Chapter 52
The room provided by the Namgung Clan reeked of meticulous care, every detail screaming thoughtfulness. But I barely noticed it. Raking my fingers through my hair, I slumped into the chair by the window.
It's changed again.
In the original story, the only figure in the Namgung Clan had been Uncle Namgung Wan. The clan head, Namgung Mu-cheol—one of the Eleven Great Powers of the world—had been away, and with no Namgung Ryu-cheong or his wife, Lady So, naturally there was no Seo Ha-ryeong either. When Uncle Namgung Wan, who had been searching for me in the Eight Trigrams Village, returned to the clan, I'd thought it made perfect sense. He couldn't leave his family unattended.
But it turned out the clan head, Namgung Mu-cheol, was right there, and even Namgung Ryu-cheong was present.
What could have influenced this...?
"Eek!"
My train of thought shattered with a sudden shriek.
"What was that?"
I shot to my feet, scanning the surroundings.
"You little—! What are you— Ah! Let go! It hurts! Ow!"
The voice came from right outside the open window beside where I'd been sitting. Sticking my head out, I spotted Yahul—and gripping his wrist was a fuming Seo Ha-ryeong.
I blinked in confusion. "What are you two doing?"
"This rat was peeking through the window like a sneak."
Seo Ha-ryeong snapped indignantly.
"Rat?! I was just curious and— Eek!"
Yahul twisted her wrist harder, and I gasped in alarm. "Whoa, wait—gently! No, just let go first."
Yahul glanced at me and released her hold. Seo Ha-ryeong stumbled back several steps, panting and glaring daggers at him.
I alternated stares between her and Yahul, who was wiping his palm on his clothes. "Didn't we greet each other earlier? Miss Seo's wrist is fin—"
Before I could finish, Seo Ha-ryeong lunged with a kick at Yahul and bolted away.
I gaped, stunned, as Yahul turned to me. "Should I chase her?"
"Huh? No, no need. More importantly, you okay?"
"Yeah."
"Miss Seo trains with the sword. You can't just wrench her wrist like that."
"Yeah."
"The Seo Hyang Sect nearby is a major faction, and their sect leader is renowned. Seo Ha-ryeong is his daughter."
"Yeah."
He just kept agreeing—did he even get it? I let out a soft sigh. "Come inside first. Let's apply some ointment to your leg."
"Before that, let's attend to my business."
The voice came from right beside us, startling both Yahul and me into whipping around.
No presence at all—how long has he been here?
The stout old man had long, drooping white eyebrows framing eyes that gleamed with ferocious intensity. I hadn't sensed a thing until moments ago, but now his aura filled the room to bursting. The glow in his dantian was the largest I'd ever seen—even bigger than Uncle Namgung Wan's.
A powerhouse.
A tremendous one.
I forced calm into my voice. "May I ask—"
But the elder ignored me, tilting his head at Yahul with endless curiosity. "Eh? What's this?"
As Yahul frowned slightly and moved to leave, the old man barked, "Who gave you leave to move?!"
He darted forward in a blur, striking Yahul's pressure points and slapping a palm to his chest.
"What are you doing?!"
I yelped in shock. In my panic, I vaulted onto the table and over the windowsill.
The elder didn't release Yahul or even turn, thrusting a hand at me like lightning.
What—?
I saw exactly where he aimed. My eyes caught it clear as day.
But his speed wasn't something you dodged just because you saw it. I barely twisted aside when his finger struck near my collarbone.
"Agh!"
I screamed, collapsing. Agony crushed my chest like a vise—I couldn't even breathe.
"Impossible! You dodged that?"
the elder muttered in astonishment, hastily grabbing my slumped shoulder and prodding various points on my body.
The chest pain drowned out everything. "Hold still! You were hit in a death acupoint—if I don't release it now, you'll die!"
What? Death acupoint?
Death acupoints could kill with a mere needle prick. His voice faded into the distance...
When I came to, the blindfold over my eyes was gone, leaving me staring at the bare ceiling.
Whew... close call with death.
My body was soaked in cold sweat, the vise-like pain in my chest gone. A faint ache lingered, like an echo of the memory.
"Eyes open? Get up already."
At the elder's voice, I sat up straight.
"You okay?"
Yahul was right there, steadying me.
The image flashed of the elder's hand on Yahul's chest. I quickly scanned him.
Not... found out?
I exhaled inwardly in relief, nodding to Yahul that I was fine before turning to the elder.
"This old man saved your life, yet instead of thanks, you glare so insolently."
"......"
Excuse me? You nearly killed me with that death point yourself!
Eying the fist-sized glow in his dantian, I said, "Elder, thank you for your grace."
"Good, good."
He brazenly stroked his beard and nodded.
"So, who might you be, Elder?"
"Who do you think this old man could be?"
"Pardon?"
"Who else but one who can roam these halls freely? That's clue enough, isn't it? Still no guess?"
He wants me to figure it out?
I paused, then ventured, "Could you be... the Namgung Clan Head?"
"Hmmm."
He stroked his beard with satisfaction. As I rose to bow, he waved it off. "No need. Sit easy."
I hesitated, gauging him, then asked, "What brings you here?"
"......"
The Namgung Clan Head tilted his chin upward, sweeping his gaze over the room before speaking. "Hand over the Crystal Clarity Oil to me."
"!"
The sheer absurdity blanked my mind.
"......"
"......"
"Don't think of denying it. I already know everything!"
Biting my lip, I replied, "Even if I had it, why should I give it to the Namgung Clan Head?"
He stroked his beard calmly. "It'd be wise to hand it over nicely."
A thug?
Is this really the Namgung Clan Head? He wasn't like this in the novel!
The clan head continued, "You stole it from Manshin-ui anyway, didn't you?"
"No, I have Manshin-ui's permission."
With this power granted by him too, wasn't I basically his successor?
So it's all mine anyway.
Manshin-ui was dead—who'd know the truth?
But the clan head burst into roaring laughter. "Ha! Hahaha! Manshin-ui gave it to you? Hahaha!"
After guffawing for ages, he slammed the floor, eyes bulging. "You've got some gall, whelp! Not only do you bring a demonic arts cultivator into the Namgung Clan, but you dare try to fool me?"
My heart plummeted. So it was discovered.
Of course it would be.
The clan head bellowed, "Hand it over now, while I'm asking nicely!"
Lip trembling, I said, "Yahul isn't a Demonic Cultist. He just learned demonic arts out of necessity..."
"None of my concern!"
I felt Yahul's grip tighten on my arm.
"Every grave has its excuses! Even if this old man tore you both apart here, no one would bat an eye!"
I pulled Yahul behind me. "Planning to go to war with the Baek Ri Clan?"
"Hmph. Think I don't know you're treated like dirt in your own clan?"
"......"
I was speechless. Grandfather would rage at my death, remembering how kindly he'd treated me before I left.
But would that fury spark a war with the Namgung Clan?
I couldn't be sure.