Chapter 138 Hidden Blade – Part 1

Chapter 138: Hidden Blade – Part 1

It was after the meal, when everyone was returning to their rooms.

Suddenly, someone called out to Zhuge Xueyu from behind.

“Miss Zhege!”

It was an unfamiliar voice to her, having been at the Sunwoo Manor for some time—Sunwoo Jin’s voice.

Zhuge Xueyu turned around with a puzzled expression, waiting for him to approach while thinking.

‘What is it? He didn’t even look at me properly earlier. Was he just pretending not to care on the surface?’

It seemed that was indeed the case.

Then again, how could a young man not be interested in her?

It was only natural.

As a result, Seol-yul’s estimation of Seon-woo-jin as a man dropped a little further, while her self-esteem seemed to rise slightly.

Zhuge Xiyu now stopped with a haughty expression, waiting for him to speak.

But what Sun Woo-jin said to her when he approached was completely different from what she had expected.

He opened his mouth with a heavy expression.

“Miss Zhege, you must be deeply grieved over Miss Qingyan’s matter?”

“…Huh? What?”

Caught off guard by the sudden mention of her friend Hae Cheongyeon, Zhuge Seoyul blinked in confusion and asked Seonwoo Jin back.

Seon Woo-jin, looking flustered instead, asked again.

“Uh, did you not hear the news? That Lady Cheongyeon was attacked by the Blood Cult…”

“What?!”

Zhuge Xueyu couldn’t help but be horrified.

What on earth was this?

Cheongyeon attacked by the Blood Cult?

After her friend Hae Cheongyeon had gone to the front lines, Jegal Seoyul hadn’t received any word from her.

But knowing her temperament and how capable her friend was, he hadn’t worried at all…

But now, that very Hae Cheong-yeon had fallen victim to the Blood Cult?

Zhuge Xiyu shook his head as if he couldn’t possibly believe it and asked again.

“Wh-what do you mean? That’s a lie, right? Che-Cheongyeon, she, she couldn’t possibly…”

But Seon Woo-jin answered with a pained expression, as if apologetic to her.

“…You didn’t know. Since the report came in through the military, I assumed you would naturally be aware. I’m sorry.”

“No, no. But Cheongyeon, Cheongyeon really…?”

Jegal Seo-yul was so shocked she stammered, her hands trembling violently.

But to her expression of utter disbelief, Seon Woo-jin could only give a heavy nod.

Then, Je Gal Seo-yul’s expression became completely dazed.

It felt like the world was collapsing.

Seon Woo-jin sighed deeply and explained the exact same situation he had reported to Maeng to her.

“Huuu… Young Master Cheongyeon was kidnapped by the Blood Sect’s Madu shortly after delivering the letter meant for Young Master Chegal to General Chegal. And then never again…”

At that, Zhuge Xueyu shook her head, her expression almost tearful, and asked.

“That’s ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous… And, and a letter? What letter are you talking about?”

Seon Woo-jin asked back, looking slightly surprised at her question.

“Surely you haven’t received it? When General Zhuge came to the front lines, Lady Cheongyeon entrusted me with a letter for Lady Zhuge.”

“…Huh? No, Father never mentioned anything like that…”

In that moment, several facts tangled chaotically in Je Gal Seo-yul’s mind.

– Her friend Hae Cheong-yeon had entrusted a letter to her father.

– Yet Father never delivered Hae Cheong-yeon’s letter to her.

– And shortly thereafter, Hae Cheong-yeon was abducted by the Blood Sect’s demonic leader.

These three facts were combining in Zhuge Xiyu’s mind into some ominous conclusion.

Moreover, hadn’t Zhuge Xueyu recently discovered, quite by chance, that his father harbored an uneasy feeling toward Hae Cheong-yeon’s father, the Sword Saint Hae Un-baek?

‘Could it be…?’

The conjecture that emerged was utterly unbelievable, something he refused to believe.

Too shocked, Zhuge Xuyue, uncharacteristically for a warrior, felt the strength drain from his legs.

Stagger!

“Young Lady!”

Seon Woo-jin supported her as she staggered as if about to collapse, his face filled with alarm.

Then, with a face drained of color, pale as death, Je Gal Seo-yul greeted Seon Woo-jin.

“Ah, thank you, Young Master.”

“Not at all, young lady. Where does it hurt?”

“No, it’s nothing… just…”

She was uncomfortable.

The suspicion that had surfaced in her mind made her feel terribly uncomfortable.

Didn’t she know better than anyone what kind of people the Zhuge clan were, especially her father?

But she couldn’t discuss such matters with others.

Deep confusion clouded her eyes.

And Seonwoo Jin was keenly observing that scene.

It seemed certain that Je Gal Seo-yul genuinely considered Hae Cheong-yeon a friend.

And it was highly probable she remained unaware of what her father, Jegal Jigang, was doing.

‘Then…’

Seon Woo-jin was pondering how he might use this fact later.

Suddenly, someone’s furious voice rang out.

“Third brother! What are you doing?!”

He turned his head abruptly to see Fourth Son Seonwoo Gi charging toward them, his face flushed crimson.

It seemed she had misunderstood the sight of Seon Woo-jin supporting Jegal Seo-yul as if he were barely conscious.

Only then did the two realize how close their bodies had been, and they jumped apart in surprise.

And that sight could only fuel Seonwoo Gi’s suspicions further.

Xianwuji, charging fiercely, shouted again.

“How dare you! How dare you do that to Miss Zhuge just now?!”

Sunwoo Jin hastily waved his hands in protest.

“Wh-what did I do?! No! Miss Zhuge seemed unwell, so I merely supported her for a moment!”

Is Miss Zhuge feeling unwell?

Startled by the words, Seon Woo-gi looked at Zhuge Seo-yul with a shocked expression and asked.

“Are you feeling unwell, Miss?!”

Zhuge Xueyu, having regained some composure, shook her head and replied.

“No. I’m fine now. And thank you for earlier, Third Young Master Seonwoo.”

“Not at all. It was nothing.”

The two resumed their conversation gently.

Though brief, it felt as if some inexplicable mutual understanding had formed between them.

Then, Seonwoo Gi, who had been watching them suspiciously anyway, narrowed his eyes in anger and interrupted.

“Young lady! If you’re feeling unwell, I’ll support you!”

Seon Woo-gi couldn’t forget the scene from earlier where Seon Woo-jin had pressed his body close to Jegal Seo-yul.

And he envied it.

He wanted to experience something like that himself, somehow.

But now that Je Gal Seo-yul had regained his composure, there was no way he would allow it.

“No, it’s fine. I can manage on my own now. I’ll be going then.”

Her firm refusal made Seon Woo-gi’s expression filled with regret.

Amidst the possibility of losing her to his older brother, Seonwoo Sung, he felt an urgent desperation that he couldn’t just let her go like this.

It was then.

Seonwoo-gi suddenly caught sight of Seonwoo-jin.

The sight of his third brother, who had so many reasons to be beaten, smiling like a fool.

Seonwoo Gi turned to Seo Yul, who was turning away with a faint, bitter smile, and asked.

“Young Lady, if you are feeling better now, would you perhaps care to observe my sparring match with my third brother?”

At that, Je Gal Seo-yul, who had been about to leave, paused.

“…A martial arts match?”

Zhegal Seoyul was a martial arts enthusiast.

No, to be precise, she loved duels.

If she had to pick one thing she loved most, it was winning duels; second was fighting duels; and third was watching them.

So, if it meant watching Seonwoo Jin’s duel—something that had already been on her mind—there was no reason to refuse.

Meanwhile, Seon Woo-jin looked utterly shocked at his sister’s sudden words.

“Wh-what are you talking about, Ki?! You and I, a duel?!”

Then, glaring at Seonwoo Jin with sharp eyes, Seonwoo Gi said.

“Now that you’ve lost all that weight, shouldn’t we settle this matter? Surely you didn’t think you could just knock me out like that and get away with it, brother?”

“Ah, no, that was you acting unilaterally…!”

Seonwoo Jin waved his arms, insisting he absolutely wouldn’t do it, but Seonwoo Gi had no reason to listen to him.

He cut off Seonwoo Jin’s words and lunged straight at him.

“Haah!”

Seonwoo-gi’s fist, filled with rage, split into four separate blows.

This time, Seonwoo-gi had no intention of letting his guard down.

Sunwoo Ki’s Whirlwind Thirteen Strikes, clearly more advanced than before, was charging at Sunwoo Jin with all its might.

Then, in the next instant, all four fists landed squarely on Seonwoo Jin’s body.

Thud!

“Guhhhhhhh!”

Unable to block anything, Seonwoo Jin let out a scream like someone’s throat was being slit, flying backward and tumbling pitifully on the ground.

Surprisingly, Seonwoo-gi’s new form hesitated for a moment.

This attack had been a three-step feint, all for a single decisive strike.

But every single shot, whether real or fake, ended up hitting the mark.

Seon Woo-gi, who had given his all up until then, couldn’t help but feel utterly worthless at his pathetic skill level.

“Oh my! Kiya! I’m dying! Oh my!”

Seonwoo-gi stared at Seonwoo-jin, who was screaming and rolling around on the ground in a pathetic manner, with a look of utter contempt.

How much humiliation had he endured since fainting after being beaten by that pig that day?

He even had to endure whispers suggesting that the real disgrace to the Seonwoo family might not be Seonwoo Jin, but Seonwoo Ki himself.

And yet…

“This is outrageous. To suffer such humiliation because of this piece of trash!”

Still seething, Seonwoo-gi kicked Seonwoo-jin, who hadn’t even gotten up from the ground.

Thud!

“Ouch! Gah!”

The look of deep disappointment on Jegal Seo-yul’s face, who had been watching the scene unfold beside him, was no different.

His handsome face and the aura that seemed to hold something had kept drawing her attention.

Even when he helped her up, her heart had fluttered slightly for some reason.

And now to find out he was actually this kind of trash.

It felt like she’d been betrayed.

Zhuge Xiyu decided there was nothing more to see and turned to leave immediately.

Sunwoo’s tactics against an opponent who couldn’t even resist seemed a bit excessive, but I didn’t feel like pointing it out.

‘Last time he was a pig, he was decent at defense, but now he can’t even manage that. Going to the front lines actually made his skills worse…!’

But as he walked back, pondering this, something felt off in Jegal Seoyul’s mind.

‘Was the front line really that easy, allowing someone with that level of skill to survive unscathed and come home on leave? The same front line where even that Qingyan died? And going to such a front line actually made his skills decline? Yet he lost so much weight?’

Zhegal Seoyul suddenly turned back to check on Seonwoojin’s condition.

There, crouched and battered, was Seon Woo-jin.

No matter how he looked at it, he was truly being beaten severely.

Even if he was a warrior hiding his true strength, it seemed like he might die if he kept getting hit like that.

Her mind was spinning once more.

But ultimately concluding that worrying was useless, she sighed and decided to stop Seonwoo Gi.

Because if he kept taking those blows, it seemed like the real Seonwoo Jin might actually die.

She opened her mouth in a cold voice.

“Master Seonwoogi, do you find it fun to beat someone who can’t even fight back?”

Honestly, Seonwoogi found it fun.

It felt like all the pent-up frustration from the past few months was finally being released.

But the moment he heard Jegal Seoyul’s cold voice, he snapped back to his senses.

He had shown her a side of himself he shouldn’t have.

Startled, Seonwoogi tried to make excuses to her.

“Ah, M-my lady, this is just…”

But seeing Zhuge Xiyu’s expression, Seon Woo-gi couldn’t continue.

It was because she was looking at him with a contemptuous expression he had never seen her display before.

Of course, Jegal Seo-yul had always despised him inwardly.

But this was the first time she had ever shown it so directly.

She spoke in a voice cold enough to freeze ice.

“You’re not even a righteous man, let alone a martial artist.”

Having coldly delivered her words, Zhuge Xueyu turned her back and began walking away.

Sun Wuji hurriedly followed, trying to grab her.

“Miss, Miss Zhuge!”

He absolutely could not let her leave like this.

But just as Seon Woo-gi moved to follow and capture Jegal Seo-yul, Jegal Seo-yul seized his sword blade and suddenly began radiating the aura of a supreme master.

Hwaak!

“Whoa!”

Faced with that threatening aura, Seon Woo-gi had no choice but to halt abruptly in his tracks.

Zhuge Xueyu glanced sideways at him, frozen in place, and said.

“Don’t follow me. I might just cut you down.”

Seon Woo-gi’s courage wasn’t great enough to ignore the warning of a peak master.

He could only bow his head low, sinking into despair.

After that, Seonwoo-gi, who had glared at Seonwoo-jin with eyes brimming with resentment, couldn’t bring himself to touch him further, fearing that Jeokgal Seo-yul might return, and had no choice but to leave.

Finally left alone, Seonwoo Jin brushed off the dust with a few taps and rose to his feet with an air of nonchalance, as if nothing had happened.

For Seonwoo Jin, who had trained his external martial arts to the point of being able to wrestle with demons, enduring Seonwoo Gi’s beating was not particularly difficult.

In fact, pretending to be hurt had been the harder part.

But the concerned telepathic message from Jeok Mahyeok, who still knew nothing of this, reached his ears.

– Are you all right, Master?

Seonwoo Jin chuckled softly as he replied.

– No, I’m not okay. It tickled too much. And my clothes got dirty, so I feel uncomfortable.

He’d meant it as a lighthearted way to say he was fine, but it seemed that intention didn’t quite land with Jeok Mahyeok.

He sent another telepathic message in a sympathetic voice.

– Master, was it really necessary for you to endure that much from such a wretch?

He probably looked too pitiful.

With a bitter smile, I sent another telepathic message.

– It was necessary. For now, I must be perceived as utterly insignificant and weak. Remember this: the ones we truly face are not such worthless fools. And the sword is deadliest when its presence remains hidden.

A moment later, Jikma-hyeok’s reply came.

– …I will remember, Master.

But Jik Mahyeok, who seemed to have accepted it, sent another telepathic message shortly after.

It was a slightly longer telepathic message than usual.

– Honestly, I envied Confucius. I thought he must have been born with everything. But… it seems everyone has their own trials after all. I only watched for a moment, but if I were in Confucius’s position, I doubt I could have endured those trials.

His voice carried a hint of melancholy.

Seon Woo-jin smiled faintly at his transmission.

He couldn’t help but be a man of tender heart.

It made one wonder how he had endured life as a swordsman with such a heart.

It was then.

The dog sent to monitor my younger sister, Seonwoo Yeonha, has returned and sent a telepathic message.

– Master, as you instructed, Lady Seonwoo Yeonha made contact with a handsome young man. Though she did not approach him closely as you warned, he felt extremely dangerous.

Sunwoo Jin had anticipated that the Yun Clan, entangled in the previous confrontation with the Zhengxie Sect, had a high probability of being devoured by the Blood Sect.

And he had received confirmation from Hao Wen, the exiled branch chief of the Ji family, that this prediction was accurate.

Therefore, Seonwoo Jin focused his attention on the youngest, Seonwoo Yeonha.

Because she was from the Yun family on her mother’s side, it was anticipated that if the Blood Sect reached out to the Seonwoo family, they would most likely do so through her.

And if they were targeting the Sunwoo family, now that her father, Sunwoo Jung, had effectively declared his eldest son, Sunwoo Sung, as his successor, they absolutely would not stand idly by.

Sunwoo Jin chuckled softly and muttered.

“Alright, you’ve shown up at just the right moment.”

He began moving toward the location Gyeonjung had informed him of.