Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: A Terrible Memory
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The master of the Moonlit Pavilion took the drawing confidently presented by her manager, her eyes widening.
“Wow.”
The master couldn’t hide her admiration.
“Killer, isn’t it?”
“Is this the face of that fellow rumored to be the Jade-Faced Righteous Hero?”
The face in the drawing was Namgung Urin’s. It had only been a day since the investigation began at the request of the Mysterious Heaven Sect.
Word of the Black Serpent Gang and Namgung Urin spread quickly from the mouths of the women freed from prostitution.
In particular, rumors about Namgung Urin’s face accounted for the majority of the talk. And eventually, these rumors created a title for him.
That title was the Jade-Faced Righteous Hero.
In short, it meant he was a ridiculously handsome righteous hero.
“Yes, that’s right. I’ve never seen a face like this before. What do you think?”
The manager’s face was filled with anticipation, expecting nothing but praise.
However, the master’s reaction was the complete opposite of what he expected.
She crumpled the drawing of Namgung Urin in her hand and threw it at the manager’s face.
*Thwack.*
Though it was only paper, imbued with the master’s internal energy, it was no different from a rock.
“Oof.”
“Hey, you bastard! Do your job properly!”
The master rose from her seat and didn’t hesitate to kick the manager.
*Thump, thump!*
“Agh, I’m dying. Master! Master! Please. Why are you doing this?!”
“Why? This bastard’s gotten lazy and is doing a sloppy job, that’s why! Huh?!”
*Pummel!*
The master’s fists rained down on the manager relentlessly.
“Agh, Master. What on earth did I do to deserve this?”
The master’s fists and feet continued to assault the manager without rest.
“You bastard! Who told you to just accept any old drawing someone gives you?! Huh! You have to verify it. Verify! You hear me! Is this a human face? Huh? This isn’t a human face, it’s a drawing of someone’s wish to be this handsome! You’re supposed to bring me a drawing of the real person! The real person! Not some ideal fantasy! You son of a bitch! I may be a sucker for a handsome face, but this is ridiculous! What is this? What!”
“Agh, Master. Please, spare me.”
Just then, a voice called for the master from outside.
“Master.”
“What is it! Can’t you hear I’m in the middle of a lesson!”
“Um… we have a drawing of the Jade-Faced Righteous Hero’s face…”
“Really? Then come in.”
A woman opened the door and handed a drawing to the master, So Hwi.
“Huh?”
It was the same face the manager had shown her.
Following her, another woman appeared and handed over a drawing, also claiming it was the face of the Jade-Faced Righteous Hero.
“Well now.”
Then another appeared, handed over one more identical drawing, and disappeared.
“Whoa.”
The master of the Moonlit Pavilion, So Hwi, scratched the back of her head and spoke to the manager, Chanjo, who was lying on the floor, crying pitifully.
“Get up, you bastard.”
The manager stood, wiping away a bloody nose and sniffling continuously.
“*Sob sob.*”
“Sorry, you bastard.”
“It’s fine.”
“You bastard. It’s pathetic to cry like that at your age.”
The manager, who was also the head of the Anhui branch of the Lower Five Gates, was forty-two years old. One might think it rude for a woman in her mid-thirties to treat an older man this way, but within the Lower Five Gates, it was common.
The members of the Lower Five Gates were the sort who considered it natural to have devoured their manners for breakfast and shat them out.
It was a place where only hierarchy and martial strength existed. Not that the martial world was much different.
“It’s the master who’s too harsh, making a man my age cry like this.”
“That’s enough. I said I was sorry.”
“With just a ‘sorry’…”
“This son of a bitch, really!”
“I understand, ma’am.”
Master So Hwi returned to her seat, unfolded the drawing of Namgung Urin, and fell into a state of appreciation as if savoring a fine wine.
“Wow.”
This drawing, that drawing. And this one too.
“This is… his face is a total scam. A scam. Or is it sorcery? It’s unbelievable.”
She looked, and looked again, and kept on looking.
“Yes! This is the creation of a myth. He’s going to rewrite the history of the martial world with that face.”
Suddenly, the master, So Hwi, shot up from her seat.
“Hey. But the Mysterious Heaven Sect is frantically searching for this Jade-Faced Righteous Hero, right?”
Manager Chanjo, still pouting, replied.
“That’s right.”
“Hey, this is a big problem. Does this mean this face will soon be dead and gone?”
“That’s about the size of it.”
“No. That won’t do. I can’t let a face like this go without at least getting a taste. Where is this guy now?”
“I heard he attacked Bongtae yesterday. You might have a hard time getting a taste.”
Namgung Urin’s group had been riding continuously for four days without sleep.
The master’s eyes widened.
“Why?”
“The Mysterious Heaven Sect and Yeongunbang are dispatching experts to each of their branches. So won’t he be caught before he gets very far? Then again, it seems like he might not get caught.”
“Right?”
“Yes.”
“He’d be a fool if he made a move like this without considering that much, right?”
“Indeed. But then again, how strong can this young pup possibly be?”
“Damn it. That’s a problem too. I’m already getting all hot and bothered. What am I going to do?”
“As of now, there doesn’t seem to be a way.”
“If there’s no way, you make one, you bastard.”
“His current path is heading toward us in Myeonggwang, but he might die before then. Even if he survives, he could change direction.”
“Ah, fuck. My head’s about to split.”
“Why would your head split, Master? If anyone’s head should split, it should be mine.”
The manager was in charge of all the thinking.
“It’s because I’m using my brain for once! Why, you bastard!”
“Exactly, why don’t you use that fine head of yours more often?”
“Because it’s a pain. A pain in the ass! Anyway. So where did this guy come from?”
“We’re looking into it now, but I’m thinking he must have just dropped from the sky.”
“Still, find out everything. You know how it is. Everything comes to light eventually.”
“Understood.”
“Damn it. A face like this really only comes around once in a thousand years.”
The master of the Moonlit Pavilion and head of the Anhui branch of the Lower Five Gates, So Hwi, licked her lips regretfully.
***
“No.”
“I also say no.”
Namgung Urin, who had returned to the family estate after seven days, was arguing with his uncle, Namgung Yul.
“You damn nephew!”
“Just because my mother isn’t here doesn’t mean you can speak so carelessly to your nephew.”
“Fine! Go tell on me. Go on!”
“I will.”
Namgung Urin turned as if he was about to run off and tattle that very instant.
Startled by his nephew’s behavior, Namgung Yul frantically called out his name.
“Urin!”
“What is it?”
“Let’s talk this out like men.”
“That’s what I’m doing.”
*If only I couldn’t even speak!*
Namgung Yul felt like he was about to die from sheer frustration.
As the Family Head, he should be focusing all his attention on how to lead the family, but instead, he was constantly on edge because of one troublemaking nephew.
“Urin. Didn’t you just say you were going to tell on me to your mother?”
“That’s because you ordered me to, Uncle.”
“You listened because I ordered you?”
“Yes.”
Namgung Yul grabbed the back of his neck, which was throbbing painfully.
“Have you ever listened to my orders before?”
“I have ears, you know. I listen when I want to.”
“And you ignore me when you don’t want to listen?”
“Yes.”
“Well, aren’t you something special, my dear nephew.”
“Yes. There must be a reason people call me the Jade-Faced Righteous Hero.”
“Ha, ha. Ugh. Hahaha.”
Namgung Yul was so dumbfounded he felt he was on the verge of death.
“Please know that and prepare yourself. I shall take my leave now, out of concern for your health, Uncle.”
Thinking he might actually be the death of his uncle, Namgung Urin turned his back and left the Family Head’s office.
“Damn kid.”
Though a curse escaped his lips, a broad smile spread across Namgung Yul’s face.
“Is it just beginning? Hehe. Hehehe.”
No.
It had already begun.
Namgung Urin’s unexpected and tremendous growth, along with the unforeseen elixir, had allowed him to far exceed the expectations of the Namgung Family Head, Namgung Yul.
***
The Commander of the Mysterious Heaven Sword Brigade was reporting information from the Lower Five Gates to the Mysterious Heaven Sect Leader.
“We’ve discovered the base of the Black Serpent Gang. It’s in Hefei. They say it’s not far from their previous location. And they are currently staying there.”
The Mysterious Heaven Sect Leader spoke, dumbfounded.
“So openly?”
“That is what we’ve been told.”
“They’re a bunch of madmen. What does the Manager think?”
The Manager tilted his head.
“They are an incomprehensible bunch. According to the Lower Five Gates, it’s questionable whether they even have a backer. They say their total number is fifty-six… I cannot determine if this is a trap, or if they are trying to make it seem like there’s a trap.”
The Sword Brigade Commander added his thoughts.
“I believe that is their entire force.”
The Sect Leader asked.
“Why do you think so?”
“I’ve heard that the martial skills of six of them are comparable to masters. One is said to be even stronger. I believe they are staying so openly at their base because they trust in their own strength. And there is one more thing.”
“Speak.”
“The Black Serpent Gang is located in Hefei, is it not?”
“It is.”
“Has any martial sect in Anhui ever led a force into Hefei? As far as I know, there is no such history since the Namgung Family established themselves there.”
“What are you saying?”
“Exactly. They believe they are under the shadow of the Namgung.”
“So the name Namgung still holds weight, even in ruin? Haha. Well, well. Manager, what do you think of the Commander’s assessment?”
“It is a point worthy of consideration. If that is true, then the Black Serpent Gang is delusional. Was it not the Namgung who did nothing while those bastards ran rampant? As a result, Hefei is now dead.”
“I think so as well. How many men do you need, Commander?”
His meaning was clear: go and capture them immediately.
“To be safe, I believe we will need two hundred men.”
“We can’t be sure. It could very well be a trap. Take the entire Mysterious Heaven Sword Brigade and depart. And remember. You must bring them back alive.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
The Mysterious Heaven Sword Brigade was the elite force of the Mysterious Heaven Sect, consisting of 300 members. It represented thirty percent of the sect’s entire strength.
***
The Commander of the Mysterious Heaven Sword Brigade led his entire unit into Hefei. This was his first time visiting the city since the Namgung Family’s fall.
“It truly is dead.”
He had heard the talk about how the once-splendid Hefei was dead, and he had taken it with a grain of salt, but seeing it with his own eyes, he understood.
The expression ‘dead’ was not wrong.
To think that in his youth, he had practically lived in Hefei.
“It’s for the best.”
The Commander’s last memory of Hefei was a terrible one. He couldn’t erase it no matter how hard he tried. It was so bad that it still appeared in his dreams sometimes.
Perhaps for that reason, he felt a strange sense of relief.
The Commander and the members of the Sword Brigade moved for another hour and arrived at the estate where the Black Serpent Gang was staying.
As a precaution, the Commander had the surrounding area thoroughly searched. There was nothing suspicious. He then ordered his men to surround the gang.
The Commander stood before the main gate of the Black Serpent Gang’s estate.
It was noisy inside. It seemed a drinking party was underway.
“Look at them, living it up. Clueless that they’re about to die. Madmen.”
The Commander flung open the gates and stepped inside. However, no one paid him any mind, too absorbed in their drinking.
The Commander stared at the scene, his expression one of utter disbelief.
“…!”
There was a face he knew.
It was the person who had given him that last, terrible memory that still refused to fade.
“That, that bastard… Why is he here…”