Camellia 48

The Sect Leader is nearby.

There was no doubt about it, and yet Inyeong still couldn’t find him. The streets were packed with people. Her sharp eyes glinted like a wildcat’s. Her glossy irises bore resemblance to her sister Mae Somyeong’s.

A low voice echoed in her mind.

–Too far. Stay calm.

A flush spread across Mae Inyeong’s cheeks.

–Sect Leader, what brings you here without a word? If I’d known, I would have taken more time preparing myself.

She was a fanatic among fanatics.

Believing Cheonsin to be the reincarnation of the Cheonma, she had inherited her blind devotion from a long line of zealots, her grandparents, her parents, all worshippers of the Cheonma. She’d followed their beliefs without question.

At first, she had merely stepped outside Baekdan Pavilion for a moment, curious about the gossip that some foolish young man was wandering the market ruining the mood. But when she realized that the youth was a blood fiend, her heart began to pound.

There was only one male blood fiend in the entire martial world, and that man was currently the bride of Cheonsin.

Mae Inyeong swallowed a mouthful of saliva and thought, If I drag this fearless concubine into my bed, it’ll bring me even closer to the Sect Leader.

Through the bride, she wanted to unite with the Sect Leader in a deeper, spiritual way.

When the Sect Leader’s voice no longer responded, she leaned in and whispered to Seolyeong.

“Come now, big brother. Let’s go to Baekdan Pavilion together. The chefs there are said to be the best in history.”

“I have something to take care of.”

“Looking for that missing disciple? You’ve been so desperate that everyone in Shingang knows about it by now. But, young master, there are five trafficking rings operating across Jungwon. Only two of them are active here in Shingang. Even if the child really was taken, unless you plan to flip all five rings upside down, you might as well give up….”

Another message came. Mae Inyeong perked her ears.

–Take him to Yeongryeongdan.

Yeongryeongdan, wasn’t that the merchant organization that partnered with the Nokrim Lord to run escort agencies, brothels, inns, opium houses, and assassin guilds?

Since they trained their assassins from kidnapped or abandoned children with good physique, they could indeed be one of the trafficking rings Seolyeong was after.

Yeongryeongdan was strong enough to work with great families. Its leader was a devoted follower of the Cheonma Divine Sect, paying enormous tributes to prove his loyalty. Inyeong had a close relationship with the Yeongryeongdan Lord.

She wanted to ask why she needed to guide the bride there, but no one questioned divine command. So she only replied in rapture:

–For the Secr Leader who walks upon the heavens. I serve. I love you.

*

It turned out an eight-story hall could actually be built.

The Yeongryeongdan estate rivaled that of prestigious clans. Artificial streams flowed clearly in all directions, making the place resemble a utopian paradise from an immortal painting.

Seolyeong murmured in disgust.

“They live in luxury off money earned by kidnapping helpless children. Bastards.”

Mae Inyeong snorted.

“They don’t just do trafficking. They run all kinds of businesses. Human trafficking doesn’t even make that much money. Even if you snatch a kid, if they turn out useless, you can’t just put them back, it’s a headache.”

Mae Inyeong, a typical demonic sect worshipper, clearly didn’t see eye to eye with Seolyeong.

“Then maybe don’t kidnap them in the first place.”

“Sometimes, kids with extraordinary martial potential get caught in the net. Isn’t that worth turning it into a side business? One gifted kid in the assassin corps can bring in a fortune.”

“That’s a pitiful excuse.”

“Why?”

“Saying you kidnapped children and tore them from their families just to raise assassins? It’s laughable.”

But there was no hint of a smile on Seolyeong’s face. His expression remained cold and unchanging, so devoid of life that Inyeong felt compelled to retort.

“Then what about kids who never had families? Is it okay to take those? Oh, come to think of it, didn’t the late Lord of the Murong Clan kidnap a pair of newborn siblings? I mean, even prestigious clans take children as long as they don’t have families. Why would greedy merchants be any different?”

She whispered:

“It’s all the same, young master. If you condemn us for taking children with families, then I can’t agree.”

With a sweet smile like honey and a sway of her body that could melt a man’s heart, she touched Seolyeong’s most sensitive nerve.

To call the actions of the late Murong Lord, his adoptive father, kidnapping… how would the blood fiend who had lived as his son respond?

Seolyeong admitted plainly:

“…You’re right. It was a foolish decision.”

That single choice had left the Great Murong with a lasting reputation as a traitor. The righteous sects mocked him as weak and cowardly, accused him of hypocrisy.

And now, even Murong Wi, who called Seolyeong his sworn brother, was being dragged to the same judgment.

Seolyeong couldn’t pretend he didn’t know how much of a burden his existence had become.

Of course, he understood. The hatred aimed at him was inevitable.

If it were him, and the child of a murderous secr was living under the righteous sect’s protection, he would feel the same outrage.

Mae Inyeong, stared at his side profile, and suddenly yanked him forward.

“…This way.”

So this was the Mad Bride? She was quickly losing interest.

The man was far too normal compared to his reputation. Where was the brash, arrogant Mad Bride she’d heard of?

Maybe that fiery temper had died when his danjeon was destroyed.

She’d heard rumors that the Sect Leader had wrecked the righteous bride’s lower abdomen.

Looking at him now, he just seemed like another detestable do-gooder from the orthodox sects.

In her view, righteous sect members always needed to be beaten senseless before they’d start thinking clearly.

They talked about honoring strength, but only when it suited their pride.

Every time she saw one babble about morality, she felt a murderous urge rise.

That wasn’t true strength. True strength, in her eyes, was becoming the source of fear itself. To be the one who ruled with fear.

That was power.

So while she didn’t entirely approve of Cheonsin being soft toward women, at least he wasn’t a fool who treated women like fragile dolls.

That made him acceptable.

Mae Inyeong recalled how Cheonsin had subdued her sister in two moves.

With the first, he swung his sword at a diagonal in midair.

Thirty-Six Iron Arrow Sword Techniques.

A hundred blades of sword Qi, trailing lightning, tore Mae Somyeong apart.

With the second, yellow sword Qi descended faster than a lightning bolt, leaving her half-dead.

It hadn’t even been a fight.

Once the proud Lord of one of the Five Noble Families of the old sect, Mae Somyeong had become Sahyeol Amje’s servant.

And Inyeong, watching in awe, had believed without doubt that the late Cheonma had returned.

She stopped in front of a smaller five-story hall compared to the eight-story one from earlier.

“This is Seongseodang, where the Fepiry Lord stays. Since I brought you here without a security check, thanks to my connection to Yeongryeongdan, you should offer a fitting reward.”

“Very well. Once I’m finished here, I’ll find you again and repay you handsomely.”

“You should reward me now.”

“I’d like to, but… I have no money on me.”

He had left in a hurry, bringing neither coin pouch nor the valuables Murong Wi had shoved into his pack.

“Still, I never go back on my word, my lady. Trust me and wait.”

Inyeong tilted her head.

“Did I ask for money?”

Seolyeong thought for a moment. He couldn’t remember her saying that. Inyeong murmured softly:

“Give me a kiss, young master.”

“…A kiss? Did you just say kiss?”

“Yes, a kiss.”

The request stunned Seolyeong. He reflexively stepped back, and Mae Inyeong followed eagerly, desperate to press her lips where the Sect Leader’s had touched.

“Go on. Please?”

“My lady…?”

“Just once. That’s all I ask.”

“I can’t. I won’t.”

“Why not?”

“It’s just…”

As Seolyeong kept dodging, Inyeong grew annoyed and finally snapped.

“Why not!”

If he gave some pompous scholar’s excuse, she was ready to force the kiss herself. But the answer that came deflated her completely.

“My… my first should be with someone I love…”

“……”

“With someone I truly care for. Please understand. I can’t give my first to a stranger…”