Vol 2 Chapter 48. Someone Stop Him (1)

The ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍atmosphere turned sour.

The Sect Leaders, whose face and pride collapsed abruptly at Patrick's poignant pointing out, could not make any retort.

Eventually, the Divine Monk mediated.

"Let us stop here for today. Since it seems we all, including this monk, have much to think about... Let us gather again tomorrow and share conversation."

When the Divine Monk said so, the Sect Leaders stood up one by one and went outside.

While leaving, they thought.

Have they really lived up to the name of prestigious Orthodox sects all this time?

Or were they just busy surviving by prostrating servilely, crushed by the fear of the name Heaven Breaking Martial Emperor?

Until now, there was no reason to think like this.

The Jianghu pacified by the appearance of the Absolute.

And as long as that Absolute was Unorthodox, it was natural for the power of the Orthodox Faction to shrink.

From their masters' generation, they had been crouching, waiting only for the time of comeback, and when everyone did so, they thought it was natural. However...

[I am not doing something great.]

[You guys are just not doing what you should obviously do.]

Patrick's words ruthlessly gouged their conscience and even sprinkled salt on the wound.

The reason they are silent with uncomfortable expressions right now is because they know.

That they were wrong.

'It's sudden but... he is a great figure.'

Jeong Seon knew Patrick best among the leaders of the Nine Sects and evaluated him that highly.

But even for him, the appearance Patrick showed today made him reflect.

Patrick's appearance pointing out them ignoring what they should obviously do was like being scolded by his passed away master.

Perhaps the usually light and frivolous appearance is a camouflage to not reveal his true worth...

"Elione, I'm out~."

"Honey~. I missed you."

A beautiful blonde green-eyed peerless beauty approaches Patrick and hugs him gently.

And Patrick stroked her soft back hair and said.

"Sorry, the useless meeting got long. Sorry for leaving my honey alone."

"I'll forgive you if you kiss me."

"If my honey asks, I should do it."

Here is a temple.

And it is the Great Shaolin.

Even now, the leaders of the Nine Sects and the heads of the Five Great Clans are all present in this place. However...

"Mmm..."

"My wife gets prettier day by day."

"Oh my really..."

"One more time!"

Those idiots are smooching and sucking face as if they don't care about such things at all.

Seeing the expressions of other disciples next to them explicitly revealing emotions beyond weariness to disgust, it seems they don't do this just for a day or two.

Seeing that, Jeong Seon thought.

'Camouflage my ass...'

As expected, one shouldn't expect something like character from that human.

Azure Sky Sword King Namgung Un.

As soon as he returned to his quarters, he called his son first.

"Bring Min."

"Yes."

And a while later.

"D... Did you call? Father."

Although he was the son who appeared in a beggar-like state a while ago, perhaps he washed and changed clothes in the meantime, his appearance improved a bit.

Though looking at his sunken cheeks and pale complexion, the signs of suffering were evident.

"First, I will ask about the sin of following to Shaolin as you pleased later."

"I am sorry. Father. I..."

"I said I will ask later."

"......"

Namgung Un silenced his son and brought up the main topic.

"When did you join the group of that Twin Dragon Sect on the way? And where did you meet?"

"It hasn't been that long. We met after entering Henan about fifteen days ago."

"Met in Henan fifteen days ago?"

Then something is strange.

Although Henan is not small, considering the range of activity of martial artists, it is a stone's throw from Henan to Shaolin.

Even if coming leisurely while touring, three days would have been enough to arrive at Shaolin. But...

"Why did it take fifteen days to come to Shaolin?"

"That is..."

Seeing Namgung Min hesitating to answer, a man with a reliable physique next to him shouted.

"Can you not speak properly?!"

The man who shouted was Namgung Bi.

He is the second son of the Namgung Clan and a young man called by the alias Heartless Iron Sword in the Jianghu.

Namgung Min feared his second brother the most usually. Because unlike his father or eldest brother who were generous to him, he was exceptionally strict.

"That is, well... We subjugated bandits on the way."

"You did what?"

"Starting with the Black Scorpion Stronghold that picked a fight first, we cleaned up all three places including the Kirin Stronghold and the Violence Stronghold."

"What?"

All were famous Green Forest strongholds settled in the land of Henan. They subjugated all three places.

With a personnel of barely over ten...

'No. Actually, since Min or other kids wouldn't have been helpful, practically the Twin Dragon Sect's force alone must have subjugated them.'

It is an amazing thing.

Although he already saw a glimpse of Patrick's skill, perhaps there are other masters besides Patrick in the Twin Dragon Sect.

While he was organizing his thoughts, Namgung Bi spoke.

"Henan is Shaolin's territory. But why did they subjugate while building grudges with the Green Forest?"

"That is..."

"Does it not seem like they have some ulterior motive?"

At Namgung Bi's words, Namgung Min suddenly straightened his face and said.

"Master Schneider was absolutely not such a person."

"What? Master Schneider?"

"Ah that... I received teachings so that..."

"So? Did he tell you to call him Master?"

"No. I called him that on my own."

"Are you out of your mind right now?!"

Namgung Bi shouted furiously.

Master Schneider?

Namgung Bi's manly thick eyebrows twitched.

Sure, living in the Jianghu, one often has occasions to receive teachings and also uses the word 'Master' as an honorific containing the meaning of respect.

Commonly, principals of neighborhood martial arts academies are also called Master Lee, Master Jang like that on the street.

But for a guy called the son of the Namgung Clan to call a master of a sect never heard of anywhere.

And a colored-eye person whose origin is not even clear, Master?

Namgung Bi, filled with disapproval, shouted continuously.

"A guy called the son of the Namgung Clan dares to ask for teachings from an outsider, and not enough with that, dares..."

"Stop."

As the second son's nagging seemed to get long, Namgung Un intervened and cut him off. And then...

"The story doesn't connect. I will decide after hearing all of the youngest's words first."

"...Yes."

Namgung Bi still had a disapproving face, but he bowed his head as if he couldn't oppose the Clan Head's decision.

"Continue speaking. Why did he attack the Green Forest strongholds in Henan?"

"Yes. First, the biggest reason is..."

[Huh? Why catch the Green Forest you ask? Are you stupid? If we leave these guys alone, civilians suffer damage and people traveling mountain roads feel uncomfortable! But why catch them? Why do you eat and why do you breathe?]

"...He said."

"Haha..."

A hollow laugh came out.

It is truly a very primitive and orthodox reason.

Right. The reason for subjugating bandits is because they cause damage to civilians.

And originally, the Orthodox are those who take the lead in doing such things.

"Is that all the reason?"

"There is... one more thing."

"What is that?"

Namgung Min hesitated a little and answered honestly about what happened.

"He looked at my martial arts a little and..."

"Wow. You are really terrible."

"No, not to that extent..."

"Speak honestly. How many times have you experienced actual combat?"

"T... Ten times..."

"If you lie, you die."

"...I haven't had any experience that can properly be called actual combat... yet."

Then Patrick slapped his forehead with his hand and lamented looking at the sky.

"Did you hear? The guy called the son of the Namgung Clan hasn't experienced actual combat even once until this age. Really? Woooow.... Do you believe this? Huh? Yeah. Woah woah.... Calm down. Friend. You aren't that kind of character."

Looking at Patrick mumbling something alone towards the sky, Namgung Min thought.

'Is he crazy?'

Although it is a valid deduction, for now, it is a wrong answer.

...Is it a wrong answer?

Anyway, to Namgung Min who was sneaking away, Mun Yul approached, patted his shoulder, and said.

"Do not worry. Brother Namgung."

"Ah, Brother Mun."

Although the two decided to call each other brother due to age difference, that is not important right now.

"Originally, our master is like that sometimes."

"Ah, then is there no problem?"

"No, there is a problem. Our master and the word problem are inseparable. It is practically safe to say they are synonyms."

"......"

It was the first time seeing a disciple speaking like this about his sect's master.

And Mun Yul continued.

"But what Brother Namgung should worry about right now is not our master's mental state."

"Really? Then, fortun..."

"What you should worry about is the hardships, adversity, and trials that will befall you in the future. And the skepticism of why I am living like this."

"......"

Fortunately, it doesn't seem so.

Mun Yul's expression looking at Namgung Min was extremely serious. And...

"Good. Decided."

The Great Demon, no, Patrick came up with an answer.

"Since we have to beat up the bandits anyway, I should make you guys experience actual combat while at it."

"Us?"

"Yeah. Those brats are also daughters of martial families, right? Then we should reform... perform chivalrous acts together. Isn't that right?"

It seemed a strange word was about to come out in the middle just now.

The immature young ladies who ran away from home together following Namgung Min were trembling as Patrick's gaze reached them. But even so.

"Now, chicks."

Fate does not change.

"It is time for training. Kukukuku..."

Namgung Min, who was explaining, held his head and suffered.

"What followed after that was training and actual combat, and again training, again actual combat, in between sparring and actual combat and training and..."

The eyes of the son speaking become somewhat blank.

Looking at the bottomless pit reflected in his youngest son's pupils, Namgung Un wondered what on earth this kid went through.

'No, even if it was severe, how severe could it be...'

In front of Namgung Un thinking so, his son started babbling.

"He hits saying it's surprise training while eating, hits for the same reason while sleeping, hits again if a mistake is made during actual combat, meanwhile keeps making us train, saying humans can live even if they sleep only one hour in three days..."

He suffered.

Only now did he understand why his son appeared in Shaolin in a beggar-like state.

Then the second son Namgung Bi shouted furiously.

"Father. We must complain to the sect called Twin Dragon Sect."

"What do you mean?"

"There is no precedent for a disciple of another sect, and dare to treat the direct descendant of the Namgung Clan Head like this."

"So?"

"We must complain firmly and protest. And receive an apology from them and inflict punishment..."

"Shut up."

"That..."

"Immature fellow."

Namgung Un cut him off as if there was nothing more to hear from his second son.

And looking at his son with a stern gaze, he said.

"Do your words mean to protest the fact that our Namgung Clan's son was educated strictly?"

"Who dares to educate a child of our Namgung Clan? Although it is true the youngest is lacking, this child is also a son of the Namgung Clan. What the person called master of the Twin Dragon Sect did is disregard and insult towards our Namgung Clan."

At the second son's words, Namgung Un sighed.

Typical young master.

It was a mindset like a flower in a greenhouse knowing nothing of the world outside the family.

Unless one thinks the whole world revolves around the Namgung Clan, such thinking is impossible.

Namgung Un sighed and spoke to the person silently remaining quiet on one side.

"Jin."

"Yes. Father."

Azure Sky Sword Dragon, Namgung Jin.

One of the Five Dragons Three Phoenixes, he was the eldest son Namgung Un cherished the most.

Skill is skill, but he especially liked the personality of not moving recklessly and being prudent in everything.

Even now, he might be displeased with the second son stepping forward actively, but respecting himself, the Clan Head and father, he didn't open his mouth and remained silent.

'Right. Someone leading the Namgung should have weight.'

Namgung Un smiled satisfactorily and said to his son.

"What do you think? I want to hear your thoughts."

At his father's words, Namgung Jin answered calmly as if he already had thoughts.

"We must not complain to the Twin Dragon Sect."

"Then what should we do?"

"Please express gratitude with suitable goods."

"Haha... Are you saying to thank them conversely?"

"Looking only at the result, he protected Min who ran away without permission and other children and led them to Shaolin."

"Mmm..."

"Min is our family so let's say so, but the daughters of the Li family or Yu family are outsiders. If those children suffered any misfortune, our Namgung's honor in Anhui would have fallen to the ground."

"Right. That would be so?"

The families of the young ladies who ran away following Namgung Min are those who have maintained friendly relations with the Namgung Clan for a long time.

Going back, there are places connected by blood.

This immature son enticed the precious daughters of such places and brought them along as he pleased, so...

'Thinking about it, it could have been a big disaster if things went wrong.'

Listening to the eldest son's words, he realized that the youngest guy caused a bigger trouble than he thought.

And the one who smoothed over that trouble well was, anyway, Patrick, the master of the Twin Dragon Sect.

As the father seemed to understand, Namgung Jin added words.

"I think expressing gratitude and showing generous magnanimity is a measure befitting the name of Namgung."

"Hmm, I see. However..."

Namgung Un spoke to his eldest son with a somehow playful smile.

"Still, aren't you displeased that the youngest suffered?"

"Father. Min is also a son of Namgung. How could he refuse the hardships occurring in the process of cultivating martial arts?"

Hearing those words, Namgung Min's lips pouted.

'Eldest brother should try it once before saying such words.'

He could be sure that the eldest brother's thoughts would also change if he rolled under that demon for just two days.

Then Namgung Jin spoke to Namgung Min.

"Min, you speak directly."

"I hate eldest broth... Ahem, speak what?"

Namgung Jin sighed small and said.

"Was your pride hurt receiving training from the master of the Twin Dragon Sect? Do you wish for the family to repay that insult and shame?"

Then Namgung Min answered immediately.

"That is not so. Of course, the training with Master Schneider was like hell. Truly hell itself. No, worse than him..."

"Ahem, speak only the main point."

"Anyway, I do not wish for such things. Master Schneider's teachings were harsh, but still I..."

Namgung Min clenched his own fist.

Hand full of calluses and full of scars.

Compared to his hand just fifteen days ago, it is a hand roughened to the extent that it's hard to believe it's the same hand.

A smile spreads on Namgung Min's face seeing that hand. And then...

"Thanks to that, I could become stronger."

In Namgung Min's voice saying so, confidence that wasn't there before was revealed.