I Prayed for a Murim Reincarnation, But I Was Born as the Youngest Imperial Prince - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 51
The group from the Namgung Clan led the way.
The Zhuge Clan and Seonwu’s party moved a short distance behind them.
Fortunately for the Wulin martial artists of Cheongru County, the Namgung Clan hurried their pace, so Seonwu passed through Cheongru County without stopping.
In truth, the prosperous Cheongpung Martial Arts Academy in Cheongru County kept its boundaries as part of the Orthodox Factions, so even if they hadn’t just passed through, nothing terrible would have happened.
Since they were all Wulin martial artists, they deliberately deployed their Lightness Technique, and it didn’t take long for them to arrive at the Namgung Clan.
“Oh, it’s huge.”
There were villages where those dependent on the clan resided.
And in the center of them all stood the vast manor of a massive clan, boasting a grandeur that surpassed even a County Office, despite not being one.
“It looks bigger than a County Office, and honestly, even larger than a Prefectural Office.”
Jun responded to Seonwu’s murmur.
“Well, that’s because the prestige of the Namgung Clan frankly transcends a single prefecture. You could say the Namgung Clan’s influence reaches thirty percent of Anhui Province.”
“That much? Impressive.”
“Of course, don’t interpret ‘influence reaches’ as completely ruling over it. A sphere of influence and direct control are two entirely different things.”
“Mm, mm, I suppose so… but beyond a single county, and beyond a single prefecture, thirty percent of a province is within their sphere of influence, right?”
Hearing Seonwu let out an exclamation of admiration, Namgung Hyeok-in smiled with satisfaction.
‘Hmph, that fearless, arrogant brat finally recognizes the majesty of our main family.’
“I heard the Patriarch of the Namgung Clan is one of the Ten Great Masters of Wulin?”
“That’s right. Patriarch Namgung Un-seong is known as the Sword King.”
“Is his ultimate technique the Imperial Sword Form as expected?”
“Yes. Although he knows several other famous sword techniques, his finest is undoubtedly the Imperial Sword Form.”
Seonwu smirked.
“Wow, amazing. I wonder if I’ll ever get a chance to see it.”
“That would be difficult. The Imperial Sword Form is a sword technique that can only be learned by the Patriarch and the candidate chosen as the next Patriarch.”
“Tsk, is that so?”
Seonwu smacked his lips.
Jun sent a Sound Transmission.
[Of course, if you act as King Wuryong, you could summon the Patriarch and order him to demonstrate it.]
The Demon-Subduing Divine Dragon Sword spoke up as well.
[Huh? What’s so difficult about it? Just tell that Patriarch to come running out right now.]
[Sigh, I’m traveling incognito, how could I possibly do that!]
[Ahem, well, you can just call for him later after you return.]
[True. I’ll have to look forward to that time.]
“It can’t be helped. Imperial Sword Form. Imperial… Imperial…”
The martial artists of the Namgung Clan interpreted Seonwu’s repeating and mumbling of the word ‘Imperial’ as him being intimidated.
‘In front of the great Namgung Clan, which possesses the dignity of an emperor, he must have realized what a frog in a well he was, boasting about reaching the Peak Realm quickly just because he stumbled upon some fortuitous encounter.’
On the other hand, Dan Suyeong interpreted it differently.
[Your Highness, if you wish to punish this sacrilege of daring to usurp the title of emperor as a subject…]
[No, it’s nothing like that, so don’t overreact.]
[Yes, Your Highness.]
Seonwu slightly wondered if Dan Suyeong was thinking about taking someone’s head off again just now, but he let it slide.
At any rate, he held the leash.
Jun also cautiously sent a Sound Transmission.
[Hey, that title of emperor and whatnot used in the Wulin, the current Emperor allowed it, you know?]
[I know. As a wuxia novel enthusiast, I’m just disappointed that my chance to see the Imperial Sword Form has been postponed.]
[That’s really all it is, right?]
Twenty years is a long time.
Just as he now considered Lee Jun a memory of the past and lived as Zhuge Jun, Seonwu’s past life would be a memory, and he would possess the identity of his current life.
As an Imperial Prince, it was an issue that could be perceived as unpleasant, wasn’t it?
[I told you, that’s all it is.]
[Right, let’s play nice.]
Seonwu followed Zhuge Jun inside the Namgung Clan.
“I don’t recall inviting that friend of yours, though.”
“He is my companion. If there are not enough rooms, I will share mine with him.”
“…Tsk.”
Namgung Hyeok-in debated whether to kick the two out, but rumors might spread that he was being too petty.
Zhuge Jun, the Jiryong, still carried a reputation that made it difficult to treat him so poorly.
“I will arrange for him to be in the room next to yours.”
“Thank you.”
Seonwu looked around the interior, filled with deep emotion once more.
‘Wow, I’m actually standing inside the Namgung Clan.’
What a deeply moving day this was.
The beginning of this journey was Namgung, and the end would be Shaolin.
He had already made up his mind to choose Wudang and Shaolin as his final two destinations.
Like a country bumpkin seeing a massive manor for the first time, Seonwu kept looking around in all directions.
A maidservant guiding the party to their quarters giggled at his rustic behavior.
“Young Master Seonyeong, is this the first time you have seen such a large manor?”
“Haha, the prestige of the Namgung Clan is truly magnificent.”
To be honest, it was smaller than the Imperial City, and even smaller than the Prince Mansion granted to him.
However, since he couldn’t say he was moved by the mere concept of the Namgung Clan itself, Seonwu just laughed it off.
Taking that as agreement, the maidservant continued to chatter.
“Of course. We are the foremost among the Five Great Noble Families, after all.”
“How large is it? I suppose I can’t just look around as I please?”
“Yes, that would be difficult. However, if you request it through the Zhuge Clan, you might be permitted to see some parts of it.”
“Hmm, I’ll have to ask then.”
Seonwu decided to see whatever he could.
‘If possible, even if it’s not the Imperial Sword Form, I’d like to see another representative martial art before I leave.’
“There are few places in the world as vast as the manor of the great Namgung Clan.”
“It really seems so. It feels almost like a Prince Mansion.”
“Indeed. The Namgung Clan is the absolute best in Anhui.”
The maidservant spoke without any particular malice.
Boasting to that extent within the clan was simply pride in one’s own affiliation.
Namgung Hyeok-in added to it out of his own arrogance.
“Indeed, we are the true emperors of Anhui.”
At that moment, Dan Suyeong’s eyebrow twitched.
He could overlook being the best in Anhui.
But to dare claim the title of emperor?
“The traditional name of the martial arts known as the Imperial Sword Form was permitted by the current Emperor, but falsely claiming to be the emperor of Anhui is lawless.”
Instantly, the surrounding atmosphere froze.
A sharp Qi erupted from the martial artists of the Namgung Clan who were guarding and monitoring the party.
Namgung Hyeok-in retorted in an even colder voice.
“The mouth is the source of calamity. If a guest does not maintain a guest’s courtesy, the host has no reason to fulfill a host’s duty. We only accepted you because you came with the Zhuge Clan…”
“Am I wrong? If I report to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner that Namgung is falsely claiming to be the emperor of Anhui, will you still say those words?”
“You… you bastard?”
“Junior Disciple, that’s enough.”
When Seonwu intervened, Dan Suyeong shut his mouth and bowed his head.
“I apologize, Senior Disciple.”
“No, it’s fine. But I’ll handle the talking from here.”
Seonwu lightly cupped his fists toward Namgung Hyeok-in.
“My Junior Disciple has studied Confucianism extensively, so his loyalty to the country and the Imperial Family is exceptionally strong. I ask that the Squad Leader show some generous understanding.”
Zhuge Jun also intervened.
“Squad Leader. What good would it do for either side if this matter spreads beyond these walls? Please show the magnanimity of an elder.”
On the surface, it sounded like begging for forgiveness, but Zhuge Jun’s words were an implicit threat.
If Namgung punished someone for criticizing an insult to the Imperial Family regarding their claim to be the emperor of Anhui, it would turn from a light, boastful jest into a serious political matter. Could they handle the aftermath?
Would they claim that the title of emperor wasn’t just a metaphor within the Wulin, but something they could truly assert even before the Imperial Family?
No matter how grand the Namgung Clan was, could they really escalate the matter that far?
“Tsk, I shall let it go.”
Namgung Hyeok-in had no choice but to back down.
However, backing down for the sake of appearances did not mean his hostility had subsided.
Why did others act with extreme caution before Namgung, regardless of who held the moral high ground?
It was because even if Namgung temporarily stepped back due to appearances, retaliation always followed later.
As long as they possessed overwhelming power, they could always inflict a heavy punishment later by finding the slightest pretext.
‘I must teach that bastard a lesson, even if I have to find another excuse.’
[Squad Leader, please allow me to punish that fellow.]
[Stop. From what I can see, that guy is also in the Peak Realm. Either I or the Vice Squad Leader must step in; you guys are no match for him.]
Namgung Hyeok-in decided to report this matter to the Patriarch first and receive approval for what to do next.
Watching this, the Demon-Subduing Divine Dragon Sword grinned broadly.
[Ohh, are they going to fight! I’m completely looking forward to this.]
[No, we decided to drop it, so why would we fight.]
[Are you pretending not to know? Or do you really not know?]
[I said we won’t fight. Who do you think I am, someone dying to pick a fight? Frankly, people criticize the ruler when he’s not around, so what’s the big deal if they boast among themselves about being the emperors of Anhui?]
[You are unusually tolerant.]
[No, I’m just being reasonable!]
If he looked at it that way, in his past life, people called King Injo a king who couldn’t even run away properly.
Even with the current president, people would throw around curses and insult him, questioning how such a guy could be president.
Compared to that, what was the big deal about them shouting among themselves that they were the most successful in Anhui?
Seonwu still possessed the sensibilities of a youth from the modern Republic of Korea, making him truly magnanimous.
However, Dan Suyeong was seething despite holding back.
The Demon-Subduing Divine Dragon Sword also wondered if this matter could truly be settled like this, anticipating a commotion to break out.
Zhuge Jun sensed that atmosphere and grew worried.
‘Even if Seonwu endures it, won’t Namgung refuse to let it go?’
They probably had no awareness that they were currently dancing with swords upon the dragon’s scales.
How exactly would this turn out?
* * *
The one who received Namgung Hyeok-in’s report was not the Patriarch, but Namgung Unmong, one of the three Elders beneath him.
As the younger brother of the Patriarch, he was also a master of the Transcendence Realm.
Though he was no match for the Patriarch, he was counted among the One Hundred Great Masters of Wulin. Unless it was an exceptionally grave matter, receiving reports from the Changtian Sword Squad and issuing commands was his duty.
“Hmm, so you closed the Demon Gate properly, and successfully hunted two Qingjuebiao without any human casualties.”
“Yes, we have secured the horns like this.”
“But at the final moment, two fellow disciples who came as guests of the Zhuge Clan intervened and took a share?”
“Yes, it was vexing, but we accepted the mediation of the Zhuge Clan and gave them about five hundred taels.”
“Hmm, if the Jiryong stepped in to mediate, it is better to save that much face for them. You did well.”
Since Namgung Unmong evaluated it that way, that matter was concluded.
“However, the insolence of those two wretches did not end there.”
“What else happened?”
“They became close with Zhuge Jun and followed him inside as part of his entourage…”
Hearing about the dispute that arose over the title of the emperor of Anhui, Namgung Unmong frowned.
“How arrogant.”
“Yes, it is disrespectful.”
Of course, it was a moment where Namgung had no choice but to back down for the sake of appearances.
When someone criticized their claim of being an emperor as sacrilege, punishing them with martial force would make the situation look far too bizarre.
If rumors spread widely, they might needlessly have to give a massive bribe to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner to hush it up.
But just because they had a justification, they used that gap to stab Namgung?
Whatever fortuitous encounter allowed him to reach the Peak Realm at a young age, he was from a nameless sect.
Even if it were another of the Five Great Noble Families, they could not offend Namgung in this manner while visiting Anhui as guests.
Yet a mere speck like the Eunhak Sect dared to do so?
“They must be punished… can you find a pretext?”
“If you leave it to me, I shall try.”
“I will leave it to you.”
“Thank you.”
Namgung Hyeok-in did not say something like, ‘The opponent is also in the Peak Realm, so please step in, Elder.’
If he uttered such words, the Elder would be deeply disappointed.
Even within the Peak Realm, there were levels.
Even if a youth found a precious Spiritual Medicine in the mountains by some fortuitous encounter and reached the Peak Realm, his mastery of swordsmanship would naturally be lacking, would it not?
If a Changtian Squad Leader of the great Namgung could not discipline a young fellow from a nameless sect who reached the Peak Realm through a stroke of luck, he deserved to step down from his position immediately.
For an Elder to personally intervene in such a minor matter would only lower the dignity of Namgung.
Seonwu had truly intended to let it pass magnanimously.
Yet the great Namgung Clan did not endure it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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