The Eldest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan Protects Her Family

Chapter 19: Namgung (Part 1)

 
Sohwa raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"

Namgung Jin maintained his smile, his voice gentle. "Forgive me for eavesdropping, but from your conversation earlier, it seemed you were already aware of our presence." He glanced at the captured Blood Cult assassins, then back at Sohwa. "I was simply curious if you came here knowing we would be here. I should have explained our reasons for being in Sichuan first. My apologies for my impetuousness. I hope you understand.”
His gentle tone and polite demeanor, so characteristic of the Namgung Clan, sent a shiver of revulsion down Sohwa’s spine. The arrogance veiled in courtesy… Though the young clan heir hadn’t been directly rude to her, the cloying scent of his internal energy, combined with his resemblance to Namgung Hyeon, triggered a visceral wave of anger.
Then…

Thud.
Tang Hak stepped forward, protectively positioning himself in front of Sohwa, intercepting Namgung Jin’s gaze. "If you know you’re being rude, shouldn't you explain yourself before asking for understanding?" Though Tang Hak’s tone was sharp, Namgung Jin seemed unfazed.
Suddenly, his voice brightening with feigned surprise, he asked, "Young Master Tang! Did you return safely that day? I wanted to inquire about your well-being, but I didn't want to intrude. It seems your wounds have healed completely."

Tang Hak flinched, his body trembling slightly.
Sohwa frowned. ‘He was so brave a moment ago, why is he cowering now?’
She quickly understood, however, as Namgung Jin continued.

“Are Misses Yehwa and Yuhwa well? They seemed quite shaken that day, so worried about your injuries… Come to think of it, those were serious wounds. To see no trace of them now… The Tang Clan’s medical skills are truly unparalleled.”
Even without seeing his face, Sohwa could picture his expression: an innocent, concerned facade. He had deliberately brought up the incident where he had rescued them. Any display of hostility from Tang Hak now would only make him look foolish, ungrateful, and rude, especially considering he had been saved by Namgung Jin.
Furthermore, except for the deputy leader, no one else knew about the rescue, making it even more uncomfortable for Tang Hak to address. The future leader of the Tang Clan, before those he was meant to lead, would have to recount the humiliating incident where he had been beaten in the streets and saved by the Namgung heir… It was a stain on the Tang Clan’s honor.

It was a thinly veiled threat.
Sohwa quickly pulled Tang Hak aside. She couldn't bear to see the Tang Clan heir humiliated before these loathsome Namgungs.
Tang Hak, seemingly relieved, readily stepped aside. Sohwa’s gaze fell upon the Namgung heir, his face, as expected, adorned with a cheerful smile.

It grated on her nerves.
Looking at him, she realized the source of her revulsion. His mannerisms, his tone, his expressions… they were all reminiscent of Namgung Hyeon. He had clearly idolized his older half-brother, mimicking him even after his death.
Discarding all pretense of politeness, Sohwa asked pointedly, "Young Master Namgung, you’re here to capture the Blood Cult, correct?"

Namgung Jin hesitated, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes, then nodded. "That is correct."
“And you came to Sichuan pursuing them?”
“Yes.”
Sohwa suddenly smiled. “But if you knew the Blood Cult was heading towards Sichuan, why didn’t you request assistance from the Sichuan branch? Why mobilize your own forces?”

“What do you mean?” Namgung Jin frowned slightly, sensing a hidden accusation.
“Perhaps you saw this as an opportunity to implicate the Sichuan branch, to link them to the Blood Cult. With the upcoming election for the Martial Alliance leader, perhaps you intended to sabotage my father’s reputation by fabricating a scandal…”
Her blatant accusation angered the Namgung warriors.

“How dare you! The Young Master risked his life carrying out a mission for the Martial Alliance! You will apologize for this insult!” A middle-aged man standing beside Namgung Jin shouted angrily.
Sohwa’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t recognize him. He was clearly a Namgung warrior, wearing their uniform and carrying their sword, yet she had never seen him in her previous life. Perhaps something unfortunate had happened to him. He had either died or been expelled before she arrived at the Namgung estate. Anyone loyal to Namgung Jin would have been a threat to Namgung Hyeon.
The bastard Namgung Hyeon had been busy before joining the Tang Clan, diligently eliminating any potential rivals within the Namgung Clan, despite his precarious position.

Sohwa, looking at the irate warrior, asked, “A mission for the Martial Alliance, you say?” She frowned, feigning confusion. “The Sichuan Tang Clan is also a member of the Martial Alliance. We received no such notification. Especially not for an operation taking place within Sichuan itself.”
“Th-that’s because…”
“Or is this something only the Sichuan branch is unaware of? Are the other members aware of this mission?”

“…”
“If this is a Martial Alliance mission that only the Anhui branch knows about, then it’s not a Martial Alliance mission, but a rogue operation by the Namgung Clan.”
“That’s not true! The situation…”

Sohwa interrupted him, her eyes gleaming. “Precisely. We were completely unaware of the situation.”
The man’s lips tightened.
“But the fact that there’s a Martial Alliance mission we know nothing about suggests a lack of transparency within the Alliance, wouldn't you agree?”

Withholding information and allowing a single branch to monopolize intelligence violated the Martial Alliance’s regulations. Though they didn’t typically penalize minor infractions, given the vastness of the central plains and the sheer volume of information, anything related to the Blood Cult was a different matter. It was a threat to the entire central plains. And a member of the Tang Clan, unaware of the Blood Cult’s resurgence, had nearly been killed because of this lack of communication.
The Anhui branch would be held accountable for their failure to share vital information, according to the Martial Alliance’s laws.
The man’s lips moved soundlessly, as if recalling the regulations. “Th-that’s not…”

“Uncle.” Namgung Jin silenced him with a look.
His cheerful facade vanished. He stepped forward and offered a cupped-hand salute. “I apologize for our rudeness.”
Tang Sohwa didn't return the gesture, simply looking down at him, her gaze cold and unwavering. Her dismissive attitude angered the Namgung warriors, but she didn’t care.

Tilting her head slightly, she asked, her tone laced with sarcasm, “Suddenly? What are you apologizing for, Young Master Namgung?”
“We should have informed the Sichuan branch first, as this is their territory. My thinking was flawed. However, we weren't certain of the situation and didn’t want to cause undue alarm. Also…” His gaze shifted to Tang Hak, standing beside Sohwa.
“I encountered the Young Master Tang in Sichuan town a few days ago. However, since the Tang Clan didn’t extend an invitation afterwards, I assumed you wished to keep our meeting a secret. Therefore, we proceeded discreetly, confirming the Blood Cult’s presence before sharing the information with the Alliance.”

… ‘So, that’s how it is?’ Sohwa was stunned by his smooth, effortless fabrication. There was no way to refute his claims. The Tang and Namgung heirs had met in Sichuan. Yet, the Tang Clan hadn't extended an invitation. An ungrateful and inhospitable Tang Clan, despite owing him a debt of gratitude.
When reporting his actions, Namgung Jin would undoubtedly mention this slight, ensuring that all members of the Martial Alliance learned of the Tang Clan heir’s embarrassing encounter, the incident where he had been saved by the Namgung heir after being attacked by vagrants in the streets. It would further tarnish the Tang Clan’s reputation.
It was a blatant threat.

Namgung Jin smiled at her, a disarming, friendly smile. He was said to be intelligent, but this was more than intelligence. It was cunning.
Sohwa discarded the last vestiges of gratitude she had felt towards him. This made things easier. She could now use him as a scapegoat without a shred of guilt.
The two heirs, their true intentions masked by cheerful smiles, exchanged pleasantries. However, their families, aware of their true nature, felt a growing sense of unease.

“I see,” Sohwa said, nodding slowly. “There seems to have been a misunderstanding.”
“Thank you for your understanding,” Namgung Jin replied, his smile widening. “However, even so, I should have informed the Sichuan branch of our presence. I will submit a detailed report of my actions to the Alliance Leader…”
“That won’t be necessary. You can omit the details of your encounter with the Young Master Tang.”

Sohwa averted her gaze, turning slightly away from Tang Hak. This cunning Namgung had already identified her weakness. She frowned suddenly. The Namgung warriors were already preparing to take the Blood Cult assassins and the members of the Divine Physician’s troupe into custody. And…
“What are you doing?” she asked sharply.
“We need to interrogate them.”

“The old physician and the young miss are not members of the Blood Cult.” Both Jincheol and Yeon-a were tied up amongst the captured assassins.
“Even so, they’ve been in contact with them,” Namgung Jin replied calmly.
“They were simply treating patients who were injured by the Blood Cult. That’s hardly considered collusion.” She added sarcastically, “Unless you consider being attacked by the Blood Cult ‘contact.’”

Namgung Jin remained unfazed. “Even so, we can’t simply let them go. They are valuable sources of information.”
Yeon-a flinched, and the old physician pulled her closer. They understood the implications of being labeled informants, of being associated with the Blood Cult in the eyes of the Martial Alliance.
Sohwa’s gaze returned to Namgung Jin. A sly smile played on her lips. “Yes, you’re right.” She nodded slowly. “Since this incident occurred in Sichuan, according to protocol, these Blood Cult members should be taken to the Sichuan branch for interrogation. However, considering your efforts in tracking them down, Young Master Namgung, I will entrust them to the Anhui branch.”

“Miss…” The deputy leader started to protest, but she ignored him. “I’m placing my trust in you, Young Master Namgung, to conduct a thorough investigation.” She forced a smile, hoping it appeared genuine. “We have no choice but to trust the information provided by the Anhui branch. Can we trust the Namgung Clan to uncover the truth?”
Namgung Jin smiled. “Of course.”
Tang Sohwa, not believing a word he said, smiled even more brightly. “Since the Tang Clan has shown its trust, I expect the Namgung Clan to reciprocate.”

“It seems you have a request. Please, speak your mind.”
Tang Sohwa flexed her healed hand, then, with a flick of her wrist, launched a throwing knife.
Clang. The Namgung warriors, mistaking it for an attack, drew their weapons. But Namgung Jin didn’t react.

The knife landed near the bound captives.
Thud.
The ropes binding the old physician and Yeon-a parted effortlessly.

The Tang Clan’s eldest daughter, another throwing knife appearing in her hand, spoke, her voice cold and sharp.
“We’ll be taking the Divine Physician’s troupe with us.”