Could You Tell Me More In Detail?

The Medicine Hall Chief looked at Namgung Jin-yeong with a somewhat troubled expression.

Because he could guess what the Medicine Immortal meant.

The Medicine Immortal was always alone.

He would need a successor sooner or later.

The Medicine Hall Chief could be that successor.

Namgung Jin-yeong also knew his talent well.

When he chose the path of medicine instead of martial arts, Namgung Jin-yeong had been the most regretful of all.

Thanks to that, he had become an indispensable figure in the Namgung Clan today.

After a brief hesitation, Namgung Jin-yeong nodded.

“If he wishes, you may take him.”

“…Uncle.”

The Medicine Hall Chief looked at Namgung Jin-yeong with trembling eyes.

Namgung Jin-yeong patted his shoulder.

Following the Medicine Immortal would be a great help to the Medicine Hall Chief as well.

His future shouldn’t be ruined because of the clan.

Rather than working for the Namgung Clan, it was better he used his gift for all under heaven.

Reading Namgung Jin-yeong’s sincerity, the Medicine Hall Chief nodded with a heavy face.

Only then did the Medicine Immortal realize the mood, and he spoke with a careful expression.

“…I mean the one imprisoned in the jail.”

“What?”

“Ah, um?”

Embarrassment rose on their faces, then quickly turned into shame.

In the Medicine Hall Chief’s case, even his ears turned red.

The martial artists watching tactfully excused themselves.

Gyo-ha did the same.

“I-I should go train too.”

He whistled as he left the tent.

Perhaps because he felt sorry for him, the Medicine Immortal spoke carefully.

“…You certainly have talent. If you want, you can come with me.”

“No.”

The Medicine Hall Chief shook his head in a hurry.

“Come to think of it, I still have something to do. I’ll be back shortly.”

The Medicine Hall Chief left the tent.

What business could the Medicine Hall Chief, who came to see Namgung Hyeok, possibly have.

But no one stopped him.

Namgung Jin-yeong cleared his throat once, then spoke.

“That man…”

“I know.”

In fact, Namgung Jin-yeong also knew the Medicine Immortal had been going back and forth to the jail.

But he didn’t stop him.

Because there was no need to force their circumstances onto the Medicine Immortal.

But letting him go was a different matter.

“What do you intend to use him for?”

“Isn’t the world ominous these days.”

“If it’s for that, I can assign you a clan martial artist. If affiliation is inconvenient, I can also introduce someone with no ties to Murim.”

Martial artists weren’t only in Murim.

The Namgung Clan also had ties to the imperial family.

And this time, they had become in-laws with the Heo Won Clan.

The Heowon Clan was a prestigious family of the military.

“What he did wasn’t right. No, he’s certainly an evildoer. But he admits his wrongs too. It wouldn’t be bad to give him a chance to atone.”

Namgung Jin-yeong knew what the Medicine Immortal meant.

But could the world’s grudges be settled that easily.

Especially…

“…The Cold-Blooded Grim Eunuch’s disciples still remain.”

All who fought together had died, but some had escaped.

Their whereabouts were still unknown.

Unlike the Cold-Blooded Grim Eunuch who ruled disciples through fear, Gung Hyeong had a fair amount of standing with people.

A faction could form around him.

Then they might move regardless of his will.

It seemed the Medicine Immortal had thought that far too, and he sighed.

“If it won’t do, I’ll give up.”

“Let him go.”

At the sudden voice, the two of them startled.

When they turned their heads, Namgung Hyeok had opened his eyes, poking only his face out from between the mud.

“When did you wake up?”

“Not long ago. I understand well what Grandfather is worried about. After crossing blades with him, he was not an evildoer.”

At Namgung Hyeok’s words, Namgung Jin-yeong’s eyes narrowed.

“Even at the end, though he could have cut off my arm, he sheathed his sword.”

The one who fought Namgung Hyeok to the end was Gung Hyeong.

Namgung Jin-yeong’s eyes widened.

Because when he met Gung Hyeong, he hadn’t heard anything like that.

“But you also learned how terrifying the grudges of Kangho are.”

“…Yes. If things go wrong, I will bear it.”

Namgung Jin-yeong studied Namgung Hyeok closely.

“What reason is there for you to show such consideration?”

As far as he knew, Namgung Hyeok wasn’t such an emotional man.

“Brother told me. That if you think even about things that haven’t happened yet, life becomes too hard. That the world is already bleak, so there’s no need to make life harder for yourself.”

When Namgung Hyeok finished speaking, Namgung Jin-yeong looked toward where Gyo-ha had left.

After meeting Gyo-ha, Namgung Hyeok had changed.

He couldn’t tell if it was good or bad.

“That brat is too carefree, that’s the problem.”

It was the Medicine Immortal.

At the Medicine Immortal’s words, Namgung Hyeok and Namgung Jin-yeong let out a small laugh.

It was exactly as he said.

“Still, Brother’s line was clear. I will do the same.”

He wasn’t putting forward the same standards as Gyo-ha.

It was Namgung Hyeok’s own line.

If it had been Gyo-ha, he would have killed Gung Hyeong on the spot.

Even if he looked carefree, he showed no mercy to enemies.

Hearing that, Namgung Jin-yeong’s mind also tilted. He couldn’t fear making mistakes.

You had to fail and be frustrated to grow.

Namgung Jin-yeong spoke while looking at the Medicine Immortal.

“Do as you wish.”

And so, Gung Hyeong’s disposition was decided.

As the Medicine Immortal rose and was about to leave, a presence was felt behind the tent.

“Sword Saint. They say they’ve found the source of the rumor.”

At the Beggars’ Union disciple’s words, Namgung Jin-yeong’s gaze changed.

The one who had spread rumors about Namgung Hyeok.

Namgung Hyeok had someone in mind, but he couldn’t hold someone responsible with suspicion alone.

“I’ll be back shortly.”

Namgung Jin-yeong left those words and rose.

As he turned away, Namgung Jin-yeong’s face had sunk coldly, unlike moments ago.

By the time Namgung Jin-yeong arrived at the branch leader’s room, others were already there.

There was a new face there as well.

Someone wearing the Namgung Clan’s martial attire.

One of them clasped his fists as soon as Namgung Jin-yeong arrived.

“I greet the Supreme Patriarch. I apologize for being late.”

He was the unit leader of the Martial Prowess Unit, one of the Namgung Clan’s martial forces.

The main force that had departed from the Namgung Clan had finally arrived.

“No. You’ve worked hard coming here.”

The greeting was short. A reunion could be shared later.

When Namgung Jin-yeong sat down, the branch leader, who had grown gaunt over the past few days, spoke.

“The rumor was from Jeokmu Hall, as Young Hero Gyo guessed.”

A chill flowed from the Namgung Clan martial artists.

Especially from the Martial Prowess Unit Leader’s eyes, even killing intent leaked out.

If not for Namgung Jin-yeong, he looked ready to rush out at once.

The Medicine Hall Chief was no exception either.

“The one who spread it to the Evil Heaven Alliance was a man named Tang Gwan.”

“Ah.”

Gyo-ha nodded.

He knew who it was. At Gyo-ha’s reaction, people’s gazes gathered.

“Seems you know who he is.”

“The Patriarch’s younger brother.”

People nodded.

They had heard that his sworn older brother had ties with a Namgung Clan martial artist, but that wasn’t important.

The Patriarch’s younger brother had moved personally. There was no firmer evidence than that.

“Supreme Patriarch.”

The Martial Prowess Unit Leader called Namgung Jin-yeong.

The culprit had been revealed. Then there was no reason for the Martial Prowess Unit to remain here.

Now it was time to show the price for laying hands on the Namgung Clan’s Qilin.

Namgung Jin-yeong nodded and looked at the branch leader.

“Thank you. I won’t forget the Beggars’ Union’s kindness.”

Namgung Jin-yeong rose as well.

He also had no intention of simply watching.

But the branch leader stopped Namgung Jin-yeong.

“There is no need for the Sword Saint to step in.”

The Martial Prowess Unit Leader’s gaze shifted.

The ones harmed were the Namgung Clan. They owed the Beggars’ Union, but they had no right to stop the Namgung Clan’s actions.

Revenge was their right.

They hadn’t officially declared Namgung Hyeok the successor yet, but most thought so.

They had almost lost the Namgung Clan’s future.

Their anger was justified.

Then the branch leader hurriedly waved his hands.

“I mean it would be pointless even if you went. Jeokmu Hall has already been exterminated.”

Only then did the strength leave the Martial Prowess Unit Leader’s eyes.

“What do you mean?”

Namgung Jin-yeong asked back. But Gyo-ha had an idea.

“Did a place called the Tae-eul Gate win?”

Jeokmu Hall was at war. Even if Jeokmu Hall had the upper hand, you never knew what could happen in this world.

“It wasn’t Taedong Gate’s doing.”

So it wasn’t the Tae-eul Gate.

Gyo-ha muttered softly.

At the branch leader’s words, people grew even more puzzled.

Normally he would drag it out and boast what he knew, but the Namgung Clan right now was like a volcano on the verge of erupting.

“Both sides were exterminated.”

It was an unexpected statement.

“Who was the culprit?”

“We only know he was a one-armed old man. And that man also exhausted his strength and died.”

At the branch leader’s words, people frowned.

It would have been more realistic to say they fought and both were ruined.

An expert of unknown origin intervened, exterminated both sides, and then died himself?

It was hard to believe.

But the one saying it was the Beggars’ Union branch leader.

He had no reason to lie.

Besides, he knew the Namgung Clan would investigate on their own anyway.

Namgung Jin-yeong sat down with a hollow laugh.

The Martial Prowess Unit Leader and his vice leader behind him didn’t sit, but their bewilderment was obvious.

“Not everyone died. According to a witness, Tang Sang-hyeok, Jeokmu Hall’s successor, survived. The kids are chasing him, so you’ll be seeing his face soon.”

There was even a witness.

That made it even more credible.

Emptiness swept across the Martial Prowess Unit Leader’s face.

Even the target for their anger had vanished.

The only consolation was that the one who caused this had survived.

But the news that came not long after was more than enough to shock everyone.

“…The ones chasing him all died?”

“…Yes.”

“Was he hiding his skill?”

The branch leader knew better that it couldn’t be.

Because they had investigated Tang Sang-hyeok.

He was someone who enjoyed showing off.

If he had that level of skill, rumors would have spread long ago.

“After checking the traces, they were all cut down in a single stroke.”

The ones chasing him were a Non-knotted Beggar and a One-knot Beggar.

Even so, they were Beggars’ Union disciples. Not people a backwater sect could handle easily.

But the branch leader soon noticed something strange.

“Wait. In a single stroke?”

“…Yes.”

“Wasn’t Jeokmu Hall’s martial art a fist art? Did he also learn the sword?”

At the branch leader’s question, the Beggars’ Union disciple hesitated.

The branch leader glanced at Namgung Jin-yeong and the Martial Prowess Unit Leader, then frowned.

“What is it? Say it.”

“Th-there’s a story that the sword was the one the old man used when he attacked the two sects.”

“Is that important right now?”

What did it matter whose sword he used.

At the branch leader’s shout, the disciple read the room, then squeezed his eyes shut.

“Not long ago, there was a rumor that a cursed sword appeared in Shaanxi. If you trace the old man’s movements, it leads to Shaanxi…”

“…So you’re saying that sword is that one, right now?”

The branch leader let out a hollow laugh at how ridiculous it was.

Then he covered his face.

With guests present, there was no humiliation like this.

Even a famed sword had limits.

And depending on the martial arts you trained, the sword’s shape and weight differed.

Of course, it wasn’t that weapons had no effect.

If skill was similar, the one with the better weapon had the advantage.

Against someone half a step above, you could compete evenly, and if the gap was about one step, you could aim for a reversal.

Against an inferior opponent, there was nothing to say. You could save that much internal energy, so the effect grew even bigger.

But a third-rate martial artist could never become a master just because he obtained a famed sword.

The Namgung Clan being a famous sword family couldn’t not know that.

For a Beggars’ Union man to spout marketplace rumors as truth was shameful beyond words.

Just as the branch leader was about to scold the disciple, someone stepped forward.

“…Could you tell me more about that story, in detail?”

Gyo-ha, who had been listening quietly, asked with his eyes gleaming.