Part 1,

Chapter 34. Trust

“Are you declaring war? That you’ll stab me in the back?”

When Tang So-hwa meekly admitted to the betrayal, Namgung Jin burst into laughter.

“No. I didn’t come here to joke like that.”

He shook his head with a smile.

“Then what do you mean?”

“Exactly as I said. I offer you my trust, and I receive yours in return.”

“It’s hard to understand why you’re suddenly showing me goodwill.”

“When I saw that the Tang Clan announced publicly the resurgence of the Blood Sect, I thought the Tang Clan had no ties to the Blood Sect. No—”

Namgung Jin paused briefly, then spoke again.

“At the very least, I thought you, Young Lady Tang So-hwa, had no ties to the Blood Sect.”

“It seems you still haven’t let go of your suspicions about the Tang Clan.”

“I don’t mean to insult the Tang Clan. It’s because I believe the Blood Sect exists even within Namgung.”

Tang So-hwa silently moved her fingers that were holding the jar.

As he watched her fingers glide over the white porcelain surface, Namgung Jin continued.

“They’re probably even within the main headquarters. Brother Cheonghae had been there for nearly ten years. If he only noticed something was wrong just recently, it means those bastards have been toying with the Murim Alliance quite successfully.”

“Why are you telling me this? Someone who can’t trust his own retainers or the Murim Alliance doesn’t need to trust me either.”

With a slight curve of his lips, Namgung Jin asked,

“Do you trust the Tang Clan?”

Namgung Jin’s gaze moved to the end of the bridge.

The guards and maidservant standing by the pond came into view.

“You don’t trust your retainers or the Murim Alliance either. However, your will to protect the Tang Clan must be stronger than anyone’s.”

Namgung Jin’s gaze returned to her.

“That’s why I’m showing you trust first. Because I believe you and I think the same way.”

“……”

“I hid the Blood Sect’s weapon from the Murim Alliance. I avoided punishment thanks to the Hall Lord’s leniency, but if you report that poison gu, I won’t be able to avoid punishment this time.”

Even as he handed her his own leash, there was no fear on Namgung Jin’s face.

Once again, Namgung Jin extended his trust.

“I want to catch the Blood Sect. And I believe you’ll make better use of their weapons than the Murim Alliance would.”

“You don’t know much about me, do you?”

“Do I need to?”

“If you want to trust someone, of course.”

Namgung Jin let out a short laugh and asked her,

“What have you been doing lately?”

At the sudden question, Tang So-hwa frowned. Namgung Jin shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m trying to get to know you better. How the eldest daughter of the Tang Clan spends her time, what kind of thoughts she usually has.”

Tang So-hwa brushed her hand over the small jar in her palm, as if contemplating something.

In the report Namgung Jin submitted to the Murim Alliance, the part about meeting Hak in Sichuan was omitted.

She had thought his apparent kindness must be a ploy, but it seemed it really was just kindness.

Perhaps he’s not as cunning as I thought.

So-hwa decided to trust him once.

Just as the suspicious man before her began to blink his eyes calmly, she spoke.

“I’ve been reading the Book of Lord Shang for the past few days.”

“The Book of Lord Shang? Are you referring to the writings of Shang Yang?”

Namgung Jin’s gaze clouded at the unexpected answer.

Shang Yang was the chancellor of Qin.

Also, he was a politician who had turned the weak Qin state into a powerful one during the fiercely competitive Warring States period.

Seeing Namgung Jin flustered, Tang So-hwa tilted her lips into a slight smile.

“It seems the Young Lord doesn’t like Shang Yang much.”

Namgung Jin briefly considered pretending to like Shang Yang out of courtesy, but changed his mind and answered honestly.

“Not particularly.”

“Why not?”

“I prefer people who are flexible.”

“Isn’t Shang Yang flexible, too?”

“… Are you serious?”

If one were to list the most inflexible people in history, Shang Yang would proudly be among the top.

He even sentenced his lord’s own brother to nose-cutting punishment without hesitation. He was also the one who created the gruesome dismemberment punishment known as the five chariots..

Watching Namgung Jin’s increasingly clouded gaze, So-hwa quietly held back a laugh.

Well, Shang Yang was someone who couldn’t be called flexible even as an empty compliment.

Namgung Jin seemed to know exactly who he was.

With a subtly softened voice, So-hwa asked,

“There’s something I’m curious about as well. May I ask?”

“As much as you like.”

Feeling at ease now that the topic had changed, Namgung Jin responded immediately.

But again, an unexpected question came.

“Young Lord, are you able to use Samadhi True Fire?”

“… What?”

Why is she asking that?

It was a perplexing question that made him uneasy, but Namgung Jin nodded.

“Yes. I can.”

“Could you show me?”

Namgung Jin glanced around and gave a bitter smile.

“My skill is still insignificant. I can barely burn a dry leaf.”

The only burnable leaf nearby was a lotus leaf.

And today, the lotus leaf—soaked full with pond water—looked unusually large.

Following his gaze to the pond, Tang So-hwa smiled.

“Then, could you show me next time?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“You’ve made a promise.”

Namgung Jin let out a faint laugh.

“I’ll definitely keep that promise.”

So-hwa’s lips also curved slightly.

Watching her, Namgung Jin felt his mouth go dry.

‘I really can’t tell what she’s thinking.’

Namgung Jin cut off his train of thought. Trying to guess her mind was meaningless.

Wasn’t that what trust was about?

Following without a reason.

At that moment, a presence was felt by the pond.

He had told them not to follow, but one of Namgung’s martial artist had entered Red Radiance Hall. As the maidservant blocked his path, he began pleading about something.

Well, they really couldn’t afford to delay much longer.

After confirming the face of the retainer, Namgung Jin turned his body and bid farewell to So-hwa.

“I should be going now.”

“Yes. May fortune be with you.”

Tang So-hwa let him go without hesitation.

Strangely enough, that lingered in his mind, but Namgung Jin turned away.

They had surely exchanged trust with one another, yet the end of their conversation was not so different from its beginning.

With a dry parting, the Young Lord of the Namgung Clan stepped down from the red bridge.

***

The Young Lord, upon arriving in Anhui, found himself swamped with tasks.

There had been so many matters he had handled up to now that he barely had time to sleep, needing to finish everything before entering the secluded chamber.

Seeing this, the retainers began to believe the rumor that the Young Lord was about to enter closed-door training.

So wherever Namgung Jin went, the retainers would gather—each wanting to catch a glimpse of him at least once before his departure. It would be no exaggeration to say that every member of the clan followed his schedule.

“Hey, do you know how long it’s been since the Young Lord went in?”

“I came about a shijin (hour) ago, and he was still meeting with the chief steward back then. So it’s definitely been well over a shijin.”

“Damn. I have to see him today.”

Right now, as the Young Lord was being taught the core operations of Namgung’s main institutions, all major matters he heard about went straight to the Clan Head’s ears. Because of that, retainers often made requests to the Young Lord—who was relatively easier to approach than the Clan Head.

“You still haven’t given up?”

When a Namgung retainer squinted and asked, the middle-aged martial artist let out an awkward cough.

“It’s not for my sake. Haven’t you heard? They say the Blood Sect bastards used Tang Clan poison this time. Who knows if they’ve released another poison somewhere? We need to clear that bamboo forest and train to build resistance to poison…”

“Tsk. Give it up. You think the Young Lord has time to deal with Namgung’s finances right now? Didn’t you see Elder Yu-cheon flying into a rage yesterday?”

“Hah… that’s true.”

Currently, Namgung was in a state of financial turmoil due to a sudden surge in expenses.

All plans to expand the pavilions had been canceled, and to reduce mouths to feed, two marital units were dispatched to headquarters. But they weren’t given formal posts—they were simply there to assist with internal affairs, which meant their treatment was poor. To be blunt, it was a humiliating position treated no better than laborers, and most alliance members wouldn’t even consider sending disciples or retainers there. Yet Namgung chose to endure that disgrace.

The number of martial artists symbolized a noble clan’s power—but at the same time, it was a burden. Feeding and supplying them was no small matter.

Rumor had it that when Elder Yu-cheon was suddenly told to send his subordinates to another region, he was so enraged that he smashed his sword.

The martial artist who had mentioned Elder Yu-cheon let out a deep sigh.

“This is all because of that bastard. I heard he was the one who wanted to cover up the Blood Sect’s resurgence!”

“And where did you hear that?”

“The guys at the Anhui branch said so. Apparently, some fool had the guts to curse the Young Lord, and when the Anhui branch beat him to a pulp, they kept shouting that it wasn’t the Young Lord’s fault—it was that bastard’s… a lot of people heard it—”

“Enough! Keep your mouth shut!”

“Huh, why?”

As the man suddenly reached out to cover his mouth, the martial artist stepped back.

Thud.

“Ah, I’m sor—hiiik!”

The martial artist’s eyes widened.

The boy who had been standing behind him didn’t seem surprised. Instead, he calmly asked,

“Are you alright?”

“Y-yes, I’m fine.”

The boy smiled gently.

“That’s a relief.”

The martial artist wanted to slap himself.

Damn it, of all places—why did he have to be standing right behind me?

Those nearby glanced around nervously, but the boy only offered a composed smile and turned to his companion.

“Please wait here for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Leaving the outsider behind, the boy entered the pavilion. As if prearranged, everyone jumped in surprise and stepped aside to clear the way.

Once the boy—as beautiful as a woman—disappeared from sight, the middle-aged martial artist let out a breath he’d been holding.

“Damn it all! Why did he have to be right behind me?!”

“Well, you’re the one who ran your mouth. Why blame fate?”

“Sigh… he heard it, didn’t he?”

“At that distance? Even if he had cotton stuffed in his ears, he’d have heard it.”

Clicking his tongue, the man fell silent when he noticed the outsider standing nearby.

Not long after, the boy returned from the pavilion.

“They seem to be discussing something important. They have ordered that no one is to enter. But I’ve relayed your message to the Young Lord, so you should receive a reply soon. In the meantime, allow me to guide you to a waiting area.”

“Yes.”

Once the illegitimate child and the outsider had gone, the others finally relaxed again.

***

“Young Lord, it’s Myeong-hyun.”

At the voice outside the door, Namgung Jin raised an eyebrow. He had instructed not to be disturbed unless it was urgent.

“What is it?”

“Someone has come from the Tang Clan, Young Lord.”

“From the Tang Clan?”

“Yes. It’s said that Lady Tang So-hwa, the eldest daughter of the Tang Clan, has sent a letter.”

Namgung Jin flinched at the mention of Tang So-hwa’s name. It wasn’t the kind of relationship where they would exchange letters—hence his reaction.

Could something have happened?

As the silence stretched, the messenger hurriedly added,

“I tried to receive the letter, but she insisted that she was ordered to deliver it to you directly. I couldn’t take it. You’ll likely need to meet her in person.”

Whatever expression Namgung Jin was making, the chief steward gave a small cough.

“That’s enough for today. There’s no rush, let’s talk again tomorrow.”

“Yes. If it’s alright with you, I will visit you tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

Truthfully, the chief steward wanted to say he didn’t want to see him tomorrow either, but he ended the conversation with a short response. There was a mountain of work to be done, and he wanted the Young Lord out of the room as soon as possible.

Fortunately, Namgung Jin stood up right away and exited the room.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep