Chapter 64
— — —
“Hahaha! Don’t look at me with such disdain. I only intend to receive such looks from Young Master Namgung.”
Sau pressed his lips together, as if he were too flabbergasted to speak.
However, Soso could not bring herself to mock Jegal Haesu.
She knew just how deep the wounds were for the man sitting across from her, smiling like a fool.
Soso remembered seeing Jegal Haesu practicing in secret in the middle of the night, acting like a madman.
Even as he coughed up blood in agony, he had yearned to become stronger.
Jegal Haesu surely hadn't wanted to steal his own family’s treasures.
Even if he was a Young Master who received no recognition, he was, after all, of the Jegal Clan’s bloodline.
He was a man who carried the pride of the Jegal Clan. It was impossible that such a person truly enjoyed thievery.
Though, she had seen him drool over other people’s gold...
And she had seen him squeeze money and carriages out of the Namgung Clan until he coughed up blood...
Anyway!
One only had to look at Jegal Haesu’s expression to see how hollowed out he was inside.
To think he wore such a gloomy face...
He was likely regretting his past thefts and wishing to beg his father for forgiveness.
As if she understood his feelings completely, Soso patted Jegal Haesu on the shoulder.
Stay strong, Young Master Jegal.
“Sami, are you pitying me because I’m being looked down upon? If you’d like, you may hold my hand instead.”
“I don’t think I pity you anymore, Young Master.”
...He really is a master at ruining the mood.
Soso pulled her hand away cleanly.
“What a pity, such a pity.”
The conversation had drifted off course. Recalling her purpose, Soso asked Sau once more.
“Young Master Sau, so, will you be coming with us to the Wudang Sect?”
“Wudang... I suppose there’s no reason I can’t. I owe them a debt, after all.”
Sau’s eyes sank heavily as he spoke of Wudang.
“A debt?”
“It’s not something you need to concern yourself with.”
He had said he would go to Wudang, but to Soso, it seemed as though Sau felt uneasy about the place.
Namgung Jin, sensing the same discomfort, blocked Sau’s path.
“That doesn’t sound like a positive matter.”
“That is none of your concern.”
“No, if you are to join us on our journey, it is a matter we must address. You have far too many questionable points about you.”
A taut tension flowed between Namgung Jin and Sau.
The sharp, cutting energy passing between them made the earlier standoff in the medicinal herb market seem like nothing at all.
“If you do not fear death, then feel free to keep doubting me.”
Having said that, Sau poured a sharp, killing intent solely onto Namgung Jin.
Namgung Jin endured the killing intent piercing his entire body, but as time passed, he could not stop his face from contorting.
“...”
Sau chuckled, as if he found it quite unexpected, and intensified his killing intent.
The amplified killing intent affected Soso and Jegal Haesu nearby as well.
Even as the capillaries in his eyes began to burst, Namgung Jin never once yielded to Sau.
Instead, he merely glared at Sau with bloodshot eyes.
As if he would not back down until the mystery of his identity was solved.
Sau did not like that Namgung Jin refused to break.
‘Should I just kill him? I have to deal with him eventually anyway.’
He had planned to annihilate the Namgung Clan once he mastered the Asura’s Blood Heavenly Sword.
He had to repay the grudge against the Namgung Clan for causing him to waste the resources of the ‘madmen’.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to kill the Young Lord of the Namgung Clan in advance.
It was not just a thought; Sau’s hand had already begun to lift.
“Y-Young Master Sau! Stop. You mustn’t fight!”
Soso’s piteous cry rang out.
“You said you wanted to join us. Please, withdraw your killing intent.”
Her voice was desperate. So much so that he could not ignore it.
His body moved before his mind could.
The hand that had been extended, ready to unleash his internal energy, dropped, and the killing intent was slowly retracted.
The air, which had been stifling enough to constrict their breathing, softened significantly.
Sau realized only then what he had done.
‘Why did my body react to that woman’s words first?’
Ever since he had learned the martial arts of the Heavenly Demon, he had never once followed the words of another.
Sau’s languid gaze rested on Soso.
As he watched her face, the desire to kill Namgung Jin vanished.
“Haa...”
Soso let out a dry sigh of relief.
Jegal Haesu’s body staggered, as if the weight of the unleashed killing intent had been too much for him.
Soso, on the other hand, was quite fine. It was likely that her spiritual energy had deflected some of the killing intent.
Just as it seemed the situation had calmed down:
“I wish to cross swords with you, Young Master Sau.”
Namgung Jin formally requested a martial contest with Sau. Soso was aghast.
‘I knew he was a martial arts fanatic, but to request a contest in this situation without backing down!’
What is he thinking? Sau looks far stronger than anyone he has faced before!
A chilling thought crossed her mind—he might even be stronger than Namgung Jin.
Perhaps Sau thought the same, for he replied in a mocking tone.
“You, of all people?”
“The only one who can look down on me is you, once you have truly defeated me.”
“It seems you do not fear death.”
The situation was on a knife’s edge. Soso hurriedly shouted at Namgung Jin.
“Young Master, no! Please, reconsider your decision!”
But for once, Namgung Jin was extremely firm, even though he had always listened to Soso until now.
“Young Lady, I apologize. But I must cross swords with Young Master Sau.”
“Fine, then follow me.”
The two turned their backs as if to leave the inn.
Soso shouted at Sau in a desperate voice.
“You must not kill each other, nor must you inflict any wounds!”
Sau hesitated for a moment at Soso’s cry.
But no answer was returned. The two opened the window and vanished, disappearing in an instant.
“Young Master Jegal, will Young Master Namgung be alright?”
Jegal Haesu wiped the sweat from his brow and replied.
“We can only hope he remains safe. I am worried for my brother as well.”
Namgung Jin was so devoted to martial arts that he was called a fanatic.
But even considering that, his behavior in suddenly challenging Sau to a contest was incomprehensible.
‘It seems there is some other reason.’
Perhaps he was trying to uncover even a shred of Sau’s mysterious identity.
Regardless, Jegal Haesu hoped for Namgung Jin’s safe return.
You foolish brother...
Please, return safely.
0 Comments