Chapter 151: Chapter 151

* * *

“Are you really… sure there’s nothing between you two?”

“No, there isn’t.”

Jang Un had his arms crossed, looking at Jang Geon with suspicious eyes. Having received Seom Ji-young’s visit the previous day, Jang Un had let it pass without a word that night, but when the next day came, he did not even go to work at the merchant guild and called Jang Geon into his room for a private chat. Then, he had pressed to know what kind of relationship existed between her and Jang Geon.

Jang Geon naturally answered that there was no strange relationship.

“She simply invited a renowned martial artist residing in New Sichuan…”

But Jang Un, with crossed arms and narrowed eyes, still wore a doubtful look on his face. Even after Jang Geon pulled out the invitation and showed it to him, it remained so.

“…Still, is that something for the Young Master’s fiancée to visit in person for, accompanied by only a single bodyguard? Of course, Geon-ah. I know full well that your name has been causing a stir in New Sichuan these days. But…”

“The thing you are worried about will not happen.”

Hearing that firm response, the suspicion faded from Jang Un’s face. However, what remained behind was anxiety.

“Mmm… So, are you going to that inauguration ceremony?”

“Yes. Since they offer good food and gifts, I should go. It’ll be better to waste their rice there than to idle around at home.”

Jang Geon did not tell Jang Un about the request. He did not want to needlessly worry Jang Un and his wife when he did not yet know what kind of outcome might emerge. Thus, he used his idling over the past few days as an excuse.

“Will you be alright? Even back in the Central Plains, you disliked such events. If it’s because of my teasing, it’s fine for you to keep staying at home. I only teased you because I wished you would help out with the merchant guild’s work. So instead of going there and causing trouble, wouldn’t it be better to eat the meals your sister-in-law prepares for you? Besides, didn’t you say there’s still plenty of time left until the inauguration?”

Jang Un had scolded him for idling around for days, yet upon hearing that he was actually leaving, he tried to hold Jang Geon back. Jang Geon smiled faintly and shook his head.

“I’ll just go get a few days’ worth of meals and come back. Since I even received an invitation, if I don’t go, they might be offended.”

At the remark that the Je Clan might take offense, Jang Un nodded.

“Indeed… ancient clans have needlessly strong pride…”

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll just eat the food they provide, gather the gifts, and return.”

At Jang Geon’s words as he stood up from his seat, Jang Un sighed as if he had no choice.

“Right, whatever you do and wherever you go, in the end it’s your affair. Still, once the inauguration ends, you must come straight back home. You must not disappear without a proper word like you did back in the Central Plains. Understood?”

“Even if I leave, I’ll see my sister-in-law’s face before I go, so don’t worry.”

“Alright… Then I should head out to the merchant guild now as well.”

Jang Un stood up after Jang Geon. He felt that his morning routine had been delayed due to useless worry. Just as the two were leaving the room together, the low voice of Sang-pal, the merchant clerk, echoed from the courtyard.

“Guild Head, a guest has arrived.”

Coming out into the courtyard, Warrior Yong was visible alongside clerk Sang-pal, holding a small but heavy-looking box. Seeing Jang Geon and Jang Un, Warrior Yong silently bowed in greeting. Responding in turn, Jang Un muttered under his breath.

“…An invitation and an escort, too?”

He looked at his younger brother with renewed wonder. Receiving such treatment from people of an ancient clan was no easy feat. Receiving that look, Jang Geon shrugged his shoulders dismissively.

Stepping forward, Jang Geon gestured with his chin toward the box held by Warrior Yong and asked.

“Is that it?”

“Yes. Exactly half.”

“Good. Wait a moment.”

Jang Geon took the box and returned to his room. In truth, he had no particular thought on where to spend this money. Since information was lacking and he did not know how things would unfold, he had simply accepted an advance payment. Even if he failed to receive the remaining half, this heavy portion of gold would serve as a decent income.

Contrary to such light thoughts, his hands neatly placed the box on one side of the table. He did not wish to be overly attached to wealth, but neither was there any need to throw it around recklessly. Afterward, he gathered his outer robe, Azure Dragon, and bamboo hat before heading outside. Stepping out into the yard, a carriage sent by the Je Clan was waiting. It seemed Jojo would have to stay in the merchant guild’s stable for a few more days.

Jang Geon opened the carriage door, climbed in, and spoke to Jang Un, who had followed him out.

“Please tell the children properly that I will be back soon.”

Jang Un nodded, and once Warrior Yong also boarded the carriage, the waiting coachman snapped the reins. Standing there for a moment as the carriage slowly receded, Jang Un watched its departing back.

Having seen his younger brother accept something before leaving, he worried whether Geon was getting wrapped up in an unnecessary affair, but soon felt that with Jang Geon’s skill, he wouldn’t be severely hurt. Setting his mind at ease at last, Jang Un clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward the merchant guild while calling out.

“Sang-pal, let’s hurry. There’s plenty of work to do today as well.”

“Yes, Guild Head!”

* * *

The carriage rattled and swayed gently as it traversed the streets of New Sichuan. As Jang Geon sat in a carriage seat cradling Azure Dragon and adjusting to the swaying, he noticed Warrior Yong sitting across from him, stealing glances at his expression.

Looking out the window, Jang Geon spoke.

“Is there something you wish to say?”

Warrior Yong flinched in surprise at Jang Geon’s unannounced question. After a brief hesitation, he finally opened his mouth.

“…Um, I apologize for my rudeness last time.”

“You already apologized for that. There is no need to repeat an apology just because you feel awkward.”

“Ahem, cough. I am sorry…”

Smiling faintly, Jang Geon turned his gaze from the window toward him.

“Standing inside the room together yesterday, and guarding her alone—you seem to possess Young Lady Seom’s deep trust.”

“…That is partly because I have served the young lady for a long time. I have served her since her ninth birthday, so it has been ten years already.”

“It seems you are not a warrior of the Je Clan.”

Warrior Yong raised his eyes from the floor of the carriage and briefly met Jang Geon’s gaze.

“…Yes. I belong not to the Je Clan, but to the young lady’s clan. When I was young, wandering the back alleys of New Sichuan as a little beggar, the clan master and the young lady took me in and made a proper person out of me. I am trying hard to repay that favor.”

Unlike his coercive behavior at the inn last time, Warrior Yong appeared humble and kind today. Moreover, Jang Geon could feel his sincerity in his words and attitude, unlike back then. This seemed to be his true self.

Finding such a sight interesting, Jang Geon asked abruptly.

“Do you also believe there are doubts surrounding the death of Clan Master Je Gung-wol?”

“…That does not seem to be a matter I should speak of carelessly. However, the reason the young lady hired Warrior Jang is that a part of the clan feels something is suspicious about Clan Master Je’s death. I only hope that all such doubts will be brought to light.”

He avoided a direct answer. Naturally, to Jang Geon, who listened facing him, it sounded positive enough. It was clear that Warrior Yong was also one of those who felt there was something suspicious. Furthermore, seeing how he hesitated to state it clearly despite thinking so, one could infer that quite a few people in the Je Clan held the same thought. In any case, Je Gung-wol was dead, and the next clan master was Je Sang-cheon, so it was only natural that such doubts could not be voiced easily.

“Um… I also have a question…”

Warrior Yong spoke up first this time. As Jang Geon readily nodded, his question followed.

“I heard that even after resolving the Martial Alliance’s crisis, you accepted no special position or reward. Do you perhaps harbor ill feelings toward the Martial Alliance?”

Jang Geon’s faint smile turned into a bitter one. He had certainly begun to grow famous. People were starting to attach meaning even to things he had not done. Of course, leaving the Martial Alliance without looking back last time was indeed due to ill feelings.

Jang Geon said.

“I do not wish to belong anywhere. Gaining status and fame by joining the Martial Alliance is fine, but in the end, wouldn’t I have to move according to orders from above? I simply enjoy traveling this land as I do now.”

“…You did not learn martial arts to achieve fame and success?”

“You mentioned earlier that you are striving to repay the grace of the clan master and Young Lady Seom who took you in. And right now, you are repaying that grace with a blade in hand. If so, then you didn’t learn martial arts for fame and success either. Unlike the Central Plains, there are quite a few more such people in this land than one might think.”

Warrior Yong lowered his eyes to the carriage floor again, seemingly lost in deep thought. Jang Geon also turned his eyes back out the window, watching the streets of New Sichuan flash past.

The street, once bustling with people, carriages, and rickshaws, had quietly thinned out. They had moved out of the crowded downtown into the outskirts of New Sichuan. Realizing that the street looked somewhat familiar, Jang Geon remembered he had come this way in the past. It was the wealthy neighborhood where the merchant whose daughter was kidnapped by Commandant Fierce Tiger lived.

However, the carriage quietly passed even that wealthy district. Running for a good while longer, the carriage finally arrived before a grand gate flanked by long walls on both sides. Unlike the other quiet areas, carriages came and went frequently around it, and crowds of people entered and exited. Above the main gate, which brought to mind a small marketplace, hung an old signboard bearing the single character “Je”.

When the carriage stopped, Warrior Yong got out first. Following behind him, Jang Geon saw the bustling main gate and its surroundings.

“Because of the inauguration ceremony, not only guests but many merchants and contractors are coming and going. Every single day is noisy.”

Pulling a bronze token from his breast pocket, he showed it to the warrior managing the crowds at the entrance. After verifying the bronze token and Warrior Yong’s face, the warrior spoke.

“What brings you back alone today?”

“I am not alone. A guest is present.”

The warrior spotted Jang Geon standing behind Warrior Yong and promptly bowed.

“Welcome. Excuse me, but may I see your invitation?”

When Jang Geon presented the invitation he had received from Seom Ji-young, the warrior who checked it started in surprise and stared at Jang Geon.

“Azure Dragon Saber…”

Jang Geon wore the same bitter smile he had shown in the carriage. Last time it was Horse-Slaying Hero, and this time Azure Dragon Saber. Having suddenly become famous, various names seemed to be circulating about him.

Passing through the main gate under the guard’s bright, glistening gaze, Jang Geon entered the Je Clan Manor guided by Warrior Yong. Unlike the crowded entrance, the space opened up immensely once past the main gate. Jang Geon stood there for a moment, taking in the neatly laid flagstones and buildings.

In terms of sheer size and grandeur, the pavilions and towers of the Martial Alliance were far larger and more numerous. However, the Je Clan possessed a subtle elegance and ancient charm fitting for an ancient clan. Although the pillars, roof tiles, and walls of these buildings could not have been built even a century ago, they held a taste and fragrance that could not be acquired merely by the passage of time. Perhaps it was the patina left behind by people possessing traditions far older than the structures themselves as they resided in and tended to them.

Warrior Yong waited briefly so Jang Geon could look around before speaking up.

“Splendid, isn’t it? Even I have not fully gotten used to it. Sometimes I feel I will never get used to it in my lifetime. Perhaps it is a comfortable cradle only for the bloodline that has continued for a thousand years. Let us go. I will show you to your room.”

Jang Geon slowly strolled through the Je Clan Manor, following behind Warrior Yong, who took the lead once more. From the moment he crossed the main gate, Warrior Yong moved with a somewhat calmer and more upright posture. That seemed to be the Je Clan’s family tradition.

Walking behind Warrior Yong, he encountered several people; those who appeared to be servants or maids all looked at the ground, bowing without meeting his eyes. Those who looked like martial artists offered greetings with an upright posture and settled demeanor just like Warrior Yong.

“…Completely different from the entrance.”

“Even this is quite noisy compared to usual. Sometimes, when I walked inside the manor and stopped, I felt startled by moments when it seemed no one existed except myself.”

Jang Geon felt a slight headache coming on. If he were to conduct an inquiry in such a place, his movements would spread across the entire Je Clan in no time. Contrary to Seom Ji-young’s assurance, there seemed to be many constraints on his movements.

“This is Birak Court, where important guests of the clan stay. A few guests are already present, so you should be somewhat careful.”

The two-story pavilion Warrior Yong led him to looked like a relatively new building compared to the others. And because of that, it felt out of place, unable to harmonize with the rest of the manor’s structures. In that sense, it resembled the guests who did not quite fit into the Je Clan.

“You may use any of the empty guest rooms. Those ghost-like servants you saw earlier will take care of cleaning it up.”

“I feel I should meet with Young Lady Seom.”

Warrior Yong, who opened the door and guided him inside, seemed to deliberate for a moment at Jang Geon’s passing remark while looking around the pavilion.

“…Today would be a bit difficult, but I will come by tomorrow to guide you. For today, please rest comfortably.”

Jang Geon chuckled softly. It felt as if he had done nothing but rest for several days.

“Then I shall take my leave.”

Bowing in farewell, Warrior Yong left Birak Court. Staring briefly at the door through which he had departed, Jang Geon stroked his chin and raised his head. Signs of presence lingered here and there. They were likely the earlier guests Warrior Yong had mentioned.

“Hmm.”

Jang Geon considered which empty room to use and was about to head up to the second floor, but just as he almost finished climbing the stairs, someone on the second floor abruptly opened a door and stepped out.

“…”

Facing each other, both his eyes and Jang Geon’s widened. For a moment, the two stared blankly at each other. The man with the shining bald head soon burst into hearty laughter and spoke.

“Fate is truly an unpredictable thing. I harbored a deep wish to meet you, but I never imagined we would meet today, in a place like this, Warrior Jang.”

“…The feeling is mutual, Monk Jin Gyeon.”

And at that very moment, from inside the room Jin Gyeon had opened, the sound of pitter-patter footsteps echoed. The footsteps continued behind Jin Gyeon’s back, and soon a face peeked out from beside his body.

The name of the young girl looking at Jang Geon with sparkling blue eyes was Jin Seo-ha.