Chapter 288
Chapter 288
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 288
Chapter Title: It's a Festival (3)
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I took off the signboard Namgung Yun had been carrying and hung it up in a spot where it would be clearly visible.
"Namgung Yun. This should be good here, right? It's visible even from far away?"
"...It's visible."
"Then let's go."
At my actions, Master posed a question.
- Aren't you supposed to head out the north gate if you're going to the permit office in Jae-dong?
'That's right.'
- But why are you heading toward the west gate where the Tang Family Market is?
'I'm not going straight there. I can't go looking like this, can I?'
Namgung Yun had only been hawking outside the stall, so his clothes were just a bit disheveled.
But I had been serving customers and standing by the fire.
'Take a look at me.'
Running around all day had splattered sauce all over my robes, and my whole body reeked of fire smoke, sweat, and the intense Sichuan spices.
'These are people I've never met before, and they're in mourning to boot. I plan to straighten my clothes and bring Eung-yong just in case.'
- Fair enough. You do look like a beggar.
'Come on. Even in this state, I look better than Professor No Sam or Jang Ho.'
- Don't argue. Disciples like you never shut up.
A short while after walking while conversing with Master.
We arrived at the entrance to the Tang Family Market.
As if sensing it somehow, Eung-yong, whom I'd left at the Tang Family's guest quarters, flew over and perched on my head.
Hulook!
It was the behavior he showed whenever he was displeased, and the reason was obvious.
"You little guy, sulking again because I didn't bring you? There are all sorts of reasons that's no place for you. We're selling chicken feet next door, and they're selling noodles in pheasant broth...
Hulook—achoo!
"See? You're sneezing already? It's a place thick with spice smells. Why would I bring you, with your sensitive nose?"
Horuruk!!
"This is what happens when I indulge you. You should understand by now after all that coaxing. Eon Eung-yong. If you're not off my shoulder by the count of three, I'm boiling you today. Three."
Huruk!
"Two. I do what I say."
There was no need to count further.
The quick-witted Eung-yong had slyly settled on my shoulder.
Hulook!
While I coaxed and soothed Eung-yong, we arrived at the Tang Family Manor in the heart of the market.
I was about to head to the guest quarters to wash my face and change clothes.
But I saw Namgung Yun heading in the opposite direction.
"Namgung Yun. Where are you going?"
I called out to stop him.
"The kitchen."
"Why there?"
"...? Weren't you calling me to fetch ingredients?"
"No."
"No? You called me over saying you didn't need me anymore, so I thought it was to move ingredients. Wasn't it?"
Come to think of it, I'd only said "let's go somewhere" without specifying the place or purpose.
I shook my head at Namgung Yun, who blinked in confusion.
"That's not why I called you."
"Then why?"
"We're going to the permit office in Jae-dong. Change into your Righteous Martial Academy uniform. That white martial robe."
"To the permit office?"
"Yeah. That's the source of the incident that happened in Sichuan this time. Let's go check the atmosphere."
At my words, a glint appeared in Namgung Yun's eyes.
"With me?"
...Maybe I shouldn't have brought him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I lightly washed off the sweat and changed into the white ceremonial robe emblazoned with the Righteous Martial Academy's name.
Namgung Yun had finished preparing in the meantime.
"Now we're heading to Jae-dong?"
"No. We need to inform the Grand Marshal first."
Since we had to report our destination, we headed to Jeongbin Pavilion, where the Grand Marshal was staying.
In addition to the Grand Marshal, Tang Ho-tae was also there.
"...You're going to the permit office just the two of you?"
"...Hmm."
When I mentioned going to the permit office, I could see both of them furrowing their brows.
"Yes. With the sudden festival, the Demonic Cult's eyes are all on the sacred city, aren't they?"
"That seems likely, but..."
However, after I calmly explained my reasons.
"If the two of us go, it might show a different side than an official visit from the Murim Alliance."
"...That's true."
"We'll just take a quick look at the atmosphere without stirring anything up. If anything seems off, we'll come straight back. I'm bringing Eung-yong too."
After I gave my assurances, the Grand Marshal nodded.
"Keep your promise."
"Yes, sir."
Then, Tang Ho-tae, who had been standing with arms crossed, uncrossed them.
He activated a mechanism, opening a secret passage connected to Jeongbin Pavilion.
Rumble—
"Then head out this way."
"Oh. What's this place?"
"Our Tang Family has prepared multiple secret passages in case the main compound is attacked. Even if tails followed you from the sacred city street, they won't know the exit of this one."
"Makes sense."
With permission granted, we left the Tang Family Market via the secret passage.
Then headed straight to Jae-dong, where the permit office was.
"Hmm. Hm hm."
On the way to Jae-dong, I noticed Namgung Yun's mouth twitching repeatedly.
"...I really want to confiscate that expression. Namgung Yun, why have you been grinning like an idiot since earlier?"
"I haven't."
"You haven't my foot... Your mouth's all slack like a toothless old man right now."
"No need to speak so harshly. Now I know how you really think of me."
"...What nonsense is that?"
"Tang Ok-gi is a daughter of the Tang Family, unsuitable to bring to the permit office, but there are Jeong-hyeon and Wu So-rung, yet you specifically asked me to come along... It means deep down, you acknowledge me."
Seeing Namgung Yun close his eyes and nod smugly made my head ache with regret for bringing him.
Utterly oblivious to my feelings, he continued questioning.
"So what are we doing at the permit office? Infiltrating?"
If it were infiltration, I'd have brought Wu So-rung, you fool.
But now that we're this far, no point in dampening his spirits unnecessarily, so I held back.
"Just do what you're good at, Namgung Yun."
"Swordsmanship?"
"If it were swordsmanship, I'd have brought Jeo..."
I barely stopped myself from saying Jeong-hyeon and quickly changed tack.
"...It'd be breaking the promise we made at Jeongbin Pavilion."
"Ah. Right."
"We'll greet them properly according to etiquette and go in openly. The permit office might be victims too. We're just here to check the atmosphere, as discussed at Jeongbin Pavilion."
"I see."
"Yeah. I'll focus on the permit office people's expressions and vibes. You show the dignity and manners befitting the Namgung Family's young master. You've had heir training since childhood, right?"
How long had we been walking toward Jae-dong?
We arrived at the Heo Manor.
The Heo Manor was a beautiful estate backed by lush mountains.
"Eung-yong, you wait perched on one of those trees. Whistle if anything happens."
Hulook.
After sending Eung-yong off, I exchanged a glance with Namgung Yun.
Then knocked on the Heo Manor's gate.
Thud thud thud.
Soon, a servant in hemp mourning clothes appeared.
"You seem unfamiliar. What brings you here?"
"We've come to pay respects to the manor lord."
"Ah, what should I tell him?"
"Say we're from the Namgung Family."
The servant dashed inside upon hearing "Namgung Family."
A moment later, a middle-aged man with half-bald head, looking like he'd never lifted anything heavier than a brush in his life, emerged at the gate and offered a clasped-hand salute.
"I am Heo Man, lord of the Heo Manor."
Namgung Yun bowed deeply and politely to Heo Man before speaking.
"This one is Yun of the Ankyung Namgung Family."
"Ah, Young Master Namgung Yun. I've heard the name often, but we have no particular connection. What brings you here?"
"I know the Heo Family as a prestigious house that has produced statesmen from the Han Dynasty era to the present. I vowed that if I ever came to Sichuan, I would pay my respects."
"Haha. This one lacks talent and only became a juren, but our family has indeed made its name through scholarship."
Namgung Yun smoothly continued.
"Yes. I wished to pay respects much sooner, but among my classmates is a child of the Tang Family, so I ended up staying with them. Unfortunately, I arrived in Sichuan amid the awkward situation between the Tang and Heo Families... It's belated."
"Not at all. We're grateful you made the trip. The matter with the Tang Family was troubling us as well."
Master was impressed by Namgung Yun's demeanor.
- Wow, is this the same Yun we knew?
'His tongue freezes when I tell him to lie or hawk, but tell him to be polite and he's like a fish in water.'
- The complete opposite of someone.
'...Who?'
- Who knows?
'?'
As I responded to Master while closely observing Heo Man's expression, his gaze naturally turned toward me.
"I see. And this gentleman?"
"Ah, my 'close friend.' Eon Yong-un."
"Eon Yong-un of the Pearl Eon Family."
"...Ah. Eon Yong-un. The Little Dragon. Please, come inside. We're just beginning the three-year mourning, so I have little to offer, but turning away guests from afar would not be the way of a scholar."
I scrutinized Heo Man's expression as we entered the Heo Manor.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Upon entering the Heo Manor, Namgung Yun and I first headed to the family shrine.
We offered incense to the spirit tablet of the family head, who had supposedly been poisoned.
Then followed Heo Man to the receiving hall.
"Please have some tea. It's Dian Lu from Yunnan—quite fragrant."
Once in the receiving hall, there was no need for distance.
The moment the teacups were set before us, I posed the most sensitive question.
"I heard the family head met with misfortune?"
Heo Man nodded and replied.
"Yes. He had a chronic illness and was bedridden, then passed. But I absolutely do not believe the Tang Family sent assassins. As I said earlier, those rumors are troubling us too."
There was no displeasure in Heo Man's demeanor, but that very point felt off to me.
'How can he assert that so firmly? He could suspect or resent the Tang Family.'
I sipped my tea, chatted idly to steer the conversation, then circled back to another sensitive question.
"I heard your youngest son isn't well?"
"...Ah. You've heard that?"
"I only heard he received treatment from the Tang Family. I have some secret arts passed down from the Medicine King Elder. If it's beyond me, I could introduce you to him. Shall I take a look?"
"Haha. I appreciate the kindness, but it's fine. The Tang Family's physicians said it's incurable."
"Still..."
"We've seen many other doctors, all saying the same. He suffered during the poisoning test and medicine intake, so we decided no more physicians."
Heo Man answered calmly even to this.
But this too felt suspicious.
As we left the Heo Manor, I voiced my thoughts to Namgung Yun.
"Doesn't it feel a bit off?"
"When you offered to examine their youngest son?"
"Yeah. A parent with a sick child should clutch at any straw... He was too calm."
"His explanations sound plausible, but he seems overly detached. By the way, did you really learn secret arts from the Medicine King Elder?"
"No. I just threw it out because the manor lord's attitude seemed fishy."
"...What if he actually let you see him?"
"We could check if his meridians are blocked. I'd say it's beyond me and offer to introduce the Medicine King Elder. That's a reasonable request."
It was then that Eung-yong flew over.
Unlike usual, he wasn't playful or sulky; he silently perched on my shoulder.
Pecked my cheek with his beak, then slowly flew ahead as if urging us to follow.
"Follow him?"
A short while after following him into the forest near the Heo Manor.
Eung-yong perched on a tree branch and pecked at the trunk with his beak.
Examining the tree, I spotted a knothole with a plug.
Click—
I promptly removed the plug.
Inside the knothole was a note stamped with a flame emblem.
"This is the sacred flame emblem used by the Demonic Cult bastards?"