Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Reunion with the Namgung Young Lord
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Dang Jun recalled their past encounter.
In the days when everyone shunned the Tang Clan, the Baek Clan Manor had accepted a Tang clansman without prejudice, resolving their two great worries: the pursuit by the Colorful Light Tiger Gang and the establishment of a branch office.
On the way to Muju County's Akan County to report to the main house in Sichuan and set up that branch, they had crossed paths with the Namgung Clan's young leader, Namgung Cheon-hu.
'The mastermind behind the Colorful Light Tiger Gang... We couldn't uncover it back then.'
Dang Jun had a strong hunch that the Namgung Clan was involved.
As such, Namgung Cheon-hu's face didn't sit well with him.
Still, as the young leader of his clan, showing his emotions would be the height of foolishness.
"Young Leader Namgung. It's been a while."
"Indeed. It's been several years since we met in Gangseo last time. Five years? Six?"
Though both were young leaders of their clans, his tone subtly belittled the other.
With a ten-year age gap, it might be understandable, but it felt too contrived to be mere age.
"Whether five or six years, what does it matter?"
"True, only the fact that we've risen in status counts. Isn't that right? Especially since our main clans aren't on ordinary terms."
"......"
They weren't on ordinary terms, that much was true.
The problem was, for the Tang Clan, they were a relationship they desperately wanted to escape.
The old factions and five great clans that had helped birth the Tang Clan.
They held the Tang Clan's leash in their hands.
For the Tang Clan, it was a shackle they wanted to break free from as soon as possible.
"Young Leader Namgung. It seems we keep running into each other by chance, last time and now."
"They say coincidences piling up become fate, so perhaps we are fated."
"What brings you to this place?"
Even to such a pointed question, Namgung Cheon-hu responded with a sly grin.
"Tens of thousands visit Lake Shadow Tower's scenery each year. What's strange about me being here?"
Meanwhile.
Baek Yang-hui was racking his brains at breakneck speed, analyzing the situation.
Jin Geum-bo wanted to take the route via Hefei.
The Namgung Clan's young leader was waiting at Lake Shadow Tower as if he'd anticipated it.
'There must have been some prior agreement between them, at minimum.'
Ji County. The true value of the Jin family there. From what he could guess, Jin Geum-bo's home clan.
The Namgung Clan dominated Anhui, so it wasn't odd for them to have ties to the Jin family in Anhui's Ji County.
'With the Namgung Clan appearing, it's confirmed. Merchant Jin has some clue about the Sword King's Tomb.'
And likely, the Namgung Clan had been secretly investigating the Sword King's Tomb by backing the Jin family.
In that case.
'No way they'd let him go nicely.'
It played out exactly as expected.
"Then, thanking you for this brief meeting, we'll be on our way."
Namgung Cheon-hu shook his head at Dang Jun's words.
"Mm. That won't do."
"Why not?"
Namgung Cheon-hu stepped forward.
"I have business, so it's a problem. Merchant Jin, are you inside?"
Jin Geum-bo, who had been hiding silently in the carriage, timidly stepped out.
"Oh, it's been a long time, Young Leader."
"Indeed it has. Haha, I didn't expect you to come near Hefei."
"I had a promise to keep, so of course I came."
"Is that so? I thought you'd grown cold feet!"
"......"
Jin Geum-bo swallowed dryly and fell silent.
Namgung Cheon-hu gestured as if to a subordinate, ignoring the merchant's mood entirely.
"Come here. We have much important business to discuss."
"......Yes, Young Leader."
Baek Yang-hui quietly clicked his tongue.
He wanted to observe longer and gather more info, but it was time to step in.
"Sorry, but that won't be possible!"
He kicked off from the carriage. Flipping through the air, Baek Yang-hui landed lightly and offered Namgung Cheon-hu a cupped-fist salute.
"Long time no see. Ah, you might not remember."
Namgung Cheon-hu eyed Baek Yang-hui with interest.
"You again."
"Again? Meaning?"
"Ah, no real meaning. Anyway, good to see you, Baek Clan heir. Name was... Yang-hui, right?"
"Yes."
"I hear you've earned the empty title of Ascending Sword Dragon lately."
His lips twitched upward, but he forced them down.
'Pretending not to remember my name but knows my nickname just fine.'
And calling it an empty title. What was Namgung Cheon-hu's nickname? Tyrant Sword Dragon, probably.
Around thirty, at mature Peak realm. And Namgung's young leader.
Impressive status and matching skill.
'But still, a guy who can't shed the 'dragon' title at that age.'
In the martial world, dragon and phoenix titles were for latecomers with potential.
He recalled Namgung Cheon-yeong, Namgung Cheon-hu's younger brother and his enemy from his past life.
A peerless genius poised to surpass his brother at a young age and become the next greatest sword of the Heaven-Piercing Namgung.
Compared to that, this guy was just ordinary. Very ordinary.
"So, Ascending Sword Dragon. Tell me why I can't take Merchant Jin."
"Simple. Our Heaven-Covering Escort Agency's mission isn't over yet."
"Is the escort less important than your promise with the Namgung Clan?"
"Haha, of course not. Who would hire an escort agency without that mindset?"
His jovial reply was met with roaring laughter.
"Hahaha! That's true enough! Hahaha!"
Baek Yang-hui subtly frowned.
This bastard, so petty.
Putting real pressure into that laugh.
Sorry, but I've faced too much to be rattled by the likes of you.
"Right? Hahaha!"
Matching the pressure and bursting into laughter himself, Baek Yang-hui watched Namgung Cheon-hu's face stiffen.
He hadn't expected the pressure to be thrown back.
"Merchant Jin entrusted us with transporting goods all the way to the Jin Clan Manor in Ji County. Our Heaven-Covering Escort Agency must complete the mission. So, wouldn't it be gracious of Young Leader Namgung to yield with your vast heart?"
"Yield. Convince me why I should."
"Because Namgung clansmen all share the heavens' magnanimity and never act petty!"
Irritation was creeping onto Namgung Cheon-hu's face.
Refusing to yield now would paint him as petty, after all.
Even listening this long was generous for a Namgung.
But.
'What are you gonna do about it?'
Until now, he'd been careful not to draw the Namgung Clan's attention.
No more.
They might clash at the Sword King's Tomb in a few days anyway—no need to hold back.
"So, will you yield a bit?"
"To receive the Namgung's yield requires qualification. I wonder if you have it."
"How can I prove my qualification?"
"Hm."
Namgung Cheon-hu's cold eyes scanned Baek Yang-hui and Dang Jun.
Then fixed on Dang Jun.
'Ah, this punk. So rude?'
Not even worth talking to?
With over a dozen years' age difference, why was his provocation so shallow?
Probably trying to rile him into rage to exploit it, but Baek Yang-hui held back.
'The longer the talk, the better for us anyway.'
Instead, he secretly sent a transmission to Dang Jun.
Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon-hu spoke.
"Young Leader Dang. Speak. Are you an escort warrior on this mission too?"
"I joined as a guest escort at Brother Yang-hui's request."
"The Tang Clan's young leader as an escort warrior. Haha, better to say you were a wandering ronin who got hired."
This jerk, lumping ronin and escorts together to demean them?
Across the world, ronin and escorts numbered over a hundred thousand combined.
The Namgung Clan treated arrogance as tradition, but this guy was just unlucky.
"Young Leader Dang. One question. What's the escort's cargo?"
"Don't you know the unwritten rule of the rivers and lakes? Escort contents can't be divulged."
"Not a rivers-and-lakes rule, just an escort agency's policy. If the client allows, it's fine to share. Am I wrong?"
"......That's true."
Namgung Cheon-hu ordered Jin Geum-bo.
"Merchant Jin. I'm very curious about the escort you commissioned instead of accepting our Namgung aid. Tell me."
"It was... delivering a single letter to the Jin Clan Manor. Plus, on the condition of traveling with the rising star of the Baek Clan, Baek Yang-hui from Gangseo..."
A gleam flashed in Namgung Cheon-hu's eyes.
"A letter to the Jin Clan Manor? Bring it."
"I-it's just a letter asking after well-being."
"Entrusting a simple greeting to an escort agency?"
"Well... I admire Young Hero Baek Yang-hui and wanted to travel with him..."
Namgung Cheon-hu cut him off.
"Bring it."
Jin Geum-bo moved slowly. Baek Yang-hui read the emotions in his eyes, but neither he nor Dang Jun could stop him.
No grounds to block a client handing over their own cargo.
Namgung Cheon-hu casually tore open the sealed letter and read it.
"Hm. Truly just a simple greeting."
"Y-yes, Young Leader."
"Then, what about the request from our main clan to the Jin family?"
"That..."
He swallowed dryly repeatedly. His pupils shook, eyes darting.
The tense Jin Geum-bo continued.
"We haven't... properly uncovered it yet..."
Namgung Cheon-hu looked disappointed.
"I thought you'd hatched some scheme returning to Ji County. Just my imagination."
"Why would I, Young Leader?"
"Good then. Sorry for suspecting you, Merchant Jin."
No trace of apology showed on Namgung Cheon-hu's face.
'Well, that's the situation for now.'
"Then, Young Leader Namgung, we'll take Merchant Jin and continue the escort."
"Ah. That issue remains."
Suddenly, interest returned to Namgung Cheon-hu's face.
"As you know, one word from me ends this escort.
Merchant Jin won't refuse my request."
Not wrong. The moment client Jin Geum-bo declared the escort over, the justification vanished.
"But I won't. I respect you all. Instead, to take back my words without losing face..."
Namgung Cheon-hu's arrogant gaze turned to Dang Jun.
"Continue what you were saying earlier. Prove you have the qualification to defy this Namgung Cheon-hu and continue the escort."
"What proof do you want?"
"There's only one way a martial artist proves qualification."
"Martial? A bout here then?"
Namgung Cheon-hu smirked at Baek Yang-hui rolling up his sleeves, eager to fight.
'This punk looks down on me?'
Until now, he'd viewed them as laughable, but that glance stung.
Should he beat this Peak upstart in front of a first-rate master?
"Sorry, but I'm not interested in your skills."
Namgung Cheon-hu drew his sword without a word.
A clear breach of etiquette, a blatant insult.
"Young Leader Dang. It's been ages since I saw Tang Clan skill. Care for a bout?"
Instantly, Baek Yang-hui's face hardened.
Damn Namgung bastards, always so heartless.
'That was your intent.'
Having come all this way for nothing, he didn't want to slink off quietly.