Chapter 163
Chapter 163
One day, with the warm sunlight pleasantly shining upon his body, Youngho set aside the realization he had been organizing and came outside for the first time in a while.
He strolled through the garden for a moment and exchanged a few words with people. Then, when he finally headed toward the training ground, he noticed that something unusual had happened.
As soon as Youngho arrived at the training ground, he glanced around at the suddenly sunken atmosphere.
There was no problem on the Unorthodox Faction’s side. If anything, they looked as though they had no idea why the Orthodox Sect was suddenly so gloomy.
‘That bastard Namgung Cheon must have done something.’
If there was a variable, it could only be this.
‘Showing my face was pointless. I should get going.’
Youngho turned around to leave, until a voice stopped him.
“Sword Exalted, please wait a moment.”
Youngho halted midway through turning his body and looked forward again. There, Namgung Cheon walked toward him with a serious expression.
Moreover, Namgung Cheon was not alone. Behind him approached the key figures of the Nine Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Families, and other great sects.
‘No.’
More precisely, they were the influential figures Youngho had met on the front lines before his Regression.
‘Which means they aren’t influential figures yet.’
They were those who would become true powerholders about ten to twenty years in the future.
They were still fledglings whose fangs had yet to fully grow, yet they possessed the innate qualities of beasts destined to become predators.
Naturally, the pressure they carried possessed a grandeur comparable to that of a great army.
Looking at them—resembling an unyielding fortress wall—Youngho let out a faint chuckle.
‘They prepared quite excessively.’
Most of the people who had left a deep impression on Youngho before his Regression had gathered here.
‘Looks like he talked really well. Or maybe it’s because I’ve become stronger? Either way, I should help them out.’
“For what reason has the Emperor Sword summoned me?”
As Youngho opened the conversation first, Namgung Cheon responded with a grateful smile. Soon returning to a firm expression, Namgung Cheon bowed his head and spoke.
“I apologize for the insults and rudeness committed against your subordinates until now.”
“We apologize.”
The moment Namgung Cheon finished speaking, Tang Cheonu, Hwangbo Nyeong, Unjeong of the Mount Hua Sect, the disciple of the Fist King who had been called the Iron King, and others whose names had not yet spread throughout the world also bowed their heads.
They did not put sincerity into it, but they put in courtesy. It was not truly an apology, yet they exerted effort.
It was the best apology possible—one that allowed the leaders of each faction to maintain face without losing their dignity.
If they had come to Youngho alone and bowed their heads, Youngho would have told them to apologize directly to the victim.
However, they had not done so. Even though this place was filled not only with the Asura Squad—Youngho’s direct escort unit—but also with other forces of the Unorthodox Alliance, they cast aside their pride without a single hesitation.
What that meant was simple, yet enormous.
‘They intend to make it public.’
They intended to reveal to the entire world how Hyeon-gang had been treated until now, and to inform the comrades of the Unorthodox Alliance—those they would have to fight alongside in the future—that they themselves had committed rudeness.
Youngho briefly looked toward where the Asura Squad stood.
Hyeon-gang’s face was more rigid than it had ever been before. Kang Chowon looked astonished, while Kang Hosan stared at Namgung Cheon with suspicion.
Jongpal widened his eyes in disbelief, and Horyeong chuckled gently while observing those bowing with eerie pupils that revealed nothing of what he was thinking.
If Youngho wished it, what had just happened would be known throughout the world.
If that happened, the status of the Orthodox Sect would suffer damage, and others would surely try to widen that crack even further.
Those who learned what Hyeon-gang had endured would curse the Tang Clan, and speculation that the Murim Alliance had been behind it would spread.
That would shatter the people’s illusion of the Orthodox Sect and raise the morale of the Unorthodox Faction.
Rather than answering immediately, Youngho chose silence first.
There were those who trembled intermittently. Those who sweated cold sweat.
Those who wished to hide everything.
Youngho began to see it all—how Namgung Cheon had persuaded the others, and why they were anxious.
Youngho met Hyeon-gang’s eyes.
The representatives who had come to apologize—including Namgung Cheon—were still bowing their heads, so they could not see where Youngho’s gaze landed.
Feeling Youngho’s gaze, Hyeon-gang hesitated for a moment before nodding with an uncertain expression.
Understanding Hyeon-gang’s intention, Youngho gave a small nod and spoke.
“I have heard that the spicy food of Sichuan is quite appealing.”
It was a sudden remark about food, but Namgung Cheon unconsciously smiled.
The others were the same.
Looking at the tops of the heads of those who were relieved and delighted, Youngho smirked.
“On behalf of the Unorthodox Alliance, I forgive the rudeness until now. When I visit Sichuan someday, it would be nice if we could share a meal together.”
Only then did Namgung Cheon raise his head. Seeing Namgung Cheon’s slightly brighter expression, Youngho smiled faintly.
“And I dislike hearing talk about matters that have already ended. So from now on, it would be good if the soldiers of the Unorthodox Alliance blend well here.”
It was both advice and a warning.
Youngho had spoken it directly himself.
The Unorthodox Alliance had formally accepted this apology, but he had no intention of spreading this incident throughout the world.
So from now on, behave properly.
That was the meaning.
He could have ended with a threat, but he did not bother.
‘I don’t want to ruin a good atmosphere.’
Of course, the forces of the Unorthodox Alliance still did not trust the words of the Orthodox Sect.
‘More precisely, the distrust runs deep.’
Just as the Orthodox Sect distrusts the Unorthodox Faction.
However, exactly three days later, the forces of the Unorthodox Alliance began to feel fear instead of hostility when they looked at the Orthodox Sect.
“Young Master……”
Looking at Kang Chowon’s noticeably gaunt face these past few days, Youngho asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“……I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Obviously those Orthodox Sect bastards!”
“Didn’t you say they were wretches who deserve to be chewed to pieces? Instead of wasting time like this, go train.”
“How can I?! There are piles of gifts in front of my room right now!”
“I have even more than you.”
After the Murim Alliance formally issued an apology, the people of the Orthodox Path launched an enormous gift offensive toward Youngho and his people.
“What kind of lunatic makes clothes out of Heavenly Silkworm thread and wears them?!”
“Great wealthy clans.”
“Are those bastards suffering from some disease where they’ll die if they don’t spend money?”
“If you combined the wealth of all the sects and clans that sent you gifts, you could buy the Central Plains.”
“Especially the Namgung Clan! I’m getting more gifts than Hosan Oppa or Hyeon-gang Opppa!”
“That’s because Namgung Cheon is the Young Master of the Namgung Clan, you childish girl.”
“What does Namgung Cheon being the Young Master have to do with anything?!”
“Maybe he has feelings for you.”
“So I kept sparring with him until he was satisfied! But even I’m getting tired of it!”
“No, not feelings as a Martial Artist. Feelings as a woman.”
“…What?”
Kang Chowon looked at Youngho as if he had just said something absurd.
Then Kang Hosan, Hyeon-gang, and Horyeong, who had been watching the scene, looked at Kang Chowon with cold eyes.
Noticing their gazes, Kang Chowon glanced at the incredulous expressions of the men before turning back to Youngho.
“You’re saying Namgung Cheon likes me?”
“Yup~”
“Kang Chowon?”
“Of course~”
“The Blood Sword Ghost?”
“I’ve been telling you that’s right~”
“But why?!”
As Kang Chowon shouted in disbelief, Youngho spoke without even looking at her, as if he had expected this reaction.
“That’s because your personality matches Namgung Cheon’s, and you’re truly beautiful.”
“W-What do you mean…?”
As Kang Chowon failed to finish her sentence in confusion, Youngho did not even try to hide his annoyance.
“You’re strong enough to match Namgung Cheon, and your appearance wouldn’t be strange even if people called you the greatest beauty of a region. Why wouldn’t he like you? I heard you even gave him advice.”
“Me? When did you even talk to the Emperor Sword?”
“We’ve been chatting occasionally lately. I heard you told him that the karma of the Orthodox Sect is too great.”
“N-No, that was…!”
I was just trying to mock him?
Kang Chowon looked at Youngho with a hollow expression.
Opening the window to let fresh air in, Youngho listened as Kang Chowon spoke.
“B-But the Namgung Clan is still an Orthodox Sect!”
“The Namgung Clan is capable and broad-minded enough to accept even someone from the Unorthodox Alliance if their character is good.”
“What kind of Orthodox Sect does that?”
“One Unorthodox faction accepted a physician from the Tang Clan.”
At Youngho’s words, Kang Chowon’s gaze turned to Hyeon-gang.
Apparently displeased with her blank stare, Hyeon-gang replied irritably,
“What, does it bother you that someone from the Orthodox Sect became Unorthodox?”
“I’ve just realized again that you’re insane, Oppa.”
“For a while, I’m going to use the big needles when treating you.”
“That’s not fair!”
At that moment, the senses of Kang Chowon and the others caught a familiar presence.
Without even looking at Namgung Cheon climbing through the window into the room, Youngho spoke.
“Unfortunately there are too many people today. Come back later.”
Namgung Cheon laughed awkwardly.
“Can’t I just stay if Sister Nyeong comes too?”
“Youngho! Where exactly is Hyeon-gang?”
At that moment, Tang Gunhyeon barged into the room, pushing past Namgung Cheon—and his eyes met Hyeon-gang’s.
The moment their gazes met, an awkward atmosphere filled the room.
Perhaps because of that, Youngho frowned when he saw Tang Gunhyeon enter.
“Tang Gunhyeon, get out.”
“Huh? I wasn’t trying to make Hyeon-gang uncomfortable—”
“No, Hyeon-gang can leave anytime. But you came into the room wearing your shoes. Get out.”
Tang Gunhyeon’s face immediately brightened.
As if he had no intention of missing this opportunity, he instantly grabbed Hyeon-gang by the wrist.
Unable to hide his pale face, Hyeon-gang shouted toward Youngho,
“Young Master! Did you tell him where I was this whole time?!”
“Yeah.”
“No wonder he keeps finding me like a ghost! This isn’t fair!”
“Gunhyeon, hurry up and take him out.”
“Got it!”
“Young Masteeer!”
Before long, Hyeon-gang’s desperate cry echoed faintly from far away.
Watching this disaster(?) blankly, Kang Hosan muttered as if speaking to himself,
“Young Master. What exactly happened in the past three days that everyone keeps coming here like this?”
Knowing perfectly well that it was not truly a monologue, Youngho replied indifferently.
“I acted as usual. When I was annoyed, I treated them rudely. When I was bored, I chatted with them. And sometimes I became their drinking companion.”
“Just like that, you became friends with the Emperor Sword and the Dark Emperor?”
“Even Tang Gunhyeon surprised me.”
Youngho then looked toward Hwangbo Nyeong, who had entered the room after taking off her shoes.
“What do you want this time?”
“You should respect your elders!”
“Why?”
“You’re going to treat me as your elder someday.”
When Hwangbo Nyeong said this with a sinister expression, Youngho looked extremely displeased.
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Anyway, you’re not my target today… Can I talk with the Blood Sword Ghost and the Great Rock Sword?”
“Ask them.”
“Good!”
When three more people left the room, only Youngho, Namgung Cheon, and Horyeong remained.
Youngho spoke to Namgung Cheon.
“Say hello. This is Horyeong, the guard who has assisted me since I was young.”
No one had expected it.
Not even Youngho himself.
After meeting Namgung Cheon, Horyeong would one day abandon the nickname Noble Wolf and instead become a wicked old man who seemed to harbor a hundred cunning snakes in his belly.