Ah! Namgung Sega Episode 013
013 How Should One Repay a Life Debt? (2)
The five great mountains of the world are called the Wuyue. Dongyue Taishan, Xiyue Huashan, Nanyue Hengshan, Beiyue Hengshan, and Zhongyue Songshan!
But there was a place even more beautiful than the Wuyue—Mount Huangshan in Anhui.
Hence, there is a saying that even after seeing all of the Wuyue, one will still marvel at Huangshan; yet after seeing Huangshan, touring the Wuyue will leave no impression.
Namgung Sega was located at the foot of such a Huangshan. Having entered the village in a haggard state from his long journey, Namgung Ganghae looked up at the plaque hanging on the great mountain gate.
Best Under Heaven, the Namgung Clan!
To think that only Namgung was the best under heaven—truly arrogant words, were they not? Yet they suited the pride he had felt upon seeing Namgung Joseok all too well.
Namgung Ganghae walked slowly, looking around his surroundings. He had heard it was a small mountain village on his way here, but seeing it in person, it was not so. It lacked vitality, but it was quite a large village. Well, it had once dominated Anhui, so no matter how much it had declined, this much was to be expected.
He saw a restaurant by the roadside. Namgung Ganghae entered. There was not a single customer. He sat down and waited, but no one came. If there were no waiters, the owner should at least come out.
"Is anyone here?"
Still, no one came out. Namgung Ganghae raised his voice a little more.
"Hello!"
"Who is it?"
An irritable voice accompanied a rail-thin middle-aged man slowly walking out from within. He looked at Namgung Ganghae, glanced around once, and looked at the restaurant entrance.
"Did you come alone?"
"Yes."
"Haven't seen your face before."
"I arrived today."
"Is that so? It's been a while since an outsider came. What brings you here?"
"Do you serve meals here?"
Namgung Ganghae naturally changed the subject. At this, the middle-aged man scratched the back of his head with a face that said he had forgotten.
"Ah, that's right. What would you like to eat?"
"A vegetable dish and rice, please."
"Wait a moment."
The middle-aged man went to the kitchen and soon returned with a dish made of tofu and greens, and rice. However, there were two bowls of rice, not one. He placed one in front of Namgung Ganghae and one on the opposite side, then plopped down there.
"Eating alone is lonely, so let's eat together. I haven't eaten yet either."
"Alright."
He was a friendly man. And warm-hearted too. When Namgung Ganghae readily agreed, the middle-aged man smiled.
"I am called Yang Osam. What's your name?"
"I'm Namgung Ganghae."
Namgung Ganghae answered without a thought, but Yang Osam's reaction was intense. He loudly placed the bowl and chopsticks he was holding down on the table and asked again.
"Namgung, you said?"
"Yes."
"It can't be......"
Yang Osam looked Namgung Ganghae up and down with eyes of disbelief.
"I'm a collateral blood relative. I've been living far away and came here after being contacted."
"Th-then are you truly... a blood relative of the Namgung Clan?"
The tone of Yang Osam, who had naturally been speaking casually until now, switched to honorifics.
Thinking about it, though Namgung Ganghae's clothes were shabby, his mannerisms and way of speaking were not like those of a commoner. He showed clear signs of having received proper education from a prestigious family.
"I-I am sorry. I have committed a mortal sin by failing to recognize the young master."
Yang Osam prostrated himself on the floor and bowed his head. Seeing that, Namgung Ganghae was bewildered. Just moments ago he had been treating him so casually—why this sudden change?
"Please forgive my rudeness."
"Don't do that, please get up."
Namgung Ganghae grabbed him and helped him up. Yang Osam wore an awkward expression, not knowing what to do.
"Please sit."
"H-how could I dare......"
"We were in the middle of eating together."
"That was because I didn't know......"
"It's fine. It's lonely eating alone, so let's eat together."
Only then did Yang Osam reluctantly sit down. But he kept watching Namgung Ganghae's mood and didn't even think about eating. Namgung Ganghae realized there was no use pressing him further.
"I have something to ask."
"Please ask anything."
"May I know the reason for your sudden change?"
"Why, it's because the young master is a blood relative of the Namgung Clan, is he not?"
"I don't really understand."
"You may not know now since you came from afar, but you will soon find out."
Yang Osam let out a deep sigh as he said this, then clamped his mouth shut. Even when Namgung Ganghae kept looking at him, he averted his gaze and refused to speak.
"You won't be harmed later because of me, mister."
"Th-that's not it......"
"Could it be that the Namgung Clan is causing trouble......"
Seeing Yang Osam continue to hesitate, something suddenly came to mind. Just as he was about to ask, three men entered the restaurant.
All three wore blue martial uniforms and held swords engraved with leaf patterns. They were people from Namgung Sega.
"Welcome, sirs."
Yang Osam jumped up and approached them to greet them. But he bowed so obsequiously it seemed excessive.
"Hmph! We will eat and leave. Bring it out quickly."
"Yes. Understood. I will prepare it right away, so please sit here and wait a moment."
When the men sat down, Yang Osam quickly disappeared into the kitchen. Namgung Ganghae kept eating silently with his head lowered. One of their gazes lingered on Namgung Ganghae for a moment, but they soon lost interest, thinking he was no one important, and began talking among themselves.
"Just how long must we wait?"
"Since Namgung Joseok is away, wouldn't it be better to strike the family head now?"
"Shh! Watch your loose tongue."
"But who's listening here......"
The man who was speaking scowled fiercely at Namgung Ganghae and picked up the chopstick container in front of him and threw it. The container flew across the table, smashing the plate with the food, and chopsticks spilled out.
"Hey, brat. If you're done eating, get lost. Adults are talking here."
Namgung Ganghae looked at them for a moment, then took out money from his bosom, placed it on the table, and left the place. Now he understood why Yang Osam had been so frightened when he revealed his name. As he had suspected, the Namgung Sega was running amok.
It was strange. When they acted like that, it was the blood relatives who got cursed at. Moreover, how upright had Namgung Joseok been?
Because they held the pride of the Namgung Sega, they absolutely never did shameful acts.
But those he had seen in the restaurant were no different from street thugs. And yet they wore the blue clothes symbolizing the Namgung Sega and held swords engraved with leaves.
Well, he would find out gradually. Thinking this, Namgung Ganghae walked briskly. Soon, a large manor came into view. That was the main estate where the blood relatives of the Namgung Sega lived.
Standing in front of the main gate of the manor, he took a deep breath and knocked with his fist.
Bang bang!
When no one came out, he knocked harder. Still, no one came.
"Excuse me!"
Bang bang!
"Is anyone there!"
When he shouted again, the door creaked open just a sliver, and through the gap popped the face of a girl who appeared to be around Namgung Ganghae's age. She was a pretty child with strikingly large eyes.
"Who is it?"
"Ah, um, I came to meet the family head."
"Father?"
"Oh? Uh."
If the family head was her father, she was clearly a direct bloodline descendant.
"What is it?"
"I came to deliver news about my uncle."
"Uncle?"
"His name is Namgung Joseok......"
"Ah! You came to deliver news about Uncle!"
The girl cut him off mid-sentence and raised her voice. Judging by her tone, she seemed quite happy.
"Come in first."
"Okay."
The girl opened the door a little wider to let Namgung Ganghae enter. Then she walked with light, bouncy steps, looking thrilled.
"It's this way."
Namgung Ganghae silently followed where the girl led. The manor was so spacious one couldn't tell where anything was. But many places were old and broken like an abandoned house, and crucially, there was no one there.
Until they arrived at the room she was guiding him to, Namgung Ganghae had not seen a single person.
"Father. It's me, Aran."
"Enter."
Namgung Aran opened the door and went in. Inside, a middle-aged man who looked like a scholar was standing straight, reading a book. He was Namgung Museong, the family head of Namgung Sega.
"What is it?"
"He came bearing news about Uncle."
"Joseok's?"
Namgung Museong looked at Namgung Ganghae with a delighted face. He too had been expecting Namgung Joseok to arrive.
"It was about time for him to come, and I was worried because he hadn't. So you met Joseok."
"Yes."
"Yes. What did he say? Did he happen to give you a letter?"
"First, allow me to greet you. I am called Namgung Ganghae. My father is Namgung Sanhak."
Namgung Ganghae brought both hands together in front and showed proper courtesy. At this, Namgung Museong looked at him in surprise and asked again.
"What? You are Sanhak's son?"
"Yes."
Looking closely, his spirited eyes and charming face greatly resembled Namgung Sanhak.
"Now that I look, you resemble Sanhak greatly."
"I greet my uncle."
"I am pleased to meet you like this. Joseok went saying he would find your father, so it seems he eventually succeeded. But why did you come alone? Where did Joseok go?"
"My uncle......"
Namgung Ganghae trailed off and let out a deep sigh. It was painful, but he had to say it. His death. How it had come to be. Namgung Ganghae looked straight at Namgung Museong and opened his mouth.
"He died."
"What?"
"Ah!"
Namgung Museong, of course, and Namgung Aran, who had been listening quietly from the side, wore faces that could not readily believe it. Of course. When told an acquaintance had died, anyone would naturally have such a reaction.
"Is-is that true? Joseok... Joseok dead......"
"It makes no sense! Why would Uncle....... *Sob* It's a lie! Right?"
Namgung Aran rushed at him, crying. Namgung Ganghae had nothing to say and merely stood there silently.
"Speak! How did Joseok die?"
Namgung Museong glared with fierce eyes and pressed him. Namgung Joseok had been stronger than him. And wiser. He was not someone to be easily defeated by anyone.
"The first time I saw my uncle was at Bangga Village."
Namgung Ganghae calmly narrated the events from meeting Namgung Joseok until his death. As he listened, Namgung Museong trembled violently and clenched his fist tightly. He still couldn't believe it. That Namgung Joseok was dead. And by mere bandits. It was impossible. It shouldn't have happened.
"Uwaaaaah!"
Unable to hold back his anger, Namgung Museong threw the book he was holding and struck the table in front of him. Still his rage did not subside, so he picked up a chair and threw it at the wall.
Bang!
Namgung Ganghae merely stood still through it all. Then, after Namgung Museong calmed down a little, he untied the bundle he had been carrying and took out Namgung Joseok's urn of remains.
"I am sorry, Uncle."
Namgung Museong received it with trembling hands. And he glared at Namgung Ganghae with cold eyes.
Namgung Joseok's death was not Namgung Ganghae's fault. But it was so sad, so infuriating, so unfair that he could not endure without blaming someone.
"Leave."
Namgung Ganghae showed his respects courteously and then turned his body. As he did, he saw Namgung Aran slump down sobbing. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but words did not come easily, so he simply patted her head once as he passed by.