Chapter 262: Anhui (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 262: Anhui (3)
The first place I was taken to upon arriving at the Namgung Clan was the guesthouse.
As the servants unpacked my luggage, I took a moment to survey my surroundings.
…This guesthouse is nicer than my own house.
It was an undeniable fact.
The Namgung Clan was notoriously free with its spending, and even their accommodations for visitors were extravagant. Of course, they wouldn’t put us in just any ordinary quarters, given our relationship, but the place was splendid nonetheless.
I glanced at the pond on the grounds. The fish within were beautifully scaled, and the pond itself was massive, teeming with life that clearly required extensive upkeep.
“What a money pit.”
The management fees alone sounded like a nightmare.
That was my only takeaway. I’ve never been one to be impressed by such displays, so I had no further opinion on the matter.
Besides, I had more pressing concerns to dwell on.
The engagement ceremony is in a few days.
I’d thought it would happen immediately upon my arrival, but it had been scheduled for later. In fairness, it made sense, considering our fatigue from the journey.
But do we really need several days to prepare?
I wondered if it was truly necessary. Not that I was complaining; having a few days to mentally prepare for this awkward engagement was a blessing.
A few days, huh.
While the engagement had been delayed due to my personal circumstances, the Gu Clan had still come directly to the Namgung Clan. In the eyes of the many watching, this made the Gu Clan appear to be the conceding party. The man traveling to the woman’s home for the engagement was sure to spark talk.
They’ll probably say I’m practically a son-in-law already.
It would also reinforce the perception of the Gu Clan as lesser compared to the mighty Namgung. That’s just how things worked. People latched onto every little detail. Nothing was ever easy in this damned world.
Anyway.
Making us wait for days after our long journey could be perceived as a slight by the Namgung Clan. When we first heard the schedule, I saw Father’s expression tighten. The clan leaders had gone off to talk privately; they were probably discussing this very issue. As long as a proper explanation was given, there shouldn’t be any real problem.
Did something happen?
I just hoped I wouldn’t be dragged into any troublesome situations. Given my track record of finding trouble wherever I go, I was really hoping for a peaceful trip this time. Though, of course, I knew deep down that peace was unlikely.
Damn my life.
This was all because of the Namgung Clan Lord.
What was I supposed to do?
The gleam in his eyes earlier made it abundantly clear he had no intention of letting me go. I was almost proud of his patience, waiting for over a year. He’d identified the flaws in his swordsmanship and seemed convinced that I was the only one who could fix them.
That much I could understand. But the fact that a man of his stature, the great King of Swords Namgung Jin, was still so desperate suggested he hadn't made much progress, even after practicing what Elder Shin had taught him.
…What do I do?
I did promise to teach him, but that was when Elder Shin was still by my side. The Elder was immensely proficient with the sword and had even witnessed the Thunderous Sword, Namgung Myung, in his prime. Disappointed by the degradation of the Namgung Clan's swordsmanship, Elder Shin had offered to instruct Namgung Jin himself.
But now, Elder Shin was slumbering deep within me.
So how am I supposed to teach him?
I’d never held a real sword in my life, only played with a wooden one as a child. How could I possibly teach Namgung Jin anything?
I’m going to lose my mind.
The thought was eating me alive.
Hey, if you’ve been watching everything, wake him up already.
[…Krr?]
Don’t play dumb. Wake Elder Shin up.
The beast reacted immediately when I called out, a sure sign it hadn’t actually been asleep.
You’re going to pretend you don’t know anything after watching all that?
[Grr?]
…I’m seriously going to lose it.
I hated how the bastard always played dumb, but I was powerless to do anything about it. Before Elder Shin fell asleep, the beast laid out its condition for not waking him. It claimed Elder Shin would be able to wake on his own after a year. That was our pact. If the beast was telling the truth, then Elder Shin was choosing not to wake up right now.
With everything so chaotic, he has a reason to stay asleep?
If Elder Shin was watching this unfold, he was probably staying asleep just to make me suffer…
…Hmm.
That actually sounds about right.
Knowing the old man, he’d absolutely do something like that. He’d gladly let me twist in the wind just for his own amusement. I half-believed he was already awake, quietly snickering to himself.
If that were the case, it would be great if he’d just wake up.
Setting Namgung Jin aside, there was another reason I needed Elder Shin awake.
…We need to ask about the Thunderous Sword.
When we visited Henan and met Elder Shin’s friend at Shaolin, the Light of Might, Cheolyoung, had said something. He said he wasn’t the only one who had preserved his soul within an object; the Thunderous Sword, Namgung Myung, had done the same.
If he was correct, I assumed the Thunderous Sword’s soul was contained within a treasure of the Namgung Clan.
…Though there is an exception.
My thoughts turned to a specific treasure that was no longer with the clan. It was highly likely that Namgung Myung was inside it.
The Thunder Fang.
The Namgung Clan’s divine sword, said to be a fang containing lightning. It was the blade once wielded by the Thunderous Sword. For reasons unknown to me, it was currently in the possession of the Monster of Wudang, a martial artist from the Wudang Sect. In my past life, the sword had left the Monster’s grasp and was eventually used by the Demonic Sword.
If his soul is in a treasure, it has to be in there.
Still, there was no guarantee. Considering the stature of the Namgung Clan, it couldn’t be their only treasure. But I wasn’t in a position to freely inspect their valuables.
Whatever the case, I just need Elder Shin to wake up so we can talk about it.
But Elder Shin remained silent. I didn’t think he was gone; I could still feel his presence deep within my dantian, faint but steady. He was just being quiet.
“Sigh…”
I let out a heavy sigh under the scorching sun. I’d come here with just a little nervousness, but it seemed there was much more awaiting me at the Namgung Clan than I’d anticipated.
As I massaged my temples in frustration, a sudden feeling made me turn my head.
“Hmm?”
I looked behind me. There were only a few ordinary trees, but I focused my eyes, peering closer.
What was that?
I’d felt a distinct sensation of being watched. I sharpened my senses, just in case.
“Am I just imagining things?”
But my senses detected nothing. And the gaze had felt so close; there was no way I could have missed it if it were real. I even walked over to check, but found nothing unusual among the trees.
“This is making me uneasy.”
The feeling had been too vivid to dismiss as a mistake, yet I couldn’t find a trace of anything no matter how hard I looked.
Just as I was considering a more thorough search, a voice called out from a distance.
“Young Master, it is almost time for the banquet.”
It was Hongwa, informing me of my schedule.
“…I’ll be on my way.”
“We will prepare as well.”
“Okay.”
In the end, I had to leave without investigating further, but my gaze lingered on the grove of trees. It was only the first day, and already I had a bad feeling.
Deep within the Namgung Clan estate, someone had entered the first daughter’s residence for the first time in years. The owner had returned after leaving it vacant for so long.
“Young Lady, may I tidy your hair?” a servant asked cautiously.
She had served the owner for nearly a decade, yet she felt she knew very little about her. The Young Lady was a recluse who disliked visitors, often staying in her room or disappearing to who-knew-where, concealing her presence completely. As a result, even her closest servants knew little about her.
They knew only that she was extraordinarily beautiful and spoke very rarely. As her direct attendant, this servant was hardly any closer to her than the others. No one could get close to the Young Lady, who so clearly disliked company.
The servant felt a wave of anxiety now that her mistress had returned after such a long absence. But preparations for the banquet were underway, and the Lord himself had ordered that the Young Lady be properly attired. Steeling her nerves, the servant had asked the question.
As she waited nervously for a response, the owner glanced slightly in her direction and answered.
“…Please.”
The servant’s eyes widened in surprise. It was the first time the Young Lady had responded to her so clearly. The servant was struck not only by the Young Lady’s beautiful face but also by her clear, melodious voice.
“Ah…! Y-Yes.”
Her hands trembling slightly, the servant carefully began to comb the Young Lady’s beautiful white hair. It felt like silk. She was struck again by the Young Lady’s flawless white skin, untouched by the summer sun.
…She’s so beautiful.
The servant couldn’t help but wonder. She’d heard the Young Lady had even earned a title for herself outside the clan. It made her question why the Clan Lord didn’t seem to cherish his daughter more.
“…Hey.”
“Yes?”
The servant jumped, surprised once more. It was the first time the Young Lady had initiated a conversation.
“Is something wrong, Young Lady…?” the servant asked, worried she had made a mistake. For the Young Lady to speak first, it must have been serious.
“Name…”
“Excuse me?”
“…What’s your… name?”
The Young Lady was asking for her name. The question was so unexpected the servant was momentarily stunned, but she hurried to answer.
“…Oakji. My name is Oakji.”
Her voice trembled as she spoke, slightly embarrassed by her plain name. The Young Lady’s expression remained impassive.
“Oakji.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“…I’ll remember it.”
“Huh…? Oh… thank you.”
Namgung Bi-ah committed her servant’s name to memory. Ten years. It had been ten years since they first met, and only now did she learn the woman’s name. It wasn’t that she hadn’t known it; she simply hadn’t wanted to know. Her life had been such a hellish struggle against the overwhelming stench that remembering a name had been a luxury she couldn’t afford.
But now, she had found a sliver of space, a moment of respite, allowing her to learn it.
“…Sorry.”
“Pardon?”
Namgung Bi-ah offered a quiet apology for her past neglect. She took a light, controlled breath. The stench still permeated her home, but it no longer felt like she was suffocating, on the verge of death. Perhaps she had grown stronger, or perhaps his level had risen in turn. Whichever it was, it meant she had taken a step away from the hell she once inhabited.
“Hey…”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“…That… would that be okay?”
Bi-ah pointed towards a box filled with various accessories, items provided for the blood relatives of the Namgung Clan. Oakji had never once seen the Young Lady use them.
“Uh… what do you mean, Young Lady?”
“Would a guy… like it…?”
Hearing the whispered question, spoken with evident embarrassment, Oakji had to stifle a gasp. She never would have expected such a question from the Young Lady. Bi-ah’s eyes watched her, waiting for an answer, while her cheeks and the tips of her ears flushed a delicate red, making her look breathtakingly beautiful.
A thought crossed Oakji’s mind. …Does she love her fiancé that much? What kind of man could evoke such a reaction from the reclusive Young Lady? Oakji was intensely curious.
“Would you like to… try one on?”
“Yeah…”
Namgung Bi-ah responded with a slight nod. She had never cared for such things before, but she was now aware of her own beauty. It was a simple fact, one that held little meaning for her. She was satisfied so long as that one person found her beautiful. Now, she wanted to use that beauty to capture his attention even more.
Her thoughts then drifted to another—a girl with a cold aura who had recently attached herself to him. A pretty girl who knew how to present herself well and had garnered many followers with her capabilities.
…She’s nothing like me.
A heavy, murky feeling lodged itself in her chest. Bi-ah recognized this emotion as jealousy, mixed with guilt. She had trained with the sword to escape the stench; had she also gained the capacity to feel such things? It was an unpleasant sensation. It felt like the only thing she truly possessed was the name of her fiancé.
“I must… work harder.”
“Young Lady? What did you say…”
“Hmm… It’s… nothing…”
Namgung Bi-ah shook her head. Then she recalled something from earlier that day. While his father and hers were conversing, she had felt a gaze upon her—a gaze others seemed to have missed. It was the gaze of her brother, watching from afar. It wasn’t exactly a gaze; it was more accurate to say she had felt a stench.
Clench.
Just the memory made it harder to breathe. She wanted to believe she was mistaken, but something was definitely different. While the oppressive stench in her life had eased somewhat, her brother’s stench had grown denser, heavier. Despite the distance, the change was starkly clear to her. It meant his condition had worsened significantly.
…I hope… nothing happens.
Namgung Bi-ah closed her eyes and prayed. She prayed that nothing would happen to her brother, who had followed her for so long, and to the man who had now come to her clan.
“It is done.”
Hearing Oakji, Namgung Bi-ah slowly opened her eyes. She felt a slight weight on her ear—the earrings she had chosen. Then, she pulled another accessory from her pocket and asked her servant to place it in her hair. Oakji complied without question.
It was the accessory he had bought for her last time.
…This much is enough.
Wearing it brought her a sense of relief, out of all proportion to the simple hairpin. Namgung Bi-ah slowly stood up. It was time to go to the banquet.