Chapter 31
Chapter 31
“Master is inside, but who might you be, and where have you come from?”
“We came to assist the Clan Head. I’ll explain the details directly to him. We were sent here under orders to do so.”
However, even after hearing that, the old servant did not move.
“If you don’t state yourselves properly, I cannot report to the Clan Head.”
“Are you saying you would try to stop us if we insisted on entering?”
“Shouldn’t I? After all, this is the reason I stand here.”
“Would anything change even if you did so?”
Pyo Inhaeng spoke with a casual expression.
Seo Mugyeom knew the Division Leader was merely testing the servant, so he didn’t stop him. If it came to actual intimidation or harm, Seo Mugyeom intended to step in at that point.
“Even if nothing changes, I must still do what’s expected of me. Everyone has their duty. Our clan has survived thus far because each person fulfilled their role.”
Though the servant’s voice wasn’t full of bravado, Pyo Inhaeng nodded upon hearing it and dismounted from his horse.
“I suppose there’s no helping it. We came from the Guardian Ten Division of the Divine Martial Sect. The Sect Leader sent us to assist your Clan Head. We will accompany Young Mistress Ak on her journey to the Imperial City and guard her along the way.”
At that, the old man’s expression transformed completely. A face that had held no trace of hope brightened so much that it seemed almost impossible.
“Is that true? I failed to recognize honored guests. My deepest apologies. Please, come inside. I’ll inform the Clan Head at once.”
He hurried off, though he didn’t need to.
For warriors who had remained unseen until then appeared from within.
The Ak Clan must have faced many difficulties, its power greatly diminished over time. Maintaining warriors had likely become burdensome. These few must have come out after hearing someone had arrived.
With so few men left, it seemed they focused on internal security above all else.
As one of them approached confidently, Pyo Inhaeng repeated what he had said earlier.
The man, deeply moved, bowed to Pyo Inhaeng and offered to lead them inside himself.
Pyo Inhaeng told the others to wait there, bringing only Seo Mugyeom and Un Jongak with him.
The rest of the Tenth Division found it strange that Un Jongak, rather than someone else, was chosen to accompany him—but they’d long given up trying to understand their Division Leader, and simply stayed behind.
Un Jongak believed Pyo Inhaeng must have come to rely on him quite a bit in such a short time, sneering inwardly. He never imagined it was because Pyo Inhaeng didn’t trust him.
As the three made their way to the Clan Head’s hall, more and more people appeared.
Before long, a man who looked to be around Pyo Inhaeng’s age approached.
“This is the eldest young master,” said their guide, quickly introducing Pyo Inhaeng and his party to the so-called eldest young master.
From that point, they were led deeper inside by him. On the way, he hurriedly explained what he could.
“You cannot imagine how grateful we are that you came. Our clan has been entangled in strange incidents for quite some time, leaving us in dire straits. I hate to admit it, but it feels as if the ice beneath us has cracked all the way through, and every time we try to stand, it collapses beneath our feet again.”
“There’s no need to say such things. We are merely to escort Young Mistress Ak safely to the Imperial City.”
Pyo Inhaeng, noticing the man’s story beginning to drag on, cut him off. Though the eldest son looked embarrassed, Pyo Inhaeng had no intention of getting involved any further in the Ak Clan’s affairs.
He’d only come this far out of obligation, and if he didn’t draw a line now, who knew how many more troubles might follow?
If he could speak honestly, Pyo Inhaeng would have said he wished the Ak Clan would collapse quickly and spare him the trouble.
Still, he held his tongue and entered the Clan Head’s hall, where the Clan Head rose with a warm smile to greet them.
“So you’re the leader of the Guardian Ten Division? My brother truly sent someone, then. Which Division are you from? If not the First, perhaps the Second or Third?”
Pyo Inhaeng let out a faint chuckle, wondering if the messenger hadn’t mentioned the Tenth Division.
“The Tenth Division. We did not come for pleasantries but to carry out our duty. We’ll rest and recover our stamina and internal energy today, and depart at dawn tomorrow. For now, I would like to meet Young Mistress Ak. Please summon her.”
He spoke as though he had no intention of wasting time on idle talk, and the Clan Head’s expression changed.
Though Pyo Inhaeng had said quite a bit, it seemed the man had fixated on only one thing.
“The... Tenth Division, you said?”
At first, he looked startled, then incredulous, and finally, his face filled with outrage. Clearly, he understood the hierarchy of the Guardian Ten Division, and Pyo Inhaeng found his reaction pitiful.
Though the man was the Sect Leader’s sworn brother, he had no personal connection to Pyo Inhaeng.
For a brief moment, Pyo Inhaeng wondered what would happen if the Clan Head refused their help and sent them away.
If that happened, he could return to the Sect Leader and report proudly. The thought made him fall silent, for it seemed quite possible things might go that way without him needing to intervene.
But Un Jongak couldn’t hold back. He seemed unable to endure being humiliated alongside Pyo Inhaeng.
“Clan Head, there seems to be a misunderstanding. The Tenth Division came, yes, but I am the Vice Leader of the Sixth Division. As you know, even several regular warriors from the First Division cannot compare to me. The Sect Leader clearly took this matter seriously, so I hope you’ll understand.”
He seemed intent on emphasizing that he was of a different caliber than the Tenth Division—and it worked. The Clan Head’s face softened.
“I see, I see. I misunderstood. I thought only the Tenth Division had come, and I felt slighted by my brother. I should’ve known better. If I’d known from the start that the Sixth Division had come too, I wouldn’t have felt that way.”
From then on, the Clan Head ignored Pyo Inhaeng entirely, addressing only Un Jongak, even offering him a seat. The seat he offered was the highest among the ones remaining.
If Un Jongak took it, Pyo Inhaeng would have to sit elsewhere—but Un Jongak didn’t hesitate to take it.
Seo Mugyeom watched with interest, thinking how foolishly predictable both the Clan Head and Un Jongak were. His Division Leader was not the type to be swayed by such things.
“If Un Jongak is to take that seat, then I suppose I should sit in a higher one, shouldn’t I?”
Then, without hesitation, Pyo Inhaeng walked over and sat where the Clan Head had just been sitting.
The Clan Head, who had been about to sit, found the seat taken right before his eyes.
Seo Mugyeom smiled, thinking as expected of the Division Leader.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“I’m sitting down.”
“Do you think I don’t see that? I’m asking why you’re sitting in my seat!”
“Why such temper? There are plenty of seats left. You told your Vice Leader to sit there, so why not sit anywhere else? We didn’t come here to entertain you, Clan Head. Call for Young Mistress Ak quickly. If this farce continues, I’ll gladly leave.”
The Clan Head’s face turned red and blue by turns.
Seo Mugyeom couldn’t help but feel pity for the Ak Clan, having such a man as their head. With so much turmoil inside and out, how could they possibly overcome it with a leader like this?
Though he clearly didn’t want to back down, he seemed to realize getting his daughter to safety was more important, so he ordered someone to summon her.
Un Jongak, seeing the Clan Head take another seat, moved as well—perhaps expecting Pyo Inhaeng to switch seats afterward. But Pyo Inhaeng didn’t move.
He seemed intent on making the Clan Head take responsibility for starting the confrontation in the first place.
“Sit down too, Seo Mugyeom. There won’t be any rest starting tomorrow, so preserve your strength while you can.”
“Yes, Division Leader.”
Seo Mugyeom took his seat, sparing a glance at the Clan Head, who had just lost a petty power struggle, and smirked. Soon, footsteps were heard outside.
Knowing they were about to greet the clan’s young mistress, Seo Mugyeom stood.
Even if Pyo Inhaeng didn’t, he felt he ought to. As the doors opened, a woman—surely Ak Seol-ah—entered quietly.
Her gait was confident yet graceful, like petals fluttering in the breeze.
With skin so pale it seemed translucent, neat phoenix eyes, a sharp nose, and lips tinted like rouge, Seo Mugyeom found his mouth unconsciously falling open.
He had never felt this way upon seeing someone before. As one might gasp at the sight of a perfect gem, he could only marvel at Ak Seol-ah’s beauty.
He was so entranced that he didn’t even realize how long he’d been staring until Pyo Inhaeng cleared his throat.
Snapping back to his senses, he quickly turned his head—only to feel a sharp ache in his chest. For the first time, he realized that beauty could literally make one’s heart ache.
“You called for me, Father?”
Even her voice was as lovely as jade beads rolling on a silver tray.
“Yes, come here. Your honorary uncle, the Sect Leader of the Divine Martial Sect, has sent warriors from the Guardian Ten Division to aid you. Too much time has already been lost, so it would be best to depart tomorrow. Preparations are complete, but review them once more—and familiarize yourself with your escorts before you go.”
The fact that he didn’t ask her to bow but merely to “familiarize herself” with them showed the Clan Head’s dismissive attitude toward the Guardian Ten Division.
Hearing her father’s words, Ak Seol-ah bowed first to Pyo Inhaeng, who sat at the head seat.