Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: This Old Geezer (3)
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The special expedited audit skipped every standard procedure, granting immense authority to the three figures seated on the prepared dais: the Murim Alliance Leader, the Grand Strategist, and the Backbone Council Leader.
'So, in truth, Nangong Yun shouldn't have opened his mouth like that.'
Before the authority of those three, no matter that Nangong Yun was the eldest son of the Nangong Family—hailed as the world's greatest sword clan—or bore titles like the world's top young expert or the Flying Dragon Sword, he was no more than the grime under Professor No Sam's or Cheon Jang-ho's toenails.
And yet, this guy had spoken up without even being granted permission to speak.
In fact, someone should have sharply rebuked him for it.
"Hey..."
The Secret Service Chief Kuk Do-jin, standing to the left, flinched for a moment.
At that instant.
The Alliance Leader's mouth opened and closed like a ventriloquist's dummy.
It was a silent command not to intervene.
'Well, yeah. Best to let it play out here.'
All the classic treatises on strategy agreed: strike the enemy's weakness.
Nangong Uk had many weaknesses.
But limiting it to what could be exploited here and now, the old fox's Achilles' heel was undoubtedly Nangong Yun.
With Nangong Yun himself charging headlong at his granduncle, Alliance Leader Gongson Mu-gyeol had no need to step in.
His master, at his waist, had caught on and chimed in mentally.
- Heh heh heh. If the Nangong old timer fancies himself a dragon, then it's like the reverse scale on his own body has popped loose and pierced right into his heart. Look at that raccoon-eyed geezer's gaping jaw! Heh heh heh! It's about to unhinge! Completely unhinged!
Grand Strategist Zhuge Hui was watching too.
She crossed her legs, leaning back against her dais with the most intrigued expression of the bunch.
'Now I'm craving popcorn.'
I pictured myself popping some corn.
Meanwhile.
Nangong Yun's words kept pouring out.
"Not a single word you've said holds true! The tasks that Cadet Eon Yong-un assigned on the way to Luoyang were simply divisions of labor based on individual abilities! If you call that harsh treatment, are you saying this humble one lacks even shallow learning and meager talent?!"
"Y-Yun-ah."
"Come to think of it, you're right that I do lack learning and talent. I couldn't even cook rice when everyone else can, and I botched digging with a shovel so badly that I got called out for harsh treatment. Yes, my education is lacking, and my skills are insufficient."
"That's not what I meant..."
"And... that tiger... tiger... tiger."
But at one point, the words stuck in his throat, and he stuttered.
So I helped him out a bit.
"Shit."
Nangong Yun's already flushed face turned red-hot like molten iron.
He spat back my word.
"...The matter of the shit was entirely my own stubbornness. Even that, I ditched and left the formation on my own whim. What I ditched, Cadet Eon Yong-un handled."
"......"
"This humble one was so inept that I still owe apologies to my fellow cadets and Cadet Eon Yong-un, yet instead of rebuking me, how could you stir up this mess? I never knew Grandfather was this kind of person. It gives me chills."
"...Yun-ah, I just."
"Is the man sitting there really the granduncle I respected? The one who always said Nangong clansmen must live up to the name of the world, never forgetting the duties and dignity of nobility? The one who taught us to keep our hearts tied to the world?"
"......"
"In any case. If anyone deserves punishment here, it's me."
That was the end of Nangong Yun's words toward Nangong Uk.
Having said his piece to his granduncle, Nangong Yun offered formal clasped-hand salutes to Alliance Leader Gongson Mu-gyeol and Grand Strategist Zhuge Hui, seated to either side of Backbone Council Leader Nangong Uk.
"I knew this was a solemn assembly, yet I disrupted it. I confess to three offenses: causing a disturbance at the audit, the blunders I committed during the journey to Luoyang as admitted from my own mouth, and the rudeness of leaving without permission. Thus, the lowly Murim scholar Nangong Yun will await judgment in the Murim Alliance's prison."
With that, he turned and exited the audit hall.
I saw him veer right as he left—heading straight for the prison, it seemed.
His master at his waist let out a hollow chuckle at the sight.
- Did that punk get a dose of Clarity Tonic from the Medicine King? Suddenly he's reciting his screw-ups one after another. Wasn't that just a pseudo-apology?
Ah.
Put on your blinker before merging, Master.
I nearly burst out laughing.
- What's a blinker?
'It's a thing. Anyway, the guy's got a decent head on him normally. He's probably known all along what was right and wrong. He was just saving face and pride.'
And if you think about it, that act wasn't so much an apology to me as him unable to overcome his own conscience.
'Well, that's progress enough.'
So the storm blew over.
Backbone Council Leader Nangong Uk slumped back against his dais like a crumbling mud wall.
He looked pretty shocked.
But Grand Strategist Zhuge Hui, seated to his right on the same dais, wasn't the type to fuss over Nangong Uk's mood.
Her Zhuge Family boasted a history rivaling the Nangong Family, and the Strategist Division selected and promoted solely on merit, ignoring birth or politics.
Zhuge Hui opened her mouth with a faint, satisfied smile.
"Just as rumored, your grandson is sharp as a tack, Council Leader."
It sounded like praise at first glance, but Nangong Yun had just called Nangong Uk chillingly creepy.
So if Yun was sharp, Uk was the creepy old man—a double-edged jab.
"......"
Nangong Uk, still dazed from Yun's blows, seemed not to hear Zhuge Hui's murmur.
Bored now, she stretched and addressed Alliance Leader Gongson Mu-gyeol.
"The one who called this audit is sitting there like that, and I was about to veto it anyway. You were thinking the same, right, Leader? Shall we wrap it up here?"
"Let's. I need to stay and chat with the Council Leader a bit. You're busy, Strategist—go ahead."
"Very well."
Zhuge Hui rose from her dais and headed for the exit, pausing before me to speak directly.
"You. Planning to request a visit to the Strategist Division?"
"Pardon?"
"You weren't going to, right?"
Spooky.
She was right.
I hadn't planned to.
'Strategist Division work is all poring over documents.'
I'd done plenty of that at the Azure Bamboo Pavilion already, so no interest.
Zhuge Hui didn't win Grand Strategist on a bet.
She might slyly probe with questions about my scoundrel days that I'd struggle to answer.
So no plans to go.
'Plenty of other places anyway.'
I don't show much on my face.
But Zhuge Hui, based on my actions so far, smirked knowingly.
"How about now, briefly? Not official, so saves time. Mm. No tricky questions, just a game of go. Oh, and a gift. What do you say?"
- Our Yong-un can't resist gifts, huh? Heh, she didn't snag Grand Strategist for nothing! Knows you inside out without ever meeting!
'?'
- ?
Good grief.
What do you take your disciple for?
- ...You brat. If you're gonna say that, at least don't nod at the Grand Strategist.
'Come on, when she offers that much, refusing would be rude.'
- The guy who was indifferent until "gift" was mentioned sure talks smooth! Smooth talker!
Anyway.
"Leader. Mind if I borrow this young friend too? I'll treat him to tea while you talk with the Council Leader."
"By all means. Signal me when you're done here."
And so I followed Zhuge Hui to the Grand Strategist's office in the Strategist Division.
And received a gift.
His master liked it more.
- Whoaaa! Isn't this a mother-of-pearl go board? Oho! And jade stones? Each one's intricately carved!
Tap tap.
Hello?
'...You called your disciple materialistic, but you're the most excited?'
- Ahem. When did I say I was excited?!
'Oh? I thought I'd keep it as Master's, but if you're not thrilled, can I sell it?'
- Hey now. How dare you treat a gift from the Grand Strategist so lightly? Would you ruin your reputation?
Unbelievable.
While I was dumbfounded.
Zhuge Hui placed the stone box before me—one for her, one for me—and spoke.
"Well then. Let's see the skill that supposedly checkmated Seol-ji."
The sun had fully set, and lanterns and man-made lights began flickering on everywhere.
By Alliance Leader Gongson Mu-gyeol's order, I left the Strategist Division with Secret Service Chief Kuk Do-jin, who had come to fetch me.
Clink-clatter-
Clink-clatter-
Apparently, my arms full—unlike when I'd left empty-handed with Zhuge Hui—struck him odd, so Kuk Do-jin asked.
"So, what's all that?"
"Ah. Go board. Grand Strategist gifted it."
"Not the one in your hands—the new pouches at your waist I've never seen."
Oh, these?
"We agreed to one game at first. But she said 'one more'..."
"...Meaning she lost to you at go? On purpose?"
"Yes. I tried politely refusing, suggested a formal match fee. But she actually gave it? Sigh. No choice but to accept. Truly no choice. Ended up with this many."
"I... see. Well, we're here. Go chat with the Leader."
As we walked and talked, we arrived at the Leader's office. I asked Gongson Mu-gyeol what was on my mind.
"Did things get sorted?"
He filled me in on the details.
In the end, it was handled well.
Hardly needed handling anyway.
Only the Alliance Leader, Council Leader, Grand Strategist, and cadets were present—align interests, done.
I didn't want Nangong Yun harshly punished either; his words were vital for future prep.
'Feels like he at least shed his dog-like ways mid-reformation.'
Conveying that, the Leader beamed, praising my chivalrous guest qualities.
Anyway.
Nangong Yun's Murim Alliance prison stint ended in a day.
He'd already planned to send Nangong Uk back to his clan soon.
This incident just made it the most humiliating way possible, sped up.
Thus ended my eventful second day at the Murim Alliance.
And the third day arrived.
"Th-the one teaching me swordsmanship is the Murim Alliance Leader?"
"Yes."
"...I knew he favored you, Yong-un, but i-is it okay to grant even this request?"
"Once, I saw the Leader's sword. During the tournament spar, it overlapped with Sis's form in my mind. So I just asked him to take a look. Whether you become his disciple is entirely up to Sis."
Not that it'd happen, but.
"...Still."
"Putting down the sword isn't easy. If learning, learn properly from the best. Rare chance—don't overthink, give it your all."
"Y-Yeah. Uh. Mm. Got it!"
No surprises.
As expected, Pang So-jin became Alliance Leader Gongson Mu-gyeol's disciple, just like in the original.
Maybe because of the expedited audit fiasco on day two?
After that, no major incidents—we cadets fulfilling our tour productively.
Having toured all the intriguing departments.
The words slipped out.
'Satisfying tour.'
Mission to find Pang So-jin's master: smashing success.
Hadn't gotten the Bear Paw Pill the North Pang Family gave Jeong Hyeon in gratitude yet. Time would handle that.
'Azure Bamboo Pavilion's urgent tasks—White Lotus Sword and Convergence Formation—sorted.'
Got the Golden Needle Technique from Medicine Elder too.
Took the accompanying Mid-level Harmony Pill, storing it in my dantian.
'Consistent circulation and training will assimilate it fully.'
Nangong Yun, whom I'd nudged: modest results.
Plus, Ye Hae-su sunbae—key for future ventures, whom I had Yin Xia Lian introduce—reacted positively to our proposal.
'Others struggle for tour journal fodder; I have so much, I'd need to hide half.'
Anyway.
The Murim Alliance tour concluded.
As many gathered before the main hall to see off me and my cohort.
We stood tall once more in white uniforms and gear, just as on arrival.