Chapter 178: Signs of War (4)

“Are you Temporary Instructor Cho Un-hwi?”

The ones guarding the inn were the Namgung Clan’s pride, the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad.

They were the same people he had encountered in front of Myojinmun before, but their previously high-handed attitude was nowhere to be seen.

“Please, come this way.”

Following the squad member inside, Cho Un-hwi found himself in a garden filled with exotic flowers, even though it was indoors.

‘Quite a refined taste.’

The person who had summoned him was already beyond the garden.

But it wasn’t just Namgung Chan who was there.

Baek Ri Seon-ho and Mo Yong-ju were also present.

‘So this is where they’ve been.’

He had wondered where they had gone.

As he stepped forward to enter, someone blocked his path.

“Instructor Cho Un-hwi.”

It was Namgung Il-jun.

He whispered a warning into Cho Un-hwi’s ear.

[Do not disrespect our elder.]

“I’ll do my best.”

As Cho Un-hwi walked in, Mo Yong-ju rolled his eyes.

“Haha. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a place like this.”

“Isn’t this the first time we’ve met outside?”

“We haven’t seen each other much lately.”

Mo Yong-ju seemed eager to talk about his granddaughter but held back, glancing at Namgung Chan.

“Come, sit. The elder has arranged this meeting for you.”

At Baek Ri Seon-ho’s gesture, Cho Un-hwi sat down and looked at the people before him.

“Haha. I didn’t think you’d actually come. You’ve got guts.”

Namgung Chan looked entirely different from the last time Cho Un-hwi saw him.

‘If he was like a cold winter wind before, now he feels like a spring breeze.’

It wasn’t just the atmosphere that was different.

*Pour.*

“You must be tired from the long journey. Have a drink first.”

The hand pouring the drink was gentle.

*Gulp.*

After downing the drink, Cho Un-hwi set the cup on the table.

“Why did you summon me?”

“You’re quite direct.”

“I’m a busy man.”

As he got straight to the point, Mo Yong-ju and Baek Ri Seon-ho looked taken aback.

“Take a breath.”

“How can you be so rude when the elder has summoned you?”

Seeing them mouth curses, Cho Un-hwi realized they had come here for a different reason.

‘They must have followed to prevent any trouble.’

But surprisingly, Namgung Chan smiled warmly.

“Let him be. I don’t mind seeing the vigor of young people.”

Being direct is good too.

Namgung Chan laughed heartily and got to the point.

“Let’s be straightforward. What will it take for you to let Yun-ho go?”

“Why should I let Yun-ho go?”

“He seems to be following you.”

“He’s a smart kid. He’ll decide his own path.”

Haha.

Namgung Chan laughed softly and stroked his white beard.

“You seem quite angry with me.”

“I’m not angry.”

It’s more like.

“I don’t understand why you’re bothering a new instructor instead of dealing with your own family.”

A clear provocation.

“Young man.”

Mo Yong-ju’s jaw trembled, but Cho Un-hwi didn’t stop.

“You seem well-off. Why are you making things difficult for me by neglecting your own child?”

“So you are angry.”

Surprisingly, Namgung Chan agreed.

“To be honest, I admit my mistake. My decision was too complacent.”

“Elder.”

Baek Ri Seon-ho sighed as Namgung Chan continued.

“But think about it. How much do you know about the Namgung Clan?”

“Not much.”

Glancing at the lavish feast before him, Cho Un-hwi answered.

“That it’s a family that dines lavishly?”

“Instructor Cho!”

Namgung Il-jun and the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad members reached for their swords.

“Enough.”

If Namgung Chan hadn’t raised his hand, they would have rushed in to grab him.

Ignoring them, Cho Un-hwi asked.

“Why did you abandon him?”

“…I suppose I need to explain in detail.”

*Tap.*

Elegantly setting down his cup, Namgung Chan pointed to one side.

“The Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad, the pride of the Namgung Clan.”

“They seem to be quite skilled.”

“Indeed. Only peak-level masters can join the squad.”

Namgung Chan explained with pride.

“If Yun-ho had been just a member of the Namgung family, I would have taken care of him until the end.”

“What if he’s not just a member?”

“But being a direct descendant and leading the family is a different matter.”

There’s a clear distinction between a member and a direct descendant.

Namgung Chan drew a line.

“As you said, growing up as a direct descendant gives one immense power.”

“Is that so?”

“Eating in such a luxurious inn is nothing.”

Even if he ate gold for every meal, no one would blame him.

“Yun-ho is the son of the head of the family. His mere existence gives him power.”

“Even if he doesn’t become the head?”

“You may not know, but just being part of the Namgung family brings people bearing gold to our doorstep.”

“That sounds convenient.”

“It’s also dangerous. A casual conversation can become gossip, and an offhand remark can create enormous interests.”

Let me give you an example.

“Once, a child mentioned something while drunk.”

It wasn’t a minor thing.

“He just said he had no appetite lately. A trivial complaint any child could make.”

“And then?”

“Can you guess what happened?”

Waiting for an answer, Namgung Chan smiled broadly.

“The merchant group supplying our grain went bankrupt.”

“What?”

“There were rumors that their grain wasn’t as good as it used to be.”

“Wow.”

Mo Yong-ju nodded.

“It’s a famous story.”

“A famous story?”

“It’s something we tell the children to be careful about when they speak.”

A crazy story that actually happened?

Namgung Chan’s explanation didn’t stop there.

“Also, the next morning, a long line formed in front of our family’s gate. Merchant groups wanting to supply us with grain.”

“……”

“A single trivial remark left a thousand people from the old merchant group out on the streets.”

Rumors that their grain was of poor quality led to the termination of contracts with other clients.

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Always enjoy your meals?”

“Haha. Quite the joker.”

Namgung Chan’s tone changed.

“Yun-ho didn’t have the courage to handle the responsibilities of a direct descendant. His martial arts were also lacking.”

“I see.”

“A child who hesitates at everything can’t inherit the family.”

As he circled around the point, Cho Un-hwi’s eyes gleamed.

“So, you abandoned him?”

“Instructor Cho!”

Baek Ri Seon-ho grabbed his collar.

He was worried about Cho Un-hwi’s bluntness in front of the fearsome elder.

But once again, Namgung Chan didn’t react.

“Yes, I did.”

He simply acknowledged it.

“You admit it so easily.”

“I’m not so corrupt as to deny the truth.”

Namgung Chan took a sip of his drink.

“I have many titles. Sword Saint, Heavenly God of the Azure Sky. Do you know my previous title?”

“He was called the Heavenly God of the Azure Sky.”

Mo Yong-ju’s prompt made Namgung Chan nod.

“You may see me as a cold person, but I’m not as heartless as you think.”

“Considering…”

“I’m only heartless when it comes to family matters.”

It wasn’t an unbelievable story. The Supreme Elder of the Namgung Clan, known as the Sword Saint, sitting with a mere instructor was already a significant gesture.

“I appreciate it.”

“Why do you always sound so insincere?”

Ignoring Mo Yong-ju’s comment, Namgung Chan laughed.

“I arranged this meeting to make three proposals to you.”

My son has the makings of a head of the family, but he lacks gentleness.

Namgung Chan continued.

“First proposal. Would you consider joining the Namgung family?”

“I’m devoted to my job as an instructor.”

“There’s also a way to bind you by blood. I can offer you a suitable family member.”

“I’m a romantic.”

“Is that so? Well, you do have a fine woman by your side.”

He seemed to be under a significant misconception, but before Cho Un-hwi could correct him, Mo Yong-ju added.

“Elder, these days, young people don’t need to be bound by blood.”

They prefer to be more than friends but less than lovers.

“Is that so?”

As they whispered, Namgung Chan moved on to the next proposal.

“Second proposal. Tell me how you taught Yun-ho.”

“I taught him with constant care and attention.”

Though he answered sincerely, Baek Ri Seon-ho interrupted.

“The students say you rarely show up on time.”

How could this happen?

“Haha. It seems you don’t want to answer.”

“It’s my livelihood.”

“Then, let’s move on to the next proposal.”

*Tap.*

Picking at the simple vegetables among the lavish feast, Namgung Chan made his final proposal.

“Third proposal. Return Yun-ho to the family.”

This is an offer you can’t refuse.

Namgung Chan’s aura rose like a mountain.

*Rumble!*

“Elder!”

At the sudden surge of energy, Mo Yong-ju and Baek Ri Seon-ho were startled.

But Namgung Chan’s aura continued to rise, shaking the entire inn.

Simply gathering his internal energy created a whirlwind, worthy of the title Sword Saint.

“Huff.”

The frail old man’s appearance was gone.

“I’ll explain why the third proposal is irrefutable.”

*Rumble!*

As his energy shook the entire inn and even Suzhou, Namgung Chan calmly explained.

“No matter how I think about it, the only way to help Yun-ho is for the family to accept him.”

“……”

“Are you too overwhelmed to speak? I apologize.”

Despite his words, he increased the pressure, shaking the heavens and the earth.

“You, who can only look up from the ground, wouldn’t understand.”

Unlike your insignificant life.

A seed of the emperor is not common.

“He must live looking down from above.”

I can’t let a mere temporary instructor’s ambition ruin his future.

“No matter how I think about it, this is the right decision.”

Wealth that can fill warehouses.

Power that moves thousands with a single word.

Supreme martial arts that will shake the world.

“Not knowing what you haven’t tasted is understandable, but isn’t it tyranny to deny the child a taste of what you haven’t experienced?”

*Crack!*

“Ugh!”

Caught in the energy, Cho Un-hwi was forced down in his seat.

The pressure increased gravity by dozens of times.

“Elder! Stop!”

“You’ll hurt Instructor Cho!”

*Buzz!*

Mo Yong-ju and Baek Ri Seon-ho tried to protect him with their energy.

*Crack!*

Namgung Chan easily overpowered them and increased the pressure.

Still calm, Namgung Chan made his final proposal.

“Decide. Will you give him up?”

Or will you suffer here?

As he forced a choice.

“Ugh. I remember the second proposal.”

The second proposal?

‘Didn’t he ask how I taught him?’

Why mention the second proposal now?

As he wondered.

*Bang!*

Incredibly, Cho Un-hwi, who had withstood the pressure, kicked over the table and said with blazing eyes.

“I told him to charge at any bastard acting like an asshole.”

‘This guy?’

Seeing the madness in his eyes, Namgung Chan was about to gather more energy when.

“Head of the family! There’s an emergency!”

(TLN:NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUCK OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF)

“What is it?”

Namgung Chan shouted as he was interrupted.

A visibly distressed member of the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad delivered unbelievable news.

“The family is under attack!”