Chapter 157: The Namgung Family-5
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 157: The Namgung Family-5
After concluding their meeting with the Family Head, Namgung So-yu and In-ho stepped out of the palatial Namgung estate.
In truth, saying they had "left" the estate wasn't entirely accurate. Every inch of the land lined by the seemingly endless perimeter walls outside the main gate still belonged to the Namgung family.
Namgung So-yu walked along the path with an expression that hadn't changed much since they arrived, and In-ho followed behind her without a word.
As they traversed the well-paved road, In-ho’s master remained silent.
In fact, the further they walked, the more her face contorted, looking as though she were suffering from a severe bout of indigestion.
"Master, are you alright?" In-ho asked with concern, seeing that she was clearly not in a normal state.
"...About what?"
So-yu tried to feign indifference, but it only made her look more awkward.
In-ho considered pressing further but decided against it, fearing it might be intrusive.
They continued their walk until they arrived in front of a house that he assumed was their destination.
"......"
Standing before the main gate, Namgung So-yu swallowed hard.
She reached out and knocked.
Thud. Thud.
Before long, the gate creaked open.
A servant peeked his head out.
"Who is i—"
The man’s face froze as he took in the visitor’s features.
His eyes widened as if he had seen something he shouldn't have, and he let out a couple of dry coughs.
"Lee Hang, it’s me," Namgung So-yu said, suppressing the surge of joy at seeing a familiar face.
"......"
Despite her being the daughter of the master he had served for years, the servant’s expression did not soften. Instead, he greeted her with a face full of dread, looking as though he were being threatened.
"Are you not the disciple of the Flame Wheel Master... What brings you here...?"
At the distancing title, the faint smile on Namgung So-yu’s lips vanished.
Perhaps she had harbored a sliver of hope, for her face was slowly overtaken by a sense of betrayal and disappointment.
"Wh-why do you call me that? It’s me, Namgung So-yu. I grew up in this house..."
Her voice trembled violently.
"I know nothing of that," the servant muttered, avoiding her gaze.
In-ho’s face darkened at the man’s deliberate coldness.
"What’s all the noise?"
A young man’s voice drifted from inside the gate. The servant flinched and called back over his shoulder.
"The disciple of the Flame Wheel Master has arrived."
"The Flame Wheel Master? Ah..."
Hearing the young man’s voice of realization, Namgung So-yu raised her voice.
"Brother! It’s me, So-yu. Please, open the gate."
She spoke each word clearly, fighting back the urge to sob.
"Brother? I have no younger sister."
When his voice remained flat, as if addressing a complete stranger, So-yu bit her lower lip.
"Even if I have been removed from the family registry, it is beneath our principles to turn me away at the door like this!"
The tears she had been holding back finally bled into her voice.
"...No matter if you are the disciple of the Flame Wheel Master, it is improper to visit without prior notice. If you wish to visit, send a formal envoy. Lee Hang, come inside."
"Yes, yes, Young Master."
The servant cast a wary glance at them before quickly shutting the gate and retreating inside.
Once the presence on the other side of the gate vanished, So-yu collapsed onto the ground.
Her shoulders began to heave.
"Ugh... hic... It hurts here."
Tears fell in heavy droplets as Namgung So-yu pounded her chest with her fist.
"......"
Countless words rose to In-ho’s lips, but he couldn't weave them into a sentence. He felt that no words of comfort would mean anything in the face of her sorrowful sobbing.
"The daughter of this house... they said their daughter had returned!"
She stared at the gate with hollow eyes, rambling to herself.
"Just once... wouldn't it be right to look me in the face just once?"
She continued to speak, her voice a mix of resentment and interrogation.
"Was breaking the marriage engagement... such a mortal sin?"
"...Was it so hateful of me to want to show them how much I’ve grown, to prove myself to them?"
So-yu cried out, striking her chest again.
"Is it because becoming the disciple of an Inherited Martial Art means I’m no longer a member of this family?"
So-yu let out a bitter laugh even as her eyes continued to weep. She poured the sorrow festering in her heart into her voice.
"Cheong-yeon of the Ice Wheel Art and Kim Hak of the Thunder Wheel Art are also disciples of Inherited Martial Arts! Yet they visit their family homes and speak with their kin!"
"So why... why must I be the only one to suffer such humiliation?"
"What... what exactly am I to this family?"
Her voice gradually faded, as if she no longer had the strength to scream.
Slumped on the ground, she pulled her knees to her chest and didn't stop crying.
She only ceased her weeping when In-ho placed a hand on her shoulder. In her grief over being turned away, she had momentarily forgotten his presence.
"Master, let’s get up now."
"......."
"Master. The ground is cold. The sun is setting, too. We were supposed to stay here, weren't we? Since we can't go in, we need to find other lodgings."
"...I’ve made a fool of myself. I’m sorry."
So-yu apologized, which was unlike her.
"Are you done crying?"
Seeing his master returning to her usual self, In-ho smirked and leaned his face closer to hers.
As his face came close enough for her to feel his breath, So-yu turned her head away, her face flushing red.
"Up we go."
In-ho grabbed So-yu under her arms and hoisted her up as if he were picking up a child.
"L-let go."
So-yu protested in a voice no louder than a mosquito's buzz, but In-ho paid her no mind.
"Come on. We have a long way to go. There might not be any rooms left."
So-yu stared blankly at In-ho’s back as he strode ahead.
"?"
After walking three or four paces, In-ho suddenly bent down and picked up a large stone from the ground.
"What’s the stone for all of a sudden?"
Before So-yu could finish her sentence, the stone whizzed past her.
Flying at a terrifying speed, the stone struck the gate directly, punching a hole right through it with a thunderous crash.
The sound of people rushing toward the gate echoed from within.
"Run!"
In-ho dashed back, grabbed So-yu’s hand, and bolted.
"You’ve truly lost your mind! Even if they are a branch family, how could you throw a stone at a house of the Namgung family?"
"Do you have proof that I threw it? You don't, right? We just have to get away from the scene."
"You crazy bastard... you absolute lunatic..."
Before she knew it, So-yu was running alongside In-ho, muttering under her breath.
"It’s not like you’re ever going back to a place like that anyway," In-ho said calmly, looking straight ahead as he ran.
"What?"
"There’s no need to seek recognition from people like them."
"The person who recognizes your hard work and watches over you isn't far away."
"Are you talking about my Master?"
Namgung So-yu recalled the face of her master, who would hide her laughter behind a fan.
"The Grandmaster, too."
In-ho, still running, met Namgung So-yu’s eyes and gave her a bright grin.
"And then there’s me. Someone who’s always watching over you, Master."
Thump-thump.
So-yu thought to herself that her heart had been beating quite irregularly lately.
*
"So... you’re saying it’s time to start preparing for the Forced Growth."
Jegal Min, who had come to Anhui with Yeom-jin’s group, spoke.
After sending So-yu and In-ho ahead, the carriage carrying Yeom-jin and Jegal Min had headed toward the Murim Alliance.
Upon arrival, they entered a secluded annex. They had matters to discuss in secret.
"Yes. I believe the Jegal family will be able to prepare everything without lack."
"Of course. The previous Flame Wheel Master... and the one before him, and the one before him, all sought out the Jegal family for the Forced Growth."
"...Yes, thanks to that, I was able to grow significantly as well."
"Hehe, it’s best to leave the past in the past. You achieved great mastery in your martial arts in the end, so it wasn't a bad result, was it?"
"I suppose so."
Shhhk. Yeom-jin unfurled her fan to cover her mouth.
"Then, when should we have everything ready? What is the timeline?"
"So-yu hasn't finished her assigned tasks yet. Once she completes those, I will have nothing left to teach her."
"I see... Her progress is swift."
"She works hard. It’s almost painful to watch."
"The Forced Growth will take place within a year... so prepare slowly. However, you must be thorough."
"You have my word. However, in these matters, there must be a give and take. I have a request of my own."
"What is it?"
"I understand you have close ties with the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"And?"
"Recently, the Jegal family has been creating a Poison Human that could rival those of the Tang Clan."
"I see... So, you want me to provide information on their Poison Humans?"
"Precisely."
"Understood. ...This is just my personal curiosity, but has anyone volunteered to become a Poison Human?"
"The Jegal family is selecting candidates from children with high compatibility. They are all from the branch families."
"Even if they are from the branch families... they are still Jegals, are they not?"
"For the glory of the clan, a certain amount of sacrifice must be endured."
"Have there been any successful results among the Poison Humans created so far?"
"Since we lack their secret techniques, we’ve been using rather primitive methods, so there haven't been many successes."
"But there have been some? Impressive."
With that dry compliment, their conversation came to an end.