Chapter 33
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: West Lake Guest House
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Hangzhou was indeed magnificent. Towering pavilions lined the city center as if competing in height, and bustling markets thrived everywhere.
Though the city itself was smaller than Hefei in scale, it seemed to have even more people.
"So this is Hangzhou? Wow."
Dong Ho-won kept looking around in awe. Even when Eom Mu-hwi poked his side to tell him to restrain himself, it had little effect.
Dang So-gyo was contributing to the chaos as well.
"Kyahaha!"
The vibrancy of Hangzhou had lifted her spirits, and she was darting about here and there. Dang Cheong couldn't rein her in at all.
'I was amazed too when I first came to Hangzhou.'
Amid the commotion, Seol Hwa-un surveyed the atmosphere. Surprisingly, the locals didn't show any particular aversion to his group.
'It's Hangzhou, after all.'
That made sense. As a famously popular tourist destination, the streets were filled with all sorts of outsiders—people from the Yue tribes, Goryeo, and even Japanese in their distinctive attire—so those from the North Sea blended in relatively well.
Hangzhou connected sea routes to the inland Qiantang River, making trade extremely active. It was no wonder various ethnicities mingled there.
As Seol Hwa-un pondered this, Eom Mu-hwi came to his side and said,
"Young Palace Lord, shall we eat first?"
"Let's do that."
"Then I'll find an inn."
"Wait. I'll lead the way."
"Yes?"
Seol Hwa-un strode forward. The group followed him without question, though puzzled.
"It should be around here..."
He stopped and looked around, spotting a four-story grand pavilion. The signboard read 'West Lake Guest House.'
A smile crept onto his lips.
"This is the place."
Seol Hwa-un recalled faint memories from his previous life.
In his youth, he had stayed in Hangzhou for a month and gone through all sorts of experiences.
He had squandered all his money on a courtesan, gotten into a brawl with black道 thugs that turned downtown Hangzhou upside down.
He had also spent days and nights drinking endlessly, with West Lake's scenery as his companion. The spot had been this very West Lake Guest House.
'It's grown incomparably larger than before. Or rather, the fact that it still exists is more impressive?'
He turned to the group and said,
"We'll eat here."
As Seol Hwa-un's group approached, a seasoned-looking waiter hurried out and bowed deeply.
"Welcome to West Lake Guest House."
With over thirty people in the group, the inn couldn't afford to ignore them.
Seol Hwa-un said to him,
"Please seat us where West Lake has a good view."
"We have a spot open on the third floor. It's a bit pricier than the first or second..."
"That's fine."
"Understood."
Following the waiter to the third floor, the expansive view of West Lake unfolded before them.
"Ah!"
It was just around sunset, with the glow reflecting on the lake, making it even more spectacular.
"Magnificent!"
Even the usually taciturn North Wind Brigade Leader let out an exclamation.
Seol Hwa-un sat with everyone except the North Wind Brigade. It was the brigade leader's consideration to let the young ones eat together.
Soon, two waiters came up to take orders. Seol Hwa-un asked as if he'd been waiting,
"Do you still serve red-braised pork?"
"Pardon? Ah, you mean Dongpo pork."
Red-braised pork was a dish developed by Su Dongpo, the literary figure and gourmet from the Northern Song era. By now, it was more famously known by his moniker, Dongpo pork.
'Dongpo pork, huh. Even the name's changed in the meantime.'
The waiter continued with a smile,
"You don't seem like a local, but you know our place well. Our Dongpo pork has been famous since the old days."
"I see. Then prepare one per table. Any recommended dishes?"
The group looked at Seol Hwa-un with bewildered expressions.
'The Young Palace Lord must be visiting Hangzhou for the first time too—how does he know it so well?'
'He's been acting like he's been here several times since earlier.'
Seol Hwa-un also ordered various dishes recommended by the waiter. Being by the water, there were plenty of seafood options.
While waiting for the food, the group admired West Lake.
"No wonder they call it West Lake. Truly splendid."
Hearing Dang Cheong, Eom Mu-hwi asked,
"Is this your first time in Hangzhou too, Brother Dang?"
"Yes. Our Tang family is quite a distance away..."
"That makes sense."
The Tang family was at the western edge of the Central Plains in Sichuan, while Hangzhou skewed toward the east.
'Well, even Central Plainer couldn't tour the entire vast continent.'
That thought made them view Seol Hwa-un anew with wonder.
'Just who is the Young Palace Lord...'
Meanwhile, Dang So-gyo, seated next to Seol Hwa-un, was unusually quiet. She stared blankly at West Lake.
Seol Hwa-un glanced at her and smiled faintly.
'She looks just like a child at times like this.'
Seol Hwa-un looked around again with a nostalgic expression.
'More crowded and larger in scale, but Hangzhou is still beautiful.'
Then the food arrived. Four waiters grunted as they carried it up.
Seol Hwa-un's group finally tore their eyes from West Lake and began eating. The Dongpo pork was indeed exceptional, incomparable to other places, though the rest was somewhat ordinary.
As they were engrossed in their meal, four armed warriors climbed to the third floor.
"Damn! All the good seats are taken."
Seol Hwa-un's gaze naturally turned toward them at the mutter.
"......!"
The warriors wore white uniforms emblazoned with 'Martial Alliance' on the chest.
'Martial Alliance warriors?'
Hangzhou lacked any significant martial sects. The main reason was its importance in various aspects, drawing heavy government oversight.
The authorities openly checked martial forces, so no sect from righteous or demonic paths had taken root.
This allowed black道 thugs to dominate, which the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor had long disliked. After founding the Martial Alliance, he strongly ordered a branch in Hangzhou.
There was friction with the officials, but he personally visited and negotiated, establishing the Hangzhou branch.
'I thought they'd withdrawn after I disappeared...'
The branch had endured constant pressure from officials even after. Seeing it still there was intriguing.
The waiter bowed repeatedly to the Martial Alliance warriors.
"I'm sorry, warriors. As you see, we have a large group..."
"We come to West Lake Guest House for the view. Without a spot for that, what's the point?"
"My apologies. If you'd like, the fourth floor..."
"What? Food prices double from the fourth floor! You expect us to pay that?"
"N-no, warriors. Just pay the third-floor rate plus a bit extra."
"A bit extra..."
As one warrior argued with the waiter, another scanned Seol Hwa-un's group.
His eyes lit up.
'Those outfits... North Sea Ice Palace?!'
He knew the rumors of the grand assembly.
'They must've been invited and come this far.'
Then his gaze landed on Dang Cheong.
'Green uniform? That's the Tang family's...'
Confirming Dang Cheong's face, his eyes widened.
"Poison Dragon Dang Cheong?"
Dang Cheong, focused on eating, looked up at his name.
He recognized the Martial Alliance warrior too.
"No way, Brother Jo?"
The one called Brother Jo burst into hearty laughter as he approached.
"Hahaha, never thought I'd run into the Poison Dragon in Hangzhou."
Dang Cheong stood from his seat, flustered.
"It's an honor to meet Full Flower Sword."
"You still remember that moniker. Long time no see. And these folks are...?"
Dang Cheong promptly introduced Seol Hwa-un's group.
"Ah, let me introduce. This is the Young Palace Lord of North Sea Ice Palace."
Seol Hwa-un, meeting his eyes, spoke.
"I'm Seol Hwa-un."
"Jo Dong-han. Pleased to meet you."
"......!"
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won's expressions changed as they sat nearby.
'Daring to address the Young Palace Lord so casually?'
Of course, some had been casual with Seol Hwa-un before. But they were all family heads over fifty.
Everyone else showed respect or deference. It was etiquette for the Young Palace Lord of North Sea Ice Palace, one of the Three Venerables of the Outer Realm.
Yet here was Jo Dong-han, seemingly in his mid-thirties, casually addressing him upon first meeting. No wonder they bristled.
As they rose to speak, someone stepped forward first.
"How insolent!"
The North Wind Brigade Leader had silently appeared beside Jo Dong-han.
"Huh?!"
'When did he get here?!'
Jo Dong-han froze under the overwhelming presence.
"Wh-what is this?!"
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
'Ugh!'
Sensing the dire atmosphere, the other Martial Alliance warriors approached.
"Hm?"
"Brother Jo, what's going on?"
Realizing the gravity, Dang Cheong quickly intervened.
"North Wind Brigade Leader, please calm down. Brother Jo didn't mean it."
He turned to Jo Dong-han.
"Brother Jo! What are you doing? Apologize now."
Jo Dong-han, sweating profusely, barely managed,
"S-sorry. My mistake..."
The North Wind Brigade Leader said coldly,
"Apologize to the Young Palace Lord, not me."
Jo Dong-han squeezed out,
"Sorry!"
Seol Hwa-un, watching, spoke.
"It's fine. North Wind Brigade Leader, that's enough."
His words barely ended when the brigade leader's aura vanished like mist.
"Hah, hah, hah!"
By the time Jo Dong-han looked up, the North Wind Brigade Leader had returned to his seat.
'Kuh... such humiliation...'
The brigade leader had focused his aura solely on Jo Dong-han, so others hadn't noticed.
The approaching fellow warriors asked,
"Brother Jo? Your face is pale... What happened?"
"Nothing. Brother Dang, good seeing you."
Jo Dong-han gave Dang Cheong a light nod and turned to descend.
"Brother Jo! Where are you going all of a sudden?"
"Feeling unwell. You guys eat without me."
"No, Brother Jo!"
His comrades sensed something amiss but, with Jo Dong-han silent, couldn't pry. They soon followed him down.
Dang Cheong said awkwardly,
"Forgive him, Young Palace Lord. Brother Jo isn't usually like that..."
"It's fine."
Seol Hwa-un looked at the North Wind Brigade Leader.
"That was a bit much."
"Not at all. In the martial world, they pounce the moment they sense weakness. And..."
The brigade leader's face hardened coldly.
"With the Palace Lord absent, you are the face of the palace. Disrespecting you is the same as disrespecting the palace."
A gentle smile formed on Seol Hwa-un's lips.
"I didn't know you thought that way, North Wind Brigade Leader. You certainly didn't when we first entered the Central Plains."
The brigade leader's face stiffened.
'Come to think of it...'
Until now, he'd seen Seol Hwa-un merely as someone to protect, not respect as Young Palace Lord.
But the journey had changed that. Especially at the Namgung family. Though he hadn't attended the minor or grand assemblies, word traveled.
'Can this really be the work of a youth just past twenty?'
Even he—and shamefully, even the Palace Lord he revered—couldn't guarantee such feats.
A warm smile appeared on the North Wind Brigade Leader's face for the first time in a while.
"Young Palace Lord..."
As he was about to speak—
Crash!
Boom!
"......?"
Something shattered somewhere.
"What's that noise?"
As the group looked puzzled, Seol Hwa-un stared precisely at the source.
"......"
It was the market right by West Lake. Dark figures who looked like black道 thugs were smashing stalls and brutally beating people.
Whoosh.
Seol Hwa-un suddenly vanished like smoke.
"Huh?"
By the time the group noticed, his figure was already dropping below.
"Y-Young Palace Lord!"
"Where did he go all of a sudden...?"
As the others panicked, the North Wind Brigade Leader, grasping the situation, sighed deeply.
"Haa... Again..."
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won wore similar expressions.
"Eom Mu-hwi, Dong Ho-won."
"Yes, North Wind Brigade Leader."
"Follow him, at least one of you. If the Young Palace Lord seems about to kill, stop him."
"Understood."
Eom Mu-hwi leaped down without hesitation. Dong Ho-won eyed the food wistfully but followed reluctantly.
"Don't mind and keep eating."
"......"
The North Wind Brigade Leader looked worried.
'Young Palace Lord, Hangzhou is different from other parts of the Central Plains. Please don't go overboard...'