Chapter 190
“What do you mean, what should you do? Obviously, you should meet her. Isn’t that the whole reason I went through all this trouble?”
Jeokroe stared at him as though the question itself were absurd, but Namgung Hwi paid no attention.
More accurately, his entire mind was so consumed by the letter that he didn’t even notice how disrespectful Jeokroe’s tone had become.
Restless, he read the letter again and again.
Jeokroe narrowed his eyes at his master, who was fidgeting like a puppy desperate to relieve itself.
“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? You’ve been counting the days until you could see Miss Tang.”
“Sohae only knows what I looked like as a child.”
“Obviously. That was the last time she saw you.”
“But won’t she be startled if some grown man a full head taller than her suddenly appears?”
Jeokroe’s expression curdled.
“...That’s what you’re worried about right now? The bigger problem is that you impersonated her to lure her out.”
“Is it?”
“Of course it is. Put yourself in her shoes. How would you feel if Jegal Hyowon laid out a formation in Hefei just to draw you there?”
“Pretty damn annoyed.”
“Exactly. Miss Tang is probably angry right now. She’s probably itching to punch the impostor right in the solar plexus.”
The color drained from Namgung Hwi’s face at Jeokroe’s rebuke.
Taken aback by the reaction, Jeokroe asked,
“Wait. You never even thought about how Miss Tang might react? I assumed you knew you’d probably get cursed out and still wanted to meet her anyway.”
“No, I just... I wanted to protect her before something else happened...”
As Namgung Hwi mumbled, Jeokroe was suddenly reminded of his six-year-old master, mumbling an apology after breaking one of Jeokroe’s belongings.
At times like this, he really hasn’t changed that much.
Missing the little boy who used to cling to the waistband of his trousers and beg to touch a real sword, Jeokroe spoke again.
“Good grief. You’re normally so clever, so why do you become hopeless every time Miss Tang is involved? You can’t approach her like this, Young Clan Head.”
Jeokroe clicked his tongue, folded his arms, and his gaze changed.
It was no longer the look of a subordinate addressing his lord, but one of affection for a younger brother he cherished.
“Young Clan Head. Women hate men who ignore their wishes and force themselves on them more than anything. You can’t behave however you please the way you do with the old men of the clan. You need to approach her gently. Kindly.”
Namgung Hwi stared at him, plainly asking him to continue.
Those eyes were asking for help.
Jeokroe chuckled and went on.
“Even if Miss Tang is wary of you, don’t take it personally. She’s been away from home for a long time. She probably doesn’t trust people easily.”
“And?”
“Don’t try to win her over with some halfhearted gift either. Throwing money at a problem might work when you’re ordering subordinates around, but it won’t help you here. It just makes you obnoxious.”
“So you thought I was obnoxious?”
“...Ahem! Hm!”
Jeokroe coughed awkwardly and looked away.
“A-anyway! Just don’t treat her the way you treat me. Don’t raise your voice because you’re annoyed. Don’t interrupt her. Don’t speak as though you’re giving orders. And obviously, don’t touch her without permission. You remember the new recruit who got drunk, mistook Commander Paeng for a courtesan, groped him, and ended up with one arm? If you come back with a poison needle stuck in you somewhere, the Grand Princess will kill me.”
“Got it.”
“And don’t start throwing around the Namgung name. Bragging by borrowing the clan’s reputation makes you look like an idiot.”
“...I did that once. Did I look like an idiot?”
“Who knows? Miss Tang probably doesn’t even remember. Personally, I think she’s forgotten you exist altogether.”
Worry crept over Namgung Hwi’s face at Jeokroe’s indifferent answer.
Thinking about it himself, all he had ever shown her was an immature, childish side hardly worth preserving as a fond memory.
He sighed, shoulders slumping.
“Maybe it would be better if she doesn’t remember. But if you know women so well, why aren’t you married?”
“...Are you seriously asking because you don’t know?”
Jeokroe stared at him in disbelief, but Namgung Hwi didn’t even answer. He merely chewed at his lower lip.
He seemed lost in thought, wondering how he could show her that he had changed.
Jeokroe watched him for a moment, then tried to soothe his master.
“Young Clan Head, get some sleep first. You look half out of your mind. You need a clear head to make a proper decision.”
“I already made the wrong decision.”
“What?”
“I can’t appear before her like this. I need to wait for a natural opportunity.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Don’t tell me you’ve decided not to meet her after all.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. Tell them I have circumstances that prevent me from meeting her.”
“What?!”
Jeokroe nearly screamed at the order that threatened to render almost a year of brutal effort completely pointless.
“...Young Clan Head. I’m retiring. Send me back to my hometown.”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I can’t do this anymore! Isn’t this too much? Why did you make all this extra work if you were going to pull this now?!”
Jeokroe finally exploded, jumping up and down in outrage. He looked ready to throw himself onto the floor and roll around.
Namgung Hwi didn’t even blink.
“The extra work is how we found Sohae. We confirmed that she’s at the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild, so that’s enough. Let’s change our approach. I need to create an opportunity for us to meet naturally.”
“The rest of the world calls that scheming, Young Clan Head.”
“Does she have no plans to return to the Tang Clan at all? Other than the gathering of the three clans, our routes aren’t likely to overlap...”
“Yes, yes. Fine. But first, go sleep. You’ve been awake for four nights straight. Miss Tang, the Demonic Sect, spies—none of that matters if you drop dead first.”
Cutting him off, Jeokroe snatched away the letter and pushed Namgung Hwi toward the bed.
Namgung Hwi let himself be pushed along obediently, then turned his head.
“...Would it be all right if I only looked at her from a distance?”
“I don’t know what level Miss Tang’s martial prowess has reached, but the Tang Clan is famous for concealment and tracking. Wouldn’t she notice?”
“I see.”
Jeokroe’s resolve weakened at the dejected voice.
He thumped his chest and raised his voice.
“Fine! I’ll go out. I said I’ll go! I’ll draw her attention, so just make sure you don’t get caught.”
Only then did Namgung Hwi’s expression brighten.
He smiled like a bashful boy and nodded.
At the sight of that face, so full of happiness for the first time in ages, a smile tugged at Jeokroe’s lips as well.
When he was little, he used to laugh like that all the time.
Ever since stepping out from beneath his father’s shadow and beginning to carve out his own path, his master rarely smiled anymore.
He only drove himself harder day after day, whipping himself forward so relentlessly that it hurt to watch.
If there was someone who could make his lord smile even briefly in the midst of all this, then as his subordinate, Jeokroe ought to accept her.
So what if it meant a little more suffering for him?
His lord’s happiness was his happiness.
Resigned to his fate, Jeokroe stared blankly into space, picturing the pretty young lady.
All he could do was hope that his master managed to win her heart.
******
The pleasures of the mundane world after leaving Mount Wudang were intoxicating.
Every meal brought delicacies from land and sea, and servants constantly came and went to make sure I lacked for nothing.
Rubbing my comfortably full stomach as I drank Dragon Well tea brought all the way from Hangzhou, I leaned my head back and sighed.
“Money really is wonderful...”
“Weren’t you saying before that the mountains were nice because they were quiet?”
“Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. If there’s pleasure in having nothing, then surely there’s pleasure in having plenty too.”
At my shameless answer, Yeon Ryang shrugged as though I were beyond saving.
“My little sister gets more silver-tongued by the day. I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing.”
Unlike me, who was thoroughly enjoying the treatment we received at the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild, Yeon Ryang seemed uncomfortable with hospitality so elaborate it bordered on excessive.
Not that it stopped him from eating well.
I smiled brightly as I looked at his healthier complexion.
Seeing his blood and energy stable put my mind at ease.
Now all we have to do is sever his connection to the Demonic Sect. If he can just disappear and pretend to be dead like this...
“Looks like the impostor sent a reply.”
Following Yeon Ryang’s gaze toward the window, I set down my teacup.
Just as he said, Jang Miryeo was hurrying toward us in the distance with a letter in her hand.
When our eyes met, she raised it, her expression slightly tense.
“Miss Tang, a reply has arrived.”
Too impatient to wait, I jumped out the window and went to meet her. She handed me the letter.
I took a small breath and unfolded it.
The white sheet contained nothing but a date, a time, and a place.
There was no clue whatsoever as to who had sent it or why.
My eyes narrowed.
“Is this a challenge letter?”
Yeon Ryang had come up behind me at some point and was now reading over my shoulder. He scratched his head, looking just as puzzled.
“It’s ambiguous. People don’t usually send letters like this unless they want to test themselves against a stronger martial artist.”
“Who in the world is this? Do people really send challenge letters out of nowhere to someone they’ve never even met?”
“If they have enough sense to send a formal challenge, they’re already one of the more civilized ones. Most just come charging at you over dinner demanding to see what you’re made of.”
“...Are you talking about Monk Beopgong?”
“Pretty much.”
Yeon Ryang snickered.
Apparently, the first meeting between those two had been far more dramatic than I had imagined.
He examined the letter carefully, then tilted his head.
“Judging by the handwriting, whoever wrote this is fairly educated. But there’s too much force in the strokes for a scholar. Feels like a swordsman who uses a heavy sword.”
“How can you tell that from handwriting?”
“Look at how hard the downward strokes are pressed. A brush tends to resemble the movements of its owner’s sword. Take a look at that young Daoist’s handwriting sometime. He has a habit of lifting his sword tip at the end of a movement, so the ends of his brushstrokes should rise too.”
“...Brother. You really are a swordsman.”
So that was the kind of thing you had to notice before you could call yourself one.
Two days from now, at midnight... I just hope whoever it is doesn’t mean me harm.
Jang Miryeo studied my expression and asked anxiously,
“Would you like someone to accompany you? If necessary, I can provide guards...”
“It’s all right, Guild Head. A large group would only attract attention, so the two of us will go. Brother, you’ll come with me, right?”
“Of course, of course. Your brother should see for himself what kind of bastard has been impersonating my little sister.”
Yeon Ryang answered cheerfully, only to frown a moment later.
“The way this bastard behaves rubs me the wrong way. I’ve got a feeling it’s a man. I just hope he’s not as persistent as that young Daoist...”
Good grief. Why was Daoist Jinseong coming up again?
Pretending I hadn’t heard him, I smacked my lips, loosely rolled up the letter, and slipped it into my sleeve.