Incidentally, Again. (2)
When Cheong Myeong opened his eyes, he stared blankly up at the ceiling.
Turning his gaze, he saw the early-morning sunlight pouring in through the window.
Still half-dazed, Cheong Myeong looked toward it—then a wave of pain suddenly crashed through him, and he clutched his left shoulder.
Throb! Throb!
The agony was so sharp it felt as if his arm had been torn off. He knew it wasn’t true, and yet he still yanked his clothes aside to check the shoulder beneath.
He knew. There was no wound. The scars etched there were only from small injuries, nothing severe enough to cause pain like this.
“……”
Cheong Myeong stared silently at his own arm for a long while, as though it belonged to a stranger. Then, slowly, he sat up and walked to the window. When he shoved the shutters open to either side, the chilly air of early morning swept into the room.
Birdsong.
The faint chirring of insects somewhere in the grass.
The stillness settling over the wide, empty courtyard.
In the distance, someone had already begun training; short bursts of shouts and the clang of weapons echoed faintly over the grounds.
Peaceful.
Yes. Peaceful beyond measure.
Cheong Myeong tilted his head slightly and looked up at the sky. White clouds drifted across a blue so clear it couldn’t be captured by the word “clear” alone. He watched that sight for a long moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
“...Incidentally, again.”
The world was still at peace.
Namgung Dan looked around with a sour expression.
With the exception of those who had not yet recovered enough to move, everyone from the Namgung Clan who could still stand was lined up here.
What the hell is this supposed to be?
It had all started with a single line from Namgung Dowi.
- From today on, we will train together with Mount Hua.
I don’t get it.
He had phrased it more politely, but the meaning beneath those words was no different from saying that Mount Hua would be teaching the Namgung Clan. Otherwise, there would be no reason for them to train together with Mount Hua at all.
It was only natural that the faces of everyone who heard those words had hardened in an instant.
What was the Namgung Clan? It was the family that had risen to the position of the greatest clan in the world by means of that single sword.
There might be things to teach when it came to the sword, but there was nothing to learn. That was the Namgung Clan.
Of course, everyone knew the Namgung situation was far from easy right now. But bowing their heads because their power had weakened and asking another sect for instruction were two different matters entirely.
What on earth is the Young Patriarch thinking?
Namgung Dan glanced at Namgung Dowi, who stood at the front.
And yet the reason they had all come out here and taken their places without complaint was that the one who had said it was none other than Namgung Dowi.
Was it because he was the Young Patriarch? Because he would one day become Patriarch?
No. It was because Namgung Dowi was the man who had risked his life to save everyone here, the man who had returned of his own will to that hellish Plum Blossom Island.
I don’t know.
As both the Young Patriarch in public and his cousin in private, Namgung Dowi’s mind seemed to be moving too quickly, far too urgently, right now.
If this gets out, they’ll laugh at us for sure.
The story would spread: some young fool who knew nothing of the world had inherited the seat of Patriarch, thrown away all of Namgung’s pride, and bowed to Mount Hua. That much was certain.
“Haa……”
A sigh he couldn’t suppress slipped from his lips.
It can’t be helped. We’ll just have to humor him a little and let the whole thing fizzle out without making a fuss.
This was not, in any way, because they intended to defy Namgung Dowi. On the contrary, it was precisely because they understood his position too well that they had to do this.
Too heavy a burden rested on Namgung Dowi’s shoulders right now. It was entirely possible for someone carrying such a load to misread a situation.
As retainers, if their Patriarch made a mistaken judgment, wasn’t it only natural to steer that judgment back onto the right path?
Namgung Dan exchanged glances with the others around him. It seemed they were all thinking something similar, because without a word they gave slight nods.
Forgive us, Young Patriarch.
And with that silent apology, they hoped Namgung Dowi would not misunderstand their intentions.
Then, from one side of the vast courtyard—too large to properly call a training ground—a group appeared.
The moment Namgung Dan saw the one walking at their head, he swallowed dryly without meaning to.
The Mount Hua Divine Dragon!
His back straightened on its own.
As the Mount Hua Divine Dragon strode toward them, sending sharp-eyed glances this way, an indescribable pressure rolled off him.
The Mount Hua Divine Dragon, Cheong Myeong.
Who in the jianghu did not know that name now?
He had become more than a symbol of Mount Hua; he had become a symbol of the Heavenly Friends Alliance. And for Namgung Clan, that name was perhaps even more special.
They had seen it with their own eyes.
They had seen that Mount Hua Divine Dragon cut off the Black Dragon King’s arm, and they had seen him stand his ground against Jang Il-so of the Evil Tyrant Alliance and Beop Jeong, the abbot of Shaolin, without flinching.
That Mount Hua Divine Dragon himself?
Namgung Dan’s heart shifted slightly as he looked at Cheong Myeong and the Mount Hua Five Swords walking at his sides.
If it were anyone else, he might have doubted it. But if it was that Mount Hua Divine Dragon, then there was surely something to learn. That was what a master’s instruction meant.
N-no. No way.
He hurriedly steadied his wavering resolve.
This was for the Namgung Clan, cornered as it was on the brink of a cliff. No matter how tempting the gain, they could not head in the wrong direction.
Grinding his teeth, Namgung Dan looked at the Mount Hua Divine Dragon.
He was recalling the way Cheong Myeong had acted on Plum Blossom Island when the man suddenly spotted Namgung Dowi standing at the front—and instantly broke into a huge grin.
“Aigooooooo!”
Then, with his arms spread wide, he even came trotting over.
He looked less like a martial artist and more like some unscrupulous merchant greeting a rich young master who had come to strike a deal.
Cheong Myeong rushed right up to Namgung Dowi and seized both his hands.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Y-yes... Thanks to your concern, I slept well.”
“The estate is so shabby I’m ashamed! Just wait a little longer—I’ll have those idiots build you a palace and offer it up!”
“N-no, that’s really not necessary.”
“What are you saying? That’s only natural!”
“R-really, I’m fine.”
Namgung Dowi was sweating buckets.
“Keh. And you’re so kind-hearted, too.”
Cheong Myeong gripped his hands with what looked like genuine emotion. The Namgung swordsmen watching this all stood there with their mouths hanging open.
Is that really the Mount Hua Divine Dragon...?
That’s the same person we know?
It couldn’t be helped.
Very few of them had personally witnessed the martial arts tournament held at Shaolin for the younger generation of the world’s righteous sects.
No, even if they had seen it, Cheong Myeong’s later impressions had been so overwhelming that they might have forgotten the earlier ones entirely.
From the Mount Hua Divine Dragon who had fought Jang Il-so at the Black Dragon Stronghold three years ago, to the Mount Hua Divine Dragon who had severed the Black Dragon King’s arm on Plum Blossom Island.
For those who remembered that cold, razor-edged swordsman, Cheong Myeong now bowing repeatedly and laughing like this was shocking enough to inspire terror.
Was he always like this?
No way.
They clearly remembered him cutting off the Black Dragon King’s arm without the slightest hesitation, punishing him with brutal finality. There was no way the Cheong Myeong of then and the Cheong Myeong of now could be the same person.
“Heeheeheehee!”
With a face shining from all the oily grease on it, Cheong Myeong kept shaking Namgung Dowi’s hands.
“Daoist.”
Namgung Dowi lowered his head as he spoke.
“Please look after us.”
As soon as Namgung Dowi grew serious, Cheong Myeong grinned.
“Of course, of course!”
“Then.”
Namgung Dowi turned and returned to his place. From this moment on, he was no longer the Namgung Young Patriarch, but simply one swordsman among many. Seeing that, Cheong Myeong gave a slight nod before turning to face the whole group.
…….
No, what the hell?
At that look, the Namgung swordsmen began sweating again. The lively energy he’d had just a moment ago was nowhere to be seen. Now there was only naked irritation dripping from Cheong Myeong’s face.
“Tch.”
Seriously... was it okay for a person to change expressions like that in the blink of an eye?
Then, clicking his tongue lightly, Cheong Myeong rolled his neck from side to side.
“I’m not usually all that interested in other sects, you know.”
“……”
“But a person’s got to have a basic sense of courtesy. I’ll make sure you get what you’ve paid for, so just do what I tell you. Just what I tell you. Then there won’t be any problems. Got it?”
At that instant, the gazes of the Namgung swordsmen drifted subtly toward Namgung Dan.
Receiving those looks, Namgung Dan swallowed hard.
Among everyone present, aside from Namgung Dowi, he—as Namgung Myeong’s son—had the highest ranking bloodline here. So it seemed they expected him to speak.
Good.
Hardening his resolve, Namgung Dan opened his mouth.
“Daoist. May I say a word?”
“Hm?”
Cheong Myeong glanced at him.
“We are indeed asking Mount Hua to instruct us because of our present circumstances, but I believe a minimum of respect is still necessary.”
“Huh?”
Cheong Myeong tilted his head. Namgung Dan gathered even more courage and continued.
“We are not disciples of Mount Hua. We are those who bear the Namgung name. Please show proper respect and courtesy to another sect.”
“……”
“In addition, I believe the instruction we seek from Mount Hua should be limited strictly to the posture and bearing of swordsmanship. Namgung requires no teaching beyond that. Please take this into consideration.”
His tone was truly confident.
Namgung Dan clenched his fist slightly.
He had not trembled before that Mount Hua Divine Dragon and had managed to say everything he needed to say. It was more than enough to show the spirit of Namgung.
Of course, he respected the Mount Hua Divine Dragon. Besides, among young martial artists, who wouldn’t admire him? But the proper order between them had to be established. Their shoulders carried the pride of the Namgung Clan.
The others seemed satisfied with Namgung Dan’s words as well, backing him with nods.
But then...
“Sasuk.”
“Hmm?”
“What’s he saying?”
“He’s asking for respect.”
“No, I mean what does that even mean?”
“Hmm.”
Apparently still not understanding, Cheong Myeong asked again at Baek Cheon’s side.
Baek Cheon briefly considered the question, searching for the most suitable way to explain it to this short-tempered junior.
“He wants us to treat them with a bit of deference. Because they’re the Namgung Clan.”
“Deference?”
“Yes, deference.”
“Ah, I wondered what he was on about. So that’s what he meant. Deference.”
Cheong Myeong looked at Namgung Dan and grinned.
“Keh. I can definitely do that. So you want us to treat you with deference?”
Cheong Myeong’s smile slowly turned strange.
“I was only planning to give you what you’d paid for, but if you’re so enthusiastic about being treated properly, then I really have no choice but to work hard, do I?”
“……”
“All right, then. How about we see whether you’ve got the skill to deserve that treatment?”
A smile as wicked as sin spread across Cheong Myeong’s lips.