Chapter 43

“We greet the Family Lord!”

Three External Protection Troops under Yeon Mujin saluted in unison.

She moved with a graceful bearing and a youthful yet dignified stride. Those gathered at the Smoke and Cloud Union watched Bukgung Yoon in surprised fascination.

‘Is this young girl really the Manor Lord of the Bukgung Family?’

Bukgung Yoon approached Ha Ho-baek slowly. With every step he felt breathless.

Compared to her, the beauties Ha Ho-baek had seen were not worth mentioning; she radiated a natural nobility that went beyond mere looks.

“Are you the Smoke and Cloud Union leader, Ha Ho-baek?”

“Yes. Y-yes, that’s correct!” Ha Ho-baek stammered, hastily wiping the blood from his nose.

“I am Noh Ja-gwang of the Gold Radiance Sect.”

“I am Yu Un-seok, head of the Blue River Clan.”

The three sect leaders bowed their heads and paid their respects. The young leaders were overwhelmed by the presence of this child lord, who seemed a decade younger than themselves.

Ha Ho-baek asked, unable to meet Bukgung Yoon’s eyes easily, “How could a child of the Bukgung Family come to such a shabby place…?”

Bukgung Yoon smiled faintly. “This is a bond passed down from my late mother—how can it be called shabby? The Smoke and Cloud Union’s pain is also the pain of our Flying Swallow Manor. It is only right that I come to see you.”

The young leaders admired her poise.

“I heard the general circumstances on the way here. Where is the Dispersing Lotus Union’s leader?”

They pointed to the Dispersing Lotus Union leader slumped on the floor. Bukgung Yoon came nearer to Mo Cheol-jung. “Did you collude with the Night Water Clan and betray the Southern Four Alliance?”

“……”

“What is your reason? Money? Honor? Jealousy?”

“I have no obligation to explain myself to a young miss.” Mo Cheol-jung avoided her gaze as he replied.

Bukgung Yoon glanced at Yeon Mujin. “He refuses to speak. He says he will talk with the leaders once they regain their composure.”

“I see.”

She glanced sideways at Geum Jo-gaek, then said, “So that’s how he intends to proceed.”

Yeon Mujin offered, “If the Manor Lord desires, I can force him to speak. I am skilled in the one hundred and twenty-two traditional methods of torture and the thirty-two ways to drive a person mad.”

“…You have quite a dramatic repertoire.”

“This is only fitting for a wanderer.”

Bukgung Yoon shook her head. “No. I’ll try.”

“The Manor Lord?”

“I’ve wanted to try this kind of role.”

Yeon Mujin stepped back, uncertain what she intended.

Bukgung Yoon approached Mo Cheol-jung again. “Didn’t I tell you? You can threaten me all you like; it’s useless. I will leave my judgment to the leaders of the Southern Four Alliance—”

SLAAP!

The sharp sound cut through the hall. No one understood it at first; Mo Cheol-jung, dazed by the sting on his cheek, stared at Bukgung Yoon.

“What are you doing—!”

SLAAP! SLAAP!

She struck him three times in succession. The physical pain was minor; the real damage was to his pride. Mo Cheol-jung, past forty and nearing fifty, had been slapped in front of everyone by a girl less than half his age.

If she were not a lady of the Bukgung Family, it would have been an offense so humiliating he might as well bite out his tongue.

“What on earth do you think you’re doing, young miss!” he shouted, turning his head to avoid her hand, his face flushed with shame and anger.

“Shut up. You pitiful man.”

Bukgung Yoon’s expression was as cold as an ice blade.

“What…?”

“Eighty-nine dead, three hundred and twenty-one injured, twelve thousand coins in damages.”

“…?”

“Do you know what that is?”

Seeing Mo Cheol-jung’s blank look, she explained, “Eighty-nine fatalities, three hundred and twenty-one wounded, and losses of about twelve thousand coins. These are the damages the Southern Four Alliance suffered because of the Dispersing Lotus Union’s betrayal.”

The young leaders behind them murmured in agreement; the losses she recited matched what they had heard.

Bukgung Yoon continued, “This happened because of a single man—your greed. I heard among the casualties there were Dispersing Lotus Union swordsmen, yet the Union leader sits silent, unrepentant, and still protests now that everything is ruined. Aren’t you ashamed as the Union leader?”

Mo Cheol-jung lowered his head. “If someone in the Bukgung Family caused such losses, they would be dragged before the Family Lord’s tribunal and subjected to every torture and punishment. A criminal has no mouth; he would scrape together all excuses, and his entire household would be branded and forced to repay debts as slaves for life. But you…”

Bukgung Yoon touched his forehead with a fingertip. “So the esteemed Dispersing Lotus Union leader will keep his pride and remain silent.”

“I…”

At last, Mo Cheol-jung spoke. “It’s not about my pride; it’s to protect the Dispersing Lotus Union.”

That, he believed, was his last shred of honor—he did it for his faction, not for himself.

“Shall we test that?”

“Test what?”

“Why the leader did this—whether he alone dragged in the Night Water Clan, or if there’s an unknown backer.”

“I acted alone.”

“I believe you, but verification is needed. From now on, bring the Dispersing Lotus Union’s swordsmen before the leader one by one. In front of each swordsman, have him declare: ‘I did this alone. It was for the Union. So do not blame me.’”

Mo Cheol-jung’s eyes widened. “That’s impossible!”

“That is not for the leader to decide. Captain Yeon.”

“Yes, Manor Lord.”

“What of the safety of the Dispersing Lotus Union swordsmen?”

“They should be detained by the Southern Four Alliance’s warriors.”

“Bring them one by one.”

Yeon Mujin met Bukgung Yoon’s gaze and understood her intent.

“There happens to be a Dispersing Lotus Union swordsman here.”

“Who is it?”

“He is the Dispersing Lotus Union’s young leader.”

Yeon Mujin pointed to Mo Yeom-bi, collapsed on the floor. “He is of vile character. He deceived and misled people in place of the hiding leaders. If an example is to be made, it should start with the young leader.”

“A correct observation.”

“No! Not my son!”

Clank.

Yeon Mujin pressed his sheathed sword to Mo Cheol-jung’s throat. “Did you not hear the Manor Lord? You have no choice.”

Then he dragged the unconscious Mo Yeom-bi forward. Mo Cheol-jung began to wail and make a scene. “No! Stop! Stop! Yeom-bi, no! I said stop!”

Two External Protection Troops rushed in and pinned Mo Cheol-jung’s limbs. Yeon Mujin forced Mo Yeom-bi to his knees; his neck slumped as if fit for execution.

Just as Yeon Mujin moved to draw his sword, Mo Cheol-jung screamed, “What on earth are you doing! Don’t just stand there—help me!”

Suddenly, Yeon Mujin stopped.

At the edge of Mo Cheol-jung’s vision stood the crimson-robed warrior who had come with Bukgung Yoon. Everyone’s attention snapped to him; his expression was openly displeased.

Crawling across the floor, Mo Cheol-jung reached the man’s feet and cried out, “It was you! You tempted me into betraying the Alliance, introduced the Night Water Clan’s master and devised all the plots—you! You promised that if I followed the plan, the Bukgung Family would watch my back! You said you’d support everything to prevent failure! So why are you just watching now?!”

Yeon Mujin sheathed his sword. The young leaders of the Southern Four Alliance registered confusion and surprise—the rumor that the Bukgung Family stood behind the Night Water Clan suddenly seemed plausible.

Mo Cheol-jung crawled until he pressed his face to the man’s shoe, hands tied, pleading, “Please help me! Just once! Isn’t your Solitary Cloud Manor stronger than those drifters? If you’re going to help, help to the end!” He sobbed, a flood of shame, anger, sorrow and desperation.

The sight was unbearable.

The crimson-robed man watched him in silence, then—

WHAM!

“Argh!”

He kicked Mo Cheol-jung’s head mercilessly, then wiped his shoe on the ground to clean off the spit and tears.

“My name is Un Ho, of the Bukgung Family’s Solitary Cloud Manor,” he said without looking down at the screaming man. “The Lord of Solitary Cloud Manor conveyed a message through me. I bring the Manor Lord’s words.”

Un Ho cast a single, judging glance at Mo Cheol-jung as if delivering a sentence. “Solitary Cloud Manor has no involvement in the Southern Lake incident.”

Mo Cheol-jung groaned and lifted his head in stunned disbelief. “What do you mean by that?”

“Bukgung Bi-beom, the young master, said that Solitary Cloud Manor expresses deep condolences for the tragedy that occurred at the Southern Four Alliance.”

“I said, what is that supposed to mean!” Mo Cheol-jung shouted.

Un Ho paid him no heed. He spoke in a low voice.

Ting—

Yeon Mujin felt a chill crawl down his spine.

At the moment he lowered his stance—

Swoosh!

Un Ho extended his weapon and aimed at Mo Cheol-jung. He was closer; Yeon Mujin stood a step farther back.

“Aaaaah!”

Mo Cheol-jung’s scream echoed as Un Ho’s golden claw sliced through the air, severing one of Mo Cheol-jung’s arms.

Yeon Mujin rushed forward and blocked the claw with his sheathed sword. Un Ho struck the blade aside and thrust his other claw at him. In a move that shocked everyone, Yeon Mujin stepped into the sweep of Un Ho’s claw.

The sickening sound of staff cutting flesh filled the hall. The crowd drew a collective breath.

Bukgung Yoon’s scream tore out, “Captain Yeon!”

Blood sprayed into the air from Yeon Mujin’s left arm.

Un Ho retrieved his weapon and stepped back, glaring at him; his mission had been to eliminate Mo Cheol-jung if necessary, not to be interfered with.

Yeon Mujin, blood streaming down his arm, scolded Un Ho loudly, “You insolent fool! How dare you swing a blade in front of everyone here!”

Un Ho’s expression twisted as if he’d bitten into sand. Yeon Mujin declared, “Without the Flying Swallow Manor lord’s order, no one may swing a blade here. I, Yeon Mujin, captain of the External Protection Troops, cannot permit this!”