Part 1
Chapter 33. Outline
The Young Lord of the Namgung Clan, who was in charge of delivering the compensation money, requested a private meeting with Tang So-hwa every day, but Tang So-hwa kept avoiding him with excuses.
"Was today the day the Namgung Clan was leaving?"
"No. It's tomorrow."
So-hwa nodded.
"Then tell him today is impossible as well."
"Yes."
She had considered having a private meeting with the Young Lord of the Namgung Clan.
It was just that now wasn't the time.
"And the materials you requested have been prepared in your quarters."
"Alright, let's return."
Tang So-hwa made her way to her quarters.
Upon entering the room, So-hwa spotted embroidery tools and threads of various colors placed on the writing desk.
As she approached the desk, she saw a red cloth spread out behind it.
On the red cloth, which covered the floor like a sea of blood, were countless white lines like foam. It was the outline for an embroidery. Despite the cloth being large enough to fit two full-grown adults lying down, there was almost no empty space in the pattern.
Anyone might have sighed at the sheer amount of work, but So-hwa's eyes held no discernible emotion.
She stopped at the edge of the cloth. Her gaze lifted upward.
There was a circle drawn in the sky, with a strange shape.
A single curve split the large circle in half.
A wave-embracing circle that seemed to express a Taiji.
Three lines spreading out beside it expressed the heat of the sun.
So-hwa took in the image and recalled her memories.
'Three years later, the chief disciple of the Wudang Sect died. His body turned black as if scorched by the sun, and he died with dried-up innards.'
This massive embroidery was a memory from her past life.
She knew too much now, and as time passed, her present-life memories would blend with and blur the past ones. But recording those twenty years of memories was too dangerous. So So-hwa preserved her past life in a way only she could understand.
So-hwa studied the image to see if she could recall the past, as she had when designing the outline.
Below the sun was a mountain range made of overlapping lines.
A long river flowed between them.
The farther down the river extended, the wider it became.
At the edge of the cloth. Four plum blossoms that had floated down the river were scattered along the riverbank.
She shifted her gaze to the right.
A ferry port continued along the riverside.
It met with the green forest.
Soon, the mountain path led into a city.
Buildings and crowds filled the streets, filling her vision. It was noisy just looking at it.
One particularly tall pavilion stood out in the city.
It was depicted with a strong light spreading around it, but the pavilion only had fifteen lanterns.
So-hwa stopped in front of that pavilion.
'Fifteen years later, the head of the Anguk Merchant Group and Zhuge Cheon-yu became betrothed. The son-in-law of the Zhuge Clan Head was someone with light-like internal energy.'
The head of the Anguk Merchant Group was the only person whose internal energy she had perceived through sight.
Judging by the strange internal energy he possessed, he was not someone to be taken lightly. However, considering that he had gathered his internal energy in front of Namgung Hyun, it was difficult to conclude that he had assisted Namgung Hyun.
That's why she had to find out what kind of person he was.
After calmly inspecting the entire design, So-hwa finally approached the desk and brought over the basket containing her tools.
Inserting bamboo rods and stretching the cloth taut, So-hwa knelt in front of it.
Thuk.
A thin silver needle pierced the soft cloth.
Tasks that needed correction aligned themselves along the movements of her fingertips. Her gestures were unhurried.
And there was no reason for them not to be.
Gratitude and resentment.
Today, she had repaid her one and only grace.
And so, now, she could wholly focus on the tasks that remained.
***
"Young Lord."
Namgung Mun-seon, with a darkened expression, approached Namgung Jin.
Now that the compensation had been delivered to the Tang Clan, Namgung Jin's final duty was complete. He was scheduled to return to the main family, settle affairs, and enter closed-door training.
His uncle, who disapproved of Namgung Jin's decision to enter closed-door training, couldn't hold back and asked as soon as the final mission ended.
"Do you really have to enter the secluded chamber?"
Even the Clan Head is being too much. It wasn't like he did it with bad intentions—he risked his life and went through every hardship, and yet this is the outcome?
Shouldn't we, the Namgung Clan, at least take care of the Young Lord?
Namgung Jin let out a small chuckle at the displeasure in his uncle's gaze.
"I—"
Just as he was about to reassure his uncle, not to worry—
Not only Namgung Jin, but even the guards standing at the entrance turned their gazes toward it.
They sensed someone entering the guest quarters.
Soon, a maidservant appeared. Faced with the sharp gazes of the towering men, she showed no sign of panic. Instead, she clasped her hands and gave a respectful bow.
"I greet the Young Lord of Namgung."
The woman's soft voice nearly faded out, then resumed.
"The Young Lady said that if you are still willing, she will accept your request for a private meeting."
Namgung Jin sprang to his feet as if he had forgotten the conversation he'd just been having.
"Lead the way."
As Namgung Mun-seon sighed and stood as well, the maidservant said,
"She asked that the Young Lord come alone."
"Ridiculous!"
Namgung Mun-seon shouted angrily, but Namgung Jin nodded.
"Very well."
"Young Lord!"
"Please wait here, Uncle."
"Young Lord, this place is..."
"Yes. It is the Tang Clan. So there should be nothing dangerous to me."
At those resolute words, Namgung Mun-seon closed his mouth.
Wasn't it his own doubt about the Tang Clan that had brought about today's humiliation?
Leaving behind his uncle, who had his lips tightly shut, Namgung Jin followed the maidservant and stepped out of the guest pavilion.
He didn't have to walk far.
He soon arrived at a red pavilion. It was a splendid building with a name plaque that read 'Red Radiance Hall'
Its dazzling appearance was hard to forget.
It was the very place where the Clan Head of the Tang Clan had welcomed them when he visited with his father as a child.
To think that she could use the very pavilion where the Clan Head of the Tang Clan receives the Clan Head of the Namgung Clan, all on her own. As expected, the eldest daughter of the Tang Clan held a solid position.
The maidservant led him to a large pond behind the pavilion. At the center of the bridge spanning the pond stood Tang So-hwa.
At the end of the bridge, the maidservant stepped aside, leaving space for Namgung Jin to walk up. Understanding her intent, Namgung Jin proceeded alone to the center of the bridge.
When he drew near, Tang So-hwa spoke.
"The area is wide open, making it impossible for anyone to eavesdrop, and there's a formation under the pond that prevents sound from leaking. That's why I brought you here."
Namgung Jin asked in a puzzled tone.
"You even have to be careful of what you say at home?"
Tang So-hwa raised an eyebrow in return.
"Isn't it the same for Namgung?"
Namgung Jin answered with a laugh.
"Why are you laughing?"
Tang So-hwa found his demeanor irritating and asked.
Namgung Jin shook his head, still savoring the aftertaste of his chuckle.
"It's nothing. It's just that even during a private meeting, most people still keep their attendants close by. But you seem to trust an outsider like me more than your own people."
His voice was still light with laughter, but there was no mischief in his eyes.
He calmly added,
"It seems you also had something to say to me in private."
He's unnecessarily sharp-witted.
So-hwa wasn't pleased with Namgung Jin's attitude.
She needed his help, but she still wasn't certain whether she could trust this cunning man.
As she was weighing her thoughts, Namgung Jin suddenly brought his hands together.
He performed a martial bow, leaning his upper body forward. And then he said something strange.
"Before we begin the conversation, I'd like to offer an apology first."
Raising his head, Namgung Jin spoke in a serious tone.
"My insight was lacking, and I doubted the Tang Clan. I apologize."
She brushed off his apology with a polite response.
"Didn't you already provide sufficient compensation for that matter?"
"No. That can't be considered a true apology."
Is this some Namgung sense of propriety?
Namgung Jin gave a small smile at the sour expression on So-hwa's face.
"Of course, I didn't request a private meeting just to say that."
He reached into his front robe and pulled out a small pouch. The fist-sized pouch was brought before So-hwa.
She unwrapped the cloth and took out a small jar from within.
Inside the white jar was a black, ashy liquid.
"What is this?"
Namgung Jin's lips curved faintly.
"Poison gu."
"This is poison gu?"
She had never seen a poison gu like this before.
Poison gu were insects. Sometimes called 'solitary gu.' Strange creatures that, once inside the human body, would either spread poison or, at times, be used as a tool of sorcery to bind the host.
But, wasn't this ashy water?
"It was a parasite found in the bodies of martial artists pursued by the Blood Sect. These parasites clogged the blood vessels in their hearts, causing the martial artists to die."
As So-hwa examined the ashy water, her gaze lifted toward Namgung Jin.
"I heard the martial artists of the Blood Sect died from extreme depletion of their internal energy."
"Yes, that’s what was reported to the Martial Alliance."
Tang So-hwa's eyes narrowed slightly.
"... Did you conceal the cause of death from the Murim Alliance?"
Leaning against the railing, Namgung Jin asked with a composed expression,
"Does the Young Lady trust the Martial Alliance?"
Silence fell between them.
The direct descendant of Namgung had an unexpectedly transparent side.
He was the first to lay down his cards, approaching her bluntly.
Namgung Jin, locking eyes with So-hwa, spoke of the truth of that day.
"A few months ago, on their way back from the Murim Alliance headquarters, members of our household were attacked by the Blood Sect."
It was a story she had expected.
Seeing Tang So-hwa's composed expression, Namgung Jin let out a hollow laugh. In a bitter voice, he continued.
"My older brother Cheong-hae had asked me to arrange a private meeting with the Clan Head, saying there was something he had to convey directly. He had stressed that it must be prepared quietly, so that not a word would leak. I never spoke of it to anyone. Not even to the Clan Head."
If a voice could have a temperature, his would have been cold enough for frost to form.
"Yet they were still attacked by the Blood Sect."
Turning his gaze to the pond and pavilion, Namgung Jin spoke with quiet resignation.
"I don't know how far they have spread."
Unknowingly, Tang So-hwa nodded. Her reflection moved in the pond below. Catching the unconscious movement, Namgung Jin gave a brief chuckle.
He turned back to face Tang So-hwa and said,
"That day on Mount Emei, you told me. That the Tang Clan would show trust first, and asked Namgung to show trust in return."
The Young Lord of Namgung suddenly offered his characteristic smooth smile.
"So this time, I intend to show my trust to Young Lady Tang first."