The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Jegal Myeong's gaze stopped for a moment on the tree where Tang Il-yeong was hiding.

"...!"

As soon as he confirmed Tang Il-yeong's signal, Jegal Myeong hurriedly turned his gaze back to its original position.

'Did he notice?'

Fortunately, the strange man still did not seem to have noticed Tang Il-yeong's existence.

Then this would be a golden opportunity.

If it was Tang Il-yeong's surprise attack, he would surely be able to defeat the strange man.

'Until then, I have to draw that brat's attention.'

If the surprise attack failed even once, he could no longer guarantee Namgung Hae's safety.

The same went for the other students who were now being held hostage.

Although he could trust Tang Il-yeong's skills, still, Jegal Myeong thought that it would be helpful for the surprise attack even a little if he drew his attention.

"I am Jegal Myeong. What is your name?"

"To ask for the name of a person who has hidden his face. Do you think I will answer?"

"..."

"Well, still, it's fine. For convenience, call me Moomyeong."

Moomyeong. It means no name.

Just by looking, it seemed to be a pseudonym he had just made up, not his real name, but that was not a particularly important issue in this situation.

"Moomyeong, what on earth is your identity?"

"..."

"What on earth are you trying to gain by doing this? If you are really a public enemy of the martial world, it would be the right thing to do to live while reflecting on your sins so far, without increasing any more futile sacrifices."

Jegal Myeong said as if he were appealing.

Although the beginning was just words to draw the opponent's attention, Jegal Myeong continued to speak with the intention of really persuading Moomyeong.

"It's not too late yet."

"..."

"If you sheathe your sword even now, I will help you to have your sins pardoned as much as possible. I promise on the name of the Jegal Clan."

As Jegal Myeong said that, the people around seemed a little surprised.

To even bet the name of the Jegal Clan for a brat like that.

As long as he bet the name of the Jegal Clan, which was in charge of one of the five great families, a considerable weight could not help but be placed on the words he had just said.

"..."

Jegal Myeong had by no means spoken as he had just now with a light heart.

If Moomyeong really sheathed his sword and surrendered, he would do his best to use his power for him.

Since he had even bet the name of the Jegal Clan, Jegal Myeong had a little hope that Moomyeong's mind might change.

However.

"A promise? Are you saying you'll make the sins I've committed disappear?"

"Yes."

"By what authority can you decide that?"

"I spoke as the eldest son of the Jegal Clan. As long as there is no more damage, I will take responsibility and somehow..."

Just then, Moomyeong began to laugh out loud.

As if Jegal Myeong's words were so absurd that they were funny.

Seeing that, Jegal Myeong had no choice but to swallow his words in the middle.

"Yes. Let's say you can somehow do this, giving a hundred concessions."

"..."

"Then are you saying you can also erase my name from the list of public enemies of the martial world?"

"That's..."

Jegal Myeong could not bring himself to answer that question.

No matter how much he was the eldest son of the Jegal Clan, it was still too much to do that.

Even if it were the head of the Jegal Clan, wouldn't it be difficult to give a definite answer to that problem?

Seeing Jegal Myeong, who had become a mute, Moomyeong smirked.

"Yes. Now you understand, right? No matter how many times you wash a dirty rag, the fact that it's a rag doesn't change."

"..."

"As long as you can't erase my name from the list of public enemies of the martial world. I have no choice but to live as an evil person in the end."

He couldn't think of any words to refute those words.

A rag is still a rag even if you wash it once.

Jegal Myeong could now realize that the words he had said for Moomyeong would only sound flashy on the outside to the person concerned.

'No... but I really...'

After all, this was just a word to draw Moomyeong's attention.

But why did the words Moomyeong had just said keep lingering in his head?

Jegal Myeong could only clench his fists in an inexplicable frustration.

"...?"

Just then, Tang Il-yeong's figure came into Jegal Myeong's sight again.

Several daggers were now held in both hands.

The moment he confirmed that, Tang Il-yeong quickly moved both hands.

Swish—

A number of daggers flew towards Moomyeong at a fast speed.

An accuracy that was on a different level from the daggers Dang Wol-yeong had thrown.

Each of the daggers was aiming at Moomyeong's vital points without a single error.

Clang—

At that moment, the daggers that had flown towards Moomyeong suddenly flew off in all directions.

Moomyeong, who was now turning his body to the opposite side.

The daggers that had been flying with great momentum were all blocked helplessly by the sword Moomyeong had swung.

"...!"

Seeing that, Tang Il-yeong's two eyes widened slightly as if he were surprised.

Don't tell me he had noticed his identity from the beginning?

If not, he would not have been able to block his surprise attack so perfectly from a state of being turned back.

Phat—

Just then, Jegal Myeong was running towards Moomyeong.

His legs, which had been moving from the moment Moomyeong had turned his body in response to the surprise attack.

Jegal Myeong had prepared to move his body early in case Tang Il-yeong's surprise attack failed.

'Now is the chance!'

If not now, he would not be able to save Namgung Hae safely.

Jegal Myeong drew his sword while running and swung it towards Moomyeong.

Swish—

The sword Jegal Myeong had swung missed Moomyeong and cut through the air.

But because of that, Moomyeong, who had moved away from Namgung Hae.

While watching Moomyeong, who was far away, Jegal Myeong spoke to Namgung Hae, who was lying on the floor.

"Student Namgung Hae. Are you alright?"

"Ugh... I'm fine."

"..."

Fortunately, Namgung Hae did not seem to have been seriously injured.

As soon as he confirmed that, Jegal Myeong raised his internal energy and ran towards Moomyeong again.

'I can't let that brat go here!'

Then the other students who were being held hostage would be in danger.

Before that, he had to surely subdue Moomyeong here to guarantee the safety of the students.

As the distance narrowed, Jegal Myeong swung his sword without hesitation.

Screech—

Jegal Myeong's sword sharply dug into Moomyeong's chest.

But unlike the momentum when it had dug in, the sword strike that was blocked so helplessly.

He had felt it from the time he had blocked Tang Il-yeong's hidden weapons, but Jegal Myeong could now be sure that Moomyeong's swordsmanship was by no means to be taken lightly.

'This person... is a master.'

He was surely one step above him.

Since he naturally had no leisure to do it appropriately, Jegal Myeong composed himself and thrust his sword once more.

Swish—

Jegal Myeong's sword strike split into three in the middle.

A sword strike with sharpness in all of them, to the point where it was impossible to distinguish which was real and which was fake.

Since the longer he dragged on the time with an opponent one step above him, the more disadvantageous it would become, Jegal Myeong was trying to settle the match at once with a move he was confident in.

However.

"...!"

Two of the three sword strikes that had split into three disappeared in an instant.

The only one left was the one at the top. And the sword strike there was perfectly blocked by Moomyeong's sword.

'Is the Seven Roads to One Point so easily...?'

Of course, his proficiency in the sword move was not perfect.

If he had mastered it, the sword strike that should have split into seven streams was limited to three at his level.

Still, the only person who had blocked his Seven Roads to One Point so perfectly was at most his father... Jegal Myeong couldn't help but be shocked at the sight in front of him.

Phat—!

Just then, Moomyeong struck the sword he was facing upwards.

At that moment, Jegal Myeong's sword, which had been lifted up helplessly.

Fortunately, he did not lose the sword from his hand, but it was a rather dangerous situation, comparable to that.

Swish—

Just then, a hidden weapon flew in from behind Jegal Myeong as a surprise attack.

Because of that, although Moomyeong had a golden opportunity, he had no choice but to avoid the spot, and Jegal Myeong stared blankly at Moomyeong, who had moved away, sweating.

"If you want to save the other hostages, come and find them yourselves."

"...!"

"If you report this to the outside, I won't be able to guarantee the hostages' lives then."

Moomyeong said and immediately turned his body and moved away.

"W-wait!"

Belatedly, Jegal Myeong shouted towards Moomyeong.

But Moomyeong, who was moving away as if he had not heard.

Although he could chase him if he wanted to, Jegal Myeong's feet did not move easily for a moment.

"..."

If the hidden weapon had not flown in just now, he would have died.

He had been that defenseless, and with Moomyeong's skills, he would not have missed that opportunity and would have surely aimed for his vital points.

At the fear of death that he had felt for the first time, Jegal Myeong's body did not move properly.

"Young Master Jegal!"

Just then, other students approached Jegal Myeong's side.

"What on earth is that strange man? And what did he say just now?"

"...He said if we want to save the other students who are being held hostage, we have to go and save them ourselves."

"...!"

The students' faces all turned pale.

Not only had a strange man suddenly appeared, but the students were being held hostage.

Since most of the students here had no experience of this, they had no choice but to be flustered, not knowing what to do.

"F-first, we should report this to the teacher..."

"That's not possible."

"...?"

"The strange man warned that if we reported this to the outside, he could not guarantee the hostages' lives."

"Th-then what should we do?"

"...We'll have to go and rescue the hostages ourselves."

As Jegal Myeong said that, the students' complexions became even darker.

If it were a class, it would be different. Wasn't this a real situation, not a setup?

Moreover, since the strange man's skills did not seem to be to be taken lightly, the students could not easily agree with those words.

"S-still, wouldn't it be better to report it to the teacher?"

"What will you do then if the other students die?"

"...There's no guarantee that we can defeat the strange man ourselves, is there? This is a very dangerous decision."

"..."

There was a point in the man's words.

In fact, hadn't he just experienced a crisis of death?

Since he was well aware of that, Jegal Myeong could not force the other students, including the man, any further.

"Those who want to back out, back out."

"...?"

"After all, in that state, it's no help even if you're there. It's better if you're not there."

Tang Il-yeong had approached at some point and was saying so.

Although it was frustrating to hear those words, still, the students could not easily step forward.

No matter how much they were the children of prestigious families, most of the students here were people who had just turned twenty.

It was Tang Il-yeong who was special to be able to step forward without hesitation in a situation like this.

"...Then, me and Young Master Tang. And is there anyone else who will accompany us?"

"..."

"I will not force you. So please answer carefully."

Jegal Myeong said to the people.

But the people who were just looking at each other and not meeting Jegal Myeong's eyes.

Seeing that, it seemed there would be no more volunteers.

"Me!"

Just as he was about to give up and leave, someone shouted.

Turning his head, Moyong Ryeong was raising her hand high there.

"Miss Moyong, did you understand what I said and answer..."

"I know. We're going to save our classmates from now on, right?"

"..."

"I'll go too."

Seeing that, it seemed she had understood properly.

Jegal Myeong nodded with a slight smile.

"I'll go too."

"...?"

"That brat... how dare he throw me. I will surely get my revenge."

Namgung Hae had also approached at some point and was saying so.

A situation where in the end, only the same group members had volunteered.

Although it could be said that there were only four, Jegal Myeong felt as if he had gained a thousand troops and horses, seeing the people who had gathered.

"...Let's surely save them."

Now, there would be no more being taken down helplessly like before.

Jegal Myeong said in a low voice, with determination.

"Oh? Doesn't it smell strange somewhere?"

"...?"

"Look. I think it's coming from over there..."

Moyong Ryeong sniffed and turned her head.

At that moment, as the stench pierced her nose, Moyong Ryeong's expression could not help but be distorted, and the other students who had belatedly smelled it also frowned and looked at someone.

"...Huh?"

Why were all the people looking at him?

Namgung Hae discovered what was on his right hand and knew the reason.

(End of Chapter)