Chapter 35
"Haa... As you know, Brother, the atmosphere in the house has been very tense lately, hasn't it?"
Namgung Choomyung began, briefly explaining the scene he had witnessed in the marketplace.
"...So, for Soyo's safety, I was trying to confirm what misdeeds this servant might have committed behind Soyo's back. Ah! Perfect timing. Good, you and Heemyung can be witnesses."
Namgung Heemyung stepped forward, defending Seolyeong.
"Second Brother, it seems there was some misunderstanding. He may be a bit impudent, but he's not the type to betray Soyo..."
"That's right, Heemyung. We'll find out right here."
Namgung Choomyung cut him off and ordered Seolyeong.
"Produce what you're hiding."
"..........."
"Hurry!"
Seolyeong remained silent, his head bowed. He seemed to be waiting for Yeoil to resolve this mess quickly.
The message tube might or might not contain Namgung Choomyung's identity. It might mention whether the Namgung family's death ledger is real, or it might say it's unknown.
The problem was that either way, the fact that Seolyeong was secretly gathering information about the Namgung family and communicating with the outside world would be revealed.
Furthermore, if that were revealed, Yeoil would also be dragged into this and be under suspicion.
"If you don't produce it, we will."
A bodyguard searched Seolyeong and pulled out a small bamboo tube from inside his clothes.
Just as Namgung Choomyung was untying the bamboo tube and about to take out the folded paper...
Tap, tap.
As Yeoil tapped her fingers on the bedside, someone rushed in from behind Namgung Choomyung.
"Who is it!"
The bodyguards and Namgung Heemyung drew their swords, but the person who'd barged in past Namgung Choomyung casually tossed the bamboo tube aside.
"What is this..."
Everyone was utterly bewildered, especially Namgung Heemyung, who recognized the intruder as Jin Cheong-ak.
"Hmm. I see."
While everyone was still in shock, Jin Cheong-ak scanned the paper. Then, he dropped it into the teapot and stirred it with his finger.
The paper, dissolved in the warm tea, soon dispersed like porridge, making it impossible to discern the contents.
It was a truly absurd situation: a bodyguard hired by the family openly defying the Second Young Master.
Jin Cheong-ak added fuel to the fire.
"Sorry, but when the Young Master stole my secret letter and was about to read it to everyone, I had to do something, you know?"
Everyone stared at Namgung Choomyung, shocked by the absurd and rude comment.
Namgung Choomyung, who maintained his composure in any situation, could not hide his anger this time.
"Huh. Ridiculous! Are you suggesting I should believe that?"
"And what are you going to do if you don't believe it?"
At the nonchalant reply, Namgung Choomyung's face turned red with fury, when...
Jin Cheong-ak, noticing Yeoil's fierce glare, suddenly changed his attitude. He picked up the bamboo tube lying on the floor with a friendly smile.
"Okay, since the Second Young Master is so suspicious... I'll tell you what was in the letter. It was nothing important, just some info on Palgui, the Bloodthirsty Sword Demon."
".........Palgui, the Bloodthirsty Sword Demon?"
"Miss Namgung recently encountered him and was threatened. Right?"
Yeoil nodded, carefully observing Namgung Choomyung's reaction.
Something was strange.
It wasn't a reaction of someone who already knew, nor was it a reaction of disbelief, but rather a subtle and confused look, like 'Could it really be true?' or 'So it finally comes to this!'
"Ah. Is this news to you? Was it a secret, Third Young Master?"
Namgung Heemyung scratched his neck, glancing at Namgung Choomyung.
"Well, I was going to tell him later because I knew he'd just worry... and I've been busy with the tournament..."
"I can't believe it."
Namgung Choomyung, who flatly denied Jin Cheong-ak's claim, looked at Yeoil with a cold face and said.
"I'm sorry, Soyo. Not only is your servant suspicious, but even the new bodyguard is acting suspiciously, so I can't just stand by for your sake. Take these two away."
"Yes, sir."
As the bodyguards surrounded Jin Cheong-ak, Namgung Heemyung rushed forward.
"Brother! What's the rush? Calm down! Jin did defeat Palgui. I saw it!"
At those words, the bodyguards looked at Jin Cheong-ak with disbelief.
They clearly didn't believe that this slick-looking guy had killed the infamous Palgui.
Namgung Heemyung briefly explained what happened at the entrance of Hubei Province. However, Namgung Choomyung did not readily believe his words.
"You're the one who needs to get a grip, Namgung Heemyung! Palgui disappeared while you were unconscious. Did you see the corpse of the Bloodthirsty Sword Demon with your own eyes?"
"Ha! Seriously... I know without having to check! Hey, Soyo. You saw it, right? Tell him. Did Jin Cheong-ak take down the Bloodthirsty Sword Demon or not?"
"You're really asking a child who can't even see?"
"She knows everything even if she can't see! I'm going crazy, really..."
At that moment, suddenly.
Clang.
Cutting through the increasingly loud voices, the heavy sound of metal striking metal echoed in the middle of the room.
It was a sword.
A long sword that looked old but had been consistently maintained.
While everyone was bewildered, Namgung Jeokmyung carefully picked up the sword, examining the shape of the handle and the form of the blade, and exclaimed in admiration.
"This is... no ordinary sword. A very unpleasant energy has been ingrained in this sword for a long time. Could it be the Bloodthirsty Sword Demon's sword?"
"That's right. This is the beloved sword of Palgui, the Bloodthirsty Sword Demon, who once dominated the criminal underworld, Head of Household."
"Hoo. You've brought quite an interesting item."
"Yeah, it's not a famous sword, but it's a decent trophy, so I killed him and took it. Even someone who can't see can tell it's real by consulting an expert."
With those words, Jin Cheong-ak looked at Namgung Choomyung.
"I was going to sell it, but... since we're here, how about you buy it, Second Young Master? It's a win-win. You find out if I'm lying, and I get paid."
Namgung Choomyung, though clearly angered by the near-mockery, maintained his composure.
"...That's a very flimsy reason. Then you should, even more so, reveal the contents of the bamboo tube to us to dispel suspicion, shouldn't you?"
"Can't you just let it go? You keep unnecessarily escalating things."
Jin Cheong-ak sighed heavily, clearly exasperated, and waved his hand dismissively.
"Aah. Do I really have to reveal this here? Fine, I'll tell you. Half of that letter is a love letter; that's why I hid it. Happy now?"
Love letter.
"Love letter?"
Namgung Choomyung's face momentarily froze.
"...A love letter?"
Jin Cheong-ak glared at Namgung Choomyung with eyes that conveyed his disdain and let out a deep sigh.
"Yulim from the Hwasan Sect. She sent the letter. She's been chasing me since we met, saying she likes my face. Satisfied now that you've pried into my personal life?"
"..........."
Everyone was momentarily speechless.
"Geez. Yulim's going to be so embarrassed if she finds out about this. But what could I do? My life was threatened. Right, Miss Namgung?"
"..........."
"If you still don't believe me, send someone to the Hwasan Sect! Ask for Yulim. Yulim of the Hwasan Sect!"
Yeoil, feeling like things had gone too far, was exhausted from just watching the situation.
Panting and breathing heavily as if she were ill, she eventually collapsed weakly, thud.
"Huh? Miss Namgung?"
Jin Cheong-ak, who noticed Yeoil's change faster than anyone else, shook her limp shoulder and shouted.
"Forget Yulim! Miss Namgung fainted! Wake up! You can't just die on me like this!"
Fainting was, originally, the perfect way to vaguely end troublesome situations.
