The RoFan Novel Fan Has Reincarnated Into A Martial Arts Novel-Chapter 39: Farewell

Yeon caught Gongye quicker than expected.

It wasn’t a matter of lightness skill—it was simply inevitable. He hadn’t made it very far to begin with. As long as Yeon was in contact with the head monk, Gongye was still within the Buddha’s palm.

“D-Donor, I’ll pay it back, I swear—just, please don’t tell the Head Monk...”

Yeon barely managed to keep herself from tying him up in a straw mat and beating him. Ironically, it was for the same reason she’d caught him so easily. Gongye had been sent personally by Head Monk Damdeok, and she couldn’t exactly beat down someone the old master had vouched for.

“That means no more gambling from now on. And no more running away, either. You’re a grown monk—why are you running away?”

“Y-Yes, ma’am...”

Dragging his bowed head behind her, Yeon rejoined the rest of the group.

Yeon and her companions headed for the Mount Heng Sect. They’d planned to go tomorrow, but since they were already out, Yeon wanted to take care of business while they were at it.

Han Sa-uk, the young sect leader of the Mount Heng Sect, came sprinting out in his socks when he heard Yeon had arrived. A complete contrast to the cold, sharp figure she remembered from the Martial World Assembly.

“M-Miss Hwang Bo, I was just about to send someone to find you!”

His anxious eyes darted across Yeon’s expression.

No wonder. His sect had also been involved in the Red Flower Gate’s corruption. He must’ve been dying to know whether she’d come knowing everything—and if so, whether she had proof.

“Why don’t we head inside and—”

“No, we have to get going soon,” Yeon cut in.

Han Sa-uk froze. A sect leader, floundering in front of a young woman barely in her late teens—it was almost laughable. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

Yeon looked him over and began weighing her options.

What ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) should I do with this guy?

She had the evidence Baek Ju-a had entrusted her with. Records of illicit payments from Eom Gilyeon to Han Sa-uk and the Mount Heng elders, and details proving they’d turned a blind eye to the assassination of the Baekha Escort Chief. At least they hadn’t been involved with the Palace of Ecstasy.

If they had, I wouldn’t be here playing nice.

Baek Ju-a had left the punishment up to Yeon. She had a practical reason—she didn’t want to turn the Mount Heng Sect into an enemy while rebuilding her agency.

Recalling Baek Ju-a’s face, Yeon made her decision. Truth be told, she’d already discussed it briefly with the others.

“Sect Leader Han.”

“Y-Yes?”

“I’ll be direct. Return all the money you’ve taken. Every coin.”

“What did you just say?”

Han Sa-uk tried to deny it, but Yeon firmly shook her head. A silent warning not to escalate things—and a sign that she already knew everything.

Han Sa-uk bit his lip but didn’t push back any further. Just as Yeon expected, he was the type to scare easily.

And as always, the coward lives the longest.

“You all wait inside,” he said, dismissing the Mount Heng martial artists who’d come with him.

Once his pride was fully cast aside, he turned to Yeon and asked in a low, resigned voice, “What do you want me to do?”

“Exactly what I said. Undo the corruption you committed.”

“The money... then...”

He looked at Yeon with a silent question. If he gave her the money, would she keep quiet?

Yeon sighed. Was this really the only way his mind worked? And this guy was the leader of one of the righteous sects?

“Return it to the merchants of Hunan. To those innocent people who suffered losses because of Red Flower Gate—Baekha Escort Agency included.”

“...”

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll be able to repair your relationship with Baekha. After all, it was all a misunderstanding, right? Because of the scumbags from Red Flower Gate.”

Han Sa-uk said nothing, as if he’d forgotten how to speak. No doubt his thoughts were tangled, trying to figure out what Yeon’s true motive was.

There is no hidden motive, old man.

Yeon tried to soothe her own frustration as his lips finally moved.

“If I do that... will you let it go?”

“I’ll have to see how you handle it. But probably, yes. Everyone makes mistakes.”

Han Sa-uk responded in a weighty tone.

“I understand.”

“Oh, and you must make amends for the Escort Chief’s death. She was framed, remember? Because of those Red Flower Gate bastards.”

“...I’ll take it to heart.”

“Then this matter never happened. Clean slate.”

Yeon didn’t bother with words like do better from now on. What would be the point? Opportunists like him would never take those to heart.

“Well then, goodbye. I hope next time we meet, we can smile.”

With those formal words, she turned to leave. It was the best outcome possible, but it still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

If it weren’t for the Hundred Flower Cult, I wouldn’t have let it end like this.

Sure, exposing the evidence and making the Mount Heng Sect pay might’ve felt satisfying.

But this wasn’t the kind of crime that would completely destroy a sect. At most, their standing in the righteous martial world would take a hit. To those who valued honor, that was probably the harshest punishment anyway.

But right now, we need every ally we can get.

This was a strategic choice, one meant to prepare for the Hundred Flower Cult’s eventual expansion into the Central Plains. If the Mount Heng Sect collapsed, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t side with the cult later. Yeon wanted to minimize that risk as much as possible.

Just then, a thought struck her—another sect. The Sichuan Tang Clan, Soso’s family.

What if that’s how the Tang Clan falls? Maybe that’s how the Twin Saints become the Twin Demons...

As she stared at Soso with a complicated look, a voice chimed in beside her.

“You handled that well, Miss Yeon.”

“Cheon Gang.”

“Han Sa-uk didn’t strike me as someone capable of true evil. I think he’ll be far more cautious from now on.”

“That may be true... or maybe now he’ll just hide it better.”

Cheon Gang gave a faint smile.

“Perhaps. But how could we hope for more than that? This is the martial world.”

The martial world, huh?

Hearing those words from someone born and raised in it made them hit differently. Yeon muttered quietly to herself.

The world I came from wasn’t much different.

If anything, it was worse. Wherever people lived, it would probably be the same.

Yeah. I can’t fix everything.

She’d never claimed to be some crusader of justice. Sure, she called herself the Enforcer of Self-Defense, but that was just her way of protecting her own.

And that was enough. With that thought, Yeon headed back to the inn with her group.

****

The Next Morning

After a deep night’s sleep, the four of them ate breakfast together and left their lodging. Yeon took the lead as they approached a fork in the road, splitting west, north, and east. As if prearranged, they all stopped walking.

“You’re heading back to Shaolin, right, monk?”

At Yeon’s question, Gongye gave an awkward smile and stepped toward the northern path.

“Yes.”

“Please send my regards to the Head Monk.”

“I shall.”

“And the wig—how much longer are you going to keep wearing it? I think it’s about time you took it off.”

“Ah, this...”

He reached up and fiddled with the fake hair for a moment before answering.

“I plan to keep wearing it until I reach Shaolin. I’ve grown rather attached to the thing. Heh heh.”

So yesterday he did say he wanted to get rid of it. As expected, that must’ve just been because he was desperate to go outside.

Yeon let out a soft snort and waved her hand.

“Take care, monk. Thanks for everything.”

“No, no, the thanks belong to you and the others, Miss Hwang Bo. May you all return safely.”

Gongye pressed his palms together toward the group.

When he raised his head again, his gaze briefly swept across Cheon Gang and Soso. He exchanged short farewells with them as well.

And in the end, just before leaving, he offered Soso another respectful bow.

Then, without hesitation, he turned and walked away with long, waving strides.

Yeon watched his back as it grew smaller in the distance, then turned to Soso.

“You’re heading back to your clan too, right?”

“Huh?”

Soso twitched, startled by the question.

“Uh, I mean...”

“What? Don’t tell me you don’t want to? Should I just take you home with me, then?”

Yeon said it teasingly, but Soso didn’t seem to be joking.

“Could I really?”

The sincerity in her voice made Yeon pause.

She did want to take Soso with her. But at the same time, she didn’t want to put her in danger ever again.

“Soso.”

“Yes?”

“You know how bad things almost got yesterday, right? If you stick with me, that’s going to keep happening. So you really need to think it through.”

“But...”

Soso looked at her with pained eyes. When Yeon’s resolve started to waver, Soso quickly added:

“I’m okay, unni. I won’t mess up again. I mean, giving the monk the coin pouch—how stupid was that? Even I think it was dumb.”

Yeon reached out and held Soso’s hand. It was meant to reassure her, but Soso gripped back tightly, as if she didn’t want to let go.

“Soso, don’t beat yourself up over that. Of course the monk sweet-talked you into it. Like I wouldn’t know?”

“Th-Then why...”

“What do you mean, why? Because it’s dangerous. And besides, you do need to go home eventually, don’t you? Your father must be worried. Isn’t he?”

At the mention of her father, Soso fell silent. But then, after a pause, she slowly shook her head.

“He won’t be.”

“What?”

“He’s... not the kind of person who worries about things like that.”

There was a quiet emptiness in her voice that made Yeon’s heart lurch. She didn’t know the details, but clearly things weren’t great between the two of them.

“In that case... do you want to stay with my family for a while? Just until you feel ready. If you’re okay with that, I’ll write to your father myself.”

“Y-Yes! I’d like that, unni!”

Her immediate, eager reply made Yeon smile despite herself.

“Alright, then—”

Yeon reached out to pull Soso gently toward her—but that was when an overwhelming presence washed over them.

It came from the west, and Cheon Gang was the first to react. His broad shoulders slid in front of Yeon protectively.

From behind him, Yeon peered out and caught sight of the approaching figure.

Who the hell is that?

The aura radiating from the man was unlike anything Yeon had ever felt. It wasn’t just strong—it was the kind of presence that made you instinctively recoil, like a venomous serpent slithering right at your feet. A snake that wasn’t just poisonous, but as big as a house.

She could fight him if she had to. But the will to fight was already slipping away.

She didn’t need to be bitten to know—just a graze from those fangs would be the end.

As the figure came closer, his face began to come into view. Yeon sharpened her focus, and just then, Soso whispered—

“F-Father?”

“What?”

Before Yeon could fully react, the man stepped in front of their group.

Up close, Yeon finally recognized him. She’d only glimpsed him briefly during the Martial World Assembly—but this was indeed Tang Jeonghu, head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

He’d come alone. No entourage, no escort.

He stared at Yeon in silence, expression unreadable beneath his stone-carved face. That overwhelming pressure he’d brought with him had already vanished without a trace.

Yeon, still slightly dazed, hurried to bow.

“Greetings, Clan Lord.”

He gave her a small nod, his gaze shifting to the hands Yeon and Soso had still been holding.

Soso quickly let go.

“F-Father, what brings you here...?”

“I had business nearby. I was on my way back to Sichuan when I happened to see you.”

Happened to? Yeon found that hard to believe. But Soso seemed to accept it. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Not knowing the full story, Yeon simply nodded.

“We were actually just talking about that. Clan Lord, you must’ve been worried.”

“Of course. Has my foolish daughter caused you any trouble?”

“...Pardon?”

Yeon asked reflexively, but he simply gave Soso a firm look. Under that hardened expression, she finally let go of Yeon’s hand completely.

The reluctant fall of Soso’s fingers made Yeon’s chest tighten.

Soso lowered her head and walked to her father’s side. When she stood beside him, Tang Jeonghu gave a curt nod and turned to leave.

“That’s all, then.”

He led the way without waiting, and Soso hurried after him with small, quick steps.

As she followed her father’s brisk pace, she turned back again and again, glancing at Yeon with eyes that clearly didn’t want to say goodbye.