Chapter 680
Chapter 680
Chapter 680. Killing Two Birds with One Stone (3)
Mister Hwangbo Wook may have spat that out in a fit of desperation.
But I could state with certainty that the choice was the worst one possible.
Not only those around me, but every member of the Hwangbo Clan gathered here was shocked.
It was a problem that, in a public place like this, and as the son of the Young Master at that, he had shouted that the Namgung Clan was better than the Hwangbo Clan, but…….
They seemed shocked by the fact that Mister Hwangbo Wook was even more stupid than they had thought?
"Good. That statement is an admission of your crime. Have you said everything you wanted to say?" (Clan Head)
The Clan Head asked calmly.
However, the energy contained in his voice was by no means calm.
"I have not!" (Hwangbo Wook)
Even so, Mister Hwangbo Wook gritted his teeth and shouted. It was probably his last burst of stubbornness.
"Good, then say everything you wish to say. What about the main family is so stifling?" (Clan Head)
"The useless rules! The laws are all stifling! If we are the hegemon of Jinan, then why must we watch the Imperial Palace's mood and the people's mood instead of living proudly like hegemons?" (Hwangbo Wook)
"……." (Clan Head)
Uh…… so he was just an idiot.
I thought the Namgung Clan was quite skilled, in a way. They had picked and coaxed someone like that, after all.
"Hoo…… Young Master." (Clan Head)
"Yes. Father." (Hwangbo Seokgil)
"It seems I must reverse my judgment regarding his punishment. You will have no complaints no matter what punishment I give him, will you?" (Clan Head)
"What could I say in this situation? As punishment for having failed to educate my son properly, I too will step down from the position of Young Master." (Hwangbo Seokgil)
At that, Mister Hwangbo Wook's mother asked in shock.
"W-what are you talking about? Why would you step down from the position of Young Master?" (Hwangbo Wook's Mother)
"Since I educated my son to become like that, should I not also take responsibility for it?" (Hwangbo Seokgil)
At that, Mister Hwangbo Wook's mother knelt before the Clan Head and said,
"Father-in-law! My husband has done nothing wrong in this matter. This is all because Hwangbo Wook, that bastard, is stupid. No matter how well one educates someone, if his foundation is stupid, is there anything one can do?" (Hwangbo Wook's Mother)
She continued speaking.
"Even if you leave a fellow like that alive, he will only smear mud on the main family's name! Please execute him here and now." (Hwangbo Wook's Mother)
"……!" (Hwangbo Wook)
Wow…….
Her thoughts were plain to see.
If Young Master Hwangbo Seokgil stepped down from his position, her status would become not that of the next Clan Head's wife, but the wife of a branch family member.
Her will to protect her current position even by having her own son executed was something else.
Perhaps shocked by this, Hwangbo Wook opened and closed his mouth wordlessly.
"M-mother?" (Hwangbo Wook)
Even I was startled, so how must Mister Hwangbo Wook, her son, have felt?
"Why, why are you doing this?" (Hwangbo Wook)
"Shut your mouth! Mother, you say! I have never had a son like you! You should be grateful that your life was spared and that you were not removed from the Hwangbo Clan's register as an enemy! What did you say?" (Hwangbo Wook's Mother)
"Enough." (Clan Head)
The Clan Head cut in with a grave voice.
"First, I must correct your misunderstanding. First, you asked me what right I had to issue such a judgment against you, did you not?" (Clan Head)
"……." (Hwangbo Wook)
"I am the Clan Head of this Hwangbo Clan. And since you also bear the surname Hwangbo, you are a member of the Hwangbo Clan. I am the one who governs the Hwangbo Clan, so I may punish you." (Clan Head)
"Then I will abandon the surname Hwangbo!" (Hwangbo Wook)
At that declaration, Warrior Lee Pil, who was standing behind me, shook his head and muttered.
"It seems that fellow does not even know what it means to abandon one's surname in a clan." (Lee Pil)
Warrior Lee Pil had abandoned the surname of the Sichuan Tang Clan himself, so he must have known its meaning better than anyone.
That was why his words sounded bitter.
"It is the peculiar arrogance seen in those who think the golden spoon they were born with in their mouth is only natural." (Lee Pil)
"And perhaps being abandoned by his mother is also a reason?" (MC)
"Perhaps." (Lee Pil)
I focused my gaze on the Clan Head.
"Will you not regret it?" (Clan Head)
"I will not regret it!" (Hwangbo Wook)
At that confident attitude, I could not help clicking my tongue.
Tsk, you will regret it.
"Very well. In the name of the Hwangbo Clan Head, I command. From this moment forth, I strip Hwangbo Wook of the surname Hwangbo." (Clan Head)
At that declaration, everyone clasped their hands and shouted.
"We receive the Clan Head's command!" (Everyone)
At that, Mister Hwangbo Wook, no, Mister Wook, said,
"Then you no longer have the authority to judge me, so please untie this." (Wook)
At those arrogant words, the Clan Head said,
"Release his bonds. There is no longer any need to keep him tied to the chair." (Clan Head)
At that, the warriors of the Taebo Squad untied the rope binding Mister Wook.
"But do you know this? Since you have abandoned the surname Hwangbo, this interrogation now takes a different course. It is no longer discipline handed down to an internal member of the clan, but punishment against an outsider who dared to attempt tricks against this Hwangbo Clan. What do you think that means?" (Clan Head)
"……." (Wook)
The Hwangbo Clan Head said coldly,
"Drag them in." (Clan Head)
"Yes!" (Warriors)
Soon, the warriors dragged in a group of people.
Judging by their clothing and energy, they seemed to be the people of the Namgung Clan who had been captured with him.
Thud.
They were roughly flung to the floor, covered in wounds and blood.
"Ugh……." (Namgung Clan Member)
"Kkeuugh……." (Namgung Clan Member)
At the sight of them writhing in pain, Mister Wook's eyes shook violently.
"It means you too will be interrogated harshly like them. Not with such an elegant interrogation as this." (Clan Head)
Thwack!
A Taebo Squad warrior behind him kicked the back of his leg, and he knelt on the ground.
"Ugh!" (Wook)
The Clan Head approached him and continued speaking.
"And you say I bow my head to the Namgung Clan? What reason would I have to feel inferior and bow my head? They are the ones who committed wrong first. And why do you bow your head to the Namgung Clan and obtain spiritual medicine instead of to your father or grandfather?" (Clan Head)
"Isn't it because you did not give it to me when I asked for it?" (Wook)
"Because at your current level, you do not need it! Rather, it would only harm you!" (Clan Head)
"How can you be certain of that?" (Wook)
"It is true that taking spiritual medicine increases inner arts! But if that body cannot withstand it, you will die on the spot! Why are you the only one who does not know a fact that most martial artists know?" (Clan Head)
"……." (Wook)
"And do you think the Namgung Clan is insane enough to give you money and spiritual medicine just because you bow your head once? What kind of bastards do you think those bastards are?" (Clan Head)
Saying so, the Clan Head kicked a man wearing a blue eyepatch.
Thwack!
"Keurgh!" (Blue-Eyed Patch Man)
"So, speak. If Wook followed your instructions, did you truly intend to give him spiritual medicine?" (Clan Head)
"Is, isn't the one who believed that at fault?" (Blue-Eyed Patch Man)
The meaning was clear.
It meant it had been a lie.
"What does that mean? You clearly said that if I informed you of the main family's affairs and made my grandfather bow his head, you would give me spiritual medicine, didn't you?" (Wook)
"Cough! I'm saying this now, but you really are a fool. Did you actually believe that?" (Blue-Eyed Patch Man)
Mister Wook's eyes shook violently.
"P-perhaps you are lying because of the torture? If you hold out just a little longer, the Namgung Clan will come to save you……." (Wook)
"Hahaha. The Namgung Clan will come to save me…… You truly are an immature Young Master. Kkukkuk." (Blue-Eyed Patch Man)
He continued speaking.
"Listen. Young Master. Why would the Namgung Clan come to save me?" (Blue-Eyed Patch Man)
"What?" (Wook)
"I plotted this entirely on my own, completely unrelated to the Namgung Clan's will. Naturally, they will tell you to punish me as you see fit." (Blue-Eyed Patch Man)
He was right.
If this matter was the will of the Namgung Clan, then it would become something for which the Namgung Clan had to bow their heads.
So there was no way the Namgung Clan would admit they had plotted this.
"Moreover, I am from a branch family of the Namgung Clan." (Blue-Eyed Patch Man)
As expected, it was just as I had guessed when I heard he had been used in such a matter.
The Namgung Clan was a place where the discrimination between direct line and branch line was very great.
In exchange, it was also a place where one's treatment changed depending on one's individual martial might.
Looking at Mister Wook, who was left speechless, the Hwangbo Clan Head said,
"You must have nothing more to say." (Clan Head)
"……." (Wook)
"I will reverse the judgment. Wook's crimes are grave: conspiring with those of the Namgung Clan, handing over the main family's information, and attempting to damage the main family's honor! Furthermore, it cannot be said that he has not committed the crime of insulting the Imperial Palace." (Clan Head)
That must be about what he said earlier, asking why they, as the hegemon of Jinan, had to watch the Imperial Palace's mood.
"Therefore, I abolish Wook's qi center and sentence him to indefinite imprisonment in the prison. Whoever becomes Clan Head after me will not be permitted to take him out of the prison midway!" (Clan Head)
It meant he would treat this matter that gravely.
Seeing how things had gone so far, it seemed the reason the Hwangbo Clan had fallen into chaos through bloodshed between kin in my previous life must have been because of that Mister Wook.
If not for me, it would not have been discovered that he had been colluding with them.
Back then, the Hwangbo Clan suffered quite a bit of damage and its influence weakened.
Thinking of that, having him disappear would help the Hwangbo Clan's future as well.
"As for the others from the Namgung Clan, I sentence them to death." (Clan Head)
This was something with no room for excuses, so the Namgung Clan could say nothing even if they were executed.
No, would the Namgung Clan even react?
It seemed they would feign complete ignorance.
"We receive the command." (Warriors)
"The sentence will be carried out two days later. Until then, interrogate them thoroughly to see if there are any other crimes." (Clan Head)
"Yes!" (Warriors)
The Clan Head pointed at Mister Wook with his finger.
"That too, together with them." (Clan Head)
At that moment, the Young Master knelt before him.
"Father, as I said earlier, I will relinquish my position as Young Master." (Hwangbo Seokgil)
"There is no need." (Clan Head)
"Father." (Hwangbo Seokgil)
"You have helped me lead this family well until now. Changing the Young Master now would only cause greater strife." (Clan Head)
"……." (Hwangbo Seokgil)
"You need only do well from now on." (Clan Head)
"Understood." (Hwangbo Seokgil)
"And I am sorry. For giving your son such a punishment." (Clan Head)
"No. Even if it were me, I would have given the same punishment as you, Father. He is my son, but this was something that could never be forgiven." (Hwangbo Seokgil)
The Clan Head nodded with a complicated expression.
"Hoo, with this, the public interrogation is over." (Clan Head)
Mister Wook was dragged away by the people of the Taebo Squad.
Still, to not execute him immediately, but to abolish his qi center and imprison him indefinitely in the prison…….
Was it because a shred of affection remained?
Or was he warning the others in the clan?
Most likely the latter.
For a martial artist of the clan to be imprisoned in the prison with his qi center abolished was more painful than death.
There, Mister Wook would regret his foolish actions, but it was water spilled on sand.
The next morning.
I had not slept much overnight, but it was not as though I was someone who normally slept to my heart's content…….
After circulating my qi, my mind grew clear.
The reason I could go around healthily even without sleeping much was probably thanks to the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art.
No one carelessly brought up what had happened overnight.
That was only natural, since the Young Master's son had insulted the family, acted as a spy for the Namgung Clan, and been imprisoned in the prison.
They had no choice but to be cautious.
Then I should go visit the quarry.
At that moment, Warrior Jin Yu's voice was heard from outside.
"Liege. The Master has arrived." (Jin Yu)
There was only one person Warrior Jin Yu would refer to as Master when speaking to me.
"Please tell him to come in." (MC)
Bang.
The door opened, and Master Hwangbo Seonyu entered my room.
"Welcome." (MC)
"It seems you were about to go out?" (Hwangbo Seonyu)
"I was thinking of going to the quarry for a short while. It is not urgent." (MC)
I continued speaking.
"Please sit." (MC)
"Ah, thank you." (Hwangbo Seonyu)
The Master sat down with a complicated face.
"Would you like tea?" (MC)
"No need. I drank some before coming." (Hwangbo Seonyu)
He shook his head and continued speaking.
"First, I conveyed to Ina the matter regarding the martial arts academy dormitory supervisor." (Hwangbo Seonyu)
"What did she say?" (MC)
"She said it was good because there was little burden, since she would not have to prepare lessons." (Hwangbo Seonyu)
"Then please tell her that I will visit her personally later." (MC)
"I understand." (Hwangbo Seonyu)
Seeing that Master Hwangbo Seonyu's face remained complicated even after conveying Madam Hwangbo Ina's words, the reason must have been something else.
"You must have been distressed because of what happened overnight." (MC)
"Ah…… Did you see it too?" (Hwangbo Seonyu)
"Yes." (MC)
"I see. Hoo……." (Hwangbo Seonyu)
The Master rubbed his face dry.
"I wondered what use it was for me to be a Royal Guard. I failed to notice that a member of the family was committing such a deviation." (Hwangbo Seonyu)
"Was it not because he moved that secretly?" (MC)
"Are you consoling me?" (Hwangbo Seonyu)
"Yes." (MC)
At my words, he laughed.
"Thank you. I came to help with your matters, yet I only end up receiving your help instead." (Hwangbo Seonyu)
"Please do not mind it. How can a person live alone? Is one not a person because one lives by helping one another?" (MC)
"When I hear you speak, somehow it really does seem that way." (Hwangbo Seonyu)
"I will take that as a compliment." (MC)
Several days passed like that.
It was about time people arrived from Beijing, wasn't it?
Since the Hubei Province main branch was far away, and because they would have to send many people from there, I had asked Hyung Jeongho to temporarily send a suitable number of people from Beijing.
"Young Master! They say people have come from the Beijing branch!" (Palgap)
At that moment, Palgap delivered the message to me.
They were finally here.
I hurried outside and saw the warriors of the Silver Wind Squad waiting outside the Hwangbo Clan gate, along with the familiar face of a chief clerk.
"Ah! Chief Clerk Jang!" (MC)
"I greet the Young Captain! Have you been healthy in the meantime?" (Chief Clerk Jang)
"You must have gone through much trouble coming all the way here." (MC)
"Still, you are truly incredible. How is it that everything you touch turns out like this……." (Chief Clerk Jang)
Well, I was touching things based on my experiences from my previous life, but to others, it must feel fascinating.
"I was lucky. Have you eaten?" (MC)
"Not yet." (Chief Clerk Jang)
"Then please follow me. I should eat something delicious after a long while too." (MC)
The place I led them to was Gold Rooster Pavilion.
The spicy braised chicken dish there was incredible.
We arrived at Gold Rooster Pavilion and ordered the spicy braised chicken.
Perhaps the pavilion mistress happened to be at Gold Rooster Pavilion, because she approached me and offered a greeting.
"It has been a long time." (Pavilion Mistress)
"Yes. Have you been well?" (MC)
"Of course. Thanks to you." (Pavilion Mistress)
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously.
"Um, could we talk for a moment?" (Pavilion Mistress)