novelraw Chapter 8 : Chapter 8
Chapter 8 : Chapter 8
Chapter 8 - Moyong Family (1)
As time passed, most of the caravan members woke up.
Having checked each other's safety and hurriedly reorganized the ranks, the Moyong Merchant Group began to cross the mountain again at a fast speed.
Although the caravan continued in extreme tension, naturally, there were no further attacks.
The carriages, which passed the summit of Mount Gillim safely without any special events, raced down at maximum speed toward the intermediate destination, Shenyang.
In between, bearded man threw jokes to try and lighten the mood, but Hyeok-rin's stiff expression did not relax easily.
In the awkward silence, the carriage raced without a break.
Outside the carriage running without rest, the massive main gate of Shenyang began to be seen before they knew it.
Shenyang was the intermediate destination of the merchant group and the place where the Moyong Family's main residence was located.
Shenyang, where the Moyong Family had settled and properly developed its commercial sphere, was a metropolis difficult to fully describe with just the word massive.
‘……I felt Sihan was big too, but this is incomparable.’
The stone walls surrounding the entire Shenyang and the huge gate.
And the people filling the surroundings.
At the sight of the endless massive pavilions seen beyond the open gate, bearded man's eyes went wide.
“Hiya……. So this is Shenyang that I’ve only heard about. It is indeed different.”
bearded man, sticking his head out the window with enlarged eyes, frantically observed the distant city.
Due to the blowing wind, the flag of Moyong planted on top of the carriage fluttered endlessly.
“Wol-i!”
In an instant, a tremendously loud shout rang through the city.
As soon as he spotted the Moyong flag, a mature man who flew up from the wall of Shenyang shot toward the carriage at tremendous speed.
“Dad! Waaah!”
Eun-wol, who confirmed the running person, also ran out of the carriage.
That mature man was Moyong Man , the head of the Moyong Family, who had received news that his daughter had almost suffered an accident.
Moyong Man, whose name once went up and down on the list of the Top 10 Masters of Gangho, was renowned as the conqueror of the Northern Central Plains and a hero possessing both intellect and martial prowess, but…….
Just one thing.
If excessive affection for his daughter matching that fame was a flaw, it was a flaw.
“Wol-i.”
Moyong Man, who confirmed his daughter running out of the carriage, approached at lightning speed and lifted Eun-wol up in a flash.
“My daughter, are you hurt anywhere?!”
“Dad. Waaah.”
Eun-wol couldn't continue speaking easily.
Behind Eun-wol held in Moyong Man's arms, members of the Moyong Family crossing over the wall filled the sky.
The Moyong Family's flag fluttering in front of the main gate and Moyong Man's appearance.
And even the members of the Moyong Family who ran out of the castle following the Family Head.
The merchants and residents who confirmed the Moyong Family's attire filling the front of Shenyang's castle gate also bowed their heads deeply and knelt on the spot.
The front of Shenyang's gate, which had been noisy, was filled with silence in an instant.
“My Lord.”
Hyeok-rin, who stepped down from the carriage, knelt on one knee and bowed deeply.
bearded man and Jaun also followed Hyeok-rin out of the carriage for now and stood in place.
Moyong Man, who turned Eun-wol this way and that for a long while confirming his daughter's safety, only then sighed largely in relief and turned his gaze to the surroundings.
“Ahem. You have come.”
Moyong Man, who cleared his throat awkwardly a few times upon seeing Hyeok-rin and the personnel filling all directions, corrected his posture.
“I heard the news a little while ago. There was an accident? Even though I sent you along just in case, to think something like this happened…….”
At the appearance of Moyong Man trailing off his sentence, Hyeok-rin bowed his head deeply to the ground.
“I have nothing to say, My Lord. I will tell you the details after we go inside.”
Moyong Man, who looked at Hyeok-rin and nodded once, turned his body while holding Eun-wol with one arm.
“Right. Let’s go inside for now. It seems access to Shenyang is blocked because of us.”
Following behind Moyong Man walking slowly toward the castle gate, the carriages of the Moyong Merchant Group also began to advance toward Shenyang's castle gate again.
***
The manor of the Moyong Family was settled in the middle of Shenyang.
The manor was immense to the point where the end could not be seen, and hearing about it, they said one-fifth of Shenyang's land was occupied by the Moyong Family's manor.
“Un-a. See you later.”
Eun-wol waved her hand slightly toward Jaun before parting.
After that, Moyong Man, Eun-wol, and Hyeok-rin disappeared through the main gate of the Moyong Family where only direct lineage family members, guests, and a few permitted personnel could come and go.
“Follow me.”
The remaining bearded man and Jaun were guided to the rear gate of the manor after going around for a long while along with the caravan's guards.
Only the Moyong Family's carriages and the White Tiger Squad entered the manor after identity verification.
Looking at the six remaining people, Man Chong, one of the Moyong Family's General Managers, asked.
“You guys are…… guards?”
“Yes, that is correct. I am called Jang Sam-sik who joined as a guard from the Black Dragon River. The Wind and Moon Guest instructed us to escort up to Wuhan in Hubei.”
bearded man stepped forward, made a deep fist-and-palm salute toward Man Chong, and opened his mouth.
Man Chong, looking around the people remaining behind, spoke.
“Hmm. Since I haven't received any notice, I couldn't arrange separate lodging…….”
Man Chong, who pondered for a moment, opened his mouth again.
“Can’t be helped. Come on in for now. If you stay in the guest hall to the right of the rear gate for a while, I will let you know the residence where you will stay in the future.”
As Man Chong gestured, the gatekeepers guarding the rear gate stepped aside one step each, opening the way for the group to enter.
“T-thank you!”
Perhaps he hadn't even thought he would be able to enter inside the Moyong Family's manor, bearded man stepped inside the gate with eyes full of emotion at Man Chong's words to come in.
The remaining people also followed behind, and Jaun, who looked around the manor's stone walls for a moment, crossed the gate last and entered the Moyong Family.
Beyond the rear gate of the Moyong Family, an elegant flower garden was decorated, and to its right, a large pavilion was situated.
“Stay here for a while for now. You can divide and use the three rooms on the first floor.”
bearded man, hearing Man Chong's words, nimbly dragged Jaun's hand and entered the room in the very center of the guest hall.
Seeing that, the remaining people also naturally paired up two by two and entered the remaining rooms.
bearded man, entering the room, opened his mouth with sparkling eyes.
“Eu-he-he-he! So this is the guest room of the Great Moyong Family.”
The spacious guest room built with thick wood well-oiled felt both antique and elegant.
Although there were no flashy decorations, the delicate and subtle patterns carved here and there rather caught the eye more.
In one corner of the guest room, two wooden beds were placed; bearded man flopped down on one of those beds and said to Jaun.
“Although this body’s first journey to Gangho is very late, it seems I am leaving very big footsteps as much as it is late. Don't you think so, little brother?”
As he said, it was a short schedule, but quite a lot happened. Jaun, who was observing the guest room carefully, answered moderately.
“Clash with the Green Forest. Meeting with the Moyong Family Head. It doesn't seem like anyone who hears it would say it’s an ordinary journey to Gangho.”
At Jaun's words, bearded man nodded largely.
“Of course! These are not things one can commonly experience. I must remember well and boast to Mr. Kwon when I return to the Black Dragon River……. With so many things happening already, I wonder how I will remember them all in the future.”
A smile spread fully across the face of the grumbling bearded man.
Jaun, looking once at the appearance of bearded man grinning while lying sprawled on the bed, turned his gaze out the window.
Far away outside the window which had begun to get dark before he knew it, the figures of the Moyong Family members moving busily were seen.
bearded man, watching Jaun's appearance, smiled with a smirk and opened his mouth.
“You saw the Moyong Family Head's face in detail, right? He is a person who once listed his name among the Top 10 Masters under the Heavens. Although he might not be like his prime because of his age now and having suffered a major injury in the past. Still, since he is a person counted among the best in the Murim, just being able to meet him face to face like this is a great honor.”
bearded man closed his eyes and recalled the events of a little while ago.
“I really never thought a day would come when I could meet the Family Head of the Moyong Family in my lifetime. On top of that, to be able to lie down and rest in the guest hall of the Moyong Family like this! Even thinking again, joining this caravan as a guard was an excellent choice.”
Letting bearded man's endlessly continuing words flow in one ear and out the other, Jaun also laid his body on the next bed.
‘Anyway, I have come as far as Shenyang. Once I move to the Murim Alliance, I should do some martial arts training while grasping the political situation for the time being. Still…… I need time to adapt to this Gangho.’
Jaun, massaging his throbbing arm once, sighed softly.
***
“Are you there?”
The next morning.
Hyeok-rin's voice was heard in front of the guest hall.
Following a thud-thud sound, the guest hall door opened, and disheveled guards popped out one by one.
Behind Hyeok-rin, six family retainers stood holding small boxes in their hands.
“Haha. Sorry for the early morning. There is good news, so I couldn't wait. I brought rewards bestowed by the Family Head. Everyone, please receive them.”
As Hyeok-rin gestured, the retainers delivered the small boxes to the guards one by one.
As soon as the guard who received the box first opened the lid, a clear fragrance spread in all directions.
“It is called Clear Heart Pill . Those who know will know, but it is a spirit medicine handed down in the Moyong Family.”
Hyeok-rin nodded looking at the guards opening their eyes wide at those words.
“It is not at a level to be counted among the best in Gangho like Shaolin's Great Pill or Mount Hua's Plum Blossom Divine Pill. Still, it is not a common medicine obtainable with just this much work either. You guys also know that there are many martial artists who can't even see a spirit medicine in their lifetime, right?”
At Hyeok-rin's words, bearded man bowed his head deeply with an emotional face.
“Clear Heart Pill……! Of course. Thank you. But I wonder if it is really okay for us to receive this…….”
bearded man, who nimbly put the spirit medicine into his bosom, looked at Hyeok-rin's reaction.
“Since the Family Head cherishes Wol-i terribly, he expressed his joy for that child's safety in this way. You can consider it a fortuitous encounter. Since it is quite a precious medicine, I recommend eating it while under the protection of the Moyong Family rather than taking it outside if possible.”
At Hyeok-rin's words, all the guards bowed their heads deeply with emotional faces.
Hyeok-rin, nodding with a pleased face while looking at the guards, approached Jaun and whispered quietly.
“……Yours is not a Clear Heart Pill but a Silver Soul Pill . It is a medicine the Family Head specially prepared because of whatever Wol-i said, so keep it to yourself.”
Hyeok-rin, tapping Jaun's shoulder, returned to his spot.
At the moment the guards who secured the spirit medicine well in their bosoms were conveying their gratitude to Hyeok-rin once again, a young man's voice was heard from the back.
“Hah. To bestow Clear Heart Pills for such a trivial matter, Father is still the same.”
Turning their gaze, a young man dressed in dazzlingly flashy clothes was walking this way.
The young man, who had elaborately decorated here and there, shook his head from side to side and looked around the guards with narrowed eyes.
Hyeok-rin frowned for a moment and then slowly turned his head.
“Young Master Li . What brings you here…….”
A troubled light appeared in Hyeok-rin's eyes.