Chapter 166 : In a Fight or a Bet, Winning Is All That Matters
Chapter 166: In a Fight or a Bet, Winning Is All That Matters
At the sudden, unexpected voice, everyone’s gaze simultaneously turned toward the doorway.
There stood Namgung Hee-yeon.
The Cult Leader’s voice reached the ears of the Azure Dragon Sword King, whose face had become a tangled mix of shock and joy at the sight of her looking completely unharmed.
“Why is my sister-in-law here?”
In an instant, the Azure Dragon Sword King’s expression changed again, now filled with confusion at what he had just heard, and his gaze turned toward the Cult Leader.
It was because of the destructive power carried by the word “sister-in-law.”
While the Azure Dragon Sword King remained stunned, Namgung Hee-yeon’s voice was heard again.
“You promised me, Cult Leader. You said you would overlook the Namgung Clan’s mistake.”
To be precise, what he had said was, ‘As long as you bear a child, I’ll overlook most things the Namgung Clan does.’
There was a bit omitted, but he had indeed said something along those lines.
“I did.”
At the Cult Leader’s reply, Namgung Hee-yeon spoke again.
“Please keep that promise.”
“Sister-in-law. You know there were conditions attached to my promise.”
“I… I know.”
“Don’t you think that condition hasn’t been fulfilled yet?”
“I will fulfill it.”
“How?”
“Starting today, I’ll make up my mind and work hard.”
The Cult Leader looked quietly at Namgung Hee-yeon, who even wore a resolute expression, and asked,
“So you’re saying I should trust you and fulfill my promise first?”
“Please.”
The Cult Leader stared at her for a moment before nodding.
“Alright. Since my sister-in-law says so, I’ll trust you. But as you know, I don’t tolerate my trust being betrayed very well. You should keep that in mind.”
“I will.”
“Good. Then we’ll do it that way.”
After answering Namgung Hee-yeon, the Cult Leader turned his gaze to the Azure Dragon Sword King.
“Take them.”
The Azure Dragon Sword King’s eyes widened at the Cult Leader’s words directed at him.
The Cult Leader spoke again.
“Why are you staring with those big round eyes? I said take them.”
“Y-You really mean I can just take them?”
“That’s what I said.”
At the Cult Leader’s slightly irritated reply, the Azure Dragon Sword King’s eyes grew so wide it seemed they might tear.
He wasn’t the only one shocked. The eight younger generation talents who had survived and been dragged here were equally stunned.
Even amid the shock, several of them wore expressions filled with questions.
Why was Namgung Hee-yeon in the Bright Cult? How could a few words from her save their lives? Everything was filled with doubt.
Amid the confusion of the younger generation talents, the Azure Dragon Sword King’s voice spoke.
“If you permit it, may I speak with my grandniece for a moment?”
At the request from the Azure Dragon Sword King, who had barely recovered from his shock, the Cult Leader replied.
“If you wish. But you know that if you move, the ones protecting you will have to move as well. They’re busy people. Don’t take too much of their time.”
“I… I understand.”
At the awkward reply from the Azure Dragon Sword King, the Cult Leader nodded.
“Now go. I’m busy too.”
With that order to leave, the Azure Dragon Sword King and his group were practically pushed out of the Cult Leader’s residence and, guided by Namgung Hee-yeon, headed to Seogak.
There, the Azure Dragon Sword King met Namgung Chang-yeon, and relief appeared on his face.
But only briefly.
The Azure Dragon Sword King’s face hardened sternly, and he burst into a shout.
“You brat!”
“I-I’m sorry, Great-Granduncle.”
Seeing Namgung Chang-yeon bow his head deeply, the Azure Dragon Sword King could no longer continue his anger.
He knew what thoughts had driven the boy to leave the clan.
“More importantly, what happened? Why are you staying in the Bright Cult?”
“I was… captured.”
To be precise, he had essentially captured himself. Yul Han and the Poison Demon had never intended to hold him prisoner.
In fact, he had even insisted on following them to the Bright Cult’s Main Fortress himself.
But the Azure Dragon Sword King, unaware of that truth, simply believed Namgung Chang-yeon had resisted the Bright Cult and been captured and brought here.
“Still, it’s fortunate you’re alive.”
“Sob… I’m ashamed.”
The Azure Dragon Sword King understood the meaning of that sob. The boy was ashamed of living when he could not die.
He understood Namgung Chang-yeon’s feelings better than anyone.
Because his own heart felt the same.
Namgung Chang-yeon, who wept sorrowfully, finally calmed down only after Hwayeong stepped in and comforted him as well.
Watching Hwayeong quietly as she stayed beside Namgung Chang-yeon, soothing him, the Azure Dragon Sword King asked,
“Who are you?”
“I am Ga Hwa-yeong of Golden Flower Manor.”
At Hwayeong’s respectful greeting, the Azure Dragon Sword King’s eyes turned cold.
To the Orthodox Faction, Golden Flower Manor was the place that had laid the foundation for the Bright Cult’s rise. Naturally, he could not look upon it favorably.
“Ahem! Why is someone from Golden Flower Manor here?”
At the dissatisfaction dripping from the Azure Dragon Sword King’s voice, Hwayeong panicked.
“Th-That is because I came with Young Hero Namgung…”
“With him?! What nonsense is that!”
Startled by the fierce shout, Hwayeong fell silent, and Namgung Chang-yeon carefully spoke.
“She saved my life.”
“She saved your life?”
“Well… that is…”
After a long explanation from Namgung Chang-yeon, the Azure Dragon Sword King finally learned how he had survived.
His expression hardened.
“So you’re saying you survived by relying on the enemy’s kindness?!”
“I… I’m sorry.”
Namgung Chang-yeon bowed his head deeply again, unable to do anything.
The Azure Dragon Sword King glared at him, but he could say nothing more.
Because he himself had survived by sacrificing his grandniece.
In the end, a long, deep sigh escaped the Azure Dragon Sword King.
“Haah… enough. Prepare to return.”
Nowhere in that statement did he mention Hwayeong.
Even knowing Namgung Chang-yeon felt troubled by that, the Azure Dragon Sword King ignored it.
Even if there was a story behind it, becoming entangled with the daughter of Golden Flower Manor would be troublesome.
Not only for the Namgung Clan, but it would also become a fatal weakness for Namgung Chang-yeon.
So deliberately ignoring the matter, the Azure Dragon Sword King finally asked Namgung Hee-yeon the question he had most wanted to ask.
“What was the condition the Cult Leader spoke of? And what was that ‘sister-in-law’ remark?”
At the question, Namgung Chang-yeon suddenly interjected with an emotional expression.
“The Cult Leader… toward Vice Cult Leader Hee-yeon… Great-Granduncle, no matter what, we must take Hee-yeon out of here.”
Since he had already guessed it when he first heard the word “sister-in-law,” the Azure Dragon Sword King was not surprised by the mention of the Vice Cult Leader.
After all, once she had been handed to the Bright Cult, it had been obvious she would become someone’s plaything.
If it was the Vice Cult Leader, at least she would not be passed from one man to another and suffer unspeakable torment.
At that thought, the Azure Dragon Sword King had to shut his eyes tightly.
The fact that he was even thinking such things filled him with despair.
Then Namgung Hee-yeon’s voice reached him.
“You need not worry about this descendant. Please just take care of my brother.”
She said nothing about the “condition” he had asked about.
The Azure Dragon Sword King opened his eyes and looked at her with sorrow.
Avoiding the answer meant it was something difficult even to speak of.
And that meant the hardship she bore was enormous.
He had no right to pry further.
“Haah… my sins run deep. Do not forgive me.”
“It was my choice. I do not resent you, Great-Granduncle.”
Looking at his still composed grandniece, the Azure Dragon Sword King spoke.
“What can I even say? Still… no matter what, I will raise Chang-yeon into someone great.”
“Thank you. I will trust only you, Great-Granduncle.”
The Azure Dragon Sword King could only nod heavily.
That day, the Azure Dragon Sword King and the eight younger generation talents of the Namgung Clan forcibly dragged away Namgung Chang-yeon, who insisted he would never leave alone, and departed from the Bright Cult’s Main Fortress.
The Bright Cult even assigned them an escort unit to protect them until they left the Cheonghae Region, worried they might be attacked by others.
Thus, an unprecedented situation occurred where martial artists of the Orthodox Faction’s renowned sects were escorted by Bright Cult martial artists.
Hwayeong remained in Seogak.
Until the very moment they left, the Namgung Clan treated her like she didn’t exist.
Even Namgung Chang-yeon could not properly look after her.
He was too busy trying to persuade the Azure Dragon Sword King not to abandon his sister, Namgung Hee-yeon.
Of course, it didn’t work.
In the end, after the Namgung Clan left, Hwayeong remained alone in Seogak.
From that moment on, two women resided in Seogak.
From the Bright Cult’s perspective, there was no reason to drive away the daughter of Golden Flower Manor, who was practically their greatest benefactor.
From Hwayeong’s perspective, she could see the Vice Cult Leader every day, even if only from afar, and she could keep Namgung Hee-yeon in check.
So she did not insist on returning.
As a result, Hwayeong’s stay in Seogak continued to grow longer.
Because of this, the Bright Cult martial artists began worrying about a fight between the two women living in Seogak.
By nature, Bright Cult martial artists believed that if you wanted something, you fought fiercely and took it.
Naturally, a bet began.
It was a wager on which of the two—Namgung Hee-yeon or Ga Hwa-yeong—would win in a brawl.
They firmly believed the two women would eventually come to blows.
Unexpectedly, the betting odds were extremely even.
Despite the difference in background between a martial clan and a merchant family, both women had never learned martial arts.
Perhaps because of that, the bet kept growing.
Eventually, it became hard to find anyone among the Bright Cult martial artists who had not joined the wager.
Amid this situation, a conversation was taking place between the Cult Leader and the Blood Sword Unit Commander.
“Who did you bet on?”
At the Cult Leader’s question, the Blood Sword Unit Commander replied confidently.
“I bet on the daughter of the Namgung Clan!”
“You idiot! That’s why you’ll never make it. Just look—Golden Flower Manor’s girl has broader shoulders and bigger hands.”
“Don’t tell me… you bet on the Golden Flower Manor girl?”
“Of course. She looks stronger.”
The Blood Sword Unit Commander looked confused.
He had bet on the Namgung girl because he believed the Cult Leader supported her.
But the Cult Leader had bet on the Golden Flower Manor girl instead.
His confusion slipped out.
“Then… do you see the Golden Flower Manor girl as the Vice Cult Leader’s spouse?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Don’t you know what I call the Namgung girl?”
“I know you call her sister-in-law, but…”
“Then why ask?”
The Blood Sword Unit Commander became even more confused.
“Wait… didn’t you say you bet on the Golden Flower Manor girl?”
“I already told you—she looks stronger.”
The Cult Leader’s voice began carrying a hint of irritation.
But the Blood Sword Unit Commander could not help asking again.
“But you think the Namgung girl should be the Vice Cult Leader’s spouse?”
“Are you testing how long it takes for my temper to explode?”
The Cult Leader’s eyes finally twisted in irritation.
The Blood Sword Unit Commander waved his hands quickly.
“N-No! I’m just confused! The one you bet on and the one you want as a spouse are different!”
“Of course they are. In a bet or a fight, all that matters is winning. The Golden Flower Manor girl clearly looks stronger—so how could I bet on my sister-in-law?”
“……”
Despite the explanation, the Blood Sword Unit Commander still looked utterly confused.
The Cult Leader stared at him before asking with suspicion,
“You didn’t think the winner of the bet would become Han’s spouse, did you?”
“I… isn’t that the case?”
“Of course not. Han never said he’d marry the winner, and I never declared I’d support whoever wins.”
The Blood Sword Unit Commander looked deeply shocked.
“What? Were you seriously confused about that?”
The Cult Leader even clicked his tongue in annoyance, muttering something like “what’s even inside your head.”
But the Blood Sword Unit Commander could swear this much:
If he went outside right now and repeated what the Cult Leader had just said to any Bright Cult martial artist, they would have the exact same expression as him.
Still unable to recover from the shock, he heard the Cult Leader speak again.
“By the way, who did Han bet on? I should go ask.”
As if it were the most exciting thing in the world, the Cult Leader lightly stepped out of his residence.
The Blood Sword Unit Commander simply stared blankly after him.