Chapter 64 : The Sleeping Dragons. -01

Chapter 64: The Sleeping Dragons. -01

“I didn’t come to set the mood or anything. I just thought it’d been a while, so I came to pay my respects.”

“You must have some other business.”

Murong Heesu spoke as if shooting barbs, but Murong Cheok neither argued nor got angry.

Knowing well what his usual conduct had been like, he simply accepted it in silence.

Yet at that sight, Murong Heesu showed a slightly surprised expression.

She had naturally expected him to snap back, but he did not.

“You’re not wrong.”

“What’s with you? All of a sudden.”

Normally, she rarely lost her temper and almost never frowned, but when it came to Murong Cheok, it was different.

He was her older brother and the heir of the family, yet he had never once shown a demeanor befitting that role.

Murong Gung firmly believed that his son would one day change into someone worthy of being the successor of the Murong clan, but Murong Heesu did not.

“Hm. You could say I came to my senses?”

“You? Brother?”

“At least you’re still calling me ‘brother.’”

“It’s because Father is here.”

“Hahaha.”

At a tone so sharp it seemed frost was scattering from it, Murong Cheok let out an awkward laugh.

Even so, he did not dare to take issue with that part.

Even he knew well that over the past years he had truly shown nothing but a pitiful figure.

If he did not change at this very moment, there was a high chance he would return to his former self again.

“So. What were you trying to say, coming all the way here at the crack of dawn?”

“I don’t think I’ve properly paid my respects yet. Shall I start with that?”

“That’s enough. Since when did you think of me that way.”

“Ahem!”

Though Murong Gung smiled kindly, there was bone in his words.

That was why Murong Cheok smiled sheepishly and cleared his throat.

He thought it best to lighten the atmosphere first.

“Yesterday’s incident must have been quite a shock.”

“If I hadn’t been shocked, I wouldn’t be human.”

“What did you feel?”

“I realized just how arrogant I’d been. And the world has changed so much. Before I knew it, more than seven years had already passed since I shut myself up in my room.”

“If you only realized that yesterday, that sounds like a serious problem.”

Murong Gung said quietly as he took a sip of tea.

Just looking at his clothes, one could feel not only the change of the four seasons but also the change in one’s own body.

If one still could not feel the passage of time despite that, it went beyond indifference—it meant having no thoughts at all.

“You’re right. I was immature.”

“That doesn’t seem to be the same thing.”

Murong Heesu slipped into the conversation.

She felt there was a need to correct his words.

“Being immature was also true, so it’s included.”

“I acknowledge that.”

“Thank you for acknowledging at least one thing.”

“Judging by your expression, it doesn’t seem like you’re being sarcastic. But seriously, how can a person change in just one day? Did you suffer a severe internal injury? Are you not far from your death?”

“……People of the world really need to know about this wildcat-like side of you.”

This time, Murong Cheok did not stay quiet either.

Since she had played along appropriately, he also shot back.

However, Murong Heesu was no longer an innocent young girl.

“They might like a different side better. Of course, to see this side of me, they’d have to become someone special to me. Rather than a monotonous personality, wouldn’t a woman like me with contrasting charms be better? People say it all the time. A woman who’s virtuous by day and a seductress by night is the best.”

“Oh dear.”

Hearing the word “seductress” come out of the mouth of a younger sister who was not even twenty yet, Murong Cheok shook his head.

Even with family present, it felt like she was speaking far too recklessly.

“Why? Isn’t that what men like?”

“It’s because you’re saying it so bluntly.”

“Hmph. How ridiculous. You like it, yet you pretend you don’t.”

“Other people really should see this side of you. Then they’d know you’re just putting on airs.”

“That will absolutely never happen.”

Murong Heesu said confidently.

She was someone who had lived her entire life showing others exactly what they wanted to see.

She would never be exposed.

“The longer the tail, the easier it is to catch.”

“That’s enough sibling banter. Let’s get to the main point.”

“Father. I’m going to go do some training at Shaolin Temple.”

“Are you planning to follow Young Master Ban’s group?”

“Yes.”

At the mention of Shaolin Temple, Murong Gung immediately understood.

He understood what Murong Cheok was thinking.

Yet despite that understanding, Murong Gung’s expression was ambiguous.

At the unreadable look, Murong Cheok cautiously gauged his reaction.

“Is there really a need to go all the way to Shaolin Temple?”

“In order not to return to how I was before, I need my elder brothers.”

“Elder brothers?”

At that unfamiliar word—one Murong Cheok had never used even once before—both Murong Gung and Murong Heesu were startled.

They had never imagined hearing the word “elder brother” come from Murong Cheok’s mouth.

Yet despite their expressions, Murong Cheok remained confident.

“They’re older than me, so of course they’re elder brothers.”

“You never acknowledged the other younger generation talents before, did you?”

“That’s exactly it. Those guys were only older in age and had no qualification to be treated like elders. With skills worth nothing at all, they just strutted around. That’s why I wandered for a while. I thought that if I really put my mind to it, I could knock them all aside anytime.”

“But those two are different?”

“Yes. And Jo-woon as well.”

A faint, resentful light surfaced in Murong Cheok’s eyes.

To be frank, losing to Sunwoo Bang had not felt all that unpleasant.

He had underestimated him and paid dearly for it, but in any case, Sunwoo Bang was his elder.

Because of that, he could accept losing to an elder—but Seo Jo-woon was different.

“You’ve already grown close enough to speak comfortably with them?”

“Not yet, but it’ll be like that soon. I’ve already laid the groundwork.”

“Ho ho ho. That’s just your own thinking, isn’t it?”

“They don’t seem narrow-minded. After talking with them, I heard they all dropped formalities pretty quickly. I’ll probably be like that soon too.”

At Murong Cheok’s carefree tone, both Murong Gung and Murong Heesu let out hollow laughs.

They knew he was always confident in everything, but they hadn’t expected it to be to this extent, and so the father and daughter looked at each other and shook their heads.

“Isn’t the conclusion that you’re saying you’ll follow him?”

“That’s correct. I haven’t set a specific period, but once I reach a level that I myself find satisfactory, I believe I’ll return.”

“You are the next head of the Murong Family.”

“I know that. But precisely because of that, I believe I must follow Brother Ban. Wouldn’t it be better to have a strong family head? A Murong Family Head who is a master dominating all under heaven.”

Murong Gung closed his eyes.

He too had wished for that and had made efforts toward it, but in the end, he had failed.

He had not been able to reenter the fence of the Five Great Families, nor had he managed to secure a seat among the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.

But Murong Cheok might be able to do it.

“Are you confident?”

“What matters is that you only get results after trying. If you don’t try, no results come at all. Well, something will come out, but it won’t be the result you want.”

“Very well. I’ll permit it. However, I have one request.”

“I’m listening.”

“Please, don’t cause trouble.”

At Murong Gung’s words, Murong Heesu nodded her head vigorously.

That was what worried her the most as well.

“Hey. Do you think I’m a child? I’ll be twenty next year.”

“Just because you’re twenty doesn’t mean all twenty-year-olds are the same. You can tell just by looking at Young Master Ban or Young Master Seonwu.”

“Ugh!”

At his father’s words, which truly felt like they struck straight at his heart, Murong Cheok let out a groan.

He wanted to deny it, but since it was the truth, he couldn’t.

“Go and learn a lot. And while you’re at it, win everything.”

“Of course. If you think you’ll lose from the start, you can never win.”

“And don’t bring back some strange bride-to-be. At the very least, she should be on the level of Pang Hwayeong.”

“……Are you only looking at talent?”

“She’s inferior to Heesu, but Pang Hwayeong’s looks aren’t something that would fall short anywhere, are they?”

Murong Gung tilted his head.

It was only because he saw Murong Heesu—one of the Three Phoenixes—every day, but Pang Hwayeong and Pang Suyeong were by no means ugly.

Rather, when it came to physical constitution, the two sisters were outstanding beyond compare.

They were relatively tall compared to other women, but considering their other conditions, that alone was more than enough to offset it.

“And besides, a woman at Shaolin? There’s no way there would be a woman in a monastery, is there?”

“Why wouldn’t there be? It’s not a forbidden zone for women. Just because it’s the Emei Sect doesn’t mean there are only nuns, right? Among lay disciples, there are men too. Shaolin is the same.”

Murong Cheok blinked his eyes.

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

At the same time, he realized that he himself had held a prejudice toward Shaolin.

“You’re right?”

“That’s why I’m telling you to watch your conduct. Don’t go handling things recklessly.”

Murong Gung said in a serious tone.

He was glad that his son had come to his senses, but at the same time, he was worried.

Because his son had lived so willfully, he feared that he might cause trouble for Shaolin.

“I’ll keep it in mind. Then I’ll see you later at mealtime.”

“Alright. You said you’re leaving today, so you should prepare as well.”

“Yes.”

Having finished his business, Murong Cheok rose from his seat without hesitation.

However, his attitude was respectful.

Unlike before, when he would give only a perfunctory greeting, today Murong Cheok bowed properly before leaving the room, and Murong Gung felt inwardly satisfied at the sight.

It finally felt like he had become a proper person.

Even though they had been riding mountain paths for several days after leaving the Murong Family, the expressions of the group were not dark at all.

They considered this, too, to be a kind of training.

In particular, like Seo Joun, Murong Cheok—who had left home after a very long time—found everything fascinating.

When he was young, he had often visited other Murim families, but he had mostly traveled along main roads, and had never moved through mountain paths like this, so rather than finding it difficult, Murong Cheok found it enjoyable.

“Hojin. You really do know the way, right?”

“Of course. When have I ever gotten lost?”

“Well… you haven’t, I guess.”

“That answer came a bit late?”

“You have to give me time to think.”

At the reply that came a beat late, Ban Hojin chuckled softly.

At the same time, he could understand Seonwu Bang’s feelings.

Since they hadn’t said exactly where they were going, it was only natural to feel curious and worried.

“We’re almost there.”

“But can people really live in a place like this?”

“People live even in the Northern Sea or in the desert. Why wouldn’t they be able to live here?”

“That actually makes sense.”

Seonwu Bang let out a dry laugh as he looked at the dense jungle with eyes full of doubt.

Compared to the desert or the Northern Sea, this environment couldn’t really be called barren.

“Who goes there?”

At that moment, an unfamiliar voice was heard from afar.

Though the distance was considerable, it rang clearly in their ears, as if inner energy had been infused into the voice.

“I am Ban Hojin of Shaolin. I’ve come to seek the Bangcheon Gate.”

“Pardon?”

Despite the sudden voice, Ban Hojin introduced himself naturally, without the slightest sign of surprise.

However, the owner of the unfamiliar voice was startled—not so much by the word Shaolin, but by the fact that Ban Hojin knew his sect.

“I have a bit of a personal connection with the Bangcheon Gate. Not me personally, but my ancestor.”

“Ah, yes.”

At Ban Hojin’s continued explanation, the voice’s owner nodded in understanding.

In that case, it wasn’t something impossible.

A moment later, a young man wearing old hemp clothing revealed himself.

He looked to be around the age of coming of age, and perhaps because of his rough clothes, his outward appearance made him look more like a farmer than a rising junior.

“Nice to meet you.”

“I’ll formally introduce myself. I am Jeong Iryong of the Bangcheon Gate.”