Chapter 154: The Namgung Family-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154: The Namgung Family-2
Taking a rope from the storage space, In-ho skillfully bound the bandits' hands.
Strung together like dried yellow croakers, they trailed behind the horse In-ho was leading, all of them gasping for breath at the horse's pace. The low groans of the bandits echoed as they ran along the bumpy road.
"Hey, keep it down, will you?"
When In-ho, who was leading the horse, spoke up at the continuous moaning, the noise finally quieted down a bit.
"You've gone and attached a useless tail to us."
So-yu, sitting in front of In-ho, grumbled, making In-ho chuckle.
"It’s not like I could just kill them."
"That is exactly why you are soft. What will change if you hand them over to the authorities like this?"
She clearly disapproved of In-ho’s lenient methods.
"They’ll be punished according to the law, right?"
When In-ho replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, So-yu let out a long sigh.
"It is what comes after that. Bandits are not executed on the spot; they are locked in prison for a few days and then flogged. What do you think they will do after that?"
"At the very least, they won't go back to being bandits."
"No, they will return to banditry. In the end, the cycle of evil does not diminish."
"So, are you saying I should have killed them?"
At In-ho’s words, the bandits following behind flinched and trembled.
"Because that is what must be done in the Murim."
So-yu spoke with firm conviction. However, In-ho did not agree with his master’s sentiment.
"I don't know about that. There is a country and there are laws. Should a mere individual be allowed to carry out executions?"
"A mere individual? You are a martial artist."
"Still an individual. The Murim Alliance and the Group of Evil might be gatherings of martial artists... but in the end, they’re just groups of individuals brought together by shared interests."
It’s different from official government business, In-ho thought, speaking decisively.
"The concept of 'Non-Interference of Officials and Martial Artists' is foreign to me."
"Hmm... You are likely the only one who would say such a thing while belonging to the Murim."
"Maybe it's because I wasn't born a martial artist."
In-ho shrugged his shoulders.
Clop, clop.
The rhythmic sound of hooves continued along the forest path. The group, which had been passing through dense greenery until moments ago, gradually moved toward areas showing signs of human habitation.
"You lot are lucky," So-yu said to the bandits from her seat in front of In-ho. "It is only because my disciple has such a soft heart that your heads are still attached to your necks."
Gulp.
The leader of the bandits swallowed hard at So-yu’s words, which weren't a mere threat but a simple statement of fact.
Clop, clop.
The carriage and the horse emerged from the forest. In the distance, a fortress city packed with houses came into view.
Anhui.
They had returned to Anhui after a year.
"But it’s probably not another Sparring Tournament. What brings you here this time? You usually don't go to crowded places like this."
They had spent their time traveling through mountain villages helping people. Unless it was the Grandmaster’s official business, they rarely went into major cities, so In-ho asked So-yu, wondering if it was another matter for the Murim Alliance.
"Well, it is not exactly official business... or rather, perhaps it should be considered as such."
When So-yu trailed off ambiguously, In-ho tilted his head.
"How can it be both? It’s either official business or it isn't."
"It is not for the Murim Alliance."
"Then where are we going?"
"The Namgung Family."
"Eh?"
"And the Grandmaster has no particular business there. This visit is happening because of me."
"I thought you said once you join the Flame Wheel Master’s lineage, you're no longer part of your original family?"
"That is true."
"Is someone in your family sick?"
In-ho asked, wondering if someone was in critical condition or had passed away, but So-yu shook her head.
"It is not a bad thing. Quite the opposite—it is a celebration."
"A celebration? Oh, that’s good then."
"It is the birthday of the Family Head’s daughter."
So-yu spoke calmly, her eyes fixed on Anhui Castle in the distance. Looking at the back of her head, In-ho felt a strange sense of complicated emotions and loneliness radiating from her.
"So, she's your niece?"
"My cousin."
Just as In-ho was about to ask more, a voice called out from the carriage.
"So-yu."
At the Grandmaster’s call, In-ho steered the horse to the side of the carriage.
"The path diverges here, so hand the criminals over to the authorities. I have a place to stop by with Young Lady Jegal, so go to the estate ahead of us."
"Yes, I understand. Then, Young Lady Jegal, I hope we meet again."
As So-yu offered her farewell to the carriage, a soft voice drifted from inside.
"Yes. I hope to see you again soon. Ah, and I certainly hope to see Young Master Kang again as well."
"Haha. Yes. I look forward to our next meeting with great anticipation, Young Lady Jegal."
As In-ho gave a bright farewell, So-yu glanced back and shot him a look. In-ho ignored it and spurred the horse past the carriage. The bandits followed behind him like a string of sausages.
*
"Your grin is practically reaching your ears."
On the way back after handing the bandits over to the authorities, So-yu rebuked In-ho.
"Eh? What is? Oh, the chicken skewer? It’s delicious, isn't it?"
Thinking that walking while eating a chicken skewer from a street stall had annoyed his master, In-ho answered obliviously. At that cheerful response, So-yu involuntarily let out a long sigh.
"I am not talking about the chicken skewer."
"Then what?"
"I am talking about Young Lady Jegal."
So-yu spoke up, her irritation bubbling over.
"Young Lady Jegal? Why? What did she say?"
"You two were speaking so familiarly. 'I look forward to our next meeting with great anticipation'? To an outsider, you’d look like a pair of lovers promising each other a future."
So-yu narrowed her eyes.
"No... I mean, it wasn't like that."
"It was the same on the way here. You were just a simple escort, yet you were asking what foods she can't eat, what foods she likes."
So-yu’s fist lightly thumped In-ho’s stomach.
"Just in case, you know? She could have eaten something and gotten sick."
Perhaps because he had been hit so many times that he’d built up a tolerance, In-ho continued speaking without showing any sign of pain.
"That is... why are you the one worrying about that?"
"Alright, alright... I get it. My mistake."
In-ho started to snap back, but he quickly suppressed his irritation and declared defeat. He didn't want to argue further with his master, who had been acting particularly prickly lately.
When In-ho surrendered so quickly, So-yu nodded a few times, seemingly satisfied.
"Yes, good. From now on, do not be unnecessarily kind to people."
"As a martial artist, you mean?"
"Yes, as a martial artist. If private emotions enter a mission, it will lead to failure."
"Got it. Anyway, are we going the right way? Is that wall over there the Namgung estate?"
In-ho asked, pointing toward a massive wall visible in the distance.
"It is. Tidy your clothes before we enter. And finish that chicken skewer quickly."
"Yes, yes."
In-ho tilted his head back and tossed the rest of the chicken into his mouth. He straightened his disheveled clothes while chewing on the juicy meat. With his mouth full, he asked in a muffled voice:
"But what am I supposed to do once we get there?"
"Just offer a simple greeting and wish her a happy birthday."
"What about me?"
"The same for you. I have already sent word that you are my disciple."
"Ooh... You're not even hiding it anymore."
"After the Sparring Tournament, everyone who needs to know already knows. There is no reason to hide it anymore," So-yu said, recalling the tournament from the previous year.
"I won't actually be seeing the daughter, right? Since she's a baby, I figured outsiders wouldn't be allowed to see her."
"That goes without saying. I plan to see the Family Head and then return to the main house."
"I see. Oh, by the way, what’s the daughter’s name? I can't keep calling her 'the daughter' when I'm talking."
"I doubt you will have any reason to open your mouth, but... I suppose it wouldn't hurt for you to know."
As they arrived at the main gate, So-yu spoke.
"The legitimate daughter of Namgung Hyeon, the Head of the Great Namgung Family. Her name is Namgung So-yeon."
"......"
Upon hearing the name, In-ho froze in place like a stone statue.