NOVEL NEXT chapter 74 - The Clan Head’s Bloodline
Opinions on the Outer Branch varied, but thoughts on the Blood Cult were unanimous.
The pillars of the great families, long accustomed to peace, found their minds tangled.
Now that the age of peace was drawing to an end, if they failed to hold back the Blood Demon, it would be those thoughtless children laughing and playing outside who would be in danger.
Both the clans and the Martial Alliance could exist only so long as their people lived.
Each of them weighed the honor of their ancestors against the future of their descendants.
Pang Shihyeon, displeased by the heavy silence, pressed for an answer.
“I’m not saying we should recognize the Outer Branch as part of the Martial Alliance. For now, we should simply procure the Binggeukjicho as quickly as possible.”
At that, the Zhuge Clan Head was first to speak.
“I understand your point well, Elder Pang. And I agree with the Alliance Leader’s reasoning. However…”
His calm tone drew a thin line across the elder’s brow.
“This isn’t something we can decide among ourselves. The elders gathered here do not represent their clans’ full opinions.”
With a smooth smile, the Zhuge Clan Head deflected her proposal.
“At the very least, our Zhuge Clan will have to return home and deliberate.”
The Pang Clan Head, unable to hold back, spoke in his sister’s stead.
“Were this any other matter, I too would take time. I might even oppose it myself. But, Clan Head, surely you see how urgent this is? We can’t wait until the year-end Alliance Assembly.”
“I’m sorry. Even so, I cannot make a decision here and now.”
The other family representatives remained silent as well.
They might sympathize with Pang Shihyeon’s reasoning, but as the Zhuge Clan Head said, they could not decide on the spot.
Then Namgung An, who had been quiet, opened his mouth.
“Next month, Headquarters is hosting the Late-Stage Disciples’ Duel Tournament, is it not?”
He looked directly at Pang Shihyeon — a man who usually treated her as if invisible.
“Why not make the decision then? Thanks to you, we now understand the situation. Once we return, we’ll discuss it among our people.”
“Yes. That sounds reasonable.”
The Hwangbo Clan Head nodded in agreement.
With that compromise, the tension eased; the faces of the gathered heads and elders of the Five Great Families brightened a little. Seeing their reaction, Pang Shihyeon made one last request.
“Then please, when you return, discuss opening exchange with the Northern Sea Branch.”
“Yes. We’ll do so.”
Namgung An replied in her stead.
Pang Shihyeon hadn’t truly expected them to decide immediately.
Her goal had been to prevent them from using the excuse, ‘We’ll discuss it later,’ at the next meeting.
She gave Namgung An a small nod of acknowledgment. He turned away, pretending not to notice.
'That man’s grudges last decades…'
Still, for the suggestion to come from the Namgung Clan Head — with whom she had never been on good terms — lent her proposal added weight. Her earlier visit to seek his cooperation had paid off.
“Then let’s adjourn here.”
As soon as the talk concluded, Tang Ji-ha pressed his temples. The heavy subject matter had left him weary — and judging by their faces, the others felt the same.
At his words, the meeting naturally dispersed.
Descending the pavilion steps, Tang Ji-ha spotted a Black Tiger Unit warrior waiting at the entrance. Only then did Sohwa cross his mind. The grave discussion had made him momentarily forget his own household — whether that was good or bad, he couldn’t say.
The Black Tiger guard approached with a serious look.
“I have something to report.”
“…That expression of yours worries me.”
Ignoring the Clan Head’s dread, the guard lowered his voice.
“Lady Sohwa is currently engaged in a duel at the Hongso Pavilion.”
Tang Ji-ha narrowed his eyes, not understanding what he’d just heard.
“…Who’s doing what? A duel? ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) Sohwa?”
His gaze darkened. The girl who’d been locking herself away in the old hall and skipping training — now she was dueling?
Under his sharp stare, the Black Tiger guard quickly clarified.
“It’s not a martial duel, sir — a contest of calligraphy and verse. Or rather, not even poetry — I hear they’re competing in handwriting.”
“What nonsense is this? Why would Sohwa compete in handwriting? No — I’ve never even heard of a duel of handwriting in my life.”
“I hadn’t either, but apparently the Zhuge Little Clan Head invented the game. He set the match to prove that Namgung Young Master and Lady Sohwa were truly discussing calligraphy in the study.”
Step.
At that, the Zhuge Clan Head stopped mid-stride. Turning back on the stairs, he fixed the guard with a sharp look.
“What did you just say?”
The Black Tiger warrior answered evenly.
“By the lakeside, the Zhuge Little Clan Head, Namgung Young Master, and Lady Tang Sohwa are competing in handwriting.”
Hearing his clan’s name mentioned, Namgung An, who had just stepped out, furrowed his brows. Strangely, even the Pang and Hwangbo party members — who had nothing to do with it — halted as well.
The story was simply too amusing to ignore.
Tang Ji-ha let out a long sigh.
“The obedient child grows up only to cause trouble…”
Pressing his temples, the Clan Head turned toward the lake. The Pang and Hwangbo Clan Heads, drawn in despite themselves, followed after.
Though they wanted to think it wasn’t their affair, the Namgung and Zhuge Clan Heads — whose families were involved — reluctantly trailed behind.
***
The Hongso Pavilion lakeside was in an uproar.
Latecomers were whispering to be caught up on the situation; others murmured bets on the outcome.
Namgung Gangchang, panting, forced his way through the crowd. He stopped only when he spotted three figures standing before a large table.
“Brother! Wait up!”
A follower grumbled as he caught up.
But Gangchang didn’t hear him. He knew he’d be punished for leaving the main hall, yet couldn’t contain himself.
He’d ignored every rumor about Namgung Hyun before now — dismissing them outright.
But when word spread that Namgung Hyun was about to display his handwriting before everyone, Gangchang couldn’t stay put.
'Damn it…!'
And worse — Namgung Hyun was standing beside Tang Sohwa.
The elders’ attitudes had shifted too. The way they looked at Hyun had changed — the coldness in their eyes softening, their sharp tones turning mild.
'No… no, it can’t be…'
The thought he’d refused to face made his vision swim.
'What if that bastard really becomes the Tang Clan Head’s son-in-law?'
If Hyun were later seconded to Headquarters under the Tang name, Gangchang feared he’d end up serving under him.
Staring at the three figures — the Zhuge Little Clan Head, the Tang Clan Head’s eldest daughter, and the Namgung Clan Head’s second son — Gangchang clenched his fists.
'…Second Young Master Namgung Hyun.'
What he’d long denied stood clear before him.
The Namgung Clan Head’s own blood — a true direct heir.
In any ordinary family, even an illegitimate son of the main line could not be casually slighted by retainers. If they were close childhood companions, perhaps they’d speak informally in private, but to bully a direct heir? Unthinkable.
Yet that was the punishment laid upon Namgung Hyun — to be denied recognition as a son.
The Clan Head had allowed his nephew Gangchang to torment him, tearing down his standing piece by piece, until it was gone. No rank, no future.
A beating would have been kinder. This was a slow suffocation — a crueler sentence.
Seeing their master treat his own blood so mercilessly, the Namgung retainers grew ever more cautious not to offend the true heir. Even the internal branches, stripped of funding, didn’t dare complain. Their resentment fell instead upon the powerless Second Young Master — and the Clan Head permitted it in silence.
Gangchang’s hands trembled.
'No. No… why now?!'
If Hyun bested the others before all these witnesses, everyone present would begin to see him as a true direct heir.
For Gangchang — crushed under years of inferiority — it was the most dreadful thought imaginable.
But no one paid his turmoil any mind.
“Look! They’re starting!”
All eyes turned toward the three figures.
Seated at equal distance, the direct heirs of three great families lifted their brushes — and the crowd’s murmurs swelled.
“I’ll admit, I was curious about Namgung Young Master’s handwriting. What kind of calligraphy could make the Alliance Lord request his presence at Hahyeon Pavilion?”
“Right? Guess we’ll find out today.”
Nearly all the young heirs of the Five Great Families had gathered at the lakeside. Hearing the rumors, even those from afar had come to watch. The spectators formed a wide ring around them.
Surrounded by the heirs and retainers of the Five Great Families, the three direct scions took their places before the round table.
Across that clear divide, the unprecedented duel of calligraphy began.