Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Clever Scoundrel
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“Why are you looking at me like I'm a dead man?”
I asked coldly, and Zhuge Dowon shook his head.
“No, it's not that. I just thought Scholar Cheon would be at the Pang Family.”
Zhuge Dowon continued.
“Brother Soun definitely said he was taking Scholar Cheon to the Pang Family.”
“That was the plan, but I ended up coming to the Nangong Family instead.”
At my words, his gaze naturally turned toward Nangong Mubaek.
One reason I'd changed course from the Pang Family to the Nangong Family was Nangong Mubaek himself, but another was my concern about an ambush from Elder Gal on the way there.
So I'd secretly altered my route to the Nangong Family without anyone knowing.
Elder Gal wasn't the type to just sit back and watch me leave the Murim Alliance.
That's why, even on the way to the Nangong Family, I'd switched directions several times to throw off any predictions.
Any traps Elder Gal had prepared were probably useless by now.
Zhuge Dowon had guessed as much, which was why he was so surprised to see me alive and well at the Nangong Family.
“But have we met before? Maybe it's because I've heard so many rumors, but you seem familiar.”
I chuckled softly.
“We've crossed paths a few times at the Alliance, but you don't remember? The Inspection Unit investigated when you caused that incident.”
I prodded him lightly, and Zhuge Dowon's eyes widened.
“Oh! Look at this cheeky scholar.”
It was similar to the reaction Nangong Mubaek had shown when he first saw me, so Nangong Mubaek looked away.
He probably saw a bit of himself in it. Most scoundrels reacted like that when caught off guard.
“I was just stating facts, but it seems I offended you. Old habits from the Inspection Unit die hard. And to clarify, I'm two years older than you, Young Master Zhuge.”
At my words, Nangong Mubaek grinned.
I was trying to play the elder brother to Nangong Mubaek, who was just a year younger, so this was my retort that he, two years my junior, should treat me as an elder.
How could Nangong Mubaek not enjoy that?
“Impressive guts to send Elder Gal flying. Wow, you're something else.”
Thinking of Elder Gal, Zhuge Dowon felt a surge of envy.
He himself froze like a mouse before a cat in front of Elder Gal.
He'd never dared contradict him or even look him straight in the eye.
Yet this man had confronted and sent him packing, stirring a sense of inferiority born from self-doubt—he might actually be superior to me.
“If it bothers you, Scholar Cheon can drop the formalities too.”
He jumped on it as if he'd been waiting for the words.
“Shall I? I'm like a brother to you, so it should be fine, right?”
“Whoa!”
That exclamation came from Nangong Mubaek's mouth.
From the same Five Great Families and a year older, with ties since childhood, even he couldn't treat Zhuge Dowon casually.
The only one who could crush Zhuge Dowon like that was probably Pang Soun.
He was a year older with superior skills and acted the senior.
But Zhuge Dowon and Pang Soun called each other young master and young hero, maintaining a certain decorum.
If even Pang Soun did that, for a scholar to speak so casually despite the age difference was unheard of.
Not even renowned masters older than him would dare speak casually to direct descendants of the Five Great Families.
Scholar Cheon breaking that taboo so boldly was impressive.
'That attitude on the first day wasn't an act. That's the real Scholar Cheon—like he has no tomorrow.'
For the first time, Nangong Mubaek felt genuine respect for Scholar Cheon in a different light.
He hadn't meant it seriously, but seeing Scholar Cheon take it in stride left him speechless.
Retracting it now would bruise his pride too much.
“If it's bothering you, should I stop?”
As Scholar Cheon followed up, Zhuge Dowon's lips twitched.
But even among scoundrels, he was a cut above Nangong Mubaek.
He knew patience over rash anger, planning to repay double later.
'Just you wait. I'll show you who I am soon enough.'
Forcing a smile, Zhuge Dowon spoke.
“How about lunch together at noon? That garden from last year was nice. There.”
“Sure.”
Nangong Mubaek, who usually answered reluctantly, agreed readily, which irked Zhuge Dowon even more.
He felt like he was losing ground.
That garden was where Zhuge Dowon always found excuses for sparring and humiliating him, so Nangong Mubaek had avoided it as much as possible.
But this time was different.
He'd mastered the second and third forms of the Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique.
He wouldn't lose, even if he didn't win.
So he saw it as a chance to restore his honor.
Just avoiding the sight of Zhuge Dowon strutting after victory would be a win for Nangong Mubaek.
“Oh, Scholar Cheon is coming too?”
“Is that okay?”
I spoke casually without thinking, and Zhuge Dowon, unaccustomed to it, grinned awkwardly at me.
“Haha, of course. You're Brother Mubaek's writing tutor. This should be fun.”
“Got it. But Young Master Nangong, is it alright if I join? I'm not sure if an outsider like me fits in with the young masters of the family.”
Nangong Mubaek replied.
“It's hosted by the main house, so of course you can come. I'd be glad if Scholar Cheon joined.”
“Thank you. Young Master Nangong says it's fine. Alright, I'll come.”
“Cheon Taesan is a riot. Totally.”
Zhuge Dowon said it with a face red as if his head might boil over in anger.
“Yeah? Thanks for the kind words. You seem fun too, Dowon.”
“Uhahaha!”
Having a mere scholar call his name so casually on their first meeting was a new experience; his anger bordered on ecstatic fury.
“See you later, then.”
Zhuge Dowon turned away, unable to control his expression any longer.
Showing his twisted face felt like another defeat.
“Yeah, go on ahead.”
I replied indifferently, and Zhuge Dowon burst into manic laughter before vanishing.
His enraged cackle lingered like a wail.
“Wow, Scholar Cheon is truly something else. No wonder he sent that fearsome Elder Gal packing. Messing with Zhuge Dowon like that.”
Nangong Mubaek threw up his hands in admiration at my boldness.
He'd probably never seen anyone handle the scoundrel Zhuge Dowon—who even he yielded to—like that.
“But I'm worried. Who knows what that scoundrel might do.”
“He's the same type as you, so you must have some idea.”
At my words, Nangong Mubaek laughed hollowly.
“Scholar Cheon is truly great.”
He admired how, even now, Scholar Cheon found a gap to jab at him too.
“That explains it—you reformed Brother Soun, who seemed beyond saving. But really? I haven't seen him lately, and the rumors alone don't make it believable.”
“You've changed too, Young Master.”
“Personality doesn't change overnight. You say I've changed, but I don't feel it.”
“Pang Soun was the same at first.”
“Pang Soun? You call him by name even though you're not friends? That brother leads with his fists, unlike me. It'll cause big trouble. You could really get killed.”
“We're not friends. But he called me 'hyungnim' last time I saw him.”
“Hahaha! Scholar Cheon, your jokes are vicious. That brother calling a scholar 'hyungnim'? He sees scholars as less than stray dogs.”
Nangong Mubaek wouldn't believe it, so I dropped it.
“He's not the type to treat Scholar Cheon like an elder just for a little help. That brother is the pinnacle of scoundrels—even Nangong Mubaek and Zhuge Dowon combined can't match him.”
Nangong Mubaek looked delighted, as if hearing something amusing for once.
“Thanks to you, the frustration from Zhuge Dowon is gone. I feel relieved. Thank you.”
I chuckled.
Nangong Mubaek didn't realize he'd changed.
Yet here he was, saying thanks to someone.
Incorrigible scoundrels never apologize or thank others.
True scoundrels lack those emotions.
“Word is the young master is being dragged out for a friendly spar. You okay with that?”
“I won't lose. I'm not the old me.”
Before, he'd only skimmed the Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique; now he understood it deeply and had mastered its essence.
The difference was like night and day.
In a family like the Nangong, with palace-like buildings everywhere, there were over a dozen gardens with pavilions.
Each had a name.
Demon-Conquering Garden.
True to a martial house, every garden name commemorated a major foe the Nangong Family had battled.
Fifty years ago, when the Demonic Cult rampaged through the martial world, the Nangong Family joined the Murim Alliance and fought fiercely.
They racked up glorious victories.
The Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique and Emperor Sword Form gained fame in those winds.
Sword wielders of both techniques proliferated, and their exploits led to triumph.
But like other sects, many masters who had grasped the profundities died in the process.
That led to the loss of ultimate techniques.
Demon-Conquering Garden was named to never forget that grudge.
From that grimly named garden came strains of music.
As a secular martial family among the Five Great Families, they kept house courtesans like noble houses.
With frequent banquets and family events, it was common to employ them.
Most noble families of the era did the same.
Otherwise, scrambling to summon courtesans from nearby pleasure houses for every event was a hassle.
The Nangong Family, the most prosperous of the Five, had dozens.
A few played string instruments beneath the pavilion in Demon-Conquering Garden.
Inside, Zhuge Dowon drank and frolicked like he owned the place.
Seeing a guest act like the host must have irked Nangong Mubaek, as his words came out sharp.
“Anyone would think you owned the place.”
“Hahaha. Even direct kin in my family can't easily summon courtesans. But the Nangong Family is so generous—they grant my requests without hesitation.”
He elevated the Zhuge Family while subtly putting down the Nangong.
“Who said they granted it so readily?”
Nangong Mubaek snapped curtly.
“Huh? They did when I said I was hanging out with Brother Mubaek in Demon-Conquering Garden.”
He answered obnoxiously, fully aware of Nangong Mubaek's mood.
This showed how Zhuge Dowon manipulated him.
There was a reason Nangong Mubaek always lost their spars.
Zhuge Dowon used infuriating rhetoric to rile him up.
For someone impulsive and mood-driven like Nangong Mubaek, a sharp-minded guy like Zhuge Dowon was poison.
“Scholar Cheon came too?”
“Yeah. You're having a good time.”
I answered Zhuge Dowon's question, and Nangong Mubaek flinched.
He still wasn't used to me talking to Zhuge Dowon this way.
“Yeah. I was bored alone, so I thought I'd play the pipa for you.”
Nangong Mubaek frowned.
Knowing how to play the pipa meant more than just appreciating music.
“What pipa are you talking about?”
Nangong Mubaek felt uneasy, unable to predict Zhuge Dowon's next move.
His cleverness always led to weird antics that ruined moods.
“I'm playing the pipa for Brother Mubaek and Scholar Cheon. Enjoy the show.”
I could tell Zhuge Dowon had no good intentions with this performance.