Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Sun and Moon 2
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A man in his early forties stood in front of the door. As Jin So-hye had predicted, it was the Holy Fire Palace's Right Guard, Yi Mong-yeom. It felt utterly awkward for someone of Right Guard rank to be searching for another person, but there was no helping it when the target was the Little Palace Lord.
Baek Moo-jin asked,
"Who are you?"
Yi Mong-yeom spotted the Little Palace Lord hiding behind the unfamiliar man and felt a surge of anger.
'What in the world is going on here?'
Yi Mong-yeom had every reason to be furious. His colleague, the Left Guard Yi Gon, lay dead as a cold corpse, and the Little Palace Lord was holed up in a place like this with some man. The fact that he hadn't immediately struck down Baek Moo-jin was already a testament to Yi Mong-yeom's extreme restraint.
Yi Mong-yeom spoke in a chilling tone.
"Little Palace Lord, it's Yi Mong-yeom. Who the hell is this young man?"
Yi Mong-yeom had no intention of treating whoever was blocking his way with kid gloves. On the contrary, he planned to vent his unspeakable rage toward her onto Baek Moo-jin as he strode forward aggressively.
"Step aside."
Yi Mong-yeom thrust out his hand, flames coiling around it as he aimed to shove Baek Moo-jin aside and assert dominance right from the start.
But who was Baek Moo-jin to yield the initiative to anyone?
Baek Moo-jin casually grabbed Yi Mong-yeom's outstretched hand. Yi Mong-yeom then poured his strength into hurling Baek Moo-jin against the wall like a ragdoll. But nothing budged.
Yi Mong-yeom's expression hardened rigidly.
'What is this?'
Baek Moo-jin, in turn, wore a look that said, "What's your deal?" In that instant, Yi Mong-yeom twisted his wrist with the Golden Snare Technique and counterattacked.
In a flash, the two clashed with a flurry of thuds, keeping Jin So-hye behind them.
Jin So-hye, who had been choosing her words in the meantime, clutched her forehead and said something, but neither man could hear her over the noise.
At that moment, Yi Mong-yeom's eyebrows shot up as he unleashed a palm strike.
Baek Moo-jin snorted derisively and countered.
Suddenly, a deafening roar exploded inside the inn room.
Kwaaaang!
Yi Mong-yeom, sent flying, barely avoided disaster by bracing against the wall with his left palm even as he was startled. This was because Baek Moo-jin had already sparred with the Left Guard before and anticipated that the Left and Right Guards were of similar skill, adjusting his force accordingly.
In a way, the Left and Right Guards seemed to share a similar temperament. Or perhaps everyone in the Holy Fire Palace was hot-blooded...
Jin So-hye spoke in a flat tone, as if soothing squabbling children.
"That's enough. You two aren't enemies."
She stepped forward, turned to Baek Moo-jin, and tugged lightly at his collar while whispering.
"I'll handle this. He's the Right Guard of my palace. He's just agitated over what happened to the Left Guard. Please understand."
Baek Moo-jin nodded as he looked at Jin So-hye.
As Yi Mong-yeom approached, Jin So-hye blocked his path.
"Calm down, Right Guard. Let's talk downstairs since there's a story to tell. I need to eat something."
As Jin So-hye brushed past, stirring a cool breeze, Yi Mong-yeom turned his head and asked,
"Little Palace Lord, are you alright?"
Jin So-hye, descending the stairs, replied curtly.
"You sure took your time asking."
Yi Mong-yeom glared at Baek Moo-jin for a moment before following her. Left alone briefly, Baek Moo-jin tilted his head.
'The vibe's kinda like the Left Guard...'
2.
Three men and women sat by the window at Yeon-ga Inn. Outside, Holy Fire Palace warriors had taken up positions here and there, standing guard as if protecting the Little Palace Lord and the Right Guard.
Paying them no mind, Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye were ravenously devouring every plate that flew their way, hungrier than usual today. The Right Guard, meanwhile, hadn't touched his food and simply stared at the two intently.
Yi Mong-yeom had deliberately tested Baek Moo-jin moments ago and was now speculating on his identity.
'Could this guy be... the one who uses that bizarre sword style?'
Yi Mong-yeom's gaze drifted to the white longsword Baek Moo-jin had brought with him.
After filling her stomach a bit, Jin So-hye gathered her thoughts and explained the situation to Yi Mong-yeom. But even after hearing it, he still looked frustrated and asked,
"...So you're saying you lost to him, Little Palace Lord?"
"How many times do I have to say it?"
"It's just hard to believe..."
"You just tested his palm force yourself."
"True, but still."
There were parts of Jin So-hye's story that Yi Mong-yeom simply couldn't accept.
After losing to Baek Moo-jin, she had fought the Iron Blood Gang, witnessed Left Guard Yi Gon's death, and her true energy had gone berserk, causing her to faint. Baek Moo-jin had helped her recover here.
In other words, the corpses that appeared drained of blood had indeed been done in by Baek Moo-jin. Even so, he couldn't comprehend how Jin So-hye had lost to him, nor could he believe that Baek Moo-jin had quelled the Flame Lord's rampage—something that usually required the Palace Lord and both Guards.
But it was too coherent to be a story she had just made up on the spot. Moreover, Yi Mong-yeom knew better than anyone that while the Little Palace Lord could brazenly justify her own mistakes, she wasn't one to lie.
Jin So-hye said to Yi Mong-yeom,
"You should apologize for what happened earlier."
"But..."
"He's my benefactor."
Yi Mong-yeom awkwardly addressed Baek Moo-jin.
"Ahem... Patriarch Baek, I apologize for earlier. And thank you for helping the Little Palace Lord."
As Yi Mong-yeom spoke stiffly, Baek Moo-jin, having just finished eating, replied calmly.
"No need. It was only right to help."
After his reluctant apology, Yi Mong-yeom voiced what had been nagging at him.
"By the way, I've never heard of the Snow Mountain Baek Family."
"You wouldn't have."
"Do you perhaps use ice techniques?"
At Yi Mong-yeom's question, Jin So-hye paused mid-bite and glanced at him. Baek Moo-jin nodded and replied flatly.
"Yes."
"Hmm... It's a rare martial art... Strange that I've never heard of it. I'm quite interested in eccentrics and know many unusual masters scattered about. This is the first I've heard of an ice technique expert."
Baek Moo-jin replied with a wry expression.
"The Snow Mountain Baek Family... no, the previous Patriarchs had little interest in the martial world."
"If they lacked interest, what brings Patriarch Baek out into the world now?"
Jin So-hye cut in midway.
"Why are you interrogating him like that, Right Guard?"
"Pardon?"
Yi Mong-yeom finally realized why he felt so uneasy. Beyond master-disciple or Little Palace Lord-Right Guard relations, he and Jin So-hye were like siblings with a significant age gap. Yet every time she spoke, she seemed to take Baek Moo-jin's side, leaving Yi Mong-yeom baffled.
It felt like losing his little sister.
Yi Mong-yeom said with a tinge of hurt.
"Little Palace Lord, with what happened to Brother Yi Gon yesterday and your disappearance, I'm on edge, yes. But look—you show up out of nowhere, hale and hearty with some stranger. Isn't it natural for me to ask questions?"
As Yi Mong-yeom mentioned the Left Guard, Jin So-hye fell silent, her face darkening.
Baek Moo-jin, who had nodded, replied.
"It was the previous Patriarchs' will to stay out of the martial world. I'm the exception."
"I see."
Then Jin So-hye continued.
"He's the Patriarch of the Snow Mountain Baek Family, but currently affiliated with the North Heaven Alliance. You're planning to avenge the Left Guard, right?"
"Avenge?"
The corner of Yi Mong-yeom's mouth curled up slightly.
"Revenge... Heh. As if mere revenge would suffice. With the Palace Lord's permission, I'll eradicate the Iron Blood Gang from this martial world. Cleanse them thoroughly with fire."
Cleanse with fire.
A phrase the Holy Fire Palace often used.
They viewed the world as tainted by all manner of filth and sought to purify it with holy flames. It was a clear sign that the Holy Fire Palace's doctrines were anything but ordinary.
Baek Moo-jin remained silent, lost in thought.
'Cleanse with fire... Sounds just like religious dogma.'
Jin So-hye flatly offered her opinion.
"I want to strike them together with the North Heaven Alliance."
"Pardon?"
"He was planning to settle things with the Iron Blood Gang anyway. If Holy Fire and North Heaven join forces, there'll be fewer sacrifices than going alone. I'll speak to my father about it."
The Right Guard gave an unexpected response.
"Is that so? Perfect, then. I was planning to hit the Nine Heavens Alliance after Iron Blood, but Holy Fire and North Heaven teaming up works. By the way, if I may ask—what's your position in the North Heaven Alliance, Patriarch Baek?"
Jin So-hye stifled a laugh as she glanced at Baek Moo-jin. He replied indifferently.
"In the North Heaven Alliance... I'm just a green rookie."
"A rook...?"
Yi Mong-yeom trailed off and studied their expressions. Jin So-hye said with a smile,
"Patriarch Baek is strong. Does it matter if he's a rookie or not?"
Yi Mong-yeom let out a long sigh. The Little Palace Lord was uncharacteristically protective of Baek Moo-jin, even over small things.
Finally, Yi Mong-yeom cut straight to the point.
"So, what exactly is your relationship? Be honest. Whatever the answer, I won't report it to the Palace Lord right away."
Determined to push back hard, Jin So-hye snorted and said,
"What if you do report it? Think I'm scared?"
"Well..."
As Yi Mong-yeom faltered, Jin So-hye looked at Baek Moo-jin and summed up their relationship with a weighty declaration that hit Yi Mong-yeom like a double palm strike to the chest.
"He's my man."
"Pardon?"
Yi Mong-yeom stared at the Little Palace Lord with utter bewilderment.