Chapter 89

As Namgung Woo’s thoughts about Yi Ja-ryong deepened, the argument between Paeng Ha-ryeong and Myorin also escalated.

Even Yang Kwae, who was usually shameless and smooth-talking, was busy rolling his eyes and gauging the situation, while Yang Jeong seemed to have completely zoned out, as if his soul had left his body.

“Should I send a Whispering Transmission?”

Yang Jeong seriously considered breaking Namgung Woo’s train of thought and asking him to mediate this situation. And this dilemma ultimately suggested that Yang Jeong had also broken through the wall of the first-rate and entered the realm of a Peak Master.

The exclusive technique of a Peak Master, Whispering Transmission. The fact that he could consider using it meant that he had indeed become a Peak Master.

The long peace that followed the Jeongsa Great War. While small-scale conflicts between sects naturally continued, a war involving the entire martial world of a region like this was the first in nearly a decade.

Real combat helps martial artists grow, and the experience gained from such large-scale wars is extraordinary.

It helps those who stand atop the tower of many sacrifices to more easily reach higher realms. The Unmong Great War provided not only Namgung Woo but also all those who participated with a topic of growth.

That he was able to grasp it was undoubtedly thanks to Yang Jeong’s efforts.

Although Yang Jeong had finally crossed the threshold of becoming a Peak Master, the only thing he could do in this situation was to send a Whispering Transmission. Just as Yang Jeong was feeling a sense of self-loathing, wondering if he had struggled so hard to become a Peak Master just for this, Namgung Woo broke the silence.

“First, I understand the situation. But if it was so urgent, why did you avoid it at first?”

At Namgung Woo’s words, Paeng Ha-ryeong tilted her head as if to ask what he meant.

“Huh? Avoid it?”

“We were being followed. Probably from Beijing. I only noticed we were being followed after leaving Nanjing, so before that, they were probably just keeping an eye on our destination.”

“Then I also understand why you wanted to rely on the boss. Even though the boss killed Yi Ja-ryong and left the Imperial Family with a huge debt, he didn’t receive anything from them, so he probably tried to sneak in his own salvation.”

When Yang Kwae said, “Hmm… that’s a bit…” Paeng Ha-ryeong nodded vigorously beside him.

“If that were the case, wouldn’t they have come out earlier? Considering the timing, I think they probably felt a sense of crisis when the Seekers in the Mist were exposed.”

“Hey. If that’s the case, why follow us from Beijing? It’s obvious they were keeping an eye on the Hapbuk Paeng Family.”

“That’s enough. Let’s hear from the person involved first.”

When Namgung Woo gave her the floor, Myorin quickly spoke up like a fish biting bait.

“As your brother said, at first, I was just following out of curiosity. You may not know, but Yi Ja-ryong called the Great Hero the last impurity. He deliberately waited until the Great Hero left Beijing.”

As expected. Yi Ja-ryong had been aware of Namgung Woo. But because Namgung Woo had completely erased Yi Ja-ryong from the world, that secret was lost forever.

“…Continue.”

“Then, when the Seekers in the Mist were exposed, and I heard that the Imperial Family had even secured their main base, I started to get anxious. I didn’t think they would fall so easily… and there was a high possibility that traces of Yi Ja-ryong contacting me were left in the Seekers in the Mist’s main base. From then on, your brother is right.”

In short, at first, she thought the Seekers in the Mist would manage to escape from the Imperial Family, but when the Imperial Family captured their main base and the fire reached her feet, she tried to take shelter under Namgung Woo, who had left the Imperial Family in debt.

“Hmm…”

Namgung Woo weighed the pros and cons of accepting Myorin.

First of all, Myorin was an accomplice of Yi Ja-ryong and a major criminal of the Imperial Family. There was some room for leniency since she claimed she didn’t know what she was helping with, but given that she was aware of the eavesdropping and surveillance, it was hard to grant her a pardon.

A similar case would be Pyeong Choyul. Pyeong Choyul and the Yopyeong Escort Agency had the fault of transporting the white stone to Beijing.

However, the Yopyeong Escort Agency was merely fulfilling its duties as an escort agency and had no intention of helping Yi Ja-ryong, so when Namgung Woo requested it, Paeng Hu-sang negotiated well with the Imperial Family and was excluded from the list of traitors. Although they had to pay a hefty compensation under the guise of a fine.

‘But Myorin is a real collaborator of Yi Ja-ryong. It’s hard to settle this with just a fine.’

Perhaps a serious conversation with the Imperial Family would be necessary.

With Paeng Hu-sang’s help and bringing in Han Gyeran, it might not be impossible, but it was clear that the process would be quite complicated.

‘On the other hand, she is my lifesaver.’

If Myorin hadn’t brought the sword to him?

Could Hwaseong Temple have pierced through the vortex of energy caused by the Five Yin Demon Emperor and Namgung Woo? Even if they had the strength to withstand it, the Five Yin Demon Emperor wouldn’t have just stood by.

Without Myorin, who could traverse space, there was no one else who could have delivered the sword to Namgung Woo at that moment.

Myorin must have known that too. That’s why she forcibly took the sword from Hwaseong Temple and immediately delivered it to Namgung Woo. She must have been in a hurry, as the person who might be her only lifeline was about to die.

There were reasons not to take her in, and reasons why she had to be taken in.

And what resonated more with Namgung Woo was inevitably the latter.

“Let me make one thing clear. Even if you come under me, it won’t necessarily be safe.”

“Huh?!”

At the statement that carried a strong positive meaning, Paeng Ha-ryeong exclaimed in shock, calling out to Namgung Woo.

It hadn’t been long since they had shared their hearts, and now he was siding with another woman… She felt like crying.

Namgung Woo also felt sorry for Paeng Ha-ryeong, but this was a separate matter.

“I owe her my life. I can’t just let it go.”

“That may be, but…”

Paeng Ha-ryeong coldly scanned Myorin’s entire body. Her long, sharp, and sinister snake-like eyes, and her shamelessly revealing, clingy, and bizarre outfit.

More than the discomfort of accepting a traitor as a comrade, honestly, her appearance and clothing were more off-putting.

Paeng Ha-ryeong closed her eyes tightly and made her final objection to Namgung Woo.

“If it’s just about owing her your life, wouldn’t it be enough to help her get a pardon for the crime of treason? Being with such a… such a seductress…”

“Se-seductress?!”

Myorin, who had been kneeling for quite a while without her legs going numb, suddenly jumped up as if a trigger had been pressed.

She admitted to being a traitor. The Great Ming Law naturally places more emphasis on results than intentions. Moreover, when it comes to treason, even innocent people are arrested for being connected to the wrong person.

But she couldn’t just let the latter comment slide.

“My attire may be somewhat unusual, but there’s a reason for it. And here, I have a proper robe too.”

“An unbuttoned robe?”

“Uh… and I also have a proper Palace Guardian Mark! Calling me a seductress… that’s slander!”

Myorin, looking truly wronged, rolled up the sleeve of her robe covering her arm and revealed her wrist.

Unlike the others who were surprised by Myorin’s actions, Namgung Woo was just confused about what was going on.

He thought about asking through Whispering Transmission, but it seemed like that would only cause more commotion, so he tapped Yang Jeong and asked.

“Is that the Palace Guardian Mark? What is it?”

“Huh? You don’t know?”

“There’s a strange energy, but I can’t tell just from that.”

“No, that’s not it…”

As Yang Jeong blushed and stammered, Yang Kwae, seemingly frustrated, pushed him aside and spoke.

“Simply put, it’s a mark used to verify a woman’s chastity. They say they use some strange lizard, but anyway, it’s something like that.”

“I’ve heard rumors, but this is the first time I’ve seen it in person.”

According to legend, the Palace Guardian Mark was passed down to Emperor Wu of Han by Dongfang Shuo. It is made by mixing a red female lizard with cinnabar, and when applied to a girl’s right arm, the mark remains and does not fade.

However, after marriage and consummation, the color disappears, so the red mark of the Palace Guardian Mark is considered proof of a woman’s chastity.

After hearing the explanation of the Palace Guardian Mark from the Yang brothers, an awkward laugh escaped Namgung Woo.

“When did these old customs… that’s all just evil energy, right?”

“No. What the charlatans in the民间 make and stamp on anyone is fake, but the real spell cast by a proper sorcerer works. My master also kept the red mark of the Palace Guardian Mark her entire life. I’ve also heard that the Emei Sect, which values chastity, applies it.”

“The Emei Sect? When was that… I haven’t heard of them using such a thing since the Ming Dynasty.”

“That can’t be… my master clearly… no, even if that’s the case, my innocence is proven.”

As Myorin strongly asserted, Paeng Ha-ryeong also quietly backed down, feeling it was a bit much to argue further.

The Cheongjeong Sect, which has Sun Bul-i, the only female among the Seven Heroes of the Forward, as its founder. As a single-lineage sect that only accepts female disciples, they have passed down even the smallest details as sect traditions to ensure their teachings are not lost.

Thus, the Palace Guardian Mark can also be considered a surviving trace of an ancient era.

In any case, Namgung Woo spoke to finish handling the remaining matters.

“First, I want to properly verify your skills. I need to check your martial arts skills, and most importantly, you need to explain your sorcery in detail.”