Chapter 230
Chapter 230. Namgung Hyun's Answer
Even though Namgung Hyun remained silent, the Young Lord asked back as if he had already heard the answer.
"Seeing as you're staying quiet like this, it doesn't look like you're making a passage...... did you refuse?"
Namgung Jin let his gaze slide over his half-brother's expression, as if examining it.
"Or is it like last time—are there materials you need to obtain to make the passage? If that's the case, say the word. I'll get them for you."
Despite the fact that Namgung Mun-seon had just scolded Namgung Hyun for going outside, the Young Lord spoke as if all matters of Namgung were exceptions when it came to him. His attitude was arrogant.
Suppressing the surge of revulsion, Namgung Hyun answered,
"No. I intended to make the passage, but Young Lady Tang did not ask me to."
The Young Lord, who had been leisurely observing Namgung Hyun's expression, furrowed one eyebrow.
"Young Lady Tang didn't ask for a passage? Why?"
"It seems she gave up because the time required to construct it was too long."
"How long would it take?"
Seeing the Young Lord act as if the answer were a given, Namgung Hyun curled the corner of his mouth.
"Longer than it would take for the Four Directions Hall Lord to check the passage in Sichuan and return."
"Then what did you talk about with Young Lady Tang?"
"I do not wish to say."
A trace of displeasure crept into Namgung Hyun's voice. Namgung Jin was not the sort to miss it.
A heavy silence flowed between them. The air between the brothers, who found each other uncomfortable, was unpleasant.
"If you don't want to talk about Young Lady Tang, then I'll ask something else."
Namgung Hyun did not respond.
But as always, Namgung Jin paid no heed to his brother's sour mood.
Lowering his gaze to the table, he asked in a calm voice, as if inquiring about the day's weather.
"It's about Elder Brother Cheong-hae."
"......."
"One of the few people in Namgung Clan who truly cherished you, wasn't he?"
"He was."
"Then why did you kill Elder Brother Cheong-hae?"
At the casually tossed question, Namgung Hyun felt as though his heart had dropped away.
When no answer came, Namgung Jin's gaze finally lifted.
"Why did you do it?"
Namgung Jin's expression as he asked again had subtly changed.
"I trusted you and told you the path Elder Brother Cheong-hae mentioned. And yet, how did you come to decide to kill him the moment you heard those words?"
Namgung Hyun could not answer.
The Young Lord, who had only vaguely suspected Namgung Hyun's deed, spoke it aloud for the first time. As if he were genuinely curious about the reason.
By now, the Young Lord was convinced that Namgung Hyun had killed Namgung Cheong-hae.
Then, an abrupt question tore into his eardrums.
"Did you hate me that much?"
At the unexpected words, Namgung Hyun's brow narrowed.
"To get rid of me, did you reveal Elder Brother's location for such a paltry reason and lead me to my death while I was chasing the Blood Sect?"
It was true that he had wanted Namgung Jin gone.
However, what he was saying now was not the truth.
"No."
"Then why, exactly!"
Raising his voice, Namgung Jin shut his mouth for a moment, as if trying to rein in his agitation.
"Why did you do such a thing?"
"I never intended to kill Elder Brother Cheong-hae."
In the end, Namgung Hyun could not completely deny it.
Namgung Jin already knew the truth. Once this man made up his mind, he did not compromise. He could report him directly to the Clan Head at any time.
The Clan Head would, without a second thought, believe the Young Lord's words and immediately throw the bastard son into the dungeon.
Namgung Hyun knew this was the opportunity the Young Lord was giving him. It seemed he wanted to hear the reason.
Thus, Namgung Hyun began to make excuses.
"At the time, I heard that the sect was tracking Elder Brother Cheong-hae, and I merely informed them after learning the route he would take. I never thought the Blood Sect would kill him."
"You didn't know?"
"Yes."
Namgung Hyun answered as if sincere. However, Namgung Jin did not believe him.
"That day, even after seeing Elder Brother Cheong-hae's corpse, you were very calm. You said we had to identify the ones who killed him and had the body preserved. You even brought up the poisoning and listed several suspicious sects. Didn't you naturally guide me into suspecting the Tang Clan, as if water were flowing downhill?"
"......."
"And now you claim you never intended to kill Elder Brother Cheong-hae, and that you were merely doing as the Blood Sect ordered?"
Namgung Jin's voice was icy.
The corners of his eyes dried once more.
"Three years ago, you pushed the situation so that the Tang Clan would be suspected. You must have intended to use tricks on the Tang Clan as well. And yes, even your request to the Clan Head this year to attend the Alliance of Noble Clans Assembly was strange. Wasn't that the first time the Tang Clan Head's eldest daughter attended? I know well that the Blood Demon desires Young Lady Tang. Only now does everything come into focus. Wasn't your attendance at the Alliance of Noble Clans Assembly also, by the Blood Demon's command, meant to lure Young Lady Tang out?"
Namgung Jin's voice dropped lower.
"I can understand wanting to bring down the Namgung Clan. The Clan Head, and many others, know how you were treated. I wasn't particularly kind to you either. I admit that. You were even younger than you are now, so one could think you were shaken by the Blood Sect's whispers. But."
Deep lines formed on Namgung Jin's forehead.
"What wrong did the Tang Clan commit?"
"......."
"Why should Young Lady Tang risk her clan's safety just because she was swayed by you and developed feelings? The Tang Clan's only crime is that the Clan Head's daughter gave her heart to you, so why must they be annihilated? I cannot understand this utterly vicious course of events. Why are you doing this?"
Namgung Jin pressed his younger brother with an angry voice.
After listening in silence for a long time, Namgung Hyun spoke for the first time.
"I did not use Young Lady Tang."
"You didn't use her?"
Namgung Jin echoed.
In truth, he himself was confused.
Even while thinking he should eliminate Namgung Hyun at once, when he recalled that Namgung Hyun had created a passage for Tang So-hwa, he could not bring himself to act decisively.
At that moment, Namgung Hyun erased even the polite smile he usually wore and spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.
"I mean it sincerely."
"......."
"However, what you say is also correct. The Blood Demon ordered me to bring Young Lady Tang, and I approached her deliberately to do so."
This much, Namgung Hyun could answer honestly.
"But you know as well, brother. That is now, my feelings for Young Lady Tang are genuine. That is why, given your disposition, you did not immediately report me to the Clan Head but instead created this opportunity to speak with me, is it not?"
Namgung Jin let out a hollow laugh.
"Yes, you're right. I came here to have one last conversation with you. However, the reason I decided to talk was the moment I saw you about to walk out the door. Changing my mind and deciding to give you a chance happened less than the span of this pavilion."
Namgung Jin continued in a cold tone.
"Today at the Four Seasons Hall, I heard that Young Lady Tang had visited the Namgung Pavilion and that she was sent to the dungeon for refusing to tell the Clan Head the reason. Because of that, I was told the Tang Clan could not attend the meeting."
"......."
"The moment I heard that, I thought I should report you as soon as possible. I suspected you had played tricks on the Tang Clan yet again. I trusted you once and ended up getting Elder Brother Cheong-hae killed, and putting the Namgung Clan in danger. When I thought that Young Lady Tang had trusted you and might lose everything after being thrown into the dungeon, I couldn't turn a blind eye."
He clenched the fist resting on his knee.
"But you clearly helped Young Lady Tang. You created a passage so she could escape the Blood Demon, and in doing so, you contributed to the Blood Sect's downfall. Just now, I also saw you trying to go outside while ignoring the elder, despite valuing your reputation as much as your life. That's when I realized you'd lost your senses as well. It seems you didn't know Young Lady Tang would be imprisoned in the dungeon."
After letting out a long breath, Namgung Jin added,
"So speak."
"......."
"Tell me why I should not reveal your identity."
Namgung Hyun looked at his brother with an unreadable expression.
"I can create a passage that leads to the Tang Clan estate."
"Didn't you just say that Young Lady Tang withdrew her request because it would take too long?"
"This is not a passage made of Cold Iron, nor one carved into rock. I can create a passage by inscribing a formation onto the ground. However, due to the nature of such a formation—where even a single altered character causes it to collapse—the ground can be moved only once."
Namgung Hyun spoke in an even voice.
"Because it is a formation that can be deployed only once, everyone must be gathered while I inscribe it. As such, I would have no choice but to reveal to everyone that I am a member of the Blood Sect."
Namgung Jin's thick eyebrows twitched at those words.
"If it were a passage meant solely for Young Lady Tang to travel, I could draw the formation immediately. But I told her it would be difficult to disclose it before everyone."
Namgung Hyun let out an involuntary, hollow laugh.
"And so Young Lady Tang withdrew her request. She said she understood and returned quietly."
His light-brown eyes held the Young Lord without emotion.
"I only just heard that she was imprisoned in the dungeon to protect my identity. It was when you returned."
As Namgung Jin remained silent, his younger brother, sensing that it was now his turn, continued slowly.
"I am a member of the Blood Sect, and I have committed unforgivable crimes against the Namgung Clan. However, I swear that I have committed no sin against Young Lady Tang, and contrary to your suspicions, I have no intention whatsoever of using her."
Namgung Hyun's calm voice filled the pavilion.
"All this time, I have been thinking of a way to move people to Sichuan without exposing my identity. That is why I intended to inform Young Lady Tang of the method I devised, so that she could be released from the dungeon. By now, half a day has passed and she must be suffering, yet in this situation I could not bring myself to tell anyone and leave. For a moment, I even forgot about the Namgung Clan's circumstances."
Namgung Jin leaned his upper body toward the table.
"A method? How can you move them without revealing yourself?"
His tone was urgent.
Namgung Hyun smiled faintly.
"Just as you do not trust me, brother, I also do not welcome you. Therefore, I will tell that to Young Lady Tang myself."
Despite the gentle expression, a cold voice flowed out.
"This is my answer to you. The reason my identity should be kept hidden, and why Young Lady Tang should not be confined to the dungeon."