Chapter 29
“……!”
Namgung Jin and Soso were both taken aback. That actually hit the mark? That was all they could think as surprise washed over them.
Meanwhile, Jegal Haesu only smiled triumphantly.
“Thanks for the high-level information.”
Namgung Jin, who had been stunned into silence, came to his senses and turned to Daewoo.
“Why would Father put on such an act?”
Daewoo looked up at Namgung Jin with a slightly teary face, as if begging him to please stop asking.
But Namgung Jin wasn’t one to back down.
“This is the last time I’ll ask. Answer honestly.”
With a look of pure reluctance, Daewoo cautiously confessed.
“It’s because… traces of the Demonic Cult were discovered within the Namgung Clan. The Lord said he would observe what might happen if he made it appear as though the clan was vacant.”
The Demonic Cult…!
At the mention of that name, the air in the room instantly turned cold.
“…A promise is a promise. You may go now.”
“Yes, young master.”
With a confused expression, Daewoo quickly disappeared from sight.
And now, only the three of them remained.
“Namgung Swordsman, what do you plan to do now?”
Even after Jegal Haesu’s question, Namgung Jin remained silent for a long time.
To think that his clan—one he had always been proud of as the most upright of them all—could have “traces of the Demonic Cult”… It was almost unthinkable.
And the fact that his father had investigated it alone without telling him weighed heavily on his mind.
Does he still not trust me?
A long sigh escaped between Namgung Jin’s lips.
“Um… Namgung Swordsman.”
“……Yes, young lady?”
Jegal Haesu frowned softly.
“Oh, so now you respond. You ignored me completely.”
But Namgung Jin, ever stubborn, was unyielding.
“Please, don’t hesitate. Speak your mind.”
“Am I invisible to you!?”
“Is something troubling you, young lady?”
“Yes! Keep pretending you don’t know, why don’t you.”
Soso ignored Jegal Haesu’s grumbling and said what she wanted to say.
“There’s something I didn’t mention before because I wasn’t certain. But… I sensed a trace of demonic energy from Lord Namgung Hyuk.”
“……What?”
“It was only for a brief moment, and I didn’t sense it again later, so I thought I was mistaken. But now that you’ve mentioned traces of the Demonic Cult in your clan… I can’t help but wonder.”
“Demonic energy, huh… You must’ve struggled over that. Thank you for telling me.”
“No, I’m just worried I might’ve made you more uneasy for no reason.”
Namgung Jin slowly shook his head.
“There’s nothing wrong with being cautious. My uncle has been acting strange lately, too…”
He recalled Namgung Hyuk’s unsettling demeanor back at the banquet.
“In any case, this matter concerns my clan. You two need not trouble yourselves over it.”
“Is that so? Then, in that case—what should we do next?”
The way Jegal Haesu changed the subject immediately after being told not to worry irritated Namgung Jin.
“Huh?”
“Since we’ve already finished healing Lady Gamon, it’s time to resume our own mission, don’t you think?”
“True.”
“How about heading to Hubei? We could visit the Wudang Sect that destroyed the Demonic Cult’s First Demon Pavilion.”
Jegal Haesu then explained the situation to Soso, who wasn’t very familiar with the current state of the Demonic Cult.
In truth, Jegal Haesu had been studying the Cult extensively in hopes of finding Jegal Sagun.
“Fifty years ago, the Demonic Cult’s main base was in Xinjiang.”
That place was now a wasteland—uninhabited and abandoned.
The Martial Alliance had monitored the area for fifty years, fearing remnants of the Cult might remain.
Though no remnants were found, the Cult resurfaced five years ago—apparently relocating its headquarters.
The Martial Alliance had since scoured various regions to find it.
While they hadn’t located the new main base, they had managed to discover and annihilate two of the Cult’s four branches, known as the Four Demon Pavilions (Sama-gak).
The two destroyed ones were the First Demon Pavilion (Ilma-gak) and the Second Demon Pavilion (Ima-gak).
The remaining undiscovered ones were the Third Demon Pavilion (Samma-gak) and the Extreme Demon Pavilion (Geukma-gak).
“…Wudang fought the Cult directly. They might have valuable information.”
“Sounds good! Let’s go to Hubei.”
“And I also have someone I need to meet there.”
Someone to meet…
From his earlier conversation with Jegal Haesu, Soso guessed he might be referring to “Wolya Yosun.”
At that moment, Namgung Jin, who had been silently listening, finally spoke.
“Jegal Swordsman, who is this person you must meet in Hubei?”
“It’s a secret. I’ll tell only Soso later.”
That made Namgung Jin bristle.
“Did you forget that I’m your benefactor? And it’s improper to exclude someone like that.”
“‘Improper’? Why should I care? Once I leave the Namgung Clan, that’s the end between us.”
“But still…”
“And you even treat me like some kind of parasite!”
“I-I didn’t mean—”
“Ahem. If you call me hyung (older brother), I’ll give you some more high-level information.”
High-level information—Soso thought that phrase rolled off the tongue quite nicely.
“We’ve barely known each other, and there’s no real bond between us. Calling you ‘hyung’ would be excessive.”
“Well, if you refuse, nothing I can do about it. Right, Soso?”
“Yes, Swordsman.”
At Soso’s teasing reply, Namgung Jin looked utterly betrayed.
“Even you, Lady Baek…?”
Before he could sink further into shock, Soso quickly intervened.
“I was only joking. You two can sort out your titles however you like.”
“……Alright.”
“And Jegal Swordsman, before going to Hubei, why don’t we first investigate what kind of traces of the Demonic Cult appeared in the Namgung Clan?”
Perhaps they might even find a clue to locate Lord Eonwoo.
“It’s true your clan might not easily share its secrets, but… it’s not a bad suggestion.”
Both Soso and Jegal Haesu turned to look at Namgung Jin, silently asking if he could share the details.
But his answer was not what they’d hoped for.
“Do you two truly intend to pursue the Demonic Cult?”
Both replied in unison.
“We have a grudge against them.”
“But still…”
Namgung Jin trailed off mid-sentence.
Soso and Jegal Haesu could guess what he wanted to say.
That two people like them—comparatively weak—shouldn’t be chasing after such a dangerous group. It was part worry, part doubt.
“Young lady, it’s dangerous.”
He spoke gently, careful not to hurt her feelings.
“I know. But there’s someone I must find within the Cult.”
“Could it be… someone connected to the Eight-Blood Calamity?”
Soso hesitated briefly, then nodded.
Still, she hadn’t yet decided whether she could entrust Namgung Jin with her entire story.
And he could sense her hesitation.
“Young lady, do you not trust me enough to tell me?”
“……”
“So you trust Jegal Swordsman, but not me?”
“Hey, Namgung Jin, don’t scold our Soso like that.”
“But isn’t it unfair!?”
Namgung Jin’s voice rose before he even realized it—and then he looked startled at himself. His face flushed bright red.
“U-Unfair, I mean… I’ve never been distrusted before! I’ve always been someone others relied on. So Lady Baek’s mistrust is just… too much…”
He stammered awkwardly, but soon regained composure.
“Please, trust me. I only wish to repay the kindness you’ve shown me.”
There was nothing but sincerity in his gaze.
Namgung Jin was a man one couldn’t help but trust the more they got to know him. Yet Soso still couldn’t forget the look in his eyes when he had glared like a wild beast back in the forest.
So even though she knew he was a good person, something in her still hesitated.
Maybe, once she learned why he called her the Golden Divine Maiden, that hesitation would fade.
And yet, a part of her wanted to tell him everything—to seek his help.
After all, Namgung Jin seemed even stronger than the old demon who had kidnapped Lord Eonwoo.
Soso recalled every side of him she had seen, determined to make up her mind.
The first impression of the indomitable Namgung Jin—aloof and unyielding.
The man who had trusted her when she walked the line between human and spirit, believing even her flimsy excuses.
I can’t tell him about my past life in detail… but maybe I can tell him I’m looking for Lord Eonwoo.
After long contemplation, Soso finally opened her lips to speak.
