Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: The Harmony Banquet
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Namgung Hyuk eyed the endless stream of people pouring into the banquet hall.
The hall, spanning well over a thousand pyong, was packed so tight there wasn't even room to set foot.
"Wow! So many people. Isn't that the head of the Heavenly Dragon Merchant Association? And there's the Cloud Sword Branch leader too."
"......"
"Look at that. Ooh, what kind of gift is that? It's so huge the cart might collapse."
Geum Cheomsang was making a fuss.
Servants had been hauling in the guests' congratulatory gifts nonstop since earlier.
The smallest were loads as big as a grown man's torso, and some were so massive an ox had to drag them in.
"It's like the Family Head's birthday bash."
"Birthday?"
"Yes! The Harmony Banquet really lives up to the hype. After spending every day waiting on you young masters, seeing this makes me understand why everyone talks about the Namgung Clan nonstop."
Namgung Hyuk cocked his head to the side.
'Is this it?'
It felt nothing like the Harmony Banquet the Sword King had described.
He'd said they'd cleared out nearly the entire estate, set up camps outside, and still hosted the guests.
'Did only nobodies show up?'
What even was the Heavenly Dragon Merchant Association? And where was this Cloud Sword Branch?
'That's all the gifts? They're just big and flashy, no substance.'
Gifts were supposed to be the smaller, the better.
Like how a fingernail-sized Seven-Colored Mystic Jade could buy a plot of ten thousand pyong without batting an eye.
Or how a single Great Reversion Pill could set the martial world abuzz.
"Why the long face? Looking for someone?"
Geum Cheomsang looked puzzled.
Namgung Hyuk hadn't reacted at all, which was weird.
The one rolling his eyes busily nearby finally spoke up.
"This can't be everyone, right?"
"Given the Harmony Banquet's schedule, most have probably arrived. Coming later would be late."
"......Really?"
"Why?"
"......No one from the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families? There are Wudang Taoists and Shaolin monks right nearby."
He meant Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect.
A bit farther out, there was the Hebei Peng Family, the Huangbo Family, and even farther, the Sichuan Tang Family.
Geum Cheomsang blinked at Namgung Hyuk's question.
He scratched his head.
"So... Shaolin and Wudang?"
"Yeah, the Taoists and the monks."
"You're joking, right?"
"I've never felt this empty without those Wudang bastards and Shaolin monks in my life. I'm serious. Why aren't they here?"
"They don't come."
Namgung Hyuk couldn't accept Geum Cheomsang's firm reply at face value.
"......They're just running late?"
"No, they don't come."
"So something came up and they can't make it? Like mass food poisoning on the way or......"
"Young master, they don't come. I said they don't come."
Namgung Hyuk blinked, then drew in a sharp breath.
"Those guys who crash every party aren't here?"
The ones who barged into every event, big or small, were Wudang and Shaolin.
He'd never seen a notable gathering without them showing up.
And they weren't at the Namgung Clan?
No, they didn't come?
"......Since when?"
"Dunno. Not once since I was born, at least."
Holy shit!
Namgung Hyuk swallowed dryly.
"The emperor doesn't even send gifts?"
"Huh?"
"Not even a letter."
"Why would the emperor......"
"End times."
It was nothing like the Sword King's tales of the Harmony Banquet.
He'd said guests from all corners of the realm swarmed in, emptying the warehouses bare.
And that they'd need to triple the warehouse space for the flood of gifts.
'......This feels so damn empty.'
The gifts were one thing, but why were there so few people?
After all, it was the attendees who elevated a banquet's status.
Even at the Sword King's rare birthdays in the past, the Nine Great Sects, Five Great Families, and even the emperor had sent delegations to offer toasts before leaving.
This was when Hefei should be buzzing with festivities.
'......No wonder it felt quiet.'
Looking at the guests now, it made sense.
With nobodies who'd never rate bragging about imperial gifts sitting around......
"It's a bust."
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
It starkly showed how far the Namgung Clan's glory had declined.
"No wonder flies are buzzing around."
"......What have you been muttering about?"
"Self-reflection."
"......"
"But don't you have work to do?"
Geum Cheomsang shook his head vigorously.
"I'm working right now."
"Where?"
"Attending to you here is my one and only job. Everyone avoids it...... No, only I can do it."
"This guy's tongue and brain aren't connected, huh?"
"......My loyalty is sincere."
Geum Cheomsang stared at Namgung Hyuk with stern, serious eyes.
"Scram."
"......Yes."
Namgung Hyuk shook his head as Geum Cheomsang slunk away, putting distance between them.
Geum Cheomsang glanced back before speaking.
"Ahem, anyway, this Harmony Banquet matters for you too, young master, so I'll stick close. You'll have to stand before everyone soon, so straighten your clothes."
"Not sure we'll have time for that."
"Huh?"
Namgung Hyuk spoke in a bored tone.
"Nothing else to do besides that?"
"No, there's plenty."
"I've got something for you to do later, so rest up."
"......Is it tough?"
"Might need to run a bit."
"......Can't I just watch the Harmony Banquet?"
"What's there to see?"
"Ahem, I might be in charge of one someday......"
Ignoring Geum Cheomsang's chatter, Namgung Hyuk grabbed some food.
'When's it starting?'
His gaze slowly swept the surroundings.
* * *
Mok Jin-hwa, who ran the Great Harmony Merchant Association from northern Anhui Province, sipped his liquor and spotted the Great Union Escort Agency chief.
"Chief, how have you been?"
"No way, isn't that Mok Branch Head? It's been a year!"
"Haha! Just two months. Didn't you transport our goods?"
"Did I? Been so busy lately, I forgot all about it."
"Must be noisy over Zhejiang Province way."
"Those Black Dragon Sect bastards are causing such havoc, our escort jobs hit snags every time."
"Mm! Must be troubling."
The issues from the Black Dragon Sect, which had suddenly appeared in Zhejiang and rapidly expanded, were legion.
Mok Jin-hwa clicked his tongue.
"Why not bring it up with the Family Head while you're here? Chances like this don't come often."
"......Ahem! I'll see how things play out."
"It's not an unreasonable request, right? The Black Dragon Sect is hindering business, and he'd understand."
"Let's talk later. The elders are here."
Mok Jin-hwa and the Great Union Escort chief shut their mouths.
They weren't the only ones.
As the elders and heads of various branches entered the banquet hall, the area fell silent as if by magic.
Everyone perked up, welcoming the entering elders.
The elders wore gentle expressions, but that only made the mood stiffer.
Though called the Harmony Banquet, no one present saw it as a mere gathering for camaraderie.
It was where they reported a year's worth of performance and tallied accounts.
The smiling elders before them could turn in an instant once the banquet began, grilling and pressuring them.
No one could relax.
A single word from the elders could sway the Family Head's decisions.
If it was good news, fine—but if not, they'd need steeling resolve.
That was the Harmony Banquet.
A rite where punishments outweighed rewards.
Those seated in the hall couldn't afford a light heart.
A colossal organization like the Namgung Clan couldn't run anything sloppily.
Every matter came with accountability—that was the Namgung way.
The elders, once seated, gazed steadily at the crowd, exchanging light words and smiles among themselves, while the audience watched with dry swallows.
Clack clack clack!
The Namgung Clan's elites escorting the elders split left and right, lining up along the walls.
They stood like an impregnable fortress wall.
Dozens of pairs of eyes swept the crowd like surveillance.
Gulp gulp—the tension of dry throats echoed through the hall.
In the silence where a pin drop would boom like thunder, heavy footsteps resounded.
Thud. Thud.
Breaking the banquet hall's hush, Namgung Jangcheon appeared.
All eyes locked on him.
His overwhelming presence filled the hall, stifling breaths.
It was like a mountain on the move, an immense pressure.
Whoosh!
The seated crowd rose almost in unison.
Warriors lined on both sides and retainers bowed deeply.
"We see the Family Head!"
"We see the Family Head!"
Thunderous voices filled the hall.
Even the elders rose from the head seats, clasping hands respectfully toward the Family Head.
Namgung Jangcheon strode straight to the center of the hall.
His steps exuded leisure and dignity.
Only after Namgung Jangcheon took his seat on the dais did the others sit.
In the suffocating silence, Namgung Jangcheon surveyed the assembly.
All eyes converged on him.
Namgung Jangcheon exhaled softly and spoke in a gentle voice.
"I thank you for your arduous journeys here. Though today is for eating and drinking, first I'd hear your recent reports."
His tone was soft, yet it pressed down heavily on shoulders.
The crowd looked at him with faces saying it had come.
Each glance from Namgung Jangcheon dried throats with tension.
As his gaze swept the hall, it paused on one.
"Former Escort Chief, how went your Yun'nan trip? A major caravan, I heard."
The Great Union Escort chief shot to his feet and cupped his fists.
"Great Union Escort Agency's Jeon greets the Family Head. It was a three-month journey. Commissioned by Heavenly Wolf Merchant House to transport goods for Western trade to Yun'nan."
"I see. Any injuries?"
"We encountered bandits en route, but no major casualties. Twelve wounded, but the cargo was undamaged. Compensation for the injured was handled immediately upon return, Family Head!"
"Well done. I know well my chief's labors."
"I am ever grateful."
Namgung Jangcheon smiled softly.
"And how fares the Great Harmony Merchant Association?"
"Great Harmony Merchant Association's Mok Jin-hwa greets the Family Head. Lately, we've begun supplying our estate's Iron Pipe Smoke to Master Jin in the capital, yielding external profits of......"
Starting with them, reports flowed in sequence.
People sweated bullets, anxiously awaiting their turns.
Those done sighed in relief, but others awaited.
"Nine Heavens Tower Chief, your reported profits differ from our investigations—what gives?"
"F-Family Head! There must've been omitted reports. I-I'll correct it now."
"You had ample time, know what the Harmony Banquet is, and still so negligent!"
Namgung Jangcheon's voice sharpened.
The hall's air froze instantly.
The Nine Heavens Tower Chief trembled as if shot by an arrow.
Onlooking elders raised their voices.
"What is the meaning of this!"
"Isn't Nine Heavens Tower a place we've long monitored closely?"
"What's happened to the chief's wits?"
"Treating the Harmony Banquet lightly!"
The Nine Heavens Tower Chief dropped to his knees, bowing his head frantically.
"Family Head! It was a mistake. Let me redo......"
Namgung Jangcheon raised a hand.
"We'll contact you later. Sit."
The Nine Heavens Tower Chief, face near tears, looked at him before slumping back to his seat.
Gulp!
Namgung Hyuk downed his cup, eyes widening.
'This guy's got presence, Family Head level.'
He dominated the atmosphere effortlessly.
'Definitely not demonic path. Those guys start by chopping heads.'
By comparison, the orthodox sects were tame.
But suffocating in its own way.
Namgung Hyuk smirked, glancing around.
The Harmony Banquet continued.
"......We subdued the horse bandits and built homes for the victims."
"......Floods caused major crop losses. We're devising countermeasures, but beyond our means......"
"Huangshan Seven Valleys Branch sales plummeted due to......"
As reports wrapped up, Namgung Jangcheon rose.
His movement tensed the crowd anew.
Namgung Jangcheon spoke in a quiet voice.
Quiet it was, but it pierced eardrums and vibrated through bodies.
His dignified voice resounded.
"I shall not forget your labors. Do not rejoice or despair. Our roots have endured a millennium, and they shall not rot easily."
"......"
"With your efforts, we shall endure another millennium. Fret not over Zhejiang's Black Dragon Sect. With internal matters resolved, we'll untangle the knots step by step."
"Thank you, Family Head!"
"Family Head, thank you!"
The crowd cheered at the Family Head's solemn declaration.
Pour.
Namgung Baek quietly refilled his cup.
His cold gaze swept the assembly once, then turned to Namgung Jangcheon.
The hall still echoed with his voice.
"Our clan shall stabilize Anhui and advance upon the world......"
Bang!
Namgung Baek slammed down his cup noisily.
Eyes listening to Namgung Jangcheon's speech turned to him.
"But, Family Head."