Chapter 154: Chapter 154
The moment that figure in the white mask appeared, Seom Ji-young froze in shock. If opening the dead clan master’s coffin and looking at the corpse were discovered, it would be anything but good for her. With the clan in chaos over the funeral and inauguration ceremony, if such a thing became known, talk of annulment might even arise.
However, she soon realized that masks covered both her and Jang Geon’s faces. That meant at least their identities had not yet been revealed.
Just then, a harsh, grating voice like scraping iron flowed out from beneath the white mask.
“Disturbing the peace of the dead at such a late hour. Do you not fear the anger of the ancestors?”
It was not an ordinary person’s voice. He seemed to have used some special trick to disguise his own voice. In any case, mockery was mixed in that voice, and Seom Ji-young instinctively tried to answer it. However, before she could, a voice echoed in her ear.
[Do not answer. Though your face is hidden, your voice or manner of speech could give you away.]
Seom Ji-young flinched in surprise at Jang Geon’s voice echoing solely in her ear. And she swallowed back the voice that was about to come out.
As both Jang Geon and Seom Ji-young shut their mouths, only an uncomfortable silence filled the space for a moment. While the people stood still, only the candle flickered, swaying dim shadows back and forth.
“…It seems you wish to conceal your identities. But well. A man entered Birak Court as a guest today. And there is a woman who sent him an invitation. Coincidentally, the ones before me are also one man and one woman. What a coincidence.”
Jang Geon and Seom Ji-young looked at each other. The masked figure had already deduced their identities.
The masked figure’s words continued.
“The inauguration is not far off, so why cause unnecessary disruption? What nonsense are you trying to spout by rummaging through the late clan master’s corpse? Furthermore, for a woman engaged to the Young Master to bring an unrelated man into the house? Do you not know that if this fact becomes known, it could harm not only you but also the Young Master?”
“…Who are you?”
Realizing that staying quiet was no longer meaningful, Seom Ji-young stepped forward first and asked. The masked figure slowly shook his head as he answered.
“Who I am is not important. I am the sword of the Je Clan, and that is enough for me. However, it seems you need education as a woman who will become the mistress of the Je Clan in the future.”
Saying so, the white mask slowly drew the sword from behind his back, and the tip of that sword soon pointed at Jang Geon. Seeing that, Jang Geon chuckled. It seemed he intended to set an example for Seom Ji-young through him.
Feeling in a brief moment that fight was unavoidable, Jang Geon took a few steps forward to face the white mask. Seeing Jang Geon’s composure, a faint laugh also leaked from the white mask.
“Did they call you Azure Dragon Saber? You gained great fame at a young age. Your martial arts are said to be considerable?”
“Why? Are you envious?”
The white mask fell silent for an instant. However, as if trying to hide that silence, he continued speaking in a slightly louder voice.
“…Fame in the martial world is merely word-of-mouth among ruffians whose roots are unknown. It is nothing more than the play of rootless swordsmen barely a century old. And such noisy fame cannot even reach near the walls of the Je Clan.”
He covertly turned his gaze to Seom Ji-young.
“Watch closely, Seom Ji-young. See how full of hot air those martial artists from outside the clan truly are.”
Seom Ji-young remained silent, feeling flustered by the sudden appearance of the white mask and the situation where he targeted Jang Geon. She certainly thought there was no pursuit or surveillance, but an unrecognizable person had suddenly appeared, threatening them to stop the investigation and trying to fight Jang Geon.
Thus, in the dark underground space, Jang Geon and the white mask stood facing each other. The light sources there were only the weak moonlight entering from the entrance behind the white mask and the half-melted candle held by Seom Ji-young.
It was not so pitch-black that nothing could be seen, nor was it bright enough to see each other clearly. In the faint light, both Jang Geon and the white mask appeared blurred into indistinct outlines.
And within those outlines, the only things shining were the eyes of the white mask and Jang Geon.
Before long, the white mask’s sword flashed brilliantly. Jang Geon’s sword was not drawn.
Holding the candle, Seom Ji-young flinched at the metallic clashing sound of *ting!* and the dull impact sound of *thwack!* that followed that flash. Though she was a martial artist who had trained for quite a long time, she could not clearly see the collision that occurred at that moment.
The most she could see was that both the white mask and Jang Geon blurred like ghosts into uncertain shadows, plunging toward each other, and those shadows whirled like a whirlwind before abruptly coming to a stop.
Only after seeing their movements stop like that did Seom Ji-young swallow her saliva and raise the candle high. There was only one person standing where the two had collided.
“…Warrior Jang?”
The lone figure standing turned back to look at her. It was indeed Jang Geon.
“Bring the candle a bit closer.”
Just as Seom Ji-young breathed a sigh of relief upon confirming Jang Geon’s face, he gestured for her to come close. And as the light drew near, he flipped over the face-down white mask to lay him on his back.
A distinct crack was visible on his white mask. It had broken after being struck by Jang Geon’s fist. Seom Ji-young discovered that he was unconscious and that a sword broken in half was rolling beside him. So, unconsciously bringing the candle closer toward Jang Geon, she asked.
“…Are you alright?”
“I am fine.”
Jang Geon answered with a slight smile. The white mask was certainly fast. He possessed skill worthy of looking down on ordinary martial artists. However, Jang Geon already possessed internal energy received from multiple spirits and experience accumulated from facing numerous demonic practitioners. Simply being fast to that extent was no match for him. No matter how fast, it was not on par with the hidden weapons launched from the Tang Clan demonic practitioner’s armor.
“But your clothes…”
Of course, while subduing him without killing him, a slashed sword mark remained diagonally across his chest collar. But Jang Geon brushed it off nonchalantly.
“Only the clothes were cut. The flesh was not harmed. More importantly, check if you recognize this face.”
Seom Ji-young, looking at Jang Geon’s attitude that seemed truly unbothered, also turned her gaze toward the white mask he had uncovered. Beneath the mask, a man looking to be around thirty lay unconscious with his mouth open. From his slightly torn forehead, thin drops of blood flowed.
“This person is…”
“Someone you know?”
Confirming the white mask’s face, Seom Ji-young’s expression turned confused. She tilted her head and spoke.
“First of all… he is an acquainted face. He is one of the martial artists from a collateral branch of the clan. But… this man was someone with nothing exceptional…”
“Why do you know an unexceptional warrior?”
“Because this will be my home in the future, so even if I don’t know the names of the people living here, I should at least know all their faces. If it’s someone living inside the clan, I have memorized the faces of not only the martial artists but also the servants and maids.”
Jang Geon was slightly surprised and blew a soft whistle. Whether it was a boast or the truth, to declare proudly that she knew all the faces of hundreds of people meant she possessed confidence. She was no ordinary intellect. Perhaps in a few years, the leadership of the Je Clan would be held and swayed in her grip.
Before long, turning his gaze back to that collateral warrior, Jang Geon scratched his chin needlessly. First, as caught by his qi perception, he did not seem to be someone practicing demonic arts or using sinister spells. That was also the reason he hadn’t killed him. The sword tip of this fellow, who had babbled about lessons and examples to Seom Ji-young, had not actually targeted Jang Geon’s throat. Though surprised by Jang Geon’s movements, he had slashed at his chest.
In the end, Jang Geon raised his index finger. In any case, he had to find out why he attacked them and what his reason was for babbling about teaching Seom Ji-young a lesson. Though unconscious, if there was pain, he would naturally wake up.
However, just as Seom Ji-young looked at that finger with doubtful eyes, Jang Geon’s eyes turned upward. Seeing that, Seom Ji-young asked anxiously.
“…Why is that?”
“People are rushing over. We must get out before the entrance is blocked.”
Jang Geon folded his stiffly raised index finger and tore off a piece of cloth from the collar of the unconscious white mask. Then he stood up and walked briskly over to Clan Master Je Gung-wol’s corpse, which he had been inspecting until a moment ago.
“Warrior Jang? You just said we must get out…”
Seom Ji-young, who was flustered looking at Jang Geon, soon shut her mouth. It was after seeing that a long, glinting object was held in Jang Geon’s hand as it came out of the coffin. Jang Geon wrapped it in the cloth he had made earlier, tucked it into his breast pocket, and led the way out.
“Extinguish the candle. We must move covertly now.”
Her face turning pale white, Seom Ji-young kept her mouth tightly shut, and only after hearing Jang Geon’s words did she quickly blow out the candle. That something had come out of the corpse meant that suspicions had ultimately become reality. The thought that the clan master was truly assassinated made her body tremble violently.
Afterward, quickly ascending the stairs to reach the sanctuary, Jang Geon and Seom Ji-young placed their backs against the wall and poked only their heads slightly past the threshold to check outside. Beyond the iron-bar fence they had jumped over, a crowd of people holding torches had gathered. Before them, the caretaker, who looked clearly flustered, was unlocking the main gate with a key.
Between the sanctuary and the iron-bar fence was only low grass, so if they went outside now, they were bound to be spotted by those people. Yet if they remained still, they would soon be discovered by those entering inside.
Watching them and thinking briefly, Seom Ji-young spoke in a tightly suppressed voice.
“…I will take off my mask and go out. In that gap, Warrior Jang, make your escape.”
Jang Geon, who was watching the gathered people like her, glanced sideways at her upon hearing those words.
“Why? Wouldn’t it be big trouble if you’re caught?”
“Of course it’s big trouble. Perhaps… talk of annulment with Brother Sang-cheon might come up. Still, that doesn’t mean my life will be in danger. It’s just… it just means things will become a bit difficult for me. But you are different. The clan elders might inflict harsh punishment on you not only for trespassing into the sanctuary tomb without permission but also for digging through the late clan master’s corpse. They might even demand your life.”
Seom Ji-young looked at Jang Geon with apologetic eyes.
“If Clan Master Je Gung-wol were alive, it might not go that far… But he has passed away, and now that evidence has emerged alongside those trying to hide that death, we can no longer just leave it alone. Warrior Jang, please go to the Martial Alliance just like this…”
Jang Geon raised his hand. Seom Ji-young shut her mouth unconsciously at that gesture.
“Thanks for the thought.”
Jang Geon had no intention of going to the Martial Alliance. Although Princess Yu Seol currently held leadership of the Martial Alliance, if it was a problem of an ancient clan like the Je Clan, the situation would grow large. Then the Martial Alliance Leader would certainly try to step in. Jang Geon did not want to get entangled with him again.
And while more needed to be investigated regarding what exactly happened, it didn’t seem like demonic cults or demonic practitioners were involved in this affair. If so, rather than letting external forces like the Martial Alliance interfere, it was better for Seom Ji-young, who would become an important person in the Je Clan in the future, to resolve this matter.
“Tie your mask tightly. So it doesn’t slip off under any circumstances.”
“…Pardon?”
Saying so, Jang Geon neatly adjusted his sleeves and ankle bands so they wouldn’t flutter. Finally adjusting even his own mask tightly, he offered his back to Seom Ji-young.
“Get on my back. Since stealth has become difficult, we will make a swift escape instead.”
“…Pardon?”
Failing to understand his actions, Seom Ji-young kept asking back stupidly. However, the glance Jang Geon cast back was serious, and finally hearing the sound of the iron-bar gate opening with a clatter, Seom Ji-young closed both eyes tightly and climbed onto his back.
Carrying her on his back, Jang Geon bounced lightly on the spot and spoke.
“Hold on tight. If you lose your grip, you might fall.”
“Wait, what are you trying to—”
The next instant, Seom Ji-young was startled as her head jerked back as if pulled by someone, and she tightly pulled the hand holding Jang Geon. Like that, she grabbed Jang Geon’s neck and buried her face into his back.
Simultaneously, shouts echoed in her ears.
“C-Catch them! It’s grave robbers!”
“They’re escaping! Catch them!”
However, those voices rapidly receded. Instead, what echoed in her ears was the sound of violent wind striking her collar with a *whoosh-whoosh-whoosh*. Seom Ji-young felt that the moment she loosened her hands, she would fall backward, so she grabbed Jang Geon’s neck even tighter.
“Don’t grab too tight. You’re choking me.”
“Ah, I’m sorry…”
At Jang Geon’s voice, which was clearly audible even amid the wind, Seom Ji-young instinctively raised her head. And she almost screamed in shock upon realizing that she was falling from high in the sky. However, Jang Geon, who fell in a long parabolic arc, stepped on a tree branch and soared high into the sky once again.
“Ah…”
A sea of moon and stars unfolded before her eyes.