Trash of the Count's Family - TCF Part 2 - Chapter 99: Blood! (4)

Sword Saint declared Young Master Kim as his clan’s benefactor. Cale wanted to ask Wi if this was okay, but he could neither use magic nor Chi Hidden Voice. He gave up asking as being a benefactor benefitted him. Rather, it embarrassed him. And then, Wi spoke to him via Chi Hidden Voice.
Wi-kipedia said that it was as expected of Young Master Kim. He explained that the Namgung Clan regarded their benefactors as their own bloodline. Wi continued to exclaim how this was great and amazing. But Cale was silent as he thought that this was different from what he had expected. He glanced at Sui who shook his head.
Cale recalled Sui’s words back then that the Central Plains here was different from the Central Plains he had read in novels. In those novels he had read, the Tang Clan of Sichuan was a famous for upholding gratitude and grudges. It was a clan that specialized in poison and daggers. The Tang Clan frequently appeared along with the Namgung Clan and the Jegal Clan as one of the Five Great Clans.
Cale wondered if the Namgung Clan here also remembered gratitude and grudges like the Tang Clan of Sichuan in the novels. He questioned himself if he had made a mistake. He looked at the Sword Saint who was now smiling. The Sword Saint asked what ‘our benefactor’ wanted. Cale got the chills at the words ‘our benefactor’ and the Sword Saint’s sudden change of attitude.
But he kept his composure. Meanwhile, the Sword Saint gulped as he noticed Cale’s calmness. Some information about the Namgung Clan. The clan never had a benefactor for hundreds of years because they wanted to stand at the top of the Good Faction. Having a benefactor meant serving someone. That vision of theirs led to the clan possessing the strongest military force in the Five Great Clans. So no one in the murim world treated their clan carelessly.
However, the Sword Saint realized that they were arrogant. The Blood Cult had even penetrated their clan. The situation was different now though. The Sword Saint did not know the full name of Young Master Kim. But once it was known that Young Master Kim was their benefactor, rumors of the clan being related to Living Jiangshi and the Blood Cult would not cause any major problems.
After all, Young Master Kim was a senior member of the imperial family and someone who was even in the Nature Realm. He also seemed to be interested in solving the problem caused by the Blood Cult. The Namgung Clan was simply a victim even if it was known that Tae Wi was a Living Jiangshi. Of course, there would be people who would blame them for not taking care of their family members properly.
Cale sighed and the Sword Saint corrected his posture as his cracked chair creaked. The Sword Saint was surprised when he realized that he was nervous. The fate of his clan depended on the young master’s judgment, so he felt helpless. After a while, Cale spoke and told him to give up on the Sword Demon. The Sword Saint froze at that moment.
Cale repeated his words to give up on CJS. The Sword Saint frowned and exclaimed that the entire Changcheon Guards would be arriving soon. He did not care if his clan got falsely accused with being related to the Blood Cult. He could not give up on the Sword Demon. Cale sighed and told him, “The Sword Demon is my best friend.”
The Sword Saint was surprised before he deeply sighed. He suddenly struck his knee and laughed. Cale was confused with his strange actions. The Sword Saint continued to laugh as he shouted that he understood what happened now. Cale grew more puzzled, so the Sword Saint explained that he had received a report from the Changcheon Guards that the Sword Demon and the Demon Cult were related.
Elder Ho was taken aback by that news, and the Sword Saint continued that it was the reason why he hurriedly came here to Mount Huang together with Tae Wi who had brought the evidence. Everyone in the room understood what happened then. Cale asked if it was Tae Wi who said that the Sword Demon and the Demon Cult were related.
The Sword Saint confirmed that and added that Tae Wi mentioned the Heavenly Sword book would fall into the hands of the Heavenly Demon, the leader of the Demon Cult. As evidence, Tae Wi brought a book of the Demon Cult, and CJS was listed there as a member of the Demon Cult. The Sword Saint laughed as he said that the Blood Cult must have fabricated that evidence using the Living Jiangshi they had planted everywhere.
Elder Ho asked why he had not informed the Murim Alliance about that matter. The Sword Saint grinned and replied that it was a chance to raise the name of the Namgung Clan, so he did not report it. Elder Ho gulped and thought that it was to be expected of the Namgung Clan. They had wanted to get the achievement alone despite knowing the impending great war.
Elder Ho suppressed his displeasure, and the Sword Saint added that he had wanted to get the Heavenly Sword book too. The Sword Saint raised both hands and said that since CJS was his benefactor’s close friend, then he would give up. That was a big concession on his part since it was CJS who beat him, thus gaining the title of Sword Demon.
Cale thanked him but asked for his help to find CJS. The Sword Saint was surprised, and Cale also asked for their clan’s assistance in dealing with the Blood Cult because he did not have enough people. He also requested the cooperation of the Murim Alliance, the Nine Schools and One Gang, and the Five Great Clans.
Cale said that he should do that much since he was their benefactor after hundreds of years. He convinced the Sword Saint that it would benefit the ‘great’ Namgung Clan who pursued righteousness and cooperation. The false accusation that the clan was related to the Blood Cult would also be resolved. Cale’s smile deepened as he said that he looked forward to the great performance of the Namgung Clan.
The Sword Saint realized the benefits and agreed to it all. He proclaimed that his clan would become the vanguard of the Good Faction and devote themselves wholeheartedly in fighting the Blood Cult. Cale had a wide smile as he approved of those words. He also added that they should stop the Great War of the GED.
The Sword Saint asked if that was the Blood Cult’s goal, and Cale confirmed it. The Sword Saint was aware of the current strange atmosphere. His son, the present clan head, had recently suggested stockpiling supplies. Cale said that it would be nice if the Namgung Clan became the hero of the Good Faction. They would become the king-emperor. 1
The Sword Saint grinned at Cale easily mentioning about the Namgung Clan’s special arts, the King-Emperor Sword Style, despite being a member of the imperial family. The imperial family hated the name of that sword style because it had the word ‘king-emperor’ in it. The Sword Saint replied that he would be glad to cooperate with his benefactor.
Elder Ho clenched his fists, happy at the Namgung Clan’s cooperation. The Sword Saint then asked Young Master Kim on his real identity. Cale answered without hesitation that he was the Messenger. The Sword Saint recalled that that word had multiple meanings – messenger, lion, grim reaper, and so on. He laughed and muttered that he would then be alert so that he would not lose his soul (to the grim reaper).
He stood up and said that he would bring Tae Wi. Chief Eunuch Wi said that there was an empty abandoned house nearby, so they should check and purify there. The Sword Saint was surprised that the preparations were already complete, and Cale reasoned that it was because they wanted to move quickly.
The Sword Saint laughed at those words before he left the room. Wi said that they could not be relieved yet. Cale nodded, agreeing that they should not let their guard down. Meanwhile, the Sword Saint was thinking that his benefactor was scary. Young Master Kim was similar to the Sword Demon, especially in their way of smiling kindly while getting on people’s nerves.
He recalled the Sword Demon’s words to him – “You’re weaker than me, so I’m letting this slide. Stop attacking me, got it?” The Sword Saint was convinced that close friends acted similarly. But he could not curse Young Master Kim since he gave their clan a chance. Tae Wi and Yoo Hak greeted him, and the Sword Saint sighed, thinking that this was the only way to let Tae Wi die like a human being.
***
“That’s strange.” Choi Jung Soo tilted his head as he put the beef jerky in his mouth.
Munch, munch. He looked troubled as he crouched under a tree.
“Why do I only see small fry?”
Somewhere in Mount Huang and between its peaks. Choi Jung Soo, who had settled down somewhere deep, felt that the recent atmosphere was different from his expectations.
“…What’s going on?”
Of course, he knew that the Sword Saint would come to Mount Huang.
And the Evil Faction, Demon Cult, and even the others. He thought that some of the most powerful groups would come here to catch him.
But so far, he could only see the weak ones. There was no proper adversary in sight.
“Ha, I’m really curious.”
Something must have happened. Choi Jung Soo was so curious that his dialect popped out after a long time.
Or rather, honestly, he was…
“I’m bored.”
If he just hid his presence a little, he would not be found.
That was why his body itched.
Of course, it was best not to fight.
Not knowing the reason, he felt itchier.
“…No way.” Choi Jung Soo jumped up from his seat at the sudden thought.
“Ah, it’s a cramp!”
And the cramps climbed up as he grabbed his numb leg.
“Well.” Leaning against a tree trunk, he thought.
‘Hey. Choi Jung Soo, remember.’
He recalled someone’s advice.
‘Is the situation different from what you thought? It means you have a variable. What should you do first then?’
‘I don’t know?’
‘Ha…’
Someone sighed and then said.
‘You need to check the variable. That’s the first thing. Got it? If the team leader asks, answer like this. Okay?’
‘Yes! I got it!’
Choi Jung Soo’s mouth opened, “…Kim Rok Soo.”
His gaze turned to the place where a small village was located at the entrance to Mount Huang.
He needed to move to check the variables.
“I never thought I would go down this mountain first.”
Laughing, Choi Jung Soo massaged his cramped leg.
He was thinking of going down once his cramps were gone.
***
Wi secretly reported to Cale that the Sword Saint and Tae Wi were approaching. The group was in an abandoned house located a little far from the village where the inn was. Cale sat down and asked Noble Warrior Do to begin. Noble Warrior Do, or Durst, grinned as he sniffed the air.