Chapter 21.

The carriage came to a stop.

Ho-yeon poked his head out the window and asked,
“What’s going on?”

“Sir, bandits.”

“Crazy bastards, huh?”

“Indeed. But don’t worry, our Iron Sword Troop will deal with them quickly.”

At the Iron Sword Troop leader’s words, Ho-yeon crossed his arms and leaned back.

If he took a short nap, everything would be over by the time he opened his eyes again.

“…Aren’t you going to go out and see?”

“Why bother?”

At Jegal Ah-hyun’s question, Ho-yeon opened one eye and replied,

“The Iron Sword Troop is an elite force of Namgung. Even if they only brought the second unit, that doesn’t change anything.”

“…”

“I didn’t raise them to be weak. Their mission is to protect me. I can’t take their job away, can I? Yawn.”

Finishing his sentence with a yawn, Ho-yeon closed his eyes again, while Jegal Ah-hyun stared at him silently.

Her mind wandered to a conversation she had two days ago with Seo Seon-rim.

“How was he?”

“Did he look like a martial artist?”

“He didn’t seem very tall from a distance. That’s a weakness for a fighter. What did his energy feel like? Powerful?”

Seo Seon-rim, the leader of Cheonso Unit, had questioned Jegal Ah-hyun thoroughly about Namgung Ho-yeon.

That was probably her mission from the Jegal elders—to assess Namgung Ho-yeon’s worth and compare him to Muryong Cheol.

But Namgung Ho-yeon wasn’t someone you could figure out in one night.

In fact, meeting him only made her more unsure.

So Ah-hyun asked Seon-rim in return:

“This is a first… You’re curious about someone?”

“They told me to figure out whether he’s a divine dragon or a mud dragon. Shouldn’t they at least give me some basic info?”

“Well, that’s true. Hmm… According to the info we gathered, he’s called the greatest genius of past and present.”

“The greatest genius of all time?”

“Haha, ridiculous, right? That kind of title sounds like something out of a stage play.”

The greatest genius… this guy?

Ah-hyun glanced at Ho-yeon, who was yawning in front of her.

He was just a pretty-faced noble.

Fair skin, thick brows—the features of a typical Han beauty.

“Well, he does seem to have some talent. He reclaimed a vast wasteland west of Habi and turned it into a tea field. Lately, there are rumors he’s entering the teahouse business.”

“Teahouse…”

“Also, within his clan, he’s called a Little Teacher.”

“Little Teacher?”

“They say he goes around different units and gives lectures. Haha, Namgung must really be desperate. It’s all so obviously staged.”

At Seo Seon-rim’s sneer, Ah-hyun had remained silent.

She had been thinking the same thing.

Namgung Clan must be creating a fake hero to boost morale…

But why?

When Seon-rim had gone further—

“There’s nothing else to see. We should notify the clan leader to cancel the engagement and go with Muryong—”

“No!”

“…Pardon?”

“Th-there’s no need to rush. We were given a month, right? Let’s observe more first.”

“Well… That’s true, but Muryong Cheol values decisiveness. The quicker the decision, the better.”

“Still… who knows? He might actually be the real deal. Let me judge him myself.”

“If that’s what you want, then…”

Seo Seon-rim had nodded with a curious expression.

I don’t know why I reacted that way. Maybe because my mind-reading skill didn’t work on him? Or maybe… because of that strange orange feeling I had that night?

In any case, Ah-hyun needed more information about Namgung Ho-yeon.

“They call you the Little Teacher, right?”

“…”

Ho-yeon stayed silent.

“Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“…About what?”

With eyes still closed, he answered her follow-up.

Ah-hyun smirked and continued.

“When people are praised beyond their ability, they respond in two ways—shame or arrogance.”

“…”

“Shame means they have a conscience. Arrogance means they’re just immature.”

“…Ha.”

Ho-yeon opened his eyes and looked straight at her.

“Why are you provoking me all of a sudden? Revenge for that night?”

“I’m just curious.”

Ah-hyun smiled at his furrowed brow.

“You said you want a normal woman. But just how special are you yourself?”

“…See? Definitely revenge.”

“You told me that night, ‘This is my true self. If you want to marry me, deal with it.’”

“…”

“Fine, I’ll deal with it. So show me a little more of your true self. Even when buying something in the market, people compare thoroughly. Why not when it comes to a husband?”

At her frankness, Ho-yeon gave an incredulous laugh.

“So you want me to go out there and turn those bandits into shish kebabs?”

“If you can’t, then don’t. I’d feel bad if you got hurt.”

“…Wow, listen to this girl.”

At her continued provocation, Ho-yeon scoffed.

She dared to weigh the Sword Demon on a scale?

Did she think he’d fall for that cheap bait?

So typical of the Jegal brats…

As he shook his head, ready to reject her, Ah-hyun quickly added,

“Besides, this might not be such a bad opportunity for you.”

“What?”

“Why are you going to the Baekga Sword Assembly? To build your reputation, right?”

“…What fame do I gain from killing a few bandits?”

“They’re not just any bandits. It’s Wahocheon Stockade, one of the 72 Green Forest Factions, affiliated with Gucheon Fortress.”

Ho-yeon raised a brow at that.

Gucheon Fortress.

A coalition of nine dark sects that arrogantly called themselves the “Heavens” of the underworld.

Back in my day, it was the Evil Dao Alliance… Gucheon Fortress? What kind of name is that? Sounds like a joke…

While he pondered, Ah-hyun went on,

“You’re still unknown. Even if you go to Baekga Sword Assembly, you won’t be treated well.”

“What? Why?”

“Everyone wants teammates who can complete missions. At this rate, you’ll be assigned to the weakest group.”

“….”

Her words made sense.

He had only made a name for himself in Habi. He had no widespread fame.

Most martial heirs of noble clans build their reputations early, participating in missions with clan forces…

Even his older brother Namgung Cheong-gang belonged to the Sky Spear Unit, and his sister Namgung Sang-ah was in the Flying Swallow Unit.

But he? He’d done nothing of the sort in the past year.

“How about it? Want to build some fame here?”

“…”

Ho-yeon looked at Ah-hyun as she subtly coaxed him.

So this is a true Jegal. Controlling people with just words…

“Impressive, Jegal family.”

“Sorry?”

“I’ll fall for it this once.”

BAM!

Ho-yeon kicked open the carriage door and stepped out.

* * *

In the mountains, night fell quickly.

Torches began to appear beyond the darkening bushes, painting the surroundings red.

“Hm… more than I expected.”

Geuk Ji-ryang, the tall, sharp Iron Sword Troop leader, muttered with a stiff face.

He was a former wanderer who had risen to his position by joining the Namgung Clan ten years ago.

“Wahocheon Stockade, one of the 72 Green Forest factions… affiliated with Gucheon Fortress? Tch, this might be a hassle.”

He clicked his tongue.

Green Forest belonged to Nokcheon, one of Gucheon Fortress’s nine factions.

And Namgung Clan had been at odds with them all year.

Understandable—conflict was inevitable in the escort business.

“Well, just annoying, not dangerous.”

He smirked.

A year ago, he wouldn’t have been so relaxed.

But since the birth of the Divine Dragon, every unit in Namgung had grown stronger.

And the Divine Dragon was right behind him now—what was there to worry about?

Whoosh!

“Leader Geuk! We’re surrounded from the rear!”

Seo Seon-rim of the Jegal Clan’s Cheonso Unit ran over urgently.

Geuk Ji-ryang calmly replied,

“Miss Seo. You and your unit, guard the carriage.”

“Huh? There are over three hundred of them!”

“I know. Boys!”

Chak! Shing!

Ten Iron Sword members quickly formed around Geuk.

Each wore plain gray uniforms with a single iron sword at their waists.

Their attire honored Namgung Il-hon, the legendary lone swordsman of 500 years ago.

“There are three hundred enemies.”

“Haha, so thirty for each of us.”

“Hehe, perfect. I’ve been itching to move.”

“Leader! Give me fifty!”

Despite being outnumbered many times over, morale was sky-high.

What… are they all insane?

Seo Seon-rim was baffled.

Even if the Green Forest was a ragtag group, their numbers couldn’t be ignored.

Plus, Wahocheon Stockade was well known—there had to be strong warriors among them.

“Leader Geuk! We still have a long road ahead. Maybe try negotiating—”

At that moment, a booming voice rang from the enemy camp.

“No negotiations!”

A tall, lean man wielding a wide, blunt single-edged saber stepped forward.

It was a Ghost-Head Saber, with a demon head on the hilt.

“I am the Ghost-Head Blade Demon, Mak Cheon-ak! Disciple of Battleaxe King Gal San-ho, ruler of Nokcheon!”

Geuk Ji-ryang frowned.

“Battleaxe King Gal San-ho?”

“He’s one of the Twelve Kings of Gucheon Fortress!” Seo Seon-rim shouted, horrified.

Mak Cheon-ak burst into laughter.

“Kuahaha! I shall punish Namgung in my master’s name!”

“Waaaah!”

“Mak Cheon-ak! Mak Cheon-ak!”

Cheers erupted from the Green Forest troops. They too despised Namgung for hindering their activities.

Mak Cheon-ak, relishing the energy, raised his saber.

“Hahaha! Namgung has obstructed Nokcheon’s operations for long enough! We will collect payment—with interest!”

“How much?”

A boy’s voice suddenly rang out.

“Wait—Sir!”

Geuk turned around, shocked to see Ho-yeon approaching.

But Ho-yeon’s gaze was fixed only on Mak Cheon-ak.

“I asked, how much?”

“Pfft—how much? Your lives, of course!”

“Oho? Bold one, aren’t you?”

Ho-yeon nodded, then turned to Geuk.

“Leader Geuk. That guy—he famous?”

“…Maybe not him, but his master Gal San-ho is one of the Ten Fingers and Toes.”

Ten Fingers and Toes—the top twenty martial artists in the central plains.

“The perfect target.”

“Excuse me?”

“The best way to gain fame is to take the head of someone already famous. Trust me—I’ve done it often.”

Step. Step. Step.

Smiling, Ho-yeon strode forward.

“Is this my first outdoor class?”