Chapter 78
“What are you talking about?”
Namgung Ho asked in a gruff voice.
This was already the second time. The Azure Sky Unit, known as the elite of the Namgung Clan, had failed their mission.
Because of this, his mood had soured to the point of no return.
“They say the leader’s head was missing.”
“What?”
If it were merely a fight between masters who happened to cross paths, there would be no reason to go through the trouble of decapitating the bodies.
It was truly suspicious.
“Furthermore, every one of their bodies had marks where the skin had been carved away.”
“They skinned them? Could it be that they were tortured?”
“Perhaps it was where their tattoos used to be!”
At the sudden, clear voice, Namgung Ho and Namgung On turned their heads in unison.
“Ah, s-sorry.”
She had unintentionally interrupted the adults' conversation. Realizing her mistake, Hong-seol quickly bowed her head.
Behind her, Namgung Baek, who had been standing with a look of firm resolve, also gave a slight nod.
“This is not a conversation for children to hear, but since you are already here, speak. Tattoos, you say? What do you mean by that?”
Encouraged, Hong-seol spoke clearly.
“The villains I met in the cave had black feather-shaped tattoos on their bodies.”
In an instant, Namgung Ho and Namgung On locked eyes.
“The Black Eagle Gang!”
Crash!
Namgung Ho kicked his seat and stood up once again. The chair he had been sitting on tipped backward, making a loud clatter.
“I’ll deal with those bastards right now!”
Unlike Namgung Ho, whose beard was trembling with rage, Namgung On remained calm.
“Please calm down, Grandfather. They are definitely not members of the Black Eagle Gang.”
“What did you say?”
Namgung On turned his gaze toward Namgung Baek, who was standing at the doorway.
“Baek, what do you think?”
“...I share the same opinion as you, Father.”
“Why is that?”
“Although the Black Eagle Gang belongs to the Black Path, I have heard they are a sect that values loyalty among their members. They would not have disposed of their own injured comrades just to silence them.”
Baek’s gaze settled on Hong-seol.
“Moreover, there would be no need to do such a thing when there are already witnesses who have seen their tattoos.”
“Ahem.” Namgung Ho cleared his throat.
He had long known his grandson was brilliant. But it was embarrassing that he, the Grand Patriarch, had been ready to rush out without thinking things through.
‘It’s strange. Ever since a certain point, I’ve found myself jumping into action without a second thought whenever it concerns Seol-ah...’
His face flushing red, Namgung Ho pretended to look into the distance to soothe his embarrassment.
“Baek is right. And...”
Namgung On smiled with a smooth expression.
“Rumors have been rampant for some time now. People say that the Poison-Armed Eagle, the leader of the Black Eagle Gang, has appeared in Anhui.”
At the familiar name, Hong-seol perked up her ears.
Namgung Ho’s face twisted.
“Then it was that old hag who wiped out the villains.”
“That must be it. She is someone who takes more pride and affection in the Black Eagle Gang than anyone else, and those villains dared to use the Black Eagle Gang’s name.”
Namgung On sipped his tea.
“This is good. Now, the Poison-Armed Eagle and the Black Eagle Gang will find out the true identity of those villains for us. They will scour even the Black Path, a place our hands can rarely reach.”
“Ho ho.”
Feeling deflated, Namgung Ho sat back down and picked up his teacup again.
Now, all they could do was wait.
“So, why have you and Baek come here? You disappeared from the training ground just a little while ago.”
Namgung Ho scanned the two children.
Whether they had reconciled or not, Hong-seol was scratching her head with a giggle.
As for his grandson, he wore his usual sullen, expressionless face.
Hong-seol said, her eyes sparkling brightly.
“Grandfather, we saw a messenger bird!”
“What?”
“The messenger bird with blue tips on its wings, that came from Sichuan, right?”
“That is true, but... it is too early.”
Namgung Ho looked at Namgung On. Namgung On also looked puzzled.
“The messenger bird we sent shouldn't have even arrived in Sichuan yet. There is no way the Poison King would have sent a reply already.”
Just then, a voice came from outside. It was a warrior from the Namcheon Unit, who was in charge of the messenger birds.
“A messenger bird from Sichuan has arrived.”
Namgung On raised his voice.
“Bring it here!”
“W-well, that is...”
The warrior trailed off. A slight wrinkle formed on Namgung On’s brow.
“What is it?”
“It is written that it must be delivered directly to the Grand Patriarch, not the Clan Lord.”
Namgung On frowned and leaned back. Meanwhile, Namgung Ho seemed to sense something and grew serious.
“Hand me the letter.”
After receiving and reading the letter, Namgung Ho’s expression turned grave.
Namgung On asked with concern.
“What is the matter, Grandfather?”
“It seems I must go to the Tang Clan of Sichuan myself.”
“Pardon?”
“It appears something has happened to the old man of the Tang Clan. He is asking me to come to Sichuan immediately.”
Namgung Ho held up the object that had come with the letter.
Made of high-quality, lightweight wood, the object was none other than a Token of Gratitude.
It was a plaque given to someone in return for a favor.
If the holder of a Token of Gratitude bearing one's own name made a request, one had to grant it, no matter what.
That was the law of the martial world.
Namgung Ho said in a voice as heavy as a mountain.
“The time has finally come to pay the price for the Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root.”
* * *
As if setting off on a long journey, a group of middle-aged men in simple attire busily packed their belongings.
They were armed escorts from an agency and porters who carried the luggage.
Their job was to deliver goods or people safely to their destination.
And the people they were to take today were...
“Are you ready?”
The head of the escorts approached Namgung Ho and bowed respectfully with a fist salute.
“Not yet! The most important child hasn't arrived.”
Just then, Hong-seol, holding Bing Yuhwa’s hand, came running from the Azure Sky Pavilion.
Behind her, the maid Maeran followed, carrying a large bundle.
Hong-seol was completely overwhelmed.
It was because of Bing Yuhwa, who had checked the luggage with Maeran several times even while walking over.
“Did you pack the child’s cloak?”
“Yes, Head of the Medicine Hall. I packed the cotton one with the scattered flower patterns.”
A look of contemplation crossed Bing Yuhwa’s brow as she fell into thought.
“Mrs. Hong’s drapery shop sent over a fur-lined cloak the other day. I must pack that one!”
“Pardon?”
The place the young lady is going to is humid and hot Sichuan. Not the North Sea Ice Palace.
A look of bewilderment spread across Maeran’s face. Seeing this, Yuhwa said, looking a bit embarrassed.
“It can get cold there at night, can it not?”
At those words, Maeran went without a word to find the fur-lined cloak.
Having finished the task that weighed on her mind, Bing Yuhwa smiled kindly at Hong-seol.
“Now, let us go, child.”
“Yes... Oh!”
Hong-seol, who had been walking excitedly after Yuhwa, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
“I left something behind!”
“Is that so? What did you leave behind?”
“My money pouch!”
“But child, you won't have any need to spend money...”
“I’m going to give alms to the beggars! Everywhere we go.”
“Is that so?”
Finding the remark cute, Yuhwa smiled and gave her permission.
Hong-seol ran back to her quarters at the Azure Sky Pavilion.
Watching the scene from below, Namgung Ho sighed and looked around.
“Everyone, have a cup of tea. It seems it will take at least another shijin before we can depart.”
At his gesture, the maids guided the escorts and porters to the front courtyard attached to the guest hall.
There, a canopy shielded them from the warm sunlight.
Seeing the escorts quenching their thirst, Namgung Ho rolled up the blinds hanging on the carriage window and said.
“You should come out and have some tea as well.”
The boy who had been sitting quietly raised his eyes.
Silver hair and cool blue eyes.
It was Namgung Baek.
He looked as calm and composed as someone who had lived his whole life in a carriage. But in truth, he had fought a fierce battle to secure this spot.
“I am fine, Grandfather.”
He seemed worried that if he stepped out of the carriage even for a moment, they might leave him behind.
‘I secured this opportunity by threatening to stop eating if they didn't take me, so I can't let it go to waste.’
Seeing Namgung Baek, who wouldn't even think of moving from the carriage, Namgung Ho clicked his tongue.
“Why is he so obsessed with this trip? Is he really so distrustful of my ability to protect Seol-ah?”
He could never have imagined that his grandson was working hard to keep Hong-seol’s heart tethered to the Namgung Clan.
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