Chapter 25. Seeing Through Stealth

As he leisurely strolled through the marketplace, Songhwa chattered away.

“Young master, can’t you not go to the Seomun Family?”

“You seem worried.”

“Yes, I’m already worried that the Eldest Young Master of the Seomun Family will be in great trouble, so my heart won’t calm down.”

‘What an admirable kid.’

Songhwa threw a joke, perhaps to lighten his mood.

Unlike his inner thoughts, which found her admirable, Hugong snorted.

“Hmph, you seem to like that guy. What’s the use of having such low standards?”

“Hehe, but young master, can’t you really not go? Since many people have been invited, there won’t be any rough business, but it’s obvious that you’ll be humiliated.”

“Stop talking nonsense and find a good restaurant. How long are you going to make me walk!”

“Yes!”

Being humiliated.

Hearing Songhwa’s words, Hugong suddenly thought of the Dokgo Family.

Even among prestigious families, there were places that had deviated from the path of humanity. There were many places that had concealed and embellished themselves to have the plausible appearance of a prestigious family.

There were well-raised children like Ban Gyoin of the Cheongwolmun, but there were also many rascals among the children of prestigious families. They were revered from a young age, and their family’s prestige was high, so a tendency to look down on people without regard for others would unknowingly solidify, and they would become rascals.

When the desires of such a grown-up rascal surpassed their abilities, problems would arise. About ten years ago, the second young master of the Dokgo Family had secretly poisoned his older brother and imprisoned his father in his greed to succeed the family, but things had gone wrong, and he had met a terrible end.

The matter of the Dokgo Family was something that had been revealed to the outside, but the inside of a powerful family was not always peaceful. Just a year ago, the Hwangbo Family had a succession dispute called the ‘Prince’s Rebellion’. And besides that, it was common for them to shed blood to gain benefits and expand their power by using their reputation.

“Young master, this place is famous for its Dongpo pork, and that place over there is said to have amazing Yubokha.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Um… I want Yubokha.”

“Good. Then let’s go for Dongpo pork.”

Songhwa’s mouth became a pouting trumpet.

As the group went up to the restaurant, there were people watching them.

It was the two beggars of the Beggars’ Sect.

– Senior brother, doesn’t that Eldest Young Master of the Cheonhwa Library look like a pushover, no matter how you look at him?

– Gulp.

Instead of an answer, the middle-aged beggar’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

– You should listen when someone is talking, what are you eating?

– I swallowed my saliva.

– It must be delicious. Then me too. Gulp.

Even while the middle-aged beggar and the young beggar were filling their stomachs by swallowing their saliva side by side, their gazes remained in one place.

– But why is that guy sitting by the window on the second floor and tearing at Dongpo pork? I’m envious. How great it must be to be rich. You can eat whatever you want.

– I know, right? Senior brother is a beggar.

– Did you just subtly insult me?

– No, that’s your inferiority complex, senior brother.

The two beggars of the Beggars’ Sect were leaning against a corner of a wall.

About 20 zhang away from there was the restaurant building, and the Eldest Young Master of the Cheonhwa Library was seated by the window on the second floor.

A perfect place to see at a glance.

People passed by in front of the two sprawled beggars, but no one gave them a glance. No, they couldn’t give them a glance.

They were invisible right now.

It was because they were hidden by the Beggars’ Sect’s stealth technique, the Gungjamhyeongheosul (Ultimate Stealth and Formless Technique), and had assimilated with the surrounding scenery.

Their conversation was also telepathic.

No one could hear their voices.

But because they couldn’t do anything about the smell, the people who passed right in front of them just wrinkled their noses, wondering where the foul smell was coming from.

– If you really curse, you’ll die by my hand. Even if you curse indirectly, you’ll die.

– Our family motto is ‘If you meet someone who says, “If you curse, you’ll die by my hand,” kill them,’ so it’s quite a coincidence.

– You bastard, you have thousands of family mottos. I’ll cut off your lineage today.

– Hehe, but has the Cheonhwa Library decided to just let it go as if nothing happened?

– Then I would be very disappointed.

– What’s there to be disappointed about? Even if the Cheongwolmun is out because they don’t seem to be related, what’s left is the Seomun Family. They are a tough opponent for bookworms to deal with.

– Is the Cheonhwa Library an ordinary bookworm? They’re geniuses. They’re friends with good heads! Then they’ll do something with those good heads.

– …

When there was no returning telepathic message, the middle-aged beggar frowned at his junior brother.

– You son of a bitch, your venerable senior brother is speaking, and you’re looking away?

– Senior brother, that’s not it.

– What do you mean, that’s not it!

– Look over there.

– Huh?

– The Eldest Young Master of the Cheonhwa Library is looking at us.

– What?

Wondering what nonsense he was talking about, the branch leader’s face became blank as he looked up at the second floor of the tavern.

“Uh…”

He wasn’t just looking. The Eldest Young Master of the Cheonhwa Library was looking at them and grinning. He was so surprised that he forgot to use telepathy for a moment.

– What’s that? He’s laughing?

– The bookworm is laughing.

Normally, he shouldn’t be looking at them like this. Stealth was not something that could be seen through so easily.

The saying that the Beggars’ Sect is everywhere and nowhere did not come about for no reason. The Beggars’ Sect was that skilled in stealth and concealment, and had developed it, and their pride was also extraordinary.

“Young master, what are you laughing at?”

Just then, Songhwa, who was sitting opposite the window seat, looked out the window, curious about her master’s expression.

But there was nothing where her master’s gaze was directed.

Songhwa thought that her master was just having a pleasant thought and sat down again.

As they were finishing their meal,

“Songhwa.”

“Yes, young master.”

“When you pay, buy a bottle of the most expensive wine in this house.”

“In this house?”

“Yes.”

Songhwa had no way of knowing why. There were layers of rare and high-end wine in the library, so she couldn’t understand why her master was telling her to buy cheap wine here.

As Hugong and his guards were leaving the restaurant, the beggars were in an uproar.

– Senior brother, look at my arm. Wow, fuck, when that Eldest Young Master guy was looking at us from across the window, I got such goosebumps. I’ve got goosebumps all over. If you fry me like this, I’ll be fried chicken!

– My skin is already peeling off.

– No, that guy, didn’t they say he was super depressed? Did he learn some secret manual that builds up internal energy when you’re depressed? Wow, to think the Eldest Young Master of the Cheonhwa Library was learning martial arts… If he can see through stealth, he could probably fight me.

– You foolish fool, that’s not what’s important.

As he watched the Eldest Young Master of the Cheonhwa Library, who had come out of the restaurant and was moving away, the middle-aged beggar frowned.

– Then what’s important?

– Junior brother.

– What?

– Are you going to live your whole life without thinking? Is your head just a storage for your eyeballs?

– So what’s important, senior brother!

– Just follow me. You junior brother bastard!

It was when Hugong had left the outskirts and entered the entrance of the mountain.

“Stop right there!”

At the sudden shout, Songhwa and the guards instantly formed a circle around Hugong. But they soon relaxed when they saw that it was two shabbily dressed beggars.

Songhwa stepped forward.

“Beggars, what is the matter?”

“That’s what I want to ask. If you call someone, you should talk, what are you doing just leaving like that!”

“Beggars, you must have mistaken us for someone else. This is the first time we’ve seen you.”

“Young lady, stay out of it. Young Master Beom, speak.”

‘Young Master Beom?’

Songhwa’s eyes widened.

Her master had only recently started going outside, but the beggars seemed to know him well, so her vigilance soared.

Regardless, the Beggars’ Sect branch leader, Chwiungae, frowned at the Eldest Young Master of the Cheonhwa Library and scratched his neck.

He wasn’t using his head as an eyeball storage, so he fully understood the situation. It was surprising that the Eldest Young Master had learned martial arts, but what was more surprising was that the Eldest Young Master had revealed to them that he had learned martial arts.

What else could this be but a message to follow him?

“Today, I just wanted to get acquainted with you two masters of the Beggars’ Sect. I will need your help soon, so I will contact you again then.”

“Hul…”

The two beggars couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

With this, it became clear.

They had thought they were observing, but at the same time, they were also being observed. The reason he had chosen Dongpo pork instead of Yubokha was probably because it was a good location to look down from.

Songhwa and the four guards were also surprised.

Listening to the conversation, it seemed that they had already had some communication, but they had no way of knowing when or how it had happened. And how did the Eldest Young Master, who had only gone out a handful of times, know these beggars?

“Are you and I acquainted? Even if the Cheonhwa Library has produced amazing geniuses for generations, this is too much.”

The branch leader, Chwiungae, tilted his head.

Not only the circumstances, but for some reason, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this bookworm knew him well.

‘Of course I know you.’

Hugong had a faint smile on his face.

Chwiungae was the disciple of the Beggars’ Sect’s leader, Gon-osin-gae.

Hugong had seen him a couple of times when Gon-osin-gae had brought him.

As befitting the leader’s great disciple, Chwiungae was so competent that he was being mentioned as the next leader, and he also had martial talent.

At their first meeting at the Martial Alliance, Chwiungae had looked him up and down, perhaps because his fat body looked easy, and had asked if he wanted to race to see who was faster, and for that, he had been half-beaten to death by Gon-osin-gae on the spot.

“Are we acquainted?”

At the Eldest Young Master of the Cheonhwa Library’s question, Chwiungae tilted his head.

“No.”

“Then I guess not.”

“Hehe, well.”

“Then I’ll see you again. It’s not much, but I’ve prepared a bottle of wine because I can’t send you off empty-handed.”

Songhwa looked at the wine bottle she was holding with surprised eyes. Then she looked at her master again, and he nodded. Songhwa put aside her questions and quickly ran over and handed him the wine bottle.

Chwiungae, who had received the wine bottle, chuckled.

“You’re a friend I like for some reason. I’m Chwiungae, the branch leader of the Beggars’ Sect.”

The young beggar next to him also introduced himself.

“Hey~ I’m Eun-ang-gae. But why did you only buy one bottle of wine? You’re rich.”

***

A faint and clear scent of white sandalwood spreads through the room.

Yun and Bumong were finishing wrapping the gift.

They carefully placed the gift in a box made of white sandalwood and wrapped it neatly with a blue silk cloth.

This was the gift their eldest brother would take to the Seomun Family tomorrow.

In his heart, he wondered what kind of gift it was, but he couldn’t go empty-handed. It was an exchange between families, and it was a place where they had to resolve the entangled issues. And wouldn’t the children of other reputable families also prepare a small gift, even if it wasn’t grand?

“Brother, will it be alright?”

Bumong’s face was full of worry as he looked down at the silk bundle.

Yun frowned.

“Of course it will be alright. Are you saying we should offer a gold chest to the Seomun Family?”

“That’s not it.”

“Just the white sandalwood is precious.”

Bumong scratched his head.

The two of them called for a maid and then hesitated for a moment.

Then they said no and sent her back. The two brothers moved on their own and placed the gift in the carriage that would depart tomorrow.

They slowly walked in the moonlit night.

Bitterness piled up in the hearts of the two brothers, as much as the steps they took.

He looked composed, but this night would be long for their eldest brother.

Their eldest brother, who had overcome the shadow of death and had become a reliable pillar supporting the family. Even though he didn’t show any signs of worry or express it, how could he not be worried? An adult’s worries are just not revealed.

The soft-hearted Bumong’s eyes began to turn red.

Yun nudged him with his shoulder.

“You rascal, don’t be so pathetic, everything will be fine. Was our eldest brother ever an ordinary person since we were young? And isn’t there good news too?”

“Pardon?”

“Have you already forgotten the letter that came from Brother Juyang?”

“Ah!”

Bumong finally remembered and smiled.

Brother Juyang!

Their eldest brother’s one and only best friend.

The second son of the Eunha Jeonjang, the richest man in the north of the river, who could pile up his money higher than Mount Tai. He was a man with a straight heart, a firm will, and was so serious in everything that jokes didn’t work on him.

Their friendship was so deep that they had exchanged letters with their eldest brother even in the dark days, and the news that Brother Juyang would be coming soon had arrived today.

“Are we keeping it a secret from our eldest brother?”

The letter had been sent to the second brother, not the eldest.

“Of course. You watch your mouth too. Didn’t Brother Juyang repeatedly ask in the letter? He said he wanted to surprise him. Don’t spoil it. Then what’s the fun?”

“Hmph, I will. I’m already looking forward to it.”

Bumong grinned, having chased away his worries.

If only the matter of the Seomun Family was resolved, a happy day would soon come.