Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“Are you in a good mood?”

“Yes!”

Namgung So-hye and Hwa So-mi held hands and headed to the academy. Since today was the first day of going to the academy, she was dressed up, and the clothes she wore were flashier than usual.

“Hoho, you will surely be able to meet good friends.”

“I hope so.”

She stroked the head of the smiling Hwa So-mi. In truth, Namgung So-hye was somewhat anxious.

Because she knew all too well how much children of families with power and money looked down upon those without backgrounds.

She wondered if this fragile little thing could even endure it.

“Don't worry about So-mi and just take her there. You probably have things to do in Yueyang anyway, right?”

She could not take Dan Woo-hyun's words to not worry at face value. Because to her, he seemed rather irresponsible.

Since she was not in a position to object fiercely either, she arrived at the academy with an anxious heart.

“Now, cheer up! It's important to seize the momentum in everything.”

“Momentum?”

“Yes, never lose your spirit! There is nothing about you that is inferior to them.”

“Hehe, I got it. Don't worry.”

Hwa So-mi nodded and stepped inside the academy. Her anxious feelings did not fade easily, but she could not just cling to that.

‘Then what should I do?’

Once Hwa So-mi, who went inside the academy, was no longer in sight, Namgung So-hye sighed softly and turned around. She had wandered the streets of Yueyang every evening recently, but she had not found any significant information.

Having come into Yueyang during the daytime for once, she must never let this opportunity slip by.

Already four days had passed, and if she delayed any further like this, let alone the identity of the hidden master in Yueyang, she felt she might just end up as a maid of the manor.

Holding her aching head, she sighed once more.

“Let's start by asking around.”

It would be enough if there was even a single piece of important information. If she could grab even something as tiny as a rat's tail, she might be able to trace it back and catch the main body.

Namgung So-hye headed to the marketplace first.

Since it was a place where many people gathered, there would be no better place to obtain various information. However, it seemed she was not the only one who thought so.

The marketplace was very noisy.

Although many had left compared to four days ago, martial artists were still visible, and there were also ruffians who came hoping to catch some crumbs.

In various places, the merchants' cries to attract customers and the smell of delicious food stimulated the nose.

‘I did come here, but…’

Namgung So-hye swallowed a groan with a grunt. Sometimes money was needed to obtain information. However, since her purse was full of nothing but dust, getting information by paying for it was virtually impossible.

But would she give up because of that?

Steeling her mind, she clenched her fist tightly.

She would never give up.

She quickly scanned the surroundings and listened to the voices of the people.

‘Is it that woman?’

Two men compared a sheet of paper with a portrait sketch to Namgung So-hye and nodded. She was definitely the woman the client had spoken of.

When they thought about how they had circled around Yueyang for several days to find that woman, their resentment flared up. But now that they had found her, it was time to proceed with the work as planned.

“Listen well. You must naturally leak the talk to the woman in this drawing. If that is done, this money is yours.”

Since it was five taels of silver just to say a word, it was a significant amount.

Since they originally earned a living by their mouths, tricking a single woman was child's play.

They naturally approached the vicinity of Namgung So-hye. Fortunately, there was a street stall nearby, so they sat there as if nothing were wrong and opened their mouths.

“So, I'm telling you there's an incredibly great master behind the County Magistrate! I saw it clearly with my own two eyes!”

“You lunatic, so are you saying he struck down the Black Dao Association alone?”

“Who said he was alone?! I'm telling you it wasn't just one person.”

Namgung So-hye's eyes flashed open.

The moment the words “Black Dao Association” reached her ears, she came to her senses.

Namgung So-hye stealthily approached them.

“Tell me that story again.”

“Huh?”

Turning his head, the man looked at Namgung So-hye with an indifferent expression. After appearing to lose his mind for a split second at that beautiful face, he soon adjusted his expression and cleared his throat with a “Kehem!”

“Look here, what do you mean by asking what I said?”

“The words you just said… say them again.”

Namgung So-hye slowly raised her sword.

The face of the man, who thought he would only get pocket change, turned pale. Namgung So-hye's gaze was chilly enough to cause goosebumps.

“Th-that is…”

The man shook his voice as much as possible as if he were nervous, and carefully began his story so that he would never be suspected.

* * *

“I… I am Hwa So-mi… please take care of me…”

With a shy expression, she looked at the children in the academy and bowed her head. Although there were some who were older and some who were younger, perhaps because she felt awkward, she continued to use polite language.

The children looked at Hwa So-mi with indifferent expressions.

The way they stared without answering was without a doubt ignoring her. They did not even look at Hwa So-mi as she slowly moved to sit in her seat.

However, one child was different.

‘That child… surely!’

He was definitely the child he had seen at the house.

‘Why is she here?’

Twitching his eyebrows, Hong Jin-rang watched Hwa So-mi, who scurried over and sat beside him. When their eyes met, Hwa So-mi wore a bright smile on her face.

“What is it, why are you smiling?”

“Hehe, hello?”

Her unhesitating speech and pure, clear smile.

Flattered by that behavior, which was somehow different from the children he had met so far, Hong Jin-rang turned his head away without showing it.

‘How annoying.’

Frowning, he twitched his eyebrows.

When some children who were watching Hong Jin-rang met his gaze, they were busy turning their heads in a hurry. Because his huge build, terrifying fists, and relentless behavior were more than enough to be a source of fear for many children.

“Hwa So-mi, my name is Hwa So-mi.”

A small whispering voice was heard from the side.

However, when he did not give any reply, perhaps out of stubbornness, she kept saying her name. Or perhaps she was asking Hong Jin-rang to tell her his name.

Of course, Hong Jin-rang thoroughly ignored her.

He spent the time pretending to hear the words that were heard several times.

* * *

“I found them!”

Returning to the manor, Namgung So-hye congratulated herself and ran toward Dan Woo-hyun. But when she could not see him, she was filled with curiosity.

At that, Jang Sam-tae, who was tending to the yard, frowned.

“He is outside, outside. Didn't you see him as you came in? The one fishing.”

“……”

Namgung So-hye's face flushed. Glaring once at Jang Sam-tae who was rebuking her, she carefully stepped out of the manor. It was not her fault that she had not noticed him.

Dan Woo-hyun originally had no presence whatsoever.

Even if he was right beside her, he was not felt unless she looked at him with her own eyes. Even when talking, she sometimes felt as if she were speaking to empty air.

‘He tells me I have no presence, yet he himself is completely like air?’

Grumbling, Namgung So-hye approached Dan Woo-hyun.

Actually, it was not that she needed to report, but because she was in such a good mood, she only wished to speak with someone.

And the first person who came to mind was Dan Woo-hyun.

She did not know why.

She had simply ended up looking for him first.

“Yes, what did you find?”

Dan Woo-hyun, who was fishing, was peaceful.

He had cast his fishing rod and was sitting with his eyes closed. In that state, even if a fish bit, he would not know.

However, in the pleasant silence he felt after a long time, unlike his usual expressionless self, there was a slight change.

Namgung So-hye smiled brightly.

“The master who seemed to be behind the County Magistrate!”

“…You found them?”

“Yes! I'm telling you it was extremely hard.”

Dan Woo-hyun tilted his head.

Looking at her behavior, it seemed she had not found them.

“It seems you did not find them.”

“No, I really did! I couldn't meet them in person, but I agreed to meet those people later this evening.”

“Those… people?”

Namgung So-hye had guessed that the person backing Hong Won-chang might not be just one person. Indeed, thinking that only a single person would step forward to eliminate the Black Dao Association would rather be out of the ordinary.

“Have you heard of them?”

“What is it?”

“The Five Swords of Hunan!”

Dan Woo-hyun tilted his head.

It was only natural, but he had no memory of hearing it. Where on earth did the Five Swords of Hunan come from?

Not understanding the meaning at all, he stared intently at Namgung So-hye.

“Do you know them?”

“No. I do not.”

“……”

Actually, Namgung So-hye did not even know that there were those called the Five Swords of Hunan. Since they were not that famous and their activities were almost non-existent, it seemed the Murim Alliance had also failed to identify them.

“Since they have that kind of name, they must be great people, the ones I was looking for.”

Namgung So-hye was in a good mood. She felt proud that she had found the Five Swords of Hunan before anyone else. Now she did not have to live as a maid anymore, and she only needed to inform the Alliance at ease and return.

Now it was goodbye to this dreadful life.

“The Five Swords of Hunan… they must be true masters. If they could eliminate the Black Dao Association.”

Dan Woo-hyun chuckled.

He did not know who they were, but it seemed there were scammers trying to steal someone else's credit. Indeed, as long as he did not step forward in person, there was little chance his identity would be known, so it was perfect for pulling off a scam.

Dan Woo-hyun did not know how great a figure Namgung So-hye, the Squadron Leader of the Phoenix Squadron, was. He also did not know how large and great an influence the Murim Alliance exerted.

Because from his perspective, not to mention Namgung So-hye, even the masters famous in the world were no different from minnows.

“Are you meeting them?”

“I should hear the detailed story and convey the intention of recruiting them into the Murim Alliance.”

Her excited heart did not calm down easily.

Since she was in fact carrying out a secret mission for the Murim Alliance, she should not blab to anyone.

However, in front of Dan Woo-hyun, she chattered like a loose-lipped person. The gentle energy that naturally radiated from Dan Woo-hyun had put her mind at ease.

“Evening… then I shall go with you.”

“Eh?”

“I also wish to see them, those who call themselves the Five Swords of Hunan.”

Dan Woo-hyun laughed.

What kind of fellows were they that they would dare to pull off a scam so boldly? Actually, it did not matter if someone else claimed they did what he had done.

If he had cared about such things in the first place, he would not have handed over everything to Hong Won-chang. Even so, the reason he wanted to follow was solely due to one thing.

They were curious about what kind of story they would make up, and how they would try to deceive this woman.

“Only if you promise to behave quietly. And give me plenty of money when I return…”

Namgung So-hye glanced at Dan Woo-hyun.

The expression that had changed slightly had already returned to calm.

Perhaps because she felt slightly self-conscious, her gaze trembled.

Without caring, Dan Woo-hyun nodded.

“Fine. I shall go take a look.”