Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Invitation to a Waltz
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The estate the Heavenly Dance Family Head permitted Mu-heun was quite spacious.
It was large enough to accommodate about two hundred people, so there was plenty of room even for the entire Azure Dragon Unit and Moon Shadow Unit.
Mu-heun had invited the Azure Dragon Unit at the beginning of the Hour of the Pig, and as time passed, the night grew dark.
A thick blanket of clouds obscured the starlight, and with only a crescent moon, the night was steeped in a suffocating darkness.
As they made their way through the dark night toward the estate I had invited them to, one of the Azure Dragon Unit members spoke.
“If the Fourth Young Master used to be a scoundrel who caused trouble, now he seems to be a madman who causes trouble.”
“I know, right? The people of the Heavenly Dance Family are celebrating as if it's a joyous occasion, but I'm not sure if this is a good thing or if it will bring disaster.”
“Isn't that why they say life is fickle as fortune?”
A few members began to mock him with twisted voices, but the unit leaders, sensing the conversation was crossing a line, ordered them to be quiet.
“Quiet down and just walk.”
The Azure Dragon Unit members grumbled as they walked. They were busy enough training their martial arts, so what was this sudden nonsense about dancing?
Had they not been scolded by the Azure Dragon Unit's commander, they wouldn't have come. However, the moment they stepped into Mu-heun's garden, their complaints vanished like snow in spring.
“W-what is all this?”
A dazzling feast of food and wine, delicacies they rarely ever saw, was spread out before them. Not only that, but the cheerful sounds of instruments like the zither, pipa, and guzheng livened the atmosphere.
“Is... is this heaven...?”
From a platform set up on one side of the estate, Mu-heun welcomed the Azure Dragon Unit members. He clasped his fist in a salute and spoke with a scholarly smile.
“Welcome, members of the Azure Dragon Unit. Tonight, I invite you to the world of the waltz!”
While greeting the Azure Dragon Unit, Mu-heun used his Thousand-Mile Subtle Fragrance to pinpoint the locations of the watchers. Even as he sharpened his senses, his mouth didn't stop moving.
“Everything here has been prepared for you, so please, eat and drink to your heart's content! After you've had your fill, all you have to do is spin and dance!”
Hearing Mu-heun's words, the Azure Dragon Unit members were bewildered.
“W-what? Is that really it? Just eat, drink, and dance?”
“Seems like it...”
“Hey, hey, we've been exhausted from training until now. Whatever the reason, isn't this a great opportunity?”
“O-of course it is!”
‘Such simple and amusing fellows.’
The watchers were diligently observing the scene, and a few seemed to be leaving to report the situation. They probably thought the Azure Dragon Unit and I were having a feast after our spar.
Everything is going according to plan.
I said one more thing for everyone to hear before entering a room prepared behind the platform. However, my Thousand-Mile Subtle Fragrance remained fixed on the watchers, monitoring their movements.
“Well then, please enjoy yourselves!”
After that, the atmosphere was truly festive.
Clink!
Starting with the sound of clinking cups.
“So I swung my sword, and the guy couldn't even move, I tell you!”
“Wahahahaha! Oh, please, stop lying! Everyone knows you pissed yourself in front of him. Where's this bravado coming from?”
“Wh-what, did I? Wahahahahaha! I must be remembering it wrong!”
“This is absolute chaos! Hahaha!”
The sounds of laughter and chatter.
The sounds of eating.
The sounds of wine being poured.
All sorts of sounds filled the air.
And the sounds heard here contained a great deal of information.
The cups of the drunkards didn't clink uniformly, creating a variety of sounds. Bowls fell to the floor more frequently, shattering into pieces. The once-clear articulation of the warriors began to slur.
These sounds all conveyed one piece of information: the warriors' tension was easing, their minds were becoming lax, and their defenses were lowering.
The watcher from the Red Demon Pavilion, who had been observing the entire scene, slowly departed. He had judged that now would be a good time to launch an attack.
But Mu-heun's Thousand-Mile Subtle Fragrance did not miss their movements.
“They've gone.”
The Azure Dragon Unit Commander, Cheon Ga-rak, and the Moon Shadow Unit Commander, Geum Ryeong, who were secretly waiting in the room, nodded. However, the Azure Dragon Unit's Vice Commander, Cheon Gi-seom, was both bewildered and worried, and he asked a question.
“What are the estimated casualties?”
They themselves had been forewarned and prepared, but most of their men were drunk. Cheon Gi-seom couldn't help but worry.
Mu-heun, who was not oblivious to his concern, replied.
“I promise you, the entire Azure Dragon Unit will suffer no harm.”
Then, he asked them to persuade the remaining watchers, aside from those sent by the Red Demon Pavilion, to leave.
* * *
At the Red Demon Pavilion, Vice Pavilion Lord Won Ju-ryong was receiving a report in place of the currently detained Hwang Cheol-ung. The warriors dispatched to monitor the Heavenly Dance Family's Fourth Young Master and the family's overall movements had returned one by one to report, and the contents were quite intriguing.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. Perhaps they've grown lax after one spar, but they are eating, drinking, and have completely let their guard down.”
“I see. And are you sure the Azure Dragon Unit's Commander and Vice Commander are not there?”
“Yes. We heard that the Azure Dragon Unit Commander, Cheon Ga-rak, and Vice Commander, Cheon Gi-seom, are meeting with the Heavenly Dance Family Head. So it's just the Azure Dragon Unit's leaders, its members, the Fourth Young Master, and his subordinates.”
“Then now is our chance! Kuhuhuhu, Baek Mu-heun, considering how enraged the Pavilion Lord was because of you, know that I have been patient for a long time.”
The Vice Pavilion Lord intended to use this opportunity to eliminate Baek Mu-heun completely and curry favor with the Red Demon Pavilion Lord. The Pavilion Lord, Hwang Cheol-ung, had already prepared a scapegoat to take the fall for his crimes before the Blade Leaf Valley incident came to light. That was why, even when caught in the audit, his punishment had been limited to detention.
He would probably be released in about two weeks. Until then, as Vice Pavilion Lord, he needed to kill the one who had caused such a great loss to the Pavilion Lord and establish his merit.
“Summon the Death Commandos.”
“Yes, Vice Pavilion Lord.”
“Order them to go in secret. They are to ignore the drunken Azure Dragon Unit and kill only the Fourth Young Master. Afterward, tell all but the Commando Captain to go near the Dream Bud Pavilion and commit suicide. The Captain is to find the body of the Golden Fang Poison Claw.”
“As you command!”
“Kekeke! The look on the Heavenly Dance Family Head's face will be something to see.”
‘To persuade Dang Baek-ho, I need the body of the Golden Fang Poison Claw, but that bastard returned with the coffin...’
Which means...
‘The Fourth Young Master has the body of the Golden Fang Poison Claw.’
In the future, for the Pavilion Lord to re-establish his position after his return, he must resolve the dispute with Sichuan, and for that, the body of the Golden Fang Poison Claw will be necessary.
Therefore, the task of finding the body could not be neglected.
With the problem with the Sichuan Tang Clan growing, he had to seize the opportunity when it came. Fortunately, it seemed the heavens were on his side. An opportunity had presented itself so clearly.
* * *
-The room where Baek Mu-heun's group was hiding
Cheon Gi-seom was biting his thumb. As time passed and his anxiety grew, he finally asked me.
“Is it really alright for us to just sit here and drink tea?”
“Yes.”
Cheon Ga-rak advised him.
“How many times do I have to tell you? Just sit still and watch. All we need to do is drink the fetal chrysanthemum tea the Fourth Young Master prepared.”
He didn't find it very reassuring, but since Cheon Ga-rak told him to trust, he had no choice but to comply.
“...Are those people dressed as servants really the Dream Bud Pavilion's secret unit, the Moon Shadow Unit?”
“They are.”
The members of the Moon Shadow Unit, dressed as male and female servants, were serving drinks and food to the Azure Dragon Unit members.
‘The Fourth Young Master has looked like nothing but a scholar from the very beginning. The strange thing is, sometimes he seems endlessly serious and profound, and other times, he's like the most detestable scholar in the world. It's as if he's a different person...’
Ah.
When his thoughts reached that point, Cheon Gi-seom realized.
‘This was all an act.’
Just then.
I set down my teacup and spoke. New intruders had been detected by my Thousand-Mile Subtle Fragrance.
“The time has come. Please begin the waltz.”
I spoke toward the folding screen by the door.
“Yes.”
From behind the screen, the waiting Moon Shadow Unit Commander, Geum Ryeong, answered.
She immediately took command of the Moon Shadow Unit and moved, quickly organizing the drunken Azure Dragon members. They positioned the inebriated and incautious members into designated spots, and soon, they were standing in five circles.
Cheon Ga-rak and Cheon Gi-seom swallowed nervously, and the Moon Shadow Unit prepared to sing.
* * *
On that dark night, as the crescent moon repeatedly appeared and disappeared between the clouds, I rolled up my sleeves and spoke with a powerful voice.
“Sing along with the rhythm! The Moon Shadow Unit Commander will lead, and the entire Moon Shadow Unit will follow!”
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪
“The fog is thick! The moonlight grows dim!”
[ The fog is thick! The moonlight grows dim! ]
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪
“The zither and pipa join to create a melody!”
[ The zither and pipa join to create a melody! ]
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪
“Let's dance beneath the faint moonlight, spinning round and round!”
[ Let's dance beneath the faint moonlight, spinning round and round! ]
Hearing the music, the Azure Dragon Unit members, one and all, were filled with excitement and began to dance, spinning around in their five circles.
A flowing waltz, like water turning a waterwheel.
From the sky, it looked like five circles spinning, and I spread the Myriad Fragrance in time with them.
Soon, the fog-like Heart-Severing Soul-Borrowing Secret Art unfolded.
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪
The sight of the music, singing, and the drunken warriors dancing in time with the beat was truly a spectacle.
Just then.
The sound of landing on the estate wall was heard.
The awaited Death Commandos had arrived.
* * *
Twenty-odd members of the Death Commandos and their captain, Jeok Yeong. Jeok Yeong was also a master who had reached the pinnacle of power.
“The target is the Heavenly Dance Family's Fourth Young Master, Baek Mu-heun. Ignore the drunken dancers and go straight to the room where the Fourth Young Master is staying.”
“As you command!”
The Death Commandos all used concealment techniques to approach stealthily. But something was strange.
The feeling of walking, yet not moving.
The Fourth Young Master's room was visible before them, yet it felt a thousand miles away.
The surrounding waltz seemed like a giant vortex. Their minds grew distant, and it felt as if their heads were shattering into pieces.
The feeling of their souls being sucked into a massive storm.
“W-what is this.”
The Commando Captain, Jeok Yeong, quickly looked back.
“Hwaaah! C-Captain. Why did you deceive me? Why!”
“The Red Demon Pavilion Lord abandoned us. Argh! I'll kill them all!”
“Where is this! Let me go! Let- let go of me!”
His subordinates, who should have been moving stealthily with their concealment techniques, were screaming and rampaging like madmen.
The realization came too late.
‘Ah! It's a trap!’
Jeok Yeong instantly summoned his protective energy and circulated his internal energy to steady his mind.
Just then.
Shing, shing, shing.
The sword of Moon Shadow Unit Commander Geum Ryeong touched his neck. Azure Dragon Unit Commander Cheon Ga-rak's spear blocked the weapon at his waist. Azure Dragon Unit Vice Commander Cheon Gi-seom's sword was aimed at his back, and Un-pyo's greatsword and Pa-sun's spear touched both his arms.
This situation...
“Kh, khkhk, it was all a trap.”
Before Jeok Yeong's eyes stood the Heavenly Dance Family's Fourth Young Master, Baek Mu-heun, holding a teacup in both hands.
The Fourth Young Master, leisurely sipping his tea.
Seeing Mu-heun like this, Jeok Yeong felt goosebumps all over his body.
‘Red Demon Pavilion Lord... just who have you made an enemy of?’
Mu-heun took a sip of tea and led the chant.
“Guests have arrived!”
[ Guests have arrived! ]
Shwwwiing-!
Kuaaack!!
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪
Thump! Tat-tak. Daradaradak♩♬♪