<Chapter 33> The Yongmun Family(2)
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“Huh…?”
“W-What?!”
The bodyguards of the young man in the stained robe cried out in alarm as their swords shattered, the pieces scattering at their feet.
A clear, metallic ring echoed through the air as Namgung So-Min, who had seemingly vanished from her seat, appeared before them.
“You thugs. Drawing your swords against the weak.”
“Who are you?!”
They retreated hastily, having lost their only weapons, but their hostility remained.
Namgung So-Min stared at them coldly, blocking their path.
‘First-class level at best… And they dare draw their swords in broad daylight. Master was right to lament the state of Murim.’
This wasn’t chivalry or righteousness. It was nothing but senseless violence.
She felt a surge of disgust.
The young man in the stained robe looked at her.
“Who are you?”
Namgung So-Min didn’t answer.
His bodyguards stepped forward.
“How dare you!”
“Do you know who he is?!”
“This is the Second Young Master of the Yongmun Family of Luoyang, the esteemed Lee Jon-Hwi! How dare a mere martial artist like you…!”
“The Yongmun Family?”
Baek Su-Gyeong stood up.
He was annoyed that his food had been spilled, and the situation seemed deliberately orchestrated. And the name he had just heard was familiar.
“Shopkeeper?”
“Master Baek?”
Ignoring So Ssang-Ah and Gal Ye-Ryeong’s calls, Baek Su-Gyeong turned his gaze towards the young man in the stained robe.
He looked familiar.
As he studied the young man’s face, the bodyguards’ voices reached his ears.
“And who are you?!”
“Just a passing scholar. But that waiter you tripped spilled the food I ordered.”
“What?”
“What are you talking about?!”
Baek Su-Gyeong ignored their denials and looked at the young man.
“You think I didn’t see you stick your foot out?”
“I did no such thing!”
“I thought so.”
Baek Su-Gyeong smiled.
“You’ve always been like this. Denying everything, even when caught red-handed. You haven’t changed.”
“What?”
This time, it was the young man’s turn to look bewildered.
Baek Su-Gyeong spoke.
“You seem to have forgotten me, Young Master. You even learned about appraising treasures from me.”
“A-Appraising treasures? I learned about that when I was a child, but…”
“Master, do you know him?”
Baek Su-Gyeong nodded at Namgung So-Min’s question.
He remembered now, having heard the name “Yongmun Family” and seen the young man’s face.
Lee Jon-Hwi, the Second Young Master.
The troublemaker of the Yongmun Family. He had been a constant source of headaches even as a child. It seemed he hadn’t changed.
“Young Master Ah-Hwi. Have you forgotten my face?”
“Who are you to call me by my childhood name…”
“Do you remember Appraiser Baek of the Dragon Trading Company?”
Lee Jon-Hwi’s face paled at Baek Su-Gyeong’s words.
“A-Appraiser Baek?”
“Who are you to impersonate Master Baek?!”
“My face hasn’t changed that much. You don’t remember me? That’s amusing.”
Baek Su-Gyeong chuckled, stroking his chin.
He ran his hand across his smooth, clean-shaven chin, his expression turning sharp. His eyes flashed with anger.
“You still haven’t learned your lesson? You’re still dragging your bodyguards around and causing trouble for those you dislike? Haven’t I told you countless times to stop disgracing the Yongmun Family name?!”
“M-Master?”
“Shopkeeper?!”
“Master Baek…?”
The three women gasped at his harsh words.
Ignoring them, Baek Su-Gyeong walked towards the waiter, who was staring at his stained clothes with a dejected expression.
“You remembered my habit of ordering only one stone pot dish. Waiter. Was your name Jang Chil-Lang?”
“A-Are you… Master Baek?!”
“Three years must have been a long time if you can’t even recognize my face.”
It had been three years since Baek Su-Gyeong left the Dragon Trading Company and moved to Hubei.
He clicked his tongue, looking at the waiter’s stained clothes.
“Young Master Ah-Hwi. Should I go see your father and tell him about your behavior, or…”
“A-Are you really Appraiser Baek… I mean, Master Baek?!”
“There’s only one Baek Su-Gyeong in the world.”
Baek Su-Gyeong responded curtly and helped the waiter to his feet.
“Tsk. I hope your skin isn’t burned. Go wash up and change your clothes. I’ll talk to the owner.”
“B-But…”
“I won’t ask you to pay for the food. Go.”
“Th-Thank you!”
The waiter, Jang Chil-Lang, scurried away.
Baek Su-Gyeong stood amidst the spilled food and broken dishes, his gaze fixed on Lee Jon-Hwi. Despite the passage of time, Lee Jon-Hwi still had a youthful air about him, but his face was now etched with fear.
Baek Su-Gyeong strode towards him and grabbed his ear, pulling him close.
“Come with me, Young Master. We need to see your father.”
“Ow! Master Baek, this is…!”
Baek Su-Gyeong cut him off coldly.
“Be quiet. I can’t believe you’re still behaving like this. I told you countless times to stop disgracing the Yongmun Family name!”
“Ow! Ow! You’re going to rip my ear off, Master Baek!”
“I should rip off the ear that refuses to listen! Hey, someone call the owner!”
Gal Ye-Ryeong, Namgung So-Min, and So Ssang-Ah stared at the scene, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion.
‘What’s going on?’
***
“Haha, your temper hasn’t changed, Master Baek.”
“That’s all in the past. I’m no longer an appraiser at the Dragon Trading Company, nor am I Young Master Ah-Hwi’s teacher. I’m just an ordinary scholar.”
The reception room of the Yongmun Family residence.
Baek Su-Gyeong sat opposite a well-built middle-aged man, sipping his Longjing tea. The three women had followed him, but their expressions were still blank with shock.
The Yongmun Family was one of the most prominent families in Luoyang.
They had produced countless renowned officials and had connections to the Imperial Court. They also wielded considerable influence in Murim, and the head of the family was traditionally addressed as “Lord Yi-Gwol” as a sign of respect.
They were a family that excelled in both scholarly and martial pursuits, making them a powerful force in Luoyang. And Baek Su-Gyeong was being addressed as “Master” by the head of this prestigious family.
Lord Yi-Gwol, the head of the Yongmun Family, chuckled at Baek Su-Gyeong’s words.
“I hear you’re now known as Master Su-Gyeong?”
“It just happened.”
“Oh? You’re not even denying it. I’m enjoying The Wudang Sword Hero immensely. I always look forward to the next volume.”
Baek Su-Gyeong smiled wryly at his words.
“The Second Young Master hasn’t changed. He still has that bad habit of denying everything, Lord Yi.”
“What can I do? No one has been able to discipline him since you left.”
“Is that so?”
“I should have kept you here when you said you were leaving.”
“I would have left anyway.”
Lord Yi-Gwol chuckled wryly at Baek Su-Gyeong’s firm tone.
He hadn’t changed.
He was still the same stubborn man who refused to do anything he didn’t want to do.
“You’re right. That’s why I regret letting you go. So, what brings you to Luoyang?”
“I’m passing through on my way back from the Shaolin Temple. I thought I’d visit the General Manager, but I ran into…”
“Tsk, tsk. Jon-Hwi must be jealous of you. And who are these three ladies?”
Lord Yi-Gwol gestured towards the three women standing behind Baek Su-Gyeong.
“They’re from the Underworld King Society and the Namgung Family. And the other one is the leader of a merchant group I met in Hubei. Lady Namgung, Lady Gal, Merchant So, please introduce yourselves. This is Lord Yi-Gwol, the head of the Yongmun Family.”
The three women bowed respectfully.
“Namgung So-Min of the Namgung Family.”
“So Ssang-Ah of the Gyeong-Un Merchant Group.”
“Gal Ye-Ryeong of the Underworld King Society.”
Lord Yi-Gwol chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“The Underworld King Society, which is at odds with the Shaolin Temple, a hero from the prestigious Namgung Family of Anhui province, and the leader of the Gyeong-Un Merchant Group, which is gaining quite a reputation these days. You’ve made some interesting connections, Master Baek.”
“It just happened.”
“It’s all thanks to The Wudang Sword Hero. I’m living for those new volumes.”
“Lord Yi, you’re making me nervous. It’s hard to write under pressure.”
“Haha, you caught me.”
Lord Yi-Gwol chuckled heartily.
“So, how long are you planning to stay in Luoyang, Master Baek?”
“I’ll be returning to Hubei as soon as I meet with the General Manager. I have to work on the next volume…”
Lord Yi-Gwol spoke.
“General Manager Ji won’t be back in Luoyang for a while. He’s on a major escort mission in Liaodong.”
“Liaodong?”
“He accepted a request from the Murong Family. He’s heading towards Mount Yanshan.”
“He must have sailed from the Shandong Peninsula and traveled up the Liao River.”
“Well, something like that. In any case, General Manager Ji isn’t in Luoyang right now. That’s for sure.”
Baek Su-Gyeong stroked his chin thoughtfully at Lord Yi-Gwol’s words.
He had hoped to see Ji Wi-Sang while he was in Luoyang, but it seemed he was out of luck.
“I was looking forward to seeing him, but it seems our paths won’t cross this time. Thank you for informing me, Lord Yi.”
“Are you returning to Hubei immediately, Master Baek?”
“Yes, but…”
“Hmm. It’s a shame to see you go so soon.”
Lord Yi-Gwol’s expression was genuinely regretful.
“If I had known you were going to write The Wudang Sword Hero, I would have kept you here in Luoyang and had you focus solely on writing. How could you possess such talent and yet never put pen to paper? It’s a shame you wasted your time at the trading company.”
“I never imagined this would happen. It’s a stroke of luck, I suppose.”
He really hadn’t expected this, Lord Yi.
Baek Su-Gyeong swallowed his true feelings and took a sip of his Longjing tea.
“Speaking of which, I heard that your next novel will be about the Shaolin Temple… Will you consider featuring our family?”
“Haha, I’ll keep it in mind. But I don’t accept requests, so please keep that in mind, Lord Yi.”
“Haha, that’s a shame!”
Gal Ye-Ryeong frowned slightly as she watched the two men chatting amicably.
‘Who is this man?’
Thank for the chapter