Chapter 193
Chapter 193
Jeong Guyu asked Youngho, who was looking at him with a face as if he had just chewed on dung.
“Why on earth are you making that kind of face?”
“…There’s a reason.”
Youngho’s expression looked so haggard that it seemed as though all vitality had drained from him. In contrast, Yoon Seojeong smiled brightly and said,
“Master! We can really meet the Murim Alliance Leader, right?”
“If you keep your promise.”
At Youngho’s words, Yoon Seojeong quietly averted her gaze.
“…Of course I’ll keep it.”
On the way here, Youngho had suddenly decided he didn’t want to go to the Murim Alliance and had thrown a childish fit. It was behavior that was practically unreasonable, but what could anyone do? It was none other than Youngho’s whim.
Because of that, Yoon Seojeong had paid a heavy price to resolve the situation quickly.
—I'll give you three wish tickets!
—Then let us go.
The moment she mentioned the wish tickets, Youngho’s spirit revived instantly, looking completely different from before.
It was as if he had been aiming for the wish tickets from the very beginning.
‘No way… right?’
Even as she thought that, Yoon Seojeong instinctively trembled at the uneasy feeling rising in her heart.
Thanks to that, Youngho had smilingly given his permission, but offering three from the start still seemed like she had gone too far.
Look at that sly smile! That infuriating expression!
Yoon Seojeong stared at Youngho’s facial features for a moment before saying,
“…You’re handsome.”
There really wasn’t anything else she could say.
Ignoring Yoon Seojeong muttering beside him, Youngho spoke to Jeong Guyu.
“It won’t be an easy opponent. After all, it’s someone I chose myself.”
“I know that. Still, I’ll definitely win.”
“Do your best. And if you lose but want to come to the Unorthodox Alliance, tell me anytime.”
“Hmph! I’ll definitely win!”
Snorting as if the notion were ridiculous, Jeong Guyu then gave Yoon Seojeong some advice filled with the wisdom of adulthood.
“Seojeong, when you go to the Murim Alliance, there’ll be lots of people. Wear a veil or something. Strange fellows might follow you.”
“Pardon?”
“…You’ll probably make hundreds of men cry in the future. You’ll have to blame yourself for being so oblivious.”
Jeong Guyu clicked his tongue while looking at Yoon Seojeong tilting her head in confusion.
“Well then, see you later.”
After saying everything he wanted, Jeong Guyu left without even waiting for a farewell.
Since they were already used to such behavior, Youngho and Yoon Seojeong naturally turned toward Anhui and spoke.
“Then let us stroll leisurely.”
“Won’t we arrive too late if we do that?”
“On the contrary, if we use Lightness Skill, your clothes will be ruined.”
“Then we can just ride in a carriage, can’t we?”
“That lacks elegance.”
Yoon Seojeong pouted as she stared at Youngho’s shameless face.
“Even if you look at me like that, what cannot be done cannot be done.”
“Tch!”
Her secret weapon—her cute expression—had no effect, and Yoon Seojeong clicked her tongue softly.
Youngho laughed as if amused and slowly walked wherever his feet took him.
“Hmm….”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t think it’s something that the Murim Alliance Leader needs to worry about yet.”
“Lianhua, it’s just the two of us here right now.”
“Huh? You’re right?”
At Namgung Cheon’s words, Zhuge Lianhua looked around with wide eyes.
“When did everyone leave?”
“Half a Quarter-Hour ago. Haven’t you been overworking yourself lately?”
“Then how about you find me a General Overseer?”
At Zhuge Lianhua’s words, Namgung Cheon smiled.
…He really just smiled.
“…I’m seriously going to quit.”
“I did hear there’s a smart fellow in the Tang Clan….”
“If you appoint someone from the Tang Clan as the General Overseer, there’ll be controversy about favoritism. Your friend is the King of Hidden Weapons.”
“That’s true….”
“Anyway, I should go finish my work.”
“The meeting already ended. You still have work left?”
“No one is volunteering to take the position of General Overseer, so I’m filling the vacancy myself, Murim Alliance Leader.”
“…Strategist Zhuge, please work harder from now on.”
“Stop saying that and recruit a proper talent!”
As Zhuge Lianhua scolded him, Namgung Cheon quickly fled. Thinking about how Namgung Cheon had disappeared in an instant, Zhuge Lianhua gritted her teeth.
“Your martial realm is absurdly high…!”
Watching Zhuge Lianhua hanging from the ceiling while venting her frustration, Namgung Cheon thought,
‘Only the Overseers will end up dying.’
In that state, even he could not stop Zhuge Lianhua. If the Overseers did not leave work right now, they would not be able to return home today.
As the Murim Alliance Leader, he even wondered if he should warn them in advance.
‘I should take a walk.’
Naturally, he did not put that thought into action.
While slowly wandering through the garden, Namgung Cheon suddenly stopped in front of a plum blossom tree.
“…It’s rotting.”
A rotten stench that ordinary people would never notice was seeping out from the plum blossom tree.
It must have been rotting from the inside.
He could not understand it. Just how poorly had they managed things for a tree under the Murim Alliance’s care to be rotting?
Its outward appearance looked perfectly fine, but if someone walked nearby, the smell could not be missed.
Anyone with keen senses would have noticed that the plum blossom tree was emitting the stench of decay.
It was almost as if it had started rotting the moment he arrived here.
“Is heaven trying to help me?”
Namgung Cheon instinctively felt something from the plum blossom tree. Something that seemed to warn him about the future.
“Murim Alliance Leader.”
Namgung Cheon turned his body at the voice behind him while looking at the plum blossom tree.
“What is it, Monk Gwangdong?”
The monk wearing Shaolin’s distinctive yellow robes recited a Buddhist chant.
“Amitabha. I have just heard the news. The Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance is coming here.”
Shudder—!
Gwangdong instinctively tensed his entire body at the terrifying aura.
He had unconsciously activated a type of External Qi that hardened his entire body like iron.
He did not know why he had taken such an action.
The only thing Gwangdong knew was that he had felt a momentary threat to his life.
“Monk? Why have you stiffened up like that?”
Startled by Namgung Cheon’s question, Gwangdong could not hide his flustered expression.
“My, my apologies. My stomach suddenly felt unwell.”
“Your complexion looks quite bad. It would be best if you returned early today.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“So, when will the Alliance Lord arrive?”
“He will probably arrive tomorrow.”
“I see. You may go now.”
“Amitabha.”
Reciting the chant again, Gwangdong trembled from the chills that had been running through him and hurriedly left as if fleeing.
Namgung Cheon looked at the crescent moon that had risen and spoke.
“He’s coming.”
It was only a single sentence. Yet the sorrow and resentment contained within it were so deep that if Zhuge Lianhua had heard that voice, she would have shuddered and said it sounded like a ghost that had failed to attain enlightenment for a thousand years.
It was that chilling a voice.
Reflecting the coldly shining moon in his eyes, Namgung Cheon said,
“I should prepare to welcome my friend.”
Now all that remained was to wait. If he could wound that man, he would wait for a thousand years, or even ten thousand.
Yet one day passed, then three days, and when five days had gone by, Youngho still had not visited the Murim Alliance.
“The cook here is really skilled. Should I call it the scent of fire from the wok? How do they make such a flavor?”
Youngho smiled contentedly as he watched Yoon Seojeong enjoying the food.
“No one will take it from you, so eat slowly.”
“Master, you should try it too! It’s really delicious!”
“I already have.”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
Yoon Seojeong looked at the empty plates beside Youngho before turning her gaze back to the food.
“…I feel like it might get taken.”
For some reason, she suddenly felt a sense of urgency.
Watching Yoon Seojeong eat heartily, Youngho chuckled softly and beckoned an Inn Attendant. Seeing the signal, the attendant rushed over.
“Here’s the money. Bring five more servings of duck.”
The Inn Attendant received what Youngho handed him and could not hide his shock.
‘A silver ingot!’
A silver ingot was a currency worth fifty nyang of silver.
After staring blankly at the silver ingot in Youngho’s hand for a moment, the attendant hurriedly regained his senses.
“I-I will bring it immediately!”
The way he dashed toward the kitchen at lightning speed revealed his happiness.
“I came here on the recommendation of the locals, and it truly is delicious.”
“Exactly. But Master, traveling is nice, yet shouldn’t we head to the Murim Alliance soon?”
“Why? I heard Anhui has many things worth seeing.”
“It’s not that. It’s just that it’s been about a week since we sent word that we were coming to see the Murim Alliance Leader.”
“That’s fine. I can handle that. You should just focus on enjoying yourself. It’s been a while since I traveled through the Martial World with a disciple, so I feel quite happy.”
“Then I’ll enjoy it as much as possible!”
“Good.”
While Youngho and Yoon Seojeong chatted happily, whispering voices were heard nearby.
“This place is really good. I was skeptical at first since I only heard about it, but after trying it, it’s definitely different. The duck especially is remarkable.”
“If you’re praising duck like that, then it must be good… let’s go.”
“You’ll thank me later.”
“I’m the eldest brother, you brat.”
Watching Yoon Seojeong eat, Youngho smiled with interest at the presence he sensed behind him.
‘They’ve learned martial arts. They can handle Sword Qi fairly well. How old are they?’
Youngho glanced at the group sitting beside them.
‘They’ve only just passed the age of coming-of-age. Quite talented. But….’
Youngho withdrew his gaze and said,
“Why is the Namgung Clan here?”
At Youngho’s muttering, Yoon Seojeong jumped in surprise.
“The Namgung Clan?!”
“Hm?”
“What?”
When the young masters of the Namgung Clan looked toward Yoon Seojeong, Youngho laughed.
“Jeong, let’s go now.”
“Huh? But the duck hasn’t even come out yet.”
“I’ll buy it for you later.”
“Wouldn’t it be fine to just eat it here?”
Youngho sighed deeply in frustration.
“Fine, do as you wish….”
Youngho looked at the Namgung youths staring blankly at Yoon Seojeong.
Her cheeks, flushed red like a girl in love, gave her an adorable presence.
Youngho’s face twisted violently.
‘Those bastards…!!’
Seeing Youngho’s face turn vicious, Yoon Seojeong turned her gaze in the direction he was looking.
There were three sturdy young men wearing the martial robes of the Namgung Clan staring at her.
When their eyes met naturally, two of them immediately turned their heads away.
Only one continued to hold her gaze.
As if he did not want it to end with merely meeting eyes, the young man slowly rose from his seat.
Perhaps he had not noticed Youngho’s face twisted like a demon’s, because the young man walked toward Yoon Seojeong as if enchanted.
“Young Lady, you are truly beautiful.”
“Pardon?”
“I am Namgung Seojong of the Namgung Clan. May I ask for your name?”
“I-I’m Yoon Seojeong.”
“Seojeong… Yoon Seojeong….”
Namgung Seojong repeated her name several times, as if committing it to memory.
“It is a beautiful name, just like your beauty. If it would not be rude, may I join you at your table?”
“No.”
At that moment, Youngho spoke coldly.
“I am part of Seojeong’s group as well. Unfortunately, it would be better for you to wait for another opportunity.”
Namgung Seojong looked at the crookedly smiling Youngho and said in a voice full of amusement,
“Are you her lover?”
“What?”
“Or perhaps her fiancé?”
Youngho’s appearance looked like that of a young man who had just passed the age of coming-of-age.
Even so, he had never expected to be mistaken for such a relationship, and he burst out laughing without realizing it.
“Hahahaha!! I never imagined such a misunderstanding.”
Youngho kept laughing. He laughed so hard that his stomach began to hurt.
Youngho stood up and faced Namgung Seojong.
Namgung Seojong flinched slightly at Youngho’s unexpectedly tall height.
But perhaps conscious of Yoon Seojeong beside them, he straightened his body again and said,
“I wasn’t asking you. I was asking Young Lady Yoon.”
“I told you we are in the same group.”
“Then Young Lady Yoon can simply join our table.”
“You think I’ll allow that?”
“By what right are you talking about permission?”
This could no longer be dismissed as the prank of a brat.
“It would be better for you to leave while I’m still speaking kindly.”
“I’ve never seen anyone impressive who says things like that.”
“Oh?”
Youngho’s eyes curved like a crescent moon. Just as Yoon Seojeong, sensing something ominous, tried to mediate the situation—
“Brat, if you can block three of my moves, I’ll consider you as a candidate to become Seojeong’s son-in-law.”