Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: S3. Learning from the Past: Reform
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Envers awoke in the Namgung Clan's medical hall. The jiangshi's poison had been completely neutralized, and his minor scratches were bandaged and treated.
The physician's assistant warned him to avoid strenuous activity for a while, just in case any toxins lingered. Envers gave a vague acknowledgment and left the medical hall.
The atmosphere inside the Namgung Clan was fiercely tense and chaotic.
It was only natural. Even if it was the middle of the night, they'd been openly attacked at a birthday banquet full of guests. Several warriors had died.
He grabbed a passing maid and asked. She said the family head and the elders had been in meetings all day.
One faction insisted on tracking down and killing the culprits no matter what, while the other argued for caution since there was no evidence left. They were divided and caught in endless arguments.
As Envers wandered the clan grounds in a daze, he spotted Namgung Seung-ah huddled against a wall, knees drawn up.
He asked quietly.
"...What happened to Myeong?"
"Thankfully, his life isn't in danger. But..."
His dantian was almost completely destroyed and wouldn't function properly anymore. That's what the diagnosis was.
No matter how hard he tried, there were limits to external martial arts alone. It would be best to give up the path of a warrior, they'd told him. Namgung Seung-ah was in tears.
When he asked why she was crying.
"Myeong... didn't cry. He was worried about me, even said that since he enjoyed buying and selling things anyway, he'd learn to be a merchant and help the clan."
That young boy was hiding his disappointment and not shedding a tear.
"Shouldn't I cry for him...?"
"......"
Yeah, probably.
His head felt foggy, like it was shrouded in mist.
Envers wandered as if entranced until he found the building where Namgung Myeong was staying. Warriors stood guard heavily, and Namgung Pae was at the entrance, so he knew right away.
Namgung Pae warned him with a stiff expression.
"Please leave, Daoist Qinghui."
"...Can I at least see his face?"
Namgung Pae's eyes flickered at the shadow on Envers's face. The deep grief on Envers's expression seemed even greater than that of Myeong's own relatives.
It wasn't pleasant to turn away someone who was genuinely mourning another's pain, but Namgung Pae had his duty. Myeong needed rest.
"I won't say it twice. Please leave..."
"...Come in."
A very small voice came from beyond the door.
Namgung Pae lowered his gaze with a somber look and stepped aside from the door with a sigh. Envers bowed in silent thanks and entered.
A thick medicinal scent filled the air.
Passing the hallway, he opened the sliding door guarded by two attendants. There lay Namgung Myeong neatly on a pristine white bed. His face was pale.
"...Daoist Qinghui, you're here?"
A smile on his white face looked less lively and healthy, more like a ghost's grimace. Envers glanced at Namgung Myeong's abdomen wrapped thickly in bandages and said.
"How's your body feeling?"
"Oh, it's fine. They say it'll heal completely in a few days. Our clan's physicians are incredibly skilled...!"
"...I heard the story."
"Ah, you did. I went and lied for no reason..."
A brief silence.
Namgung Myeong forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood.
"Still, I'm glad I survived. Thanks to Father, Daoist Qinghui, and... well. I didn't get hurt too badly."
It was easy to guess what he meant to say amid the boy's fumbling. He must have thought of the Namgung warriors killed in the jiangshi attack. Guilt flashed in his eyes.
Swallowing the heavy emotions, Namgung Myeong spoke of the future.
"A man with working limbs can do so many things. There are more non-martial artists in the world than martial artists, after all!"
Yeah, sure.
"So, like everyone else... I'll learn and train to help the clan. We have an elder managing business, but he's short a successor and worried about it. If I learn well..."
There were countless paths. Maybe safer and more rewarding than honing martial arts, working at a desk.
Perhaps Namgung Myeong was born a natural merchant and could achieve far greater feats for the Namgung Clan than through martial arts. He might make their name resound everywhere.
Envers had such a chance too.
The world didn't run on force alone. With his magic engine broken, he could've let go of his stubbornness and turned to other fine pursuits.
Like becoming a merchant like Namgung Myeong, or an informant. Or maybe something entirely different.
But the reason Envers Redburn hadn't.
The reason he'd stubbornly enrolled in the academy.
"...I can't stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Brother otherwise."
"......"
Namgung Myeong squeezed his eyes shut as if struck in the heart.
Envers closed his eyes too. Now he knew what he truly wanted.
The time they'd trained and strived together had shone so brightly because they'd envisioned a future fighting back-to-back.
Fighting together.
What was that to him? Envers still couldn't let go, still yearned for it. Deflecting blades aimed at Brother, Brother blocking spears aimed at him. That's what he wanted.
Always had.
In that cursed illegitimate house, facing other kids' jealousy and malice, they'd fought together. He still wanted to stand side-by-side, equals.
Namgung Myeong saw his own dream in Envers's eyes. Envers saw himself mirrored in Namgung Myeong.
The young boy who lost his dantian bowed his head deeply. Then he spoke.
'I've never dreamed,' is what only those who've lost their dreams say.
"...I'm fine. Really. I never even wished to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Brother..."
Just like that.
You could read much from this young boy's eyes.
Fear, pain, confusion, wounds from stepping on shattered dream fragments.
Not because you were skilled at reading emotions. These were familiar—they were what you'd often seen in the mirror. Too familiar.
You have a dream. You faced the dream you'd hidden away.
No.
Even if you returned to Redburn mansion, slaughtered the sneering servants, became Duke Redburn's right hand and basked in glory.
What meaning would it have without family who'd shared every hardship and joy by your side?
Cast out from your mother's embrace into that dark, gloomy illegitimate house, your only family was your brother Roderus.
Rivalry with your brother, desire to catch up, family bonds, promise to be his right hand—all sewn together into your jagged dream.
Its shape unclear and willful, this dream changes form by the angle you view it from.
Resentment, revenge, friendship, worry—all bundled into one dream.
Then.
What do you want to do now?
"I looked in the mirror."
You saw a mirror eerily like yourself. A boy named Namgung Myeong, similar in many ways.
"It reminded me of my childhood, made me sad. I don't want to leave it like this. I don't want him to end up like me."
Like you how?
"Covering a broken dream with a cloth."
To hide the ugly shattered dream, covering reasons, reality, adding conditions, lowering standards. We call that compromise.
Many people do it. You did too.
Changing the Redburn duchy that twisted all this. Searching for your vanished mother. Trying to meet Roderus somehow.
You put off all those hard, dangerous things. It wasn't wrong. Pruning branches to survive is wise.
Even so?
"The important thing... is I don't want to anymore. Not now."
Then you know what you must do yourself.
Exhaust human effort and await heaven's will. Success or failure is up to fate, but if you give your all.
"Even if I fail, at least no regrets."
I can't answer clearly yet.
Of course I'll hesitate before staking everything.
I'll wander lost many times, unsure where my heart leads.
But at least, no regrets.
"Namgung Myeong."
"...Daoist Qinghui?"
"You have to come with me to Heavenly Mirror Lake."
"......?"
People gathered in the Namgung Clan's grand hall. The elders who ran the clan filled the space, debating how to handle the incident.
The mood was dark, gloomy, and quite irritable. Namgung Chaegong listened with a furrowed brow, shouts flying from left and right.
Leading the charge was Namgung So.
"The main house's reputation is at stake. Stirring things up will only invite more trouble. I'm furious my brother was attacked too, but we must consider the greater good! For the clan, we endure—"
"You want to let this slide?!"
Thus, the pandemonium only intensified.
Then commotion erupted outside.
"Daoist Qinghui, you can't do this here... Ack!"
"You can't pass... Argh!"
Thwack, crack!
Two jaws dislocating.
Bang—!!
The grand doors flew open. Those inside widened their eyes at the intruder barging into their solemn meeting.
"...Daoist Qinghui? Did he just knock out the guards...?"
"Sounds like he kicked the doors open..."
Step. Step.
Envers strode boldly to the center. All eyes locked on him. Everyone, regardless of status, looked stunned.
What insolence was this?
Namgung Chaegong rubbed his forehead and warned sternly.
"Even a benefactor has limits... We're deciding clan matters. How dare an outsider—"
"I'm taking Namgung Myeong with me."
"......??"
"I'll heal him and bring him back."
Everyone froze at the blunt declaration. What was this mad Daoist babbling? Among them, a clan physician blinked and stammered.
"...D-Daoist, are you saying there's a way to fix the dantian?"
"Yes."
Murmurs rippled.
Chaos spread instantly. Such sweet words. True? A huge blessing if so. But entrusting Myeong to that brat? Surely a lie.
As the uproar grew uncontrollable, Namgung Chaegong raised his hand and slammed the armrest.
Bang!!
Crack!
The armrest splintered, silencing the hall.
"Explain in detail, Little Daoist. What's the method?"
"Can't say. If the secret spreads, someone might steal the lead."
"Destination?"
"Same reason. Can't reveal it."
Envers stood tall, chest out. Namgung Chaegong let out a hollow laugh. He summed it up and asked again.
"So... method, path, all secret. Just hand over my son and you'll fix him?"
"Yes."
"Are you insane?"
"No."
"......"
Namgung Chaegong peered into Envers's eyes, searching intent. He saw the boy's stubbornness. Clear blue eyes, unclouded by deceit, with unyielding resolve.
Shing!
Namgung So drew his sword and stood.
"Family Head, let me drive out this thug..."
"Sit down. Daoist Qinghui, what do you want? Fixing a dantian requires immense treasures or secret arts."
"I'll use a treasure. No evil like man-eating sorcery, so don't worry. No guarantee it'll work, so no fee needed."
"Ha... Hahaha."
Namgung Chaegong slapped his forehead in disbelief, then burst into roaring laughter. Clutching his belly, he laughed long.
"What if I refuse?"
"I'll take him by force."
"You'd have to beat me first. All Namgung members here too. I'm far stronger than you, Little Daoist. Still?"
"Yes."
"Hahahahaha! So, you've finally found your own brand of righteousness?"
Envers even assumed a combat stance. No acting—it looked real. He meant to fight and win. That resolve appealed.
Namgung Chaegong asked one last time.
"No gain for you. As a father, if anything happens to Myeong, I'll tear you apart. You'd have to surrender everything. Still?"
"Yes. Block me if you will, or hand him over!"
"Fine. Good. Take him!"
"...Father!!"
Namgung So cried out desperately.
Namgung Chaegong waved him calm, looked Envers straight. One so boldly confrontational deserved a chance.
"Your selflessness without reward impresses me. If you truly heal Myeong's dantian, I'll give you my most precious gift."
"I'll be back."
Envers turned on his heel at the permission and strode out boldly. Unshakable conviction. Laughter boomed behind.
Envers clenched his fist.
The beggar had mentioned info.
A cave beneath Heavenly Mirror Lake held a rare spirit medicine. Envers had planned to use it for power growth, but...
'The spirit medicine hasn't fully matured yet. The serpent seems to be absorbing its energy to grow, so I left it. Age it ten years, and it'll be ready.'
'Martial artists sometimes shed mortal shackles with supreme spirit meds, but unsure if it applies to otherworlders. Internal differences...'
This could induce marrow cleansing in Namgung Myeong, fixing his dantian.
Envers flung open Namgung Myeong's room door and shouted.
"Got the family head's permission!"
"...You got permission...?"
"Yes. Rest up till you can move, then we head to Heavenly Mirror Lake! Half expectations only."
"...Never dreamed I'd hit the rivers and lakes like this...!"
Namgung Myeong looked torn between hope and doubt. Envers felt the same. No 100% certainty.
But this way, no regrets.
"Wait! Daoist Qinghui! If you're going, take me too. Me too...!!"
Namgung Seung-ah jumped in for the last ride.
And so, their chaotic journey to the jianghu began.