The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 93

"Good work, brothers!"

"Yeah. Put this away."

Yugang caught the object tossed at him in one fluid motion. The moment he realized it was a child cradled snugly in his arms, his face turned pale.

"Who is this child...?"

"That's none of your business. Tie her up in the storeroom. She might scream if she wakes up, so gag her too."

Yugang stared blankly at the sleeping girl nestled against his chest.

Her delicate features and fine, expensive clothing betrayed a noble lineage. She was clearly the child of a prestigious household.

‘She looks familiar... I've seen this face before.’

"I'm starving. Is dinner ready?"

"Huh? Y-Yes! It’s all prepared! We picked up some stir-fried meat from the market today!"

"Nice, finally some grease on the bones. Feels like today’s a lucky day."

The men chuckled as they disappeared into the cabin, leaving Yugang standing there. He glanced after them, then turned and walked toward the storeroom.

Inside, he laid the child gently atop a stack of rice sacks, spreading a thick mat beneath one of the ship’s pillars to cushion her. He even covered the area with fresh straw to make sure it wasn’t dirty.

Just as he picked up a length of rope and looked helplessly at the girl, still sound asleep—

"What are you doing?"

Startled, Yugang jerked his head toward the stacked sacks of rice.

From the shadows behind them, a figure emerged.

Namgoong Seolhwa stepped forward, having silently hidden behind the rice.

"N-Namgoong Lady...?!"

Seolhwa’s eyes drifted from the unconscious Hwarin to the rope in Yugang’s hand.

"When did you become a river rat?"

Yugang flinched. He quickly tried to hide the rope behind his back, forcing an awkward laugh.

"A-Ah, no, it’s not like that..."

"If I’d known you were going to turn bandit, I wouldn’t have asked you to deliver my message."

There was a soft cracking sound as Seolhwa flexed her fingers.

Yugang paled and hastily blurted out, "I-I did deliver it! To the Clan Lord!"

"And?"

"Huh?"

"Then why are you here, doing this?"

Her gentle smile was tinged with an unmistakable trace of killing intent.

It was the kind of smile that made it clear—one wrong word, and she’d cut him down.

"H-Hold on! I can explain! I really can! So how about you, uh, ease off the bloodlust a bit...?"

He waved his hands with a nervous laugh—still clutching the rope.

Seolhwa’s eyes fell on the rope swinging from his hand, and Yugang, seeing that, immediately tossed it to the ground in panic.

"I swear, I can explain everything! I’m innocent!"

"Go ahead. Explain."

"!"

Her killing intent receded slightly, and Yugang’s face brightened with relief. He began to recount every detail.

How he had been sent to Namgoong on the Clan Lord’s orders, only to be ambushed en route.

How he’d thrown himself into the river to escape, passed out, and awoke aboard the river gang’s boat.

How, without his Mount Hua robes, his identity concealed, he begged the bandits to take him in as a lowly recruit to avoid suspicion.

“I figured I’d watch for a chance to escape once we were far enough from their base, but, well... now I’ve ended up here.”

Seolhwa glanced at Hwarin.

Yugang rushed to add, “I didn’t know they were planning to kidnap your sister! I swear! I was planning to run this morning, but something felt off. I overheard them talking about snatching a kid, so I stayed just in case. I thought I might need to help.”

“Then why were you about to tie her up?”

"I wasn't really going to! I was just pretending in case one of the older guys came to check. Figured I’d look like I was working hard. If you act relaxed while planning to escape, you blow your cover.”

He explained that he planned to act like he’d tied her up, then flee once the kidnappers let their guard down.

“But I guess no one’s coming. Maybe they trust me more than I thought.”

He shrugged with a sheepish grin, the picture of casual friendliness.

For someone in league with river bandits, his easygoing nature was disconcerting. His ability to charm even criminals was impressive.

“In any case, it’s good you showed up. I didn’t like the idea of escaping with an unconscious kid alone. It’s a relief you’re here. Let’s get out of—"

Just then, the ship rocked with a heavy groan.

Seolhwa instinctively reached out to keep Hwarin from rolling off the rice sacks, while Yugang moved to support her legs.

"This is bad."

Yugang’s face had gone completely pale.

"The ship’s moving. I thought they were staying another day? No time. I’ll draw their attention. You get off the boat before we’re too far from land. Go, now!”

"You're coming too."

Seolhwa’s eyes were firm—she had no intention of leaving without him.

Yugang hesitated, then gave a short nod.

“Right. We’ve got to go before we drift out to midriver.”

Once the ship reached deeper waters, not even Seolhwa and Yugang could escape easily.

And they still had Hwarin, who didn’t know martial arts. Her small body couldn’t endure a wild escape.

Yugang picked up the sleeping girl and cradled her in his arms. Just as the two turned to leave the storeroom—

"Wait."

Seolhwa grabbed his arm.

"What?"

"It’s too late."

Her gaze turned toward the storeroom entrance.

‘Two Peak Realm experts.’

There were many skilled warriors aboard this ship.

It made sense. If they were bold enough to abduct a child of the Namgoong Clan, they wouldn’t rely on common thugs.

‘I can’t take down every fighter on this ship alone.’

And she had Hwarin to protect—a child who couldn’t fight or defend herself. Reckless escape could put her in danger.

‘In that case...’

Seolhwa turned to face Yugang.

He, too, had sensed something approaching, and his expression was ghostly.

He set Hwarin down carefully and turned to tell Seolhwa to hide—only for her to suddenly seize his wrist.

“W-What are you—?!”

Seolhwa guided Yugang’s hand to her throat and lay down on the straw mat he had laid out.

“Uwah!”

Caught off guard, Yugang was dragged down with her. Before he could react, he found himself pinning Seolhwa to the ground with one hand around her neck.

The storeroom door burst open at that exact moment.

“What the hell!?”

Two river bandits, chuckling as they entered, froze at the scene and stumbled back in surprise.

“K-Kgh... Let... go...!”

Seolhwa let out a strangled moan, as though she were being choked. That’s when Yugang realized what she was doing.

“Brothers! I caught a rat sneaking around!”

He immediately loosened his grip on her throat and spun her around, pinning her arms behind her back instead.

“She was stealing rice in the storeroom! Our precious supplies! I took her down before she could make off with anything!”

The bandits, initially startled, glanced at each other and burst into laughter.

One of them, with a cloth wrapped around his head, crouched down in front of Seolhwa.

“What a piece of work. You got any idea where you are, little rat?”

Seolhwa shook her head, her expression trembling with fear.

“Heh... This here’s a place that’s done plenty of taking—never once been taken from. You get what I’m saying?”

“...Sorry?”

“This is a pirate ship, sweetheart.”

Seolhwa’s face paled in shock.

The bandits, amused by her wide-eyed reaction, snickered among themselves.

“I-I really didn’t know! Please, spare me! I’ll do anything, just don’t hurt me!”

“Oh? Anything, huh? What can you do?”

The bandit roughly grabbed Seolhwa’s cheek.

Yugang, still holding her arms behind her, visibly flinched.

“I can clean, I can cook, I can do laundry! Anything you need!”

At that moment, a rustling sound came from behind them.

Damn it.

“Mommy... hhh... Mooooommmyyy...!”

Hwarin had woken and begun to cry.

The two bandits scowled and turned to glare at the source of the noise.

Seolhwa quickly raised her head and called out, “I’m good with kids too!”

The bandit glanced at her, then clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed, and jerked his chin toward Yugang, signaling him to release her.

“You’re good with kids, huh?”

“Yes...!”

“Then shut that one up. Now.”

“...Sorry?”

“You said you’re good with them. So shut her up! I can’t stand the sound of whining brats.”

“Y-Yes!”

Seolhwa rushed # Nоvеlight # over to Hwarin.

By then, Hwarin had burst into even louder sobs.

“There, there. It’s okay.”

— Hwarin. It’s Seolhwa.

Hwarin abruptly stopped crying and opened her eyes.

“Se—...”

— No. Don’t say my name. Don’t call me that right now.

Hwarin blinked in confusion.

She was still a child, but one who had created the Shintan Bow on her own. Even if she couldn’t fully understand what was happening, she was at least wise enough not to speak again.

— I’ll explain everything soon. Just hold on and stay quiet. Can you do that for me?

“...Okay.”

Hwarin gave a small nod.

From behind them came a chorus of impressed voices.

“Oooh!”