Chapter 107
As the bodyguard who introduced herself as Unhui led the three of them deeper into the clan estate, Namgung Hui-myeong kept scanning the surroundings without relaxing his guard.
Despite the noisy trouble of “the kidnapping of the Jegal Sojeo,” an enormous number of outsiders had gathered at the Jegal Clan, and among them, Namgung Hui-myeong…
“Hm? Isn’t that Hui-myeong? You came to help the Jegal Clan in place of the Namgung Clan’s Sogaju? You’ve grown a lot. Then the Sojeo beside you is….”
“She’s my maidservant.”
“You brat, tell a lie that at least makes sense.”
People who had ties to him, and then—
“Pleased to meet you, Namgung Gongja. I’ve heard much about you. At the Murim Alliance martial tournament, you stood out—”
“She’s my maidservant, so don’t take interest in her.”
“…I haven’t said anything about that Sojeo yet.”
And people who did not know him well.
In other words, he was trying to protect Yeo Il from everyone.
Even after returning from the Murim Alliance, you haven’t improved at all, Namgung Hui-myeong.
Yeo Il was letting that spectacle pass indifferently when a question suddenly occurred to her.
“Brother.”
“Why? Is some bastard staring at you the whole time?”
“That’s not it. You keep threatening everyone else, but why are you so merciful when it comes to this person?”
Yeo Il jerked her chin toward Jin Cheong-ak, who was following behind them at an easy pace.
Sure enough, Namgung Hui-myeong’s overprotectiveness tended to become calmer when it was directed at Jin Cheong-ak.
Was it instinct—tucking his tail in front of a stronger man? The Namgung Hui-myeong she had seen until now was absolutely not that sort of person.
Soon, she heard a reply in a tone that said it was nothing.
“I thought it was something serious. Even if Jin Daehyeop is shameless, he isn’t a lecher too, is he?”
The shameless Jin Daehyeop let out a hollow, booming laugh.
“Shameless….”
“Isn’t it basically the same thing?”
“Hm. Is it?”
Scratching his chin, Namgung Hui-myeong glanced at Jin Cheong-ak.
“Well, it’s not like it means much. For how his mouth is light as dust, Jin Daehyeop doesn’t force you into idiot favors like grabbing your hand, or shoving his face in using ‘escort’ as an excuse.”
“Moth….”
“I thought you weren’t supposed to do that in the first place.”
“Of course you aren’t. But the Jianghu is full of bastards who can’t manage even that basic decency. Since it came up, remember it well, Soyo. The world is crawling with trash you can’t associate with. Don’t waste your eyes on them one by one—just stomp right over them. Remember that. Got it?”
At the tone like he was sick of it, Jin Cheong-ak muttered in a bitter voice.
“So I’m better than trash, is that it.”
Just then, Unhui stopped walking.
The ones blocking them at the entrance to the inner quarters were martial artists giving off an especially ominous air.
“Is this the Namgung Clan’s Namgung Sojeo?”
At the casually tossed question, Unhui answered without hiding her discomfort.
“…Yes, but.”
“Stop. Sorry, but Namgung Sojeo cannot go in.”
Unhui let out a small sigh as if she understood the reason.
“These are guests who came on Jegal Hyeonmun-nim’s invitation. Step aside.”
“Many people here are. But no.”
It was a strange standoff.
If the clan’s Gaju invited them and they were being escorted by the clan’s bodyguard, by what right were these martial artists blocking them?
Watching, Namgung Hui-myeong cut in, plainly showing his irritation.
“Why are you obstructing us?”
“So you’re Namgung Gongja. Do you know what rumors are going around in this area?”
At that, Namgung Hui-myeong’s expression hardened—his eyes reading their intent at once.
“I know a few dog-shit rumors.”
“If you know, that makes this easier. Jegal Hyeonmun-nim is a hero who will overcome this chaotic age. With respect for him, we are filtering out, as much as possible, those suspicious individuals trying to approach him.”
Namgung Soyo is fake.
The real Namgung Soyo died by Wolgeom’s hand.
It seemed that rumor had reached even here, Hubei Province. As expected of a rumor that started from Hangryong Gate, it spread fast—and firmly.
Namgung Hui-myeong spoke in a voice holding down boiling anger.
“Are you saying my younger sister is that suspicious individual?”
“That’s the implication, so calm yourself, Namgung Gongja. This isn’t just the opinion of three or four people.”
“That great Jegal Hyeonmun-nim personally called for my suspicious younger sister. So what right do you have to obstruct us?”
“…Jegal Hyeonmun-nim personally called for her?”
The martial artists took a step back and put their heads together among themselves.
“Seems like he doesn’t know the rumors about Namgung Sojeo. It’s unsettling to put her face-to-face with Jegal Hyeonmun-nim…”
“Even if he did know, he would surely brush it aside. He’s the kind of person who treats even a vicious criminal as a human being, isn’t he? We have to filter people properly in the middle.”
Yeo Il had heard Jegal Hyeonmun’s reputation enough to make her ears hurt since the days of Salmak, but—
To be trusted to this extent. In some ways, that’s beyond even the Murim Alliance Leader.
Before long, one of the martial artists stepped forward again, facing Namgung Hui-myeong.
“…Gongja. Everyone gathered here at the Jegal Clan has received Jegal Hyeonmun-nim’s grace. That’s why we rushed here at his request for help. It means we are moving purely for Jegal Hyeonmun-nim, excluding personal feelings entirely.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“We will personally meet Jegal Hyeonmun-nim and ask him what business he has with Namgung Sojeo. You can think of it as acting as an intermediary. Could you wait here for a moment?”
At those words, Namgung Hui-myeong was about to explode with a face that said he could not endure any more—
Shing—
A metallic sound that should not have been heard rang out of nowhere…
“How dare you draw a sword in a place like this—what ‘safe house’ do you think this is!”
“Are you crazy?”
“So you want to try it right now!”
The source of the disturbance was clearly this side.
“Try what? Measure height? You’ll definitely lose miserably.”
Without any need to doubt it, it was “as expected—Jin Cheong-ak.”
“Jin Daehyeop.”
Namgung Hui-myeong’s voice trying to stop him was very small, and utterly insincere. As if that were not enough, there was even the sound of a sword cutting the air.
“Step back!”
In the gaps between shocked voices, she heard giggling laughter.
“Haha! Acting like frightened mice…”
“As a junior, you seem to lack basic decency. Refrain from rude remarks!”
“Enough. Just look at this sword. It’s the sword of the Chuhyeol Sword Ghost. I wanted to brag a little.”
The bickering abruptly went quiet.
When Yeo Il cracked her eyes open slightly, it was ridiculous—despite how they had been baring their teeth in confrontation, men and women, young and old had gathered to stare at the sword Jin Cheong-ak was holding.
No wonder people said Jianghu folk were all simple-minded and ignorant.
“…Is that sword truly the sword of Palma, the Chuhyeol Sword Ghost?”
“Of course. He was an old monster who took Salmak’s commission and tried to harm our Miss Soyo. My credit for killing him was acknowledged—so much so that the Murim Alliance Leader even bowed his head to me and Miss Soyo in thanks.”
“…Kwon Ja-seong?”
“Of course.”
Now he was lying without even bothering to wet his lips.
“Not just the Alliance Leader. The Dangju of the Sichuan Tang Clan is close with Miss Soyo like sisters, and Bang Woo of the Changpae Saryong even received an unpayable debt of gratitude from Miss Soyo. These ties tell you what kind of path she walks—so does it make sense to block her way over some rootless rumor?”
At this rate, he would soon lie without blinking and claim he was the emperor’s hidden child.
Maybe because he had brought up the Dangju of the Sichuan Tang Clan—and even Bang Woo’s name—the martial artists’ (ignorant) conviction seemed to waver a little.
Just as Yeo Il was thinking how troublesome it was that, disguised as the frail Namgung Soyo, she could not persuade them with force—
“What is all this commotion?”
A somewhat familiar voice approached them.
“Namgung Sojeo, it’s been a while. Didn’t you receive the message that Jegal Hyeonmun-nim was looking for you? No matter how long we waited, you did not arrive at all, so I came in person.”
It was Mo Yong-sanghwi, the Chief Steward of the Murim Alliance.
Jin Cheong-ak smoothly cut in and stole Yeo Il’s reply.
“Ah… there was a bit of a problem.”
“A problem?”
“It’s really nothing. These senior fellows here said… our Miss Soyo is Salmak’s lackey who’ll smash Jegal Hyeonmun in the back of the head, stir up a bloodstorm in the Jianghu, and massacre innocent commoners—so absolutely, even if they die, they can’t let her inside.”
At the brazen bullshit, flustered shouts erupted.
“You insane bastard! When did we ever say that!”