Chapter 99 : Chapter 99
Chapter 99: Po Clan Contest
It was an old memory.
- Are you saying not to intervene in the Po Clan Manor?
I think I had asked something like that.
Before regression, I had gone to the Po Clan Manor earlier than now.
The situation was the same.
The manor lord who led the Po Clan Manor had collapsed from old age illness.
His only son and daughter-in-law had short lives, leaving only one grandson. He was appointed as manor lord but was still a child.
The old master had appointed a superintendent to assist his grandson.
Naturally, or so it seemed. A contest broke out over who would become the superintendent.
Whoever became superintendent could seize control of the Po Clan Manor.
Furthermore, one could even aim for replacing the manor lord.
The manor lord old master hoped the Alliance would observe and maintain order.
- Since it's an internal matter of the Po Clan Manor, the order is not to intervene.
- Even though Manor Lord Old Master wishes for intervention? If we leave, only the ailing Old Master and young grandson will remain.
- The superintendent candidates are all Po clansmen, aren't they. The one who becomes superintendent will take good care.
- That's true, but....
An ominous premonition rose.
The greedy eyes of the leading candidate for next superintendent bothered me sorely.
I thought of staying alone, but that too was not feasible.
The Alliance wouldn't leave me alone.
- Sword Hero, the Alliance has decided to dispatch you northeast for a while. Go there first.
I went to the northeast and returned.
At home, a letter from the Old Master had arrived.
[Ink Sword Hero, please be the observer for the contest over the superintendent position.]
A letter calling not the Alliance, but me alone.
But it was too late.
By the time I read the letter, word had come that Manor Lord Old Master had passed away.
At the Po Clan Manor I visited belatedly, the child left alone said to me,
- I will become a great person as Grandfather wished. So he can rest easy in the afterlife.
- ...If there's difficulty, contact me at least.
And not long after, that child too passed away from illness.
Even the naive me felt suspicion then.
Was it really illness? Wasn't it removing the child with legitimacy as successor?
The Alliance did not intervene then either.
The Po Clan Manor remained a quiet affiliate of the Alliance, paying tribute funds. The Alliance seemed satisfied with that.
I thought of that child for a long time after.
The lips pressed tight saying he would become a great person.
In contrast, the fist he clenched was so small.
By then, everything had already passed.
In my life back then, many things flowed away like that.
“I was going to go even without the Hwarye Pill.”
The Hwarye Pill had been in the Po Clan Manor from that time too, they said.
So, was there more to think about.
Visit the Po Clan Manor, help the Old Master and child,
At the same time, have them sell me the Hwarye Pill as reward.
“This time-”
I would make everything that happened in the Po Clan Manor flow rightly.
I had even established one principle for that.
“Active intervention. Whether the Alliance wants it or not, I will actively intervene.”
Whoooong-, Mukheun cried softly in agreement with me.
It was a journey dedicated to the child who was left alone and eventually vanished.
Now, it wasn't too late.
.
.
Preparation for departure was quick too.
“Hraaap! Famous eateries of Chang'an, wait for this Kwak Daebang! It's been three months since the last tour!”
“Subtly, isn't it recent?”
“What do you mean. It's three months since holding back on dishes I want to eat.”
“You enjoy Luoyang's famous eateries plenty even usually.”
Kwak Daebang could go anywhere anytime if he wanted.
“Heh heh heh heh. Chang'an, Silver Dragon Divine Hero comes!”
“At least drop the Divine. It's embarrassing for me.”
“Silver Dragon Hero Yang Cheonjo comes!”
“Then shall we drop Silver and Dragon and Hero too?”
Yang Cheonjo easily received permission.
As the guy said, with us accompanying, don't cause trouble and broaden horizons, she said.
“You two are excited. For me, it's death.”
Looking at us like this, Pilsang looked at us with a deeply furrowed face.
Because of one request I made to him.
“It's just a request. You don't necessarily have to go in person.”
“Not go in person? Deliver the head of the Blood Path Guest who harmed a Huashan Disciple. For such a big matter, don't go in person?”
The Blood Path Guest was a Black Path Expert captured when striking the Luoyang Black Path Base, one who had harmed a Huashan Disciple and was hiding.
No matter how much called, the Black Path King didn't support, so in the end, he lost an arm to me and was captured.
He feared being escorted to Huashan and hanged himself in the Thunder Prison.
“How lax must the management be to not prevent suicide. Don't you have to take responsibility for that much.”
“Kuh. Responsibility.......”
“Isn't it Temporary Branch Head. Who else takes responsibility.”
With his weakness stabbed, he floundered then finally wailed.
“Ugh....... Treating people so roughly. Who on earth did you learn such things from?”
That wail was so absurd.
Who did I learn from?
“Are you serious?”
“Hm? Of course serious.”
That face with not a shred of doubt.
“I'm just following how the Alliance used me. And among those who used me-”
Swish, I raised my palm up toward Pilsang.
“Temporary Branch Head, you especially come to mind.”
“Ah?”
Pilsang momentarily recalled the past.
Then.
“Ahh?”
He gaped vacantly.
“Do old memories return a bit? It's not that long ago.”
“Ahh.......”
Seeing him slowly nod, it seemed to have returned.
“So consider this my small revenge. Or do you want another revenge method? Mukheun or something?”
“.......Thinking about it, it's reasonable. I'll handle it well.”
Thinking of future fights with the Demonic Cult, being friendly with the Nine Sects One Gang wasn't bad.
Pilsang was seasoned as an administrator and negotiator.
While delivering the head to Huashan, he would create a favorable atmosphere toward me.
“I trust you.”
“Don't.......”
I left him and turned.
“Well then.”
I looked at Kwak Daebang and Yang Cheonjo with their packs on.
“Let's go. To Chang'an.”
* * *
“Why... why won't you... accept...!”
Po Clan Manor's old manor lord Po Horang, Po Gong, spat out an angry roar.
Since collapsing once and rising, his left half didn't obey at will.
His mouth was stiff and hard to move.
Yet.
The current situation was utterly unbearable.
“I... I... decided... how dare you all...”
Even in illness, only his eyes were fierce.
Those receiving Po Gong's gaze, the clan people without exception, lowered their heads.
“As I... say... appoint Po Sogun... as superintendent...!”
But to this decision of Po Gong, it seemed hard to agree, as the clan people raised their heads again.
“Uncle, Po Sogun is branch family, isn't he.”
“Moreover, he's still young. It's not long since he passed twenty. A bit much to lead Po Clan Manor as superintendent.”
“Po Sogun won't do. Please reconsider.”
The clan people's attitudes weren't confident.
But they were clearly opposing Po Gong's decision.
“You bastards... now... my ho... hooot...”
Po Gong tried to roar again.
But his mouth wouldn't open well, unable to finish.
At that moment, the clan people exchanged glances.
That glance exchange was well visible in Po Gong's eyes too.
‘These bastards who couldn't say a word before my body collapsed.'
A sigh flowed inwardly.
Because of age, he had anticipated the limit of flesh soon.
But it came too abruptly without omen. One day, waking up, the left half wouldn't listen.
From then.
The retainers who had been obedient to Po Gong's words began harboring other thoughts.
Yes, as people, they had opinions, and also greed. He had nothing to say about that.
However, the problem was the retainers' capacities.
“You bastards... if you had ability... you do superintendent... but... ability... cough, cough.”
He had entrusted various tasks to the retainers multiple times to test.
Regrettably, none had the capacity to lead Po Clan Manor.
It was a great kitchen supplying ingredients to Chang'an. The business scale was enormous.
It wasn't something for the incapable to handle.
Rather, it was fortunate that even branch family Po Sogun showed promise.
These bastards didn't even know how much of a blessing that was.
“Aigoo, Uncle. Stop talking and lie down.”
“Your cough is severe. Quickly bring the herbal medicine.”
Now the retainers tried to ignore the ailing Po Gong's words.
“Th, these bastards... if not Po Sogun, who...”
Who has ability?
But.
As if responding to Po Gong's inner thoughts.
“Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Isn't there this Po Yugwang here!”
A hearty laugh echoed in the Great Hall.
The clan people all turned their bodies to look at the owner of the laugh.
One youth with a sly smile overflowing on his face.
Po Yugwang was just crossing the Great Hall door.
“That's right! Great Grandfather!”
The retainers also welcomed him.
“Isn't there Po Yugwang. As the eldest son of Third Uncle, he can surely handle it.”
“Yes. That child Po Yugwang is smart and eloquent, isn't he. After a few words, you can tell he's clever.”
“That's right. Among our clan, the most outstanding is Po Yugwang.”
Po Gong swallowed a groan inwardly.
Hearing the retainers all praise Po Yugwang at once, it seemed they had aligned opinions beforehand.
Everyone flocked around Po Yugwang, who kept laughing and greeting.
‘Yugwang, this young bastard has won over the clan people.'
Of course, he was much older than his own grandson Po Yunhwan.
Po Yunhwan was only twelve yet, while Po Yugwang in mid-twenties was better in age alone.
Hadn't they just criticized Po Sogun for just passing twenty.
The retainers who didn't even know they spoke inconsistently.
No good.
That Po Yugwang was a child whose words came first.
If they knew inner workings, they wouldn't trust Po Yugwang, but the retainers lacked such eyes.
The momentum turned unfavorable.
Even if Po Gong now appointed Po Sogun as superintendent and died, afterward the clan could just oust him.
Po Gong's grand plan was capable and diligent Po Sogun as superintendent, and young but clever grandson succeeding as manor lord upon reaching adulthood.
“Now stop. Appoint Po Yugwang as superintendent.”
“Superintendent? Actually, even as manor lord...”
“Ahem, that's a bit later.”
They weren't even trying to pass the manor lord to the glib Po Yugwang.
Not knowing it was the path to ruining the clan.
“Shut up!”
Po Gong shouted.
It was a clear tone, rare lately.
The retainers flinched and cowered,
“Ha ha ha ha! Great Grandfather! I won the contest too, didn't I? Yet you consider branch family Po Sogun?”
Only Po Yugwang was unperturbed.
With the same sly face, he mentioned the contest.
“Contest...”
It was the contest Po Old Master had commanded.
That was.
[Enter Chang'an's restaurant industry and produce results]
Using the position of Po Clan Manor supplying ingredients, try establishing a business.
He judged that the difference in ability between Po Sogun and Po Yugwang would be revealed, allowing him to seize justification and momentum.
Surprisingly, Po Yugwang himself accepted the contest with that big laugh.
He thought it was bravado then.
“Yes, in the contest, I'm ahead, aren't I? This is plain fact.”
“You bastard...”
Po Yugwang used foul tricks with dirty backs.
Po Gong wasn't deaf to rumors because of illness.
It was exasperating how vile his nephew-grandson was being.
‘But now I can't stop it anymore.'
Recently, he had invited the Murim Alliance to request observation.
- Old Master, appointing a superintendent from close blood kin would avoid unrest, wouldn't it.
The Alliance just wanted the Po Clan Manor quiet.
Now the contest was at a critical point too.
“No... must ensure... fairness of contest...”
“Ha ha ha ha ha, what will you do? Even the Murim Alliance acknowledged it?”
“I'll invite... observer...”
Po Gong drew his last card.
“Observer? Again? Who?”
Po Gong closed his eyes.
“Luoyang's...”
Someone with skill not to be pushed by the martial artists Po Yugwang borrowed power from.
Above all, someone who would ensure fairness.
Among those Po Gong had seen in life, frustratingly faithful to principles and diligent.
“Ink Sword Hero Jin Yeomyeong, invite him.”
Above all, he was a hero.
“Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Here, isn't this Po Yugwang here!”
A hearty laugh echoed in the Great Hall.
The clan people all turned their bodies to look at the owner of the laugh.
One youth with a sly smile overflowing on his face.
Po Yugwang was just crossing the Great Hall door.
“That's right! Great Grandfather!”
The retainers also welcomed him.
“Isn't there Po Yugwang. As the eldest son of Third Uncle, he can surely handle it.”
“Yes. That child Po Yugwang is smart and eloquent, isn't he. After a few words, you can tell he's clever.”
“That's right. Among our clan, the most outstanding is Po Yugwang.”
Po Gong swallowed a groan inwardly.
Hearing the retainers all praise Po Yugwang at once, it seemed they had aligned opinions beforehand.
Everyone flocked around Po Yugwang, who kept laughing and greeting.
‘Yugwang, this young bastard has won over the clan people.'
Of course, he was much older than his own grandson Po Yunhwan.
Po Yunhwan was only twelve yet, while Po Yugwang in mid-twenties was better in age alone.
Hadn't they just criticized Po Sogun for just passing twenty.
The retainers who didn't even know they spoke inconsistently.
No good.
That Po Yugwang was a child whose words came first.
If they knew inner workings, they wouldn't trust Po Yugwang, but the retainers lacked such eyes.
The momentum turned unfavorable.
Even if Po Gong now appointed Po Sogun as superintendent and died, afterward the clan could just oust him.
Po Gong's grand plan was capable and diligent Po Sogun as superintendent, and young but clever grandson succeeding as manor lord upon reaching adulthood.
“Now stop. Appoint Po Yugwang as superintendent.”
“Superintendent? Actually, even as manor lord...”
“Ahem, that's a bit later.”
They weren't even trying to pass the manor lord to the glib Po Yugwang.
Not knowing it was the path to ruining the clan.
“Shut up!”
Po Gong shouted.
It was a clear tone, rare lately.
The retainers flinched and cowered,
“Ha ha ha ha! Great Grandfather! I won the contest too