Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Entrance Ceremony (2)
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Eon Jeong-ung's question caused Eon Yong-un to clamp his mouth shut.
"……."
If it had been his younger brothers from the Eon family, who had recently overcome various crises and trials alongside Eon Yong-un, they would have thought, 'What is big brother pondering now?' and patiently waited for him to speak, no matter how long his silence lasted.
But it had been a long time since Eon Jeong-ung had faced Eon Yong-un like this.
No, it wasn't just a long time—it was so long he could barely remember.
Growing impatient, Eon Jeong-ung furrowed his brow.
'Ugh. I didn't mean to create this kind of atmosphere.'
Looking back now, after Eon Yong-un had turned seven or eight, all Eon Jeong-ung remembered was being consistently stern with him.
'The Madam was right after all.'
His wife, the Plum Blossom Madam, had called him heartless.
He scolded harshly for mistakes but never praised good deeds, leaving Eon Yong-un adrift.
Even then, he hadn't thought she was wrong.
But Eon Jeong-ung had his reasons.
Before being the father of one son, he was the Family Head of the Pearl Eon Family, responsible for the lives of all who depended on it.
And Eon Yong-un wasn't just any boy from an ordinary home—he was the heir to the Pearl Eon Family.
Moreover, the Pearl Eon Family currently faced numerous crises and challenges.
People in the world said that even so, it ranked among the top ten martial families when lining up the great houses of the land.
But in truth, it was barely holding together thanks to Eon Jeong-ung's own fame as the North of the River Fist Hero and the backing of the Shanxi Merchant House's precious gem, the Plum Blossom Madam.
They couldn't even guarantee the next generation.
So he lacked both mental and temporal leeway.
Yet Eon Yong-un's mishaps steadily eroded even that scant margin, forcing stern scoldings.
And eventually, he sold the family's secret manual, leaving no choice but to expel him from the family.
Even if time could be turned back, Eon Jeong-ung would make the same decision.
'That's what it means to be Family Head.'
But right now, Eon Jeong-ung wasn't sitting in the Single Sword Top-Quality Inn as the head of the Pearl Eon Family.
And rightly so—Eon Yong-un was no longer part of the Pearl Eon Family.
This inn was a space entirely rented out by Eon Yong-un and his so-called Eon brothers, whom he had taken in.
The only reason Eon Jeong-ung could be here was because he was Eon Yong-un's father.
"Hoo. On a day like this, in a place like this, no one would force me to wear the face of the Pearl Eon Family Head."
Paradoxically, because he had driven Eon Yong-un away, at this moment, he could return to being an ordinary father.
Not bothering to restrain his twitching lips, Eon Jeong-ung spoke.
"First, let's make one thing clear. Yong-un, you truly took first place, right?"
At Eon Jeong-ung's voice,
Eon Yong-un tilted his head, finally opening his tightly shut mouth.
"……? Weren't you there?"
Of course he was.
When Grandmaster Gyeong Hye, the chancellor of the Righteous Martial Academy, first called Eon Yong-un's name, he thought it was a mistake for Eon Yong-myeong and wondered if he should point it out.
When the son he had expelled walked to the front of the platform, he rubbed his eyes.
As Eon Yong-un recited the oath as representative, amid the bewilderment of 'What is that scoundrel doing?', something hot welled up in his chest.
If the martial world's notables and many promising youths hadn't been there, he might have danced for joy.
But after that moment passed, what remained in his mind was doubt.
"I... just can't believe it. You surpassing all those famed prodigies to claim top spot at the Righteous Martial Academy, and those Eon brothers saying they've been reborn because of you, that you saved their lives, bestowed favors, taught them so much... all of it."
He had seen it with his eyes and heard it with his ears, yet he couldn't believe it.
Though he didn't voice it, countless thoughts flashed through Eon Jeong-ung's mind.
'Was there some error in the grading process?'
Would academy staff burst through the inn door any moment, admitting a mistake?
Or was the whole world conspiring to fool him? Or maybe it was a dream. Thoughts like that.
As such thoughts crossed Eon Jeong-ung's mind,
Eon Yong-myeong, who understood his father's feelings to some extent, shook his head with a faint sigh and spoke.
"I watched almost all of big brother's entrance exam. At the end, Professor Je-gal Min even praised it as a perfect solution."
"Je-gal Min? That guy?!"
"Yes. And what big brother's friends said is all true. I confirmed the Silver Family story when news of big brother arrived at the family head's residence last time, and I saw Master Jeong-hyeon and Brother Wu myself. During the entrance exam, there were those who looked down on Master Jeong-hyeon's past or Brother Wu's origins, but big brother sheltered them."
"…Is that so. Hah. Even so, the Righteous Martial Academy's exam isn't something cleared in a short time... Doesn't that mean you've been hiding your strength and will all this time?! What have you been hiding, and since when? What circumstances couldn't you tell your father, mother, and brother?!"
Eon Yong-un didn't answer Eon Jeong-ung's question.
He had no choice.
He couldn't say things like 'before possession' or 'the original story'.
But around then, Eon Yong-myeong spoke again.
"Father. Won't big brother tell us when the time comes? We can't reverse the decision to send him away from the family anyway, and when I asked before, he said he has no intention of returning 'for now'. So how about we just celebrate today?"
Eon Yong-myeong's words stabbed at Eon Jeong-ung's lungs.
Though phrased gently, it meant they had no right to ask such questions.
He was right.
Strip away the title of Pearl Eon Family Head from Eon Jeong-ung's name, and what remained was not just an ordinary father, but a guilty one.
"Ahem. Ahem. I see. Understood. I'll do that."
But there was hope.
'For now' implied 'someday'.
"Hoo."
Letting out a short, deep sigh, Eon Jeong-ung gazed at his sore finger and spoke.
"Yong-un."
"Yes, Father."
"The day I expelled you, I asked if you had more to say. But now, thinking back, I realize I had no desire to hear you out. Not knowing the circumstances, I'll apologize blanketly first. I'll wait for the day you open up. And..."
"Yes?"
"…You did well."
Cock-a-doodle-doo—
The next morning.
I began my morning training as usual.
After warming up, circulating internal energy, sprinting at full speed, refining qi through meditation, and going through each step in order, I thought I'd wrap up with a refreshing round of tree-punching by the well.
That's when Master sent a message my way.
- Aren't you skipping morning training today?
'…When did I say that?'
- I clearly said so. Your brothers believed it and didn't come out.
'…Ah. Come to think of it, I did say something like that.'
It was such a good day, and everyone guzzled the liquor Eon Jeong-ung brought without refusal, getting so wasted that I said something along those lines.
But I didn't say no training at all.
'Recall that properly, Master. I didn't say no training. I said those who want to rest can rest.'
- …Isn't that the same?
'Totally different. Wow, I didn't expect not a single one to show up. Hah. This won't do—I need to retrain their mental discipline! Do they think resting means really slacking off? Does getting into the academy end dorm life?! Hah, this is something even I couldn't imagine. Argh!!'
- …If you say rest, they should rest. Even in my day, when Master said rest, we rested. When was your 'my day'?! From yesterday, it seems you were the world's biggest wastrel back in the family?!
At Master's words, I suddenly recalled last night, when only the Eon trio remained, toasting with drinks.
'…….'
Meeting Eon Jeong-ung and Yong-myeong after so long.
Honestly, it was awkward.
But not bad.
'A bit ticklish, though.'
Bonds with family were something I'd had little connection to across my past life.
Thanks to my scoundrel past, the awkward father-son relationship wasn't strange to see, and Eon Jeong-ung and Eon Yong-myeong trusted me solely on family ties.
I didn't fully understand those feelings, but they didn't feel bad.
'Someday, with Eon Jeong-ung—no, Father... we can talk more openly.'
Not right now, but as I unfold more of Eon Yong-un's story, I'll understand him better, and he'll understand me.
Anyway, last night is last night.
Now, prepare to move forward.
'Time to seriously decide which dormitory to enter.'
That was when.
Having finished morning training, wiped sweat, punched the tree, and about to ponder my future seriously.
The unannounced past charged at me.
"Yong-un! You bastard!!!"
Not an unfamiliar face.
Judging by the man who watched the entrance ceremony beside my father and his resemblance to Professor Pang Jae-hyeok, I could guess who this middle-aged man charging like a water buffalo with a massive sword was.
'Pang Mu-hyeok, head of the North of the River Pang Family.'
But no time to confirm.
Pang Mu-hyeok's sword swung wildly.
Swaeek!!!
He held it blade-backward.
But death doesn't always come from deep cuts. It can be from forgotten blows, poison, or blunt force.
Pang Mu-hyeok's strike was plenty the latter.
'If I take that head-on, I'll be mincemeat.'
Sring!
I hurriedly drew Regret.
Lightning-fast, I diagonally unleashed the Heaven-Splitting Whirlwind form to block his descending sword.
Cclang—!!!!!!
Even blocking properly, the impact rattled my bones.
Impressive power, but no time to admire.
- Fierce Tiger Emerging from the Forest. The Pang Family's Five Tigers Short Gate Sword.
'Looks like it?!'
I halted all thoughts, focusing solely on Pang Mu-hyeok's blade.
Busily unfolding sword strikes, I retreated.
Clang-clang-clang!!
Thus barely parrying his barrage.
But this wasn't a permanent solution.
'Even without sword aura, my bones and joints scream.'
The swordsman before me was a bit too much for my current self.
'If only he'd calm down.'
My sword lacked the physical persuasion to settle him yet.
Then.
Chaeeng!!!!
An azure blade and crimson flat—the so-called Azure Crimson Sword—wedged between me and Pang Mu-hyeok.
And began persuading him with immense force.
Clang! Clang-clang-clang!!
The wielder was definitely someone I knew.
'Gong Son-mu-gyeol?'
The man who awarded Jeong-hyeon the Murim Alliance Lord's commendation at the entrance ceremony.
The Murim Alliance Lord.
"What brings the Alliance Lord here?"
"And why is Senior Pang tormenting the sprouts of the white path martial world?"
My words!
Why is that Pang guy acting up!
And why is Gong guy jumping in there?!