Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 224

224. The Namgung Clan’s Circumstances

Namgung Biyeon smiled brightly and greeted Woon-hyun.

“Did you perhaps come to visit our clan?”

Woon-hyun could only nod awkwardly at her sparkling eyes.

“Yes.”

“Aha!”

*Thud.*

She lightly tapped her foot and ran towards Woon-hyun.

It was only a few steps, but she gracefully floated through the air and landed next to Woon-hyun.

“Thank you, Scholar Woon.”

Namgung Biyeon unabashedly grabbed Woon-hyun’s arm.

“I believed you would come.”

Woon-hyun was momentarily taken aback by the sudden closeness, but Namgung Biyeon continued with a smile.

“We were just about to have a meal. Come this way. Great Warrior Dokgo, too.”

The word ‘we’ meant there were others with her.

Woon-hyun looked up at the upper floor.

Several people wearing the Namgung Clan’s uniforms were looking their way, but their gazes weren’t very friendly.

“I’ll just eat separately…….”

“You can’t do that.”

Namgung Biyeon firmly grasped Woon-hyun’s hand.

Although her arm was covered by clothing, her hand was bare. Woon-hyun, who had rarely touched a young lady’s hand, was flustered.

“We don’t treat guests to our clan that way. Please, join us.”

Having his hand held and being spoken to with such earnest eyes, Woon-hyun couldn’t refuse.

“Ah, I understand. So, please let go of my hand…….”

“Yes.”

Only then did Namgung Biyeon release his hand.

However, she stayed close to Woon-hyun, not trying to distance herself.

Always with a bright smile on her face.

‘……Was this young lady always like this?’

Woon-hyun tilted his head, seeing a different side of her than he had at the Zhuge Clan.

Of course, she had been lively like a young lady back then, but she hadn’t been this unreserved.

He felt a sense of incongruity, but he had already accepted the invitation.

Woon-hyun looked at Dokgo-rang and said.

“Let’s go up, Dokgo Je.”

“Yes.”

The two of them went up to the second floor with Namgung Biyeon.

The second floor had a structure that overlooked the lower floor, and the decorations, as well as the guests’ attire, were quite extravagant.

Among them, the Namgung Clan members were seated in the best seats. At a glance, there were nearly thirty people, quite a large number.

“Scholar Woon.”

Namgung Biyeon, who was walking beside him, suddenly whispered.

“I’m sorry.”

“Yes?”

As Woon-hyun was wondering, Namgung Biyeon stepped forward.

And she spoke to the Namgung Clan members.

“This person is Woon-hyun, a secretary from the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance].”

Their gazes were already focused on Woon-hyun.

The sight of them all frowning, though to varying degrees, was quite a spectacle.

The face of the young man who had been glaring at Woon-hyun from the beginning now held a clear sneer.

“And this person is Great Warrior Dokgo-rang. It’s a coincidence that these two have visited our main family.”

The Namgung Clan members’ eyes tensed up all at once, probably because of Dokgo-rang’s fierce aura.

“As guests of the clan, it would be alright to have a meal together, wouldn’t it?”

“Ahem.”

A middle-aged man with a beard cleared his throat.

Dressed in splendid silk robes, he spoke to Namgung Biyeon in a stern voice.

“Yeon-ah. Even if he is from the Murim Alliance, a secretary is…….”

“Ah, right. And.”

Namgung Biyeon smiled at Woon-hyun.

“Secretary Woon is known to be the successor of the Sword Saint.”

*Thud.*

The Namgung Clan members’ expressions instantly hardened.

Everyone couldn’t hide their surprise, and some even jumped up from their seats.

The face of the young man who had been glaring at Woon-hyun continued to distort, but the middle-aged man in the silk robes also widened his eyes, unable to hide his surprise.

“I apologize, but.”

Woon-hyun bowed lightly and said.

“That is a distorted truth. I merely have a slight connection; I am not his successor.”

Complex emotions flashed across the faces of the Namgung Clan members.

However, the surprise still hadn’t disappeared.

The fact that he had a connection to the Sword Saint was not a trivial matter.

“Well, but.”

Namgung Biyeon spoke again.

She smiled at Woon-hyun.

“It’s clear that you are a disciple of the Divine Monk, isn’t it? By seniority, you would be the granduncle of the current Shaolin Abbot, wouldn’t you?”

*Crash.*

“Wh, what did you say?”

The middle-aged man in the silk robes jumped up from his seat.

He looked at Woon-hyun as if asking if Namgung Biyeon’s words were true.

Woon-hyun could only nod.

“That’s how I became connected by chance.”

“Hmph!”

The middle-aged man let out a long sigh.

And immediately bowed to Woon-hyun.

“I am pleased to meet you. Great Master Woon. I am Namgung Cheol.”

His bow was respectful. Namgung Biyeon said from the side.

“He is the head of our clan’s Junggyeong branch.”

“Ah, I see.”

Woon-hyun also bowed to him.

“I am Woon-hyun. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Namgung Cheol wore a gentle smile.

It was a completely different impression from the cold one he had shown earlier.

“This is my son, Namgung Jun. Jun-ah, greet him.”

The person he introduced was, coincidentally, the young man who had been glaring at Woon-hyun.

The young man, Namgung Jun, remained seated and stared straight at Woon-hyun, saying.

“I will not greet him.”

“Jun-ah!”

Namgung Cheol said in surprise.

However, Namgung Jun did not stand up.

“Why should I pay respects to that man? He is from the Murim Alliance. The very Murim Alliance that cast us aside like old shoes!”

He spoke with a somewhat resentful voice.

“Jun-ah! This man is a disciple of the Divine Monk!”

“What does the Divine Monk have to do with us? We are the Namgung Clan. Not Shaolin!”

“Jun-ah!”

“It’s alright.”

Woon-hyun stopped the shouting Namgung Cheol.

“You can’t force someone’s heart. There’s no need to force him if he doesn’t want to. ”

Woon-hyun bowed to Namgung Cheol in a gentle voice.

“It was a pleasure to meet you. I will take my leave now.”

That was an expression of his intention not to join them.

Namgung Cheol had a troubled expression, but he couldn’t hold him back because of his son’s rudeness.

“Then.”

*Step.*

Woon-hyun turned and left his seat.

*Tap, tap.*

He heard light footsteps following behind him, but Woon-hyun didn’t turn around.

Having come back down to the first floor, Woon-hyun took a seat where the people on the second floor couldn’t see him.

“I’m sorry.”

Namgung Biyeon bowed her head.

*Swish.*

Her black hair flowed down and touched the floor of the inn. But Namgung Biyeon didn’t mind.

“I’m really sorry.”

Woon-hyun was silent for a moment.

Namgung Biyeon couldn’t lift her head.

“……It’s alright.”

Woon-hyun said with a bitter smile.

“Raise your head. It’s okay.”

Only then did Namgung Biyeon straighten her body.

Her expression was quite distorted.

“Well, then, it’s my turn to hear an explanation from you, Miss?”

A moment ago, Woon-hyun had granted her request.

She had revealed Woon-hyun’s seniority without his consent, but he had let it pass without making an issue of it, and he had even tried to have a meal with them.

Although it had been broken due to Namgung Cheol’s rudeness.

So now it was Namgung Biyeon’s turn to give her reasons, or excuses.

“Please, sit down first.”

At Woon-hyun’s words, Namgung Biyeon carefully sat down.

It was a serious atmosphere, quite different from before.

“What happened?”

At Woon-hyun’s question, Namgung Biyeon sighed softly.

“Actually, those people came to participate in the main family’s Hidden Dragon Selection.”

“Hidden Dragon Selection?”

Hidden Dragon was a term referring to a talented person who had not yet revealed themselves.

“Yes. It’s supposed to be about discovering young talents in the clan, but in reality…….”

Namgung Biyeon bit her lip slightly and slowly continued.

“It’s about choosing a new successor.”

‘A new successor?’

Woon-hyun was puzzled and at the same time realized that this problem was quite serious.

It hadn’t been long since the previous Thunder Sword had died in the Yangtze River, and Iron Sword Namgung Byeok had become the new head of the family.

But a new successor?

“……Actually, the current head of the family is my father.”

Woon-hyun was surprised.

He had never imagined that Namgung Biyeon would be the daughter of Iron Sword Namgung Byeok.

But Namgung Biyeon’s words were not over yet.

“The problem is that I’m an only daughter.”

Woon-hyun tilted his head.

“Why is that a problem?”

“Because.”

Namgung Biyeon gave a bitter smile.

“The elders of the other factions have started to make an issue of it.”

Woon-hyun’s expression hardened.

And he realized a very important fact that Namgung Biyeon hadn’t yet said.

“Could it be that the head of the family’s authority is wavering?”

“……Yes.”

Namgung Biyeon gritted her teeth.

“Because no one can compare to the previous head of the family, Thunder Sword.”

The influence of the previous head of the family, Thunder Sword Namgung Jincheon, was truly unmatched.

During the Righteous-Demonic War, he had always been at the forefront, and after taking the position of head of the family, he had raised the Namgung Clan to the ranks of the Four Great Clans.

Since he was such a great Thunder Sword, how could the current head of the family not be compared?

Iron Sword Namgung Byeok was also a great warrior, but compared to Thunder Sword, he couldn’t help but feel lacking.

In martial prowess, influence, and even presence itself.

“The problem is.”

Namgung Biyeon let out a soft sigh.

“My father himself thinks so.”

To Namgung Byeok, Thunder Sword was a proud older brother and an idol.

His brother, Thunder Sword, was always in front of him, always leading him from a higher place.

That Thunder Sword was defeated by the Dark Sky Demon Emperor and died.

The person most shocked by his death was Iron Sword Namgung Byeok.

He knew better than anyone that he was too lacking compared to his brother.

Someone who is not confident in himself cannot exert strong leadership.

Iron Sword Namgung Byeok was wavering.

“Then new problems began to appear. The conflicts between factions that had not been revealed until now began to intensify.”

The factions were divided according to their own interests, and the already chaotic clan was swept into conflict.

External troubles brought internal worries.

“The common enemy of all factions was my father. They began to shake my father’s authority and limit his power with all sorts of justifications. And finally…….”

Namgung Biyeon bit her lip.

Woon-hyun continued the words she couldn’t finish.

“Under the name of the Hidden Dragon Selection, they made you choose the next successor. Regardless of the head of the family’s wishes.”

“……Yes.”

Namgung Biyeon’s shoulders trembled faintly with humiliation.

Choosing a successor due to external pressure meant that the head of the family’s authority had already collapsed.

“I tried my best, but…….”

Namgung Biyeon did her best to help such a father.

She negotiated with each faction within the clan, visited each branch to grasp the situation, and tried to unite the hearts of the clan’s disciples.

She endured ridicule and endured humiliation.

She had already given up on her pride.

Visiting the Zhuge Clan was also one of those tearful efforts.

But in the end, Iron Sword Namgung Byeok had no choice but to approve the Hidden Dragon Selection.

Unable to overcome the pressure from the factions.

“But in the end…….”

Namgung Biyeon’s eyes became moist.

Woon-hyun sighed softly.

After waiting for Namgung Biyeon’s emotions to calm down for a moment, Woon-hyun asked.

“Who are those people?”

“Ah.”

Only then did Namgung Biyeon realize that she was completely off topic.

She had only intended to briefly explain the situation, but she was already complaining.

Namgung Biyeon quickly hid her tears and answered.

“They are one of the influential factions. They arrived here several days ago, but they are making various excuses and not coming in. It seems they want my father to come and greet them in person.”

‘Hmm.’

Woon-hyun could see that the situation was more serious than he had thought.

“So, you came to persuade those people, Miss?”

“……Yes.”

Namgung Biyeon’s expression was quite dark as she answered.