Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Rumors Spread
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After breakfast, I sought out Nangong Hak.
"Come in."
Nangong Hak welcomed me warmly and gestured to a seat.
Jeon Ian was nowhere to be seen.
I could sense this would be an official discussion.
"I've called you here to give my answer on the matter we briefly discussed before."
"I'll accept whatever you say, so please speak freely."
I was prepared to leave the Nangong Family if need be.
Of course, I knew they wouldn't push things to that extreme, but I also understood it was a viable option for a conservative house.
Superior martial arts could spark bloodshed across the entire martial world, and the value of a renowned family's secret ultimate technique was beyond measure.
I understood why Nangong Hak was taking this so seriously.
"I'm prepared to grant you a status where knowing our family's secret ultimate technique won't cause any issues."
"A status? Surely not something like son-in-law or grandson-in-law..."
Nangong Hak shook his head.
"No, nothing like that..."
He pulled something from a drawer in the desk and placed it on top.
Thud!
"From now on, Scholar Cheon is no longer just a simple scholar."
I examined the gold plaque he'd presented, then coughed as if something had caught in my throat.
"This may not look like much, but it's solid gold."
Nangong Hak said it proudly as he held it out to me.
"I won't accept a refusal. You must take this."
"This is far too generous."
The front of the gold plaque was embossed with the words "Nangong Family," surrounded by an intricately engraved golden dragon.
The problem lay on the back.
Family Head's Guardian Protector ()
It meant protector of the family head—a position that required skill, reputation, and trust in any clan, one that couldn't possibly be given to an outsider.
"If it's not this, then knowing a technique reserved for direct family members would be a crime. And it's one of the few positions the family head can appoint without needing approval from the elders or seniors."
Nangong Hak added this toward me as I stood there dazed.
"With this, you can enjoy all the privileges of the Nangong Family. You can use our branches and safe houses across the martial world and even command our warriors."
In a way, it was a higher status than even a son-in-law of the Nangong Family.
"Oh, and we've sent people to bring your mother here to the main house. You'll see her soon enough."
I shook my head inwardly at Nangong Hak, who was nailing down any chance for me to argue otherwise.
"I wonder if I deserve such treatment."
It felt overly generous just for having educated Nangong Mubaek.
After meeting with Nangong Hak, Nangong Mubaek was waiting for me. His face was beaming.
"What's got you so happy?"
When I asked, Nangong Mubaek puffed out his chest.
"Father and Mother praised me yesterday. For the first time in my life. Well, I got some when I was little, but not since I turned fifteen."
I played along with him.
"What did they say?"
"That I upheld the family honor. That I smashed the faces of those Zhuge Family bastards. They were thrilled. Mother held me and cried nonstop, nagging me to finally start living like a proper person."
"Hahaha!"
I laughed heartily, and Nangong Mubaek grinned sheepishly.
How good must it feel for a wayward son to finally receive his parents' attention and love?
At least three-tenths of his past scoundrelly behavior had likely been desperate bids for that very recognition.
"I heard something on my way back. Do you know what they're calling you now?"
"What, the Nangong Family's wastrel youngest son? I know that one."
"No. It's the divine dragon of the Nangong Family who crushed the Zhuge Family's once-in-a-century hidden prodigy."
He averted his gaze, unaccustomed to praise. You have to hear it to get used to it, after all.
It was true that rumors were circulating about how Nangong Mubaek had toyed with Zhuge Dowon, the Zhuge Family's once-in-a-century martial genius.
Though some doubted the source since it started from maids and servants, with so many eyewitnesses, the atmosphere was one of half-belief.
"I've heard rumors about you, Scholar Cheon."
"Rumors about me?"
There was no reason for rumors about me to spread.
Yesterday's star wasn't me.
Nangong Mubaek rattled them off one by one.
"Scholar Cheon is actually a secret weapon raised by the Murim Alliance. That's why he's a scholar proficient in both letters and martial arts. That's what the workers around our residence are saying."
"Those guys are just flattering me."
"Really? Then do you know what our Nangong Family warriors are saying? That you're a secret inspector sent by the Murim Alliance's Inspection Unit to monitor the main house."
A flicker of suspicion passed through his eyes and vanished, making me chuckle.
"That's going too far."
"The warriors have eyes too. And our family elders are in an uproar."
"The elders? Why?"
"They're scrambling to pick out granddaughters from the collateral lines."
"..."
"To pair them with you, Scholar Cheon."
"..."
"That's why I'm asking—what do you think of my sister?"
"..."
"Our sister's really something else. Great at martial arts too. And most importantly, she's gorgeous."
"Did the family head tell you to say that?"
"...Hahaha, I can't fool you, Scholar Cheon."
Nangong Mubaek's face flushed red.
"Mother asked me for the first time ever—I couldn't say no. But personally, her temper's awful, so I don't recommend her."
"When you meet the matriarch, tell her Scholar Cheon has no thoughts of marriage."
"Honestly, I don't see you as a brother-in-law either. I'd rather keep you as my writing and music teacher."
Nangong Mubaek shook his head at whatever he was imagining.
Then he muttered to himself.
I chuckled upon hearing it.
"I can't just watch Scholar Cheon ruin his life."
I found it encouraging that he'd heard the rumors from the maids and servants.
The fact that they could gossip freely around him meant he was no longer an object of fear, unlike before.
Since he wasn't causing trouble anymore, the maids and servants could chat comfortably in his presence.
As he spoke, Nangong Mubaek fell silent with a serious expression.
"Scholar Cheon, it's all too much for me. Everyone's suddenly looking at me with expectations. And I don't like pretending to be a good person. That's why I don't care for nicknames like divine dragon of the Nangong Family."
Even as he said it, the corners of his mouth crept up toward his ears.
It seemed a conflict was brewing between his self-image and how others saw him now.
'He's probably confused about what his true self is. Scoundrel or the family's hidden dragon?'
I offered him a fitting mental resolution.
"Think about it. How great is this situation? You're in a better spot than your brothers or sisters. You get to be both the Nangong Family wastrel and the divine dragon. Not many people can pull off both. You need to make good use of it."
Nangong Mubaek stared at me at my words.
"Why the look?"
"Normally, wouldn't a scholar tell me to stop the scoundrel act and adopt a hero's demeanor? Are you actually encouraging me to keep it up?"
"What's better than being able to play the scoundrel when you need to? The world has plenty of problems heroes alone can't solve. Sometimes you need the wastrel approach. It's all about direction."
Faced with this unfamiliar mindset, Nangong Mubaek wondered if this man was really a scholar.
'Is this why he picked fights with Murim Alliance elders and seniors?'
Only a madman would do something like that.
'From that perspective, maybe Scholar Cheon is the real scoundrel.'
Nangong Mubaek had such thoughts, then slyly smiled.
His eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Let's have lunch later, then head to Miss Jong's clinic together."
The beautiful doctor from the herb shop came to mind.
"Why there?"
"To get a check-up."
I realized it immediately.
'He wants to brag to Miss Jong but can't do it himself, so he wants me to do it for him.'
"But why bring me along?"
"Well, you look pretty decent and kind, don't you? Plus, you're my writing and music teacher. Wouldn't it be good to bring you along for this?"
He gave a lame excuse, but it all boiled down to wanting me to sing his praises.
"Before we go to the clinic, let me take your pulse first, young master. If there's any ailment, we can use it as an excuse."
Nangong Mubaek knew I'd prescribed acupuncture and herbs for the maids and servants, so he trusted me and extended his hand without hesitation. In the past, that would've been unthinkable.
For a martial artist to let an outsider—not even a doctor—take their pulse required more than ordinary trust.
It was proof that, knowingly or not, Nangong Mubaek's faith in me was growing bit by bit.
I checked his qi while taking his pulse and infusing spiritual energy. Since it differed from internal energy, he didn't notice.
'The energy of the Dark Vault Star is growing stronger. Soon it'll be ripe enough for me to absorb.'
At first, I hadn't understood these energies well.
But through Pang Soun, I'd awakened to the seven energies of the Big Dipper.
My greatest gain from the Murim Alliance was obtaining the root power of the Seven Stars Seven Origins.
There was one more thing I anticipated from absorbing Nangong Mubaek's energy.
According to a tantric scripture, absorbing two energies would grant a new ability unlike any before.
The book stated that each Seven Stars Seven Origins energy unlocked a new power, transcendent abilities beyond human limits.
After absorbing Pang Soun's energy, I'd gained enough spiritual power to perform Void Palm strikes.
Now, I possessed superhuman senses and perception that let me remember everything—far beyond any ordinary person.
With new powers coming from each star energy, how could I not be excited?
As I released his hand, Nangong Mubaek spoke up.
"Should I slow my heartbeat on purpose? That way, I'll look like a patient."
"No need. Any trick like that gets caught the moment someone takes your pulse. Why not just say you came to see Miss Jong? You've done that with other girls before, haven't you?"
"True. But something about Miss Jong feels... intimidating."
"Hahaha. If it's that bad, just use herbs as an excuse."
"That seems like the least awkward alibi."
It was surprising that Nangong Mubaek had such pure feelings.
"I think you should go see Miss Jong alone, young master. Showing reliance on others won't do you any favors."
"Ah, you might be right. I'll go by myself this time then."
I could feel him changing, little by little, as he accepted my words so readily.
"I need to pick up some herbs anyway, so let's head to the northern district together."
Dressed in Nangong Family martial robes and ready to head out, Nangong Mubaek looked rather handsome.
"I hear Miss Jong doesn't charge the poor for treatment but demands hefty fees from the wealthy. So I've brought plenty of money."
Nangong Mubaek proudly flashed a few banknotes from his bosom.
Judging by this, he still hadn't shaken off his scoundrel habits entirely.
Trying to win a woman's heart with money was utterly foolish.
He didn't realize that sincerity was the cheapest and most valuable way to capture a woman's heart.
Still, there was no need to drill that into him one by one.
Better to let it be growing pains. The insights gained from hard knocks wouldn't be few.