Chapter 72
The commanding tone made Namgung Jin bristle, about to speak up, but Sau repeated in a voice full of pressure:
“Namgung Jin. Stay here.”
“…….”
Namgung Jin unconsciously closed his slightly parted lips. Under the weight of Sau’s intense presence, he could barely speak.
Perhaps it would be better to protect her than stubbornly follow Jegal Haesu. As for the Jegal estate’s secret garden, he could investigate that later.
In the end, Namgung Jin gave up, and Jegal Haesu shouted in frustration:
“Why does Sau go with me! That’s not allowed. Absolutely not!”
“No, Namgung Jin can’t, but I can.”
“Why… Could it be that because I refused the money yesterday, you’re trying to trouble me?”
Sau raised his eyebrows.
“What are you talking about? Money? Did you somehow take more money from Sau?”
“No, no. That’s a misunderstanding. I said I’d cover the expensive medical fees for Wolya Yosae, but I refused it.”
“Huh?”
Jegal Haesu recalled the conversation with Sau from last night.
“If you visit the Jegal family late, irreparable things will happen.”
“Is there anyone in the family who knows that a cultist has infiltrated?”
“None but you. You’re the only one who knows something that could determine the future of the family.”
Ugh. To already know such a grave matter while at odds with the main family was extremely troublesome.
He had left the main family, ready to abandon the Jegal name. That meant he wouldn’t care what troubles befell the Jegal estate.
But…
Jegal Haesu recalled the scene when the madman broke into the Namgung estate:
The bloodstains left untouched, dismembered arms and legs—probably the madman’s—lying around, and the shattered walls.
What if a cultist infiltrated the Jegal estate and brought a madman, turning it into ruins?
His father was no master like Namgung Sunyul. He could wield a sword only minimally, despite being a supreme master.
If the cult decided to invade, the estate could be wiped out like the Cheongseong sect years ago.
Of course, the Jegal estate had many secret mechanisms, so it wouldn’t be easy to fall victim…
But he still worried.
He still resented his father, the various heads of the other families, and everyone who had wronged him.
Yet, he could not forsake humanity.
“I will go to the Jegal estate.”
Last night, Jegal Haesu had made that decision.
“But I will not accept the money from Sau. The information I’ve received regarding the cult is already sufficient recompense.”
It would be money gained from selling medicinal herbs anyway.
He didn’t want to owe a debt to Sau unnecessarily.
Jegal Haesu liked wealth, but he did not like dangerous money.
It was wise to avoid matters that could cause trouble later, especially when they involved an unknown master.
Thus, after acquiring the herbs at Yungjoong Mountain today, he intended to ask his companions about going to the Jegal estate.
Even though he wouldn’t take money, he still had a promise with Sau.
“Why did you refuse it?”
Baek Sam’s question broke Jegal Haesu’s train of thought about yesterday.
“We don’t know anything about Sau. If it were a small sum, maybe. But I cannot just accept such a large amount. I have a conscience!”
“Conscience… hmm.”
“Don’t look at me suspiciously. I mean it. Anyway, Sau, I want to go alone.”
But Sau was resolute.
“I will go with you. No backing out.”
“Why on earth?”
“Just… because it sounds fun.”
In fact, Sau knew something Jegal Haesu did not: Soma Gi was currently near Yungjoong Mountain.
By chance, their goals seemed to align.
‘If the two meet, it could be quite a spectacle.’
Sau wanted to witness firsthand how the mediocre Jegal Haesu would falter.
Perhaps he could even kill Jegal Haesu with someone else’s blade.
A classic “kill with a borrowed knife” strategy.
Keeping the promise with Baek Sam while eliminating the annoying Jegal Haesu? Two birds with one stone.
Of course, if Jegal Haesu died, Sau would still need to persuade Baek Sam to go to the Jegal estate, but that small hassle was acceptable.
“I insist on going alone! Don’t follow me.”
“Try if you can lose me.”
Nothing wrong there. Jegal Haesu couldn’t possibly evade Sau.
Clenching his fists, trembling, Jegal Haesu suddenly started moving with lightness techniques.
Sau followed immediately.
“…….”
Soso, left behind, stared at the two empty spots.
Hopefully, nothing bad would happen.
At least Sau didn’t seem likely to hurt Jegal Haesu or steal from him.
Jegal Haesu wouldn’t challenge him to a duel either.
He was perceptive enough not to commit any particularly dangerous actions.
“Sau, will he be okay?”
“Jegal Haesu can survive even on the brink of a cliff. Even if he falls into the deep sea, he’ll find a way to float and survive. He’ll be fine.”
The assessment was harsh, yet strangely convincing.
“Yes, I think he’ll be fine too.”
Namgung Jin nodded slightly, then remembered something and spoke up:
“Oh, we couldn’t bring Myeong yesterday because of the duel. What should we do?”
“Is she still at the Infinite Inn? If possible, it’s best to check before they arrive.”
“I think I should stay with Sojeo, so I’ll ask Daewoo.”
Ah, Daewoo was nearby.
Although he was quite far, his presence could be sensed faintly.
“Good idea.”
Among the 72 peaks of Mudang Mountain, the main peak was Cheonju Peak.
On the summit, which gave the illusion of overlooking the world, stood a man.
The wind blew fiercely, yet the man’s long white hair, flowing down to his waist, did not stir at all.
He seemed lost in thought.
Despite his white hair, his youthful face belonged to Kwon Wang Myeongheo, the grandmaster of the Mudang Sect.
Myeongheo embodied the essence of a celestial, Daoist presence.
Though youthful in appearance, an aura of cultivation radiated from him. Every gesture was refined.
A model for all Dao practitioners—this was Myeongheo.
Having lived for a very long time, he had attained such high enlightenment that he rejuvenated through the “Return to Youth” technique, maintaining his youthful appearance.
He needed no grand forms or rituals. His martial arts didn’t rely on conventional principles.
For him, enlightenment and following nature were paramount.
No one in the current martial world could defeat him.
Yet, even a master capable of traversing the air with his skills had unavoidable concerns.
‘The Golden Empress and her companions wish to visit Mudang… Should I allow it?’
A few days ago, urgent news arrived from the Namgung estate.
Namgung Jin, Jegal Haesu, and a mysterious young lady wished to visit Mudang.
Namgung Sunyul assured that the “mysterious young lady” was trustworthy.
There was also an odd postscript:
“Grandmaster, as a side note, she is a precious young lady both Jin and I particularly value.”
Myeongheo had never seen Sunyul plead so earnestly.
Yet the sudden change in tone wasn’t entirely unexpected.
Myeongheo seemed to understand the young lady’s identity.
‘So Namgung Jin has finally moved past his impotence…’
