Chapter 10
Chapter 10
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Matriarch's Invitation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After a grand(?) welcome, Neung Un-bi passed through a main gate as imposing as a fortress wall, walked down a path as wide as a main road, crossed one training ground... and then another...
Bloody hell, why is this place so huge?
After walking for quite some time, he finally reached the main hall of the Snow Mountain Manor, a grand structure three stories high.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Ah? Yes...”
The seat Seon Hwa-yeon offered him was at the very center of the banquet set up within the main hall.
The seat of honor, right beside the Matriarch.
As Neung Un-bi awkwardly took his seat, Seon Hwa-yeon sat beside him. Soon after, the vassals of the Snow Mountain Manor, who had been standing in lines on either side, also took their seats.
Seated at the head of the U-shaped banquet table, Neung Un-bi could feel the burn of everyone's gazes.
Why is everyone staring at me? It's making me uncomfortable.
At this rate, their stares might just bore a hole through my face.
But what could he do?
This banquet was prepared for him, and since he had something to gain, he had to endure it, like it or not.
“Have a drink, Third Young Master. The master of the house has been away for some time, so I am welcoming you in his stead.”
“Yes.”
Seon Hwa-yeon personally filled his cup.
*Pour.*
Steam gently rose from the wine filling the cup.
“The weather is cold, so I prepared some warmed wine. I hope it suits your palate.”
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”
Knowing it would be rude to refuse, Neung Un-bi was about to bring the filled cup to his lips when he suddenly paused.
What's this? Why does everyone have such expectant looks on their faces?
They were all holding their cups...
“Third Young Master, can't you see everyone is waiting?”
“Pardon?”
He glanced around and saw Seon Hwa-yeon urging him on, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Ah, they want me to say something?
That was, after all, the proper way to begin a banquet.
*Scrape.*
Pushing his chair back, Neung Un-bi stood, calmly composed his breathing, and slowly surveyed the banquet hall.
Most were unfamiliar faces. The original Neung Un-bi had only known Seon Hwa-yeon and a few of the top leaders.
It made sense. The original Neung Un-bi had never bothered to build his own power base.
Even when he lived within the Cult's fortress, he had only known a few key figures besides Wang Cheon. How could he possibly know the vassals of each family?
This was, in a sense, his formal introduction.
And first impressions were always crucial, especially when there was something to be gained.
Just look at them. Their eyes were all full of expectation, waiting for some grand remark.
There was no need to force it. Exaggerated gestures would only make the audience cringe.
He straightened his shoulders naturally, distributing his weight evenly on both legs. He tucked his chin, softened his gaze, and looked ahead, shedding any hint of intimidation.
“Hoo...”
Lightly tensing his core, Neung Un-bi exhaled softly. As he squared his chest, his back straightened naturally.
*Ssk.*
He held the cup with both hands and extended it toward the crowd.
“I, Neung Un-bi, the third disciple, cannot hide my joy at meeting the Matriarch and the esteemed elders of the Snow Mountain Manor.”
His voice, neither too loud nor too soft, resonated gently throughout the hall.
Starting with those seated furthest away, Neung Un-bi slowly made eye contact with everyone before his gaze finally met Seon Hwa-yeon's.
“It is not enough to thank you for this grand welcome, but I must also express my gratitude to you, Matriarch, for allowing this humble one to commence the banquet with this toast.”
“...”
With that, Neung Un-bi slowly drained his cup.
A pleased smile touched Seon Hwa-yeon's lips as she watched him. She followed suit, draining her cup.
“Everyone, drink up. Let the banquet begin.”
“Yes!”
The members of the Snow Mountain Manor drained their cups in unison, smiles mirroring Seon Hwa-yeon's gracing their faces. Soon, the hall filled with lively chatter.
“Hahaha! Third Young Master, it is a true pleasure to meet you. As tradition dictates, a guest must have at least three cups, wouldn't you agree?”
“Ah? Yes...”
“Here, please accept. I am Im Saeng, the chief steward of the Snow Mountain Manor.”
The white-haired old man, Im Saeng, who was seated closest to Neung Un-bi, filled his cup, his wrinkled face creased with a wide smile.
The chief steward was the one who oversaw all the family's affairs. There was no harm in getting on his good side.
So please make sure my secluded training chamber is well-appointed.
Got it?
“Thank you.”
“Our young master must give you a great deal of trouble with his shortcomings, no?”
“Pardon? Ah...”
At Im Saeng's words, Neung Un-bi glanced at Wang Cheon, who stood in attendance behind him, and nodded.
“He's a nag of the highest order. It's always, 'you can't do this,' 'you can't do that'... Phew, I have no idea what I'm actually allowed to do.”
“Khahahaha! Of course, of course. He gets it all from the Matriarch. They're cut from the same nagging cloth, I tell you!”
“Pardon?”
At Im Saeng's words, Neung Un-bi's eyes darted sideways for a quick glance at Seon Hwa-yeon.
H-Hey, old man.
Aren't you taking this a bit too far?
She's So Seol-ok-su! *The* So Seol-ok-su!
The one rumored to have a fiery temper, the one who'll even go off on the Cult Leader when she's angry!
I once saw her with my own eyes, pointing her finger and shouting at the Cult Leader!
But strangely, Seon Hwa-yeon's expression remained indifferent.
Huh? She's letting this slide?
“Speaking of which.”
“...”
Unlike the cautious Neung Un-bi, Im Saeng, now thoroughly excited, started pouring out a torrent of complaints.
Right in front of her, no less.
“And it's not just the nagging! What about her personality?”
“...”
Just then, another person joined the 'slander the Matriarch to her face' competition.
“Ah, I am Gok U-dam, the Inner Hall Master. A pleasure to meet you, Third Young Master.”
“Ah? Oh, yes.”
“You've heard the rumors, haven't you? About our Matriarch.”
“Ah, well...”
Neung Un-bi gave an awkward laugh at Gok U-dam's words.
He was bewildered. He couldn't just repeat the rumors verbatim, could he?
“A fiery terror.”
“Gah!”
“I've served her since I was young, so I know. The list is endless... Why don't you come over and sit with us? I'll tell you every last detail about our Matriarch.”
“Oh! Let's do that. We can't speak freely over here with the Matriarch watching.”
Were you even trying to be discreet?
And why are you covering your mouth with your hand?
Are you pretending to whisper after saying all that loud enough for her to hear?
“Come now. This way.”
“Hehehe. I'm getting excited just thinking about badmouthing the Matriarch for a change.”
“...”
This was all making his head spin.
Neung Un-bi kept glancing nervously at Seon Hwa-yeon, but was eventually grabbed and dragged away by the men.
Watching the scene unfold, Seon Hwa-yeon simply continued to silently fill and empty her cup, over and over.
Sh-She's not angry, is she?
Having been dragged to a corner, Neung Un-bi found himself trapped among the vassals, with the chief steward leading the charge. He broke into a cold sweat as a flood of complaints assailed him from all sides.
* * *
“He's changed a great deal, just as you said.”
“Yes.”
Wang Cheon replied with a smile to Seon Hwa-yeon's quiet remark.
“Thankfully, it's for the better.”
“...Hmm, we shall see.”
At Wang Cheon's words, Seon Hwa-yeon watched Neung Un-bi being swamped by her vassals before finally nodding.
The Third Young Master, Neung Un-bi.
A disciple the Cult Leader had brought in from the outside.
Seon Hwa-yeon would never forget her astonishment upon first seeing him.
He possessed a natural genius for martial arts. But what was even more astounding was the way he trained.
He had the insight to grasp ten concepts when taught one, yet he refused to move on to the other nine until he had perfectly mastered that single one.
He knew how to build a solid foundation, even without being explicitly taught.
The Cult Leader had asked her to become his guardian, an offer she had only tentatively accepted.
Leaving herself an out to refuse at any time.
It was because of his sinister, secretive nature.
He never revealed his true self to anyone.
Thus, she had advised her son, Wang Cheon, who had become his personal guard, to dispense with formalities and treat him as an ordinary friend.
It had some effect, but his inherent nature did not change. After all, acting familiar is different from putting genuine feeling into one's words and actions.
In the end, she had deferred her decision.
How could she entrust the future of her family to someone she could not trust?
Furthermore, it had only been a year since he had awakened from a bout of qi deviation that had left him at death's door. She believed that even if his body recovered, he could not be expected to progress any further.
Then, astounding news had arrived.
He had passed the test, withstanding three of the Cult Leader's strikes.
She could vividly imagine the sour, twisted expression on the face of the Elder Council Head, Sama Hwi-mun, without even needing to see it.
It was truly astonishing. She had never imagined he would recover so quickly.
But the words Wang Cheon had delivered in a hurry the day before were nothing short of shocking.
The realm of Intent.
She had nearly screamed in the middle of the night.
He had reached the realm of Intent only a year after recovering from qi deviation?
At the tender age of eighteen?
She vaguely suspected the Cult Leader had lent a hand.
He had likely used the beating as a guise to help Neung Un-bi absorb the energy of the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill, which had been administered to save him from qi deviation.
However, that alone was not enough to ascend to the realm of Intent.
Enlightenment.
It required contemplation and deep thought on the martial path. For one who lacked enlightenment, internal energy was utterly useless.
But if he had truly reached the realm of Intent, he must have overcome that high wall on his own.
Still, the problem of his character weighed on her mind.
If he continued to grow as he was, he might become a Cult Leader of unparalleled strength, but he would never be able to unite the Demonic Cult.
The absence of trust that must exist between a leader and their followers.
He would likely never trust anyone with his back. No, no one would ever be willing to guard it for him.
However, Wang Cheon insisted he had changed.
So she had summoned him to see for herself.
They couldn't remain neutral forever.
Even if it wasn't Neung Un-bi, they had to choose one of the candidates.
After much deliberation, she had used the birthday gift as a pretext. And when she heard he wished to conceal his true abilities, she had offered him a secluded training chamber.
And now, she intended to observe the boy who had come.
To judge whether he was worthy of being entrusted with her family's future.
To see if he could withstand the threats he would inevitably face on his path to becoming the Cult Leader.
His unexpected arrival in a palanquin had broadcasted his ties to the Snow Mountain Manor to all opposing factions, but it mattered little.
Were she and the Snow Mountain Manor such easy targets?
Besides, if Neung Un-bi's skills proved unsatisfactory, it would not be too late to cast him out then.
With these thoughts, she had observed his transformation.
To her surprise, Neung Un-bi was indeed different, just as Wang Cheon had claimed.
He still seemed to be hiding something deep inside, but he had learned how to mingle naturally.
As he offered a toast to everyone, she sensed not his former sinister aura, but a clear presence—confident, yet capable of embracing others.
There was nothing unsatisfactory about his words or actions.
Should she consider this a pass, for now?
The Cult Leader had likely noticed this change in him as well.
That must be why he had overlooked the trouble Neung Un-bi had caused over the past year, even his ridiculous charade as a Taoist priest, and settled for a mere beating.
Now, all that remained was to confirm it with her own eyes.
*Thud.*
Seon Hwa-yeon set down her cup and rose from her seat.
“Huh? M-Matriarch?”
As her icy gaze fell upon him, Neung Un-bi, still suffering amongst the vassals, felt his eyes widen.
See? I knew this would happen.
She's obviously furious.
That icy glare, that sharp, chilling aura...
But that anger surely couldn't be directed at him.
The vassals were the ones doing all the badmouthing.
“Third Young Master.”
“Yes, Matriarch! But I only drank the wine they offered and nodded along!”
“...What are you talking about?”
“Pardon?”
“Haha, seeing the Third Young Master mingle so well makes this banquet all the more enjoyable. I find myself getting excited.”
“Pardon me?”
“What do you say? I hear you withstood three of the Cult Leader's strikes. How about joining me for a moment to liven up the festivities?”
“...”
Neung Un-bi blinked blankly as Seon Hwa-yeon, whom he had expected to be furious, spoke with a grin.
“Um, by that, do you mean... you want to fight me?”
“Fight? It is merely a light spar.”
“A spar?”
Seon Hwa-yeon nodded with a smile.
Lies. It's only a spar if the opponents are evenly matched.
This was clearly a beating disguised as a spar.
The vassals really had to go and run their mouths.
She was probably planning to take out her frustration with her vassals on him.
“...I decline.”
“Oh? Is that so? If you insist on spoiling the mood on such a fine day, perhaps we should forget about the birthday gift?”
“That's fine. I'm living in a hovel with Wang Cheon and have nothing to my name anyway... My master will understand my circumstances. And if he doesn't, I'll just take a beating from him and be done with it.”
As Neung Un-bi made his absolute refusal clear, Seon Hwa-yeon spoke, her smile never faltering.
“Hmm, then I suppose you won't be needing the secluded training chamber prepared exclusively for the Third Young Master.”
“...!”
Just as Seon Hwa-yeon stroked her chin with a smile, Neung Un-bi was already throwing open the doors to the main hall.
“What are you waiting for? It's cold out. Let's go!”
“...”
Seon Hwa-yeon let out a dry chuckle at Neung Un-bi's instantaneous change of heart.
What? Why?
He could give up anything else, but the secluded training chamber was non-negotiable.
That had been his goal from the very beginning.