The Jade Hairpin Must Be Returned
The atmosphere in the private room suddenly grew heavy. After a brief silence, Cheong tilted her head, and everyone began chiming in one by one.
“It’s true that Gongson Yoye was rude, but the Gongson Clan are people who uphold the righteous path. It wasn’t to the point where she should be harmed, was it?”
“That’s right. Sister, you mustn’t kill her or cripple her. And even if you did, there’s the Hidden Dragon Tournament. Ah, you do know that lethal techniques are forbidden during the Hidden Dragon Tournament, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll secretly slip you a few poisons that don’t show. Just do it quietly. What? Why?”
Cheong narrowed her eyes. “What do you take me for? I’m not asking because I want to hurt her. I just want to return her hairpin.”
“Is there really any need for that? She herself denied that it was hers, so even if you return it, she probably won’t thank you.”
At that, Cheong smiled awkwardly. “Well, earlier Jegal mentioned something about women’s underwear.”
“Sister. When you say it like that, don’t I sound like a pervert? Women’s underwear?”
“What? So you’re saying I’m lying? You clearly said you took off a woman’s underwear without her noticing.”
“This is the technique of editing out parts to twist the truth into a lie… By removing the subject, it sounds like I was the one who did it. As expected, Sister, you are terrifying.”
“You know that, yet you still act up every now and then. Anyway, so what Jegal told me was that when he returned the stolen underwear, he got slapped, right?”
“If possible, could you please attach the subject, ‘the Divine Thief’?”
“It’s all the same anyway. Think about it. If an ordinary woman experienced something like that—whether she could fail to notice is another matter—but wouldn’t she pretend not to know rather than slap him? Like, ‘That’s not my underwear.’”
Because if she got angry there, it would be the same as confirming that the underwear was hers. At that moment, the woman would no longer be an ordinary woman. She would become a woman not wearing underwear!
From Cheong’s perspective, one could say she had realized the pinnacle of comfort, but the sense of liberation and the situation of being exposed in front of others were two entirely different things.
“So, yeah. I thought I was being hasty.”
“But it’s just a hairpin, isn’t it? What’s the big deal about a woman owning a hairpin that she would make such a fuss and get Cheong locked up for two days without food?”
“That’s not for me to judge. Let’s say, for example, that something like an aphrodisiac came out of San’s pocket…”
If something stolen from someone like San turned out to be an aphrodisiac? The women following him would probably lick their lips and say, “Wow, I know how to drink aphrodisiacs too. I want to drink it all.”
If it came from Dang Nan-a’s pocket, everyone would just think it was natural since she was from the Tang Clan.
But if an aphrodisiac came from Jegal’s pocket? He would simply be a muscle pervert gym rat. People would point fingers and call him a guy with the body of a beast, the brain of a sage, and the heart of an animal.
“Sister? Why are you only looking at me……”
“Never mind. Everyone’s circumstances are different, so San would probably deny it in a deep voice with his eyebrows twitching, saying it’s not his. Since it’s the person involved who feels the shame, I shouldn’t carelessly judge.”
If instead of a hairpin it had been some long phallic object, Cheong wouldn’t have held it up in front of everyone and asked, “Which one of these golden dick, silver dick, or wooden dick did this bastard steal from you? Pick one right now in front of all these market people and take it.”
But for Gongson Yoye, the hairpin might have been on the same level of shame as a dick. Saying her intentions were good was no excuse. Likewise, saying she didn’t know wasn’t either.
After all, that young lady Gongson Yoye had gotten angry, vehemently denied it, and left. Yet the look in her eyes when she glanced at the ornament had been quite anxious, so it might be an item with a story behind it.
“So returning it is the right thing to do. Yep.”
“Wow, Cheong, your heart is really… wow, how can you be like this. Let me see your clothes for a second. I need to check if there are any sewing marks.”
Cheonui Mubong—meaning heavenly garments without seams—referred to the clothing of a fairy or skill on par with it.
As Dang Nan-a said this and suddenly pulled Cheong into a hug, her voice was filled with unmistakable emotion.
“Cheong really is too kind. Your heart is beautiful, and your face is beautiful too.”
At the direct shower of praise, Cheong gave an awkward smile and replied, “Nan-a. Isn’t the position of your hands a bit strange? Usually when you hug someone, you don’t put strength in your grip, right?”
“No? I hugged you from the side, so it’s a very natural arm position? This is how we do it in Sichuan? It’s not strange at all?”
“This girl, the moment there’s a chance.”
Cheong peeled Dang Nan-a off. She struggled quite a bit to cling on and not let go, but there was no way she could match Cheong in strength.
“So, where is Lady Gongson?”
“She’s staying at the guest quarters of the Alliance.”
At that moment, Jegal Ihyeon casually cut in. “Sister, just in case, it’s not Gongson but Lady Gong.”
“Huh? Then her name is Son Yoye?”
“That’s correct. However, it is better to call her Lady Gongson. Lady Gongson herself would prefer that.”
“What’s that about?”
Jegal Ihyeon took a deep breath. A grand explanation was about to begin.
One of Cheong's greatest weaknesses is her carelessness and impulsive decision-making. Her greatest strength is her outstanding execution ability—she never hesitates once she makes up her mind. When these two traits combine? All the good disappears, and only the flaws double in size. This is also a characteristic of people who stupidly repeat the same task two, three, four times when it could have been finished in one go.
“Hmm. What do you think, San? Want to come along? You went through the trouble of covering your face. Wouldn’t you get recognized if you go?”
“Hm. Um. Hmmm.”
Paeng Daesan pondered far more seriously than usual. And it was true—those few days of walking around with his face covered had been a whole new world. He had realized that while everyone in the Central Plains lived so comfortably, he alone had been suffering. So he should enjoy it a few more days. Paeng Daesan reached his conclusion.
“I’ll go with you. It’s not like I don’t know anyone at the Dragon Phoenix Association gathering, right?”
Paeng Daesan was inwardly flustered. He had meant to stay behind, but the answer had slipped out on its own.
“It hasn’t just been a day or two. You’ve looked quite refreshed lately. Since Jegal and Nan-a are there too, you don’t have to push yourself.”
“It’s fine. As someone said, I’m a guy with no friends, so I might as well make some now. The one friend I do have is so unreliable that it feels like babysitting a child by the water’s edge.”
Paeng Daesan spoke as if he had convinced himself. That’s right. If he let her loose at the Dragon Phoenix Association unguarded, who knew what kind of accident she would cause. This was an unavoidable decision for the peace of the orthodox Murim.
And so, with her outstanding execution ability, Cheong immediately set off for the Murim Alliance. Because Gongson Yoye was there. It was as simple as a mountain dweller climbing a mountain.
However, by the time it was around 3 p.m., a proper Central Plains person would not normally be staying in their lodgings at this hour. So they were told she had gone to the Changryang Pavilion for a Dragon Phoenix Association gathering.
The Changryang Pavilion happened to be in the exact opposite direction from the Murim Alliance relative to the inn Cheong had chosen. It was like doing the work twice.
Thus, upon arriving at the Changryang Pavilion in Kaifeng, it was a field of peppers packed full of men. It was not the scene Cheong had imagined of seven or eight people chatting together. It was as if every senior, junior, and current member of an alumni association had gathered, occupying an entire floor in a noisy drinking party.
With the major event ahead, nearly all the young elites of the orthodox factions had flocked here, so of course the crowd was massive.
“Oh dear. It seems to be a Blue Dragon Association gathering. The Phoenix Association must be held at a different location.”
The Dragon Phoenix Association meant a meeting of the Blue Dragon and the Phoenix—Blue Dragon for the men, Phoenix for the women.
“I came for nothing. Since I haven’t taken off my face covering yet, I’ll withdraw here.”
Paeng Daesan said his mind had changed at the sight and quietly slipped away. When Jegal Ihyeon went in to ask for the location of the Phoenix Association gathering, only Cheong and Dang Nan-a were left standing there, receiving the burning gazes of all the men who had discovered a beauty.
To be precise, Dang Nan-a was the one receiving them. Because Cheong was wearing a face veil.
It was then. Cheong spotted a familiar face and shouted.
“Ah! Sword-Friend!”
“Wait, this voice—Sword-Friend! Is it Sword-Friend?!”
Namgung Sinjae jumped to his feet and welcomed Cheong. Although he spoke as if he had recognized her by her voice, there was only one person in the world who called Namgung Sinjae “Sword-Friend.”
“No, Sword-Friend. But what’s with the face veil? Did you get a scar on your face? Even so, don’t be too heartbroken. A scar on the face means you stared down your enemy until the very end. For a swordsman, isn’t that an honorable medal?”
“Ugh! Sword-Friend! If you say something like that to a woman who actually has a scar on her face, you might get stabbed with that beloved sword of yours! But for a swordsman, in the end, one must become a scabbard and embrace the blade. Not a saber sheath or spear sheath.”
“Indeed! It would not do for any weapon other than a sword to take this life. I believe you. You are definitely my Sword-Friend. This brilliantly woven precious statement is a golden maxim that only my Sword-Friend could utter—a peerless masterpiece under heaven.”
“Yeah. Have you been well?”
“What trouble could I have gotten into? What about you, Sword-Friend?”
“My chest got split in half recently. From here to here, and from here to here, leaving a sword wound in the shape of the character for ten, 十.”
“Ooh! Splendid! It is the regret of a lifetime that I cannot ask to see it.”
It was a half-reasonable, half-unreasonable answer. It was cool, but since the location was what it was, he wouldn’t ask to see it.
“As expected, I knew you’d understand. Unfortunately, Nan-a here treated me so well that no scar remains.”
“Ah. So it’s Lady Dang.”
“Understanding Poison Flower!”
“Understanding Poison Flower!”
“Understanding Poison Flower!”
The men, who had been focused on the sole red point among them, simultaneously shouted her title as if they had made a promise. It was a razor-sharp chorus, as if they had practiced it in advance.
Cheong frowned beneath her veil. What the hell? Was that exclamation even strictly timed, like one, two, three, now?
Namgung Sinjae continued the greeting. “We met at the previous birthday celebration, but… well, to be honest, since you were always stuck next to the Jade Qilin, we didn’t get to greet each other. What was it you said? That since the husband was present, the wife could not speak with an unrelated man?”
“Uwaah! You’ve got the wrong person! I never said anything like that! There are things you can and cannot say to a maiden who isn’t even married yet!”
Dang Nan-a’s face turned bright red as she played dumb.
Hmm. I should ask Jegal for a favor. I need to get a collection of Dang Nan-a’s quotes from her grandfather the Poison Old Man’s birthday celebration. The more you dig, the more fun stuff keeps coming out.
Then Cheong and Namgung Sinjae drew their swords and lightly tapped their scabbards together. Normally, when swordsmen clashed blades, it meant nothing, but treating it as an insult a hundred times worse than bumping shoulders was the greeting method that revealed true friendship forged through the sword.
“So, Sword-Friend, what brings you here?”
“Ah. Do you know where the Phoenix Association gathering is?”
“Ah, I see. The space was too small, so we split up. The Phoenix Association should be in full swing at the Yangun Pavilion.”
“Yangun Pavilion. Hmm. If you had said that in one word, why did that Jegal guy……”
Then Cheong’s eyes caught sight of Jegal Ihyeon, who was excitedly chattering away without pause. Of course he would. Cheong immediately understood. Since she wasn’t going to bring Jegal to the women’s gathering anyway, she might as well let him talk to his heart’s content this time.
Cheong and Dang Nan-a had once again come up empty and now headed for the Yangun Pavilion. If they had sent a servant ahead to ask, they could have gone in one go, but this was already their third trip.
“Cheong, the Phoenix Association is war. It’s completely different from the Blue Dragon Association where they drink together and get along as friends. Those vixens are so good at checking each other, sneering, and secretly tormenting one another. You might not know about women’s society, Cheong, but it’s a truly horrific and merciless place.”
This was what Dang Nan-a, who had essentially just entered the Murim, was saying to Cheong, the great elder of the all-female Sinnyeo Sect. But having seen how the Hall of Joyous Lust operated, Cheong had a feeling that maybe, just maybe, it was true. Though since it was coming from Dang Nan-a, she still couldn’t quite believe it.
“So just trust me, Cheong. I am the number one of the Five Flowers of Murim, the Understanding Poison Flower, Dang Nan-a. Just stick right by my side.”
“Hmm. If you say so.”
Of course, since Cheong was tall, to anyone looking it seemed like Dang Nan-a was the one clinging. And in reality, she was clinging.
Thus, Cheong stepped into the pavilion. In Dang Nan-a’s words, it was a cruel battlefield without spears or swords, where they aimed for each other’s dignity and crushed it—the vixen’s den of the Phoenix Association.