Chapter 11

The Eleventh
Episode 11.
“If so.”
“If you’re doing this out of resentment for me, or revenge against the Namgung family, it’s useless…….”
“No.”
An Bai shook his head resolutely.
“Resentment, revenge. If I didn’t have those feelings, I’d be lying.”
As he spoke, An Baek’s piercing gaze swept across the scar on Namgung Mu Baek’s left cheek. Namgung Mu Baek returned the gaze, urging him to speak if he had anything to say.
Their gazes tangled in the air.
“To look at the world she’s going to make. I’m sure your sister wishes the same, so I’ll stop wasting time and do what I have to do.”
“Is that so…….”
An Baek, who had turned away from Namgung Mu Baek, whose words were clouding his vision, spoke up.
“That child has changed. I’m sure you’ve seen it all anyway, the way she’s changing. If you can’t do a good job as his father, at least do a good job as his father. That’s what the head of a family is supposed to do.”
“…….”
“Don’t lock yourself away. If I hadn’t met that child, I’d still be a grown man who doesn’t know the world.”
And with that, Anbaek opened the door and disappeared.
Namgung Mu Bai’s gaze at the back of An Baek’s head was surprisingly different from the coldness that had been rumored.
* * *
“……Who is participating?”
“All of the dukes except the Fifth Duke have been ordered to participate.”
“By whose order?”
“It is the patriarch.”
“Huh!”
The middle-aged woman snorted and gulped down the cold tea on the table in one swift gulp. Pressing her temples together to make sure it wasn’t too hot, she looked at the black tiger in front of her and spoke.
“What happened to the dog, no, what’s going on with him?!”
“Master has just finished his training and has just gone to sleep.”
“That’s not what I’m asking, Yot!”
Hearing her sharp voice, Black Ho straightened his back and opened his mouth.
“I’m just saying that you’ve gained the status of a Changgong Grand Daoist, and I believe you’ll reach the second star soon.”
“How does he compare to the other second- and third-stars?”
“With a progress rate like ……, you will never fall short.”
Clink!
The teacup clinked against the saucer as it was placed awkwardly on the table.
“Not lacking. Don’t you know you have to surpass it?”
“……However, the Fourth Gongzi doesn’t exert much effort compared to his talent…….”
“That’s because he hasn’t gotten his center yet, so even if that’s true, isn’t that something that Black Ho should be focusing on?! Do you really expect me to take care of that for him?”
“I’m sorry.”
As he bowed to Ms. Peng, the mother of the Fourth Gongfu, Black Lake’s stomach clenched with a tightness that wouldn’t let go.
I don’t know if she knows how he feels or not.
Unperturbed, she continued.
“Well. Isn’t it a mother’s job and parental love to make up for what her child lacks?”
“……Yes.”
“That being said, Black Tiger.”
“Please.”
“Don’t give these to the insignificant fifth duke, give them to the third duke.”
Standing up, Mr. Pang placed the ranks from under his bed on the table. Black Lake’s expression changed drastically as he looked at them.
“What are these?”
“It’s a billet. Can’t you tell?”
Who wouldn’t know that it’s a secret weapon? He only asked because the four letters on the sword were so heavy.
“…imperial sword shape.”
“Yes, it’s the kind of martial art that men of the Southern Palace can’t learn without seeing it, right?”
The corners of his mouth twitched, and the sight of him made Black Ho furiously read the scroll in his hand, then put it down. Then he shook his head.
“No, sir. Ma’am.”
Mr. Pang’s expression sharpened at that.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a matter of alarm. It must be a sword that’s been twisted somewhere.”
Black Ho was deeply troubled by the fact that he had been able to steal a great duke’s secret weapon, which he had intended to pass on to the fifth duke, but had ended up doing so through the fourth duke. But to think that he would plot something like this again.
It was too evil to be carried out by someone in his service. It had to be stopped.
“Hmph! As you know, the Emperor Sword Form is a sword technique that can only be practiced by those who have been raised in a family.”
“……Yes.”
“When our dogs go to Gaju, they won’t even be able to learn the imperial sword form. They should be grateful to me for even tasting it.”
It was ridiculous sophistry.
However, the look in Mr. Yan’s eyes made it clear that no matter what he said, it would not work, and he would not listen to him. When Mr. Yan said that this time, he would not do it, he would not do it at all.
“I can’t help it. If Black Ho won’t do it, I’ll let the dog do it himself.”
“…….”
Black Ho shook his head with a despairing expression. Mr. Poon smiled wryly at the sight of him.
He wouldn’t be able to refuse. That’s the kind of man he is.
Having accidentally saved his life and pledged his loyalty to me, Mr. Pang recalled his hard, unwavering loyalty, never forgetting a favor once received.
He had been an adequate sword, protecting the Fourth Duke in the Yin Zi and filling in where he was lacking, but now it was time to make a decision.
In his experience, sword fairs are no small affair, and as soon as one of the other dukes shines, there will inevitably be a shifting of power, and there will be plenty of people looking to grab their share of the bowl.
If your child isn’t good enough to stand out, the only way to do so is to discredit the other candidates.
That’s how Mr. Pang loved his children.
* * *
Black Lake decided to leave.
He would stay in the Deep Mountain Valley and never come to Jianghu again.
He would spend the rest of his life paying for what he had done.
Ms. Ping was a woman who skillfully utilized her family’s strengths, especially the width of her skirts.
As a result, it was not difficult for her to pass on the Emperor’s Sword to her first, second, and third dukes.
Thanks to Mr. Pang’s grasp of the situation, he was able to fulfill his role without incident, but Black Lake returned to his bedchamber, unable to overcome his own feelings of humiliation and contempt.
He couldn’t bear to see the bitchy bedchamber welcoming him, as it felt like it was scolding him, so he grabbed the bottle of liquor he’d brought with him and gulped it down.
It had been a long time since he had drunk alcohol.
It had been a long time since he’d gulped down something he hadn’t touched since he’d gotten his sword.
He felt as if he had a hot stone in his chest, and the tightness in his stomach and burning in his esophagus spoke volumes about his state of mind.
Three or four bottles of liquor rolled around the bed.
Through the window, I could see the dawn rising.
“……Let’s go.”
He took off the black robes he’d been given by Mr. Pang, folded them up and laid them on the bed, and changed into the torn robes he’d worn before he’d dipped his toes into the southern palace.
It still tasted of blood, but it didn’t matter.
He had no luggage to pack. No, he had one.
A plaque with the sword that proved his identity, he remembered in hindsight as he searched for its whereabouts.
‘The Grand Duke…….’
That’s right. I gave it to the Grand Duke.
As he said that, Black sighed deeply, based on his simmering regret.
It was only a matter of time before they met.
Nevertheless.
Sword and fist clashed, albeit briefly. He could feel it.
Such is the nature of men.
The Grand Duke’s efforts are not in vain, and the world is deceived by whatever he hides.
And the iron-blooded swordsman behind him.
Black Ho didn’t take the Iron Blood Sword Castle’s change of heart and announcement to stand behind the Grand Duke at face value. He believed the time had come.
That was why.
It was even more regrettable.
What could he do?
It was already too late.
With all due respect to the Grand Duke, the plaque would be meaningless.
I will leave and never return.
With that thought, he opened the door.
“Where are you going?”
A boy poked his head in. He was wearing a mischievous grin.
“From the looks of it, you’re running away.”
“Grand Duke?”
It was the Grand Duke.
“What kind of manners is it to toss this shit out as a gift?”
Black Ho narrowed his eyes as he saw the Grand Duke pull out the fluttering papers. Not just one, but all three of them were in the Grand Duke’s hands. They had been delivered to him by Mr. Pang. Looking at the Grand Duke, who hadn’t noticed for more than a day, Black Ho shook his head.
“Don’t worry.”
The Grand Duke stared directly at Black Ho and opened his mouth.
“I may not know you did it, but I’m the only one who knows.”
“……How did you know?”
The Grand Duke shrugged his shoulders as if it didn’t matter.
“I don’t think a ten-year-old bastard could have conceived of such a thing on his own. No, I don’t think so.”
The Grand Duke muttered.
“You said you realized it when you saw the Southern Palace Dog.
He was full of jealousy and envy for my brother, but not intelligent enough to plan and execute a plan.
“It comes down to one conclusion: who is behind him, a human being who moves his skirt around.”
Black Tiger’s eyes widened at that.
“You followed me all the way here on that one clue.”
“It’s not hard.”
Black Lake let out a short exclamation, followed by a sigh.
Clearly, the world was being deceived. The mind of the Grand Duke was far too powerful to be attributed to a fifteen-year-old boy.
But as if that mattered, the Grand Duke opened his mouth.
“And what kind of shitty manners is it to bet with me, lose, give me a certificate, and then run off like this? Aren’t you in the army?”
His tone had shifted from semi-disrespectful to semi-speechy, but Black Ho didn’t recognize it.
“Gu, you mean the army?”
The Grand Duke coughed in vain.
“……kerchhhhh. Anyway.”
The Grand Duke opened his mouth to speak, waving the mark in his hand.
“Take your punishment, and don’t run away.”
He looked very serious.
Black Lake’s expression hardened.