The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 96

“Y-Yeah! You!”

The boy stepped out hesitantly from behind the haystack. For someone who had just been shouting so boldly, he looked awfully shy now.

“Uh... hi there?”

True to form, ever the friendly one, Yugang smiled as he waved Hwarin’s hand at the boy in greeting.

Startled, the boy took a step back—then raised his voice again.

“Where’d you come from? I’ve never seen you before!”

Yugang lifted Hwarin’s hand and pointed across the river.

Hwarin giggled, finding the motion amusing.

“We’re from waaay over there. What about you? Do you live here?”

“Y-Yeah! This is my home!”

So he’s one of the bandits’ families...

“If you’re from far away, you’re going back soon, right?”

“I guess so?”

Yugang’s answer came without hesitation, and the boy’s face fell.

“You... you want a friend, don’t you?”

Now that she thought about it, Seolhwa hadn’t seen many children in the stronghold.

There were some infants being carried on backs, and a few toddlers, but none that seemed around this boy’s age.

“I don’t need friends!”

“Oh?”

“I’m looking for a brother!”

This time, his eyes lit up as he spoke. He meant it.

“A... brother?”

“Yeah! So, uh... want to be my brother?”

Yugang’s eyebrows arched. The statement was clearly self-contradictory.

Sensing that Yugang might be about to reject him, the boy hurried to sweeten the deal.

“If you become my brother, I’ll show you my treasures! Just for you!”

“What kind of treasures?”

“You only get to see them if you become my brother!”

“Hmmm...”

Yugang scratched his chin, pretending to think. Then his eyes lit up, as though struck by a brilliant idea. He grinned and lifted Hwarin’s hand again.

“Alright!”

“Really?!”

“But on one condition—you give me a tour around here. I just got to this place, so I don’t know my way around yet. If you show me around, I’ll consider being your brother.”

Hmh.

So that’s his excuse to scout the layout of the stronghold.

If they were going to escape, they’d need a solid grasp of the terrain. Yugang was using the boy as a guide to piece together the full structure of the stronghold.

When Yugang turned around with a smug expression, Seolhwa nodded approvingly.

“Okay!”

The boy didn’t seem to mind.

In fact...

He was about to assign us chores, but then he saw the boy and walked away.

The woman whom the bandit had spoken to earlier had returned with a bucket in her hands, then turned around again without saying anything.

Which meant—whatever this boy wanted took precedence over her orders.

In other words, his status within the stronghold was high.

Now that I think of it... Meng Deungho did have a child, didn’t he?

****

The boy chattered away as he led them through the stronghold, pointing things out with enthusiasm.

It seemed he hadn’t been lying when he said this was his home—he knew the layout of the stronghold inside and out.

Yugang walked in front, carrying Hwarin in one arm and holding the boy’s hand with the other. Seolhwa followed a few steps behind, silent and watchful.

The Black Ghost—Meng Deungho.

He had been the Sixth Blood Lord’s right hand.

Meng Deungho was known for his ruthless temperament and merciless fighting style. It was how he earned the nickname Black Ghost.

But alongside that title was a rumor—one that said the name came from the bloodbath he caused in defense of his own child.

Seolhwa approached the boy.

Startled, he took a step back.

She crouched down to his eye level and gave him a soft, inviting smile.

“So, what’s your name?”

“Why do you wanna know?”

“You said you wanted a brother, didn’t you? If we’re going to be siblings, we need to share the same family name. Don’t you think I should at least know what surname I’ll be taking on?”

His brows twitched. He was clearly torn between keeping it secret and the desire to share.

“If I like the name, maybe I’ll say yes.”

“Jin Soyak!”

“...What?”

“My name! It’s Jin Soyak!”

Seolhwa’s brow creased faintly.

Jin Soyak?

Not Meng?

So he’s not Meng Deungho’s son?

Even so, there was no doubt the boy held a high position here.

He greeted the bandits like he knew them personally, and none of them objected to him playing around with the three newcomers.

Maybe the son of a deputy stronghold lord...?

Seolhwa’s eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Jin Soyak.

There was a sense that something important was just out of reach—something she hadn’t quite put together yet.

****

Jin Soyak led them around the stronghold until the sun began to set.

At first, he was content to simply explain the layout and introduce different areas—but the more excited he became, the more he began pulling out toys and suggesting games he’d always wanted to play.

In short, they spent the entire day playing.

Of course, Seolhwa and Yugang used that time wisely. Every chance they got, they discreetly memorized the guard rotations and patrol routes, studying the structure of the stronghold.

“That was so fun!”

Soyak stretched his arms wide, beaming.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had this much fun—certainly not in a place like this, where there were no other children his age.

Suddenly realizing how enthusiastic he’d been, Soyak quickly lowered his arms.

Then, looking slightly embarrassed, he turned to face them again.

“J-just a little fun. Thanks to you guys.”

Still holding Hwarin’s hand, Yugang narrowed his eyes at him.

“Just a little? You looked like you were having the time of your life.”

“N-no! I swear it was just a little fun!”

“Really? ‘Cause I had a lot of fun playing with you, Soyak.”

Soyak jumped and spun around. His cheeks flushed bright red.

He turned away quickly, hiding his face.

“Come on! There’s one last thing I want to show you.”

Jin Soyak led them behind the stronghold lord’s command tent.

Circling around the rear, he pressed a finger to his lips. freewebnσvel.cøm

“From here on, you really have to be quiet! No one else knows about this place. If someone finds out, we’re in big trouble!”

Yugang and Seolhwa instinctively exchanged glances. The two of them nodded in unison and followed quietly after him.

The command tent stood with its back to the towering log palisade. As they looked up at the high wall, Soyak whispered low.

“This way!”

He crouched down in front of a small hole—barely wide enough for a child to pass through.

The base of the logs had rotted slightly, creating a hidden tunnel to the outside.

Jin Soyak slipped through first. Then Yugang passed Hwarin through and crawled out after her.

Seolhwa, having just finished using her qi to sense for anyone inside the tent, was the last to go through.

Rustle.

Beyond the hole lay dense underbrush. A hand reached out from the foliage.

“This way.”

It was Yugang.

She took his hand and pushed through the brush to find a small clearing—just big enough for half a dozen children to sit together.

Across from them stood a thick, towering tree. Beneath its shade, Soyak had crouched down and begun to dig at the earth.

“Looks like he buried something,” Yugang murmured.

Thud. Thud.

In the stillness of night, the sound of small hands digging was the only thing to be heard.

Soyak, who had no concept of internal energy, didn’t seem to care that his fingertips were being soiled and scratched.

Eventually, he pulled out a small bundle wrapped in cloth.

Dusting it off carefully, he loosened the knots with gentle fingers.

The three of them naturally gathered around as he opened the cloth and revealed what was inside.

A small kongjuk (bamboo top), a worn book, a red tassel, a jade token, a few marbles. None of them particularly rare or valuable.

“These are my treasures,” ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) Soyak said.

He looked down at the humble collection with reverent affection, as though they were the most precious things in the world.

“My dad gave me one every year for my birthday.”

Seolhwa instinctively turned to glance at Hwarin.

Birthday...

Hwarin was watching with wide, sparkling eyes, captivated by the little treasures.

“You know, my dad’s really great. He’s super busy every single day—but he never forgets my birthday. He always makes time to play with me!”

Hwarin’s glittering gaze turned to Soyak, entranced.

Seizing the moment, Soyak spoke faster, his voice full of urgency.

“He’s really strong, too! He’s got tons and tons of people working under him! He’s really tall! And—he’s so cool!”

It was all praise. Unabashed admiration for his father.

“Wow...”

Hwarin gasped, eyes shining.

“And when I wake up in the morning, he always asks me if I slept well! Before bed, he pats me to sleep too—like this!”

He took Hwarin’s hand and gently pressed it to his own head, mimicking the motion.

“Waaah...”

Hwarin’s mouth opened in a soft circle.

“See? Isn’t my dad amazing?”

“Yeah.”

“Then... Hwarin, do you wanna be my sister...?”

Hwarin blinked.

Soyak hurriedly pushed the bundle of treasures toward her.

“I’ll give all of this to you.”

“Question!” Yugang raised his hand suddenly, cutting in with a playful tone. “Why are you looking for a sibling? Don’t you just need a friend?”

That’s a good point.

Seolhwa’s gaze sharpened as she studied Soyak.

From the beginning, he had said he wanted a sibling.

And yet, he had clearly enjoyed their company—running around, laughing, playing like any other lonely child might.

If he was simply lonely, wouldn’t asking for a friend have made more sense?

Why insist on a sibling?

“F-Friends...”

Soyak hesitated, fidgeting with his fingers the same way he had when they first met—nervous and unsure.

“I can’t have friends...”

The words came out slowly. Heavier than his small frame should’ve been able to carry.

“Friends... can’t become someone’s child. But my dad... he needs a child...”

“Your dad needs a child?”

His voice trembled as he lifted his head. The tip of his nose was red.

Then, as if steeling himself, Soyak’s face took on a look of quiet resolve.

“...I’m going to die soon.”

“!”

“The doctor said so. My body... it’s not normal. I wasn’t born right. He said I don’t have much time left...”