Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Chapter 16: Unexpected Home Visit (5)
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"What should we do?"
"How about setting up a decent trap and luring them in?"
"Should we just erase them without a trace?"
"Wouldn't it cause less of a stir if they simply vanished from the world rather than turning up as corpses?"
"That's true, but..."
It still didn't sit right.
'Even if the instructors go missing, that's going to be a problem.'
Considering the righteous Murim world that was ready to blow up over even the smallest incidents lately, it was only natural.
'Isn't there another way?'
Fortunately, a good memory from not long ago came to mind.
"What if we do it this way?"
"Is there another method?"
"Yul-ah. Have you heard of the Hidden Moon Flying Thief?"
Dokgo Yul nodded without the slightest hesitation.
"Yes. A thief from the unorthodox sects, right? I hear he's incredibly elusive, with exceptional personal martial prowess... but why bring up the Hidden Moon Flying Thief all of a sudden?"
"Seems like he's in the area. What if we use him as a pawn?"
"If we put the Hidden Moon Flying Thief out front and manipulate things from behind... That's a good plan. Is the information reliable?"
"I heard it from the Hao Gate."
Dokgo Yul's face, which had been coldly calculating until moments ago, crumpled in disappointment.
"Didn't you say you weren't going to get involved in the jianghu? And yet you handled the Hao Gate on your own? Are you saying you started your conquest of the jianghu solo? That's too much. I'm hurt, my lord."
"I told you that's not it."
Why does he keep saying I 'handled' it?
Anyone would think the righteous Murim was some neighborhood eatery.
After a lengthy explanation, Dokgo Yul, who had been grumbling, finally reached a conclusion.
"Rather than vanishing into thin air out of nowhere, retiring after getting beaten by an unorthodox thief would shut down the rumors."
"Yeah. And it'd be even more humiliating."
Even dogs give ground in their own homes.
Masters bigger and smarter than dogs yield several times more.
But getting taken down by a single thief right in their front yard by multiple masters?
If a scandal like that broke, they'd be the ones in hot water. The Murim Alliance and Divine Martial Academy would surely try to cover it up instead.
"However, the thief's skills might fall a bit short."
"Don't worry about that."
Dokgo Yul nodded heartily.
"Excellent plan. The righteous Murim is currently obsessed with rooting out traitors. They won't have the bandwidth to care about some unorthodox thief."
"Right?"
"And there's one more benefit."
As expected of Sima Yul.
He had spotted an advantage even the one who proposed it hadn't considered.
"Silver Hall is always short-staffed. What if another vacancy opens up there?"
"Heh heh heh heh."
"Heh heh heh heh."
The two exchanged sinister grins.
It was happening in a quiet clearing of Bronze Hall, the cradle of the righteous factions.
Nangong Yun-ho had to steady his shaking heart by regulating his breathing over and over.
Even the slightest lapse in focus felt like it would bring tears bursting out.
Today was the same. His uncle had dropped by.
And unleashed a torrent of vicious insults.
"If you truly had talent, it would've shown by now."
"Achieving some minor success and now even the family elders look like fools to you?"
"How long do you think you can hold out without the family's support?"
The endless barrage of criticism was gnawing away at his heart bit by bit.
But it was okay.
He was used to fingers pointing instead of cheers.
As always, he thought if he endured the heartbreak, it would pass.
But this time was different.
"Fine. If you're going to be this stubborn, I won't hold back."
"If you keep blocking the path for the family and your younger brother..."
"You'll have to bear the consequences accordingly."
Nangong Il-jun cursed him relentlessly.
To the point where he questioned if they were even family.
He could no longer maintain his composure.
"Why... just why."
He had finally found his path.
Even his modest talent had begun to bloom.
Why did the world have to be so harsh to him?
It wasn't that he begrudged giving his share to his younger brother.
From childhood, their differing talents had been reason enough for neglect, unlike his brother's.
He had grown accustomed to that too.
The best sword went to his brother.
Rare spiritual herbs for the body? Yielded to his brother.
Delicacies? Fed to his brother first.
It was only natural that precious things went to his brother first.
What trickled down to him were scraps. Barely enough to quench his thirst, but he accepted it as natural.
'I have no talent.'
That's just how it is.
- The clothes of a grown brother go to the late-blooming child.
- It hurts, but there's no choice. It's natural.
- I'm the older brother, right? It's proper to yield to my younger sibling.
There was just one belief he held onto.
'Someday, if I grow too, I'll receive the same good treatment.'
Forgotten due to weak talent—if he could just show his talent, the family would welcome him warmly again.
But that was an illusion.
His uncle, whom he hadn't seen in ages, offered no congratulations on his growth. Instead, he kept shaking his resolve.
'I was simply forgotten.'
It wasn't about yielding.
There had been no other choice for him but to yield.
'I can never be like my brother.'
Resentment and bitterness swirled into a lump in his chest.
But what terrified him most was...
"Instructor Chu Un-hwi, was it?"
Nangong Il-jun's sharp hostility aimed at his instructor.
The family, showing interest in him for the first and last time.
Handing him something most precious.
And now, they were starting to hate that very person.
Going beyond scorning him, they sought to steal even his last shining treasure.
That hostility toward him was tainting even those around him.
With his long-held faith shattered and only despair left, Nangong Yun-ho murmured to himself.
"What should I do?"
Having chased childish dreams into adulthood, he didn't know how to face the world's cruelty.
He had no idea how to counter the adults' malice, sharper than any sword or insult.
His heart was gradually turning black.
"You okay?"
Turning his head, he saw Jegal Tan standing beside him.
He had been so lost in thought he hadn't even noticed the approach.
"Ah. Yeah. Probably."
"You look pale. How about heading back and resting for today?"
A warm hand on his forehead eased his mind a little. Because of that, he realized his worries were draining his energy.
"...Yeah, I guess so. I'm feeling a bit worn out too."
"Instead of brooding alone, why not talk it out with someone? Even an instructor would listen, even if annoyed."
Instructor...
Surely he would.
Like a child swallowing bitter medicine, he'd grimace but listen kindly.
But consulting him was impossible.
'What would I even say?'
The instructor who had devoted himself to him until now.
Should he tell him that his family, who disliked him, was targeting the instructor?
That he might retaliate, so be careful?
That he might be in danger, but he stubbornly wanted to stay and keep learning from him?
'I can't tell him.'
Watching Nangong Yun-ho's ever-changing expression, Jegal Tan frowned.
'Tch.'
Knowing his friend well, Jegal Tan could read Nangong Yun-ho's inner turmoil.
'To think someone like the South Heaven Sword would stoop to such pettiness.'
He had personally overheard Nangong Il-jun's venomous tirade just moments ago.
The man hadn't even hidden it.
'He practically wanted me to hear.'
It was a warning.
A brutal warning to prepare himself if he didn't obey.
The exhausted Nangong Yun-ho let out a long sigh as he sheathed his sword.
"I think I need some time alone to think. I'll go for a walk."
"Yun-ho. How about stepping aside for now? If you're not here, your uncle won't bother coming back."
"Knowing my uncle's personality, he'll just turn his eyes to those around me. I should handle my own affairs."
"Such a frustrating friend."
"See you."
Jegal Tan's eyes filled with pity as he watched Nangong Yun-ho stagger away from the training ground.
"Hoo. At least my situation is tolerable."
As he worried over his friend's increasingly expressionless face, an incomprehensible voice came from nearby.
"What pointless worrying. We just need to trust the instructor."
"Miss Baek Ri-seol. The South Heaven Sword is a powerhouse of the Nangong Family and a major figure in the jianghu. Even an instructor can't take him lightly."
"Who knows."
It was a valid point, but atop Baek Ri-seol's blank expression was a sneer.
"Isn't that underestimating the instructor too much?"
"I'm more curious about the basis for your faith, Miss Baek Ri-seol."
"Hee hee. Can't tell you. It's our little secret."
"Not mistaking your delusions for reality, are you?"
"Oh my. A failing student from Silver Hall, and now you know how to bark. But are your eyes and ears far away? You see but don't perceive, hear but don't listen."
"Miss Baek Ri-seol. You really..."
"Ah wa wa wa wa!"
Moyong So-hye jumped between the two glaring coldly at each other.
"This isn't the time to fight."
"Hmph!"
"Tch!"
The two turned away, shaking off their sleeves.
"I'm heading back for today."
"Not in the mood for training."
Moyong So-hye made a troubled face as she watched the two walk off coldly in opposite directions.
But she had no idea whose side to take.
'Brother Jegal is steeped in [worry], [anxiety], [scheming], [insight].'
Even as he walked away, he was fretting over Brother Nangong and devising endless plans.
'But Sister's words aren't wrong either.'
The emotions floating around Baek Ri-seol were [admiration], [affection], [blind faith], [awe].
Especially [blind faith] and [awe] were astonishing.
Blind faith was trust so absolute it blinded one.
Awe was a mix of fear and reverent belief.
Emotions rarely seen even in devout Taoists or Buddhists.
And to sense not one, but two of them—it was a first.
'What did Sister see in the instructor?'
What could make her view even the South Heaven Sword as mere dust?
"Does the instructor really have something special?"
If so, maybe she should ask for help.
"I need to use this parent-teacher meeting."
Recalling the upcoming visitation day, Moyong So-hye clenched her fist.