Chapter 72
Namgung Jin, stung by the commanding tone, opened his mouth to retort, but Sau spoke again, his voice heavy with overwhelming pressure.
“Namgung Jin, stay here.”
“…….”
Namgung Jin found himself closing his slightly parted lips. The heavy, suffocating pressure radiating from Sau made it impossible for him to speak. Perhaps it was better to guard her than to stubbornly follow Jegal Haesu. He could always find out about Jegal Taek’s secret retreat later.
In the end, Namgung Jin gave up, and Jegal Haesu shouted as if feeling wronged.
“Why must Young Master Sau accompany me! No, that won’t do. In any case, none of this is acceptable!”
“No, while Namgung Jin is not allowed, I am.”
“Why on earth……? Don’t tell me you’re trying to torment me just because I refused your money yesterday?”
Sau’s eyebrows arched upward.
“What are you talking about? What money? Did you try to squeeze more money out of Young Master Sau?”
“Sami, no. That’s a misunderstanding. Young Master Sau offered to pay for the expensive treatment from the Bewitching Healer of the Moonlit Night, but I refused it.”
“What?”
Jegal Haesu recalled the conversation he had with Sau last night.
“If you visit the Jegal Clan late, something irreversible will happen.”
“Is there anyone in the clan who knows that a Demonic Cultist has infiltrated it?”
“No one but you. You are the only one who knows something that could determine the future of the clan.”
*Sigh.* To think he would learn of such a grave matter while already at odds with his own family. It was incredibly troublesome. He had left the main house prepared to even discard the name ‘Jegal.’ In other words, he had decided not to care about whatever calamity might befall the Jegal Clan.
However…….
Jegal Haesu recalled the scene at the Namgung Clan when the madman had broken in. The bloodstains that hadn’t been wiped away, the severed limbs—likely the madman’s—left lying there, the shattered outer walls.
What if a Demonic Cultist infiltrated the clan, brought a madman with them, and turned the Jegal Clan into a wasteland? His father was not a master of the Transformation Stage like Namgung Seonyul. He was merely a Peak Master who could barely wield a sliver of Sword Aura. If the Demonic Cult truly set their minds to invading, they could be wiped out just like the Qingcheng Sect a few years ago.
Of course, the Jegal Clan had numerous mechanisms and formations installed, so they wouldn’t fall easily, but…….
He was still worried. He still resented his father, his relatives, and everyone else who had always looked down on him. But he could not abandon his humanity.
“I will go to the Jegal Clan.”
Last night, that was the decision Jegal Haesu had made.
“But I will not accept the money you offer. I feel I have already been paid enough just by receiving information regarding the Demonic Cult.”
He would have earned the money by selling the spiritual herbs anyway. He didn’t want to be heavily indebted by taking more than necessary from Sau. Jegal Haesu liked wealth, but he did not like ‘dangerous’ money. It was best to avoid anything that could cause trouble later—especially when it involved a master of unknown identity.
Thus, he had planned to go to Mount Yungjung today to obtain the spiritual herbs and then ask his companions what they thought about heading to the Jegal Clan. Even though he hadn’t taken the money, he had made a promise to Sau.
“Why did you refuse it?”
At Baek Sam’s question, Jegal Haesu’s thoughts, which had been drifting to yesterday’s events, were shattered.
“We don’t know anything about Young Master Sau. I might accept a small amount, but I can’t just take such a large sum. I have a conscience, you know!”
“A conscience…… Hmmm.”
“Don’t look at me with such suspicion. I’m being sincere. Anyway, Young Master, I wish to go alone.”
But Sau was far too firm.
“I will follow. There will be no changing my mind.”
“What is the reason for this!”
“Just because. I think it will be fun.”
In truth, Sau knew one more fact that Jegal Haesu did not: Soma-gi was currently heading toward the vicinity of Mount Yungjung. It seemed that, by chance, Soma-gi and Jegal Haesu were now targeting the same thing.
*If the two of them cross paths, it might be quite a spectacle.*
For some reason, he wanted to witness that scene with his own eyes. He was curious to see how much the pathetic Jegal Haesu would grovel. Perhaps he could even kill Jegal Haesu using someone else’s blade.
*Borrowing a knife to kill.*
If he could keep his promise to Baek Sam while also getting rid of the eyesore that was Jegal Haesu, wasn’t that killing two birds with one stone? Of course, if Jegal Haesu died, he would have to personally persuade Baek Sam to go to the Jegal Clan, but he felt he could endure that much trouble.
“I am going alone! Don’t even think about following me.”
“If you can shake me off, then by all means, try.”
There was no fault in his words. Jegal Haesu could not dare to shake off Sau. Clenching his fists and trembling, Jegal Haesu suddenly unleashed his Lightness Skill. Sau, not to be outdone, followed right behind him.
“…….”
Left behind in the sudden silence, Soso stared at the two empty seats.
*I hope nothing happens to them.*
Still, it didn’t seem like Sau would hurt Jegal Haesu or steal his belongings. Furthermore, Jegal Haesu wouldn’t challenge Sau to a martial contest like Namgung Jin would. Jegal Haesu was quite perceptive, so he wouldn’t do anything particularly dangerous.
“Young Master Namgung, will they be alright?”
“Jegal Haesu is the type who would survive even if pushed to the edge of a cliff. Even if he fell into the deep ocean, his mouth would float to the surface, and he’d find a way to live. He’ll be fine.”
The assessment was harsh, but strangely, she found herself nodding at every word.
“That’s true, I suppose he will be fine.”
Namgung Jin nodded slightly, then opened his lips as if he had just remembered something.
“Oh, right. I couldn’t bring Myeong yesterday because of the martial contest. What should we do?”
“Is he still at the inn in Wuhan? If possible, I think it would be better to check before they arrive.”
“I feel I should stay with you, Young Lady, so I will ask Daeu to handle it.”
*Ah, that’s right. Daeu was nearby.*
Perhaps he was quite far away, as his presence was not easily felt.
“That’s a good idea.”
* * *
Tianzhu Peak, the main peak among the seventy-two peaks of Mount Wudang. A man stood at the summit, where one could easily fall under the illusion of looking down upon the entire world.
A fierce wind was blowing, but strangely, the man’s white hair, which reached his waist, did not stir in the slightest. The man was simply lost in thought.
“Haa…….”
Despite his white hair, the man’s face appeared as youthful as a young man’s. His identity was Myeong Heo, the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect and the Fist Emperor.
Myeong Heo was the very essence of a Taoist immortal. Although his face looked young, spiritual energy flowed from his entire body. Even his smallest gesture was elegant. He was the model for all Taoists. That was Myeong Heo.
Myeong Heo had lived for a very long time, but having reached the incredibly high realm of the Void Stage, he had achieved Rebirth of the Bone and Marrow, maintaining his youthful appearance. He had no need for supreme techniques or any specific forms. He could unleash martial arts without even following the principles of combat.
For him, the only things that mattered were enlightenment and following the ways of nature. There was no one in the current Murim who could defeat him. However, even for him, whose martial arts were so profound that he could tread upon the void, there were unavoidable circumstances and worries.
*The Golden Divine Healer and her party wish to visit Wudang……. Should I grant them permission?*
A few days ago, an urgent message had arrived from the Namgung Clan. It stated that the Young Lord Namgung Jin, the Lazy Young Master Jegal Haesu, and a young lady of mysterious origins wished to visit Wudang. Namgung Seonyul had added that he would personally guarantee the identity of the ‘young lady,’ so there was no need for suspicion.
A strange postscript had been added to the letter.
「Sect Leader, this is a bit of a personal aside, but that young lady is someone that Jin and I hold especially! dear.」
It was the first time he had seen Namgung Seonyul make such a request. The boy who used to follow him around cutely, calling him “Senior~ Senior~,” had only been putting on airs of dignity ever since he became the Clan Head.
However, the sudden shift in attitude was not entirely incomprehensible. Myeong Heo, too, felt he knew the identity of the young lady.
*So, the ‘One Who Is Indifferent to Women,’ Namgung Jin, has finally been cured of his celibacy……. *
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