Chapter 404: A Father’s Revenge
Tang Mujin hurriedly pulled Hyungong aside, trying to calm his racing heart as he muttered to himself.
”…No, that can’t be it.”
“What can’t be?” Hyungong asked, his voice steady.
“No matter how reckless Hong Geolge is, he wouldn’t go that far. He’s ignorant about many things, but he’s not shameless. He even used a new identity, Hong Gyeon, because he was embarrassed to enter the martial arts tournament under his real name.”
Hyungong, ever the realist, pointed out, “A martial arts tournament? If Hong Geolge had any sense of shame, he would have shown his true skills and won honorably from the start. The moment he pretended to be a third-rate fighter, he set himself on an irreversible path.”
Tang Mujin felt a pang of guilt. Was it a mistake to encourage Hong Geolge to join the tournament?
Guilt crept into Tang Mujin’s heart like a slow, insidious fog.
“No, it’s not certain yet. Let’s talk to him again.”
Tang Mujin and Hyungong sat on a flat rock in a secluded corner of the Gongdong Sect, waiting for Hong Geolge to approach. Knowing Hong Geolge’s tendency to seek out familiar faces, they were sure he would come to them.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Hong Geolge, wearing the face of Hong Gyeon, appeared. He was alone.
Tang Mujin patted the spot next to him, and Hong Geolge sat down.
Hyungong, adopting a more familiar tone than usual, began the conversation.
“How have you been?”
“Busy. Becoming the leader brought a lot to learn,” Hong Geolge replied, his voice casual, as if they had just seen each other yesterday.
“Sounds like you’ve been through a lot.”
“Oh, and Hyungong, just like you suggested, I’ve taken control of the Gae Bang. I’ve got both pillars of power in my hands.”
“That couldn’t have been easy… Impressive.”
Hong Geolge puffed out his chest with pride, prompting Hyungong to ask another question.
“But I heard there’s some friction among the Gae Bang members. What’s that about?”
“That? It just got a bit complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
Hong Geolge shook his head, as if he didn’t want to think about it.
“You know I’m not great at balancing or reading people, right?”
“True.”
“So I just acted in a way that seemed least likely to cause problems. When I’m Hong Gyeon, I praise Hong Geolge, and when I’m Hong Geolge, I respect Hong Gyeon… something like that.”
A typical relationship between a leader and a deputy, where rivalry is kept beneath the surface.
“Sounds reasonable. So what happened?”
“I thought mutual respect between the leader and deputy would end things amicably, but people’s thoughts are more complicated than that. They ended up splitting into factions.”
“Hmm.”
“And even though the elders and law enforcers supported Hong Gyeon as the leader, surprisingly, most of the elders sided with the deputy. Meanwhile, the non-elder executives leaned towards the leader… and as you saw, it led to bickering.”
Hong Geolge sighed deeply as he recounted the tale.
Tang Mujin patted his back reassuringly.
“Must have been frustrating.”
“But it wasn’t all bad.”
“Really?”
“Because of the split, the rivalry between the orthodox and unorthodox factions got overshadowed. Plus, the rumor of a rift between the leader and deputy meant I didn’t have to meet ‘Hong Gyeon’ face-to-face.”
A meeting between Hong Geolge and Hong Gyeon would have been an unsolvable problem. While the division of the Gae Bang was unfortunate, it might have been a blessing in disguise for Hong Geolge personally.
“Also, the competition between the leader and deputy factions has made everyone train harder. Their sparring is almost like real combat… I figured it might help in the upcoming martial arts tournament, so I let it be. Or maybe I even encouraged a bit of conflict.”
Tang Mujin looked at Hyungong triumphantly.
See? Hong Geolge isn’t some monster consumed by a desire for recognition and praise. His eyes seemed to say.
But Hyungong only smiled subtly, not agreeing outright.
Just then, a commotion outside was accompanied by the heavy toll of a bell.
Hong Geolge stood up, looking towards the entrance of the Gongdong Sect.
“Looks like more people have arrived.”
“Let’s go.”
The three of them rose and headed towards the gate. This time, it was Hong Geolge who spoke to Tang Mujin and Hyungong.
“Oh, by the way, I heard something big happened at Mount Kunlun while I was away?”
“Yeah, it was a bit complicated. Thankfully, we managed to handle it without too much trouble…”
“When I first met the Kunlun Taoists here at the Gongdong Sect, I didn’t think much of it. But then I saw Namgung Jincheon among them. I thought I’d seen a ghost.”
Hong Geolge chuckled as he recounted the encounter.
The distance between the rock they had been sitting on and the Gongdong Sect’s gate wasn’t far, so the three of them soon arrived at the entrance.
Just as the procession from the Tang family had been warmly welcomed, an even larger crowd had gathered to greet the heroes of the orthodox sects. Tang Mujin and his friends naturally blended into the throng.
The Gongdong Sect was situated halfway up one of the higher peaks of the Gongdong Mountains.
Tang Mujin stood on tiptoe, craning his neck to get a better look at the approaching group.
About twenty people were making their way up to the Gongdong Sect. There were men and women, young and old.
But they all wore robes with a bluish hue, which shimmered with a subtle sheen. Expensive fabric.
“It’s the Namgung family.”
Tang Mujin remarked, scanning the crowd.
Among those who had come out to greet the Namgung family was Namgung Jincheon, his gaze as indifferent and dry as ever.
A thought suddenly struck Tang Mujin.
He nudged Hyungong in the ribs.
“Hyungong.”
“What?”
“You sent a message to the Namgung family, right?”
“I did.”
Hyungong had gone to Mount Kunlun to capture Ban Yeop and retrieve the Songmun Sword, which had been confiscated by Namgung Myung.
Namgung Myung had told Hyungong that if he wanted the Songmun Sword back, he had to bring Ban Yeop.
So after wrapping up the affairs at Mount Kunlun and returning to the Tang family, Hyungong sent a message to Namgung Myung.
It contained instructions to bring the Songmun Sword to Gongdong Mountain.
But upon reflection, there was one more thing Hyungong should have mentioned to Namgung Myung.
Tang Mujin asked Hyungong a very reasonable question.
“When you sent the message, did you mention that Namgung Jincheon is alive?”
Hyungong’s answer was anything but reasonable.
“Why would I?”
”…Why not?”
“Because there’s no reason to.”
“And there’s no reason not to, either.”
“Of course there is.”
Tang Mujin looked at Hyungong, expecting an explanation.
Hyungong obliged.
“First, if everyone thinks Namgung Jincheon is dead, more martial artists will participate in the tournament.”
The first reason was the same as why Hyungong had let Namgung Myung’s wedding be ruined.
Hyungong felt a twinge of guilt towards Namgung Myung, but he didn’t regret his decision.
By now, the Namgung family’s martial artists had stopped in front of the Kunlun Sect.
A couple of Namgung’s retainers spotted Namgung Jincheon among the crowd and were visibly shocked, but unfortunately, Namgung Myung hadn’t noticed him yet.
“Master…!”
Someone tried to warn Namgung Myung in a small voice, but it was drowned out by the murmuring crowd.
Namgung Myung’s eyes were more determined than usual, his expression solemn.
Tang Mujin asked Hyungong, “What’s the second reason?”
“Because this way is more entertaining.”
A story so straightforward, yet filled with pure mischief.
Was the grudge over the temporary confiscation of the Songmun Sword really that deep? Tang Mujin shivered involuntarily.
His rational mind warned him to send a message to Namgung Myung immediately, to prevent his dear friend from experiencing the most embarrassing moment of his life.
But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. As Hyungong had said, it promised to be an entertaining spectacle.
Naturally, Hong Geolge shared the same sentiment, so none of the three sent a message to Namgung Myung.
Namgung Myung’s voice rang out, filled with inner strength.
“Eleven elite members of the Namgung family’s Cheonri Brigade, eight of the top ten swordsmen, and the head of the Namgung family, Namgung Myung, have arrived at Gongdong Mountain!”
He then drew his sword, raising it high into the sky.
The bluish blade caught the sunlight, gleaming brilliantly. Some of the Namgung martial artists were already blushing, staring silently at the ground.
Regardless, Namgung Myung continued to declare his intentions with vigor.
“The twenty of us from the Namgung family will not return until we have avenged the death of the Sword Demon, Namgung Jincheon!”
Namgung Myung held his sword aloft, waiting for a response.
With over a hundred people gathered to welcome them, there should have been a raucous cheer, but instead, there was only silence.
Namgoong Myung shifted his gaze, trying to figure out the reason behind the tense atmosphere.
In the next moment, his eyes met those of Namgoong Jincheon, standing among the crowd.
Namgoong Myung’s breath caught in his throat.
“Father…!”
He desperately hoped his father would step in and explain the situation.
But Namgoong Jincheon was not the kind of man to offer gentle support or shield his son from embarrassment.
Instead, he executed the Namgoong clan’s signature Infinite Step technique in reverse, quietly retreating and disappearing from view.
Namgoong Myung felt a profound sense of isolation, as if he were the only person left in the world.
Was this the extent of a father’s love?
Someone whispered softly, “So, is the Namgoong clan leaving already?”
Though the voice was not loud, everyone heard it clearly. But Namgoong Myung couldn’t identify who had spoken; his gaze had already dropped to the ground.
He was too ashamed to lift his head.
“The warriors of the Namgoong clan… will not retreat… until the cult leader’s head… is severed…”
He forced out the words he had prepared, but they only deepened his embarrassment. It sounded like an excuse, as if he were justifying why they wouldn’t leave even if Namgoong Jincheon were alive.
A lackluster applause followed, echoing awkwardly.
The warriors of the Namgoong clan, heads bowed, trudged through the crowd of over a hundred martial artists.
Sanggwal Do-in, the head of the Gongdong sect, was perceptive enough to skip the pleasantries and simply said, “There are plenty of empty rooms. Rest wherever you find comfortable.”
”…Understood.”
The Namgoong warriors dispersed without a word, none of them raising their heads, including Namgoong Myung.
Finally, he slid open a door and stepped into a room alone.
He felt as if he were on the brink of a mental breakdown.
But before he could dwell on it, the sound of three excited people approaching reached his ears.
The door burst open with a clatter, and Hong Geolgae raised his arm triumphantly.
“We won’t return to the Namgoong clan until we’ve avenged Namgoong Jincheon’s death!”
Tang Mujin and Hyun Gong burst into laughter, rolling on the floor.
They had kept silent, and it was worth it!
Namgoong Myung lifted his head with a calm expression, though his ears were burning red.
Hyun Gong and Tang Mujin pounced on him, teasing him again.
“The Namgoong warriors won’t retreat until the cult leader’s head is severed!”
“Wow! Such filial piety from a true hero!”
But Namgoong Myung remained composed.
“Calm down for a moment. This isn’t the time to laugh.”
“Maybe not for you, but it is for us!” Tang Mujin teased, prompting Namgoong Myung to shake his arms.
Small items tumbled from his sleeves—a dagger, a fancy ring, an unreadable letter, and a peculiar bead.
”…What’s this?”
“I had no choice.”
As he walked through the crowd, Namgoong Myung had instinctively pilfered items from those around him, driven by shame and a desire to momentarily forget everything.
Most people wouldn’t understand the connection between embarrassment and theft, but Namgoong Myung was not most people.
“Why? I didn’t even see you do it.”
“That’s not the point. Look at this.”
He nudged one of the items with his foot—a bead that seemed both white and transparent.
Tang Mujin recognized it. It was something he’d seen in the demonic cult, a rare item they had once confiscated and stored away. A poison bead.
Tang Mujin’s face filled with confusion.
“When did you visit the Tang family?”
Namgoong Myung shook his head.
“No, I just picked it up.”
“Just now?”
“Yes. I don’t know whose pocket it came from…”
“Wow, they said these poison beads are rare. I’ve only ever seen one! Now we have another.”
Tang Mujin cheered, but Hyun Gong frowned.
Unlike Hong Geolgae and Tang Mujin, Hyun Gong understood why Namgoong Myung had pointed out the poison bead.
”…Maybe this really isn’t the time to laugh.”
Hyun Gong’s words prompted Tang Mujin to ask, “What’s wrong?”
“Tang Mujin, have you ever heard of anyone in the demonic cult mastering poison techniques?”
Tang Mujin thought for a moment. The poison master was dead, and his disciple, Mok Wana, was at the Tang family. He hadn’t heard of anyone else mastering poison techniques.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Is there anyone here who knows more about the demonic cult than we do?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Exactly. As far as we know, among everyone gathered here and the demonic cult members, you’re the only one with poison skills. Whoever had this bead must have anticipated a confrontation with you.”
Tang Mujin finally understood.
“No way.”
Hyun Gong nodded.
“We have a traitor among us.”