Chapter 42
The group quickly descended the mountain and entered the manor through the back gate. Seol Do-jin clasped his fists politely in greeting.
“It seems we should part ways here. You’ve all worked hard.”
“Thank you for today.”
Still holding the egg in her hand, Woon-young gave a small bow of gratitude.
“You and Miss Seol have worked hard as well.”
“I didn’t do anything… but you worked hard.”
Jegal Dam replied in his usual calm tone, while Namgung Hwi scratched his head awkwardly.
“…As I mentioned before, I’ll ask once again.”
Seol Do-jin and Woon-young, before leaving the cave, had already asked the others to keep today’s events a secret. Still uneasy, Seol Do-jin repeated the request.
“Don’t worry. News of this sort spreading among the public would do no good. We’ll keep it quiet.”
“Rest assured, the people of Changcheon keep their mouths shut.”
Jegal Dam and Namgung Hwi answered in solemn voices.
Noticing Woon-young’s gaze shifting toward the two guards, Jegal Dam added:
“You needn’t worry about them either. Their lips are sealed tighter than anyone’s.”
“Then I’m relieved. Please take care of it.”
Woon-young lowered her head again, as if to say she trusted them.
Jegal Dam and Namgung Hwi’s party turned and headed toward the annex. Watching them go, Seol Do-jin asked quietly:
“Can we trust them?”
“Well, what choice do we have? They said they’ll keep quiet, so we’ll just have to believe them.”
“I suppose you’re right. Let’s go.”
“Yes, Brother.”
Woon-young let out a small sigh as she watched Seol Do-jin nod so readily.
Just because they were told to trust them, he truly believed it.
Jegal Dam might keep the secret for now, but if necessary, he was the type to use the information. That’s why she would need to drop more clues about Cheongung in the future—so that the Seol family’s protection would remain his priority.
Seol Do-jin was only sixteen—young enough still—but perhaps because he’d been raised well, there was a certain innocence to him. In Woon-young’s eyes, he was the type to get swindled the moment he stepped outside.
I can’t expect Brother to be as sharp as Jegal the Clever… but I’ll have to pay closer attention to him.
It wasn’t that Seol Do-jin was lacking, but to her, it wasn’t enough. She’d have to teach him more—whether in martial strength or worldly matters.
There’s no need for him to grow up in a rush… but I won’t let him be someone who gets trampled.
In the past Woon-young remembered, Seol Do-jin had been forced to grow up quickly. With Seol Won-pyeong’s sudden death, everything had changed overnight.
He couldn’t embark on the planned journey through the martial world, and before he could even learn about life, he was forced to taste its bitterness first. He withered before he had a chance to bloom.
…That won’t happen this time.
Woon-young clenched her jaw to steady the surge of emotion.
At that moment, warmth spread from the egg, swirling gently in her palm. Feeling her agitation calm, she stroked the egg.
“Yeong-ah, what’s wrong?”
Seol Do-jin stopped walking and asked gently.
“…It’s nothing, Brother.”
“No, your face doesn’t look good. I think you’ve overdone it. I’ll explain to the elders, so go and rest.”
“I’m fine, Brother.”
“No. If you get sick again…”
Seol Do-jin bit his lip mid-sentence, as if even imagining her ill was unbearable.
“All right, Brother.”
“Good. That’s best.”
Woon-young nodded and headed toward Yeonhongwon. Seol Do-jin watched her retreating figure for a moment, then suddenly hurried after her.
“Huh? Brother?”
“I’ll walk you back.”
“No, it’s right over there. I can go alone.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go.”
Seol Do-jin took the lead.
Woon-young sighed softly in resignation and moved to walk beside him.
Their steps together were light and easy.
“What a fine pair of siblings,” Namgung Hwi remarked, watching the two walk away.
“Yes, indeed. Hwi-ah, aren’t you good to your younger siblings as well? I’m sure others see you the same way.”
“Is that so? Then I’m glad to hear it.”
Namgung Hwi gave an awkward, self-conscious smile, knowing those were just polite words.
He had two younger sisters and one younger brother, all half-siblings. Everyone here knew he was on bad terms with them.
“I heard those two are also half-siblings.”
“Ah… is that so?”
“Yes. Apparently it’s no secret.”
Jegal Dam spoke casually, as if discussing a matter he’d looked into without shame. Namgung Hwi received it just as matter-of-factly.
Please be a good older brother to our Hwi-ah.
Jegal Dam would normally stop there, but his aunt Jegal Hwa-ryeong’s request came to mind, so he added:
“Try opening your heart to your siblings a bit more. You never know.”
“Know what?”
Jegal Dam’s eyes softened into a rare, genuine smile—one that appeared only when he was truly pleased.
“There might be a strange one among them, like her.”
“Ah… you mean Miss Seol.”
“Yes. Isn’t she quite an odd child?”
A low chuckle escaped Jegal Dam’s lips.
“Brother?”
Namgung Hwi looked startled at the sudden laughter.
“It’s nothing. I just remembered… the mushrooms.”
“Ah… hahahaha. Right. That was rather odd.”
Namgung Hwi laughed too, clearly remembering the same thing.
Excuse me, Young Master. I have a question.
Before leaving the cave, Woon-young—still holding the egg—had asked Jegal Dam with a serious face:
Yes, Miss. Please ask.
Um… this formation—will it disappear now?
It won’t vanish.
Ah, that’s a relief.
She had looked genuinely reassured.
But wouldn’t it be better to dismantle it? Otherwise, poisonous energy will keep accumulating here.
Ah, well… it’s just… if the formation is gone, I don’t think mushrooms will grow anymore.
…Pardon?
You said so yourself. The fragrant meat mushrooms grow because of this formation. I really need them, you see.
Jegal Dam, rarely at a loss for words, found himself speechless.
She had just witnessed a miraculous, extraordinary event… yet her concern was mushrooms? It was absurd—and in some ways, shocking.
Woon-young was truly hard to define.
She could be sharp and astute, yet also innocent and whimsical. She had thoughts far beyond her years, hid much within herself, and was almost too bold and frank—yet with a strangely careless side as well.
“So you’ve completely given up on teaching them a lesson?”
Jegal Dam asked lightly, then narrowed his eyes at Namgung Hwi.
The look was assessing, probing.
Namgung Hwi’s face flushed bright red in an instant.
He hadn’t told Jegal Dam about the Left-Hand Sword or Gosan Man-su Gil-gyeong. He knew there were big gaps in the story, but there was nothing he could do.
Even though Jegal Dam was his older cousin, some things had to remain secret from him.
“…Didn’t I say? I don’t think it was just a prank.”
“Well. If that’s your judgment.”
Jegal Dam nodded lightly.
When they entered the room at the Seol family’s annex, Yang Cheol-woo scanned the surroundings. After confirming nothing was amiss, he spoke:
“By the way, Young Master, about what happened in the cave today…”
“Yes?”
“Will you really keep it quiet? Judging from that young lady’s expression, she wants our mouths shut too.”
“Didn’t I say we would?”
Yang Cheol-woo nodded at the straightforward answer.
“However…”
“Yes?”
“A guard must report to the clan if something significant happens, mustn’t he?”
“Well… yes.”
“Even if not immediately.”
Jegal Dam’s eyes curved in a gentle smile.
“So if the clan one day asks about the Seol family… we should answer truthfully, don’t you think?”
Yang Cheol-woo felt a wave of dizziness at the unexpected response.
“…Understood.”
There was no other choice. If Jegal Dam said so, then that was that.
Still, Yang Cheol-woo felt a lingering guilt toward the Seol family’s young lady.
“Good grief, what’s with all these customers? I’m gonna die, I swear. Wang Sam is gonna drop dead.”
The inn servant, Wang Sam of Hwayoung Inn, finished cleaning and went up the stairs, grumbling with his mouth but letting his eyes constantly scan the surroundings.
“When, oh when, will a good day come for poor Wang Sam…”
The higher he climbed, the quieter his footsteps became.
By the time he reached the top floor of the inn, he had shed the demeanor of a lowly servant—now exuding the aura of a seasoned martial artist.
Inside his room, he began leafing through a thick stack of papers.
“Hmm… so Young Master Jegal and Young Master Namgung headed to the Seol Manor in Hongan County…”
His eyes sparkled as he read the page marked with Human Grade.
“…This could be interesting.”
