Chapter 272
Chapter 272
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 272
Chapter Title: Gift (2)
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"My apologies. The Family Head is quite busy with all the guests, so I've come out to greet you in his stead."
A discourtesy cleverly exploiting the chaos of guests lining up all the way outside the gates.
If one got angry, they'd be called petty; if one endured it, they'd be mocked as a pushover.
A bitter smile escaped at the transparent scheme.
"Ha."
At that, Yin Xia Lian urgently tugged at my sleeve.
Simultaneously, a mental message arrived from the Alliance Leader.
[Stay still.]
[I am staying still.]
[Just making sure. Our goal is to use the bustle of the eightieth birthday celebration to find the Moyong Clan's ledger of misdeeds. Don't forget that.]
[Understood.]
The "ledger of misdeeds" the Alliance Leader mentioned.
Finding that alone would bring the Moyong Clan crumbling down.
I had resolved to endure minor irritations from the moment I decided on this Liaodong journey.
'I can pay them back in words later.'
However, the Alliance Leader seemed to feel this situation like a thorn in his throat.
As soon as he finished his admonition, an apology followed.
[I'm sorry. To keep the Moyong Clan from acting rashly, I've scattered forces from Grand Marshal Na in Hahuk and Liaodong lands. It's causing headaches for them, and now it's affecting you all too.]
[I was prepared for this when I offered to help.]
[I'm grateful you say that.]
[So, you're planning to enter the Moyong estate following that man's guidance?]
[No, I need to have the Family Head come out himself. Even if it seems petty, I'll use this as an excuse to sharpen blades with the Moyong Clan ongoingly. Yong-un, you just play the role of the polite junior.]
[Play? If you strip away my manners, there's nothing left of me.]
[...?]
[?]
[...Anyway. An opening will appear eventually.]
[Yes, sir.]
While exchanging thoughts with the Alliance Leader like this.
Professor Chang Ryang stepped forward and addressed the Moyong Clan's servant.
"What should we call you, sir?"
"Just call me Huan the West Courtyard fellow."
"Listen, Huan. We can't budge a single step from here. Go back and fetch the Family Head."
"P-Pardon? This lowly one just does as ordered, so I'm not sure if I can bring the upper hall..."
"Just go back and relay my exact words without missing a syllable."
"What words?"
"If guests must observe etiquette, hosts must observe theirs too."
With that opener, Professor Chang Ryang continued sternly.
"The Martial Alliance Leader is the face of the righteous martial world, and the Righteous Martial Academy delegation its future. Treating them like this will have the world pointing fingers at the Moyong Clan for lacking decorum. Relay that."
"Wh-Whom shall I say is delivering that message?"
"Tell them it's Chang Ryang of Huashan; they'll know."
As Professor Chang Ryang finished, Huan scurried into the Moyong estate.
Watching him, my master sent a mental question.
- Shouldn't the Alliance Leader say that? Weren't you going to use this as an excuse to clash?
'The situation itself provides plenty of excuse. This works even better.'
It would hit harder coming from Professor Chang Ryang than from the Alliance Leader, who was already at odds with the Moyong Clan.
'Might even get to see the Moyong Family Head rushing out.'
Especially since Moyong Gil, the second son of this house, was affiliated with Fragrant Orchid Pavilion.
The Moyong Clan, having crossed swords with the Alliance Leader and the new forces led by the Hahuk Peng Clan, couldn't snub a guest from Huashan, a pillar of the old guard.
'Here they come.'
As expected, shortly after Huan returned, a middle-aged man in splendid silk robes and a familiar face from the academy—a fellow student—rushed out.
'Moyong Gil from Fragrant Orchid Pavilion, who took long-term leave from the academy well before us.'
Then the middle-aged man with him must be the Moyong Family Head, Moyong Sang.
Sure enough, "Family Head" slipped from the Alliance Leader's lips.
"Family Head Moyong. Congratulations on the joyous occasion."
"Hahaha. Thank you, Alliance Leader. But this is truly regrettable. As you see, we have so many visitors."
With that opener, Moyong Family Head Moyong Sang offered a canned excuse.
"The underlings tried to usher important guests into the main compound on their own whim and committed this breach. I'll discipline them severely later."
The Alliance Leader replied immediately.
"There are shameless folk in the world who pretend ignorance knowingly, but since you recognize it as a breach, it's fine."
"......"
"Discipline only those truly responsible. From what I see, it lies with whoever ordered Huan to do it."
Words the Alliance Leader might usually laugh off now carried bite.
Moyong Sang cleared his throat needlessly and turned his gaze to us.
"Ahem."
He then cupped his fists toward Professor Chang Ryang.
"I heard a congratulatory delegation from the Righteous Martial Academy was coming but not who exactly, so I didn't know you'd grace us, Professor Chang Ryang."
"Whoever came, this is no way to greet them. I'm fine, but the world will point fingers at the Moyong Clan."
"...Hahaha. I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, thank you for coming all this way to celebrate our family's milestone."
"I'm just the escort. The head of this congratulatory delegation is Student Council President Eon Yong-un here and the students from the Four Great Dormitories."
"I-Is that so. Pleased to meet you. I am Moyong Sang."
As Moyong Sang greeted us with a forced smile, satisfaction welled up inside, but.
I managed my expression and returned a cupped-fist bow.
"Congratulations on the joyous occasion, Family Head."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having entered the Moyong Clan manor, we followed Moyong Sang's guidance to the guest quarters.
"Please follow me. I'll show you to your guest quarters."
However, passing the kitchens on the way, a savory aroma wafted strongly.
Cheon Jang-ho licked his lips and spoke.
"Smelling this oily savoriness makes my mouth water—glad I came along."
Hearing that, Woo So-rung voiced her dissent in a subdued tone.
"I'm not hungry at all? If the banquet hall has the same vibe as the gate, everything I eat might just sit heavy."
"I don't get people who get indigestion. Why? If food sticks, just keep eating till it goes down."
"Wow. What a beggar way to live."
As she retorted to Cheon Jang-ho.
Moyong Sang, five buildings away, pointed to a pavilion behind a small garden and spoke.
"Unpack your luggage in that pavilion behind the garden there. Rest well from your journey; I'll send a separate invitation later."
Usually, they'd escort right to the door once this close.
But for some reason, as Moyong Sang and son turned to leave after pointing.
Entering the garden to the indicated pavilion, the reason became clear.
- Your father is there.
'Indeed.'
Father, along with the remaining two of the Hahuk Three Heroes—Uncle Mu Hyeok and Stone Family Head—and Silver House's father, Southern Jiang Merchant King Eun Se-pyeong, had arrived first.
"Yong-un!"
Father waved first to welcome us, and the Alliance Leader introduced Professor Chang Ryang, unconnected to the southern merchants, and Eun Se-pyeong.
"This is Huashan White Plum, Professor Chang Ryang. And this is Southern Jiang Merchant King Eun Se-pyeong, who leads Radiant Prosperity Hall. He greatly aided in setting up Wu Chang's naval forces."
"Eun Se-pyeong."
Then.
The Peng and Eun daughters reunited with their fathers.
"So-cheon didn't come."
"You didn't need to come either. What's so special about this old bag of bones with a tenacious life?"
"This isn't Peng Manor under your bias, Father."
"Who's listening? Let them! Do you think I'm scared of the Moyong dogs?"
"Sigh. Fine, do as you please."
"Anyway..."
"...Why stop mid-sentence?"
"...Ahem. A-Are you eating properly without skipping meals? Getting along with those strike team guys?"
"Would the Martial Alliance let anyone starve? And what's with 'strike team guys'? The Alliance Leader is here."
The Peng father-daughter pair was awkward, but the Alliance Leader intervened aptly.
"So-jin, Senior Peng is just worried about you."
"When did I say I was worried? Don't judge people's hearts lightly, Mu-gyeol's kin."
"Haha. We'll leave it at that."
If Peng was awkward, Eun was rigid.
This pair discussed business at length.
"...Does the math check out? You haven't even recouped the initial investment, and local powerhouses helping doesn't mean the newsletter network expands for free."
"It will. Short-term losses, but it'll rake in fortunes long-term. Haven't you heard of Dragon Hero Chronicles trending everywhere? Just slip in Silver Radiance Merchant Group branch names below, and we break even."
"If losses aren't covered, I won't return the shops and escort agencies you ran as Radiant Prosperity Hall Leader. Still pushing?"
"Yes. But once it succeeds and repays the investment, even you'll pay usage fees without exception. No complaints?"
"Good."
Their talk ended like sealing a contract.
Watching these scenes.
Father and the Stone Family Head approached me.
Father spoke first.
"Congrats on Student Council President. Pa Seo-dok-jae's second son is a renowned prodigy, yet you won the students' votes—made me overjoyed."
"Your father just hinted at being 'a bit pleased,' but reality was far off. Tears glistened in his eyes."
"Stone Family Head! Telling such tales! I said it was dust in the room irritating my eyes."
My old friend the Stone Family Head teased Father briefly.
Then patted my shoulder gratefully.
"Thanks."
"Suddenly thanks?"
"Ho-yeol sent a letter saying his martial arts advanced thanks to you."
"Oh?"
"But one thing puzzles me. The letter mentioned feeling like dying after drinking poison—is it not literal, my misinterpretation? Does it mean you trained him harshly?"
I couldn't answer the last question.
So I just smiled to dodge.
"Haha."
"Hahaha."
Just then, Father turned to Jeong-hyeon.
"By the way, what's the burden Student Jeong-hyeon carries?"
"A gift for the Moyong Clan's Grand Patriarch, as Student Representative of the Righteous Martial Academy. Prepared personally by Young Hero Eon."
To Jeong-hyeon's answer, Father asked me.
"Personally? Mind if I ask what? Wrapped in silk cloth, but shaped like a chair?"
"Chair it is. Now add a cane...?"
"...A sedan chair."
But Father's expression soured upon hearing.
I sent a mental message at once.
[Yes. But why the face?]
[Hm. We prepared an ornamental sword meaning 'retire from the jianghu already.' With the Alliance Leader and you here for reasons, if it stirs trouble unnecessarily, we can pretend we didn't bring it.]
To Father's reply, I grinned.
[No, perfect.]
Jianghu hierarchy being what it is, the Moyong Grand Patriarch would receive the elders' ornamental sword first, then ours.
That would make our sedan chair even more symbolic.
'Straight to the most important warehouse.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We spent the night resting in the annex provided by the Moyong Clan.
The next day.
Clang-clang!
Amid raucous music, lion dancers entering the Moyong estate kicked off the eightieth birthday celebration proper.
Clang-clang-clang!
Clang-chi-riiiing!
Lions and centipedes danced wildly.
A giant man swallowed and spat fire, spectacles continuing clamorously for a while.
As the acrobats' show ended.
VIP-class guests presented congratulatory gifts to the Moyong Clan's Grand Patriarch, Moyong Hoe.
Signaling the start was an eunuch from Prince Lian's mansion.
"Congratulations on your eightieth, Grand Patriarch. His Highness Prince Lian bestows red silk and a millennium pine sapling, wishing prosperity for your house across generations."
"This old man is at a loss for gratitude to His Highness; please convey that."
"Yes, milord."
"A-beom, precious gift. Store it well."
At Moyong Hoe's words, the bodyguard standing beside Moyong Sang took the prince's gift and exited the hall.
Watching, Uncle Mu Hyeok quipped idly.
"Sapling? Will it bear cats later? Heh-heh."
"...Haha."
When his turn came.
Bo Mu strode forth confidently and presented the sword Father prepared.
"If anyone rivals our Hahuk Peng Clan in saber arts, it's the Moyong Clan. This junior forged a saber in admiration for Elder Liaodong Good Sir. Draw it."
Shing-
The old fox who preserved the Moyong name among the Five Great Clans and amassed such wealth couldn't miss the implication.
"......"
Whether pleased or not, the moment the face of the elder called "Liaodong Good Sir" for always saying "good" first soured.
"...Good indeed. Thanks, Peng Family Head."
"No need."
How long after the elders' gifts?
Finally, my turn.
I led the other Eon juniors forward, bowing deeply to Moyong Hoe.
"Your humble juniors pay respects."
To my words, Moyong Hoe smirked.
"Good, fine youth. But why trek all this way for an old man tucked in the back rooms, you greenhorn juniors with big reputations?"
Those in the know knew Liaodong Good Sir's smiles hid blades.
Even now.
Mouth smiling, but the gaze beneath frost-laced brows sharp as ever.
His words carried subtle barbs.
But I wouldn't yield to that.
I bowed again, speaking deferentially.
"What a harsh thing to say. Of course we had to come. This student was elected representative of the Four Great Dormitories. Thus, to pay respects to a great elder of the martial world. We've prepared a modest gift ourselves."
"You prepared a gift yourselves?"
"Yes. Please accept without deeming it unworthy."
"Now I'm intrigued. Let's see it."
I nodded to Jeong-hyeon and Woo So-rung.
They unveiled the silk from the chair and cane they'd carried.
Moyong Hoe's eyes widened, an uncontrollable laugh escaping.
"Isn't this a sedan chair?"
"Yes. In hopes you'll give us juniors much guidance for years to come."
"Hahaha! Good! Truly good! Juniors gifting a sedan chair makes me feel young again! A-beom, precious gift. Store it well."
At that, the earlier bodyguard took the sedan chair and left the hall.
Seeing Moyong Hoe's satisfied smile, I smiled back and descended the dais.
"Then this student will return to his seat."
"Do so. No offerings, but eat your fill."
Descending, confirming Moyong Hoe's gaze fully off me.
I closed my eyes briefly and activated the formation engraved on the sedan chair during crafting.
Wung-
The formation became a third eye, transmitting scenes facing the sedan chair to my mind.
'Ah, heading that way?'