A Bold Proposition from the Peng Clan
“...May I ask what you mean by that?”
“I quite like your physique! Your bones and muscles are excellent! You’re the perfect talent for the Peng Clan!”
...Should I not have come to the Hebei Peng Clan?
I stared blankly at the Peng Clan Head, frozen like a statue at his completely unexpected behavior. He approached me with a sweaty, intense gaze, grabbed my shoulders, and shouted.
“Ideal bone structure for wielding a great blade! Sturdy muscles! A massive frame! The perfect body the Hebei Peng Clan desires! That body is yours!”
“I still don’t see how that connects to asking whether I’m single.”
“Haha, if your blood mixes with ours, we’ll have children with ideal physiques! How about it? Won’t you become my son-in-law?”
“I must decline.”
What kind of mess would I get into if I accepted? I firmly rejected the Peng Clan Head’s proposal, imagining the disastrous outcome. Above all else, I had no desire to join this family.
I wasn’t so lacking that I’d stoop to being a live-in son-in-law.
“Aigoo... what a shame! Still, the offer remains open. If you change your mind, let me know.”
Fortunately, the Peng Clan Head backed off without further pressure. He must have known it was an unreasonable request to make upon first meeting.
If this had been the unorthodox factions or the Demonic Cult, my opinion wouldn’t have mattered. Feeling uneasy about the bomb that had dropped right at our first encounter, I watched the Peng Clan Head return to his seat.
“Hmm! I’ve been terribly rude to my guest. Come now, tell me why you’ve come!”
“I handed the letter to the guard. Did you not read it?”
“Hah! If there’s something to say, it should be said aloud!”
He just didn’t feel like reading it, didn’t he?
Feeling a headache coming on from the Peng Clan Head’s unpredictable words and actions, I continued.
“I’ve come to request notarization for the succession duel!”
“Hmm! So you’re going to duel that Seo fellow!”
“That’s correct.”
“I’ll do it!”
“Pardon?”
“How could I refuse to permit such an entertaining event? So, when is this duel scheduled?”
I wasn’t sure whether to be pleased by how readily the Peng Clan Head had accepted.
“I haven’t gathered all the notarizations yet, so the date hasn’t been set.”
“Hmm! Understood! Once the date is decided, send a letter to the Peng Clan! I’ll come watch the duel with that Seo fellow!”
“Thank you. Then...”
“I can’t send a guest away empty-handed! Rest well here at the Peng Clan today!”
“Thank you.”
“Think nothing of it! What kind of great clan would mistreat a guest? Someone! Peng Garyeo! Escort our guest to the reception hall!”
“Yes. I will carry out the Clan Head’s orders.”
Wait, Peng Garyeo?
I turned my head without thinking and looked toward the opening door.
There stood Peng Garyeo, the Peng Clan Head’s daughter and one of the most renowned beauties in the martial world, bowing her head demurely.
“Well then, off you go!”
No matter how I looked at it, this felt deliberate.
“Sir Wi, please follow me.”
...I don’t know.
It’s only for one day anyway.
I followed Peng Garyeo, who was quite tall for a woman, toward the reception hall.
“Did everything go well?”
“It went better than I expected.”
The Peng Clan had always been known for their straightforward nature in the original story, but I hadn’t expected it to be this extreme in reality. Yet beneath that bold demeanor lay subtle calculations—truly befitting the head of one of the Five Great Clans.
I thought of Peng Garyeo, who had quietly led me to my room.
She had appeared several times in the original work. As Namgung Soso’s childhood friend, she had played the role of bridging the gap between the protagonist and Namgung Soso.
Since the Peng Clan itself didn’t have much presence in the story, Peng Garyeo’s role had naturally been minimal as well.
“...You look tired for someone whose business went so smoothly.”
“It’s just that the Peng Clan Head was... more interesting than I anticipated.”
I couldn’t speak ill of the Peng Clan Head while inside the Peng Clan. At my evasive answer, Mok Gyeong nodded and returned to his corner to polish his sword.
“I’ve already washed up, so you should bathe as well, benefactor.”
Her hair looked slightly damp, so she must have washed.
I turned my gaze from the androgynous-looking Mok Gyeong and looked at Hye-ryeong, who had buried her face in my sleeve.
“Uncle smells like a woman.”
“Don’t say things like that. It’s a little scary.”
Why did it feel like she’d stab me in the stomach if I left her alone?
I gently pinched Hye-ryeong’s soft cheeks to calm her down. At my touch, her expression gradually relaxed, as if she were finally settling.
“Do I look like the type to chase after every woman I see?”
“Hehe...”
“Ah...”
Mok Gyeong, why are you like this?
I scratched my head at the suddenly awkward atmosphere. I must have said something too embarrassing. Still, at least Hye-ryeong had calmed down—that was something.
“The matter’s settled, so we’ll rest well today and head back to the Wuxia Alliance tomorrow. Rest as much as you can while you have the chance.”
“Then let me use your lap as a pillow!”
“Mine?”
“Yes!”
Using thighs made of nothing but muscle would probably just give her a headache. Still, if she wanted it that badly, I had to oblige. I nodded at Hye-ryeong’s request and found a suitable spot.
Hye-ryeong quickly laid her head on my thigh and looked up at me.
“Looking up at you like this feels strangely new.”
“You look up at me all the time.”
“Hmm, it’s different from that!”
“How?”
“It just is!”
If she said it was different, then it was different.
I met eyes with Mok Gyeong, who had been glancing over at us. Startled like a thief caught red-handed, she quickly looked away.
Why is she acting like that again?
“I’m getting sleepy...”
“You should lie down properly on the bedding.”
“Mmm...”
Was she a child or an adult?
I picked up the half-asleep Hye-ryeong and carried her to the room assigned to her, laying her down. Though she clung tightly to my clothes, not wanting to let go, a few strokes of her hair made her release her grip and drift off to sleep.
She must be exhausted after days of using lightness skill for half a day at a time to move as quickly as possible.
I covered Hye-ryeong with a blanket and returned to my own room.
“...She must have been very tired.”
“It was a forced march, so that’s understandable. What about you?”
“I’m going to sleep soon as well.”
“Let’s sleep right away.”
Mok Gyeong and I quietly spread out our bedding. Though I wanted to lie down immediately from mental exhaustion, I couldn’t sleep in these clothes. I removed the leather outerwear over my martial robe and tossed the robe aside as well.
“That feels much better.”
“Y-Yes...”
“Are you sure you’re fine? It’s warm in here. You’ll get hot if you stay bundled up like that.”
It might be cold outside, but the room was warm enough that staying fully dressed would be uncomfortable.
“I-I’m fine.”
Well, she was a martial artist, so it probably didn’t matter.
I lay down in lighter clothing and stared blankly at the ceiling. The only light came from the moonlight filtering through the window and the tiny flame of the oil lamp.
I closed my eyes, trying to fall asleep.
And then...
“...Mok Gyeong.”
“Y-Yes?”
“Do you have something to say?”
Why did she keep staring at me like that?
If she had something to say, she should just say it.
Mok Gyeong hesitated at my question before carefully opening her mouth.
“Benefactor... do you have feelings for Lady Hye-ryeong?”
“That came out of nowhere.”
“...I’m sorry. Please forget I asked.”
“I’m not sure.”
I’d never been in love before.
If asked whether I liked her or loved her, it was still just “like” for now. There was also a sense that she was like a younger sister I needed to look after.
“...Rather than romantic feelings, it’s more like family.”
“I see.”
“But why are you suddenly asking this?”
“...It just occurred to me...”
“Is that so? Well, I’m going to sleep now, so you should too.”
“...Yes.”
I quietly drifted off to sleep.
“As expected, the Five Great Clans really are different!”
“The food was delicious.”
“I didn’t expect such treatment even though we visited so suddenly.”
“Because it’s one of the Five Great Clans.”
It was only natural. If a clan of that caliber neglected their guests, their reputation would suffer. I turned my gaze from Hye-ryeong, who was using lightness skill beside me, and looked ahead with a face that felt considerably more refreshed.
A well-maintained official road.
Since our business at the Hebei Peng Clan had concluded faster than expected, we were taking the main road back—even if it meant a slight detour, there were no obstacles.
“If we head back like this, we’ll train for a few days, then go to Heochang...”
No, wait. Was there any need to stop by the Wuxia Alliance?
If we stayed in Heochang for a while and handled the Hao Clan’s matters, it would reduce our workload. Wouldn’t that kill two birds with one stone?
Once that conclusion came to mind, my speed naturally decreased. The two people running on either side of me also slowed down and looked at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Let’s take it easy. We’re getting close to our destination.”
“We’re getting close to our destination?”
“We’re going to Heochang.”
“Suddenly?”
“There’s something I need to take care of there. We’ll have to stay for a while... but if you want to go to the Wuxia Alliance, you can.”
“Even if it’s the Demonic Cult, I’ll go with you, Uncle.”
“I’ll follow you to the ends of hell as well.”
Were these two competing?
I sighed between the two who had given such fierce answers.
“Do as you like.”
As long as I made the right choice, that was all that mattered.
And so, my next destination was set for Heochang.