Chapter 47
—
The Seven Great Families must maintain the dignity that befits their name.
Thus, having the main gate bustling noisily in the middle of the day was far from pleasant for Namgung Hyeo.
A man surrounded by gatekeepers stood out. The repeated loud voices suggested an argument.
“A beggar?”
The man confronting the gatekeepers looked filthy. His unkempt hair, its last cut indeterminable, his tattered clothes that barely hinted at their original form, and a single intact possession—a gourd bottle hanging by his side.
“You can’t just barge in no matter how much you demand!”
“Oh my, is this really the Namgung Family, the pride of the Seven Great Families? Even a small village would show more generosity!”
“You little—!”
It appeared the man had come to beg.
What audacity.
To stand so boldly before the main gate of the Namgung Family.
Beggars, after all, traditionally refrained from visiting homes uninvited unless it was a special occasion.
Namgung Hyeo, observing the man’s appearance, met his eyes through the unruly strands of hair. Despite his coarse speech, his gaze was sharp and full of wit.
“A Beggars’ Sect member?”
No matter how sloppy one’s demeanor, true nature cannot be concealed.
Namgung Hyeo grew curious about why a member of the Beggars’ Sect had come all the way here to cause such a ruckus.
“What’s going on here?”
“Y-young master, it’s nothing. We can handle it.”
“Handle it? The commotion has already echoed through the manor.”
The gatekeepers, flustered, didn’t know where to look. Namgung Hyeo walked past them and confronted the man.
“Why has a young Beggars’ Sect member visited our family?”
“Apologies for the disturbance. I am Park Il-do of the Beggars’ Sect.”
The man introduced himself with a fist salute.
The name was familiar.
“I see. Park Il-do, young master. I am Namgung Hyeo.”
“Indeed. At a glance, I could tell you were the great Namgung Hyeo, seeing those muscles honed like a chisel.”
“You flatter me. Let’s set aside the formalities. What brings the disciple of the Beggars’ Sect’s chief to our estate?”
Park Il-do.
The disciple of the notoriously strict Beggars’ Sect chief. Though the chief often downplayed Park Il-do’s abilities as “barely starting,” it was widely known he had been chosen as the successor.
“I came to visit my sworn brother and asked for a meal, but the gatekeepers here tried to kick me out.”
“Sworn brother?”
“More precisely, a sworn brother through the rites. I heard he’s staying here as your son-in-law.”
“Son-in-law? Could you mean…”
“His name is Lee Se-woong, if that’s who you’re thinking of.”
“Ah, an esteemed guest.”
Did his brother-in-law have a sworn brother?
Namgung Hyeo decided he’d uncover the full story in due time. For now, a guest of his brother-in-law deserved proper hospitality.
“My brother-in-law is currently out, so you’ll need to wait a bit.”
“Is that so? That’s unfortunate. My stomach is empty, and he’s away.”
“If you don’t mind, why don’t we have a meal together?”
“Ha! Your generosity humbles me, great Namgung Hyeo.”
Park Il-do laughed heartily as he followed Namgung Hyeo, taking the opportunity to stick out his tongue mockingly at the gatekeepers.
Leading him inside, Namgung Hyeo thought:
“A guest of my brother-in-law is a guest of our family.”
He resolved to treat him with the utmost care.
After being corrupted by his brother-in-law’s penchant for fine dining, Namgung Hyeo had remained steadfast in pursuing culinary perfection.
Today, he would showcase his ultimate ingredient: chicken breast.
He could hardly wait to impress his brother-in-law’s sworn brother with his refined cooking skills.
* * *
Reunions, they say, are most delightful when unexpected.
That was the thought Namgung Hyeo had when he saw Park Il-do sprawled out on his floor.
“It’s been a while, brother.”
“Brother, my foot. You dare show up in that state?”
“Your elder brother seems to be a broad-minded man.”
Indeed, a long time had passed.
So long that the childhood memories had scattered like sand.
Yet, there was a familiarity as though they’d met just yesterday.
“They say you made quite a scene. What were you thinking?”
“Oh, that?”
Park Il-do casually patted his belly.
“They call him a son-in-law, but I wondered if he was treated like an outcast. I had to see for myself.”
“So you caused a disturbance at the Namgung Family’s gate?”
“What wouldn’t I risk for my sworn brother?”
His joking tone brought back memories of the unchanging Park Il-do.
“It’s a good thing it was Namgung Hyeo who met you. Anyone else would’ve beaten you senseless.”
“That elder brother of yours sure is easygoing. Though I can’t fathom his taste in food.”
Namgung Hyeo flinched.
A pang of guilt stirred within him.
“What about the food?”
“The feast laid out was stunning, but every dish was made of chicken breast! I thought he was trying to poison me.”
“…”
“I can still taste the stench. It’s unbearable.”
To think he’d endured that… remarkable resilience.
“Still, it was quite a warm reception.”
“That’s a relief. Now, what brings you here all of a sudden?”
“Is it so wrong to start with a friendly reunion?”
“I doubt you traveled all this way just for pleasantries.”
“Fair point. No need for long explanations.”
From his sleeve, Park Il-do pulled out a letter.
“You filed a request with the Beggars’ Sect? Quite the bold move.”
“I trusted you.”
“Hehe, all thanks to your faith in me, I suppose.”
“Enough flattery.”
“Well then, about that woman you asked me to find…”
“You’ve already located her?”
“There’s word she was spotted in the Taihang Mountains.”
“Is the information reliable?”
“Bandits in the area reportedly saw her. Every detail matches.”
Bandits?
The Taihang Mountains—could it be those guys?
“Are those bandits three in number? Calling each other brothers?”
“How did you know? You’d have found them faster than me, huh?”
“Well… let’s just say something happened.”
It was a relief they seemed to be doing well.
If they’d been too greedy, they would have met their end.
“Anyway, I’ve confirmed their destination.”
“And?”
“Let’s discuss it over a bowl of takju.”
Il-do suggested negotiations.
A bowl of takju was a cheap price for an exchange of information.
* * *
It was rare to find a shop that wouldn’t turn away beggars.
That’s why we headed to a tavern in the marketplace.
The owner, seemingly desperate for any customers, greeted us with a bright smile.
A few cuts of roughly sliced meat and a bowl of broth.
Add a bowl of takju to that, and the meagerness was masked, creating an acceptable atmosphere.
“They’ll be here soon. They’re heading for Anhui Province.”
“They’re coming here?”
“Yes.”
Il-do gulped down a bowl of takju before continuing.
“By the way, what’s your relationship with that woman?”
“?”
“Is it this?”
Il-do curled his pinky finger, moving its tip.
“You madman.”
“I thought you were daring enough to take a mistress before even getting married.”
“Why don’t you save that nonsense for your sleep-talking?”
That was dangerous talk.
Just the thought of my master overhearing sent a shiver down my spine.
“I’m joking. It’s just hard to believe that someone like you has a master who reversed aging.”
Was he testing me?
“A disciple of the Beggars’ Sect?”
“Ah, don’t bother. Do you know how strict that old man is?
He’d beat me up for anything.
I thought he chose me because he needed a sturdy scarecrow.”
Il-do lamented, the smell of alcohol heavy on his breath.
Judging by his smiling lips, he seemed to have a decent relationship with his master.
“And what about you? You’ve got a master so beautiful it’s jaw-dropping?
Be honest. Didn’t she accept you as a disciple just for your looks?”
“What nonsense.”
“You’ve always had things work out for you because of your good looks, haven’t you?”
“….”
“While I was getting beaten to a pulp by that cranky old man,
you were probably flirting with your lovely master.
Damn you.”
“You’re the one begging for a drink.”
“You bastard.”
The banter was frivolous and pointless, but I didn’t mind.
A conversation with no purpose or direction.
It had been a while since I laughed this freely, just throwing around idle words.
It reminded me of the days when I used to nibble on leftover rice mash.
Those were the good days.
“Anyway, how did you win the heart of the Unrivaled Beauty of the World?
Care to share?”
“….”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?
Or could it be, like last time…?”
Thud.
Il-do cut himself off, pointing his index finger at his face.
“This.”
“….”
“You were going to say this, weren’t you?”
Heat rushed to my face.
Was it embarrassment that caused this sudden flush?
Words I had uttered recklessly in my youth were now coming back to haunt me like a boomerang.
“That’s not it.”
“I still remember it.
‘Why beg when women bring me food willingly?’ wasn’t that it?”
“…Enough.”
There’s nothing more embarrassing than someone dredging up childhood secrets.
It was shameless of him to bring up the past like that.
The Beggars’ Sect had a reputation for using any means necessary, even dirty tricks.
“I thought you were insane.
Sure, you’re handsome, but I didn’t expect anyone to be so brazen about it.”
“Just drink your takju.”
“Oh no! I won’t drink until you give me an answer!”
Il-do slammed the table repeatedly, shouting dramatically.
He didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down.
Considering my growing irritation, I thought about chopping him on the neck with my hand.
Just as I seriously contemplated this…
“Senior?”
Looking for a way to change the subject,
I spotted Jegal Yeong passing by on the street.
“Lee Se-woong?”
What was she doing in the marketplace?
—
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