Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Beware of Guys Wearing Oversized Clothes in the Martial World
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When I finished playing, the Hao Clan Leader didn't react much to me. She just smirked...
"A fine performance."
...and said that before pulling out five bottles of Drunken Immortal Brew from somewhere and handing them over.
Five bottles of this precious liquor for a single performance was a huge gain for me, so I promised to play for the rest of my stay before leaving her room.
After that, my days at the Azure Moon Pavilion passed smoothly.
The youngest and I escaped the brothel and returned to guarding the pavilion as originally promised to Mun-seok...
"Young Master! I'm here—!"
"...So-hyang, little miss, you're here again?"
...but ever since that day, So-hyang showed up every single day, forcing me back into silk robes.
Well... it wasn't like I hated her visits.
She had plenty of money, so she didn't bat an eye no matter how expensive the liquor I ordered. And more than that...
"Young Master... please take this back to your family.... You've probably already paid off your debts with the money I gave you, but... use this for your parents' medical bills since they've been ill...."
"Sob... thank you, little miss. I'll never forget this kindness...."
Whenever she made a sad face, So-hyang would bring me money on her own, letting me rake in some serious pocket change.
"Young Master... my little sister came along with me...."
"H-Hyi, little miss. F-First, don't come too close, can we just talk from there— ughhh...."
So-hyang's little sister, who tagged along with her big sis, was also quite taken with the youngest, so he got a nice allowance out of it too.
...The youngest still wasn't used to that aggressive little miss's behavior, but as I said before, that's none of my business.
And so, my routine of sleeping in the mornings and hanging out with So-hyang at night continued for several days.
After closing time, heading to the Hao Clan Leader's room to play the geomungo became part of the routine too.
Whether the Hao Clan was flush with cash or she just had a lot of personal wealth, she seemed loaded either way.
*Twang*—
"A fine performance. Here's the promised Drunken Immortal Brew, plus a little extra."
Whenever I finished playing, she'd toss me silver taels or gold ingots on top of the brew.
How much had I made at this brothel in just a week?
At this rate, I should've just fleeced the place early and retired somewhere quiet.
'But now I've got too many people depending on me....'
As I bent down to pick up the silver she'd tossed—thinking I'd chosen the wrong path from the start—
"......"
"......?"
She was looking at me with a strange, subtle gaze unlike before. Sensing she was debating whether to say something, I asked first.
"Got something to say?"
"......"
After a brief pause at my question, she finally spoke.
"Do you know what proposal our Hao Clan made to you in exchange for two hundred gold taels?"
"Well... just guard the brothel for seven days, right?"
"Yes. And tomorrow is finally the last day."
"......"
Her voice carried a weight of profound meaning.
Yeah, fuck.
Something bigger was definitely coming.
Two hundred gold taels a week just for brothel guarding? I'd take that job for life.
As I nodded casually, accepting that fact, the Hao Clan Leader said something unexpected.
"What happens tomorrow is of utmost importance to our Hao Clan's future... but it's also tied to my personal affairs."
"What...?"
Information about tomorrow's event.
The Hao Clan folks had kept it secret no matter what until now, but here she was spilling it.
Wondering what sudden change of heart had her telling me this, I asked.
"Why are you suddenly telling me this?"
"...The Hao Clan is a group rife with suspicion. Even I, as its leader here, am no different."
I'd known for a while that these shady Hao Clan bastards were distrustful and paranoid. But why bring it up now...? No way....
My guess seemed right as she bowed her head to me and continued.
"Until now, I couldn't trust you. I suspected you, over and over. My apologies."
"......"
"From the moment we first met at the inn until now, I've judged your character through somewhat extreme methods. I apologize once more for that."
"Huh...."
Well... yeah....
They'd definitely poked at me openly and crossed lines in ways that weren't exactly Hao Clan subtle. So this was their way of vetting people?
What, a patience test?
'Let's see if this bastard stays cool no matter what!' or some shit?
The thought nearly made me burst out laughing. Curiosity about the root of it all led me to ask her.
"So, can you trust me now? What convinced you?"
"......"
"No way you're basing it on me playing a bit of geomungo every night, right? Hey, I only did that 'cause you paid me and gave me booze...."
"Is that how you see it?"
"...What?"
Cutting me off, the Hao Clan Leader smiled faintly at me.
"You are strong. Not in terms of martial prowess, but strong as a person. That strength radiates with such ease that others can feel it. However... you differ fundamentally from other powerhouses I know."
"What's the difference...?"
Genuinely curious, I asked, and she answered right away.
"You are strong, but you always act like you're strong."
"...Huh?"
What, was she calling me a poser? I tilted my head, unable to grasp her meaning.
"Your outward demeanor is bold and impressive. Anyone can sense you have the power to do whatever you want. Yet... you merely act the part."
"......"
"The strong are arrogant and indifferent. But you are kind. You think of others and overflow with consideration."
"...No joke, that's the first time I've heard that since I grew hair on my head."
This included my past life.
I'd heard "asshole" plenty, but "kind"? Never. Seriously.
I thought the Hao Clan Leader must be blind, but her eyes were earnest, as if her words weren't lip service.
"That's because you've been acting tough in front of the weak all this time. I could tell your true nature from your geomungo playing. On the first day, you played a lively tune on purpose because I seemed on the verge of tears, didn't you?"
"Well, that was..."
Okay, yeah...
"Then afterward, you subtly gauged my mood and switched melodies each time. That's when I sensed your consideration."
"...No, that was because you..."
Were so pitiful and tragic.
I stopped myself before saying it.
Pitying or feeling sorry for someone could come off as insulting depending on how it's taken.
But...
"Were you about to say it was because I seemed pitiful?"
"......"
...Did the Hao Clan Leader have mind-reading powers? She intercepted my words and continued.
"Normally, the strong might feel pity for someone, but that's it. They don't adjust to their mood or show consideration."
"......"
"And ultimately, there's Sichuan Branch Head Mun-seok. He has an extremely sharp eye for people. Yet he gave you a glowing review. Specifically..."
'He might not seem like it, but he's got a sense of honor and loyalty in his own way.'
"...he said that."
"......"
Hearing the Hao Clan Leader, I felt a bit embarrassed.
Wait, why the hell did Mun-seok bro say something so cringey? More importantly, had I ever shown him any loyalty?
I couldn't... remember at all.
Anyway, the Hao Clan Leader seemed to think highly of me.
What? That I only act tough on the outside but am actually kind and considerate? Was I?
Wait a sec... acting strong upfront but being nice behind the scenes...
'Tsundere...?'
...I'm not a tsundere, am I?
Me, a tsundere? It was absurd.
I'd planned to bolt the moment anything dangerous popped up with the Hao Clan. I could only shake my head at her misguided good opinion.
I didn't hide it and told her straight.
"You're wrong about me. I'm a huge coward who runs away at the drop of a hat. I was planning to ditch tomorrow if shit hit the fan."
"Haha, is that so? If that's the case, feel free to run."
Her next words pierced me a little.
"If someone like you ran, there must've been a good reason."
"......"
Hearing that, I froze like a statue for a moment.
She probably didn't know or mean it that way, but her words had brushed against my reverse scale.
The Hao Clan Leader eyed my stiffened expression oddly before murmuring softly.
"I've said all I needed to. You can go now."
"...Right."
Snapping out of it, I nodded, gathered my geomungo, and left. Even as I did, her words echoed in my head.
If someone like you ran, there must've been a good reason.
...Was I really worthy of hearing that?
......
No, probably not.
She was free to think what she wanted, but I was definitely not the person she imagined.
Telling myself that, I left the Hao Clan Leader's room.
**
Due to the brothel's business hours, I usually fell asleep at dawn, waking in the late afternoon.
But today, feeling restless, I tossed and turned and ended up sleeping even later.
Seeing the sun already set, I stepped out of my room. Right away, I knew today was different from usual. For one thing...
"Huh?"
"Oh, bro. You're up?"
"Yeah, Little Bro. But why..."
The Azure Moon Pavilion never closed, yet today no lanterns were lit.
"No lights? No business today?"
"Yeah. I asked the chief steward earlier, and he said no business today. And..."
The youngest pointed below. Down there...
"...the vibe was pretty hostile."
...warriors who looked like Hao Clan members stood guard everywhere, swords at their waists.
"...Yeah, something big's definitely going down. Little Bro, let's change and head to our posts first."
"Got it, bro."
Not knowing the details yet, we changed and went to our original spot at the entrance. Mun-seok was there too.
"Mun-seok bro."
"...Ah, you're here."
Mun-seok, usually so laid-back and affable, wore a tense expression today. Forcing a calm facade, he said to me.
"You've probably figured it out, but something's about to go down soon. As I said before, just hold your positions."
"What exactly is it?"
"...You'll know soon enough whether you want to or not. Ah, right on time..."
"What's coming? Huh...?"
Following Mun-seok's gaze, I looked over and spotted something.
At the end of the street, a group of men was heading our way.
They seemed keen on hiding their identities, dressed in black uniforms with face masks...
"Hey, those guys..."
But I recognized them the moment I saw their style.
Those baggy, oversized sleeves flapping around. Only one group in the martial world stuck to that fashion.
'Sichuan Tang Clan.'
Those idiots could just carry their poisons and hidden weapons in pouches, but no—they insisted on stuffing them in sleeves, hence the oversized fits.
Anyone with half a brain spots wide-sleeved fighters and pegs them as poison users right away.
Like how you know brightly colored poison dart frogs pack deadly venom at a glance.
Well... calling them frogs isn't me underestimating them.
"Hey, Little Bro. Remember what I told you before?"
"If things look dicey, run?"
"Yeah."
They say brightly colored poison dart frogs carry venom that can drop a grown man in one go. Same with those guys.
Don't mock them for the ill-fitting oversized clothes like idiots. Inside those sleeves waited poisons that could wipe out hundreds.
"Stay sharp. Those are the martial world's poison dart frogs."
"...I dunno what frog that is, but sounds like we gotta be careful."
I clapped the youngest on the shoulder and watched as they approached the Azure Moon Pavilion.