Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: A Flawed Blade
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In that case.
If youre doing this out of resentment for me, or for revenge against the Namgung family, then its useless
No.
An Baek shook his head firmly.
Resentment, revenge. Yes, it would be a lie to say I didnt have such feelings.
As he spoke, An Baeks sharp gaze swept over the scar on Namgung Mubaeks left cheek. Namgung Mubaek met his gaze, as if telling him to say what was on his mind.
Their eyes locked in mid-air.
Watching over the world that child will create. My sister would have wanted the same. I will stop wasting my time and do what I must.
Is that so
Leaving Namgung Mubaek, whose words trailed off, An Baek turned his head and spoke softly.
That child has changed. Youre watching everything anyway, arent you? You see him changing. Did you think I wouldnt know if you pretended otherwise? If you cant fulfill your role as a husband, at least be a proper father. That, too, is the duty of a family head.
Dont lock yourself away. If I hadnt met him, I would have remained an adult ignorant of the world.
And with that, An Baek opened the door and disappeared.
As Namgung Mubaek stared at An Baeks retreating back, his gaze was surprisingly different from the cold one he was known for.
Who is participating?
The order has been given for all young lords, except for the fifth, to participate.
Whose order is this?
The Family Heads.
Hah!
The middle-aged woman scoffed once and downed the cold tea on the table in a single gulp. As if that wasnt enough to quell her frustration, she pressed her temples firmly and spoke while looking at Black Tiger before her.
What happened with Gyeon? No! What is happening with him?!
The young master has just finished his training and gone to sleep.
Thats not what Im asking!
At her sharp tone, Black Tiger straightened his back and opened his mouth.
The Azure Sky Great Expansion Divine Art has settled within him, and it is believed he will soon reach the second star.
And compared to the second and third young lords?
If he continues to progress at this pace, he will by no means be lacking.
Clang!
The teacup was slammed onto the table, clashing loudly with the saucer.
Its not about being not lacking. Dont you understand he has to be overwhelmingly superior?
However, the fourth young master does not put in as much effort as his talent would suggest
Thats because the boy hasnt found his center yet, but isnt that something you, Black Tiger, should be properly managing?! Do I have to micromanage every single thing?
My apologies.
Bowing his head to the fourth young lords mother, Lady Pyeon, Black Tiger felt a stifling tightness grip his chest.
Whether she knew of his inner turmoil or not, she paid it no mind and continued speaking.
Well, isnt it a mothers duty and a parents love to make up for what my child lacks?
Yes.
So, Black Tiger.
Your orders, my lady.
Give these to the great young lord, and the second and third young lords, not that worthless fifth one.
Rising from her seat, Lady Pyeon retrieved several manuals from under her bed and placed them on the table. Black Tigers expression changed drastically as he looked at them.
What are these?
Theyre manuals. Cant you tell by looking?
Who wouldnt know they were manuals? He had asked again because the weight of the four characters written on them was immeasurably heavy.
Imperial Sword Form.
Thats right. A martial art that the men of the Namgung family cant resist learning, or so I hear. Perhaps?
Lady Pyeons eyes narrowed as her lips twisted into a smirk. At her expression, Black Tiger was about to be mesmerized into reading the manual in his hand, but he quickly snapped back to his senses and put it down. Then he shook his head.
You must not, my lady.
At his words, Lady Pyeons expression sharpened.
What do you mean?
This is a punishable offense. This must be a distorted version of the sword art.
He had tried to stop her from giving the Great Expansion Art manual to the fifth young lord, and Black Tiger had been greatly tormented by the fact that she had eventually tried to commit the act through the fourth young lord. And now, she was plotting such a scheme again.
For the person he served to be perpetrating something so malicious and unthinkable it had to be stopped.
Hmph! As you know, the Imperial Sword Form is a sword art that can only be learned after becoming the family head.
That is correct.
When our Gyeon becomes the head, those boys wont ever get to learn the Imperial Sword Form. They should be grateful to me for even getting a taste of it like this.
It was an absurd rationalization.
But seeing the look in Lady Pyeons eyes, it was clear that no matter what Black Tiger said, not a single word would get through to her. As he vehemently expressed his opposition, insisting that this time it was absolutely unacceptable, Lady Pyeon spoke softly.
Then theres no choice. If you wont do it, Ill have to make Gyeon do it himself.
Black Tiger lowered his head, his face a mask of despair. A faint smile touched Lady Pyeons lips as she watched him.
He wouldnt be able to refuse. That was the kind of man Black Tiger was.
Having saved a dying Black Tiger by chance and received his oath of loyalty, Lady Pyeon recalled his firm and unwavering allegiance, a man who never forgot a debt of gratitude, alongside his martial prowess.
He was a suitable sword to protect and assist the fourth young lord from the shadows, a perfect fit to compensate for his shortcomings, but now it was time to settle the score.
The Sword Family Assembly she knew was by no means a small event. As such, the moment other young lords began to stand out, shifts in power would inevitably occur, and there would be significant movements as people scrambled to secure their own interests.
If her own son wasnt skilled enough to shine, the only other way was to bring down the other candidates.
That was Lady Pyeons way of loving her child.
Black Tiger decided to leave.
He would hide away in the deep, secluded mountains and valleys, never to return to the martial world.
He would live the rest of his life atoning for the deeds he had committed.
Lady Pyeon had skillfully used her influence as the mistress of the house, especially knowing how to leverage her position.
Thanks to her, delivering the Imperial Sword Form manuals to the first, second, and third young lords respectively was not a difficult task.
Though he successfully carried out his role thanks to Lady Pyeon, who had their every move mapped out, Black Tiger could not endure the indelible humiliation and self-loathing, and returned to his chambers.
The dreary room that greeted him felt like a reprimand, and he couldn't bear it. He took out a bottle of liquor he had brought and began to gulp it down.
How long had it been since hed had a drink?
How long had it been since hed chugged alcohol, something he hadnt touched since he first took up the sword?
The tightness in his chest felt like a heated stone had been placed there, and the burning in his throat seemed to mirror the state of his heart.
By the time three or four empty bottles were rolling around his room, he could see the first light of dawn breaking through the window.
I must leave.
He took off the black martial uniform he had received from Lady Pyeon, folded it neatly on his bed, and changed into the tattered uniform he had worn before setting foot in the Namgung family.
The faint smell of blood still lingered, but it didn't matter.
He had no luggage to pack. No, there was one thing.
The nameplate with the character for Black that identified him. As he was searching for it, he suddenly remembered.
The Great Young Lord
Right. He had given it to the Great Young Lord.
Muttering to himself, Black Tiger let out a deep sigh, a torrent of regret welling within him.
They had faced each other for less than a quarter of an hour.
And yet.
They had clashed, however briefly, with sword and fist. Through that, he could feel it.
Thats how it was between men.
The Great Young Lords efforts were not in vain, and whatever the so-called good-for-nothing was hiding, the world was being deceived.
And on top of that, there was the Iron-Blood Sword Saint, An Baek, who had publicly declared himself as his backer.
Black Tiger did not take the Iron-Blood Sword Saints change of heart and public declaration to stand behind the Great Young Lord as a simple matter. He believed the time had come.
That was why.
His regret was even deeper.
But what could he do?
It was already too late.
He felt sorry for the Great Young Lord, but that nameplate would become meaningless.
He would leave and never return.
As he thought this and opened the door.
And where might you be going?
A boys face suddenly appeared before him. The one with a mischievous smile was none other than.
Judging by your appearance, you look like youre running away in a hurry.
Great Great Young Lord?
It was the Great Young Lord.
And what kind of etiquette is it to toss something like this as a gift and then just leave?
Seeing the Great Young Lord holding up the fluttering manuals, Black Tiger squeezed his eyes shut. It wasn't just one manual, but all three were in the young lord's hands. The manuals he had received from Lady Pyeon. Staring at the Great Young Lord, who had figured it out in less than a day, Black Tiger hung his head.
Dont worry.
The Great Young Lord looked Black Tiger straight in the eye and spoke.
Im probably the only one who knows you did it.
How did you know?
At the question, the Great Young Lord shrugged as if it were nothing.
Did you really think a ten-year-old brat could have planned such a foolish thing on his own? No, theres no way.
The Great Young Lord murmured.
He said he realized it after seeing Namgung Gyeon.
Though filled with jealousy and envy for his brothers, he wasnt clever enough to devise a meticulous plan and act on it.
The conclusion is simple. Whos backing that punk? It had to be someone pulling strings from behind a skirt.
At those words, Black Tigers eyes trembled.
You tracked me down with just that one clue?
It wasnt difficult.
Black Tiger let out a short breath of admiration, followed by a sigh.
The world was truly being deceived. The Great Young Lords cunning was far too advanced to be attributed to a fifteen-year-old boy.
But as if that didnt matter, the Great Young Lord spoke.
Besides, you lost a bet to me and even gave me a token. What kind of crappy etiquette is it to just run away like this? Did you skip out on your service?
His half-formal tone had now naturally shifted to informal speech, but Black Tiger didnt notice.
S-Service, you say?
The Great Young Lords expression faltered for a moment, and he let out a dry cough.
Ahem. Anyway.
The Great Young Lord dangled the token from his hand as he spoke.
Pay for your sins. Not by running away.
He said it with a dead serious expression.
Black Tigers face instinctively hardened.