Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: The Returned Wastrel (2)
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With the news that the Jin River Manor Lord had come to visit, the Plum Blossom Madam's attention shifted there.
"Where did you take him? The Alliance Leader should be in the receiving hall, right?"
"...Th-that... After hearing from this servant that the Murim Alliance Leader and the young masters had arrived, he said that if there were prior guests and it would be hard to meet, he'd come another day, so please send word. However, he didn't seem like the type to leave easily... He's probably still at the main gate."
"...If he thought it would be inconvenient for us, he could have just turned around without sending word, but instead, he pretends to be considerate while having no intention of doing so."
"...My apologies, Madam. It seems this servant unnecessarily mentioned the young masters."
"No. Your small uncle-in-law must have known everything from the start. Did you inform the Lord Husband?"
"Yes. We sent someone there as well, so he should have heard by now."
When Pang So-jin led the other Eon brothers and left Eon Yun Pavilion.
I thought it would feel awkward to be alone with the Plum Blossom Madam.
'And it actually was awkward.'
Experiencing a mother's presence for the first time wasn't easy.
'She must have worried endlessly over that previous Yong-un bastard, and now she's anxious about me...'
It was hard because she blamed herself for all of it and apologized.
She seemed to slight my father, yet told me not to misunderstand, revealing her caring heart for the family, which made me embarrassed.
At the same time, I learned that the biggest worry weighing on her was my expulsion from the Pearl Eon Family, and I felt sorry.
It had been Father's decision, and it followed the original story's flow, so Eon Yong-un's banishment from the Pearl Eon Family was only natural.
'But it was also my choice.'
So, with an awkward expression, I could only quietly listen to what the Plum Blossom Madam—no, Mother—had to say.
'But it wasn't bad.'
The affection she showed me tickled my heart in a strange way.
So, if asked whether it felt good or bad, it felt good.
'...Jin River Manor Lord.'
Thus, I ground my teeth recalling the man who had interrupted this time.
Just then, Master posed a question.
- It seems your mother doesn't particularly like this Jin River Manor Lord fellow. It doesn't appear to be simply because he interrupted your time together. Am I right?
'You see right through it.'
- See right through it? That Wang fellow mentioned he was clan kin, but what kind of kin would disturb the main family's Madam?
'On the family register, he's my paternal great-uncle. The younger brother of my late grandfather, and Father's uncle. But...'
- But?
'He has ambitions to take over the Pearl Eon Family.'
Jin River Manor Lord Eon Gil-hoe.
In the original story, he used the pretext of the eldest legitimate son Eon Yong-un being struck from the register to claim that the Jin River Manor also had the right to inherit the Eon Family.
- If he's your great-uncle, he's an old geezer past his prime. He should be picking out his coffin at that age, not dreaming of becoming the Pearl Eon Family Head. What insatiable greed.
'To be precise, he plans to make his own grandson the next young family head.'
His name was Yong-muk or something like that.
- He's seriously entertaining such a childish notion?
As Master said, it was no more than a childish claim, but Eon Jeong-ung, with his upright and stubborn nature, lacked any political savvy.
In the original story, the elder council and clan assembly, dominated by Eon Gil-hoe, nearly handed the young family head position to the branch family at Jin River Manor.
As I conversed with Master like this.
Mother let out a sigh and spoke.
"It seems this mother will have to go out after all. Your great-uncle has always been tiresome toward you, comparing you to that Yong-muk boy. If it gets uncomfortable, just make an excuse and leave."
"No. I'll go with you."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Jin River Manor Lord Eon Gil-hoe.
As he took in the sight of the Pearl Eon Family visible from the main gate, he thought.
'This should have been mine from the beginning.'
This Pearl Eon Family should have been his.
'Though we were separated by just a single generation on paper, I never lost a duel to my brother. My martial prowess was superior, and my ability to command and lead people was several times better.'
Yet, why had Father chosen his brother as young family head?
'All he did was show filial piety—no proper nickname, just a guy good at making drinking buddies...'
To the Eon Yong-un brothers, he was their grandfather, and the previous family head of the Pearl Eon Family, Eon Gwang-hoe, bore the nickname Pearl River Fist.
Considering that Jinju was originally the Eon Family's territory, it was a rather unimpressive moniker.
'If I had become family head instead of him, returning to the Five Great Families would have been a given, and the Eon Family—not the Pang Family—would symbolize northern Hebei.'
During Eon Gwang-hoe's tenure as family head, the Pearl Eon Family made no remarkable advances, merely maintaining the status quo by fraternizing with northern Hebei's families and factions.
Eon Jeong-ung, who succeeded him, was a genius called the greatest prodigy in sixty years for his martial talent.
But in Eon Gil-hoe's eyes, he was just a guy exceptional in martial arts and nothing else.
'He doesn't even know the principle of allying with distant enemies while attacking nearby ones. He hangs out with the nearby northern Hebei Pang Family and Stone Family like brothers, while clashing with the Moyong Family. How does he expect to seize hegemony in northern Hebei like that? What a frustrating fellow.'
The basic principles of external relations hadn't changed since Eon Gwang-hoe's time.
With his characteristically rigid and inflexible nature, he wouldn't forgive anyone deviating from those standards, causing the number of allies claiming friendship with the Pearl Eon Family to dwindle.
'Tch. Clean water doesn't attract fish. Well, that's good for me.'
Eon Jeong-ung's temperament didn't discriminate between insiders and outsiders.
He had personally banished the infamous wastrel Eon Yong-un.
That act admitted failure in educating the heir and damaged the legitimacy of the direct line himself.
As Eon Jeong-ung's position narrowed and everything seemed to fall back into natural order.
Recently, astonishing news had arrived in Jinju one after another.
Rumors that Eon Yong-un had pretended to be a wastrel to hunt the Demonic Cult.
Or that he had revived the corpse soldiers.
'Along with the name Gu-ryong.'
However, the elder council and clan assembly were already in Eon Gil-hoe's hands.
No matter how high Gu-ryong's name rose in the world, within the Eon clan, Eon Yong-muk had already been internally decided as the heir.
'This is what they call heaven's will.'
If things had gone slightly off sequence, the grand plan would have been lost, but as if perfectly arranged, Eon Yong-un's rise came late.
'Thanks to that, I get to see my Yong-muk become young family head in my lifetime. It took a long detour, but even the great Jiang Taigong didn't achieve his ambitions until past seventy. What's wrong with that?'
Recalling that thought once more, a satisfied smile spread across Eon Gil-hoe's face.
'If the clan assembly and elders push unanimously, Jeong-ung will accept due to his nature, but that wouldn't look good.'
They said his grandson and daughter-in-law were losing sleep over Yong-un.
'If we make it look like he's yielding the young family head position to us in exchange for reinstating Yong-un, that would be perfect.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ It seemed the news of the Jin River Manor Lord's arrival had spread evenly to each pavilion.
By the time Mother and I reached the main gate, Father and Impeccably Courteous emerged from the Family Head's quarters, and Yong-myeong came running from Eon Hwa Pavilion.
The other Eon brothers and retainers gathered furtively at the main gate.
Amid that, Father and Mother spoke in unison.
"We pay respects to small uncle and the two elders."
Then, among the people standing at the main gate, a hoary-haired elder stroked his beard with a smile across his face.
Gazing at Impeccably Courteous, he spoke.
"I was passing time playing go with these two here at Jin River Manor, when suddenly the smell of oil wafted from this house, drawing me here. I didn't realize there were prior guests. The Alliance Leader must have been in discussion with Jeong-ung. I wonder if this old man has intruded unnecessarily?"
To Eon Gil-hoe's words, Impeccably Courteous politely clasped his hands and shook his head.
"Not at all. This junior has been so busy without accomplishments that it's been ages since paying respects, White Mountain Fist Elder."
"I know the Alliance Leader has been occupied lately with the Demonic Cult rabble stirring everywhere. Jeong-ung has his upright qualities as strengths, but in conversation, there must be frustrating aspects. Isn't that so?"
"...Not really."
"No need for humility. Who raised Jeong-ung from the cradle if not me? If there's anything our Eon Family can assist with, don't hesitate to contact Jin River Manor, without considering it rude."
His words glittered as if he were the family's senior elder.
Yet, the one who should represent the Pearl Eon Family was Family Head Eon Jeong-ung.
In truth, Eon Gil-hoe's actions blatantly ignored Father to show he would be a better conversational partner.
'The perceptive Alliance Leader can't miss that.'
However, whether because he was clan elder, Father remained silent.
No, he briefly held Mother's hand as her eyes narrowed, as if restraining her and those around.
In that situation, Impeccably Courteous could only smile awkwardly.
"...Hahaha."
In the meantime, Eon Gil-hoe excitedly spun another tale.
"Lately, I've heard quite a bit about Yong-un here and there, but in truth, our Yong-muk has no less talent. Would the Alliance Leader grace us by taking a look sometime?"
"Mm. Yes. If I find the time, I will."
"This child's prenatal dream featured a vivid azure dragon..."
That story ultimately boiled down to bragging about his grandson.
Irritated midway through, I stepped forward with clasped hands, signaling him to shut up.
"I pay respects to great-uncle."
At my action, Yong-myeong hurriedly followed suit.
"...Gr-great-uncle, I pay respects."
Eon Gil-hoe spread his palm toward Yong-myeong, signaling him to step back.
Then, raising his index finger, he jabbed at my chest and spoke.
"Your name isn't in the Eon Family registry, so how could I be your grandfather?"
Yet, his gaze was fixed on Father and Mother.
I instantly grasped the intent behind Eon Gil-hoe's actions.
'It's obvious. This guy...'
Was he pressuring Father and Mother over my reinstatement?
Of course, Father wouldn't have brought up reinstatement to the elder council without discussing it.
The atmosphere when parting after Shanxi matters suggested it, and Mother's earlier words about awaiting my news confirmed it.
'That's why he held back just now?'
As the pieces fit together, a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
"Ha."
"Ha?"
Eon Gil-hoe furrowed his brows and stepped forward.
I narrowed my brows as much as possible and spoke.
"Tsk. Come to think of it, we're not related at all?"
"...What?"
"Thank you for reminding me of that forgotten fact, old man."
"Ol-old man? Y-you brat?! Don't you recognize your clan elder?!"
"Why would the old man be my clan elder? I'm not even in the registry? ...You seem too young for dementia yet."
"What? This brat is a complete wastrel!"
"Hm? That's true. You're not entirely senile, just rambling inconsistently, so you'd better see a physician soon."
"Th-this! This brat has no intention of returning to the family?!"
"How did you know that?"
Yeah.
I can just not do it.
Ehehehe.
"Th-this!!"
Never dreaming I'd respond this way, Eon Gil-hoe stammered with a flushed face.
The people around gaped in unison.
At that moment, Eon Jeong-ung spoke with a resolved expression.
"I will reinstate Yong-un by family head authority."
"L-Lord Husband?"
Mother opened her mouth in surprise.
I was equally shocked.
I'd gone off wildly to ease Father's political burden from his stubbornness.
'Using authority here?'
As I thought that, Impeccably Courteous added a word.
"In the Murim Alliance, handling faction disputes often requires guarantors for reinstatements like this. If needed, this Gong Son will stand as guarantor."
Eon Gil-hoe bellowed.
"Who gave permission?!"
But Father set aside his usual respect and spoke sternly.
"I said I'm using family head authority. Jin River Manor Lord."
Eon Gil-hoe seemed to bite his lip until it bled.
Then, sneering, he spoke.
"Hmph. Even if you force reinstatement like that, the elder council can demand verification, Family Head. Do you not know?"
Father shifted his gaze to me.
He said nothing explicit, but his eyes asked what needed no words.
I smirked and replied.
"No problem."