Chapter 196
Chapter 196
“Yeah, people only praise what they can see in the first place, you know? It’s even worse on the Unorthodox side, so I know that well.”
“Right? My father isn’t lacking compared to my uncle at all!”
Before they knew it, Youngho and Namgung Yuseul were holding a drinking bout, speaking drunken truths.
“Namgung Cheon, that guy didn’t know how to make a decision at first. There were times when he could’ve produced a more perfect result by swinging his sword, but he failed to do so.”
“Why on earth?”
“Because he was a brat! When I first saw him, I thought he was a complete fool.”
Youngho skillfully mixed truth and lies while mercilessly tearing into Namgung Cheon together with Namgung Yuseul.
“…He’s certainly an interesting person.”
“Impossible to predict….”
One might expect shock at Youngho’s behavior, which didn’t match the title of Martial God, but Namgung Seojong and Namgung Seongun whispered calmly in low voices.
“At first he seemed troubled, so I was going to stop them….”
“But once they started badmouthing Uncle, he just got carried away with the mood, didn’t he?”
Judging by his appearance, he looked like a rash young man… yet—
‘I’m learning about the world again.’
They couldn’t even begin to imagine how much grueling training had gone into creating that ordinary demeanor.
It appeared to be such a perfect Returning to Simplicity.
‘Would Uncle be able to notice?’
In the past, driven by deep curiosity, Namgung Seojong had once dared to ask Namgung Cheon something rather rude.
The Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance. In other words—whether he could defeat Youngho.
‘What did Uncle say back then?’
He clearly remembered Namgung Cheon ending the conversation with an awkward smile, saying, Who knows?
At the time, Namgung Seojong believed Namgung Cheon was perhaps only one move inferior to Youngho.
And only after staring into the abyss of Youngho did Namgung Seojong finally realize.
‘Would Uncle’s sword even reach this man?’
Now, Namgung Seojong felt he could finally speak the truth. And he would probably say it like this:
—It would be nice if you could at least swing your sword properly.
Thinking of his uncle’s uncertain expression, an involuntary chuckle slipped out.
Namgung Seongun beside him seemed to have thought the same, bursting into quiet laughter.
“Do you know what Chowon said to Namgung Cheon back then?”
“Honestly, I can’t even imagine Aunt’s reaction!”
“She said exactly this. See? You’ve accumulated far too much karma.”
“Pfft!”
Youngho chuckled while recounting Namgung Cheon’s mistakes from his youth.
Kuuung—!
At that moment, an absurdly heavy Martial Presence flowed from a single man. It was a restrained aura that could only be felt by those within ten zhang.
To control energy this skillfully, one had to be at least a master of the Transformation Realm.
That was precisely why Namgung Seojong found it even harder to believe.
It felt as though Mount Tai was crushing down on his entire body.
The one who created that crushing pressure was none other than his own uncle—Namgung Cheon.
Youngho’s face stiffened when he sensed Namgung Cheon’s aura.
Youngho looked at Namgung Cheon with a gaze filled with guilt and apology.
But upon seeing that look, Namgung Cheon ground his teeth violently.
Crack! Crack!
At the murderous aura filled with hatred, the three brothers crawled away on their bodies just to escape beyond the reach of Namgung Cheon’s presence.
After barely widening the distance to about ten zhang, Namgung Seojong could not hide his confusion.
‘Why is Uncle so furious?’
From what the Martial God said, they sounded like childhood friends…?
Namgung Cheon slowly drew his sword from its sheath.
Wooooong—!
As if the blade desired Youngho’s blood, it let out a resonant sword cry.
Namgung Cheon asked Youngho a question, trying to preserve the last shred of conscience he had as a member of the Orthodox Sect.
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
“…I’m truly sorry about that. I didn’t mean it either. I only hoped it would give you strength….”
“Eel, oyster, abalone, octopus, chives, ginger, bokbunja, garlic.”
“…….”
They were not words that suited the situation.
Yet Youngho knew exactly what those words meant, so he forced an awkward smile.
Goosebumps rose across his entire body, and it felt as though Namgung Cheon’s sword was already touching his throat.
Cold sweat poured down his back like a waterfall, and his heart felt as if it were freezing.
Namgung Cheon looked down at Youngho, who remained seated.
“In your opinion, how many of the dishes you gave me that day do you think I ate?”
“…Three or four?”
“I ate everything except the bokbunja.”
Shiver—!
Every hair on Youngho’s body stood on end.
Youngho spoke in a trembling voice—no, he tried to.
“Silence. The only thing you’re allowed to do is draw your sword.”
Youngho tightly shut his eyes, as if resigning himself.
Namgung Cheon placed his hand on his sword hilt and began venting his pent-up resentment.
“Because of you….”
Resentment turned into sorrow, and sorrow turned into hatred.
“Because of you! That night I was squeezed dry five times!!”
Namgung Cheon’s Lion’s Roar thundered past the walls of the Namgung Clan estate and echoed throughout all of Anhui.
KWAANG—!
“You can hear it all the way out here! You damned husband!!”
At that moment, Kang Chowon burst onto the scene from twenty zhang away, kicking open a door as she appeared.
She had shoved the door so violently that the broken door panel flew straight toward Namgung Cheon.
Though it was a sudden ambush, Namgung Cheon was called the Imperial Sword.
An attack of this level could not possibly stop him.
…If the attacker had been anyone other than Kang Chowon.
The moment Namgung Cheon confirmed her presence, he immediately retreated.
Then, as smoothly as flowing water, he returned his sword to the sheath and coughed awkwardly.
“Ahem!”
Soon, Namgung Cheon looked at Kang Chowon with warm eyes and spoke.
“My wife, did anything happen while I was away from home?”
“Bullshit. You think I’ll let it slide just because you act like that?”
Kang Chowon grabbed Namgung Cheon and began scolding him relentlessly.
She caught even the tiniest fault, so the scolding lasted exponentially longer.
Youngho watched Namgung Cheon, who lived completely under Kang Chowon’s control, with a sympathetic gaze.
‘Of all people, he had to fall for Chowon….’
Sensing the pitying look, Namgung Cheon glared at Youngho.
“Lower your eyes.”
Seeing that, Kang Chowon grew even angrier.
Namgung Cheon had only glared at Youngho once, but it was enough to incur her wrath. With tears in his eyes, he obediently endured his wife’s scolding.
While Kang Chowon was thoroughly nagging Namgung Cheon, Yoon Seojeong approached Youngho with an awkward smile, carrying Namgung In in her arms.
“You all seem lively.”
“Jeong-ah, what you’re seeing is the desperate exchange between someone who rules their spouse and someone who lives under their spouse’s rule.”
“Hahaha….”
Youngho looked at Yoon Seojeong, who was dressed more elegantly than usual, and said,
“Now your beauty has finally returned to where it belongs.”
Youngho slowly approached her with a smile.
But when he noticed an unpleasant accessory, the corners of his mouth fell again.
Youngho stared intently at the pattern on Yoon Seojeong’s earrings.
‘A pine needle pattern.’
Just like him, she was wearing black martial robes and pine needle earrings.
Youngho let out a laugh of disbelief.
Hearing that strange laugh, Yoon Seojeong looked uneasy.
‘I lost control of my emotions.’
Youngho gently raised the corners of his lips so that the disciple before him would not feel anxious.
“You should keep dressing like this from now on.”
“The Martial God’s words are correct.”
Before they knew it, Namgung Seojong had stepped beside Youngho and was staring intently at Yoon Seojeong’s face.
Seeing Namgung Seojong admiring his disciple’s face, flames burst into Youngho’s eyes.
‘How dare this brat!’
It would have been fine if it had ended there, but Namgung Seojong turned out to be bolder than expected.
“No matter what clothes you wore, they would suit you, but I was deeply impressed by Aunt’s discerning eye.”
Having said that much, Namgung Seojong continued, though the last words embarrassed him slightly as his ears turned red.
“…You are truly beautiful, Miss.”
Namgung Seongun, who had still been loosening his numb body, greatly admired his older brother’s boldness.
‘As expected, the eldest son is different?’
At Namgung Seojong’s shy smile, Yoon Seojeong responded brightly as if grateful.
“Thank you.”
Youngho had been about to kick Namgung Seojong in the backside, but seeing Yoon Seojeong’s innocent reaction, he lowered the leg he had raised.
‘Good thing she’s oblivious.’
Yoon Seojeong was so insensitive that she failed to notice romantic interest.
She had simply heard a compliment about her beauty and said thank you.
‘That’s wholesome.’
With that change in perspective, a satisfied smile naturally formed on Youngho’s lips.
“Um… Master.”
At that moment, Yoon Seojeong carefully spoke to Youngho.
Seeing the daughter(?) who had yet to leave his side, Youngho answered in a warm voice.
“What is it?”
“Did something happen fifteen years ago?”
At that moment, everyone except Yoon Seojeong froze.
Kang Chowon, who had been scolding Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon, who had been pretending to reflect while counting the wrinkles in the tree bark.
Even the three sons of the Namgung Clan Head.
The only ones who could still move were Yoon Seojeong and Namgung In.
Youngho paused his breathing for a moment before smiling again.
“As you know, fifteen years ago there was a war with the Demonic Cult. The damage back then was so great that even now there are regions in Sichuan still undergoing restoration.”
“I… see.”
Yoon Seojeong clearly felt something was off, but the familiar smile on Youngho’s face reassured her.
‘Just like usual… gentle….’
For a moment, Yoon Seojeong bit her lip.
Gentle? That? Soft? That smile?
Impossible.
Just moments ago, Youngho had been suffering and grieving.
Anyone who didn’t know him well would have been completely fooled.
His expression acting was that perfect.
But Yoon Seojeong could see through it all.
She could see that Youngho was suffering terribly… and that he harbored an infinitely deep hatred.
“Master…!”
Yoon Seojeong began to speak but suddenly lowered her head.
Clenching her fists tightly in frustration, she forced the words out.
“…What are you hiding from me, Master?”
Originally, she had never intended to say it.
Like always, she would have simply thought it was a past he didn’t wish to speak about.
After all, everyone had their own stories.
And people usually wanted to bury the past as deeply as possible within their hearts.
That was why Yoon Seojeong felt resentful.
Because Youngho would not tell her.
Because all of Youngho’s acquaintances knew the past—except her.
‘Why could you tell others? Is it because I still haven’t earned your trust compared to them?’
In the world of the Unorthodox Faction, it was common for a master to treat disciples like slaves.
Teach them a little martial arts, and in return make them work like servants.
That was the nature of the Unorthodox Faction.
That world itself.
Which was why Yoon Seojeong was so proud that Youngho was her master.
He cherished her so much.
He never hid martial arts from her.
He trusted her and helped her whenever necessary.
Then why—why would he not speak about the past?
She could not understand it.
A man so gentle and kind that it was hard to believe he belonged to the Unorthodox Faction.
From the perspective of the Orthodox Sect, what truth could someone with such twisted affection be hiding?
And the moment Yoon Seojeong lifted her head again to meet Youngho’s eyes—
She regretted it.