Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Call Him Brother
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Geolgae, whose eyes were already bruised black and blue, let out a long breath as if he had just escaped hell.
*'My lord, thank you!'*
Geolgae believed the reason Namgung Urin's fists had stopped was because of his master, the Sect Leader.
In the distance, an infuriated Lady Yeonhwa, the Namgung Family Head Namgung Yul—who was looking around at the distant mountains as if out for a stroll—and the Beggars' Sect Leader Jang Gae, his shoulders slumped, were approaching with reluctant steps.
Merchant Guild Leader Seo Ju-on was utterly bewildered.
And why wouldn't he be?
To see Jang Gae, the leader of the Beggars' Sect—which handled a vast amount of information in the Central Plains—and one of the Ten Great Masters of the realm, right before his eyes.
But how bewildering it was to see that very man's disciple with his eyes bruised black and blue.
And next to him was the head of the Namgung Family—a family that, though fallen, could not be ignored.
The Merchant Guild Leader's head bowed so low it went beyond mere politeness.
"To see the Sect Leader here..."
Just then, Lady Yeonhwa's sharp voice cut through.
"Which beggar bastard?! Huh?! Which beggar bastard turned my precious son into such a ruffian?!"
The mouths of the Guild Leader, Seo I-ryeong, and Seo I-on fell open.
*'He is a beggar, but...'*
The problem was that he was an extraordinary beggar.
Only then did Lady Yeonhwa notice Geolgae, his eyes bruised black and blue.
He looked like the most pitiful high-ranking beggar she had ever seen.
"...Urin, did you do that?"
"Yes, Mother."
"As expected of my son. You handle everything so well on your own. But you look a little disappointed?"
Listening from the side, the eyes of the Guild Leader, Seo I-ryeong, and his son, Seo I-on, trembled like aspen leaves.
*'...Disappointed with that mess...'*
Namgung Urin, thinking, *That's my mother for you*, immediately cast aside his tension.
"I stopped because I saw you coming, Mother."
"Did you? It seems I interrupted. Don't mind us, go on and finish what you were doing."
"Will that be alright?"
After all, wasn't Geolgae's master, the leader of the Beggars' Sect, standing right there?
Namgung Urin, who was only a ruffian by reputation and not in reality, considered Jang Gae's dignity.
"It's fine. Don't worry and finish him off."
"Understood."
Just then, a faint voice escaped the lips of the pitiful high-ranking beggar, Geolgae.
"Sect Leader..."
His eyes were pleading, desperately begging to be saved.
However.
The Beggars' Sect Leader responded with a dry cough and simply gazed at the distant mountains.
"Ahem."
It was a clear sign that it was better for Geolgae to be humiliated than for the Sect Leader to lose face here.
*'Damn it all!'*
The pitiful high-ranking beggar Geolgae could do nothing but squeeze his eyes shut.
"Aaaaaaah!"
* * *
Gulp.
The Merchant Guild Leader swallowed nervously.
In the Guild Leader's office, Seo Ju-on, Seo I-ryeong, the Beggars' Sect Leader Jang Gae, the Anhui Branch Leader Geolgae, the Namgung Family Head Namgung Yul, Lady Yeonhwa, and finally, Namgung Urin were all gathered.
Ever since becoming the leader of the Hoyeon Merchant Guild, this was the first time Seo Ju-on had ever found himself so carefully watching someone's mood.
He couldn't help it.
Weren't even the leader of the Beggars' Sect, one of the Ten Great Masters of the realm, and the head of the Namgung Family unable to utter a peep, watching the mood of that one person?
So, how could he, a mere merchant guild leader, not be wary of Lady Yeonhwa?
Guild Leader Seo Ju-on knew who Lady Yeonhwa was. She was the daughter of the leader of the Hangyeol Merchant Guild, was she not?
It was impossible not to know.
Furthermore, she was the wife of Namgung Hyeok, the former head of the Namgung Family.
What he had never dreamed of, however, was that Lady Yeonhwa's power was so great it could cow those two formidable men.
Lady Yeonhwa spoke.
"Isn't it true that this whole affair grew so large because my Urin got involved in the Hoyeon Merchant Guild's business?"
"We merely... were unaware of the Young Lord's identity..."
Lady Yeonhwa cut him off with a glare.
"I've heard enough of that. Guild Leader, you need not worry."
"Thank you."
The Guild Leader was on edge, afraid the blame would fall on the Hoyeon Merchant Guild.
Lady Yeonhwa continued.
"It seems you've all misunderstood me."
Lady Yeonhwa was clearly the one who had created this tense atmosphere.
And now she was talking about a misunderstanding...
"I think it's a very good thing that this matter has grown so large. Isn't it all thanks to my Urin's excellent work?"
"Ahem."
"Hmph."
There's a limit to boasting about one's child.
Namgung Yul and Jang Gae looked utterly dumbfounded.
"Urin, you did well. But you're confident you can do even better, right?"
"Yes, Mother. Don't worry."
Geolgae, the swelling on his face having subsided a little, spoke with a serious tone.
"Well... from what I've gathered... the Young Lord of the Baekri Family has become incredibly strong after returning from a five-year absence. I don't think you should take this duel lightly."
Jang Gae shifted in his seat and asked.
"Is that true?"
"Yes, Sect Leader. I heard he defeated the leader of the Hwahwa Sword Brigade with ease."
The Hwahwa Sword Brigade was comprised of the weakest martial artists in the Baekri Family. But its leader was by no means weak. He was, after all, a brigade leader of the Baekri Family.
The Hwahwa Sword Brigade's leader was a master at the peak of his powers.
This time, Namgung Yul, his expression now somewhat grave, spoke up.
"Is that true? He really defeated the leader of the Hwahwa Sword Brigade with ease?"
"Yes. That's what I heard."
"Urin. It seems you shouldn't take this lightly."
Namgung Yul had a rough idea of the Hwahwa Sword Brigade leader's strength. That was why he was worried.
"I'm not taking it lightly."
Reading the expression on Namgung Yul's face, Lady Yeonhwa stepped in.
"Is he a difficult opponent for Urin to defeat?"
"Yes, Sister-in-law. I also thought Urin would win without much trouble, but if what this fellow says is true... I can no longer guarantee the outcome."
Lady Yeonhwa looked at her son with very worried eyes.
"Urin."
"Don't worry, Mother. This duel won't be anything for you to worry about. Please trust me."
Lady Yeonhwa spoke to her son, her expression filled with delight.
"My son... you're really all grown up."
"Ahem."
"Hmph."
The Beggars' Sect Leader Jang Gae and the Namgung Family Head Namgung Yul coughed dryly, as if to say, how is a childless man supposed to endure such a display?
Seizing the opportunity, Merchant Guild Leader Seo Ju-on spoke cautiously.
"In all the confusion, my daughter has not yet had a chance to greet you. What are you doing? Hurry and pay your respects."
Seo I-ryeong rose gracefully from her seat and offered a deeply respectful greeting to Lady Yeonhwa, Namgung Yul, and Jang Gae.
"Greetings. I am Seo I-ryeong, the second daughter of the Hoyeon Merchant Guild's leader."
Only then did Seo I-ryeong catch Lady Yeonhwa's eye.
"Oh my! How can someone be so beautiful! The phrase 'a beauty that could topple nations' fits you perfectly!"
The Guild Leader, looking proud, spoke to Lady Yeonhwa.
"What do you think of my daughter, my lady?"
"She is truly beautiful. It seems you've raised your daughter even better than you've raised your merchant guild. Hahaha."
"Is that so? Hahaha. I think she would be a fine match for the Young Lord here."
"Oh my. It is truly kind of you to think so."
Marrying his daughter into the fallen Namgung Family was no easy decision.
However.
"Our family is not in a position to be thinking of such things."
They had no time to think of romance or marriage when they should be wholly focused on revenge.
*'Ah!'*
As the leader of the Hoyeon Merchant Guild, he had never made such a mistake... but with such a massive chunk of profit dangling before his eyes, he had slipped up without realizing it.
In the Guild Leader's eyes, Namgung Urin was a hero who would one day command the martial world.
No, he was certain of it.
That was why.
He wanted to monopolize the incredible talent that was Namgung Urin.
"I see. I was too hasty. My apologies."
"Not at all. It just means you think highly of my son."
"No. Anyone would have thought the same as I. That is why I hope you will give me a chance to make up for my mistake."
"Please, speak."
"The Hoyeon Merchant Guild would like to offer its unwavering support until the day the Namgung Family reclaims its former glory. Would you grant the Hoyeon Merchant Guild such an opportunity?"
It wasn't all because of Namgung Urin.
Who would have known?
That the Namgung Family was so close with Jang Gae, the leader of the Beggars' Sect and one of the Ten Great Masters, that they could interact so informally!
Had he known sooner, the Hoyeon Merchant Guild would not have hesitated to offer its support, no matter how fallen the Namgung Family was.
That was the way of a merchant.
Immediate profit was good, but one had to be able to see the bigger picture. That was how the Hoyeon Merchant Guild had come to be what it was today.
The Beggars' Sect Leader Jang Gae spoke.
"Guild Leader, you're a shrewd businessman. Hahaha."
Namgung Yul, as the head of the Namgung Family, also added a word.
"If the Hoyeon Merchant Guild supports our Namgung Family, we could ask for nothing more."
Lady Yeonhwa delivered the final word.
"On one condition: there must be no strings attached."
"There are no conditions. Simply being able to have the name 'Hoyeon Merchant Guild' stand alongside the Namgung Family would be more than enough."
"In that case, we accept. Thank you."
Lady Yeonhwa's face lit up. The more money, the better, was it not?
Merchant Guild Leader Seo Ju-on's face was also bright.
It was a situation that benefited everyone.
"Not at all. Rather, I am the one who should be grateful. Hahaha. On such a fine day, allow me to treat you to a fine meal. Now, shall we go?"
And so, everyone began to move to a new location in high spirits.
The Guild Leader politely stepped aside, gesturing for them to go first.
"After you, my lady."
"No, Guild Leader, you go first. I have something to discuss with my son for a moment."
"If you insist, I will go first."
And so, Jang Gae, Namgung Yul, Seo Ju-on, and Seo I-ryeong left the office first.
Next, Geolgae started to move.
Hadn't Lady Yeonhwa said she had something to discuss with Namgung Urin? Geolgae, who was exceptionally perceptive, tried to make a swift exit.
But...
Lady Yeonhwa's lips parted.
"Branch Leader, you stay for a moment as well."
"...For what reason..."
"Branch Leader."
"...Yes, my lady."
*'Damn it.'*
He had a bad feeling.
It seemed that the beating he'd just received from Namgung Urin wasn't quite enough for her.
Surely she wasn't going to tell him to get hit again... was she?
"I know you've been working hard for our Namgung Family. It's something I'm very grateful for."
"Oh, not at all..."
"Don't interrupt me."
"...Ah, yes."
"And from now on, please think of our Urin as your own younger brother. Don't turn him into a ruffian like you did this time."
*'Phew.'*
What a relief.
Geolgae was flooded with relief that it ended with just a word of advice.
"Yes, my lady. I will take it to heart."
"And you, Urin."
"Yes, Mother."
"Even if you are a man of the martial world, you must still have manners. The Branch Leader is much your senior. So, you should treat him as an older brother and serve him with respect."
"...Mother...?"
"Call the Branch Leader 'Brother'."
"..."
Listening from the side, Geolgae's eyes widened like saucers.
*'She's insane!'*
Is she... trying to get me killed...?
"What are you waiting for? Go on, call him 'Brother'."
Namgung Urin's mouth slowly began to open.