Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Seo Moon Family Young Lord 4
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The day after a day filled with so many incidents.
Seo Moon Dan-cheon had come alone to Seo Moon-geuk's lodgings and was nagging his younger brother over tea.
"Younger brother."
"Yes."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon stared silently at Seo Moon-geuk for a moment, then pointed to the tea and said,
"Drink."
"Yes."
Before Seo Moon-geuk could even swallow a sip down his throat, Seo Moon Dan-cheon's words continued.
"Baek Moo-jin, was it? He was pretty fast."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon didn't think highly of his lightness skill, since Baek Moo-jin had bolted off quite flashily right in front of him.
Seo Moon-geuk had already anticipated that his prideful older brother would ask about Baek Moo-jin, so he answered right away on purpose.
"Yes. He was fast."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon immediately struck at the core.
"Shouldn't you explain who he is? He seemed pretty friendly with you."
Seo Moon-geuk nodded and explained.
"We joined the alliance on the same day. He's twenty-two this year, a swordsman from the Snow Mountain Baek Family."
"Snow Mountain Baek Family? So that still exists?"
"Yes. Anyway, he's their patriarch."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon frowned slightly and asked,
"Patriarch? Why would a patriarch work here as an alliance member?"
"That's what I said."
When Seo Moon-geuk drew a line as if he had no idea either, Seo Moon Dan-cheon shot him a displeased look.
Seo Moon-geuk figured this was exactly why things were bad between him and his brother. If something piqued his curiosity, Seo Moon-geuk investigated it himself. It was fun, intriguing, exhilarating—guessing, deducing, uncovering the truth. But Seo Moon Dan-cheon always delegated to others. And whenever he reported back, it just meant more work.
'Find out. Investigate. Dig deeper and report.'
Seo Moon-geuk was utterly fed up with those phrases.
Half the reason he'd left the family to come to the North Heaven Alliance was the man staring at him right now: Seo Moon Dan-cheon.
As Seo Moon-geuk let out a low sigh, sure enough, his brother said exactly what he always did.
"Dig into it more thoroughly."
"Pardon? That's all there is."
Even when Seo Moon-geuk investigated on his own and reported back, there were always issues. Seo Moon Dan-cheon had a habit of twisting the contents of the report. Investigating personally and judging secondhand were two entirely different things—especially for someone like his brother, who cherry-picked whatever fit his beliefs.
Seo Moon Dan-cheon clicked his tongue.
"Why a patriarch would personally serve as an alliance member in a place like this."
Seo Moon-geuk's tone was growing steadily chillier.
"He probably came for the experience. Their house seems to be in steep decline."
"Isn't that just your guess?"
"Yes."
"Not your guess."
Seo Moon-geuk sighed and said,
"Why don't you look into it yourself for once instead of always..."
Just as Seo Moon-geuk's irritation was about to boil over, Baek Moo-jin emerged from the back of the main hall, looking impeccably neat.
The Seo Moon brothers fell silent and turned to him.
2.
The stifling air in the main hall seemed to vanish like mist before a cool breeze the instant Baek Moo-jin appeared. Seo Moon-geuk said flatly,
"You're here."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon eyed Baek Moo-jin, who offered a light greeting.
"Young Lord."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon brought up yesterday.
"Baek Warrior, come on in. So, did you handle that urgent business of yours?"
He grinned as he spoke.
'You think I don't know you ran off on purpose?'
Baek Moo-jin caught Seo Moon-geuk's awkward expression and grasped the mood immediately. He nodded and replied quietly,
"Fortunately. Yes, I took care of it."
"What was so urgent?"
Baek Moo-jin glared inwardly at Seo Moon Dan-cheon.
'Do you think I'm one of your lackeys? Are all the young masters of great families such pricks?'
Seo Moon Dan-cheon looked like he was waiting for whatever excuse Baek Moo-jin might spin. Reading the intent in his eyes, Baek Moo-jin smirked and spoke plainly.
"The Alliance Leader was worn out dealing with two division leaders at once."
"Hm? What does that have to do with anything?"
"You seemed overflowing with confidence in your lightness skill, Young Lord, so I stepped up on purpose. Didn't you know? No way you didn't."
Baek Moo-jin laid it out straight, no sugarcoating. Seo Moon Dan-cheon looked faintly flustered instead.
"Ah, so that's..."
Baek Moo-jin cut him off.
"Yes. That's exactly it."
"Honest, aren't you."
Baek Moo-jin nodded.
"That's how I am. Are you honest too, Young Lord?"
"I am."
But the moment the words left Seo Moon Dan-cheon's mouth, Seo Moon-geuk closed his eyes for a beat.
'What a clown.'
Then something fortunate happened for Seo Moon Dan-cheon. An Execution Hall warrior entered and immediately sought out Baek Moo-jin.
"Baek Warrior? Ah, there you are. The Alliance Leader's looking for you."
"I'll go."
Baek Moo-jin nodded, his gaze fixed on Seo Moon Dan-cheon. Oblivious to Baek Moo-jin's sour expression today, the warrior cheerfully added,
"Hurry up. Looks like the Alliance Leader's prepared a gift."
Baek Moo-jin just nodded blankly.
Seo Moon-geuk read his face and knew exactly what he'd intended.
'He came out here to pick a fight with my brother on purpose. A disgrace to the Seo Moon Family.'
Under Baek Moo-jin's steady stare, Seo Moon Dan-cheon felt a primal tension and nearly circulated his internal energy before catching himself.
Baek Moo-jin had prodded his ki deliberately. Seeing the flicker of fluster, Baek Moo-jin flashed a thin smile at the pair.
"Then, you two carry on."
Seo Moon-geuk thought Baek Moo-jin was letting loose icy gusts today. Uncomfortable as his brother might be, though. No one understood Baek Moo-jin's feelings better than Seo Moon-geuk. Still, if the Seo Moon Family Young Lord lost to him, it'd shame the whole house—hardly a relief for Seo Moon-geuk either.
Oblivious to his brother's turmoil, Seo Moon Dan-cheon scoffed once Baek Moo-jin was gone.
"That... awfully cocky bastard."
Seo Moon-geuk, past giving a damn, nodded.
"He is. Cocky as hell. But he's got the skill to match."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon eyed him.
"Skill remains to be seen. Anyway, it's been ages since I met anyone cockier than you."
Already seething inside, Seo Moon-geuk nodded gravely and fired back.
"Never dreamed anyone cockier than you existed, brother."
"Right... but this little shit, in the meantime."
Seo Moon-geuk clicked his tongue.
"Brother, mind your dignity as the Seo Moon Family Young Lord. Who the hell is this punk? Save that for home—this is the North Heaven Alliance. Ears everywhere."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon chuckled.
"Haha, you've grown bold. Drop the crap—let's have a drink for old times' sake till Baek Moo-jin gets back. Plenty to catch up on. Go fetch a servant."
"Booze is banned in the alliance."
"I'm a guest. It's fine."
"Then drink alone, guest."
As Seo Moon-geuk kept pushing back, Seo Moon Dan-cheon shut his eyes and tilted his head skyward.
Seo Moon-geuk clicked his tongue at the familiar pose.
When they were kids, that would've ended with a smack to the back of his head. But if brother pulled that crap here, Seo Moon-geuk was ready to clap back.
Seo Moon Dan-cheon was a pain in the ass of a brother, not a frightening one.
The only person Seo Moon-geuk truly feared in this world was the Seo Moon Family Patriarch.
But Seo Moon Dan-cheon reined in his temper, opened his eyes, and said,
"North Heaven Alliance it is—I'll hold back. Anyway, Baek Moo-jin needs a proper thrashing."
Seo Moon-geuk smirked.
"Why?"
"Why? What do you think Father and I came here for?"
Seo Moon-geuk's face hardened at his words.
"Father's coming too?"
"Said he'll arrive soon. Look at this alliance's state. Leave it be, and Nine Heavens swallows it whole. Once they bulk up, our turf gets squeezed. We're here to help. Negotiations, of course."
He grinned as he spoke.
Seo Moon-geuk nodded.
"Good. Father's a master negotiator. But what does that have to do with you thrashing Baek Moo-jin?"
Seo Moon Dan-cheon replied with brazen shamelessness.
"Hmph, does the Seo Moon Family need reasons? I'm pissed—that's reason enough. Think Goo Yang'll turn down our aid if I school Baek Moo-jin? Gotta show who's on top. Can't challenge the Alliance Leader outright."
Seo Moon-geuk gave a few perfunctory claps at the pathetic scheme.
"Classic you, brother! But hear some loyal advice from your little brother?"
Seo Moon Dan-cheon tsked.
"You? Loyal? If so, you wouldn't be slumming it here as an alliance grunt for 'experience.'"
As he sneered, Seo Moon-geuk mirrored the expression perfectly.
"Thrashing Baek Moo-jin? Fine by me. Leave it to Father."
For a split second, it looked like a fist might fly—Seo Moon-geuk shot to his feet and added,
"Sincere advice from your little brother."
But Seo Moon Dan-cheon just sneered coolly.
"Forgot who I am?"
Seo Moon-geuk echoed Baek Moo-jin.
"Young Lord of the great Seo Moon Family, right?"
"And...? Anyone here besides Goo Yang who can take me? Or did skirt-chasing dull your edge completely?"
"Chasing skirts keeps my edge sharp. Saying this 'cause I've crossed blades with Baek Moo-jin myself."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon tsked.
"Plenty at your level swarming this place."
"Do what you want. I've warned you. Don't whine nonsense to Father."
Seo Moon Dan-cheon stared at him like he'd lost his mind and snorted.
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