Chapter 70
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The Protagonist is Namgung Urin
Ha Usin, the Sect Leader of the Cheonjung Sect, asked again.
“Does ‘overturning’ mean unifying the martial world?”
“Not quite. Didn’t I tell you? I wish for the martial world to stand upright.”
“Are you saying you’ll clean it up? Do you think that’s even possible, and you’ve dragged us into this? No, not everyone here is clean. Ah, except for the Namgung and the Iron Blood Sect, of course.”
This time, Namgung Yul stepped forward.
“That is why we propose to start by cleaning up our own Anhui. We haven't gathered here hoping to change the martial world overnight. Nor do we desire a perfectly righteous martial world. The meaning is to create a martial world that is at least true to itself. Yes! Of course, even that won't be easy. But, believe in yourselves. You can do it! And look. Beside me, the Baekri Family is also striving to do so. Therefore, all of you can do it too.”
Everyone nodded.
It wasn't a nod agreeing to strive to become clean.
Nor was it a nod agreeing to overturn and cleanse the martial world.
The simmering ambition of martial artists.
The blood-boiling ambition of the people of the martial world was what was nodding.
To cleanse the martial world, one must become strong, and with strength, one can rule over the martial world.
One gains fame, power, and authority.
They were nodding their heads to walk that path.
The desire to look down upon the martial world made them nod.
And so, Anhui was truly on the verge of becoming one, just as Namgung Urin intended.
Seeing the looks in the eyes of those gathered in the banquet hall, Jang Gae was dumbfounded.
‘A fearsome fellow.’
He predicted this?
At the age of nineteen?
Jang Gae looked at Namgung Yul.
As if to say, your nephew is truly remarkable.
‘So it’s really happening like this.’
Jang Gae and Namgung Yul were not ignorant of how terrifying the spark of ambition could be. But they had thought someone among this large group would object, yet everyone's reaction was overwhelmingly positive.
No.
It wasn't just positive; their eyes were burning with fervor, as if they were newcomers to the martial world. How utterly astounding.
In conclusion.
All of Anhui was dancing in the palm of Namgung Urin's hand.
* * *
Meanwhile.
The banquet hall where the direct descendants of each sect and the tournament participants had gathered was, unlike the leaders' hall, filled with a warm and friendly atmosphere.
The Young Lord of the Baekri Family, Baekri Jang-won, was masterfully leading the mood with his eloquent speech, making it very lively. This was also because Baekri Jang-won was the chairman of the Anhui Youth Association.
Everyone was drinking and chatting merrily. Someone asked Baekri Jang-won in a loud voice.
“Chairman! But why hasn't the Namgung Young Lord arrived yet?”
Baekri Jang-won replied with a pleasant laugh.
“That fellow is such a show-off, he'll probably make a late entrance like the main character. I hope you all understand.”
Everyone laughed loudly at Baekri Jang-won's words. And they all began to see Baekri Jang-won in a new light. He was handsome and spoke with refreshing candor.
And despite having knelt to the Namgung Young Lord in the tournament, wasn't he bold enough to call him 'this fellow, that fellow'?
“What will you do if the Namgung Young Lord hits you for that?!”
“Hahaha. Don't worry. I may not look it, but I can take a punch. Hahaha.”
Everyone roared with laughter, finding it amusing.
Just then, Namgung Urin was entering the banquet hall. Baekri Jang-won didn't miss it.
“Speak of the devil. There, the protagonist you've all been waiting for has graced us with his presence.”
All eyes turned to Namgung Urin.
It's only natural for all eyes to be on the protagonist.
Namgung Urin was indeed stepping into the hall like a true protagonist, radiating a dazzling light.
Stagger.
Stagger.
Dazzled by Namgung Urin's brilliant face, women here and there found their legs giving way, causing them to stumble.
‘Oh my…!’
‘Ah…’
‘Dear heavens…’
The women gathered in the hall were all at a loss for words. The rumors of his handsomeness were widespread.
So they had been curious about just how handsome he was.
Some women had even seen circulated portraits of Namgung Urin. But they hadn't believed them.
But…
Seeing him in person… no, beholding him…
‘In person…’
He was even better.
No, it was beyond description. The portraits had failed to capture the entirety of Namgung Urin's face.
A woman fidgeting in her seat, a woman with her mouth agape, unaware of the drool trickling down, a woman shedding tears of overwhelming emotion.
They each expressed their awe for Namgung Urin's face in their own unique ways.
To the point where one would doubt if that was truly the face of a human.
‘Haaah.’
‘How…’
‘Damn it.’
The men were letting out sighs bordering on despair.
It wasn't because they were overshadowed by the reputation of 'Namgung', which had maintained its status as the greatest under heaven for nearly a century, nor was it because they were outmatched by the martial prowess that had easily defeated the Young Lord of the Baekri Family before he had even reached adulthood.
They had simply been subjugated by that ridiculously handsome face.
By a face alone.
It was truly no different from a wondrous sorcery.
Namgung Urin, merely by showing his face, had instantly captivated the rising generation of Anhui, the protagonists of the future.
Namgung Urin was walking toward the center of the hall where Baekri Jang-won stood. A path naturally opened in the crowded space.
How dare anyone block the path when a face of untouchable beauty was passing by!
Namgung Urin arrived in front of Baekri Jang-won, who was standing in the center of the hall.
“Is the explanation over?”
It was the same explanation given at the leaders' banquet, but with various things hidden. Namgung Urin had been waiting for that long, tedious explanation to end.
Since the ideas had come from his own mind, there was no need for him to listen.
“Yeah. The gist of it. They'll learn the details slowly over time.”
“Right.”
“But did you really have to make such a flashy entrance? Ugh. It's so cringey.”
“What can I do if I'm this amazing?”
“Yeah, yeah, you're so great.”
“Yes, I am great. And you're beneath me.”
In looks, martial skill, and height.
“Ugh, you're insufferable.”
Just then, Zhuge Siyeon, who had been watching from a corner of the hall, chimed in.
“You weren't much different yourself, you punk.”
Until Namgung Urin appeared, hadn't Baekri Jang-won also been enjoying being the center of attention in the banquet hall?
Baekri Jang-won's bright face lit up even more upon seeing Zhuge Siyeon.
“It's been a while, my lady. Where have you been all this time?”
“Hiding. Why.”
“You should have looked for me. I would have kept you entertained.”
“As if.”
‘He was too busy flirting with the other women.’
That wasn't it.
He had only exchanged simple pleasantries with the women who approached him. In fact, Baekri Jang-won had spent more time talking with the men.
In truth, Zhuge Siyeon had no reason to come early to a banquet hall where even Namgung Urin was absent, yet she had arrived well ahead of time.
Zhuge Siyeon herself might deny it, but she had unconsciously come to the banquet early to see Baekri Jang-won.
Baekri Jang-won spoke again.
“How about tonight?”
“…Tonight?”
“Surely you haven't forgotten? I won our last bet. As my prize, you agreed to have a drink with me.”
Strangely, she hadn't forgotten.
No, she couldn't forget. If she had been spending time with Namgung Urin, she would have long forgotten such a trivial promise, but Zhuge Siyeon's time at the Namgung Family had been loneliness itself.
“Did that happen? I don't remember… Ah! Now I remember. What? You were petty enough to still remember that?”
“It's not that I'm petty, it's that I could never forget the chance to drink with you, my lady.”
“Hmph.”
Baekri Jang-won asked again.
“So, how about tonight?”
“We're drinking together right now.”
As it was a banquet hall, both Baekri Jang-won and Zhuge Siyeon were holding cups of wine.
“Just the two of us, I mean.”
“Hmph!”
Zhuge Siyeon turned away with a coy expression and left the spot.
But Baekri Jang-won's mouth didn't stay shut.
“Then, I'll take that as a yes!”
Namgung Urin gave Baekri Jang-won a strange look.
“What?”
“You like her? You like that personality?”
“Why? Are you jealous?”
“Oh, please. You like her that much?”
“Think whatever you want. Now go and entertain them.”
He said, gesturing to the people who were staring only at Namgung Urin.
“You're the chairman, you do it.”
Wasn't that why he'd made him the chairman in the first place?
“If you want to handle them as you please, you have to make a move. It won't work if I do it.”
True, that was a good point. That's why he had shown his face at the banquet, after all.
“It's a pain. Such a pain in the ass.”
Namgung Urin grumbled but still turned toward the crowd waiting for him.
Baekri Jang-won chuckled.
When you get to know him, he's not a bad guy.
“Ah, weren't there no bad guys in the Namgung Family?”
No, that guy is just crazy.
Crazily handsome.
Insanely strong.
He's a guy overflowing with a crazy charm that drives people mad in various ways.
Baekri Jang-won, too, had been finding life enjoyable lately. His father, persuaded by him, had apologized to the Namgung Family. Because of that, his father's mindset had changed, and by extension, the Baekri Family was also changing.
And Baekri Jang-won was now able to live the life in the martial world he had always wanted.
All of this.
“is thanks to that crazy bastard…”
No.
People tend to get carried away when praised. If you dance without a care, you might misstep…
Right, I should refrain from praising that guy.
If that crazy bastard missteps… an accident is bound to happen.
Besides.
There's no need to praise him. He already knows how great he is.
How utterly infuriating.
* * *
The leaders' banquet hall, which had been serious and heavy, brightened up again. Everyone's mood improved, filled with dreams and hopes.
But one person could not.
Jang Yeo, the Grand Elder of the Iron Blood Sect, asked the Sect Leader, Han Seo-hui.
“Is something on your mind?”
“Pardon? About what?”
Grand Elder Jang Yeo grinned as if to say, ‘Why are you feigning ignorance?’
“About the Namgung Young Lord, of course.”
“Ah, no.”
“Of course you are. It's written all over your face, Sect Leader.”
Thinking of Namgung Urin surrounded by countless women, Sect Leader Han Seo-hui couldn't help but feel concerned.
Even though she knew worrying wouldn't change anything.
“I-Is that so?”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Grand Elder Jang Yeo fully understood Sect Leader Han Seo-hui's feelings. She, too, had once longed for a loved one.
“Believe in yourself, Sect Leader, and put your mind at ease.”
“I'm trying, but it's not easy. I even promised myself I wouldn't be like this.”
She could also guess what kind of feelings those were.
“Sect Leader.”
“Yes.”
“If… just if, the Young Lord's heart were to change, there is a way to live on, cherishing those memories as if they were real.”
Although such a thing should never happen.
But as they say, you can fathom ten fathoms of water, but not a single fathom of the human heart.
So, you never know.
“Is there such a thing?”
“Yes, there is.”
Grand Elder Jang Yeo had thought thousands, tens of thousands of times, how wonderful it would have been if she had done so herself.
“Please tell me.”
The Grand Elder told Sect Leader Han Seo-hui via voice transmission.
At that, the Sect Leader's eyes went wide as saucers.
“W-What?”
The Grand Elder let out an amused laugh.
The Sect Leader spoke again.
“…Not yet… and how could I…”
“Considering your age, Sect Leader, you're already late. And in this day and age, what does it matter if you're a man or a woman?”
“…Still…”
Sect Leader Han Seo-hui's face flushed red like a shy young girl's.