Read Novel Full Chapter 1200: How On Earth Did You Endure This? (5)
Chapter 1200: How On Earth Did You Endure This? (5)
“Hey... Young family lord.”
Tang Gunak sighed deeply and spoke.
“The journey to Southern Island is far more dangerous than you think. Even if the goal is to go unnoticed with only a few people, it is still risky.”
“I know, Family Lord.”
“And yet, the Namgung Family’s young lord... you, who in practice fulfill the role of the family lord, intend to go to the ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Southern Island yourself?”
Tang Gunak raised his voice a little as if it were absurd.
“You aren’t suggesting this without realizing what would happen if you too were harmed in the current state of the Namgung Family, are you?”
It was a cold reprimand, but Namgung Do-Wei merely smiled calmly.
“Of course I know.”
“And yet you still plan to go to the Southern Island?”
“Yes.”
Hearing that resolute answer without a trace of hesitation, Tang Gunak shut his eyes tightly.
‘Namgung Hwang would’ve been better to deal with.’
Namgung Hwang also had his reckless side, but that stemmed from pride that burst out when he couldn’t master his own feelings.
But this man, unlike Namgung Hwang, had thought everything through and withheld emotion, yet arrived at the same conclusion as Namgung Hwang.
If the process is different but the result is the same, isn’t it easier to deal with the one whose process is wrong?
“Young lord...”
“Acting Sect leader.”
At that moment, Namgung Do-Wei turned his head and looked at Baek Cheon.
“Yes, young lord.”
“What do you intend to do, Acting Sect leader? Having risen to the Acting Sect leader of Mount Hua, will you stay in the rear and send your disciples to the Southern Island?”
At that, Baek Cheon shrugged his shoulders.
“There is no such Acting Sect leader in Mount Hua. Mount Hua’s Acting Sect leader is the one who acts first at the forefront. Of course I will go to the Southern Island myself.”
Hearing that, Namgung Do-Wei looked at Tang Gunak as if to say ‘see?’.
“That’s right.”
“...”
“If Mount Hua’s Acting Sect leader goes to the Southern Island in person, why would the Namgung Family’s young lord withdraw because of some lofty title? The Namgung Family cannot match Mount Hua in strength, but at least we will not lose in united resolve.”
“No. I hope you don’t feel competitive over such needless matters...”
“That’s not all. As you said, Lord, the Namgung Family is not whole right now. Most of those who once represented the Namgung died on Plum Blossom Island. Because of that, there are few left who can represent the Namgung by name alone.”
“...”
“Therefore.”
Namgung Do-Wei relaxed his shoulders and began to speak.
“One who is a direct victim of what the Nine Great Sects did, who has experienced how brutal Four Sects Alliance can be, a member of the Namgung Family who can represent its position, and someone who can harmonize well with those heading to Southern Island and successfully lead every mission.”
“...”
“There is no one more suitable in the Namgung than myself.”
Tang Gunak closed his mouth like a clamshell.
He tried to find a retort, but no rebuttal came to mind—the argument was almost flawless logically.
So Tang Gunak had no choice but to utter words uncharacteristic of his usual self.
“Listen, young lord.”
“Yes, Family Lord.”
“As you know, your father and I were on friendly terms. We weren’t intimate friends, but there was no problem sharing a drink together.”
“I know. If circumstances had been different, the two of you might have been closer.”
“Yes. That’s true.”
Tang Gunak let out a deep sigh.
“Then you should consider my position a little as well. If you were harmed on this trip to Southern Island, how could I face that friend?”
“You needn’t worry about that.”
Namgung Do-Wei smiled softly.
“The father I know wouldn’t blame me for going to Southern Island. He would rather blame me for not going. My father was that kind of man.”
“...”
Tang Gunak was struck dumb.
After thinking, he realized Namgung Hwang truly was that kind of person.
“Well, you have an uncle too, don’t you!”
“My uncle’s wounds from before are too deep for him to endure a long journey. As his nephew, how could I ask an injured uncle to undertake such a thing?”
“Th-that...”
If Namgung Myung had been here he would have immediately retorted, ‘What? I’m perfectly fine,’ but unfortunately Namgung Myung was not present.
“Th-then...”
Just as Tang Gunak was trying to squeeze out a reply, Meng So snorted and spoke.
“Family Lord, your position must be awkward as well.”
At that remark Tang Gunak couldn’t help but sigh deeply.
In truth, Tang Gunak was not one to stop others or hold people back with excuses; he was typically indifferent and watched events unfold with calm detachment.
But now that he was presiding over a Heavenly Friends Alliance meeting, he realized that behaving as he normally did might send them all to hell in less than three days.
‘Alliance leader...’
Tang Gunak felt anew, with bitter clarity, what Hyun Jong had to do as the leader of the Heavenly Friends Alliance.
Sometimes he had been frustrated, wondering why Hyun Jong always nitpicked when the youngsters would inevitably get their way...
‘If you don’t object, these kids will go as far as the Western Regions.’
So even if it didn’t change the outcome, raising objections had its own value.
“Ugh. You have no intention of changing your mind... of course not. Fine, I understand.”
Tang Gunak sighed deeply and opened his mouth again.
“No. But my original question was whether you agree with Mount Hua’s position...”
“I, too, from the Ice Palace will go in person!”
“...”
Tang Gunak turned his head with a soul-dead gaze. He saw Seol So-Baek’s flushed face.
“O-of course the Ice Palace has many greater and more distinguished people than me. But the Ice Palace is not well known in the Central Plains, so whoever goes would have difficulty making a strong impression.”
“...No, Palace Lord, first of all...”
“Therefore I think it’s right that I of the Ice Palace go personally. Even if I’m weak, I hold the position of the palace’s Lord; even if we lack people, the authority of the position carries persuasive power!”
For a moment, faces of Ice Palace elders who looked at Seol So-Baek kindly came to Tang Gunak’s mind.
Elders.
If you intended that, you shouldn’t have brought that child here... or at least you should have kept him away from that water-sprinkled ink-like fellow... (implying Chung Myung).
Tang Gunak’s gaze turned to Chung Myung, who was looking at Seol So-Baek with a pleased ‘ha, that one’s grown well’ expression.
That man is the source of all evil. All evil...
“Palace Lord... I asked whether you supported Mount Hua’s opinion...”
“I agree! Of course I agree! I have no objections.”
“No. Don’t be so hasty...”
“The Ice Palace rose again from isolation with Mount Hua’s help. Had Mount Hua not come to the Northern Sea then, would we be here now?”
“...”
Tang Gunak quickly shut his mouth.
“A person must know duty to be a person. The Ice Palace that rose again cannot turn its back on those in the same predicament.”
“Y-yes. Of course.”
If someone else had said this, Tang Gunak would have retorted ‘life is not like that in reality,’ but in front of Seol So-Baek he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Telling that child such a thing would feel like kicking away a growing sprout, a sinful act.
Tang Gunak felt painfully that youth could sometimes be a weapon.
“That’s a good idea.”
“Palace Lord!”
Meng So said awkwardly.
“But you have thought about how to persuade the elders, right?”
“Ah... that is...”
When Seol So-Baek looked flustered, Meng So chuckled.
“As a fellow Palace Lord, I’ll give you one piece of advice.”
“Yes! I will listen.”
“Sometimes you must understand and use the fact that you are the Palace Lord. If something must be done, getting formal agreement is not always important.”
“Ah...”
“When this meeting ends, come to my quarters, I’ll show you what a Palace Lord’s ‘persuasion’ looks like.”
“Thank you.”
“What are you teaching that kid...”
“If he’s the Lord of the First Palace, he can no longer be called a child. Isn’t that so?”
Tang Gunak’s eyes wavered.
If he said otherwise here, wouldn’t that be an insult to the Ice Palace’s Lord? He couldn’t possibly say that.
Whether aware of Tang Gunak’s feelings or not, Seol So-Baek, with a flushed face, asked Meng So.
“Then, Palace Lord, will you go yourself?”
“The Beast Palace will not participate this time.”
“W-why is that?”
“Because we are foreigners.”
Meng So snorted with laughter.
“The Heavenly Friends Alliance may not see it that way, but people of the Central Plains still hold prejudices against outsiders. If two such outsiders go to persuade them, it won’t leave a very good impression.”
“...But isn’t the Southern Island sect also in a remote place?”
“That’s why I said it’s okay for the Ice Palace to go. But it’s not good for both sects to go. This is a decision for the Heavenly Friends Alliance.”
“Hmm.”
Seol So-Baek nodded with a serious face.
“Besides, hasn’t the Beast Palace already chosen its representative? And it’s someone entrusted with a very important role.”
“Kiiiiiiii!”
“This bastard bares his teeth at people? Maybe he needs to die to come to his senses.”
Baek Ah, face flushed with fever, snarled, but hearing Chung Myung’s voice she sulked again and scratched the ground.
Seol So-Baek, staring blankly at that sight, nodded as if he understood.
“...I see.”
Here are those who treat spiritual beasts like objects, and those who truly treat them like people.
Same words, but the meaning is... really different. Yes. Very different.
“Then the remaining place is...”
All eyes turned to one place.
And the one who received that gaze answered immediately as if already prepared.
“Beon Chung! Beon Chung will go.”
Im So-Byeong’s face was desperate.
“If an Evil Sect bastard goes there in the first place it will only give a bad impression; what good impression could there be? Opting out would be best, but if you don’t like that I’ll send Beon Chung. He’s strong and would be useful even as a porter!”
“...”
“If not, it’s fine. I’ll immediately prepare a detailed roster of the Ten Shadows of the Green Forest and the Green Forest elders! Choose anyone from them! Whoever you pick I will send at once...”
“Hey.”
“...”
Chung Myung said indifferently.
“Stop talking nonsense and you come too.”
“W-why would the Evil Sect go to the Southern Island...”
“Ah. I understand, so come.”
“...It will only worsen their reputation...”
“Enough, just come.”
“...”
“Let the Green Forest be represented by the Green Forest King.”
In that moment it was decided that Im So-Byeong would join regardless of his own wishes.