Chapter 367 – Why Did You Come? (2)
Sacheondang-ga.
The Lee family, a martial arts and prestigious family in the Sacheon region, has undergone many internal changes in recent years, but these changes have not been well known outside the family.
This is because even those within the family who are not in high positions would find it difficult to perceive the difference.
For decades, the head of the family wielded absolute power, but after his downfall, power was transferred to the subordinates under him. However, apart from the fact that martial arts training has become more arduous, there has been little change.
But the two children of the head of the family had to undergo quite a significant change. Although for different reasons, they began to partially take over the authority of their father and mother.
“Please hide me, Nuna…”
“What’s going on?”
Dangyeong, the younger brother and the current head of the cattle, asked with a puzzled expression as his brother Dangmu-hon entered his room making groaning noises.
“The Muryeong-gakju is trying to catch me. I might really die if this goes on.”
“Muryeong-gakju?”
Dangyeong was even more confused and tilted his head.
During the time when their father Dangjomyeong, who had the legitimacy as the only direct descendant, wielded absolute power over the entire family, Muryeong-gakju was the only person among the subordinates who was friendly to Paeng Yeon-hwa.
Even if there was any resentment towards the head of the family, he supported Paeng Yeon-hwa, thinking of the future of the family. Therefore, loyalty to the family was absolute.
Since there was no way he would do anything harmful to the head of the cattle, Dangyeong did not understand his brother’s words.
“Even you may not know, but it seems that he heard rumors about Kang So-hyeop recently. So, the intensity of training has been increasing lately…”
“I see…”
Dangyeong finally understood and nodded his head. In the end, his brother couldn’t take it anymore and had to run away.
His younger brother was quite diligent, so there might be a problem with Muryeong-gakju.
“…I can’t hide you for long.”
“Thank you, Nuna.”
Seeing his younger brother smile foolishly, Dangyeong picked up his brush again.
If his younger brother, the head of the cattle, was busy receiving education as a member of the family, Dangyeong was busy filling the empty seat of Paeng Yeon-hwa, who was touring the river.
“It’s been over a year already… When will Mother come back?”
He was used to it to some extent, but even so, more than a year of being separated from the outside world was too long.
Chapter 367 – Why Did You Come? (2)
Sacheondang-ga.
The Lee family, a martial arts and prestigious family in the Sacheon region, has undergone many internal changes in recent years, but these changes have not been well known outside the family.
This is because even those within the family who are not in high positions would find it difficult to perceive the difference.
For decades, the head of the family wielded absolute power, but after his downfall, power was transferred to the subordinates under him. However, apart from the fact that martial arts training has become more arduous, there has been little change.
But the two children of the head of the family had to undergo quite a significant change. Although for different reasons, they began to partially take over the authority of their father and mother.
“Please hide me, Nuna…”
“What’s going on?”
Dangyeong, the younger brother and the current head of the cattle, asked with a puzzled expression as his brother Dangmu-hon entered his room making groaning noises.
“The Muryeong-gakju is trying to catch me. I might really die if this goes on.”
“Muryeong-gakju?”
Dangyeong was even more confused and tilted his head.
During the time when their father Dangjomyeong, who had the legitimacy as the only direct descendant, wielded absolute power over the entire family, Muryeong-gakju was the only person among the subordinates who was friendly to Paeng Yeon-hwa.
Even if there was any resentment towards the head of the family, he supported Paeng Yeon-hwa, thinking of the future of the family. Therefore, loyalty to the family was absolute.
Since there was no way he would do anything harmful to the head of the cattle, Dangyeong did not understand his brother’s words.
“Even you may not know, but it seems that he heard rumors about Kang So-hyeop recently. So, the intensity of training has been increasing lately…”
“I see…”
Dangyeong finally understood and nodded his head. In the end, his brother couldn’t take it anymore and had to run away.
His younger brother was quite diligent, so there might be a problem with Muryeong-gakju.
“…I can’t hide you for long.”
“Thank you, Nuna.”
Seeing his younger brother smile foolishly, Dangyeong picked up his brush again.
If his younger brother, the head of the cattle, was busy receiving education as a member of the family, Dangyeong was busy filling the empty seat of Paeng Yeon-hwa, who was touring the river.
“It’s been over a year already… When will Mother come back?”
He was used to it to some extent, but even so, more than a year of being separated from the outside world was too long.
However, Paeng Yeon-hwa was also an absolute master, so even though Hwa Uncheon only briefly mentioned her, her name was often included in rumors.
“…Nuna?”
Dangmu-hon called out to his sister, but she didn’t answer, looking scared.
“Aunt…”
When Kang Yoon was absent, Danghye-won had also left. But in that urgent situation, it was clear that Danghye-won knew Paeng Yeon-hwa’s whereabouts since she had accompanied her.
Dangyeong couldn’t understand why his aunt was hiding his mother’s whereabouts from him.
“Why did you come?”
Coincidences happen a lot to Kang Ho. Even coincidences that seem impossible to happen sometimes occur in this world.
The three women might have coincidentally passed by Kang Yoon’s vicinity and got caught.
So, he could have answered that it was a coincidence, but No Hee-bang already suspected that it was not just a coincidence.
“Kang So-hyeop.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Can I offer you a drink?”
“…Yes?”
No Hee-bang shook the bottle of liquor to the confused man.
As the lukewarm liquid flowed into his mouth, the fragrant aroma tickled his nose. When it finally passed his throat, a burning sensation rose up from his back.
As the alcohol seeped into his body, he felt a slight dizziness that calmed his mind. No Hee-bang opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry, but I needed to drink this to calm my mind.”
“…Drinking too much alcohol can be harmful to your body.”
“Yes?”
This time, it was No Hee-bang’s turn to look puzzled. Had there been anyone who said such a thing when they saw her drinking or being drunk?
No Hee-bang thought of people who had either gotten angry or said it was okay with a gloomy expression, then met the man’s gaze, waiting for his response.
“Phew…”
Even though he was slightly drunk, No Hee-bang found it difficult to speak soberly.
“First, I have something to apologize to So-hyeop for.”
But she had to tell the truth. The man probably didn’t know that he had been caught as an unidentified person, but if he knew that three people from a completely different faction were caught here at the same time, the man’s suspicion would surely turn into certainty.
At that moment, No Hee-bang realized that it would be better for the man to know the truth himself than to find out later.
“So-hyeop might have guessed, but I was following behind him.”
“…”
The man didn’t react at all. No Hee-bang had expected this.
But even so, he could have shown some sign of excitement. However, the man just stared at her quietly and opened his mouth.
“Can I know the reason?”
“…It might sound like an excuse. But if it’s okay with you…”
No Hee-bang spoke slowly, observing the man’s expression.
A mysterious young master who no one knew what he was doing, suddenly appearing with his teacher and the origin of martial arts. And even when they appeared, they didn’t stop the young master as if they were waiting for him.
If he was the target, it would be understandable, but if there was a separate target and the young master always helped them?
“…It may sound strange. If I were a spy and gained fame like this, it would mean that a hidden dagger is aimed at me in the deep faction.”
“I thought it was an absurd possibility. But I couldn’t help but worry.”
“No, I understand.”
Trust was essential to get out of here together. No Hee-bang still left the possibility open, but she judged that she could trust the man for now.
But as a woman, she didn’t expect the man to ask her a question in return.
“But do they really need to raise me and use me? No, even if they raise me, they won’t let me act so suspiciously.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it obviously unnatural? If I were the mastermind who sent someone like me as a spy, I wouldn’t let them act so suspiciously, would I?”
“…”
“I’ll be active in Kangho and add some cooperation. Isn’t it more suspicious to hide for a year?”
No Hee-bang was speechless. The man’s words were correct.
She had also thought about it. If the man had acted as he said, No Hee-bang would not have had any doubts and would have let it go.
But even so, she couldn’t shake off the suspicion from the man and kept following him…
‘What does this man really want?’
That was the problem they kept coming back to.
No matter how she looked at the man’s actions, she couldn’t figure out what he was pursuing.
Having spent her entire life in the world of espionage, she was accustomed to situations where she could gather information and learn not only what someone was pursuing but also their character.
If she couldn’t fully understand someone, it meant that they were hiding something. And in times like these, it only made her more suspicious that they were involved with the Eunryun Society.
“Anyway, thank you for being honest. First, we need to prove our innocence once we get out of here.”
However, even though she knew she was being suspected, and even though she knew that the suspicion still lingered, No Hee-bang couldn’t help but feel a pang of conscience as she looked at the man’s face, who was smiling wryly.
