Camellia 20

After the Sacheon Tang clan disappeared from the history of the martial world, the family that came to possess the land once occupied by their estate was none other than the Peng clan of Habuk, now one of the Five Noble Clans.

The Peng clan had long held numerous carriers of extreme yang constitutions, so they frequently formed marriage alliances with the Sacheon Tang clan, which often produced extreme yin-bodies. That gave them a plausible pretext to claim the land. The Peng clan asserted ownership of the territory by putting forward extreme yin-body members of Tang descent within their own ranks. After a lengthy deliberation, the Alliance officially acknowledged the claim.

In truth, before that, the Peng clan’s influence in the martial world had been meager. They hadn’t even come close to being one of the Five Noble Clans. But after receiving the properties, wealth, and commercial rights of the prestigious Tang family, whose influence had once been great enough to earn the title of ‘Tang Sect’, their power expanded rapidly.

As expected of a family of swordsmen, the Peng clan was broad-shouldered and openhearted. Unlike the Tang clan, known for its reclusive nature, they actively engaged with the local people of Sacheon and quickly earned their support.

The extermination of the Tang clan had been sudden and unexpected, but as the Peng clan established itself as a powerful force in Sacheon, the memory of the Tang family faded just as quickly. Even the old pavilions, once decorated with green and purple in honor of the Tang clan head, were now repainted sky-blue to match the Peng clan’s colors.

The refreshed atmosphere might have looked pleasant enough, but Seolyeong found the taste in his mouth bitter. He suspected that the sect leader of the demonic sect had ties to the Tang clan. If his own family had been wiped out without a trace, and everyone was busy celebrating rather than mourning, even someone without any desire for revenge might be tempted to harbor it.

“A late-autumn boat ride, personally hosted by Yukrim! Don’t miss this rare chance, young masters!”

As Seolyeong strolled through the city with the boy, a piercing voice caught his attention. He let out a low whistle.

“I’ve heard the lakes of Sacheon are said to be particularly clear and pure. Will this little rascal be allowed to come aboard as well?”

The one-eyed man who had been busy drawing in customers turned sharply at the question. A flicker of surprise crossed his face when he saw Seolyeong.

The gentleman with hair tied up and a long ornamental pin was clearly a beauty, rare even in the red-light districts. He was clearly a man, judging from his build, but still, how could he be so graceful? And yet, below the waist, they were equipped the same.

Since Seolyeong had changed his eye color with reverse use of energy, there was no way to tell he was a blood fiend.

The one-eyed man, who hadn’t even spared a glance for the boy at his side, now replied with exaggerated courtesy.

“Oh dear, young master. The boats operated by our Yukrim are filled with the finest beauties in the city. Not exactly the right place for such an innocent little gentleman. Perhaps you could leave your younger companion at the inn and enjoy a bit of… playtime on your own? Ah, pardon me! I meant boating, not that kind of play. Ha ha ha!”

After intentionally saying such a thing, the man had the audacity to smack his own lips with his palm, pretending to scold himself.

Seolyeong asked blandly,

“You said the most beautiful women in the capital are aboard?”

As expected, a man with something between his legs couldn’t help but drool at the mention of beauties. The one-eyed huckster lit up and rubbed his palms together like a fly.

“Yes, yes. That’s right, young master. Surely you’ve heard of Yukrim in Sacheon?”

“I’m not up to date on rumors. I don’t care if it’s Yukrim or Okrim or Chilrim.”

“What? You mean you’ve never heard of Yukrim, where Hwang Choseon herself resides? There’s no inn or teahouse in Sacheon that compares to…”

“Are you questioning Bonjwa’s words? I said I’m not interested.”

Whether it was a tavern or a brothel, they were all the same to Seolyeong. A petty battle of brands for pride. He had no interest at all.

The one-eyed man flinched at the word “bonjwa,” a term used only by arrogant martial artists. What the hell was with this guy? Sure, there were delusional idiots in the streets who called themselves “bonjwa,” but… the man was just starting to compare Seolyeong to one of those clowns.

“Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I saw Choseon. Strange how familiar names always stick in the mind.”

Seolyeong muttered and tossed over a plump coin pouch.

“Bring me Sacheon’s First Flower, Hwang Choseon. Tell her that her Brother Baekseol is asking for her. She’ll come running.”

He wanted them to summon Hwang Choseon, who even refused invitations from Peng clan’s heir unless she was in the mood?

Caught off guard, the one-eyed man stared at the coin pouch in a daze. Seolyeong had spoken with such dignity that he started wondering if Choseon really had an older brother. They didn’t resemble each other at all, but both were so unnaturally beautiful that it seemed plausible.

*

“Lord Baekseol, Choseon has arrived! Oh no, why didn’t you come to Yukrim? You made this poor girl feel so abandoned!”

Seolyeong choked on his tea at the flirtatious voice that called out to him.

Cough, cough. He hadn’t expected Choseon’s coquettish tone to have grown this exaggerated. Sitting on the second floor, he looked down disapprovingly as she fluttered her eyes at every man in the inn.

Then, at last, she looked up toward him and blew him a kiss. Seolyeong remained indifferent, but the men around him were already swooning and drooling.

He glanced sideways toward his disciple. The boy, seated still and stiff as a corpse, hadn’t touched a single bite of the fragrant stir-fried meat on the table. Seolyeong hoped he wouldn’t get the wrong idea about him and Choseon. After all, beneath that tightly corseted waist and curvy hips, Hwang Choseon was a man.

Seolyeong spoke to the boy.

“Come eat. At your age, you need to gorge on meat like a pig to grow up strong.”

“……”

“I brought you to Sacheon to feed you, but if you’re going to go on a hunger strike, your poor master will be heartbroken.”

Seolyeong was starting to feel a bit slighted.

Since they had arrived in Sacheon, the boy hadn’t spoken a word. Even the overt hostility from Yeonhu Mountain was gone, replaced by thorough and complete disregard. At this point, Seolyeong was beginning to miss when the boy had openly glared at him.

Picking up a heap of meat with his chopsticks, Seolyeong held the savory dish up to the boy’s lips.

“You probably didn’t get to eat meat often back at the main sect. As your master, it’s my duty to fatten you up so by this time next year you’ll be a healthy child again.”

“……”

“Are you really going to keep this up?”

He was about to deliver a final warning, that if the boy kept refusing, he’d just have to feed him mouth to mouth, when it happened.

“My, my. Since when did Brother become a father?”

Choseon had snatched three bottles of Geomnamchun wine from the customers downstairs and climbed to the second floor. Sitting casually on Seolyeong’s thigh, and whispered in his ear.

“The child looks at least ten years old… did you meet a woman and father a child as soon as you came of age?”

“No.”

“Then how old was the woman who bore your child… mmph!”

Seolyeong sealed her mouth with internal energy. Pressed under the force, Choseon began to sweat and tapped his shoulder, signaling that she’d stop and to please release her.

Choseon had only ever learned minor martial techniques from a fake manual that was floating around the streets. The qi Seolyeong wielded was utterly overwhelming to her.

“Whew…”

When she could breathe again, Choseon sighed and asked,

“So who is this tiny young master?”

Her curious gaze turned to Yujae.

She had come running the moment she heard someone named Baekseol was looking for her, but she hadn’t expected him to be accompanied by such a small child.

Who was this little boy who had somehow claimed the seat beside the self-obsessed blood fiend noble?

“He is my new disciple.”

At that blunt reply, Choseon asked in her normal deep, husky voice,

“What? This kid’s from the Murong clan? Doesn’t look like it.”

The server, who had been bringing over a plate of spicy kung pao chicken ordered by a guest downstairs, froze mid-step. Choseon, realizing her slip, quickly shifted back into her high-pitched, girlish tone.

“Oh my, kung pao chicken! My absolute favorite! What gallant hero sent this, I wonder?”

Seolyeong watched Choseon with a look that said “nice try” and turned his head, sensing something off. Sure enough, the boy was scanning the room again, likely looking for an escape route. His sharp gaze resembled a wild animal’s.

Seolyeong tapped the table. You’re not getting away.

“Hey, boy.”

His goal was to feed meat to this dried-up little thing. That’s why he had come down the mountain, and he wasn’t about to give up.

“This master wants to feed you until you’re a fat little piglet.”

Not wanting to be left out, Choseon joined in dramatically.

“Oh my, how fun! I’ll help too! I want to feed little prince here until he’s a pudgy baby pig!”

She wasn’t trying to be mean. It was just that the way the boy’s face twisted every time Seolyeong picked up his chopsticks was too amusing. Giggling, Choseon grabbed a big helping of meat and offered it too.