Chapter 99: The Youngest Candidate for Alliance Leader (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 99: The Youngest Candidate for Alliance Leader (1)
An elegant kettle boiled atop a wooden support carefully placed over the campfire.
A deep, fragrant aroma wafted from the kettle, tickling my nose.
Sizzle! Shhh! Shhh!
Seol Baek, her silver hair fluttering in the breeze, was busily stirring an iron pot. She displayed remarkable culinary skill, sprinkling various spices from a bamboo tube.
I marveled at her in silence. I had planned to just pluck the pheasant I’d caught and roast it over the fire, but she had other ideas.
[It is an insult to the food,] she had said.
With those words, she pulled cooking utensils from her pack and began to cook. The spicy aroma alone was enough to make my mouth water. Every time she tossed the iron pot, the pheasant meat took on a beautiful, reddish glaze.
—...I wonder, what exactly is "taste"?
—I am becoming curious myself.
Even the Lesser Conversation Sword and the Namcheon Iron Sword were showing interest, which was proof enough that her cooking skills were on par with any master chef.
Once the dish was finished, she elegantly plated the seasoned pheasant on a dish she had prepared in advance.
“...Was all this really necessary?”
“Food that looks good tastes good. Even if you only eat one thing, maintaining dignity changes the flavor.”
I couldn't disagree. Just looking at it made my mouth water; I wanted to dive in immediately.
She handed me a silver spoon. I had no idea how she managed to fit so much into that travel pack of hers.
“I made this using a variation of Sichuan-style Twice-Cooked Pork. I used doubanjiang and various spices, so it might be spicy. Take small bites.”
Twice-Cooked Pork usually involves boiling pork and then stir-frying it in a wok. But Twice-Cooked Pork made with pheasant?
I reached out with my chopsticks, picked up a piece of the glowing red meat, and put it in my mouth.
‘!!!’
The moment the meat touched my tongue, a sweet flavor followed the spicy aroma, and it melted away softly. It was a pleasant, addictive heat.
Seol Baek asked me, her eyes wide with anticipation.
“How is it?”
“...It’s delicious.”
I couldn't lie and say it wasn't. Seol Baek beamed with a bright smile, seemingly pleased by my response. Then, she began her own meal.
As I ate, I asked, “I thought you were just being tedious, but you’re actually quite skilled.”
“When you live as long as I have, you tend to lose interest in most things.”
“So you took up cooking as a hobby?”
“No. My palate simply became more demanding over time. Eventually, I started trying to find flavors that could satisfy me on my own.”
Culinary skills developed over three hundred years to satisfy a picky palate. Even the imperial chefs in the Palace probably couldn't match this.
Seol Baek looked at me and asked, “As the Successor of the Sword Immortal, you must have lived for three hundred years—no, even longer than I have. I was worried whether this would suit your taste, but I’m glad it does.”
Well...
I felt a bit bad, but even including my life before the regression, I hadn't lived even a tenth as long as she had. There was no need to mention that, so I kept my mouth shut.
After a few more pieces of meat, the spice began to kick in. I opened my gourd bottle and took a sip of water.
That was when Seol Baek spoke.
“With cooking skills like this, don't you find me desirable as a wife?”
“Pfft!”
I ended up spraying the water I was holding in my mouth. I sprayed it right toward her face, but before it could touch her, it froze and scattered like snowflakes. A layer of cold energy was constantly protecting her body.
—She really doesn't get tired of this, does she?
The Lesser Conversation Sword clicked its tongue. This woman had been saying things like this constantly throughout our journey to Wuhan City. It was as if she were trying to make me naturally accustomed to the idea.
—You’ll be brainwashed before you even get to Gyeongwang.
Sigh.
I agreed with the Lesser Conversation Sword. Her approach was completely different from any woman I had met before. She didn't just force her emotions on me; she was showing me how good it would be to have her by my side.
It was terrifyingly natural. I hadn't even taken her in as a subordinate, yet she kept trying to serve me. Even though I repeatedly told her it wasn't necessary, she was somehow naturally preparing everything.
‘Whew.’
I let out a faint sigh and continued eating without responding. I didn't want to get swept up in her pace. Seeing my reaction, Seol Baek chuckled and returned to her meal. She seemed to be enjoying my response.
—She seems even more dangerous than that vixen, Baek Hye-hyang. Be careful.
—I do not think it is particularly bad. My previous master used to say that there is no better spouse than one who makes a man feel at ease.
—Your previous master was so knowledgeable about women, yet why did he live alone his whole life?
—Ahem.
The Namcheon Iron Sword fell silent at the Lesser Conversation Sword’s sharp retort. It seemed its feelings were hurt after trying to offer the Namcheon Sword Guest’s advice for the first time in a while.
In any case, I had to keep my wits about me. If I wasn't careful, I might actually fall for her schemes.
Once we finished the meal and drew closer to Wuhan City, I used the Body Transformation Art to return to my original face.
Crack! Crackle!
As my original features returned, Seol Baek watched with fascination. Since she was staring so intently, I spoke up.
“Stop staring.”
“Is that your real face?”
“Yes.”
At my answer, the corners of Seol Baek’s mouth curled upward.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I thought perhaps you were hiding your face because you were ugly.”
I snorted at her remark. I’d never been called ugly anywhere I went.
Then, Seol Baek said with a playful grin, “Our children will be beautiful whether they’re girls or boys.”
“Cough!”
She really didn't let me lower my guard for even a second. I couldn't help but cough at her words. To think of our children's faces the moment she saw my real face—she was truly something else. Even though I acted cold to distance myself, she said such things without hesitation.
“Knock it off.”
“I don't want to.”
“I might have to seal your mouth.”
“It won't be easy to seal my pressure points.”
“What?”
“After you sealed my pressure points for the first time in my life, the first thing I mastered was the Pressure Point Transformation Art.”
So she’d prepared a countermeasure. I shook my head.
Then I asked her, “Are you going to keep walking around like that even after we enter Wuhan?”
At my question, she chuckled and pulled a small pill-like object from her robe and swallowed it. Shortly after, her silver hair, which had been shimmering like snow, began to turn black.
It would have been stranger if she didn't have a method. She couldn't exactly roam around everywhere with silver hair.
“Do you have a human skin mask?”
“I just happened to receive a new one I ordered.”
She pulled a small wooden box from her pack. When she opened it, a human skin mask was inside.
“Is it a face the Golden Emperor won't recognize?”
“It’s a newly created face.”
She picked up the mask and expertly fitted it over her face. Her original face was beautiful, but the face crafted by the mask was equally stunning.
“You seem to like standing out.”
“No. I chose a face that would look good standing next to you.”
“.......”
I didn't know how she could come up with such answers instantly, as if she’d been contemplating them for ages. Shaking my head, I said to her, “We’ll be in Wuhan soon. Keep your promise.”
“Don't worry. I won't stray more than ten paces from your side. If you want, I won't even stray one pace.”
Seeing an opportunity, she tried to press closer. I held out my hand, signaling her to stay back. I clicked my tongue inwardly as I watched Seol Baek smack her lips in disappointment.
—Just go meet Gyeongwang already.
I couldn't do that yet; the situation with the Martial Alliance was more urgent. According to the Beggar's Sect informant sent by Jo Seong-won, the former Alliance Leader, the First Sword of Wuhan Baek Hyang-muk, had also arrived at the Martial Alliance.
This meant the assembly to elect the Great Alliance Leader was about to begin.
According to the information Seol Baek had provided, the true purpose of not publicly announcing the election of the Great Alliance Leader was to use Bukyeong Doseong Gwak Hyeong-jik to track me down.
—It would have been a disaster if not for the Beggar's Sect.
Making Jo Seong-won the Chamber Leader of the Beggar's Sect was a stroke of genius. Regardless, I couldn't let things proceed according to that Golden Emperor bastard's wishes. Until then, I had no choice but to keep Seol Baek by my side.
—Stay sharp.
I’ll do that even if you don't tell me.
“We’re leaving early at dawn, so get some sleep.”
“Don't you need someone to attend to you tonight?”
Seol Baek licked her lips with her tongue seductively.
“.........”
This was exactly why I couldn't get a wink of sleep.
Two days later, in the morning.
The fortress of the Martial Alliance in Wuhan City.
Coming back after a long time, the place was bustling with people just like before. The reason there were even more people than usual was for the election ceremony of the Great Alliance Leader scheduled for tomorrow.
It seemed they had invited various sects and clans under the official pretext of electing the Great Alliance Leader.
As I entered the streets outside the fortress, I became the center of attention. Since I had come in my original form, many martial artists recognized me and began whispering.
“I’m not the one standing out, it seems.”
I snorted at Seol Baek’s barbed comment. Even I hadn't realized my fame had reached this level. Perhaps because I had vanished for nearly seven months before reappearing, martial artists couldn't take their eyes off me wherever I went.
Some even went out of their way to greet me.
“Young Hero So, it has been a long time.”
“Do you remember me?”
“Have you come for the election of the Great Alliance Leader?”
I could have ignored them, but I acknowledged each greeting with a fist-and-palm salute. After all, in this place, I was a hero of the Orthodox Faction.
—Being famous isn't always a good thing.
I agreed. In the Blood Cult, no one dared to speak to me casually, but fame in the Orthodox world was essentially the same as popularity. The weight of their gazes and interest was becoming a burden.
It was just as I was pushing through the crowd toward the entrance of the Martial Alliance fortress.
I heard someone shout.
“Brother!”
Looking toward the source, I saw someone running from the fortress gate. It was my younger sister, So Yeong-yeong. Seeing Yeong-yeong for the first time in years, I waved my hand in delight.
But it seemed Yeong-yeong didn't feel the same way.
As soon as she reached me, she shouted, heedless of the surrounding eyes, “How could you not send a single word! You stupid, idiotic brother!”
‘Ah...’
Still, wasn't this a bit much with all these people watching? Calling her brother a stupid idiot.
However, seeing her eyes redden with tears, I couldn't bring myself to say anything. She must have been incredibly worried.
“Do you have any idea how much I worried!”
Yeong-yeong shouted and tried to throw a punch at my chest. It wasn't a real strike, but a playful vent of frustration.
Seol Baek stepped in to block her.
“Who are you?”
“That’s what I want to ask.”
Seol Baek’s gaze had turned strangely sharp. It seemed she hadn't realized Yeong-yeong was my sister, given how she’d suddenly rushed up shouting and making a scene.
“Step aside. She’s my sis—”
“Young Hero So!”
I was about to tell Seol Baek she was my sister when I heard another shout. The voice belonged to Namgung Ga-hee, the Hall Master of the Phoenix Hall. Eon Yeong-in of the Jinju Eon family was with her as well.
Namgung Ga-hee approached, looking delighted to see me.
“It’s been a long time, Young Hero So. We heard the news that you had appeared, and our Young-young ran off so fast I broke a sweat trying to keep up with her.”
Namgung Ga-hee fanned herself as she spoke playfully.
“Sister, you started running the moment you heard the news too, so what are you talking about? Hohoho.”
“Oh my, when did I ever run?”
Namgung Ga-hee couldn't hide her embarrassment at Eon Yeong-in’s words. The two women were as good-natured as ever.
Just then, Seol Baek turned her head toward me and spoke.
“There are more women around you than I thought.”
Her voice was quite chilly. Since the women who had appeared by chance were all beautiful, she seemed to have misunderstood something.
“But what is the situation here?”
The quick-witted Namgung Ga-hee asked, looking at the strangely tense standoff between Seol Baek and Yeong-yeong. She looked ready to take Yeong-yeong’s side if necessary.
I quickly clarified.
“She is my younger sister.”
At those words, Seol Baek’s eyes widened.
“Younger sister? So Yeong-yeong?”
She must have known some of my personal information as So Woon-hwi, as she recognized the name immediately. Yeong-yeong pointed a finger at her and asked me.
“Brother, who is this woman?”
She seemed quite displeased that her long-awaited reunion had been interrupted. I was about to give Seol Baek the fake identity I had prepared.
But before I could speak, Seol Baek suddenly gave Yeong-yeong a bright smile.
“I was wondering how there could be such a beautiful young lady, and it turns out you’re our Woon-hwi’s younger sister. It’s so nice to meet you. Oh, you’re so pretty.”
Her tone and expression had done a complete 180. It was hard to believe she was the same woman who had just been wearing an ice-cold expression.
But the problem lay elsewhere.
“Our Woon-hwi?”
Yeong-yeong repeated in a skeptical voice, glaring at me. Her gaze demanded an explanation for the situation. Even Namgung Ga-hee and Eon Yeong-in were looking back and forth between Seol Baek and me with expressions of disbelief.
‘...Ah.’
I could feel a headache coming on.