Ch. 199

Chapter 199: Ha Joo-myeong (2)

Ha Joo-myeong spoke of his younger brother’s death with unsettling composure.

Thanks to that, Lee Seowon felt as though his heart had plummeted.

"……Is that so."

"You don’t seem too surprised."

Lee Seowon thought Ha Joo-myeong’s deep, pitch-black eyes seemed as if they could peer straight into his soul.

"This is a world where death isn’t all that surprising."

"Is that so."

Ha Joo-myeong nodded.

As news of the third son Ha Joo-yeon’s sudden death spread, Lee Chung-san, the head of the Lee Family, looked at Lee Seowon with a shocked expression.

"What in the world are you saying? What happened to the Third Young Master……?"

"I don’t know either."

Lee Seowon cut him off coldly.

To think he would really bring the Eldest Young Master here… It seemed their father valued loyalty to Myriad Gold Manor more than affection for his own blood.

Lee Chung-san’s brows furrowed at Lee Seowon’s attitude. His expression suggested he was ready to explode with rage.

But before that could happen, Ha Joo-myeong opened his mouth.

"Scribe Chief, you may leave us for a moment. I have something to discuss with Seowon alone."

It was an outright command.

Even though the man giving orders was young enough to be his son, Lee Chung-san quickly bowed and stepped back without protest.

That display of extreme deference reignited a sense of disgust in Lee Seowon.

Ha Joo-myeong, staring straight at him, asked in a calm tone,

"How did you and the third one part ways?"

"As public criticism intensified, he abandoned me in Yichang and went south alone."

It was an answer he had prepared in advance.

Ha Joo-myeong silently stared at Lee Seowon.

Lee Seowon thought his gaze was sharper than any master’s blade.

After a while, Ha Joo-myeong let out a faint chuckle.

"I heard you've been staying at Seong-un Inn."

"That’s true. I apologize."

"Who could stop a talented man from seeking a better liege? Even if I forced you to return to Myriad Gold Manor and sit still, you wouldn't perform at your best. It would be a wasted effort."

Lee Seowon nodded.

It was undeniably true. One could not win over people by force, and understanding this marked the difference between the eldest Ha Joo-myeong and the third son Ha Joo-yeon.

"Still, whenever the time comes, if you feel the urge to return, feel free to come find me. Unlike the third, I intend to put your talents to proper use."

"Yes. If I change my mind, I’ll do so."

Lee Seowon replied as if it was nothing.

All he could think of was getting out of here as quickly as possible.

But Ha Joo-myeong seemed in no hurry to let him go.

"I heard he was attacked by bandits on his way south and died. Poor fellow."

Lee Seowon looked at Ha Joo-myeong in surprise. Was he, after all, capable of feeling pity for his own blood?

But what followed completely overturned that assumption.

"If he met bandits in a place outside Myriad Gold Manor’s influence, he should’ve groveled and begged for his life. He should’ve licked their boots or made up a dying mother to appeal emotionally.

How pitiful it is that he lacked even that level of wit and instinct."

Clearly, it wasn’t the death itself that he found pitiful—but the lack of intelligence behind it.

No, perhaps it was more accurate to call it mockery and scorn disguised as pity.

Lee Seowon found himself suspecting that Ha Joo-myeong didn’t find speaking of his brother’s death unpleasant in the slightest.

"Anyway. That’s how he died. That’s the version of the story I was given. It will also be the official explanation shared publicly."

"Then I suppose Myriad Gold Manor will pour considerable effort into hunting down those bandits, at least for now."

Ha Joo-myeong curved his signature cool lips into a faint smile and shook his head.

"No. I don’t plan to do that.

Good news for both you and the Guest Dragon, isn’t it? Perhaps we’ll share a celebratory drink when you return."

"……What do you mean?"

"You’ll know."

At that moment, Lee Seowon became certain.

Ha Joo-myeong knew that it wasn’t mere bandits who had killed his brother, but the innkeeper.

And yet, he was deliberately choosing not to pursue it.

‘Why?’

The question rose naturally.

Lee Seowon could not begin to guess at Ha Joo-myeong’s reasoning.

While Lee Seowon was still lost in thought, Ha Joo-myeong glanced around the spacious archive and spoke again.

"If we’re finished here, let’s head out together. I’d like to become acquainted with the Guest Dragon. I’ve been curious for a while."

Lee Seowon’s brow furrowed for a moment despite his efforts to maintain a calm expression.

This man even knew that the innkeeper and his companions had entered Nanjing.

As if he’d read Lee Seowon’s thoughts, Ha Joo-myeong spoke again with a calm tone.

"This is Nanjing, after all."

Lee Seowon resolved that once this was over, he would never set foot in Nanjing again.

The eyes and ears of Myriad Gold Manor reached far closer than he’d imagined.

"Don’t worry. I’m genuinely fond of the Guest Dragon and his companions."

Ha Joo-myeong offered a gentle smile to Lee Seowon.

It resembled that of Ha Sang-yun, the current master of Myriad Gold Manor, and for that reason alone, Lee Seowon felt an odd wave of revulsion.

Passersby chuckled as they watched the scene.

It seemed one of them had been preaching his theory of chivalry to the point of exhaustion, while the other found it utterly insufferable and tried to shut him up with remarks like, "If you're weak, just shut it."

Did those spectators know?

That the two men, now reduced to a pathetic mess and rolling across the ground with no regard for dignity, were actually a peak-level master and the second son of the Seomun Clan?

Lee Seowon felt an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.

Ha Joo-myeong frowned slightly.

"Grown men, and they don't even know shame. If we pass by them, I fear even our stature might drop a notch. Let’s take another way."

"……."

Lee Seowon remained silent for a moment.

It wasn’t easy to admit that those two were part of Seong-un Inn’s household.

But there were times when a man, when an adult, had to endure even what was most difficult to say.

Now was one of those moments.

"It’s them."

"What do you mean?"

"They are members of Seong-un Inn."

Ha Joo-myeong narrowed his eyes and looked at the two. He had already received several reports and knew the general details.

The one boldly shouting “Fist of the Chivalrous Hero!” while throwing a punch must be the second son of the Seomun Clan, and the one dodging him with a “Bullshit” remark had to be Seo Yu-gyeom, the chef.

"……."

Seo Yu-gyeom had dodged so gracefully, befitting a peak-level master, that Seomun Ak ended up smashing his fist into the ground, curling up in pain.

Apparently, they had agreed not to use inner qi during their fight, so it was bare fists hitting the dirt with a hard crack.

Seo Yu-gyeom hurled curses at Seomun Ak. Had that punch landed, it would've shattered a nose bone.

"Are you insane? You trying to kill someone with that punch?"

"A chivalrous hero’s punch is…"

Seo Yu-gyeom launched a flying kick, which Seomun Ak blocked using his large frame.

As the two rolled across the ground, Lee Seowon—who had been holding his forehead—rushed over.

"Come on, young masters. Please stop fighting already. This is beyond embarrassing. Where is the innkeeper…"

Jin Seong-un was already far down the alley.

He was doing his best to appear uninvolved, keeping a distinct atmosphere separate from the duo.

Clearly, he was embarrassed.

Lee Seowon looked at the innkeeper Jin Seong-un with disbelief.

Only then did Jin Seong-un clear his throat and approach.

"This steward is right."

Only then did the two men’s scuffle start to die down.

Their hair was a mess, their martial robes were covered in dirt—two men looking like beggars, glaring at each other before finally turning their eyes to Ha Joo-myeong.

"What are you staring at? Never seen martial artists sparring before?"

Seo Yu-gyeom asked boldly.

Ha Joo-myeong paused to consider whether what he had just witnessed could indeed be called “sparring between martial artists,” and then replied.

"It was an excellent match. I learned much from it."

"Really?"

Seo Yu-gyeom narrowed his eyes.

This man had arrived with Lee Seowon, was about the same age, and more than anything, bore some resemblance to the now-deceased third son, Ha Joo-yeon.

It was obvious—this was Ha Joo-myeong, the eldest, whom Lee Seowon had warned them about.

‘Has he trained in martial arts?’

His comment about it being a fine duel was striking.

It could have sounded sarcastic, but there truly had been some flashes of insight in their chaotic brawl.

The punch Seomun Ak threw under the childish name “Fist of the Chivalrous Hero” was a form from the Seomun Clan’s techniques, stripped of inner qi.

And Seo Yu-gyeom’s evasion, while yelling “Bullshit,” was part of the secret technique taught by the Vice Leader of Deathshroud, Shinsalgwi.

Yet Seo Yu-gyeom couldn’t gauge his opponent’s level.

In truth, it was hard to even tell if Ha Joo-myeong had trained in martial arts at all.

The way he subtly glanced at Seomun Ak suggested he was thinking along similar lines.

While the two dusted off the dirt on their clothes, Jin Seong-un stepped closer.

"I’m Jin Seong-un, the innkeeper of Seong-un Inn."

"I am Ha Joo-myeong, eldest son of Myriad Gold Manor. Guest Dragon, I’ve long wanted to meet you."

Jin Seong-un stared at Ha Joo-myeong.

His expression clearly showed he was not pleased.

Even seasoned masters often flinched under Jin Seong-un’s gaze, but Ha Joo-myeong returned it with a curious smile, completely unfazed.

"On behalf of Myriad Gold Manor, I apologize for the foolish deeds of my younger brother. Personally, I’ve always admired your work."

Ha Joo-myeong began to list the incidents where Jin Seong-un and Myriad Gold Manor had clashed.

The power struggle following Song Jae-mun’s death at the Merchant Festival, the battle over Namok Trading Company in Hunan, the inn rivalry in Yichang between Ha Joo-yeon and Jin Seong-un.

Ha Joo-myeong spoke of them as if they were perfectly natural.

"Song Jae-mun, Nam Il-ju, and my brother Ha Joo-yeon as well."

Ha Joo-myeong stepped closer, his voice lowered so that only Jin Seong-un could hear.

"They were scum who died well, don’t you think?"

"……."

"You and I seem to think alike. So let me ask—would you be interested in becoming one of mine?

If I become the master of Myriad Gold Manor, I’ll make you my Chief Steward. I value your abilities that highly."

Not just Lee Seowon, but even Seo Yu-gyeom and Seomun Ak were visibly shocked.

The Chief Steward of Myriad Gold Manor was a position just below the master—lofty beyond compare.

All merchants dreamed of it, but it was so out of reach that even dreaming felt absurd.

Jin Seong-un looked at Ha Joo-myeong with his usual indifferent eyes and said,

"I don’t think our values align."

"If you joined me, we could align them however you like."

"Then may I make one request?"

Ha Joo-myeong nodded, and the three listening nearby tensed up.

Jin Seong-un continued calmly.

"Children have been disappearing lately. Again this time. I’ve been trying to uncover the one behind it.

Could Myriad Gold Manor lend a hand?"

A short silence passed.

Ha Joo-myeong stared deeply into Jin Seong-un’s eyes, as if to gauge something, and then slowly smiled.

"Of course. It’s a truly tragic matter. Whoever those bastards are, they deserve divine punishment. Myriad Gold Manor will do everything it can to find them."

"Thank you."

"More and more eyes are watching these days.

Next time, let’s meet somewhere more suitable. Hopefully, with good news between us."

"I hope so too."

Ha Joo-myeong turned and gave Lee Seowon a pat on the shoulder.

"I like you just as much as I like the Guest Dragon.

Come back anytime. I’ll be waiting."

Without any sign of lingering attachment, Ha Joo-myeong walked away.

Jin Seong-un watched his retreating back and recalled his words once again.

‘Scum who died well,’ he’d said.

He’d never had a family, but it was clear: anyone who could speak of a sibling’s death in such a way existed outside the bounds of common sense.