Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Translator: Penny
Chapter 6
Shandong's Fairest Maiden (3)
"What's on your mind?"
Song Hwarin snapped out of her reverie, startled by the voice beside her.
The woman who had spoken was Suran, her personal bodyguard.
"Nothing important," Song Hwarin replied, setting down the tea she had been about to drink. The once-warm tea had long since grown cold.
She was thinking about Byeok Ridan.
There's nothing as fickle as human nature.
He seemed like a completely different person when he was drunk and causing trouble compared to when he spoke those words.
Song Hwarin shook her head dismissively.
At the end of the day, he's still just a good-for-nothing leeching off his parents' wealth.
Suran guessed the identity of the person her mistress was brooding over.
"Young Master Byeok has reportedly been training in martial arts recently."
"Training in martial arts?"
"Yes. It's such an unprecedented event that even within the Byeok Clan Sword School, everyone is reportedly astonished."
"Now, after all this time? Isn't it too late?"
"In my opinion, he's just trying to impress you, Young Lady."
Song Hwarin thought of Byeok Ridan, recalling his cold and distant demeanor in their final moments.
"He certainly didn't seem interested in impressing me at all."
"Impossible! Any man with a cock would never act that way."
As Song Hwarin's face flushed crimson, Suran quickly apologized.
"I'm sorry, Young Lady. My mouth ran away with me."
Knowing Suran's tomboyish and forthright nature, Song Hwarin didn't scold her.
"Everyone has different preferences when it comes to the opposite sex."
"But you're the exception, Young Lady."
Realizing that continuing the conversation would only further gild her beauty, Song Hwarin simply smiled and changed the subject.
"Oh, by the way, there's a gathering of the rising talents today."
"Do I have to go?"
"Yes, you must attend."
Young Master Yang of the Yang Association has sent messengers several times, insisting on your attendance. As you know, the Yang Association is...”
“Enough. I’ll go. Stop.”
“My apologies. I’ll prepare for our outing.”
As Suran turned to leave the room, Song Hwarin suddenly asked, “Do you think people change easily?”
“Not easily, but... I do believe people change.”
“Why do you think so?”
Suran smiled. “Young Lady, you’ve changed so much yourself, haven’t you?”
Yes, she’s right. I am completely different from the person I was before leaving for my cultivation retreat.
Alright, I’ll concede that at least this much of Byeok Ridan’s words ring true.
Song Hwarin smiled. “Hurry up and get ready. Let’s go.”
In the past, I would never have attended a gathering I didn’t want to be at. But now, I can smile and do even what I dislike. I have changed, and I will not fear change in the future.
I will never become stagnant water.
After a long absence, I ventured out to an inn in the bustling marketplace.
I hoped to hear news of my case, but there was still no word.
Why is the announcement being delayed so long?
My heart urged me to rush to the Martial Arts Alliance Headquarters and demand answers from Gal Saryang. Why is this taking so long?
I couldn't shake the worry that something might have gone wrong.
Lost in these thoughts, I sat alone when a group of young people entered the inn.
Among them was Song Hwarin. She couldn't help but stand out.
"Huh?"
She recognized me and stopped in her tracks. Her companions naturally halted with her. Their expressions darkened, radiating clear displeasure. This spoke volumes about the strained relationship between us.
I glanced at her briefly before turning my gaze toward the window.
Even that fleeting moment of eye contact was enough to deeply irritate someone.
The man beside her sauntered over to me.
Expensive clothes adorned with ostentatious gold jewelry, an excessively ornate sword sheath, eyes that seemed to look down on his opponent, and a frivolous curl to his lips—his entire appearance spoke volumes about his character.
"So this bastard cheated death, huh? Looks perfectly fine to me."
Despite his overly familiar tone, I couldn't place him at all. When I didn't respond, his lips curled up further, likely interpreting my silence as some kind of bold posturing in front of Song Hwarin.
"Practicing martial arts, huh? Why? To beat me up?"
I shot back coldly, figuring he might start tapping my head if I didn't say something.
"Do people practice martial arts to beat others up? No, they do it to kill those they want dead."
He flinched, sensing a different intensity in my gaze. Annoyed at his own reaction, he spat out venomous words:
"Heard you were crying and getting your ass kicked by Miss Song?"
At that, Song Hwarin, standing some distance away, frowned slightly.
"I never said anything like that."
"Do I really need to spell it out? What's wrong? Worried about this bastard?"
"Absolutely not!"
Her expression spoke volumes. It was clear she was equally annoyed with both me and this arrogant man.
Whether he noticed or not, the provocation continued.
"You debt-ridden bastard. Your eyes look especially filthy today—I don't like it."
Debt-ridden? Had I ever borrowed money from this guy? I'd have to ask Gwangdu about it later.
Regardless, I had no intention of clashing with him, so I stood up to leave.
"Keep your eyes down from now on!"
I ignored his transparent provocation, clearly meant to impress Song Hwarin. I had no interest in wasting my energy on immature brats. I didn't know why I had been reborn as Byeok Ridan, but it certainly wasn't to waste my time on such pathetic nonsense.
Judging by the atmosphere and attire of the young men standing with Song Hwarin, they were likely all scions of local gentry or disciples of martial arts sects.
"Enough, you fools!" I roared. "The most dangerous thing in this martial world stands right beside you. Do you even realize she's more terrifying than any fiend from the Unorthodox Factions?"
During a drinking session back when I was Alliance Leader, I once told the young warriors over drinks:
"Even if she's not an outright villainess, her beauty alone will lead you to your death."
It sounded like a joke, but it was far from it.
Most murders in this martial world stem from greed for wealth, obsession with women, or both. And the more beautiful a woman is, the more lethal the danger becomes.
A beauty like hers? That danger would be a cataclysmic disaster.
As I brushed past her, neither of us glanced at each other.
The following afternoon, a new connection arose.
As I crossed the training ground, a middle-aged martial artist happened to pass by and addressed me.
"Young Master Byeok," he said, "I've heard rumors that you've been practicing martial arts lately. Is that true?"
I recognized him immediately.
Seo Jung.
He was the Captain of the Sword Guard, responsible for overseeing our family's sword unit. Though Gwangdu had told me about him, I had never spoken to him directly before.
"Yes, that's correct," I replied.
Even without a verbal answer, he could likely sense the changes in my eyes and posture.
However, the past few days' progress alone wouldn't be enough to earn praise or encouragement, considering how disastrous my previous life had been.
"Do you realize that your past actions have been causing great hardship for the Patriarch and the entire family?"
His piercing eyes held not mere condemnation, but genuine concern and reproach.
"I apologize. I will ensure such an incident never occurs again."
Sincerity with sincerity. I bowed deeply and respectfully.
I could sense Seo Jung's unease, likely due to my uncharacteristic reaction.
This was something that would take time, not just for Seo Jung, but for everyone who knew Byeok Ridan.
"I'll be watching you closely in the future," he said, turning to leave.
I stopped him. "One more thing. What did you mean earlier when you said my actions were causing hardship for the entire clan?"
Seo Jung's expression hardened. "Are you really asking that out of ignorance?"
"No."
I withdrew without pressing further. There was no need to provoke his anger to get an answer. Someone else would explain it to me.
The person who could explain what I didn't know better than anyone else was busy cleaning the courtyard.
"Why all this fuss so late in the day?"
Cleaning was usually done early in the morning, but Gwangdu was fussing about doing it late in the afternoon.
"We just received word that the Yang Association Leader will be visiting later," he said.
"Yang Association Leader?"
"You really don't remember anything?"
"Nothing at all."
He always gave me a suspicious look, but he also seemed to believe I had genuinely lost my memories. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered explaining things to me every time.
"I'm talking about Yang Gicheol, the Yang Association Leader. The Yang Association is the largest sect in Shandong. We used to be the most powerful here."
According to Gwangdu's explanation, there were over twenty major and minor sects in Shandong, and the Byeok Clan Sword School had once been the strongest and most influential in the region.
The problem was that those glories belonged to the past. Now, the Yang Association held the top position, followed by the Song Family Manor in second place, while our clan had fallen completely out of the top ten.
"Why have we fallen so far behind?"
Seo Jung's question burst from Gwangdu's lips as well.
"You're not asking because you don't know, are you?"
Of course he had his suspicions.
"So it's my fault after all."
"We've spent a fortune cleaning up after the Young Master's blunders all this time. As our finances deteriorated, we had to reduce the number of martial artists."
"Did we end up in debt because of that?"
"Of course. We owe money to various parties, but I understand most of it is owed to the Yang Association."
Just in case, I described the man I'd seen at the inn yesterday. Sure enough, it was Yang Gikang, the Yang Association Leader's son.
Now it all made sense. Why the man at the inn had called me a debtor. Why he'd been so arrogant.
"How much debt are we talking about?"