Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: What I Said (1)
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"Uncle, shouldn't we go congratulate him now, at least?"
"We probably should."
"He won't chew us out for being late, right? He's not the type to..."
"...Yeah."
Neither of them was entirely convinced.
They had heard he was staying at the Great River Inn and gone to look for him. Just then, a crowd had gathered around the inn out of curiosity, and when they checked it out, he was facing off against the String Sword.
The String Sword was the Zhuge family's representative swordmaster. Even if the Zhuge were said to lag behind the other great families in raw martial prowess, no one in the martial world dared belittle them.
He beat him outright, and even cooked up a perfect excuse for it.
Others might not know, but those who had crossed him did. He never did anything that put him at a disadvantage. He was erratic, violent, and impulsive, yet he always got the results he wanted.
Whether it was unintended luck or part of some grand scheme didn't matter. It was impressive in itself. After all, no plan could succeed without a stroke of fortune.
Still, with enemies swarming everywhere... damn.
He had experienced Mujin's strength firsthand at the Baemun Merchant Group. He knew just how formidable the man was.
He had at least reached the peak transcendent realm. Toying with the String Sword made it all but inevitable. He didn't fit in at the Pine Tiger Sect of Qingyang. Unless it was all fabricated rumor, how could someone like that be known as a wastrel?
His skills aside, his personality was the real issue.
Suddenly, a doubt crept in: what if that brash wastrel act wasn't a facade? What if he was just a dog with exceptional talent? That was the worst-case scenario.
What if he goes around setting fire to the great families?
He didn't know when he'd gotten chummy with the Huangbo family, but the other clans seemed to view the Pine Tiger Sect with outright hostility. Enemies lurked everywhere. That was why they had hesitated during the tournament.
They dithered right up until the Four Strongholds Battle. If they were going to visit, they should have done it back at the Great River Inn. Slipping away carelessly had left things awkward.
If only Young'un hadn't been so prickly.
Even after witnessing Mujin's strength, his younger brother refused to let go of his ambitions. He hadn't shown it openly, but as a power player in the Baemun Merchant Group, he kept the Pine Tiger Sect in check. It was dangerous posturing. An overwhelmingly powerful figure was a weapon in himself—one that wealth alone couldn't rival.
Pointless.
Kang Taejin's performance in the Little Dragon Tournament had been astonishing. Few peers could match him. Considering most entrants were sixteen, Taejin's genius shone brightly. He had injected real tension into what could have been a great families' private party.
It's only natural, but it feels like walking on thin ice.
Separate from Mujin's strength, his outrageous antics and iconoclasm were sometimes too much to handle. It might be needless worry, but he sensed the Huangbo family squirming under the pressure.
Could the Guo Family Manor and Baemun Merchant Group truly accommodate him?
The doubt made him hesitate.
But having made it to the Four Strongholds, Taejin's chances of reaching the finals were high. Ignore him or not, escaping the Pine Tiger Sect's shadow wouldn't be easy.
And I can't defy big brother's orders.
With his resolve firm, Guo Cheol-woong headed to the Great River Inn with his nephew.
They entered, asked for Mujin's room, and found it easily—the innkeeper said the recent massive commotion had already made him famous locally.
Mujin was in the room with his son.
Strictly speaking, it was proper for the junior to seek out the senior. But standing on ceremony would only hurt him and his clan.
Guo Cheol-woong broached the subject awkwardly.
This wasn't the time to stare blankly, but silence stretched on. Heavy silences were usually uncomfortable, but the man's obliviousness was invincible. How could anyone ignore an elder standing right there? It was pressure in itself—if intentional, it made him a monster of eccentricity.
"Sorry for the late greeting."
"I know."
"Circumstances weren't ideal... you get it?"
"Didn't you watch me thrash the String Sword right there?"
"...You saw?"
"Yes."
He saw that too?
It meant he truly saw the String Sword as mere dog chow. He'd known the man was no ordinary foe after the casual takedown, but maybe even more so.
Fine, whatever.
But if he saw, why not come say hi then?
A proper greeting back then would have spared this awkwardness. Normally, you'd acknowledge an acquaintance eventually for mutual benefit.
"So why now?"
"It wasn't that big a deal."
Guo Cheol-woong failed to grasp his meaning at first.
Beating the String Sword like a stray dog, or coming to greet him? Either way soured his mood. He couldn't find the right words—say the wrong thing, and he'd fall into the man's trap.
As feared, he's a tough one to deal with.
They needed amicable ties, but being around him made one's nerves fray. Even the cautious Gal Hyo-myeong had lost his cool and charged in first—only to get beaten like a dog.
Come to think of it, why did he always humiliate people so thoroughly? A bit more courtesy in the thrashing, and... well, that too.
Can't get baited into his games.
The man had a knack for provoking anger, luring attacks, then claiming self-defense with impeccable justification. It was like killing the beaten man twice or thrice over.
"Do you have something to say?"
"Congrats on the Four Strongholds Battle."
"It's my son—of course he'd make it that far."
He'd sworn not to rise to it, but Guo Cheol-woong struggled to keep a straight face. Taejin's feats were impressive, sure, but most would humbly wave it off. Humility? This man wouldn't know it if it bit him.
"We thank you, on behalf of the clan, for your guidance before."
"They say if your wife's pretty, you bow even to her family's gatepost. It was nothing much—don't hold onto it."
Don't hold onto it, yet he mentioned his wife.
Sharing insights with the Guo family was purely for her sake—a warning to behave, and a sign he was watching.
-At least acknowledge the sentiment. That 'King' title isn't for show.
Even kings are human.
Emperors eat and shit too.
His nosy conscience nagged, but Mujin said his piece. Grand titles demanded matching dignity? His feelings trumped reputation.
-Still, consider the fallout.
Not always.
-True, for a warrior, nothing tops martial arts.
If you're overwhelming, they tuck tail on their own.
Look at him now.
Unlike before, when unaware, Guo Cheol-woong listened meekly like a lamb. Wounded pride or not, he fought to stay composed. Clear intent: no beef with the strong—for the clan's sake, he'd swallow his ego.
Vulgar, but that's the way of the world.
"You can tell he's been training."
"I've cherished that lesson dearly."
Baek Cheon-un, who came with Guo Cheol-woong, had advanced at least a level beyond his Baemun Merchant Group days. Solid enough to stand out among average youths.
As Mujin predicted, Baek Cheon-un outperformed his prior self. Clearing one more round wasn't bad.
But younger Taejin had reached the Four Strongholds. The gap with a friendly rival stung his confidence.
Sensing it, Guo Cheol-woong consoled his nephew.
"If you hadn't met the Haibei Peng Clan in the preliminaries, you'd have done even better."
"So how far did the Haibei Peng Clan make it?"
"They ran into the Nangong family in the fifth round."
"I see."
Mujin had just confirmed facts, but to Guo Cheol-woong comforting his sulking nephew, it poured cold water on the encouragement.
Damn him!
My son climbed by stepping on a great family.
Grateful for the insights shared with the clan? On second thought, not at all. To Guo Cheol-woong, he was an infuriating test of patience.
"We wish you first place in the finals."
"Finals are no issue. And honestly, dropping out around here might be best."
Even his words grated!
Guo Cheol-woong snapped, emotions spilling, then winced at the slip.
"You're going too far."
"Don't misunderstand. This is for the Guo Family Manor's sake. If you can handle it, fine."
Mujin's somber tone chilled Guo Cheol-woong to the bone, a ominous hint of hidden tournament intrigue flashing through.
A joke? Maybe. The man excelled at deception.
"Want to know?"
"No."
If it involved the tournament's underbelly, the Nangong family likely loomed large. The Guo could throw their weight around in Danyang, Jiangsu, but against Nangong? Leagues apart—especially with great family elders present.
No good for Guo to know. Meddling clumsily could turn them to dust. He knew his place, so he drew the line.
But human curiosity...
"You're curious, aren't you?"
"...No!"
Almost fell for it.
Cold sweat trickled down Guo Cheol-woong's back. Impossible to read the man. He dangled connections like favors, yet lines were firm. Cross them, and no mercy.
Steeling himself, Guo Cheol-woong voiced his real purpose.
"When you have time, could you visit the Guo Family Manor?"
"You sure love freebies."
Called out, Guo Cheol-woong sighed deeply. Beneath the casual words lurked a seasoned veteran's aura. He'd half-expected it—shameless request, but for the clan, he'd shed face.
"If it upset you, I apologize. No ulterior motives, I swear."
"Kidding. Why create distance? I want Yujin to visit her family comfortably. Family visits shouldn't feel strained."
"No worries there. We've pledged full support to Baemun Merchant Group."
"Wasn't expecting that, but for the gesture, I'll consider it."
"We'll never forget this grace."
Mujin planned to bulldoze any awkward obstacles for his wife—even blood kin.
His brother need only fulfill his heir role. Overstep into nuisances, and he'd pay the price.