The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan Protects the Family Chapter 279

Side Story, Chapter 7. Namgung Jin's Daily Life

Whenever Tang So-hwa looked at Namgung Jin, there was always a thought that crossed her mind.

'The Heavenly Palace Sword is nothing like the rumors.'

Of course, most of what So-hwa had heard were stories passed down after his death, so they were bound to be embellished.

Watching Namgung Jin loiter on the bridge between the Nine Turns Pavilion and the dical Hall, she thought,

'Even so, dressing up soone that willful as a disciplined martial artist is a bit shaless, isn't it?'

More people than usual were looking for her today.

The twins had stord into the inner courtyard and pestered her with strange nonsense. The Four Seasons Hall Lord had sent ssages every hour asking for a eting, and when even the Madam finally requested a private audience over Tang Hak and Zhuge Cheon-yu's matter, So-hwa fled to the Nine Turns Pavilion.

While she barricaded herself inside, shutting out all sounds, Namgung Jin waited for her on the bridge. When he remained standing there even after six hours had passed, So-hwa finally ca out of the pavilion.

Stepping onto the bridge, she asked in a cold voice,

"If I hadn't co out toward the dical Hall, what were you planning to do, waiting here like this?"

"I hadn't thought that far."

At Namgung Jin's calm reply, So-hwa found herself at a loss for words.

He smiled, as if to show he was perfectly fine.

"Still, since I ended up seeing you like this, it seems my foolish waiting wasn't wrong."

So-hwa swallowed a sigh.

In truth, she had wanted to et Namgung Jin ever since she heard he had co to the Tang Clan estate. She had rely put it off because so many people were seeking her out right now.

Sensing that no one else was around, So-hwa asked him,

"Did you find him?"

The omitted words were many, but Namgung Jin understood her aning.

He shook his head.

So-hwa's expression darkened.

"You seem to have grown close to the Four Seasons Hall Lord, yet even with the Four Seasons Hall's information, you couldn't find him."

"Yes. He vanished without leaving a trace."

After Namgung Hyun disappeared, both the Namgung Clan and the headquarters had tried to find him, but with no results.

Still, they couldn't stop searching. The Blood Sect would surely be looking for the sorcerer as well, so they had to et Namgung Hyun before them, no matter what.

Namgung Jin and So-hwa continued their conversation as they walked toward the dical Hall.

“Have you looked for the Intelligence Hall Lord who is in the North Sea?”

"Yes. We sent people to the North Sea Ice Palace and asked them to send him to the Central Plains, but we received a reply saying he had to be sent to the Great Desert first."

So-hwa turned her head toward Namgung Jin.

"...... The Great Desert?"

"Yes. That was all the letter said, so we don't know the detailed reason either."

Namgung Jin moved his lips, then frowned.

Soon, a dissatisfied voice dug into her ears.

"But are people from the North Sea always that taciturn?"

"They didn't seem particularly talkative."

"It's not just 'not particularly.' Sending a letter from such a distant place isn't easy, yet they reply with extre brevity. Not a single line of explanation. At this point, I'm considering going there myself to talk in person."

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea."

"Hah, anyway, it would be nice if we could bring him back before he goes to the Great Desert....... There's no guarantee we'll even be able to communicate with the Great Desert people, which worries ."

To Namgung Jin's lant, So-hwa replied succinctly,

"Don't worry. I'll make sure he cos to the Central Plains before going to the Great Desert."

“Pardon? Is that possible?”

"I know soone in the Great Desert."

Namgung Jin looked at So-hwa with narrowed eyes.

"How do you know so many people in the Outer Regions?"

So-hwa didn't answer. If she misspoke, Namgung Jin might start guessing the Great Desert's identity.

No, Namgung Jin had already sensed the true nature of the Platinum Pavilion. He might soon realize that its master was the Lord of the Solar Palace as well.

With an expressionless face, So-hwa sank into thought.

Even Haerak had yet to make a decision.

Since the person in question hadn't decided whether to remain in the Great Desert or the Central Plains, she had no choice but to be cautious, too.

Then, as if sothing had just occurred to him, Namgung Jin suddenly asked,

"Ah, I heard a strange rumor. Is it true that Young Lady Zhuge Cheon-yu is here?"

Relieved by the change of topic, So-hwa answered,

"Yes, that's right."

"And is it also true that marriage talks are underway with Young Lord Tang Hak?"

No sooner had she relaxed than a difficult question ca flying at her.

"Judging by your silence, it must be true. Wow......."

Namgung Jin let out an amused exclamation, then lowered his voice.

"But is this really all right? I doubt the Zhuge Clan Head would approve."

Namgung Jin, too, knew about the Zhuge Clan.

That the Zhuge Clan was connected to the Blood Sect, and that the Zhuge Clan Head had aided it.

"Young Lord, there's sothing I'm curious about as well."

"What is it?"

"Have you ever t Zhuge Cheon-hwi?"

"Yes. He often attended the Alliance of Noble Clans etings, so I've seen him a few tis."

"Which side is he closer to?"

So-hwa asked cautiously. And perceptive as he was, Namgung Jin understood her question at once.

"Well. I'm not sure. He was even quieter than the Hall Lord."

"I see."

So-hwa knew no rumors about Zhuge Cheon-hwi. She only knew that, along with Zhuge In-hwi, he had most often been considered a candidate for Young Lord.

She had asked Haerak about him as well, but he answered that Zhuge Cheon-hwi's relationship with the Clan Head was neither particularly good nor bad. Since Haerak had even believed Zhuge Ji-hwi to be on the Blood Sect's side, it was hard to judge Zhuge Cheon-hwi rashly.

Namgung Jin, seemingly weighed down by his thoughts, let out a deep sigh.

"I thought everything was over that day, but it seems there's even more to do now."

So-hwa agreed with him.

Namgung Jin likely had far more on his plate than she did. Not only had his younger brother disappeared, but he had also ended up handling the headquarters' affairs as well.

The two walked side by side toward the inner courtyard entrance, but no further words followed.

There were quite a few people on the path now.

After Namgung Jin left, So-hwa prepared to attend the evening banquet.

She felt an uneasy sensation, though she couldn't pinpoint the exact reason.

Whether it was because they still hadn't found Namgung Hyun's trail, or because of all the people seeking her out.

Leaving her heavy thoughts behind, So-hwa headed for the Red Radiance Hall.

Perhaps because so many things had happened at once, she completely forgot about one matter she herself had set in motion.

* * *

As night deepened, lanterns were set afloat on the lake at Red Radiance Hall. The lights placed across the grass cast a gentle atmosphere, like blooming lotus flowers. It was a place picturesque even by day, yet at night it displayed a peculiar kind of beauty.

The Clan Head and the Four Seasons Hall Lord sat at the central table. To the left were seated the martial artists of the Four Seasons Hall, and to the right sat the Tang Clan's family mbers.

Although the Anguk rchant Group were still outsiders and did not belong to the Four Seasons Hall, they sat in the seats prepared for the Four Seasons Hall.

Min Doyu, seated beside Haerak, whispered quietly,

"Being invited to this gathering in the first place is already an exceptional courtesy. So please, relax your expression a little."

"My expression?"

Haerak hadn't been aware of what his face looked like. He'd been too focused on staring at soone seated across from him to think of anything else.

Ever since the banquet began, Tang So-hwa hadn't cast a single glance in their direction.

Stubbornness was sothing Haerak did not lack either, so he kept watching her until Min Doyu finally felt compelled to caution him.

“If you only cared about faces, Young Head, you would have had children long ago, so it can't be that you're simply smitten by her beauty."

Min Doyu looked back and forth between Haerak and Tang So-hwa with genuine curiosity.

"What in the world do you like so much that you can't take your eyes off her?"

At those words, Haerak's gaze shifted to Min Doyu.

It was sothing only soone who knew what the Blood Demon had done to him could say.

Haerak's eyes returned once more to Tang So-hwa.

She sat with a posture as straight as a statue, staring forward. It was as if not even her pupils—no, not even a single strand of her hair—moved.

Haerak smiled bitterly as he spoke.

“Because I want to enter that field of vision, too.”

"Field of vision? She doesn't look like she's looking at anything. She's just sitting there like a statue......."

Turning his head, Min Doyu trailed off.

Tang So-hwa's lips were moving. It didn't look like she was speaking in conversation, more as though she were responding to soone.

Curiosity stirred. Carefully, Min Doyu leaned in and listened.

His keen senses quickly caught the sound.