Chapter 158: Chapter 158

When the door opened and an extraordinary woman appeared, Seom Ji-yeong, Je Gyu-sang, and the others wore slightly tense expressions. San-ho had clearly said he was going to fetch his superior, and now he stood behind this newly appeared woman as if assisting her. In that case, it meant that this young woman was a person of high rank above a patrol member.

Seom Ji-yeong rose first and cupped her fists.

“I am Seom Ji-yeong of the Je Clan.”

Yu-seol, who had been smiling radiantly when first meeting Jang Geon’s eyes, had already concealed that smile and adopted a solemn expression. She tilted her chin somewhat haughtily and looked at Seom Ji-yeong. An awkward atmosphere lingered for a moment. Seom Ji-yeong had bowed with cupped fists to greet her, but Yu-seol was silently looking down at her.

At that, Martial Artist Yong and Je Gyu-sang also stood awkwardly, watching her countenance. Like Seom Ji-yeong, they too could roughly deduce who the woman before their eyes was.

At that moment, her mouth opened.

“I am Yu-seol.”

“Greetings to General Jindong.”

“…Greetings to General Jindong.”

The moment they heard that name, Seom Ji-yeong hastily bowed her head to add her greeting, and the rest of the group also clasped their hands and bowed their waists. The only one who did not do so was Jang Geon, who remained seated.

Standing behind Yu-seol, San-ho signaled with his eyes for Jang Geon to hurry and stand to greet her. It was a look showing he had not anticipated him refusing to even rise from his chair. However, Jang Geon did not stand up, and Yu-seol did not rebuke him for it either.

“Take your seats.”

Speaking thus, she sat in the seat facing Seom Ji-yeong and the others. Only then did Seom Ji-yeong realize that Jang Geon had not offered a greeting, and that Yu-seol did not take issue with it. So she cautiously observed the mood between the two and slowly sat down in her seat.

Yu-seol spoke.

“So, I hear there was a commotion in the middle of New Sichuan’s streets. What happened?”

“…General, it is merely an issue between clan and clan. Are you aware that there is a long-standing rift between our Je Clan and the Yeon Clan?”

Seom Ji-yeong spoke politely, but Yu-seol sat with her legs crossed, resting both hands on her knees, and spoke.

“I know well of that conflict, as ancient as the names of those ancient great clans.”

“Yes, General. What occurred today was merely a small incident along that extension. We did not particularly entangle commoners or injure unrelated individuals. There was merely a slight disturbance in the process of capturing a spy of the Yeon Clan.”

“Hmph. So it is no big deal?”

Seom Ji-yeong hastily lowered her head.

“Of course, it cannot be completely free of fault. Because it is the Murim Alliance that oversees justice and security in New Sichuan and across the New World. Regarding that, our clan will formally deliver an apology within a few days.”

Gazing quietly at the crown of Seom Ji-yeong’s head, Yu-seol slowly nodded.

“I too know well that the ancient great clans have remained loyal to the Empire for many years and accomplished much. His Imperial Majesty told me that they are pillars supporting the Imperial Family. Very well. Since you promised a clear apology in the future, I will not nitpick faults any further.”

“Not at all, General. I apologize for disturbing the General’s peace of mind with conflicts between clans.”

“Your fiancé was Young Master Je Sang-cheon, who will now become the family head, was he not?”

At the sudden mention of Je Sang-cheon’s name, Seom Ji-yeong flinched in surprise, lifted her head, and hastily lowered it again.

“Y-yes, that is correct.”

“The Je Noble Clan will soon be requested for cooperation in the name of the Imperial Army and the Murim Alliance. I hope we can converse amicably with each other at that time.”

At those words, Seom Ji-yeong had no choice but to bow her head in assent. In any case, cooperation was merely the polite term; if the Imperial Army demanded something of the Je Clan, they had no choice but to comply unless it was something on the level of burning the clan to the ground. Therefore, these words could be seen merely as a signal to prepare themselves mentally.

“You may withdraw now.”

“Yes, General.”

At the clear dismissal, Seom Ji-yeong and her group slowly rose from their seats. At that moment, Yu-seol’s eyes turned once again toward Jang Geon. At that gaze, Jang Geon, who was about to rise alongside Seom Ji-yeong’s group, let out a small sigh and leaned his back against the chair once more. Then, raising his hand toward Seom Ji-yeong, who looked at him with puzzled eyes, he spoke as if telling her it was fine.

“Step out first. I will follow shortly.”

Seom Ji-yeong looked back and forth between Jang Geon and Yu-seol with confused eyes, but unable to bring herself to demand what relationship the Imperial Princess had with him, she quietly left the room. Without even turning her gaze away from Jang Geon, Yu-seol spoke.

“Patrol Member San. Please guide them out.”

“Pardon? Ah, yes…”

San-ho looked back and forth between the two with a bewildered expression like Seom Ji-yeong, then left the room looking thoroughly regretful. After a moment, Jang Geon and Yu-seol were left sitting alone at the spacious table.

While the people were leaving, Yu-seol, who had been staring at Jang Geon with a gaze that could be described as smoldering, opened her mouth first.

“Have you been well?”

Jang Geon smirked. It was because the stern, dignified tone and expression of a general had vanished, returning to the romantic Yu-seol he knew.

“I have been well. I saw your face last time, but couldn’t exchange greetings.”

“It wasn’t a situation for that, admittedly. Still, how could you leave without even looking back? Or you should have visited at least once afterward.”

“My apologies for that.”

Yu-seol, who had jokingly knitted her brows, smiled radiantly at Jang Geon’s light apology.

“Why apologize so solemnly? Still, since you say you’re sorry, I’ll accept it.”

“That is a relief. But where is Lady Jin? You were always together.”

“Jin-ha? Jin-ha is busy right now. She must be out of her mind drafting plans for organizing the Eastern March Army. Ah, but since Martial Artist Jang came, maybe I should have called her over briefly. Jin-ha would have liked to greet you too. Though admittedly, that’s all because I dumped my work on her.”

Saying so, Yu-seol playfully stuck out her tongue. Looking at Yu-seol like that, Jang Geon felt his stifled heart ease. It felt like when he stayed at the Jang Family Firm, or when he met Jin Gyeon and Seo-ha.

Thanks to that, Jin Gyeon and Seo-ha crossed Jang Geon’s mind, and he spoke.

“I understand you met Seo-ha when you were in the Central Plains.”

“Huh? How did you know that? Ah, did I tell you back then that I was going to meet her?”

Jang Geon shook his head.

“I heard it from her directly.”

Yu-seol blinked, not understanding the meaning of Jang Geon’s words for a moment. But soon grasping that meaning, she broke into a bright smile.

“You met Seo-ha? Wait, then does that mean Seo-ha is in New Sichuan?”

“She is staying at the Je Clan with Monk Jin Gyeon. They said they came for the funeral and the eulogy.”

However, the radiant smile on Yu-seol’s face suddenly stiffened, as if she had realized something.

“…Uh-oh, wait. That won’t do. If Seo-ha is still here…”

At that expression and tone, Jang Geon tilted his head.

“What do you mean?”

“The reason Seo-ha is currently in New Sichuan…”

She hesitated for a moment, then met Jang Geon’s eyes and continued.

“You said she’s at the Je Clan right now, right? Then she should be safe for now. The demonic persons wouldn’t have penetrated into an ancient great clan, after all.”

Without opening his mouth further, Jang Geon gazed steadily at Yu-seol. It was an expression telling her he was listening, so keep talking.

“Well… oh dear. I don’t know where to begin explaining this.”

Yu-seol scratched her head.

“…You know Seo-ha’s past physical condition, right? The illness where yin qi accumulates in nine major qi points, blocking them, causing death before twenty at the latest. Well, even without me saying this, you cured her directly with the Great Restoration Pill, so you would know even better. Do you also remember how demonic persons targeted Seo-ha?”

Jang Geon nodded.

“I couldn’t understand why demonic persons would target a girl barely in her early teens. So I searched the Imperial Palace archives. Jin-ha suffered quite a bit back then too… In any case, there is a fact I learned through that.”

Listening to her words, Jang Geon recalled the stories he had heard about the Nine Yin Obstructed Channels whenever he encountered demonic persons. Without specifying exactly what they would use it for or how, those bastards had merely babbled about immense potential lying dormant within it.

Jang Geon had thought it referred to research into qi points or clues toward new demonic arts. It was a natural deduction, given that he himself had gained much while treating Seo-ha.

However, it seemed there was more to it.

“In ancient times, there was a woman with the surname Yu (虞). She was famous for her beauty, but even more so as the beloved concubine of Xiang Yu, the Ancient Hegemon-Demon King. She is said to have stayed by his side until the very moment Xiang Yu lost his mind entirely. That’s why people sometimes speak of her and Xiang Yu when talking about truly pure and sorrowful love. And that is as much as most people know. But there was a secret between her and Xiang Yu. It was that her power was what nurtured Xiang Yu’s demonic arts to such a transcendent level.”

Hearing the ancient tale flowing from Yu-seol’s mouth, Jang Geon felt momentary bewilderment. Xiang Yu?

“…Could it be that Consort Yu suffered from the same illness as Seo-ha?”

“That’s right. Exactly how it worked is a secret known only to the two of them, but Xiang Yu’s demonic arts, described as ‘strength pulling up mountains and qi overwhelming the world,’ were made possible because of her assistance. If not for that, he couldn’t have exerted such inhuman power with the primitive martial arts of that era. This is something His Imperial Majesty mentioned, beyond mere records in the archives.”

Yu-seol’s expression appeared exceedingly grave.

“If the demonic persons learn that Seo-ha, who was thought to have left for the Central Plains, has returned to the New World, they will move again. In fact, we haven’t completely cleaned up New Sichuan yet. We are finding scattered strings, dragging them out, and clearing them, but if any of them learns about Seo-ha…”

“…For now, I must send Seo-ha back to the Central Plains.”

At Jang Geon’s words, she gave a bitter smile.

“That would be best. Rather than facing needless danger.”

Seeing that smile, Jang Geon wore a similar one. Still, since the Je Clan was safe for now, it seemed best to have her return immediately once Je Sang-cheon’s accession ceremony concluded. In truth, Jang Geon, who had intended to reminisce a bit more after resolving the issue at the Je Clan, felt his chest growing stuffy.

And this stuffiness was an emotion that had persisted ever since resolving the Murim Alliance’s affair.

It hadn’t been like this when roaming pioneer frontier towns in the wilderness. If there were villains harming others, he eliminated them, and those who received aid expressed their gratitude to Jang Geon. There were duels between martial artists, and moments where life and death crossed paths.

However, in New Sichuan and the Murim Alliance, where he arrived to help others, the boundary between enemy and ally blurred. Despite his renown, the Murim Alliance Leader was a shady figure behind the scenes, and the Council of Elders, the highest seniority in the Murim, was exceedingly political. Had they been absolute villains, Jang Geon would have drawn his blade without caring about their backers or the power of the Murim Alliance.

Yet the current rules and order of the New World were undeniably made possible by the Murim Alliance where they sat. Had the Murim Alliance not expanded its influence in the form of a coalition, the New World would have remained a land of savagery, save for the three coastal cities governed by the Imperial Army. Although there were ambiguous aspects, simply slaying them would not have resolved the problem.

That was also why he had left the Murim Alliance without hesitation once Yu-seol appeared and there seemed no further need for blades.

And in this current task undertaken due to the fire in Seom Ji-yeong’s eyes fighting for love, Jang Geon felt a foreboding that he would see an outcome similar to the Murim Alliance. Surely some rotten part of the Je Clan would be excised. But the aftertaste would not be clean. He had sensed that from Seom Ji-yeong’s attitude moments ago.

Jang Geon thought he should have simply left New Sichuan sooner. Riding through the dry wilderness and canyons with Jojo, such stuffiness would have vanished in no time. Perhaps he should have left without even stopping by Jang Un’s home.

“…Um, are you alright?”

When he lowered his eyes in silence, Yu-seol asked worriedly. Jang Geon raised his head and looked at her.

“Well… you look a bit exhausted.”

“Is that so?”

Jang Geon smiled bitterly. Living a new life, he had never once considered himself weak, but that seemed to have been an arrogant thought. Although energy and power overflowed in his body and dantian, strangely, motivation was lacking. Thinking that far, Jang Geon slowly stood up from his seat.

“I shall take my leave now. I must conclude the business at the Je Clan.”

Rising to her feet along with him, Yu-seol hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Um, Martial Artist Jang.”

Jang Geon, who was about to leave the room, turned around and looked at her.

“…No, never mind. I’ll tell you next time.”

Gazing quietly at her, Jang Geon nodded. The next moment, offering a greeting with his eyes, he opened the door and walked out. The faint sound of his footsteps echoing down the hallway resonated.

Only after hearing Jang Geon exit this pavilion did Yu-seol let out a deep, heavy sigh. Then, plopping back into her chair, she rested her cheek against the table and lay flat.

“…Hmph. If chivalrous heroes are subjugating the Demonic Palace, naturally the Nameless Hero should be there too… I have to persuade him so we can go together…”

For quite a while, she grumbled to herself alone in the empty room.

* * *

Jang Geon caught up with Seom Ji-yeong’s group before they crossed the main gates of the Murim Alliance. Meeting Seom Ji-yeong’s gaze filled with curiosity, Jang Geon adjusted the Azure Dragon at his waist.

“Let us go. We should finish this.”