Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: My Proud Little Brother
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A short distance east from Akhan County, home to the Heaven-Covering Baek Clan, lay Aksu County.
This was the seat of the South Heaven Martial Hall, one of the top three powers in all of Muju.
"First Seat Uncle. What do you think we should do about this?"
The main hall of the South Heaven Martial Hall was filled with the hall master and all the senior experts one might call the hall's heavyweights.
The reason they had gathered to rack their brains was a letter sent from the Baek Clan Manor of Akhan County—no, now known as the Heaven-Covering Baek Clan.
"Who would've thought the Heaven-Covering Baek Clan would request advancing the sparring match by half a year."
"I'm sorry, Father."
The young hall master, present as the main party involved, bowed his head with a sullen expression.
"Enough. Who could have foreseen things turning out this way?"
"Indeed, Young Hall Master. Even I praised you when we first agreed to the sparring half a year ago."
Everyone defended the young hall master. Still, that didn't make the immediate problem disappear.
"If we'd known it would come to this, we never should have granted them a full year's time."
"You're telling me."
"Who could've guessed the Baek Clan Manor would become the Heaven-Covering Baek Clan in a mere half year?"
When they'd first agreed to the sparring, the Baek Clan Manor had been just one of Muju's three major powers, alongside the Frost Moon Sect and the South Heaven Martial Hall.
That had certainly been the case...
"To swallow Nanchang—a city two or three times the size of Muju—in a single bite."
"And they even secured a plausible justification, along with fame exceeding that."
The Heaven-Covering Baek Clan's ascension a few months prior was still shaking the entire martial world of Jiangxi.
It was inevitable.
A righteousness that sacrificed the small for the greater good.
A will to protect all the people without bending.
Wasn't that the ideal image of chivalry every righteous warrior dreamed of?
"...To be honest, I'm envious."
"Sigh. Me too."
Among Muju's three powers, the South Heaven Martial Hall was by far the weakest.
Unlike the Heaven-Covering Baek Clan and Frost Moon Sect, each boasting two or three peak experts, the South Heaven Martial Hall had only its hall master at the peak level.
It was only natural, in a way.
Unlike martial clans or sects, the South Heaven Martial Hall was just what its name implied—a martial hall.
It made its living by teaching martial arts for pay.
With its students scattered across Jiangxi, its network of connections was as dense as a spider's web, but in terms of raw military might, it was inevitably at a disadvantage.
"We planned to win the sparring and demand that the Baek Clan's son study under our hall as the wager's price."
"Now, even if we win, we can't make such a demand."
"Exactly. And with the Namgung Clan's young clan leader among the observers, no less."
The relations between the Baek Clan and Namgung Clan could hardly be called good, but these people didn't know that.
To outward appearances, it looked like the Baek Clan—which had grown far beyond its former size—now had the Namgung Clan's backing.
"That's not all. A monk from Shaolin and the young lady of the Zhuge Clan are also observing the sparring..."
"It's impossible. There's no way we can handle this."
At this point, they were even wondering if the South Heaven Martial Hall should wisely pack up and relocate.
Abandoning Aksu County, where they'd lived for generations, was absurd, of course.
"In any case, the Baek Clan has drawn their sword."
"Probably. They're even bringing the Frost Moon Sect's younger generation to the sparring."
"By scaling up the event like this, they're clearly using it as a stepping stone to seize control of Muju."
Unable to bear the deepening gloom, the young hall master shouted with a resolute expression.
"Father. And Masters. Though I am lacking, I will surely win! And with victory, I'll demand coexistence with the Baek Clan as the wager's price!"
In truth, the young hall master's victory was the South Heaven Martial Hall's only lifeline.
At the very least, it would allow them to request no harsh measures be taken.
"We believe in you, Young Hall Master."
"Well said, my son."
But what they truly worried about was what came after.
"Even victory might not end the crisis."
"The martial world has ever been ruled by the strong. No one can predict how the Baek Clan, now in the position of strength, will act."
"They've proclaimed heavenly chivalry, so they probably won't cross the line..."
"Righteousness can easily turn to arrogance. They might claim it's for a greater good and take full control of Muju."
"Well said."
None of them had ever met the Baek Clan's clan leader or its seniors.
The only Baek Clan member they'd encountered was the young second young master, Baek Heon-so.
That alone fueled their worries and unease.
The martial world could be a brutally ruthless place at times.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Three days passed, and a sparring platform was erected in the center of the Heaven-Covering Baek Clan's compound.
It was early evening. Yang-hui, who had been overseeing the banquet preparations, spotted Namgung Cheon-hu approaching with a few attendants and went to greet him.
"You've come out already, Namgung Young Hero?"
"I got bored staying in the guest quarters."
"It'll be very entertaining soon enough, so please bear with it just a bit longer."
'It really will be entertaining. Thanks to you, I'm looking forward to quite a show myself.'
"You make it sound exciting. Your brother is fifteen, right?"
"Yes. From what I know, he's around the same age as your younger brother, Namgung Young Hero."
"Same age group, then. Though... age is just a number, as they say."
Namgung Cheon-hu's eyes scanned the Baek Clan retainers working here and there.
Then his gaze shifted to the Heavenly Sword Brigade members accompanying him.
"As you say, I hope it's entertaining. I'm not sure if it can satisfy the eyes of this young clan leader, raised in the Namgung Clan."
He could say with certainty.
"You'll be satisfied."
"You have quite the confidence in your brother. Seems you two have a strong sibling bond."
"My little brother is adorable and always listens to his big brother."
"He must be. A little brother who follows his elder is bound to be cute."
'Didn't expect this guy to say something like that.'
It was a bit unexpected. He'd thought Namgung Cheon-yeong would be grinding his teeth in jealousy.
No, maybe they were still on good terms.
Namgung Cheon-yeong was probably around sixteen, an age when boys idolize and follow their older brothers.
'Hmm. In that case, better to stoke feelings of inferiority than sow discord.'
He adjusted his plans while keeping a calm expression.
To really rile someone up, you had to know all the angles.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you'll win a hundred battles, or so they said.
Not sure if it applied here, but whatever.
"My brother still has much to learn. I'm worried he'll sully your eyes, Namgung Young Hero."
"Is that so? Must be nice. Having a genius for a little brother."
"What's so great about it?"
"Even setting aside your own excellence. If your brother, the Baek Clan's heir, had such talent, the clan wouldn't be running as smoothly as it is now."
Seeming to sense the sincerity slipping through, Namgung Cheon-hu fell silent for a while.
But it was already too late.
'Inferiority complex it is.'
And "genius"? Our young master isn't some ordinary joe that Namgung punk can call a genius.
Especially not from a thirty-year-old nobody who hasn't even shed the label of mediocrity.
'This is going to be fun.'
Once the banquet preparations and sparring platform were complete, all the seniors took their seats.
Yang-hui sat beside Baek Mu-ryang as well.
"Young Clan Leader. We're about to begin the banquet. Please enjoy the entertainment we've prepared."
"This, you mean?"
"And we're also expressing our gratitude to the South Heaven Martial Hall and Frost Moon Sect for making the difficult journey here."
Originally, tonight's banquet was to welcome the Namgung Clan's young clan leader, but with the sparring advanced, invitations had gone out to the South Heaven Martial Hall's seniors too.
They'd scaled up the event further by inviting the Frost Moon Sect as well.
Thus, the South Heaven Hall Master and Frost Moon Sect Leader were present in the banquet hall.
"Think nothing of it. We thank you for the invitation, Clan Leader."
"I feel the same."
"I'm glad you see it that way."
Next, the sparring participants appeared in the center of the banquet hall.
The South Heaven Martial Hall's young hall master. And the Frost Moon Sect's young lady.
'The Frost Moon Sect sent the young sect leader's sister instead of the young sect leader himself.'
It made sense. Frost Moon Sect's young sect leader, Jeong Myeong-gun, was six or seven years older than Yang-hui.
Considering age and face, it would have been odd for Jeong Myeong-gun to step forward.
"Greetings to all the elders."
"It's embarrassing to show my lacking skills."
The South Heaven young hall master performed a proper fist-and-palm salute in perfectly junior-disciple fashion.
The Frost Moon young lady beside him spoke humbly as well.
"But where's the calf?"
One of the retainers answered Baek Mu-ryang's question.
"He lost track of time during training and is rushing to prepare."
"I see. We've kept our honored guests waiting and shown an unsightly delay. My apologies."
"No harm done!"
"Isn't the wait part of the fun?"
Yang-hui sneaked a glance at Namgung Cheon-hu's profile and felt his lips curving up involuntarily.
He was genuinely looking forward to what reaction Namgung Cheon-hu would have in a moment.
"Sorry for being late!"
Baek Heon-so burst into the banquet hall and hurriedly bowed in apology all around.
His appearance... was worlds apart from a few months ago.
"Young master. Are you really the boy who came to our hall half a year ago?"
"Yes, that's me. Long time no see, South Heaven Hall Master."
The Frost Moon Sect Leader, seeing Baek Heon-so for the first time, was one thing, but the South Heaven Hall Master couldn't hide his shock.
A boy brimming with youthful charm last time had suddenly become a young man. It was understandable.
"Heavens, what a fine physique."
"How can a boy his age..."
"The clan leader's son must possess an extraordinary martial frame!"
"Thank you for the praise, Frost Moon Sect Leader."
Yang-hui swelled with pride at the admiring voices around him, as if the praise were for himself.
As the one responsible for Baek Heon-so's transformation, every word was music to his ears.
'Worth pushing true energy to the limit into him.'
One of true energy's effects was guiding the body in the right direction.
Infused into someone underdeveloped, it could even spur physical growth.
This was how Yang-hui himself had achieved a fully mature body at fifteen.
"With three combatants, we'll need two rounds of sparring."
First, the two pre-agreed participants would face off.
Baek Heon-so and the young hall master ascended the platform.
"Please go easy on me, Young Hall Master."
"I'll learn a move or two from you, Baek Young Master."
After exchanging polite courtesies, the two swords gleamed with sharp edge.
Watching, Yang-hui felt his heart pounding.
His eyes fixed on Namgung Cheon-hu's profile.
Ever since Baek Heon-so appeared, Namgung Cheon-hu had been staring with deep, unblinking eyes.
His thoughts were plain as day.
"As the senior, I'll let you take the first move."
"As the junior, I'll gratefully accept."
The moment the young master politely replied and gathered his aura...
Everyone in the banquet hall felt shock.
"This aura...!"
"Righteous Spirit Realization!"
"How can a boy still in the initial learning stage...!!!"
"No way it's peak realm... impossible!"
Clatter!
Namgung Cheon-hu shot to his feet, heedless of his toppling chair.
He'd been staring piercingly at Baek Heon-so, but now turned to Yang-hui without thinking.
Namgung Cheon-hu, who must have lived steeped in inferiority to his brother.
Baek Heon-so, who at fifteen had attained Righteous Spirit Realization.
And his brother, Yang-hui.
Meeting Namgung Cheon-hu's eyes, filled with complex emotions, Yang-hui uttered one phrase.
Words Namgung Cheon-hu could never voice.
"My proud little brother."
Rage—no, something fiercer.
Namgung Cheon-hu's face twisted in anguish.