Chapter 167
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Chapter 46. Crossroads (3)
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While Flying Tiger was spending time with the Shandong Elder, Yun Deok-sin, Ho Ye-hwa, and Bong Yeon-ja had all been dragged off together to the Zhao Family Manor. (For the record, the Shandong Elder had been exempted, having already been questioned by Jin Ga-yong.) Yun Deok-sin returned first, followed by Ho Ye-hwa and Bong Yeon-ja in turn. They said they'd been separated and interrogated one by one at the manor.
When asked how it went, Yun Deok-sin said it had scared him half to death. Ho Ye-hwa said it wasn't bad. Bong Yeon-ja, with a weary look on her face, asked Flying Tiger for some private time.
Flying Tiger happened to have something to say to her as well, so he immediately cleared a spot for them. But in the end, he couldn't even broach the subject and had to put it off. Someone had come from the Zhao Family Manor to fetch him.
It was late afternoon by then.
Flying Tiger had a pretty good idea what it was about. Before leaving that morning, Jin Ga-yong had said to meet his martial uncle on the way out, after all. Sure enough, when he went out front, his guess was spot on. The only surprise was who they'd sent to fetch him.
It wasn't just one person. There were two. And they were stunning young women, dressed to the nines.
"Flying Tiger warrior, why the shock?"
"It's been a while... "
"Pfft, why the stiff greeting? Weren't we a bit more comfortable when we parted ways?"
The brightly smiling woman was Jo Baek-bing, Jin Ga-yong's martial sister. And the woman standing beside her was...
"I'm doing well enough, I suppose."
"Of course not. Thanks to whom, I wonder."
Flying Tiger gave a wry smile.
She was Yi Jin-ok. Jin Ga-yong's junior martial brother Go Dan-o's fiancée, who had nearly suffered a horrific fate at the hands of the vile guest Yang Ji on Gold Mountain the day before, only to be saved by Flying Tiger. He'd even used her as a messenger to deliver Cho Eo-jin's scheme to Jin Ga-yong.
In that light, Flying Tiger was Yi Jin-ok's benefactor. But that day, while calming her shock, he'd also resorted to something like a threat. And he hadn't exactly acted out of pure goodwill toward the Zhao Family Manor either. All things considered, boasting about it would have pricked his conscience.
So Flying Tiger apologized.
"That day, in my haste, I was rude to you, miss."
Yi Jin-ok stared straight at Flying Tiger, while Jo Baek-bing whispered something in her ear. He caught bits like, 'See? I told you. That guy's...'
What was this vibe with these women?
Standing side by side... well, they made a fine picture, at least.
Unexpectedly, Yi Jin-ok flushed red and bowed her head to Flying Tiger.
"No, if anything, I was the rude one to my benefactor. Being able to say whether I'm well or not is a luxury afforded only because we're still alive."
"Ah... right."
Flying Tiger glanced awkwardly at Jo Baek-bing with eyes asking what was going on, but she just shrugged innocently. Though a smug smile played on her lips.
From what Flying Tiger could tell, the two women of similar age had apparently made a little bet on how he'd react. Bold as brass.
'Youth, huh? Well, they're in the flower of their years.'
Flying Tiger let it slide. But he stayed cautious. Getting swept up in that group promised exhaustion.
And sure enough, on the way to the Zhao Family Manor, Jo Baek-bing struck up a chat.
"Word around the manor is your name's on everyone's lips. So when I heard Elder Sang was summoning you, I volunteered to come instead. With this miss here, that is."
Was she openly declaring chitchat? Flying Tiger asked with a face like he'd bitten into something sour.
"Who was talking about me?"
"Senior Brother Go and Senior Brother Wang were gossiping about you? Leaving me out on purpose, the jerks."
"What were they gossiping about?"
"No idea. They shooed me away, saying I was being noisy!"
Jo Baek-bing grumbled, and Flying Tiger inwardly cheered, 'Exactly!' But he didn't let it show like some fool. Instead, he asked casually.
"What about Chief Jin?"
"Second Senior Brother? He's... yeah."
She hadn't even dared ask him, apparently. Go Dan-o had mentioned before that the senior brothers were all intimidated by Jin Ga-yong, and it seemed true.
At that moment, Jo Baek-bing exchanged a covert glance with Yi Jin-ok (or at least tried to; Flying Tiger wasn't fooled). She cleared her throat and called out to Flying Tiger, who was walking briskly ahead.
"Hey, about that... "
"No, I'm not telling."
"Huh? What?"
"I'm not saying what happened that day."
"Why not?"
As Jo Baek-bing pressed, Flying Tiger halted mid-stride and turned to the two young ladies. With a regretful expression, he said,
"As a subordinate, I can't go blabbing about my superior's silence, can I? You might not believe it, but I'm a pretty capable underling. If you're that curious, ask Chief Jin yourself. It's awkward for me."
"... "
Jo Baek-bing's face soured, and Flying Tiger turned and strode off. The two whispered behind him, but he had no intention of calling them out on it. Honestly, he could understand their feelings.
They might seem flighty, but they were daughters of martial families. And not just that—it had been less than two days since they'd endured a brutal battle, swords drawn or not. They'd witnessed countless deaths and must have been struggling in their own way. If they were true greenhorns, they'd be in a panic by now, without even the strength to chatter like that. So this was probably just their way of lifting spirits.
'That said, I'm tired too. And if the others at the manor saw me flirting with these women, what would they think? I'm in a position where I have to watch even falling leaves.'
Flying Tiger had that thought, then wryly smiled at a sudden realization. Come to think of it, he wasn't much older than them. Darkness envies light, and light is drawn to the curiosity of darkness. Something like that?
...
"Loyal and devoted Flying Tiger warrior, steadfast only to Young Master Jin Ga-yong. Proceed straight through that door, and Elder Sang awaits within. We two handmaidens have fulfilled our duty, so we'll take our leave here."
"Ahem."
Jo Baek-bing finished like that, then bowed gracefully with Yi Jin-ok—publicly, courteously, like maids attending nobility. And this was inside the Zhao Family Manor's compound.
Flying Tiger startled back, glancing around warily, afraid someone might see. When he shot them a sour look, Jo Baek-bing finally burst into relieved giggles. Yi Jin-ok, following her lead, looked quite embarrassed.
"Hmph, go on in. See you later."
"Right... wait, 'later'? What do you... hey?"
The two vanished without reply, and Flying Tiger shook his head at their retreating figures. By the time he entered the inner courtyard of the Zhao Family Manor, the smile that had crept onto his face was gone, replaced by a grave seriousness.
If forced to choose between an icy cold bath that chills the teeth or a scalding hot one that cooks the skin, which would be better?
No right answer, but one thing was certain: either was preferable to shuttling back and forth between the two.
'The temperature swing is too extreme.'
That was the atmosphere Flying Tiger sensed upon entering the inner courtyard.
It wasn't just the shift from two blooming beauties to a room full of grim men.
There were six seated within, each exuding an extraordinary aura. Their gazes toward Flying Tiger weren't outright hostile, but far from welcoming either. More like watchful.
The six were:
Suppressing Summit Sang Mun-bo.
Muddy River Fisher O Rim.
Sky-Piercing Bird Hyung Woo-saeng.
One-Legged Tiger So Myeong-rang.
Sniper Horse Leg Maeng Dal-seo.
No Use A Jeok-gang.
Flying Tiger was already acquainted with five of them; the middle-aged scholar O Rim was a new face today.
They were the Zhao Family Manor's guests-in-residence.
Originally nine in number, the traitor vile guest Yang Ji had been slain by Flying Tiger, and two more had fallen in the predawn battle the day before, leaving these.
A small number if you called it small, but each was a hero who shook the jianghu, making them no meager force.
And though their martial prowess varied, upon hearing the Zhao Family Manor was in peril, they'd rushed from afar out of loyalty and stayed till the end. In righteousness, they were hot-blooded men unmatched in the world.
Step. Step.
Under their coldly appraising stares, Flying Tiger approached Sang Mun-bo, standing alone in the center. He felt considerable pressure, but he stoked his dantian with inner force, lightening his steps.
"Elder, I hope you've been well? I heard you wanted to see me."
"Yes. You left abruptly yesterday—did things go smoothly?"
"No. I still haven't made up my mind. Planning to decide by today."
Sang Mun-bo seemed surprised.
"Is that so? You looked at ease, so I mistook it for resolve."
"I've just shed my unease. No matter what I choose, it's just a difference in method—all paths are equally beggarly."
"Ho, interesting words."
Sang Mun-bo said so, but his face showed no amusement. As Flying Tiger had sensed the day before, the man was simply impassive. And his next words were even less amusing.
"If it's about that, I might be able to help. Say, by narrowing your options."
"...?"
"I heard from Yong. You still haven't decided whether to stay or go? But I see it differently. Who are you to decide if you'll help our Zhao Family Manor? Who gave permission?"
"Are you telling me to leave?"
"Yes."
Flying Tiger glanced around.
So that's what all the chill was for?
Flying Tiger nodded in understanding. Disappointing, but not something to argue over. With a hardened face, he turned to go, resolve firm to depart at once.
But it wasn't that simple.
"Who told you to leave? Child, do you think this is a place you come and go as you please?"
Flying Tiger halted mid-turn and asked,
"Then what would you have of me?"
"They say you handle a blade well? Even Dal-seo over there took a beating, and Yong got an earful? Not content, you even clashed swords with Myeong-rang right before this old man's eyes."
Flying Tiger turned back, meeting Sang Mun-bo's inscrutable gaze.
So now what?
He asked outright.
"And what do you intend?"
"Curious, you see. Whether that famed skill holds up before this old man."
"Like this?"
Shing.
Without hesitation, Flying Tiger drew the Overlord Saber from his waist in reply.
The old man's intentions were unclear. Were they all gathered to humiliate him, or was this some test? But it wasn't a matter of choice—it was immediate. So Flying Tiger simply responded.