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Chapter 19
Jado looked at him. His eyes seemed to say, If you have something to say, then say it. He spoke cautiously.
“So you’re saying he wasn’t treated well in the main house. I can’t understand how he acquired that level of martial skill in such a short time.”
“Isn’t it possible the main house discovered his talent late and started supporting him?”
“…It’s true that Brother Dowi cared for him, but I doubt that possibility.”
“…I see. Just be careful not to cross the line.”
“Ah, yes.”
Jado glanced anxiously at Mindo. He worried that the reckless fellow, bastard son or not, might behave rudely toward Sayul, who was still registered under the main family. No matter how poorly she had been treated by her clan, they were currently outside clan grounds, and the fact that Dowi cherished her had not changed.
“We should escort her ourselves.”
“Where do you think the guards went?”
“Who knows? Since they had to deal with the demons, they might have dismissed them. Let’s just do the work ourselves.”
“Yes!”
“…Y-yes.”
Seeing Namgung Mindo answer so vaguely, Jado sighed internally. Although Brother Dowi was in seclusion training, most believed he would emerge soon—it had been quite some time, after all. And in such a situation, treating Sayul with disrespect would not end well.
“Let’s get going.”
After confirming the demons had disappeared completely, the members of the academy returned to Geumsangho’s house and reunited with Sayul’s group. Geumsangho prepared a new horse and coachman for them, and the two groups exchanged greetings before setting out. Since Sayul was riding in the carriage, they had to take a slightly longer route, but no one volunteered to drive the carriage themselves, so no one complained. Well… not exactly no one.
“…A brat looked down on by the main house, yet she gets to ride in a fine carriage.”
At someone’s muttered comment, Wol’s eyes shifted toward him. Sayul inside the carriage surely heard it too, but since she gave no reaction, Wol simply sat atop the carriage roof, sword wedged beside him, and closed his eyes.
The carriage began heading toward the academy.
It passed through the village without issue, and they continued toward the academy at Hefei. The group did not speak much. Some kept sneaking glances at Wol sitting atop the carriage, but sensing his unusual energy, no one dared pick a fight.
However, because the carriage slowed their pace, a few seemed displeased—but none volunteered to replace the horses. After all, though they were branch family members, they still had Namgung pride, and Sayul, in their eyes, was someone of ambiguous status—neither fully main blood nor fully branch.
“They’re looking down on my lady,” Sohwa murmured coldly. Hwayeong fidgeted beside her, watching her mood. Their behavior wasn’t openly rude, but they hadn’t spoken a single word to Sohwa and only cast sideways glances—rude ones, at that. Hard to explain how, but Sohwa clearly felt slighted.
“Anyone who looks someone up and down like that—clearly doesn’t know their own place.”
Sohwa thought she should teach them proper discipline. But acting recklessly might bring trouble to Sayul, so she hesitated. At times like this, she wished Wol—who was casually dozing on the roof—would intervene, but he slept as though he had not a worry in the world.
Sayul and the Namgung academy group eventually passed a small village.
They stopped briefly for a meal and entered a small inn, ordering bowls of wheat noodles. Sayul, who didn’t care much about food, accepted without complaint, but Sohwa worried whether it was suitable. She seemed to have forgotten that Sayul had lived days barely able to afford gruel.
“Is such simple food all right for a noble lady?” someone asked mockingly.
Sayul stepped down from the carriage and turned to see who it was—Mindo, who always looked at her unpleasantly. Deciding she no longer needed to tolerate this, she called out to Wol.
“Wol.”
“Yes.”
Wol jumped down from the carriage roof—and without warning, punched Mindo in the face.
Smack!
The blow, charged with inner strength, landed cleanly. Mindo choked out a sound as he flew backward, nosebleed spraying. Bystanders shrieked in surprise, and the Namgung academy disciples rushed over in shock.
“What do you think you’re doing!?”
“Consider it punishment for someone who knows no manners.”
Sayul entered the inn as calmly as if nothing had happened. Watching the scene unfold, Jado thought the inevitable had finally happened and moved to calm the disciples. But the disciples—already unhappy about the slow pace—were not easily pacified.
“He does nothing to help, and now he harms a fellow brother!”
“Calm yourselves. He is not someone you can handle.”
“But—!”
“You can’t even read his energy, yet you want to challenge him? You’re no different from street thugs. Remember—you carry the Namgung bloodline.”
Jado reprimanded them. Then he ordered them to attend to the bleeding, collapsed Mindo, and followed Sayul inside. Wol entered as well. Jado sat opposite Sayul and Wol.
“I apologize, my lady.”
“For what?”
“…For failing to keep my brothers in line.”
“How is that your fault?”
“…When he wakes, I will discipline him properly.”
“Just eat.”
At Sohwa’s call, the server brought their noodles. Jado sighed, stood up, and went to check on his brothers. Sohwa whispered to Wol:
“Well done.”
Wol glanced at her and nodded. At least he did not ignore those who took care of Sayul. Sayul began eating the noodles promptly. She overheard that they would rest a bit longer because of fainted Mindo. After she finished her meal, she simply sat quietly.
Not long after, Mindo regained consciousness.
“A coward—attacking me by surprise!”
“Be quiet.”
“Brother, you saw it too! He struck without warning!”
“Sigh…”
Jado let out a weary groan, unsure what to do with this troublesome man. As he drank the hot tea the inn boy had brought, Sayul spoke to Wol.
“Help out a little.”
“Understood.”
Wol rose, sword at his side. As soon as he stood, Mindo pointed and shouted:
“If we fight properly, you won’t win so easily!”
Watching this pathetic display, Jado pressed a hand to his forehead and pleaded with Wol:
“…Please go easy on him.”
“Very well.”
Jado thanked the heavens that Wol wasn’t a stubborn brute. While Wol stepped outside, Jado slid into the seat next to Sayul. She didn’t seem to mind. He looked closely at her—her straight nose, thick white eyebrows, and features reminiscent of a snow spirit. Even her eyes were deep gold, making her look less like someone of this country.
“Is he a bodyguard assigned to you by the main house?”
“No.”
“Sorry? No?”
“I met him on the road. Then we started traveling together.”
“But how can you trust him if you don’t even know who he is…?”
“When I first saw him, he looked like a beggar. So he’s probably from the Beggars’ Sect.”
“The Beggars’ Sect?”
“Yes.”
“Brother Dowi will be very worried.”
“Will he?”
She tried to recall his face, but since recovering some old, hazy memory, her recollection had grown faint—as if he were someone from long ago. Still, she was certain he had cherished her deeply.
“I’ll explain things well enough.”
“Understood.”
Meanwhile, outside—
“This time, I won’t lose so easily!”
