Chapter 100
A moment later, Wi Ji-baek spoke up again.
"I have no intention of justifying what Baek Seong-yul did."
Namgung Wan let out a scoff, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Baek Seong-yul. During the Young Phoenix Conference, when Namgung Wan had suddenly crossed paths with the Heavenly Ghost Bird, he had abandoned his comrades and fled alone. Ak Jung-hae had been gravely wounded trying to cover his escape. Without the physician Baek Ri-yeon had brought, he would have died on the spot.
"However, Baek Seong-yul has reflected on his crimes and chosen to serve as an ordinary alliance member rather than a disciple of the Hyeong Mountain Sect."
"An ordinary member? Does that mean he's been expelled from his sect?"
"Not quite. But the Hyeong Mountain Sect, the Tang Clan, and the Ak Clan have all agreed to this punishment. We've resolved it amicably, so I hope the young clan leader will understand."
Namgung Wan scowled but held back any further sneers. The victims of the Heavenly Ghost Bird incident were the later-generation disciples of the Young Phoenix Conference who had failed their mission—and among them, Ak Jung-hae had suffered the worst. He had barely clawed his way back from the brink of death. It was awkward for Namgung Wan to dredge up a matter that even Ak Jung-hae's own family had let slide.
His mood soured, but he had no choice but to swallow it.
"Understood."
Wi Ji-baek let out a sigh.
"If we chased out or killed everyone who displeased us, what would set us apart from those Ma Church scum or the unorthodox rabble?"
"I brought him here this time in hopes he could apologize to you all directly. How you receive it is up to you. I have no intention of meddling further."
Namgung Wan wore a bitter grimace, as if chewing on something sour, while Baek Ri-gang remained impassive.
"We've strayed from the point. I didn't come here because of Young Master Baek."
Wi Ji-baek's gaze shifted to the Namgung clan head.
"I've heard you've discovered the pill furnace room of Manshin-ui."
The Namgung clan head nodded slowly.
"The eyes of the world are upon it. Rumors are swirling that the room holds Gongcheongseokyu. Be cautious."
Spiritual medicines and divine techniques. In a world where men would stake their lives for them, how many righteous heroes' graves had been desecrated? Just thirteen years ago—a mere blink in the grand scheme—a tomb of an absolute expert from a century prior, dubbed the Medicine Immortal, had been unearthed, sparking a massive bloodbath.
Greed blinded men everywhere. Even the righteous orthodox sects of the Murim Alliance couldn't escape it. They would prattle on with baseless claims: What connection did the Namgung Clan have to Manshin-ui that entitled them to hoard all his relics?
The words sounded noble enough, but peel back the layers, and it was ugly avarice. Manshin-ui's kin and disciples were long dead, their lineages extinguished—what rightful heir was left? It was nothing but petty squabbling to line their own pockets.
If the Namgung clan head were still the Murim Alliance Leader, it would have been a headache. But now, the Alliance Leader was Wi Ji-baek himself...
"My thanks, Alliance Leader Wi. You didn't have to come all this way just to warn me."
Wi Ji-baek merely grinned.
The Namgung clan head lifted his teacup with unruffled poise.
"And don't worry. We've already claimed it."
Wi Ji-baek's eyes widened in genuine shock.
"The Gongcheongseokyu... isn't just a rumor?"
"Indeed. Lady Baek Ri-yeon found Manshin-ui's pill furnace room and handed the Gongcheongseokyu over to us."
"Heavens."
To the stunned Alliance Leader Wi, the Namgung clan head patiently explained everything.
The reason he revealed it all to Wi Ji-baek was simple: to quash any baseless rumors before they spread. He hoped to avoid needless bloodshed in the martial world over idle gossip. With the Gongcheongseokyu safely in the Namgung Clan's hands, only a madman would dare covet it now.
Alliance Leader Wi grasped his intent at once.
"Understood. I'll do my utmost to keep things quiet."
"You have my sympathy, Alliance Leader Wi."
"Haha, this is hardly a hardship."
Rumors drawing crowds of martial artists would be the real trouble.
"Then let's leave it at that."
His gaze turned to Baek Ri-gang and Namgung Wan.
"The young clan leader and division leader may have heard already. That Heavenly Ghost Bird broke through our Heaven's Net and fled toward Guizhou Citadel."
Namgung Wan sighed, and Baek Ri-gang's expression darkened.
There had been several close calls since the Heavenly Ghost Bird's escape. But the fiend's elusive prowess shone through. Mocking his pursuers, he slipped the Heaven's Net like smoke and vanished toward Guizhou Citadel—the very lair where he had long hidden while snatching children.
Even after all these years, no one knew that region better than he did.
"Which is why, Division Leader, you mentioned having a survivor of the Heavenly Ghost Bird incident with you?"
"Yes."
"Might I see them?"
"May I ask why?"
"Nothing major. They might have overheard something useful while captured."
Baek Ri-gang inwardly relaxed.
"I'm not with them right now."
By the time they descended from Cheonam Temple and entered the capital, the sun had already set. Rather than heading home, Lady Baek took me to an inn called Hyangharu. The food there was heavenly. Especially the pork boiled in lotus leaves—melt-in-your-mouth tender and juicy. Truly a gem handpicked by Lady Baek.
I'd spent the ride dozing off after stuffing myself with honeyed jujubes and sweets from Wupidan, but one bite revived my appetite instantly. Namgung Ryu-cheong seemed grumpy about skipping home for a restaurant, but he shut up after tasting the pork. I polished off two bowls of rice; he downed three.
After Seo Ha-ryeong's recommended dumpling spot and now Hyangharu's pork, I set a new life goal.
I've gotta hunt down more foodie havens.
To die without tasting delights like this would be tragic. Thinking of Father, I packed some to go.
Rubbing my stuffed belly, I skipped merrily toward my quarters—then froze at the sight of a familiar figure.
"Yahul!"
Yahul, slumped against my door with his chin propped on his hand, gazing at the floor, looked up. His bright smile hit me like a thunderbolt.
"You! What happened to your face?!"
I rushed over and grabbed his cheek, scraped raw and scabbed over, letting out a heartbroken wail.
Yahul's lips parted as if to speak, then closed as his eyes flicked behind me. A faint breeze whispered, followed by a voice.
"...I thought something terrible had happened."
I whipped around at the sudden sound.
"Father?"
"Your scream carried over the courtyard wall. I flew here with lightness skill."
I grinned sheepishly and peered back at Yahul's wound. That porcelain cheek marred by angry red scrapes and crusty scabs.
No scars, please! That would be a crime!
Father glanced at Yahul and said, "Did Senior Cheonsan Yeomje tell you to do that?"
Yahul nodded, then a beat later murmured, "Yes."
"A boy training in martial arts picks up scrapes now and then. Don't fret too much."
Yahul nodded as if it were obvious.
I pouted.
No, I wouldn't freak if it were arms or legs.
"But it's his face. How could anyone scar such a pretty face... Sniff sniff."
As I fake-cried, Father said awkwardly, "Don't obsess over looks. Look to the heart."
"The heart?"
Yahul's heart... probably wasn't all that great...
Honestly, Yahul's not the nicest guy, is he?
Our eyes met; he tilted his head innocently. I shook mine, as if to say nothing was wrong.
As long as he's good to me, that's enough.
"Enough loitering. Let's go inside."
"Yeah! Lady Baek took me to an inn for dinner—it was so good, I brought leftovers. Father, have you eaten?"
"What time do you think it is? Of course."
At my crestfallen face, he smiled faintly.
"But I ate light, so I'm good."
"Yay!"
I clapped and turned to Yahul. "What about you?"
He shook his head.
"Perfect! Let's eat together!"
This time, he nodded.
"And I have ointment great for wounds. Got it when I scraped my palm before..."
Opening my room door, I blinked in wide-eyed surprise.
"Whoa..."
It was spotless. Who cleaned it?
The answer appeared: Yahul, smiling softly at me.
Father sighed.
"Yahul, you don't need to tidy Ri-yeon's room anymore."