Chapter 26
After finishing her conversation with Samahyeong, Moyong Hye seemed to be in a lighter mood. She had a refreshed expression, as if a burden had been lifted. It was impossible not to wonder at her change.
“Why did the master call for you?”
“Well, he had something to tell me too, and he seemed to know I’d come.”
“He seemed like a pretty peculiar fellow… Did the conversation go well?”
“Yes, he was very kind. He gave me a lot of helpful advice.”
I knew it from the way he talked about the ‘old days.’ That fellow, Samahyeong, may be a Taoist, but he seems to go easy on women.
“Are you heading back to the Namgung Family now?”
“Yes, I’ve been away for a long time… Now that I’m done here, it’s time to return. And you, miss?”
“I need to head back too. I left in a hurry, and there’s a lot I need to take care of.”
It was unexpected.
I thought she might say she’d follow me. But Moyong Hye, with a subtle sense of ease, answered with a smile reminiscent of the first time we met in the Moyong Family’s training grounds.
And then there was her change in addressing me. She, who had once half-heartedly said she’d call me “Oppa,” now called me “Sir” again, as if to create distance. What did she hear from Samahyeong?
“Then let’s travel together until we reach Shaanxi Province. It should be good to part ways near Mount Hua.”
“Hm? Wouldn’t it be faster for you to head down towards the Wudang Sect?”
“I have reasons for not going that way. I’ll tell you more if there’s an opportunity later.”
Indeed, Moyong Hye was right; taking a direct route through Wudang would have been quicker. But I had vowed never to even spit in the direction of the Wudang Sect. If I passed by and saw those Taoists showing off, I’d inevitably get into trouble.
“Alright, let’s go together until Mount Hua then.”
“Let’s depart right away.”
***
The reason Moyong Hye suddenly changed how she addressed me.
It was, of course, because of Samahyeong’s advice.
-“You must not be seen as a younger sister.”
At first, she didn’t understand what he meant. But his following explanation made sense.
-“The position of a younger sibling has already been taken by Namgung Yeon-hee, long before you. Even if you try to give off a similar vibe, he’ll remain indifferent.”
In short, it was a matter of impression. Namgung Yeon-hee’s image as a younger sister was deeply ingrained in Lee Se-woong’s mind. Samahyeong insisted that she had to reveal her own charm, one that would not overlap with Yeon-hee’s.
-“Take it easy. I guarantee your future.”
Having listened to Samahyeong’s invaluable advice over a long time, her trust in him had become almost like faith. The certainty given by a Taoist who could foresee the future. Moyong Hye decided to follow his words completely.
‘I have to endure.’
When Lee Se-woong suggested traveling together to Mount Hua, she felt happy. To spend even a little more time with him. But she couldn’t let that show. She had to be a woman with a subtle charm, not an impatient child rushing towards him.
‘Why does Mount Hua have to be so close?’
Of course, that didn’t mean she wasn’t disappointed. She hadn’t had much time to talk with Lee Se-woong, and they soon arrived near Mount Hua.
“We’ve already arrived.”
“Yes, we have. I must head east now.”
“Thanks to you, the journey was comfortable.”
“I enjoyed the company as well.”
It was time to part ways.
When would they meet again? All she could do was rely on Samahyeong’s words and hope for their next encounter. She reached out her hand, hiding her sadness. A farewell handshake to endure a long wait.
As Lee Se-woong extended his hand toward Moyong Hye…
“Surround him!”
With a loud shout, a thick hostility spread through the air. Lee Se-woong channeled his inner energy and pushed Moyong Hye away by her shoulder. She was propelled back, creating distance. At that moment, four figures rushed toward Lee Se-woong. It was the Moyong Family’s pursuit team.
From all directions.
Blades thrust at him from all sides, each one aiming with precise timing, as if they were used to joint attacks.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Lee Se-woong raised the tip of his sword and parried each strike.
‘He parries with a thrust?’
The pursuit team, losing their balance, stepped back. The leader, Moyong Jun, was startled. A thrust is an attack of precision. The usual response would be to swing the sword to control space. Their synchronized attack aimed to exploit the openings left by such swings, but Lee Se-woong had disrupted their rhythm in an instant.
‘They said he was only at the Beginning of Mastery!’
Just a single clash of swords revealed the truth. This man was no easy opponent. He was far beyond someone like Moyong Chun.
‘No wonder my uncle sent me.’
Moyong Jun dismissed his earlier thoughts of excessive force. Following his signal, the pursuit team rushed at Lee Se-woong again.
Advance and retreat.
Each time he swung his sword, team members were sent flying. It was like sweeping the yard clean with a broom, such was the smoothness of his movements.
‘Is he smiling?’
Despite the relentless attacks, Lee Se-woong showed no sign of fatigue. He even seemed to enjoy it, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a smile that sent chills down their spines.
‘We can’t capture him alive.’
He wasn’t an opponent they could handle lightly. At Moyong Jun’s hand signal, the attackers immediately backed away from Lee Se-woong.
“End it in one strike.”
At Moyong Jun’s command, the pursuit team began gathering their inner energy. In response, Lee Se-woong manifested his Sword Aura.
It was like a bowstring drawn tight, with tension stretching between them.
Neither side dared to make the first move, knowing that any step would shatter the balance.
It was truly a moment of imminent conflict.
“What do you all think you’re doing? Stop immediately!”
A lion’s roar echoed in their ears.
At Moyong Hye’s sharp shout, everyone froze.
***
“What did you just say? Say it again.”
“Well, that is…”
“Kidnapping? Do you think that even makes sense right now?!”
Moyong Jun’s voice grew faint, like a mouse caught in a trap. Moyong Hye, hearing her cousin’s explanation, shouted in disbelief.
“How could you possibly read that letter and come to the conclusion that I was kidnapped?”
“Uncle Moyong Hak deciphered the code in your letter…”
“Is it that hard to just read the words as they’re written?”
Moyong Hye was in utter despair.
“And you just started swinging your swords right away? Are you all crazy?”
“He wes trying to lay a hand on you…”
“Are your eyes just for show?!”
Her mind felt like a tangled mess. All the plans she had carefully prepared were collapsing. It was hard for Moyong Hye to hold back the anger that surged within her.
“What do you think the Young Master will think of the Moyong Family now?!”
“…”
“The eldest son of the family harasses his betrothed, and even after being forgiven, he attacks again. And now you all swarm in for an ambush? I’d sooner believe that our family was harbouring a grudge and trying to assassinate the Young Master!”
She could have never imagined that her family would go this far without her presence.
Did they all eat something bad together?
“Apologize to the Young Master sincerely.”
“I’m sorry, Young Master!”
“We apologize!”
The Moyong Family warriors bowed their heads in unison. Watching them, Lee Se-woong’s eyes showed a trace of detachment.
‘That’s just the Moyong Family for you.’
His opinion of the Moyong Family had already plummeted so deep it had practically drilled into the ground. Trying to understand them was pointless. How could one comprehend the thoughts of madmen?
‘Maybe I should ask Namgung Hyuk to cancel the compensation.’
He only hoped he wouldn’t have to get involved with them again. The Moyong Family had now joined the Wudang Sect on his list of those to avoid.
“Young Master, I’m truly sorry.”
“Phew… It’s fine.”
“I have no face left to show…”
“You did nothing wrong, miss.”
It’s your family that’s the problem. Lee Se-woong barely swallowed those last words, but his sigh was enough to break Moyong Hye’s heart.
She would have preferred if he had gotten angry. His indifferent attitude and the way he looked at her with pity felt like he was declaring that he had given up on her.
“I will make sure to hold them accountable.”
“Please, don’t.”
“Young Master…”
“I understand your feelings, miss. But let’s leave it at that.”
It couldn’t end like this!
She kept apologizing, but all she received in return was Lee Se-woong’s resigned refusal.
“Miss, it’s really fine. Now, please raise your head.”
“…”
“Let’s meet again with a smile next time.”
Lee Se-woong, as if trying to lighten the mood, extended his hand for a handshake. Accepting his gesture weakly, Moyong Hye grasped his hand and made up her mind.
‘I must overturn my family.’
She had been too complacent.
She had noticed those in her family who looked at Lee Se-woong with disdain ever since they were at the family estate. She thought it was simply because they felt he was insulting their family. She didn’t think it was worth paying attention to.
She should have taken action when she realized it. There was no doubt that they had interfered, leading to this absurd situation.
‘No wonder the master told me to start by getting my house in order.’
She had to root them out entirely. Her plan to gradually take control of the family ended here. She would accept the noise that came with it. Moyong Hye, who was now parting from Lee Se-woong under the worst circumstances, steeled herself.
***
The front gate of the Namgung Estate.
The place was already shrouded in darkness, with only a few lanterns barely illuminating the surroundings. Namgung Yeon-hee looked around in the dim light.
‘When will Gaga arrive?’
She was waiting for Lee Se-woong.
Worried that he might arrive without her noticing.
Welcoming him at the gate each evening had become part of her daily routine.
‘I miss him.’
It was hard to endure the longing. Even though she didn’t know when he would arrive, lingering at the gate like this made it a little easier to bear.
‘Father is so unreasonable.’
She had opposed him going to the Moyong Family from the beginning. It was only because Lee Se-woong’s determination was so firm that she couldn’t stop him. She had been relieved when she received a letter saying that everything had been resolved, but she resented her father for keeping him from returning right away.
‘Is Gaga thinking about me too?’
She had expected it would be hard to endure. But she didn’t think it would be this difficult. The longer she waited for him, the wearier she became. Though they were under the same sky, the fact that they couldn’t meet frustrated her. She kept fidgeting with the ground under her feet.
‘I should head back in.’
It seemed today wasn’t the day. Just as she turned to head back to her room with a sense of disappointment, a long shadow stretched beneath her feet.
“Gaga?”
When she raised her head, he was standing right there in front of her.
What should I say when we meet? She had thought about it endlessly while waiting, but now that she was face to face with Lee Se-woong, she found herself frozen. What should she do? She had intended to greet him as if nothing had happened, pretending she hadn’t felt any hardship.
‘He’s so thin.’
He looked exhausted, a faint smile on his face. Without saying a word, he approached and embraced her.
“Huh?”
A silly sound escaped her lips before she could stop it. Would she look foolish? That worry vanished quickly. Namgung Yeon-hee returned his tight embrace, whispering softly.
“You’ve been through so much, Gaga.”
A short sentence.
But warmth flowed through their embrace.
—
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