Chapter 56
The place the old servant led me to was a two-story pavilion near the lake.
"Come in! Sit right here."
I was inwardly startled by the even warmer welcome than at the stone feast. Namgung Mu-cheol continued with a laugh.
"If I'd known it'd be this late, I would've suggested meeting tomorrow. I never imagined you'd already gotten so close with Seo Sojeo. Kahaha."
"If I'd known you were waiting, I would've come earlier."
"No need, no need. I got to enjoy quite the spectacle myself."
A fun spectacle? I tilted my head in confusion and unwittingly glanced at the folding screen behind Namgung Mu-cheol, freezing in place.
What's that?
But I couldn't dwell on the question. Namgung Mu-cheol's inner energy—a pale orange glow—was approaching me.
This was a first.
Is this possible at the level of the Eleven Great Powers of the World?
Admiring it inwardly, I pretended not to notice while observing the energy's movements. The aura enveloped me, probing around my dantian.
Namgung Mu-cheol let out a slight groan and picked up the teacup the old servant had poured.
"How's your body? No discomfort anywhere?"
"Yes. Thanks to the care from the Namgung Clan, I'm fine."
After that, Namgung Mu-cheol inquired quite meticulously about my physical condition.
Did he call me here just to check on my health?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, he finally got to the point.
"I heard from Wan. You gave him the Pure Azure Oil you found in Manshin-ui's pill refinement room."
"Yes."
"Don't you find that a shame?"
I tilted my head and blinked.
"If I'd thought it a shame, I wouldn't have given it in the first place."
"Hm."
"Besides, if Uncle hadn't taken me to Manshin-ui, there wouldn't have been any Pure Azure Oil at all. I think it's only natural."
Just as the Heavenly Mountain Salt Emperor had come looking for me, someone surely knew that Manshin-ui possessed the Pure Azure Oil. If the Baek Ri Clan had claimed every drop from Manshin-ui's pill room, there would definitely be those who envied us and picked fights.
Of course, the Baek Ri Clan could crush such controversies outright. But someone would still slander my father, claiming he'd sent his daughter ahead to hog it all.
But what if I'd shared it with the Namgung Clan?
Public opinion would split, and no one with a swollen gut would dare make enemies of both clans at once.
And furthermore...
Suppose I'd brought three vials to the Baek Ri Clan—two openly, and the one I hid making three. Would Grandmother, Great-Uncle, and Aunt stay quiet? They'd surely demand one for themselves.
A normal person would never share out of sheer greed. But my father...
He'd share them without a second thought.
I shuddered even imagining it. And similar incidents had happened several times before.
Better to share with Uncle Wan than let them take it.
Namgung Mu-cheol gazed at me before speaking again.
"Wan didn't take you to Manshin-ui for your sake. Still, don't you regret it?"
I tilted my head again.
"Even if there were other motives, that doesn't erase how well he treated me, right?"
I'd known from the start. The reason Uncle Wan came with Manshin-ui's token was to request instruction for Namgung Ryu-cheong.
"No matter the reason, if I've received a favor, I repay it. I have no regrets."
Namgung Mu-cheol sighed. Stroking his beard a few times with eyes closed, he finally spoke.
"There's something I must tell you."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Very few know this story, so you must keep it secret as well."
If it's like that... I don't want to know.
Do I really have to hear this?
I rolled my eyes before cautiously replying.
"Um, this secret the Clan Lord is about to share... it won't put my life in danger just for hearing it, right?"
"What?"
"Well, some things are better left unknown, you know?"
Namgung Mu-cheol raised his grizzled eyebrows before bursting into hearty laughter.
"Where did such a child come from? Eh?"
He reached out and patted my head.
"Where did that bold kid from moments ago disappear to?"
"Hehe."
I giggled like a child while lifting my teacup.
I had no desire to learn the Eleven Great Powers' secrets and end up chased by riffraff.
Namgung Mu-cheol spoke in a voice still laced with amusement.
"It's not a secret that endangers your life."
"That's a relief, then."
I glanced at the folding screen behind him and relaxed.
Well, it's probably not truly dangerous.
Namgung Mu-cheol looked at me with a pleased gaze.
"Baek Ri-gang is truly blessed."
"Pardon?"
"To gain such a lovely daughter all at once. Ha, when will my own sons bring me a cute granddaughter like this? I wonder if my fate allows such fortune."
Hiding my bewilderment, I glanced at the screen again.
"And from now on, call me Grandfather. What's this 'Clan Lord'? You call Wan 'Uncle,' don't you?"
"Is that alright?"
"Who would dare object when I've permitted it?"
"Then... yes!"
After repeatedly stroking my head, Namgung Mu-cheol suddenly cleared his throat dryly, regaining his composure. But the atmosphere was far lighter than the initial heaviness.
"Ahem. What I wanted to tell you concerns my sworn brother."
"Your sworn brother?"
"Yes."
I put on a genuinely surprised face—no acting needed.
This is the secret Namgung Mu-cheol wants to share with me?
He regarded me with serious eyes.
"You've surely heard the name. The Heavenly Mountain Salt Emperor, Gu Hong-ma."
Letting out a deep sigh, Namgung Mu-cheol continued.
"The one who stole your Pure Azure Oil... was the Heavenly Mountain Salt Emperor."
Suddenly, the folding screen rattled.
I startled and looked at it, but Namgung Mu-cheol calmly said,
"The wind must be fierce."
I simply blinked at him.
"......"
The windows were open, but not a breath of wind stirred.
Namgung Mu-cheol pressed on.
"My brother may have a eccentric temperament, but he's no one who disregards propriety. Yet this time... all I can offer is my apologies."
Sighing deeply once more, he added,
"So, tell me if there's anything you desire as compensation."
So, he was offering recompense in place of the stolen Pure Azure Oil?
I gripped the teacup before me.
"Is there compensation comparable to the Pure Azure Oil?"
As if he'd planned this from the start, Namgung Mu-cheol drew a small porcelain vial from his sleeve.
"That's why I'm returning this to you."
"Isn't this the one I gave to Uncle?"
"Yes. From the Heavenly Mountain Salt Emperor... we won't recover it."
Had he already consumed it? Well, I hadn't expected to get it back anyway, so I wasn't particularly interested.
The small vial looked like a toy in Namgung Mu-cheol's large, callused hand.
I slowly opened my mouth.
"As I said earlier, I don't regret giving what I gave to Uncle."
Moreover, I'd made a promise with Yahul regarding the Heavenly Mountain Salt Emperor. I couldn't take it back now.
But this was also an opportunity for me.
I chose my words carefully.
"If you lack the strength to protect it, it'll be taken. I'm taking this as a lesson."
"So you don't need it?"
I gazed down at my teacup, putting on a sullen expression.
"Even if I had it... it might get stolen again, right?"
Namgung Mu-cheol let out a dissatisfied grunt. Gauging his mood, I waited a moment before speaking.
"Instead, I have one request."
"Speak."
"I heard the Manshin-ui token originally belonged to you, Grandfather."
"That's right."
Namgung Wan had borrowed it from Namgung Mu-cheol himself.
That meant Namgung Mu-cheol had deep ties to Manshin-ui in the past. Otherwise, why would he have such a token?
I continued.
"When I was in Manshin-ui's pill refinement room, I saw research on martial arts. It seemed to stop midway, though. Do you know anything about that?"