Chapter 57. The Needed Woman

Her eyes were as empty as a voice filled with too much silence. No emotion could be felt. Thus, haerak couldn’t gauge her intent.

Haerak, who had been about to ask something, quickly stepped back and looked toward the entrance.

A man in black martial attire stepped into the room.

“Young Lady.”

Han-won called So-hwa in a sharp voice.

So-hwa, still staring at Haerak, opened her mouth.

“I told you not to come in.”

“This is the Hubei branch. I’m not the only one who noticed.”

Han-won’s words were short, but their meaning was clear.

Feigning ignorance, Haerak tilted his head.

“As a direct descendant of the Tang Clan of Sichuan, the young lady’s fierce internal energy must have intimidated me. Surely, a frail head of a merchant group like myself wouldn’t dare lay a finger on a direct descendant of the Tang Clan of Sichuan—would I?”

Even though he knew Han-won had seen through his identity, Haerak spoke slyly with a shrug.

Han-won tensed as if ready to strike at any moment.

So-hwa stopped him.

“That’s right. I said that.”

Haerak’s gaze turned back to So-hwa. She looked into his eyes, which had returned to a mossy brown before he knew it, and spoke.

“Don’t bother a weak head of a merchant group for no reason. A body without a hint of internal energy—just facing you must make his heart tremble.”

Even though he had been the first to pretend, Haerak was somehow annoyed by those words. He considered putting on a show of force, but couldn’t summon the strength.

He soon realized So-hwa had meant what she said.

Fortunately, he had hidden his qi and blocked the dispersal of his internal energy, but at the moment, he couldn’t gather it back into his dantian, nor could he circulate it at will.

If that arrogant guard actually charged at him, he would be in quite the predicament.

Thinking this, Haerak let out a hollow laugh.

So-hwa, without mocking him, spoke in the same calm voice she had used throughout the conversation.

“I’m sure the young head of a merchant group has come to many realizations. I’ll step aside to give you some space to gather your thoughts.”

Haerak could not stop So-hwa as she turned her back on him.

So-hwa hoped Haerak’s identity would not be exposed.

Fortunately, it seemed he would not be discovered.

Thanks to the Energy-Scattering Poison, the internal energy stored in his dantian had scattered, and in his frantic effort to prevent further loss, he had blocked his qi flow. Even if someone deliberately examined his body, they wouldn’t be able to tell. It would appear as if he had never once opened his meridians.

The blurry outline of the Blood Sect had become a bit clearer.

So-hwa needed him.

To not miss the opportunity that had luckily come her way, Sohwa temporarily stepped back.

***

In the Central Plains, countless martial clans exist. Among them, five clans stood out for their especially high prestige, and instead of vying for superiority, these five noble clans formed an alliance.

This alliance had existed even before the Murim Alliance emerged, so the gathering of the Five Noble Clans was itself a part of Murim history.

Each year, one of the five clans would take turns hosting the gathering, and each clan had its own rules and customs for conducting the event.

In the case of the Tang Clan of Sichuan, to prevent any potential accidents, they would remove all mechanical traps from the pavilions where guests would stay, and from ten days before the event, they would halt not only venom training but also the bringing in of any poisons.

Thus, the month in which the gathering was held was the safest time at the Tang Clan Pagoda.

This year, preparations for the Alliance of Noble Clans began unusually early.

Messages arrived from the other clans saying they would visit a week, even ten days, earlier than the scheduled start of the gathering.

The reason was singular: Divine Physician.

Hearing that the Divine Physician of the Yeonju Group was staying at the Tang Clan, the retainers of the Five Noble Clans grew restless. Some elders even asked their clan heads to procure Yeonju Pills from the Divine Physician while visiting the Tang Clan, and others went so far as to insist on joining the delegation to the gathering.

The Clan Head is the face of the family.

His voice is the voice of the clan.

Thus, it was not easy for a Clan Head to make a request to another.

Nevertheless, two clans had made that difficult decision.

They were the Peng Clan of Hebei and the Namgung Clan.

Knowing that the Clan Head had made a hard decision, Namgung Mun-seon looked troubled by the physician’s words.

“Huh, didn’t you say it would be possible today?”

The physician bowed his head deeply, as if guilty.

“I apologize. We’ve run out of the ingredients needed to make the Clan Head’s Yeonju pills. The Divine Physician also apologized and said he would deliver it to the Namgung Clan next time.”

“What if the medicine changes on the long journey? Just tell me what ingredients are needed. I’ll go get them myself.”

“Well, they are indeed medicinal herbs, but they’re classified as poison ingredients here at Tang Clan Pagoda…”

“Hmm, I see. It must be uncomfortable to mention ingredients used as poison. I understand. Still, let me gather them myself and explain properly to the Clan Head. Just tell me what medicinal herbs are needed.”

The physician waved his hands.

“N-no! It’s not that I can’t say the names. It’s because of the Tang Clan’s internal regulations. During the gathering period, poison ingredients are not allowed in the Tang Clan Pagoda, and those herbs are classified as poison in the Medical Hall.”

“Then is there no other way?”

“I apologize. We used the last of it to prepare the Peng Clan Head’s Yeonju pills. If you return in five years, we will make sure to prepare the Clan Head’s Yeonju pills first.”

A Namgung elder let out a sigh.

“No need to apologize. I know the Divine Physician’s treatment is a courtesy from the Tang Clan.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

“I’ll explain it to the Clan Head myself.”

“Yes, thank you once again.”

The physician respectfully clasped his hands and turned to leave. Namgung Mun-seon sighed and let out a deep hum. The Namgung martial artists standing behind him also sighed.

“Ah, we should have moved faster. We arrived just one day later than the Peng Clan—such a shame.”

When one of the younger martial artists pouted, Namgung Mun-seon shook his head.

“That’s enough. Even arriving a week early is already an imposition.”

“But didn’t those Peng Clan bastards arrive even earlier?”

“Namgung Gangchang, mind your words. This is the Alliance of Noble Clans.”

The young man shut his mouth with a sulky expression, but dared not talk back. Namgung Mun-seon looked at his loose-lipped nephew with eyes full of disappointment.

Since the Young Clan Head had entered closed-door training, there had been many changes among the younger Namgung martial artists. Perhaps inspired by those who followed the Young Clan Head, some left temporarily for secluded training, and others entered closed-door training themselves.

Most of the ones who used to stay close to the Young Clan Head were martial artists recognized as future masters. With their absence, the atmosphere had become unsettled.

In particular, Namgung Gangchang, the only child of the Grand Elder, had taken to playing the tiger in the tiger’s absence and had greatly disrupted the mood.

Namgung Mun-seon let out a deep sigh.

‘Even my elder brother has his limits when it comes to shielding Gangchang. If it’s this difficult for me, how must it be for the younger ones?’

Fortunately, the Young Clan Head’s closed-door training would end this year, and the atmosphere would likely settle again.

Namgung Mun-seon forced his thoughts in a more positive direction.

‘Yes. Things will improve once the Young Clan Head returns.’

As he climbed the steps of a pavilion bathed in autumn sunlight to meet the Clan Head, he happened to run into a young man just leaving.

The Namgung Clan Head’s illegitimate son gave a soft smile and lightly clasped his hands together.

“Greetings, elder.”

How quickly boys grow. Namgung Mun-seon looked at Namgung Hyun, now clearly showing the appearance of a young man, and continued up the steps.

“Yes. Is the Clan Head inside?”

“Yes, he is.”

As Namgung Mun-seon moved to pass by, Namgung Hyun cautiously stopped him.

“Elder… if it’s not urgent, it may be better to visit in about one hour.”

“Why? Is someone inside?”

“Yes. A guest just arrived, and I was ordered to clear the area.”

“A guest? Who?”

But Namgung Hyun did not answer immediately, hesitating for a moment.

His light brown eyes shifted toward the pavilion as if pondering.

A neat profile and softly upturned pink lips filled his gaze. It was a face that calmed the hearts of those who saw it. As Namgung Mun-seon looked at that face, he was reminded—suddenly and sharply—of the boy’s mother.

That courtesan with her snow-white complexion had been a true enchantress. If she had been merely flashy, he might have been more wary. But with such a pure, serene face, she had shaken the Young Clan Head of Namgung. Recalling the unpleasant past, Namgung Mun-seon gave an awkward cough.

“Ahem.”

At last, Namgung Hyun averted his gaze and spoke as if offering an excuse.

“My apologies. I hesitated, unsure if I should say this unprompted. Elder Peng Sihyeon of the Peng Clan is inside.”

Namgung Mun-seon flinched at those words.

Peng Sihyeon was the daughter of the previous Peng Clan Head—and had once been the lover of Namgung An in their youth.

He remembered that their relationship hadn’t been especially deep. The two martial artists, long-standing rivals, had entered the Murim around the same time and, perhaps finding common ground, eventually shared feelings for each other.

He had been utterly shocked when even his older brother, who had always spoken ill of Peng Sihyeon, suddenly confessed affection toward her.

Of course, that incident became a taboo subject within the Namgung Clan.

It was because Peng Sihyeon had fallen for some black-path rogue, bringing disgrace to the proud Namgung An.

No—calling it a disgrace was too kind. It was a complete humiliation.

Namgung Mun-seon cleared his throat and stepped back.

“Ahem, yes. If there’s a guest, I’ll come back later. It wasn’t anything urgent.”

Namgung Hyun quietly watched the elder’s figure retreat swiftly down the steps.

He didn’t follow but instead turned back around and looked behind him.

He was curious about the conversation happening inside. Elder Peng Sihyeon of the Peng Clan, who had come from the Shaanxi branch, had said something strange.

‘She said someone had countered the Hall Lord’s martial arts?’

He already knew about the trouble caused by the Main Blood Hall Lord. But surprisingly, she claimed someone had seen through the Main Blood Hall Lord’s martial arts.

Tang So-hwa. He had just happened to hear that name.

He wanted to eavesdrop more, but having run into Namgung Mun-seon, he knew he needed to leave before causing any misunderstandings.

The members of Namgung already looked at him with disfavor; he couldn’t afford to introduce more complications.

Namgung Hyun tilted his head up, letting go of his lingering curiosity.

The terms of the Blood Demon’s deal spun in his mind.

Looking over the Tang Clan Pagoda in a single glance, Namgung Hyun began descending the stairs.

Soon, his regret vanished, leaving only the clear purpose for which he had come to this place.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep