Chapter 115
Chapter 115
Yeon So-ha was a pure-hearted woman, not a foolish one.
She was convinced that Bu Eun-seol could only have rejected her because he had some other reason for doing so.
‘Her pride was hurt.’
Bu Eun-seol could tell.
She had come to him because the thought of being rejected had wounded her pride. That was why she had shown him her face.
She was the future Palace Mistress who would one day lead Shin-nyeo-gung. Her pride was bound to be far greater than that of an ordinary woman.
‘Sometimes, honesty can be poison.’
Bu Eun-seol had originally intended to tell her the truth.
But if he did so in this situation, all he would accomplish was trampling on Yeon So-ha’s pride.
“It seems the Palace Mistress of Shin-nyeo-gung does not approve of me.”
Having gathered his thoughts, Bu Eun-seol slowly continued.
“To be honest, I do not have the nerve to try to break the stubborn will of the Palace Mistress of Shin-nyeo-gung, whose name resounds throughout the realm.”
“You mean it’s because my mother opposes it?”
“That is correct.”
Yeon So-ha bit her lip, looking as though she could not understand.
“Then why aren’t you returning the Bo-won-sin-ju? You know it’s a betrothal gift.”
“I’ll answer that.”
At that moment, two figures approached from beyond the pavilion. They were Yeon Ja-mi and Namgung Se-a.
“Palace Mistress.”
“Mother.”
As Bu Eun-seol and Yeon So-ha bowed their heads, Yeon Ja-mi spoke.
“Before I am your mother, I am the head of Shin-nyeo-gung. I am in a position where I must keep the words I have publicly declared.”
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I changed the betrothal gift that will be given to your future spouse.”
Yeon Ja-mi spoke in a calm voice.
“I declared that only someone who passed the Cheon-jang-i-sib-sa-jin would be qualified to become your spouse. And if there was someone among them you liked, I told you to give him the Bo-won-sin-ju I had given you as the betrothal gift.”
With a faint smile, Yeon Ja-mi continued.
“But isn’t the Bo-won-sin-ju actually more beneficial to women than men? That is why I have decided to change the gift.”
It was a rather absurd explanation.
But it was the only way Yeon Ja-mi could avoid breaking her public promise while rendering the Bo-won-sin-ju that Yeon So-ha had given Bu Eun-seol meaningless as a betrothal gift.
“So that’s how it is.”
When Yeon So-ha appeared to accept the explanation, Yeon Ja-mi smiled gently.
“You understand your mother, then?”
“Of course. If the Palace Mistress failed to keep a promise she publicly declared, you would lose face before all the disciples of Shin-nyeo-gung.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“But I like Young Master Seol.”
Yeon Ja-mi’s face stiffened at Yeon So-ha’s sudden declaration.
It seemed Yeon So-ha had not come because of wounded pride after all. She genuinely liked Bu Eun-seol.
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I just… like Young Master Seol.”
Namgung Se-a, who had remained silent until then, smiled brightly and nodded.
“As expected, the So-gung-ju has an excellent eye for people.”
“Master of Hae-hwa Hall.”
Yeon Ja-mi glared sharply at Namgung Se-a, visibly enraged.
Then, perhaps worried Bu Eun-seol might change his mind, she sought his confirmation once again.
“You do not intend to break the promise you made to me, do you?”
“Of course not.”
Bu Eun-seol deliberately put on a frightened expression and clasped his hands in salute.
“Who would dare disobey the solemn command of the Palace Mistress of Shin-nyeo-gung?”
“Good. That is how it should be.”
When the Palace Mistress looked relieved, Bu Eun-seol immediately bowed his head.
“Then I shall leave Shin-nyeo-gung at once.”
“Mother, isn’t this going too far?”
When Yeon So-ha spoke urgently, Yeon Ja-mi replied with a smile.
“You heard him. I did not force him. He is the one giving up.”
“But that’s only because he can’t dare oppose you…”
“So-ha.”
Yeon Ja-mi spoke with a stern expression.
“You still do not understand the world. He only seems impressive to you because he was the first person to break through the Cheon-jang-i-sib-sa-jin.”
“That’s not true. Young Master Seol…”
“Yes, he risked his life to pass the trial. At your age, things like that can look admirable, but that is all there is to it.”
Even after Yeon Ja-mi’s explanation, Yeon So-ha looked entirely unconvinced.
Watching her with a sympathetic expression, Namgung Se-a suddenly approached Bu Eun-seol.
“Young Master Seol.”
“Is there something you wish to say?”
“Even if you are leaving, show us your true appearance before you go.”
Bu Eun-seol’s expression stiffened at the unexpected request.
“My true appearance…? What is there to show?”
“I was the one who brought you into Shin-nyeo-gung. Surely I can ask this much of you.”
Namgung Se-a spoke with a serious expression.
“It is not a difficult request. Show us once before you leave.”
“Wait. You’ve been hiding your true appearance?”
Yeon Ja-mi’s gaze instantly turned severe.
Shin-nyeo-gung was a place outsiders were forbidden to enter. The mere fact that he had concealed his true appearance while staying here could be treated as a serious offense.
“Is that true?”
Bu Eun-seol hesitated for a moment.
But with Namgung Se-a clearly determined to press the matter, he had no confidence he could convince the Palace Mistress otherwise.
“It is.”
“Why?”
“Because my true appearance causes me inconvenience.”
“More convenient?”
Yeon Ja-mi’s gaze grew even harsher.
“Explain yourself clearly. Now that you have entered this palace, this is not a matter I can simply overlook.”
At that, Bu Eun-seol’s gaze changed as well.
He was not merely bold by nature; he was constitutionally incapable of feeling fear.
No matter that he stood inside Shin-nyeo-gung, or that its Palace Mistress was an extraordinary master, he was not the sort of man to shrink before a threat.
“Is it a crime to disguise my appearance simply because I find my true face inconvenient?”
“Of course. For an outsider who has entered this palace to conceal his true appearance can only suggest that he harbors improper intentions.”
Sensing the atmosphere turn hostile, Namgung Se-a stepped in front of Bu Eun-seol.
“Young Master Seol. If you simply show us your true appearance, I will make certain nothing more is said about this.”
Then she addressed him with a serious expression.
“You need not reveal your origins. In any case, are we not unlikely to meet again after this?”
“If that is so, why is there any need to see my true appearance? As you said, we will not be seeing one another again.”
“Very well. I’ll be honest.”
Namgung Se-a glanced at the forlorn-looking Yeon So-ha and sighed.
“I have hoped all along that you and the So-gung-ju would truly end up together. You simply seemed like a perfect match for her.”
“……”
“Besides, you have now seen the So-gung-ju’s face, have you not? Outside of the people of this palace, you are the only person in the martial world who has seen her face unveiled.”
Namgung Se-a earnestly appealed to the unmoving Bu Eun-seol.
“I do not think it would be terribly unfair for you to show us your face in return.”
At that point, Bu Eun-seol had nothing left to say. He sighed and nodded.
“Very well.”
Taking a deep breath, Bu Eun-seol drew up his internal energy and spoke again.
“But once I reveal my true appearance, I will leave Shin-nyeo-gung with my companions immediately.”
“Understood. I will not stop you.”
Hearing that, Bu Eun-seol released the Hwan-myeon-yeok-gol-sul without hesitation.
Shwa-rarak.
As the muscles and bones of his face shifted, the hair bound in his topknot spilled out in every direction.
Then, beneath the bright moonlight, Bu Eun-seol’s true appearance was revealed.
“……!”
For an instant, it felt as though time itself had stopped around the pavilion.
His moonlit skin seemed suffused with a translucent glow, while his eyes were sorrowful enough to bring tears to one’s own… and achingly beautiful.
Bu Eun-seol’s appearance matched the ideal man that every woman had dreamed of at least once.
“Is that enough?”
Bu Eun-seol’s voice broke the silence. Yeon So-ha and Namgung Se-a, who had been staring in a daze, snapped back to their senses. Even Yeon Ja-mi, the Palace Mistress herself, blinked as she recovered.
—This man is no wanderer!
All three realized it instinctively.
Bu Eun-seol was no ordinary wandering martial artist. He had to possess an extraordinary background. Otherwise, there would have been no reason for him to alter his appearance.
Crack, creak.
In an instant, Bu Eun-seol changed his face again and clasped his hands.
“Then I’ll be going.”
He was just about to turn away when Yeon Ja-mi hurriedly called out.
“Wait!”
“Is there something else?”
At Bu Eun-seol’s question, Yeon Ja-mi gave an awkward smile.
“What I mean is… if you have no urgent business, there would be no harm in staying at this palace a little longer.”
Seeing through her intentions at once, Bu Eun-seol answered firmly.
“I appreciate the Palace Mistress’s kindness, but I will be leaving immediately.”
When Bu Eun-seol turned away without hesitation, Yeon Ja-mi could say nothing more.
Then Yeon So-ha spoke to him.
“Young Master Seol. I’m not going to change the betrothal gift.”
“What do you mean by that?”
As Bu Eun-seol stared at her as though she had said something outrageous, Yeon So-ha’s eyes curved into crescents.
“Come back to Shin-nyeo-gung after you finish what you have to do.”
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
“The Master of Hae-hwa Hall just said we would have no reason to meet again.”
“That was something Hall Master Namgung said. It wasn’t a promise between you and me.”
It was unreasonable. Completely unreasonable.
Bu Eun-seol looked resentfully at Namgung Se-a.
But she avoided his gaze and wore a faint smile, as though she had predicted this exact situation.
“We will not meet again.”
Even in the face of Bu Eun-seol’s answer, as cold as a northern winter gale, Yeon So-ha smiled brightly.
“Not at all. We will definitely meet again.”
“That will not happen.”
Yeon So-ha watched Bu Eun-seol’s back as he turned away coldly. Her eyes brimmed with confidence, as though she could already see the future.
* * *
Inside the office of the Master of Su-gyeong Hall at Jeok-cheon-mak-ji.
Dam Yu-yeon, who had been writing a letter at her desk, stared at the wooden box Bu Eun-seol held out to her.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
Click.
When she opened the box, a single bead, dyed such a vivid red that it seemed enchanting, revealed a mysterious glow.
It was the treasure of Shin-nyeo-gung, the Bo-won-sin-ju.
“How did you…”
When Dam Yu-yeon could not finish her sentence, Bu Eun-seol replied indifferently.
“What do you mean, how? You gave me a job, and I completed it.”
“But to obtain this bead…”
As she faltered, Bu Eun-seol immediately continued.
“That’s right. It cannot be obtained unless one becomes the son-in-law of Shin-nyeo-gung.”
“Then did you really become Shin-nyeo-gung’s son-in-law?”
“So you knew.”
As Bu Eun-seol stared at Dam Yu-yeon’s expression, a blade-like gleam flashed in his eyes.
“You knew, and deliberately left that information out.”
When she fell silent, Bu Eun-seol spoke coldly.
“Is Jeok-cheon-mak-ji the sort of place that deliberately conceals information to lure wanderers into traps?”
Despite the pointed accusation, Dam Yu-yeon answered shamelessly.
“Missing information is common in the wanderer market.”
She calmly put away the wooden box and held out a cord.
“Common, is it?”
“Go to the Su-gyeong Hall counter. They’ll pay your compensation immediately.”
“Very well. I’ll go down, then.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded and turned away.
“And I will spread word not only throughout Su-gyeong Hall, but to every intelligence organization in the martial world. I’ll tell them that Jeok-cheon-mak-ji deliberately withheld information while assigning a designated commission to a high-ranking wanderer.”
“What?”
“When that happens, use the same excuse.”
Bu Eun-seol glanced back and grinned.
“Tell them missing information is common.”
“Wait, wait!”
Dam Yu-yeon hurriedly sprang to her feet.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
In the wanderer market, information and trust mattered above all else.
No wanderer would accept jobs from a market they could not trust.
If Bu Eun-seol spread such information throughout the martial world, Jeok-cheon-mak-ji’s credibility would plummet in an instant.
“Do you have something else to say?”
As Bu Eun-seol smiled leisurely, Dam Yu-yeon felt a chill run through her.
‘He is the kind of man who does exactly what he says.’
Changing her approach, she took a step back and spoke in a gentle voice.
“I’m sorry. The truth is, I only learned about it after I gave you the job.”
“……”
“I truly apologize. I admit the information I gave you was insufficient. And as an apology, I’ll pay you twice the promised compensation.”
“If I were some swindler who came here to squeeze money out of you, I suppose I would be delighted to hear that.”
“Then what do you want?”
“You already know.”
Dam Yu-yeon bit her lip.
“Do you really intend to fight the Head of Hoeng-gong Division?”
“I do.”
“Why?”
She shot to her feet, shouting as though she had lost her composure.
“Why on earth do you want to fight him? You don’t have any grudge against him!”
“Because he’s strong.”
“You’re insane!”
“Aren’t you the insane one?”
Bu Eun-seol looked down at Dam Yu-yeon as though she were some fascinating toy.
“The person in charge of Jeok-cheon-mak-ji’s commissions arbitrarily hid information and put a wanderer in danger.”
Even with ten mouths, she would have had no excuse.
Dam Yu-yeon bit her lip and bowed her head once more.
“I’m sorry. Please.”
“Please what?”
“Please don’t fight the Head of Hoeng-gong Division.”
“Do not tell me it is because he is physically weak.”
Bu Eun-seol smiled coldly.
“I already know he is not physically frail.”
“That’s right. He isn’t actually frail.”
Dam Yu-yeon clenched both fists and exclaimed.
“The Head of Hoeng-gong Division—no, Brother Cheon—when he uses his martial arts, the truth is…”
“So that was it.”
At that moment, a low voice sounded from outside the office.
With a click, the door opened, and a towering man who looked almost tall enough to brush the ceiling slowly walked inside.
A slender precious sword nearly as long as he was tall hung at his waist. His complexion was deathly pale, and he was coughing softly.
It was Jeong Cheon.