Chapter 17
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Rejected Betrothal
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“What are you all doing? Please, have a seat.”
“…….”
“…….”
Everyone’s gazes, filled with suspicion, turned toward Yu Hyun, who was seated next to Yu Seong-hwan.
Were the rumors wrong?
He had certainly seemed a bit resentful when dealing with Nangong Seong...
But that pig, convincing everyone with his calm words and polite manners, was Yu Hyun?
“By the way, what brings you to Yu Clan Manor, brother-in-law?”
“…….”
Nangong Han-su flinched at the sudden probing question.
Even if asked why he’d come, how could he tell the truth in this atmosphere...?
Ah, right. He could say he’d stopped by to pay respects to his uncle for once...
“Ah, he came to reject the marriage proposal.”
“…….”
Just as he was about to speak, Nangong Han-su’s face drained of color at the bright, tattling interruption.
That beggar bastard had betrayed him earlier, and now he was snitching?
Damn bastard. He deserved to be dipped in shit water and fried.
Was saving the Beggars’ Sect all there was to it?
What about us Nangong? What the hell were they supposed to do?
“So you’ve finally made that decision?”
It was like the voice of a demon rising from the underworld.
At Yu Seong-hwan’s chilling question, Nangong Han-su felt his soul fleeing and squeezed his eyes shut.
“U-Uncle, please hear me out first...”
“Heh heh, so that’s how it was. I set aside my own dignity and sent a letter begging you to reconsider, yet you’ve decided to disregard the firm promise made in the emperor’s presence.”
“…….”
“So that’s it. I thought we’d talk face-to-face, but you came to reject it from the start. And come to think of it, you didn’t even bring the girl.”
“Th-That’s because Hye is away from the clan right now...”
Nangong Han-su hurriedly made excuses, but Yu Seong-hwan gazed at him with ghostly eyes, murmuring like a madman, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
“Ah! So that’s why you did that to Hyun?”
“…….”
“You’re planning to wipe out the entire family?”
“W-What?”
Wipe out the family? Why had the conversation veered there?
“Exactly. If you kill them all, the engagement dissolves automatically. Yes, that’s why you’ve committed this heinous act.”
“U-Uncle, that’s not it.”
“…….”
Shring.
Nangong Han-su tried to explain again, but the deranged Yu Seong-hwan was already drawing the sword from Dam Cheon-u’s waist.
Sh... clack.
“……?”
But before the sword was fully drawn, a thick hand stopped his own.
“……Huh? Hyun-ah?”
As Yu Seong-hwan recognized his son and slowly regained his senses, Yu Hyun smiled at Nangong Han-su.
“That’s a relief.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
What was a relief?
“I was the one who wanted to reject the engagement first.”
“…….”
Everyone wore puzzled expressions at Yu Hyun’s smiling words, as if it were good news.
“Hyun-ah. What do you mean? You wanted to reject it first?”
“Just as you heard, Father.”
“…….”
“I’ve said nothing all this time because I didn’t want to go against the firm promise between you and Uncle...”
“H-Hyun-ah.”
“I know you cherish and love me, Father. So please, this time, respect my small wish.”
“……Hm.”
Yu Hyun, who had persuaded his father more swiftly and simply than anyone present, turned to look at Nangong Han-su.
“Brother-in-law.”
“Huh? Oh, y-yes?”
“I’m sorry. Please graciously accept this brother’s request. No matter how much it’s a promise from our elders, holding a marriage without the parties’ consent is wrong. For Nangong Hye’s sake, if nothing else...”
“……!”
Nangong Han-su blinked in slight surprise at the exceedingly courteous words, staring at Yu Hyun.
Say something, you fool.
He’d gratefully accept a rejection on his behalf, so why the dumbfounded look?
Marriage? They had to be joking.
With everything he had to do now, who had time for a carefree wedding?
Chewing on it, his irritation boiled over anew, but Yu Hyun hid his true feelings and smiled, pressing for an answer.
“Brother-in-law?”
“Huh?”
“Will you grant this unworthy brother’s request?”
“Ah! Hm... Very well. If that’s your will, I accept.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll take my leave, knowing that.”
“H-Hyun-ah! Wait just a moment.”
Yu Seong-hwan hurriedly grabbed Yu Hyun, who was rising without lingering now that his goal was achieved.
“What is it?”
“Why on earth do you dislike it?”
“Pardon? Well...”
Yu Hyun looked at Yu Seong-hwan and grinned.
“There are many reasons, but above all, it’d tangle the family tree, wouldn’t it?”
“Huh?”
“Think about it. Technically, even though I’m younger, I’m brother-in-law to Han-su here, and uncle to Seong. An engagement? Would I have to call brother-in-law ‘father-in-law’ from now on? And Seong ‘brother-in-law’?”
“…….”
“You wouldn’t have our esteemed Yu Clan head, my father, lead the way in creating such an absurd family register, would you?”
“……A-Absurd family register?”
At Yu Hyun’s words, Yu Seong-hwan froze halfway to his feet, eyes widening.
What kind of flaw was that?
As he said, they weren’t even blood-related; it was a bond of righteousness.
There were even emperors who set examples by marrying their father’s concubines...
“Then, trusting you’ll both grant my request, I’ll be going.”
Yu Hyun bowed once more and turned to leave, but paused as if remembering something and looked at O Hyun.
“Ah, you’re O Hyun, the branch head?”
“Yes?”
“I have something brief to say. Could you stop by Hwiam Hall after this is over?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes. I’ll follow right now.”
“Thank you.”
Yu Hyun grinned and awkwardly squeezed out through one of the doors, with O Hyun following behind.
The remaining people stared blankly at each other, watching Yu Hyun’s retreating figure.
“Heh, that kid. What am I supposed to do with a father like this...”
Yu Seong-hwan sighed, but Nangong Han-su inwardly sighed in relief that the engagement had safely(?) fallen through.
The worries that had plagued him for so long due to those two stubborn old men were resolving so easily.
It was like a nagging tooth suddenly falling out—pure relief.
“…….”
But he hadn’t expected Yu Hyun to say such things himself.
Put yourself in his shoes; it was naturally infuriating.
Not content with rejecting via letter, at their reunion, he’d been harassed by Nangong warriors and knocked out by the young master. He’d endured every humiliation possible.
Even before Yu Seong-hwan, it wouldn’t have been strange if Yu Hyun himself had raged and vowed to wipe the Nangong family off An-hui soil.
Yet he persuaded his own father and considered the Nangong position.
Arrogant, stubborn, couldn’t even walk properly so his soles were baby-soft and fresh... Well, that wasn’t relevant.
Anyway, wasn’t he utterly different from the wastrel in the rumors?
Polite speech, considerate of others’ positions...
And that movement earlier?
He’d easily subdued Jeok Seong, one of the top talents in the Azure Heaven Troops, and dispersed the force in Nangong Seong’s punch—the son who might inherit the Sword King title.
Unless he’d trained in martial arts from birth, it was an achievement utterly mismatched for a seventeen-year-old.
“Heh, they say you can’t believe a thing about worldly rumors... Hyun has grown up so properly.”
“Hmph, what? Having second thoughts now?”
“Ah, well...”
Yu Seong-hwan snorted sourly and waved his hand dismissively.
“Enough. That stubborn kid’s made up his mind, so no changing it. Sigh, how am I to apologize to Chang-seon for this?”
“…….”
Fearing he might write to Nangong Chang-seon and try reviving the broken engagement, Nangong Han-su quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, Hyun’s martial prowess is impressive.”
“Is it?”
“Indeed. Heh heh, at his age with that skill, he’d hold his own anywhere.”
“......That guy. He breaks off an unwanted marriage and suddenly you’re full of praise? Isn’t that laying it on a bit thick?”
Yu Seong-hwan grumbled peevishly, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward slyly.
“Laying it on thick? Don’t you know me, Uncle? I may not have Father’s fame, but I’m the head of the Nangong Clan. Would I exaggerate about a warrior’s skill?”
Even as his mouth stretched into a wide grin and his eyes curved like crescent moons, Yu Seong-hwan kept waving it off.
“Heh, come on... What’s he learned that’s so special...”
“You too, Uncle. Why didn’t you ever boast about Hyun’s skills?”
“......Boast about what? He couldn’t even handle Seong.”
“Heh heh, Uncle. You can’t compare him to Seong, who’s trained under countless masters since age five with all sorts of elixirs. Last I saw Hyun was at ten, so he built that skill in just seven years. That’s heaven-sent genius.”
“Huh?”
“Pardon?”
“What are you saying? Seven years?”
“Wasn’t it? Then he started even younger?”
“Young? It’s been ten days.”
“…….”
Nangong Han-su’s jaw dropped at Yu Seong-hwan’s words, delivered with a pleased grin as he tried to flatter by overpraising his son.
“T-Ten days?”
“Ten days.”
“…….”
Nangong Han-su’s face crumpled.
Was this old man so mad about his kid that ten days was it? What?
Had anyone ever taken ten days to recite the Thousand Character Classic—or even the Analects and Mencius?
As he gaped wordlessly, Dam Cheon-u chuckled and interjected.
“It’s understandable to be shocked. Father-in-law tends to exaggerate about his son-in-law’s matters... Actually, it’s a bit more than ten days.”
“…….”
Only then did Nangong Han-su’s expression soften slightly as he nodded.
That made sense.
At least there was one sane person in this madhouse.
Without him, he’d have had to dance and perform alone to their ridiculous tune.
“Look here, son-in-law, what do you mean? Hyun started training over ten days ago?”
Yu Seong-hwan asked with an innocently puzzled look.
“Hm, has it been two months since brother-in-law started walking again? Probably around then.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. I sparred with him and was stunned, but thinking back, it lines up.”
“Hm, if you, who taught him directly, say so. Let me correct myself. About one or two months of training, then.”
“…….”
Nangong Han-su’s lips quivered as he barely maintained a smile, watching father-in-law and son-in-law make fools of themselves side by side.
Birds of a feather flock together, huh? Two months—what difference did that make?
As he inwardly mocked them gleefully, he heard a low snicker.
A glance sideways revealed his son, Nangong Seong, who had maintained a polite demeanor since Yu Hyun left.
Right, you find it absurd too? Father knows.
Just hold on a bit, until we escape this madhouse.
Comforting his son in his mind, Nangong Han-su forced an awkward smile and spoke.
“R-Really impressive. Hyun must be a once-in-a-generation genius.”
“Oh? You think so too?”
“......Yes.”
“As expected of my son. I was frustrated he neglected studies, but he was destined for martial arts. Heh heh.”
“Indeed. I’ve reevaluated brother-in-law.”
“Didn’t I tell you? He’s clearly general material.”
“Exactly. I think the same, father-in-law.”
Nangong Han-su inwardly clicked his tongue at Dam Cheon-u nodding vigorously.
Tsk tsk, even with the Hubei Dam Clan name, was being a son-in-law that tough?
Having to flatter so ridiculously...
“Heh heh heh. Must’ve had a good teacher.”
“Well, something like that.”
“Who is it? The master who made Hyun so impressive in two months?”
“That would be me.”
“…….”
“My son-in-law.”
As Nangong Han-su subtly prodded sarcastically, Dam Cheon-u scratched his head bashfully and grinned, with Yu Seong-hwan chiming in supportively.
Perfectly in sync. Anyone would think they were blood brothers.
He wanted to mock the Yu Clan Manor right out the door, but they had debts and received favors.
Fine, the engagement was off—that was something.
Don’t stir up trouble; play along moderately and leave. How often would they meet again?
“Heh heh, I knew the Dam Clan had a high name, but I didn’t know you were such a good teacher. So, what martial art did you teach?”
When he asked about the type, Dam Cheon-u, who’d been chattering away, suddenly clammed up.
He glanced around, sneaking peeks at Yu Seong-hwan... Was there something he couldn’t say? What did he teach?
Curious, Nangong Han-su urged with a look, and the hesitant Dam Cheon-u cautiously replied.
“Well, His Majesty bestowed the Heaven-Earth Divine Book, so...”
“What! The Heaven-Earth Divine Book!”
Even Nangong Han-su couldn’t help but be shocked this time.
The Heaven-Earth Divine Book—one of the pinnacle martial arts in murim history?
“Heh, to think the Heaven-Earth Divine Book was in the palace.”
“I haven’t taught it yet.”
“Hm, I see. It’s not an easy one to grasp.”
“Yes. So I taught him the Six Combinations Fist as an intro, just over ten days ago.”
“…….”
Nangong Han-su’s face froze solid.
“Th-That... the Six Combinations Fist I know?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
An awkward smile devoid of any mirth crept onto Nangong Han-su’s lips.
The Six Combinations Fist.
The most basic of basics, something even neighborhood kids mimicked.
“…….”
Heh heh heh... Madmen...