Even the Untouchable Elder Faces the Tide of Times (1): Do-hwang Appears—For Real
The Do-hwang, who had never once shown his face even at his own Hebei Peng Clan's events, had appeared right in front of Moyong Sega.
People would immediately fall into chaos, fixating on the fact that the Hebei Peng Clan's "Supreme Family Head" had crossed Moyong Sega's main gate. What guesses would that spark among them?
"To cut to the chase, Moyong Sega and the Hebei Peng Clan are forming a marriage alliance."
Do-hwang declared it plainly.
I heard this proclamation from Do-hwang himself, alongside the Peng Clan's family head and Moyong Sega's own family head, Moyong San.
"Send out two young men of marriageable age from Moyong Sega. Three would be even better."
"What level of martial prowess should we aim for?"
Moyong San's face was lit with an irrepressible smile as he questioned Do-hwang. One might expect him to be intimidated by the man, but Do-hwang possessed a magnanimous and kindly heart as abundant as his lush hair—he showed no displeasure at Moyong San's somewhat excited demeanor. There was no reason for it.
They were discussing political marriages between clans, and even if it was merely a pretext for outward appearances, a marriage was still a marriage.
"Do you have any boys aiming for the Nine Dragons?"
"Not to brag, but one of my sons, who just turned twenty this year, is gunning for the Supreme Sword Dragon title."
"Hoho, already claiming his own moniker as a future member of the Nine Dragons? Or is he inheriting the nickname from his father's days as one of them?"
"Not that I'm biased as his father, but he's a righteous, manly sort. Though compared to the youths from the branch families, his skills are a touch lacking. For reference, the branch family's boy has even greater talent."
"The deputy head's own son and a talented branch family heir... How far can we push this?"
"We're even considering a son-in-law arrangement."
"It's decided, then."
Do-hwang clapped his hands and laughed heartily.
"What do you think, Family Head?"
"Hm..."
"Of course, we respect the family head's opinion, but this is a golden opportunity."
Do-hwang addressed his own son with deferential language. Given the formal setting, and with the family head being Do-hwang's son Peng Rim, this was tantamount to saying the final decision rested with Family Head Peng Rim.
"It's no small dilemma, truly."
Peng Rim glanced at Moyong San, then at me, before slowly opening his mouth.
"My father already seems ready to offer even his own granddaughter for Moyong Sega's sake, so I have no means to refuse this political marriage."
"My apologies, Peng Family Head."
"No need for such words, Moyong Deputy Head."
Perhaps because they both handled the "administrative" affairs of their respective clans, they shared some unspoken understanding. They bowed their heads to each other and let out short, rueful chuckles.
"Father."
"Yes, my son."
"These days, if you try arranging a political marriage for the young ones, they kick up a huge fuss."
"...Huh?"
Do-hwang tilted his head at Family Head Peng Rim's words.
"What's wrong with political marriages?"
"Kids these days all go for love marriages."
"......"
"The jianghu—no, the whole world—has changed a lot."
Family Head Peng Rim sighed deeply, as if in lament.
"Inter-clan marriage proposals are exceedingly rare now. The young ones confess to the boys and girls they like, pledge their love, get engaged, and bring them home. It's commonplace."
"......"
"Especially among martial clans' daughters, this trend is pronounced—and it's all because of Jeolmok Jeong."
Jeolmok Jeong. It had upended the marriage customs of the Central Plains martial world.
"Children born to martial artists have a high chance of contracting Jeolmok Jeong. Physician Seok Mu Wol—you know why, don't you?"
"A martial artist father's yang qi stimulates the martial artist mother's yin qi. In the clash and fusion of yin and yang, the fetus forms a dantian in the womb."
Martial artists' children are born with a dantian already inside them. This wasn't some "A genius from birth" nonsense—if the fetus didn't form one, miscarriage was the norm.
"For ten months in the mother's womb, the fetus constantly absorbs her yin qi. Boys end up comparatively stunted or effeminate under its pressure."
Over the past decade or so, the new generation of young men emerging in the Central Plains martial world were slender and delicate—more like delicate beauties who could pass for women in drag—compared to the burly bandits of the mountains. It was due to internal energy. The inner arts cultivated by women influenced the fetus, raising it steeped in strong yin qi.
And the girls? If even boys with their innate yang struggled to resist, what of daughters, born perfectly suited to accumulate yin qi?
Excess yin qi led inevitably to Jeolmok Jeong.
The surest solution was prevention.
There was one unexpected method: Marry a non-martial man who couldn't even form internal energy, ensuring the child never developed a dantian from the start. Even this only suppressed Jeolmok Jeong to the utmost—it couldn't guarantee prevention.
So if the Hebei Peng Clan's daughters hoped to find good men and bear healthy children, avoiding martial artists offered the highest odds of dodging Jeolmok Jeong—at least minimally.
But now...
"Jeolmok Jeong is no longer an issue, so reviving 'old choices' we once had to abandon or avoid becomes viable."
"Indeed. Unions between martial artists. That was the natural way of the jianghu martial world from the start."
With Seok Mu Wol's Geukyang Jihwan curing even Jeolmok Jeong completely, who would fret over bearing children if it struck? Why worry?
"Countless women of the Central Plains martial world have lit their marriage lamps with non-martial families. The Hebei Peng Clan in particular often married into high official households across generations. But now... there's no need."
"Then..."
"Alliances with even stronger martial clans."
Family Head Peng Rim's eyes gleamed.
"We'll accept the marriage alliance with Moyong Sega. In fact, it might look better if we propose it. My father has already warned the world: 'Do not bully Moyong through appeals to sympathy.'"
Do-hwang nodded, twirling a lock of his hair around his finger.
"Anyone who tries that against Moyong will have the Hebei Peng Clan to deal with."
That was the alliance's purpose. No one who didn't want both Moyong Sega and Hebei Pengga as enemies would dare threaten Moyong Sega like the Yodong Eight Fiends or the Self-Sword Sect's father-daughter duo.
"Physician Seok."
"Yes, Peng Family Head."
"If Peng Clan children bear offspring who are born with Jeolmok Jeong, can you promise treatment?"
"Of course—I'll do my duty."
I clasped my hands in a formal bow toward Peng Rim.
"I'll rush to the Hebei Peng Clan myself and administer the medicine to the children. Have no fears."
"...I see. Yes, understood."
Family Head Peng Rim rose from his seat and returned my bow.
"We'll trust Physician Dragon Seok Mu Wol's grace and Moyong Sega to proceed with the marriage alliance. And our thanks."
Peng Rim shot a glance at Do-hwang, then bowed a full ninety degrees from the waist.
"For restoring my father's pride."
"Ahem."
The root of the Peng Clan's such willing cooperation? The miracle that allowed Do-hwang to appear publicly once more.
"Uh, Physician Seok?"
"Yes."
"Just in case, later on if I—"
"People often mention it. If the parents are bald, the kids might end up bald too."
The two Peng men flinched in unison.
"Come find me anytime. If Do-hwang's hair starts falling out for some reason, or if the Peng Family Head's locks come shedding like rain, I'll prescribe medicine right away."
"...Truly grateful words."
Family Head Peng Rim let out a deep sigh of genuine relief.
"Then, regarding this matter, are preparations made to bring in certain parties?"
"Certain parties?"
"Yes. Namely..."
Peng Rim pointed at the ceiling.
"The Imperial Palace."
[Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace. A certain garden within the palace grounds.]
Chirrrrp, chirrrrp.
In the garden alive with the trill of crickets, a middle-aged man in golden dragon robes strolled with hands clasped behind his back.
"Yeocheong."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The middle-aged man—the Emperor—called to the Imperial Household's Greatest Sword, Yeocheong. Dressed in Golden Guard attire, she stood behind him and bowed her head.
"Word is the reclusive Do-hwang of the Hebei Peng Clan has stirred."
"Yes."
"And his hair is now luxuriant?"
"...We've received such reports."
"Hm."
The Emperor halted, hands still behind his back.
"How did that bald head of his...?"
"Well..."
"It defies understanding. A man who hid away in shame after losing all his hair—how?"
"That is..."
"The Physician Dragon Seok Mu Wol, after all."
Yeocheong swallowed hard at the Emperor's words.
"Jeolmok Jeong cures. Rejuvenation. And now, even baldness reversal... One might call Physician Seok Mu Wol's medicines 'panaceas.'"
"Your Majesty."
"Yeocheong."
No sooner had the Emperor called her name than he stepped before her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I trust only you. These words are for your ears alone, you know that?"
"Your Majesty. Someone might see or hear...!"
To any onlooker, it might seem the Emperor was taking the Imperial Household's Greatest Sword as a consort. But...
"Only you know. So, I beg you."
The Emperor's face was etched with utter desperation as he mouthed the words softly.
"...Find out if it's possible."
"......Very well."
Yeocheong bit her lower lip, eyes dropping downward.
"You wish to... change that fate so badly."
"I've fulfilled my duties as Emperor."
The Emperor stepped back, hands behind his back once more.
"Now, I want to live for my true self."
Whoooosh.
The wind blew.
"We never found the Guihwa Preservation Pills, but..."
A faint, musky scent wafted through the palace on the breeze.
"If such a medicine existed... how wonderful that would be."