Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Blue-Eyed Foreigner
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Unaware of the sorry state they'd left that crooked merchant's backside in after duping him, Yuseong and his group headed toward the center of the village.
"This inn here is the best place in town."
Nangong Yurin explained. She'd passed through this village before.
A luxurious inn with multiple high floors welcomed them.
"I had no idea a place like this was in such a village. It looks pretty pricey, though."
Godongjin remarked, and Nangong Yurin replied.
"This village is a must-stop for merchant caravans arriving around evening. The next one's quite a ways off. And don't worry about the cost—I'll cover it today."
Nangong Yurin shook a hefty money pouch.
She already had plenty of pocket money, plus winnings from recent bets.
But just as the group was about to enter the inn, a young woman emerged from inside with four warriors.
She wore silk robes adorned with flashy hair ornaments.
She was quite the beauty, but after traveling with Nangong Yurin, the group felt little stir.
"We need to arrive even a bit earlier. Prepare the carriage right away—kyaa!"
Mid-conversation with a warrior at her side, she belatedly noticed Godongjin stepping in front of Yuseong and let out a startled scream.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm f— What, another blue-eyed foreigner?"
The woman, who had started to laugh and respond to Godongjin's question, froze upon spotting Nangong Yurin.
It wasn't wrong—Nangong Yurin did have blue eyes—but here, "blue-eyed foreigner" referred to outsiders with unusual eye colors or foreign features.
Nangong Yurin was fully Han Chinese, so it didn't apply...
"No—"
"These blue-eyed foreigners, always stirring up trouble in the Central Plains... Tsk."
Cutting her off, the woman shook her head and walked away.
Her escort warriors all seemed to be peak realm experts.
Traveling with four peak realm masters suggested high status, which probably emboldened her rudeness.
Her escorts, having gauged Yuseong's group's level, subtly apologized behind her back before following.
"...Should I grab her?"
Godongjin asked.
Nangong Yurin had been slightly miffed by the incident, but Yuseong's concerned look quickly soothed her.
"It's fine. No need to stir up trouble."
"Understood."
"But why've you been so formal the last few days?"
"Isn't this Anhui Province?"
Godongjin grinned cheekily, drawing a soft smile from Nangong Yurin.
His words acknowledged her clan, lifting her spirits.
The Nangong Family were overlords of Anhui, after all.
The group entered the inn.
They noticed most of the guests on the first floor staring out the window.
At those seats sat people who looked like merchants, including a few actual blue-eyed foreigners.
The woman in the center had striking emerald eyes and Western beauty.
Snippets of conversation from nearby guests reached Yuseong's ears.
"Blue-eyed foreigners really have such mysterious eyes."
"Yeah. And their skin's so fair—they're even pretty."
"Food's here!"
As the waiter brought out dishes, the guests turned back—only to spot Nangong Yurin.
"Huh..."
***
It was a high-end inn, but its patrons were mostly merchants.
Those who could afford it had already filled the second and third floors.
Yuseong's group had no choice but to take seats on the first floor.
The first floor was larger than the upper ones, accommodating more guests.
Among them, Nangong Yurin drew the most attention.
Neither she—who rarely ventured out from her clan—nor Yuseong were recognized.
But they had to endure the hassle for other reasons.
"I've seen plenty of blue-eyed foreigners, but that woman's the real beauty."
"Blue eyes and blue hair—truly mysterious. Which country is she from?"
"She has a very Han look, though."
"The rest of her group looks Han too. Wonder what their relationship is."
Even Yuseong, with his average hearing, caught bits of it—Nangong Yurin must have heard every word crystal clear.
"Do I really look that much like a blue-eyed foreigner?"
Nangong Yurin asked, her mood visibly soured.
Two of the escorts frantically waved their hands.
"No, ma'am! Anyone can see you're Han Chinese."
"Exactly. They're the ones with bad eyes. To me, it's obvious..."
Yuseong, meanwhile, tilted his head and spoke up.
"It's not just the eye and hair color—Yurin, your skin's fair and your nose is high, so you're pretty enough to fool anyone. And blue-eyed foreigners are people too. What's wrong with folks staring? The mysterious vibe makes you even more appealing."
"...Yuseong, do you prefer Han women or blue-eyed foreigners?"
"Me? I like both."
He beamed.
Nangong Yurin's eyes curved into gentle crescents, a shy smile playing on her lips.
Godongjin subtly shook his head.
'Women's hearts are impossible to figure out.'
He was still a bachelor.
While the group ordered and awaited their food, the coachman returned from the stables, tied up the carriage, and joined them.
He sat, glancing nervously at the others.
'I took that fat sum on impulse, but it won't cause issues later, right? That merchant's staying in the same village...'
Regretting it now, he soon made an excuse to slip out and inquire after the merchant he'd met earlier.
But all he heard was that the man had hurriedly left in the opposite direction.
"Sorry..."
Too late for regrets—he had no way to return the money to the merchant from the Jin Family.
***
The Nangong Family had two main gates.
The grand front gate for distinguished guests, and the side gate for the throngs lining up to curry favor.
Grand in its own right, a long line snaked before the side gate.
Some came empty-handed; others clutched large bundles like treasures.
Then.
A luxurious carriage pulled up to the front gate.
"Who's that?"
As curious onlookers watched, a young woman in splendid attire stepped down.
A local merchant with wide connections in Anhui recognized her.
"That woman...!"
"You know her?"
"It's Gong Mihyang, the eldest daughter of the Gong Clan."
"Gong Mihyang? Nangong Yuhyeon's fiancée?"
Those who knew her buzzed.
"Didn't Nangong Yuhyeon's situation end that, and the Gong Clan suggest postponing the marriage?"
"Circumstances change. They say the Divine Physician can even fix his eyes now. Looks like they're back on."
"Marriages flip like pancakes."
"Strategic ones are all like that."
Ignoring the whispers, Gong Mihyang entered as the front gate swung open.
After greeting the family elders, she sought out Nangong Yuhyeon.
The Gong Clan lacked the Nangong Family's martial prowess but wielded great influence in Anhui through long-standing government ties.
They ran an escort agency and had ample wealth—little to want for.
Yet their eldest daughter, Gong Mihyang, had fallen for Nangong Yuhyeon at first sight, sparking the strategic marriage talks.
The Nangong Family welcomed the Gong Clan's resources to fill their gaps, leading to the betrothal by the elders' decree.
'Nangong Yuhyeon was so handsome before his eyes were injured.'
They'd called him the Jade Kirin, after all.
Plenty of handsome men matched him, but with the mighty Nangong Family backing and genius talent dubbed once-in-a-century, Gong Mihyang wanted him.
His blindness had killed her interest, but hearing he could recover, she'd rushed over.
'If there's any lingering resentment, better clear it now.'
Everyone guessed her motives, but given the Gong Clan ties, they didn't snub her.
Everyone but one.
"Um... the Young Master says he's not feeling well and can't see you right now."
A maid emerged from inside—her face marred by a long, ugly sword scar—and relayed the message.
Gong Mihyang bristled that not a proper girl, but this hideous one, delivered her refusal.
"Did you properly tell him his fiancée, Gong Mihyang, has come to see him?"
"Yes, I did exactly that, but the Young Master is unwell—"
"Enough! Fetch another maid."
"W-Well... I'm the only one attending the Young Master."
"..."
Gong Mihyang had visited post-injury, deemed him hopeless, and planned to drag out the delay until natural dissolution.
She'd eyed other matches over the now-unappealing Nangong Yuhyeon.
But hearing of a possible eye cure, she'd come after ages.
In the interim, his situation had grown bizarre.
'How can he have only one attendant maid?'
And that one wasn't even intact.
Just one hideous maid with a long facial scar tending him?
Suspicious, Gong Mihyang sent her own maids to investigate.
"Miss, they say the Young Master grew sharp-tempered after his injury and dismissed all other maids, leaving just one."
"And that's the one I saw?"
"Yes. Her name's Juyeon."
***
That afternoon.
The Nangong Family's front gate swung open to admit a group.
Gong Mihyang nearly fainted upon seeing the blue-haired woman among them.
'That's Nangong Yurin?'
She'd never seen Nangong Yurin's face in person.
Even Nangong Family members seemed taken aback by her looks, so Gong Mihyang wouldn't have recognized her anyway.
Watching the woman who'd sneered at her as a blue-eyed foreigner now receive a hero's welcome, she berated herself.
Her petty habit of hating prettier women of lower status had reared its head.
'Damn it, I should've held my tongue. She's family-to-be—starting off on the wrong foot...'