Episode 4. I’ll protect you. Do you understand?
Just looking at the narrow, damp hole warms my heart, because I know how peaceful the world beyond is.
The outside world offers freedom and peace, even if only for a little while.
I hesitated in front of the dog hole that was blocking my path.
Grandma told me not to cause any trouble today because an important guest had arrived.
The weak-hearted lover circled the hole in circles.
Yeonjeok, who had been walking in one direction, felt dizzy and turned around.
thud.
Yeonjeok, who was taking a step forward without thinking, ended up bumping into someone.
“… … .”
Yeonjeokha’s eyes widened.
This is my older sister who came as a guest.
A pretty older sister named Namgung Yeon was glaring at me with an angry face.
I was about to make an excuse, but my surprised heart started pounding like crazy.
“Uh… … . Uh… … .”
My grandmother’s warning not to speak too late suddenly came to mind.
He kept his mouth shut tightly and passed by Namgung Yeon.
But things in the world did not go his way.
When Yeon Jeok-ha, who was as old as his younger brother, tried to pass by without even offering a proper apology, Namgung Yeon reached out his hand.
Yeon-jeok, who was grabbed by the shoulder in an instant, fell backwards.
Iron Fist.
The fallen angel did not groan as she fell to the ground.
Since trouble had already started, I decided not to make a sound. That way, I wouldn’t get scolded by my grandmother. And if I get scolded less, it hurts less.
Every time my grandmother pinches and pokes me with her fingers, it feels like my flesh is falling off.
Compared to that, Namgung Yeon’s touch was bearable.
Meanwhile, Namgung Yeon was even more surprised to see Yeon Jeok Ha fall over at his light gesture.
‘It’s too light.’
My father clearly said that there was a scholar in Waryongjang who was no less talented than Namgung Se-ga.
So I guess I unconsciously put strength into my hands.
But the child was far from martial arts-savvy. Even considering that he was only six years old, he was extremely lethargic.
Children of the Muga clan begin to learn martial arts around the age of six. I was the same way. So I thought Yeonjeok-ha would be able to hold out for a while. However, he seemed weaker than ordinary children.
It’s not just a feeling of physical strength.
He didn’t take any action to protect himself, like a puppy or a chick that was mentally in love. Even if he hadn’t learned martial arts, he should have instinctively resisted, but he didn’t do that.
Namgung Yeon, who had built a wall between himself and the world, tilted his head.
The child under the eye was like a bug that could easily die if pressed with a fingernail.
A small insect with no will to resist.
Are all the children of Waryongjang like this?
When I thought about it carefully, it seemed like this child’s siblings were stronger than the average child. Only this child was weak and had a dead look in his eyes.
‘aha!’
A strange light appeared in Namgung Yeon’s eyes.
This little boy is the son of my aunt who died giving birth six years ago.
Namgung Yeon unconsciously reached out and grabbed Yeon Jeok Ha.
As expected, the child did not resist and was dragged along obediently. He was like a wooden doll.
Namgung Yeon turned Yeon Jeok-ha around and stared into his eyes.
Yeonjeokha’s two eyes were cloudy, unlike those of a child, and they wavered constantly like a candle in the wind.
Suddenly, Namgung Yeon’s fist flew towards Yeon Jeok-ha’s face.
puck.
Yeonjeokha’s face turned to one side.
Blood flowed out as if her lip had burst.
… … .
Neither the one who struck nor the one who was hit said anything.
Namgung Yeon’s beautiful mother frowned.
You don’t cry even if you bleed?
“joy!”
With cynicism, Namgung Yeon used his hands more boldly.
He raised his index and middle fingers and poked Yeonjeokha’s eyes.
It was a cruel method that even adults rarely use.
But surprisingly, he neither avoided nor closed his eyes.
He just stared blankly at the fingers coming towards him to harm him.
Bam.
Namgung Yeon quickly changed direction and poked Yeon Jeok-ha’s eyebrow.
Yeonjeokha’s lifeless eyes blinked several times, as if startled by the strong stimulation.
“iced coffee!”
The first sound came out of Namgung Yeon’s mouth.
Surprisingly, even though he is only six years old, he doesn’t cry out loud even when he is in pain.
It even seems that we are accustomed to suffering.
He accepts all the persecution that is inflicted on him as if it were natural, like an ox being dragged to the slaughterhouse. Even if it results in fatal injuries… … .
Namgung Yeon slowly rolled up the child’s sleeves that reached down to the back of his hand. The tender flesh on the inside of his elbow was completely blackened with bruises.
Verification is complete.
Namgung Yeon suddenly stroked Yeon Jeok Ha’s head with a gentle hand.
Like a kitten in love, she closed her eyes and placed her head in Namgung Yeon’s hands.
After a while, Namgung Yeon grabbed Yeonjeokha’s head with both hands.
And he fixed the child’s face in front of himself.
… … .
For a long time, Namgung Yeon just stared at Yeonjeokha.
Protect you.
Do you understand?
Namgung Yeon kept saying in his heart.
Did that wish come true?
Yeonjeokha, who had gained courage, opened his mouth.
“mom…….”
I inadvertently called out to my mother because of the warmth I felt for the first time after being born.
Namgung Yeon shook his head.
She is not his mother. The child doesn’t even seem to know what a mother is.
Then Yeonjeokha lowered her head as if she was about to cry.
Namgung Yeon quietly held Yeonjeokha in his arms.
Tears welled up in Yeonjeokha’s eyes.
Immediately afterwards, tears rolled down and fell on Namgung Yeon’s arm.
Namgung Yeon quickly wiped Yeonjeokha’s tears away with the hem of his clothes.
Is it because he knew that the other person was doing it for him?
This time, Yeonjeokha grabbed Namgungyeon’s hand.
And then he walked away somewhere.
The place Yeonjeokha is heading to now is a hole.
He wanted to show the kind Namgung Yeon his own new world.
The man who reached the hole stuck his head in without hesitation.
Yeonjeokha’s two small feet moved away, wagging their tails.
Namgung Yeon, who was biting his lip and hesitating, crawled into the hole before Yeonjeokha’s two feet disappeared.
***
The conversation between the adults that started during the day didn’t end easily until dusk. This was because Baek Mi-ju suddenly brought up the subject of engagement at the end of the conversation.
Namgung Byeok’s wife, Jang Ha-eun, was flustered, but she didn’t show it and just observed her husband’s expression.
Namgung Byeok smiled broadly and expressed his welcome.
“Poo-ha-ha! What my sister-in-law said is right. If he is Yeon-ah’s son, I can trust him. I won’t object.”
Baek Mi-ju’s eyes widened as she spoke, as if she was going to stab him without expecting much. Who would have thought that the head of the Namgung family would accept such an absurd proposal!
“Excuse me, are you sure?”
“Haha! That’s true. If it’s Waryongjang, then it’s more than enough to become the Namgung family’s in-laws. What do you think, brother? Do you want to become my in-laws too?”
But unexpectedly, Yeonmu-ryong shook his head.
“No, brother. I don’t want to burden you with that. And I want to leave the children to decide for themselves when it comes to marriage.”
Baek Mi-ju’s face turned pale.
Even if you stick your nose into cooked rice, it’s still oily!
“Oh, no, what do you mean? It’s natural for parents to decide their children’s marriages.”
But for some reason, Yeonmu-ryong did not give in.
“That’s not right. Children’s lives are not their parents’. I want our children to choose their own spouses.”
“What are you talking about… … .”
Baek Mi-ju glared at her husband with burning blue eyes.
The person who arranged the marriage between Yeon Mu-ryong and himself was an elder of the Yeon clan. Until the day before the wedding, Yeon Mu-ryong and himself did not even know each other’s faces.
Is Yeonmu-ryong saying that he regrets his marriage to her?
My teeth ground inside and my face turned hot.
‘I’m working so hard for the Yeon clan… … How about you… … .’
When the atmosphere between the younger brother and his wife became tense, Namgung Byeok quickly changed the subject.
“Haha! Both of you have a point. If that’s true, brother, what do you think about this?”
“how?”
“If the children of both families like each other, then let them get married. I think that is what both your brother and sister-in-law want. What do you think?”
“If that’s the case, I don’t object. Rather, at that time, I will hold on to your trouser leg and hang on.”
“Haha! Even I think it’s a good decision. Brother, wouldn’t that be good?”
At Jang Ha-eun’s question, Baek Mi-ju had to swallow her anger and back away. She smiled as if nothing had happened, but her heart was bitter. After all, it was a statement that she would not get engaged.
“I know it may be a bit much to call you a substitute, but I have a favor to ask you, Grandfather.”
At Baek Mi-ju’s words, Namgung Byeok smiled gently and met her gaze.
“Please speak comfortably.”
“I would like you to guide our Mu-Baek at Namgung Se-Ga.”
“Your great nephew?”
Namgung Byeok looked at Yeonmu Ryong with a puzzled expression.
The Yeon clan also has the martial arts of ascension, so I don’t understand why they would send it to me. Besides, shouldn’t the leader of Waryongjang be the one to decide on such matters?
But then unexpected things happened one after another.
Yeonmu-ryong nodded with an indifferent expression.
“If it doesn’t bother you, Namgung Se-ga, I would like to ask you a favor as well.”
“Okay.”
Namgung Byeok nodded without hesitation.
There must be a reason why the cautious Yeonmuryong makes such a request.
Besides, I was curious about the Yeon clan’s Nine Heavenly Sword.
It was not a bad thing to entrust the eldest son of Waryongjang, Mu-Baek, to Namgung Se-Ga, as it meant exchanging martial arts skills between the two families.
“Is that really okay?”
Because it was such an important matter, Namgung Byeok couldn’t help but ask again. Even if the secrets of both families were not shared, it was not a matter to be decided lightly.
Moreover, in this case, it was a situation that was more advantageous to Namgung Se-ga than to Waryongjang. Yeonmu Baek was now a fourteen-year-old child, while he was a master who could infer ten things by looking at one.
“Yes, I would like you to take me with you when you go to Mt. Mudang.”
“Is there any reason to rush like that?”
“I will tell you separately.”
Namgung Byeok silently nodded at Yeonmu Baek’s words.
Baek Mi-ju glanced at Yeon Mu-ryong with eyes full of love and hate.
‘What is this guy up to?’
The engagement was broken, but she still had a conscience and said she would send Moobaek to Namgung Se-ga. She had made the request directly in a fit of anger, without going through her husband, but it was strange that her husband, with his upright personality, did not object.
***
In the evening, Waryongjang was turned upside down.
This is because the adults of both families found out about Yeonjeokha and Namgungyeon’s disappearance too late. The warriors who were standing guard were punished with pay cuts.
Soon after, the warriors of Waryongjang and Changcheondae searched the ten-mile area around Waryongjang like they were catching rats.
Eventually, the two children were found in the town’s market street.
The two children who were sent to Waryongjang were called in front of Yeonmu-ryong and Namgung Byeok.
Namgung Byeok was very surprised and scolded him harshly.
“You guys! Didn’t the adults tell you not to go outside the manor?”
“… … .”
The surprised Yeonjeokha’s head shrank back like a giraffe.
But Namgung Yeon didn’t do that. She stared at Namgung Byeok with an indifferent expression. No, in a way, she seemed angry.
Wuxia,
