Camellia Side Story 2

Though the two had been enjoying peaceful time together, their marital affection was cut short by Seolyeong’s insistence. He remembered Yeoso’s tired face when he asked him to convince Cheonsin, and besides, he wanted to carry out his duties as the Gyo-mo faithfully.

“Please listen to me, husband. If you keep following me around like this, what will you do if people start calling you a halfwit husband?”

“I’ll rip out the tongues of anyone who says that.”

“Absolutely not! I hate the idea of someone getting their tongue torn out, and I hate the idea of my dignified husband being seen as some fool just as much! So please get up and go see the elders. If you’re any later, Yeoso might get pushed around so much he’ll lose years off his life.”

“You’re really worrying about another man right in front of your husband?”

“Husband…”

Tang Yujae only moved toward Akbindang after his bride finally burst in frustration. In an instant, he walked through the sky and landed on the roof of Akbindang, he rolled his shoulders. At times like this, he wished he could burn down all eight pavilions and erase the elders entirely.

Someone sitting at the edge of the roof stood up quickly as they sensed the presence of the Supreme One. Even after the imugi’s ascension, the sect leader’s overwhelming presence was just as fearsome as ever.

The sky reacted to his power, flooding the heavens with brilliant moonlight.

“Ten thousand, Ten thousand, Ten thousand years! This lowly Sa Yeoho greets the divine sect leader who has ascended to supreme harmony!”

With a respectful fist-and-palm salute, Sa Yeoho wore a shameless grin across his face and shrugged.

“As the divine one commanded, I attempted to use reverse to fool the branch lords, but it seems my skill wasn’t up to the task.”

From the Jipilgak Lord to Okhaenggak Lord, every one of them had burst into shouts upon discovering Sa Yeoho disguised as Cheonsin in Akbindang. Since they had imbued their voices with inner power, blood now streamed from Yeoho’s ears. His cheeks were also full of bruises from being smacked with Okhaenggak Lord’s fan.

Tang Yujae didn’t even spare him a word of acknowledgement like “well done” as he walked up to him.

“Was the Murong clan’s heir’s wedding scheduled for the end of this month?”

Sa Yeoho nodded.

“As far as I know, yes.”

Despite criticism and scorn from the righteous sects, Murong Wi was proceeding with the wedding. And Tang Yujae could more or less guess why. Since his bride’s brother wore the official Gyo-mo crown in the Cheonma Divine Sect, Murong Wi had likely made this choice to protect her position. So that no one in the martial world could drag the siblings into scandal just because they’d chosen different paths.

Reading the mood, Sa Yeoho added cautiously,

“According to the report, he’s basically severed ties with his parents. Seems like only a few Murong members will even attend the ceremony. The little lord hasn’t even officially inherited the clan head position yet, and he’s already at odds with his parents. That clan’s known for its emphasis on filial piety, after all.”

“How dare they.”

“…Excuse me?”

At the three-word reply, Sa Yeoho blinked in confusion. Who was he addressing with “how dare they”? Murong Wi, for cutting ties with his parents? Or the Murong people, for not attending the wedding? It was probably the latter, but even that didn’t sound like something Cheonsin would typically say.

Without giving him an answer, Tang Yujae passed by Sa Yeoho and stepped into Akbindang. The only thing that brushed past Yeoho’s vision was the hem of a black long robe embroidered with silver yeouiju.

***

After enjoying breakfast in the rear garden with the maids, an unwelcome face visited Yeonhwa Hall. It was especially annoying since Seolyeong had just sat down to enjoy tea, but as a grown-up and now officially Gyo-mo, he put on a polite act to greet the guest. Now that he held the title, he figured he ought to say, “These people are my people too.”

No matter how rude or ill-mannered the person was, he would try to be generous and understanding.

“It’s been quite a while, Pungwoon-ah. In the time we haven’t seen each other… hm. That barely passable face of yours has become a complete mess. Have you been eating properly? You look pale, and it troubles this Gyo-mo’s heart. Tsk.”

But the visitor didn’t bother playing along with his forced cheer, instead clearly showing his displeasure.

“Such a warm greeting, Gyo-mo-nim. I’m deeply moved. Your insight is impressive. Ever since I heard about a certain little fox who wagged his tail at a man and turned his fate around, I’ve had no appetite.”

It was a typical flashy insult from Si Pungwoon. And of course, it was obvious that the “little fox” referred to Seolyeong himself. With a soft chuckle, Seolyeong straightened his already-perfect posture even further and replied,

“People say the little fox is stunningly beautiful, don’t they? So bewitching that anyone would fall completely for him…”

Before he could continue bragging endlessly, Pungwoon hurried to cut him off.

“The divine one has ordered me to escort gyomo-nim to prepare for your bridal journey.”

“…Bridal journey?”

Seolyeong raised his brows as if to say, what nonsense is this? Pungwoon twisted his otherwise neat features into a very unbecoming expression and continued,

“Next to the Okhaenggak Lord, I have the best eye for these things. I was ordered to make you new silk robes and shoes. You’re the Gyo-mo of the Cheonma Divine Sect now. You can’t be walking around looking dusty and unimpressive, can you?”

Seolyeong couldn’t hide his disbelief.

“Bridal journey? I’ve never heard a word about this.”

“Well, it was decided just today after a conclave that started last night and ended at noon. As soon as the conclusion was reached, the divine one sent me to inform you.”

Seolyeong glared at Pungwoon with a sour expression.

“…Just how busy is my husband that I have to prepare my bridal journey with the likes of you?”

“The likes of you,” he said. Pungwoon face crumpled with visible irritation.

“Who knows? Maybe it’s because someone like me is the most capable?”

“Oh really. So if I interpret that differently, you’re saying the Amje isn’t capable?”

No matter how clever Pungwoon was with words, his opponent was the mad bride, who was infamous for being insane at least ten times a day. And just like that, he had ended up sounding like he was challenging the sect leader’s authority. Pungun clenched his jaw tightly.

“…I misspoke. Please forgive me.”

“Hahaha!” Pretending to be laughed cheerfully, Seolyeong clapped him on the shoulder.

“It’s alright, it’s alright. This Gyo-mo has a heart as vast as the sea. No matter how much a young and crude brat runs his mouth, I can let it slide.”

“…”

“Hahahahahahaha.”

Unable to say a word in return, all Pungwoon could do was tremble with frustration. Seolyeong, thinking of teasing him further, waved a hand dismissively and shook his head. There was no joy in arguing with someone like Pungwoon.

Rolling up his sleeves, Seolyeong declared boldly,

“I don’t need silk robes or silk shoes.”

He grinned and leaned back. In the same moment, he launched his body like an arrow.

“I’m already beautiful. Not just outside, but inside too. That’s why I’m kind enough to entertain brats like you. You punk.”

Faced with such absurd words, even Pungwoon couldn’t help but burst out laughing. No matter how hard he pressed his lips together, it was no use. He smiled as he watched the bride’s radiant figure disappear under the noon sun. Though Seolyeong was already far away, his footprints remained faintly in the sky.

“…Yes, Gyo-mo-nim. I know. You’re beautiful.”

Only after Seolyeong was completely out of sight did Si Pungwoon mutter helplessly.

The mad bride, once treated coldly by the followers, had at some point come to be treated with the dignity of a true Gyo-mo. And at the front of that change, it wouldn’t be wrong to say, stood Si Pungwoon himself.

Though he always spoke with barbs, he was actually one of the few who believed the “mad” in mad bride wasn’t 狂 but 光.¹

Eventually, Pungun slowly looked around Yeonhwa Hall, now covered in camellias. The divine one, who once blanketed Yeonhu in snow, now covered it with dainty blossoms. The scent of fresh flowers at the tip of his nose was unexpectedly pleasant. He took a deep breath.

It seemed he had become the fox’s follower without even realizing it. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant feeling, but not an unpleasant one either, so he decided to stop thinking about it. If he dwelled on it any longer, he might truly start admiring that outrageous person, and his pride couldn’t allow that.

1. 狂 meaning mad, insane, wild 光 meaning light, radiance, brightness. They sound almost the same in korean ↩︎