Chapter 33: In Search of Vigo. (1)

In Search of Vigo (1)

Namgung Cheonjun is trembling uncontrollably, clutching his groin.

He can’t even scream; only drool, along with blood from his nose and mouth, drips from his gaping maw.

The once elegant young master looked utterly wrecked.

The Great Namgung Family.

The center of the Four Great Families and the biggest pillar of the orthodox sects.

Namgung Cheonjun was the man destined to become the head of such a colossal family.

And yet, here he was, crawling on the ground in a pathetic state.

“Stop exaggerating, it’s not broken.”

Proper control.

Inflicting pain that felt like it would shatter, but ultimately didn’t, or just enough to be fixable.

It’s something I’ve done countless times in my past life.

Even with my changed body, it wasn’t particularly difficult.

‘If I had kicked a little harder, I’d have been fucked.’

…I almost actually broke it.

As long as it didn’t break, that’s all that matters.

“You… you… goddamn… bastard…”

“Wow, you can still talk even in this state.”

I thought he’d be rolling around for at least a few more minutes, but he had more guts than I expected.

I approached him and twisted one of his arms.

Kkack!

“Kkeueok…!”

He was subtly trying to channel his internal energy, so I broke his arm first and pinned him.

Even now, his eyes were thick with killing intent.

As the killing intent lightly tapped the top of my head, I smirked.

“That’s why you shouldn’t cross the line. If you hadn’t shown killing intent, I would have let it slide.”

Namgung Cheonjun was serious.

The amount of internal energy channeled into the wooden sword, the killing intent he subtly emitted.

He genuinely intended to kill me.

A momentary mistake driven by emotion? It didn’t seem like it, given his current gaze and aura; there was no room for excuses.

I asked him with certainty.

“You, how many people have you killed?”

At my question, Namgung Cheonjun’s aura wavered for a moment.

“At least dozens, right?”

“What… nonsense are you spouting!”

Panic mixed into Namgung Cheonjun’s voice.

It didn’t matter if he denied it or not. I was already certain.

Did he kill villains who threatened or committed evil deeds against others? It didn’t seem like it to me.

It’s quite dense.

Killing intent so thick it’s hard to possess at this age. If anyone else wouldn’t know, I certainly would.

Why would Namgung Cheonjun, a blood relative of the leading family of the orthodox sects, harbor such strong killing intent?

Thinking about the Namgung Family Head from my past life, it wasn’t exactly shocking.

-Deudeuk

“Kkeueup…”

I applied more force to the arm I was twisting. He groaned.

‘What should I do?’

I could keep holding and break it, or dislocate his shoulder.

Making it unusable permanently is a no-go. It seems like it would be too difficult to clean up something like that.

Still, the option of letting him off the hook didn’t exist in the first place.

When the opponent is showing killing intent, just letting it go would make me a fucking idiot.

“Young Hero Gu…!”

As I was contemplating, Hall Master Yeok approached hastily.

“How about stopping around here? The martial bout is already…”

How amusing.

It was so ridiculous that I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

At my laughter, Hall Master Yeok faltered.

I immediately asked Hall Master Yeok.

“Didn’t you feel the killing intent this bastard was emitting? I don’t think so.”

If anyone else wouldn’t notice, someone at Hall Master Yeok’s level certainly would have.

That he directed killing intent at me.

As proof, isn’t Hall Master Yeok unable to answer properly?

“He channeled internal energy into his sword. And emitted killing intent. Should I just let that slide?”

As a martial artist, I shouldn’t.

Ignoring the fangs directed at me is unthinkable.

Even if I can’t take his life, I should at least pull out all his teeth.

“Or perhaps you think he’s just immature and made a mistake? This bastard is older than me.”

In reality, I’m about twice his age, but that’s not important right now, is it? I slowly increased the pressure on his arm.

Then, Namgung Cheonjun’s groans grew louder, mixed with screams.

Hall Master Yeok added urgently.

“…Cheonjun is a Namgung. If anything more happens here, it could lead to unfavorable events for you, Young Hero.”

“Yes, he’s a Namgung. But do you know this?”

Ttu-deuk.

“Kkeueueuah!”

“It’s because he’s a Namgung that this bastard is alive right now. It’s because he’s a Namgung that I’m holding back so much. If the roles were reversed, how do you think it would have gone?”

The Gu family is a prestigious family, but compared to the Namgung family, they are worlds apart. But if the positions were reversed?

He might still be alive, but would he have ended up intact?

Even if you just took any of these junior disciples watching nervously and reversed the situation, what would have happened?

The answer was simple.

“I’ve held back a lot. You wouldn’t know, Young Master Tang, and I’m not asking you to understand.”

While speaking to Hall Master Yeok, I finished my contemplation.

I drew internal energy from my dantian into my arm.

Similar to the amount Namgung Cheonjun had channeled into the wooden sword.

I snapped Namgung Cheonjun’s arm right there.

Ppadeuk.

“…!”

Namgung Cheonjun trembled violently.

Finally, a belated scream echoed through the training ground.

His screaming was too loud, so I struck the back of his neck and knocked him out.

Seeing that, Hall Master Yeok ran a hand down his face.

Essentially, he had lent out the training ground only for an incident to occur, so it was understandably a headache for him.

But that didn’t mean I had any reason to spare this guy.

‘Did I cause trouble?’

I suddenly remembered Elder Yi telling me not to cause trouble.

What would he say if I told him I turned the Namgung family’s brat into a bloody mess?

‘Well, I did leave him alive.’

If I explained the situation, he’d probably say that.

Given how things turned out, I wondered if the Namgung side would stir up trouble later, but…

Considering the current Family Head, that probably wouldn’t happen.

‘There are witnesses, and the Namgung bastard attacked first.’

Most importantly, they wouldn’t dare provoke the ‘Gu’ family, of all places.

Leaving the unconscious Namgung Cheonjun behind, I got up.

For some reason, Tang Xiaoye was sitting slumped over, looking at me with a flushed face, while Namgung Bi-ah remained expressionless.

It was strange that she maintained that expression even with her own brother in such a state.

Her eyes held no resentment or anger. They were serene, like a calm river.

“Here…!”

Tang family members appeared in the distance.

They were likely there to take Namgung Cheonjun to a physician.

Then, people from the Namgung family also appeared. Guards, perhaps? As expected of the Four Great Families, every individual who appeared was radiating powerful energy.

One of them approached me.

“I am Ma Cheol, the young master’s guard.”

The man gave a slight bow.

He looked like a considerably strong martial artist.

“The bout… is over, so we will escort the young master.”

“You’re not saying much, so I guess you saw everything that happened?”

The man named Ma Cheol didn’t answer my question.

As expected.

Was this the strange gaze I felt?

“Take him or leave him, I don’t care. Handle it yourselves.”

His arm might hurt for a few days, but the other issues should resolve within a day.

The area I kicked… maybe I went a bit overboard, but it shouldn’t cause any major problems.

…Or maybe it will.

Namgung Cheonjun was carried away, leaving traces of his blood on the training ground floor.

Hall Master Yeok seemed lost in thought, his face etched with trouble.

Isn’t he essentially the biggest victim here?

‘Serves him right for calling me over.’

In the end, it’s all the Namgung bastard’s fault. Why did he have to pick a fight?

“This doesn’t seem like a place to linger, so I’ll be going now.”

Could I use this excuse to skip the Tang Family Martial Gathering tomorrow? That would give me one more day to search for Vigo.

‘I’ll probably get an earful from the family, but Vigo is what’s important.’

Father won’t care, and if anyone says anything, it’ll likely be the Steward or Elder Yi.

Elder Yi, upon hearing the circumstances, would probably say I showed restraint for not killing him, so I’ll likely just get nagged by the Steward.

Just as I was subtly trying to slip away…

“Hm…?”

Someone grabbed my sleeve.

It was Namgung Bi-ah.

“What is it?”

The Namgung family members had already left with Namgung Cheonjun, so why was this one still here?

Did she have something to say about the Namgung Cheonjun incident?

After staring into my eyes for a while, Namgung Bi-ah opened her mouth.

“Name…”

“…What?”

“Tell me your name.”

“I already told you.”

I clearly told her my name was Gu Jeolyub, those three characters. Did she forget already?

Namgung Bi-ah replied with unwavering eyes.

“That, it’s a lie.”

“….”

“A lie. Tell me your real name.”

What the…? How does she know?

Her eyes held no trace of doubt; she genuinely believed my name was fake.

This clueless girl, just like before, was sometimes sharp in the most useless ways.

“…Before that, let me ask just one thing.”

“Yeah.”

It was an important question. I looked her in the eyes and asked.

“Why do you keep using informal speech?”

“…”

Namgung Bi-ah avoided my gaze, as if unable to answer this question.

Is she trying to start a fight…?

Namgung Bi-ah looked at me intently, then said as if resigned.

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll keep following you… okay?”

…Is she crazy?

For a moment, I almost grabbed my neck and collapsed.

Putting aside the fact that she saw through my lie, did she also know that I found it bothersome?

‘This… crazy bitch, was she always like this?’

“I’m the person who turned your sister’s brother into a bloody mess, you know that?”

“That’s because Cheonjun was wrong.”

“No, but still, why do you keep approaching someone who beat up your own brother?”

No matter how much I tried to push her away, Namgung Bi-ah showed no signs of letting go of my sleeve, seemingly determined to make me talk.

Once she’s gotten this stubborn, she wouldn’t back down easily.

‘…What if she really ends up following me around forever?’

I got goosebumps.

It was hard to be sure, considering how this crazy woman caused trouble in my past life, making it difficult to dismiss the possibility.

“Why are you so curious about my name?”

Namgung Bi-ah didn’t answer my question.

She just stared intently at me.

Under that burdensome gaze, I scowled and ran a hand down my face.

Ah, how did it come to this?

“…If I tell you, will you stop bothering me?”

“Yeah.”

“Informal speech too?”

“Yeah. Yes.”

Haa… I let out a deep sigh at Namgung Bi-ah’s answer.

It felt like my sighing had increased significantly lately.

After a moment’s hesitation, I opened my mouth.

“….Cheon.”

“Yeah…?”

“Gu Yangcheon.”

I uttered the three short syllables.

She clicked her tongue slightly at the three syllables I barely managed to spit out.

“There? I’m leaving. Don’t bother me anymore.”

I turned my back and quickly walked away from Namgung Bi-ah.

Namgung Bi-ah repeated the name I had given.

“Gu Yangcheon.”

Tang Xiaoye, who had been watching from afar, looked surprised at Namgung Bi-ah’s face.

Namgung Bi-ah whispered quietly.

Gu Jeolyub is fake.

“This… is real.”

As Namgung Bi-ah said this, she was smiling.

So brightly that it seemed to illuminate the surroundings.

---

After the martial bout ended, I returned to my quarters.

Wi Seol-ah didn’t seem particularly upset that I was gone.

Instead, she said she had plenty of time and had fun playing with the attendants, which made me slightly jealous, so I flicked her forehead with a ‘Kong!’ sound.

Night soon fell, and I was eating dumplings next to Wi Seol-ah, who was eating yakgwa.

‘…I caused trouble.’

I should have just let it go.

That thought crossed my mind.

More accurately, I shouldn’t have gone to the meal gathering at all.

Of course, I don’t regret beating up that Namgung bastard.

I should have ripped his arm off and made him a one-armed man; I only showed kindness by breaking his left arm.

I felt quite proud of myself for holding back this much.

‘It was a bit close.’

Namgung Cheonjun is an outstanding sword master.

Despite his shitty personality, his trained physique had the dignity befitting a member of a great family.

The only problem was the Namgung Family’s sword style.

The Namgung sword style I’d seen enough to last a lifetime.

Because of that crazy bitch who went around meeting every sword master she could find, claiming she’d eliminate the inherent flaws in the sword techniques.

It was a sword dance I was forced to become familiar with.

The reason I reluctantly gave my name when Namgung Bi-ah stubbornly insisted was due to the tiny bit of conscience I possessed.

…Actually, it was more because I feared she’d cling to me annoyingly.

Still, I managed to secure an excuse.

Saying I felt bad about the incident and couldn’t attend the Tang Family Martial Gathering.

Even if the Tang family tried to hold me back, what could they say if I insisted I couldn’t possibly go because I felt too apologetic and had to flee?

The only remaining issue was when I returned to the family… I’d probably just get scolded a little… Ah, but the Steward getting angry is terrifying.

As I fell into thought, Wi Seol-ah offered me something.

It was yakgwa.

“Young Master.”

“Yeah?”

“Would you like some yakgwa?”

“…You’re giving me food?”

Good heavens, what is this!

Seeing my slightly exaggerated surprised expression, Wi Seol-ah pouted.

Her expression made me laugh out loud.

“…Ah, this is funny. So why are you suddenly offering it?”

“Your face looked so troubled…”

Did I?

Wi Seol-ah held out the yakgwa with trembling hands.

I accepted it as if refusal wasn’t an option.

Wi Seol-ah’s crestfallen expression, as if thinking ‘Heavens, he actually took it when offered…!’, was cute… no, funny.

And then, as if to show off, I stuffed the yakgwa into my mouth, causing Wi Seol-ah’s expression to turn to despair.

Watching her made me laugh uncontrollably, and I felt a bit better.

“Yeah, it must be tough for someone usually clueless to try and think.”

“Hey… that yakgwa was a whole mouthful…”

Leaving the despairing Wi Seol-ah behind, I told her to hurry up and sleep before heading into my room.

Let’s not overthink things.

‘First, the Geumcheon Manor.’

Starting tomorrow, I really needed to get moving.