Chapter 652
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 652
Chapter Title: That's Not All, Is It?
Ha Mu-baek stepped forward, and Yeon Baek-pung's face hardened as he stared at him.
He had recognized Ha Mu-baek from the start.
Or rather, he had assumed it was him.
Today was the first time Yeon Baek-pung had ever met Ha Mu-baek.
Yeon Ha-min had come with him, and among her group, there was only one who fit that description.
Even so, he had deliberately ignored him.
To make it crystal clear that this was purely an internal Yeon Clan matter, he had intentionally directed his gaze and words only at Yeon Ha-min.
But the bastard had butted in.
"This is an internal Yeon Clan affair. Outsiders should stay out of it."
Yeon Baek-pung spoke with clear displeasure.
Outsiders should stay out.
It was straight out of the righteous codes of the jianghu.
But Ha Mu-baek shook his head.
"Ha-min just told you. She's a warrior of the Righteous Heaven Alliance. One of my subordinates, in fact. So even as an outsider, I have to get involved in Yeon Clan business. It's my subordinate's matter, after all."
Ha Mu-baek locked eyes with Yeon Baek-pung as he said it.
A heavy aura began to slowly emanate from his body.
Ha Mu-baek's energy spread out beneath the ground, creeping outward before climbing up through the feet of those around him, past their calves, and upward.
It anchored at their waists and surged higher, pressing down relentlessly once it reached their shoulders.
A suffocating weight engulfed the area.
Yeon Baek-pung gritted his teeth.
He could feel Ha Mu-baek's terrifying presence too.
But he couldn't back down.
He was currently acting as proxy young master, overseeing and taking responsibility for all Yeon Clan affairs.
If he retreated, the entire clan retreated with him.
It would be a disgrace to the family.
So he had to stand against Ha Mu-baek.
His fists clenched tight.
"Well, settling it right here wouldn't be so bad. It'd speed things up, at least."
Ha Mu-baek curled his lips into a smirk.
As Yeon Baek-pung ground his teeth at that grin...
A man rushed in at high speed and intervened.
"It's been ages since Ha-min came home, Father. It's only natural for her to catch up with Aunt and Grandmother. Why not call it here? I'm sure Ha-min regrets her mistakes by now, so we can handle the rest according to clan law later."
It was Yeon In-hu.
He had cut through the taut tension at just the right moment.
Ha Mu-baek's eyes flickered with interest as he watched him.
Yeon Baek-pung relaxed his clenched jaw.
"You're right."
He seized the opening his son had created.
"We'll convene the clan assembly soon and judge Yeon Ha-min's crimes according to our family law."
The family law that Yeon In-hu had mentioned.
In other words, they would handle internal Yeon Clan matters via Yeon Clan law, so even her superior, the outsider Ha Mu-baek, should butt out.
No matter that Yeon Ha-min was Ha Mu-baek's subordinate—interfering in a decision made by a clan's family law was crossing the line by a mile.
'Not bad.'
Ha Mu-baek ignored Yeon Baek-pung and turned his gaze to Yeon In-hu.
He was a strikingly handsome young man, just like his father.
"Just don't forget—Yeon Ha-min is currently carrying out her duties as a Righteous Heaven Alliance warrior."
Ha Mu-baek said in a low voice.
Once family law was invoked, there was little more he could do.
Of course, he could ignore their petty clan law and overturn it entirely, but he couldn't start with that.
Such things required justification first.
Ha Mu-baek decided to pull back for now.
Besides, wasn't this a good day for Yeon Ha-min to reunite with her mother?
He'd only intervened because of that mood-ruining bastard.
He couldn't sour the atmosphere further.
With that, the matter concluded for the moment, and Yeon Baek-pung turned to leave.
Yeon In-hu turned to go as well, but a woman appeared behind him.
She too had clearly used lightness skill to hurry over, as she was slightly out of breath.
Her sallow face was as pallid as could be.
She glared venomously at Yeon Ha-min and her mother.
That expression made her already wan features look even uglier.
Yeon Ha-min didn't avoid her gaze.
She met it squarely, as if accustomed to it.
The woman's face twisted at Yeon Ha-min's utter lack of reaction, and she turned away.
The Yeon Clan members who had gathered in twos and threes began to disperse as well.
"Haa."
Only then did Yeon Ha-min's mother, Jin Na-yeon, let out a small sigh.
She bowed deeply to Ha Mu-baek.
"I'm Jin Na-yeon, Ha-min's mother. My daughter has caused you trouble."
"Ha Mu-baek, Leader of the Righteous Heaven Alliance's Fierce Dragon Corps. A pleasure to meet you."
Ha Mu-baek returned the bow.
"Please, come to my quarters first."
Jin Na-yeon led the way to an annex.
Yeon Ha-min tightly held her mother's hand and walked beside her.
They all gathered around a low table in the annex's small receiving room.
Stories began to flow gently between them.
When Yeon Ha-min spoke, Jin Na-yeon listened; when Jin Na-yeon spoke, Yeon Ha-min listened.
Mother and daughter slowly bridged the gap of two years and several months.
The others simply listened quietly to their conversation.
It was a heartwarming sight.
Nearly half a shichen passed like that.
Yet it still felt far too short.
"I'm sorry for prattling on about ourselves while our guests sat here."
Jin Na-yeon bowed her head to Ha Mu-baek, Ha Seol-ran, and the two children in apology.
"Not at all. After so long apart, it's only natural. It was a joy to watch."
Ha Mu-baek said with a small smile.
A similar smile graced Ha Seol-ran's face.
It was their honest feeling.
Truly a beautiful scene.
"More importantly, you've endured much hardship."
At Ha Mu-baek's words, Jin Na-yeon gave a wry smile.
"We anticipated it all when we first accepted him into the clan."
Her response was calm.
"But it seems some things went beyond even your expectations and resolve."
The smile had vanished from Ha Mu-baek's face.
Jin Na-yeon nodded.
"Yes. I'd worked for the Yeon Clan so long, I thought I knew its people well. But that was my mistake. That's why I sent this child away."
Jin Na-yeon looked at Yeon Ha-min with eyes full of regret.
"Still, thanks to your benefactor, she could come back to me like this."
Having heard about the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest incident, she now addressed Ha Mu-baek as "benefactor."
Especially after he'd sent Yeon Baek-ryang back to them.
To this mother and daughter, he was more than a benefactor.
"That's not all, is it."
Jin Na-yeon subtly turned her head at Ha Mu-baek's words.
Her gaze settled on Gong Hae-bin and Gong Hae-jun, who wore innocent expressions.
"What relation are the young lady and young master to our Ha-min?"
"Ah, we're Master's disciples, Madam."
Master's disciples.
An obvious statement, but coming from Gong Hae-bin's mouth, it sounded utterly adorable.
And from their glances, it was obvious who their master was.
"It must have been a long, arduous journey from Gangseo Province here. Thank you for coming with her."
"N-no, not at all. It was a great experience for us too."
As Jin Na-yeon smiled gently, Gong Hae-jun's face flushed, and he stammered a bit.
Ha Mu-baek caught on to why Jin Na-yeon had shifted the topic to the children.
This wasn't a conversation for young ears.
"It's too early for a full meal. Shall we have some sweets instead?"
At the mention of sweets, the two children's faces lit up noticeably.
Jin Na-yeon rose with an even brighter smile.
"This way."
The children glanced at Ha Mu-baek for permission.
He chuckled softly and nodded, so the Gong siblings eagerly followed Jin Na-yeon.
"Dan So, bring out the sweets, please."
Jin Na-yeon called the maid who had served tea earlier.
Originally Yeon Baek-un's maid.
After Yeon Baek-un perished on the battlefield, she had served Jin Na-yeon faithfully for years, the only servant in the clan whom Jin Na-yeon truly trusted.
"Yes, Madam."
Soon after, Dan So returned with plates beautifully arranged with various sweets and treats.
"Eat as much as you like here."
Jin Na-yeon said, stroking the children's heads in the small room adjacent to the receiving area.
Leaving Yeon Ha-min behind, Yeon In-hu and Yeon Da-hye headed a different way from Yeon Baek-pung.
"Ha-min came back with a scary person."
She had arrived late to the scene but was crushed by that heavy aura the moment she got there.
Recalling it sent chills down her spine.
Yeon Da-hye had felt it too.
That's why, even with Yeon Ha-min and Jin Na-yeon right there, she hadn't thrown a fit and had only glared venomously.
"Hmph!"
Yeon Da-hye's face was still full of dissatisfaction.
"Ha Mu-baek... I've heard the rumors, but I never imagined they'd fall so short of the reality."
Hocheon Corps Leader Ha Mu-baek.
In truth, few in the jianghu knew that name.
Among the countless martial artists like grains of sand in the desert, those who knew Ha Mu-baek could probably be counted at around a hundred.
Maybe a bit more, maybe less.
But the Yeon Clan was different.
It was because of Yeon Baek-ryang.
Dongju Mountain had returned alive and reported everything that happened.
The direct lineage of the Yeon Clan learned of Ha Mu-baek's existence.
They began digging into him and learned more, but...
They doubted the facts they uncovered.
They were too outrageous.
Yeon Baek-pung was like that, and Yeon In-hu leaned that way too.
Only Yeon Ja-gyeong knew the full truth but chose not to tell his children.
He judged there was no benefit in them knowing ahead of time.
Especially about a warrior they'd likely never cross paths with; no need to start at a disadvantage.
Yet Ha Mu-baek had come to the Yeon Clan himself, and Yeon Baek-pung had faced him eye to eye.
Yeon In-hu, arriving late, had only a brief moment but fully grasped how formidable Ha Mu-baek was.
To the point where he wondered if the facts they'd dismissed might actually have been downplayed.
The two arrived at one of the inner quarters as they walked.
It was where their mother resided.
One of the maids tidying the quarters spotted them and informed the inside.
Soon, a woman emerged to greet her children.
Though veiled, her sallow complexion peeked through.
Yeon Da-hye's face twisted at the sight of her mother.
It was like looking in a mirror, and she hated seeing that face.
Despite her daughter's reaction, the woman named Yu Wol-a smiled warmly and welcomed them.
"Come in. I've prepared some tea and treats."
Her voice was clear and kind.
Utterly at odds with her pallid appearance, it put listeners in a good mood.
"Yes, Mother."
Yeon In-hu's voice resembled Yu Wol-a's.
Thanks to that, even his voice charmed people.
Hearing her mother and brother's voices alternate like that, Yeon Da-hye's head drooped.
'All the good stuff went to big brother...'
Her looks took after her mother, but not her voice.
Hers was plain and ordinary.
At least it wasn't unpleasant or ugly; she supposed she should be grateful for that.
The room filled with the pleasant aroma of fine tea.
Beautiful, appetizing treats adorned the low table.
"I heard Ha-min came back."
She lived secluded in these inner quarters, but clan news still reached her.
"That wretch crawled back in without knowing her place."
At Yeon Da-hye's complaint, thick with resentment, Yu Wol-a simply shook her head lightly.
"She's a pitiful, pitiable child. You shouldn't speak of her that way."
"Mom! What nonsense is that? Look at the mess you're in because of that bitch of a mother!"
Frustrated by her foolish mother's response, Yeon Da-hye shouted.
Yu Wol-a gave a wry smile at her daughter's outburst.