TSBIRBV Ch 76

Chapter 76 An Esper Who Knows When to Act (6)

The snap of the wrist when filling the glass was unusual.

‘Reminds me of the Jekyll and Hyde of the Center…’

That was the nickname of one of the espers he met at the Center. It wasn’t because this person had a split personality.

The person behaved obediently, drinking just cider when the guide was present, but instantly transformed into a master of binge drinking the moment the guide left.

Suppressing the familiar scent of a rogue esper that emanated from the unfamiliar guide, Yegyeol took the glass.

“Thank you.”

“Please, the same to you.”

At Un’s words, Yegyeol gladly poured the drink and handed the glass.

As everyone was pouring drinks for each other, the atmosphere heated up. Just then, Cheongseong’s Cheongyun gestured to Soyul, who was offering him a drink.

“I don’t drink alcohol.”

Emie’s disciple teased,

“Alcohol is no, but fermented grain wine is okay, right?”

“Isn’t fermented grain wine still alcohol? A true Taoist would keep away from anything that hinders cultivation.”

“Oh, our master enjoys fermented grain wine a lot.”

“…Well.”

“Our master is a sect elder of the Amipa and the sister of the head of Jangmun. The best swordsman of Amipa, the Demon-Breaking Sword, and a former elder of the Martial Alliance.”

Soyul’s voice rattled off the master’s credentials like an ASMR whisper.

Cheongyun, who inadvertently criticized his senior, trembled with embarrassment.

“Hmm. Maybe our master is a Buddhist, not a Taoist, so a little fermented grain wine is okay? What do you think, Master Soga?”

Eventually, the innocent Taoist from Cheongseong broke down.

“Well, I… I think I’ll have some fermented grain wine too.”

Yegyeol looked over, wondering if he should help. At that moment, Namgung Un’s voice came through.

[It’s fine. Cheongyun is the type who needs someone else to make excuses so he can drink without worry.]

Ah, Yegyeol nodded, understanding. Clinking glasses to show he’d heard, Un’s eyes widened slightly as he drained his glass.

“I will too. Me too.”

Baekhwan chimed in, followed timidly by Dangsegi.

When first invited by Namgung Un, Yegyeol didn’t expect such a gathering. But for an assembly of the later generations of the Nine Sects and Five Great Clans, the surprisingly relaxed atmosphere put Yegyeol at ease.

After emptying his glass, Yegyeol smiled.

“Perhaps because people Un introduces are all pleasant folks.”

“Uh, Un?”

Dangsegi’s eyes twitched nervously. Though individuals reacted differently, everyone seemed a bit flustered. For example, Cheongseong’s disciple dropped a chopstick while Soyul scratched his ear.

Baekhwan laughed wildly alone.

“Our proud Master Soga allowing someone to call him by his name at last.”

“Indeed. They say Lightning Sword Dragon will continue to politely use honorifics and titles even after marrying.”

Baekhwan’s admiration was quickly taken up by Soyul, who teased.

“Maybe he didn’t cry ‘wah wah’ at birth, but said ‘Mother, I humbly greet you. Have you been healthy and well?’”

“Is that so? I don’t quite believe it.”

Yegyeol felt relieved that Namgung Un was surprisingly reserved. Leading the large Namgung Clan, he worried about him being too naive.

Dealing with Senior Brother alone was enough pressure, so Yegyeol couldn’t afford to worry about Namgung Un too.

“Anyway, I’m glad I came out as soon as I heard the council leader wanted to introduce someone.”

Council leader.

The word made Yegyeol uneasy.

“So, the council leader of the Yongbong Society is Namgung Un.”

Feeling distant, the honorific naturally reverted to normal without conscious thought.

“If Soyul’s teasing is why you called him Namgung Un, just call him by his name. Yes. This Namgung Un, Lightning Sword Dragon, present here won the martial arts tournament and was unanimously appointed the youngest council leader of the Yongbong Society.”

Dangsegi rambled with a flushed face, clearly a devoted follower.

“The youngest, huh…”

Even this resembled Senior Brother, making Yegyeol feel strange.

“Namgung Un must be a once-in-history talent of the martial world. He will undoubtedly become the world’s best. How thrilling it is to live in the same era as such a person…”

Dangsegi’s long speech dampened Yegyeol’s mood.

‘Before Namgung Un, there was Je Haryang.’

The fact that Yegyeol was the only one here who remembered him was very lonely.

“To think such a great person existed… I don’t know if I should dare to call Ung by name.”

Yegyeol made up a plausible excuse to hide his disturbance, making Dangsegi smile.

“Namgung Un personally permitted it, didn’t he? Truly enviable…”

Dangsegi’s mouth was floppy, perhaps drunk on the liquor. Watching his envy rather than malice, Yegyeol couldn’t understand how someone from a clan like Dangsuhak could act so gentle.

Perhaps that was why Namgung Un invited Dangsegi and others here.

“We just crossed the brink of life and death together, so we feel close.”

“There you go…”

Cheongyun, sipping as usual, interjected curiously.

“You mean the Jiaolong King kidnapping incident?”

“Ah. I was curious about that too. Our disciples returning all described Namgung Un and the Jiaolong King confronting each other…”

“If Un doesn’t mind, may I share what I saw and heard?”

Yegyeol, like an adept storyteller, asked.

“Nothing beats hero stories to enhance the flavor of alcohol.”

Thus began the legend of Lightning Sword Dragon Namgung Un, who fought 170 to 1.

Yegyeol took the distilled essence from internet culture novels, full of MSG, making the heroic tale very delicious.

Namgung Un kept denying such things, but Baekhwan gleefully urged him to drink more shots.

As the excitement grew, everyone began drinking more than water.

Cheongseong’s disciple, once the most reluctant drinker, lay hugging his bottle. Even when his bottle was taken to give him comfort, he fetched it back like a child seeking a comfort doll.

Soyul pretended to play a lute with Cheongyun’s hair, even mimicking the lute’s sound with his mouth. He was quite good.

Dangsegi, after crying earlier, fell asleep like a child. Baekhwan nodded and added comments like ‘that’s right’ or ‘he was nasty’ to the invisible listeners.

It felt like they were doing relationship counseling.

‘It’s a mess.’

But someone survived this mess.

Yegyeol turned his head to a man sitting neatly.

His pale scholar-like face stayed firm after everyone had passed out. If it weren’t for the smell of alcohol, you might have thought he was practicing calligraphy.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Very much.”

Yegyeol shook his shoulders lightly as if pretending to enjoy himself. Feigning drunkenness isn’t that difficult.

“At last, it’s just the two of us.”

At Ung’s words, Yegyeol nodded.

“It’s the first time I’ve drunk this much. Is everyone okay?”

“The new friend meeting makes everyone lose self-control.”

Yegyeol laughed.

Lose self-control? Not at all.

The later generations here live in the Dosan Sword Forest. Some of them are faces of their sects or clans. The reason they could drink this much and lose face was that their leader, Namgung Un, allowed it.

Yegyeol saw that Namgung Un had charisma that didn’t suppress or forcibly control others, but made them lower their guards and follow sincerely.

“You’re quiet. Are you thinking about something?”

“I wondered why Un made this gathering.”

“Because they’re good people, I thought you’d like to meet them.”

“Well, I think differently.”

Ung is the heir of the Namgung clan, based in Anhui, opposite the Central Plains. He came to Sichuan and invited Yegyeol, calling him a friend.

Not long ago, Yegyeol seriously messed up an event by the Sichuan Tang clan. Though it was the Jiaolong King who actually caused the trouble, usually the weakest person bears the brunt.

Yet Namgung Un introduced the heir of the Sichuan Tang and several later generations here.

‘If I get close with Dangsegi, the Sichuan Tang will hesitate to act against me. Getting familiar with other later generations will be good for my safety too.’

Even excluding Okhyeongmun as a branch of Amipa, Qingseongpa, Amipa, and Sichuan Tang are all massive powers with roots in Sichuan. Even the powerful Sichuan Tang must be wary of Qingseong and Amipa.

“He must be trying to help me.”

Namgung Un smiled slightly without speaking. Yegyeol realized he knew what she guessed but pretended not to.

“I thought Un was amazing.”

Sichuan is a small place, considering the three powerful factions of Nine Sects and Five Great Clans fighting there.

Yet these later generations were united under Namgung Un’s leadership. He must have put great effort into this. The gathering tonight wasn’t his first. Whenever he sensed problems, he suppressed disputes and maintained balance.

‘If he were born in modern times, he’d be a perfect diplomat.’

Looking at this peaceful, dagger-faster-than-words pacifist guide from an esper’s perspective, Yegyeol felt a profound pity.

“You are flattering me too much.”

‘Again, again, again…’

Namgung Un mouthed a modest reply.

Born with so much, he was a strong figure who didn’t need to eat a lavish meal. Yet he had to learn to feed himself.

The survivors would continue to take everything for themselves.

“Don’t be too modest.”

Yegyeol blinked slowly and whispered.

“Sometimes, you must take credit… and receive thank-yous.”

He was not his guide, but this much was probably alright.

“A good person needs… motivation.”

Yegyeol smiled gently and stood up.

“Then, until next time.”

Namgung Un looked somewhat dazed.

Yegyeol thought he was the most handsome after Senior Brother, but kept the compliment inside while leaving the room.

Now it was time to pursue the original purpose of coming to Sichuan.

“No. Baembaem, this is the Black Spot!”

Thus, an utterly sober drunkard and his companion appeared before the busy Black Spot.