"Ugh!"
"Could you slow down a bit!"
"I'm not in a hurry!"
Nangong Dowi dashed forward without looking back. Tang Soso, chasing after him, shook her head in frustration.
"Are there really people this ignorant in the world?"
It seemed like all the ignorance had been swept away by Chung Myung and Jo Gol, but apparently, there were still some left to share. To see someone with such a physique engaging in martial arts like that...
Although the external injuries had healed somewhat, the internal injuries had not fully recovered yet. If he continued practicing martial arts like this, it wouldn't be surprising if something went wrong.
And of course, as a doctor, Tang Soso couldn't tolerate such reckless behavior from a patient.
*Bang!*
"Huh?"
Tang Soso's bandage, which had flown from behind, wrapped around Nangong Dowi's arm.
"You can't do this anymore. Slow down."
"No, young lady. This is—"
"I'm not a young lady, I'm a disciple!"
"Oh... I apologize, disciple. Anyway, right now—"
"Yes. Right now is urgent. But if you keep running like this, won't the young family lord arrive in the afterlife in a hurry?"
"..."
"Slow down. It's what I'm saying as a doctor."
"...Understood."
Perhaps the word "doctor" exerted some power, as Nangong Dowi slowed down. Sweat poured down his forehead as the tension eased.
"Really..."
Tang Soso looked at Nangong Dowi, who seemed utterly clueless, with a deep furrow between her brows.
"Why are you acting like you're on fire? Anyone would think that the Heavenly Friendship Alliance would collapse without the young family lord. That's just an inflated ego."
Nangong Dowi forced a smile, wiping sweat off his sleeve and shaking his head.
"Indeed..."
"Well, it's a characteristic of the Nangong Family, after all."
Nangong Dowi nodded.
"It's hard to deny that the Nangong Family has such a tendency, but at least that's not the case right now."
"Is that so?"
"I'm not worried about what will happen if I'm not there, but rather what will happen when I'm not there."
Tang Soso raised an eyebrow.
Isn't that the same thing?
"Even if I'm not there, Chung Myung disciple and the senior brothers of the disciples will handle everything. They won't easily collapse. Even if the opponent is the Tyrant."
"...I see."
There was a distinct sense of trust in Nangong Dowi's voice, something that anyone could feel, not just polite words.
Was it really possible to feel such trust towards someone from a different sect, especially when they were of a similar age?
"...So, isn't it okay then? Since the senior brothers will take care of everything anyway?"
"Of course. But it feels unfair."
"What?"
Nangong Dowi chuckled.
"It feels unfair and hurts my pride. It means I'm just a sidekick to their achievements, not as Nangong Family's young family lord, but as Nangong Dowi, a sword master."
"...That's a bit twisted, but in other words, you can't stand being a supporting role."
"Exactly."
Nangong Dowi smiled wryly.
"But isn't it okay to have some ambition as a sword master?"
Tang Soso once again nodded and fell silent. Anyway, those from the Five Great Families were all a bit peculiar. Well, she wasn't in a position to say anything about someone who was from one of the Five Great Families and a disciple of Mount Hua.
"I thought you weren't interested in that kind of thing?"
"I wasn't. Until I avenged the Black Dragon King."
"..."
"But revenge is over now. So we have to look at what's next. I'm anxious because I might fall behind in that 'next'."
Tang Soso clicked her tongue.
In some ways, this person was similar to Senior Brother Chung Myung. It was because they never stopped after accomplishing one thing, always searching for the next task, the next purpose.
People like this never stopped until they collapsed from exhaustion.
"And aren't you curious?"
"About what?"
"Chung Myung's disciple."
There was a hint of excitement in Nangong Dowi's eyes as he mentioned Chung Myung. It was a gaze that didn't match the seriousness of the conversation until now, but rather, had a hint of mischief mixed in.
"If it's him, he must have caused something by now. Something unimaginable. It's not like him to be quiet for days. He must be causing trouble just by breathing."
"..."
Tang Soso couldn't deny this. She couldn't imagine Chung Myung keeping quiet for even a few days. Surely, he was causing headaches and stomachaches just by talking.
"He'll be pushing ahead with something that seems unreasonable but has its own logic, like a raging bull. I'm curious to see what it is."
"Wouldn't it be better to wait a little longer and then leave after hearing the news? The world calls that a sensible approach, doesn't it?"
"There's no time for that, and I'm sure the disciple knows that too."
Tang Soso sighed in frustration at the lack of response.
"People need to change to some extent."
Of course, it wasn't to say that the old Nangong Dowi, who was unlucky and arrogant, was better, but the current direction seemed a bit... couldn't there be some compromise?
"Well, I'm glad then."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll find out soon. Oh, there's Huaying."
"Ah."
Nangong Dowi lifted his head sharply and looked ahead. In the distance, they could see the meticulously constructed Huaying.
"...It's a bit amusing to say this, but..."
"What?"
"It feels like returning home. I just came from Anhui."
Nangong Dowi chuckled as if even he found it amusing to say that.
"Let's go. Home or whatever, it's all good if it feels familiar."
Leaving Tang Soso behind, Nangong Dowi rushed ahead toward Huaying.
"The atmosphere seems a bit tense, doesn't it?"
"I see..."
"Something must have happened again."
"Could you not say it as if it's so amusing? My stomach already hurts."
"In the end, it'll be for the better. Don't the disciples know that too?"
"...I guess. It's just too much circling around to end up with a good result."
Nangong Dowi grinned as if he couldn't deny that. Indeed, everything Chung Myung did seemed to have that tendency.
"Anyway, we need to find out what's going on..."
"Sir Young Family Lord!"
At that moment.
"Hmm?"
"Sir Young Family Lord! Have you come?"
Nangong Dowi narrowed his eyes. The sword masters of the Nangong Family who had followed Nangong Myeong toward Huaying were rushing toward him.
"...Seems like there's no need to search."
That was Nangong Dowi's impression as he saw the serious expressions on their faces.
"Are you suggesting disbanding the family... and establishing a new faction to disperse the family members there?"
"Yes!"
One of the Nangong Family's sword masters said with a stern face.
"And Elder Nangong Myeong has approved this on behalf of Sir Young Family Lord."
"..."
Nangong Dowi scratched his cheek twice, seemingly at a loss for words.
"...I expected something unimaginable to unfold, but this surpasses even that."
Though they had anticipated events to escalate beyond their imagination, the very concept of this plan was beyond conception. Who would dare to plan and execute such absurdity?
"Has it been approved by other sects?"
"Yes, it has."
"Hmm."
Nangong Dowi nodded heavily.
Though they needed to hear how this situation had come about, it seemed there was a plan in place from the start. No, it wouldn't have been otherwise. If not, hostile sects wouldn't have agreed to it.
"No... Perhaps that person, regardless of position, ultimately coerced them into agreement."
Pretending to gather and coordinate everyone's opinions, in reality, he did as he pleased. This had been Chung Myung's approach as observed by Nangong Dowi. Amidst this, there was some hint of intimidation and coercion mixed in.
"Sir young family lord."
"Hmm?"
"It's time to punish Elder Nangong Myeong and reverse all these decisions."
"...?"
Nangong Dowi looked at Nangong Family's sword master as if asking what this was all about.
"For Elder Nangong to decide on such matters is a complete overreach of authority."
"Yes, sir young family lord. And to disband the family? How can those of Nangong blood submit to the orders of outsiders? Only you, sir young family lord, have the authority to issue commands under the name of Nangong."
"Other sects feel the same. Higher-ups might think differently, but frontline fighters are not pleased. They can't understand why they should risk their lives for the whims of outsiders with no authority."
Nangong Dowi's expression grew serious upon hearing this.
"Not pleased?"
"Yes."
Nangong Dowi sensed the attention of others around them. Despite this, with no one stopping them from speaking, it was evident that the atmosphere was not favorable.
"What about you? Do you all share the same opinion?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because our lives are at stake."
"...Explain further."
One of Nangong's sword masters spoke with a solemn expression.
"We don't value our lives. If sacrificing my life could bring glory to Nangong, I would do so without hesitation. But if it comes to this, won't our lives pay the price for Nangong and Mount Hua's mistakes? Why should we risk our lives for the sake of outsiders' glory?"
Some nodded in agreement with these words.
"Opening the borders may sound plausible, but in the end, it means allowing the power of other sects to be wielded as they please, doesn't it? Even if we win, what do we gain?"
"..."
"I believe, sir young family lord, that you should take the lead. Nangong should shine brightest under the name of Nangong..."
"Enough."
"Sir young family lord."
"Shut up."
The one who spoke recoiled in shock as Nangong Dowi looked at him with narrowed eyes.
A voice filled with killing intent. But what was even more surprising was the coarse language he used. No one present had ever seen Nangong Dowi show such anger, not even in front of the Black Dragon King.
Such was the chilling momentum that even Tang Soso involuntarily flinched away.
"When Plum Blossom Island was on the verge of death, did anyone dare to beg for help, shouting about Nangong's glory? Now that they've survived, do they dare to speak of glory under the name of Nangong?"
"Sir young family lord."
"People are inherently cunning. I'm not ignorant of that fact, but..."
Nangong Dowi gritted his teeth.
"At the very least, those who bear the name of Nangong should refrain from uttering such disgraceful words."
"..."
Those who were affected by his momentum couldn't even meet Nangong Dowi's gaze and hung their heads.
"I was pondering what I should do, but thanks to you, I have my answer."
Nangong Dowi gripped his sword.
This is something Mount Hua cannot do. If they did, it would become tyranny. That's why Nangong Dowi perfectly understood his role.
"Those who are dissatisfied with Nangong's decision, come forward. I'll make you keenly aware of how much freedom and rights you've enjoyed thus far."
The faces of those standing before him turned dark with apprehension.