My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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57.

 

Namgung Hyemin asked.

 

“Does Seol Podoo have another method?”

 

Seol Mujin looked around and said.

 

“Isn’t it too quiet around here?”

 

Was that strange?

 

“Where are all the people brought from the Namgung Family?”

 

They had forgotten that twelve men were guarding the vicinity.

 

Sensing something amiss, Namgung Cheolsang gave a look and Won Taeyeon whistled.

 

But not a single Namgung Family warrior appeared.

 

“What is this…!”

 

Namgung Cheolsang asked with an angry face.

 

“Where are the family’s warriors?”

 

“They’re probably not dead. Most likely.”

 

Won Taeyeon and Mun Hobang entered the forest.

 

After half an hour, they returned and told Namgung Cheolsang.

 

“They’ve lost consciousness but aren’t dead.”

 

Namgung Cheolsang sighed in relief and turned his gaze to Seol Mujin.

 

“I didn’t expect you to have allies.”

 

“Strong allies.”

 

They were certainly strong allies to have subdued the family’s warriors without Namgung Cheolsang even noticing.

 

“You won’t tell me who they are, will you?”

 

Seol Mujin simply smiled.

 

Namgung Hyemin stepped forward.

 

“Shall we start the negotiations now?”

 

Seol Mujin said.

 

“Let’s make the negotiation venue somewhere softer.”

 

Since the fighting seemed to be over, it would be fine to go to Yeonji-ru.

 

***

 

With a wine cup before him, a smile finally appeared on Namgung Cheolsang’s lips.

 

“I didn’t expect the negotiation venue to be a pleasure house. Daytime drinking, no less.”

 

“I guarantee this will be the finest alcohol you’ve ever tasted, Elder.”

 

“That’s a rash guarantee. I’m quite a renowned drinker and connoisseur.”

 

Seol Mujin raised his hand to encourage him to drink.

 

Though Namgung Cheolsang didn’t enjoy daytime drinking, given the circumstances, he brought the wine cup to his lips.

 

One sip was enough.

 

“Oh!”

 

No matter how much he wanted to disparage it, an exclamation naturally escaped at the taste.

 

“I can’t help but acknowledge this. What’s the name of this alcohol?”

 

“It’s called Seol Baekju.”

 

“To think I’ve lived without knowing such alcohol. I can’t even call myself a connoisseur anymore.”

 

However, Namgung Cheolsang didn’t empty his cup.

 

The conversation ahead required a clear mind.

 

“What do you want from the Namgung Family?”

 

“As I’ve already mentioned, just clear the false charges against Jinan’s magistrate. A word from the Third Prince would be sufficient.”

 

“The relationship isn’t mature enough for the Namgung Family to make such requests.”

 

“It would be a good opportunity to deepen the relationship.”

 

“It’s not such a simple matter.”

 

“I can guess. Murim sects and the Imperial Palace. The closer they get, the higher the possibility of problems. But isn’t it too late to turn back?”

 

“How do you know that? Not that I’m saying you’re right, of course.”

 

“If it’s a secret worth killing people to protect, it means the secret has already been created. Naturally, there would be enemies too.”

 

“Enemies?”

 

“The Namgung Family person who gave me the letter and died. Isn’t whoever killed that person an enemy?”

 

Namgung Cheolsang rubbed his temples with a tired expression.

 

“You know too much. What should I do with someone like you?”

 

Namgung Hyemin stepped forward.

 

“Just become allies.”

 

Seol Mujin waved his hand.

 

“I have no intention of getting involved in this complicated situation. I just happened to receive the letter, and actually, what I know is extremely limited. I don’t even talk in my sleep, so I promise there’s no possibility of secrets leaking from me.”

 

Namgung Hyemin asked.

 

“You’re asking us to fulfill your demand as a condition for keeping the secret?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“That’s blackmail.”

 

“I think the nice word ‘negotiation’ came up?”

 

“Nothing is as empty as human words. Are you forcing negotiations with words that fly into the void and leave no evidence?”

 

“Let’s consider the logic. I’m just a mere podoo in Jinan. My job is to receive monthly wages and catch criminals. What good would it do me to expose the secrets of the Third Prince and the Namgung Family?”

 

“The claim of being a mere podoo lacks credibility from the start. What podoo in the world could fight Uncle on equal terms?”

 

“I just met a very good master.”

 

“Since you gained such abilities by meeting a good master, isn’t it natural to aspire to higher places?”

 

“If you think the highest position in the world is the best place, then your thinking is wrong, Miss.”

 

“Then what’s the best position?”

 

“A position where your heart is at ease. Going to work in the morning, catching criminals, coming home to cultivate internal energy, playing with my siblings, eating with someone I like – that daily life is the best for me.”

 

That confident expression and clear eyes.

 

There was no way not to believe Seol Mujin’s words with such a face.

 

But that didn’t mean she intended to back down here.

 

Seol Mujin was too valuable a man to let go like this.

 

“I believe in something called fate. Look at my face.”

 

Seol Mujin stared intently at Namgung Hyemin.

 

To think he’d stare so piercingly just because she told him to look.

 

“If this beautiful face isn’t fate, what is?”

 

In addition to a beautiful face, she had a thick one too.

 

“Luck?”

 

“Isn’t it too beautiful to call it just luck?”

 

Seol Mujin chuckled.

 

“I’ll acknowledge that you’re beautiful enough to have that level of confidence. So what?”

 

“Fate has come to Seol Podoo as well. Could it be mere coincidence that our family’s warrior delivered the letter at that time and place?”

 

“You’re going to package that as fate?”

 

“If it had been just coincidence, it would have ended with delivering the letter. But Seol Podoo and the Namgung Family have somehow made it to this point. It can’t be explained without fate. Seol Podoo is destined to be with us.”

 

“I don’t believe in fate. If fate existed, I would have died at twelve.”

 

Namgung Hyemin, who had been staring at Seol Mujin, shrugged her shoulders.

 

“Fine. Let’s end this vague topic of fate here and move on to negotiations. Negotiations require give and take from both sides. Simply keeping secrets is no different from giving nothing.”

 

“Are you saying the great Namgung Family has something to ask of a mere podoo?”

 

As Namgung Hyemin was about to speak, Seol Mujin continued first.

 

“If it’s a proposal to join your affairs, I refuse. I have absolutely no intention of getting involved in such complicated matters.”

 

“How about courting me?”

 

Even Namgung Hyemin was surprised by her own words.

 

She had no intention of saying such a thing at all.

 

It was as if the words came straight from his heart without passing through his head.

 

“I was joking.”

 

Fortunately, he managed to recover before Seol Mujin could refuse.

 

Should I have waited to see?

 

“Please give us some time to discuss.”

 

“How much time would you need?”

 

Namgung Cheolsang, receiving Namgung Hyemin’s gaze, spoke.

 

“One hour should be enough.”

 

“Then I’ll return in one hour.”

 

As Seol Mujin left the room, Namgung Hyemin sank into her chair and let out a deep breath.

 

Namgung Cheolsang stared at Namgung Hyemin intently.

 

“What?”

 

“How about dating me?”

 

Her face turned bright red.

 

“I said it was a joke!”

 

“Well, it didn’t seem like a joke.”

 

“Do you think it makes sense for me to date someone like a mere podoo?”

 

“To dismiss him as just a podoo, this man called Seol Mujin is…”

 

Namgung Hyemin waved her hand as if shooing away a fly to stop Namgung Cheolsang’s words.

 

“Stop talking about that and think about what proposal you’ll make to Seol Podoo.”

 

Namgung Cheolsang tapped the dining table with his index finger, and his gaze happened to fall on the wine cup.

 

Gulp.

 

He swallowed involuntarily.

 

So he brought the alcohol to his mouth.

 

“Uncle. Are you drinking in broad daylight?”

 

“I should buy some of this Seol Baekju on the way back to the family estate. My older brother would like it.”

 

“Why? You said you’d give it as a gift to the Third Prince too.”

 

“That’s a good idea. Ah!”

 

Suddenly, a proposal to make to Seol Mujin came to mind.

 

“Hmm. I could have Seol Podoo do that task.”

 

“What task?”

 

When Seol Mujin was mentioned, Namgung Hyemin’s eyes sparkled.

 

“There’s a letter to send to the Third Prince.”

 

“You’re entrusting such an important task to Seol Podoo?”

 

“The enemy would never suspect that Seol Podoo is doing work for the Namgung Family. And…”

 

Namgung Cheolsang continued with a mysterious smile.

 

“There’s a saying about a sharp awl in a bag.”

 

“I learned that idiom about a sharp awl piercing through a bag when I was four.”

 

“Unless the Third Prince is blind, he’ll recognize Seol Podoo’s excellence. Of course, I’ll have to hint about Seol Podoo in the letter.”

 

Namgung Hyemin nodded.

 

“You’re making the Third Prince capture Seol Podoo? Then he’ll naturally be in the same boat as the Namgung Family. What if the Third Prince fails to recognize Seol Podoo?”

 

“Then that would be meaningful in its own way. Can we discuss ruling the world with someone who has no eye for people?”

 

“But Uncle, you only realized it after fighting him yourself.”

 

“That’s why I’m an elder of the Namgung Family, not an emperor.”

 

***

 

As soon as Seol Changho heard Seol Mujin’s story, he said:

 

“That bastard Namgung Cheolsang is playing tricks.”

 

“Tricks?”

 

“He’s sending you to deceive the enemy’s attention. Even if the enemy notices, with your level of martial arts, there’s no worry about the letter being stolen.”

 

Seol Ryeoseon asked.

 

“Is that all there is to it?”

 

“Of course not. He’ll try to use the Third Prince to drag you into their affairs.”

 

Seol Mujin said.

 

“Even if that’s his intention, I have to accept. It’s to save Magistrate Go and Clerk Yi Bang – it’s not a bad condition.”

 

“When are you going?”

 

“He said he’d let me know the timing later.”

 

“Will those two definitely be released?”

 

“They will be. They have to be. Otherwise, I’ll go find Oryongbang myself.”

 

***

 

Namgung Bongseong, who received the report about what happened in Jinan, made an incredulous expression.

 

“Are you joking right now?”

 

“Would I make such a joke to you, older brother?”

 

“Then you’re saying this young man called Seol Podoo really fought you to a draw?”

 

“It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Call Clan Leader Moon and Clan Leader Won and ask them.”

 

Namgung Bongseong, who was speechless for a while, finally asked a question.

 

“How old did you say Seol Podoo was?”

 

“He said he was nineteen.”

 

“Not even twenty yet, but he fought you to a draw… Has there ever been such a person in Murim history?”

 

“There never was before, and there never will be again.”

 

“No school you can guess?”

 

Namgung Cheolsang shook his head.

 

“It’s not from the Black Island side, is it?”

 

“What’s important isn’t the martial arts, but the person.”

 

“Seeing you say that, you must view Seol Podoo favorably.”

 

“Though it was a short time, I had our disciples gather information about his reputation. Everyone I met had nothing but praise for him. There were some mentions of connections to the Black Society, but since his job is podoo, it’s natural he’d have contact with the Black Society. He seems to support the largest orphanage in Jinan too, and his reputation was very generous.”

 

“What’s your subjective evaluation, not just hearsay?”

 

“At nineteen, his martial arts are equal to mine. What do you think he’ll be like in ten years?”

 

“Who could know that? There are plenty of flowers that bloom brightly only to wither.”

 

“That’s just common talk about late bloomers. I’d bet my arm that Seol Podoo will someday become the greatest master under heaven.”

 

Knowing Namgung Cheolsang’s serious nature, Namgung Bongseong couldn’t help but be surprised.

 

“You evaluate Seol Podoo that highly?”

 

“I know Seol Podoo’s skills best since I fought him. Perhaps in terms of martial arts alone, he might even be above me.”

 

“You’re saying that despite your pride?”

 

“If he can match me with only nineteen years of experience, isn’t it common sense to think that way?”

 

“You’re completely smitten with Seol Podoo. Even if men become friends through fighting, isn’t becoming this close after just one fight too much?”

 

“Hmph! I hope Seol Podoo thinks he’s close to me too.”

 

“Even if you view Seol Podoo favorably, trying to match him with Hyemin…”

 

“Older brother, are you saying Hyemin is too good for Seol Podoo?”

 

“Isn’t she?”

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