Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Baek Family Infinite Pavilion's Central Treasure (1)
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The air felt heavy.
The silence pressed down on her shoulders like a weight.
Her toes itched with discomfort, and sweat slicked her palms, making her shift in her seat several times.
"Ahem."
Each time, a piercing gaze stopped her.
Deep breaths. Just take deep breaths.
Finally steadying her breathing, Baek Ri-seol cracked her eyes open and cautiously lifted her head. What she saw was a lavish office.
Red-lacquered walls were adorned with exquisite murals painted by master artisans, drawing the eye with their splendor. Porcelain vases and ornaments placed on every windowsill and corner gleamed flawlessly, without a speck of dust.
The pinnacle of opulence.
That was how to describe the room, but what Baek Ri-seol felt most acutely was suffocation.
It wasn't just the room's flawless decoration. The biggest reason was right there.
"Hmm."
The man slowly turning the pages of the martial arts manual.
Thud.
A hand thick with calluses tossed the manual onto the desk.
"Better than I expected."
It was the first voice she'd heard since entering an hour ago.
"Who knew you had some use after all."
A cold tone followed, as if he'd only just realized it.
Swish.
The hand that had been touching the manual moved.
Startled, she flinched. A tsking sound reached her ears.
"Tsk tsk. So spineless."
A slender-eyed young man glared disapprovingly from where the voice came.
"I'm sorry."
Baek Ri-seol clasped her hands on her lap and murmured apologetically.
"Man-ho, this is in front of your father."
"Yes, Mother."
At his sharp mother's rebuke, Baek Ri-man-ho tsked again.
Baek Ri-seol's shoulders hunched even more.
So stifling.
Shrinking further, she cautiously lifted her head to look at the hand's owner.
White Dragon Swordsman Baek Ri-jeong-sun.
The hand's owner, master of Infinite Pavilion, and her father.
Whoosh.
Under her father's gaze, Baek Ri-seol instinctively bowed her head again.
His perpetually icy stare was utterly intimidating to her.
A long while later, Baek Ri-jeong-sun finally spoke.
"Who would've thought the worthless girl with nothing to offer could complete a martial art."
"Right? Quite unexpected, isn't it?"
Her smug older brother, Baek Ri-man-ho, swept her with a condescending gaze.
"Small, no talent. I wondered what to do with her. Even a worm knows how to roll, I suppose."
"Seol-ah, you're lucky. Aren't you?"
"...Yes."
As she murmured weakly, Baek Ri-jeong-sun offered words of relief.
"Now we can keep our promise."
"Haha. Merchant So will surely take good care of her. The man's got a big heart."
Merchant So Yong-dae.
Baek Ri-seol had never met him.
She only knew he led a massive caravan and was on good terms with her father.
Above all, she remembered his name because he was the one who'd asked her to complete the manual.
"Whatever Merchant So promised as reward will be a great help. Even our struggling family can't deny Father's abilities now."
"Hohoho. Soon you'll be serving the family head by his side."
"Hahaha. Not bad at all. Not bad."
Amid the harmonious trio, Baek Ri-seol felt a pang of awkwardness.
What promise with Merchant So?
What did they agree to give him?
And what's this about the main family?
She knew nothing. She was thoroughly excluded from every topic.
"Once Father rises in prominence, I'll secure a proper position in the family too. Everyone will envy us."
"Loyalty to the family is good, but save some for us. I want the new cosmetics, and tons of jewelry... Once we go to the main house, stuff from this backwater won't catch my eye."
Wriggle, wriggle.
She curled her toes over each other, eyes fixed on her feet for a moment.
For the first time, her father's gaze turned to her.
"I'll keep the manual. Go home."
"Ah, Father."
Baek Ri-seol spoke up for the first time.
"What are you waiting for? Go."
Under his cold stare, she clenched her fists on her lap.
Sweat beaded from tension.
But she had to speak.
In a trembling whisper, Baek Ri-seol opened her mouth.
"I... You promised me..."
"Promised?"
"If I completed the manual... you'd grant my wish..."
"Ah."
Baek Ri-jeong-sun nodded as if barely recalling.
"I suppose I said something like that."
At his words, her brother and mother shot her sharp looks.
"You did it for the family, so be proud. What more do you want?"
"Girl, greed is unbecoming. No one likes a greedy woman."
As always, their reprimands followed, but Baek Ri-seol didn't back down.
"You clearly promised."
The two scowled instantly.
"Oh my, look at this impudent girl."
"Interrupting adults!"
"Enough!"
Her father silenced them and fixed her with his usual icy gaze.
"You have a request?"
"Y-Yes."
"Very well. Speak."
"I..."
Swallowing her quaking fear, Baek Ri-seol finally blurted it out.
"I want to be a murim warrior."
"A murim warrior?"
"Not just an academy student, a real one who trains in martial arts."
So please.
"Teach me the Baek Family's martial arts."
She'd blurted it out.
Finally said it in the moment she'd waited years for.
Well done, Baek Ri-seol.
Terrified yet proud, her heart pounded as she praised herself.
"You, a murim warrior?"
"The jianghu is dangerous. Why suffer out there?"
They nitpicked, but she held firm.
If not now, when? Who knows when Father will summon me again.
After a brief silence, Baek Ri-jeong-sun spoke.
"I made a promise, so I'll honor it."
"R-Really?!"
Her mouth fell open.
"After you marry."
...What?
To her stunned expression, Baek Ri-jeong-sun continued.
"Isn't that obvious? You're fifteen. Already late."
The two quickly chimed in.
"Right. Ladies from noble houses marry at ten sometimes."
"The younger, the better match."
But nothing reached Baek Ri-seol's ears.
What is this?
Marriage?
Go off and marry?
"Merchant So took a liking to you, apparently. Said you resemble his late wife."
"That's not the promise! You said if I completed the manual, I could have whatever I wanted!"
"Marry him. Bear a few children. In a family that values heirs, the more, the better. Merchant So will grant any wish then."
What was this?
Her mind reeled.
Her mother interjected.
"Do it. In a rich house, you can do anything. You'll forget those rough jianghu dreams."
"Merchant So is wealthy. More than you deserve. You gonna throw away a chance to help the family?"
What were these people saying?
Why decide my life without me?
He'd promised clearly.
If she completed the manual in three years, he'd grant her wish.
That's why she'd pushed herself, knowing it would erode her health and her future as a warrior.
Yet.
"What kind of law is this!"
Tears welled up. Her father strode forward.
Slap!
Her vision flashed white.
"Defying me?"
"I... I..."
Under his terrifying glare, Baek Ri-seol pressed her swelling cheek.
"Tsk."
Dusting his sleeve, her father said.
"You've completed the manual, so no need for the academy. Withdraw tomorrow and come home."
I...
No more words came.
As always, her opinion wasn't allowed.
- Infinite Pavilion's Central Treasure.
A jewel is for viewing and admiring, not speaking.
That was Baek Ri-seol's place in Infinite Pavilion.
Bustle, bustle.
Just as Instructor Yeo Mae-hong returned to the instructors' room after morning classes.
"Hello!"
The door burst open with a cheerful clatter. Recognizing the visitor, Yeo Mae-hong was startled.
"Student Baek Ri-seol!"
"Hehe."
Grinning sheepishly, Baek Ri-seol scratched her head.
"How've you been?"
"Good, good."
After brief greetings and small talk, Baek Ri-seol asked.
"By the way, where's Instructor Chu?"
"Uh, well, he..."
Usually vanishes after lunch.
Wanders the academy doing who-knows-what, only showing up for meals.
Can't say that.
"He stepped out on business." At her vague reply, disappointment flickered in Baek Ri-seol's eyes.
Guess she's grown attached despite everything.
Her expression said it all.
But her next words left Yeo Mae-hong stunned.
"Huh? You're dropping out?"
"Ehehe. Yeah."
"So suddenly? Something happen?"
"Nope."
Her vigorous headshake triggered a woman's intuition—something was up.
She's hiding something...
Probing further yielded nothing.
After a short chat, Baek Ri-seol waved Ryeong-ryeong over.
"Take this."
"What's this?"
"Farewell gift."
The item neatly wrapped in silk appeared to be an artisan-made sword tassel.
"Thought it'd look pretty on a sword hilt, so I bought it."
"I can't accept something so precious."
It was clearly expensive.
As she tried to refuse, Baek Ri-seol insisted, grabbing her hand.
"Please take it."
"Student Seol..."
Bowing her head to compose herself, Baek Ri-seol beamed.
"It's nothing to Infinite Pavilion's Central Treasure like me!"
"......"
"Don't refuse my humble gift."
Forcing the accessory on her, Baek Ri-seol beckoned Ryeong-ryeong.
"Where to next?"
"To see the Hall Master."
"Lead the way."
Yeo Mae-hong's eyes wavered as she watched Baek Ri-seol strut away haughtily.
"Instructor Chu! What kind of man are you!"
A thunderous roar hit as he lazily opened the instructors' room door.
Hall Master Chung-hyun glowered, face twisted. Yeom Gwang smirked smugly, and the other instructors stared.
Rubbing his ears, Chu Un-hwi grumbled.
"My eardrums. What's with the sudden yelling?"
"What's with it? What's with it?!"
Chung-hyun pounded his chest in frustration. Beside him, Yeom Gwang gloated.
"Student Baek Ri-seol stopped by."
"And?"
"Said she's dropping out."
"Oh? Why?"
Catching his breath, Chung-hyun clutched his neck this time.
"She's your student! You should've reported it first!"
"A Baek Family student bolts, and her handler didn't notice?"
"Dropping out after just ten days under you—did she cause trouble?"
Papers now flew at him.
"Not only don't you know why, but you let her leave without goodbyes! Heartless!"
"The jianghu is heartless by nature..."
"Out, you fool!"
Chung-hyun exploded again, hurling more papers.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Dodging neatly, Chu Un-hwi said.
"Got a favor to ask."
"Favor? What now?"
"Mind if I make a home visit?"
"Home visit?"
"I'll grovel flat as you said. Issue an outing pass for Baek Family."