Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Nangong Family (2)
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Nangong Chan, the Vast Heaven Divine Lord.
News of his visit to So-ho had drawn crowds lining the streets.
The Sword Saint.
He was one of the top three swordsmen in the current martial world, a giant among them.
Even catching a distant glimpse of him was an honor, and the roads were packed with people like mountains and seas.
Buzz. Buzz.
How much time had passed?
The moment a white carriage emblazoned with the Nangong Family crest appeared atop the hill...
"Waaaaah!"
"Waaaaah!"
Cheers erupted simultaneously from the crowds lining both sides of the road.
Not just martial artists—even merchants and ordinary housewives raised their hands in celebration.
They cheered for the arrival of the Nangong Family and the Vast Heaven Divine Lord.
In truth, such receptions were commonplace for Nangong Chan.
Ten years ago, before entering secluded training, he had shaken the world by slaying countless villains.
Those who remembered even fragments of that time shouted joyfully at the Sword Saint's return.
"Whoa! I can see the end of the carriage train!"
"The Vast Heaven Divine Lord really emerged from seclusion."
"Now the Black Dao scum will be trembling in fear, huh?"
Unlike commoners who only recalled his name as a symbol of justice, the martial folk focused elsewhere.
"With the Divine Lord's fame so high, the current family head must have it rough."
"It's not just anyone—escaping the Sword Saint's shadow."
"I wonder if the present head can truly succeed the Sword Saint."
Amid the endless cheers and attention, the splendid carriage procession and the trailing Vast Heaven Hundred Swords Brigade halted before the Mystical Array Gate.
This was the place chosen for the Vast Heaven Divine Lord's first public appearance after seclusion.
Clunk.
As one member of the Vast Heaven Hundred Swords Brigade opened the carriage door, a burly middle-aged man stepped out.
"Go on. You are the head of the Nangong Family."
Straight and imposing.
The onlookers' eyes filled with awe as Nangong Mu-san entered without hesitation.
"As expected of the Nangong Family head."
"His presence is incomparable."
"Heh heh. The Nangong Family's glory endures."
No one gathered there could remain unmoved by his suffocating aura.
The man leading the current Nangong Family.
The sole inheritor of the secret ultimate art 'Imperial Sword Forms,' exclusive to the family head.
The sword hero poised to follow the Sword Saint, a master of the world.
Even without titles, his thick, impenetrable pressure—fitting for one just entering middle age—overwhelmed all.
- I am the head of the Nangong Family.
It felt like a bold declaration.
"Gulp."
Faced with him, people instinctively shrank back in admiration, unable to tear their eyes away.
"I am Nangong Mu-san."
Even his low whisper rang clearly in their ears, snapping people back to reality as they hastily cupped their fists in salute.
"We greet the Nangong Family Head."
"We greet the Nangong Family Head!"
Meanwhile, a scant few experts peered beyond him at a sturdy elderly man.
Clearly the strongest here, yet drawing no attention.
Following silently behind the head, he evoked the hazy sensation of gazing into mist.
Nangong Chan, the Vast Heaven Divine Lord.
The veteran experts who remembered his past glory let out sighs of admiration.
"His presence is perfectly restrained."
"Even I can't sense his aura while looking right at him."
"They say true mastery leads to the realm of nothingness— this must be it."
"As expected of the Sword Saint. The entire martial world will be stunned."
Nangong Chan, who had been quietly trailing Nangong Mu-san, paused and glanced toward one spot.
Moyong Ju and Baek Ri-seon-ho, dragged out suddenly after the welcoming banquet, exchanged glances.
[Tch. Called out even for something this trivial—it's undignified.]
[It's from the Inspection Department. What choice do we have? At least be grateful it's welcoming the Sword Saint, not someone else.]
[Normally, we'd meet over tea in comfort.]
As elders of the Ten Great Families, joining the novice crowd for the welcome was infuriating.
And this welcoming event was purely in the Divine Martial Academy style—brutally rigid.
[Making people stand under the blazing sun two hours early just because a superior's coming? Ridiculous.]
[...I didn't realize during the briefing, but it's quite grueling.]
[I can endure that much.]
Moyong Ju sighed.
[I can take everything else, but clapping neatly and chanting 'Welcome!' three times in unison? What is that?]
Utterly foolish.
[And the diaphragmatic breathing shouts every time the flags go up— that's weird too.]
The Divine Martial Academy's standards were oddly off.
The more they experienced, the stranger it felt.
Moyong Ju's lament deepened.
[If only we'd at least met that instructor Chu Un-hwi.]
Unable to see the one they came for, saddled with chores instead— it burned inside.
[But we did see your granddaughter, right?]
"Indeed. Damn it. My precious granddaughter deploying Floating Steps!"
As Moyong Ju gnashed his teeth, forgetting telepathy...
Dong dong dong dong.
An instructor at the main gate began pounding the drum fiercely.
The signal that the Nangong Family procession had arrived.
Flutter! Flutter!
Flags rustled loudly next, and the two halted their talk, swiftly clasping hands behind their backs.
Then...
"Welcome!"
"Welcome!"
"Welcome!"
They chanted in unison.
Practice had made it flawless.
But doing it felt embarrassing.
'No one saw, right?'
They hoped to blend into the massive crowd, but alas—their foe was the Sword Saint.
A sly glance.
The corners of eyes crinkling with amusement, then telepathy arrived.
[Heh heh. What brings pillars of the families to a place like this?]
Caught.
Turning, Baek Ri-seon-ho's face was flushed too.
'Heh. Sent telepathy to both of us at once?'
Pinpointing them amid the horde from afar was impressive enough, but striking two targets simultaneously was a league beyond.
'Gulp. His internal energy control has reached otherworldly heights.'
Swallowing dryly, another transmission came.
[Never dreamed elders of the Ten Great Families would come to greet us.]
[Th-there were circumstances.]
[Your synchronized clapping chant was quite striking.]
He'd seen it after all.
Hiding among countless instructors and students couldn't fool the Sword Saint's senses.
Masking hot cheeks, Baek Ri-seon-ho sent back a transmission.
His lower energy made it laborious—lips twitching to project his voice fifteen paces away.
[Was your journey smooth?]
A polite nicety.
With the Nangong Family and Sword Saint together, troubles were unlikely.
But the unexpected reply was peculiar.
[Smooth? No, I discovered a few amusing things.]
Amusing...?]
What could intrigue one so devoted solely to martial arts?
[You haven't noticed? Still too early, it seems.]
Yet he offered no explanation, smiling as he followed Nangong Mu-san beyond the pavilions and vanished.
Only then did Moyong Ju exhale heavily.
"He's grown even stronger."
"Indeed. It seems Nangong Family will bear the title of world's foremost house into the next generation."
The two shook their heads ruefully.
Creeak. Creeeak.
As Nangong Yun-ho stepped across the creaky floorboards, he sensed someone in the darkness ahead.
He had just moved to the servants' quarters after meeting Nangong Yong-ho.
'Someone coming here...'
As expected, the visitor was who he anticipated.
"It's been a while, Yun-ho."
"Uncle."
Nangong Yun-ho paused briefly, steadied his breath, and offered a light nod.
"Have you been well?"
"I've lacked for nothing."
"Lacking nothing while staying in the servants' quarters..."
At the subtle jab, Nangong Yun-ho replied.
"I requested the change myself. I wanted no uninvited guests."
"Am I an uninvited guest?"
"Servants' quarters are shabby and worn—no finely dressed folk come, so it's quiet."
It sounded evasive, but the barb cut deep.
'Well, no wonder. Brother wouldn't visit hearing he's holed up here.'
His brother obsessed over decorum and status.
He wouldn't risk embarrassment by coming to such a lowly place.
Seeing it anew, Nangong Yun-ho seemed different.
'Sharp-witted. Didn't know he had this side.'
Suppressing inner admiration, Nangong Il-jun got to the point.
"The family head wishes to see you."
"The family head. As an outsider who left the clan, I see no reason to meet the family head."
"Got cocky and now you ignore even your father's call?"
"A father's call? I'd heed as blood kin. But a formal clan matter? No reason for an outsider to attend."
"What if your father and grandfather wish to see you?"
"I'm narrow-minded and act on whims. For now, I don't wish to see them. I'll visit when my mood lifts."
Craftily worded.
'Wait till your mood lifts? When might that be?'
Yet he couldn't fault the self-deprecating tone or twist it against him.
Public and private were clear, his courtesy unwavering—no room for anger.
'In short, this petty soul doesn't want to go, so come if you will.'
But decorum-obsessed folk wouldn't stoop to this hovel easily.
'What now.'
Caught in a dilemma, Nangong Il-jun opted for persuasion.
"Think carefully. Meeting them is a golden opportunity for you."
The clan is your home.
Wouldn't it be beautiful to join kin in upholding the family?
Return, and you'd have martial manuals and elixirs aplenty.
After much explanation, the darkness yielded only a calm smile.
Nangong Il-jun realized.
'I was wrong.'
He could guess why.
"Is it because of Instructor Chu Un-hwi?"
"Before learning martial manuals, I first learned righteousness and chivalry."
Repay favors received, forgive enemies— that's what I was taught.
"I still have much to repay here."
Bow.
His massive frame bent politely in salute, leaving Nangong Il-jun biting his lip.
- If you had real talent, it would've shown long ago.
- A little success, and now even clan elders look laughable?
- Let's see how long you last without clan support.
Past words resurfaced, churning regret, admiration for his growth, and greed into turmoil.
Finally, fury and remorse erupted as a roar.
"You truly—!"
Thud thud thud thud!
But wood-paneled walls thumped from corridors nearby, forcing Nangong Il-jun to swallow his words.
Nangong Yun-ho smiled faintly.
"It's so shabby, the wooden walls are thin. Not a place for clan matters."
"Insolent whelp."
"Take care. I'm weary in body and mind— won't stray far."
"Hmph!"
S袖 flapping grandly, Nangong Il-jun vanished down the corridor.
"Phew."
As he sighed in relief...
Bang.
The door flew open, revealing an irritated woman.
"Young Master Nangong. Over?"
"Yes, thanks to you."
No sooner said than doors cracked open everywhere.
"Phew. Close call."
"Lucky we prepped."
Not just Moyong So-hye and Jegal Tan—even Dang Gan and Im So-jeong peeked out.
All comrades who'd aided this time.
"Whew. Instructor's wall-banging tip paid off."
"Good scheme, Tan."
"Eh, nothing much. But..."
Seemed a few more... As he muttered, twins approached from the hall.
"Ho-seung's asleep."
"Passed out already—couldn't wait."
"Haha."
Nangong Yun-ho laughed.
Either way, they'd weathered the storm. Somehow.