Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Let's Go! To the Tang Family! (2)
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"Benefactor, welcome!"
"...?"
As we approached the main gate, Ji-yeon hurried to my side with a bright greeting.
Why are you coming over to my side?
I wanted to ask, but...
Hyun-deok, Ji-cheon, and even the matriarch of the Zhuge family were all acting like it was the most natural thing in the world.
While I fumbled for words...
"Benefactor."
"...Y-yes, great hero."
Hyun-deok addressed me.
"My daughter wishes to travel the Central Plains for a time to seek enlightenment."
"..."
"In the process, I would like to ask you to serve as her escort. If it seems rude, just say the word—I'll give Ji-yeon a proper scolding."
Hyun-deok, asking me to escort Ji-yeon.
Normally, you'd think twice before burdening a benefactor with something like this.
'Do whatever it takes to make him our benefactor...'
His eyes made it clear: do anything to earn that title.
Fair enough—we'd already taken so much from them without a shred of shame.
No wonder the gifts were so generous; he'd stuffed them full of silver and gold, all to say, "Please take good care of my daughter."
And now, threatening to scold poor, innocent Ji-yeon? How could that not soften my resolve?
A request impossible to refuse.
Checkmate.
Honestly, traveling alone sounded lonelier than having Ji-yeon tag along.
Better some chatter than empty silence.
Just one issue: she had to get along with our Snow Python.
[Ugh... My chest...]
[What's wrong, Snow Python?]
Why did this thing love big breasts so much?
With a sigh, I nodded to Hyun-deok for now.
"Understood. I'll escort the Heavenly Calculating Strategic Phoenix on her journey."
"Thank you, benefactor."
Hyun-deok bowed deeply.
Seeing him do so, I flashed a grin and handed over a gift of my own.
"This is..."
"Something to remember me by—a scale from my spirit beast."
One scale from Snow Python.
Not ripped off by force; it had given it willingly.
"No telling how much inner energy it holds, but it should aid in advancing your realm."
"No, I can't possibly..."
"Just a small token."
A humble gift, born from guilt over claiming the Zhuge family's benefactor title so shamelessly.
As Hyun-deok and Ji-cheon gaped in surprise, Snow Python slithered out from hiding in my robes and revealed itself.
Sacred spirit beasts rarely showed themselves to mortals.
Yet Snow Python opened its mouth to Ji-cheon and Hyun-deok.
The Zhuge family owes my master a great debt. Receiving such a gift is only natural—keep it well.
Snow Python spoke in a solemn masculine voice.
I considered flicking its head to force a feminine tone...
'...Mess with it here, and it'll bruise its pride for real.'
Let it go.
Better a dignified first—and last—impression.
"We'll be off, then."
"Safe travels, benefactor. And Ji-yeon, my daughter—stay healthy."
"Yes, Dad."
Ji-yeon grinned, waving from my side.
Together, we set off for the Tang Family.
Meanwhile, the moment Ji-yeon and Ha-yeon departed from the Zhuge family in Hubei...
At Mount Hua, Hwa-ryeon's excommunication proceedings were drawing to a close.
"...Senior Sister, why in the world are you leaving Mount Hua?"
"..."
A boy older than Hwa-ryeon approached, gazing at her.
Hwa-ryeon didn't know it, but that senior disciple was the one who would stay until the bitter end years later, during the Strange Fire Spirit's rampage—perishing in the ashes alongside his junior sister.
Meeting his eyes, Hwa-ryeon offered a gentle smile.
"...Will you protect Mount Hua in my place?"
"What do you...!"
"..."
A pang of sorrow welled up.
But Hwa-ryeon understood.
She could no longer remain at Mount Hua.
She knew the Strange Fire Spirit had set its sights on her.
No grave sin had she committed.
Merely gaining enlightenment was enough to see her cast out.
The elders, privy to the Strange Fire Spirit's private decree, had insisted on crippling her dantian for betraying Mount Hua and spreading its secrets abroad.
Yet those voices fell silent under the sect leader's persuasion—that it was the spirit's call to make—and the Sword Phoenix's veiled threats.
The Sword Phoenix was a monster beyond Mount Hua's control; even the elders held their tongues.
"Are you prepared?"
"...Senior Sword Phoenix."
Hwa-ryeon's pupils quivered briefly as she met the Sword Phoenix's gaze, then she nodded.
The Sword Phoenix approached with a soft smile.
"...It feels like I'm stealing your family from you for the second time."
"No—how could it be Senior Sword Phoenix's fault that I was orphaned?"
"Then taking your second family, Mount Hua, must be my fault."
"...Th-that's not..."
Hwa-ryeon floundered.
The Sword Phoenix stroked her head, then drew her into a warm embrace with a tender smile.
"Go."
"..."
"Go, and return. Drive out this mountain's fire, and bring back the warmth of plum blossoms."
"...Understood."
The Sword Phoenix offered a bitter smile, like plum petals drifting to the earth, and apologized.
"...It breaks my heart, passing this greed onto you—when I could not become Mount Hua's spring."
Hwa-ryeon shook her head at those words.
"It's my greed too, Senior Sword Phoenix."
"You needn't call me that anymore."
"...Someday, when I return to Mount Hua... I'll call you Senior Sword Phoenix with my head held high. Until then, I will."
"..."
The Sword Phoenix fell silent.
She simply cleared a path for Hwa-ryeon to approach her master.
Hwa-ryeon walked slowly forward.
'Such a shame.'
A little longer, and she could have mastered the Enhanced Coal Blossom Forms. Regret lingered.
But now, she had to let it go.
She had vowed to become Mount Hua's spring—like the plum blossoms that herald its arrival—bringing spring to the world and announcing it here upon her return.
"Head disciple Hwa-ryeon."
"...Master."
"..."
The sect leader gazed at her with a troubled expression.
Soon, he cast aside formality and opened his arms.
"Let me hold you one last time."
Seeing her master—like a father—she could no longer hold back her tears, sobbing as she threw herself into his embrace.
"Do you truly intend to leave?"
"Yes, Master."
"..."
"I want to learn so much more."
"...Yes. Mount Hua was always too small to contain you."
Her master smiled faintly and spoke his final words.
"Go, my daughter."
"...!!"
"Not as your master, but... I wish to remain your foster father. Will you call me that?"
Hwa-ryeon beamed through her tears.
"Yes, Father..."
"..."
That day, Hwa-ryeon utterly forgot the Fire Whispering Mist Dew Rain and all of Mount Hua's core arts.
Forgot her master's teachings.
Left the warm hearth of Mount Hua behind.
The world would revile her.
Even with the title of Plum Blossom Sword Phoenix, she had turned her back on the sect.
The stain of traitor would dog her steps.
Yet the Sword Phoenix and Hwa-ryeon knew it would not last forever.
For Hwa-ryeon would...
"I will bring it back. No matter what."
...Bloom the lost plum blossoms.
She set off straight for Sichuan.
"Sichuan has the Tang Family of Sichuan, Qingcheng Sect, and Emei Sect."
Qingcheng Sect wasn't worth a second look, honestly.
Their swordsmanship had shifted forms a bit, like everywhere else, but it hadn't devolved into something unrecognizable.
Still, for a Taoist sect, it carried a whiff of Buddhism—probably from Emei nearby.
In this messed-up martial world, some sects had been hit hard by the changes, others less so.
The badly affected ones: Mount Hua, Zhongnan Sect, Jecheon?, Beggars' Sect, Emei, Wudang, and so on.
The resilient ones: Zhuge, Shaolin, Nangong, etc.
Hadn't pinned down any stark common threads yet.
"And the Tang Family of Sichuan we're headed to? Famous for its super stimulating flavors."
Was Ji-yeon always this chatty?
We'd barely set out when she suddenly prostrated herself flat.
'I want Benefactor as my master!!!'
Yelled it at the top of her lungs. Nearly jumped out of my skin.
That was the moment I truly grasped Hyun-deok's "request."
'...No way they planned to settle for just an escort in the benefactor spot.'
Daughter's master.
Yeah, had to be that substantial to claim family benefactor status.
My head throbbed.
The Zhuge had little I could teach anyway.
[This one has seen the Zhuge arts once. I can likely teach them adequately.]
[...Is that so.]
Good thing rough familiarity let it mimic Hyun-deok's level, so I took her on as a provisional disciple.
Skipped the formal rites, of course.
Do that, and the Heavenly Calculating Strategic Phoenix might as well be leaving the Zhuge for good.
Ever since, Ji-yeon had been nonstop like this.
"Sichuan food... so tasty. Sweet and all."
"...?"
"Master'll probably love it. You like sweets, right?"
"Ah, no—that's not what I..."
"Huh? You don't? But Master loves sweets! I packed tons of candy, though."
Ji-yeon cocked her head.
I turned to her.
"...Ji-yeon, what was that? Sweets?"
"Yeah, sweets."
"..."
Sichuan... sweet?
"Not spicy?"
"Sichuan food's spicy? Does Master hate spice?"
Ji-yeon, questioning how it could possibly be spicy.
Grinning like only blue-eyed foreigners would call it that after one bite, I pressed my forehead again.
"What the actual fuck..."
[C-calm down, young master...]
Why had the Tang Family of Sichuan become the Sugar Family of Sichuan?