Heaven-Defying Sword

Chapter 8

Chapter 8. A Foolish Man

As So Mu-hwan turned his head, he saw Monk Gong Yeong offering his greetings to Prince Chu and Namgung Cheong-hyeon. He also pressed his palms together toward So Mu-hwan and bowed his head slightly.

"Benefactor So."

"It is Monk Gong Yeong."

Prince Chu had come here several times to meet Great Master Beom Yo but had been rejected every time. As a result, he did not dare to look down upon Monk Gong Yeong, who attended to Great Master Beom Yo, and he received the greeting by pressing his hands together and showing respect.

"Is Great Master Beom Yo the same as always?" Lee Yeon-hwi asked.

"He remains unchanged," Monk Gong Yeong replied in a calm voice.

Lee Yeon-hwi let out a small sigh. This was because he was rejected with those same words every time he visited.

"Then it will be difficult today as well."

His older brother, the Prince of Yeonnam, also maintained his etiquette toward Great Master Beom Yo. Therefore, Prince Chu could not force the issue either. There was no other way but to keep visiting like this, even if it meant returning empty-handed.

"But what brings Monk Gong Yeong here? It does not seem like you came to see the Prince," So Mu-hwan asked.

Monk Gong Yeong glanced at Na Jin-an.

I asked why he came, and he looks at that brat?

Noticing that gaze, the faces of Lee Yeon-hwi and Namgung Cheong-hyeon, as well as So Mu-hwan, stiffened slightly.

"The Great Master is looking for him."

He is looking for someone? Who? That brat?

"Monk Gong Yeong. The youngest was just greatly startled, so may I take him there?"

When Na Jin-mook asked, Monk Gong Yeong nodded unexpectedly easily.

"Please do so."

That easily?

They had not even been able to go near the hermitage where Great Master Beom Yo stayed. Who wouldn't be surprised?

So Mu-hwan, who was watching, was greatly shocked. Namgung Cheong-hyeon's expression darkened, and Lee Yeon-hwi could not take his eyes off Na Jin-an.

"Brother, I will go deliver the youngest and come back, so please go to the guest room first."

"Alright."

"Your Highness Prince Chu, we shall take our leave."

As Monk Gong Yeong and Na Jin-mook bowed and greeted him, Lee Yeon-hwi nodded. Subsequently, Na Jin-seong also offered a greeting and left the area.

"It seems I made a mistake today. Cheong-hyeon, that was not like you. Did you think they would be a threat to me?"

Namgung Cheong-hyeon had clearly realized that Na Jin-seong and Na Jin-mook had not learned an internal energy cultivation method. Even so, he had reacted excessively.

"I am sorry, Your Highness."

"It is not that I do not know your heart. However, I am not that weak."

"I will keep that in mind."

In truth, Namgung Cheong-hyeon had acted that way because there had been several assassination attempts targeting Prince Chu recently.

Knowing this, Prince Chu did not say anything more, but a feeling of regret remained. It seemed that the relationship between Great Master Beom Yo and that brat was extraordinary. If he had coaxed them well, he might not have met Great Master Beom Yo immediately, but he might have been able to create an opportunity in the future.

"Your Highness. That brat was quite something."

So Mu-hwan changed the subject to break the awkward atmosphere. Then, Lee Yeon-hwi nodded.

"Now that I think about it, that brat shouted for them to get back when Cheong-hyeon acted, right?"

"That is correct. The brat's reaction was faster than his brothers'. Is he perhaps the disciple of Great Master Beom Yo?"

"That is probably not it. If he were, there would have been rumors; there is no way we would not know. What do you think?" Lee Yeon-hwi asked Namgung Cheong-hyeon.

"I will send people to look into it."

"Tsk! How boring. Well, we cannot know anything just by speculating. Look into everything related to that brat."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Ah, and also about the brat's brother. Did he say his name was Jin-mook?"

Lee Yeon-hwi liked the spirit of Na Jin-mook, who had blocked Namgung Cheong-hyeon's attack while being prepared to have his arm broken. His personality seemed upright.

"Be sure to check if they are associated with Shin-won."

Lee Shin-won was the son of the Prince of Yeonnam, Lee Yeon-baek. Therefore, he was Lee Yeon-hwi's nephew.

However, Lee Shin-won was hostile toward Lee Yeon-hwi. This was because he believed Lee Yeon-hwi was the greatest threat to him succeeding the Prince of Yeonnam. It was highly likely that he had orchestrated the recent assassination attempts on Prince Chu.

"I understand, Your Highness."

Namgung Cheong-hyeon sent his subordinate, Mook-baek. He was like the hands and feet of Namgung Cheong-hyeon and was very capable.

***

Mook-baek returned in exactly four days with everything he had discovered about Na Jin-an.

Lee Yeon-hwi, who was resting at a private villa, listened to the report while drinking tea.

"Na Jin-an's brother, Na Jin-mook, and his sister, Na Yeon, have nothing special about them. They grew up without any major incidents, and their reputations in the neighborhood are good. They are said to be kind and diligent. Their father, Na Hyeon-seung, is a Chief Constable in Jeokgye District. He has a cousin he is close with, but the family relation is distant and they have different surnames. Na Hyeon-seung paid off the massive debts he owed, and they are working together now. However, he is a man of poor character. He has profited several times by using Na Hyeon-seung, and he is even eyeing his sister-in-law, Lady Jeong. The Na family knew long ago that he was not a good person and told him to distance himself, but Na Hyeon-seung instead cut ties with the family because of it."

"He is a foolish man," So Mu-hwan said with a snort as he listened. Lee Yeon-hwi felt the same way.

"That is correct. Na Hyeon-seung is said to have such a stubborn personality that he adheres to principles to a frustrating degree."

"How did such a person become a Chief Constable?" Namgung Cheong-hyeon asked this time. Mook-baek answered immediately.

"Na Hyeon-seung's father, Na Yeom-seong, was a Head Chief Constable active in Mount Hwang District. As soon as his eldest son, Na Hyeon-seung, came of age, he employed him as an assistant."

An assistant was a servant who followed constables around. Usually, they learned the work that way and became constables later on.

"He had him follow in his footsteps."

"That is correct. Na Yeom-seong lost his position due to being involved in a bad incident and is now living with his wife, Lady Yang, in Hefei, the provincial capital."

"A bad incident?"

"It is the case where the Lustful Demon, Seop Yang-chuk, was caught."

"Ah!"

A long time ago, there was an incident where a man named Seop Yang-chuk, who had learned wicked martial arts, raped and murdered numerous women. Na Yeom-seong, who was the Head Chief Constable at the time, had used all his power to catch him.

However, among the women victimized by Seop Yang-chuk were not only young ladies from prestigious noble families but also young ladies from official families. They did not want the matter to be known.

In the end, the case was downplayed, and Na Yeom-seong and the subordinates who followed him, all of whom knew the details well, lost their positions and were kicked out. That was how they silenced them.

"The second son, Na Hyeon-gwang, is currently the District Magistrate of Mount Hwang District. He is quite capable, and his reputation is not bad either. His wife, Lady An, is the daughter of a family of scholars. They have a son and a daughter together, and there is one son he had with a concubine."

"How is he connected to Great Master Beom Yo?" Lee Yeon-hwi asked.

"It is said that Great Master Beom Yo happened to be passing by and stopped in briefly when Na Jin-an was born. It is said he returned after having a conversation with Na Hyeon-seung, but what they talked about was not discovered."

"Is that all?" Lee Yeon-hwi asked in a disappointed tone. At that, Namgung Cheong-hyeon glared at Mook-baek.

Noticing that gaze, Mook-baek flinched and spoke hurriedly.

"No. There is more. From what I have found out, Na Jin-an suddenly became strange recently. He reportedly insulted Gang Myeon-uk and even slapped his cheek, which is not easy for a four-year-old to do. After that incident, Na Hyeon-seung's family came to Seowon Temple and met Great Master Beom Yo. However, Great Master Beom Yo reportedly decided to chant scriptures for Na Jin-an for a hundred days. Looking at such things, it seems likely that Great Master Beom Yo made some sort of promise when Na Jin-an was born."

"That makes sense. Since Great Master Beom Yo is said to see the future. He must have predicted the future when that brat was born and told them to come find him."

Lee Yeon-hwi and Namgung Cheong-hyeon nodded after hearing what So Mu-hwan said. It seemed plausible to them as well.

"Anyway, to chant Buddhist scriptures for a hundred days. Isn't he being too much when he won't even meet with the Prince?"

"Mu-hwan, do not speak carelessly," Namgung Cheong-hyeon warned lowly, but So Mu-hwan snorted.

"But it is the truth. What is so cute about that brat... well, no. To be honest, he is a bit cute. He is plump and pale, just like a glutinous rice ball, and he speaks quite cleverly, doesn't he?"

Lee Yeon-hwi nodded without realizing it, then flinched and looked at Namgung Cheong-hyeon and So Mu-hwan. The two of them, who had been staring blankly, quickly turned their heads away and pretended not to see.

His face turning red from embarrassment, Lee Yeon-hwi coughed for no reason and asked.

"Is there nothing else?"

"Currently, Na Hyeon-seung has returned to Jeokgye District, and Lady Jeong is staying at Na Hyeon-gwang's house with her children. Lady Jeong goes to Seowon Temple once every ten days to see Na Jin-an, and Na Jin-seong and Na Jin-mook go once every three or four days. However, those two run every time they go."

"They run that distance? Are they that short on money?"

"No. From what I have looked into, it seems they do so to train their bodies."

"Hah!"

It was a primitive but certain method. If they ran that long distance, their lower bodies would become strong and their breathing would improve. Perseverance also develops while trying to endure and overcome the hardship.

However, it is not easy to do so voluntarily. Surely someone must have ordered it.

"And although it is not certain... it seems that Na Jin-an was watching over Na Jin-mook and Na Jin-seong's martial arts that day."

"What?"

"Say something that makes sense. That brat is only four years old," So Mu-hwan scolded.

Mook-baek said with an awkward look.

"I know that as well, but the two people who were positioned at the front while escorting the three of you said they heard it clearly. I also could not believe it, so I hesitated about whether to report it."

So Mu-hwan looked at Namgung Cheong-hyeon. Then, Lee Yeon-hwi's gaze also moved to him. Among the three, Namgung Cheong-hyeon's martial arts were the strongest. He was asking for his opinion.

However, Namgung Cheong-hyeon shook his head.

"The distance was far and I was not paying attention, so I did not hear it."

"Your Highness. If that brat really did that, could it be that his martial talent is as outstanding as Dongbang Selin of the Dongbang Clan? Then it would also be understandable why Great Master Beom Yo treats him so specially."

Looking at everything, it was logical.

Seeing Lee Yeon-hwi agree, So Mu-hwan added.

"If that is true, we must never let him go. You know how much profit the Dongbang Clan has taken thanks to Dongbang Selin, right?"

The Dongbang Clan was a family with immense influence in eastern Anhui Province, but they had faltered for a while. This was because of constant internal strife caused by a succession dispute.

The surrounding forces, which had been lying low, targeted that opportunity and encouraged it from the side. This was because their own profits would increase as the Dongbang Clan's power weakened.

However, Dongbang Selin stepped forward and silenced all that chaos at once.

Since the elders of the family, who saw Dongbang Selin's outstanding talent, pushed for her with one heart and mind, there was no one who could oppose her either inside or outside the family.

Accordingly, many families were eager to marry their daughters into the clan. With matchmakers visiting so frequently that the threshold was practically worn away, the clan was sure to welcome talented ladies through marriage, which would only further strengthen the Dongbang Clan’s power.

The problem was that such a Dongbang Clan might become Lee Shin-won's in-laws. Since Dongbang Yoran, the older sister of Dongbang Selin, was betrothed to Lee Shin-won, it was practically guaranteed.

However, Lee Yeon-hwi did not yet have a card to stand against them.

Namgung Cheong-hyeon was the second young master of the Namgung Clan, but he had a conflict with the first. And So Mu-hwan was the eldest son, but the elders of the So family did not look favorably upon him because he caused so much trouble.

In such a situation, Na Jin-an was truly like a lifeline sent from heaven.

"First, attach people to him and arrange a place where we can meet again. If we see him at Seowon Temple again, Great Master Beom Yo might dislike it, so look for another way."

"Then let's create a meeting through the District Magistrate, Na Hyeon-gwang."

"There would be no point of contact, would there?"

"I will try to make a proper connection from above."

"That would be best."

Lee Yeon-hwi nodded and looked at Namgung Cheong-hyeon.

"Cheong-hyeon. How is your brother lately?"

In an instant, Namgung Cheong-hyeon's face darkened.

Namgung Cheong-seo, Namgung Cheong-hyeon's older brother, was not lacking, but he did not excel either. In comparison, Namgung Cheong-hyeon was outstanding in every aspect.

Because of that, the two brothers, who used to have a good relationship, gradually grew apart.

Namgung Cheong-hyeon, who did not want to fight with his brother, had hidden his talent and avoided him until now.

However, the family elders did not leave Namgung Cheong-hyeon alone. Especially his father, Namgung Hyeong-un, who continued to encourage him to compete with his brother.

So, his older brother, Namgung Cheong-seo, viewed Namgung Cheong-hyeon like an enemy and tried to suppress him in any way possible.

"Your Highness. Why do you ask when you clearly know? Look at his face. Would that man change easily?" So Mu-hwan cut in.

He also felt sorry for Namgung Cheong-hyeon. In his mind, he wanted to give Namgung Cheong-seo a piece of his mind together, but how could he do that?

In one way or another, he was Namgung Cheong-hyeon's biological older brother. Moreover, when they were young, he had even received help simply for being Namgung Cheong-hyeon's friend.

Lee Yeon-hwi looked at Namgung Cheong-hyeon without a word. He knew it was his problem, but it would not be solved just by continuing to run away.