Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Unexpected Visitor
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Sunlight filtered softly into one of the estate's offices.
In the quiet space, only the rustle of turning pages and the scratch of a brush broke the silence.
Yagul Hyeon, having processed document after document, finally set down his brush and pressed his fingers to his temples.
"Hoo..."
The exhaustion from several nights of all-nighters had piled up considerably.
Thanks to it, he'd cleared most of the paperwork, but there was still more to finish.
A good few hours' worth of documents remained piled beside him.
'The workload just keeps growing.'
It hadn't always been this hectic.
But lately, as the Yagul Clan expanded its businesses, the tasks falling to him had multiplied accordingly.
He wasn't the type who enjoyed sitting at a desk handling paperwork.
Yet the heavy weight of being clan patriarch bore down on his shoulders, leaving him no choice but to tackle it.
'At this rate, my hands are going to stiffen up completely.'
Because of the clan's circumstances, Yagul Hyeon—the patriarch of the Yagul Clan—had spent most of his recent days cooped up in this office.
These days, he held his brush far more often than any musical instrument.
Knock knock.
"Patriarch, the chief steward has come to see you."
"Let him in."
With Yagul Hyeon's permission, the Yagul Clan's chief steward, Bu Yulgyeong, entered the office.
He handed over a document and gave his report.
"The acquisition and merger of the taverns near Melody Pavilion is nearly complete. Out of the twelve, we've finalized contracts for nine, and the remaining three are ironing out details—but they should wrap up without issue."
A tavern acquisition plan personally directed by Yagul Hyeon, who possessed exceptional business acumen.
His goal was to buy up all the taverns around Melody Pavilion, staff them with the clan's trained courtesans, and transform the area into a full-fledged street of music and song.
Of course, these were already thriving high-end establishments, so the purchases came at a hefty price. But Yagul Hyeon was confident they would yield many times that in future profits, so he pushed forward aggressively.
"Appoint Yagul Okryeon as the overseer managing all the taverns. No one else is as suited to the role."
Yagul Hyeon held Yagul Okryeon's talents in high regard—she had single-handedly elevated the once shabby Melody Pavilion through her own efforts.
He wasn't one to discriminate against branch family members; if they proved their ability, he was ready to grant them greater authority.
"In the end, Melody Pavilion must remain the heart of the street—and it will. Keep that firmly in mind."
No matter how many taverns joined in the future, Melody Pavilion would stay at the center.
That made Yagul Okryeon's role as pavilion madam and overall manager all the more crucial. She would be the central force binding them together.
And Yagul Hyeon believed her proven skills were more than up to the task.
"Understood. We'll proceed as you've instructed."
Yagul Hyeon nodded, paused a moment, then spoke again.
"How are things progressing with them?"
"Well..."
In truth, there was something even more pressing than the tavern acquisitions right now.
When he inquired about negotiations with the Cheon Clan and Man Clan, Bu Yulgyeong's expression clouded.
"Their demands are excessive, making it hard to find common ground."
They hadn't even delved into specifics yet.
The chief stewards of each clan had met separately to align on the broad strokes, but the other sides' appetites were too vast, stalling progress.
And they showed no signs of yielding easily despite their overreaching requests.
"They're still demanding control of either Melody Pavilion or Vocal Music Pavilion..."
"Impossible. That's out of the question."
The former would cut off the main family's cash flow, while the latter meant handing over the main family's cultivated talents.
Approving either would be tantamount to abandoning the Yagul Clan's future.
He absolutely could not allow it.
"Yes. That's why I've been steering toward offers of financial or manpower support instead, but they don't seem inclined to accept yet."
"Keep trying regardless. The clan's future rests in your hands."
"I shall work tirelessly, forgetting even to eat, and bring you good news."
Bu Yulgyeong bowed his head in firm resolve.
"I trust you. You may go."
"Yes. Please take care."
With his farewell, Bu Yulgyeong turned to leave.
But as he reached the doorway, he paused.
"Oh, and have you heard the news?"
"News? What news?"
"Today, the young mistress brought a guest back to the main estate."
Yagul Hyeon froze mid-motion, brush in hand as he'd resumed work.
"Tell me more."
"It seems to be a guest she connected with at Melody Pavilion—a young man around her age."
"...A young man."
Stunned by the report, Yagul Hyeon fell momentarily speechless.
He was shocked once that his aloof, cold-natured daughter—much like himself—had brought a guest to the main estate, and shocked again that it was a man.
"What's his name?"
"He goes by Nameless Guest."
"An odd alias. What did Sohwa do with him?"
"She showed him around the estate, giving him a full introduction to the grounds."
"Is he still here?"
"Yes. It seems they're conversing now in Song Conversation Pavilion."
Thud.
At that, Yagul Hyeon rose from his seat.
"Good intel. Thank you. Get back to work."
"Yes, sir."
Bu Yulgyeong smiled, as if he'd expected as much, and left the office.
Once the steward was gone, Yagul Hyeon quickly donned his outer robe and headed out.
He crossed the estate in long strides.
'Sohwa bringing a man home.'
What wind had blown this way?
Plenty of men had approached Sohwa over the years, drawn by the Yagul Clan's prestige, but she'd never once brought any back to the clan herself.
'If he's some scum trying to exploit Sohwa's kind heart, I won't forgive him.'
As Yagul Hyeon strode forth with an ominous aura, clan members who spotted him shrank back silently, bowing their heads without daring to speak.
His steps, laced with fury and worry, carried him past the courtyard until Song Conversation Pavilion came into view amid the pond.
'...A man, sure enough.'
Even with the veiled hat, the seated figure's build and posture screamed male.
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and approached the pavilion steadily.
But then.
"...Hm?"
The closer he got to the young man Sohwa had brought, the stronger an inexplicable sense of familiarity grew.
The feeling intensified with every step.
A familiar presence.
A familiar physique.
A familiar voice.
And it didn't take long to realize the truth.
"Father? What brings you here...?"
Yagul Sohwa, spotting his approach, asked in bewilderment.
But Yagul Hyeon ignored her, stepping into the pavilion.
His gaze fixed on the young man seated opposite her, and he parted his lips.
"...Cult Leader."
At those words, Yagul Sohwa's eyes widened in shock.
"It's been a while. The regular assembly was the last time, wasn't it?"
Hyeok Mulin removed his veiled hat at Yagul Hyeon's greeting.
As his face came into view, Yagul Sohwa looked ready to faint.
Yagul Hyeon, meanwhile, simply nodded calmly.
"Yes. It's our first meeting since then."
After locking eyes with Hyeok Mulin for a moment, he continued.
"You've undergone quite a few changes in the interim."
He stared at Hyeok Mulin briefly, then turned to Yagul Sohwa with a command.
"Return to your quarters."
"...Yes."
She had plenty she wanted to say, but decided this wasn't the place to interject, so she held her tongue and obeyed.
Rising, she shot Hyeok Mulin a glance laced with complex emotions before fully departing the pavilion.
Hyeok Mulin watched her retreating figure for a moment before turning back.
'She must have a lot of questions.'
It was to be expected. But those could wait.
For now, it was time to focus on the Sixth Elder before him.
Thud.
Seated once more, Yagul Hyeon addressed Hyeok Mulin.
"Why hide your identity?"
"You seem to be misunderstanding something. Isn't Melody Pavilion the most renowned tavern for performances in New Stronghold?"
"...It is."
"I have a deep interest in musical pieces and visited several times. I just happened to receive an invitation from the young mistress."
A deep interest in performances, indeed.
What nonsense was this excuse?
Yagul Hyeon had never once heard Hyeok Mulin mention so much as touching an instrument, let alone music.
For someone utterly divorced from sound arts to claim otherwise was an obvious lie.
"You seem quite busy yourself. One might expect you'd show your face at Heavenly Demon Palace at least once, but you never did."
"You know well. Lately, I've been so swamped I can't even sleep properly."
The busyness was real enough.
But even if he weren't, he had no intention of visiting Heavenly Demon Palace just to see Hyeok Mulin.
"Maintaining a renowned house's stature requires tireless effort. I understand that well."
He too had once been patriarch of one of the Seven Great Demon Clans, so he knew the burdens Yagul Hyeon carried.
"Did you tour the estate?"
"I did. The layout is beautifully crafted—I was quite impressed."
Hyeok Mulin went on to praise the estate's classical grandeur, the impressive in-house carpentry unique to the Yagul Clan, and finally, Yagul Serak Hall.
"I felt the prestige of past Yagul patriarchs, if indirectly. And at the end, the Golden Lotus Biwa lives up to its divine artifact status in both form and preservation. Maintaining such a treasure over so many years can't be easy, relic or not. I truly sensed the Yagul Clan's power—and your own capabilities."
"I merely strive not to tarnish the family's reputation."
Yagul Hyeon bowed his head modestly at the one-sided praise, his voice tinged with solemnity.
A brief silence fell between them.
In the awkward quiet, Yagul Hyeon glanced at Hyeok Mulin, but the other man showed no sign of speaking first.
So Yagul Hyeon cut straight to it.
"Allow me to be direct. What exactly brings you to our estate?"
The Cult Leader wouldn't visit just to sightsee the grounds.
Hyeok Mulin took a leisurely sip of tea at the question.
Then, meeting Yagul Hyeon's eyes head-on, he spoke.
"Cheon Clan."
"...?"
"And Man Clan. I know you're trying to ally with one of them."
Yagul Hyeon flinched.
"Stop there."
His movement halted at the words.
"If you don't..."
Hyeok Mulin's voice deepened, his half-lidded gaze fixed on him.
"Ruin will befall the Yagul Clan."