The return of the granddaughter of the Namgoong family

***

The three members of Namgung’s external guard, Ilryong, Imoe, and Sambong, were originally bandits from the Huangshan mountains.

Huangshan is located to the south of Heifei, where the Namgung family is based, and due to frequent expeditions by Namgung to eliminate bandits, it wasn’t easy to continue their activities as thieves.

One day, Sambong, who had just returned from a village, brought unexpected news.

“Ilryong hyung! Imoe hyung! Look at this! Namgung is recruiting warriors!”

Namgung was their enemy, but at the same time, it was a place that had a reputation as grand as Mount Tai, something they couldn’t help but admire.

“Banditry is dirty and shameful, I’m getting tired of it. What do you think about becoming Namgung warriors instead? We’ve got some martial arts skills, and it looks like they don’t care about qualifications.”

“….”

“What if our past as bandits is discovered?”

“….”

“We can just say we were trying to start over! Come on, they won’t kill us. It’s Namgung, after all. Hahaha…”

The three bandits knew well enough that without the Namgung family’s surname, it would be difficult to become inner court warriors. However, that wasn’t their goal.

“Hahaha! Did you see how they trembled at the name Namgung? They say the area under the lamp is darker, but it’s so easy to make a living like this!”

“Doesn’t it seem like our skills have gotten better than when we were bandits? I told you listening to me was a good idea!”

In the silk shops, they took the silk; in the restaurants, they took the food.

They wandered around the shops, never paying properly, and no one dared stop them.

It was all because of the name “Namgung.”

But as the saying goes, a long tail will eventually be stepped on.

Their luck ran out when they were caught by the leader of the Black Dragon Guard, the Namgung family’s internal guard.

With an order from the Black Dragon Guard to return and be confined, the three were grumbling as they made their way back to their quarters.

“Damn it! Why did the Black Dragon Guard have to show up?”

“How should I know? These guys didn’t even care about the neighborhood patrols. Maybe they were just out for a meal.”

“Honestly, that inn was a bit too much! If we only stole once or twice, no one would’ve noticed, but we’ve been doing it every day!”

“That inn’s dumplings were the best! Damn it, we were unlucky! All we wanted was a free dumpling, and now we’re getting our pay cut!”

They were planning to keep a low profile, but the innkeeper had been more persistent than usual that day.

And just when they had been eating a meal there, they were caught, and their wages for the next three months were deducted.

“Hyung, just wait a minute.”

Sambong stopped Ilryong and Imoe.

“What is it? What now?”

Imoe, who was quick-tempered, turned back to look at him irritably.

“I’m talking about the money that was deducted from our wages. Where do you think it’s going?”

“Where else would it go? They’ll just fill up their warehouse! We’ve been robbed by Namgung! They’re nothing but bandits! Hmph!”

“Do you think that’s really what happened? It’s Namgung, after all.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Sambong’s eyes sparkled.

“If it’s the highly ceremonial Namgung, they must’ve given that money to the innkeeper. As compensation for the damage done to them. But what kind of place is Namgung?”

“What do you mean? The greatest martial family in the Central Plains…”

“It’s not just a place full of hypocrisy! Just because we ate their food for a few months, it doesn’t mean we’ve become one of them, Hyung!”

Ilryong scratched his head, realizing something.

“Ah, so what’s your point?”

“The money was given to save face, but they wouldn’t care beyond that. We could go back to the inn right now and cause a scene, and they wouldn’t even notice.”

“So?”

“So what’s the plan? Are you really that clueless? Of course, we need to go and take that money back right now! Our salary!”

“Do you think the innkeeper will just stand by? Didn’t you see the look in his eyes? He looked like he was ready to pull out a kitchen knife! Now you want to back off?”

“We need to scare him thoroughly. Make sure he can’t report us to Namgung and that he can’t resist anymore.”

Sambong’s eyes narrowed.

A significant, almost sinister smile twisted his lips.

“We need to make sure of it.”

Seeing this expression, Ilryong also grinned slyly.

“Haha. Just like we used to, huh?”

Heh, heh, heh. Heh heh heh.

Their laughter grew darker and more malicious, the two of them looking at each other.

The three of them turned away from Namgung’s headquarters and headed toward the inn.

Since they might run into the Black Dragon Guard again, they decided to use a back alley with fewer people.

Ilryong felt a rush of excitement after a long time.

“Banditry is what I do best!”

Since coming down from the mountain and joining Namgung’s warriors, he’d felt like he was just playing petty tricks in the alleys! But today was different!

This time, they were taking Namgung’s money!

“No, wait. That money is mine to begin with.”

They were just reclaiming what had been taken from them.

“How’s it looking? Is anyone there?”

“Hold on. It’s hard to see because of the pillar. Can you see from your side?”

The three of them crouched in the back alley behind the inn and peered through a small window to check the inside.

They wanted to be cautious in case the Black Dragon Guard or Namgung’s warriors were around.

Unlike before, this time they were planning something more sinister, so they had to be extra careful….

“What are you doing?”

“…!”

“…!”

The three of them, who were pressed against the window, were startled when they heard a child’s voice from behind.

They turned to see who it was, but for some strange reason, their bodies wouldn’t move.

They couldn’t turn their heads, and even their fingers wouldn’t budge.

All they could do was roll their eyes while still crouched at the window.

“Don’t bother. I’ve sealed your pressure points. You won’t be able to move for at least an hour.”

The eyes of the three men flickered with anxiety.

They wanted to shout or scream, but no sound came from their throats.

“Oh, and while I was at it, I also sealed your mute point. I don’t want you making any noise, especially if you scream.”

‘When did this happen…?!’

They were skilled martial artists, even if only in the lower ranks, but they hadn’t noticed a thing. They hadn’t even sensed the presence of this person.

‘A master…!’

Sealing pressure points requires a high level of skill, and only top-level martial artists are capable of it.

This person must be at least a peak-level master!

‘What do they want?!’

If they could just speak, they would ask what the person wanted!

“I know you want to say something, but I’m short on time. I’ll say my piece, and that’s all.”

‘…!’

“Ilryong. Imoe. Sambong.”

The eyes of the three, who had been twitching nervously, suddenly froze.

‘How does she know us…?’

‘How does she know…?!’

“I know people like you very well. Those who will do anything for money. I didn’t expect you to be working as Namgung’s warriors though.”

‘She knows we’re working for Namgung!’

‘Who is this?! Why does her voice sound familiar?’

Seolhwa smiled to herself as she looked at the three men who were stiff with fear.

‘I can’t believe I ran into these guys here.’

Ilryong, Imoe, and Sambong.

They had been members of the Blood Sect in their previous life.

To be precise, they had started as bandits in the Green Forest, then joined the Blood Sect.

They knew a lot about Namgung and had requested to join under its banner, offering valuable information in return.

She had wondered how these lowlifes had such knowledge of Namgung.

‘So they were working for Namgung?’

No, more precisely, they were the black-hearted people hiding behind Namgung’s mask.

How had they infiltrated Namgung, and what were they after? There were many questions, but not much time left to find out.

“I don’t even want to give scum like you a chance to repent. If you were going to change, you wouldn’t have done these bad things in the first place.”

The fact that they hadn’t returned to Namgung but were still here was proof of that.

Although she felt a little bad for Cheongun of Namgung, these were not the type of people who would change even if given the chance.

They had betrayed Namgung, betrayed the Green Forest, and joined the Blood Sect.

In their previous life, their end had been death.

After their usefulness was over, they were caught stealing information from the Blood Sect and killed by Ilhwa’s hand.

“To be honest, I’d want to kill you before you even show any potential, but…”

The three men stiffened again.

“Since it’s Namgung, I’ll spare you. For now, at least, because it’s Namgung.”

Still, because it was Namgung.

‘They’re somewhat useful.’

Ilryong, though foolish, had decent martial skills; Imoe, though silent, would do whatever he was told; and Sambong, sly as he was, was good at using tricks.

They were perfect for use as pawns.

Meanwhile, Sambong brightened at Seolhwa’s words.

‘She said she’d spare us because it’s Namgung…?’

Messing with someone from Namgung was no small matter. Even if they were external warriors, Namgung was still Namgung.

No one in Zhongyuan would want to make an enemy of Namgung.

‘As expected, Namgung is formidable…!’

Even the masters feared Namgung! Yes!

Sambong felt relieved just knowing he wasn’t going to die, cheering inwardly. But just then, something appeared behind his head.

‘…!’

It seemed to be a hand, but no matter how hard he tried to look down, he couldn’t see what was happening.

‘W-What are they trying to do…?!’

The assailant’s hand forced Sambong’s mouth open and shoved something inside. It felt like something hard, about the size of two fingers.

‘No, not this…!’

Sambong tried desperately not to swallow it, but the attacker lifted his chin, and with a sharp pressure on his neck, he helplessly swallowed it with a painful gulp.

It slid down his throat and into his body.

Sambong sensed it immediately.

‘This is bad….’

“I said I’d spare you, not let you go.”

A devilishly innocent voice whispered in his ear.