Chapter 85
Eun Sowol stretched her neck out, scanning the people.
Men in their early twenties, each with a hero’s band slung across their shoulders, were standing at the front gate.
“We greet the Head of Hae-nam Sect! I am Namgung Gyeong, captain of the Blue Dragon Unit under the Murim Alliance Patrol Division.”
‘Huh? The Murim Alliance? And from the Namgung clan on top of that?’
Could it be that the events from the original story were starting to unfold?
“…Nice to meet you, Captain. What brings you to Hae-nam so early in the morning?”
“We arrived at Hae-nam Island just yesterday, but I was troubled that we hadn’t properly greeted its master.”
“You were troubled just over a greeting? What about how coldly you refused our request for help yesterday?”
A Hae-nam elder beside Hyeonje frowned and cut in sharply.
Namgung Gyeong gave an awkward smile and cleared his throat.
“Ahem! I made a rash mistake out of impatience yesterday. We realized our fault belatedly and sent someone, but we heard the missing disciple had already been found. May I ask how their condition is?”
“We were fortunate. If it hadn’t been for our benefactors, we might’ve lost the disciple for good.”
“That’s truly a blessing. We were greatly relieved to hear they were safe…”
“‘Relieved,’ huh… Let’s leave it at that.”
The elder’s voice was filled with hostility.
In truth, the other disciples behind him, though they kept quiet, were clearly treating the alliance members like unwelcome guests.
Namgung Gyeong was well aware of their open hostility.
“…We thought we could be of help to someone recovering from hardship, so we brought some spiritual herbs that aid in restoring energy.”
Even so, he maintained a cheerful face and tried to win them over.
But the sect leader stood with his hands behind his back, silent.
His eyes, fixed coldly on the wooden box Namgung Gyeong offered, were icy.
“You didn’t come out of concern for our disciple. What is your true intention?”
Namgung Gyeong gulped.
Even as the second son of the Namgung clan and a Blue Dragon Unit captain, he was still a mere junior before the leader of one of the Nine Great Sects.
Excuses wouldn’t work here. With resolve, he shut his eyes tight.
“I have come to Hae-nam Island under the Murim Lord’s command to search for the Millennial Flower Plum.”
Hyeonje’s brows twitched.
“We respectfully ask the sect’s cooperation so that we may carry out the Lord’s will.”
Squeeze—
Eun Sowol noticed the sect leader clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“Those young masters from noble clans…”
She then heard Dokgo Ryong grumble in distaste.
“Why? Did they say something weird?”
“They’re basically telling us to shut up and guide them to the flower, just because it’s the Murim Lord’s order.”
Wow, that’s what that meant? The way they beat around the bush was like art.
“See? This is why noble clan brats are useless. They’re clueless about the real world and think they’re always right.”
“Ahem, Brother. I am not like that.”
Dokgo Ryong snorted at Dang Jinak, clearly unimpressed.
“The Lord’s command, huh… But we’re not even affiliated with the Alliance. You’re telling us to follow it anyway?”
“My apologies if there’s been a misunderstanding. We only wish to climb Yeomobong with the Hae-nam Sect’s permission.”
“…Didn’t you see our disciples on your way up?”
“We did.”
“Then you should know we aren’t accepting guests and are blocking access to Yeomobong. Despite all the warnings, you came this far… and now you ask for permission?”
It was the first time Hyeonje’s forehead creased with a frown.
“We never granted you access. And Yeomobong itself will not welcome you either. Leave now.”
“Leader, it won’t take long. If you allow us just half a day…”
“There will be no change in my decision. Leave at once.”
Namgung Gyeong couldn’t hide his shock at Hyeonje’s firm refusal. As the elder beside Hyeonje turned away, the disciples began to close the gate.
It was a literal door slam in the face.
Through the slowly closing gate, Namgung Gyeong’s troubled face could still be seen clearly.
“Is the Hae-nam Sect trying to become enemies with the Murim Alliance?”
Just before the door shut completely, a young voice slipped through.
‘A child’s voice?’
It hadn’t been Namgung Gyeong who spoke.
“…What did you just say?”
Even Hyeonje couldn’t overlook that. He raised his hand, stopping the door from closing.
“What we’re asking isn’t difficult for Hae-nam. If you just give us half a day, we won’t trouble you again. And surely, you know it wouldn’t be good if this matter reached the Lord’s ears.”
“Whoa, who just said that?”
Namgung Gyeong had at least remained polite, but this voice was dripping with arrogance.
“That kid.”
“Kid?”
Even after Dokgo Ryong answered, Eun Sowol couldn’t contain her curiosity.
She climbed down from his arms and pushed her way through people’s legs to the front.
“…Is that how you speak to a sect leader!”
As she got closer to the gate, Namgung Gyeong’s scolding voice rang out.
“But I didn’t say anything wrong. And I heard that great sects don’t throw out visiting guests like this.”
Eun Sowol finally caught a full view of the speaker.
A boy about a head taller than her.
What stood out first was his tightly tied ponytail and the bright white hero’s band on his forehead.
Beneath that were healthy-looking skin, thick eyebrows, sharp yet confident eyes, and overall well-balanced features.
He wore a blue robe embroidered with cloud patterns, just like the man next to him.
Whether it was the clean and elegant clothing or simply his striking looks, he was the most handsome and intelligent-looking boy she’d ever seen.
‘He’s like a textbook “perfect son” from a noble family.’
But despite his neat appearance, he gave off a subtle air of arrogance.
Namgung Gyeong tried to make him apologize, but the boy just looked confused, as if he didn’t understand what he’d done wrong.
Somehow, that annoyed Eun Sowol.
“And! Even if Hae-nam is located on Yeomobong, that doesn’t mean they can block access. Isn’t that overstepping—”
“What the heck. You’re the ones who barged in.”
The boy’s grumbling stopped. He blinked and looked around.
Then he noticed a little girl below his eye level.
“Sowol?”
Until then, Yang Huicheon had been quietly observing the situation, but now he muttered.
Eun Sowol stepped forward with her hands behind her back, proudly sticking out her belly.
“You’re really good at threatening people.”
“…Threatening? Are you talking about me?”
“Yeah, you. You basically said if they don’t open the gate, you’ll go crying to the Murim Lord. That’s funny. So now the Hae-nam Sect has to fear the Murim Lord?”
“When did I ever say that…”
The boy looked flustered.
“And! Whether or not to accept a guest is up to the Hae-nam Sect. Who made you the decision maker? You weren’t even invited.”
“U-Uninvited guest? I’m from the Namgung clan…”
“Ahh! That famous Namgung clan! Then, if the Hae-nam Sect went to Hwangsan and demanded to look for sacred beasts, would the Namgung clan gladly allow it?”
“Of course not!”
“Why not? You came up Yeomobong without permission. Are you saying the Namgung clan is a dishonorable place that picks and chooses its guests?”
When Eun Sowol clapped and laughed cheerfully as if to say, “Gotcha!” the boy’s cheeks trembled.
She looked up with an innocent face.
“If you can’t do it yourselves but still force others, that’s what bad people do, right?”
At her words, the boy closed his mouth, wearing an unreadable expression.
“Apologize to the sect leader.”
“Brother…?”
“Now do you see the rudeness you’ve committed?”
The boy bit his lip, his expression full of grievance, but Namgung Gyeong scolded him sharply.
“Namgung Un!”
“…I’m sorry, Sect Leader. I spoke out of turn.”
In the end, the boy, with teary eyes and trembling shoulders, bowed his head and apologized.
But Eun Sowol, watching the scene, could only stare wide-eyed.
‘Namgung Un? Wait… that’s the protagonist?’
Namgung Un.
The main character of “The Return of the Youngest Son of the Namgung Clan”, and someone who would later become a role model for all.
That this rude and arrogant boy was that very protagonist was almost unbelievable.
Until now, she’d been too focused on healing her illness and hadn’t paid attention to the story’s flow or the protagonist’s situation, especially since the original plot hadn’t properly started yet.
Still, she’d occasionally wondered what it might be like to meet the protagonist.
She had imagined a boy with a noble face, upright personality, and relentless pursuit of martial arts to fight against the demonic cult.
And yet…
‘This kid?’
He was a spoiled, arrogant brat.
Now that she thought about it, there was a part early in the story where people remarked how the youngest son had suddenly grown mature after his regression…
