Namgoong Family – 4

Kang In-ho, who left the room at Namgoong Hyun’s subtle hint to leave, let out a sigh of relief.

Being in the same space as a high-ranking Martial Artist was not something he was used to.

As Namgoong Hyun had suggested, Inho was killing time strolling through the garden.

He felt it would be boring to return to the guest room.

“I wonder if there’s a place to sit.”

He looked around, wanting to find a place to sit down and enjoy the breeze.

Fortunately, there was a stone carved into a seat in one corner of the garden, and he quickly sat down.

He felt the moderately hard texture of the stone.

With a cool breeze blowing, Inho closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment.

As Namgoong Hyun had boasted, and as Inho had seen on his way here, the garden was well-maintained.

It was a garden that maintained a good balance, neither too unrestrained nor too artificial.

“I think I was too caught up in stereotypes.”

When he heard the name ‘Namgoong,’ Inho had thought of the martial arts novels he had read in his original world.

To him, ‘Namgoong’ had an image of being obnoxious and full of elitism.

So, he had thought that Namgoong Hyun might be like that too, but after hearing the conversation with Namgung Soyu, he regretted judging people with his limited knowledge.

Besides, Namgung Soyu was far from the typical ‘Namgoong’ image.

“Master was reluctant to talk about her family… It doesn’t seem to be a problem with the head of the family.”

Inho had thought that her family, starting with her father, had isolated her.

However, judging from Namgoong Hyun’s and the servants’ reactions, she seemed to have received enough love.

‘Of course, I don’t know if that love was conveyed to her.’

If he had to pick one thing that surprised him since coming to this dimension, it was that Namgung Soyu, her Master, had a completely different personality from the Namgung Soyu he knew.

He even doubted whether the confident, spirited, and sometimes arrogant Demon of Heaven, Namgung Soyu, and the impatient, insecure, and self-deprecating Yomryun Skill’s Namgung Soyu were the same person.

Also, he was very curious to know what had led the current Namgung Soyu, who always talked about justice and the duties of a Martial Artist, to become the Heavenly Demon who advocated for the eradication of the martial arts world.

“Maybe it was my death.”

Clearly, the Heavenly Demon had said, “I lost Inho because of Martial arts.”

Having lost a cherished disciple, it was only natural that she would lose interest in anything related to it.

Then, how and by whom would he be killed?

Inho thought more deeply.

He wasn’t weak enough to be defeated by just anyone.

He didn’t have any immediate grudges with any factions either.

“Then, the Evil Sect…?”

The first thing that came to mind was the Evil Sect.

“But, advocating for the eradication of the martial arts world just because I was killed by the Evil Sect is too much of a leap.”

It was like burning down the house because you stubbed your toe on the doorframe.

“It must be something that makes her utterly disgusted with the martial arts world and Martial arts… Thinking about it, it might not be my death. It could be another incident that happens after I die.”

Inho nodded to himself, finding it plausible that Soyou’s personality had gradually changed as multiple events overlapped.

He might have struck a more impressive pose if it hadn’t been for the sudden voice from behind.

“Ohnaba-ni shugo?”

Inho was startled by the childish voice behind him and jumped.

-Kyaa-hoo!

Letting out a strange scream, Inho quickly turned around and realized that a child was staring at him.

“…Huh?”

It was the appearance of a young child, but with a strangely familiar face.

Inho pressed his hand against his pounding heart.

“You are…?”

“Juh am Namgoong Soyeon igohn hamnida.”

Hearing the child introduce herself with a formal bow, Inho realized that what was coming had come.

After all, he had come to celebrate her birthday, so it would have been stranger to think that they wouldn’t meet.

“……”

Inho stared intently at Namgoong Soyeon, and Namgoong Soyeon, thinking it was a staring contest, widened her eyes and met his gaze.

The pounding of his heart, which had been racing when he first saw Namgoong Soyeon, gradually returned to normal.

He had been worried that he might have PTSD from the harsh experience last time, but he gradually relaxed, feeling embarrassed by his worries.

“Ohnaba-ni nu-gu?”

Namgoong Soyeon asked as Inho twisted his stiff body and stretched.

“Me? I’m Inho. Kang In-ho.”

Inho, having regained his composure, replied to Soyeon.

“Gang Ino. Gang Ino.”

Soyeon repeated Inho’s name a few times.

Inho thought about correcting her pronunciation, but he stopped, thinking he was being too strict with a child.

“Yuh-gi-nun umma jung-wuhn-in-deh wae yuh-gi ih-ssuh?”

Namgoong Soyeon raised her finger and pointed at Inho.

“The head of the family… No, your dad told me to look around the garden.”

Inho bent his knees to match Soyeon’s eye level and said.

Indeed, her eyes were the same pure eyes as Soyeon’s when he had met her in Henan.

‘Why did such a child change so much later…’

Inho’s mood suddenly sank as he recalled Namgoong Soyeon, who had suddenly gone mad and attacked the Black Heaven Cult.

“Ino ohnabuh-ni. Gi-boon ahn jo-ah?”

“No, I’m okay.”

Soyeon asked, placing her small hand on Inho’s cheek, and Inho chuckled and shook his head.

Inho stared at Soyeon, who was looking at him with her bright eyes, for a moment before getting up.

He felt like he shouldn’t stay with her any longer.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m done looking around, so I’m going back to my room.”

“Gah-ji-mah-ah. Soh-koop-no-ri hah-jah.”

Soyeon grabbed his sleeve.

Inho couldn’t bring himself to shake off a child, and just as he was feeling troubled, he heard a voice calling him from the other side.

“What are you doing?”

It was Soyou.

“Ah, just… I was looking around the garden. And here….”

Soyou turned her gaze in the direction Inho was looking.

There, she saw her cousin, growing up endlessly bright.

“……”

Soyou and Soyeon looked at each other, and the confrontation continued for a moment.

“Let’s go. We’ve greeted the head of the family, so it’s time to go to the main family.”

Soyou was the first to look away. She passed by Soyeon and said to Inho.

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Inho said hastily, noticing his Master’s gloomy mood.

“I’ll be going now. Let’s play next time.”

Inho said to Soyeon with a bright smile, and Soyeon, with a disappointed expression, obediently let go of the sleeve she was holding.

As he followed his Master, Inho looked back at Soyeon several times, and Soyeon continued to watch him until he disappeared into a dot.