Chapter Title: Ambush
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"As I mentioned earlier, Tyrant Heaven Fortress reigned as the strongest faction in the martial world for decades."
That was possible not only because of Castle Lord Zhu Cheon-mu's personal prowess and his outstanding subordinates, but also due to one other major reason.
"It's because we were of the Zhu Clan."
Joo Hwa-ryeon looked at me with eyes that said, 'You can't possibly be unaware of this too?'
I told you not to overestimate me—when did I say you could underestimate me? You think I wouldn't know that?
"You mean imperial clansmen? Well, even so, you'd just be distant branch family with thinned blood."
"…That's right. How did you know we were branch family?"
"What do you mean 'know'? There's no way the imperial family would station a direct descendant or true dragon in this backwater for ten years."
It was a simple deduction for me, but the others stared at me in astonishment.
What's there to be surprised about? Do I really look that dumb?
As I narrowed my eyes, Joo Hwa-ryeon quickly collected herself and continued her explanation.
"Ahem. As you said, Tyrant Heaven Fortress was originally established to monitor and control the Central Plains martial world."
That was why the Zhu Clan held many high positions within Tyrant Heaven Fortress's leadership.
They had placed those with even a faint trace of imperial blood at the top of an organization surveilling the bothersome Central Plains martial world.
Hearing that much, I grasped the general situation.
"Got the gist. The Emperor uses the branch families to keep tabs on the martial world, and the branch families step up front to prove their loyalty and avoid purges. Right?"
"…You catch on incredibly fast."
Joo Hwa-ryeon's eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape.
That wasn't just surprise for her—it was outright shock. Is it really that surprising?
Not all that impressive, honestly.
You'd figure it out too if you spent all day in a hospital room.
Of course, that assumes you're sharing the room with a grandpa addicted to historical dramas who keeps the TV on palace intrigue shows 24/7.
*
'…Just what is this guy's deal?'
Bang Jin-myeong, leader of the Cheoncheon Merchant Group and former hall master of Heavenly Net Hall—Tyrant Heaven Fortress's intelligence division—couldn't hide his amazement as he stared at the young man before him.
When he'd first heard about Goon Ja-seong from the Little Castle Lord, his impression had been merely that of a talent too good to rot away in the countryside—nothing more.
But in the short span of less than an hour, that impression had already shifted twice.
The first change came when he blocked the attack from Seo Hee, his bodyguard.
Truth be told, Seo Hee hadn't been unaware of Ja-seong; Bang Jin-myeong had ordered her to test him.
He simply couldn't believe that Ja-seong had defeated the Little Castle Lord—who had no peers his age in martial prowess—in a spar.
So, without letting Hwa-ryeon or the others know, he'd quietly instructed Seo Hee to test him separately. The result was more surprising than expected.
Ja-seong effortlessly blocked Seo Hee's ambush from the shadows, then cleanly parried the follow-up attacks.
Of course, since it was just a test, Seo Hee hadn't struck to kill.
Even so, it wasn't an attack a mere young martial artist in his twenties could block so easily.
From that, Jin-myeong revised his evaluation of Ja-seong upward.
At the very least, it wasn't mere sentiment from ten years of familiarity that made the Little Castle Lord want him as one of her own.
And that evaluation shifted once more after witnessing him deduce the overall situation from just a few words.
He'd realized they were imperial branch family merely from learning the Little Castle Lord's surname was Zhu, then pierced straight through Tyrant Heaven Fortress's purpose and the political plight of the imperial branch families.
'A guy like this is really just some rural landlord's son?'
Jin-myeong even began suspecting he might be a spy secretly planted by bandits.
But he soon shook his head.
'No way.'
He was far too conspicuous to be a spy.
Moreover, their investigation into Goon Ja-seong and the Goon family manor was already thorough.
The results showed the Goon family was simply a wealthy landlord household typical of any rural village.
They didn't excessively tax tenant farmers or exploit them, and had earned respect in the region generation after generation for their benevolence—nothing beyond that.
And the young man before him was the beloved youngest son of that landlord family.
He had his share of eccentricities, but unlike a typical young master from such a family, his unpretentious and warm personality earned high praise from the villagers.
To think such sharpness hid beneath that young master's face.
Did the Little Castle Lord know about this?
'Apparently not.'
Judging from Hwa-ryeon's face, which was just as shaken as his own, she didn't.
Then was it purely his martial skill that she wanted him for?
'Just how good is he?'
Blocking Seo Hee's ambush was impressive, but he hadn't seen him in a proper fight, making it hard to judge.
Of course, he couldn't deny it marked him as exceptional talent just from handling that ambush so cleanly.
'I'd like to see it once.'
The very moment Jin-myeong thought he wanted to witness Goon Ja-seong in combat, Ja-seong abruptly shot to his feet from his seat and turned his gaze outward.
"Young hero?"
"What is it?"
The others called out to him in bewilderment at his action, but instead of answering, Ja-seong posed a question of his own.
"Any more people coming, by chance?"
"Hm? Ah, no. None that I know of…."
As he answered reflexively, the outside suddenly grew rowdy.
-Kyaaak!
A human scream.
Everyone's faces hardened upon hearing it.
"Then this time it's a real ambush, huh?"
Muttering in an oddly excited tone, Ja-seong bolted straight outside.
*
While extending my senses to check for any other hidden people nearby, I detected a group approaching the martial hall.
At first I thought it might be more arrivals, but instead of entering through the gate, these guys hopped straight over the wall.
And right away, the scream rang out.
The woman from the rooftop had struck first with her ambush.
Whoa, this really is an ambush?
Feeling my heart race at the classic wuxia novel scenario unfolding before my eyes, I charged outside.
-Clang! Kang!
The moment I opened the door and stepped out, the sharp clash of steel striking steel assaulted my ears.
Outside, the woman who'd attacked me earlier had drawn the sword from her back and was surrounded by about five people.
And behind those five stood a middle-aged man with arms crossed, striking a haughty pose.
"Hm?"
He tilted his head upon spotting me emerging from the door.
"I've never heard of a young man here. Who might you be, young hero?"
"I'm a disciple of this Heavenly Wind Martial Hall's master. And you? Doesn't look like you're here with good intentions."
I introduced myself, so now it's your turn. Who are you and where'd you come from?
But instead of introducing himself, this uncle made a pitying face.
"Ah, so you're that landlord's youngest son from the village. What a shame for such a fine young man to get mixed up with bandits…."
"…Bandits?"
Rebels, you mean? What's that out of nowhere?
I furrowed my brow, unable to follow the story's sudden turn, when a shout erupted from behind.
"You bastard Neung Baek-seo! Do you even know where you are?!"
It was Merchant Leader Bang Jin-myeong.
His previously kind, gentle face twisted into a demonic glare at the middle-aged man, as if sparks might fly from his eyes.
What's this, they know each other?
At the merchant leader's shout, the man called Neung Baek-seo flashed a sinister smile.
"Well, if it isn't you. Isn't this Heavenly Net Hall Master? Long time no see. Wondered what you'd been up to these past ten-plus years, and here you are a lowly merchant? Suits you well."
"Filthy bandit scum…! Do you have any idea where you are?!"
Two men accusing each other of being bandits.
Caught between them, I could only stand there speechless.
Wait, so what's actually going on here?
Can't someone explain?
I smacked my lips in frustration when Neung Baek-seo's gaze shifted to Senior Sister Jang… no, Joo Hwa-ryeon behind me.
Ah, ten years calling her Senior Sister Jang, and now it feels weird trying to switch.
Anyway, upon seeing Joo Hwa-ryeon, Neung Baek-seo's eyes bulged wide, and he leered with a creepy grin.
"Could you be the Little Castle Lord? Heh, ten years must be a long time. That little girl's grown into quite the beauty. Makes me curious if the inside's ripened as nicely."
His tone was sleazy, like a brothel patron catcalling courtesans, utterly at odds with addressing the Little Castle Lord.
At those lewd words, my facial muscles twitched involuntarily.
For a split second, an impulse surged to rip that mouth apart.
Of course, I wasn't the only one reacting.
Joo Hwa-ryeon's face turned icy cold, Chu Senior Sister's aura grew vicious.
Finally, Master Wang-sam's face contorted as he unleashed a roar that seemed to shake the air.
"You mangy cur! How dare you spew such filth at Tyrant Heaven Fortress's Little Castle Lord—are you tired of living?!"
A ferocious aura spread outward in response to his rage.
As expected of Master. Those juicy curses really hit the spot.
Faced with Master's ominous energy, Neung Baek-seo's face stiffened briefly, but he soon curled his lips upward again.
"Heh, heh heh…! I figured the hawk would be stuck to the Little Castle Lord's side."
"And yet you dare act like this before me?"
"Well, naturally, because I have something to rely on."
-Snap!
Neung Baek-seo snapped his fingers sharply.
With that, the martial hall's front gate exploded to pieces.
-Kwang!
Dust clouds obscured the view as a black silhouette strode through.
As the dust settled soon after, revealing the figure's identity, Master's face hardened.
"You…!"