Chapter 1636: Even Beasts Know Gratitude (Part 1)

"Huff!"

"Slow down a bit!"

"I'm not free at the moment!"

Namgung Dowi dashed forward without looking back, leaving Tang Soso, who was chasing after him, shaking her head.

'Are there really people this ignorant?'

She thought all the ignorance in the world had been swept away by Chung Myung and Jo Gol, but it seemed there was still some left to go around. Watching someone put such a strain on their body by rushing ahead like that.

Although the external injuries had healed somewhat, the internal injuries had not fully recovered yet. But if he kept pushing himself like this, it wouldn't be surprising if something went wrong.

And naturally, as a doctor, Tang Soso couldn't tolerate such reckless behavior from a patient.

Paaat!

"Huh?"

Tang Soso's bandage, flying from behind, wrapped around Namgung Dowi's arm.

"You can't continue like this. Slow down."

"No, Sojang. This is..."

"It's not Sojang, it's Dojang!"

"Oh... I'm sorry, Dojang. Anyways, right now..."

"Yes, it's urgent. But if you keep running like this, Sogaju will go to the afterlife in a rush."

"..."

"Slow down. "I'm saying this as a doctor."

"...I understand."

Perhaps because of the word "doctor," Namgung Dowi slowed down. Sweat poured down his forehead like rain, perhaps because of the relief of tension.

"Really..."

As Tang Soso stared at Namgung Dowi as if he were a lost cause, her eyebrows furrowed.

"What's so urgent about Sogaju arriving a little late? That's why you sent Elder in the first place."

Wiping sweat from his sleeve, Namgung Dowi nodded.

"Indeed, my uncle will handle things much more wisely than I would."

"You know that well. Then why are you behaving like a person with their butt on fire? Anyone would think Heavenly Comrade Alliance would collapse without the Sogaju. That's just excessive self-consciousness."

Namgung Dowi chuckled at Tang Soso's words.

"Excessive self-consciousness, huh..."

"Well, that's also a characteristic of the Namgung Family."

Namgung Dowi shook his head.

"It's hard to deny that there's such a tendency in the Namgung Family, but at least not now."

"Really?"

"It's not about what might happen without me; it's about what might happen when I'm not there."

Tang Soso tilted her head.

Wasn't that the same thing?

"If I'm not there, Chung Myung Dojang and his Sahyungs will handle anything. They won't easily collapse. Even against Paegun."

"...Hmm."

There was a clear trust in Namgung Dowi's voice. So much so that no matter who heard it, they would feel that it wasn't just a remark said out of politeness.

Was it really possible to feel such trust in someone from a different sect, who wasn't even much older than them?

"...Isn't that okay then? Since the Sahyungs will manage everything anyway when you're not there."

"Of course it is. But it feels unfair."

"Huh?"

Namgung Dowi chuckled.

"It feels unjust and hurts my pride. That I'm just an appendage to their achievements. It means I'm that insignificant."

Tang Soso looked at Namgung Dowi with a puzzled expression. What kind of logic was this?

But Namgung Dowi spoke with utmost seriousness.

"It's unbearable. That people consider me only as a sidekick to their achievements. It isn't about me as the successor to the Namgung Family but as a swordsman."

"...The words may be a bit twisted, but to put it another way, it means being treated as a supporting role is unbearable."

"Right."

Namgung Dowi smiled wryly.

"But isn't it alright to be that greedy? Even if as a swordsman?"

Tang Soso shook her head again. Those Five Great Families were all a bit strange. Of course, that wasn't something a woman from the Five Great Families and a disciple of that Mount Hua Sect should say.

"I thought you weren't interested in such matters?"

"I wasn't. Until I slit the Black Dragon King's throat."

"...."

"But revenge is over now. So, we must look to what comes next. I'm anxious about falling behind in that 'next'."

Tang Soso clicked her tongue.

In some ways, this person was similar to Chung Myung Sahyung. Once they achieved something, they never stopped, always seeking the next task, the next goal.

People of this caliber never stopped until they exhausted all their strength.

"And aren't you curious?"

"About what?"

"About Chung Myung Dojang."

There was a slight excitement in Namgung Dowi's eyes as he mentioned Chung Myung. It was a bit of a departure from his serious demeanor until now, with a hint of playfulness mixed in.

"If it's that person, by now he must have caused quite a stir. Doing things I couldn't even imagine. Because that guy doesn't have a moderate bone in his body."

"...Hmm."

Tang Soso couldn't deny this. She couldn't imagine that Chung Myung would keep quiet for even a few days. Surely, just hearing about him would cause headaches and stomach pains.

"He's probably pushing forward something unreasonable like an enraged bull. I'm curious about what it is, to the point where I can't bear it."

"Then wouldn't it be right to wait a little longer and hear the news before departing? Isn't that what's considered reasonable in the world?"

"There's no time for that, as Dojang knows."

Tang Soso sighed as if there was no answer.

'Even if people change, they should change in moderation.'

Of course, it wasn't that the old Namgung Dowi, who was condescending and arrogant, was fine, but his current direction was a bit... Was there no way to compromise within limits?

"Then you should be glad."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll find out soon. There, it's Hwaeum."

"Oh."

Namgung Dowi raised his head and looked ahead. In the distance, they could see the meticulously constructed Hwaeum.

"...It sounds kind of funny to say this."

"What?"

"It feels like I'm coming back home. Even though I just came from Anhui."

Namgung Dowi chuckled as if finding himself amusing after saying that.

"Let's go. Whether it's home or not, if it feels familiar, that's enough."

Leaving Tang Soso behind, Namgung Dowi rushed ahead toward Hwaeum.

"The atmosphere seems a little chaotic."

"Does it?"

"Surely something has happened again."

"Could you please not talk about it as if it's amusing? My stomach is already hurting."

"In the end, it will turn out well. Don't you think so, Dojang?"

"...I guess so. Going around in circles to reach a good result."

Namgung Dowi smiled wryly, as if it was difficult to deny. Indeed, everything Chung Myung did tended to have that tendency.

"Anyway, we have to figure out what's going on..."

"Sogaju-nim!"

At that moment.

"Hmm?"

"Sogaju-nim! You've arrived!"

Namgung Dowi narrowed his eyes. The swordsmen of the Namgung Family, who had followed Namgung Myung to Hwaeum, were rushing towards him.

"...There's probably no need to search for it." 

That was Namgung Dowi's impression as he saw the serious expressions on their faces.

"Disbanding the family... and establishing new units, scattering the disciples among those units?"

"Yes!"

One of Namgung Siga's swordsmen said with a stern face.

"And Elder Namgung Myung has approved this in place of Sogaju-nim."

"...Hmm."

Namgung Dowi scratched his cheek twice.

"...I expected something unimaginable to happen, but this is beyond imagination."

While he had anticipated something much more extreme than his thoughts, this was on a completely different level from the outset. Who would have the audacity to plan and execute such an absurd thing?

"Has it been approved by other sects?"

"Yes."

"Hmm."

Namgung Dowi nodded heavily.

He would have to listen to how this situation unfolded, but it didn't seem like a plan without a countermeasure. No, it definitely wasn't. If so, there would be no way unsympathetic sects would have agreed. 

'No... if it's him, regardless of the position, did he ultimately make them agree?'

Pretending to gather everyone's opinions and negotiate, in fact, doing as he pleased. That had been what Namgung Dowi had seen of Chung Myung's way so far. In the meantime, a little coercion (?) and intimidation mixed in.

"Sogaju-nim."

"Hmm?"

"It's time to punish Elder Namgung Myung and reverse everything."

"...Hmm."

Namgung Dowi looked at the Namgung Family's swordsmen as if to say, 'What are you talking about?'

"Letting the Elder decide on such matters is an absolute absurdity."

"Yes, that's right, Sogaju-nim. And to disband the family... How can those of Namgung's blood obey the orders of others? Only you, Sogaju-nim, have the authority to issue orders to Namgung."

"The same applies to other sects. I don't know what the upper echelons think, but most of those who have to fight on the front lines are not happy. They cannot understand why they should risk their lives for the whims of strangers."

Namgung Dowi's expression became grave upon hearing this.

"Public opinion isn't favorable?"

"Yes."

Namgung Dowi sensed that the others around him were focusing on them. Seeing there was no one stopping their words, it was evident that the atmosphere wasn't good.

"What about you? Do you share the same thoughts?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because lives are at stake."

"...In more detail."

One of Namgung's swordsmen spoke with a serious face.

"Lives are not precious. If it's for Namgung's glory, we can throw them away as much as we want. But if it comes to this, won't the price for our lives all go to the Alliance and Mount Hua? Why should we sacrifice our lives to glorify them?"

Some nodded at these words.

"Letting down barriers may sound reasonable, but ultimately, doesn't it mean wielding the power of other sects as they please? Even if we win, what will be left for us?"

"I think Sogaju-nim should step forward. Under the name of Namgung, we should shine the brightest..."

"Stop."

"Sogaju-nim. Namgung..."

"I told you to shut your mouth."

The one speaking faltered as they looked at Namgung Dowi.

A spirited voice. But more surprising than that was the harsh tone used. It was known that Namgung Dowi had never used such a tone before.

"S... Sogaju-nim?"

Namgung Dowi glared at the speaker with narrowed eyes.

"Namgung's glory? Did you just utter such words?"

The swordsman winced at the murderous tone. No one here had ever seen Namgung Dowi this angry, not even when facing the Black Dragon King.

The intensity was so chilling that even Tang Soso involuntarily recoiled.

"The ones who begged for help when they were about to die at Plum Blossom Island... Now they speak of glory when they're alive?"

"So... Sogaju-nim."

"People are inherently treacherous. I'm not unaware of that... But at least, I never expected those who bear the name of Namgung to speak like ungrateful beasts."

"..."

Those pressed by his intensity couldn't even look at Namgung Dowi properly and hung their heads.

"I was pondering what I should do, but thanks to you, now I know the answer."

Namgung Dowi gripped his sword.

This was something Mount Hua couldn't do. If they did it, it would become coercion. That was why Namgung Dowi fully understood his role.

"If there are those who are dissatisfied with the Alliance's decisions, let them come forward. I will make you keenly aware of the freedoms and rights you have enjoyed so far."

The faces of those standing before him turned a shade darker.