Namgoong Juhee's Murim Debut
It's not easy to arbitrarily change your natural voice. If it were, the world would be overflowing with beautiful voices.
But murim folk could do it. After all, the vocal cords are just muscles, and muscles fall under the domain of inner energy control.
"Young lady, you need to lower your voice a bit more."
"Mm. Ahhh. Like this?"
"A little more, a little lower."
"Ah. Ahh. Ahhhh. Like this?"
And so, she was in the middle of learning a man's voice. Fortunately, her personal maid had a talent for voice acting—one of the many skills she'd picked up as a servant. Thanks to that, her originally feminine voice had already taken on a slightly lower tone.
"Well, that's not bad. For something done in a rush, I think you've done pretty well."
"It's still kinda lacking, though. This sounds more like a kid than a man."
"...What kind of voice are you even aiming for, young lady?"
That said, Namgoong Juhee's voice had always been on the higher side to begin with. Even lowered, it could only get as deep as a pretty boy's. It left her unsatisfied.
"How about a voice that echoes like it's coming from a cave? That could work."
"I'll never get used to your eccentricities, young lady."
"It's not eccentricity. I'm totally normal right now."
What counts as normal for this young lady? Seonan thought with a deep sigh. If it's about startling people, then she's always normal.
"Young lady. If you're going out into the world beyond the clan, please don't do this. The murim is truly dangerous."
"It's fine. If I die, I can just respawn. Honestly, it's a miracle I haven't died yet."
"Respawn..."
Seonan trailed off. No point saying more—she never listened anyway. Better for her mental health to just let it slide.
"By the way, I heard you're descending the mountain soon."
"Oh, right. Finally free from all the fussing. What a relief."
"That's so you, young lady. Heading to Wuhu?"
"Yeah. Never heard of it, but apparently it's a pretty famous city."
"Wuhu is a commercially developed city. You probably won't face any inconveniences there."
"Oh."
Namgoong Juhee let out a light whistle of admiration. Come to think of it, talking to NPCs sometimes gave hints about the next stage. Experiencing it firsthand, the progression felt surprisingly natural.
"Anything else you know about Wuhu?"
"Mm, the rice is delicious? That's about it."
"Whoa, rice. My mouth's watering already. Honestly, nothing beats rice among carbs, right? Noodles are okay, but bread lovers? I just don't get it."
"Bread? Do you mean buns?"
"Mm... kinda different, but similar in that it's just flour with no filling."
"...You must not have tried good buns, young lady."
"Huh? What's this? A challenge?"
And just like that, the great bread-vs-rice debate erupted. The two went back and forth—bread's better, no rice is—for a good while. Utterly unproductive, but that's what friends do.
In the end, after a lengthy debate, Namgoong Juhee emerged victorious. Without a moderator, debates are won by the loudest voice, after all. Just as they'd been chattering away, a voice called from outside.
"Young lady! It's about time to head out."
It was Namgoong Sihoon's voice. Descent time had arrived.
"Time flies. Oh, thanks for teaching me the voice trick."
"Well, yeah. You're the helpful sidekick NPC type, after all."
"..."
Seonan's eyes narrowed at Namgoong Juhee's words, clearly displeased.
"Huh? What?"
"You always dodge like that, young lady."
"Huh? Dodge what...?"
Seonan grabbed the departing Namgoong Juhee and pulled something dark red from her bosom, firmly pressing it into Juhee's hand.
"Young lady. I'm not some helpful NPC."
"Eh?"
"No need to worry this is fake goodwill. It's a gift."
Namgoong Juhee looked at her hand. There was an exquisitely crafted bracelet.
"Do you remember seven days ago?"
"Uh... something happen?"
"There was the spar with the young master."
"Oh, that was a whole week ago? Time flies."
"...I never got to repay you for saving me then. When the young master—no, the young lord—started hurling abuse, I was terrified."
The maid's hands trembled as she spoke. And rightly so—the young master's authority in the clan was absolute. A mere servant's life could end with a gesture.
If Namgoong Juhee hadn't drawn his ire with her nonsense, or if she'd lost the spar, the maid would already be dead several times over. Gratitude dripped from every word.
"No. Nooo. That's not it."
"I know. You were just hyped up, chasing that dopamine rush like someone possessed. You think I don't get it?"
"Oof."
"So this is just my personal thanks. Back then... you looked really cool."
Namgoong Juhee stared blankly at her servant. For an NPC item-give event, the reaction felt way too real.
Then she noticed the maid's breathing. The warmth and softness in her hand. The faint scent from her makeup-free face...
"Young lady! Are you ready yet?"
Namgoong Sihoon called again from outside. Juhee snapped to, scratched her head, and headed for the door.
"...Guess I'll head out. I'll make good use of this bracelet."
"Hehe, thanks. Stay healthy, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. Even if I die, I can respawn."
Juhee held to her guns till the end. Her footsteps thudded away—classic her. Forever chasing fun. Even her parting words.
"Um, sorry to ask now, but what's your name again?"
The maid smiled. She never paid much attention to others anyway. That's what suits her, she thought.
"Seonan, young lady. Next time we meet, call me Seonan, please."
"Got it. If I remember."
The bracelet on her wrist swayed lightly, as if sealing a promise.
Namgoong Juhee. Murim first outing.
Four si-jin had passed since then. About eight hours in modern time.
But something was off. Namgoong Sihoon's face looked utterly haggard, as if he'd been sleepless for three days straight.
And naturally, it stemmed from Juhee's behavior. She couldn't be left unsupervised for a second.
One moment she'd spot a tiger and dash into the woods; the next, she'd poke a beehive for "natural honey." Sihoon and the enforcers had suffered endlessly.
Where did that sly, clever girl from yesterday go? Sihoon realized the family head's analysis was dead wrong.
The one silver lining: Namgoong Juhee had calmed down recently. Not from exhaustion or clarity, though.
It was the book in her hands. Je Wang Geom Hyeong, stamped boldly with the Namgoong seal—the manual she'd wanted.
Amazing, Namgoong Sihoon marveled inwardly. She was causing chaos, but one book and she's meek? Genius isn't hype after all. Hand her a book, and her aura changes.
In truth, it was no different from giving a hyper kid a smartphone. Even the rowdiest child quiets down with YouTube. Namgoong Juhee was no exception—an unfortunate fact for Sihoon.
About an hour later, faint lights appeared beyond the darkening mountain. The village neared. Time to brief her on this mission.
"Young lady."
"Yeah?"
"We'll reach Wuhu soon."
"Oh, finally? Good timing—I was getting tired."
Sihoon swallowed the fact they'd been due earlier. She'd just say, "How could I resist the tiger?" Instead, he opted for a light explanation of Wuhu.
"Do you know much about Wuhu, young lady?"
"Mm, just that it's by a river."
"Correct. That's why fishing and escort agencies thrive there. Second to none in Anhui Province."
Juhee frowned at Sihoon's words.
"Weird. Aren't we hunting water bandits? How do they rampage in a hub for escorts?"
"Sharp observation."
"Well, yeah. Gotta be somewhat smart."
"...The Yangtze water bandits are expanding from eighteen to nineteen sub-river forts."
Natural dismissal. Sihoon had learned how to handle her. Eight parts nonsense, two parts worth hearing—and even that led back to nonsense. No point picking fights.
"Heard of it. Yangtze Eighteen Forts, right?"
"On the verge of Nineteen. Local escorts can't hold them off alone."
"Huh? Isn't the government handling it?"
"Bandits pay better taxes than escorts. They squeeze the commoners dry."
"Aha."
"They've already greased the officials' palms. No word of troops moving. Official non-interference. This is murim business."
Official non-interference.
An unspoken agreement: government and murim stay separate. In reality, officials just shirking hassle.
Taxes come first for the regime. Righteous sects, bandits, mountain raiders—anyone paying up is fine.
Demonic cults and blood sects excepted—they skip taxes and plot coups anyway.
"So, team up with escorts and kill the bandits? Easy."
"That would've been the plan... but."
"Hm? Problem?"
"The Hwangbo have muscled into Wuhu."
No sooner had Sihoon finished than a sharp yell flew from behind.
"What are those Jeonam dogs doing here?!"
"Probably extending influence to Anhui. Starting with the escorts' loyalty."
"Hah! Excluding us from the Eight Great Clans wasn't enough?"
The enforcers' mood turned vicious. The Hwangbo Clan had played a key role in ousting Namgoong from the Eight Greats.
It had been a name-only title, but the prestige mattered. Post-exclusion, Namgoong slid further—merchants cut ties, officials cracked down. Most Anhui influence lost then.
"Yeah. Not satisfied, huh."
"Oh. Hwangbo Clan. They're strong?"
"Ah! Young lady. If you meet Hwangbo folk, never—absolutely never—start trouble!"
"No, are they strong or not?"
"Ah! And wear this on your face, always."
Sihoon pulled a mask from his bosom and slapped it on Namgoong Juhee's face. A fox mask, typically for lepers or the disfigured.
"Mmph... no, are they strong or—mmph..."
"Always! Only use your man's voice! I trust Seonan taught you well, but if it's hard, ask me. I'll teach you sincerely."
"No, strong or—"
"Always! And bandages—wrap up tight! Never let Hwangbo scum know you're a woman."
No, are they strong? Why keep dodging?
But Namgoong Juhee said no more.
She'd check their strength herself. Sihoon would've screamed if he knew.