Chapter 129

Right. Absolutely.

Thinking like that, all the questions that had been rising are resolved.

Including myself, who had spent a month with them, why they had kept such secrets from outsiders.

For a supposedly ordinary group of wanderers, why were they so excessively tense at times, and why were they so serious about defectors?

For quite a long time, I thought I was close friends with Paeng Ha-ryeong, yet she subtly kept me at a distance. But why did she call Namgung Sol, whom Namgung Woo brought as his disciple, “sister-in-law” without any hesitation?

All those questions are answered.

In the last case, “sister-in-law” originally refers to the younger sister of one’s husband, but to anyone, Namgung Woo and Namgung Sol were not blood-related. Their surnames were different, after all. Externally, they used the aliases Nam Woo and Jeong Sol.

But Paeng Ha-ryeong didn’t show even a hint of wariness, unlike with Jegal Seon-a or Song Chaeji.

Even though a non-blood-related younger sister might be a more fatal competitor than Jegal Seon-a herself or Song Chaeji, her first female friend!

“But if they share the same surname… If Jeong Sol is an alias and they’re actually from the same family, then there’s no need to worry!”

There’s still one unresolved question.

A new question that has just arisen.

“Then why did Nam Daehyeop, no, Namgung Daehyeop, tell me about it now?”

Hadn’t they been hiding it all along?

Jegal Seon-a herself never actively asked to be told, so it’s hard to say anything, but regardless, Namgung Woo and Changcheon Pavilion had intentionally kept it a secret from Jegal Seon-a.

But why…?

Jegal Seon-a clenched her small hand, too small for a martial artist’s.

She felt a bit resentful.

For not noticing it sooner.

For hiding such an important fact from her.

And for not being able to purely rejoice even after finding out.

“Why…?”

Jegal Seon-a’s voice was slightly choked.

Paeng Ha-ryeong gave her a worried look.

Several times, Jegal Seon-a had subtly tried to probe Paeng Ha-ryeong about what she didn’t know.

Each time, all Paeng Ha-ryeong could do was evade or keep her mouth shut. The closest thing to advice she offered was to suggest asking Namgung Woo directly.

Jegal Seon-a ultimately couldn’t bring herself to ask Namgung Woo directly. That might have been her own fault. But Paeng Ha-ryeong didn’t want to say that.

Not wanting to be disliked by someone you care about for asking a rude question is a feeling anyone with a crush would understand.

“…Why are you telling me now?”

The emotions in Jegal Seon-a’s question were complex.

She seemed both angry and sad.

Namgung Woo answered.

“I thought it was the right thing to do.”

“The right thing?”

“Now that we’ve come this far, it’s only a matter of time before my or Sol’s real names are revealed. So, I thought it was right to tell those who know about us directly.”

If Jegal Seon-a were to hear through rumors that Namgung Woo had been using an alias, that his real name was Namgung Woo, how would she feel?

She might think that the month they spent together was just sharing the same space and time, devoid of any emotional exchange, and feel sad.

Namgung Woo didn’t want that. Even if it was selfish.

“I’m sorry for hiding it until now.”

At Namgung Woo’s apology, Jegal Seon-a looked him straight in the eye and said.

“…Daehyeop, you’re really indifferent.”

“Seon-a.”

“Ha-ryeong, you too.”

Jegal Seon-a, who had always seemed harmless like a small animal, showed her sharp side for the first time.

Paeng Ha-ryeong, feeling guilty, couldn’t call Jegal Seon-a anymore.

“But… I think it was the right decision.”

That thought tormented Jegal Seon-a even more.

Keeping the secret from her was a rational decision.

“The fewer people who know a secret, the better. And those who share such a secret must be prepared to give their lives for it.”

Yang Kwae and Yang Jeong call themselves disciples and say they would die together.

Knowing the danger, Myorin chose to stay instead of leaving.

Geumshin… I’m not sure, but there must be something similar.

As for Namgung Sol, being from the same Namgung Family, there’s no need to explain.

And Paeng Ha-ryeong.

Paeng Ha-ryeong was more devoted to Namgung Woo than anyone else here.

But Jegal Seon-a herself couldn’t do that.

“Because… I have duties as a member of my family to follow….”

The Jegal Family also considers Namgung Woo a benefactor. Would Jegal Jong, the head, have told Jegal Seon-a to follow him to Luoyang for no reason? But being a benefactor doesn’t mean they would stake everything for Namgung Woo.

Jegal Seon-a didn’t know, but Jegal Chong had promised to help Namgung Woo once. But that was only a promise of compensation equivalent to the favor they received.

They swore with the family treasure, Danryeong’s Pearl, so the promise would surely be kept. The question is to what extent they would help. Unlike the Paeng Family, they would clearly refuse anything that risked the family’s survival.

Even without knowing the details, Jegal Seon-a’s assessment of the Jegal Family was very realistic.

“So, you don’t have to apologize.”

Even though she thought it was the right decision, feeling disappointed was probably proof that Jegal Seon-a’s feelings were genuine.

The vague emotions took on a clearer outline. It wasn’t due to Resonance Power. The emotions flowing in from around her were distinctly different from what Jegal Seon-a was feeling.

A bitter taste lingered in Jegal Seon-a’s mouth.

She had come all the way to Luoyang to find out if her feelings were a delusion caused by Resonance Power or her true heart. But she didn’t want to find out this way.

“…Sorry, but I’ll leave first. I need to… sort out my thoughts.”

Before Namgung Woo or Paeng Ha-ryeong could stop her, Jegal Seon-a got up and left.

She didn’t leave the inn but went to her room in the annex, so no one stopped her.

Paeng Ha-ryeong watched Jegal Seon-a’s small back as she walked away, lost in thought. Was this the right thing? Was it okay for her to monopolize the seat next to Namgung Woo?

It was a topic she had been pondering, but today, the afterthought lingered longer.

§

Namgung Sol left Changmu Inn.

She didn’t have anything particular to do, but the atmosphere in the annex was becoming unbearable for her.

‘Ugh… I should have just followed the Yang uncles when they left.’

Namgung Sol, who called Yang Kwae and Yang Jeong “uncles” despite the small age difference.

Actually, the only one she really thought of as an uncle was the blunt-talking Yang Kwae. Yang Jeong, who always spoke formally and cared about his appearance, didn’t seem like one.

It just ended up that way.

“I thought Myorin unnie would follow, but what’s so fun about that…?”

Feeling a bit awkward going out alone, she had asked Myorin to come along, but Myorin stayed behind, saying she couldn’t miss this interesting spectacle.

That left Paeng Ha-ryeong and Namgung Woo, and there was an instinctive warning not to talk to them now.

‘Being alone feels… unpleasant.’

Namgung Sol, who had gotten used to being alone after her mother Namgung Si-hee died, had been forced to stand on her own. For years, she relied only on herself, to the point where even Gakwon’s help sometimes felt like a hindrance.

But after meeting Namgung Woo and spending about a month together, being alone felt strange.

“Well… it’s just for today.”

Tomorrow, they would all go to watch the martial arts competition together.

To settle things with the Dokgo Family and Dokgo Bin.

So, being alone for one day should be bearable.

And she hoped that during the time everyone was away, the situation would be resolved.

‘First, let’s grab some food. I didn’t even have a proper breakfast.’

Though she had stayed in Luoyang longer than the Changcheon Pavilion people, Namgung Sol wasn’t particularly into food.

What’s there to do in Luoyang? She spent her days swinging her sword in the training ground, only coming out when it was time to eat, hastily replenishing her energy before returning to the training ground.

So, Namgung Sol wandered around Luoyang, looking around with curiosity as if she were on a trip.

Then, she found an inn with a good smell and went inside.

The waiter quickly noticed her arrival and guided her to a small corner seat. Being alone, she got a rather small spot.

Feeling self-conscious about being alone, Namgung Sol glanced around to see if there were others by themselves. Fortunately, she spotted a few solo diners.

Relieved, she took a sip of the tea the waiter brought.

At that moment, a sharp exclamation from a large group in the central area pierced her ears.

“So, Jeong Sol making it to the finals is all thanks to the Martial Alliance and the Great Master of Changcheon Pavilion’s manipulation!”