Surviving as the Villainess’s Servant in a Martial Arts Novel - Chapter 31

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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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Episode 31

 

Namgung Jeong .

 

The Young Master of the Namgung Family and sworn brother to Master of Seo Family.

 

How shocked I was when I learned that fact.

 

‘Wow, the Namgung Family. Wow.’

 

I couldn’t help but be amazed.

 

What is the Namgung Family? They’re the head of the Five Great Families, famous martial families of the Central Plains, and aren’t they the clan that usually takes the protagonist role in web novels?

 

I hadn’t read many martial arts novels, but occasionally I could see ponytailed men in blue clothes on novel covers. To think I’d see a character I’d only seen in books here…

 

But did Namgung Jeong appear in 【Lord of Heaven and Earth】?

 

‘I don’t think he did?’

 

Honestly, even if I had seen him, I might not remember well. After all, male supporting characters in 【Lord of Heaven and Earth】 were just minor roles who appeared briefly and then disappeared.

 

I pondered for a moment, but when nothing came to mind, I shook my head and quickly pretended to know him.

 

“Ah, ahhh~! So you’re Hero Namgung Jeong! I’ve heard so much about you. How tremendous your reputation is in Jianghu. Aren’t you the Thunder Emotion Sword who strictly punishes evildoers above and protects the weak below!”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“Also, as our Master’s trustworthy younger brother, you’ve fulfilled your duties as a sworn brother and helped the Seo Family greatly, haven’t you? How much the people of the manor praise you, truly until my mouth goes dry…”

 

“Stop, stop!”

 

At my embarrassing praise, Namgung Jeong waved his hands dismissively.

 

“You rascal, your tongue is so smooth that even the greatest flatterer in history couldn’t match you! Enough, just tell me where you work. From the looks of it, you seem like a boy who receives guests.”

 

I smiled awkwardly and answered respectfully.

 

“No sir. I am a servant belonging to So-nang Garden.”

 

“I see, So-nang… So-nang Garden?”

 

“Yes. I serve Lady Seo.”

 

Namgung Jeong’s mouth fell wide open.

 

“You serve A-ri?”

 

Namgung Jeong also seemed to know the Young Miss’s temperament well, as he looked half-doubtful.

 

I roughly summarized everything that had happened so far for Namgung Jeong. Since he was Master’s sworn brother, I figured he’d find out everything anyway.

 

After hearing the whole story, Namgung Jeong was impressed.

 

“Amazing, truly amazing. No one has been able to break A-ri’s stubbornness. I felt it from the first impression, but your persistence is remarkable.”

 

At this unexpected praise, I scratched my cheek.

 

“Hehe, you’re too kind…”

 

“Then why did you do it?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Suddenly Namgung Jeong’s face hardened coldly.

 

“Why did you get involved in this matter? You said you almost got into big trouble last time, yet you knew it would be dangerous?”

 

“Uh…”

 

“From what I hear, you did something even more foolish. Did you really think you wouldn’t get caught? The opponent even held a great grudge against you. This time there was no A-ri to help you, so why did you recklessly step forward and court death?”

 

“Well…”

 

I hesitated for a moment. As Namgung Jeong said, this time I had indeed been rash. So should I just accept his words, or should I make some excuse?

 

After pondering, the words I finally uttered were like this.

 

“I just… stepped forward.”

 

“What?”

 

“Actually, at the time, I didn’t have the leisure to think deeply about it. The situation was becoming increasingly urgent. Everyone was just looking out for themselves, and if no one stepped forward, it seemed like that Young Lady would really be in serious trouble.”

 

“….”

 

“Whether the Young Lady got in trouble or I got in trouble, wouldn’t it be about the same? In that case, I thought it would be better to at least try gambling on it… that’s the feeling I had when I stepped forward.”

 

Namgung Jeong frowned and asked.

 

“Did you know that Young Lady?”

 

“No?”

 

“You didn’t even know her, yet why would you go that far? Even if you did that, no one would acknowledge it, and you could end up suffering an unfair fate yourself.”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

I answered.

 

“Because it’s something someone has to do.”

 

Even as I said it, I smiled bitterly.

 

‘Since when have I been so full of justice?’

 

When I think about it, it’s a ridiculous thing to say. Stepping forward recklessly because it’s something someone has to do. Yet I don’t have the strength, power, or anything else needed to become that ‘someone.’

 

Namgung Jeong must have felt the same thing, as he burst into loud laughter.

 

“Something that has to be done. Hahaha! Do you think doing that makes you some great Martial Hero? No, you’re just a Common Man who shows off and dies a dog’s death. Do you know what the world calls people like you?”

 

“What do they call them?”

 

“Fool.”

 

“….”

 

“They call them Fool. People like that.”

 

I stared blankly up at Namgung Jeong. Even though he was clearly insulting me, when I looked closely at his expression, it didn’t seem that bad.

 

Rather, he looked strangely pleased somehow…

 

“And I don’t dislike such fools.”

 

Namgung Jeong smiled brightly.

 

“How about it, will you become my Disciple?”

 

* * *

 

Namgung Jeong thought as he was guided by Chief Steward Jeok to Elder Brother.

 

‘He was an amusing fellow.’

 

Meeting the Young Boy at the Inn was by chance.

 

The distance from Anhui Province to Guangdong Province was quite far. If Elder Brother had been near Anhui Province, he would have visited him right away, but unfortunately their paths crossed and he had no choice but to go back to Guangdong Province.

 

Namgung Jeong hurried on his way. Since he had news that needed to be delivered urgently, he rushed for several days and nights, and by the time he finally arrived, he was quite exhausted.

 

Let me just go anywhere and satisfy my hunger first. When he entered such a place, there was some Scoundrel there.

 

“Something worth playing with for a night… Hey there!”

 

The Scoundrel who looked like a Brothel Keeper immediately began harassing the Young Lady. Deep wrinkles formed on Namgung Jeong’s brow. He was already tired, and now some Scoundrel was getting on his nerves too.

 

He didn’t know which Clan’s young master it was, but he should give him a proper beating and chase him away. Just as Namgung Jeong aimed for the Blood Path and was about to throw his Chopsticks.

 

“Oh no, my stomach. My stomaaaach-!”

 

Some young boy started causing a huge commotion.

 

Because of this, Namgung Jeong couldn’t step forward and ended up awkwardly watching the situation, but before long he realized that the boy was faking his illness.

 

Wasn’t he rolling around with his whole body while sneakily glancing at a certain corner? Specifically, toward that scoundrel.

 

‘That guy, could it be…?’

 

That suspicion was correct.

 

The boy had deliberately caused a disturbance to save the young lady.

 

He wondered if perhaps the boy was a hidden master, but upon closer inspection, the boy had no power at all. He was struggling against a servant who was worse than third-rate and was even on the verge of being kicked.

 

Namgung Jeong saved the boy out of curiosity. He was quite surprised when he later learned that the boy was a servant of the Seo Family Estate, and moreover, Seo Yeon-ri’s page boy.

 

But at the same time, he was also disappointed.

 

Didn’t he know that his actions could cause trouble for his master? When told that it could affect Elder Brother’s family, he found the boy irritating.

 

However, to his cold questioning, the boy said this:

 

“Because someone has to do it.”

 

What is chivalry?

 

Righteous deeds of standing against the strong to help the weak—in other words, jumping into tasks that no one else wants to do.

 

Most martial heroes were like that. They stepped forward to help with tasks that everyone else turned away from, tasks that brought no benefit and might even be losses. Because it was the right thing to do.

 

Thus, those with power became martial heroes, and those without power met meaningless deaths.

 

That’s what chivalrous acts are like.

 

So what would become of this boy?

 

“Will you become my disciple?”

 

—Out of curiosity about this, Namgung Jeong impulsively blurted out these words.

 

Without even knowing the boy’s background or name.

 

Still, he had a strange confidence. It wasn’t like the boy didn’t know who he was, and if he had any sense, he would naturally agree…

 

“No.”

 

“What?”

 

The boy looked straight into Namgung Jeong’s eyes and asked clearly:

 

“Noble families are based on bloodlines, so how could someone like me, who has no connection to the Namgung Family, become a disciple?”

 

“You could change your surname and be incorporated into the family. Ah, of course, to learn Namgung’s Advanced Martial Arts you’d need legitimacy, but if I take you as an adopted son…”

 

“Then I would have to follow Your Grace to the Namgung Family?”

 

“You’d become a member of the Namgung family, so wouldn’t that be natural? That doesn’t mean you’d have to stay at the estate forever—if you follow me around on jianghu adventures…”

 

“As I thought, it won’t work.”

 

Then didn’t he annoyingly start tearing up?

 

“Oh my, Hero Namgung has given this ignorant country bumpkin a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I am declining out of concern that my inherent lack of talent would cause trouble, so please, Hero, with your great and merciful heart, show your magnanimity…”

 

“Enough, enough! I was just saying it casually, so don’t worry about it!”

 

When Namgung Jeong showed his distaste, the boy smiled brightly.

 

“I am truly grateful. However, I cannot leave the Seo Family Estate. I owe a great debt to the Seo Family Estate, and until I repay that debt, I cannot leave this place, so please understand, Hero.”

 

Then he politely bowed his head.

 

Watching this, Namgung Jeong clicked his tongue in regret. The more he looked, the more he liked the boy, but having already said it was fine, it was awkward to bring it up again.

 

‘What kind of great debt could he have received to go that far? Ah, that guy is both righteous and clever—perfect to carry on my legacy… Should I ask Elder Brother for him?’

 

In the end, Namgung Jeong had no choice but to part with the boy at the Seo Family Estate, promising to meet again.

 

Lost in these various thoughts while following Chief Steward Jeok, Namgung Jeong soon arrived in front of the study room. The door opened and a welcome person came out.

 

“Elder Brother!”

 

It was his sworn brother, Seo Cheong-ja.

 

The sworn brothers who met after a long time embraced each other and enjoyed the joy of reunion.

 

The two held hands and went inside to share long conversations. And only when the night grew deep did Namgung Jeong bring up the main topic.

 

“The Demon Cult is making their move.”

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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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