Chapter 28
“Of course, it might just be my imagination, but… it’s bothering me. Since I have the body of a perennial snow ginseng, my spiritual senses seem to be unusually sharp.”
“Did you sense anything while you were treating my mother?”
“I did feel something faint before I started treating Madam Gam, but right now I don’t sense it anymore. I didn’t mention it because there was no evil energy, and I wasn’t certain.”
“So it’s a concealment technique that even I didn’t notice.”
Namgung Jin thought for a moment, then finally said,
“My guess is that it’s one of Father’s personal guards from the Yeongwoldae. Still, if you sense that presence again, please let me know immediately.”
“Yes, understood.”
The moment Sosoh replied, the fine hairs on her arms stood up.
‘…That suspicious presence again!’
The aura that had vanished before suddenly returned—right this moment.
It felt like something had quietly slipped into her room.
Sosoh gently and solemnly set down the dumpling she’d been holding.
“Wait a moment.”
Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly and focused. The surroundings seemed to sharpen, her senses becoming almost painfully keen.
It felt as though even distant objects were within arm’s reach.
So this is what transcendental perception feels like.
Namgung Jin and Jegal Haesoo remained silent, careful not to disturb her concentration.
As her focus deepened, she began to see something. From the eastern wall—there were traces of breathing, of subtle movement.
It seemed as if someone was disguised as the wall itself.
And yet, just as before, she sensed no malice or sinister intent.
If Namgung Jin was right, it really could be a member of Yeongwoldae. At least, it didn’t feel like someone who meant her harm.
It was more than intuition—it was certainty.
Sosoh opened her eyes and walked straight toward that wall. The two reliable men followed close behind.
‘But could there really be a person hiding inside this wall?’
There was no visible sign, not even a flicker of energy that Namgung Jin—an expert—could detect.
Maybe it was her imagination.
Still, there was nothing to lose by testing it. She decided to call out to whoever was hiding.
After clearing her throat, Sosoh raised her voice boldly.
“Come out! I’ve already seen through you!”
…She’d tried to imitate a martial artist, thinking of Young Lord Eonwoo, but maybe it sounded awkward.
Narrowing her eyes, Sosoh stared hard at the wall.
Nothing happened.
‘Maybe I was wrong after all.’
But she couldn’t just leave it at that. She decided to give it one last try.
Lowering her voice, she spoke again, this time with more weight.
“You’d best come out while I’m speaking nicely. I can read your energy clearly! We even locked eyes earlier, didn’t we?”
Jegal Haesoo stifled a laugh, and a soft “Pfft—” escaped him.
Sosoh shot him a glare, then shouted one final word.
“Gal!”
That sharp cry—she’d once seen the head of the Cheongseong Sect shout like that, and she’d always wanted to try it herself.
Of course, she didn’t have the inner power to project her voice like a lion’s roar, but still, it was a pretty satisfying shout.
A proud smile tugged at her lips.
And yet, the wall didn’t so much as twitch. Maybe it had been her imagination—
But at that very moment, something astonishing happened.
Thud!
“…!”
A man dressed in black fell forward from the wall and landed on the floor.
Sosoh clamped her hands over her mouth to stop a scream.
Almost at the same time, Namgung Jin and Jegal Haesoo sprang forward like lightning.
“Who are you!”
Namgung Jin’s sword was already at the man’s throat.
The man shouted urgently,
“Young Master! Please—please don’t tell the Lord about this!”
“…Are you truly a member of the Yeongwoldae?”
“…”
The man hesitated, then finally forced out the words.
“I am Daewoo, the twelfth member of Yeongwoldae.”
To prove his claim, Daewoo produced the insignia that only Yeongwoldae members possessed.
“I was so startled by the young lady’s presence that I instinctively broke concealment and revealed myself… haah…”
“…”
“If the Lord finds out, I’ll be expelled from Yeongwoldae! What sane man would blow his cover like that…?”
He shut his eyes tightly, mortified.
He hadn’t been with the unit long, but to make such a rookie mistake—unthinkable.
He was part of the direct guard of the Namgung patriarch, after all!
Looking up at Sosoh, the source of his panic, Daewoo recalled the moment she’d shouted “Gal!”
At that instant, he’d been certain—his cover was blown, and there was no escape.
The fact that she’d sensed him and even met his eyes earlier—it hadn’t been coincidence.
And this same girl had just healed Madam Gam’s internal injuries.
Daewoo had secretly witnessed the whole thing, jaw slack in shock.
‘She’s not someone to be underestimated.’
He’d only just returned from reporting Madam Gam’s recovery to Namgung Sunyul when this happened.
He’d meant only to keep a quiet watch—and now his cover was completely blown.
“I understand,” said Namgung Jin. “I won’t tell Father.”
“Thank you, Young Master.”
“But you will answer one thing.”
“Please ask.”
“Why were you monitoring Miss Baek? Was that an order from Father?”
Should he tell them or not? Concealment missions were supposed to be top secret.
While Daewoo hesitated, Namgung Jin’s tone hardened.
“If you don’t answer, I’ll have no choice but to inform Father myself.”
Faced with a choice between expulsion or disclosure, Daewoo finally sighed.
“…The Lord ordered me to observe whether the young lady displayed any suspicious behavior.”
Namgung Jin simply nodded, unsurprised. He’d expected that answer.
“So then—you also saw her treat my mother?”
Daewoo nodded slightly.
“But I have never spoken of her ability to anyone except the Lord and Commander Yu.”
Since Yeongwoldae’s leader was Commander Yu, it made sense that he would know.
“I see. Then we’ll act as if we never found you. But in return, Daewoo—you are to continue following Miss Baek and take responsibility for her safety. Can you promise that?”
“As long as my mission continues, I’ll protect her. I swear it on my name.”
Stealth was his specialty, but his martial arts were nothing to scoff at either.
‘Though honestly, it seems the young lady can take care of herself.’
Daewoo tilted his head slightly in thought.
“And if I may say so, no matter how much you dig, you won’t find anything suspicious about her.”
Sosoh felt grateful for Namgung Jin’s steady faith in her.
Just as the situation seemed to be ending peacefully, Jegal Haesoo spoke up.
“Ahem. So in front of everyone, you treated her like the Young Master’s companion—but behind the scenes, you were secretly tailing her? That’s quite something.”
“Jegal Sohyeop, mind your words.”
“Did I mention any names? I only stated the truth.”
“Even so—”
“Simply letting this go would be far too generous! As compensation, I have one question for this man in black.”
His eyes gleamed wickedly.
Seeing that snake-like smile, Sosoh thought,
‘Ugh, why do I feel evil energy coming from him now?’
Jegal Haesoo opened his fan and asked sharply,
“Where is the Lord right now?”
“The Lord is at the Martial Alliance—”
“Ha! You’re lying. Do you think I asked just to hear falsehoods?”
“…”
“You said you only reported Miss Baek’s ability to the Lord and Commander Yu. And Miss Baek mentioned your presence vanished for a short while before returning.”
Jegal Haesoo pointed his fan straight at Daewoo’s face.
“When your presence disappeared, you must’ve gone to report to the Lord.”
“…!”
“The Lord only pretended to leave for the Martial Alliance. In truth, he’s still here in the Namgung estate, isn’t he?”
“T-that’s…”
“Answer truthfully! …Go on, Namgung Sohyeop, shout it.”
Without thinking, Namgung Jin followed along.
“Answer truthfully!”
Pressed by both men, Daewoo finally confessed,
“Master Haesoo is correct. The Lord… is still in the Namgung household.”
