Chapter 3. Moyong Family (2)
“Cough! Cough!”
After coughing for a long time, Moyong Sujeong brought a neatly folded handkerchief to her mouth.
“Cough! Hack!”
After catching her breath, she looked down at it.
The bloodstains on the cloth looked like red ink spilled on snow.
She stared at it quietly, then folded it again, wiped her lips, and placed it back where it had been.
After taking a sip of her now-cold medicinal tea, Moyong Sujeong returned her gaze to the documents.
Some time passed.
“Acting Head, Chief Steward Seok is here.”
“Let him in.”
The door opened, and Seok Woong entered.
“My apologies for interrupting your work. I have something to report—”
“Before that, there is something to correct.”
“…Ah!”
Seok Woong bowed again.
“My apologies, Acting Head of the Family.”
Moyong Sujeong nodded calmly.
“I’ve said this before, but I am only acting on behalf of the head. Please don’t forget that.”
“I will remember.”
Even as he said that, she knew. Seok Woong was a wise and perceptive man.
He called her the head on purpose—as a sign that she was already capable of holding the position.
But she had no intention of accepting it.
“What is it?”
A shadow passed over Seok Woong’s face.
“The Great Dragon Iron Workshop has notified us that they will be ending their business with our family.”
“I see.”
Despite the seriousness of the news, Moyong Sujeong did not waver.
Her pale face and thin body looked like a willow branch that could sway in a gentle breeze. Yet, there was an authority about her that made others unable to treat her lightly.
“They will send five hundred liang in silver as compensation, according to the contract.”
“By when?”
“They didn’t specify, but the contract states within forty-five days.”
As he spoke, Seok Woong remembered the workshop owner’s face.
Back then, the man had casually suggested writing “about a month” into the contract.
Seok Woong had firmly set it to forty-five days instead.
Loose agreements always lead to regret.
“Forty-five days…”
“Is something bothering you?”
“If they’re cutting ties without reason, it means they’ve found another partner. They’ll need a strong backer.”
“Do you have someone in mind?”
“The Ten Sword Sect… or the Hong Sword Family.”
Both were powerful forces near Wuhan in Hubei.
The Hong family was a martial clan like the Moyong Family, while the Ten Sword Sect was technically a sect but operated much like a family.
“They already work with several workshops. There’s no need to add this one.”
Seok Woong watched her closely.
Moyong Sujeong didn’t disappoint.
“Things in the martial world often happen beneath the surface. It may have been inevitable, but the timing bothers me.”
“I see.”
“They must have found something worth more than five hundred liang.”
Seok Woong smiled faintly.
Her insight was impressive. Even if she lacked experience, her intelligence and instincts made her more than capable of leading the family.
“Then we should look for another workshop.”
“Yes, but…”
“There isn’t a suitable one?”
“Not at the moment.”
“We don’t have many warriors anyway. We can endure for now. Let’s start searching.”
Even as she spoke self-deprecatingly, her tone didn’t shake.
Seok Woong felt a quiet sense of pity.
‘If the former head were still alive…’
Moyong Sujeong was talented.
If the previous head hadn’t passed so early, she might have lived freely, using her abilities fully.
‘But there’s no use dwelling on the past…’
Seok Woong smiled bitterly.
‘I’ve gotten old.’
In his youth, when the Moyong Family rose again in Liaoning, he never looked back.
But now… he found himself thinking of “what if.”
“Any other reports?”
“…Yes.”
Seeing his hesitation, Moyong Sujeong knew this was the real reason he came.
“The Hubei Rising Stars Martial Tournament has been moved up by more than three months.”
For the first time, her expression changed slightly.
“The reason?”
“Flood damage this summer. The orthodox sects have spent a lot on relief.”
“And how does that relate to the tournament?”
“…They say it’s to raise public morale.”
A ridiculous excuse.
Though it seemed like the martial world ruled everything, the imperial court still existed.
And most people weren’t martial artists.
“Wudang Sect is hosting it, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Something must have happened there.”
“We can’t be certain.”
After thinking for a moment, she nodded.
“Understood. Then it will be held in a month.”
“Yes, in Wuhan.”
“Alright.”
Seok Woong hesitated.
“Perhaps you—”
“Let’s discuss that later.”
“…Yes.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
He smiled warmly.
“It’s nothing.”
Moyong Sujeong watched him for a moment.
Though nearing fifty, his eyes were clear and sharp. Despite gray hair and wrinkles, he looked refined.
Without him, the family might have already collapsed.
She wanted to thank him sincerely—but couldn’t.
“I’ll take my leave.”
“Go ahead. Ah, wait.”
She asked casually,
“Bi?”
“The young master hasn’t returned yet.”
“I see.”
A trace of worry crossed her face—briefly.
“Good work. Join me for dinner later if you have time.”
“I’d be honored.”
Seok Woong left.
Left alone, Moyong Sujeong sighed.
“This won’t be easy.”
“So…”
Mo Yongcheon’s voice sounded dark.
“So you’re saying… it was revealed that I’m from the Hoyeon clan… and I was renamed Hoyeoncheon?”
He was too confused to even speak properly.
Jang Gu answered nervously.
“It’s not that you were renamed… but that you returned to your true name…”
Mo Yongcheon couldn’t even get angry.
‘Who the hell are the Hoyeon clan?!’
Even as Murim Alliance Leader, he had never heard of such a family.
‘A new clan? But how could they replace the Alliance Leader’s name?’
Nothing made sense.
Then a thought struck him.
‘Am I trapped in an illusion? Or… another world?’
He had heard of ancient formations that created perfect illusions.
But…
‘No… that’s impossible.’
He had died.
And even if it were an illusion—he wasn’t weak enough to fall for one.
‘Then… another world?’
After thinking, he asked coldly,
“Is the Hoyeon Family in Liaoning?”
Jang Gu nodded.
“Yes! They rule Liaoning now!”
Crack.
His teeth clenched.
“So what? My family was driven out by them?!”
“I… I don’t know that much!”
Mo Yongcheon almost cursed—but held it in.
He took a deep breath.
Even without his old techniques, controlling his temper was hard.
…Anyone would be angry in this situation.
Bang!
He kicked the box and stood up.
“Get up.”
“Yes!”
Jang Gu stood, trembling.
“Do you know where my family is?”
“Yes!”
“Good.”
There was only one answer now.
Go see it himself.
‘Maybe… my brother is still alive.’
The one person who treated him like family.
Twenty years…
It was possible.
“Take me there.”
“Yes! But what about Jang Sam?”
“Who cares?! Want to get knocked out again?”
“N-no! This way!”
They headed toward the Moyong Family.
People stared at them in shock—but neither cared.
After walking for a while, Mo Yongcheon asked,
“You said your name is Jang Gu?”
“Yes.”
“How much did I borrow from you?”
“…One hundred liang.”
“…?”
“….”
“One hundred?”
“Yes.”
Mo Yongcheon dragged him into a nearby alley—
And beat him mercilessly again.
As a result, their journey to the Moyong Family was delayed.
