Chapter 278
Chapter 278
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 278
Chapter Title: Return (4)
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On the way out of the Grand Patriarch's quarters toward the guest inn in Sowon.
I sensed someone running up from behind, and then my master spoke up.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ - Hmm? Isn't that Yong-gil running over?
I turned around, and sure enough, there he was.
I placed a hand on my hip and said,
"Why are you chasing after me? I told you to hear the details from your grandfather. And I'm warning you upfront—I don't like younger brothers who make me repeat myself."
At my words, Mo Yong-gil waved his hands dismissively.
"...That's not it."
"Then what?"
"Grandfather said to join him for dinner."
"Just me?"
"No, he said to pass it on to all the guests still at the Mo Yong estate."
Master chimed in at his words.
- The only guests left at the Mo Yong estate right now are your father's friends and you lot, aren't they?
'That's right.'
As I nodded in agreement, Mo Yong-gil spoke up again.
"I told you, so that counts as notifying the others, right?"
"Sure. But don't call them fellow disciples anymore—call them Eon Family juniors from now on."
"...R-Right. Anyway, I'm busy, so I'll get going."
And with that, he overtook me and vanished ahead.
He was probably off to inform the Alliance Leader and the elders assisting with the work.
I returned to the guest inn where the Eon Family juniors were waiting, taking a different path.
At the entrance to Sowon, all the juniors had come out, and Jeong Hyeon greeted me.
"Young Master Eon! It looks like things went well?"
"You can read my face that easily?"
"Ah, not exactly. We were preparing for any contingencies, but you returned without any sounds of breaking or crashing."
"...Do I sound like some incarnation of destruction?"
"O-Original Celestial Venerable. How could that be? We just thought we might need to help if things went south while you were off to break the estate's backbone."
"Your resolve is admirable. It all worked out. I'm here to report it's settled. And the Grand Patriarch invited us all to dinner."
At my words, Cheon Jang-ho brightened up.
"Oh! So we don't have to eat cold rice anymore?"
"Wasn't it secretly a delicacy? Why don't you stay at the inn and savor the rest of that cold rice while reminiscing about your Ilgulgai days?"
"Delicacies are only tasty occasionally. I finished what was left just now. I won't forget it for years."
"Really? Then you'll come along?"
"Yes! I really want to go!"
I played along with him until he said he'd follow, then smirked and spoke.
"Then let's loosen up a bit."
"...Pardon?"
"We've got plenty of time until dinner, so everyone, let's train. Jeong Hyeon just mentioned contingencies earlier, so I went easy to preserve your stamina just in case. But now it's all resolved?"
"......"
"Training. We should do it, right?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After sweating it out with the Eon Family juniors and taking a bath, dinner time arrived right on cue.
On the way to the Family Head's quarters in response to the invitation, the Alliance Leader asked me,
"You met the Grand Patriarch earlier today? Is this dinner because of that?"
"Seems like it."
As I answered, Father spoke up.
"That elder may seem to laugh everything off, but his temperament is no joke. No issues? What did you talk about?"
"I apologized for causing trouble at a household celebrating an eightieth birthday. And I asked for some cooperation with this matter."
"And?"
"He agreed."
Peng Mu-hyeok tilted his head at my words.
"He agreed?"
"Yes. He promised to cooperate."
"...That sly old fox doesn't seem the type."
Father and Shikka Clan Head Shi Geum-pil also tilted their heads in unison.
There were a few details I omitted, but regardless, to the North of the River Three Heroes who had dealt with the Mo Yong Clan for ages, this didn't seem like the Mo Yong-hoe they knew.
I didn't want to recount every detail of my conversation with Mo Yong-hoe to these elders, but at that moment, the Alliance Leader spoke.
"Elder Peng. Let's go see for ourselves. We'll find out when we get there."
We arrived at the Family Head's quarters.
A lavish spread was laid out, with the Mo Yong Clan's direct lineage—three generations—seated together.
"......"
"......"
"......"
Family Head Mo Yong-sang and his two sons, Mo Yong-hae and Mo Yong-gil, sat with their mouths firmly shut.
Grand Patriarch Mo Yong-hoe welcomed us.
"Haha. Come on in."
In front of Mo Yong-hoe sat the ornamental sword the North of the River Three Heroes had crafted as a sign for him to step down.
The scene could be interpreted in various ways depending on the viewer.
Peng Mu-hyeok, taking it negatively, narrowed his eyes and spoke.
"Eating greasy food right after cold rice gives you indigestion."
At that, the three generations of the Mo Yong Clan glared at Peng Mu-hyeok.
The atmosphere in the Family Head's quarters was on the verge of explosion.
"...Brother Eon. I feel like I'm going to choke even though I haven't eaten yet."
"...I'll take back what I said about not understanding the one choking."
U So-rung and Cheon Jang-ho muttered in subdued voices, while Yin Xia Lian tugged my sleeve and sent a transmission.
[It's really settled, right? You got them to cooperate in exchange for accepting Young Master Mo Yong as a new Eon Family junior... instead of a servant, I mean?]
[That's what happened.]
I turned to Peng Mu-hyeok and spoke.
"Uncle. They invited us, after all. And we're already here. Please take a seat."
"Hmph."
Peng Mu-hyeok roughly pulled out a chair, sat, and crossed his arms.
I offered a fist salute to Mo Yong-hoe and Mo Yong-sang and continued.
"Grand Patriarch, Family Head, please understand. The cold rice treatment was a bit much, wasn't it?"
At my words,
Mo Yong-hoe nodded and spoke.
"Haha. This old man has always been narrow-minded. Forgive us youngsters."
Then Mo Yong-sang furrowed his brow and raised his voice.
"Father! There's no need to stoop that low! We've given them everything they demanded—can't we even issue an eviction from our own home?!"
Not backing down, Peng Mu-hyeok retorted.
"Hey, we're not so dense we can't understand words—why serve cold rice instead of just saying it?!"
Mo Yong-hoe spoke again then.
"Enough, son. And Family Head Peng. I'm eighty years old."
"I know. That's why we're here to celebrate."
"It's not about putting on airs with age. The Young Master said that at seventy, one can follow their heart without deviation, called 'from the heart.' This dull old man needed ten more years and still deviates often."
"...Ahem."
"Our Mo Yong Clan and your Peng Family have feuded as mortal enemies, but even dogs and monkeys need the zodiac intact to fight within it. I realized that lying in my sickbed this time."
"So what are you trying to say?"
"I hate the Peng Family."
"Mutual."
"I hope the 'Blade Emperor' before your junior Peng's name returns to our clan someday."
"Wish away."
"But. Now's not the time for us to fight among ourselves, I admit."
With that, Mo Yong-hoe girded the ornamental sword to his waist.
It meant accepting Peng Mu-hyeok's gift, and also ceasing to control Yoreung and North of the River, retiring from the front lines.
"How about it? Will you accept a cup from this old man?"
Peng Mu-hyeok looked reluctant for a moment but didn't refuse.
"I'll accept."
It was the moment the North Peng Clan and Mo Yong Clan entered a truce.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With the Mo Yong Clan now actively cooperating with our affairs,
there was no reason for us to stay at the Mo Yong estate any longer.
"Eon Family Head. It'll take me a few more days to wrap things up here. Please take the others and the children back to the Pearl Eon estate first."
"Yes, Alliance Leader. See you in a few days."
We left the Mo Yong Clan matters to the Alliance Leader and headed to Jinju in North of the River lands.
"Yong-un!"
No sooner had we arrived than Mother rushed out, hands damp, to greet me.
She must have gone into the kitchen upon hearing I was coming.
"Yes, Mother."
"Any injuries?"
"Nothing at the Mo Yong Clan required me to exert myself."
"What about elsewhere? You've been wandering the Central Plains lately."
"Hmm. If you mean the North Sea incident... Didn't Father tell you?"
"Does your father ever speak coherently? He just giggles—zero nutrition..."
Mother's sharp gaze turned to Father for a moment.
"...Ahem. Wife, we have many guests with us."
Mother politely greeted the guests.
"This is the lady of the Pearl Eon Family."
Father introduced her to Lord Eun.
"This is Southern Jiang Merchant King Eun Se-pyeong."
"Eun Se-pyeong."
"Lord Eun. You cared for Yong-un when he lived away from home. I don't know how to thank you."
"Thanks? I just gave him an empty room. He's the one who saved my children multiple times."
That was my cue to step in.
I pointed to Yin Xia Lian and spoke.
"This young lady is Lord Eun's eldest daughter, Yin Xia Lian. She's helping me at the academy."
"Yin Xia Lian."
"Pleased to meet you. As a merchant's daughter myself, I'd heard your name before, but hearing you aid our Yong-un made me admire you more. Wonderful to meet in person."
"The pleasure and honor are mine."
"Honor? No need."
"Not at all. On the way here, I saw the brightness on Jinju people's faces. The affection between you and your husband shines through, and your sons carry a heroic air. I believe it all stems from you, Plum Blossom Madam."
"Oh my."
Mother seemed inwardly pleased at Yin Xia Lian's words.
Hearing about heroic bearing made my face heat up.
'What kind of talk is that.'
Yin Xia Lian was the type who could say such things all day.
To cut her off, I pulled Nangong Yun—someone Mother hadn't met—by the shoulder.
"...This is Nangong Yun. Nangong Clan eldest son, a close friend."
"...Close friend."
Then Nangong Yun made a goofy, drooling face.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Subduing the Mo Yong Clan had gone smoothly thanks to everything fitting perfectly.
I hadn't planned to visit Jinju during winter break due to busyness,
so I decided to spend the time gained from the Mo Yong Clan here at the Pearl Eon Family.
Chatting with Mother, eating her cooking, and training passed five days.
"Madam. Good to see you again."
"Aunt."
The Alliance Leader and Paeng So-jin arrived at the Pearl Eon Family and visited Yeonun Pavilion.
"Alliance Leader? So-jin? Why didn't the household staff send word?"
"I told them not to. No need for everyone to swarm just for me. I saw Family Head on the way."
"...Ah. Then you have business with Yong-un. I'll step out."
"Thank you."
Mother excused herself, and I asked the Alliance Leader,
"Is the Mo Yong Clan matter fully resolved?"
"I was skeptical even after dining with Elder Yoreung-hoong, but they cooperated fully. The major things requiring my touch are done. The rest goes to the Grand Strategist."
I nodded at the response.
Paeng So-jin asked then.
"Accepting Mo Yong-gil smoothed everything over? You didn't make some dangerous deal with that elder, did you?"
I chuckled and replied.
"Worried I'll cut ties with the Pengs and stick only to the Mo Yongs from now on? Don't worry. I owe your sister a mountain of debt already."
"No, I was genuinely worried about you?!"
"Kidding. Kidding. Just..."
"Just?"
"Reminded him how things might end when Mo Yong-gil and his brother step to the forefront someday."
"...Ah?"
Paeng So-jin gaped, and the Alliance Leader laughed heartily.
"Hahaha. So-jin, remember this: Yong-un isn't someone you need to worry about."
"Yeah. Better worry about pigs instead."
I turned to the Alliance Leader with a new question.
"By the way, what about that captured Demonic Cultist?"
"Nothing from his mouth. Tough one."
"From his mouth... so you found out something else?"
"Crooked Horse Troupe. The Manchu Crooked Horse Troupe was quite famous. They roamed the land without ever revealing Heavenly Demon Divine Cult ties."
"So the Mo Yong Clan welcomed them into the estate without suspicion."
"Exactly. Traced their paths a bit. Not in Luoyang where the Alliance is, so relied on Beggar Clan intel—needs cross-verification and more digging, but... the late North Sea Ice Palace deputy lord."
"You mean Palace Lord Dam Gyeong-ju?"
"Yes. They performed when he visited the Central Plains. Most recently, confirmed in Sichuan."
Sichuan.
I could guess their scheme.