MTL NOVEL Chapter 16
“What is this matter you speak of?”
“That… let’s talk a bit about Gayoung, shall we?”
You really should wet your lips before speaking, old man.
“About Miss Gayoung?”
“That’s the thing, you see… Ha ha. Though I’m not usually the nervous type…”
“You seem overly agitated.”
I can understand why Jang Gwangwoo feels this way.
He must be in a hurry.
He must press down on Jang Gayoung, his rival, as quickly as possible.
For a master of a martial family to fall ill at such a young age due to martial arts is nearly impossible.
In other words, the patriarch likely fell ill due to someone’s scheming.
Through the patriarch’s ailment, two people have benefited.
Jang Gwangwoo, the unofficial power behind the Taewon Jin clan, and Jang Gayoung, who gathered the scattered powers of the patriarch.
However, Jang Gayoung would have eventually inherited full power without doing anything.
Without a designated heir, she would have inherited the patriarch’s power quite stably.
Then, it must be Jang Gwangwoo alone.
“Hmm… I apologize for my unseemly behavior.”
“Speak now.”
The one who schemed to make the Jang patriarch sick, synchronized it with Jang Gayoung’s return, and made him appear to die naturally—this story so far has nothing to do with me.
Whether the Jang patriarch is dead or alive, or whether Jang Gwangwoo has committed an unjust act, it doesn’t concern me.
Back in my days of overflowing righteousness, things may have been different, but…
Nevertheless, Jang Gwangwoo’s ultimate goal is…
“Doesn’t Gayoung seem to be working herself too hard?”
There it is.
“…”
“That young girl, playing the role of a noblewoman and a governor… phew, to be frank, I feel sorry for her every time I see her.”
The real power of the Taewon Jin clan.
To achieve that, Jang Gayoung can only be an obstructive niece in Jang Gwangwoo’s eyes.
“That’s why… I thought I might take some of her burdens while she recovers her strength and composure. As her uncle, you know.”
“…”
“Hmm… so what I’m really trying to say is…”
“…”
“Would you kindly look after Gayoung for me? I hear you’re the closest to her these days. Always sticking together, it seems.”
There’s no need to say it out loud, but the request to “look after” her implies a deeper meaning.
“Ensure nothing improper happens to her. I’m sure you know what I mean. She might end up taking on too much out of misplaced duty and stumble, right? This is to prevent that.”
In essence, he wants you to take charge of managing Jang Gayoung until he secures his power.
“I’ll grant whatever you wish. I don’t underestimate your strength and value. The head of the inner chambers? A regional chief position? Or a finance-related role? I’ll ignore your overreach as long as it’s within reason.”
“…”
“So, your answer?”
Jang Gwangwoo smiles kindly and asks.
How shall I respond?
Since I have no intention of doing as he wishes, the answer will mean nothing, but…
“Let’s discuss this later.”
“Is that so? Do you need some time to think about it?”
“It would seem so.”
I finish my answer and rise from my seat.
Just as I’m about to leave the room, he calls me back and says this:
“There isn’t much time to think about this.”
With a hint of menace in his tone, unlike anything he’s shown thus far.
I struggle to suppress a smirk, making me feel like a fox struggling to imitate a wolf.
When I return to the mourning hall after escaping Jang Gwangwoo, I find Jang Gayoung sitting with her knees drawn up, her eyes hollow with a vacant gaze.
She looks at me and speaks as I turn my head towards her.
“Auntie.”
“Yes.”
“It’s time to send Father off.”
“Yes.”
Does she know?
That Jang Gwangwoo is surely the one who killed the patriarch?
She might have figured it out already under normal circumstances, but given her current state of profound sorrow, the chance she hasn’t noticed isn’t entirely nil.
“Even until Father’s last moments, I, this unworthy daughter, wasn’t by his side. How lonely must he have been?”
“During these past three days, your sincere attitudes have surely given him comfort.”
“Still, I can’t let it be this way.”
“?”
“On Father’s journey ahead, he cannot be lonely, can he? I must create a companion for his afterlife.”
At the same moment, Jang Gayoung unfolded her legs which were previously closed. There in that spot, where her head and hands had been hiding, was something small—an inscription written in small letters: “Jang Gwangwoo.”
It appears she isn’t as fragile as I anticipated.
“Uncle, have you never sought revenge?”
“Revenge?”
“Yes. Nurturing a grudge against someone, tearing apart their flesh and soul, and thoroughly driving them to despair until they become worse than animals before meeting an ignominious end.”
“…”
I decide it’s better not to mention being tired of doing it so many times.
“I knew you would say that. As kind as you are, I figured you wouldn’t have indulged in such actions.”
“…”
“I’ll show you once—just how far revenge must go to quell a grudge.”
“Aren’t you going to dissuade me? I thought you’d say something like, ‘Revenge won’t bring the dead back.'”
“Revenge is done for the living.”
“…But doesn’t revenge always leave one with nothing in the end? That’s the kind of person I thought you were.”
“It depends on the person. There are those who find enlightenment after revenge.”
“Ah… I see. I hadn’t considered that.”
Still, I’m secretly looking forward to Gayoung’s style of revenge.
“In fact, I just came from meeting Jang Gyeon-seon.”
“What? Uncle? Why did you meet him?”
“He summoned me, asking me to keep an eye on you while he consolidates his power.”
I relay everything he said after.
“Ho, my uncle certainly is… quite the character.”
“The rest is your responsibility.”
“Yes. I’ll sort it within my own means without troubling you, Uncle.”
“I needn’t insist. I am your subordinate.”
“Then you should simply follow orders. What I order you to do is observe. Just watch.”
I had mistakenly thought of Jang Gayoung as someone overly virtuous.
Whether during the time with the Outlaws or with Namgung So-so, there’s always been a subtle edge to her.
Even now, though her mouth is smiling, her eyes are filled with malice.
‘Is she planning something?’
I’m not entirely sure what Jang Gayoung’s plan is yet, but for the young Jang Gayoung, Jang Gwangwoo will be no easy opponent.
Since Ms. Gayoung told me to merely observe, I’ll have to carefully watch what Jang Gwangwoo intends to do next and what schemes he will concoct.
*
Salient Assembly.
A giant man clad in complete black garb was receiving a report.
“So, the conclusion is—you’ve rounded up twenty teenagers who haven’t even come of age?”
“Yes, all orphans, so there will be no repercussions regardless of how we use them.”
“Hmpf, how many of those bastards will be worth anything? Still, just in case, check ’em out for bone marrow, and those useless ones… the girls can be sold to brothels, the boys’ legs cut off to be beggars.”
“Will the Flower House accept them?”
“Someone at a nearby sub-den of ours is in on this, so they’ll manage it. Just don’t make too much noise—don’t go big enough to catch the boss’s ear. It’s a hassle.”
“I understand. Then the next item is…”
The giant man’s name is Black Bull Fist King, Dark Eminence, Woo Joo.
The supreme leader of the Black Path Union, Salient Assembly, and one of the twelve supreme adepts.
“Regarding the White Blade Wanderer who appeared in Xianxi Province.”
“The White Blade Wanderer? I’ve heard tales. Quite the force, rivaling most experts, no?”
“Wang Sa-bang has arrived. He directly encountered the White Blade Wanderer, so his input might help.”
“Bring him in. That Wang Sa-bang seems resourceful and sharp.”
“Wang Sa-bang! Enter!”
The huge door creaked open, and Wang Sa-bang entered hesitantly, then knelt before Woo Joo, bowing deeply.
“Meeting the Lord of the Assembly! I am Wang Sa-bang of the Wang Sa Sect!”
Woo Joo, true to his Black Path demeanor, waved his hand dismissively.
“Enough, we met before, did we not? Skip the formalities. Tell me what you know about the White Blade Wanderer.”
“A, well, it…!”
“I’ve already heard he attacked the Mount Heng Sword School and even bribed the Martial Arts Alliance?”
“I’m sorry!”
“Don’t apologize. On the contrary, it’s commendable. You’ve got guts and the execution to back it up, along with the knack for planning. We in the Black Path need talent like you.”
“Thank you…!”
Feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude that the Black Path Emperor had praised him, Wang Sa-bang bowed even lower.
“Enough of the pleasantries. Tell me about the White Blade Wanderer. What does he look like? What about his abilities? What about his personality or values as seen from his tone?”
“His face… I apologize. He wore a white mask, so only his white hair was visible.”
“Unfortunate. Any other details?”
“His demeanor seemed gentle. He appears reluctant to fight unless provoked.”
“That’s characteristic of reclusive types. Anything more unique?”
“His voice was very rough. Reminded me of old Yeyang who swallowed coal to prepare for his revenge. Oh, and he said something strange.”
“Strange? Do tell.”
As Woo Joo leaned forward with curiosity, Wang Sa-bang cleared his throat and mimicked the White Blade Wanderer.
“When one hides their strength and accumulates virtue, they call me a fool. Now that I reveal my strength and walk the righteous path, they call me a great man.”
“?”
“So, he said.”
“An odd fellow, indeed. You remembered clearly. Anything more? Tell me about his skills.”
“His skills… they were powerful. Beyond any flowery descriptions. My younger brother, a peak expert, couldn’t even put up a fight.”
“Give me an example. Compare him to someone you’ve met.”
“Ah… that would be…”
“Don’t hesitate. Speak frankly. We’re not pretentious scholars.”
“Uh… he seemed similar… to, my lord.”
“Hm? Similar to me?”
“I’m sorry! But since you told me to speak frankly…”
“It’s fine. I can’t deny he may hold a candle to me.”
“Thank you…! I’ve shared all I know. May I withdraw now?”
“No, wait a moment.”
Woo Joo began to ponder, resting his chin in thought.
While it’s intriguing to know the White Blade Wanderer’s origins or true identity, that’s not our immediate concern.
What we need to decide is how to use him for the benefit of Salient Assembly.
“From Taewon Jin family, you said?”
“Yes, from the Taewon Jin family.”
“Hm…”
The three strongest powers in Xianxi Province—the Mount Heng Sword School, the Taewon Jin family, and the Wang Sa Sect.
The Mount Heng Sword School has taken a heavy blow from this incident, and the Wang Sa Sect has also suffered significant losses.
And the Taewon Jin family… has grown even stronger.
Two of the three pillars of Xianxi have collapsed.
“Wang Sa-bang.”
“Yes…!”
“Gather intelligence on the Taewon Jin family from now on, and align yourself with them.”
“Align? You mean…”
“Since we can’t bring down a rising sun, we might as well cling to it to eat. The Mount Heng Sword School will self-destruct sooner or later. Their ultimate weapon, Bihwa, is missing, it seems.”
“I see! I’ll follow your orders!”
After Wang Sa-bang left, Woo Joo spent a long time contemplating the identity of the White Blade Wanderer.