Chapter 26
Suddenly, she heard the rustle of fine fabric.
He must have knelt, because the voice that had been above her was now at her level.
"I apologize once again for what happened at Giyeonru."
Yeo-il, still focusing all her attention on his waist, replied, "Since you're apologizing, how about dropping that condition too?"
"Haha. I'm afraid not."
His dry, habitual laugh was completely devoid of emotion.
Whenever Namgung Jeok-myeong gave that empty laugh of his, Yeo-il would try to picture his face.
Would Namgung Jeok-myeong even bother to fake a smile for her, a blind woman? Or was he just staring her down with that ice-cold look of his?
"You came all the way to Hubei, spent days, and you're leaving with nothing? That's harsh."
"The owner of this house isn't the only one who knows where you came from. There are people who know all the way from Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Yunnan, to Tibet."
People who knew Namgung So-yo's background. It sounded to Yeo-il like he was talking about some huge secret.
"So, Shaanxi next?"
"What does it matter where we go? It'll be the same as here when we get there."
He was sure they were all dead.
"Yeah... Figuring that out is the whole point of this. A huge win. Big enough to clear up years of suspicion."
She had a vague idea what he was talking about, but she couldn't quite grasp the full meaning.
Yeo-il pictured a map of the continent in her head.
Hubei, Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Tibet.
'All western regions of Kangho.'
Not many people would have crossed all that land. But to Yeo-il, it felt familiar, not strange. It wasn't that different from the route she'd taken to Mount Tianzhu in Anhui after the old man died.
Yes, the places Namgung Jeok-myeong had rattled off were all connected, like a long, wide bridge between Anhui in the east and 'that place' in the west.
Xinjiang.
That place, the headquarters of the Cheonma Shingyo.
'...No way.'
Yeo-il remembered the moment she first met Namgung So-yo at Mount Tianzhu.
The mysterious assassins who'd attacked the Namgung family's guards.
Don't pity Namgung So-yo. She's not worth it.
What if Yeo-il's birth mother was connected to the Cheonma Shingyo?
What if Namgung Jeok-myeong was trying to get rid of Namgung So-yo because of the Cheonma Shingyo?
'Wait, was Namgung Jeok-myeong really the one threatening Namgung So-yo?'
How could a guy like that bring his beloved younger sister, Namgung Hee-myeong, all the way to Hubei – risking assassination – just to find some 'clue' about the house owner's death?
"So-yo."
It was the gentlest Yeo-il had ever heard Namgung Jeok-myeong call her name.
"Just looking at your face like this... I can see subtle changes, even though you've been so eerily calm the whole time."
His laugh was right in front of her.
Yeo-il stayed quiet, pretty sure she knew what those subtle changes meant. After a long moment, Namgung Jeok-myeong, who'd been studying her and chuckling softly, asked in a flat voice, like he was talking to the silence itself.
"Do you understand what Qinghai to Tibet means?"
His next words were laced with hostility.
"I don't know who you are. But you're meddling with something you shouldn't, wearing that girl's skin like a disguise."
Even with the sudden shift in his attitude, Yeo-il didn't lose her composure. She'd already felt plenty of hostility and suspicion from him.
"I even showed you my back at Giyeonru, went through all that. And you still doubt me?"
"There, you only proved you weren't from a salmak. Do you think I haven't been keeping an eye on Namgung So-yo for years?"
Tap, tap. He lightly tapped his fingers on the hilt of his sword.
"If you thought that I, like Father, wouldn't give a damn about a mere concubine's daughter, you've got another thing coming."
"Thanks for the warm interest."
"It's not you I'm interested in. That's what I don't get. You don't seem stupid, so what the hell are you thinking, pulling a stunt like this?"
The fingertips that had been tapping now wrapped around the leather-covered hilt.
"If it's for some bullshit reason..."
At that moment.
Bang! The paper door to the bedroom burst open.
A figure strolled in.
"Are you Namgung Jeok-myeong, the young lord of the Namgung family?"
Jin Cheong-ak asked, then declared in a super cheerful voice, "I'm here to apply for the bodyguard position for Namgung So-yo, the fourth child and eldest daughter of the Namgung family."
A strange silence fell over the room.
Even though her eyes were closed, she could practically see the look of utter disbelief on Namgung Jeok-myeong's face.
Jin Cheong-ak, completely ignoring the atmosphere in the room, strode over and plopped down on a nearby chair, saying, "Name's Jin Cheong-ak. No special skills or hobbies, but I can handle pretty much any weapon. Also, I'm not picky about food or where I sleep."
"………………"
"Third Young Master Namgung recommended me, by the way, so I'd appreciate a yes if possible."
Yeo-il figured Namgung Jeok-myeong would refuse point-blank.
There's no way a guy who was just threatening her, talking about a 'play,' would accept some random, suspicious dude into the family.
But, as always, even if you predict something ten times, you'll be wrong at least once.
"………………A bodyguard, huh? Didn't see that coming. But if a master who took down the Eight Demons wants to join the family, there's no reason to say no."
Namgung Jeok-myeong's reaction was way more positive than she expected. He even kept the conversation going, all calm and collected.
"But there are a few rules you have to follow to work for the family."
"That's how it always is with groups. Lay 'em on me."
"First, you have to show respect to me, the heir, and my siblings."
Jin Cheong-ak burst out laughing.
Most people would have been annoyed by that, but Namgung Jeok-myeong remained completely calm. It was Yeo-il who was confused by the sudden change.
What was Namgung Jeok-myeong thinking?
"Of course, Boss. If you want, I'll give you a piggyback ride from here to the door. Right now!"
"Young Lord is fine."
"'Kay, Young Lord."
"Second, if you're hired as a family bodyguard, you have to wear the uniform, and, of course, do regular training. You might not mind the uniform, but the training might be a waste of your time."
"Hmm."
"Considering the pushback and the general vibe, it's going to be tough to hire you straight into a leadership position. Can you handle that?"
He hesitated a bit, so he probably wasn't thrilled about that.
"Then how about we hire you as Young Lady Namgung's personal bodyguard, instead of for the whole family? Think of it like a freelance gig."
"The pay's not great, you know."
"That's fine, as long as I get three square meals and a warm place to sleep."
"I don't have a problem with it, but I'm curious why you're so willing to take a lower position just to be So-yo's bodyguard... Do you have some other motive?"
Jin Cheong-ak let out another big laugh and answered, completely unashamed, "Because I fell for her at first sight!”
