Kang Sogun

The twenty or so young men and women living in the Clear Lotus Pond showed a subtle interest when Yeon Hwasim and Jungrang arrived.

Since they had mostly been training in the Clear Lotus Pond since they were about ten years old, they did not know much about the outside world.

Among them, Wu Zhonglü seemed to have a liking for Yeon Hwasim and would talk to her whenever he had the chance.

"Miss Yeon wanted to look around the Clear Lotus Pond, so we came out."

Cheongmae answered instead.

"Haha. It's always the same place, so what's there to see anew? Miss Yeon and Brother Jung must be frustrated since you have a lot of experience in the martial world, right?"

Wu Zhonglü was a true young master who had not experienced any hardships. His eyes were full of hope for the future.

Yeon Hwasim felt that he was similar to herself a year ago. At that time, she had been full of curiosity to experience the wide world.

"That's not possible. The Clear Lotus Pond is like a fairyland, so the more I see it, the more amazing it is."

Although Yeon Hwasim knew that Wu Zhonglü was approaching her with goodwill, she was subtly on guard in a corner of her heart.

But on the other hand, her heart was weak, and she could not openly push away someone who was approaching her.

Wu Zhonglü approached, looked around, and said.

"It's a good place. But if I were to stay here for my whole life, what meaning would that life have? I want to meet a lifelong partner like the Manor Lord and travel the martial world."

The young people here called Yu Mungwang the Manor Lord.

Although Yu Mungwang had guided their martial arts, he had not formed a master-disciple relationship.

"If Young Master Wu truly wishes for it, such a day will come."

At Yeon Hwasim's words, Wu Zhonglü's eyes sparkled, and he said.

"I will surely do so."

"I have to go see my older brother."

As Yeon Hwasim said her goodbyes, Wu Zhonglü was disappointed but turned and left.

Yeon Hwasim headed to Jungrang's residence. Jungrang was reading a letter.

"You've come at a good time. I was about to call you anyway. A message has come that the Fire Heaven Brigade has arrived at the village at the foot of the mountain."

"Ah. They've finally come."

Jungrang had asked No Ichil to find out the whereabouts of the Fire Heaven Brigade.

Jungrang's expression was not very good.

"It seems the Heavenly Martial Faction's pursuit was persistent. It is said that the ones who returned are seven, including the Fire Heaven Brigade Commander."

"?"

"We must respect their choice."

Jungrang said out of an old woman's heart, lest Yeon Hwasim should feel a mental burden again.

Yeon Hwasim silently nodded and stood up. She was going to meet the Fire Heaven Brigade.

Jungrang followed.

It took about half a day to walk from the Clear Lotus Pond to the village at the foot of the mountain.

Jungrang, who was silently following Yeon Hwasim, suddenly asked.

"I saw a few days ago that the changes in your sword have become more diverse."

Yeon Hwasim turned her head. As if she knew Jungrang's intention to change the mood, she answered with a bright face.

"The Great Natural Will Art is truly amazing. It makes me think that it might be the original heart art of the Heavenly Star Sword Art."

Yeon Hwasim was currently deeply immersed in the Great Natural Will Art and was trying to grasp its essence.

Jungrang had also gained another enlightenment after seeing Yu Mungwang's sword and was devoting himself to training.

"I also had that thought. The Great Natural Will Art is a heart art that can completely unfold the changes of the Heavenly Star Sixty-Four Forms."

After learning the Great Natural Will Art, Jungrang had completely realized the sword intent contained in the Heavenly Star Sixty-Four Forms. In that state, the moment he saw Yu Mungwang's sword, he was able to enter the realm of abandoning the forms.

Jungrang was now going beyond the peak and towards the super peak. If he met the Twin Halberds of Noisy Death now, the result was unknown.

Yeon Hwasim's martial arts had also improved by leaps and bounds.

It was a fateful encounter that she had crossed life and death with the vicious move of the Twin Halberds of Noisy Death.

After experiencing death, Yeon Hwasim was able to shake off the fundamental fear that a martial artist has. The mindset that she could die at any time made Yeon Hwasim's sword free.

However, Yeon Hwasim paid more attention to the subtlety of the changes rather than the essence of the sword forms.

The two went to the place where the Fire Heaven Brigade was staying in the village at the foot of the mountain.

"Young Lady!"

The Fire Heaven Brigade Commander, Cho Jihang, was moved to see Yeon Hwasim and ran.

Cho Jihang, seeing that the enemies had stopped their pursuit, had judged that they were chasing Yeon Hwasim.

He had lured and annihilated the Ghost Shadow Brigade pursuit team that had been following them to the end. After that, while searching for Yeon Hwasim's whereabouts, he had received a message from a person sent by No Ichil and had run, half in doubt.

Seeing that Yeon Hwasim was safe, he felt as if all his hardships had been washed away.

"Great Commander Cho!"

Yeon Hwasim could not continue her words. Cho Jihang was like her father's disciple.

Cho Jihang and the Fire Heaven Brigade had directly inherited the essence of the Returning Heaven Twelve Sabers from Yeon Seongyeol.

"I have heard the news of the Sect Master."

A light of anger flickered in Cho Jihang's eyes.

"If even the young lady had been defeated, we were planning to attack the Heavenly Martial Faction."

"That's like a suicide act. Have you forgotten my father's words?"

Yeon Hwasim did not want to shed any more blood. Revenge was solely her own share.

"Let's not do this and go in and talk."

Jungrang, Yeon Hwasim, and all of the Fire Heaven Brigade, including Cho Jihang, sat around. There were nine in all.

"Young Lady, let's go to Fujian! Even if it's lacking, Fujian is the young lady's manor. It will be better than someone else's house."

Cho Jihang said. Yeon Hwasim shook her head.

"We have to go soon. But not now."

"Is there something wrong?"

"Great Warrior Sim was seriously injured while trying to save me. Great Warrior Jang has gone to get medicine, but it will take some time. In the meantime, we must stay here and take care of him."

"I see."

Cho Jihang, knowing what she meant, obediently nodded.

"So I would like Great Commander Cho to go to Fujian first and find out the situation there."

"I understand."

Cho Jihang and the Fire Heaven Brigade left for Fujian a few days later.

Yeon Hwasim and Jungrang trained in martial arts in the Clear Lotus Pond and took care of Sim Mabaek.

***

Kang Sogun offered wine at his parents' grave.

"The Young Master is safe. You two, please rest in peace."

Mo Sang, who was standing by his side, said a word.

Kang Sogun sat in front of his parents' grave for a long time.

'You've come?'

It was as if he could hear his father's voice.

'That's all you have to say to your son whom you haven't seen in a long time?'

His mother's chiding voice also came to him vividly.

It was as if it were a conversation that had actually happened at some point.

When Kang Sogun was young, the empress dowager, who had doted on him, had called him, and he had spent many days in the imperial palace.

Even when he had returned after a month or two of staying in the imperial palace, his father had just said, "You've come," and had said no more.

His father, Kang Ilbu, was a man of few words and did not show his emotions. So there was also a reputation that he was a very cold person.

But Kang Sogun knew that his father cherished people more than anyone and was deep in affection. Such things could be known by feeling, not by words.

Rather, his mother, Princess Yeongan, had a strong will.

Since his mother had grown up in a political upheaval where the previous emperor had driven out his nephew and had usurped the throne, she also had a cold side.

'To think that I believed such a mother had passed away from a grief-related illness.'

Kang Sogun blamed his own foolishness.

"Let's go now."

At Mo Sang's urging, Kang Sogun stood up.

As he came around the side of the Kang family's ancestral mountain, he saw two more burial mounds.

The Cho siblings were standing in front of one burial mound, and at the newly raised burial mound, a beautiful woman in mourning clothes was guarding a memorial service with two young children.

"Let's send them off and go now."

Mo Sang approached, picked up a bundle of paper money, and lit it.

-Whoosh!

The lit paper money flew into the air.

The child, who looked to be about two years old, chased after the lit paper money as if it were amazing. The six-year-old child silently guarded his mother's side in front of the burial mound.

Kang Sogun approached the beautiful woman in mourning clothes.

The beautiful woman in mourning clothes was Jin Uncho's widow, Mrs. Ye.

Kang Sogun offered wine at Jin Uncho's grave and performed the proper etiquette. Then he turned his body, approached the widow, Mrs. Ye, and bowed his waist.

"What Captain Jin has done for the Kang Residence cannot be repaid with anything."

Mrs. Ye also silently bowed her head.

"Please allow the Kang Residence to do its duty."

Mo Sang, who was by his side, helped.

"Please come into the Kang Residence. The two brothers, Jinyeon and Jingang, will be raised by the Kang Residence."

The Cho siblings approached. They had decided to stay at the Kang Residence for the time being.

Kang Sogun looked back at the Cho siblings and Jin Uncho's family.

Now they were the people he had to take responsibility for.

***

"Captain Ho has come."

Bang Yeonso closed the book he was reading.

Ho Geukgeom, who commanded the guards of the Nanjing government office, came in and bowed his head.

"I greet you, Grand Scholar."

Ho Geukgeom performed the proper etiquette with utmost respect.

Since a high-ranking person like Bang Yeonso had called, it was natural.

"Captain Ho, I know you are busy, but I have called you here for an important matter."

"Called me? If you just say the word, I will come running."

As Bang Yeonso performed the proper etiquette, Ho Geukgeom was flustered and bowed his waist deeply. In the Nanjing government office, Bang Yeonso's authority was the same as the emperor's.

"Actually, it's a private matter concerning my son, so it's a bit difficult to ask..."

"Ah! You mean the bastards who attacked Young Master Bang. The two who were injured have disappeared, and their whereabouts are unknown. One bastard is running around everywhere, and it seems he is trying to attract attention. But what can a bastard like him do? He will be caught soon. Please don't worry."

Ho Geukgeom, who had understood what he meant, guaranteed.

Bang Yeonso sighed inwardly. He was pathetic that such a bastard was the captain of the guards.

Bang Yeonso hid his inner thoughts and said.

"It's not that I don't trust Captain Ho, but I have called you here because I have a feeling after thinking about it."

"A feeling?"

"There were four who ambushed Ilok. One of them died on the spot, and two were injured."

"I heard Young Master's martial arts are amazing. Did he dispose of all those bastards by himself?"

Ho Geukgeom praised Bang Ilok without any sense.

Bang Yeonso sighed again and said.

"Ilok has some talent. But he is not skilled enough to defeat dozens of guards in an instant."

"?"

Ho Geukgeom could not answer because he could not understand what Bang Yeonso was trying to say.

"Ilok killed one of the four and injured two. Does it make sense that a bastard who could not even handle a few of Ilok's moves and fled suddenly appeared and subdued dozens of guards in an instant?"

"The guards just carry spears, but they are no different from ordinary people."

Ho Geukgeom spat out as if it were deplorable.

Bang Yeonso clenched his fists. He had almost beaten Ho Geukgeom to death.

'Have you ever seen such a pathetic bastard?'

Although Ho Geukgeom's martial arts were high, his head was not very good. The reason he was in this position was purely because he was the nephew of the Minister of Justice.

Bang Yeonso exerted his superhuman patience and calmly continued.

"Captain Ho. Think about it. They are bastards who could not defeat Ilok and fled. But isn't it strange that one of them suddenly appeared, subdued dozens of guards in an instant, and then disappeared? Moreover, you are chasing him yourself, but you keep losing him right in front of your eyes?"

"Aha!"

Only then did Ho Geukgeom realize something.

"It's not the same bastard. I've been chasing the wrong bastard all this time!"

"Now you're getting it."

Ho Geukgeom muttered to himself.

'If you had just told me from the beginning that the fleeing bastard was not the assassin, would it have hurt?'

Although Ho Geukgeom was dull, he was not a person without pride. In his view, Bang Yeonso used his head too much.

Since Bang Yeonso could not see inside Ho Geukgeom's head, he naturally had no way of knowing such a complaint. He just blamed his dullness and quietly continued.

"The head of the assassin that was hung on the city wall has disappeared, right? The guards go back and forth all night, so the fact that he took the head means he is a very outstanding person, right?"

"..."

Ho Geukgeom just listened. He did not want to be ignored by answering unnecessarily.

Bang Yeonso sighed inwardly and said.

"In my opinion, the mastermind is in the Nanjing government office. And I think he is a great master."

"..."

"Do you know who the masters who have recently appeared in the Nanjing government office are?"

"That will come out soon if I investigate."

(End of Chapter)