Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 236
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Episode 236. What Would You Do if You Were This Green Frog?
The sudden seriousness in Namgung Cheon’s demeanor made Yeon Jeokha straighten up without realizing it. Something that began with a warning not to misunderstand didn’t seem like good news.
‘I must have made some mistake.’
As far as he could remember, he had never received a serious reprimand. Sure, he had heard insults while fighting, but those who dared paid a high price. However, Namgung Cheon was different. He was the brother of Namgung Yeon and a person with upright thoughts and a kind character. He wanted to stay on good terms with him.
Of course, if Namgung Cheon scolded him, he was willing to apologize unreservedly. Yeon Jeokha anxiously watched Namgung Cheon’s lips, as if facing a life-or-death battle. But what he heard next was completely unexpected.
“A while ago, I met with Yeon Mubaek. He said he wanted to reclaim the Waryong Sword since it belonged to his uncle. He mentioned that he found it difficult to tell you directly because of the tension between you two.”
“Ah!”
Yeon Jeokha’s face lit up. He thought it was something serious, but it was only about a sword. He couldn’t understand why, with each having their own sword, they were so interested in his.
“This one?”
Yeon Jeokha unsheathed the Waryong Sword and offered it forward. Since he had taken it from the Yeon family, he wasn’t very attached to it. If there was no other option, of course, he would, but he didn’t want to deal with unnecessary trouble over a material object.
‘It’s a good sword, but it’s not something I want to hear complaints about.’
Perhaps rumors about it being a treasure had clouded their judgment. When Yeon Jeokha extended the Waryong Sword, a surprised Namgung Cheon responded:
“Do you really plan to return it?”
“Yes, I’ll leave it to you to deliver. I would feel uncomfortable meeting them just for this.”
“Though they asked me to tell you, I think it’s fine for you to keep using it. After all, you’re also a Yeon. Mubaek might be upset, but you also have a right to the sword since it belonged to your uncle.”
Namgung Yeon, who had been listening silently, added:
“Yes, Jeokha. You don’t need to give it up. You need that sword to fight against the Yoomyung Cult.”
“I can get a new sword. How much can it cost? I think I can buy a decent one for thirty taels of silver.”
“Wow! What are you saying? There’s no treasure in the world worth thirty taels of silver.”
Namgung Cheon protested, and Yeon Jeokha smiled.
“Brother, that’s not a treasure. The Three Immortals of Kunlun were mistaken.”
“It’s not a treasure?”
“No. A few years ago, I took it from the Yeon Family in Five Peaks Mountain. The inscription ‘Waryong’ just indicates its affiliation with Waryong Manor. The disciples of Waryong Manor probably each have one.”
“Then why did the Three Immortals of Kunlun consider it a treasure?”
“Maybe they thought it was a treasure because they saw me defeating demons with it. I remember that day they looked at the sword with great interest. So that must have been why.”
Namgung Yeon, who had been learning about the magical arts from the Three Immortals of Kunlun, frowned.
“So you killed demons without a treasure?”
“Yes.”
“The Three Immortals of Kunlun said you did it in an instant. Was it really possible without a treasure? The ten great masters of the world fought for nearly an hour and then fled.”
“It seems so.”
Namgung Cheon abruptly intervened.
“No, there must have been some effect you weren’t aware of. Father also said he could only kill it after almost an hour of fighting. If you did it in an instant, then it’s a treasure. You don’t understand treasures well, do you?”
“No, I don’t.”
Yeon Jeokha admitted easily. Namgung Cheon, with a face full of conviction, responded:
“You see. You don’t know if it’s a treasure or not, so you can say those things. Just keep using it. Do you think Mubaek will ask you to return it if you decide to keep using it?”
“Yes, I agree. I think it’s better for you to keep using it.”
“I’m fine, really. Brother, please deliver it.”
An odd situation arose where Yeon Jeokha insisted on returning it, and Namgung Cheon and Namgung Yeon opposed it. After a long discussion, the Namgung brothers couldn’t convince Yeon Jeokha.
“I shouldn’t have mentioned anything. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have meddled in others’ family affairs. I’m to blame. Haa!”
Namgung Cheon sighed deeply. He felt that the blame for Yeon Jeokha giving up such a valuable treasure was his.
“Brother, I’m really fine. Besides, Old Shim also has a treasure. So don’t worry. If necessary, I can borrow his.”
“Old Shim has a treasure?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Jeokha told the story of how Shim Tong had found the treasure in Jowon Village in Buyang.
“Wow! How lucky! From now on, if I see an old drunkard huddled in the street, I won’t ignore him.”
“That’s right. Since then, I’ve been searching, but I haven’t found any.”
“There’s a tavern in Chilriha Village that old folks usually go to. If you hang around there, you might find some.”
Namgung Yeon shook her head in disapproval at the childish conversation between the two men.
“Brother, stop talking nonsense and help Jeokha find a sword. You know the situation here better.”
“Oh, sure. I’ll start looking today. In the meantime, I’ll borrow Mubaek’s sword. Finding a sword of Waryong Manor’s level suddenly will be difficult.”
“That’s fine. You should exchange Mubaek’s sword from the start. Afterward, we’ll calmly search for a better one.”
Yeon Jeokha smiled as he listened to the brothers’ conversation. Seeing them worry about him as if it were their business made him happy. Feeling cared for by the people who mattered to him was truly pleasant.
Chilriha Village.
Small house on the eastern outskirts.
Around 3 p.m.
When Yeon Jeokha entered through the gate, Shim Tong, who was practicing with his dorje, also known as vajra, in the yard, said:
“You’re back already? I thought you’d stay until dinner since you hadn’t seen each other in a long time.”
“Yes, they wanted me to stay until dinner, but I couldn’t let you eat alone.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that! If I go out, my companions invite me to drink en masse. But where’s your sword? Did you sell it? Even though you have so much money?”
Shim Tong, with his sharp perception, immediately noticed the absence of the sword from Yeon Jeokha.
“Mubaek asked for it back, so I left it with Namgung Cheon.”
“What? What are you saying?”
Shim Tong looked at Yeon Jeokha in disbelief. Lately, everyone talked about treasures. The Waryong Sword always came up in conversations. It was the third treasure in the Justice Alliance, an invaluable asset. And now they were telling him that he had returned it?
“Namgung Cheon said Mubaek wanted to reclaim the Waryong Sword. So I left it with Namgung Cheon to give to him.”
“What? What kind of nonsense is that? You returned the invaluable Waryong Sword? How could your brothers ask you to return it?”
“I didn’t want to seem petty, so I gave it. So, please stop mentioning it. Do you think I feel good about this?”
In fact, the real reason Yeon Jeokha returned the Waryong Sword was that he didn’t want to seem petty in front of Namgung Yeon.
“But still, how could you return such a valuable item?! The Waryong Sword is one of the three treasures of the Justice Alliance!”
“It might not be a treasure.”
“Of course it is! Think about how you’ve been killing demons all this time.”
“With the Waryong Sword?”
“Exactly! So why don’t you go get it back? If you feel uncomfortable, I’ll go talk to Young Master Namgung myself.”
“…”
Yeon Jeokha had always been easily influenced. After hearing Namgung Cheon and now Shim Tong claim that the sword was a treasure, he began to believe it. But he couldn’t ask for the sword back after deciding to return it in front of Namgung Yeon.
“Let it be. If I really need one, I can borrow your dorje. Will you lend it to me?”
“What?”
“Your dorje. In an emergency, will you lend it to me?”
“I’m sorry to say, but I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“My dorje is like my heart. Could you lend your heart to someone?”
“What? Your heart? Wow! Now you’re showing your true colors. You can’t lend me that metal bar? To me?”
“You need a metal bar? There are plenty at the blacksmith’s.”
“Wow, you’re really petty.”
“If you’re in danger, I’ll risk my life to save you. But please don’t ask me to lend you my dorje. There are some things I can’t part with under any circumstances.”
“Is it your dorje?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. I’ll remember this.”
Yeon Jeokha gritted his teeth with a resentful expression. Shim Tong, frightened, spoke hastily.
“Please, retrieve the Waryong Sword. I’ll go talk to Namgung Cheon and get it back for you.”
“Let it be. A man must move forward. I won’t change my mind.”
“You could go straight to hell with that attitude. Let me handle this. I promise to keep it a secret.”
“Forget it. I don’t want to argue anymore.”
“Young Master, can I tell you a popular story from the East?”
“What story?”
“There was a green frog that always did the opposite of what his mother said. The mother, sick and about to die, asked the damned green frog to bury her by the river, thinking that since he always did the opposite, he would bury her in the mountains.”
“Wow. But why do you say ‘green frog’ and ‘damned’ when telling the story? It feels like you’re insulting me.”
“I’m sorry about that. But when the mother died, the green frog realized his mistakes and decided to follow her last wish to the letter. So he buried her by the river. Since then, he cries every time it rains, fearing his mother’s grave will be washed away.”
“It’s a touching story.”
“What would you do if you were that green frog? Would you bury her by the river or in the mountains?”
“…”
After reflecting for a moment, Yeon Jeokha replied:
“I’d bury her by the river.”
“What? Why? The mother wanted to be buried in the mountains. She asked the son to bury her by the river because he always did the opposite.”
“She said that, so I’d fulfill her wish. Even if I cry afterward, I’ll follow her words.”
Shim Tong frowned, frustrated.
“Ah! You really are a damned green frog. Why don’t you listen to the people around you?”
“Didn’t you once mock me for being a frog because I’m easily swayed by others’ words?”
“Then why don’t you retrieve the Waryong Sword?”
“I don’t want to contradict what I already said in front of Namgung Yeon. A man moves forward. How many times do I have to say it?”
Shim Tong raised his voice, desperate.
“Damn it! That’s why you’re a green frog! If something isn’t right, you can change your mind, can’t you? More than anyone, you need a treasure. Haven’t you heard there’s a bounty on your head?”
“I’m fine, really. If things go bad, I can borrow your dorje.”
“I’ll never lend it to you, not even if I die!”
Shim Tong’s firm response made Yeon Jeokha angry, and he shouted:
“You petty old man! You’ll see! I won’t forget this!”
The conversation returned to square one. The two faced off like fighting cocks, arguing for a long time.
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