Chapter 146. One Person's Interest

The afternoon sunlight filled the room. Yet the warm atmosphere felt heavy. It was because the head of the Namgung Clan continued his inexplicable silence.

After a long while, the Clan Head finally spoke.

"... So you're saying that was the reason you came all the way from Guangdong to Hubei?"

"Yes."

The Young Lord replied calmly.

"Ridiculous."

The Clan Head bit down on the word as if holding back his anger.

"You came to Hubei to find an amethyst?"

Namgung Jin opened his mouth again, even though he knew the Clan Head didn't believe him.

"Yes."

"If you were me, would you believe the words you just said?"

The two sons facing him could hear the anger in the Clan Head's voice.

"It's absurd enough that the Blood Sect hid in Dabeishan Mountains, between Hubei and Anhui, but you're telling me the reason you came to Hubei to find a Blood Sect bastard was no more than a purple stone?"

The more the Clan Head spoke, the colder Namgung Hyun's gaze grew.

But since the Clan Head's eyes did not reach the second son, he failed to notice the change.

No—more precisely, he had no interest.

"And you even claim that the amethyst is a stone that wields dark arts, the very reason the Platinum Pavilion covets it—how am I supposed to react to that?"

The Clan Head was transparent. Having been at Platinum Pavilion together, it would've been natural for him to at least ask his second son if it was true, yet he scolded only the Young Lord. He didn't even bother to hide his lack of trust in the second son.

Namgung Hyun sat like a fine doll, quietly listening to the exchange.

It was always like this, so it wasn't anything new.

But the Young Lord's response was irritating.

"Clan head, you also know about Five Minerals Powder, don't you?"

Namgung Jin paused for a moment, sensing something odd, then asked again.

"Then why do you speak as if you're hearing it for the first time?"

"You're saying I know about Five Minerals Powder?"

"Yes. Wasn't Five Minerals Powder discovered because of the fire at the Hubei branch?"

"... What are you talking about?"

Namgung Jin asked in a cautious voice, as if trying to confirm something.

"Have you perhaps not heard about the fire at the branch?"

"I heard. But what does that have to do with the Five Minerals Powder you speak of?"

"Did the headquarters not share the truth of the fire with you?"

"They did share it. At the time, I was busy with preparations for the Alliance of the Five Noble Clans, so I didn't pay close attention."

"... You heard about the Hubei branch incident, yet how can you not remember the Five Minerals Powder? Even I, who had just returned to the Anhui branch, knew about it."

"And what exactly did you hear that makes you cling so persistently to the Five Minerals Powder? What I'm asking is how you came to Hubei. If you mean to dodge the question, then drop it!"

The Young Lord closed his mouth.

Normally, the Clan Head would feel displeasure at something he didn't know and demand the details, but here he tried to dismiss the Five Minerals Powder.

As if he were deliberately avoiding the subject of Five Minerals Powder.

"I will not speak at length again. Explain in full detail, without leaving anything out, how you came to Platinum Pavilion."

The Clan Head pressed for an answer, but Namgung Jin could not reply.

The reason he came to Hubei was indeed to pursue the Five Minerals Powder, but it was Tang So-hwa who told him that the Five Minerals Powder might be hidden in the Platinum Pavilion.

In this situation, he could not reveal that she had told him. Having just returned after being abducted by the Blood Sect, he would only draw unnecessary suspicion.

Namgung Jin did not trust the headquarters.

The Murim Alliance had never been a true alliance. Its purpose was merely to puff itself up and display strength outwardly, making it no better than strangers.

Since childhood, working at the Anhui branch, Namgung Jin had witnessed the conflicts among the Alliance members. He knew well how ugly they became when consumed by jealousy and insecurity.

"Is it difficult for you to speak?"

Suddenly, the Clan Head lowered his voice.

For a brief moment, his gaze shifted to the side. He assumed the Young Lord had closed his mouth because he suspected the second son.

With a sigh, as if he understood, the Clan Head spoke.

"Very well. You must be tired after a long journey. I will call for you again later, so go and rest for now."

That ended the long conversation.

Though Namgung Hyun's appearance was in disarray, the Clan Head did not ask even once if he was all right. Quiet as a flower, Namgung Hyun simply remained in his place until, with the Clan Head's permission, he was the first to rise.

Namgung Jin found the misunderstanding uncomfortable, but he could not miss the moment the Clan Head withdrew, so he followed out of the room.

And there was also something he wanted to ask Namgung Hyun.

He quickened his pace to catch up with him.

But before he could even call out to his younger brother, people waiting in the courtyard swarmed toward him like clouds.

"Young Lord! How did we get to see you here?”

"Ah, we heard that after your closed-door training, you went straight to the branch, but to meet you like this is such a joy!"

Young martial artists gathered around him, their eyes shining. The elders did the same.

With the Young Lord, long absent, appearing at the headquarters, the atmosphere of the Namgung Clan shifted.

Although Namgung Hyun had taken second place, it was still only second.

The arrogance of the Wudang brats, strutting with their heads held high, had been intolerable, but now that the true rising star of the Central Plains had returned, their pride, which had withered, revived.

Thus, in their eyes, there was no room for Namgung Hyun.

No—it was only natural.

Now that the Young Lord had returned, the fact that he was unseen needed no explanation. It was as natural as the lamps dimming before the morning sun.

The attention he had received after the Alliance of the Five Noble Clans had been the strange thing.

Namgung Hyun did not stop and simply walked to his quarters.

At that moment, someone called to him.

"Ah, this young warrior!"

It was the gatekeeper standing at the entrance of his quarters.

Turning his gaze, Namgung Hyun was startled. Beside the gatekeeper stood a familiar figure.

"A guest has come from the Tang Clan."

Tang Hae-han, after giving Namgung Hyun a detached glance, held out a jar of ointment.

"I heard you were badly injured, but it seems far more serious than I expected."

Since he was not someone who would come to tend to him, Namgung Hyun did not readily accept the ointment and asked.

"What is this?"

"So-hwa told me to deliver it to you."

"......"

"Oh? Are you refusing it? Very well! I will faithfully convey your intent to her..."

Just as Tang Hae-han, delighted, began to withdraw his hand, Namgung Hyun snatched the jar away.

"... Quick hands, I see."

Though regretful, Tang Hae-han held no lingering attachment to what was already done. To finish his errand, he continued at once,

"And when you have time, please visit the Tang Clan's residence."

"Did Young Lady Tang summon me?"

"Yes, she says she has something to discuss."

As Namgung Hyun immediately set off, Tang Hae-han flusteredly waved his hands.

"Ah, no, I did not mean right away. She said to come when it's convenient..."

"Now is convenient enough."

Tang Hae-han was just about to reluctantly accompany him when a low voice came from behind.

"Did Young Lady Tang leave no other message?"

Tang Hae-han's gaze shifted back. The expression he wore for Namgung Jin was entirely different from before. His head tilted slightly, askew.

"None."

At that cold reply, Namgung Jin frowned.

"... Truly none?"

As the Young Lord cast him a suspicious look, certain that it could not be the case, Tang Hae-han let out a hollow laugh.

Just as he was about to unleash a stream of sharp words, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

The surroundings had gone quiet.

Turning his gaze, Tang Hae-han flinched.

The Namgung brats' eyes were shining.

It wasn't displeasure. On the contrary, they watched with bright, eager faces, stealing glances at his conversation with great interest.

'Ha, I wondered where that nonsense rumor started about So-hwa toying with the Namgung brothers...'

It seemed these Namgung fools were the source.

Their faces said it all—busybody looks of gossip-mongers who loved nothing more than adding twists to stories to grab attention, now flocked like sparrows.

And seeing even the elders, instead of restraining those noisy brats, pretending indifference while pricking up their ears just the same, he realized they were no different.

'How dare they try to link her with them!'

Tang Hae-han's voice grew sharp without him realizing.

"I don't know why you would think So-hwa left some further message."

Cursing the Namgung people in his heart for blowing things out of proportion, he shamelessly fabricated his own words.

"Young Lady Tang cannot restrain her burning sense of chivalry whenever she sees a patient, so she asked me to give young warrior Namgung Hyun this medicine and tell him to visit when he has time."

At the very least, the Namgung people spoke of what they had actually seen, while Tang Hae-han conjured a version of Tang So-hwa he had never even witnessed.

A burning sense of chivalry.

Anyone who truly knew Tang So-hwa would never associate such words with her.

Yet Tang Hae-han, far from feeling guilt, brazenly lifted his eyes.

Unfortunately for him, the Young Lord was no ordinary person. Instead of backing down, Namgung Jin asked the same question once more.

"Are you certain she left me no other words?"

"Yes. None. It's somewhat displeasing that you simply assume Young Lady Tang must have spoken of you."

This time, it was not the Young Lord but Namgung Hyun who reacted.

The pale brown eyes that had been fixed on the jar of ointment now lifted.

Tang Hae-han failed to notice. He was too riled up by the sparrow-like busybodies' gleeful reactions.

"Of course, Young Lord, wherever you go, you've been the center of attention, so you must be accustomed to such thoughts. Still, it would be wise to mind your attitude. Should gossip-lovers overhear, they might spread baseless rumors insulting to the other party."

"Hrmm."

One of the sparrows coughed awkwardly, but Tang Hae-han did not stop.

"This sort of self-important attitude is highly discourteous. Young Lady Tang merely tended to a patient, and yet she was suddenly turned into someone entangled with Namgung's Young Lord. It seems you were not taught this in Namgung, so I'll inform you here—mind yourself in the future."

With firm words, he shamelessly tore down the Young Lord of another clan as a disgraceful man.

Namgung Jin was flustered.

In this telling, he had become a lecher who believed every woman adored him.

He kept silent—this was the first time he had been so maligned, and he had no idea how to respond.

He had seen Namgung Gangchang treated this way before, but never imagined it would happen to himself.

Tang Hae-han, rather than considering the Young Lord's shock, drove a nail further into his ruined reputation.

"Young warrior Namgung Hyun, let go. And for the record, Young Lady Tang So-hwa, with no other intent, officially requested to meet you through me for medical treatment. Should you, too, harbor some needless misunderstanding, then simply return to your quarters and rest."

Namgung Hyun showed a small smile.

"Yes, I will not misunderstand anything."

'... Then why is this brat smiling?'

Though uneasy, Tang Hae-han decided it was better to let them speak in his presence and so departed for the Tang Clan's residence with Namgung Hyun.

The Namgung martial artists left behind continued watching the Young Lord with curious eyes, but Namgung Jin kept silent.

After a long moment, he let out a hollow laugh and returned to his room.

Once the Young Lord was gone, someone spoke.

"... Was the Young Lord cast aside?"

"Wow, if even the Elder sees it that way, then Young Lady Tang must truly have chosen this young master instead of him!"

Despite Tang Hae-han's efforts, the same rumor as before spread through Namgung without change.

***

Namgung Hyun fiddled with the jar of ointment in his hand.

‘I thought I didn't like being the center of attention…’

When the Young Lord appeared, no one paid him any mind. But there had been one person who did. And that one person's attention alone was enough to fill everything.

It felt as if a space in his heart he hadn't even known existed was suddenly filled, leaving him with a strange feeling.

As he rubbed the jar of ointment, Namgung Hyun let a faint smile slip.

The sunlight that had once poured into the Clan Head's quarters was no different from here, yet even the floating dust motes seemed warm in this place.

Lost in his thoughts, he was startled when Tang So-hwa entered.

Creak.

"Forgive me for making you wait after calling you here. I didn't expect you to come so soon, and it took me some time to come up with an excuse to shake off that unwelcome guest."

Judging from her tone, she was referring to Tang Hae-han.

Looking weary, Tang So-hwa pressed her temple once, then sat down in front of him.

Believing her mood was soured by his cousin, Namgung Hyun curved his lips into a smile.

"It's nothing. The waiting was so sweet, I didn't even notice the time pass."

The words were embarrassingly sentimental, but he had mustered the courage to say them. Yet Tang So-hwa's expression did not soften.

Having lived his whole life reading people's moods, Namgung Hyun couldn't ignore her reaction and cautiously asked,

"Did... something happen? You don't seem well."

Tang So-hwa exhaled lightly, almost like a sigh.

"Young warrior."

Namgung Hyun's heart tightened, and he listened intently.

"Yes. Please, speak."

He was confident he could answer kindly to anything she said. But the words that came next made him realize how arrogant he had been.

"There's no one around, so you need not worry about your words leaking."

"... What?"

As Namgung Hyun faltered at her incomprehensible remark, Tang So-hwa fell silent for a while before speaking again.

"The Alliance Leader said the Blood Demon doesn't exist. But I have met the Blood Demon."

A chill washed through Namgung Hyun's body.

He had believed it when they said she had been found at the foot of Dabeishan Mountains. But Tang So-hwa now claimed she had met the Blood Demon.

Now that he thought about it, wasn't it strange that he had accepted that without question?

He knew the Blood Demon had taken her.

Recognizing the contradiction in his memories, Namgung Hyun felt as if his heart dropped.

It was the same kind of reaction that the Five Minerals Powder had shown.

And the one who had told him she had returned from Dabeishan Mountains was none other than the Alliance Leader.

Caught in an incomprehensible situation, Namgung Hyun could do nothing but stare at Tang So-hwa.

Soon, her cold voice pierced his ears.

"I know that you are a member of the Blood Sect."