A Taste of Their Own Medicine
"Lady Yeon! Have you lost your mind?! How dare you ask the Chief Military Advisor such a question?!"
Namgung Byeok scolded me, his face flushed with agitation.
But I didn't feel offended in the slightest.
"Hahaha, I was just too curious."
After all, I was the one who had saved the entire Namgung Family, including the Sword Emperor Namgung Seon himself.
If he was raising his voice at someone like me... it could only mean one thing, right?
I smirked.
"You really do have a crush on the Chief Military Advisor, don't you?"
"That... How can you speak of it so bluntly? I merely admire her from afar."
"Hehehe."
I nudged him with my elbow.
"Well, isn't that great? You can carry on the family line."
"W-What are you talking about?! I haven't even sent her a love letter yet, so how can you speak of children?!"
"A love letter?"
Don't tell me he already wrote a love letter? Can a middle-aged man's love really be this innocent?
"Then what are you waiting for? It's not like your background is lacking."
Namgung Byeok was the second son of the Sword Emperor, and the younger brother of the current family head.
On top of that, he held a fairly high position in the Military Department, so he was by no means unworthy of standing beside Jegal Yeong.
He shook his head.
"Ahem! Putting that aside, Lady Yeon. Is it true that you had an altercation with Moyong Cheon of the Moyong Family?"
"Huh?"
Changing the subject so suddenly. Is he really that embarrassed?
"While the Namgung Family was faltering, the Moyong Family made significant strides. That is why Moyong Cheon, the eldest son of their family head, has been running wild without restraint."
"Ah, so he's the heir to the family?"
No wonder he was so incredibly rude.
I suppose one needed that kind of backing to grow up without ever getting beaten up by anyone.
He nodded.
"Their family head, Moyong Hwi, is solely focused on expanding their influence. Who would dare stop a young master who acts entirely as he pleases?"
"The people under him must have a hard time."
If he was this rotten on the outside, he must be even worse at home.
The members of the Moyong Family were probably either suffering in misery or jumping on the bandwagon to egg him on.
He leaned in slightly.
"So, try not to clash with him too much. While your talent is indeed like a crane among chickens, you could still find yourself in danger if an entire family decides to hunt you down."
"Mmm... I understand. As long as they don't come after me first."
Come to think of it, I never got to hear the rest of the story about the love letter.
The subject-changing skills of working adults are truly terrifying.
Even when you know they're doing it, you find yourself swept along at their pace before you even realize it.
Knead, knead.
"Is the pressure to your liking?"
"It's amazing."
After leaving the Military Hall, I was currently receiving a massage in a recovery room inside the Medical Hall.
"This is really free, right?"
"Yes. Massages are free for holders of the Sapphire Plaque. We also offer discounts on medicinal pills."
Jackpot!
I used to criticize the connection-based society of ancient China, but now that I was the one receiving the benefits, it was absolutely incredible.
Not only the Medical Hall, but meals at the cafeteria were free, lodging was free, and even sending carrier pigeons was free for a few times a day!
Rub, rub.
"This is an aromatic oil imported from the Western Regions."
"It smells so good..."
As the scent of cypress from the bed mingled with the floral aroma of the oil, my mind grew pleasantly hazy.
Add to that the massage technique of gently pressing while circulating true qi.
"Ahhh..."
Was it really okay for me to enjoy such luxury when I hadn't paid a single copper to the Murim Alliance?
Knead, knead.
"Your skin is truly wonderful. It's almost like a newborn baby's."
"Well, technically, that's true."
It was a body newly reconstructed by the Guihua Preservation. So, calling it reborn wasn't much of an exaggeration.
She smoothed her hands over my back.
"Whoever becomes your husband in the future will be incredibly lucky. One would have to accumulate virtue over three lifetimes to marry someone like you, young lady."
"I've never really thought about that..."
I accepted living as a woman because it was better than being a eunuch, but conversations like this still felt awkward.
Hmm... If I keep drifting along like this, will I end up like Jegal Yeong?
That would be a bit of a problem.
Rub, rub.
"You're still young, so there's no need to worry too much. Why don't you take a good nap now and then visit the tea house later?"
"A tea house? A place to drink tea?"
"Yes. The tea house is also free for Sapphire Plaque holders."
"Really?!"
Long live the Murim Alliance!
Doyeondang, a tea house nestled deep within the bamboo forest of the Murim Alliance.
It was originally built for scholars to read scriptures and classics.
However...
-Chatter, chatter.
"Hahaha! Junior brother, did you hear the news?"
"Benefactor, about what happened yesterday..."
It was now used as a gathering place for the rising stars of the Murim. The reason was simple: it was the best tea house where one could get a discount using the Alliance's plaques.
The tea houses in the inner hall offered no discounts and were too expensive, while the ones in the outer hall allowed just about anyone in, turning them into noisy marketplaces.
Thus, Doyeondang had been chosen as the gathering spot for the young martial artists.
And today, an unexpected guest paid a visit to this very place.
-Whisper, whisper.
"Who on earth is that woman?"
"You know, the one who recently received the Sapphire Plaque."
"Heh... I'd believe it even if they said she received it solely for her looks."
"Should we ask to join her table?"
"Tsk, the Flash Sword himself is her guarantor. Do you think someone like us would even catch her eye? Don't waste your breath."
A new face always attracted attention. Even more so if it belonged to an absolute beauty.
Step, step.
"Hum~ hum~ hum~"
Of course, Yeonhwa didn't care about those glances in the slightest. Her mind was filled with only one thing: free refreshments.
It's all free!
While other plaques only offered discounts, the Sapphire Plaque made everything completely free!
He swallowed hard.
And this was a fact that Paeng Sam, the tea master of Doyeondang, was also well aware of.
A troublesome customer has arrived.
A tea master was an expert who specialized in brewing and serving tea—essentially the equivalent of a modern-day barista.
Tsk, tsk. She's probably going to drink to her heart's content just because it's free.
No matter the era, those who truly appreciated taste were rare.
This rule applied to Doyeondang as well.
Young martial artists who didn't know the first thing about tea kept ordering expensive varieties just because of the discounts, wasting precious tea leaves.
He bowed.
"What can I get for you?"
However, protesting in front of armed martial artists was a quick way to lose one's head. Thus, Paeng Sam found his small joy in petty, silent rebellions.
"West Lake Longjing, please."
I knew it.
West Lake Longjing was a premium tea that even a three-year-old child knew of.
It was the obvious choice for anyone drinking for free.
"Here it is."
Slide.
As soon as he heard the order, Paeng Sam dumped the prepared tea leaves into the teapot.
Take this.
They were the perfect leaves for someone who couldn't tell the difference.
But then...
Pinch.
"Is this really West Lake Longjing?"
Yeonhwa suddenly picked up a single tea leaf from the pot.
Startled by her unexpected action, Paeng Sam stammered.
"O-Of course it is West Lake Longjing..."
She tilted her head.
"Isn't West Lake Longjing considered best when harvested before the Qingming Festival?"
"Pardon?"
"The leaves should be flat, straight, and jade-green. That's why it's called 'sparrow's tongue.' But this Longjing looks more like twisted chicken feet... Can you really call this West Lake Longjing?"
"T-That is..."
There was one fact that Paeng Sam couldn't possibly know: Yeonhwa's knowledge of tea far surpassed that of a mere expert.
In ancient China, the tea ceremony was a core cultural refinement.
Naturally, it had been included in Yeop Hoo-hoo's spartan training curriculum. Yeonhwa was already a tea master whose skills would be recognized even in the imperial palace.
She shook her head.
"Just give me regular green tea and some osmanthus rice cakes instead."
"Ugh...!"
She had crushed him completely, without even giving him a chance to redeem himself.
Did I expect too much from something free?
The fact that she said it out of genuine consideration rather than malice made him feel even more pathetic.
Slide.
"H-Here you go..."
Yet, just as Paeng Sam poured his heart and soul into brewing a green tea to salvage at least a shred of his pride—
Step, step.
"Oh, so you were here."
"Huh? You are..."
Before she could even enjoy her tea, two uninvited guests appeared.
And thus, Paeng Sam was destined to remain a low-rate tea brewer in Yeonhwa's memory forever.
"Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Moyong Cheon of the Moyong Family."
"And I am Heo Yeop of the Qingcheng Sect."
Unlike their terrible first impression, the two introduced themselves properly to Yeonhwa.
"I didn't know the Murim Alliance had a tea house like this."
"Haha, it is a private tea house built by our family. A very quiet place."
Yeonhwa had followed them to a secluded tea room after they promised to treat her to some fine tea.
Any other woman would have been terrified, but Yeonhwa knew she could easily crush both of them even if they attacked her together, so she wasn't worried at all.
She tilted her head.
"But why tea all of a sudden? It's not like we're close."
"Friendship can always be built, can it not?"
"I'm not really interested..."
"Hahaha, perhaps a taste of a rare tea might change your mind."
Clack.
Moyong Cheon took out a teapot and tea leaves.
"Would Da Hong Pao, a tea reserved for the imperial family, suffice?"
"R-Really?!"
Da Hong Pao was an incredibly rare tea, almost all of which was delivered directly to the imperial palace.
It was something that would make anyone with an appreciation for tea lose their mind.
He pushed the pot forward.
"Here, brew it yourself."
"Huh?"
"You might feel uneasy if we were the ones to brew it."
Moyong Cheon smiled amiably, acting generous.
In truth, the drug had already been coated on the inside of the teacup. It was a classic yet highly effective method.
Trickle.
"Hum~ hum~ hum~"
Unaware of this, Yeonhwa hummed happily as she poured the hot water.
Soon, all three cups were filled to the brim.
"Well, don't mind if I do."
Slurp.
As Yeonhwa took a sip, the other two also brought their cups to their lips to avoid suspicion.
After all, their cups were perfectly clean.
-Whisper, whisper.
"Are you sure the drug will work?"
"Indeed, Daoist brother. I mixed a potent qi-dispersing poison with an aphrodisiac strong enough to make even a monk scale a wall..."
"Hehehe. I can't wait."
The two had already enjoyed themselves multiple times using this exact method.
Their victims were always too ashamed to report them, making it a perfect crime every time.
Gulp.
"Can I have another cup?"
"Haha, drink as much as you like."
She's practically licking the poison clean off the cup.
Whether she knew what was happening or not, Yeonhwa simply focused on enjoying the tea.
Trickle.
By the time the three of them had emptied several cups...
"Ah..."
Yeonhwa drained her final cup and collapsed onto the table, her body going limp.
"The drug is finally kicking in!"
"Whew... I thought there was something wrong with the dose."
Any other woman would have passed out after a single sip. It was only natural for them to be flustered when she showed no reaction after several cups.
She frowned.
"So you did put something weird in the tea."
"Hahaha! We didn't put it in the tea; we coated the inside of the cup."
"Since you drank both the qi-dispersing poison and the aphrodisiac, you are now completely at our mercy, young lady."
They were about to toy with a woman who could easily be called the most beautiful under heaven. Moyong Cheon and Heo Yeop were practically bursting with excitement, grins plastered all over their faces.
"A qi-dispersing poison and an aphrodisiac... How unfortunate."
-Guffaw.
"Indeed! Extremely unfortunate! You should have known your place and crawled before us. If you had, we might have treated you gently."
"No, I meant unfortunate for you."
"Huh?"
Slide.
Yeonhwa, who had been slumped over, suddenly stood up as if nothing had happened.
"I could neutralize it, but I couldn't tell what kind of poison it was."
"What? Neutralize?"
"Well... you probably won't understand even if I explain, but poison is just another form of qi."
This was the very reason she had followed them without hesitation.
Poison was qi. And if it was qi, she could easily handle it using the Guihua Preservation, which possessed unparalleled efficacy in controlling qi.
"You bitch! What kind of trick did you—"
Stumble.
"W-What?!"
Unlike Yeonhwa, who stood perfectly fine, Moyong Cheon suddenly felt his legs give out and collapsed to the floor.
"Why do you think I kept pouring tea for you guys?"
"D-Don't tell me..."
"It turns out I can expel the poison back out of my body. Since there were two drugs, I divided them equally and gave you one each. Well? Aren't you grateful?"
"You... wretched bitch!!!"
Step, step.
"They say karma always comes back around. Take today as a lesson and never lay a hand on a woman again."
Yeonhwa gave a light wave and walked out of the tea room.
Watching her leave, Moyong Cheon suddenly felt a strange sense of unease.
Today as a lesson?
It made no sense. He had merely collapsed from the qi-dispersing poison. What lesson was there to learn?
At that moment...
"Daoist brother..."
His eyes met Heo Yeop's, who was staring at him.
A flushed face.
Heavy, ragged breathing.
Even beads of sweat dripping down his skin.
He flinched.
Huh? Wait, what?!
Only then did Yeonhwa's words begin to make sense.
If she divided the drugs and gave us one each...!
Since the qi-dispersing poison had gone to Moyong Cheon, who had received the aphrodisiac?
Step, step.
"Daoist brother..."
And what kind of effect would an aphrodisiac strong enough to make a monk scale a wall have?
"Huh? Wait! Don't come any closer! Stay back!"
Finally... what did Yeonhwa mean when she said it was unfortunate?
"No!!! Not this!!! Is anyone out there?! Somebody save me, please!!!"
Moyong Cheon screamed at the top of his lungs. However, no one outside could hear him.
Because this was the private tea room he had chosen himself—one that boasted the absolute best soundproofing.
Grab.
"Daoist brother!!!"
It was summer.