episode_0046

“No, old man, stop and turn back. If your son or whoever didn’t come here, it’s not a good sign. If you keep pushing, it will cause a big problem.”

“I’m sure he said he was coming here… right? Our son, Hasami, definitely got into trouble at the main gate. Once this matter is settled, he said he would find his daughter-in-law and live well again. That’s what he said. Sir, please, if you could just confirm our Hasami, I mean, his name is Hasami…”

“Ugh, this old man. Hurry up and leave. If you’re unlucky, you’ll cause a commotion during my shift…”

There was no real reason to intervene.

But there was also no reason not to intervene.

Cheong had never looked away from a sight that he found unpleasant.

It was the moment Cheong was about to speak.

“Hey now. Is there a need to be so harsh? Surely you understand the feelings of a mother looking for her child, just by looking at Chunbu and Jadan, right?”

Surprisingly, Changbin spoke first.

Cheong was taken aback.

What, he’s speaking…!

And that too, with such eloquence.

Moo-in corrected his posture upon seeing Changbin.

It was only natural for someone who had eaten a meal of sword rice.

The plum blossom and orchid patterned attire was the symbol of the Hwasan faction.

Without tension, one did not have the qualifications of a martial artist.

Of course, Cheong lacked the qualifications.

“Are you from the Hwasan faction?”

“I am called Changbin. I saw a rather unpleasant sight on the road and intervened.”

“Hmm.”

“Even though it had nothing to do with the Mun clan, I couldn’t help but intervene.”

Cheong supported the old woman.

“Grandmother, are you okay?”

“Are you a warrior? Then please find our son. Please…”

“Well then. Let us try to find him once, will you stay at home for today? Your son’s name is…”

“It’s Hasami, it’s Hasami. If you say Hasami from Somyeong Village, they’ll understand.”

There is a saying, Jangsamisa.

Among the most common surnames in Jungwon are Wang, Lee, and Jang.

Jang’s third son, Lee’s fourth son, referred to people who were extraordinary.

If it was Hasami, it meant Lee’s third son born in the summer.

Finding Lee Hasam in Jungwon would result in hundreds of people coming out, as it was a common name.

But not being able to find someone because their name is common is unavoidable. Cheong urged the old man to try harder.

“Oh, thank you. Thank you, warrior.”

The old man muttered thanks with a relieved attitude and disappeared with a hunched back.

Cheong awkwardly asked as he watched him leave.

“But, does anyone know how to find a person? Hands?”

—-

Surprisingly, Changbin moved swiftly.

After asking the gatekeeper Moo-in for permission to enter, he turned to his companions and said,

“I will inquire about the main gate. Pang and I will go together. Namgung and Seomun will stay at the main gate and listen to the story.”

To Cheong, he seemed too polite for a martial artist with a certificate of merit, but Changbin was the eldest brother of the Jangryong Society.

At twenty-nine this year, there was no one among the young masters of the prestigious families who had as diverse experience in martial arts as he did.

“Oh, our Changbin. He’s a smart friend, isn’t he?”

Cheong had declared earlier that they should be friends.

It was a declaration, not a suggestion.

For Cheong, it was a big concession.

Strictly speaking, in terms of age and status, Cheong was superior.

What he lacked was wealth and knowledge.

On the other hand, Changbin felt a bit burdened.

Status always took precedence over age.

Moreover-

“Changbin, you’re a source of strength. It’s reassuring.”

Cheong poked Changbin continuously with his elbow.

What kind of woman is so shamelessly bold towards a man!

Although men and women have their own ways, is it proper for a woman to act so carelessly towards a man!

How can she not know how to act modestly!

…Could it be that she has feelings for me?

Of course, it was Changbin who was the one acting modestly in front of the woman.

Changbin avoided eye contact with a guilty expression.

“Um… Gaji, Pang-ah.”

Pang Daesan looked at him disdainfully and said, “Brother, why are you bothering with me?”

“Well, didn’t you say we were going to Haomun?”

Haomun was the most mysterious faction in Gangho.

Originally, Haomun referred to the five humblest professions in Gangho.

A gathering of these humble individuals.

One might wonder what these lowly bottom-dwellers could possibly achieve by coming together.

But they utilized their skills to exert their power.

Specifically, an amazing invisibility technique that was imperceptible to others!

The lowly individuals were masters of disguise, invisible to the naked eye.

Even when seated in an inn, the innkeepers didn’t notice them cleaning the floors.

Sometimes, even after seeing them with their own eyes, they didn’t think such lowly creatures could understand human speech.

Porters, sailors, and even prostitutes were invisible.

Peddlers and courtesans were considered barely visible.

Through this, Haomun grew into a versatile business that dealt in information, smuggling, and other illicit activities.

And the sellers of information in Haomun were beautiful courtesans.

Those who actively used women as weapons.

They were skilled at selling information while adeptly deceiving and extracting information in return.

However, there was a figure who exposed all the weaknesses of women.

He was the majestic, number one handsome man in the world.

“Pang-ah, if you come with me, we might get some proper information. Those guys are good at manipulating people.”

Pang Daesan immediately understood.

Meanwhile, not long after, a face peeked through the side gate of the faction.

It was Wang Gaeyuk, the gatekeeper of the main gate.

Originally, the side gate was a passage used by servants, maids, and other employees.

For the gatekeeper to personally come out was not a good look.

But Wang Gaeyuk had thought long and hard about it.

Because there were no cases of guests coming through the side gate.

“It seems inappropriate to entertain esteemed guests here, so please, let me escort you through the main gate.”

It was a compromise that satisfied both parties.

By personally welcoming the guests, there was no embarrassment in receiving them, and by not crossing the side gate, there was no loss of dignity.

From the guest’s perspective, not passing through the side gate and being personally greeted by the host would be almost like a commendable gesture.

But from Cheong’s point of view, why on earth?

“Oh. Do we really have to go all the way to the main gate?”

“I know Gaeyuk is modest, but still, the head chef doesn’t come through the side gate. Gaeyuk should always keep in mind that he is a master swordsman.”

For example, coming through the side gate was a disgrace as a swordsman.

Cheong just thought, “Oh, okay.”

They must be the original arrogant guys.

They’re nitpicking about everything.

As the guests made their way along the towering walls of Jangwon, Wang Gaeyuk was feeling somewhat disappointed.

It was said that a master from the Volcano faction had arrived.

Wang Gaeyuk had also heard the rumors that Ok Girin had entered the city.

It was easy to guess who the master from the Volcano faction and his entourage were.

But to his surprise, it was just a young swordsman and a pretty girl in a martial arts uniform.

The young man had a refreshing aura, but he didn’t quite have the radiance of the number one handsome man.

It didn’t seem like it was urgent enough for the gatekeeper to personally welcome them.

Perhaps they were being overly cautious.

So, Wang Songseok, the eldest son who was training, stepped forward to greet the guests at the main gate.

Wang Songseok belonged to Jiyongdae, and he immediately recognized the unfamiliar visitors.

“Nahmgoong Shinjae Daehyeop! Thank you for visiting my humble abode! I am Wang Sonseok, have you heard of me before? We have met a few times in the past.”

“Oh really? Nice to meet you.”

Wang Sonseok was slightly taken aback.

It was because Nahmgoong Shinjae’s attitude was a bit aloof.

“Daehyeop?”

“I thought you were a bit cold like the Bangeomun gate. But since you are a comrade of the Baekdo Jungpa, I can understand. I apologize for suddenly visiting.”

What on earth is Bangeomun?

It was probably because Nahmgoong’s successor was being so distant.

Did we do something wrong with our Daegyeongmun?

But Wang Sonseok, who prided himself on maintaining his dignity as a member of the Baekdo Jungpa, had no clue.

“Oh! That’s not what I meant. How is your schedule? Will you be staying for dinner?”

It meant, are you going to leave after dinner?

Shouldn’t you let us know in advance so we can prepare?

“I’m not sure about that, but my companions will be staying longer. Chwimyeonbokmageom and Okgirin are currently out on business.”

Even if they don’t know about dinner, it means they will eat.

Since there are more people, prepare more food.

“Oh!”

Wang Sonseok’s face lit up.

There were three members of the Cheonmudae.

Among them were the real Jangryong of the successor class.

It was only natural for his face to light up when such an opportunity to make personal connections came his way.

“So, what about you, soldier…?”

“I am Seomun Cheong.”

Her introduction was a bit short.

It meant that she was an unknown figure with no family, faction, or title.

She was a skilled female swordsman, so it was assumed she was a companion who usually accompanied someone.

“So you are a soldier of Seomun.”

Wang Sonseok showed interest.

It wouldn’t be a good sight to see a woman from Cheonmudae being pestered, so there was no point in pretending to be close.

“But Daehyeop, will the rest of your companions be arriving late? My father has prepared some refreshments.”

“Oh. Refreshments. Are you someone who knows etiquette? Hey, Geomu. Should I go as well in this situation? Isn’t it disrespectful to ignore the prepared table? Can you confirm that?”

“It is only natural. There is no faction that dares to disrespect Geomu in this world.”

So when this conversation took place, Wang Sonseok was quite taken aback.

I can roughly understand what Geomu is from the context.

But to think that the successor of Nahmgoong’s family would emphasize the need to treat him with respect.

What? Is he the next head of the family?

I should have been more hospitable earlier. Oh no!

Wang Sonseok raised Cheong’s evaluation by about three levels.