Chapter 252
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 252
Chapter Title: What Proposal is That?
The moment they stepped out of the inn, Ha Mu-baek vanished.
Like he'd shot up into the sky, or sunk into the earth.
No trace of his presence could be felt anywhere.
As if he'd never existed in the first place.
But none of his companions were surprised.
They'd all come to know what kind of man Ha Mu-baek was over time.
Namgung Ji-hu took the lead.
And so, they headed toward the main gate of the Namgung Clan.
The gate guards recognized Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu at a glance.
They were stunned.
The siblings who should have been at the Dragon Training Pavilion had returned to the clan without any prior notice.
"Y-Young Master! Young Lady! How...?"
The guard squad leader rushed out in shock.
His voice trembled from the unexpected situation.
"We were escorting an esteemed guest who wished to visit our home."
Namgung Ji-hu replied calmly.
"An esteemed guest, you say?"
The squad leader tilted his head in confusion.
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu stepped slightly aside.
"This is Valley Lord Gong Son Mu-oe of Clear Stream Valley."
At Namgung Ji-hu's words, the squad leader's eyes widened in astonishment.
How could he not be?
The lord of one of the Eight New Sects.
For such a figure to appear alongside the Namgung Clan's young master and lady without any advance word.
It was only natural to be thrown off balance.
"Ah, I'll hurry inside and announce your arrival."
The squad leader bowed deeply and dashed inward.
Meanwhile, another guard guided the group inside.
They couldn't very well leave the Namgung Clan's young master and lady standing at the gate.
"I'll escort you to the reception hall myself."
At Namgung Ji-hu's words, the leading guard halted.
Thus, Namgung Ji-hu's group made their way into the Namgung Clan's inner compound without any hassle.
No one paid any mind to Namgung Hwi, Chu Dong, or Ma Jin-gi, who wore veiled hats.
They were simply seen as Gong Son Mu-oe's modest entourage.
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu led Gong Son Mu-oe to the finest room in the reception hall.
It was a chamber reserved for the heads of sects.
Gong Son Mu-oe certainly deserved such treatment, so the reception hall attendants followed Namgung Ji-hu's orders without question.
The one who arrived at the reception hall was Namgung Hwa-woo.
He had anticipated this visit.
Namgung Hwa-woo's movements were immediately reported to Namgung Hwa-hyeon via Namgung Hwa-jin.
"What?"
Namgung Hwa-hyeon's face was filled with clear bewilderment.
He had just heard the news of the Valley Lord's visit.
And that he had come with Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu, no less.
What connection could those kids possibly have?
And how had Namgung Hwa-woo known to head to the reception hall?
This report came from Namgung Hwa-jin.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon rose immediately and quickened his pace.
Why on earth had Clear Stream Valley's Valley Lord come to the Namgung Clan without notice?
No matter their differing factions within the Righteous Heaven Alliance, he was not someone to be slighted.
No righteous sect had gone through the last two wars without owing Clear Stream Valley a debt.
The Namgung Clan was no exception.
By the time Namgung Hwa-hyeon arrived at the reception hall, Namgung Hwa-woo was already chatting amiably with Gong Son Mu-oe, both smiling.
"It's an honor to meet you, Valley Lord Gong Son. I only just heard the news and am late. My apologies."
Namgung Hwa-hyeon hurried straight to Gong Son Mu-oe and offered his greetings.
Gong Son Mu-oe rose from his seat.
"It's an honor to meet you, Namgung Clan Head. This Gong Son Mu-oe barged in unannounced, so please don't trouble yourself. I'm deeply grateful for your warm welcome despite being an uninvited guest."
Courteous greetings that preserved each other's dignity.
They took their seats once more.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon's gaze shifted to Namgung Hwa-woo.
"What brings you here?"
"As Hocheon Corps Leader of the Alliance, I've come to pay my respects to the Valley Lord, brother."
"Aren't you on leave?"
"Even so, I couldn't very well use leave as an excuse when Clear Stream Valley's Valley Lord has graced us with his presence."
A flicker of displeasure crossed Namgung Hwa-hyeon's face before vanishing.
His eyes caught the three veiled figures, but he dismissed them at once.
He took them for Gong Son Mu-oe's attendants.
It was odd to see a one-armed man among them, but given Clear Stream Valley's renowned medical prowess, he assumed the man had received treatment there and now served in repayment.
Their auras weren't much different from ordinary folk, after all.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon's gaze turned to Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu.
"Why didn't you contact the clan before escorting such an important guest?"
His words were cold.
They hardly sounded like a father speaking to his children.
They were utterly impersonal.
"We were focused on attending to the Valley Lord and it slipped our minds. Our apologies."
"Tch."
Namgung Hwa-hyeon merely clicked his tongue at Namgung Ji-hu's apology.
"You've traveled far and must be weary. Please rest. We'll prepare a banquet this evening."
"Thank you once again for your hospitality."
Namgung Hwa-hyeon exchanged farewells with Gong Son Mu-oe and departed the reception hall.
He paused briefly, gazing back at it.
An inexplicable unease settled in his chest.
[Hwa-jin.]
[Yes, Clan Head.]
[Keep an eye on this place.]
[Understood.]
Namgung Hwa-hyeon instructed his subordinates to prepare a grand banquet.
Given the Valley Lord's visit, most of the clan's elders would need to attend.
It wasn't even lunchtime yet, but even starting now, time was tight.
After Namgung Hwa-hyeon left.
A short while passed.
"Hoo..."
Namgung Hwi let out a deep sigh.
It was laden with fury.
The moment Namgung Hwa-hyeon had arrived.
He had poured every ounce of effort into suppressing the rage and killing intent surging from his chest.
Every time that voice reached his ears.
He'd wanted nothing more than to draw his sword right then.
But he couldn't, so he held it back with all his might.
Hiding his aura was far easier by comparison.
He'd nearly lost control countless times.
Especially when he'd spoken those cold words to Namgung Ji-hu.
He'd almost charged out right then.
"Haa, haa."
Meanwhile, Chu Dong breathed heavily, tension finally easing.
She'd been on edge, fearing discovery by Namgung Hwa-hyeon at any moment.
"Heh heh. Then I'll take my leave and rest a bit. Hocheon Corps Leader, see you this evening."
"Yes. We'll withdraw now."
Just everyday chatter.
They knew surveillance had likely been set around the reception hall already.
After Namgung Hwa-woo departed.
"We'll take our leave as well."
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu also left the reception hall.
Four remained.
Using rest from the journey as an excuse, they retired to their rooms.
Chu Dong paced restlessly, still tense.
She kept drawing divinations repeatedly.
The results were always the same, so she had no choice but to trust them.
'Damn it. When the hell is my lifespan going to show up?'
The persistent fog around her personal fortunes filled her with anxiety.
She could only click her tongue over and over.
Namgung Hwi sank into quiet meditation.
To suppress his rage and killing intent, maintaining composure.
If he lost his calm and his sword tip wavered.
He might fail to strike down Namgung Hwa-hyeon.
In Namgung Hwi's mindscape, the Great Harmony Sword Method flowed steadily from start to finish.
Ultimately linking to the Imperial Sword Form.
A sword form he hadn't been taught but had comprehended on his own.
The waves' end aimed straight at Namgung Hwa-hyeon.
Ma Jin-gi calmly reviewed his ritual.
The rite of bloodline verification.
No simple ritual by any means.
It was something he'd barely gleaned from fragments of the divine book, so that was expected.
He confirmed the ritual's beginning and end once more, ensuring he could perform it anytime.
Gong Son Mu-oe simply rested.
His role was complete.
His illusory welcoming banquet.
That was Gong Son Mu-oe's part.
Setting the stage to expose Namgung Hwa-hyeon's ugliness.
What followed was up to Namgung Hwa-woo.
They had already discussed it via transmission before Namgung Hwa-hyeon's arrival.
'Ha Mu-baek. That guy's always dragging storms through the martial world. And he acts like it's nothing. Truly the eye of the typhoon.'
Gong Son Mu-oe smiled faintly, thinking of Ha Mu-baek.
He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"What's this? Why's a guy who should be at the Dragon Training Pavilion doing at the clan?"
The man who spotted Namgung Ji-hu and immediately picked a fight.
His cousin, Namgung Ji-rin.
Among the cousins, he was one with notable talent.
Yet he was always compared to Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu, never fully recognized for it.
He brimmed with inferiority.
"I have business."
"Hah. You didn't come to sneak a peek because you can't master the Imperial Sword Form properly?"
The requirement to become heir.
The Imperial Sword Form.
Currently, Namgung Ji-rin had the highest attainment in the Imperial Sword Form within the Namgung Clan.
That's why he smirked so confidently at Namgung Ji-hu.
Having trained it himself, he knew how difficult the Imperial Sword Form truly was.
Mastering it alone from a manual without guidance was impossible.
Namgung Ji-hu met Namgung Ji-rin's sneer with one of his own.
"Who knows? Heh."
It was as if he'd said nothing at all.
But just Namgung Ji-hu's smirk soured Namgung Ji-rin's mood.
"We'll see how long you keep acting so arrogant. You'd better prepare yourself once I become the heir."
Namgung Ji-rin glared at Namgung Ji-hu with eyes blazing in anger.
But Namgung Ji-hu merely met his glare with indifference.
Then continued on his way.
Namgung Ji-rin ground his teeth, glaring at the siblings' retreating backs.
"Damn brats..."
The cousins already knew.
That the clan head's favor had turned away from them.
That's why he was personally checking their Imperial Sword Form progress and urging them on.
Though they hadn't yet shown results worthy of his eyes.
Namgung Ji-rin was confident.
It wasn't their fault for being untalented.
It was because the Imperial Sword Form was a profoundly esoteric sword art.
The sun in the sky swiftly passed over the Namgung Clan.
Sunset was already beginning.
A maid visited the reception hall.
To escort Gong Son Mu-oe to the banquet.
Gong Son Mu-oe moved with his entourage.
The maid looked troubled for a moment.
She had likely been ordered to bring only Gong Son Mu-oe.
Still, she guided the entire group to the banquet hall.
The higher-ups would handle the rest.
She was just a maid, after all.
Upon arriving, many from the Namgung Clan were already gathered.
Drawn by word of Clear Stream Valley's Valley Lord.
Namgung Ji-rin was among them.
He'd only heard after parting from Namgung Ji-hu.
That those brats had brought such a guest.
It grated on him.
That the siblings had the chance to build ties with Clear Stream Valley's Valley Lord.
No one minded Gong Son Mu-oe arriving with attendants.
They simply exchanged greetings and sought to curry favor.
Thus, with everyone assembled, the banquet began.
Pleasant words flowed, warming the atmosphere further.
The delicacies were exquisite, the musicians' melodies soothing, and the fine liquors sweet.
As the mood ripened.
Namgung Hwa-yeong rose.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon's younger brother and Namgung Ji-rin's father.
"Haha, thanks to Clear Stream Valley's Valley Lord gracing us, we're enjoying this wonderful time. It's truly a joyous day. May I make a proposal to liven up the banquet further, as Namgung Hwa-yeong of the clan?"
His voice, infused with inner power, rang clearly in everyone's ears.
"What proposal is that?"
Namgung Hwa-hyeon's question.
"We have young ones training diligently in the Imperial Sword Form to become our heir. How about a spar between two of the standouts for the banquet's entertainment? Using the Imperial Sword Form they're practicing."
Interest lit up the faces of the Namgung clansmen.
A duel with the Imperial Sword Form.
From juniors just starting their training, no less.
Some direct descendants here had mastered the first half, while collaterals hadn't even glimpsed it.
Intriguing for both groups.
It could showcase the Namgung Clan's future, too.
Of course, this proposal came at Namgung Ji-rin's request to his father.
To humiliate Namgung Ji-hu publicly.
He knew "the two" meant the young master Namgung Ji-hu and himself, the most accomplished.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon's gaze turned to Gong Son Mu-oe.
"Is that acceptable to you, Valley Lord?"
"Heh heh. What an opportunity to broaden my horizons with the Namgung Clan's famed supreme sword art. I can only be grateful."
Gong Son Mu-oe chuckled heartily.
At his response, Namgung Hwa-hyeon's eyes shifted to the two.
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-rin.
"You two, come to the center."
The vast banquet hall had rectangular tables arranged in a square.
A wide open space lay at the center.
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-rin drew their swords at the clan head's command and took position there.