Chapter 24
The carriage stopped in a village near Xiangyang in Hubei Province.
However, calling it a village felt no different from the central areas of Hubei Province they had passed through in the past few days.
"I was told it was definitely a village... Do they call places like this villages in Hubei?"
"This area has been the heart of the continent for generations. And Xiangyang is nearby, so it's a bit bigger."
After a light meal at a nearby inn, Yoo-rim decided to leave first to hasten his journey to Mount Hua.
"Namgung and Soyo. I feel like I've received too much help to leave like this... Is there really nothing I can do to repay you?"
She understood how he felt, but Yoo-rim's assistance was related to a very personal family matter.
If she were to say that she was searching for traces of her mother because her identity was uncertain, it would surely tarnish the Namgung family's prestige. At least, the real Namgung Soyo would have thought so.
"Thank you for your kind words. But Yoo-rim, you need to get that item where it needs to go, so it seems right for us to part ways here. Perhaps we'll meet again sometime."
"Heh. Soyo, you're tougher than you look."
They bid farewell to Yoo-rim, who seemed a little disappointed.
Soon after, Jin Cheong-ak said he was going to look around, and Namgung Hee-myung took the others to the largest inn to check the guest list.
"Hey, do you have anyone here named Ahn Hwi? We're supposed to meet some people."
"Ahn Hwi? Hold on a second."
The moment the innkeeper left to check the list, a man in a black hat suddenly tapped Namgung Hee-myung on the shoulder.
"Hee-myung."
Since she could barely open her eyes, all Yeo-il saw was some cloth wrapped around his right arm, covered in blood.
But that was enough to know who it was.
"And Soyo too. Both of you arrived safely. That's a relief."
The voice that followed confirmed the man's identity.
"...Huh."
Namgung Hee-myung's eyes widened as if they would pop out.
"Jeok-myung, brother?"
It was Namgung Jeok-myung, the young lord.
'Namgung Jeok-myung came all the way out here himself?'
While she was inwardly surprised, Namgung Hee-myung, who seemed twice as surprised, questioned Namgung Jeok-myung in a booming voice.
"Weren't you in Anhui? What are you doing here? And what happened to your arm?!"
"Shhh."
Namgung Jeok-myung shushed him, looked around, and then led them outside.
"Calm down, it's not a big deal. Are you guys okay?"
"Soyo and I are in much better shape than you! What on earth happened? Why are you even in Hubei?!"
Namgung Jeok-myung chuckled and patted Namgung Hee-myung's shoulder.
"Relax, I was planning on following you all along."
"Huh? Follow us?"
"Forget that. Soyo, are you good?"
The same gentle concern he showed Namgung Hee-myung reached Yeo-il. She faced the direction of Namgung Jeok-myung's voice and smiled brightly.
"I'm good, Jeok-myung. I heard about your arm... Are you okay?"
"Really? That's strange. I figured something must have happened."
He chuckled, and Namgung Hee-myung immediately asked him again.
"I don't understand. If you were coming anyway, why did you travel alone?"
"Why? Because I didn't tell Chu-myung."
Yeo-il listened closely. As she expected, Namgung Hee-myung gasped slightly.
"Brother, did that happen to your arm because...?"
"I was ambushed on the way. I thought I was being sneaky, but I guess not."
It was obvious what he meant. Namgung Jeok-myung was saying his own brother, Namgung Chu-myung, had tried to have him killed.
'He sent assassins? Things are way more messed up between them than I thought.'
Actually, they weren't even brothers. This Namgung Chu-myung was a fake, just like Yeo-il.
If the fake wanted the Namgung family, it made sense to get rid of the young lord, Namgung Jeok-myung.
"Whoever did that to you must have been tough... Was it the Eight Demons?"
"Eight Demons?"
Namgung Jeok-myung asked, sounding confused.
"You guys were attacked by the Eight Demons?"
"Well, Yoo-rim from Mount Hua, who we were traveling with, was being pursued by them."
"That's insane. I can't believe you guys are okay."
"Yeah, well... We got lucky. Jin helped us out."
"Jin?"
Yeo-il quickly answered.
"He stepped out for a bit. He'll probably be back."
Namgung Jeok-myung, who had briefly heard the situation from the third son, murmured in a thoughtful tone.
"...So, the Eight Demons were after some special medicine the Mount Hua Sect had, and some badass who was with Yoo-rim showed up and saved you all, and it was the same guy who saved Soyo a few days ago?"
Namgung Hee-myung nodded. Namgung Jeok-myung, who'd been giving him a hard look, suddenly punched him on the head.
"Ow!"
"Namgung Hee-myung, what the hell were you thinking, getting involved in something so dangerous? Did you forget about Soyo? Are you insane?"
Namgung Hee-myung groaned, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Dude... You didn't have to use your internal energy..."
"You can be brave when you're actually strong enough to handle it. What am I supposed to tell Father if you get yourself killed?"
"Sorry."
Namgung Hee-myung seemed strangely happy about it. He was almost laughing, even though he was apologizing.
He'd complain about the young lord being obsessed with Cho-hong, but he was always bragging about him too.
"Let's go somewhere else. We came all this way to Hubei; we have to do what we came here for."
"Yes."
Namgung Jeok-myung led them down a path quite far from the inn.
They stopped at a house that was way out in the middle of nowhere, but no one came out, even though they called out.
They were waiting forever by the door when a man walking by told them something they didn't expect.
"He's dead?"
"Yep."
Namgung Hee-myung asked again, his face showing disbelief.
"Seriously? I checked on him just a few days ago. He's died since then?"
"Damn, that's rough. It was only, like... three days ago?”
