Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: An Old Fogy?
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The merchant guild leader, Seo Ju-on, and his daughter, Seo I-ryeong, were not just bewildered but utterly astonished.
The Jade-Faced Righteous Hero…
The moniker "Jade-Faced Righteous Hero" had spread rapidly throughout Anhui, carried by the words of the common folk. Everyone excitedly chattered about how, even in this day and age, there was still a martial artist who practiced righteousness.
However, among martial artists, it was considered no big deal.
The Jade-Faced Righteous Hero?
Fine.
That’s all well and good.
But because his deeds were directed at underworld figures, they didn't think much of it.
‘Against underworld figures?’
‘I could do that much.’
‘Seems he wanted to play hero against some worthless thugs.’
‘Righteous hero? What a load of crap. He must be some lunatic desperate for attention.’
‘What’s he doing to those poor bastards?’
Such were their reactions.
One way or another, the rumors were passed by word of mouth and spread.
Thus, Seo Ju-on and Seo I-ryeong had heard of the Jade-Faced Righteous Hero, but like other martial artists, they hadn't considered him particularly remarkable.
And yet.
This man called the Jade-Faced Righteous Hero…
‘To think it was Young Master Seol…’
‘This young man…’
So that’s why he would willingly throw himself into a life-or-death situation, even when it wasn't his own affair!
Namgung Urin, standing before them, seemed even more extraordinary.
The maid who had bowed deeply rose to her feet and spoke again.
“Righteous Hero. Thank you so much.”
“…It was nothing, really.”
This wasn't why he had done it.
He had merely done what he thought was necessary for himself.
Namgung Urin felt embarrassed to receive such thanks.
The maid was still on the verge of tears.
“How… how can I ever repay this kindness…?”
“…I’m truly fine.”
Seo Ju-on and Seo I-ryeong marveled once more at Namgung Urin's humility.
Seo I-ryeong spoke to the discomfited Namgung Urin.
“Young Master. An act like this is more than deserving of gratitude, so don't be too modest. Excessive humility can come off as obnoxious.”
“I-ryeong.”
Seo Ju-on cut his daughter off, chiding her for speaking so to a distinguished guest.
“Father. The Young Master must have his reasons for acting this way. He’s not usually like this.”
After all, this was the same Namgung Urin who, not long ago, seemed to have a knack for acting tough, handsome, and superior. I-ryeong was certain he had a good reason for his current demeanor.
“Still, that’s… Tsk. Eun-a, you may leave now. It seems your feelings have been well conveyed.”
“Yes, Guild Leader. Please take care, Righteous Hero.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
After the maid left, Seo I-ryeong looked at Namgung Urin with surprise in her eyes.
“Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“It’s nothing.”
She was curious why he had done it, but seeing his discomfort, she decided not to ask. Instead, she immediately turned to her father.
“Father, I’ll show the Young Master to his quarters.”
“But you haven’t even had your tea.”
“I’ll serve it to him separately.”
“Very well, then. Young Master. Please make yourself at home and be comfortable here.”
“Thank you.”
“Father. You’ll be the one to speak to the Baekri Family, right?”
“I’ll have to.”
“Then we’ll be on our way.”
Seo I-ryeong and Namgung Urin left the guild leader's office.
“Hoo.”
Seo Ju-on let out a deep sigh.
It was certainly a joyous occasion.
But he couldn’t help but worry about relaying this news to the Baekri Family. The current situation was not good at all.
Anhui Province was in an uproar.
The Namgung Family had re-emerged in the martial world after five years. It was said that after bringing the Hyeoncheon Sect to its knees, they had immediately annihilated the Yeongun Faction.
Anyone in Anhui knew that these two factions had openly handled the Baekri Family’s dirty work. As a result, the Baekri Family’s nerves were extremely frayed.
“Perhaps…”
The thought that this forced marriage might be easily resolved without a life-and-death duel prompted the guild leader to pick up his brush at once.
He felt sorry for the young man named Seol U, but the guild leader thought that thanks to the Namgung Family, he might be able to solve the problem without lifting a finger.
And.
“That young man named Seol U…”
A strong desire for him to be with his daughter, Seo I-ryeong, took root in his mind.
***
Seo I-ryeong’s thoughts were not so different from her father’s. The marriage issue had been so distressing that she hated to even think of the word, but the idea of marrying the man walking beside her now didn’t seem so bad.
He didn't seem to be the type to stay in one place, so she imagined they could spend happy days together at the Hoyeon Merchant Guild. She, Seo I-ryeong, would continue to manage the guild’s affairs, and Namgung Urin would be in charge of the Hoyeon Merchant Guild's martial power. It seemed like a perfect match.
“Young Master.”
“Yes.”
“Do you happen to have a woman you love? You don’t, do you?”
As a merchant, Seo I-ryeong was a decent judge of character. She had concluded that a man with Namgung Urin’s personality wouldn't be able to stay close to a woman.
“No, I don’t.”
“I thought so.”
A bright smile bloomed on Seo I-ryeong’s face.
“If you thought so, why did you ask?”
“Why? Am I bothering you?”
Seo I-ryeong believed she had to be proactive to get closer to Namgung Urin.
In other words, it wasn't that Namgung Urin avoided women, but that his very personality was a wall that kept women from approaching.
“Not to that extent.”
“That’s a relief. Have you ever held a woman’s hand, or perhaps, held a woman…?”
“I have.”
Surprised, Seo I-ryeong’s footsteps halted. Namgung Urin stopped as well.
“…Really? When?! With whom?!”
“Hmm… when I was twelve, and about half a year ago. It’s difficult to say who it was.”
Half a year ago, it was the sect leader of the Iron Blood Sect. As for the woman from when he was twelve… even Namgung Urin didn't want to recall it. Hadn't he held the Iron Blood Sect leader precisely because that memory had surfaced?
She was truly… a crazy… child.
Although she was two years older than him, of course. She had spouted the absurd nonsense of wanting to get married right then and there.
At such a young age.
That child was none other than a daughter of the Zhuge family.
When he insisted they couldn't marry, she threw a tantrum, demanding he grant her wish if she won a duel against him. So, he had no choice but to fight her. Naturally, she lost. And then the child bawled her eyes out.
He had held her, but it wasn't of his own volition; it was simply his father's teaching. If not for his father, it would have been an unthinkable act.
Hoo.
Why does that memory keep coming back…?
I really hate it.
Watching Namgung Urin sigh, Seo I-ryeong blinked her large eyes.
Twelve was a young age, so that was understandable.
‘Was I wrong? That can’t be…’
“But you said you don’t have a woman you love.”
“It wasn't because I liked her that I held her. It was simply my father's teaching to hold a woman who shed tears because of me.”
“…Because of your… father’s teaching… you held a woman?”
“Yes. For the record, I don’t like repeating myself.”
Gulp.
Seo I-ryeong swallowed dryly. The situation was so absurd and dumbfounding that her throat went dry.
“I’ll keep that in mind. This may be rude, but was your father… by any chance… a woman…izer?”
“No…”
On second thought, he couldn't be sure. And it made him curious. Namgung Urin made a mental note to ask his mother to solve this mystery when he returned to the family estate.
Namgung Urin spoke again.
“I don’t know.”
“Young Master.”
“Yes.”
Seo I-ryeong decided she needed to correct Namgung Urin’s misconceptions.
She believed that if she didn't nip this in the bud, it could cause major problems even after they were married.
“A man shouldn’t just go around holding a woman simply because she’s crying. It can make women mistakenly think that the man likes them. That’s something only a womanizer would do. Do you understand, Young Master?”
“Miss.”
“Yes. Please answer me first.”
“Are you an old fogy?”
“…Excuse me? An o-old fogy? I’m only twenty-two.”
“I’ve heard that meetings between men and women are quite free these days. They say they don’t even shy away from spending a night together. Yet what you’re saying sounds like something from the old days. That makes you an old fogy.”
“…”
‘This man… could he be?’
Seo I-ryeong’s neck flushed red.
“Then, Young Master… do you have… experience?”
“No. I do not.”
“Then where on earth did you hear such things?”
“I’ve heard them here and there.”
He had mostly heard it in the family’s kitchen. The maids were chatting so excitedly that his curiosity was piqued. The older ladies and the young lasses were all the same.
He didn't know why their thoughts on men were all like that, though.
“Hearing things… here and there… doesn’t seem like you.”
“What is ‘like me’?”
“Well. I’m not sure, but someone wholesome, righteous, and who only knows martial arts? Someone very far removed from lewd jokes.”
“You’re wrong.”
“Hmph.”
‘An impenetrable wall of a man.’
Seo I-ryeong and Namgung Urin began walking again, exploring the various parts of the Hoyeon Merchant Guild.
Then, their steps halted once more. It was the training ground where the martial artists belonging to the Hoyeon Merchant Guild trained.
Seo I-ryeong spoke.
“What do you think?”
“About what?”
“How about giving our guild’s warriors a lesson?”
“I have no talent for teaching. Nor any interest.”
Though he might be good at beating people up.
“Why not?”
“I just can’t understand when people fail to do what’s obvious.”
“Oh! I’m the same way. Ah, not with martial arts, but with the guild’s business. I can see it at a glance, but other people don’t seem to get it. Wow. We have something in common.”
“Must be nice. Being so smart.”
“You’re being sarcastic, aren’t you?”
“No. And I have no talent in that area either.”
“That’s a huge relief.”
It was a relief he wasn't too perfect.
Seo I-ryeong and Namgung Urin started walking again.
***
The letter sent by the Hoyeon Merchant Guild’s leader arrived at the Baekri Family estate.
In the Baekri Family Head’s office, the Family Head, Baekri U, the Young Lord, Baekri Jang-won, and the Chief Steward, Baekri Cheong, were discussing the letter from the Hoyeon Merchant Guild, which lay open before them.
The Baekri Family Head spoke with displeasure.
“How insolent.”
Finding an opponent for a life-and-death duel was a clear declaration that they would rather die than go through with this marriage.
The Baekri Family's Young Lord, Baekri Jang-won, chimed in.
“Indeed, Father. It seems these curs are looking down on our family.”
The corners of the Baekri Family Head's mouth curled up.
“Merchants think they’re so clever. That’s why they’re taking advantage of this timing to act up.”
Hadn't the Namgung Family, which was thought to be ruined, brazenly reappeared and flaunted their existence?
They probably thought this incident had shaken the Baekri Family.
“That is correct, Family Head.”
It was the Baekri Family’s Chief Steward.
“They must think that at a time like this, our family will neglect the Young Lord’s marriage matters.”
It was true that the Namgung Family was a headache. Their actions had been far beyond what was anticipated.
They had thought it would be at least another ten years before they re-emerged in the martial world.
Already, several factions allied with the Baekri Family were showing signs of wavering.
The Baekri Family Head spoke.
“No matter how much wealth they accumulate, there’s a reason merchants can’t reign over the martial world, but they just don’t get it. Tsk. Chief Steward.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“I think this timing might actually work in our favor.”
“I am of the same opinion.”
“Expand the stage. And find out everything you can about that fellow who is set to have a life-and-death duel with Jang-won.”
“Understood.”
The Hoyeon Merchant Guild had, in effect, created an opportunity for the Baekri Family to announce to the world that they were becoming in-laws.
It was also a golden opportunity to reveal the Young Lord’s power, which had been hidden until now.