Vol 1 Chapter 3 – Peony Blossom Part 3

By the time he made his way toward Ilwondang, Kang Oh was still chewing over the emotions he had felt during the afternoon walk with Woo. His mood had grown more unsettled. He was someone who rarely showed emotion, but the slight furrow in his brow was enough for those around him to assume that something unpleasant must have happened.

Ilun, leader of the Honamdan, didn’t bother to hide his guess and cautiously asked,

“Shall we return instead?”

“What for?”

Still unable to shake thoughts of Woo, Kang Oh looked puzzled at the unexpected question.

“It’s just… I thought perhaps today’s gathering might be uncomfortable for you.”

It wasn’t an unreasonable assumption. Lately, the fact that Kang Oh had stayed in Heukcheon this long was already unusual.

Normally, he would train daily with the Honamdan in their sparring hall, but recently he had appeared to be lost in thought more often than not. Ilun had quietly watched, wondering if Kang Oh might be on the verge of breaking into a new level of cultivation. After all, unless he needed advice from Yae Jinrang, there was rarely any reason for Kang Oh to remain in Heukcheon for long. It had already been ten days since his arrival, and he had yet to take a single step toward the Lord of Heukcheon.

Ilun had been closely observing Kang Oh’s condition, especially since snacks sent by Jinrang to the training hall had continued arriving without interruption. That alone was proof that the Lord of Heukcheon still held Kang Oh in favor. Yet something felt off, as if something had changed.

At last, a flower-viewing had been arranged, providing an excuse for the Lord of Heukcheon and his disciples to gather together. Seeing Kang Oh wear such a visibly uncomfortable expression made Ilun tense. The more he thought about it, the more he realized Kang Oh usually avoided his senior brother, Mo Yong Yuun.

“I can’t avoid it just because I want to, so forget it. It’s about time I greeted Master and the others anyway.”

Kang Oh replied with indifference. He was already used to Mo Yong Yuun making subtle jabs about the heir to Heukcheon’s seat. It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle it. It was just bothersome.

If he had truly wanted the position, he would have challenged him openly with everything he had. But the real issue was that none of it suited him. He didn’t want the seat. The idea of fighting Mo Yong Yuun for power only to end up saddled with responsibility, whether he won or lost, was something Kang Oh had no interest in.

How could he risk his life over a position he didn’t even want?

He had shared these thoughts more than once before, but Mo Yong Yuun remained distrustful. He came from the righteous path, and it hadn’t been easy for him to establish himself in Heukcheon, the heart of the dark path. That was likely why he remained so suspicious.

“This is suffocating.”

Kang Oh muttered the words. Ilun’s eyes widened at the sound. It was unusual to hear his lord express his feelings so plainly.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Just give me what you brought.”

There could be no flower-viewing at night without wine. Every one of the Lord of Heukcheon’s disciples was a drinker. Their master, Yae Jinrang, was no exception. Even the eldest disciple was easier to deal with when good wine was involved.

Accepting the bottle from Ilun, Kang Oh turned his back and followed the attendant leading him into the inner grounds of Ilwondang. The sound of zithers blended with the chirping of insects in the grass, adding to the evening’s quiet charm.

Though it was night, Ilwondang glowed as brightly as day. Lanterns had been hung everywhere for the occasion, filling the space with light. Flowers of every color bloomed in vivid glory, showing off their beauty. Most of the flowers could also be found in Heedowon. But just as he had told Woo, the sky-blue peonies that only bloomed here in Ilwondang were indeed in bloom.

Kang Oh stopped in front of the peonies and quietly gazed at them.

Would he have liked them, if he’d seen this?

He recalled the look in Woo Hyo’s eyes that day in Heedowon, when he had paused in front of the peonies. There had been something deep, almost wistful, in his gaze.

The fully bloomed flowers shimmered gently, soaked in moonlight and the soft glow of lanterns.

“You’re here.”

At that moment, the eldest disciple, Mo Yong Yuun, appeared and broke Kang Oh’s thoughts. Kang Oh slowly turned his head and greeted him with a shallow bow.

“It’s been a while, Senior Brother.”

“So it has. I was beginning to forget what you looked like.”

“What’s the point of remembering the face of a grim-looking man?”

Kang Oh replied indifferently.

The man he had spoken of so casually stood before him, strangely well-suited to the sky-blue peonies blooming nearby.

Mo Yong Yuun may have had the more refined face, but Kang Oh possessed an indescribable magnetism. The moment one looked at him, it was hard to look away. There was something beneath the surface that pulled at the senses and hinted at desire.

“You’re the one who’s so cold. No wonder Master worries himself sick over you.”

Mo Yong Yuun smiled as he said it, his voice calm and harmless, as if stating something trivial. But the words suggested that Kang Oh was playing with Jinrang’s emotions. It was the kind of comment that should never have been made in jest, yet he dressed it up in that smooth, disarming tone. That alone made it all the more malicious.

“As his disciple, I can only apologize for failing to serve Master properly.”

Kang Oh answered with a shallow bow. There was a sharp edge to his words, more than usual. Mo Yong Yuun caught it immediately, his gaze narrowing. The youngest disciple, who usually ignored these barbs altogether, was reacting differently today.

“You seem to be in a foul mood.”

“And even you noticed, Senior Brother?”

Kang Oh muttered the words as he looked at him.

From Ilun to Moyong Yuun, everyone seemed to read his mood like an open palm, yet they still found ways to provoke him.

“Well, I suppose being moody now and then isn’t such a bad thing. And where did you get that wine?”

“Shaoxing.”

“Thanks to my junior, I’ll get to taste something decent tonight. Come along. Master is already waiting.”

Yae Jinrang and his second disciple, Yeom Seunghan, had already arrived at Ilwondang and were sipping their drinks. Unlike Kang Oh, who was blunt, and Mo Yong Yuun, who maintained politeness while keeping others at a distance, the second disciple, Yeom Seunghan, was far more easygoing and talkative.

“Look who walked alongside our eldest disciple.”

“Is it so strange for a senior to walk with his junior?” Mo Yong Yuun said with a soft smile.

Yeom Seunghan let out a loud laugh.
“When I saw the two of you walking side by side, I was so startled I thought a demon had taken human form. Gave me goosebumps all the way up my spine.”

Yeom Seunghan was the type to say exactly what he was thinking. He lacked caution, even in casual conversation, but his honesty was part of his appeal.

Born as the son of a well-off family, Yeom Seunghan had a naturally easygoing personality. He had ambition, but not enough to covet what belonged to others, so he didn’t have a bad relationship with Mo Yong Yuun either.

“Seunghan.”

Yae Jinrang called his second disciple’s name softly. He was well aware that his first disciple, Mo Yong Yuun, had been subtly provoking Kang Oh. But that didn’t mean he was pleased with Seunghan saying it out loud. He hoped his disciples would treat one another as true brothers.

“This wretched mouth of mine… I suppose it deserves another glass as punishment.”

Under his stern master’s glare, Seunghan lightly slapped his own cheeks and cheerfully downed another cup of wine.

Jinrang’s expression finally eased a little.
Mo Yong Yuun and Kang Oh took their seats at the already prepared table.

“It’s good to gather like this again after so long.”

Jinrang began to speak in a satisfied tone. He let his gaze settle on each of them in turn. Mo Yong Yuun had grown into someone he could entrust with anything. Seunghan was a little idle at times, but he cared for both his senior and junior in his own way. And Kang Oh remained the one who pained him most. As he quietly took in the three of them, a familiar weight pressed in on his chest.

“Let’s have a drink.”

Mo Yong Yuun poured the wine as Jinrang lifted his cup. He filled his own next, then Kang Oh’s and Seunghan’s.

They raised their cups and emptied them in a single breath. The liquor was no ordinary wine. It was strong.

As the good wine warmed their throats, the mood began to lift. Around the banquet, the peonies blooming at Ilwondang showed off their seductive grace.

Set against the dark of night and lit by the soft glow of lanterns, the blossoms looked as if they might stay in full bloom forever.

With each round of drinks, they spoke casually about martial arts and what they’d been up to lately.

Jinrang, now visibly more relaxed, spoke again as he looked at his disciples.

“You three are all the disciples I have, and yet it’s so rare to see you gathered like this in one place.”

In truth, it was no different from a complaint directed at Kang Oh. Mo Yong Yuun held important responsibilities within Heukcheon and rarely left. Yeom Seunghan, while laid-back by nature, didn’t bother wandering far from Heukcheon either. The real reason the disciples rarely gathered in one place was because of Kang Oh, who often traveled beyond their borders.

Jinrang had quietly steeled himself before this gathering. He had been afraid, deep down, that his youngest disciple’s gaze might no longer be the same.

“I apologize. I’ll be staying in Huekcheon for a while and will make time to visit you more often.”

Kang Oh bowed his head as he spoke. His eyes were calm, without a trace of resentment or disappointment. Jinrang simply sat there, lightly fidgeting with his wine cup.

Yeom Seunghan, who had just brought a piece of dried fish to his lips, added with a grin, “If I were being stared at the way Senior Brother does, I’d probably run off into the rivers and lakes myself.”

He said it while throwing a deliberately chilly look across the table.

“Seunghan.”

Jinrang furrowed his brow. But Mo Yong Yuun, who was being teased, only smiled gently as he replied. “It’s all right, Master. It seems Brother Yeom missed our youngest while he was away. As the eldest, I should have looked after them better. I can’t complain if I’m the one being blamed.”

“If our eldest brother would just smother him with affection, would our youngest even feel the need to run off? Don’t you agree?”

After Mo Yong Yuun gave a respectful bow to Jinrang, Seunghan, still chewing on a piece of dried fish, slung an arm over Kang Oh’s shoulder.

Even at the casual contact, Kang Oh remained stiff as stone. Anyone else might have felt awkward, but Seunghan only smiled brightly.

Jinrang watched his disciples with a quiet, blank look. No two people under the sky are ever the same, but it was still remarkable how different the three of them were. Despite sharing the same master, their personalities could not have been more distinct.

“This time, Kang Oh says he plans to stay longer. It’d be good for you all to spend time together and deepen your bond. After I’m gone, you’ll have no one to rely on but each other.”

Mo Yong Yuun shook his head, then spoke with quiet seriousness. Why would Master say something so sorrowful? This disciple will continue to work hard so you won’t be disappointed.”

Whatever he truly felt, Mo Yong Yuun still played the role of the devoted first disciple flawlessly in front of others. Meanwhile, Seunghan let out a small laugh, as if he had just heard something ridiculous.

“Master, there’s no way you’ll be leaving for the afterlife before we do. A cultivator’s lifespan depends on their cultivation, and I can’t even keep up with your footsteps. I’ll definitely die before you do.”

“You reckless boy. How could you speak of dying before your master?”

Jinrang tapped his chopsticks down on the table with a sharp clack and put on a scolding expression. The chopsticks, though gently placed, sank cleanly into the table surface. Compared to shattering them or grinding them to dust, this quiet feat was far more impressive. Just watching it was enough to make one break into a cold sweat.

Kang Oh set down the cup he had been bringing to his lips and spoke quietly.

“All of our senior brothers’ daughters will be coming. Master, please don’t speak like that. I also wish you’d not left this world before us.”

His voice was low, but carried weight. Jinrang, who was always lenient with Kang Oh, chose to let it go.

“Can’t you see how much I want you all to get along?”

Back when I was subjugating the remnants of Hyeolgyo, I had no senior brothers I could rely on. But you all have each other. Cherish that.”

“We accept your teaching, Master.”

Mo Yong Yuun was the first to bow with a formal salute, and his junior brothers naturally followed. Jinrang called for another round, saying it was a special toast, and the three disciples of the Lord of Heukcheon drained their cups.

“Well then, Junior Brother. Since Master has said all this, I suppose I can’t just sit back and say nothing.”

Mo Yong Yuun set down his cup and spoke with a gentle expression.

“Please speak.”

“There’s something I’d like your help with while you’re staying in Heukcheon…”

Yuun trailed off, and while Kang Oh didn’t particularly like the way he hesitated, he couldn’t just turn him down outright. Not after the lecture they’d just received from Master about getting along as brothers.

“I’m not sure how much help I can be, but if Senior Brother is asking like this, I can’t just stand by.”

“I’ll send a letter after the flower viewing is over.”

Jinrang smiled brightly as he watched Mo Yong Yuun smile easily and Kang Oh quietly follow his senior’s words.

“That’s good to see.”

Seunghan muttered in a voice mixed with both admiration and grumbling.

“This was supposed to be a flower viewing, but somehow Master looks more dazzling and beautiful than the peonies.”

“Watch your tongue. Every time I have guests, I’m ashamed to bring out my second disciple.”

Jinrang narrowed his eyes and shot a look at Seunghan. Though he said that, he didn’t truly feel ashamed of him. Even when Seunghan caused trouble, Jinrang usually handled it himself.

Besides, Seunghan had a remarkable sense for finding just the right place to lie low. So far, he hadn’t caused any serious trouble.

“Oh? Then if visitors come next time, does that mean I don’t have to leave my room at all?”

Not yet…

“There’s no need to even say it. Yuun, make sure you keep your second junior brother in line.”

“Of course, Master. I’ll make sure to watch over him so Master won’t be troubled.”

Yuun responded calmly.

Meanwhile, slightly flushed from the wine, Kang Oh silently gazed at the peonies. Their blooming appearance felt too beautiful to keep to himself. Even with his master and senior brothers all gathered in one place, it still felt like something was missing.

“Our youngest seems to have taken a liking to the peonies.”

At Jinrang’s comment, Kang Oh replied respectfully.

“I was admiring the sky-blue peonies that bloom only here in Ilwondang.”

“Shall I have some planted in your garden too? The merchant said they just brought in seeds for a lovely pink variety, if not the blue.”

Kang Oh gently shook his head.

“Thanks to you care, Master, Heedowon has flowers blooming all year round. I don’t think we need to bring in any more.”

The Lord of Heukcheon let out a quiet sigh.
While Kang Oh had been away from Heukcheon, it would have been easy enough to expand Heedowon as he pleased, then feign innocence once the work was done. But while Kang Oh was staying, it was almost impossibly difficult to bring in even a single flower or tree.

Just as Jinrang was about to open his mouth and ask, Wouldn’t just a little be fine?, Kang Oh spoke up first.

“Would it be all right if I picked just one flower?”

It was an unexpected request. Caught off guard while still suppressing his own disappointment, Jinrang took a beat before replying.

“Go ahead.”

The moment permission was granted, Kang Oh rose from his seat. Jinrang had expected him to send someone to get the flower, so he was taken aback. Kang Oh didn’t seem drunk enough for the alcohol to be having an effect.

Mo Yong Yuun and Seunghan also looked toward him, slightly surprised.

As Kang Oh walked through the blooming, deep purple peonies, the blend of flower and moonlight gave him a strange, otherworldly aura. He examined each one carefully, choosing among them with quiet focus. Watching him, Seunghan absentmindedly touched his chin.

Was he choosing a flower like he was choosing one for someone he was in love with…