Chapter 52
Soon, uproarious laughter followed.
The source of the laughter was Jin Cheong-ak. He laughed so exaggeratedly that a vial fell to the floor, then gestured toward Ye-il.
“Ye-il, Ye-il… I was wondering how to deal with that sneaky little rat listening in. Never did I think it would be you.”
“Don’t call me that.”
Ye-il responded coldly, descending the railing with a light movement to stand in front of Jin Cheong-ak.
“I was wondering what secret mischief you were up to, hiding away.”
Her gaze swept over Beom-jung and Dang-hong with a chilling sharpness, devoid of any hint of acknowledgment.
Her eyes lingered on Dang-hong longer than expected, prompting Jin Cheong-ak to chuckle.
“Don’t be mistaken, Namgung Sojeo. Both of them have already run their course.”
“I can tell just by looking.”
“Ho! Really? To instantly grasp the true nature of Dang-hong, which even your elder brother couldn’t discern… truly, you are Namgung Sojeo.”
Ye-il, taking a seat casually beside Jin Cheong-ak, snatched his chopsticks and tasted the food with equal nonchalance.
Beom-jung, observing his lord personally piling plates high with food before Ye-il, glanced at her with complex eyes before turning back to her.
He had thought himself perceptive, but facing this woman felt like staring into the surface of a lake whose depth he could never fathom.
“She must be a master I dare not peer into.”
He also realized that Ye-il’s face had transformed drastically since their first meeting.
“That’s what they mean by a total transformation.”
The long scar from cheekbone to jaw had vanished, and the feral impression of her past seemed almost like a dream.
Her once rough, warrior-like skin and lips now glowed with a pink vitality. Even her previously gloomy, almost sinister gaze now held a clear light that drew one in deeply.
“How’s the taste?”
“Not bad.”
“Hmm. How is it that no matter which inn we visit, your review is always the same? Has your tongue never found enlightenment?”
“Offensive, but you have a point.”
“Try this stir-fried beef as well. How is it? Not too sweet compared to the Se family’s cooking?”
“…It’s really subtle.”
“Subtle?”
“The same.”
“Tsk. You can’t erase the traces of growing up with poor food.”
“Offensive, but true.”
Indeed.
With Ye-il, Jin Cheong-ak seemed to be attending to her. No, the way he placed each piece of meat on her plate went beyond mere service…
‘No. Even I think strange thoughts about my lord.’
Dang-hong, who usually couldn’t contain his temper, would certainly restrain himself from thinking such things.
“My lord…! My lord is acting like a loving couple with a woman who only knows her own face, and yet doesn’t grasp the situation…!”
Clearly, that was a misjudgment. He spoke arrogantly as usual.
At that moment, Ye-il set down her chopsticks.
The table fell silent as she quietly addressed Beom-jung and Dang-hong, scrutinizing their faces.
“You look familiar. Ah, I see. You were the ones standing behind Jin Cheong-ak when you came to see the elder.”
“….”
“Shin-gang is your territory, so I didn’t care if you snuck in or out. But I didn’t expect you to chase even Anhwi-seong.”
Beom-jung secretly sighed with relief upon realizing the vial had fallen.
Amid the tense atmosphere, Jin Cheong-ak leisurely asked:
“So… our Namgung Sojeo, afraid that the escort would leave the house, had you follow all the way here?”
“That’s right. Until the day we left the Se family, he wandered outside, so I wondered what scheme he had.”
“Unfortunate for him, there are more schemes elsewhere. It seems the Jin family and your elder found me.”
Beom-jung’s eyes widened in shock.
“My lord! Revealing that so easily…”
“Ask if you may speak? Even if I hide it, what good would it do, Beom-jung? Ye-il and I move as one; you’ll find out soon enough.”
It was true, yet still uncomfortable. Even if true…
“…The Jin family? The one you were born into?”
Ye-il asked, and Jin Cheong-ak nodded slowly.
The Cheonma Shin-gyo sect had always elevated either talented individuals personally chosen by the sect leader or members from its five great families in Shin-gang to the position of Grand Disciple.
Cho I-ryang belonged to the Cho family, and Jin Cheong-ak to the Jin family.
“Soon, both sides will reveal themselves. Their objectives will differ, of course.”
“And the Ye family?”
“The Ye family?”
Surprised by the unexpected mention, Jin Cheong-ak answered calmly.
“That family fell long ago. Some retainers remain at the main hall… that’s all. No connection to me.”
“My lord! Revealing that so easily…”
“Ask if you may speak? It’s not a significant secret. Even the older warriors of the old halls already know.”
Jin Cheong-ak shot Beom-jung a look, telling him to stop fussing. Chastised yet stung, Beom-jung focused on eating.
The clandestine meeting concluded with a hearty meal.
Ye-il, the uninvited guest who had eaten most enthusiastically (though Jin Cheong-ak had force-fed her piece by piece like feeding a bird, Beom-jung would never admit it), stood and asked:
“Did you come to see Jin Cheong-ak yesterday and the day before too?”
Beom-jung and Dang-hong exchanged glances, silent.
The answer was no. Jin Cheong-ak showed no special reaction, but having long served him, they quickly realized he desired silence.
“…Next time, come openly. No matter what you do, Jin Cheong-ak won’t be freed, so don’t waste your efforts. Consider this a warning.”
Beom-jung took a steadying breath.
If he didn’t, he might draw his sword and cut Ye-il down right then.
Of course, there was no guarantee he could, but… how could he remain calm as one serving his lord? Glancing at Dang-hong, he saw a similar expression.
Even after Jin Cheong-ak and Ye-il departed, the two could not shake their humiliation for some time.
“Jeok-myeong, Hee-myeong! Remember, don’t overexert yourselves at the martial arts tournament! You are the Se family’s only legitimate heirs! Consider it just an experience of the wide world, and upon returning, you must…!”
The Se family members, the Danri Mukran, and the people of Anhwi-seong sent them off warmly. A day had passed since leaving the Se family.
The carriage was about to arrive at Hanam-seong.
“Yaaawn.”
Outside, the escort’s bored yawn echoed.
The journey to the Martial Alliance was extremely peaceful.
The head of the Se family had his own thoughts, and Namgung Hee-myeong needed to mentally prepare for his first martial arts tournament.
Adding Namgung Soyo’s carriage, whose throat had been irritated by poison, the atmosphere was silent as a mouse.
Ye-il also played a significant role in maintaining this peace.
When the elder lady regained consciousness, Chang-a had hurried over, exhausting all effort to make the elder lady feel like a patient.
[“Elder lady! Are you alright?”]
[“Ugh… headache… what happened to me? Before losing consciousness…”]
[“Don’t force your memory. You looked as if you’d seen a ghost before passing out! So you must rest completely.”]
[“Ghost?”]
[“Yes. We worry that you overexerted yourself recently. And Miss Soyo was already dealing with serious matters when you suddenly collapsed, so she was quite concerned.”]
[“I did overexert myself after arriving at the Namgung family…”]
[“Indeed! You really pushed yourself! As a senior of the family, you must take care of yourself. Please rest well. Truly.”]
Namgung Jeok-myeong entrusted Danri Mukran with managing the Se family’s affairs during the Martial Alliance tournament.
This was to prevent the Namgung faction from acting freely while he was absent.
Danri Mukran, obsessed with Namgung Jeok-myeong’s marriage, would actively extend influence over the family while he was away.
With Danri Mukran keeping an eye on things, the Namgung faction could not act recklessly—a fairly efficient strategy, aside from the inevitable backlash.
Finally, the Se family’s carriage arrived at Hanam-seong.
