Chapter 32
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Yu Hyun's Hidden Potential
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While Yu Hyun was enjoying a rare intimate moment with his father at the residence assigned to him upon visiting the Nangong Clan.
Nangong Chu, who had wrapped up affairs at the Nine Dragons Stronghold and returned late at night, was summoned to the clan leader's quarters.
“What? Is that really true?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
At Nangong Chu's report, former clan leader Nangong Chang-seon's face took on an expression as if the heavens had collapsed, while Nangong Han-su's face filled with irritation.
It was because of the stories Nangong Chu had seen and heard on Mount Hwang.
“For now, at Guard Huang's request, we've fabricated it externally as the work of a man named Jin Wi-gang…….”
“Fabricated it?”
“Yes. Guard Huang worried it would cause unnecessary uproar…….”
The deeper Nangong Chu's report went, the more deeply Nangong Chang-seon sighed.
“Are you sure you didn't see wrong?”
Perhaps sensing his father's mood, clan leader Nangong Han-su asked once more, but Nangong Chu firmly shook his head.
“No way. Though we did behead Nine Dragons Stronghold Leader Guo Xiaoshan ourselves, Young Master Yu took down the rest single-handedly.”
“Single-handedly? All those bandits?”
“That's right.”
Nangong Han-su's irritation deepened at Nangong Chang-seon's voice constantly chiming in ahead of him.
“That's not all. On the way bringing Young Master Yu here, he resisted, so Guard Huang and I even joined forces to capture him.”
“What? Joined forces?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“It was astonishing. He lasted a full forty exchanges. But I suppose even that was because he was quite exhausted from fighting over fifty bandits.”
“…….”
At Nangong Chu's words, Nangong Han-su nearly snorted.
Of course, he had seen it himself.
Three months ago, when they visited Yu Clan Manor, it was Yu Hyun who had scattered the explosive thunder qi infused in the fist of Nangong Seong, the young clan leader who had reached the realm of righteousness after thrashing Jeok Seong.
He had spouted ridiculous nonsense like how Yu Hyun, along with Yu Seong-hwan and Dam Cheon-u, had learned skills over three days, or only learned Six Combinations Fist, but it was still surprising.
Because no internal energy had been detectable from Yu Hyun at the time.
But that was it.
When Nangong Seong unleashed his full power, hadn't he been struck and fainted right away?
And now what? Sure, the good-for-nothing bandits could be one thing, but lasting forty exchanges against two first-rate martial artists?
He needed to make sense.
“Hey now! Azure Heaven Troops Leader. How can you exaggerate so subjectively in front of the patriarch and me? Speak objectively about what you saw, objectively.”
“Yes?”
“Both Guard Huang and you—surely the goal was suppression from the start? Doesn't that mean you held back?”
“Y-Yes?”
“Why?”
“It wasn't like that?”
“Hm?”
“We didn't use killing moves, but we truly gave it our all.”
“…….”
“Guard Huang even took a few hits, you know?”
You expect me to believe that now?
Has he caught the nonsense from that Yu Clan Manor guard…….
Nangong Han-su raised his voice, his words blocked as if by the aggrieved tone full of injustice, lips twitching for a moment.
“You fool! No, he's just a young man who has barely stepped onto the path of martial arts. Did you famed martial artists of the world use your full power and still take forty exchanges?”
“T-That... I was astonished myself…….”
Nangong Chang-seon clicked his tongue in frustration as he watched Nangong Han-su press on without hiding his displeasure and Nangong Chu fluster with an embarrassed look.
“Tsk tsk, how can you, as clan leader, distrust your subordinate commander's words so much?”
“F-Father!”
“I don't want to hear it. How petty.”
“P-Petty?”
Nangong Han-su asked incredulously, but Nangong Chang-seon ignored him, stroking his beard as if recalling old memories.
“Heh heh, I knew it from the start. Yes, when my sister-in-law had that child, her belly was like Mount Tai—how shocked I was. It glowed so radiantly, like something extraordinary would be born for sure.”
“…….”
At Nangong Chang-seon's words, Nangong Han-su clamped his mouth shut.
What glow? This was no founding myth…… Clearly, his father had harbored resentment over what looked like a stillborn or miscarriage.
He must have been thrilled now that Yu Hyun had achieved merit, a chance to chide him for ultimately breaking the prenatal pact his father had made with Yu Seong-hwan.
They just never saw eye to eye.
At forty-five, and having been clan leader for quite some time, but that stubborn personality was impossible to deal with.
“And that's not all? It was unfortunate for my brother and sister-in-law, but didn't that child emerge unscathed from such chaos?”
“…….”
“It was the shock from that. Seeing his mother die plunged him into despair, wasting his days away. Of course. Without the will to live, such rumors spread. Tsk tsk, believing worldly gossip and breaking off the marriage with that fine child…… How are we to fix this?”
“F-Father. I heard that Hyun also had no feelings in the matter…….”
“Hey! How can you think so narrowly?”
“Yes?”
“It's consideration, I say.”
“…….”
“Think about it. You already sent the letter refusing. How could that child not know? He considerately refused on our behalf.”
“Of course, I thought that much myself, but still, his own will…….”
“Tsk!”
“…….”
As Nangong Chang-seon sharply turned his head, Nangong Han-su let out a deep sigh.
Here we go again.
Now the tongue-clicking was glued to his mouth.
Fine, he admitted some.
Though there were parts that seemed exaggerated, he could somewhat understand Nangong Chu's words.
Yu Hyun's displayed talent had truly been astonishing.
And he couldn't hide his shock at his changed appearance upon returning from Mount Hwang. He had changed so much even his father Yu Seong-hwan hadn't recognized him?
Who could have known the fatso who seemed uncomfortable just breathing three months ago would transform like this?
This was practically shedding bones and exchanging tendons…… marrow?
Hm? Wait……
Suddenly, Nangong Han-su's face stiffened.
What if Yu Hyun had gained some fortunate encounter on Mount Hwang?
“Ah!”
Nangong Han-su suddenly clapped, eyes widening round.
“Why is he like that?”
“I don't know…….”
Ignoring Nangong Chang-seon and Nangong Chu tilting their heads and frowning, Nangong Han-su began sorting out the thoughts flashing in his mind.
Sure, he claimed to have learned Six Combinations Fist, but he had clearly received the Heaven-Earth Divine Book, the supreme martial art of a previous era, from the emperor.
He must have gained some enlightenment. He fully acknowledged possessing talent astonishing even to himself.
In such a state, what if he discovered some hidden spiritual herb upon ascending Mount Hwang?
And, though hard to believe, achieved shedding bones and exchanging tendons through it?
Yes, then all mysteries resolved. The weight loss making him seem like a different person……
Whatever he obtained, if it was a fortunate encounter, killing over fifty bandits and holding evenly against two first-rate martial artists made sense.
“Hey, Azure Heaven Troops Leader!”
“Yes?”
“Guard Huang didn't recognize him, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Right. That's it. If even Uncle couldn't recognize him right away from the weight loss, it must be true.”
“…….”
“Ha ha! Now it makes sense. Of course…….”
“Um, Clan Leader.”
“Hm?”
“The weight was already lost?”
“Hm?”
“Before coming to Mount Hwang.”
“…….”
Nangong Han-su stared blankly at Nangong Chu, momentarily speechless.
R-Right. A bit surprising, but weight loss is personal effort.
Well, if he steeled his resolve and trained harshly for three months, it could happen?
“Then, didn't you feel tremendous energy from Young Master Hyun?”
“Energy? Well…….”
As Nangong Chu tilted his head, Nangong Han-su pressed harder to confirm his theory.
“Recall carefully. Maybe it felt roughly unrefined and wild.”
“Hm…… Now that you mention it…….”
“Now that you mention it?”
“I wouldn't know during our fight, but the wounds on the bandits' corpses were clearly the work of one versed in internal energy. The sword qi handling was no ordinary skill.”
“See! Just as I thought!”
Nangong Han-su's face bloomed like a flower after rain.
He had gained conviction in his hypothesis.
“Father.”
“Why?”
“It's a fortunate encounter.”
“Hm?”
“I racked my brains because it made no sense, but Young Master Hyun clearly gained one on Mount Hwang.”
“…….”
Nangong Chang-seon stared silently at him speaking rapidly in excitement, then sighed deeply as if pitying him.
“Why look at me like…….”
“So, is that such a good thing?”
“Yes?”
“You fool…….”
“…….”
“So, what now?”
“Yes?”
“He's the sole heir to inherit that fine household entirely.”
“…….”
“And blessed with talent too.”
“…….”
“Lost the fat and became a handsome youth, and now a fortunate encounter on top—what to do?”
Instantly, the smile vanished from Nangong Han-su's face.
“Didn't I tell you over and over? This marriage must happen.”
“…….”
“You let slip a child whose future growth we can't even guess. Believing that absurd worldly rumor and tossing away a raw gem.”
“…….”
Round and round, back to scolding.
Nangong Han-su slumped his shoulders, lips pouting.
Not like his age……
But what could he do?
In front of his father, he was always no different from a child.
“Sigh, you step back now.”
“Yes? What do you…….”
“I retreated after passing clan leader to you, but this marriage won't do. Even if I kneel and beg my brother, I will right this marriage.”
“Yes? But that matter is already…….”
“You set it with your own words and don't know?”
“…….”
Know what?
A fortunate encounter is one thing, marriage another.
Regrettable, but it was a decision for his daughter Nangong Hye, everyone agreed.
Because past Yu Hyun was worthless? Because of the wastrel rumors?
No.
Sure, that influenced somewhat—no, quite a bit—but ultimately for his daughter.
He thought his beloved daughter shouldn't go through a marriage she didn't want just for the sake of a prenatal pact.
Of course, regrettable now that Yu Hyun changed so dramatically for the better, but his intent remained unchanged.
“Father, still, the marriage can't happen. How can you decide a marriage solely on adults' promises?”
“…….”
As Nangong Han-su glared wide-eyed and ranted, Nangong Chang-seon, watching calmly, tossed out a single remark.
“You, is it because of Hye?”
“Of course. Hye is my only daughter and your granddaughter.”
“……No, not that Hye.”
“Yes?”
“Jeong-hye.”
“…….”
At that name, Nangong Chu whipped his head around, and Nangong Han-su's face flushed crimson.
“No, why bring that up suddenly…….”
“Heh, your face confirms it. Who would have thought you still…….”
“…….”
Nangong Han-su's eyes twitched severely, mouth fully blocked.
“I-I'll take my leave.”
Nangong Chu, who knew the rough situation, shot up and fled the clan leader's quarters.
He didn't want to get involved.
The story the great clan leader brought up was an indelible humiliation and sole blemish for the clan leader.
“Tsk tsk, you. How can your heart be so narrow?”
“…….”
Was the prenatal pact limited to Yu Hyun?
It was a pact Nangong Chang-seon and Yu Seong-hwan made in their youth.
Forty years ago, and naturally, the marriage talks first involved Yu Jeong-hye and Nangong Han-su.
Yu Jeong-hye, called the top beauty of Hebei, possessed of kind temperament and wisdom, even considered for empress.
Nangong Han-su, who abandoned training in his youth, smitten by her beauty, stayed in Hebei, and failed to inherit the Sword King name.
……And he was rejected.
By that Yu Jeong-hye……
Even after clingily begging to uphold the pact.
“Tsk tsk…….”
“Enough, Father.”
As Nangong Han-su gritted his teeth and glared, Nangong Chang-seon snorted.
“How can a person be so petty…… Using your daughter as excuse for this petty revenge.”
“Father!”
“Hit a nerve and you yell. Fine, I'll stop. Anyway, I'll handle this marriage, so you say nothing.”
“…….”
Watching Nangong Chang-seon storm out, Nangong Han-su trembled his fist on the table.
What more to say?
If he pushed here, he'd just be treated as a man sulking over being rejected by a woman in the past.
Frankly, it stung a bit…….
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