20 – Blood Debt (2)

Hojeong Sect Master Ho Yeonam was talking with his wife, Sa Jiwon.

“The Namgung Clan has sent an invitation. They say they’re holding the grand banquet a bit earlier this year.”

“The grand banquet? The one that gathers all the orthodox sects and families within Anhui Province? Why would they send an invitation to us?”

Sa Jiwon looked puzzled.

And it was only natural. Invitations from the Namgung Clan were sent only to the single most powerful sect or family in each prefecture.

Until now, the representative of Gorae Prefecture had always been the Jo Family, so the Hojeong Sect had never once received an invitation from the Namgung Clan.

Ho Yeonam spoke in a low voice.

“This time, the Jo Family Head disappeared, didn’t he? That makes us the substitute.”

“…They won’t be looking at us kindly.”

Sa Jiwon spoke with concern.

The Jo Family was a distant collateral branch of the Namgung Clan.

It was practically an open secret that one of the Namgung Clan’s elders was backing the Jo Family.

Yet such a Jo Family had suffered total annihilation overnight and vanished. As the party that had reaped the unintended benefits and taken their place, the Hojeong Sect’s position was extremely awkward.

Ho Yeonam let out a sigh.

“It won’t just be unfriendly looks. They’ll probably scrutinize us with fire in their eyes, wondering if we had anything to do with the Jo Family’s destruction.”

“But we’re innocent.”

“Who knows. They might fabricate evidence and pin it on us. You know it too, my lady. In the martial world, only the logic of strength matters. If you’re weak, you have no choice but to suffer injustice.”

Ho Yeonam felt deep self-reproach.

He knew all too well that all of this had happened because he himself was weak.

Sa Jiwon held his hand.

“Don’t worry too much. They wouldn’t go that far against fellow orthodox factions.”

“The strong are not harsh to the weak on purpose. To the strong, it’s nothing more than a careless, small gesture—but to the weak, that gesture becomes a typhoon. They say a frog can be killed by a stone thrown in jest. To me, the Namgung Clan looks just that enormous.”

“I think… the Namgung Clan is holding the grand banquet to calm the unsettled atmosphere after the bloodshed in Anhui Province. Not only the Hojeong Sect—every sect and family in the other prefectures received invitations too. So nothing serious will happen. In fact, we might even gain something by making a good impression on the Namgung Clan.”

Sa Jiwon’s words made sense.

Not to mention the Jo Family, even the Heukdobang, though a heterodox faction, had been quite large in scale.

With both organizations being wiped out in succession overnight, the Namgung Clan, as the hegemon of Anhui Province, would naturally feel the need to firmly rein in the chaotic atmosphere.

Sa Jiwon continued to comfort Ho Yeonam.

“And have you heard that rumor?”

“What rumor?”

“You know, the Namgung Clan’s precious daughter who went to study at the Ascending Heavens Academy before. The one called Sword Blossom.”

“Ah, Miss Namgung Yul. Right. It’s already been a year since she enrolled at the Ascending Heavens Academy.”

“Yes. They say that Miss Namgung has returned to the Namgung Clan for vacation this time.”

Sa Jiwon continued with a faint smile.

“So among the ladies of the inner chambers… there’s a widespread rumor that this grand banquet of the Namgung Clan is meant to show off the family head’s daughter. After all, their daughter is a current student at the Ascending Heavens Academy and has returned home for vacation, so they want everyone to get familiar with her face, boast a little, and things like that…”

“Hahaha—if it’s such a cute purpose, that would be nice. Showing off one’s daughter is something I can listen to all day.”

Ho Yeonam finally smiled.

But his inner thoughts were still extremely complicated.

The Nine Sects and Five Great Families.

The Fifteen Pillars of the Orthodox Path.

The fifteen pillars that uphold the orthodox way.

The Namgung Clan was one of them.

The annihilated Jo Family was a distant collateral bloodline of the Namgung Clan, and the one benefiting from their sudden disappearance was the Hojeong Sect.

There was no doubt that some form of pressure would come.

Ho Yeonam spoke.

“We should go and clearly explain our innocence. And we should also report what happened with Sado Ryeon. About Gon Gui.”

“Yes. That would be best.”

Sa Jiwon nodded as well.

Before long, their conversation shifted to Sword Blossom Namgung Yul, who had returned to the Namgung Clan.

“That aside, Miss Namgung will be the star of this grand banquet.”

“Of course. Not just anyone can enter the Ascending Heavens Academy. It’s a place where even the most outstanding talents from the Fifteen Pillars of the Orthodox Path enroll. And on top of that, her family is the Namgung Clan—she’s unquestionably the top marriage prospect in Anhui Province. They say just the marriage proposals coming in already circle Anhui several times over.”

“The Ascending Heavens Academy… I hear the tuition and fees are astronomical. From enrollment to graduation for a single student, it costs about four years’ worth of operating expenses for an average small or medium sect.”

“Seeing such a daughter after so long—how could they not want to boast?”

At Sa Jiwon’s words, Ho Yeonam suddenly darkened.

“Our Yeyang, honestly, doesn’t fall short compared to Miss Namgung at all…”

“Husband. Why would you say that?”

“Well, isn’t it true? Does Yeyang lose to Miss Namgung in looks? In talent? In character? The only thing she loses in is having incompetent parents. We should support her before it’s too late…”

But the reality was that they were already scraping the bottom just to operate the Hojeong Sect.

As that fact came to mind, both Ho Yeonam and Sa Jiwon fell silent.

This was always how parents felt when they couldn’t provide ample support for their child.

…At that very moment.

Bang!

The door to the inner chamber flew open.

Ho Yeyang rushed in, her face flushed.

“Mom! Dad!”

The form of address that was usually so proper reverted to the childish way she used to speak when she was younger.

Ho Yeonam welcomed his daughter with a hearty laugh, as if he’d never sighed at all.

“Yes, yes, my daughter. Calling me Dad instead of Father feels even better. You should call me that from now on.”

“Dad! No—Father! Now’s not the time for that!”

Ho Yeyang thrust something forward in front of her parents.

<Martial Alliance – Ascending Heavens Academy / Acceptance Notice>

Ho Yeonam and Sa Jiwon’s eyes went wide.

“N-no! What is this? When did you take the entrance exam for the Ascending Heavens Academy?”

“My goodness! Look at this! Zhi, De, and Body—all perfect scores! O-our daughter is the top scorer!”

The couple shouted in shock.

They grabbed their precious daughter and began firing off questions.

“You brat! Why did you crumple up something like this?! This is something that should be passed down as a family heirloom for generations!”

“This is a joyous occasion, a joyous occasion! We should hold a grand banquet too!”

At that moment, Ho Yeyang spoke.

“Oh, right. Mother, Father. The tuition is…”

The moment tuition was mentioned, Ho Yeonam immediately cut her off.

“You don’t need to worry about something like that at all! I’ll tear out every pillar of this sect and sell them, and even send all the moles that come out with them to the herbal shop if I have to—I’ll get the money ready!”

“Oh please, what moles are you talking about! Honestly, exaggerating is the one thing you’re truly good at. My dear daughter~ Your mother has an emergency fund stashed away. That alone won’t cause any trouble for the Hojeong Sect. So don’t worry about anything and just focus on studying.”

Ho Yeonam and Sa Jiwon were doing everything they could to reassure Ho Yeyang.

But then, something happened that completely blew away even the slightest burden that remained in their hearts.

…Clatter!

Ho Yeyang set down a money sack.

An amount of gold ingots far exceeding even the payment stolen from the Hojil Escort Agency by Gon Gui spilled out across the table.

Looking at Ho Yeonam and Sa Jiwon, who looked as though they might faint from shock, Ho Yeyang cried out in a voice thick with emotion.

“Now you don’t have to worry about anything! I got all the money back!”

The next morning.

Ho Yeyang went out for a ride near the lakeside.

Beside her, Chui was burning mugwort to drive away insects.

Looking at Chui, Ho Yeyang said,

“Lucky charm.”

“….”

She had been calling Chui her lucky charm as a joke.

Ever since Chui arrived, things had strangely been going well.

Ho Yeyang leaned toward him and asked,

“I haven’t seen you much lately. Where have you been wandering off to all the time, huh?”

“….”

Chui didn’t answer this time either.

He simply kept his mouth shut, lost in thought.

“Hey!”

Ho Yeyang raised her fist and lightly flicked Chui on the forehead in a playful manner.

Only then did Chui lift his head.

Ho Yeyang laughed.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“…Just. Various things.”

Chui fumbled for an answer.

How could he honestly say what he was thinking about?

That he was planning to storm into the Namgung Clan and paint the place red with blood.

Chui recalled the past.

The name that had come from Ho Yeyang’s mouth back then.

‘…One of the Namgung Clan’s elders covered up the collusion between the Jo Family and the Heukdobang, and the incident where the Hojeong Sect was unjustly ruined because of it.’

The Namgung Clan was a colossal power that tacitly held autonomous authority within Anhui Province.

Naturally, they had an obligation to intervene in disputes among small sects and families to maintain order.

However, even within the Namgung Clan, corrupt factions existed.

Chui knew of high-ranking figures who turned a blind eye to the filthy and ugly conspiracies arising from power struggles among subordinate forces, pocketing bribes in return.

An elder-level heavyweight whose name was written on Ho Yeyang’s death list.

And one of the many pursuers who had plunged a blade into Chui in his previous life.

As Chui recalled that man’s face, he was coldly and sharply planning his revenge.

At that moment, Ho Yeyang once again broke into Chui’s thoughts.

“Are the kids still bullying you these days?”

It seemed she had misunderstood his silence somewhat.

When Chui didn’t respond, Ho Yeyang widened her eyes as if that wouldn’t do.

“Just warning them isn’t enough. This won’t do.”

“….”

“Chui. Do you want to leave with your sister?”

“…?”

At Ho Yeyang’s words, Chui twitched one eyebrow.

Ho Yeyang continued with a serious expression.

“You see, I’m enrolling in the Ascending Heavens Academy this time.”

“….”

Hearing that, Chui nodded.

In his previous life, Ho Yeyang had said something similar.

That she took the entrance exam for the Ascending Heavens Academy and ranked first, that she too could attend the place where the greatest rising stars under heaven studied—but that she couldn’t because there was no money. That if she had enrolled there, her life would have been very different.

And now, that same Ho Yeyang was smiling brightly as she said it.

Chui thought that in this life, her dream would not be broken.

“Chui, I’ve been watching you for a while now. You’re quiet, diligent, and I think you’re quite capable. So I wanted to ask—if you’re okay with it, come with me to the Martial Alliance. Ascending Heavens Academy students can bring a few assistants to help with their personal lives. They say the academy covers half of their wages and living expenses.”

For a servant living day to day, it was an offer with no reason to refuse—one that was, in fact, an honor.

Just becoming a regular employee of a public institution like the Ascending Heavens Academy under the Martial Alliance could be considered a path to fame and success.

On top of that, his quality of life would improve dramatically, and he’d receive a salary as well.

Ho Yeyang continued,

“I’m definitely going to enroll in the Ascending Heavens Academy. I’ll go there and compete proudly with the other outstanding rising stars of the Fifteen Pillars of the Orthodox Path. I’ll broaden my knowledge and build connections, then return to the Hojeong Sect. They say I could also stay on and continue working at the Martial Alliance, but… I still want to come back to the home where Father and Mother are. I want to grow our family into something great.”

Her aspirations were bold.

Like the sun just rising beyond the horizon of the vast sea—still dim for now, but soon to shine brightly and illuminate heaven and earth.

And Chui intended to watch over it silently from behind, like a shadow at sunset.

‘…Once I finish this matter, she’ll be able to take care of everything herself after that.’

Thinking of what would soon unfold at the Namgung Clan, Chui nodded.

Then Ho Yeyang asked,

“You’ll come with me, right?”

“If circumstances allow.”

“What’s with the playing hard to get!”

Ho Yeyang shot him a dissatisfied look.

She continued, clearly wanting to take the capable Chui with her.

“Then I’ll assume you’re coming for now. It’ll be a long journey to the Martial Alliance, so if there’s anything you need to sort out in advance, do it. You didn’t lend money to anyone, did you?”

“There are some debts I need to collect.”

“What? You have debts? Then you have to settle them all. Collect everything that’s owed to you!”

At Ho Yeyang’s playful words, Chui quietly nodded to himself.

“…Of course.”

Debts must be collected.

Every last coin, every last drop of blood, all of it.

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