🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 31
Namgung Jeong.
He was the head of the Namgung family’s branch household and the sworn brother of the head of the main household.
When I realized this, I was utterly shocked.
“Wow… the Namgung family. Wow.”
I couldn’t help but marvel.
The Namgung family—what was that? They were the heads of one of the five great martial clans of the Central Plains, a family that in web novels usually played the role of the protagonist.
I hadn’t read many martial arts novels, but I’d occasionally seen a man in blue clothing with a ponytail on the cover. And now, to see such a character here in real life…
But did Namgung Jeong appear in Cheonju Ji Wang?
“Not really, right?”
Honestly, even if he had, I probably wouldn’t remember. In Cheonju Ji Wang, male supporting characters usually appeared briefly and then disappeared, playing insignificant roles.
After a moment of thought, I gave up trying to recall and quickly pretended to know him.
“Ah… ahhh~! So you’re the great hero Namgung Jeong! I’ve heard much about you. Even in the martial world, your fame is immense. Aren’t you the wielder of the Thunder Emotion Sword (Leojeong Geom), who punishes evildoers above and protects the weak below?”
“Hmm.”
“And also, as the reliable younger brother of our clan head, fulfilling your sworn brother duties and helping the branch household so much, right? The household speaks endlessly of your deeds…”
“That’s enough, enough!”
Namgung Jeong waved his hand at my flattering words.
“You—your tongue is so smooth, even the greatest schemers couldn’t match you! Enough talk—why don’t you tell me where you work? Judging by your looks, I’d guess you’re a guest attendant.”
I smiled awkwardly and answered politely.
“No, I’m a servant of the Sonang Mansion.”
“Sonang… Sonang Mansion?”
“Yes. I serve Miss So.”
Namgung Jeong’s eyes widened.
“You serve Ari?”
He seemed skeptical, as if unsure he fully understood the young lady’s nature.
I summarized what had happened so far for him. After all, since Namgung Jeong was the sworn brother of the head, he would eventually know everything anyway.
Having heard the full story, Namgung Jeong was impressed.
“Remarkable, truly remarkable. No one could ever break Ari’s stubbornness. From the first impression, I could tell—your perseverance is extraordinary.”
I scratched my cheek at the unexpected praise.
“Hehe, you flatter me…”
“Then why did you do it?”
“Huh?”
For a moment, Namgung Jeong’s face turned stern.
“Why did you intervene this time? You almost got into serious trouble last time. You knew it was dangerous, yet you acted anyway?”
“Uh…”
“From what I hear, it seems you did something even more foolish. Did you really think no one would notice? And the person you faced held a great grudge against you. This time, Ari couldn’t help you even if she wanted to—so why did you act recklessly and rush into danger?”
“Well…”
I hesitated. He was right; this time I had acted rashly. But should I admit it or make some excuse?
In the end, I said simply:
“I just… stepped forward.”
“What?”
“At the time, I really didn’t have the luxury of thinking things through. The situation was escalating. Everyone else was holding back, and if no one acted, I was sure the young lady would get into serious trouble.”
“…”
“Whether she got hurt or I did, it seemed similar to me. So I figured, why not take a gamble…”
Namgung Jeong frowned.
“Do you even know this young lady?”
“No?”
“Then why would you go that far? No one would acknowledge it, and you could end up suffering alone.”
“That’s true…”
I answered anyway.
“Because someone has to do it.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
‘Since when was I so full of righteousness?’
Thinking about it now, it’s ridiculous. I acted because someone had to, yet I had no power, no authority—nothing that could really make me the ‘someone.’
Namgung Jeong seemed to realize the same thing and burst into laughter.
“Someone has to do it? Hahaha! You think that makes you some great hero? No, you’re just a fool who could die for nothing. Do you know what people like you are called?”
“What?”
“An idiot.”
“…”
“An idiot. That’s what they call people like you.”
I stared blankly at Namgung Jeong. Though he was insulting me, his expression didn’t seem harsh. In fact, he somehow looked pleased…
“And I don’t dislike such fools.”
Namgung Jeong smiled brightly.
“So, how about it—will you be my disciple?”
Namgung Jeong was escorted by the enemy commander toward his sworn brother and thought:
“Funny kid.”
Meeting the boy at the inn had been a coincidence.
The distance from Anhui Province to Guangdong was considerable. If his brother had been near Anhui, he could have visited quickly, but their paths had crossed inconveniently, so he had to return to Guangdong.
Namgung Jeong hurried. He had news to deliver and, after several days of travel, was exhausted upon arrival.
He decided to enter somewhere to quell his hunger. Inside, he found a ruffian.
“Something to entertain myself for the night… hey there!”
The hooligan, looking like a courtesan’s brother, immediately began harassing the young lady. Namgung Jeong’s brows furrowed deeply. Already tired, and now this hooligan was testing his patience.
He didn’t know the ruffian’s family background, but he decided to deal with him swiftly. As he aimed at the pressure point with his chopsticks, ready to strike,
“Oh, my stomach! My stomach!”
A boy began causing a commotion.
Namgung Jeong hesitated and watched awkwardly, but soon realized the boy was faking. Rolling on the ground and subtly glancing at a corner, the boy was clearly eyeing the hooligan.
‘Could it be…?’
It was indeed the case.
The boy was deliberately making a scene to protect the young lady.
Namgung Jeong checked if the boy was a hidden expert, but he had no skills. He could barely handle a third-rate servant and was about to be kicked.
Out of curiosity, Namgung Jeong saved the boy. Later, he was surprised to learn that the boy was a servant of the branch household, specifically So Yeon-ri’s apprentice.
At the same time, he felt a little disappointed.
Did the boy not realize that his actions could bring trouble to his master? It could affect his sworn brother’s family.
Yet, to Namgung Jeong’s cold inquiry, the boy simply said:
“Someone has to do it.”
What is righteousness?
It is the noble act of standing up for the weak against the strong, of doing what no one else dares.
That is how most heroes act. They step forward to help where no one else will, even if it’s unhelpful or dangerous, because it is the right thing.
Those with strength become heroes; those without, die pointless deaths.
That’s the way of heroism.
Then, what would become of this boy?
“Will you be my disciple?”
—Impulsively, Namgung Jeong asked, curious about the boy.
He didn’t even know the boy’s name or background.
Yet he felt a strange confidence. Surely, even if the boy didn’t know who he was, he would understand the offer…
“No.”
“What?”
The boy looked directly at Namgung Jeong and replied clearly:
“The clans are family-based. How could someone unrelated to the Namgung family become your disciple?”
“You could change your surname and join the family. Of course, to learn Namgung’s martial arts, legitimacy is needed—but I could adopt you as my son…”
“So I would have to follow Eun-gong to the Namgung family?”
“You’d become a member of the Namgung family. That’s only natural. Not that you’d stay in the family—just travel with me in the martial world…”
“That still won’t do.”
Then he mockingly pretended to tear up:
“Oh, great hero Namgung, you’ve given this ignorant country boy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I fear my lack of talent may bring shame, so I must refuse. Please be magnanimous…”
“Enough, enough! I was just speaking casually, don’t worry about it!”
When Namgung Jeong objected, the boy smiled politely.
“I truly appreciate it. But I cannot leave the branch household. I owe them a great debt, and until I repay it, I cannot leave. I hope you understand, great hero.”
He bowed respectfully.
Watching him, Namgung Jeong felt a twinge of regret. The boy was admirable, but he had already refused, so he couldn’t press further.
‘What kind of debt could be so great… Hah, the boy is righteous and clever—perfect for my progress. Maybe I should ask my brother…’
In the end, Namgung Jeong had no choice but to part with the boy, promising to return another time.
Walking with the enemy commander, Namgung Jeong soon arrived at the study. A familiar figure came out as the door opened.
“My brother!”
It was his sworn brother, So Cheong-ja.
The long-separated brothers embraced, rejoicing in their reunion.
They entered together, talking for hours, until late at night when Namgung Jeong brought up the main topic.
“The demonic sect is moving.”
