Chapter 260: Chapter 260

“It is hot.”

Namgung Yong muttered as he fanned himself and walked. Behind him followed the elders of the Namgung Clan and his son, Namgung Gang.

It had been quite a long time since they had left Anhui, so the eyes looking at the surrounding scenery were all filled with different thoughts.

Namgung Gang, the eldest son and successor of the Namgung Clan, caught his breath as he walked along the mountain path.

Because it had been a considerable forced march, his body and mind seemed exhausted, showing clear signs of fatigue.

“Murong Hyeok-mun…… Is that man really heading toward Yueyang?”

“It was clearly written so in the letter from the Martial League. Unless it is a lie, there is no mistake.”

“The people of the Murong Clan will move as well, right? We might run into them……?”

“Was that not already expected as well?”

Namgung Yong smiled gently.

Because of Murong Hyeok-mun, the Murong Clan fell. There would be no one who did not know that fact.

However, just because Murong Hyeok-mun was declared a public enemy did not mean the Murong Clan itself had collapsed.

The main pillars that still made up the Murong Clan remained healthy.

From their perspective, they would want to retrieve Murong Hyeok-mun.

Although it was said that he ruined Kunlun and shed a lot of blood, the name of the Sword Saint supported the entirety of the Murong Clan.

From the Murong Clan’s standpoint, they would want to bring Murong Hyeok-mun back to the clan by any means. Of course, that was under the condition that it must not be discovered by others.

Putting all situations together, a clash with the Murong Clan was unavoidable.

“And it is a rumor I heard, but…….”

At that moment, Namgung Yongmun, the First Elder of the Namgung Clan, muttered cautiously.

“There was a story that someone saw So-hye there…….”

“Is that true!?”

“Whether it is true or not cannot be confirmed, but…… such a story has come in.”

Namgung Yongmun smiled with an awkward expression.

At a time when finding Namgung So-hye was more urgent than anything else, he could not help but be glad to have found even that small trace.

Namgung Yong and Namgung Gang hurried their steps.

* * *

The bustling streets of Yueyang looked no different now than they did in the past.

Namgung So-hye strolled through the marketplace with Dan So-mi, looking at this and that, and buying delicious things to eat.

However, the attention of the people was fully focused on them.

Even though she looked simple, Namgung So-hye, who radiated beauty, and Dan So-mi, who was called the Little Fairy of Yueyang, were together, so they naturally drew people’s attention.

Here and there, the beast-like eyes of men targeting Namgung So-hye flashed.

However, there was only one reason they did not dare to approach.

The fact that she held a sword.

And it was because last time, Namgung So-hye had suppressed several rising stars with overwhelming power in the middle of the marketplace.

“Even if she looks like that, she is incredibly scary…….”

“Tell me about it. I was startled to see that last time.”

“Any attempt to do something is long gone. If I lived with women like that, I wouldn’t even be able to sleep.”

Men shivered here and there.

Since they had seen her beat down opponents without hesitation with that beautiful appearance, fear naturally arose, and they could not approach her recklessly.

People from out of town might have tried their luck at least once, but the reason they did not approach carelessly was probably because they sensed that strange vibe.

Namgung So-hye frowned as she chewed on a sweet.

“I’m never getting married, never.”

She did not like the voices coming from here and there.

“It is fine. If you cannot get married, sister, you can live with So-mi.”

“Hoho, will that really be okay? I eat a lot, you know?”

“So-mi just needs to earn a lot of money.”

Looking at So-mi, who smiled brightly, Namgung So-hye blushed. What a fairy-like heart. She hugged Dan So-mi without realizing it and felt her warmth.

“Thank you! I live because of So-mi.”

“Ugh!”

Namgung So-hye, hugging her as if she would never let go, put more strength into it, as if even Dan So-mi’s groans sounded good.

She felt like she would have no regrets even if she died hugging her like this.

However, Dan So-mi, who was extremely suffocated, tapped Namgung So-hye’s waist with her hand, and only then did she step back with a regretful expression and sigh.

“Phew……! I…… I thought I was going to die.”

“Hoho, I’m sorry. By the way, where shall we go today? Since we took a round of the marketplace, shall we go over there and have some tea?”

She pointed to the teahouse visible in the distance.

It was the teahouse she had intended to go to long ago, back when she discovered Gwon Mu-jin.

Because the scenery was superb, there was no better place to drink tea, feel the atmosphere, and talk.

They walked slowly along the road.

One could tell that the two people, who were holding hands, laughing, and chatting, were very happy right now.

The scenery slowly changed, and the teahouse that was visible in the distance was getting closer, slowly but surely.

At that moment.

A group appeared in front of Dan So-mi and Namgung So-hye. It felt as if they were passing each other, but the sight of them wearing bamboo hats gave an unpleasant feeling.

The moment Namgung So-hye silently watched them and passed by.

Clang-!

Namgung So-hye leaped back, parrying a man’s sword that was swung in an instant with her scabbard.

“……What are you doing?”

Namgung So-hye glared at the group and snapped. If she had not felt the killing intent for an instant, she would have been hit.

Clang, clang, clang, clang-!

However, they drew their swords without an answer.

At that sight, Dan So-mi’s face turned pale as she grabbed Namgung So-hye’s collar.

She felt that something was going terribly wrong.

“No questions asked…… is it?”

Namgung So-hye lowered her stance and watched them.

Although she could not tell at all who they were right now, their killing intent was clear.

If so, she must not hesitate either. She already knew from experience that a moment of hesitation led directly to death.

“So-mi, step back.”

“But…….”

“Hurry!”

Swish-!

The moment she spoke, a man rushed in fiercely. He closed the distance in an instant and thrust his sword. The blade, moving dazzlingly, flew in mindlessly.

Clash, clash, clash-!

Namgung So-hye, who had drawn her sword at some point, parried and defended against it. However, since it was not a one-on-one situation, she could not focus all her mind on dealing with him.

Sure enough.

Another person who was watching also threw himself forward and struck in.

Namgung So-hye bent her waist, lightly dodging the blades aiming at her lower body. The moment she thrust her sword, a sword wind raged and poured toward the opponent.

Boom-!

“Kugh!”

Even while looking at the retreating man, it was not a situation where she could be relieved.

Clash, clash-!

The blade of another person next to her struck in again. The sword strike, which came in heavier than before, made her palm sting at the same time as she blocked it.

But she would not yield to this level.

Slash!

“Argh!”

Instead, she dug in, anticipated the opponent’s attack, stepped with her footwork, and swung her sword.

The elegantly extended sword cut the man’s chest, and she parried the sword that aimed at the gap and came in again.

Clang!

Slide-!

Namgung So-hye, who had tried to dodge the sword and launch a counterattack again, bit her lip.

Because the opponent’s sword had become sharper.

Namgung So-hye extended her leg and kicked the opponent’s knee.

Thud!

At the same time as she confirmed the stumbling opponent, she thrust her sword without hesitation.

Stab!

“Gurgle!”

The eyes of the dying man and his struggle came clearly into her sight.

Biting her lip, Namgung So-hye glanced forward.

The sight of the others smiling also came into view.

The one who died just now was definitely someone of low level. They must have sent him simply to gauge Namgung So-hye’s strength.

She turned her back without hesitation.

“So-mi!”

Holding Dan So-mi as she was, she ran away at full speed.

* * *

The Hunan Dan Family was unusually noisy today.

Jang Sam-tae spun his top excitedly, and Gwon Mu-jin also spun another top to start a fight. At first, Gwon Mu-jin’s top seemed to win because it was somewhat fast, but at some point, Jang Sam-tae’s top knocked over Gwon Mu-jin’s top and took the victory.

“Kah-! Hahaha! This is why I play!”

Looking at Jang Sam-tae laughing loudly, Gwon Mu-jin frowned. He looked somewhat dispirited, thinking he would win.

“You play well.”

Zhuge Yeon and Mae-hyang were watching the scene with absurd expressions. What was so enjoyable about a single top?

Was it not just spinning around and bumping into each other?

It felt like it would be more comfortable to watch a chicken fight.

“Oho…… that looks fun.”

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun’s eyes shone brightly as he looked at Jang Sam-tae. Out of the tops that spun around, the side that fell first lost. It was a very simple game, but for some reason, it stimulated a competitive spirit.

Before long, Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak also approached the place.

“I am quite good at this.”

“Haha, Elder. Since I was a child, I am a guy who has never lost a top fight.”

At Jang Sam-tae’s provocation, Sa Do-hak frowned.

Then, Jang Sam-tae shut his mouth like a mute who ate honey and turned his head.

“Then, may I try it?”

“You mean the Manor Leader?”

“Yes.”

“Hahaha, no matter if you are the Manor Leader, you won’t be able to beat me with this.”

“Haha, is that so?”

Looking at the swaggering Jang Sam-tae, Dan Woo-hyun laughed. He just wanted to try it because it looked fun, and had no intention of winning at all.

“Then, shall I go first?”

“Do so.”

Jang Sam-tae smiled confidently and spun his top. That top, which was spinning violently, possessed a momentum that seemed ready to blow away whatever approached it.

Even people who spun tops a bit would be startled by that speed.

Dan Woo-hyun quietly watched it.

Soon, he spun the top in his hand and slammed it hard onto the ground.

Thud-!

The top that left Dan Woo-hyun’s hand while rotating violently smashed down on Jang Sam-tae’s top brutally, and it was shattered to pieces, leaving no trace.

“…….”

“I won.”

“No, damn it! What are you doing!?”

“It is called top smashing. You lost just now.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s absurd words, Jang Sam-tae was at a loss for words. No matter what he said, it felt like it would not work at all. Dan Woo-hyun was already wearing the smile of a victor.

But suddenly, a wind blew from one side.

It was then that the expression of the smiling Dan Woo-hyun changed.

Through the light wind, a familiar smell of blood drifted.

“I will go out for a moment.”

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