Chapter 49. Twin Swords of the Wind and Clouds (24)

Chapter 49. Twin Swords of the Wind and Clouds (24)

Cheong-Cheong trembled as she responded to Hye-Ryeong’s steel-like words.

“I-I didn’t know. Please, forgive me.”

The person who responded to her wasn’t Hye-Ryeong, but her younger sister and the other person with true authority, Ju-Ryeong.

“You didn’t know? Oh, ho, that really is such a peculiar phrase. Then, does that mean it's okay for you to act like that because you didn’t know?!”

With every word, Ju-Ryeong’s rage grew more potent at the thought of the insignificant Cheong-Cheong provoking Sang-Woon, who was already a volcano ready to erupt, and turning the whole situation into such a fiasco.

She was so irritated that she even circulated her qi as she yelled at Cheong-Cheong.

“Are you saying that if a guest who comes to our gates is dressed modestly, that gives you the right to act like a snob?! Since when did our prestigious Baek Family become so excessive?!”

“I’m sorry. Please, forgive me...”

“Patriarch! We need to take this opportunity to punish her properly. This time, it wouldn’t be too much even if we kicked her out of the family for her actions!”

“Ha...”

Moo-Hoon let out a deep groan.

Cheong-Cheong was his most recently acquired concubine and his latest favorite. She had continued to cause him anxiety due to her consistently excessive behavior, and now, she had finally made a major blunder.

His inaction and passivity had come back to bite him, but there was nothing he could do.

“What do you think about ten lashes and confinement to her quarters for three months as a punishment?” Moo-Hoon said cautiously.

Ju-Ryeong snorted at his words and spat, “Are you planning on glossing over this with a measly ten lashes? To someone who committed such a serious crime, and a concubine no less? What do you think he will say if he finds out?”

“T-then, what about fifty lashes? She has a weak constitution, even this much could be dangerous to...”

“How have you gotten to this age with such little sense, Patriarch? Do you really like women that much?!”

As Ju-Ryeong shouted, Moo-Hoon lowered his head. His sisters were older and had always been stronger than him, so he could only endure the bullying he had been subjected to since childhood.

“I-I’m sorry...”

Even after seeing the patriarch of the family grovel in such an unsightly manner, the elders, who had been preaching about respect and adhering to custom, didn’t say a single word, just clicking their tongues in disapproval.

It was only then that Cheong-Cheong realized that Moo-Hoon could never have shielded her from what was coming.

All he amounted to was a figurehead.

Ultimately, it was decided that Cheong-Cheong would be confined for three months and receive fifty lashes on the first and last day of her confinement.

* * *

In a massive drawing room, Dok-Du, Gwang Ryeok-Gwi, and Rat were huddled in a corner, wary of their surroundings. From the way they sat, it was difficult to believe that they were once people who ruled the streets of Anqing.

Of course, it was to be expected; the weakest link of the food chain within the Black Hand had just entered the manor of the Iron Sword Baek Family, one of the leaders of the Righteous Faction.

It only made sense that they were terrified.

Dae-Woong looked around the drawing room, constantly impressed, as he sipped on the expensive tea they had been served; in the meantime, Jin-Jin spoke to Woo-Moon, lecturing him on various topics—trivial things about how to act as a member of an Ancient Family and etiquette. New novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

Her husband, Dae-Woong, was a bit dim-witted and was the furthest thing from proper manners, so teaching him would require a long period of time. She thus first focused on Woo-Moon, who was quick to understand.

“I understand. Yes, yes... yes, mother.”

Woo-Moon was smart, so he understood and remembered everything she said as soon as she mentioned it.

Then, Sang-Woon suddenly sent him a message.

–Come out, and don’t tell Jin-Jin I called for you.

Woo-Moon made some excuses to Jin-Jin and eventually met with Sang-Woon at the rear of the Baek Family manor.

“You called?”

“Do you know how your mother ended up with those internal injuries?”

“I haven’t heard anything directly from anyone, but I did overhear when you and Mother spoke about it before. I understand that she had suffered internal injuries while running away from an arranged marriage.”

“I see. In truth, your mother was assumed to be dead within the Baek Family until now. There was even a funeral. Most likely, the memorial tablet is still there, too.”

Hearing those words, Woo-Moon’s eyes flashed.

If the situation back then had been enough for the Baek Family to assume she had died, it meant that something truly serious had happened.

“From what I know, the pursuit squad chased after your mother relentlessly. They continued even after Jin-Jin went toward a cliff a thousand zhang high, one high enough that she could have fallen and died with a single misstep. Your mother had suffered internal injuries in the chase. She couldn’t hold on any longer...and she fell.”

Woo-Moon’s eyes turned cold.

He hadn’t been educated or raised in a noble family; he was truly a country bumpkin. Thus, it was completely incomprehensible to him for someone to be forced into a marriage arranged by one’s family and for even a pursuit squad to be sent just because that person refused to adhere to the rules.

Moreover, because of that, his mother had suffered for all that time with her internal injuries and could have even died!

“After your mother was forced into that situation, I secretly investigated what had happened, and it was only then that I realized it—what really happened on that cliff that day. I will never tell your mother what it was, but I know exactly what they did.”

“Could it be... that they had intentionally tried to murder her and pretend it was an accident?”

There was burning rage within Woo-Moon’s voice.

Sang-Woon answered Woo-Moon’s question in full detail, explaining to him who was involved in it, the identity and strength of those leading the pursuit squad, and the ridiculous scale of the pursuit—all of these far beyond what such a situation would have warranted.

Flying toward the sky, the Palm Martial Emperor threw a small pouch to Woo-Moon.

“Don’t forget! You can only take a single drop!”

It was the Pure Stalactite Milk.

* * *

“Is this where we are going to live now?”

Located on one side of the main manor of the Baek Family was a small residence made up of three buildings. It was nothing grand, but there was also nothing outwardly strange about it, so the Song family was rather pleased.

Woo-Moon pointed at the smallest and most shabby-looking building.

“You three! You brats are going to live there from now on. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

Even though it seemed shabby in comparison to the surrounding buildings, to the Dok-Ryeok-Rat trio, the building they were assigned looked quite exquisite. It had two spacious rooms, had antique patterns carved into its walls, and even had tiles on the roof.[2]

“Wow, it’s amazing.”

“I guess we really are at the Baek Family.”

The three people entered the room with admiration, their expressions of happiness so plain and clear that even a blind man could’ve seen what they were thinking.

‘Now we don’t have to see that demon king so often.’

Dae-Woong and Jin-Jin entered the largest building, the one in the middle, while Woo-Moon took Eun-Ah to the remaining medium-sized building

With that, the family spent their very first night at the Baek Family Manor.

As no one called for him and no guests had come, Woo-Moon stayed late into the night at the training hall behind their residence, practicing his martial arts before going to bed.

‘It’s pretty fine, I guess. Strange draft though.’

It seemed as though there was a bit of a draft coming in. Still, it didn’t matter much because as soon as he felt the chill, the Forbidden Divine Art qi circulated automatically, warming him up immediately.

The next day, after finishing breakfast, he returned to the small courtyard in front of his residence, where he found his parents and a number of strangers waiting for him.

A warrior with ten men in tow saluted Woo-Moon.

“Following the orders of the patriarch, we have selected and brought guards for Elder Jin-Jin’s family.

Jin-Jin asked curiously, “Elder? Why are you calling me that?”

“Upon Second Mistress Ju-Ryeong’s insistent request, you have become an elder as of this morning.”

Although she had become an elder, rather than calling for her and discussing it with her, it seemed as though they had just gone and decided it among themselves.

‘Seems like this man is also one of Second Cousin Ju-Ryeong’s people.’

When asked his name and position, the man responded that he was Yoon Ha-On, the vice-captain of the Tiger Fang Squadron of the Iron Sword Four Beast Battalion, one of the lower-ranking battalions of the family’s armed forces.

The Iron Sword Four Beast Battalion was made up of four units named after ferocious beasts: Eagle Talon Squadron, Dragon Fang Squadron, Lion Fang Squadron, and Tiger Fang Squadron.

Yoon Ha-On reported that the ten men behind him had been selected as the family’s bodyguards, so Woo-Moon stepped aside and took a look at them.

‘What the hell is this?'

Even though he had expected them to be useless, this was too much.

Some of them looked pale and yellowish, as if they indulged in alcohol too much; some others had a sword hanging at their waist, but the lack of calluses on their hands clearly showed their lack of training; finally, some others had clearly ruined their own bodies by training improperly.

‘It would be easier to just take untrained people and teach them from scratch.... Wait a moment, that makes sense. I really can pick some untrained people and teach them!’

Woo-Moon thought deeply for a few moments. He wondered how long he would be staying at the Baek Family and how much time he would have to invest if he decided on recruiting their own guards and teaching them directly.

‘Okay, it’s fine. It probably won’t take that much time. Hehe, they probably sent these useless losers on purpose, but let’s see who gets the last laugh.’

“Wait a moment, we’re going to talk for a bit.”

Yoon Ha-On responded very politely, “Understood. I’ll wait.”

Woo-Moon went inside the house with his parents and told them his idea.

Dae-Woong had a disapproving expression on his face.

“Hmpf. Do you really think that would work? Don’t you think it would be better just to keep those brats with us?”

“They won’t be useful anyway. It would be the same with or without them. Besides, they seem to have been in the Baek Family for a while and should be closer to the people on the other side. Who knows if they’ll turn on us later?”

Jin-Jin agreed with her son's opinion. With his wife and son on the same side, Dae-Woong could no longer oppose.

“Okay. Even to me, it’s clear that those bastards are already too far gone. Do whatever you think is best.”

Woo-Moon returned to the courtyard and let Ju-Ryeong’s underling know about their decision.

“We don’t need them. Actually, I plan to go to a nearby slum or orphanage and bring back some children. Is that okay?”

The man was taken aback. “Children? What do you plan to do with them?”

1. One of the Five Precepts for Secular Life as stated by Won Gwang, monk and scholar of the Silla Dynasty. ☜

2. In this era, in smaller cities like Anqing, most buildings had shingled or even thatched roofs. ☜