Chapter 34 - Bird in the Cage
Jin Muhon rose from his seat and gazed steadily at Han Sowol.
"Um... why are you looking at me like that?"
Han Sowol's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't avert her clear, deep eyes from his gaze.
Jin Muhon met her eyes and spoke in a heavy tone.
"It seems the Nangong family is looking for a physician named Han Sowol."
"Pardon? Me? Why?"
"Fur and hair loss."
"Ah..."
Han Sowol's full, red lips parted softly.
But she didn't grasp the implication, so she didn't seem to take it as a big deal.
"Do you remember what I said back in Yichang?"
"What...?"
"That if you get dragged into the waterways gang, it'll be hard to see the outside world again."
"Ah, yes. You did say that."
"The Nangong family won't be much different. They may seem to uphold propriety on the surface, but behind closed doors, they're more vicious about lining their pockets than any unorthodox scum."
"......"
Only then did Han Sowol's large eyes widen in realization.
Jin Muhon lowered his voice to gauge her resolve.
"Still, the Nangong family is the most powerful clan in the murim, so they'll take good care of you. Their support will be excellent too. It's not a bad choice. What do you think? Does Physician Han want to become a Nangong family member?"
A life trapped in a gilded cage.
She might not soar through the skies, but safety and abundance were guaranteed.
Naturally, plenty of people would desire such a life.
But Han Sowol shook her head without a hint of hesitation.
"No! I don't want to go."
Her expression was resolute.
Jin Muhon nodded with a faint smile.
"Good. Then follow my lead."
"Yes!"
"Let's go."
"Yes, yes!"
Chusa Hwan, who had been listening to the conversation, bowed and stepped back.
"Please, go ahead. I'll escort you, family head."
"Very well."
Jin Muhon started walking.
"Wait for me!"
Han Sowol hurried after him with quick steps.
In the courtyard of the Jin family estate stood two men dressed in splendid silk robes. The fine fabric shimmered in the sunlight, and the black sword sheaths at their waists exuded luxury. Not just their attire, but the men themselves were no ordinary sight. One was a youth with skin as fair and delicate as a woman's, the other a middle-aged man whose firmly set mouth radiated unyielding resolve.
"Uncle, have you ever heard of the Unbong Jin family?"
The young man, who looked just over twenty, scanned the estate and asked the middle-aged man beside him.
"First I've heard of it."
The middle-aged man also surveyed their surroundings with a relaxed expression. Compared to their own clan, the courtyard was little more than a modest backyard. No bustling maids or servants were in sight, let alone guards at the gate or martial artists training.
Sweep, sweep, sweep.
The only thing catching their eye was an old man sweeping in the corner of the yard. He might have seemed like a hidden master at first glance, but his feeble aura suggested he'd drop dead from a single tap.
"To think such a skilled physician came from a place like this. Hard to believe."
"Didn't they say she was making house calls? Probably someone in the family is ill."
"Wouldn't it be better to find a local physician? Why go all the way to Yichang to fetch that specific woman... Doesn't it seem suspicious?"
"Hm. The servant went to fetch her, so let's wait and see."
Normally, when guests arrived at a clan, etiquette demanded escorting them to the reception hall first.
But this backwater hole left their guests standing in the courtyard, wasting time.
"......"
Time dragged on—already two quarters of an hour had passed. Standing idle had them itching with impatience. Nangong Seonu, the Nangong family's second young master, had never endured such treatment before. His face flushed red with rage.
"The nerve... A puny rural clan that doesn't know basic propriety."
"True enough."
"But Uncle!"
"We must uphold propriety ourselves to punish their rudeness."
Nangong Seonu turned to the middle-aged man. He was Nangong Hyeok, the family head's cousin and leader of the clan's Spear Palace Unit. A man of formidable martial prowess and sky-high pride, his eyes now blazed with suppressed fury despite his words. Seeing this, one corner of Nangong Seonu's mouth curled upward slyly.
Perfect. Time to vent some frustration for a change.
After the Four Emperors Alliance Lord's death, the murim world appeared peaceful on the surface but simmered with tension ready to erupt at any moment. The Nangong family had tightened internal discipline to avoid unnecessary incidents while watching the situation closely. Nangong Seonu, ever the arrogant soul, had chafed under these restrictions.
Why should we have to watch anyone's mood? Father's getting too cautious—it's time he stepped down.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
At that moment, footsteps approached from behind the estate. Slow, steady rhythms.
They were dawdling when they should have been rushing.
"Insolent..."
Nangong Seonu ground his teeth. His gaze snapped toward the sound.
"Hm."
Three figures approached: the old man who had greeted them earlier, a middle-aged servant, and a pretty young woman.
Nangong Seonu scowled and spat his complaint curtly.
"Leaving guests to stand out here like this. Does the Jin family not know basic etiquette?!"
Han Sowol flinched and glanced nervously at Jin Muhon.
Jin Muhon continued walking toward them with an unconcerned expression.
"Hey! When someone's talking to you, at least respond!"
Jin Muhon halted about ten paces away.
Hm. This man's got an odd air about him.
Unlike the inexperienced Nangong Seonu, the battle-hardened Nangong Hyeok felt chills from the moment Jin Muhon appeared. It was the instinct that had saved his life in countless fights, now blaring a fierce warning.
No way... Hm. Probably not.
He first suspected an elder from the old Four Emperors Alliance.
But while his instinct screamed danger, there was no overt malicious aura. If anything, a subtle righteous energy suggested he might be from a Daoist sect.
"Ahem! Hm!"
Nangong Seonu, possessing at least some street smarts, met Jin Muhon's deep, indifferent eyes and coughed awkwardly, averting his gaze.
Chusa Hwan stepped forward.
"This is the family head. Show proper respect."
"What?! The head of this pathetic clan thinks he deserves respect from—"
"Greetings for the first time. I am Nangong Hyeok of the Nangong family, leader of the Spear Palace Unit."
"......?"
Nangong Hyeok cut off Nangong Seonu and stepped in, offering a formal cupped-fist salute. His polite tone carried undeniable authority.
Nangong Seonu glared at him with dissatisfaction.
"Uncle!"
"Greet him. He is the head of the household, after all."
"...Fine."
Unable to ignore Nangong Hyeok, Nangong Seonu pouted and roughly clasped his hands before Jin Muhon.
"Nangong Seonu. The family's second young master."
Jin Muhon, who had been quietly observing Nangong Hyeok, turned to Nangong Seonu with a glint of interest. Meeting those chilling eyes made Nangong Seonu's heart clench inexplicably.
Damn. What's with this feeling?
Jin Muhon spoke in a deep, resonant voice.
"If you're the second young master, your father must be the family head?"
"That's right!"
The blunt informal address came out of nowhere.
Yet it felt so natural that Nangong Seonu didn't protest—instead, he shouted back, steeling himself against the inexplicable fear.
Jin Muhon nodded.
"You have an admirable father."
"...Y-Yeah..."
He had mustered his killing intent to avoid losing momentum, only for Jin Muhon to unexpectedly praise the Nangong head. Nangong Seonu's aura naturally dissipated.
"So, Young Master Nangong. What brings the Nangong family's esteemed heir to this humble abode?"
"Hm. We're here for a physician named Han Sowol."
"Physician Han? Why?"
Jin Muhon feigned wide-eyed surprise, though he had already guessed their purpose.
As words flew back and forth, Nangong Seonu's arrogance began to resurface.
"That's none of your business."
"I see."
Jin Muhon let out a soft chuckle.
Chusa Hwan, standing nearby, shot Nangong Seonu a furious glare.
That look ignited fury in Nangong Seonu's chest.
"Insolent cur! A mere servant daring to glare at me?!"
"Seonu."
"Uncle! You saw it too! If the servants are this rude, you can imagine what the clan is like!"
"Seonu!"
Nangong Hyeok hurriedly grabbed Nangong Seonu's arm. Unlike the eldest son, the second young master often caused trouble due to his arrogance. He knew where to draw the line, yet today he was unusually agitated.
Nangong Hyeok quickly checked Jin Muhon's reaction.
Hm?
No matter how much of a brat the second young master was, any elder would bristle at such insolence from a green junior.
Yet Jin Muhon's face showed no change in expression.
Does he have a big heart? Or is his cultivation simply that profound?
Jin Muhon turned his head slightly.
"Chusa."
"Yes, family head."
"Apologize."
At Jin Muhon's command, Chusa Hwan immediately softened his gaze and bowed his head.
"My apologies."
"Ahem! Hm! Good. Know your place from now on!"
"Yes."
Nangong Seonu lifted his chin smugly.
Watching this, Jin Muhon suppressed a laugh inwardly.
Hypocritical bunch, as always.
In the Demonic Cult, blades would have been drawn by now, and blood spilled.
But the righteous lot clung to their stuffy etiquette, merely puffing up their chests.
That made them easier to handle in broad daylight. Play along with the formalities, and you could steer the situation.
Of course, failing their goal meant they'd scheme behind the scenes.
"But Young Master, you tell others to know their place while refusing to explain why you want to take our family physician. Is the Jin family not worthy of hearing the reason?"
"Wh-what?! You—"
"Seonu. Allow me."
As Nangong Seonu bristled again, Nangong Hyeok intervened swiftly.
"Uncle!"
"I said stand down!"
"...Yes."
Pushing Nangong Seonu aside, Nangong Hyeok glanced at the woman standing beside Jin Muhon. She fidgeted anxiously with her hands.
That must be her...
The family head's order had been to fetch Physician Han Sowol from the Clear Water Clinic in Yichang. He didn't know the exact reason, but it clearly wasn't a task for a unit leader like himself.
How could he not feel resentful?
Still, with the second young master tagging along as "protection," he had set out lightly.
No hint of wavering. How has someone like this stayed unknown until now?
Upon arrival, he understood why the family head had sent him specifically.
The head of the Unbong Jin family.
If his skills were mediocre, he couldn't exude such composure.
No notable background either, so it had to be his personal prowess.
The family head's command... I underestimated this.
First, gather intel on the opponent.
Acknowledging his misstep, Nangong Hyeok carefully broached the subject to salvage the situation.
"Family head, my apologies. Our second young master lacks experience in the jianghu and was rude."
"No harm done."
Nangong Seonu huffed and puffed but mercifully held back an outburst.
"May I ask your name?"
"Nothing difficult about that. Jin Muhon."
"Jin Muhon..."
Nangong Hyeok tilted his head. Another unheard-of name.
"Do you have any epithet or title?"
"None. I rarely leave the family."
"I see."
Hiding his identity deliberately?
Nangong Hyeok decided on a more direct approach.
"If it's not too much trouble, may I inquire about your sect?"
"It would be."
"......"
Nangong Hyeok's face began to redden and pale by turns.
Asking a stranger's sect affiliation in the jianghu wasn't proper etiquette, so he couldn't nitpick.
Jin Muhon chuckled softly and continued.
"I meant I have no sect worth mentioning. Just a few family techniques, that's all."
"Ah! I see."
Nangong Hyeok's expression brightened. Despite the uneasy instinct, this man seemed reasonable.
"Oh, right. My niece belongs to a different sect."
"Pardon? You have a niece?"
"Yes. Physician Han is treating her now. That's why I can't send her."
"Hm... I understand."
Nangong Hyeok nodded.
He had assumed it was mere stubbornness, but Jin Muhon had a valid reason.
Still, defying the family head's order wasn't an option.
"This is awkward. The family head urgently needs Physician Han..."
"I understand. You must have family too, Great Hero Nangong, so I'm sure you get my position."
"Hm... Ah! How about this? We take your niece along with Physician Han to our estate. We have excellent physicians there—it'll help her recovery far more."
"Hm... You think so?"
"I guarantee it! I stake my name on her full recovery!"
Jin Muhon stroked his chin, pretending to mull it over.
Nangong Seonu glared with displeasure, while Nangong Hyeok watched expectantly.
"Well, it's a good offer, but..."
"Exactly! What could be better?"
"True, but... this isn't for me to decide alone..."
"Pardon? What do you mean? If the family head can't decide, who can?"
Nangong Hyeok eyed him in confusion.
Jin Muhon glanced around and spoke softly.
"My niece's master happens to be visiting. As the saying goes, a master is like a parent. Even if she's my blood, I should hear her teacher's will."
"Ah! Of course! Where is this master? I'll persuade them myself!"
Nangong Hyeok thought things were looking up.
How impressive could a teacher from such a clan be?
A bit of Nangong prestige and some silver, and they'd comply.
"Sounds good?"
"Naturally! Just introduce me!"
"In that case..."
Still glancing around, Jin Muhon's gaze suddenly fixed on the roof of the main hall.
"Ah. There he is."
Everyone in the courtyard followed his gaze to the roof.
"Huh?"
"Hm?"
A shabby old man peeked out from the edge, spying on the yard.
Jin Muhon waved with a smile.
"Elder! The Nangong folks here want to take Hayeon away!"
Muheo's face hardened.
And then—
Whoosh!
His figure blurred, and in the blink of an eye, he stood tall between Jin Muhon and Nangong Hyeok.
"Who dares try to kidnap my disciple?!"
"Gah!"
"No!"
Nangong Hyeok and Nangong Seonu recoiled in horror, stumbling back.