Luoyang's Winter
"…Haa."
His sigh was deep. It came right after Ju Geum-ye had left, upon running into Yi Jeon-hyo who had returned to the Yongmun Pavilion. Under Baek Su-gyeong's arrow-sharp gaze, Yi Jeon-hyo couldn't lift his head and averted his eyes. Dodging Baek Su-gyeong's reproachful stare meant the man had a guilty conscience.
Baek Su-gyeong drained the completely cold Yongjeong tea in one gulp.
'At least he seems to have spared me the dumplings and those cheap canned peaches…'
It felt like if he'd caught even a whiff of suspicion, he'd end up a slave scribbling away on nothing but dumplings. And in that case, he'd probably turn into actual canned peaches.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Baek Su-gyeong looked at Yi Jeon-hyo.
"Would you care to explain the whole story, my lord?"
No matter how disappointed he was in Yi Jeon-hyo, the man had shown him immense favor. He couldn't just sever ties unilaterally with someone like that. The reason Baek Su-gyeong could live so comfortably in Luoyang was precisely because Yi Jeon-hyo had gone out of his way for him.
Yi Jeon-hyo opened his mouth. His face was still full of remorse.
"I'm sorry, Master Baek. I didn't mean to deceive you. Even if that's how it ended up…"
"…Was it Her Highness the Princess's order?"
Yi Jeon-hyo nodded faintly. If it was a royal command, there was no helping it. No matter how mighty their influence in the murim, the Yongmun family had ties to the imperial palace. They had no choice but to heed the royals' moods—especially Princess Nakhong.
Baek Su-gyeong clicked his tongue.
"If Her Highness commanded it, then there was nothing to be done."
"I'd appreciate it if you could understand our family's position too, Master Baek."
Baek Su-gyeong gave a wry smile. The Yongmun family, which spanned both officialdom and the martial world. Naturally, they couldn't refuse the imperial darling, Ju Geum-ye. It wasn't a situation he couldn't comprehend.
"…What disappointed me about you, my lord,"
Yi Jeon-hyo flinched at Baek Su-gyeong's words.
"was that you kept it all to yourself. If you'd told me in advance, I wouldn't have been so shocked, would I?"
"Her Highness was very strict about secrecy… I'm sorry, Master Baek. It was my fault."
"How could it be your fault?"
If there was blame to assign, the root cause lay with Baek Su-gyeong himself for gaining such excessive fame.
Baek Su-gyeong asked, "How did Her Highness even know I was in Luoyang?"
"I truly don't know. I can only guess that the Embroidered Guard warriors attending her brought the information…"
Embroidered Guards. Along with the Eastern Depot, they represented the palace's elite forces. Technically divided into the surveillance Eastern Depot and the outward-facing Embroidered Guards, the latter often functioned as the former's subcontractors, so their prestige wasn't particularly high.
Baek Su-gyeong stared down at his empty teacup.
"How long ago?"
"It's been a while since the order came down. Over two weeks, I think. I never imagined Her Highness would come in person…"
Even Yi Jeon-hyo's voice carried surprise. In this era, royals were seen as immortals above the clouds. It was only natural.
Baek Su-gyeong had been so startled upon seeing her that he'd freaked out completely.
"I see."
"Will you be leaving?"
"I'll stay in Luoyang this winter. Besides, I'm not about to cut ties over something like this, my lord."
Of course, hiding that Ju Geum-ye was coming was inexcusable. But considering all Yi Jeon-hyo had done for him before that, Baek Su-gyeong could let it slide. The man had shown boundless goodwill to a mere lowly instructor tutoring Yi Gong-ja, Yi Jeon-hwi.
Baek Su-gyeong said, "Just this once, though. Please be more careful, my lord."
"Of course! I promise I won't disappoint you again, Master Baek!"
Baek Su-gyeong gave a faint smile. He could sense the sincerity in Yi Jeon-hyo's words.
"Since you're staying in Luoyang this year, I'll make sure you're taken care of. The Yongmun family is always ready to welcome you with open arms!"
"I appreciate your kindness, my lord."
"Luoyang winters are harsh, so I'll prepare winter clothes for you, Master Baek, and the three lady heroes."
"I look forward to it, my lord."
And so, Baek Su-gyeong's winter in Luoyang was decided.
"You're staying in Luoyang this year?"
"That's the plan."
"Hmm, if that's what you've decided, Lord, I have no say… But winter won't delay your serialization, right?"
Baek Su-gyeong chuckled at So Ssaang-a's words.
"You think winter stops my writing hand?"
"Good, that's a relief. Inquiries about volume 7 are flooding in. And Elder Jang Noban from Su-gyeong Inn sends money every month without fail."
"How's Su-gyeong Inn doing? I need to hear about Wuan, but it's taken longer than I thought."
It had been nearly three months since leaving Wuan. Lately, he'd been pouring all his energy into writing volume 6, leaving no time for leisurely chats like this with So Ssaang-a. She was the only one who knew the situation in Wuan, so she was the one to ask.
So Ssaang-a beamed at Baek Su-gyeong's question.
"No major issues. Though the two Wudang Taoists had business and returned to their sect."
"Hm?"
Jeongjin and Jeongu—the two Taoists dispatched to Wuan as Baek Su-gyeong's escorts.
If they'd returned for "business," then…
"It's because of the Murim Alliance."
"Probably. Lady Namgung taking over as your escort must've had a big impact…"
"My first novel was Wudang Sword Hero, so they figured Wudang warriors were the natural choice for your guard. When that fell through, well…"
Baek Su-gyeong read the Wudang sect's mindset with pinpoint accuracy—intended or not.
"Glad there's no big trouble in Wuan. How's the merchant group?"
"Following your advice, Lord, we're steadily building our foundation. We could inflate our size anytime, but we rely on you too much for that…"
"If you recognize that, then you're plenty wise, little leader."
Baek Su-gyeong smiled, lifting his teacup.
"That's why finding ways to strengthen the group without leaning on me is best. There'll be a gap before the next work after Wudang Sword Hero anyway."
"True. I'll have to think more on that."
A hit author's hiatus inevitably left readers clamoring for new works. Baek Su-gyeong knew it well—he'd been a reader himself once. Grateful for side stories, rushing to add new releases to favorites, reading every chapter and commenting. It felt like no time had passed, yet it had been over eight years since falling into the Central Plains—nearly nine now.
'Longer than I thought.'
He was nearing thirty. Twenty-nine after this year.
At least the three women clinging to him were a silver lining.
With a wry smile, Baek Su-gyeong took a sip of tea.
"Any updates on the Black Brush Party?"
"We're exchanging updates with the Murim Alliance regularly. They're providing help as promised."
"Hm, no surprise since you're acting as my agent on the exclusive sales deal."
Gazing out from the pavilion with teacup in hand, Baek Su-gyeong took in the Yongmun family's elegant detached garden. An artificial mountain like a real peak anchored the pond, surrounded by rare flowers and trees that delighted the eyes.
He had no hobby of appreciating scenery, but beauty—man-made or natural—drew the gaze inevitably.
As Baek Su-gyeong admired the view, footsteps approached from below the pavilion.
"There you are, teacher."
"Lady Namgung. Come on up."
Namgung So-min's cheeks flushed faintly at his warm welcome. But it was fleeting. Spotting So Ssaang-a seated opposite Baek Su-gyeong, her face froze cold.
"…I heard you're staying in Luoyang this winter."
"It worked out that way."
"Then how about learning martial arts from me this winter?"
"Hm? Martial arts?"
Baek Su-gyeong's eyes widened in surprise. So Ssaang-a frowned at Namgung So-min's suggestion.
"What do you mean by that, Lady Namgung? The Lord has no aptitude for martial arts. Are you thinking of forcing it on him?"
"Oh, Leader So."
So Ssaang-a scowled at Namgung So-min's feigned ignorance.
The three women around Baek Su-gyeong were like water and oil. Two deeply tied to the murim, one with long history with him—it was a recipe for discord from the start.
"Teacher will decide, so I don't see why Leader So is getting upset."
"You're aware that telling the Lord—who's past the prime age for learning— to pick up martial arts is no different from torture, aren't you, Lady Namgung?!"
"Oh, I never said anything about teaching proper martial arts, Leader So."
Their words were polite, but thorns laced their voices.
As the verbal sparring shifted focus, Baek Su-gyeong sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead.
"Lady Namgung. Leader So."
"Yes, teacher."
"Yes, Lord!"
The two women turned to him like puppies awaiting their master's call. Baek Su-gyeong spoke.
"Please, just stop fighting. My head hurts. You think this won't affect my writing?"
"I-I wouldn't…"
"No! I didn't mean to! But Lady Namgung…"
"Leader So started…"
Baek Su-gyeong sighed at the pair blaming each other like children.
"Aigoo, my head…"
No peaceful days ahead, it seemed.
Averting his eyes from the two women locked in a staring contest across him, Baek Su-gyeong shook his head.
Beyond his shoulder, white snowflakes began drifting down gently.