Chapter 03
The Daughter-in-Law of a Prestigious Murim Family
When Gye Na-ri fainted with a pale face, Bang Jin-woo quickly approached and supported her.
Grandmaster Gongjin, who had been watching with interest, spoke.
“So this young lady is actually with you, Bang Danju.”
“…….”
Bang Jin-woo tried hard to hide his expression, but it was not easy to conceal his true thoughts from the experienced old monk.
To avoid creating any troublesome situation, he lowered himself as much as possible.
“I apologize. I was careless in escorting the prestigious guest of the family and caused you trouble, Grandmaster.”
“Prestigious guest?”
Grandmaster Gongjin muttered as if he were interested, then immediately got to the point.
“She appears to be a common woman who has never learned martial arts. Judging from her clothes and accent, she does not seem to be the daughter of an official either. Yet you personally escorted her to the family as a prestigious guest. I am curious about this young lady’s identity.”
His words, spoken with a faint smile, were quite sharp.
Bang Jin-woo calmly answered.
“It is merely a matter within the family. It is not something that concerns you, Grandmaster.”
At those words that clearly drew a line, the smile on Grandmaster Gongjin’s face deepened.
“As you know, Bang Danju, common people who have no connection to the Murim belong to the authorities, and martial artists cannot recklessly restrain or threaten them without justification. Moreover, considering the position of the Hwangbo Family in the Murim, would it not be difficult for me to simply overlook this? What if this leads to a dispute?”
Who ever said that Shaolin had no selfish desires?
Although he mentioned the principle of non-interference between the government and Murim as if he were worried about a possible dispute, it was obvious that he was looking for an excuse to interfere in the affairs of the Hwangbo Family.
‘Their activities outside the family have noticeably decreased over the past few years. He must be trying to find out what is going on.’
What better way was there to raise the authority of the Murim Alliance than with the support of a prestigious family?
The passive attitude shown by the Hwangbo Family over the past few years must have been enough to make the Alliance Leader uncomfortable.
‘The news of the eldest young master’s disappearance must be kept secret no matter what. If something goes wrong and the matter leaks outside the family, it will be an unbearable humiliation.’
Along with the worried words of the Second Elder, Bang Jin-woo remembered the family head’s warning to bring the woman to the family no matter what.
What should he do?
Just as his worries were deepening—
“Hmm…….”
The woman who had fainted from the shock slowly opened her eyes.
‘What is going on with this atmosphere?’
I pretended to be dizzy and looked at the people giving off an unusual atmosphere.
The people who had been creating such a warm atmosphere were now busy observing and being wary of one another.
The first to speak was the old monk.
“Are you all right? You seem to have been quite frightened.”
“Ah. I’m fine.”
I calmly answered while glancing at the still-stern kidnapper.
The monk’s kind smile became even warmer, and there was affection in the way he looked at me.
Even so, why did I feel even more uncomfortable?
“I heard that you are on your way to the Hwangbo Family after being invited.”
“……Yes.”
“Could you tell me why you are going to the Hwangbo Family?”
When I hesitated at the sudden question, the old monk gently added,
“This poor monk is a member of the Alliance, so I can speak up if there is any unfair treatment or wrongdoing. If you are facing some difficult problem, I will help you.”
It was an incredibly kind offer, but……
‘This is too much.’
When kindness goes too far, it is difficult to see it as simple goodwill.
Just as my suspicion was rising, I heard whispers from behind me.
“Who would have thought? It’s Grandmaster Gongjin of Shaolin.”
“You mean the famous Great Killing Monk?”
“The one who supposedly used Shaolin’s name to seize grain from common people and beheaded sixteen of them right there?”
Seeing me stiffen after hearing the whispers, the old monk laughed heartily.
“It cannot be helped that unnecessary rumors are added as stories pass from person to person. This old man’s methods are not quite so cruel, so you need not be too frightened, young lady.”
After forcing a smile, he continued.
“If I am forced to use my hands, I prefer to send them off without pain.”
“…….”
“It is simply helping those who have committed sins so that they will no longer accumulate more evil karma.”
“Can’t someone who has committed a crime regret it later?”
Just like I am desperately regretting it right now.
“If someone who has committed a crime does not receive the punishment they deserve, how can this world remain peaceful?”
Even so, if it was just fraud, I did not think it was a crime worthy of death. Should I ask him for help…?
“I believe appropriate punishment is necessary to restore order to this chaotic world filled with lies and deception.”
Why are you putting so much emphasis on the words lies and deception?
My lips, which had cautiously begun to part, immediately closed again.
‘Think, Gye Na-ri.’
If I tell that monk that the Hwangbo Family is taking me there against my will, I will make the Hwangbo Family my enemy.
However, refusing the monk’s goodwill right now does not mean I have to make the monk my enemy.
If I could just enter the family and come out alive, I could not help but think about the future.
I took a deep breath and calmly spoke.
“I was simply invited to the Hwangbo Family for a personal matter. By chance, I became involved in something concerning someone from the Hwangbo Family. The family head was kind enough to invite me to a meal.”
“……!”
Bang Jin-woo stared at me in surprise as I naturally made up an excuse.
The old monk continued to press me rather persistently.
“Oh? I wonder what could have happened for the Hwangbo Family Head himself to send someone to invite you.”
“I’m sorry. It is too personal for me to talk about.”
Once I had made up my mind, there was no reason to leave any room for doubt.
A vague attitude would not satisfy anyone anyway.
The old monk fell silent at my firm answer.
After staring at me for a while, he finally spoke again.
“If the person involved has agreed to this matter, then this poor monk has no right to ask any further. Perhaps it is because I have grown old, but I seem to have meddled too much. I hope you will not take offense either, Bang Danju.”
“I did not take it to heart, so please do not worry.”
The old monk added one last thing to me.
“Young lady, next time you are in trouble, it would be best to call your companions immediately. Someone like Bang Danju here should be able to deal with a thug like the one from earlier with just one finger.”
He can deal with that huge man with one finger?
Then I guess I could deal with him with my pinky nail.
“Then, take care.”
I waved my hand while holding back the tears welling up beside Bang Danju, who bowed his head.
Goodbye. The person who gave me hope, even if only for a short while.
“You should avoid contact with members of the Murim Alliance as much as possible. The young master’s disappearance is an extremely secret matter. Not only must the fact of his disappearance remain hidden, but your existence must not leak outside either, Young Lady.”
Perhaps because I was depressed about losing the hope I had just found, irritation suddenly surged through me.
“Then should I have refused his help and let that drunk man drag me away and do all sorts of things to me?”
“You should have called me.”
“You never told me how.”
Bang Danju looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“You never gave me a name I could call.”
“……!”
“You did not even ask for my name.”
As I casually tried to get into the carriage, a calm voice came from behind me.
“I am Bang Jin-woo, the leader of the Byeokryeok Hall under the Hwangbo Family. You may call me Bang Danju.”
I gave a small nod, entered the carriage, took my seat, and closed my eyes.
Bang Danju did not speak to me anymore either.
After that, the carriage continued to race without stopping.
For a while, I was tense because of the feeling that I was entering a tiger’s den, but soon sleepiness began to overcome me.
How long had I been dozing?
“We have arrived. You may get off.”
At Bang Danju’s voice, my heart sank with a thump.
“Follow me.”
As we passed through complicated corridors, we encountered several servants, but every single one of them pretended not to know me and remained busy with their own work.
Eventually, he stopped in front of a spacious building and spoke.
“I have brought Miss Gye.”
As if by magic, the door slowly opened, and a woman came out and politely spoke to me.
“Please come in. The family head is waiting.”
I swallowed hard and slowly stepped inside.
In the solemn hall, people lined both sides, all staring directly at me.
And in the very center, sitting in a high seat and looking down at me, was a man.
He was probably the head of the Hwangbo Family.
“Come here.”
A low voice commanded.
I slowly moved forward, and dozens of pairs of eyes followed me.
When I had gone about halfway—
I suppressed my pounding heart and suddenly dropped to my knees.
“……?!”
Confusion appeared in everyone’s eyes at my sudden action.
Taking advantage of the momentum, I cried out as if I were spitting blood.
“I sincerely apologize!”
“Apologize?”
“She is asking for forgiveness?”
“What is this?”
Pretending not to hear the bewildered whispers around me, I clasped my hands together.
Then, in the most sorrowful voice in the world, I began to speak.
“I thought about many things on the way here. I should have realized sooner that my relationship with him was nothing more than a passing encounter. Because of my foolish attachment, you were unable to find your family treasure for such a long time. It is all my fault.”
I slowly raised my bowed head, and the tears that had gathered in my eyes rolled down my cheeks.
“When I first met him, I should have realized that he was someone far beyond my reach.”
“…….”
“Now, all I wish is for him to meet a good woman and live peacefully for the rest of his life.”
After finishing my words, I threw myself flat on the floor with a loud thump.
I am guilty of nothing more than loving someone. Let’s go with this strategy.
They said they have not been able to find him for five years anyway.
I just need to escape before they find him.
