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C91. Why They Look Alike
The streets of Luoyang in late autumn were bustling with people.
Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong from Nokrim were constantly moving, bumping shoulders with passersby.
"Where is the Sangjo Chamber of Commerce? Why can’t I see it? Is this the right way?"
Faced with Yeon Jeokha's constant complaints, Shim Tong smiled and responded.
"Jeje, seeing the Dengyun Inn, it seems we’re close. Didn’t the merchant earlier say it would be visible right after passing the Dengyun Inn?"
"Mm, I want another one of those rice cakes."
Shim Tong ignored Yeon Jeokha’s distracted response and looked around.
Suddenly, he shouted like a child.
"Young Master! I found it! There it is!"
Yeon Jeokha’s eyes followed the direction of Shim Tong’s wrinkled finger.
Of course! About fifty steps away, they saw the sign for the Chamber of Commerce.
Thinking about meeting Namgung Yeon after twelve years filled him with nostalgia.
Although he had forgotten her face, somehow, he felt excited.
As they approached the Chamber of Commerce, Yeon Jeokha’s steps slowed, a result of nerves.
Shim Tong, walking at his pace, seemed to remember something and asked:
"But, Young Master, why did you reject the earlier proposal?"
"Are you crazy? Killing someone for money?"
"Ah..."
Shim Tong looked at Yeon Jeokha with a surprised expression.
He thought he would accept the offer due to his resentment towards the Yoomyung Cult but was surprised to see his rejection of contract killings. Though he was part of Nokrim, he never liked contract killings.
Looking back, he realized he had never killed anyone. He had killed Dae Rye-ok, but at that time, he wasn’t a human, but an immortal monster, so it was an exception.
Due to the large number of people entering and leaving, the door of the Sangjo Chamber of Commerce was completely open.
Just at that moment, Son Hak, the person in charge, stopped upon seeing the strange visitors.
Though receiving visitors was the employees’ task, seeing the swords hanging from the waists of the elderly man and the young one, he couldn’t just ignore them.
"How can I help you?"
Son Hak took a step forward towards the elderly man.
Receiving his gaze, Shim Tong spoke instead of Yeon Jeokha.
"I heard there are people from the Namgung Family here. Are they inside?"
"Yes, but... who are you?"
Although Son Hak was in charge of the Sangjo Chamber of Commerce, he bowed due to the nature of the visitors, as they were from Murim.
"Go and tell them that Young Master Yeon has come to see them."
Despite Shim Tong’s one-sided words, Son Hak felt uncomfortable but didn’t show it. It wasn’t the first time he had seen the rudeness of Murim.
"In fact, I also have some business with them. Follow me."
Son Hak walked ahead without waiting for a response.
It was a small attempt at resistance on his part.
After walking for a while, a large pavilion appeared.
The sign at the front read "Suryak Pavilion".
In front of it, Son Hak turned his head to confirm the visitors and then shouted loudly.
"Young Namgung, are you inside?!"
Soon, Namgung Cheon, the Blue Cloud Sword, poked his head out of the door.
Seeing the visitors, his eyes lit up recognizing Yeon Jeokha.
"Oh! Yeon?"
He quickly came out, hastily put on his shoes, and approached Yeon Jeokha.
"Long time no see! Passing by?"
"Yes, more or less."
Yeon Jeokha scratched his head, feeling uncomfortable.
He didn’t have a close relationship with the Namgung Family to actively seek them out.
"Come, come, in. Yeon will be delighted to see you."
Namgung Cheon put his arm around Yeon Jeokha’s shoulder and guided him into the pavilion.
"Yesterday, I was just talking about you with my sister. It seems fate had plans for us to meet today. Everything in life happens for a reason..."
Namgung Cheon was so happy that he kept talking non-stop.
Due to his effusiveness, Shim Tong and Son Hak were left behind, watching from afar.
When Namgung Cheon took Yeon Jeokha inside, only Shim Tong and Son Hak remained in the courtyard.
"Didn’t you say you had business with the Namgung Family people?"
At Shim Tong’s abrupt question, Son Hak hit his head as if remembering something.
"Aren’t you going in?"
Son Hak didn’t understand why Namgung Cheon only took the young one.
"The guest of the Namgung Family is the Young Master, not me."
"Ah, right."
Son Hak responded absentmindedly, his eyes fixed on the closed pavilion.
In fact, he had a message for the Namgung Family.
But it wasn’t urgent, so he felt uncomfortable calling Namgung Cheon again.
After thinking for a moment, Son Hak nodded to the elderly man and left the way he came.
--------------------
Namgung Yeon, known as the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower, opened the door and entered the room.
The moment Yeon Jeokha saw her face, he was petrified.
Ah! How could he forget that face?
She was the same fairy he had seen in the True Classic of the Nine Heavens as One.
Though he had forgotten Namgung Yeon’s face he met at six years old, the fairy from the True Classic of the Nine Heavens as One was as vivid as if he had seen her yesterday.
Somehow, Namgung Yeon, in front of him, looked exactly like the fairy who had disappeared into the clouds.
"Uh, uh..."
Yeon Jeokha pointed at Namgung Yeon, babbling, and Namgung Cheon burst into a loud laugh.
"Jaja! What is that ‘uh, uh’? If we haven’t seen each other in thirteen years, greet her properly."
Namgung Yeon sat elegantly and stared intently at Yeon Jeokha.
Looking closely, she could see that he still had the face from when he was six years old.
Seeing the child who couldn’t distinguish between his mother and sister now grown, filled her with pride.
He had survived the harsh abuses and escaped the narrow, smelly cellar to become part of Nokrim. His eyes were still clear.
Just like back then when he called her mom.
It was a relief to see that his eyes hadn’t changed.
If he had been corrupted by his difficult past, she would have blamed the heavens.
Grateful and proud, Namgung Yeon smiled.
Namgung Yeon’s smile gave Yeon Jeokha courage, who spoke cautiously.
"Sis-Sister, have you been well?"
She nodded.
She was a person of few words, even with her family.
"I, um, after dad died, I lived in the cellar. Then I escaped... I met an old beggar who gave me a broken pot. He must have thought I was a beggar. Haha."
Namgung Yeon listened attentively, her eyes shining.
Though his story was messy, she could vividly imagine the days he had lived.
"I lost my way in the mountain and almost died, but the older brothers saved me."
Yeon Jeokha, who had been talking non-stop, drank tea as if he was thirsty.
At that moment, Namgung Cheon, who had been listening quietly, asked curiously.
"A moment ago, you seemed quite surprised to see Yeon. Though it’s true Yeon is quite beautiful, you’re the first to react like that."
"Ah, brother. The thing is..."
Yeon Jeokha looked at Namgung Yeon and Namgung Cheon with an uncomfortable expression.
How could he explain that he saw a fairy in the mirror flying among the clouds and that she looked exactly like his sister Yeon?
"What is it?"
At Namgung Cheon’s insistence, Yeon Jeokha sighed and said.
"Ah! Don’t laugh at me when you hear this. The truth is..."
Yeon Jeokha decided to confess that the face of the Mysterious Woman of the Nine Heavens he saw in the mirror was identical to Namgung Yeon’s.
"..."
Namgung Cheon avoided Yeon Jeokha’s serious gaze, turning his head from side to side.
Clearly, he was so lonely and exhausted that he had started seeing things.
After being confined in a small space for a long time, it could happen.
Besides, who doesn’t dream a lot during childhood?
Surely it was a memory from when he couldn’t distinguish between dream and reality.
"Hum, hum, how did you know the fairy was the Mysterious Woman of the Nine Heavens?"
"Because it was written on the mirror."
"Ah, the fairy’s name?"
"Yes."
Namgung Cheon nodded absentmindedly.
To have seen something in his youth, he seemed to have connected the pieces quite well.
"In the classics, it says that 'everything depends on the mind'. Hum, hum, if you say you saw it, you saw it. Even so, it’s a fascinating coincidence that the fairy looked like Yeon. Isn’t that right, Yeon?"
At Namgung Cheon’s sudden question, Namgung Yeon only smiled.
Namgung Cheon continued the conversation instead of the reserved Namgung Yeon.
Even Yeon Jeokha, who talked a lot, didn’t fall behind.
Thus, with Namgung Yeon in the middle, Namgung Cheon and Yeon Jeokha continued talking non-stop.
Namgung Yeon participated in the conversation with laughter and small nods.
The chat that began at noon ended when the sun started to set.
Yeon Jeokha stood up with a nostalgic expression.
Namgung Cheon asked belatedly.
"Wait! Do you have a place to stay?"
"Not yet. I just arrived."
"We’re thinking of moving to Jeongju in a few days. Luoyang is too close to the Yoomyung Cult. Make sure to visit us later."
"Yes..."
The unexpected words made Yeon Jeokha feel complicated.
Shortly after, Yeon Jeokha and the Namgung siblings left the place.
Shim Tong, who was hunched over and sleeping, jumped up.
"Oh! Old Shim, have you been waiting?"
"Yes."
"You could have gone to a nearby tavern to have a drink."
"Jeje, I’m fine. It’s been a good rest."
"Jaja! Why did you stay sitting uncomfortably? If you were tired, you could have laid down anywhere. Were you raised as a prince?"
"No. I was waiting for you to come out, and time just passed."
Shim Tong felt a bit aggrieved.
No Nokrim thief is picky about where to sleep.
He thought they would finish quickly, but it was a mistake. Remembering the endless conversation gave him goosebumps.
------------------
Kaifeng.
Longxi Pavilion.
Though it was late at night, the Longxi Pavilion was filled with the coquettish laughter of courtesans and drunken customers.
What time would it be? Around nine at night?
A drunk customer punched Sohyang, a courtesan who was leading him to his room.
"Ah!"
Sohyang fell to the floor of the hallway.
A man in his forties, drunk, pounced on her like a beast and kicked her mercilessly.
Bam. Bam. Bam. Bam.
"Damn wretch! Didn’t I tell you to bring another girl? Why are you ignoring me? Do you think I’m easy because I come to places like this? Huh? You’re just a whore selling your body!"
Sohyang stopped moving, possibly fainting.
Even so, the man kept yelling at her like a madman while kicking her.
Though the floor was soaked with blood, his kicks grew stronger.
Terrified, the courtesans ran to fetch the guards.
The first to arrive was Wang Bogang, who was nearby.
"Stop!"
Wang Bogang reached out towards the drunk customer’s shoulder.
At that moment, the man slightly twisted his waist to dodge and instead raised his voice.
"What’s going on? Damn bastards! Are you in cahoots with the whores to attack customers? Who the hell are you? Call the owner!"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Wang Bogang, indignant, tried to grab him again.
Then, the man’s hand struck Wang Bogang’s chest like lightning and he stepped aside.
"Ack!"
Wang Bogang spat blood and flew backwards.
At that moment, Pung Yeoncho, the chief of security at the Longxi Pavilion, arrived.
Seeing the scene, Pung Yeoncho frowned.
The courtesan was unconscious in a pool of blood, and Wang Bogang lay with his eyes rolled back.
He had never seen something so horrible, not even when he was a bandit.
Pung Yeoncho looked at the customer in amazement.
"Who the hell are you?"
The man, with his foot on the courtesan’s head, Ma Cheonwoo, smiled and turned his head.