Book 18 Chapter 15

Uncle's Scar

―A hand stroking his back

"Master! Master! Something terrible has happened!"

Manager Kang, clearly having rushed over, spoke breathlessly.

"Once is enough for you! So, what is it?"

Jang Wooyang retorted, a little annoyed. Frankly, he was starting to suspect intentionality. However, the report that followed shattered such musings in an instant.

"The… children are gone."

*BANG!*

"What!"

Jang Wooyang exclaimed in shock, jumping to his feet.

"Didn't I tell you to guard them with all your might! Those children are crucial keys to unraveling the bloody history of Cheongnyong Unjang! How could they have left the Pyo Guk without anyone noticing?"

"We were too complacent. I never dreamed such a bold act could be committed by such young children."

"Then wake up from your dream. These children used the entire Pyo Guk as a shield. And seeing how suspiciously they were pursued, they must possess something valuable that those pursuers would covet. So, how can you not be worried? Wouldn't you be worried? I wouldn't be able to sleep a wink. They wouldn't want to stay in one place for long. They probably saw everyone as a bandit. That's why I suppressed my curiosity and pretended to be indifferent until the children let down their guard. Don't you understand such a simple logic?"

"……."

There was no guarantee that what was obvious to one person would be obvious to another. This was true even for things that seemed incredibly obvious and simple. Jang Wooyang's mistake was thinking about it too simply and overlooking it.

"Quickly, send people to find the children. Hurry. The children are in danger."

***

"Oppa, it hurts!"

The girl said, her face scrunched up. But the strength in the hand pulling her did not lessen.

"Oppa, you're too fast!"

Yet, even with her second cry, the footsteps pulling her did not slow down at all. She suddenly felt scared. Her brother hadn't looked back at her at all since earlier.

"Waaaaaah!"

Tears burst out. The girl was only seven years old. Only then did the boy's footsteps slow and finally stop. The strength also left his hand, which had been tightly gripping the girl's delicate, fern-like hand. The boy turned, began patting the girl's back, and tried to soothe her.

"Sorry, sorry. Was I too hasty? I won't do it again. So, stop crying!"

Only then did the girl, who had finally calmed down, stop crying.

"Oppa, where are we going?"

the girl asked. The boy replied in a gentle voice.

"Ah, we're going to a place called Cheonmu Hakgwan."

"Why there?"

"Because we have to."

the boy answered.

"But……."

The girl trailed off.

"But what?"

the boy asked.

"The uncles told us not to move around there. They said it was dangerous."

The boy let out a small sigh.

"Staying in one place for too long is dangerous. We don't know what kind of people those Pyo Guk people are."

Even at his young age, the boy was aware of his lack of insight to discern people's character. Moreover, the substantial amount of money he carried made him very anxious. The constant fear of it being stolen troubled the boy incessantly. It was a mental ordeal too difficult for a boy of only thirteen to endure. Because of this, the boy decided to flee.

"There's only one place we can trust."

Just then, a huge shadow stretched out behind the boy who was kneeling and soothing the girl. The long, outstretched shadow instantly swallowed the shadows of the two siblings. The startled boy turned around with a tense expression. There stood a middle-aged man with a long sword at his waist, his face grim. Three scars on his chin made his face look even more menacing. However, the man's grim expression quickly softened.

"Oh? Isn't that Kyung-young and Seon-ah? What brings you all the way to Namchang? Are you here with your father?"

The kind and gentle voice, so different from his menacing face, finally allowed the suppressed sorrow to break free. The wariness that had been etched on the boy's rigid face had long since vanished with the gentle voice, and sorrow rushed in to fill the void.

"Uncle Yoon!"

"Waaaaaah!"

Finally, the dam burst, and the boy and girl ran into the middle-aged man's embrace.

"Oh dear, oh dear! What's wrong? What happened?"

The middle-aged man, bewildered by the children's sudden reaction, patted them. At that moment, the cloak slung over his back slipped down, revealing a symbol. The character "中" (Jung) protected by four swords. It was the symbol of the Chief Manager of Jungwon Pyo Guk.

"Oh my! Such a terrible thing… You must have suffered greatly."

The man, still holding both children in his arms, looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh of lament.

The man's large hands moved gently over the small backs of the two children, ostensibly to soothe their sorrow. His hands carefully brushed against their backs. But no one knew that death lurked within this gentle touch. His touch remained gentle, and he stroked their backs carefully and meticulously. Then, at one point, his hand reached the boy's waist, and he felt a hard object. At that moment, a glint flashed in the man's eyes. However, he did not stop stroking the children.

The boy felt a sense of security from the large, firm hand on his back and a sense of relief from the warming touch. But the two children held in his embrace could not see the man's cold, hardened, carnivorous eyes. Only endless tears blurred their vision.

"Stop that hand!"

At the cold voice from directly behind him, the middle-aged man, addressed as Uncle Yoon, jumped in surprise. Since meeting the children, he had never let his guard down. Let it down? Far from it, he had been on high alert, scanning his surroundings. Everything had to be done secretly in the darkness. Yet, a voice was heard right behind him, as if to say, "Look at me." It had completely incapacitated his senses. As his body, which had jumped, touched the ground, he had already turned towards the unwelcome intruder, and his drawn long sword was emitting a hostile, steely gleam. It was an incredibly fast and swift drawing of the sword.

'A woman?'

The person who had appeared behind him without a sound was surprisingly a woman. And she was a stunning beauty, as elegant as she was graceful. But he had no intention of showing leniency. The woman glared at him with arrogant and cold eyes.

"Who are you?"

He had to fight with all his might to avoid exclaiming, "Who are you, you bitch?" And that restraint saved him.

The beauty, clad in snow-white robes, was Jin So-ryeong. Her sword was still in its scabbard, but her posture embodied perfect, profound stillness without a single flaw. Even standing still, an aura of inviolable dignity radiated naturally from her very hair.

'Strong!'

She was so strong that the man couldn't calm down without drawing his sword subconsciously. In fact, he hadn't drawn it because he wanted to. Doing so would attract attention, which was not what he desired. He had no such intention. But his body defied his will. His survival instinct commanded him to draw his sword and protect himself against a formidable adversary, and his body faithfully obeyed that command. Yet, despite these efforts, the situation did not seem to improve much.

The woman, gazing at the tip of the sword aimed at her Adam's apple with calm eyes, spoke in a quiet, dignified voice.

"Get away from the children!"

At those words, the man's eyes widened.

"What if I refuse?"

The man said, channeling his inner energy.

"You refuse?"

Jin So-ryeong asked.

"I refuse!"

"Then there's nothing I can do."

Instantly, a brilliant, dazzling flash flickered before the man's eyes. The man tried to move, but he couldn't budge an inch.

"H-how can this be…!"

He stared blankly at his sword. Even though a sword light had flashed before his eyes, his arm was frozen, unmoving.

The next moment, he felt an even more chilling sensation. His right sleeve had been cut into pieces and scattered in the air. He stared blankly at the pieces of his torn sleeve. He was able to retain one arm, but it felt as if she was saying that this was all she would do. If the woman had shown even a little killing intent, his arm would have become a piece of sliced meat rolling on the ground.

"Hah!"

Yoo Kyung-young's eyes widened in shock at the sight. It wasn't because Uncle Yoon had been defeated by Jin So-ryeong's sword. What surprised the boy was his forearm, which had appeared within the torn sleeve. His right arm bore a scar as if a dragon had coiled around it. It was a scar that hadn't been there when his uncle visited their home the previous summer and they bathed together. Moreover, judging by its condition, it was clearly a recent wound. Some unknown shock reverberated in the boy's mind. For a while, the boy couldn't think of anything. He felt like he knew something, but his body wasn't ready to know it. That fact was too immense for the young boy to comprehend. Thus, his mind momentarily shut down.

"Have you changed your mind now?"

Jin So-ryeong asked again.

"I refuse!"

the man replied stubbornly.

Then Jin So-ryeong's eyes turned cold.

"W-wait a moment! Please don't fight, both of you!"

the boy shouted urgently. Jin So-ryeong's gaze turned to the boy, filled with confusion.

"Do you know him?"

This question was clearly not directed at the man. Was the man not even within her range of perception? The boy answered immediately. Although his head was still swimming, he couldn't collapse here. Suppressing a surge of nausea, the boy began to speak.

"Ah, yes. He is my uncle. He is the sworn brother of my father and also the Chief Manager of Jungwon Pyo Guk, General of the Wind Demon Blade, Uncle Yoon Yi-jeong. He is also known as the Twelve Golden Walls of Jungwon in the martial arts world."

Jin So-ryeong had heard of the title "Twelve Golden Walls of Jungwon." It was the signboard of Jungwon Pyo Guk, a title referring to the twelve most outstanding Chief Managers of Jungwon Pyo Guk.

"Is that so? You know him?"

The man Yoon Yi-jeong's identity did not seem to be of much interest to her. However, she tilted her head, looking puzzled.

'Was I mistaken? I clearly felt him channeling internal energy into his palms.'

However, she never misjudged even the faintest hint of killing intent. But if he was the children's uncle, then he was one of the few sources of support they could rely on. She stopped probing. However, her suspicion had not been dispelled.

Realizing that the woman knew the children, Yoon Yi-jeong finally sheathed his sword and bowed, saying,

"I apologize, valiant lady. Please forgive my rudeness. I am Yoon, who holds a humble position at Jungwon Pyo Guk. If it is not too much trouble, would you grant me the honor of knowing your esteemed name?"

The flustered demeanor he had shown moments ago was nowhere to be found.

"……."

However, Jin So-ryeong did not reply. Despite it being a great rudeness, she did not reciprocate. Instead, she looked into Yoon Yi-jeong's eyes with a profound gaze, as clear and cool as an abyss.

Yoon Yi-jeong was enraged by her indifference, but as he met her eyes, like pieces of glass, he dared not act rashly.

Silent pressure. It could certainly be called that.

To diffuse the awkward atmosphere, Yoo Kyung-young stepped in. In that regard, he was no ordinary child.

"Ah, he's too famous to reveal his identity casually, as it would cause a stir. Uncle would be surprised if he knew too?"

Yoo Kyung-young deliberately began to speak in an exaggerated manner. Jin So-ryeong did not seem to try to stop him. The boy took this as an unspoken permission to reveal her identity.

"Are you curious as to who this person is?"

"Yes, I am curious."

Yoon Yi-jeong nodded.

"Don't be surprised when you hear it. This is the renowned Nun of Emei, Jin So-ryeong, valiant lady Jin!"

Yoon Yi-jeong's eyes widened in surprise. The Nun of Emei? She was a major figure! If that were true, she was too formidable an opponent for him to face. Compared to her radiant, sun-like brilliance, his reputation was less than the light of a firefly's tail.

"I have always admired your name, Nun, and it is a blessing of three lifetimes to meet you like this. I am truly sorry for the great rudeness I committed just now."

"I don't mind. For a warrior, it is better to be a little excessive in vigilance than to be complacent."

Her response contained a hidden sharpness. It was also a message she was telling herself. Above all, her unwavering, straight gaze clearly indicated that she had not lowered her guard at all.

"I am grateful for your understanding."

Cheongnyong Unjang also existed within the domain of the Emei Sect, and its contributions were considerable, not inferior to others. Cheongnyong Unjang was under the protection of the Emei Sect, and therefore, a preliminary investigation team had already been formed to deal with the calamity that befell Cheongnyong Unjang.

In truth, the fact that the destruction of Cheongnyong Unjang had occurred so close by, and they had been unable to lift a finger, meant that the Emei Sect's influence had diminished. This was a great humiliation, and the Emei Sect had to resolve this issue somehow to save face. If the news that they had passively watched someone trample through their front yard and then play with fire spread for thousands of miles, it would be too late. It was obvious that they would face criticism from surrounding sects. They could not predict what kind of contempt they would endure. Therefore, the Emei Sect was putting all its efforts into this matter. Thus, Jin So-ryeong, as a disciple of the Emei Sect, could not stand idly by.

Therefore, if the last remaining bloodline of Cheongnyong Unjang were to suffer misfortune, even with an Emei disciple accompanying them—especially with herself, the foremost sword of Emei—it would be an unparalleled disgrace. The Emei Sect would no longer be able to show its face in the martial arts world. So how could she neglect the safety of these two children?

"Kyung-young, Seon-ah!"

Yoon Yi-jeong called the children's names affectionately.

"Yes, Uncle!"

the children replied.

"Won't you come with me?"

"With Uncle?"

Yoo Kyung-young asked.

"Yes. Aren't your father and I sworn brothers? If something happened to my brother, how could I stand idly by? And how could I ignore you two, who have lost your home? With my current means, I can easily take care of both of you. And whoever is targeting you, no matter how wicked they are, they wouldn't dare to treat Jungwon Pyo Guk lightly. It will be a shield that protects you. What do you think? Will you come with me?"

"That's… uh…"

Yoo Kyung-young was taken aback by Yoon Yi-jeong's sudden proposal. And with anxious eyes, unable to decide what to do, he glanced at Jin So-ryeong. It was a purely instinctive act. Jin So-ryeong couldn't help but feel puzzled, looking at his eyes as if he were extremely afraid of something.

"So… so…"

How should he answer? As his thoughts couldn't settle, he just kept repeating the same words. The boy, who kept glancing at the peculiar scar on his uncle's arm, had only one thought in his mind: he absolutely must not go with him, no matter what. The problem was how to refuse it skillfully. Finally, the boy made up his mind and looked directly into Yoon Yi-jeong's eyes.

"I am grateful for Uncle Yoon's kind offer. Even though the background of Cheongnyong Unjang has disappeared, you care deeply for us, and we are overwhelmed. Father would also be grateful for your kindness, Uncle."

"Oh, so you're coming with me?"

Yoon Yi-jeong said, unable to hide his joy.

"But…"

The boy continued without answering.

"I have received help from many people, including the Nun and the people of Jungwon Pyo Guk. They promised to protect us and thoroughly investigate the bloody history of Cheongnyong Unjang to uncover the truth. And I told them I believed them."

He said so, but honestly, he hadn't believed them. That's why he had slipped away secretly. However, that fact was no longer on the boy's mind. Yoo Kyung-young took a breath and started speaking again.

"My father always said that for a merchant, sincerity is the most important thing. If they lose that sincerity, they lose everything. As my father's son, how can I abandon that teaching, which may now be his last words?"

"Then your story is…"

Yoon Yi-jeong's face hardened. The three scars on his chin and the new scar on his forehead twitched hideously.

"I will stay with the people of Jungwon Pyo Guk. They promised to protect us, so I must trust them."

"I understand your opinion. If that is your wish, we must respect it. However…"

Yoon Yi-jeong's eyes flashed sharply, staring at Yoo Kyung-young.

"I sincerely doubt whether mere Jungwon Pyo Guk can be a reliable shield. Please think about it carefully again. It's late today, so let's talk again later."

Abruptly spewing out fragments of his thoughts, Yoon Yi-jeong, without relaxing his grim expression, bowed lightly to Jin So-ryeong and turned around sharply, walking away.

And he never looked back again.