Hospital Lies and Candy Retribution
After Yoo Haneul vanished, Namgung Hyeok suffered through the Constellation's horrific nagging and scoldings. Then Namgung family warriors flew in on private jets and chewed him out to their hearts' content. And that wasn't all. Why didn't he follow the Constellation's orders? Why'd he let her go? If he'd seen her enter, he should've gone in too. Was breaking in the right call from the start? Didn't he know where she went? Was he covering for her because she's from the same country? Was he gunning for the family head's seat? No matter how much he thrashed about, it wouldn't fly with the Clear Sky Sword Lord. Hell, it wouldn't even fly with him. "You bastard, take your beating," and with that, he got thoroughly thrashed by Namgung Pyo, China's S-rank hunter.
He was beaten for ignoring the Constellation's words, for defying the Namgung family's laws, and all sorts of other reasons. To Namgung Hyeok, it was all bullshit. The Constellation's words? He'd approached to obey them. Then Haneul disappeared. Defying Namgung law? What the hell even was Namgung law in the first place? He knew the guild rules, but law? No clue. But he couldn't resist or rebel. He was A-rank; Namgung Pyo was S-rank. The power gap was clear, and so was the difference in their apostles' authorities. Meaning the gap between Sky Palace Unbound Swordsmanship and Lightning Flash Thirteen Thunderclaps was massive.
All Namgung Hyeok could do was curl up and take the hits to hurt as little as possible. And so, now. Admitted to a hunters-only hospital with no records kept, getting treatment, he ran into Haneul.
What the hell is going on here?
Namgung Hyeok gawked at her, mouth agape for a good while, until his phone started blabbing and snapped him out of it.
"Y-yes... No, yes? Yoo Haneul's voice?"
Namgung Hyeok's eyes met Yoo Haneul's. He worked his lips a few times before finally squeezing his eyes shut.
"...Screw it, if I'd been with Yoo Haneul, I'd have told you ages ago. For the prosperity of the great Namgung family... Yes, anyway, I'll search harder once I'm discharged. Yes, yes... Yes, take care."
A heavy sigh escaped Namgung Hyeok as he hung up. He glanced around furtively, then looked at Haneul.
"...Mind if I come in?"
"Yeah, come on."
"Thanks."
Namgung Hyeok slipped into the room quick as a flash and locked the door. Impressively fast for his bulk—befitting a practitioner of the renowned Lightning Flash Thirteen Thunderclaps.
"You... why're you here? Hurt or something?"
"Nah, the Association Chief dragged me here by force. Uncle, if your hand's fine, untie this for me."
"...Isn't there a reason you're tied up?"
"Said it'd keep me from running. I'm not gonna run."
Namgung Hyeok hesitated. If the Association Chief went to that much trouble, there had to be a reason. But with the Namgung family liable to storm in any second, Haneul was better off hiding. Meanwhile, he was in the position of having to hold her here.
His gaze swept lightly over Haneul. So tiny and fragile. Hold onto a kid like this? Even setting aside her strength, it went against basic human decency.
"...Fine, I'll untie you."
Might as well keep up the lie since he'd already told one. Lies were like that—one led to a pile more to cover it up.
Damn it all...
Namgung Hyeok swallowed a curse and started undoing the leather belt binding Haneul.
"With your temper, I'd figure you'd rip it and bolt. Why'd you stay tied up all meek?"
"Said each one's worth 200 million won."
"...What? This is just a plain leather belt."
"What."
Haneul's face fell like the world was ending.
"You... you tricked me twice...?!"
"No way a restraint belt costs 200 million per pop."
"Not a hunter restraint belt...?"
"They exist, sure, but those are all metal. Nothing leather like this."
"Urgh... I'm gonna turn to charcoal...!"
At this point, it was her own fault for getting duped. In this harsh world, naivety was a sin.
Haneul ground her teeth, vowing never to get fooled again.
"Wait, did they lure you here with 'let's grab beef'?"
"Yeah. No, but what kinda hospital sign looks like a beef joint sign...! This is such bullshit!"
"Hold still. It's tricky to undo."
"I'm snapping it!"
"Go for it."
Crack!
The dozen or so remaining loops tore at once. Still fuming, Haneul chugged the strawberry milk on the side. Sweet and nutty—delicious. Her mood lifted, and her face broke into her usual grin.
"Simple as hell. Bet you don't get stressed."
"Gotta live like this to last long. But hey, uncle, weren't you looking for me? Why say you couldn't find me?"
Her point-blank question shut Namgung Hyeok's mouth.
"...Adult stuff."
"I'm an adult too."
"Adult my ass. I thought I was one at twenty too. Nope. The older you get, the more you feel like a kid. But folks call you an adult. It's ridiculous."
Haneul blinked, then beamed.
"Thinking like that means you're the adult, uncle."
"Eh."
"So why say you couldn't find me? Did you get beat for it? Namgung Pyo? Strong? You said you were strong too."
"One at a time."
With a deep sigh unlike his gruff demeanor, Namgung Hyeok explained point by point. It wasn't for saying he couldn't find her—it was just for failing to. Namgung Pyo was the Namgung family guild's S-rank hunter, world rank 6. Korea had world rank 2, FYI. Anyway, Pyo was strong. Ten A-ranks couldn't stop an A-rank break; an S-rank could solo it half-drunk. Rank 6 or not, it was absolute. His sword was peerless under heaven. That's why he got pummeled...
She followed the explanation, but one thing lingered unheard. Of course, Namgung Hyeok dodged it on purpose. As if Haneul cared.
"Reason you said you couldn't find me?"
"...Gotta spell it out?"
"Yup."
"Makes me wanna smack you."
Sighing heavily, Namgung Hyeok's mouth opened cautiously.
"What'd you think they'd do, dragging off a tiny kid like you?"
"You know stuff about the Namgung family—would they really mistreat me?"
Haneul spouted pure common sense. But only in the Central Plains.
Actually, if it was common sense there, it should've held for the Namgung too. The family was a Central Plains clan and guild, after all.
But not anymore.
"If it's China, they'd do it and worse. You're unknown even to our Supreme Patriarch... er, the Constellation. And you used the Sky Palace Unbound Sword Art's essence? That's no small deal."
"Doesn't that make me a total big deal?"
"No way they'd admit it."
"Why?"
"That's modern China. That's the Namgung family now."
"Murim honor's in the gutter."
Namgung Hyeok burst out laughing at her words—bitter and tart.
"You got that right."
"But can't the Constellation hear our chat here?"
"This is a hunters-only hospital—no records at all. Even Constellations can't peek inside. Patient privacy's ironclad."
"Director must be an apostle of some big-shot Constellation."
"The Constellation of Medicine that Illuminates the Heavens. Apollo's apostle runs the place. Even draws patients from abroad."
Apollo was legit. Haneul nodded.
"So that's why you said on the phone you couldn't find me?"
"...Yeah. Honestly, the idea of them doing anything to a kid like you is laughable. Even for the Namgung family. I couldn't stomach it."
Was that a vow or a vent? Haneul found Namgung Hyeok pretty amusing and giggled.
"So how long you hiding me?"
"Why talk like it's not your problem? Kids these days... Tch, no clue. Gotta report to the Association Chief."
"Chief strong?"
"Korea's first S-rank. World rank 2, like I said."
"World ranking sounds kinda childish."
Namgung Hyeok flushed at her bluntness.
"I-it's not official from the Association. Just whispers among hunters. They don't treat us like circus acts."
She thought ranking hunters was childish too, but let it slide. She knew how vital hierarchies were.
"Chief's strong, huh. Still came to Korea, so they got backup, right?"
"Clear Sky Sword Lord Namgung Hwi."
"I know him. Master rank?"
"Yeah."
"He coming soon too?"
Namgung Hyeok shook his head.
"Sword Lord's in secluded training. Not the guild-management type anyway. Sword-obsessed maniac, really. So vice-guild master handles ops, Pyo runs the fields."
"Even with Imperial Sword Forms out in the world, he'd keep secluding?"
"Dunno about that. But he's fresh in seclusion, so won't emerge for ages. Name still carries weight for trade, global politics... all that jazz. Makes 'em tricky."
Namgung Hwi: sword maniac. But his rep opened doors in trade and business, boosting the family's clout.
Haneul crammed the situation into her head and spoke.
"Namgung Hwi strong?"
"Strong doesn't cut it. Might not even be human anymore. Other Masters too, probably."
Namgung Hyeok shuddered, recalling Hwi's sword from long ago. Beyond human—Constellation-level if it manifested.
"So be careful. Stick to the Chief. Got it?"
He rummaged in his pocket and handed her candy from the counter.
"Get better. Catch you later—I'll buy dinner."
Haneul eyed his actions curiously. Last chat, he'd brimmed with ambition. Should be grilling her now for intel, but nope.
"Nothing to ask me?"
"Told you. Don't wanna pin hopes on kids like you. Haneul, go hang with friends—eat, drink, club it up. That's your 'study' at that age."
"What about Namgung stuff?"
"Adults handle that."
He'd whined about feeling young despite age, yet now played grown-up. Murim honor fallen, but not in the mud yet.
Haneul flicked the candy as he opened the door—perfect sync.
"Namgung Hyeok, you damn punk! How dare you deceive the great Namgung familyyy?!"
Thwack—
The candy slammed into the forehead of the man right outside. Blue Namgung family uniform—Chinese guild member.
Thud. He crumpled.
Eerily precise control—the candy lodged unbroken in his brow.
"...Wha, what? Candy?"
Namgung Hyeok glanced at the fainted man, then at the accompanying Namgung warriors, Chinese Association staff, and stone-faced Namgung Pyo. He threw up both hands.
"Wasn't me! I'm innocent! Wu dui bu qi!!"
Everyone knew. Minus stunned Namgung Hyeok, all eyes locked on Haneul. Pyo's especially sharp.
"Ni hao!"
Haneul waved, popping another candy. No intent to hide.