Trash of the Count's Family - TCF Part 2 - Chapter 88

Young Warrior – Same as ‘Noble Warrior,’ but someone who is lesser than them. So if Noble Warrior can also be translated as Greater Hero, Young Warrior can be translated as Lesser Hero.
Elder – In this chapter, it is used to refer to a beggar from the Beggars’ Sect who is one rank below their sect leader.
Young Sect Leader – the successor of the sect leader.
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Cale told CH to head towards the sound, and CH followed, saying “Yes, Young Master Hae-il.” He led the way and the group followed. Toonka, or Du Kang, laughed out loud at the thought of warming up. Cale frowned at the sight of Toonka. Despite wearing a luxurious outfit, Toonka’s disheveled hair made him look like a crazy wild boar.
Cale worried if he should stop Toonka, but seeing CH shaking his head, he realized that CH would stop Toonka if he did something. Cale grew nervous as he neared the scene of the fight. Raon hid himself, and the group eventually heard the sound of people arguing. One person shouted, “No, please listen to us! Noble Warrior Jade Tiger, this is a loss for both of us!”
Another retorted, “Ha! A loss? Your loss! Why are those who seek nothing blinded by gain? Even the elder has changed!” The first person screamed in frustration, and Cale paused at the sight. It was different from what he had expected. The ‘fighting’ people had lightly crossed weapons, but were arguing more.
There were 10 people fighting. Someone turned to Cale’s group, questioning their identities as he threw a dagger at them. CH blocked it with his blade, and Cale noticed that the dagger was lightly thrown. It was only meant to serve as a warning to not come any closer. But the thrown dagger made Toonka more excited.
Cale mentally cursed as Toonka ran forward. Someone screamed, “Green Forest!,” mistaking Toonka for a bandit, and Cale could only sigh. He questioned the need of the expensive silk clothes when Toonka would still be mistaken for a bandit. The person who threw the dagger shouted at them to stop, and the fighting ceased.
Wi said that the fighting people were wary of them, and Cale replied in passing that there was a solution. Wi was puzzled, so Cale glanced at CH. At that moment, CH’s hand was faster than wind as it knocked down the laughing Toonka. Thus, Toonka fell, though Cale was impressed that Toonka took a proper fall posture despite the sudden attack.
Silence settled in the forest, and then broken by the sound of Sui laughing alone. Toonka raised his head, blinked, and met Cale’s gaze. He apologized, “Ah! I’m sorry! Young Master Kim! I forgot! I only have to fight when you tell me to fight, but the weapon sounds made me lose my senses for a while! My mistake!”
Toonka might be an ignorant person who liked brawls, but he was at least quick to admit his mistake and come to his senses. Cale replied to him, “It is alright, Young Warrior Du.” Out of all the people in his group, Cale called Toonka a ‘young’ warrior because he was definitely not a ‘noble’ warrior. Sui laughed at those words, and Cale ignored it again, though he wondered if he should call Sui as ‘young’ warrior too out of annoyance.
Cale observed the fighting people. There were two groups. One group was wearing black and red uniforms. The other group had two beggars, a monk, and two people wearing uniforms. And the one who threw the dagger was also wearing a uniform.
It seemed that the old man dressed as a beggar, who looked the oldest among the people present, and the skinny middle-aged man from the other group were arguing in front. Cale realized that both groups belonged to the Good Faction. And because the Murim Alliance, which was mostly members of the Good Faction, had designated CJS as a Murim Public Enemy, Cale decided to not get involved with them.
He thought that they might become enemies later. So he gently smiled and lightly bowed his head, “My humble apologies if I surprised you. My ears picked up the sound of weapons, so I took to myself to come here because I thought an innocent person might get hurt.”
Cale was of a small physique, but his clothes were of high quality silk. The fan in his hand did not have any gems, but one could sense dignity from him. Wi then spoke up and bowed towards Cale, “Young Master, this humble servant will handle this.” Cale liked Wi’s tact, and Wi spoke to the two groups, “Since you don’t seem to be at odds with each other, we shall take our leave. Unless of course, you are in need of our assistance.”
Cale was puzzled on why Wi was acting like that. He had thought that Wi was cold-natured, but it seemed like he was slightly opening his heart to Cale who wanted to help those in need. At that time, the oldest among the two groups, a beggar, stepped forward and cleared his throat. He stared at the person behind Cale and shouted, “Sir!”
Mok Hyeon clicked his tongue, and Cale recalled his conversation with him back at the palace. Cale had asked Mok Hyeon if it was fine to not cover his face, and the latter replied that there were few people who knew of him. He had not appeared in the murim world for decades, so even the previous heads of the clans would not recognize him.
But Mok Hyeon asked Cale if it would become troublesome if his identity was revealed, and Cale replied that it would just be a little hard to move quietly if Mok Hyeon was identified. Mok Hyeon assured Cale that the people of his time were mostly dead. Thus, Cale was presently staring at Mok Hyeon who hesitated at that gaze.
Cale was not using his Dominating Aura, but Mok Hyeon felt as if that stare paralyzed him. Mok Hyeon then ignored the old man. He used Chi Hidden Voice to Cale, saying that he did not know that beggar. But judging from the 6 knots on the rope wrapped around the beggar’s waist, Mok Hyeon said that he must be one rank below the leader of the Beggars’ Sect.
The sect leader had 7 knots, and those who had 6 knots were either an ‘elder’ or the ‘young sect leader.’ Cale had already guessed that the two beggars present were from the Beggars’ Sect. Just then, the younger beggar approached the old beggar and called him, “Elder Ho.” The old beggar called the young beggar as “Young Sect Leader” and told him to wait.
Cale was taken aback at the younger beggar. The young sect leader also had 6 knots on the rope around his waist. Cale realized that something big was happening for an elder and the young sect leader to be working together. Elder Ho walked forward and exclaimed, “It’s me, Sir! Did you not teach my master a lesson when you were young? I was the child next to Master at that time!”
Mok Hyeon spoke to Cale that he did know the child, but the child had grown old. Elder Ho continued, “Sir, you must have forgotten my face after decades. It’s me. Ho Song Yi!” Cale pretended to not have seen CH mumbling something and closing his eyes. He looked at Mok Hyeon and asked, “Sir, is it all right if we depart as it is?”
Mok Hyeon thought for a moment before answering, “Yes. It is all right, Young Master.” Cale was surprised again at the respectful actions of Mok Hyeon, and even that of Wi. The elderly people he had met here in this world made him feel embarrassed. Cale said afterwards, “Then we shall take our leave.” But Elder Ho called out to Mok Hyeon again, asking if they were going to Mount Huang.
Cale thought that this elder was tenacious, but the air of the skinny middle-aged man in a black and red uniform grew heavy. The same was true of the three warriors behind him, so Elder Ho’s group flinched. But Elder Ho did not care and said that he had something to say if they were going to Mount Huang.
Elder Ho glanced at Cale as his mouth felt dry. He knew that Mok Hyeon was the Fist King and had disappeared decades ago. But the Beggars’ Sect knew that Mok Hyeon had settled down and was now working as the closest aide to the current emperor and empress dowager. This was top secret information, so Ho Song Yi, an elder who had formerly dealt with intelligence gathering, had known.
And now, a young master who was being served by that Fist King had appeared. Someone who was even more of a big shot than the Fist King. Elder Ho panicked at the thought of the imperial family having an interest in the Sword Demon (Congrats, Cale. You’ve been mistaken as royalty, hahaha). He had come here in Mount Huang with the young sect leader for a special mission.
Elder Ho intended to save the Sword Demon and steal him away from the Murim Alliance or the Evil Faction. But if the imperial family and the government joined, the situation would become harder. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and the young sect leader was confused by the elder’s sudden actions.
He addressed the person surrounded by warriors including the Fist King, “I’ve heard that you are Young Master Kim? If you want to go to Mount Huang, please hear my words first. And I will guide you as well.” However, the ground shook as the middle-aged man from the other group slammed his greatsword into the ground.
His greatsword was even bigger than that of Beacrox’s. He viciously glared at Elder Ho who continued, “Sir, you are not aware of the current situation. So Sir should not go to Mount Huang.” Wi whispered to Cale via Chi Hidden Voice that the middle-aged man was the Jade Tiger, Dokgo Chang of the Dokgo Clan. There were other clans with a long history other than the Five Great Clans, and the Dokgo Clan was one of those other clans.
Among the various kinds of swords, the Dokgo Clan along with the Namgung Clan were famous for pursuing heavy swords. Wi added that Dokgo Chang was the only person in the clan to use a greatsword, and was the second strongest person next to the Dokgo Clan head. Elder Ho glared at Dokgo Chang in frustration, and the latter grabbed his greatsword again.
Dokgo Chang voiced out, “Our Dokgo Clan does not forget grace. Righteousness and chivalry are more important than the laws of the Murim Alliance.” Cale recalled what he had read from the books Wi had given him. If the swordsmanship of the Namgung Clan were like that of a ruler or an emperor, the swordsmanship of the Dokgo Clan were that of a lone ferocious beast.
It felt like a fight would break out at any moment, so CH stood in front of Cale, Raon asked if he should create a shield, and Sui stood besides Cale. As for Cale, he did not know why the two groups were fighting, or what exactly was going on here.
Dokgo Chang then declared, “Our Dokgo Clan will stop anyone who is aiming for Noble Warrior Choi Jung Soo.” Cale was perplexed, and Raon asked if that man was on their side. CH removed his grip on his scabbard, and Elder Ho pounded his chest in frustration and screamed, “Ah, this is so frustrating! So are we!”
He continued in anger, “We’re on our way to save the Sword Demon! I keep telling you to listen to me! Why did you pull out your sword right away without listening to others! Huh!” Cale was confused again, and Mok Hyeon said via Chi Hidden Voice, “Ah, seeing that trembling, he’s definitely Ho Song Yi. When did that cute kid become such an old man?” Cale closed his eyes as he needed time to organize his thoughts.