Chapter 11
11
- Namgung Family's Young Patriarch
My head throbbed.
It wasn't just that the protagonist I'd stumbled upon was in such a sorry state, but I'd realized that we were far earlier in the timeline than I'd thought.
In the novel, Namgung Hwi's first venture into Jianghu was when he was twenty. But the Namgung Hwi before me looked, at best, twelve or thirteen.
He wasn't acting or speaking like Dang Jung, who had Reverted to Childhood. So, Namgung Hwi was actually a child.
I gave the boy a light bow.
"You're the Young Patriarch."
"Yes. So, show some respect."
His rude tone made my blood boil, but I held it in.
As he said, he was the Namgung Family's Young Patriarch. Even if he was young, I couldn't speak carelessly to the one who would become the cornerstone of the Five Great Families.
I took a deep breath and carefully chose my words. Like a Maid, I should embrace my professionalism and guide Namgung Hwi to the guest quarters where the Namgung Family's guests were staying…
"It's one thing if it were someone else, but for the Namgung Family's Young Patriarch to be peeking at another Martial Sect's training like this is not proper etiquette."
That's what I should have said. But I blurted it out in a fit of anger. Namgung Hwi's eyes widened as if he was taken aback by my outburst.
I bit my lip, realizing my mistake, but it was too late.
A silent stillness descended between us.
I'm doomed. Elder Dang Jung, if things go wrong, I'm going to drop your name.
Contrary to my expectation that he would throw a tantrum for daring to talk back, Namgung Hwi didn't get angry. Instead, he carefully let go of my hand.
"Sorry."
I blinked, surprised that he would apologize so readily. Namgung Hwi looked at me cautiously and asked,
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"Pardon?"
"Your wrist."
Namgung Hwi mumbled quietly.
Following the boy's gaze, I saw the handprint left on my right wrist. It was where Namgung Hwi had grabbed me.
He must have unknowingly used force while raising his voice.
So that's why he apologized. Still, he's a kid who can admit his mistakes.
As I became aware of the red handprint, the pain I hadn't noticed before rushed in all at once.
This is going to bruise. It might even swell.
I frowned and rubbed my throbbing wrist, and Namgung Hwi lowered his head and mumbled.
"I'll give you medicine."
"It's alright, Young Patriarch. Are you lost? Shall I guide you to the guest quarters?"
"I said I'll give you medicine!"
Despite my gentle refusal, Namgung Hwi stubbornly insisted on giving me medicine.
He wanted to make up for his mistake, but he didn't know how to communicate. He was just a Young Master who had been raised too preciously.
He was still at an age where he was clumsy at apologizing. When I was that age…
Hmm. Let's not think about that.
Just as I was about to refuse again, a loud sound echoed from somewhere.
Grumble!
Namgung Hwi's ears and neck turned bright red.
…This kid. He came out because he was hungry and got lost.
I tried hard to suppress my laughter, but Namgung Hwi huffed and got angry.
"I told you I'd give you medicine. Apply the medicine first!"
He must have been embarrassed by the loud rumbling of his stomach, so he was jumping up and down. I nodded with a hollow smile.
Author, please change the protagonist.
* * *
Namgung Hwi, who had barged into the building, sat confidently on a chair in the reception room. He acted as if it were his own home.
I was worried that Dang Jung would get angry if he found out, but there was no way to stop him.
Well, Dang Jung might have welcomed Namgung Hwi's visit. When you think about it, the Elder seems to like people with bad tempers.
Namgung Hwi took out a silk pouch from his chest and rummaged through it for a while before taking out a small Salve and placing it on the table.
"Here. Apply it."
"What is this?"
"A Salve my uncle made. It's good for bruises."
How am I supposed to know who your uncle is?
I smiled silently, and Namgung Hwi added as if making an excuse.
"Wonryong Uncle is the Chief of Medicine. You can trust it."
The credibility of the Salve soared at the mention that it was made by the Namgung Family's Chief of Medicine himself. Isn't this a precious item that someone of my status would never even get to see?
Namgung Hwi said proudly as my face lit up.
"It's good for cuts too. You can have it."
"Thank you."
I reached for the Salve without hesitation.
It was a necessary medicine for the Maids, whose hands often got chapped and cut.
I should apply it to Songji later too.
Namgung Hwi, who was watching me apply the Salve with a proud expression, asked,
"Aren't you eating lunch?"
"After I escort the Young Patriarch."
"Then let's eat together."
"Pardon? That's out of the question. How could I, a mere Maid, eat at the same table as you?"
"What's wrong with that? Yeon-a drinks tea with Gyogyo every day."
Who are Yeon-a and Gyogyo? As I looked puzzled, Namgung Hwi explained.
"Yeon-a is my youngest sister. Gyogyo is Yeon-a's Maid."
…So?
I nodded eagerly, urging him to say more, but that was the end of Namgung Hwi's explanation.
I racked my brain to figure out what Namgung Hwi was trying to say. It seemed like he meant that since his sister drank tea with her Maid, it was okay for him to eat with me too.
Well, if he wandered all the way here, he must be hungry. I should feed him something and send him back. I was somewhat convinced.
"I see. Then shall I prepare a meal for you here?"
"Yes."
Namgung Hwi looked at me with his arms crossed, as if telling me to bring it.
His solemn expression, as if imitating someone, made me chuckle. He must have an adult like that at home.
As I chuckled, Namgung Hwi flinched, unfolded his arms, and sat up straight.
I brought the dishes prepared for Dang Jung and placed them in front of Namgung Hwi. There was no one else to eat them anyway.
The kitchen seemed to be putting in extra effort to welcome the guest, as there were more side dishes than usual. Namgung Hwi, who was watching me prepare the meal, asked,
"Have you ever been outside Sichuan?"
"No. I've lived in the Tang Clan my whole life."
Not me, but So-hye.
As I answered nonchalantly, he said,
"Don't you want to go to Anhui? It's a good place."
He seemed proud as he subtly boasted about his hometown. I smiled and changed the subject.
"I don't know much about Anhui. I've only heard that it's far away. Is this your first time in Sichuan, Young Patriarch?"
"It's my first time. Five years ago, my sisters said I was too young to go on a long journey, so they wouldn't let me come. I didn't know how to ride a horse back then."
"How old are you, Young Patriarch?"
"Thirteen. How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
I don't know for sure, but probably around that age.
Namgung Hwi frowned as if he didn't expect me to be older, and muttered the same thing: "That won't do…"
Pretending not to hear, I placed a plate of meat dishes in front of Namgung Hwi.
"Your sisters must care about you a lot, Young Patriarch."
"Yeah. I'm the only son. I have three older sisters."
That explained why he was so young and arrogant for his age. If he was the son born after three daughters, he must have been raised preciously.
He must have been raised like a precious treasure.
"Didn't you say you had a younger sister too?"
"That's right. I have Yeon-a too."
It was a moment when I felt sorry for the woman who would marry Namgung Hwi, whoever she was.
Four sisters-in-law.
If someone wanted the position of the Namgung Family's Matriarch, they would endure having four sisters-in-law, but I would never do it.
"I'm all grown up now, but my mother and sisters treat me like a child every day."
"It's because they're worried about you, Young Patriarch."
"My father went on a Jianghu journey with his uncles at my age. But this is my first time outside Anhui. I can do well too."
Namgung Hwi, who was grumbling, put stir-fried vegetables in his mouth, then coughed and covered his mouth.
He grimaced as if he couldn't get used to the taste of Sichuan pepper and gasped for air.
"Is it too spicy? Shall I get you some tea?"
"It's okay, cough! Cough!"
"Shall I prepare a dish with less seasoning?"
"No, cough! A member of the Namgung Family never backs down."
Namgung Hwi said with tears in his eyes. I don't think that's how you use that saying.
Watching the Young Master trying to act like an adult, I realized how foolish I had been in the past.
A child pretending to be an adult is so obvious, but I didn't even notice anything strange about Dang Jung, who was acting like an old man. I was too oblivious.
I quietly placed the teapot in front of him.
Namgung Hwi stubbornly finished the Sichuan cuisine, sweating profusely. Judging by the fact that he wasn't picky, he would grow tall.
"Sit down quickly. You eat too."
"Yes."
At Namgung Hwi's urging, I sat down on the chair, and the boy with his fingers interlocked asked,
"Have you ever eaten Anhui cuisine?"
"No."
"Anhui cuisine is delicious too. It's not as spicy as this, and, um… it has a good flavor."
"I see."
"Anhui also has delicious tea! The Cloud Mist Tea from Mount Huang is enjoyed even by the Abbot of Shaolin."
"Yes."
Namgung Hwi was eager to tell me about the good things about Anhui. He seemed to want to boast that his hometown was not inferior to Sichuan.
I nodded appropriately and ate my rice. When I put down my chopsticks, Namgung Hwi asked with sparkling eyes,
"Are you done eating?"
"Yes."
"Then show me around the Market street."
"Pardon?"
"The Market street. I'm curious about what the Market street in Sichuan is like. Let's go."
At his difficult request, I smiled awkwardly.
Dang Jung had told me not to leave the building, and I had never been to the Market street.
How could I take him there if I didn't even know where it was? I gently dissuaded Namgung Hwi.
"Young Patriarch. If you're going out, you should first inform your companions of your destination…"
"I can't get caught. My father won't allow it."
"The warriors guarding the outer gate will naturally know if they see you, Young Patriarch."
"I'll just go over the wall."
"Young Patriarch. I can't climb over walls. And you shouldn't be climbing over other people's walls like that."
"It's only 3 jang. No one will know if I sneak over. Let's go."
Don't you get it?
3 jang may sound like a small number, but it's nearly 10 meters high. There was no way someone jumping over such a high place wouldn't be noticed.
Above all, I wasn't a superhuman who could leap over a wall the height of a three-story building.
Sighing, I raised my head to stop the child, but I was the only one at the table.
"What are you doing? Aren't you coming?"
A shout came from outside the window. Namgung Hwi was already outside the building, waving his hand.
I rubbed my throbbing forehead.
It's hard to look after a child.
