“Hmmm....”
Nomon looked troubled.
I need to hurry and find the Great Return Pill and get back to the main text...
It had already been two days since he arrived at the Namgoong Clan, but he hadn’t even caught sight of the child who intercepted the pill, let alone the Great Return Pill itself.
He’d assud they would be throwing a grand banquet to celebrate finding the child after eight years.
But instead of a banquet, they’ve entered seclusion...
“What could possibly make them enter seclusion at a ti like this...?”
“It’s probably because of that child.”
“...?”
Nomon turned his gaze from the tree beyond the window and looked behind him.
At so point, Yu Gang had entered, mumbling around a mouth full of sothing while holding an armful of goods.
Nomon’s brow furrowed deeply.
“What is all that? And what do you an, ‘because of that child’?”
Yu Gang bead as he held out what he’d been carrying.
“Snacks! The Twelve said she was hungry, so I brought her sothing. Hehe. The rice cakes are super chewy and delicious! Would you like to try so, Master?”
“...I’ll pass. Just get on with the story.”
“The story? Ah.”
Yu Gang stuffed the remaining piece of rice cake into his mouth and began chewing as he recalled the other day.
Worried that the girl might have been poisoned, he had checked her ridians.
“Her ridians were a complete ss.”
“And who exactly is ‘she’?”
“Lady Namgoong.”
“And how do you know anything about Lady Namgoong’s ridians?”
“That’s not the important part! I’m telling you, they were chaotic! I’ve never seen such a tangled ss of energy before!”
It was suspicious—definitely suspicious—but Nomon decided to let it slide, since the story itself was interesting.
“Chaotic, you say. Explain in more detail.”
“There were all kinds of complicated energies mixed together. At least three. One of them felt incredibly unpleasant, and the other two were clear.”
Yu Gang suddenly raised a finger in realization.
There were rice cake crumbs stuck to the tip of it.
“And none of those three types of energy belonged to her.”
“They didn’t belong to her...?”
“Yes. It felt like a single water bowl filled with completely different things.”
“Hmm....”
Nomon stroked his chin with a grim expression.
Yu Gang had always been more sensitive to energy than others his age.
Even using the sa ntal techniques, he could gather more internal energy than most, and he excelled at manipulating it.
And if you asked him how?
“You just go shwoosh! And zip! And zoom zoom! That’s all!”
...was the kind of ridiculous answer he’d give.
Still, it was true—he was incredibly sensitive to the flow of energy. This wasn’t sothing to dismiss lightly.
“Was one of them similar to Shaolin’s internal energy?”
Yu Gang made a slight grimace.
“Shaolin’s... internal energy, you an?”
“Yes.”
Nomon’s face tensed as he waited for the answer.
Yu Gang didn’t know anything about the Great Return Pill. So he likely had no idea why Shaolin would even be relevant.
But if that child truly carried Shaolin’s energy within her, then the Great Return Pill has already...
“If you an Shaolin’s internal energy...”
Gulp.
Yu Gang tilted his head, wearing a serious expression.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never seen it before, so how would I recognize it?”
Nomon slapped a hand to his own forehead.
He barely resisted the urge to smack Yu Gang’s forehead instead.
“Then why were you making such a big deal about it?! If you don’t know, just say you don’t know!”
“It’s just... Master, you asked so confidently, I figured I was supposed to know...”
“Enough, enough.”
Nomon waved a hand dismissively.
“What could I possibly expect from you?”
“You say that, but you always expect sothing.”
“Get out! Why are you even in soone else’s room without permission?”
“I thought I’d share so snacks with you. Want so?”
“I said no!”
“Then I’ll just leave a few! You can have them when you get peckish!”
Even though Nomon had said no, Yu Gang still left a few rice cakes and puffed sweets on the table before heading out.
Watching his cheerful disciple wander off without a clue about his master’s inner turmoil, Nomon felt like he aged ten years in a mont.
Knock, knock.
“I said get out!”
“Elder, it’s Yu Pyo.”
Nomon quickly pulled himself together and cleared his throat.
“Co in.”
A mont later, Yu Pyo entered.
Glancing briefly at the table, he spoke.
“Yu Gang was here, wasn’t he?”
“How did you know?”
“He just finished bragging to . Though he didn’t offer to share anything. Truly a disciple who adores his master.”
Yu Gang’s devotion to Nomon was already well-known within the Mount Hua Sect.
Not that any disciple didn’t care for their master, but—
Thanks to Yu Gang’s lively personality, the two were known for their unusually spirited and sotis chaotic relationship.
“He’s more trouble than he’s worth. So, what brings you here?”
“I ran into one of Namgoong’s young masters while out for a stroll.”
“One of the Namgoong young masters?”
He must an—
“Namgoong Cheonghae, is it?”
“That’s right. Just as I’d heard, he seems more like a scholar than a warrior. Calm, with a cold deanor.”
“A person’s appearance isn’t everything. I’ve heard the Namgoong heirs are skilled in martial arts as well. Be careful not to let your tongue slip.”
“...Understood.”
“So. You t this young master—why co to ?”
“He invited us to dinner. Said he would send an attendant to fetch us at the proper ti.”
“He did?”
Despite being the father of the child who took the Great Return Pill, Namgoong Cheongun had not shown himself once since their eting on the first day.
And now, this young master Namgoong Cheonghae was inviting them to dinner?
He must be trying to establish ties with Mount Hua.
The martial clans had long sought connections with the sects.
But the sects never acknowledged the martial clans’ techniques, so every attempt had ended in failure.
And now, with the Mount Hua group visiting the Namgoong Clan directly—
Their intentions are obvious, but it’s worth eting him nonetheless.
At this rate, they might return without learning anything.
Better to exhaust every possible lead than to walk away empty-handed.
“Very well. Let’s accept.”
Yu Pyo’s expression subtly stiffened.
“...You intend to go?”
“Why not? We’ve got nothing but ti to spare. Tell Yu Gang to prepare as well.”
“...Yes, Master.”
****
Namgoong Cheonghae’s residence resembled its master—calm and immaculately organized.
Even the garden was planted only with evergreens, each tree and blade of grass trimd with surgical precision.
It bordered on obsession.
Passing through the ticulously maintained garden, the three guests were guided to a room where dinner was prepared.
“Welco. I am Namgoong Cheonghae, second son of the Namgoong Clan.”
“Nomon of Mount Hua.”
“I’m Yu Pyo.”
“Yu Gang.”
Since they already knew each other’s nas and titles, the greetings were brief. They sat down around the table.
Besides them, there were three others already seated.
“This is my wife and our children.”
“My na is Yeon Soran.”
“Namgoong Soryong.”
“And I am Namgoong Woong.”
“A pleasure to et you.”
Though they hadn’t been told there would be other guests, Nomon didn’t show the slightest sign of displeasure.
Namgoong Cheonghae rested a hand on Soryong’s shoulder as he spoke.
“I noticed that the young instructor accompanying the Plum Blossom Sword seems to «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» be of similar age to Soryong. I thought it might be good for them to et. If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask that you guide Soryong during your stay here?”
“Similar in age, you say....”
Nomon glanced at Yu Gang.
But Yu Gang, unaware they were talking about him, was fixated on the food laid out on the table.
“Ahem, hem!”
Nomon cleared his throat loudly, and only then did Yu Gang finally lift his gaze.
“...?”
Namgoong Cheonghae gave a slightly awkward chuckle.
“Haha, it seems the young instructor is quite hungry. Let’s talk while we eat.”
Yu Gang gave Nomon a nervous, sideways glance, sensing that he’d missed sothing.
Nomon felt a headache coming on as he picked up his chopsticks. The mont he did, Yu Gang wasted no ti stuffing a large chunk of at into his mouth.
“It’s really delicious!”
“Haha, I’m glad the Namgoong cuisine suits your palate.”
Namgoong Cheonghae had been trying to introduce his son, but Yu Gang’s obsession with food had derailed the mont.
Bringing it up again now felt awkward—Yu Gang was already eating with such enthusiasm, it was doubtful he’d even hear it.
Twice ignored... how embarrassing would that be?
With an uncomfortable smile, Cheonghae lowered his hand.
In the end, it was Nomon who intervened with a short sigh.
“We’re grateful for your hospitality, young master. Yu Gang has been rather bored without anyone his age around. Perhaps sparring with your son would do him good. Yu Gang, what do you think?”
This ti, Yu Gang heard him.
With chopsticks still in hand, he perford a polite fist salute and answered with a bright expression.
“I’d be honored! I’ve always wanted to cross blades with the Namgoong Sword of the Blue Sky—ow! Why’d you hit ?!”
“Do you think sacred sparring is so back-alley brawl? You little brat! Hmph! This child’s spent too much ti holed up in the mountains—his manners are rough. I ask for your understanding.”
“Haha, it’s no trouble. I find his free-spirited nature refreshing. Let’s arrange a ti soon. Haha.”
Watching Yu Gang clutch his head in pain from across the table, Soryong stifled a mocking laugh.
So that’s the youngest Plum Blossom Swordsman? What a total idiot.
Does Mount Hua have nothing but weeds to eat up there in the mountains?
Look at him—losing his mind over a bit of food like a starved dog.
I had so hopes for a top-tier sect. But this? What a clown.
That whole “youngest swordsman” title was probably nothing more than an empty boast. The way that idiot swung his sword was bound to be just as dumb.
And now he’d accepted a sparring match without knowing a damn thing?
Stupid backwater hick. I’ll teach him a lesson.
The sparring match hadn’t even begun, but already, a victor’s smirk crept onto Soryong’s lips.
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