Chapter 5: The Tiger Moon Tower

The interior of the manor was noisy.
Those who had come to buy items were watching the confrontation between the Moyong Clan and the Black Wolf Sect.

“How can someone who calls himself the Clan Head be so subservient? Isn’t he crazy…?”

“Indeed. He can’t even say a harsh word. It seems the Moyong Clan is truly finished.”

“Sigh, I didn’t come here to see such a wretched sight…”

As they turned to leave, they saw the collapsed quarters.
The Black Wolf Sect’s atrocities.
Coming unannounced was already rude, but they even hurled debris from a pillar into the Clan Head’s residence.
Ten years ago, such a thing would have been unimaginable.

“At this rate, it wouldn’t be strange for the Moyong Clan to be swallowed by the Black Wolf Sect.”

As someone said, it was no longer even considered strange.
The tone was both unfamiliar and full of regret.
The conflict between the two factions had been a matter of great concern for the people of Bushin for several years.
Being manipulated by the Black Wolf Sect was not just the Moyong Clan’s problem.
A glimmer of hope.
They had hoped that someday the Moyong Clan would push back the Black Wolf Sect and regain true power in Bushin.
Therefore, when the young Clan Head suddenly burst out, they were surprised, but also filled with anticipation.

– You f*cking son of a bich—!! What is this!!!

– Did you guys do this?

Although somewhat crude and vulgar, they wondered if Moyong Yeon, known only for his weakness, possessed such force.
But it was only for a moment.
Moyong Yeon returned to his original state (?) and bowed his head before the Black Wolf Sect.
Of course, there were subtly active points for him to go back to his original state, but that wasn’t important.

“Sigh.”

An old man standing at the main gate sighed.
Everyone had now left the manor.
The last remaining old man’s displeased gaze turned towards Moyong Yeon.

“He’s young, so young.”

He couldn’t help but feel that the Moyong Clan would never see a brighter day.
Thump, thump.
The last remaining visitor also left the Moyong Clan manor.
Regardless, Yeon was preoccupied with preparing to go to the tavern.

“Ugh.”

Yeon slung the knapsack over his shoulder and waist, then pulled the straps tight.
It was securely tied.
He touched the knapsack with his hand.
The silver nyang the steward had put in was plentiful.
And he checked the bank note in his pocket.

‘This is half the debt, right?’

It was a large sum, even at a glance.
Ten thousand nyang.
For a commoner, this amount was something they might barely accumulate even if they saved every penny of a lifetime’s wages without spending any.
However, it was also an absurdly small amount to determine the rise or fall of the Moyong Clan.

‘And he only managed to gather it just before, by holding a flea market, right?’

Tsk, tsk.

Yeon clicked his tongue.

‘It just goes to show how much of a relic the Moyong Clan has become.’

Before, he would have just watched the Moyong Clan’s downfall as if it were someone else’s house on fire.
But now, whether he liked it or not, he was in the same boat as the Moyong Clan.
After all, he didn’t want to see the clan he belonged to collapse without being able to do anything.

‘Well… And though it’s hard to understand, they say I ruined the Moyong Clan?’

There was a slightly sensitive point, so he intended to take at least minimal responsibility.
And putting all that aside, that guy Pil-Gu.

‘That f*cking bastard Namgung Chungwoo, who tormented me, keeps popping into my mind, and I feel like I’d regret it forever if I just let this go.’

Given his current state, he had let him go for now, but…

Yeon unconsciously let out a laugh.
Compared to the three months it took to get revenge on Namgung Chungwoo, it probably wouldn’t take long to get revenge on that guy Pil-Gu.

‘Alright, then.’

He raised his head to the sky. The sun was setting.
If he left now, he would arrive at the appointed time.

“Hmm, good.”

Yeon looked at the steward.
His face looked as if he had aged several years from the recent commotion.

“I’m going now?”

The steward looked like a dog that needed to go to the bathroom.
The conditions were such that he had to send the Clan Head alone, but he seemed very uneasy.
Moreover, the Clan Head seemed particularly erratic today, making it even more so.

“Clan Head.”

“What?”

“You must not forget that the future of the Moyong Clan depends on you.”

The steward’s gaze was fixed on the knapsack.
He looked like someone more concerned about the money the Clan Head was carrying than the Clan Head himself.

“You must absolutely not run away midway.”

“Okay.”

“Always look around carefully and be careful not to fall.”

“…”

“And you shouldn’t follow anyone who asks you to, or suddenly cry out of fear,”

“…Are you nagging me right now?”

It felt unfamiliar.
The only person who had the guts to nag him besides Namgung Jehyun was no one, so a peculiar memory of going on a mission flashed through his mind.

– Even if they’re demonic sect members, don’t pick fights, steal money, or beat them up without reason. …Try to maintain some dignity.

Ah, of course, the direction of the nagging was different.
He worried about ‘others’ more than ‘me’.

‘…Is it similar because the steward also worries more about money?’

What did he reply whenever Namgung Jehyun nagged him like that?
Did he ask if he didn’t trust him?

“…Yes?”

The steward looked at him with wide, surprised eyes.
Only then did Yeon, finishing his recollection, realize that he had unconsciously mumbled to himself.

“You ask if I trust the Clan Head?”

The steward’s expression regarding his mumble was quite a sight.
Although he didn’t respond directly, his face clearly said, ‘How could I trust you?’

“How could I… someone who abruptly asked if there was a gambling den in the tavern…”

“Ah, that’s enough, that’s enough. Stop talking.”

He was still bothering him about that question he had asked earlier.
Yeon impatiently waved his hand.
The steward still had much to say, smacking his lips.

“Still…”

“Ah, sh*t. You talk too much.”

Yeon dug at his ear, muttering to himself.
But his voice was too loud for a mumble, and the steward flinched.

“…”

The steward couldn’t help but seriously ponder once again if something had possessed the Clan Head’s body.
But he knew when to back off, so he bowed his head slightly and took a step back.
However, the steward was not the only one Yeon had to deal with.

“Clan Head…”

Yeon looked at the tearful Il-Woo with a displeased expression.

‘Such a large fellow, yet so disgusting.’

Yeon thought.
But he couldn’t utter harsh words.
The sight of him was exactly like a whining puppy.
He was weak against kind and gentle things.
Il-Woo was large in stature, but his appearance and personality were gentle and rounded, making it strangely difficult to treat him according to his original nature.
Just looking at those eyes, for example.
Didn’t it seem like he would burst into tears if lightly touched?

“…What is it?”

Suddenly, Il-Woo spread his arms wide, as if to…

‘An attack?!’

Whoosh!

The moment Yeon flinched, not even thinking of counterattacking, Il-Woo wrapped his outstretched arms tightly around Yeon.

“Clan Head!”

“…”

“You must be careful!!”

He would rather have been attacked…

It was the first time he had ever been hugged like this by someone, and he was struck by a shock that felt as if his soul was leaving his body.

“S-Stop!”

Yeon, pale with fright, pushed Il-Woo away.
Il-Woo wasn’t incredibly strong either, so he was easily pushed back.
Yeon was greatly relieved.

“Anyway, don’t worry about me, everyone. Oh, I should hurry before it gets late…”

Yeon spoke words he didn’t mean, quickly bidding farewell.

“No, Clan Head! You haven’t even said goodbye to Muyoung yet!”

“Where did Muyoung go?”

Il-Woo and the steward looked for Muyoung, who had been out of sight for some time.

‘Now’s my chance.’

Yeon quickened his steps to escape the lingering gazes.

Bushin, where the Moyong Clan had established its base.
It was a region that had achieved considerable development thanks to the Moyong Clan’s prestige.
As such, groups and individuals with business in the Moyong Clan frequently visited, and cultural facilities where one could briefly stay and enjoy entertainment flourished.
And at the center of these cultural facilities was Tiger Moon Tower.

Tiger Moon Tower.
A grand cultural complex consisting of a three-story main building operating as a tavern and two detached buildings for guest lodging and entertainment.
With the fall of the Moyong Clan, it had lost its prestige, but in recent years, it had been absorbed by the Black Wolf Sect and was once again attracting many customers.

“Hey, innkeeper, one more bottle of Bamboo Leaf Green!”

“Just a moment~!”

“Are there any empty seats?”

“Over here!”

The boisterous interior of the Tiger Moon Tower.

“Excuse me, please move aside. I need to pass.”

“…”

However, Yeon, standing alone at the entrance without having met Pil-Gu, somehow felt like an unwelcome guest.
Some people noticed Yeon and began to whisper.
Perhaps no one here had directly encountered him before.
But the people of Bushin had all heard rumors about the pitiful and incompetent Moyong Clan Head.
And also rumors about the Moyong Clan Head’s beautiful appearance.
A sickly handsome boy exuding such a pathetic aura as the one standing there was a rare sight in Bushin.
The boy’s large, downcast eyes were moist as if he had just cried, and his pale complexion was so sickly that he looked like he could collapse at any moment.
His height was not tall for his age, but his good proportions made him not seem short.
Most decisively, the boy’s bright, light brown hair, which looked almost blond at a glance, was a characteristic of the Xianbei people that sometimes manifested in the Moyong family.

‘All of it matches the rumors about Moyong Yeon’s appearance.’

The suspicions of the people, who had been wondering, gradually solidified into certainty.

“…Why did he come here? Is it because of the Black Wolf Sect?”

“He’s been here waiting for the Tower Lord since an hour ago. Looks like he was stood up.”

People, worried about the young Clan Head, tried to check his complexion.
Oh?
They expected him to look distraught, but instead, the young Clan Head was looking somewhere with a somewhat twisted smile.
And where his gaze was directed was…

The Pleasure Hall of the Tiger Moon Tower.
That’s right, it meant the gambling den.

What was going on?
People looked at each other in bewilderment.

“Excuse me, is the Tower Lord far off?”

Regardless, Yeon called the innkeeper in a calm voice and asked.

“Yes, his prior engagement hasn’t finished yet, so you’ll have to wait a little longer.”

“A prior engagement…”

Yeon let his words trail off with a sigh, but inwardly, he was sneering.
It was a kind answer, repeated like a parrot, word for word, for an hour now.
Considering they had no intention of checking upstairs from the beginning, it seemed orders had been given even before he arrived.

– …I will prepare a grand welcome. Let’s go, boys!

A grand welcome, he said?
They had merely put on a show of grand words to mock them; they had no intention of meeting him from the start.
Well, it wasn’t unexpected, so he only chuckled.

“Just in case, if I go now, will the condition be void?”

“It seems so…”

The innkeeper trailed off regretfully, but Yeon was secretly pleased.

“Then please tell the Tower Lord this: Moyong Yeon will be waiting in the gambling den.”

After all, he hadn’t come just to obediently repay the debt in the first place.