SYM 57

“Great Hero Ha! What outrageous nonsense are you spouting! Daring to slander the Namgung Clan’s Matriarch! How can you associate Namgung with such a heretical group…!”

Namgung Eun-gwang’s voice thundered. The spirit emanating from his loud voice was quite fierce.

“Mother! Tell him! Tell him it’s not true! What could the Namgung Clan’s Matriarch possibly lack that she would associate with such a heretical group? White-robed Divine Dragon! You have sullied the Namgung Clan’s Matriarch with your wicked tongue, and I will hold you accountable for your crime!”

No sooner had Namgung Eun-gwang finished speaking than Ha Yeo-un’s blade sliced through the belly of the Undead standing beside him. With a loud sound like well-dried leather tearing, the Undead split in half and writhed.

Namgung Eun-gwang’s face contorted in shock. He was only eighteen years old, and his experience was limited to sparring with acquaintances; he had no real combat experience.

Madam Hwang embraced Eun-gwang.

“Eun-gwang! Don’t look at such filth! You should only see good things, and only enjoy good things! This mother will take care of all the dirty and unpleasant things, so just close your eyes and pretend you don’t know!”

Ha Yeo-un listened to Madam Hwang’s heartfelt words, watching Namgung Eun-gwang with calm eyes.

Just now, Ha Yeo-un had decided to determine the fate of everyone left here based on Namgung Eun-gwang’s actions.

If Namgung Eun-gwang came out and said he would not violate the righteous path, then he would face him as White-robed Divine Dragon Ha Yeo-un, a rising star of the orthodox sects.

But if Namgung Eun-gwang sided with Madam Hwang and refused to be a righteous person, then he would treat them as someone walking the same heretical path as himself.

“Young Master Eun-gwang.”

Namgung Eun-gwang looked at Ha Yeo-un with trembling eyes.

“Let’s put aside other stories and speak only the truth. The people here are members of the Hongbaek Sect, a public enemy of the Martial Arts world, and they poisoned the Namgung Eldest Young Master. According to them, it was to turn the Eldest Young Master into an Undead. What will you do?”

Namgung Eun-gwang flinched at the words “Eldest Young Master” and looked around. Then, he looked at Namgung Eun-hyeon, who was lying on the floor, and his face turned white.

“B-Brother…”

“Gwang! What brother are you talking about! Look at this mother! I said look at your mother!”

“Mother, surely, you didn’t do this, did you? To Brother, Mother…”

Madam Hwang bit her lip tightly and glared at Ha Yeo-un.

In the meantime, Ha Yeo-un had cut several more Undead in half. Seeing this, Devil trembled.

“Gwang! Th-That’s not it! Th-That man is lying! Why are you looking at your mother with that expression!”

Madam Hwang, flustered, grabbed Namgung Eun-gwang’s arm, but Namgung Eun-gwang coldly pushed her arm away.

“…Then, then why is Brother lying there like that! Mother, what on earth have you done!”

At Namgung Eun-gwang’s cry, Madam Hwang wore a blank expression.

He had always been obedient to her. She had never imagined that he would say such a thing to her.

Madam Hwang’s lips trembled.

“Gwang, a-are you doubting this mother? Those men poisoned the Eldest Young Master! Their Martial Arts are so advanced, you should stay out of harm’s way with your mother. Now that the Eldest Young Master is like that, you are Namgung’s only heir! Protecting your body is the most important thing!”

Namgung Eun-gwang looked at Madam Hwang with bloodshot eyes.

“Mother…! Stop it. I have been foolish and cowardly, pretending not to know, but today you have crossed the line. Why on earth are you doing this.”

A ghastly aura settled in Madam Hwang’s eyes as she looked at Namgung Eun-gwang. It was such a chilling energy that it was hard to believe she was a woman who knew nothing of Martial Arts.

Even Blood Demon and Devil were staring with faces of disgust.

“Gwang! Are you trying to abandon this mother! This mother did it for you! All of this was for you, hoping that only you would do well!”

Namgung Eun-gwang ignored Madam Hwang and strode through the Undead towards Namgung Eun-hyeon. The Undead stood still, not attacking Namgung Eun-gwang.

Namgung Eun-gwang watched the Undead and bit his lip so hard that blood dripped from it.

The reason why the Undead were not attacking Ha Yeo-un now was not for any other reason than that they could not see a proper opening.

But the reason why the Undead were not attacking Namgung Eun-gwang was probably not for that reason.

Namgung Eun-gwang felt miserable because of the Undead who were not attacking him. Those things regarded him as an ally.

When he raised his head, he saw Madam Hwang, who was still shouting at him.

…How did it come to this?

Namgung Eun-gwang turned his head away on purpose with a stiff face. He saw Namgung Eun-hyeon lying on the floor.

“…Brother.”

He had always thought he was small and delicate, but seeing him lying down, he looked truly frail. He looked more like a delicate young lady than the Eldest Young Master of the Clan. His ebony hair, which was always neatly tied up, was scattered haphazardly on the dirty floor, and seeing him lying on the floor made him feel a bitter taste rising in his throat.

“Brother… How can the Eldest Young Master of the Clan be in such a state? Please, get up.”

“Gwang! Eun-gwang! Come to your mother!”

Namgung Eun-gwang deliberately did not look towards Madam Hwang. He felt that his heart would waver if he saw his mother crying and wailing.

Before coming here, his father had called Namgung Eun-gwang separately.

Namgung Juwon and Namgung Eun-gwang were not a very affectionate father and son, so Eun-gwang was quite nervous about what he was calling him for. He also knew about the subtle undercurrents between his father and mother, which made him even more nervous.

But the story his father told him when they met separately was completely unexpected.

‘Eun-gwang, don’t you want to be the Eldest Young Master? Are you resentful of this father for not putting you in the position of Eldest Young Master?’

‘…No, I am not.’

‘Yes. I knew you would answer that way.’

Namgung Eun-gwang already knew that he would be the next Namgung Family Head anyway.

The Emperor’s Swordplay, which was passed down only to the Namgung Family Head, was a symbol of the Namgung Clan. There could be no Namgung Family Head who could not use the Emperor’s Swordplay.

So, even though Namgung Eun-hyeon was currently in the position of Eldest Young Master, everyone knew that Namgung Eun-gwang would be the next Namgung Family Head.

‘Eun-gwang. Aren’t you and Eun-hyeon the only brothers in the world for each other? When you become the Namgung Family Head later, please take good care of your brother.’

Hearing these words, Namgung Eun-gwang pressed his lips tightly.

He didn’t show it, but Namgung Juwon subtly took care of Namgung Eun-hyeon. It was ridiculous that if he liked him so much, he should take care of him directly, but he only watched from afar. It was not as if some family had separated them like star-crossed lovers.

‘Eun-gwang. The greatest thing I can give your brother is the position of Eldest Young Master. That’s why I kept putting off changing the position of Eldest Young Master. Next year, yes, next year I will give you the position of Eldest Young Master.’

The expression on Namgung Juwon’s face as he said he would give him the position of Eldest Young Master was directed somewhere far away.

Namgung Juwon, who had called him but was not looking at him, was hateful and infuriating.

But as always, Eun-gwang did not say anything else and bowed his head, saying he understood.

‘Thank you, Eun-gwang. Please continue to be affectionate with your brother and take good care of your weak brother. I know it must be frustrating for you, but thank you for always enduring silently.’

It was the first time Namgung Juwon smiled and stroked Eun-gwang’s head.

Eun-gwang hesitated for a moment and added in a small voice.

‘Then, Father… Next time, let’s call Brother and talk together.’

Namgung Juwon’s eyes widened. Eun-gwang turned his head away, feeling embarrassed for no reason.

‘Just, like this, I think it would be good to meet and talk separately at least once.’

‘…Yes. Let’s definitely do that. Next time, let’s get together and have a meal in a scenic place. Thank you in many ways, Eun-gwang.’

He himself did not know why he had said those words.

But seeing his father laugh so brightly after hearing his words, he thought he had done well to say them.

He soon thought that there would be a place where the three of them would meet and talk.

He never imagined that he would see Namgung Eun-hyeon in this state, lying like a corpse like this.