Is This Sichuan Food? (1)
Dang Cheonjin, patriarch of the Tang family. Right after receiving reports on the elders' conditions, he was in the midst of handling incoming updates from various sources about potential additional traitors.
'At least twenty kinds of herbs missing from the pharmacy...'
Medicinal ingredients and flora and fauna used for extreme poisons had been stolen—anywhere from five parts to as much as seventy percent. From the family's warriors to the servants and even a few who had supported the Seven Elders, all had vanished alongside him. The tragic part was that, in this situation, he couldn't shake his suspicions toward the remaining elders.
'...They might have deliberately left some pawns behind.'
Now more than ever, he needed to rely on those he could trust. On reliable powerhouses like Hwa Ryeon, for instance.
'But right now, Lady Hwa Ryeon has taken her first steps under a master I've never seen before.'
If not for that master, Soso might still be chasing false leads without returning, or she could have been half-crippled by the Thousand Leaf Poison and Scattering Hole Poison. And the people with her? They were the cream of the crop among those he could spare. If they had fallen to poison, a true bloodbath would have swept through the Tang family.
Imagining his precious daughter and warriors suffering made Cheonjin's head throb with pain. At the same time, gratitude welled up toward the Murim Alliance. For sending such a master, that is.
'Perhaps Lady Hwa Ryeon entered that master's tutelage at the Alliance's behest.'
It was a sad misunderstanding on Cheonjin's part—he hadn't heard that his daughter had been rude to that Murim Alliance master and gotten a thorough beating for it.
As Cheonjin breathed a sigh of relief at the emergence of someone to help resolve the crisis, an unfamiliar scent began wafting in from beyond the door, where the meditative fasting banquet was being prepared amid sweet aromas.
"...Flower scent?"
A floral fragrance carried on the spring breeze from somewhere. Puzzled, Cheonjin set aside his documents and stepped outside.
And there...
"What... is this?"
He took in the sight of plum blossoms blooming riotously everywhere. So bewildered, he turned to a nearby servant girl.
"Wh-what in the world is going on here?"
"I-I don't know either, sir... I'll go find out!"
The servant dropped her laundry and scampered off. Cheonjin started to say it wasn't necessary, but...
'...I am curious.'
Curious as he was, he simply hoped she'd return quickly.
'Plum blossoms...'
Gazing blankly at the profusion of blooms, Cheonjin drew in a deep breath.
"...I hope this is a sign that spring has come to the Tang family."
All the calamities that had befallen them until now had been a harsh winter's trial. Cheonjin desperately wished these plum blossoms signaled the end of that bitter cold. In the end, all that remained to him was the family and his children.
The position of family patriarch sounded grand, but he was merely a father with a wife and kids.
As I looked at the boy who'd been staring at me, Soso came into view beside him.
"Hey, there's Lady Dang."
I waved enthusiastically, jumping a bit. After hesitating, Dang Soso slowly descended the stairs toward us.
"Is that so? Anyway, are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine, milady. And please, speak casually to me...!"
Hwa Ryeon groaned beside us. Turning, I saw Ryeon had regained consciousness but was leaning on Ji Yeon, groaning.
"Ryeon... D-did this lady go too far?"
Worried, I asked. Ryeon smiled brightly in response.
"No, Master. It was simply that this disciple was too lacking and inadequate. Please don't worry. I'm truly fine. I gained so much insight."
"Ryeon..."
How could her heart be so pure? I stroked her head gently and pulled a candy from my bosom, popping it into her mouth.
"Eat this and perk up."
"Th-thank you, Master."
Watching Ryeon so eager to learn filled me with pride. And...
"Ji Yeon."
"Yes, Master."
"...You were impressive too."
"...!!"
Ji Yeon had been impressive as well. She'd used her keen eyes to engrave my duel with Ryeon firmly in her mind, making it her own.
"The more advanced and refined techniques you witness, the more you can adapt into your own arsenal."
"......"
"Keep it up from here on."
Thanks to what Seol Mang had told me about the Zhuge family's Wall Eyes, Ji Yeon would grow even more. She'd discern techniques suited to her, just like how she'd conceived that new lightness skill before, and show us even greater feats.
"...Yes, Master."
Ji Yeon replied with a face like she was holding back a laugh.
'...Is there something on my face?'
[Seol Mang, is there something on my face?]
[Hmm, no issues—you're pretty as ever!]
[...Thanks.]
[Why the lukewarm reaction...?]
Was I forgetting I used to be a guy? Sighing, I smiled at Dang Soso, who had approached unnoticed.
"Didn't realize you'd arrived."
"That was a splendid martial display, Benefactor."
Soso beamed, calling it truly splendid. I downplayed it and shifted my gaze to the boy beside her.
'...A bit taller than me.'
A boy slightly shorter than Soso but a tad taller than me. I had a good idea who he was.
'At this Young Phoenix Tournament, there were two unusually young participants who stood out.'
They hadn't earned a nickname after getting trounced by Hwa Ryeon, but climbing that far was admirable.
"This is my younger brother, Dang Sohyeok."
"...Pleased to meet you, Benefactor. I'm Dang Sohyeok."
Sohyeok bowed politely. I smiled back warmly.
"No need for such formal titles. You look about my age, Young Master Dang."
"R-really...!"
Sohyeok seemed faintly pleased. Huh.
Normally, the response to that would be...
"...Master."
"Ah......"
"B-Benefactor......"
[Hmm... Milady. From this one's knowledge, Sohyeok is seventeen. That's a first-year middle schooler in their terms.]
...Something like that. Ji Yeon, Hwa Ryeon, and Soso treated me like some old monster hiding my age, fine. But...
[...Seol Mang, is it that bad? Overdoing it?]
[After showing off such skills, probably.]
[Ahaha......]
Even Seol Mang said it was too much, pricking my conscience.
"...More than seventeen."
"Ah... H-how did you know I'm seventeen?"
Sohyeok asked, flustered, suggesting maybe not. I just smiled without answering.
"B-Benefactor, this way! The meditative fasting banquet is ready. Father must be waiting."
Soso, sweating between us and flustered, guided us to the banquet hall.
On the way, my disciples and I admired the plum blossoms blooming all over the Tang family grounds.
[Plum Blossoms for Miles... Haah... Milady, can this one be honest?]
[What?]
[It was ecstatic...!]
Seol Mang gushed in that cute voice about how ecstatic it was, explaining how to better execute the 24 Plum Flower Sword Forms and the beauty of Plum Blossoms for Miles. Listening to Seol Mang's radio broadcast, we took our seats at the banquet.
After blankly admiring the blooming plums, Cheonjin was escorted by servants to the banquet hall. With his wife away, he stood there awkwardly alone.
There, he heard about the plum blossoms blanketing the grounds.
"...They say the lady's benefactor executed forms multiple times, filling the training ground with plum blossoms."
"...A technique I've never heard of."
He'd heard it was a Nangong family technique, for sure.
'...A self-created art that summons a sea of plum blossoms?'
His thoughts veering that way, Cheonjin nodded unconsciously.
'If so, it makes some sense... As expected, the Murim Alliance's hidden master is something else.'
Nangong's secret weapon, the Alliance's pride, a sect leader who devised his own swordsmanship. How poetic, he mused, lost in delusional inference.
'...On par with the Sword Sovereign, Blood Fiend, or Heavenly Demon in power.'
Half right, half wrong, his fantasies rolled on unchecked. By now, no one could stop him.
"Father."
Soso's voice rang out. Meaning the honored guest had arrived too. Cheonjin banished his delusions and greeted Hayeon with a stern, serious expression.
"You've arrived."
"Greetings, Patriarch."
The master, hood pulled low over a veiled face, cupped his fists in salute. Feeling deeply honored, Cheonjin returned it hastily and mentioned one thing.
"I've heard your hair and eyes are somewhat unique, Benefactor. No need to worry about them while you're here."
Said to score points, Hayeon flinched before replying.
"...Is there really no spicy food?"
"Pardon...?"
No spicy food? Why on earth? To Hayeon, that mattered more than courtesy.