodded in relief.
"Got it. Stick with Hyeok and look after him well."
"......"
"Something to say?"
Namgung Ryong shook his head after a moment of looking at Namgung Jangcheon.
There was no need to point out that Namgung Hyeok's level was beyond needing protection.
"No."
He answered shortly and concisely.
Namgung Jangcheon gave Namgung Ryong a strange look, but Namgung Ryong was already lost in other thoughts.
'Are these guys really okay?'
Namgung Jangcheon's worries mounted one more.
* * *
Fwoosh!
The Thousand-Li Blue Pigeon, said to travel a thousand li in a day, soared high into the sky.
The Thousand-Li Blue Pigeon beat its wings vigorously and vanished between the mountain ridges in an instant.
Namgung Baek turned and immediately penned another letter.
Carrier pigeons from the dovecote took to the skies one by one as each letter was completed.
Fwoosh!
After sending off all the carrier pigeons, Namgung Baek handed a letter in a red envelope to Namgung Jeong.
"Deliver this to Huangshan Sword Pavilion."
"Just this one?"
"Yes."
"...Father, are you alright?"
Namgung Baek looked up at Namgung Jeong.
"With what?"
"I'm worried about how much blood the main family will shed."
The Harmony Gathering drew hundreds—sometimes over a thousand.
The scale of damage from the chaos at such an event was hard to fathom.
"If those guys get involved, the damage will be even greater, and in the long term, it'll harm you. What do you plan to do?"
"Do you think the undertaking would be possible without them?"
The situation now was worlds apart from when he tried to oust Namgung Jangcheon from the family head position.
The question itself revealed how immense the pressure Namgung Baek felt.
"......"
"If you fear sacrifice, you can accomplish nothing."
Namgung Baek spoke in an even tone.
"Those guys are just blades. Don't worry about them. All you need to decide is whether to discard the blade after use or keep it."
"Yes, Father."
With deeply sunken eyes, Namgung Baek said.
"Deliver it without delay and ensure no hiccups."
"Yes."
Namgung Jeong left the study, and Namgung Baek organized his thoughts.
'External matters are mostly settled.'
The tasks to handle were nearly complete.
'The elders are the problem.'
Their authority was a hindrance, but the elders were undeniably part of the Namgung family's strength.
The clan's top experts.
Failing to win them over was a massive loss.
No, at this point, it meant gaining one more enemy.
The elders would side with the clan when crisis struck.
Namgung Baek rose and headed straight for the Elders' Hall.
It was then, as Namgung Baek reached the Elders' Hall.
Strange noises emanated from what should have been a quiet hall.
Hearty elderly laughter mixed with chuckling voices, as if they were playing a game.
"Heh heh heh, you're eating well!"
"How about this? Give it a try."
"If I'd known you'd eat this well, I'd have brought more."
"That should be plenty, no?"
"Never mind that—so how'd you catch it? What about those guys?"
Namgung Baek narrowed his eyes and entered the Elders' Hall.
Creak.
The door opened, revealing the interior.
Elders sat on either side of a large table, with Namgung Wi-gyeong at the head.
And right beside Namgung Wi-gyeong, Namgung Hyeok was chuckling along.
Namgung Baek's brow furrowed.
'...That punk?'
The one bantering and laughing with the elders was none other than Namgung Hyeok.
He couldn't fathom how this brat had won them over.
Namgung Hyeok turned his head toward the entrance.
"Oh, Uncle Baek?"
"......"
"You don't look so good. Everything okay?"
Namgung Hyeok beamed with feigned concern, his words clipped—perhaps from half his tongue being severed.
Veins bulged on Namgung Baek's clenched fist.
"What are you doing sitting at the head?"
"Just chatting."
"I have business with the elders, so come out."
"Ah, should I leave?"
Namgung Hyeok tilted his head and looked at Namgung Wi-gyeong.
Namgung Baek's composure twisted, anger rising.
Defying his order and looking to Namgung Wi-gyeong was blatant disrespect.
If not for the elders, he would have snapped his neck on the spot.
Exercising restraint, Namgung Baek addressed Namgung Wi-gyeong.
"Grand Elder, please send the child away."
"Hm!"
Namgung Wi-gyeong, stroking his lush beard, spoke quietly.
"Is it important?"
Twitch.
Namgung Baek's eyes sharpened at Namgung Wi-gyeong's evident reluctance to talk.
But it didn't end there.
"Second Elder, if it's not urgent, how about later?"
"Heh heh heh, our Hyeok has quite the gift for storytelling."
"It happens to be something Fourth Elder would be curious about too. We were in the middle of his tale about subduing those assailants—his eloquence is no joke. Better than most professional storytellers!"
......Have they all lost their minds?
He'd called a meeting among elders, and now?
They wanted to hear more of Namgung Hyeok's stories because they were entertaining?
Boom!
Namgung Baek stomped the floor, shaking the ground and startling the elders.
"......Second Elder?"
Namgung Baek growled, exuding menace.
"It's about the Harmony Gathering."
"Harmony Gathering?"
"Does that child need to hear about the Harmony Gathering?"
That should make it clear.
No matter how much the elders favored Namgung Hyeok, there was a line between personal and official matters.
Namgung Baek glared at Namgung Hyeok, still smirking at the head without descending.
He was ready to drag him down by the scruff if he didn't move.
As the elders hesitated, Namgung Baek said.
"Grand Elder, please send the child out."
Namgung Wi-gyeong stroked his beard and shook his head.
"No, if it's about the Harmony Gathering, our Hyeok should hear it too."
"Pardon?"
"We haven't properly commended him for repelling those assailants and saving your son. With the Harmony Gathering coming up, how about praising him publicly in front of everyone?"
"......"
"Come to think of it, we haven't given proper rewards for the Silver Phantom Escort Agency incident either. Might as well handle them all at once."
The elders clapped in agreement at Namgung Wi-gyeong's words.
"Ah! Wise as ever, Grand Elder."
"The family members need to know properly too—about our Hyeok's exploits."
"So, what reward shall we give? It's no small matter; we must prepare fittingly."
"Ahem! I've had something in mind for a while..."
"Ask Hyeok first."
The elders looked at Namgung Hyeok with fond, proud gazes.
Normally, it would have been burdensome. No, closer to annoying.
What, treating him like a kid at his age from his past life?
But this time, Namgung Hyeok accepted it with a smile.
The position was bothersome and tedious, but a hilariously entertaining idea had come to mind.
"Ah, anything my uncles bestow would be fine. But since my uncles insist... ahem."
Namgung Baek was flabbergasted.
What? Uncles?
That sly fox calling them that?
His beard quivered as he glared at Namgung Hyeok.
Fine, let's hear what nonsense he spouts.
If it's outrageous, I'll block it myself.
As Namgung Baek ground his teeth, Namgung Hyeok smiled brightly at him.
"Uncle Baek, you decide."
"......What?"
"You said you'd commend me separately last time."
Force entered Namgung Baek's fist.
This punk is screwing me over!
He gnashed his teeth.
Regardless, Namgung Hyeok continued with a smiling face.
"You hyped it up so much, now I'm really looking forward to it. Haha!"
Namgung Hyeok laughed brightly and stepped down from the head.
He shuffled out, offering a clasped-hands salute to the elders.
"So please deliver it personally. I'll be grateful."
Giggling, Namgung Hyeok bowed slightly and vanished.
Namgung Baek's mind filled with rage, nearly forgetting why he had come.
He glared at Namgung Hyeok's retreating back.
'Arrogant fool! I'll watch how you fall.'
Grinding his teeth, Namgung Baek turned.
The elders' regretful faces came into view.
In that moment, he felt things veering off course once more.