Chapter 138

“Ugh! Not again! I almost always go to Changmu Inn to hang out! I’m a disciple of the Hangsan Faction, the guardians of the Shanxi Great Wall…! I even got a new nickname, ‘Gungming Peak’…!”

Some familiar complaints.

Song Chaeji, feeling so wronged, vented her frustrations the moment she saw Namgung Woo.

As Song Chaeji and Namgung Woo approached each other, Jegal Seon-a slipped her small body between them, blocking the path. With the Heavenly Mystery Step activated, Song Chaeji’s steps naturally came to a halt.

“That’s probably… because the Great Hero’s reputation is much higher, don’t you think?”

Jegal Seon-a’s sharp factual bombardment made Song Chaeji turn her head sharply, her eyes filled with grievance. Jegal Seon-a, however, didn’t turn her head and just stared back blankly.

What’s this? What am I supposed to do? I just stated the facts.

No matter how much Jegal Seon-a might have cowered in front of Namgung Woo or Paeng Ha-ryeong, she was still a member of the Jegal Family, one of the Seven Great Families. Even if the Song Family and Hangsan Faction combined their strength, they wouldn’t be able to match her.

“Let’s sit down first.”

“Ah…”

At Namgung Woo’s words, Song Chaeji, who had just come to her senses, noticed the gazes of the people behind her and slightly hunched her shoulders.

“Um… I’m sorry for coming here so suddenly. I know it’s very rude, but I was in a hurry and couldn’t help it.”

Knowing that this was the Paeng Family’s Villa, Song Chaeji bowed deeply towards Paeng Ja-ryeong, who was representing the Paeng Family.

Even though she came to see Namgung Woo, the owner of this house was ultimately Paeng Ja-ryeong.

Paeng Ja-ryeong smiled habitually and said, “It’s fine. There’s plenty of room.”

“Then, thank you…”

Once everyone was seated again, Namgung Woo asked, “So, what’s the matter?”

“Ah… well…”

In her haste, Song Chaeji had shown incredible initiative by coming all the way to the Paeng Family’s Villa. But now that it was time to speak, she hesitated.

‘Is this really okay?’

Namgung Woo treated Song Chaeji not just as an acquaintance but as a friend.

He always welcomed her whenever she visited and openly told others that he had received help from her in the past.

Thanks to that, Song Chaeji also walked around with her head held high. She even sang to her master, Eulju Jinin, every day, saying, “Look at this! Huh? I’m really the best friend of the Blue Sword Emperor!”

Who am I? A descendant of the Namgung Family, the first friend of the Blue Sword Emperor, Namgung Woo.

The title “Gungming Peak” was nothing compared to the boost it gave to Song Chaeji’s self-esteem.

But the reason Song Chaeji could confidently say this was that, no matter how small, they had a relationship of mutual help.

Bringing Namgung Woo, who had collapsed on the street, giving him some money, and introducing him to the Yopyeong Escort Agency. It wasn’t a big deal. Song Chaeji knew it was tiny compared to what she received from Namgung Woo.

But Namgung Woo called it a favor and genuinely believed it. That’s why Song Chaeji could be confident.

But what if she went beyond that?

What if she received an even greater favor?

Would she still be able to confidently call herself his friend?

“Uh, Miss Song? Should I call you Gungming Peak? Anyway, everyone here is busy. I understand giving you a seat because you’re the Blue Sword Emperor’s friend. But can you get to the point now?”

“I’m… sorry.”

Urged by Moyong Gyeongdo, Song Chaeji snapped out of it and spoke.

And once her mouth opened, the worries and anxieties she had been holding back poured out.

“I came… to ask for help.”

“Help, you say?”

When Namgung Woo asked, Song Chaeji nodded.

“Yes… The Wind Chasing Unit sent news that the situation is difficult. They said it’s almost annihilation… They were chasing some people from the Beonse Sect, and my uncle is there too…”

Song Chaeji’s words became a jumble.

The doubt of whether this was really okay and the pressure of so many people’s gazes made it hard for Song Chaeji to explain properly.

Namgung Woo pieced together the key words that came up intermittently and reconstructed the story.

“So, the uncle you came to see is a member of the Wind Chasing Unit, and the Wind Chasing Unit is in a crisis, so you want us to help with the rescue. Is that what you mean?”

“Ah, y-yes…”

Perhaps aware that her request was excessive, Song Chaeji avoided Namgung Woo’s gaze and turned her head.

“I know the Wind Chasing Unit is in charge of tracking the Beonse Sect, but has news come through?”

“My master heard it through an acquaintance…”

Eulju Jinin had connections with several elders of the Martial Alliance. As a senior of the Hangsan Faction, one of the Five Peaks Sword Factions, he was a respected figure in the martial world.

Upon hearing the request, Namgung Woo’s first thought was, ‘This is difficult.’

But his bond with Song Chaeji was a cherished memory from the beginning of this world. While Namgung Woo was pondering how to express this thought, Paeng Ja-ryeong spoke.

“I heard the Taetaek Unit has already moved to rescue the Wind Chasing Unit. But it’s still dangerous?”

“The Taetaek Unit was dispatched, but there’s been no word of success yet. But the fact that the Wind Chasing Unit sent someone… I think it might have been deliberately orchestrated by the enemy.”

Song Chaeji didn’t come to Namgung Woo without reason.

On the contrary, she was sure that Namgung Woo was the key to breaking through, which is why she took such a bold step.

“A barrier or formation technique. They might have isolated the Wind Chasing Unit using something like that…”

“That’s a plausible argument. It’s entirely possible from our family’s perspective. And there are many formation techniques that are hard to detect from the outside, so pure martial artists would find it difficult to notice.”

Jegal Hyul habitually listed possible formation techniques or barriers in his mind.

Even in the Central Plains, where knowledge of the Ghost Gate is scarce, if there’s a faction capable of artificially opening the Ghost Gate, there must be even more complex barriers and formation techniques.

“But, Namgung Hero, you might be able to notice it, right… That’s what I thought.”

Song Chaeji had heard a bit about Namgung Woo’s Azure Tranquility Eyes.

And if a martial artist has reached the level of Hua Jing, they can sense and penetrate even sorcery or formation techniques with their senses.

The Martial Alliance Leader, Gakwon, also has the Three Divine Connections, so it’s definitely possible, but asking the Martial Alliance Leader for help was too much even for Song Chaeji.

“Unfortunately, things aren’t so simple here either. It’s like ‘my nose is three feet long.'”

Moyong Gyeongdo’s words carried a sense of regret but no apology.

There was no reason to feel sorry. Moyong Gyeongdo was just stating his opinion, not the decision-maker.

But Moyong Gyeongdo’s words were enough to influence Namgung Woo’s decision.

“My nose is three feet long.”

That statement was true.

Namgung Woo was also in a crucial period of solidifying the foundation for the reconstruction of the Namgung Family.

“If the Martial Alliance has grasped the situation, they’ll send a second support team with specialized personnel. The Taetaek Unit has sorcerers, but that might not be enough. It’s better to leave this matter to the Martial Alliance.”

As the young master handling the family’s affairs, Paeng Ja-ryeong quickly summarized the solution to the situation.

“I guess so…”

“By the way, you said your uncle is in the Wind Chasing Unit? If it’s the Song family…”

Paeng Ja-ryeong muttered, trying to encourage Song Chaeji by mentioning the martial prowess of someone he knew, but Moyong Gyeongdo answered first.

“It must be the deputy leader. Song Woojeol, the Sword Wind Shadow Slasher. Right?”

“Ah, yes… that’s right.”

Paeng Ja-ryeong and Moyong Gyeongdo’s names were well-known even in the Hangsan Faction.

The Hapbuk Paeng Family and the Moyong Family were both located in the northeast, close to Hangsan, so their names were familiar.

Paeng Ja-ryeong’s name was famous even before he made a name for himself, so Song Chaeji had heard of him even before joining the Hangsan Faction.

Being in front of such a figure, even the spirited and capable Song Chaeji couldn’t help but feel intimidated.

But Namgung Woo’s sudden shocking declaration made Song Chaeji straighten her shoulders again.

“I’m changing the plan.”

Song Woojeol.

Hearing that name, Namgung Woo immediately shifted his stance.

“Benefactor?”

“Great Master?”

“Captain?”

As if asking what he meant, those who called him spoke, but Namgung Woo didn’t change his decision.

“There’s no reason to stay in Luoyang and recruit members. We’ll select only those who will join this rescue and confirm them as official members on the way. This might be better. It’s easier to see someone’s true nature in actual combat.”

Moyong Gyeongdo asked Namgung Woo if he was serious.

“Hey, are you really going?”

“Hmm… Is your bond with Miss Song that strong…?”

Namgung Woo nodded, confirming that his words weren’t empty but sincere.

“My bond with Miss Song is one thing, but that’s not the only reason for this decision.”

“Then?”

“My bond with Gwak Dan is also part of it.”

Song Woojeol.

That name was known to Namgung Woo.

Gwak Dan, who fought to the death with the Netherworld Horn.

The name he left with Namgung Woo along with the Netherworld Horn’s horn.

‘…I thought the name sounded familiar. The world is really small.’