Tangmunjeon - Chapter 297



Only Noblemtl

Episode 297 Namgung Se-ga

Although Gwangyeomra led the Sapha warriors and chased after the Jeongpa warriors, the Jeongpa warriors were able to successfully shake off the Sapha warriors and return to the vicinity of Gaebong.

Fortunately, the additional casualties were not great. If only Dang Mu-jin had spread poison at the rear of the fleeing formation, most of the Sapha warriors would have had no choice but to give up the pursuit.

When the night finally ended and the sun set over the eastern hills, the soldiers of the sect were able to sit down and catch their breath.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh-

People’s heavy breathing slowly subsided.

The problem is that the atmosphere also sank along with the breathing.

Some people fell behind in their performance, while others performed exceptionally well, but it was clear that they had lost the battle.

When a battle is lost, someone always steps forward and takes responsibility.

However, it was difficult to hold anyone responsible for the defeat in this battle. Didn’t they guess from the beginning that they were inferior in terms of combat power? It was fortunate that the damage was limited to this extent and that they were able to escape.

People’s eyes wandered here and there, and finally landed on Hyun-gong.

Hyun-gong fought bravely, and in the end, he even showed his wit and helped the people retreat.

However, Hyun-gong’s face was very dark.

People had similar interpretations of the expression.

‘He pretends like nothing happened, but it seems he was under a lot of mental stress. Well, he had to lie in front of so many people, making his reputation as the King of Jeong-eon seem meaningless…’

Hwahwanogae approached Hyeon-gong and consoled him.

“Don’t blame yourself too much. How can a person live his whole life telling only the truth? People can’t help but lie sometimes. Besides, your story was closer to wit than a lie, so no one will find it shameful.”

Hyun-gong said gloomily.

“Well, what could be more foolish than failing to save the lives of many people because you are obsessed with the nicknames that others have arbitrarily given you? It is better to have no such empty reputation than not to have one at all. I have become known as the world’s greatest liar, but I have no regrets.”

Dang Mu-jin, who was listening to Hyun-gong’s story from the side, thought.

‘Are the people of the world finally realizing the true identity of Hyun-gong?’

However, the reactions of the other political factions’ warriors, including Hwahwanogae, were different.

They were simply amazed by Hyun-gong’s deep consideration.

“A liar? Such a rumor will not spread. What shameless person would accuse the person who saved their life of being a liar?”

Almost everyone nodded in unison. Only then did Hyun-gong smile bitterly.

Although he tried to cover it up, the reason Hyun-gong’s expression was dark was not because he was afraid of rumors spreading that he was a liar.

I just feel complicated because my plans got ruined because of Dang Mu-jin.

In fact, Hyun-gong planned to stop at an appropriate time and stay behind to make a sacrifice.

Of course, that sacrifice did not mean dying in place of others.

After resisting just enough to show off, he was captured by the King of Hell, and he was planning to convert to the Demonic Cult when he got the chance.

‘It would have been perfect timing if he had been captured while sacrificing himself during the retreat.’

However, Dang Mu-jin lost the opportunity to capture them because he shook off the Sapa warriors too quickly with his poison.

‘···I will definitely succeed next time.’

While Hyun-gong was refining his plan in his head, everyone’s attention shifted to the warriors from Namgung Se-ga. Only nine of them. They were too few to be called reinforcements.

There were two main reasons why we lost the last battle.

The unexpected presence of Muyeonggaek tied Dangmujin and Namgungmyeong together, and the Namgung Se-ga’s support force was far less than expected.

The monks and the Gaebangdo of Shaolin Temple wanted to vent their frustrations to the Namgung Sega family’s warriors, but the situation was not very good. After all, they were in a position to receive help from Namgung Sega.

Here, it is an absurd action for Namgung Se to criticize the small scale of support for the unmanned forces.

It’s like saving a drowning person and then complaining about not saving them sooner.

But at least you should know the reason.

Manryeokseung approached the Namgung Sega’s warriors and spoke.

“My name is Cheong-uk. Thank you for coming from so far away.”

The Namgung Se-ga’s warriors also seemed to have some concerns, so they answered hesitantly.

“You were a great man. I’m sorry I couldn’t come earlier.”

“It’s okay. You came on the appointed date, so it’s not too late. By the way, where are the others?”

Wanli Sheng asked indirectly, implying that there were too few reinforcements.

A man who appeared to be the leader of the reinforcements from Namgung Se-ga answered.

“That’s all for us. The Southern Safa warriors have risen again, and most of the Nanggong family’s warriors have been forced to remain in Anhui Province.”

“Oh, like that.”

“In fact, there were many opinions that we should remain in Anhui Province, but the Lord insisted on sending us to Gaebong. He said that since we had already sent a letter saying that we would help, it was right to send even a small number of people.”

“Ah… is that so?”

Is this because they sent them out by force rather than sparing their troops?

Because the reason was reasonable and easy to understand, the disappointment in Wanli Sheng’s heart melted away.

Rather, it is a situation in which we should be grateful for the character of Namgung Jincheon, who sent troops even by force.

However, the warriors of Namgung Se-ga still seemed to have heavy hearts.

“We may be few in number, but please do not be disappointed, for we will fight with our lives.”

“How could I be disappointed? I am grateful for the help of Namgung Se-ga.”

Finally, there was a brief exchange of pleasantries. Despite the unpleasant situation, the conversation ended on a fairly amicable note.

However, Namgung Myung’s frown never lifted.

*

Namgung Myeong, unable to shake off his doubts, went to see the Namgung Se-ga’s military officers.

There was no need to go looking for the leader of the nine unmanned units. Rather, in this situation, it was better to go to someone easy.

Namgung Myeong wandered around the Namgung Se family’s military personnel and searched for a suitable person.

The Namgung Se-ga’s warriors had been moving all night and sleeping during the day. But now, there was one person who had woken up early and was wandering around.

Namgung Heonwi. He is a cousin who is two years younger than Namgung Myeong.

Namgung Myung quietly approached Namgung Heonwi and opened his mouth.

“Constitution.”

“Ugh!”

Namgung Heonwi was so startled that his heart almost dropped. He had not felt any movement until Namgung Myung approached.

Namgung Heonwi looked up at Namgung Myung, half-collapsed, clutching his heart.

“older brother!”

Namgung Myung smiled happily.

It’s been years since I last met and talked with my blood relatives.

“Your personality is still weak and timid. No, you’ve become more timid. In the past, you wouldn’t have fallen for me just because I spoke to you once.”

“If I had spoken to you normally, you wouldn’t have been surprised. How on earth did you manage to silence me?”

“It’s a trick I learned while wandering the world. Even if I taught you, you wouldn’t be able to do it.”

“I know that. I was just curious.”

Namgung Myeong sat next to Namgung Heonwi.

Namgung Heonwi was not a notable figure within the Namgung family.

This is because the Namgung Se-ga family was not particularly outstanding in military service and military talent, had a gentle personality, and even his mother was from a humble background.

In the days when he was short-sighted and lived in his own self-importance, Namgung Myung looked down on Namgung Heonwi. This was because he thought that Namgung Heonwi was not better than him in any way.

Looking back now, it was an extremely petty action, but at the time, I thought it was natural.

Half of it is because of Namgung Myeong’s personal shortcomings, and half of it is because of the Namgung family’s tradition.

The Namgung Se family’s tradition can be summarized as a desire for improvement and self-respect. It can be said to be a small martial arts world within the martial arts world.

The Namgung family members compete endlessly with each other, trampling on each other to rise to the top.

Competing endlessly to develop one’s abilities and using the outstanding abilities accumulated in this way to spread the name of the Namgung family far and wide. That is the Namgung family’s way.

At first glance, it seems like a great method. But its side effects were not insignificant.

But the level of competition was so intense that even Namgung Myung, the eldest son of the family, felt that the atmosphere inside the Namgung family was more uncomfortable than outside.

The reason why Namgung Myeong suffered so much physically but had little mental distress during the time he was kicked out of his family and worked as a laborer in the upper class was because of this.

Fortunately, Namgung Myung was in a better situation because he was the eldest son of the family and was at the forefront among his peers.

The situation was different for someone like Namgung Heonwi. Outside the walls, he was treated as a young man of the Namgung family, but inside the walls, he was treated as a worthless person.

And, self-esteem is a very important issue for people. Much more so than you might think.

Namgung Heonwi spoke to Namgung Myeong.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, but the atmosphere has become quite relaxed.”

“If Namgung Se lives outside, that’s what happens. If you live outside the walls, that’s what’s going to happen to you too. Why don’t you also leave the house while you’re at it?”

Namgung Heonwi couldn’t answer and just laughed heartily, which was unusual for a man from the Namgung family.

Namgung Myung lay on his side, supporting the ground with his elbows and resting his chin on his hand.

Just from that posture alone, Namgung Heonwi felt that something had changed in Namgung Myung.

Namgung Myung spoke again.

“I’m not joking. Just make up some excuse to get out of here. That’s enough to get you started.”

“Hey, how could I do that…”

“Don’t live as one of the many blood relatives of the Namgung family, but live as an individual named Heonwi. If necessary, you can give up your last name. It will be much more enjoyable that way.”

Namgung Heon-wi opened his eyes wide. This was something the old Namgung Myung would never have said.

As with other Namgung Se-ga family members, the Namgung Se-ga family was the whole world to Namgung Myung in the past.

“Are you not thinking of returning to your family, Brother?”

“It’s not decided yet.”

“I heard that the head of the household is proud of you these days. If you don’t return to the family, the head of the household will be very disappointed.”

The last time Namgung Myung saw Namgung Jincheon was the day he lost his left arm.

Namgung Myung thought about what he must have looked like that day. He must have been possessed by evil. Namgung Jincheon seemed to like that look.

If not, you might have liked Namgung Myung’s martial arts skills, which were much higher than before. It could be both.

But now Namgung Myung is free.

“My course of action does not depend on my father’s feelings. It depends on my choice.”

“A lot. It seems like you’ve changed a lot···.”

“That’s right. And you can change a little too. You don’t have to accept the role with resignation.”

Namgung Heonwi slightly shook his head. It seemed like the topic was a bit burdensome.

“By the way, why did you come to see me?”

“I just came to find you because I remembered you.”

“No way. You’ve never come to me without a reason, have you?”

It wasn’t a wrong statement. In the past, when Namgung Myung needed someone to vent his anger on or wanted to secretly trample on someone to relieve his anxiety, he would seek out Namgung Heonwi.

Of course, the current Namgung Myung is not that kind of idiot.

But coincidentally, Namgung Myung had come to see Namgung Heonwi because he had some business to attend to.

‘···.’

Namgung Myung became embarrassed.

And next time, I thought I should come to see Namgung Heonwi for no reason, just to ask how he was doing.

“Your Majesty. Actually, I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“Is it true that the Namgung family is in danger?”

“···It’s true.”

Namgung Myung didn’t miss the slight hesitation before answering. Namgung Myung continued talking without showing it.

“Even if Father didn’t come in person, he would have sent Uncle Jinya at least. Judging from the fact that even Uncle Jinya didn’t come, the situation must be very serious.”

“yes.”

This time, he answered immediately. But Namgung Myung didn’t stop and kept asking.

“Among the Safa’s unmanned teams, who were the famous authors?”

“That’s – I don’t know. I didn’t go into battle.”

“Well, that could be possible. But if it’s a crisis, I’m worried because there will probably be a lot of people killed or injured.”

“I’m worried too.”

“Who are the dead? Who are the ones too injured to lift their swords?”

Namgung Heonwi couldn’t answer and kept his mouth shut.

Namgung Myung laughed fiercely.

“Yes. It’s a lie that the Namgung family is in danger.”

I have a rough idea of ​​the situation.

The Namgung family has developed remarkably in recent generations.

It started out as a humble martial arts. That common martial arts became a prestigious martial arts, and soon became a famous martial arts. And now it has become one of the largest martial arts in Anhui Province and the entire Central Plains.

Namgung Se-ga continued to run wild, overtaking one martial arts school after another, with long traditions.

Nowadays, there are many people who rank Namgung Se-ga next to Shaolin Temple.

This means that Namgung Se-ga’s next and final goal is Shaolin Temple.

But Shaolin Temple is different from other sects.

There was no chance of surpassing Shaolin Temple within one or two generations, because Shaolin Temple was literally unrivaled.

It would be fortunate if there was a guarantee that they would be able to catch up with Shaolin Temple even after a hundred or two hundred years, but even that was uncertain at the moment.

‘father.’

As far as Namgung Myung could remember, Namgung Jincheon’s greatest interest was not the Sapa or the Demonic Cult. It was the movements of the Shaolin Temple.

There is no way that Namgung Jincheon did not hear the story of Mok In-hang and the Samship-yuk Arhat Jin.

You must also know clearly that if things continue this way, the gap between Namgung Se-ga and Shaolin Temple will never narrow and will only widen endlessly.

‘Father, are you saying that you want to stand at the top even if it means bringing down the Shaolin Temple?’

Namgung Myung let out a deep sigh and got up from his seat. Then he patted Namgung Heonwi on the back.

“You were a great help. I won’t tell anyone that I got a clue from you.”

Namgung Heonwi met Namgung Myung for the first time in a long time. And the meeting was very brief.

But the moment that brief encounter began and now that it is ending.

Namgung Heonwi realized that something had changed in Namgung Myung.

“···Brother. What are you trying to do?”

“It’s nothing.”

Namgung Myeong looked up at the sky. The sun was setting and darkness was approaching.

From afar, I could see the unmanned Sapa approaching slowly. I could also vaguely see the unmanned guests mixed in among the darkness.

Namgung Myung spoke.

“I just thought things were going well at home.”

It was so hard to just watch.