SYM 105
by Emerlyn“Wh-What is this! What are you doing!”
“Hey! What crime are you accusing us of to do this!”
Not only Namgung Juwon and Head Jeong-hyeon, but also Namgung Eun-gwang and Jeong-hyeon’s two disciples protested fiercely.
They had expected to be somewhat restrained upon entering Beijing, but they never imagined they would be arrested like this. The principle of non-interference between the government and the Martial World was based on mutual respect to some extent.
“Eun-hyeon, are you alright?”
Namgung Juwon checked on Eun-hyeon first.
The soldiers tied the group up with ropes.
For everyone except Eun-hyeon, ropes were nothing they couldn’t break at any time, but Eun-hyeon was different. His skin was chafed by the rope and turned red, and it looked like he would probably get bruises.
Seeing Eun-hyeon’s wrist, Eung-wang shouted.
“My brother hasn’t learned any Martial Arts and is in poor health. Don’t treat him roughly!”
“I’m okay, Eung-wang.”
Eun-hyeon kept saying he was okay, watching the stern-faced soldiers. But despite that, Namgung Juwon and Eung-wang’s eyes were full of worry.
In terms of force, it wouldn’t be difficult to get rid of the soldiers gathered here, but they couldn’t do that. If they did something wrong, they could be charged with treason, so confronting the government troops was a last resort.
“Just a moment. Officer. I don’t know why you’re doing this, but if you have business with us, can’t you leave Eun-hyeon alone? He doesn’t know Martial Arts anyway! I’ll make sure you’re well compensated.”
Namgung Juwon shouted urgently before being dragged away, but the officer who ordered the arrest pretended not to hear.
“Alright! We’ll go on our own feet, so tell us the charges! What are we being charged with to treat us like this?”
The Namgung Clan had not entered government service, but that didn’t mean they didn’t know the ways of the government.
From the government’s point of view, arresting the head of the Namgung Clan and the Head of Kunlun would be a burden, so why were they doing this?
“The reasons are something the criminals who committed the crimes know better. If you don’t know your crimes, you can think about it slowly in prison.”
The officer indifferently looked at Namgung Juwon and the group with a cold tone that didn’t allow for any leeway.
Seeing that, Namgung Juwon realized that he couldn’t move the officer with bribes or threats.
It was humiliating for those who were always treated with respect to be tied up and dragged away.
Eun-hyeon was also dumbfounded.
In Hapcheon, the Namgung Clan’s power was stronger than the lord of the castle, but as soon as he came to Beijing, he was in this situation. Seeing Namgung Juwon, Eung-wang, and Jeong-hyeon’s appearance, he was beyond absurd.
Eun-hyeon scanned the surroundings busily as he was dragged away.
Cheong-un said he would send Demonic Sect members around Number One Building Under Heaven to protect him, so he must be watching this nearby.
Eun-hyeon looked around, wondering if he could recognize them, but he didn’t see anyone suspicious.
Wherever he was watching, he prayed in his heart that Cheong-un would be informed of this.
* * *
“Even if commoners commit crimes, they are punished through trials, so what is this? Aren’t these people the head of a family and the leader of the Nine Sects? How can you treat us like this?”
Eung-wang burst out in anger.
But there was no one who could answer Eung-wang’s words satisfactorily. Everyone felt the same way, unable to understand this situation.
No matter how much they asked the guards, they received no answer.
At first, Namgung Juwon, thinking that they wouldn’t be treated carelessly since there was the Head of a Sect and the head of a family, suggested watching the situation, but now it was difficult to remain calm.
“Head Jeong-hyeon. What do you think of this situation? Should we just stay still like this? What will the Martial Arts Alliance do?”
Namgung Juwon looked at the shabby prison and was dumbfounded.
He never imagined that he would be treated like this as soon as he came to Beijing, without proper investigation or reporting.
In particular, if the weak Eun-hyeon spent the night in a place like this, he would definitely catch a cold.
The soldiers locked the group in individual prison cells, making it impossible to share Inner energy or warmth. All they could do was hold onto the bars and talk.
“The current situation is bewildering, but I don’t think we should act rashly. Since the Beggar Clan is here, the story will soon be conveyed to the Martial Arts Alliance. Then the leader will move.”
“…”
Namgung Juwon sighed at Jeong-hyeon’s calm words.
Even if the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance moved, it was difficult to be optimistic as long as the government was involved.
Namgung Juwon glanced at the prison cell where Eun-hyeon was locked up.
Eun-hyeon, who had said he was okay at first, was now lying in the corner, not moving. He said he was tired and would lie down, so he must have fallen asleep, but he couldn’t help but worry.
“…Perhaps, does the Head have any idea about the reason for this?”
Namgung Juwon asked Jeong-hyeon, who was always calm unlike himself.
“Well, even if it’s said that the government doesn’t interfere with the Martial World, they are not blind to the affairs of the Martial World. There must be a reason why they are openly provoking the Martial Arts Alliance like this.”
“Does that mean this happened because they are hostile to the Martial Arts Alliance, not to individuals? If so, is there a reason for that?”
“No, why are they doing this to us if they are dissatisfied with the Martial Arts Alliance? Isn’t this underestimating our Namgung Clan too much!”
Namgung Eun-gwang, who was listening to the conversation from the side, couldn’t contain his anger and interrupted.
“Eldest Young Master, you must not get excited unconditionally. It is dangerous to act recklessly without knowing who ordered this. If you do something wrong, you may even be accused of treason. Those who have a lot to protect like us cannot move carelessly.”
Namgung Eun-gwang, who had been full of spirit, hesitated at the word treason.
No matter how much the Namgung Clan boasted more power than the lord of Hapcheon, they couldn’t help but fear the crime of treason.
If you were involved in treason, even your relatives would be ruined. If you were alone, it would be different, but those who had a lot to protect had no choice but to be cautious.
“Head, does that mean we should just stay here and do nothing? We don’t even know when we’ll be released? If the Hongbaek Sect moves in the meantime…”
“They won’t be able to hold us for long without evidence. Would the soldiers move on their own accord? Someone behind them must have moved.”
Namgung Juwon and Eung-wang were lost in thought at the words someone behind them. They knew to some extent about the affairs of the government, but they didn’t know the detailed political situation moving in Beijing.
All the Namgung Clan knew was that two imperial concubines and eight princes were fighting for the position of crown prince.
As they were lost in their thoughts, the inside of the prison became quiet, and then they heard the sound of a door clanging open.
A soldier approached as the door opened.
“Are you Jeong-hyeon, the Head of Kunlun?”
“…That’s right.”
The soldier scanned Jeong-hyeon up and down with a strangely overbearing tone.
Namgung Juwon and Eung-wang were quite surprised by the sight. Even though they were prisoners in jail, they never thought that the Head of a Sect would receive such treatment from a mere soldier.
“I have something to ask you, so come out.”
At the soldier’s words, Jeong-hyeon readily stood up.
Jeong-hyeon looked around at those remaining in the prison cell and bowed slightly.
“…I’ll be back.”
“Come back safely!”
Namgung Juwon saw Jeong-hyeon off with a worried face.
But Namgung Juwon could not see Jeong-hyeon again. Before Jeong-hyeon returned, another soldier came and called Namgung Juwon.
Namgung Juwon glanced at Eung-wang with a bloodless face.
If he had known this would happen, he would have left Eung-wang at the Namgung Clan. Late regrets flooded in, but there was nothing he could do now.
One by one, everyone was called out somewhere, leaving only Eun-hyeon in the prison cell. Eun-hyeon also sat up, watching the situation around him.
The soldiers stood in front of Eun-hyeon’s prison cell. They opened the prison door and suddenly came in, forcing him to kneel.
Eun-hyeon began to be afraid of the completely different attitude from when they took Namgung Juwon and the others.
“Namgung Eun-hyeon.”
Eun-hyeon looked at the one who called him. A bizarre voice that was neither male nor female sent chills down his spine.
“Eat this.”
A small pill was held out in front of Eun-hyeon’s eyes.