Chapter 159: Chapter 159

Jang Geon and the group headed straight for the Je Clan manor. Seom Ji-yeong cast peculiar glances at Jang Geon, curious about his relationship with Yu-seol, but his deeply settled expression made it difficult to strike up a conversation carelessly. Because of that, they all focused on advancing forward while keeping their mouths shut.

Before they knew it, the group was traversing the path they had passed in the morning once again half a day later. However, unlike Seom Ji-yeong, who took long strides forward, Je Gyu-sang stiffened his complexion as if uneasy.

Unable to endure it in the end, he opened his mouth.

“…If this matter concludes well, will my safety be guaranteed?”

At those words, Jang Geon and Seom Ji-yeong’s steps came to a halt. Exchanging glances with Seom Ji-yeong for a moment, Jang Geon spoke as if finding it somewhat absurd.

“You’ve been moving with us all this time, and only now do you ask that?”

“That is… slightly different. If the Young Clan Head accepts that evidence and punishes the Outer Hall Master, responsibility may fall upon me as well, even if I was merely following orders. If I cannot receive a definitive answer regarding that, I will not return to the manor.”

Jang Geon’s eyes turned toward Seom Ji-yeong. How to handle the clan’s affairs was ultimately for her to decide. Seom Ji-yeong nodded and spoke.

“Do not worry. For a definitive resolution, you must testify as well. You won’t be able to work as a shadow warrior anymore, but there won’t be any disadvantages beyond that.”

Je Gyu-sang looked at Seom Ji-yeong with complex eyes. Hesitating as if wanting to say more, he ultimately shut his mouth tightly and nodded his head. Before long, they arrived at the main gate of the Je Clan manor.

“Mm…”

Seom Ji-yeong revealed a bit of bewilderment. The main gate of the clan, which had been bustling with people up until yesterday and this morning, was now utterly deserted. The gates were flung wide open, but no one was entering or exiting. Not even the martial artists who should have stood guard could be seen.

As she hesitated like that, Jang Geon took the lead and began walking forward first. As if not fearing in the slightest that something was clearly afoot, there wasn’t a single hesitation in his stride.

The other members of the group, whose pace had slowed, followed behind him. At that moment, a gust of wind blew from somewhere, swirling around the Je Clan’s main gate and kicking up a dusty breeze. Jang Geon and the group crossed the threshold of the Je Clan’s main gate while facing the wind soaring upward from the ground.

And the instant Jang Geon, Seom Ji-yeong, Je Gyu-sang, Martial Artist Yong, and the remaining two martial artists had fully crossed inside the main gate, someone shouted loudly.

“Halt—!”

Simultaneously, martial artists who had been lying in wait between the pavilions swarmed out, encircling the group in a circle, while those hidden behind the gates shut the wide-open main gate behind them. Except for Jang Geon, the group tried to feign composure but could not conceal their stiffened expressions.

Then, the ranks of martial artists surrounding them parted, and a middle-aged man carrying two swords on his back slowly walked out from among them. Seeing him, Seom Ji-yeong muttered.

“…Outer Hall Master.”

Walking out among the martial artists and clasping his hands behind his back, Je Yong-wol wore a relaxed expression. Raising a hand to stroke his beard, he spoke.

“Our niece-in-law. Where have you been gallivanting off to since morning?”

“…I had business outside. It was rather urgent, so I had no chance to apologize for the discourtesy at the Outer Hall this morning, Second Uncle. I shall offer my apologies now.”

Je Yong-wol chuckled warmly.

“Why offer an apology for that? Was not everything our niece-in-law did for the sake of our nephew? However, you crossed the line a bit this time.”

“Crossed the line? I believe those are words I should be saying to you, Second Uncle.”

Je Yong-wol’s eyes narrowed. His eyes glinted as if trying to discern whether Seom Ji-yeong had truly obtained useful evidence. Those chilling eyes briefly swept over Je Gyu-sang beside her as well.

“I know not what you mean. However, the clan’s Hall of Discipline has decided to place you under arrest for the time being. Do you know why?”

“…Why is that?”

“Did you hear that there were intruders at the family ancestral shrine last night? Rascals who violently disturbed the former family head’s corpse. Yet according to the martial artist guarding the shrine back then, the faces of those scoundrels were exceedingly familiar. A young woman and a man… They said the woman is to become the future matriarch of the clan, and the man was an expert of transcendent martial arts invited by her. Whatever relationship exists between the two, this is truly no small problem. Therefore, before the issue escalates further and tarnishes the clan’s name, the Hall of Discipline concluded that those two must be detained.”

Seom Ji-yeong flinched for a moment. However, the masks worn by Jang Geon and Seom Ji-yeong last night had not been removed. Of course, even setting aside facial features, a person had their own demeanor and presence, but the shrine caretaker had not observed the two long enough to discern such things.

Thus, she shouted confidently.

“Absurd talk that neither needs nor deserves an excuse! I was in my room yesterday, and Martial Artist Jang was in the Virak Pavilion. And right now, I have matters I must speak with Brother Sang-cheon about immediately! Considering the nature of those matters, I can only think that Second Uncle is using unreasonable pretexts to block me!”

“Who will prove that? The maids? Their testimony lacks credibility. You are far too close with the clan’s subordinates. Without even knowing the detailed situation, they might step forward needlessly to shield you. Therefore—”

“There is a witness! One who can prove I was in my room!”

Seom Ji-yeong shouted, cutting off Je Yong-wol’s words. However, Je Yong-wol frowned slightly, thinking she was merely being stubborn. That she and Jang Geon were the protagonists of last night’s commotion was something all three knew full well.

“I was with Brother Sang-cheon! Brother will prove my whereabouts from the previous night!”

Je Yong-wol fell momentarily speechless, closing his mouth, but soon laughed heartily.

“…Are you determined to meet the Young Clan Head by any means? Fine, what on earth is the truth you uncovered after raising such a fuss? What, could there have been some secret behind my elder brother’s death? Surely you aren’t running wild like this to prove mere groundless rumors circulating among the maids, are you?”

This time, Seom Ji-yeong was struck speechless. Je Yong-wol’s tone cleverly dismissed the family head assassination theory as mere groundless rumors, nothing more than conspiracy theories whispered behind closed doors by subordinates. Silenced like that, she glared at Je Yong-wol with burning eyes, and he met that gaze with coldly hardened eyes.

Je Yong-wol racked his brain to prevent Seom Ji-yeong from meeting Je Sang-cheon at all costs, while Seom Ji-yeong schemed how to somehow meet Je Sang-cheon and deliver the information obtained from the Yeon Clan’s secret base.

And leaving those people behind, Jang Geon was gazing up at the sky.

There stretched a clear and bright midday sky. Jang Geon discovered a tiny, drifting speck of cloud playing across that blue sky. Watching it quietly, it was drifting toward the other side of the sky with a pace that seemed both slow and swift.

Amidst the encirclement of martial artists and the razor-sharp atmosphere, Jang Geon, slowly following the trajectory of that cloud, suddenly resolved to introduce Seo-ha to Jang Un and his family.

Even if he pretended otherwise, Jang Un would treat Seo-ha like his own daughter once he learned of her circumstances, and the same went for Madame Yeom. Dan Sang-un’s outstanding inventions would appear to Seo-ha’s eyes as mysterious and entertaining toys. She would get along well with the children too. Although Seo-ha was a few years older, she would become close with them far more comfortably than with secular disciples at a temple like Shaolin.

Yet would Seo-ha like that home? Jang Geon tilted his head. While it was a comfortable and warm home for Jang Geon, it might not be so for Seo-ha. Even so, Jang Geon decided to invite Seo-ha to the Jang Family Firm first. He wanted to show that child a family.

Yu-seol worried about demonic persons, but Jang Geon could distinguish between demonic persons and ordinary people. Rather, being close to him might be safer in the New World.

Jin Gyeon would get along well with Jang Un. Jang Geon felt the two shared something similar about them. He too would likely prefer the Jang Family Firm over staying at the Je Clan manor.

Entertaining various disjointed thoughts while watching the drifting cloud, Jang Geon painted a picture of the people gathered in one home and smiled involuntarily. Somehow, that bustling place felt more like his home than the estate he had fled from in the Central Plains.

Even a wanderer had a place of rest.

“…Martial Artist Jang?”

Just then, Seom Ji-yeong quietly called out to Jang Geon. Taking his eyes off the cotton-like cloud and turning his head, Jang Geon saw that everyone present had focused their gazes on him before he realized it. Not only Seom Ji-yeong and Je Gyu-sang, but the Je Clan martial artists encircling them and Je Yong-wol were all looking at him.

Jang Geon swept his gaze across those stares once and said curtly,

“Is there a problem?”

At that abrupt question, Seom Ji-yeong opened and closed her mouth in speechlessness for a moment before barely finding her voice.

“Well… at this rate… it seems we are about to be dragged off to the Hall of Discipline…”

“What is the problem? Can’t you just hold out until Young Master Je Sang-cheon arrives?”

“…Pardon?”

Jang Geon shrugged his shoulders.

“If a commotion breaks out at the clan’s main gate, the one who is to become the next family head will surely step out to see. Then deliver the evidence just as you mentioned earlier.”

At those simple words, Seom Ji-yeong wondered if she had been wrong to act so seriously all this time. But even after just a moment’s thought, that wasn’t it. Right now, there were dozens of Je Clan martial artists encircling them.

At that moment, Jang Geon strode forward with long strides. At that unhesitating movement, not only the Je Clan martial artists but even Seom Ji-yeong flinched in surprise.

Stepping forward alone, Jang Geon tidied his collar with light pats and spoke to Je Yong-wol and the martial artists forming the encirclement.

“While training in martial arts for over twenty years, there is something I have heard endlessly. If dividing the martial arts under heaven, at its summit stands the Emperor; next is the Imperial Army acting as pillars supporting him; and beneath them, forming a solid bedrock, are the ancient great clans. They said any martial arts outside those houses were either decrepit, senile arts or cheap marketplace apothecary tricks.”

Standing with hands on his hips, Jang Geon slowly looked around at the Je Clan martial artists.

“…However, the ancient great clans I have experienced so far did not live up to that reputation. To the point I wondered if the renown I heard was merely empty fame. Rather than the excellence of their martial arts, it felt as though they were famous simply because they were old.”

The martial artists’ faces instantly turned ferocious. And Jang Geon’s gaze halted upon the rigidly hardened Je Yong-wol. Jang Geon’s hands resting on his waist came forward into a cupped fist salute. However, without bowing his waist or head, he stood tall and imposing.

“Therefore, anyone here will do; I would like someone to show this wanderer that the thousand-year reputation of the ancient great clans and the Je Clan is truly not empty fame.”

Je Yong-wol wanted to shout a rejection with his hardened expression. To suddenly challenge the entire clan to a duel in this situation. If he had eyes in his head and could read the room, he wanted to berate him for not realizing this was no place for that.

However, the one who needed to read the room right now was Je Yong-wol himself.

He had brought along plenty of martial artists from the Outer Hall as well as the Hall of Discipline with the intention of intimidating Seom Ji-yeong while giving a subtle warning to Je Sang-cheon. However, from the beginning, he was the only one who knew the detailed circumstances beneath the surface, while most only knew that Seom Ji-yeong, the future matriarch, had caused some sort of trouble.

Therefore, when an outsider stepped forward alone asking if the Je Clan’s martial arts were empty fame and asked them to prove it directly here, it was only natural that the atmosphere turned strange. Ancient great clan, thousand-year family, whatever they were called, they were ultimately martial artists who had trained and practiced in martial arts. Having the martial arts they had dedicated their lives to training disregarded was an unbearable insult.

At some point, the eyes of the Je Clan martial artists turned toward Je Yong-wol. Their eyes contained the intent of requesting permission to fight Jang Geon.

Glaring at Jang Geon with a hardened face, Je Yong-wol glanced back at Seom Ji-yeong and Je Gyu-sang behind him. And he weighed whether they had truly acquired dangerous information. Setting aside how they had done it, they seemed to have won over Je Gyu-sang in half a day, leaving him no choice but to consider what and how much he truly knew.

“Hall Master…!”

Just then, a nearby martial artist called out to Je Yong-wol in a simmering voice. Thinking for a moment, Je Yong-wol concluded that if they broke Jang Geon, he could drag Seom Ji-yeong to the Hall of Discipline without much trouble afterward. At the same time, with Jang Geon defeated, Seom Ji-yeong’s words and evidence would lose persuasive power.

Je Yong-wol soon gave a slight nod in approval.

At that, a tall martial artist leaped forward first. Sheathing the drawn sword back into the scabbard on his back, he stood firm facing Jang Geon.

“I am Je Yu-un of the Three Heavens Sword Squad. I shall use the sword.”

“Jang Geon.”

Jang Geon replied curtly and lowered his cupped fists. The martial artist named Je Yu-un immediately turned his body slightly sideways, looking at Jang Geon while lightly raising his right hand. The hilt of the sword on his back was barely visible.

And facing him, Jang Geon settled into a stance with slow movements. Both hands pushing gently against empty air, right foot stepping forward, yet the center of gravity rested on the left foot behind.

Watching Jang Geon’s movement, the martial artist furrowed his brow. He thought Jang Geon was mocking him with that stance, which appeared somewhat awkward. Moreover, although a blade was clearly tied to Jang Geon’s waist, his current stance in no way appeared ready to draw and swing it.

“Hmph!”

Ultimately believing that a New World martial artist who had gained fame without knowing his place was acting insolently, Je Yu-un snorted and channeled his internal energy. He intended to sever an arm in a single stroke.

His internal energy, muscles, and momentum prepared like that erupted the next moment, shooting toward Jang Geon. That speed was swift enough to surpass the other martial artists and proudly step forward first, without anyone raising an objection. In the minds of the onlookers, they could practically see Jang Geon’s severed limb flying with spraying blood.

“Ugh!”

However, in the ensuing scene, blood sprayed nowhere. There was only Je Yu-un’s bewildered groan and the resonant ringing sound of a blade driven into the earth.

“…Huh?”

Je Yu-un opened his mouth stupidly, finding himself collapsed on the ground like a child. Hearing the humming vibration of steel, he turned his head to see his sword driven into the ground beside him, swaying unsteadily.

Turning his head a bit further to look behind him, he saw Jang Geon facing the other martial artists in a stance hardly different from the beginning.

“…Wait, what is…”

Just as Je Yu-un tried to rise to protest, his vision spun the next moment, and he collapsed flat. And he fainted just like that.

And as everyone fell into stunned silence at a scene no one could have anticipated, Jang Geon wagged his extended palm lightly and spoke.

“Next.”