#89. Time for the Hunt (3)
“Prepare for battle!”
Ching! Ching! Ching! The hundred and fifty mounted warriors drew their gleaming swords, radiating a ferocity ready to charge the enemy at any moment. Though their foes outnumbered them, the horses they rode, the Namgung family and Iron Sword Sect emblems on their robes—all of it overwhelmed the opposition's momentum.
“Good thing we weren't too late.”
Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa rode up beside me. I still couldn't hide my surprise at their arrival.
“Were you in Soju?”
“As if.” Seong Moran shot Namgung Seonhwa a meaningful smile. “We pulled three all-nighters rushing here from Anhui Province. So why the hell was Lord Jin in Anhui Province instead of staying put in Zhejiang?”
I tilted my head at their baffling words, but Namgung Seonhwa just nodded.
“We'll talk details later.”
“……”
Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran straightened in their saddles, eyes fixed on Songbaek.
“Long time no see, Songbaek.”
Songbaek's expression was a subtle mix—neither a frown nor a smile.
“I never expected to see you two here.”
Namgung Seonhwa ignored him, scanning the surroundings instead.
“I heard Hwayang Escort Bureau sponsors a lot of martial artists. Was it all for this?”
“……Escort bureaus never stop recruiting top talent.”
“None of them look like they're taking the Murim Academy entrance exam. Am I wrong?”
“……”
“Has anyone here secured the First Gate Pass or Second Gate Pass yet?”
No one stepped forward. Songbaek quickly interjected.
“We haven't obtained the passes yet, so we're still in the midst of the exam.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. That's correct.”
Namgung Seonhwa nodded as if she fully understood.
“Planning to keep going anyway?”
“I lost my pass to him.”
At Songbaek's words, Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran stared at me in disbelief, their faces screaming, 'Even now?'
Namgung Seonhwa sighed and continued.
“……Weren't the rest of you here to steal Lord Jin's pass too?”
“……”
“Now you'll have to deal with the Namgung family and Iron Sword Sect as well.”
Songbaek glanced between me, Namgung Seonhwa, and Seong Moran.
“Why is the Namgung family siding with Tae-eul Gate? And aren't Iron Sword Sect and Tae-eul Gate sworn enemies?”
“That's none of your concern, Lord Song.”
“Even the Namgung family can't just meddle in Jianghu affairs on a whim.”
“What if Iron Sword Sect and the Namgung family are formally allied with Tae-eul Gate?”
“……”
“Doesn't that give us the right to intervene?”
“Are you seriously doing this?”
Songbaek's eyes sharpened. Any lingering goodwill had evaporated, leaving a cold, dry gaze.
“Even Namgung family and Iron Sword Sect can't ignore Hwayang Escort Bureau in Soju.”
Songbaek looked up at the city walls. Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran's eyes followed.
There stood Prefect Hyunryeong, his face pale with panic.
“……True. No one can ignore Hwayang Escort Bureau in Soju. But do you think you can ignore the Namgung family across the Jianghu?”
“!”
“!”
If Hwayang Escort Bureau ruled Soju, the Namgung family dominated the entire martial world.
Prefect Hyunryeong's face drained of color. Unless he planned to die in Soju, he'd eventually finish his term and transfer elsewhere—where Namgung influence far outstripped Hwayang's.
“Interfering in a Murim Academy exam could be deemed cheating later on.”
“I never said anything about revenge.”
“……”
Songbaek bit his lip. His eyes darted between the prefect on the wall and us.
Tae-eul Gate might be crushable with official might, but Namgung family and Iron Sword Sect were beyond a mere prefect's reach.
After some back-and-forth, the prefect waved his hand. Archers began lowering their bows one by one. He vanished from sight, and the guards swiftly cleared the gate, releasing those lined up outside.
“Looks like it's over.”
The moment the prefect signaled non-interference, the scales tipped back in our favor.
“So, what now? Retreat? Press on?”
Namgung Seonhwa pinned him down with an overwhelming pressure she'd never shown before.
“……If you return the passes, I'll consider it.”
Songbaek's voice shrank. Namgung Seonhwa looked to me.
I stated the obvious.
“Not a chance. No plans to return them. Get lost!”
# In the end, Songbaek slunk away empty-handed. Demanding his stolen pass back mid-exam was like a kid throwing a tantrum—he couldn't push it further.
“Senior Brother……”
Eunho whispered softly.
“Are we teaming up with them from now on?”
“Who knows……”
My voice must've carried; Eunho glanced nervously and lowered his even more.
“Wouldn't it be better to stick together? We can't keep watch shifts forever on our own.”
What we needed right now was solid rest and nutrition. The kids hadn't slept properly once since the exam began—their fatigue was at a breaking point. Hell, from the inn fiasco, they seemed half-mad already.
“But where are we headed now?”
“And why are you whispering like that?”
Eunho snuck peeks at Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran.
“Just……don't wanna upset them with a loud voice……”
“Haa……”
No wonder Geum Pyo and Dongryong were quieter than usual—they were tense around Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran.
“Can't you treat your senior brother the same way?”
“What's the difference?”
“……Never mind. Forget it.”
We headed straight to the Changgung Merchant Guild branch in Soju, escorted by Namgung family and Iron Sword Sect warriors.
“Dinner first……but you should wash up before that.”
Namgung Seonhwa had offered food, but changed to baths upon seeing us. The gold-silver-bronze brothers flushed red as they were led away.
“Whoa!”
“This bath's bigger than Tae-eul Gate's entire hall?”
“Amazing.”
The communal bath for escorts featured a massive wooden tub at the center, hot water pouring endlessly from ceiling channels.
“Kyaa!”
“Ow……hot.”
The three brothers sank in, faces blissful as if tasting paradise.
“Three days of this would be heaven.”
“For real. Too good.”
“Ugh……”
As they soaked, flakes of dried blood and dirt sloughed off massively. But the hot cascade filled the tub, flushing it clear in moments.
Geum Pyo, luxuriating, suddenly asked me something.
“Senior Brother, sects with branches nationwide are safe from raids during the exam, right?”
“Probably.”
“Whoa……”
Even taking the same exam, Tae-eul Gate disciples were exposed to attacks the moment they left Hebi—not Anhui. Meanwhile, major sects like the Nine Great Gates or Five Great Families had secure lodging via their networks.
“What a bullshit exam.”
Not just for the weak—even the strong couldn't breeze through. That's why folks called the Murim Academy entrance exam the Hell Exam.
Unlike grumbling Geum Pyo, thoughtful Eunho eyed me intently.
“How'd you get so close to Lady Namgung and Lady Seong, Senior Brother?”
“Various things happened. Why?”
“It doesn't add up. They're taking the exam too, right? Yet they crossed provinces just to rescue you? Doesn't make sense.”
Splash! I slapped the water, drenching his face.
“Gah! Senior Brother! Can't you see the grime?”
“Why add 'just' to it?”
“From their side, it seems like it.”
Truth be told, I wondered too. Haomen intel said they'd been ambushed early and hiding. Saving time for me amid their own exam struggles? Hard to swallow.
“Ah!”
Geum Pyo snapped his fingers, as if solving a puzzle.
“That's it. Makes sense now.”
“Huh?”
Eunho eyed him suspiciously, not getting it himself.
“Love.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
The bath fell silent, save for the water lapping.
Eunho shot up and dunked Geum Pyo's head under.
Glug glug glug.
“Gack! Why?!”
“Say something sensible. Love? Did you go mad in battle or what?”
I shared Eunho's sentiment.
Glug glug.
“Guh! Stop! Water—glug—I'm drowning!”
“Lady Namgung Seonhwa, pearl of the Namgung family—think Senior Brother stands a chance? No background, plain looks, weird personality. Only got his memory going for him. What would she see in him?”
“……”
Eunho's rant grew odd.
“And Lady Seong Moran? Please! She was snarling at you like enemies months ago! Her clan's no slouch compared to Namgung—beauty, martial prowess. Think they'd spare our senior brother a toenail's worth of thought?”
“……Eunho.”
“Yes? Ah! Don't worry, Senior Brother. I'll drill Geum Pyo so he doesn't spout nonsense around the ladies. Convince them to travel with us.”
I told the smug Eunho,
“……Wanna drink this whole tub?”
“……Hic.”
# “Nice to meet you.”
Dinner was simple. In a small side room of the guild hall, just Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, me, and the gold-silver-bronze brothers sat.
“H-Honor!”
“N-Nice to meet you.”
“H-Hellooo……”
They'd vowed no shrinking in the bath, strutting naked with bravado—now they moved like wooden puppets, stiff and awkward.
Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran covered amused smiles, finding them adorable.
“Ho ho ho.”
“If I'd known Lord Jin's juniors were this cute, I'd have come sooner.”
Geum Pyo scratched his head nonstop, grinning sheepishly, face beet-red. Eunho, who'd trashed Iron Sword Sect before, wagged an imaginary tail. Dongryong stared at the floor like a boiled sweet potato.
Boys this age struggle with composure around girls, but these three were extreme.
'Well, with Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa.'
Alongside Wang Soso, they were famed beauties of Anhui.
It made sense. Daily Wang Soso exposure should've built immunity—but maybe her personality? Or natural vs. dolled-up beauty was different?
“Cut it and sit.”
“……Y-Yes.”
“……Y-Yeah.”
“……”
Geum Pyo and Eunho shot me resentful glares—blasphemous—before sitting. Should've drowned them more.
“You must be starving. Dig in.”
Thanks to Changgung's hospitality, eleven dishes crowded the small table for six. The gluttons from the inn now delicately sampled with chopsticks.
I ignored them, turning to the ladies.
“What happened?”
Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran exchanged looks, smiling meaningfully.
“Not happy we came?”
“Of course I am. You saved us at the direst moment.”
Without them, Hwayang wouldn't have backed off so easily.
“I heard you two suffered heavy losses and were hiding.”
“You heard that too?”
I clearly recalled the report: post-First Gate, Namgung and Iron Sword teams ambushed.
“Moran-unnie bore the brunt. All because of me.”
Here's what went down.
Before the exam, Namgung Taeha and Namgung San hadn't arrived. Namgung Seonhwa entered with barely twenty warriors. Luckily, Seong Moran stuck with her, bolstering their numbers to pass First Gate—but attacks followed immediately.
“It was our collateral branch.”
Only Namgung blood let them target Namgung openly. They hounded relentlessly, skipping Second Gate, forcing injured warriors home.
“Thank goodness Grandfather showed up.”
Namgung Taeha, master of Changgung Cloud-Veil Sword, summoned collaterals for a purge right after First Gate—to block them from Namgung Seonhwa. He then sent her spirit pills and eighty more family warriors.
“We caught our breath, then heard Lord Jin was targeted by Mudang, Huashan, and Jeomcheong.”
“……Huh?”
“……What?”
“???”
The brothers gawked, hearing it fresh.
Namgung Seonhwa asked me,
“You didn't know?”
“I did. Just didn't see the need to mention.”
“……Crazy……”
“……No, Senior Brother……”
“……”
Grumbles erupted.
“Dessert bathwater?”
“……”
“……”
“……”
The brothers clammed up. Namgung Seonhwa looked puzzled. I smoothly shifted topics.
“You came because of that rumor?”
They nodded vigorously.
“Obviously.”
“Of course.”
I felt oddly guilty.
“Sorry to burden you. But thanks—you saved our lives.”
“It's nothing. You saved ours too.”
“Unnie, twice for me.”
They giggled. Now the brothers stared blankly.
“Ah……you didn't tell them that either?”
“……No time, and they were busy training.”
“They should know what kind of guy their senior brother is.”
She recounted Ma-ryeong Plateau, the road to Namgung manor, etc.
The brothers forgot their food, listening rapt.
“That's how it went.”
“……”
“Lady Namgung Seonhwa and Lady Seong Moran—you were both at Ma-ryeong Plateau?”
Their nods left the brothers' jaws dropped. They'd heard bits via gifts from unorthodox sects but not who was involved.
Once processed, the awkward trio exploded.
“As expected of Senior Brother! It all makes sense now!”
“See, bro? Told you there was a reason.”
“Maybe during the rescue at Ma-ryeong, she fell for—mmph!”
Eunho clamped Dongryong's mouth, then bolted up.
“We're beat—mind if we head up?”
“……? Oh, sure. Rest well; see you tomorrow.”
As the brothers left, a maid brought tea. As steam faded,
Namgung Seonhwa said gravely,
“You seem less worried than I thought.”
“Worrying won't fix it.”
She sighed in exasperation. Seong Moran continued,
“Mudang, Huashan, Jeomcheong……”
She eyed me steadily.
“If those three target just you……sorry, but it's over.”
“……”
“You know what comes after the Three Gates, right?”
Abyss of Wailing—the Great Journey. True Hell Exam post-Final Gate. Casualties dwarfing the gates, with some skipping to wait it out.
And openly, three Nine Great Gates hunted me.
“I know well. So I ask……”
They'd each secured First and Second Gate Passes. Third Gate passage meant Academy admission—their fated paths.
“Will you travel with us?”
They could brush off my peril with mild concern and proceed alone, staying on track.
But rash chivalry could derail their lives entirely.
“Teaming with us might doom your admission……no, probably will.”
“……”
“……”
Repaying life-debts was touching, but I hadn't sought payment—no intent to impose. I'd received ample already.
If anything, I urged against it. Too much at stake for blood-boiling heroics.
“Your very thoughts suffice. Better you don't join. If you suffer greatly because of me, I couldn't face Sword Immortal or Iron Sword Lord.”
“……”
“……”
I sipped the cooled tea.
With Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran as cards, strategies abounded. But I wasn't Yong So-a or Murim Alliance—using them as tools? No.
Treating as my people, taking responsibility—vastly different from tools.
They teetered on that boundary for me now.
“Truly……”
Long silence, then Seong Moran parted crimson lips.
“……So very you, Lord Jin.”
“Unnie, told you he'd say that.”
They locked eyes, nodding amusedly.
“We discussed it the moment we heard. So don't frame it as repaying debts or favors.”
“Right. We wanted to join you from the start.”
The scales tipped. Their words solidified my choice.
I nodded instead of words.
“Please take care of us.”
“Likewise—this time too.”
Namgung Seonhwa's playful tone melted the tension.
“But why target you and Tae-eul Gate specifically? I heard Huashan and Jeomcheong clashed with their disciples at Yongbong Assembly in Tae-eul Gate. Mudang though?”
Before my answer, Seong Moran jumped in.
“That Yong So-a bastard. He escaped Muryangbulgolmokhonjin alone. Got flak while you got praise.”
“That factors in, but the real reason's likely my passes.”
Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran cocked heads. Looks different, actions like sisters or twins.
“You didn't know?”
“Know what?? Aren't you holding one each?”
“……?”
“Nine First Gate Passes, six Second. Minus the ones I took from Songbaek—ten and seven now.”
“What?”
“Four?!”
Their jaws dropped like thunderstruck.
“I've assumed the entire Jianghu—not just those three—hunts us.”
“……”
“……”
They looked dazed, souls fled. Really clueless?
I added quickly,
“Your vow on warrior honor and family name to join us—thank you again.”
“……Never invoked warrior honor……”
“……Unnie, did I mention family earlier……?”
Fallen bow, no retreat.