A Victor's Feast
Hwangbo's assessment of Wuhu's rice was spot on. The soft sweetness that bloomed with every chew, the moist texture—it was no exaggeration to say a single bowl turned into a feast fit for kings.
And the liquor? Originally, a drink's flavor is determined over eighty percent by its ingredients, and that was proven by this Noju brewed from Wuhu rice. The rich caramel aroma paired perfectly with its smooth finish down the throat.
"……Hoo."
Namgoong Juhee's face lit up as she sipped her Noju. No mask to hide behind this time. That smile, innocent on the surface, was dangerously heart-stopping in her sober state. If they hadn't booked a private room, every eye in the place would've been glued to her.
Luckily, the room held only Namgoong Sihoon and the Namgoong martial corps. Known as the Cheoncheon Corps, every one of them was at the 1st Rate realm. In Namgoong terms, these were the heavy hitters. Even at meals, they moved their chopsticks with such rigid poise that only the clinks echoed through the air.
"Did you see those Hwangbo bastards' faces earlier?"
"Heh heh, quite the show. That grimace on Ganggwan's mug—I'd frame it if I could."
"And what about that bitch Hwangbo Rin? Every time her face got wrecked, it felt like decades of heartburn melting away."
"This is all thanks to the young lady, right? Come on, everyone—toast! Toast!"
Yet these powerhouses were all grinning like idiots, faces slack from booze, looking less like elite warriors and more like street thugs from some back alley.
And why not? Namgoong Juhee had pulled off something legendary. She'd taken down an entire Hwangbo martial squad single-handedly. Not just that—she'd seized the momentum and swung public opinion her way. For the Namgoong Clan, who needed to win over Wuhu's hearts and expand their influence, it was exactly what they craved. No wonder the Cheoncheon Corps was buzzing.
"Young lady, was that footwork earlier the Amhyang Pyo? Looked like you'd mastered it."
"Oh, and I've got a question. How'd you dodge Hwangbo Gang's fist?"
"Hey, you idiots. Is that all you wanna ask? When she drew her sword—that was the Je Wang Geom Hyeong, right? Young lady, you didn't seriously master the Emperor Sword Form just from skimming the manual for a few hours, did you?"
"The sword! Show us the one you got! Noksu? Isn't that the blade forged by Park Yongtaek? Sixth in the world's 33 Famous Swords!"
Questions flew thick and fast, voices overlapping into a chaotic barrage. If Juhee gave a damn about others' feelings, she'd have been annoyed.
Sihoon let out a low rumble at the sight, like he was reminding them to mind their manners.
"Aren't you all getting a bit too excited? The mission hasn't even started."
"Ah."
Only then did the corps quiet down. Right—this mission wasn't about spanking the Hwangbos; it was pirate hunting.
"Danger strikes when your guard's down. Sure, roughing up some Hwangbo trash is fun, but this hype isn't pretty."
Sihoon's own lips twitched upward as he spoke. Guess he was curious too. The warriors caught on and chuckled softly.
"So, young lady. As today's MVP, we've got a few questions."
"Fire away."
"……That Amhyang Pyo. I thought it was a technique from the Huashan branch family."
"Spot on."
"But it looked deeply refined. Did you modify it or something?"
"Heh. Yeah. Tweaked it to fit my body."
Sihoon gaped at her words. She wasn't just saying she'd learned it—she'd invented it.
In the martial world, that meant grandmaster territory. The kind of talent to found a sect or clan. Legends like Jang Sambong, Damo, Hye-ga, or Baltar. Sihoon deserved credit for not yelling.
"Th-that. Y-yes. Well, truly impressive, young lady."
"Yeah… I'm pretty amazing, huh."
"And dodging Hwangbo Gang's punch?"
"Feint, sorta. Fooled him with my eyes."
"Je Wang Geom Hyeong mastered on the spot?"
"Yup."
A few back-and-forths, and Sihoon confirmed she wasn't bluffing.
Hard to believe this was the same girl from before. Her answers flowed smooth as silk, effortless and eloquent. Her lips so delicate and alluring, the drop of liquor trailing from them brimming with seductive charm—like a fox spirit….
Slap!
"…Jeez, you scared me. What's up?"
"N-no, nothing. Your talent shocked me so much I slapped my own cheek."
"Uh… sure."
Sihoon's cheeks burned red. He'd dared impure thoughts about the family head's daughter.
But could you really blame him? Drunk, she was calmer than usual, and men were wired to fall for that gap. In modern Korea, they'd call it gap moe.
"A-anyway. That sword Hwangbo Gang gave you."
"Oh, this? Name was… Yuksu? Something like that."
"Noksu."
"Right, Noksu. Decent blade?"
Juhee pulled it from her robes and swung it around. Even the casual flourish screamed masterwork. Sihoon's eyes sparkled.
"Indeed. Forged by the legendary swordsmith Park Yongtaek. His 33 Famous Swords are so superior, one could buy a fortress with a single blade. And this one…."
What? Since when is this guy such a chatterbox? Namgoong Juhee stared, baffled.
The corps, meanwhile, stretched with knowing yawns. Sihoon's one weak spot was swords, and he never shut up about them.
His half-hour lecture boiled down to three words: Expensive sword.
Sure, there was side chatter about Park Yongtaek being immortal-like, his blades having unmatched texture—but that was nerd talk for sword geeks. Nothing crucial.
More importantly, during it all, Juhee ordered five more plates of dongpo pork and demolished them. Even snatched bites from Sihoon's share. The table now held maybe three scraps of meat.
Win-win for everyone. The inn made bank, Juhee and the corps stuffed themselves, Sihoon geeked out on swords. A perfect world.
Except Sihoon footed the bill and was probably starving. Minor detail.
"You insolent bitch!"
Boom!
A strike worthy of the Peak realm. The inn table shattered to splinters. The fifth one this month—petty tragedy for the owner.
"Captain, calm down!"
"Do I look calm?!"
The captain—Hwangbo Gang—gestured at the woman sprawled on the floor, her face wrapped in bandages. Circumstantially, the Hwangbo Rin who'd gotten pummeled by Juhee earlier.
"Rin got wrecked. A perfectly smooth op ruined by some wench. How am I supposed to stay calm?"
"Family head, it's not over yet. The water bandits…."
"Exactly! It's not over—that's the problem!"
Hwangbo Gang replayed that girl's moves in his head. Her mouthy attitude was laughable, but her skills? Top-tier.
Speed, poise, killing intent to dominate foes. She'd be a powerhouse soon. Made him wonder why Namgoong had kept her under wraps.
"Our mission is to block Namgoong from gaining any foothold. Remember?"
"Of course, captain."
"With a monster like her? Impossible. They'll claw back into the Eight Great Clans, dominate Anhui in no time. A crisis yielding the top spot!"
One subordinate swallowed a retort. Hwangbo was already fighting for second among the Eight Great Clans—top was Hobuk Paengga's. But no need to poke the bear.
All but one zipped it.
"Haha! Captain, the Eight Great Clans' lead is Paengga's, right? Second's probably Moyong Clan anyway."
"Young master, Rin's down and you're saying that?"
"Big lesson for her."
"Hmph…!"
The captain didn't hide his displeasure.
"I've watched you for over twenty years."
"Yeah, you're like a big bro to me."
"But… Rin's safety doesn't seem to faze you. Just curious about that Namgoong girl?"
"Hahaha! That obvious, huh?"
Hwangbo Gang sighed. Figured.
Hwangbo Un was handsome, built, from a top clan—and the heir. Prime husband material.
Since childhood, he'd endured women's affections. And their ugly sides.
Especially the ranking, the backstabbing. One tangle, and his misogyny peaked. Women's facades made his skin crawl.
But Namgoong Juhee? Total opposite. Zero pretense, gutsy and strong like a man. No wonder the young master was hooked, Gang figured.
"Young master, I know you're sick of women's venom."
"Huh? Outta nowhere?"
"So I get the interest in her tomboy vibe. But from my years, she's just a wild mongrel. Don't get ideas."
"Haha! I'm not smitten at first sight or anything! Just wanna make friends."
"Friends… then you fall for her, and things get messy."
"Nah, no way. Unless Namgung Sojeo falls for me first."
Hwangbo Un flexed his bicep, showing off. Women would swoon: chiseled muscle, handsome face, Hwangbo prestige. Top-tier groom.
For women, anyway.