Chapter 280: Chapter 280

The Hunan Martial Arts Tournament was hosted by the Prince of Jin’s estate.

Vagabonds wishing to earn a name for themselves and martial artists wishing to spread their fame gathered together and were moving toward Changsha.

Since there were only about fifteen days left until the tournament, so many people stayed in Changsha that the surroundings were bustling.

“It is amazing…”

Watching this, Namgung So-hye clicked her tongue.

It was not uncommon to see martial artists gathered together, but the scale was different this time.

Since it was hosted by the prince’s estate and the prize money was also substantial, more people gathered.

Changsha was literally packed with no room to step.

“Since several events overlapped, it is only natural.”

It was a situation where many martial artists had gathered in Yueyang to capture Murong Hyuk-mun.

Although it ended up being a wild goose chase in the end, that crowd moved to Changsha all at once, so it was natural that there were many people.

Even if one looked here, it was people, and even if one looked there, it was people.

Since even the constables were guarding everywhere to control the countless gathered martial artists, she thought this was indeed fitting for the phrase “a mountain of people, a sea of crowds.”

“But there are more than I thought.”

“Why on earth are we in such a place?”

Namgung So-hye looked around with a dissatisfied gaze and frowned.

She was in Changsha when she should be practicing even a little bit more. Of course, resting for about a day would not cause any major issues, but seeing so many people here made her worry if she could really win.

Moreover, Dan Woo-hyun was confident in Namgung So-hye’s victory.

She already felt goosebumps thinking about what kind of words she would hear if she threw cold water on that confidence.

“It is not bad to be bustling.”

Dan Woo-hyun smiled as he listened to the street stalls visible everywhere and the sound of firecrackers.

There was a time when many martial artists had gathered near Yueyang, but it was not a friendly atmosphere like today.

No murderous intent was felt, and there was no sharp tension at all.

The people here seemed to be fully enjoying the festival atmosphere.

“Why on earth are we here?!”

However, Namgung So-hye raised her voice and rebuked Dan Woo-hyun, wondering what she was so dissatisfied about.

Then, in an instant, people’s attention was drawn to them.

Even without that, many people looked at her because of her appearance, but since she raised her voice like rolling jade beads, gazes naturally poured toward her.

Among them, a few recognized Namgung So-hye.

“That person? Namgung So-hye…!”

“It really is. Then does that mean the Namgung Clan is also participating in this tournament?”

“Huh…”

Commotion arose everywhere.

Even those who did not recognize Namgung So-hye at first accepted it and cast wary glances once the name was mentioned. This was because if she participated in the tournament, it was as clear as day that she would be a candidate for the championship.

As the attention of so many people was focused at once, Namgung So-hye bowed her head in embarrassment and tightly gripped the hem of her skirt.

“Do not mind them. We just came to look around comfortably.”

“That is why… why…?”

Namgung So-hye muttered in a voice like a crawling ant.

Her face was full of dissatisfaction.

“Usually, they tend to gather a lot in places like this.”

“Pardon?”

Namgung So-hye frowned at the incomprehensible words.

In the meantime, Dan Woo-hyun took something out of his chest. After checking several sheets of letters here and there, he stared intently at one place.

After watching for a long time as if something was so strange, Dan Woo-hyun nodded and put the paper in his hand back into his chest.

“This way.”

Soon, he led Namgung So-hye and moved toward one place.

Namgung So-hye, who was dragged along, could not hide her embarrassment, but she unconsciously blushed at the warmth felt from the hand holding her.

It seemed she did not completely dislike this whole situation.

Soon, Dan Woo-hyun stopped.

Then he looked to one side.

“Do you see over there?”

“Do you mean… that man with the bushy beard?”

“Yes, you recognized him well.”

Dan Woo-hyun smiled with a satisfied expression.

Pride overflowed, as if he was very pleased with the growth of the student he was teaching.

But conversely, a sense of anxiety crept over Namgung So-hye.

Every time Dan Woo-hyun acted like this, something bad happened.

“Catch him.”

“Pardon?”

“I said capture him.”

As soon as those words ended, he pushed Namgung So-hye.

Namgung So-hye, who unintentionally stepped forward, opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Soon, as her eyes met the bearded man’s, he stared blankly at Namgung So-hye.

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun pulled out a piece of paper from behind and showed it.

“He is a murderer and rapist. Catch him.”

“Eh!?”

“Damn it! A hunter!”

The man who shouted loudly began to run blindly.

Desperation was visible in his appearance as he pushed through the countless crowd.

On the other hand, Namgung So-hye did not move for a long time and stood frozen in place. Soon, she slowly turned her head to look at Dan Woo-hyun.

Her expression was clearly dumbfounded.

“Excuse me…”

“What are you doing? Catch him.”

Namgung So-hye gnashed her teeth and threw herself toward the man.

* * *

Hong Won-chang broke into a cold sweat and looked at the people in front of him. Wanted criminals who had been caught since early morning were scattered all over the government office.

If it were one or two people it would be one thing, but since the number was easily twenty or thirty, even just processing them gave him a headache. He could not even understand how they caught so many people in just half a day.

Criminals who were notorious not only in Yueyang but also in various parts of the Central Plains were now gathered in one place.

He thought this alone was a tremendous achievement.

‘I suspected it to some extent when he asked for the wanted posters…’

Hong Won-chang clicked his tongue and turned his gaze.

Dan Woo-hyun was sitting on one side, sipping tea.

In his other hand, he held the wanted posters and seemed to be calculating how much the reward money was.

Namgung So-hye, the woman who made all this happen, sat slumped in a corner with a somewhat exhausted expression, feeling frustrated.

Since she had been fighting criminals all day, it was natural for her to be exhausted.

In addition, since there were many foul-mouthed individuals among them, it was clear that she must have had a very hard time mentally as well.

“You… you worked hard.”

Hong Won-chang tried to smile and comforted her.

But Namgung So-hye did not even answer and only nodded her head.

“…There are truly many criminals in the world.”

“Haha… aren’t they things that are always present where people gather?”

In places where many people gathered, such pests were also bound to gather.

Still, he wondered how many would actually be caught, but more people than expected were dragged in.

It was assumed that Namgung So-hye must have gone through considerable trouble.

“Why… why did it turn out like this.”

“Ahem… Lady Namgung really went through a lot.”

“Sigh…”

Namgung So-hye let out a long sigh and smiled awkwardly.

Putting aside being mentally and physically exhausted from chasing criminals, she seemed to feel self-loathing about the fact that this was what she did after finally coming outside.

“Well done. More money came out than I thought.”

“Did you bring me along just to make money?”

At the sharp, piercing gaze, Dan Woo-hyun smiled.

Stepping up from his seat, he turned his back and began to leave the government office.

“Let us go back.”

“Hey!”

Feeling needlessly wronged, she stared sharply at his departing back and chased after him hurriedly.

Although she was angry, she felt more wronged.

Besides, wasn’t Jang Sam-tae more efficient at this kind of thing?

With his fast legs, he would have caught them much faster.

“Do not feel so wronged. It must have been a good experience.”

“If running around until sweat pours from the soles of my feet is a good experience, then I suppose so.”

Haha, Dan Woo-hyun laughed.

Her wronged appearance was quite amusing.

“But I do not know what kind of meaning this had.”

Sighing, she wiped off her cold sweat and glanced at Dan Woo-hyun.

There was some meaning to his actions. He would not have done such a thing simply to make money.

Killing two birds with one stone.

Because Dan Woo-hyun was someone who moved with something in mind.

“There was no particular meaning, though…?”

“Eh!?”

Namgung So-hye looked at Dan Woo-hyun in shock.

Then did he really do it aiming for the bounty?

She was so flustered that proper words did not even come out.

“If I had to give it a meaning… well. I thought real combat was better than shutting oneself away and focusing only on training.”

“Ugh… I do not really know.”

Dan Woo-hyun smirked.

Each criminal had different characteristics.

Some specialized in running away or hiding, while others threw hidden weapons or swung swords.

There were also those who occasionally set traps.

This task focused on gaining various experiences while dealing with such people.

“As you saw, many people will participate in this tournament. There will be those who use their heads, not just those who swing swords well.”

“Ah, I think I get the gist of it, so do not say any more.”

Namgung So-hye waved her hand and frowned.

Although she knew it was not a grand reason, she had certainly gained experience. Because she had to use her head and figure them out to catch them.

It was not a bad experience, but…

‘Why do I feel like I was tricked?’

Namgung So-hye bit her lip tightly.

Zhuge Yeon’s words came to mind.

They perform the tricks, and Dan Woo-hyun takes the money.

She thought the current situation was exactly in line with that.

“Oh my, look who it is? Isn’t it Namgung So-hye?”

As Namgung So-hye was walking down the street, the moment she heard a familiar voice, she unconsciously frowned and turned her gaze back.

There, the people she had seen last time were gathered together.

There were also unfamiliar faces, but she could tell at a glance that they were young experts.

Stopping in her tracks, she looked at them and put on a bright smile.

“We meet again?”

For a moment, it felt as if the surroundings had brightened.

Hwangbo Yeong frowned.

The place where she had been hit last time seemed to throb the moment she saw Namgung So-hye’s face.

However, she did not show it as much as possible and retorted.

“Indeed. To think I would see you in a place like this… I thought you would be stuck in the corner of Yueyang…”

“Me too. I thought you would not talk to me after being hit like that, but you are quite brave.”

Sparks flew between Hwangbo Yeong and Namgung So-hye.

As a strange tension flowed as if they would clash at any moment, the young experts with relatively lower martial arts broke into a cold sweat and unconsciously backed away.

“Does being in a place like this mean you are also participating?”

“Participating… you too?”

Namgung So-hye understood Hwangbo Yeong’s words instantly. Undoubtedly, most of the young experts here seemed to intend to participate in the tournament.

Namgung So-hye unconsciously harbored a bitter smile and clenched her fists.

“I had no intention to, but if you guys are entering, I should think about it positively…?”

“You…!”

“Hmph!”

She spoke somewhat sarcastically and turned her back.

Nothing good would come out of talking to them any further.

Since they would cling to her persistently, she did not want to waste her time.

A few men let out sighs of regret as they watched Namgung So-hye distance herself, but they unconsciously gasped at the sharp glares of Hwangbo Yeong and Jin Yeon-hwa.

However, Tang Mun-hye alone was watching not Namgung So-hye, but Dan Woo-hyun beside her.

With an expression that gave no clue as to what she was thinking.

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