Chapter 48
Namgung Jeok-myeong affirmed with silence.
"I do not know that much either. It took me years to barely uncover that Yeonghwang Yuse is deeply connected to the First Evil, Cheon Mu-ryeong."
And that Yeonghwang Yuse had even used the Blood-Seeking Sword Ghost as a pawn and attempted to seize the Huashan Sect's spiritual medicine.
If that was only what had surfaced above water, it was impossible to guess how large the force hidden beneath must be.
"Father should never have accepted the First Evil's proposal in the first place. Or at the very least, he should have returned you to the Ye clan."
Yeo Il nearly wrote, Even if they target me, a fake Namgung Soyo, they will not obtain what they want, but stopped her hand.
The premise was wrong.
To them, whether I am the real Namgung Soyo or not does not matter.
Namgung Soyo was hidden carefully within the Namgung Clan since childhood. Only a handful of people, including Namgung Jeok-myeong, could distinguish the real from the fake.
Thus, authenticity did not matter.
Namgung Soyo was Ye So-gun, and Ye So-gun was living proof that the Namgung Clan—no, the Murim Alliance—had humiliated the Demonic Cult.
"You wear a troubled expression, my sister. Yes… have you finally realized? That the name you have taken upon yourself is not so light that you may wield it as you please and then return it to its place at will."
"..."
"The world already knows you as Namgung Soyo. And Yeonghwang Yuse can prove that Namgung Soyo is Ye So-gun."
"..."
"Until Ye So-gun's corpse is delivered to the Demonic Cult, Yeonghwang Yuse will never abandon you, Soyo."
It was like stepping in dog filth by chance—and discovering it was not just any filth.
Who would have thought a single Killing Register would drag in such trouble.
There truly was nothing in this world that could be taken easily for free.
Knowing Salmak's persistence, she could easily predict how monstrously parasitic Yeonghwang Yuse would be.
Once I achieve my objective, perhaps I will have no choice but to disappear at the right moment and wait quietly for matters to settle.
The day she fulfilled all of the old man's final wishes seemed even farther away now.
"Are you truly sincere in searching for Namgung Soyo's mother?"
"…Since your father Ye Gwiryeong was one of the Six Demon Lords and the head of the Ye clan, your mother must have been a woman of comparable status. The details, however, I do not know."
"What?"
At her certainty, Namgung Jeok-myeong sounded deeply aggrieved as he lightly tapped the brush in her hand.
"How absurd. I say I do not know because I truly do not know. Why would I lie to you over such a matter?"
"Enough, enough. Your head is always filled with suspicion. I have not calculated even that far."
Perhaps writing each word by hand had grown tedious; her already crooked script became increasingly careless.
Each time her strokes went wildly astray like worms crawling, Namgung Jeok-myeong let out a small laugh.
"Soyo, speak properly. How much rowing have you truly done?"
At that, Namgung Jeok-myeong burst into loud laughter.
"Haha! What nonsense, Soyo! That fake may have been a great enemy who irritated me deeply, but the largest stone that rolled in has yet to be removed!"
Not the largest stone?
"I have just realized how contemptible you think me. You believed I was a fool manipulated by a mere fake Namgung Chu-myeong?"
Annoyed by his self-satisfied laughter, Yeo Il scribbled even more carelessly.
Only then did Namgung Jeok-myeong slowly rein in his laughter.
"Your tone grows strangely insolent. Very well. No, Soyo. Hm. In truth, regarding that matter, I have a proposal for you…"
A proposal.
For now, Yeo Il nodded, willing to hear it.
A few days later.
The Western Hall, quiet for some time, resounded with Seol-yeong's loud voice.
"What? The Murim Alliance martial competition? Surely Miss will not be representing Namgung and entering the competition?"
Muttering, "Now even a martial competition…," Seol-yeong worked herself into needless excitement, only for her shoulders to droop at Yeo Il's single reply.
"I am merely accompanying them. You will have ample opportunity to watch, as you like."
"How disappointing. There is nothing more thrilling than a frail young lady of a prestigious clan suddenly entering the martial competition, defeating the foremost rising talents of the world, and ascending in one leap as a new master!"
Yeo Il let out a laugh in disbelief. At times like this, Seol-yeong still seemed young.
"When do we depart? The Murim Alliance is in Henan Province, I believe."
"In two days."
"In two days… let me see… Major Heat…."
Seol-yeong suddenly frowned, her mood souring. When asked why, she sighed heavily.
"Have you already forgotten? Major Heat is the one day of the year when Sister Seorin receives her ten days of rest. If she follows Miss again and torments me… No, unless horns have sprouted from her backside, she will certainly torment me…."
Leaving Seol-yeong to grumble, Yeo Il sensed the presence within the Western Hall.
Jin Cheong-ak was absent again.
Yeo Il gave Seol-yeong an order.
"When Jin Cheong-ak returns, tell him I have something to ask. He is not to wander outside without my knowledge. He is to wait."
"Yes? Ah, yes. I will relay it."
At that moment, Changa entered carefully with a bowl of warm decoction in her arms and whispered excitedly after glancing around.
"Miss, Miss. I heard new news! It seems Lady Danri Mukran and her guests will remain at the clan for several more days!"
Seol-yeong's already furrowed brow creased even more.
"Danri Mukran… Is she not that woman obsessed with playing matchmaker and pressuring Miss into marriage? I heard even the Namgung brothers find her troublesome. Why would they allow it?"
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