Chapter 40
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: I Got the Promise, But...
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His eyes were blind.
So blind it was no different from being sightless.
How could I have seen them merely as hunters?
'My judgment of people was worse than a blind man's. With my dim eyes, I sacrificed the household members in vain. How am I supposed to face them and our ancestors in the afterlife?'
The family had been trampled by enemies due to the patriarch's failings, and promising household members had died.
Yet the patriarch had fled, too busy abandoning his family and members.
He was unfit to lead.
Thick tears fell in heavy drops, soaking into the bloodstains on the ground.
Seok Yang-ho couldn't straighten his back.
"Please stand tall, Patriarch. If you keep showing yourself like this, the household members will grow even more despondent. In times like these, you need to console them so they can move past their grief and worries more quickly."
Whether my words got through or not, Seok Yang-ho slowly lifted his head.
I didn't want to look at his tear-streaked face any longer, so I called out to Seok Su-a, who was watching from behind.
"Miss Seok, take the patriarch away and instruct the household members to clear the bodies."
Seok Yang-ho frantically shook his head.
"No. That's my duty. I'll personally help the household members clean up the bodies and take care of everything. Truly... thank you."
"Enough with the thanks. And those who handled this were you, the Seok Family, the Zhuge Family, and the Namgung Family here. Seok Gwang-u and I have nothing to do with it."
Seok Yang-ho stared blankly at my face for a moment before turning away.
"Brother."
Gwang-u shuffled over to my side hesitantly.
"You too—change your clothes and go help the patriarch and the household members."
"Got it, brother."
Gwang-u's backside, clutching his pant leg as he ran off, looked comically pitiful.
I turned my gaze to Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye.
"Please forget everything that happened today. I beg you."
"Yes, I will. I'm sorry, Senior Go. We had no choice but to come to you two because of the Seok Family members."
Unlike Zhuge Ji, who bowed her head in shame, Namgung Hye met my eyes directly and spoke up.
"How can I keep a secret when I don't even know your name? It seems Sister Zhuge already knew it, but you're not going to tell me?"
This was truly an awkward situation.
If this woman returned to her family, she'd report every detail of what happened here.
And then it was obvious we'd be exposed to them, me and Gwang-u.
'This is driving me insane. Absolutely insane.'
Namgung Hye stared at me intently before suddenly whipping around.
"I guess you don't want to tell me. Fine. If that's how it is, I'll just ask around about you two among the famous figures of the martial world I know."
In the end, I caved to her threat.
"My name is 'Go Un-san.' That guy's name is 'Seok Gwang-u.'"
Even if our affairs reached Namgung Hu's ears anyway, it wouldn't matter if they didn't know our names.
That man would figure out exactly who we were in an instant.
"I see. Finally got your names. Nice to meet you, Senior Go."
"I'm no martial artist, so drop the 'senior' bit."
"Then I'll call you Hunter Go. That work?"
"Yes. And please, don't report anything about me or Gwang-u to your families. Especially make sure the Zhuge Family and Namgung Family members here keep their mouths shut."
Hmm...?
Namgung Hye made an odd humming sound and tilted her head.
"For now... sure."
For now?
Was that a promise to keep the secret, or just a wait-and-see? I couldn't tell what she meant.
"If word of this spreads through the martial world, or if the various families learn about me and Gwang-u, we'll leave this place immediately."
"Are you threatening me right now?"
"I hate the martial world. So just leave us be."
Whether my threat worked or not, Namgung Hye nodded silently.
'For now... it seems to have worked, but...'
Even if Namgung Hye and Zhuge Ji kept the secret, news of this incident would spread through the martial world anyway.
There were far too many eyes that had witnessed me and Gwang-u.
Too many potential risks.
No, they weren't even potential—they were all out in the open.
'Ah... I'm seriously going crazy.'
They brought whole pigs and sheep from the village and started cooking.
The Seok Family servants handled the cooking.
The servants passed around liquor and meat, but the household members didn't even touch their cups.
Just moments ago, they'd been digging holes in the ground to bury the bodies.
They'd witnessed countless deaths through the night and experienced it firsthand.
The stench of the enemies' blood still clung to their bodies.
Given the circumstances, they couldn't bring themselves to drink or eat comfortably.
Patriarch Seok Yang-ho berated them loudly for it.
"Don't you need to fill your bellies and return to the family to recover your kin's bodies and hold their funerals? We received much help, but the Seok Family emerged victorious in this battle. Mourn their deaths, but don't blame yourselves. Engrave today's events into your bones and face tomorrow with pride. Understood?!"
"Yes, Patriarch!"
The household members, scattered around the courtyard resting, replied in subdued voices.
"Now, raise your cups!"
The household members lifted their bowls and cups.
With not enough cups in the house, they'd substituted with bowls.
Seok Yang-ho downed his first, and the household members followed suit.
"Yang-jin, head back to the family first to check on things and report back."
"Understood, brother."
Seok Yang-ho's younger brother, Seok Yang-jin, selected three or four household members and left the house.
The Zhuge Family members and Namgung Family members also returned to the Seok Family alongside the Seok household members.
Having boosted their morale, he approached me and Gwang-u, who were sitting on the porch drinking.
On the porch sat me and Gwang-u, along with Namgung Hye, Seok Su-a, and Zhuge Ji.
"We owe a great debt to you two, the Zhuge Family, and the Namgung Family."
"Debt? Nonsense. They say bonds forged in blood last forever, so the blood alliance between the Zhuge Family and Seok Family will endure unchanging."
Namgung Hye graciously accepted Seok Yang-ho's gratitude, following Zhuge Ji's lead.
"The Namgung Family will maintain its blood alliance with the Seok Family for a long time as well."
I wanted to secure the patriarch's promise once more.
"Patriarch, repelling the raid was solely the work of the Seok Family, Zhuge Family, and Namgung Family. We two have no connection to it. Do you understand?"
Seok Yang-ho glanced back and forth between Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye, unsure.
"Do as they wish, Patriarch."
With Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye nodding their approval, Seok Yang-ho let out a long sigh and replied.
Whew...
"If that's what you two want, so be it. But the truth will come out eventually."
"Doesn't matter. Just do it. Especially ensure the household members and servants keep their mouths firmly shut."
"Understood."
Having secured Seok Yang-ho's promise, I felt a little less worried.
"This meat is insanely good. Brother, eat up."
The clueless idiot Gwang-u sat on the porch tearing into meat and chugging liquor.
"Think before you act for once."
"I think plenty... You're the one overreacting, brother."
Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye listened to our exchange and smiled quietly.
News of the raid on the Seok Family spread through the village like wildfire.
Rumors circulated that dozens of unidentified assailants had attacked at dawn, but fortunately, the Seok Family household members, along with Zhuge Family and Namgung Family reinforcements, had repelled them.
There were also tales of sacrifices among the Seok Family and Zhuge Family members.
Village elders visited the Seok Family to console Patriarch Seok Yang-ho.
Though it came at the cost of household members' lives, the Seok Family had once again made its name resound in the martial world.
Zhuge Ji loaded the household members' bodies onto a cart and passed through the Seok Family's main gate.
Namgung Hye was heading back with her, planning to stop at the Zhuge Family before returning home.
Seok Yang-ho and the household members saw them off for over a ri.
"Please go back now, Patriarch. I'll return in two months to finish setting up the formation."
"The Seok Family doesn't know how to repay the Zhuge Family and Namgung Family. If there's ever a way we can lend aid, we'll do so even if it means the annihilation of our house."
"Your words alone are gratitude enough."
The Zhuge or Namgung Families would likely never need the Seok Family's help.
But learning of such remarkable figures hidden in Huanin County through the Seok Family was a tremendous gain for their houses.
After the Seok Family members departed, the group urged their horses onward to pick up speed.
"Planning to come back in two months, Sister?"
"Of course. The formation isn't complete yet."
"Then I'd better get moving too, if I want to return here."
"Will your family allow it?"
Namgung Hye's response was firm.
"They definitely will."
Zhuge Ji suspected Namgung Hye wouldn't keep the secret.
"If attention pours onto those two, they'll really leave the village."
She worried the Namgung Family might approach them.
"That's why I need to pretend I'm not interested while paying close attention. They're such fascinating people. With that level of martial prowess, yet they want nothing to do with the martial world."
"They're eccentrics. So we should just leave them be."
Hmm...
Namgung Hye hummed oddly and smiled.
"Could it be... you're interested in that man, Sister?"
"N-no. Interested? What are you talking about..."
"Really? Good, then. Because I've taken an interest. I might even have figured out who they are..."
Zhuge Ji felt uneasy about that smile of Namgung Hye's.
The man named Go Un-san was a type she'd never encountered before.
Being around him made her inexplicably watch her words more carefully and even mind his mood.
Zhuge Ji pressed a hand lightly to her chest.
Thump thump thump...
Her heart was pounding wildly.
"Greetings to the two seniors."
The moment Gwang-u and I entered the village, we received polite bows from Seok Family household members on patrol.
'This is really driving me insane.'
I felt the world tint yellow before my eyes.
"Please, act like you don't know us. No greetings either."
I approached them and whispered, but the household members looked troubled instead.
"N-no, we can't. How could we pretend not to know you two? We'd get flogged by the patriarch."
"Ah... what a stubborn old fool."
Now I'd have to avoid even the Seok Family household members going forward.
After parting with them, I took Gwang-u to a rundown house at the village edge.
"Anyone home?"
Hearing my voice, the door opened, and an elderly man with white hair shuffled out, bowing hunchbacked.
"Who might you be? What brings you here?"
"Could you build me a boat? For catching fish."
It had taken a long time to find this old man.
I had no idea if fishing would sustain a livelihood—I'd never tried.
But even if I regretted it, I didn't want lingering what-ifs.
"I don't build boats anymore. Go on home."
The old man waved his hand dismissively and turned to go back inside.
"Please, old timer. I beg you."
Heh heh...
"Looks like you're thinking of making a living fishing, but you'll barely scrape by. Sure, good days you catch plenty, but more often than not, you catch nothing. Give up on becoming a fisherman right now."
"I still want to try."
As I persisted, the old man grew serious.
"Fine, then. One hundred silver taels. Pay up, and I'll build it."
One hundred silver taels for a small boat.
He must really hate the idea of building it.
An absurd sum, but I quickly pulled out the banknote and held it out.
"Here. Please make it."
Heh heh... Heh heh heh heh...
The old man burst into mad laughter.
"Young man, you've got some stubbornness. Fine. I'll do it."