Suspicion in the Mourners' Line
Jegal Cheongha found something off about the Nangong Family manor. Even in the dead of night, when it should have been shrouded in darkness and solemn quiet, the place blazed like a pleasure district. Mourning lanterns glowed everywhere. A funeral house ought to be hushed and still at this hour, yet streams of mourners never stopped pouring through the main gate. It was obvious just how many had come. No wonder they weren't bothering to book inns and wait their turns patiently. And in the end, it all made crystal clear the Nangong family's towering status in the murim world. Leader of the Five Great Families. Their immense prestige carried not a shred of exaggeration or shortfall.
“Nine hundred ninety-five.”
A Nangong family warrior in mourning garb stationed at the gate tallied the number. He was calling out the mourners in order. With such overwhelming numbers, it was the only way to handle them.
“Nine hundred ninety-five!”
No response came, so the Nangong warrior raised his voice and called again.
“Ah, yes, here!”
Only then did a middle-aged warrior come rushing up, flustered. From his sagging posture and shabby attire, he seemed like a low-level fighter from some minor sect. A man the Nangong family wouldn't even glance at under normal circumstances—yet here he was, received as a mourner. It spoke volumes about the magnanimity of the righteous faction's leader.
But.
Equal treatment? Impossible. That was just how the world worked.
“Hm, the sixth sect leader of Cheongryang Gate?”
Cheongryang Gate. Among all the warriors gathered here, probably no one had even heard of it. A tiny sect tucked away in some backwater. Still, a sect leader was a sect leader. Even if it was a hollow title that earned no respect anywhere.
So naturally, no honorifics slipped from the Nangong warrior's lips. Instead, the Cheongryang Gate leader bowed low.
“Y-yes, that's me. This humble one is none other than Sixth Whatever.”
Grovelling as he answered. A perfect snapshot of murim's power logic. Unless it was a snake's head, even an earthworm's head couldn't dare speak to a dragon's tail as an equal.
“Right. Head inside to the Small Heavenly Hall. Anyone you ask will point you there.”
“Ah, got it.”
The Cheongryang Gate leader bobbed his head repeatedly before slipping cautiously inside. No escort—not even the bare minimum courtesy. Fitting for someone bound only for the Small Heavenly Hall.
Small Heavenly Hall, Middle Heavenly Hall, Great Heavenly Hall. Mourners were sorted into these three tiers based on their status and guided accordingly. Considering how the murim world operated, it was a fair system.
And naturally, only the Great Heavenly Hall housed the late family head's coffin and spirit tablet. The chief mourners stayed there exclusively. Those headed only as far as the Middle Heavenly Hall wouldn't even glimpse the coffin, tablet, or chief mourners—they'd turn back empty-handed. Whether you could call that a proper condolence visit was debatable, but no one voiced a complaint. This was the Nangong family, after all. To most murim folk, it was a lofty otherworld, a heaven beyond heaven.
“Nine hundred ninety-six.”
The next turn was called.
“Here.”
A crisp, vigorous voice. Completely different from before. Out strode a middle-aged man with his back ramrod straight and steps full of confidence. And beside him was a beauty with mysterious, otherworldly eyes.
“Hm, Lion Iron Fist Gok Wi-gang of the Murim Alliance's Bi-gak investigation team, and with him Bi-gak's flat general Jegal… Cheongha?!”
The Nangong warrior shot to his feet, stunned as he checked the roster. A total reversal from moments ago. Was it because of Gok Wi-gang? No. The Lion Iron Fist was a decently known master, but with no backing, Middle Heavenly Hall was his limit.
But Jegal Cheongha was another story entirely. Daughter of Jegal Ja-un—the head of the Jegal family, one of the Five Great Families, Murim Alliance's tactician, the Heaven Machine—and his most cherished child. On top of that, she was a top young expert hailed as heaven-sent talent.
“An honor to meet you, Lady Jegal. We'll escort you straight to the Great Heavenly Hall.”
“And Gok?”
Jegal Cheongha asked calmly.
“Ah, of course, him too.”
“Good. Lead on, then.”
“How could we not, Lady Jegal? You there—escort them at once!”
A waiting maid hurried over to guide Jegal Cheongha and Gok Wi-gang. Stark contrast in treatment. But that was murim. That was the way of the world.
“Damn, that must've been the famous Dream Illusion Flower from the Jegal family.”
“No wonder her beauty stood out so much.”
“Hah, true blood of a great house really is on another level.”
“Shh, keep it down. One slip of the tongue and we'll regret it big time.”
The crowd buzzed. Seeing a famous murim figure and renowned beauty up close? Natural reaction.
“Nine hundred ninety-seven.”
The Nangong warrior resumed calling, settling the murmurs.
“Yes.”
A clear, resonant voice rang out from afar. The area fell instantly silent. Even with her face veiled, it couldn't hide her peerless beauty.
The Great Heavenly Hall. With mourners handled in shifts, only chief mourner Namgung Ji and the family head's sister, Nangong Bi-yeon, were there now. Nangong Hyeon and the other direct kin had stepped out briefly to catch some rest.
Just then, new mourners entered: Jegal Cheongha and Gok Wi-gang.
At that moment, Nangong Bi-yeon's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
She'd noticed. Jegal Cheongha wasn't here just to pay respects. Those dreamlike, piercing eyes wouldn't simply glance around and leave.
Meanwhile, oblivious Namgung Ji just stared blankly, lost in grief.
Jegal Cheongha and Gok Wi-gang bowed before the family head's spirit tablet. Gok Wi-gang's bow trembled with nerves, but Jegal Cheongha's was steady as stone. Watching, Nangong Bi-yeon's eyes flashed with sharp wariness.
Nangong Bi-yeon couldn't know it, of course, but a powerful implanted suggestion from Bang So-un—right before he left—lingered deep in her mind.
The Nangong family head's death was natural. Drive out as examples any who dare defile it with petty rumors and speculation. Be wary of all who question the cause of death.
That suggestion was her absolute directive now. Even chasing out those gossiping mourners at the inn had stemmed from it.
And now, it reignited fierce vigilance.
Whoosh.
They turned, bowing to Namgung Ji and Nangong Bi-yeon in return.
Once finished, Jegal Cheongha spoke.
“A tragedy. May he rest in peace.”
No flowery phrases—just plain and direct. It suited her perfectly.
Namgung Ji was taken aback, but Gok Wi-gang was outright flustered.
“…M-may the great pillar of murim, like a towering mountain, rest in eternal peace. This is a loss for all murim. Every warrior will forever remember his mighty name.”
Gok Wi-gang finally wrapped up his rehearsed lines, voice shaking. Only then could he exhale in relief.
Goddamn, what the hell's wrong with her?
Sweat poured down his face. But he didn't know—this was just the beginning.
“As chief mourner, I thank you both for coming.”
Namgung Ji returned the formality. Proper enough for a chief mourner. If Jegal Ja-un himself had come, it might've been different, but Jegal Cheongha was just a flat general—same rank as Namgung Ji in murim.
Ending it there would've been fine.
But.
Jegal Cheongha's eerie eyes fixed straight on Namgung Ji. Her lips parted again.
“The rumors must be weighing on you.”
What the—?! Saying that right to the chief mourner's face?! How socially tone-deaf do you have to be?!
Gok Wi-gang recoiled, edging backward desperately. No way he wanted to be lumped in with her.
Namgung Ji couldn't hide his disbelief either.
“…Who knows. As chief mourner, I neither see nor hear such outside gossip.”
“Really? I figured you'd have heard about the Galaxy Sword master's actions.”
“Heard you're a heaven-sent genius, but clearly no manners.”
Nangong Bi-yeon finally cut in. A stern rebuke from a super peak expert and murim elder—intimidating enough to cow anyone.
Yet Jegal Cheongha calmly agreed.
“Yes, you're right—I'm sorely lacking. But I'm not really interested in that.”
Screech?!
…Gok Wi-gang regretted tagging along to the Great Heavenly Hall with bitter tears.