Hyeonjilmusin - Chapter 107



Only Krnovel

107. King Shang (1)

All the merchants started to look around. Usually, the people they looked around for were me and Namgung Hwi.

“Give me that! Quickly!”

The most excited one was Myeong-gyeong. Myeong-gyeong ran to Namgung-hwi and snatched Byeok-ha. Namgung-hwi, who was standing there blankly, had Byeok-ha helplessly taken away.

“Now this is a priest’s!”

Myungkyung forced Byeok-ha into my hands and held my wrist, lifting it up. Everyone’s eyes turned to Byeok-ha in my hands.

“… … .”

Namgung Hwi just stared blankly at it. At that moment, a voice mumbled in my ear.

-Let’s talk.

The voice was extremely hoarse. It was a sound I had never heard before.

Usually, private conversations are used between people, so there is no reason for me, a merchant, to hear them.

There was no need to find out who had transmitted the message.

“I’m feeling relaxed. I’m going to use the bathroom for a bit.”

I nodded to Namgung Hwi. Son Yeong-ui seemed to have noticed as well and clapped her hands, leading the mood.

“Let’s take a short break. Those who need to go to the bathroom, please go.”

I left Hoecheonru and went to a deserted bush. When I glanced behind me, I saw Namgung Hwi approaching me, drooping like a wet puppy.

I still have the sword in my hand. Even in this darkness, it glows with a soft blue light, so it really is a famous sword.

I do want it. However, I wanted it as a treasure. This is because it is not suitable for the martial arts of the Black Shaman Sect. The blade is wide and the center of gravity is too low. It is a sword suitable for martial arts that use a lot of violent energy like Namgung Sega. So it must be the new soldier of Namgung Sega.

“Prince Namgung.”

I made up my mind to return it. In my previous life, I had died after being entrusted with something that was not my place, and I didn’t want to do it this time either.

“older brother!”

At that moment, I suddenly heard a sound that made me doubt my ears. I looked down and saw Namgung Hwi looking up at me with his eyes wide open, holding onto my trouser leg.

“… … ?”

“Brother, brother. I was wrong.”

“yes?”

I know Namgung Hwi. He is now called Changryong Shinhyeop (蒼龍新俠), but I am more familiar with the nickname Changryong Daeje (蒼龍大帝).

The next head of the Namgung family and the greatest swordsman in the world. The sight of such a big shot kneeling in front of me, holding onto my trouser leg, was truly unrealistic.

“If I go back without that, I’ll be beaten to death. Seriously.”

“I guess so.”

I answered nonchalantly. It was fun to see the other side of Namgung Hwi, but it was also fun to hear the future big shot call me brother.

If I think about it carefully, I’m going to return it anyway, so I thought it wouldn’t be bad to tease it a bit and then return it.

“I was being rash. As you know, it was insulting to gamble with people like that. But it shouldn’t have been done that way.”

“Please wake up. Someone is scary to see.”

“I can’t get up until you return the wall.”

Namgung Hwi held my trouser leg with one hand and lay down on the mat.

“My life is ruined… … .”

The gloomy monologue was a bonus. I didn’t know that the next Namgung family head would be such a spoiled brat. Of course, it was understandable since he was still young, around the age of 18.

“Get up. If you don’t get up now, I’ll never give it back to you again.”

“yes!”

Namgung Hwi jumped up on his back. He had been lying on the floor, and his valuable-looking black clothes were covered in dirt because of the contagious disease. It was a bit sad to see that.

“I know that I am asking a shameless favor. However, it is a sacred thing of the family and I cannot do as I please.”

“If you couldn’t do whatever you wanted, you shouldn’t have walked.”

“That’s true. Honestly, I didn’t know I would lose. Well, now that I think about it, what was that strange feeling at the end?”

“What?”

I was done. With the power of the Manryuguijong, I could now use the magic energy and spirit energy. Even if that energy spread out, people wouldn’t be able to recognize it. Because this energy was something only I could use.

That was my move, and Namgung Hwi, being the expert he was, must have intuitively sensed the evil spirit mixed in my energy and retreated. If there was no rule that said you lose if you go outside, if I had continued to fight, I would have been the one to lose.

“Hmm. I might have seen it wrong.”

Namgung Hwi took a step back as soon as I showed signs of discomfort. I immediately returned to a gentle expression.

“Then what should I do? This is already mine.”

I leaned my head against the wall and stroked the black surface. Namgung Hwi’s expression became even more gloomy.

“I feel like the woman I like was stolen from me right in front of my eyes. It’s never happened before.”

“I know you feel miserable. Well, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll give it back to you.”

“Really?”

Namgung Hwi jumped up from his spot. That must mean he was very surprised.

“Instead, let me ask you a favor.”

“What? Then isn’t it a deal after all?”

“Saying such regrettable things. If we were to deal with such rude language, wouldn’t we do it?”

“I have to.”

I had the illusion that there was an invisible tail wagging around Namgung Hwi’s waist. Playing around with the next generation’s greats like this could have been a lifelong joke. However, a lifelong joke was not enough.

“Is Prince Namgung the head of the Namgung family now?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then let’s make one promise. If you see anything suspicious in Gangho, you will tell me first.”

“What does that mean?”

I explained it in more detail. Even though I belong to the non-partisan faction, there was no way I could be as well-versed in the internal affairs of the martial arts world as the head of the Namgung family.

People who do suspicious things usually do it from behind the scenes. In that sense, Namgung Hwi was perfect for this role.

He is in a position where a lot of information is passed around in the world of martial arts, and he is also someone who can pretend to die at my word.

“But honestly, I don’t know what that suspicious look is. In fact, if you look at it from the outside, all sects and factions are suspicious.”

“You can tell me everything. And especially… … .”

“especially?”

“This is especially true when it comes to facts related to the palace.”

Namgung Hwi’s expression changed. I felt a strange sense of pressure and took a step back.

“It’s something to do with the palace. That’s a bit difficult.”

“It’s difficult? In what way?”

“The Namgung family cannot do anything that would harm the palace. In that regard, it seems very subversive to watch the movements of the martial arts world related to the palace.”

A fierce fire burned in Namgung Hwi’s eyes. It seemed as if he would punish me if I said even the slightest mistake.

I realized that my remarks were a bit misleading. The Namgung family is one of the most prestigious families not only in the martial arts world but also in the Central Plains. They are a group that enjoys the favor of the palace, so they cannot help but be close to the palace.

“You will have to explain it well.”

Namgung Hwi was gaining momentum. I felt this while fighting earlier, but I couldn’t defeat Namgung Hwi unless I fought while drawing out all my magic energy. And I had no intention of fighting now.

“Calm down.”

I put my hand into my bosom. At that moment, Namgung Hwi grabbed my wrist with his golden technique.

“What are you talking about!”

Namgung Hwi snatched a beautiful agate tablet from my hand. The tablet had the words “Inspector General” written on it. It was the tablet I had received from Wang Song.

“… … Inspector General?”

“Yes, yes. So let’s talk about it.”

Namgung Hwi immediately let go of my hand and raised both hands over his shoulders.

“I’ve only seen the royal seal a few times, but it looks like it’s genuine. After all, if you’re caught forging a royal seal, you’ll be put to death.”

“There is no reason for a merchant to go around forging royal seals.”

“Yes. Can I see you again?”

I handed over the imperial seal without saying a word. Namgung Hwi, who received the imperial seal, turned it over and even looked at it in the light. Then he nodded and handed the imperial seal to me.

“I see. It must be genuine. I heard somewhere that a real amulet reveals invisible images when light passes through it.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know that either.”

“Your Majesty, you don’t need to know. As long as you properly carry out the affairs of the state, that’s enough.”

Namgung Hwi’s voice became more polite. If earlier he had simply raised his voice because he was anxious, now it was a sincere gesture.

“You were not a merchant, but a royal inspector. I thought you had great martial arts skills.”

“You immediately recognized me as a member of the Royal Family.”

The rank of inspector exists only in the Royal Secretariat and the Royal Secretariat. Among them, Namgung Hui saw right through me that I was an inspector belonging to the Royal Secretariat.

“I understand that the royal inspector of the Golden Guard makes amulets out of agate, and the royal inspector of the Royal Guard makes amulets out of opal.”

“You have great insight.”

“Do you happen to know about the nonpartisan faction?”

“I don’t know. So it’s a secret. Even from my family. Once a secret gets out, the whole world knows about it.”

“I will definitely follow this.”

Namgung Hwi’s eyes became solemn. It certainly seemed that he had outstanding loyalty to the palace.

This was also the reason why I revealed that I was a royal inspector. In the first place, it seemed like a person would not reveal a secret, but if he was loyal to the palace, he had no choice but to keep the secret well.

“But how can a royal inspector inspect the world?”

“Do I really need to know that?”

I deliberately lowered my voice and made it sound sinister. Namgung Hwi responded immediately.

“No, I am not! I dared to ask something presumptuous.”

“Anyway, Prince Namgung is my informant. You understand? I’ll give you the wall here.”

“Ah, thank you. Actually, even if it’s not Byeokha, I should help with palace matters.”

“Yes. So I told you, this is not a deal.”

I patted Namgung Hwi on the shoulder. Namgung Hwi bowed his head and accepted the offer in embarrassment.

When will I ever treat Namgung Se-ga like this? Every time I thought about Wang Song’s request, I was nervous because I didn’t have anything to look into, but now that Namgung Hwi will take care of it, I can worry less.

“Shall we go back?”

“Yes, yes!”

I returned to Hoecheonru with Namgung Hwi. The other merchants had already returned.

When I returned with Namgung Hwi, and saw that the wall was hanging from Namgung Hwi’s waist again, the merchants were about to open their mouths.

“I got the wall back from a deal I made with the owner. Don’t ask me what the deal was.”

Namgung Hwi immediately struck down the player. The merchants who had their players stolen could only open their mouths. There was nothing to add to what Namgung Hwi said.

“Let’s enjoy the rest of the banquet for now.”

Son Yeong-ui organized the story while observing the situation.

It became a place for entertainment as gisaengs who had been recruited from unknown sources came up and played the lute and danced.

As soon as the banquet started again, people naturally flocked to where I was.

Just beating Namgung Hwi with a sword was enough to get me attention.

“Muk Danju. How on earth are your martial arts skills so high?”

“That’s right. Do all the disciples of the non-partisan faction do that?”

The merchants came rubbing their palms together. They were not welcome guests to me. I didn’t see anything they could miss.

Surprisingly, the one who repelled them was none other than Namgung Hwi.

“I hope the Lord is not uncomfortable.”

Son Yeong-ui, who was told to guard, did not guard, and Namgung Hwi came to my side to control the people. When none other than Namgung Hwi pushed the people away, the merchants returned to their seats without saying a word.

Namgung Hwi looked at me with sparkling eyes, as if he wanted to praise me for doing a good job.

Something happened, but his attitude changed considerably. At that time, Son Yeong-ui started to approach him hesitantly. Namgung Hwi was about to block Son Yeong-ui, who was originally the target of his escort, but I waved him off.

“It seems like the Chief of Staff has something to say to me.”

“That’s right.”

“Shall we talk about it just the two of us?”

“Okay.”

I nodded to Myeong-gyeong and Nam-gung-hwi and went down the Hoe-cheon-ru. I had only gone down a few steps, but it immediately became pitch-black and quiet.

Son Yeong-ui immediately bowed to me. I laughed in vain.

“What is it?”

“It’s a sign of apology. As a merchant, it’s a big mistake to misjudge someone.”

“I see. Well, I’ll accept it.”

“It’s nice and cool.”

Anyway, I had no intention of fighting with the merchant. I stared blankly at Son Yeong-ui.

“So, let me say this. I have a suggestion.”

“What do you propose?”

“Come to the top of our Songa.”

“Hehehe. Wasn’t it true that only those from Huizhou could become Huizhou merchants?”

“That was the case in the past. But these days, as competition with Shanxi merchants intensifies, we are trying to recruit capable merchants. Of course, the same goes for Shanxi merchants.”

Son Yeong-ui’s voice was full of confidence, as if she was certain that I would never reject her.

Sun Yingyi extended his hand to me. It was said that in the West, when a deal was made, people would shake hands. But now was not the time to shake hands.

“A pine cicada must be satisfied with pine needles. If it covets even the fallen leaves on the ground, it will get trampled to death.”

“……what?”

“You mean know the topic, but what is it?”

I laughed. Son Yeong-ui’s expression turned ashen.