Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 47 : People Are Looking

Jin Sa-wol, who had returned home, slung a bundle on his back and left the house. Woo Jeong-bong, who saw that, hurriedly chased after Jin Sa-wol.

"Where are you going?"

"Far away."

Jin Sa-wol seemed to not even care whether Woo Jeong-bong followed him or not.

Woo Jeong-bong followed Jin Sa-wol, who had left the city, as if by instinct.

"Far away, where are you going?"

"Guangdong Province."

"You're going far. Why are you going there?"

"I have something to do."

Woo Jeong-bong, who had heard Jin Sa-wol's answer, smiled and stood side by side with Jin Sa-wol.

"You're going to Guangzhou too, right? They say the seafood there is so delicious. Let's go to Hainan Island too. There's nothing as good as a tour of the martial world."

Woo Jeong-bong thought that Jin Sa-wol was going on a trip, reading his own heart, which was full of a sense of loss.

The Jin Sa-wol that Woo Jeong-bong felt was a person who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.

'He knows how to care for others. He's kind.'

Woo Jeong-bong laughed to himself.

* * *

A carriage and a hundred or so warriors of the Namgung family entered the main gate of the Nanchang branch together.

The door of the carriage, which had stopped in the training ground, opened, and a woman in her early twenties, with a slender build and average height, got out.

She was in a plain attire, wearing a blue martial arts uniform and holding a sword in her hand.

There was no ornament on her head. It was just that her long hair was tied up like a horse's tail with a string.

It was a look that was easy to move in.

Thud! Thud!

She walked with a fast pace towards the twenty or so wooden coffins placed in front of the platform of the training ground.

A young man who appeared to be in his late twenties followed her. He was the inner hall master of the branch.

"Young Lady, you've arrived."

Although the inner hall master greeted her, she showed no reaction. Her interest was in the corpses lying in the wooden coffins.

They all had sword wounds on their necks and foreheads.

"The steward and the branch master?"

"They are in the underground warehouse."

"Let's go."

At her words, the inner hall master led the way and walked.

Namgung Ji, who had entered the underground, observed the corpses of Yun Deok and Jo Mal-sang lying in the wooden coffins.

She raised her hand, personally opened the sword wounds on the corpses, and examined the depth. The inner hall master and the attendants standing next to her frowned.

"There's no need for the young lady to touch the corpses herself..."

At the attendant's words, Namgung Ji shook her head. She touched the wound that had cut Jo Mal-sang's neck.

"Only Steward Jo was cut."

Namgung Ji took off the blanket that had been covering Jo Mal-sang's body. Then Jo Mal-sang's naked body was revealed.

Namgung Ji's eyes scanned Jo Mal-sang's entire body.

There were many scratches on his arms and legs. They were the traces of a desperate escape.

The sword wound on his knee was so deep that it had pierced the bone and protruded on the other side.

"Steward Jo died while being chased by the murderer."

Namgung Ji muttered to herself and then observed Yun Deok.

The inner hall master said.

"The branch master was found dead in his bedroom. It is certain that an assassin infiltrated during the night and killed him."

At the words that he had died in his own room, Namgung Ji observed Yun Deok's face with a hardened expression.

Thud-thud-thud!

Just then, with the sound of running footsteps, a bodyguard of the Namgung family came in and bowed his head to Namgung Ji.

"The family head is looking for you."

"Father?"

"Yes."

At the warrior's answer, Namgung Ji took in the corpses with a disappointed gaze once again and then turned her body.

* * *

Beyond a long wall that stretched for at least one li, numerous magnificent buildings were lined up.

Beyond a large seven-story pavilion, a vast garden and a pond as wide as a lake were emitting a blue light and shimmering.

In the pond, there was a long cloud bridge that crossed the pond, and in the center of the bridge, a high pavilion stood tall.

As if it were a place that not just anyone could go to, bodyguards were standing at the entrance of the bridge.

In the pond, pleasure boats of various sizes were moored at the pier.

On top of the pavilion, a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his early fifties, with half-white hair, distinct features, and thick eyebrows, was standing with his hands behind his back.

He, wearing a blue robe and a cape, was looking down at the pond without a word.

Below the pavilion, several attendants were waiting to serve the middle-aged man.

Rustle! Rustle!

The middle-aged man who was standing on the pavilion heard the approaching footsteps but did not turn his head. It was an expression that showed he knew well who was coming.

The person who approached behind the middle-aged man with low footsteps was a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties.

She, with a slender build and wearing a pink skirt and a cape, looked somewhat similar to the middle-aged man.

She had single-lidded eyes that were not large and eyebrows like a crescent moon, and her nose was as smooth as a curved blade.

Her lips were red, and her skin was as fine as white jade.

Although she was not an outstanding beauty, she was a woman whose eyes kept going to her.

"Did you call for me, Father?"

It seemed there was a resemblance somewhere, and the two were father and daughter.

Namgung Min, the head of the Namgung family, looked at his fourth daughter with a gentle gaze. Namgung Ji bowed her head and was silent.

Even after greeting him, she did not raise her head.

Namgung Min asked.

"A person from the Murong family will come. Which of your two older brothers would be better to entrust them to?"

"May I ask why the Murong family is coming to our main house?"

Although Namgung Ji asked a question, she still did not raise her head. It seemed she was very afraid of Namgung Min.

"They say a maternal relative of the Murong family died in Poyang Lake. It seems he had a very close relationship with the deceased woman. It seems he is coming to find out. Besides that, didn't the branch master die? Since even the steward died, the Martial Alliance must be noisy."

The death of a maternal relative was not a very important matter. A maternal relative was another's family and a stranger.

And she herself would become like that.

'A meeting?'

Namgung Ji thought it was important that the Murong family was coming at this time.

"I think it would be good to entrust it to my eldest brother."

"The reason?"

"He is the one who is called the young master. Since he has a high degree of trust both internally and externally, the eldest brother should entertain the guests."

"The second is also called the young master."

Namgung Min's voice was indifferent. Because of his gaze, Namgung Ji felt as if her head were being pierced.

"If you entrust it to my second brother, my two older brothers will fight. There will be no commotion if the eldest is prioritized."

"Do you think the eldest should succeed me?"

"Yes."

Namgung Ji answered without hesitation. Namgung Min stroked his beard and turned his gaze to the pond.

"The leader of the Martial Alliance is old. It wouldn't be strange if he died at any time. If he dies, I will become the Alliance Leader. Then to whom should I entrust the family?"

"Father is not yet the Alliance Leader. I don't think there is a need to think about future problems now."

Namgung Min, as if he were in a bad mood, said with a serious face.

"You always nag me. You speak the right words and only the truth. There is no flattery. Unlike your older sister, you have had no affection for your father since you were young."

At Namgung Min's words, Namgung Ji was silent.

"You resemble your deceased mother too much."

As he mentioned her deceased mother, Namgung Ji's shoulders trembled for a moment.

Namgung Min lowered his voice and spoke again.

"Those who speak the right words die early. Those who walk the upright path also die first. Those who cry out for justice die first, sacrificing themselves. Those who know the truth also die the fastest."

"Those who are overconfident in themselves also die. Those who are cowardly also die early. Those who deceive others die before the truth. Those who cry out for justice leave behind not a sacrifice, but justice. Just as a tiger leaves its skin, a person leaves a reputation. Father's words are only a part of the answer, not the whole."

"I'm not trying to have a discourse with you about the affairs of the world. What I mean is that I want you to say things that are pleasing to my ears. Whether it's flattery or affection, it's good."

At Namgung Min's words, Namgung Ji closed her mouth. She still did not raise her head.

"We will discuss your marriage soon. Know that."

At the word 'marriage', Namgung Ji's expression hardened.

"I have no intention of getting married yet, Father."

"Is there a reason?"

"My younger brother is not yet an adult. I want to be by his side until he becomes an adult."

Namgung Ji raised her head for the first time. But when she saw Namgung Min's back, she lowered her head again.

Namgung Min smiled, stroking his beard.

"Alright. If that is your will, I will postpone your marriage until your youngest brother becomes an adult."

"Thank you, Father."

"Protect him well. Your two older brothers are greedy."

At Namgung Min's words, Namgung Ji's eyes widened. Namgung Min spoke as if he knew everything.

Namgung Min had two wives, and Namgung Ji's mother had died of illness five years ago.

When her mother was alive, her half-brothers did not bully her much.

But after her mother died, her half-brothers showed killing intent towards her and her younger brother.

Since Namgung Ji would become a stranger if she got married, it was enough for her to leave the Namgung family. But her youngest brother was not.

He was a man who would carry on the line of the Namgung family.

As long as her father was alive, there would be no major problems. No matter how greedy her two older brothers were, they could not surpass their father's authority.

And in Namgung Ji's eyes, her two older brothers were not the vessels to become the head of the Namgung family. The talent that suited the family head was her youngest brother. That's why she had to be by her youngest brother's side.

"Yes, Father."

"You may go."

At Namgung Min's words, Namgung Ji retreated and left the pavilion. Namgung Min was just disappointed that Namgung Ji treated him like a stranger.

Since the reason was his deceased wife, there was no need to blame his daughter.

That night, an assassin infiltrated Namgung Ji's residence.

* * *

In front of the wide yard where the sun was rising, twelve corpses were lying neatly.

They were all warriors of the Namgung family, and they were the ones who had been on guard at night.

Namgung Ji untied the tops of the corpses and took in the cross-shaped sword wounds drawn on their chests.

'Ten-Sword Demon.'

He was the one who had infiltrated the family last night and had even infiltrated her residence. Namgung Ji's shoulders trembled at the fact that he, who was called the world's best assassin, had aimed for her life.

Fortunately, the security of the Namgung family was so thick and solid that even the Ten-Sword Demon had fled without being able to accomplish his task.

Rumble-rumble-rumble.

With urgent footsteps, Namgung Min and dozens of warriors entered the yard.

"Are you okay?"

Namgung Min approached Namgung Ji with a hardened expression and grabbed her shoulders.

Namgung Ji nodded.

"Yes, Father."

At Namgung Ji's answer, Namgung Min's beard trembled for a moment. Namgung Ji's shoulders felt so slender that it felt difficult to even grab them with force.

"That's a relief."

Namgung Min, who had stepped back, showed a strong killing intent when he discovered the cross-shaped sword wounds drawn on the chests of the dead bodies.

'This is going too far, Alliance Leader.'

As a strong anger was expressed from Namgung Min's entire body, the warriors standing around retreated.

Namgung Ji said.

"There is an accomplice in the main house who is helping the assassin."

At Namgung Ji's words, Namgung Min stroked his beard and frowned. Since he had had the same thought, he did not deny it.

Namgung Min asked, emitting a strong prayer.

"Can you take responsibility for those words?"

"I will find him."

Namgung Ji had a confident expression.

Just then, another large group came in at once. Among them, two young men came forward.

"Father!"

"Ji-ah! You're safe!"

Namgung Ji looked back at her two older brothers who were worried about her.

(End of Chapter)