A Persistent Suitor
Bing Ok-yeon gently stroked the hair of the sleeping Jegal So-yeon. Tears glistened at the corners of the young girl’s eyes. Having taken her in, it was only right to shoulder the responsibility, yet the practical difficulties were far from few. That was why she had revealed the truth to her—what kind of person her mother, Hong Mae, had been, and what had become of her.
“Do you not regret it?” Seol-hwa asked.
“How could I not regret it? Still, there was no other way if I wanted to rescue So-yeon.”
In the murim, it was better not to reveal one’s power. No one understood this more keenly than Bing Ok-yeon herself. There had been no alternative. Had she acted clumsily before Jegal Hyun, a Transcendental Peak expert, she would have invited instant suspicion. She had deliberately mentioned a secret no one else knew to steer his thoughts, then displayed overwhelming strength to slam the door on any other speculation. For the time being, his attention would be fixed on the Murim Alliance, so she likely wouldn’t face serious doubt. Yet how long would that last? It would not take him long to direct his suspicion toward the very existence of Bing Ok-yeon. And above all else, since she must move within the murim to carry out her revenge, the possibility that she would cross paths with him again someday weighed on her most heavily.
“I’m sorry. It seems I will have to entrust So-yeon to the shadow of the Murim Alliance.”
To delay the unmasking of that lie even a little, it had to be done. For Seol-hwa, it must have been an unbearably painful suggestion.
“If you have judged that to be the best path, Young Lady, then we shall do so. I understand as well. We cannot protect the Miss.”
Seol-hwa answered in a somber tone.
“I will dissolve the Maehyang Pavilion. It is clear that place has no future.”
“What of those who do not wish to leave?”
“I intend to hand it over to those who choose to remain. There will be no need to cling to the name Maehyang Pavilion any longer, and once every trace of Pavilion Master Hong Mae is completely erased, they should no longer suffer the same disdain as before.”
“I see.”
“Young Lady, do you plan to send the Miss straight to Kaifeng?”
“I cannot send her directly to the Murim Alliance. They would not accept her anyway. I intend to have her sit for the Jeongmu Academy entrance examination next year.”
“The Jegal Clan has neglected the Miss so long that they believe both her scholarship and martial skills are lacking.”
“Her aptitude is more than enough. After all, whose daughter is she? She will surely reach a level where she can pass without difficulty.”
“Truly? That puts my mind at ease. Then we will finish整理 the pavilion and establish a foothold in Kaifeng.”
“Before you depart, if you truly mean to continue following So-yeon, there are a few things I must pass on to you.”
Henan. With the Shaolin Temple—the heart of the Orthodox Murim—located here, the region was closer to a spiritual center for the entire murim. Having symbolized the Central Plains for so long, its population, systems, and everything else befitted its status as the hub of the world. To say one held sway in this place was nearly the same as saying one held sway over the heavens themselves.
“U-unnni…”
“Endure it. If you crumble at this level, you will gain nothing.”
Traveling north from Hubei, Bing Ok-yeon instructed Jegal So-yeon along the way. The girl’s talent was certainly not poor. Yet after long years of abuse and near-total neglect, she was already fifteen. Her studies had begun far too late; there was simply too much she needed to learn. Muscles unused for so long now screamed in protest at this late age. Even so, Bing Ok-yeon offered no leniency.
Of course, if So-yeon truly refused with all her heart, Bing Ok-yeon would stop. On the contrary, the fact that the girl could express her will in even this small way brought her joy. For a long time, So-yeon had watched her every move with fearful caution.
“Still, it is fortunate that So-yeon is so flexible. Your recovery is remarkably quick as well.”
“Ugh… Thank youuu—”
So-yeon collapsed in a heap. Bing Ok-yeon let out a soft laugh.
“Let’s rest for half a shichen and begin again.”
“Y-yes…”
She voiced no complaints whatsoever. Her determination burned bright. A girl who had learned almost nothing until this late age, yet possessed ample talent. It reminded her of someone. Yi Cheon-woo—the benefactor who had erected the memorial stele. When they met again after seven years, he had grown into a truly formidable martial artist. If So-yeon could grow the same way, it would be deeply satisfying.
“Mm… No. Shall we stop here for today?”
“R-really?”
“Oh? That answer flew out rather quickly. Was the training so unpleasant?”
“Ah…”
“Hehe, I’m only teasing. We will reach a large city soon, so let us conserve our strength and head into the streets.”
“Yes…!”
So-yeon nodded with more enthusiasm than she had shown at any other moment.
“What should I eat today? Deciding on every single meal is such a bother.”
“Right, shall we head to Nanyang today? Those fellows I met last time said there’s an absolutely incredible inn in Nanyang.”
“Haha, they definitely said Nanyang, right?”
“It’s close, so that’s convenient.”
“Yes, yes, I know. Perfect timing.”
The sound of hooves drew nearer. The man who had been lying by the roadside muttering to himself slowly rose. The horse whose path was blocked came to a halt.
“Greetings. I am a traveler. Shall we journey together?”
“I must decline.”
The horse tried to move past the man. He blocked its path once more.
“Young Lady’s voice is truly lovely. Don’t be so cold—come with me.”
“I must decline.”
“How prickly.”
He was relentless. The horse, its way blocked again, let out a sigh. The man’s eyes deepened slightly as he grinned beneath the veiled woman’s melodious voice. He had not targeted her on purpose, yet he had caught a woman whose voice alone could purify one’s ears.
“Did you know? For two women to travel alone in a place like this is extremely dangerous.”
“My, is that so? I had no idea.”
“Haha, it’s fortunate you know now. How about it? I will protect you, so let us travel together at least as far as Nanyang.”
“Declined.”
“Accepted.”
Bing Ok-yeon ultimately ignored the man and rode past. Undeterred, he followed behind them.
“She’s pretty, that’s why.”
“Why? What? I’m a man too, you know.”
“Oh, really? You can tell even through the veil?”
“But I don’t want to.”
“I can hear your true thoughts, you know?”
“Oh…”
The man chuckled as he trailed after the horse’s rear.
“Unni…”
“What is it, So-yeon?”
“Can’t we just let him travel with us…? He seems to be struggling alone…”
“We could, you know?”
“Then… why…?”
“Just because?”
The still-innocent So-yeon seemed quick to trust others. Of course, traveling with another person for a short time would not cause any real problem. Yet something about that man made her reluctant. The issue was the fierce hidden guard trailing behind him. The killing intent had been so intense that she had accidentally glanced in that direction. He was probably emitting that aura to warn others not to approach his master. The man was likely the scion of some powerful clan. There was no reason to approach someone so dangerous.
“I want to travel with only So-yeon. Do you not feel the same?”
“Eh…?”
“How sad…”
“N-no, that’s not it…!”
“Sob, sob.”
“I-it really isn’t…”
As soon as they arrived in Nanyang, Bing Ok-yeon kept her promise. She immediately took So-yeon’s hand and led her into the streets. So-yeon read the signboard of the establishment Bing Ok-yeon had chosen.
“Eunpa Inn.”
“Do you know it?”
“No…”
“The Eunpa Merchant Group originally had its base in Shanxi. A hundred years ago it moved its headquarters to Henan. Fifty years ago it had expanded enough to operate in five regions around Henan. At one point it handled all the Murim Alliance’s supply needs, and it still manages a portion of them today. They deal in every kind of goods without discrimination. As you can see, they even run inns like this one. It would be good to remember that.”
“Yesss…!”
The way she kept nodding was adorable. Bing Ok-yeon entered the inn. The Eunpa Merchant Group truly had its hands in every field. Even in its current decline, its name could be seen in nearly every major market, starting with the foreign curios that had once been its mainstay.
Yet compared to the level Elder spoke of, the decline is obvious. Many of the buildings on the best streets no longer bear the Eunpa name.
From Nanyang onward, one could say the city still clearly lay within the Eunpa Merchant Group’s sphere of influence. The fact that it had fallen to this level meant that, except for its home base in Luoyang, the word “decline” was too mild—one could rightly call it collapse. Still, in a city the size of Nanyang, the Eunpa Merchant Group could still claim clear superiority over other trading houses. If one ignored the fact that this superiority was only temporary.
This inn was built by Elder when he was young. The same is true of the others. In the seventeen years since his passing, many of the things he left behind have disappeared, yet none have been added. The current leader of the merchant group may truly be incompetent.
“Oh, I knew you would come this way.”
The moment they entered the inn, someone greeted them. It was the man they had met on the road. His guard seemed intent on remaining hidden, for the man occupied a table alone.
“Don’t ignore me. There are no other seats left anyway.”
“Is that true, waiter?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. You appear to be acquainted, so would you mind sharing the table?”
…
Looking at So-yeon’s face, the girl was already completely captivated by the aroma of food. With no other choice, Bing Ok-yeon sat down across from the man.
“Waiter, bring us some bamboo-leaf wine, dongpo pork, plain noodles, and jingjiang shredded pork. Oh, and some tanghuo as well. You have to eat the signature dishes here. The rumors are quite famous.”
“You have quite the appetite.”
“I ordered it for the young ladies, you know?”
“We must decline.”
“Being too cold isn’t charming either.”
“Waiter, we will change seats. If there are none available, we shall visit another time.”
“It’s a joke, a joke. I’m giving it to you because that little young lady over there is cute, so accept it gratefully.”
At some point the man had begun speaking casually. Deciding that correcting him would be tiresome, Bing Ok-yeon let it pass. After all, once they left this place they would have no further connection.
Do women always have to deal with this sort of thing?
Even when she had been a man, a few women had behaved similarly, but after becoming a woman the frequency felt far higher. Why did men have to act so annoyingly everywhere she went?
“I am Ma Cheon-yu. What is your name, Young Lady?”
“Jegal Do-yeong.”
“Indeed, it suits you perfectly.”
“Thank you.”
“Then the young lady beside you must be Jegal So-yeon?”
“…”
“Haha, don’t look at me with such eyes. I am traveling the world, you see. When I visited Hubei, I heard rumors that the young ladies of the Jegal Clan were exceptionally beautiful.”
“Your rudeness is excessive.”
“Yet the reality is even more beautiful than the rumors?”
“In whose eyes?”
“I can tell with one glance. The rumors simply couldn’t keep up with reality.”
“Waiter.”
“There, there, the food seems to be coming! Please enjoy it.”
An odd man had attached himself to them, yet—
“U-unni…!”
So-yeon, who had taken a spoonful of food, was tapping the table with her small hands.
“It’s too… it’s too delishious…!”
It was truly a reputation well deserved.