Chapter 282
Chapter 282
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 282
Chapter Title: The Jang Family's Eldest Son (3)
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Jang Seon wore a complicated expression.
He seemed to have newly realized just how much he'd been exploited all this time after hearing my point-by-point rebuttals.
"...".
I left him alone and turned to Uncle Jang and his wife.
"What do you two think? Any objections?"
With status, martial prowess, and logic all on my side, the situation was overwhelmingly in my favor.
Jang Yi and his wife were as silent as clams with mouths full of honey.
"...".
"...".
"I figured as much. If you had even a shred of shame left, you wouldn't."
After laying down one final threat like that, I opened the money pouch I'd received from the Black Goat Merchant Group.
"This should be enough for a common household to live on for half a year. If Uncle here just quits gambling, it ought to suffice."
I pulled out ten nyang of silver and tossed them onto the ground.
"This is a huge loss for me, but let's call our accounts settled here."
At my actions, Master spoke in a disinterested tone.
-Instead of squeezing them for more, you're giving those bastards ten nyang? What do they have that's so pretty about them? I'd rather smash their house to bits.
'Master, I'm not giving it because I like them.'
-Then why?
'It's so that soft-hearted fool Jang Seon stops worrying about those jerks.'
After replying to Master, I scanned Uncle Jang's household from corner to corner once more and spoke up again.
"If you have any objections, speak now. I know an expert from the Silver Radiance Merchant Group. If he gets involved, you'll cough up at least two hundred nyang somehow."
"...Khm. Ahem."
At that, Jang Yi glanced at Jang Seon along with his wife, then stealthily began picking up the silver I'd thrown.
I shot them a sneer and said to Jang Seon,
"Pack your things and come out."
"...Y-Yes!"
A short while after Jang Seon dashed to the barn.
He emerged dangling a single modest bundle.
"...Is that all your stuff?"
"Yes. Uncle needs the farm tools, so I just packed clothes and my bedding."
I clicked my tongue at Uncle Jang and his wife, then turned around.
"Let's go."
Jang Seon set down his bundle and politely bowed deeply to them.
"Uncle, Aunt. Thank you for taking care of me all this time."
Then he scurried after me.
I asked him,
"Why go that far with the courtesy? Didn't you hear how much they've fleeced you? No, even if you didn't understand, you saw them asking for money and picking up the silver, right?"
"...They're still family."
His response made my blood boil.
"How are those people family...".
"...".
But seeing Jang Seon look so dejected, I couldn't bring myself to force my views on the notion of family.
'Uncle Jang and his wife are definitely no saints...'
From Jang Seon's perspective, I'm a total stranger he just met today.
Whereas Uncle Jang and his wife are people he's lived with his whole life.
'Family, huh. It's complicated.'
I'd had no such connections in my past life, so I'd never experienced anything like Jang Seon's.
And in this life, I'd met only good people.
There was no way I could fully understand Jang Seon's feelings.
I let out a faint sigh and said,
"Sigh. Do what you want. Once you go to the academy instead of rotting in a backwater village like this and mingle with the other guys, your eyes will open."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Since Jang Seon didn't even know any lightness skills, let alone internal arts, it took two days to return to Dan River Valley.
"Th-This is the Righteous Martial Academy?!"
"That's right. That big building you see is the main dormitory."
"Wow!"
"You're not an official cadet, so you can't stay there. I'll handle a few things and find you a place."
"Anywhere's fine for me! As long as there's a roof... no, even without one!"
I headed to the Student Council room with Jang Seon, who had a bandit's face but sparkling eyes.
The first to greet me was Woo So-reung.
"Big Brother Eon!"
I nodded and looked around. Amid the Qingzhu Hall juniors at their desks.
I saw Kyung-ryong hyung and Cheon Jang-ho huddled at the central table.
I asked Kyung-ryong hyung,
"Exams all done?"
"Mine ended yesterday. I came to see your face right after, but they'd said you went to Yangyang on business."
"Yes, that's right."
"So, how'd it go in Yangyang?"
"For now."
"Well, who went? Of course it went smoothly. Hm. But what's with the gentleman who came with you?"
I wondered who "sir" referred to, but it was Jang Seon.
I turned to Jang Seon and introduced the people gathered in the Student Council room.
"Starting here: Jin Kyung-ryong, Qingzhu Hall Student Council President; Yin Xia Lian, Chief of General Affairs; Jeong Hyeon of Guidance; seniors Ye Hae-su and Yin Ha-seong of Public Relations, Woo So-reung, and Cheon Jang-ho of Yunmae Hall. Now you introduce yourself."
However, Jang Seon clamped his mouth shut instead of introducing himself.
The names he'd only read about in the gazette must have thrilled him speechless.
Meanwhile, Yin Xia Lian and Jeong Hyeon turned to me with serious expressions.
"Uh, Young Master Eon? What's the story with bringing him here that you're treating an elder so casually?"
"R-Right. Young Master Eon knows respect for elders, so unless it's someone tied to the Demonic Cult, you at least show proper courtesy to seniors... Gasp! No way?!"
I spoke up before their suspicions could spiral.
"...He's not with the Demonic Cult."
"He's not? Then why?"
"I treat him casually because he's younger than me. He looks old because he's suffered since he was little, but he's actually younger."
"Whaaat?"
"Whaaat?"
As the people in the Student Council room gaped in shock, I continued,
"He's the same age as So-reung. Turns eighteen this year, nineteen next."
Just then, as the juniors' mouths fell open wider, words leaked from Yin Ha-seong and Woo So-reung.
"...Younger than me?"
"...Same age as me?"
"Yeah. Jang Seon from Yangyang. Seon, stop covering your mouth and say hi."
"Brothers, sisters. Hello. I'm Jang Seon."
An inexplicable silence descended on the Student Council room.
"...".
"...".
"...".
I broke the silence and gave a condensed account of what happened in Yangyang and Jang Seon's life.
"...So I gave them ten nyang of silver, and this guy's come here with me."
As my story ended, Yin Ha-seong nodded.
"Even in gambling dens, if you don't tip the house, things get messy. Better to toss some coin to types like that."
Cheon Jang-ho fumed.
"Man, that pisses me off. Hey, Brother Seon!"
"...I heard I'm the little brother."
"Oh, right. I'm not mentally prepared yet. Anyway, welcome. If it were me, I'd have bolted from relatives like that ages ago."
"...But without Uncle and Aunt, I might've ended up begging on the streets."
"What's wrong with begging!"
Senior Ye Hae-su was the only one in the group beaming.
"This is perfect story material. The Moyong Manor stuff was too dry after cutting the secrets, but a village bumpkin dreaming of the academy meets the Dragon of Misfortune. Great hook! Ah... but what about illustrations?"
And Yin Xia Lian just nodded calmly.
"Hm. I see."
I said to her,
"Chief Yin can't just sit there appreciating it."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"I was thinking on the way here."
"...I have a bad feeling."
"Submitting an application to the Righteous Martial Academy means he's resolved to live right, doesn't it?"
"And?"
"The entrance exam evaluates potential, but really, it's current skill that decides pass or fail. For example, would Chief Yin have passed the military exam last year?"
"No."
"But if Jang Seon's circumstances stay dire, he'll never get a shot."
"...Sounds like you want to create a scholarship fund?"
"Exactly."
In this era, they called scholarship foundations "hakbo."
I nodded and continued,
"It'd be good to gather graduating fourth-years who haven't decided on paths yet and run a pilot. What do you all think?"
The juniors all voiced approval.
All except one—Yin Xia Lian.
"W-Wait! The idea's fine, but..."
"But?"
"It needs startup funds—fine, say we solve that. How will you provide support? Partner with martial schools? Give goods directly? How do we get repayments later?"
"I came up with the idea, so you figure out the details, Chief Yin."
"???"
I left Yin Xia Lian looking dazed and opened the door to leave the Student Council room.
"Ahem. Then I'll go introduce Jang Seon somewhere. Tell Chief Zhuge I stopped by when she arrives. Oh, Chief Yin."
"What now!"
"I'm putting Jang Seon up at the Dan River Best Inn. Got time to teach him some letters?"
At my words, Yin Xia Lian shrieked,
"Do I?!"
But soon she sighed faintly and said,
"There are seniors staying over break to help out. I'll send some."
"Knew I could count on Chief Yin."
"...I really hate you."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ On the way from the Student Council room to the Faculty Research Building, I said to Jang Seon,
"Seon-ah?"
"Yes?"
"I've only shown you me bossing people around... It's not always like this?"
At my words, Master spoke as if it was absurd.
-...Mostly. Always. Every time. Isn't it?
'...What are you saying, Master?'
-?
'We're training them strong so they don't die in chaotic times, and working hard! How can you compare me—who stuffs the kids' mouths whenever something good comes up—to Jang Seon's uncle?'
-I didn't say that. Feeling guilty for no reason?
Just then, Jang Seon spoke up.
"I liked it."
"Huh? What?"
"Seeing you with your peers. The moment you entered the council room, their eyes lit up with genuine welcome. I only caught half of what you said to that Yin Xia Lian sister, but... even if it looked like bickering, I could feel the trust between you."
"...Khm. Really?"
"Yes. I kinda get why you told me to come to the academy first."
'Master, you hear that?'
-...I don't know if I'm the weird one now or if all the weirdos just flock to you.
We arrived at Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong's lab.
'Wind and Dust Swordsman Jeong Geuk-gyeong.'
Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong hailed from the Hainan Sect.
If Kunlun was the first barrier against the Demonic Cult, Hainan was the bulwark against sea raiders and pirates.
'Practical, and their swordsmanship wields mighty strikes with minimal internal energy—perfect for Jang Seon, as shown in the original work.'
I promptly announced myself.
"Professor, it's Eon Yong-un."
"Oh. Come in."
Entering, Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong grinned and cracked a scary joke.
"What brings a busy man here? Finally decided to become my grad student?"
I changed the subject right away.
"You look busy yourself, Professor."
"What class do I teach?"
"Rivers and Lakes Life Almanac."
"To teach it properly, don't I need to see the world with my own eyes? Soon as final grading and appeals are done, I'm off wandering the jianghu. So if not grad school business, what's up?"
"I wanted to introduce this guy."
"Hm?"
I gently pushed Jang Seon toward Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong and spoke.
"While screening applicants with shady ties who skipped the entrance exam—worried they might be Demonic Cult plants—I found this fellow."
The professor's gaze shifted to Jang Seon at my words.
I finished what I'd planned to say.
"Met him in Yangyang. Good heart, and talent for martial arts. Especially suits the Hainan Sect's style."
Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong, ever the wanderer, sized up Jang Seon's life at a glance.
"Hm. Sturdy build. But posture says no formal training, and sun-baked skin with worry lines screams farmwork. Suits Hainan style, you say..."
"May I say something?"
"Yes?"
"I'm convinced this kid could become a better fit for your grad program than even I would."
Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong looked utterly baffled.
As he said, bringing an untrained boy and saying this—naturally unbelievable.
Jang Seon looked equally stunned, his face screaming 'Me?!'
But knowing how much Jang Seon would shine later, I spoke with full conviction.
'If we properly train Jang Seon, he'll be a solid asset for us.'
Even unawakened, Jang Seon was strong.
What heights would he reach with a proper master from the start?
Above all, he'd be a wildcard the Demonic Cult never saw coming.
'No rule says only the Demonic Cult can hide their weapons.'
As I wore a confident expression, Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong finally spoke after a silence.
"Anyone else's recommendation, and I'd take it as an insult belittling Hainan. But it's Cadet Eon Yong-un... Fine, let's see. To the training ground."
"Yes, thank you."
I followed the professor, shoving along Jang Seon who still looked shell-shocked.
A surefire moonshot coin.
Couldn't pass this up.