Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Translator: Penny
Chapter 75
At the End of Fate's Branch (3)
In my previous life, I wasn't a complete fool when it came to women.
I wasn't a womanizer who chased after every skirt, but I still had plenty of women around me.
Back then, I was the Foremost Person Under Heaven, and to put it bluntly, countless women threw themselves at me.
As I mentioned before, I even dated the Fairest Under Heaven. Of course, the relationship ended because her family was more interested in using me to seize power than in her happiness.
I also met countless other beauties: the Four Great Beauties of the Central Plains, the Fairest of the East, the Fairest of the West, and so on. Even now, I struggle to define my relationships with many of these women—were they love, lust, or just fleeting connections?
After meeting and parting with a beautiful woman, I always craved someone even more beautiful. And then someone even more beautiful after that. More and more...
If I hadn't become the Martial Arts Alliance Leader back then, I might have succumbed to that path. Even knowing it would ultimately lead to nothing but empty indulgence, the swamp of pleasure is the deepest and most dangerous of all. The more one struggles to escape, the deeper they sink.
"What are you thinking about?"
Song Hwarin's voice snapped me out of my reverie.
I can't exactly say, 'Old flames,' can I?
"Just remembering a woman who used to dance beautifully."
"Who?"
"It's nothing. Here, let's have a drink."
I raised my wine cup. She lifted her teacup and toasted me again.
The dancers left the stage, and quiet music filled the hall once more.
She stared intently at my empty cup as I set it down.
"Want another drink?" I asked.
"No." She shook her head.
We resumed our conversation, touching on various topics from the Shandong Martial Arts World to stories about our parents.
"Your mother seems like a truly wonderful person," I remarked.
Perhaps my sentiment was amplified by the fact that my own mother had passed away early.
"You just haven't been on the receiving end of her fist," she retorted.
"Surely not? She seemed so refined."
"Heh. You'll find out later. The hidden punch behind that refinement!"
I raised my fist playfully, and she chuckled.
Our drinking session was as pleasant as the tavern's atmosphere. We finished a bottle of wine and lingered for a long time, chatting about this and that before finally leaving.
I couldn't tell what Song Hwarin thought, but I certainly hadn't found our time together boring.
"That was fun," I said.
She smiled. "Me too."
Her smile truly made her even more beautiful.
Just then, a group of martial artists rode past the tavern on horseback.
A dozen martial artists, all clad in identical uniforms, galloped past. Even in their fleeting passage, the man leading the charge exuded an imposing aura.
The horses that had raced past us abruptly halted.
The lead rider dismounted and strode toward us.
I saw Song Hwarin stiffen as she recognized him.
The man stared at Song Hwarin, his face a mixture of surprise and disbelief. "I hoped it was you... Sa-mae! It is you, isn't it?"
The term "Sa-mae" startled me.
"Sa-hyung," Song Hwarin replied, confirming their fraternal relationship.
"What happened? You suddenly returned to your hometown without even saying goodbye?"
"It just... happened."
Song Hwarin introduced the man. "This is Sa-hyung Ho-yeon Tak of the Ho-yeon Family. And this is..."
I didn't give her a chance to hesitate.
"I am Byeok Ridan, Hwarin's fiancé."
"Ah, you're the one with the Prenatal Vow?"
"That's right."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Tak, Lin-yi's senior brother."
He had a bright and straightforward demeanor. His gaze toward Song Hwarin showed no hint of romantic interest, only the affection of a senior brother.
"Please take good care of our junior sister."
"That's what I should be saying to you."
Song Hwarin turned to Ho-yeon Tak.
"What brings you here?"
"Master and I came down from Shandong to handle some urgent matters."
At the mention of "Master," Song Hwarin's expression instantly hardened.
"Did Master come with you?"
"Yes, he's here this time. He'll be delighted to see you. Be sure to visit us. We're staying at the Gu Family Manor in Chuseong. I'm busy and need to leave, so please come by."
"Yes."
Ho-yeon Tak greeted me as well.
"Then, I'll see you next time."
"Let's do that."
Ho-yeon Tak departed with his group.
I could feel her mood had sunk to rock bottom.
"Shall we head back now?"
I turned to leave, but she grabbed my sleeve.
"Let's have a drink. For real this time."
Not far from there stood a humble tavern.
This time, we drank there.
Song Hwarin seemed determined to make up for all the alcohol she had suppressed, downing several cups in quick succession.
I quietly observed her actions.
Soon, she began to share a story she had kept hidden deep within her heart—a tale about her master.
"I started learning martial arts from my master when I was fifteen. My father was overjoyed when we secured a master from the Ho-yeon Family, one of the Martial Arts World's Four Great Families, second only to the Five Great Forces of the Central Plains in prestige."
"At first, everything was normal. My master treated me well. But as I grew older, the look in his eyes changed. Still, I couldn't believe it. He had always cherished me like his own daughter. Then, one night when I turned twenty..."
When I opened my eyes, Master was looking down at me, reeking of alcohol. I could see it in his eyes—he wanted to hold me. He was hesitating, wondering whether to pounce on me or not. I bolted upright and slapped him across the face, my mind blank with shock. Then I ran straight out of the sect and back home.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Now I finally understood why she hated alcohol so much.
And after she had returned home like that, I had drunkenly barged in and caused a scene. I felt like I should kneel and apologize on behalf of that Byeok Ridan bastard.
I also understood why she wanted to succeed based solely on her abilities, not her looks. She was sick of men who only saw her appearance.
"I couldn't tell my father the truth. I just said I'd finished my Martial Arts training and returned. Ever since that day, I've been tormented by nightmares. Even now, I still dream of that day. No matter how much I try to comfort myself, telling myself it's all in the past and nothing happened, it doesn't help."
It must be the betrayal by someone she trusted. Tears finally streamed down her face.
Baek Pyo and she were both suffering from their own wounds, tormented by nightmares. The thought pained me.
After wiping her tears with her sleeve, she emptied her wine cup again.
"Did you ever hear from your Master again?" I asked.
She shook her head.
"No. I never heard from him again. I thought our connection had been completely severed, but then..."
"You're still having nightmares? Then it's not over yet."
"No, it's all over. Ah... I don't even know anymore."
She held up her empty glass, and I refilled it.
Whenever she drank, I drank with her. I didn't offer any specific comfort. No comforting words came to mind. As a man living in the same era, I just felt sorry.
Yes, if this is how you can release it, then release it.
Drink, rage. If you want to scream, scream. If you want to curse, curse.
Even the smallest thing, if you keep nurturing it in your heart, can grow from something the size of a dung beetle's ball to a mountain.
Don't let that happen.
Dung should stay dung.
I carried her home on my back.
As she clung to my back, she mumbled something.
"...Don't hate me too much. I'm trying, you know."
"I don't hate you."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Crunch.
Song Hwarin bit down hard on my shoulder.
"Ow!"
"Liar! You do hate me!"
This brat!
I was about to snap at her, but she had already fallen asleep, breathing softly.
I chuckled in disbelief. Her actions didn't bother me. Today, she had confessed something truly difficult for a woman to admit, showing me her trust.
Come to think of it, this is the first time I've ever been bitten by a woman.
We arrived home in the early hours of dawn.
I expected Song Family Manor to be in a state of emergency, but surprisingly, the reaction was calm.
Suran glared fiercely at me, but she couldn't hide her relief and joy at seeing Song Hwarin safe.
"Since you were with her, I wasn't worried."
Song Ugyeong's unwavering trust melted away the fatigue of carrying her home like snow under the sun.
Of course he must have been worried. How could he not be, when his precious daughter went out with a grown man and didn't return until late at night?
But now that she was safely home, he saw no need to voice his concerns.
"I'm sorry. We were having so much fun, we lost track of time."
"But Hwarin drank enough to get drunk? Could something have happened?"
"Nothing bad happened. We were just enjoying ourselves."
"Then that's all that matters. You must be tired. Go home and rest. Thank you for bringing her back safely."
"It's nothing. I'll be more careful next time to avoid causing any worry."
He had no intention of causing Song Ugyeong any further concern. Song Hwarin wouldn't want that either.
Now that I knew, I could handle that Master myself.
I'd find out if he was a true lecher deserving of death or just a pitiful old man facing his first test of lust.
"Then I'll formally visit you again on a clear day."
"Be sure to come."
Song Ugyeong's satisfied smile betrayed his true intention: to see Song Hwarin again, even if only once more.
As I turned to leave, Song Hwarin, who was being carried on Suran's back, suddenly lifted her head.
"Hey! Byeok Ridan!"
Amidst everyone's startled reactions, she shouted with unfocused eyes, "Who's that bitch? The one who dances so well—who is she?!"
Song Ugyeong and Suran stared wide-eyed at this unfamiliar side of Song Hwarin.
Pretending not to hear, I hurried out of the room.
Good heavens! She's been holding onto that remark! Song Hwarin is a woman after all.
The next day, I immediately began investigating the Ho-yeon Family.
Song Hwarin's master was Ho-yeon Nam, the third younger brother of Ho-yeon Se, the patriarch of the Ho-yeon Family. He was a figure of considerable renown in the Martial Arts World.
This much was easily discovered. The crucial question was why he had come to Shandong. Surprisingly, the answer came from my father.
"The Shandong Martial Arts World is in turmoil."
"What's happening?"
"Do you remember Ma Jeongsu from the Heavenly Blade Gate who came down here recently?"
"Of course."
"We thought he had simply retreated, but it turns out he's dead."
I reacted with feigned shock.
"Gasp! Who could have done such a thing?"
"Rumor has it the Shandong Night Merchants killed them."
"I see."
Fortunately, the rumor had spread exactly as I intended.
"Yeom Hwa from the Heavenly Blade Gate has been dispatched to investigate the matter."
Yeom Hwa, the Slicing Sword.
A figure I knew well. Within the Heavenly Blade Gate, he was known as The Butcher. Whenever the gate sought to eliminate an opponent, he was the one sent.
He wasn't an assassin. Rather, he was called upon when brute force was required to subdue someone. Sending him meant the Heavenly Blade Gate was playing hardball—choosing revenge over negotiation.
"What's the Night Merchants' stance on this?"
The Night Merchants were an enigmatic organization. Though their presence spanned the entire Central Plains, the nature of their connections remained a mystery.
"They've also called in reinforcements, unwilling to simply be crushed."
Could it be?
"I heard that a master from the Ho-yeon Family has come to Shandong to mediate this conflict."
Now I understood why Ho-yeon Nam had led his disciples here.
They had come to aid the Shandong Night Merchants.
The fact that the Ho-yeon Family could be mobilized meant the Night Merchants were no mere pawn of the King of Hell Stronghold.
Ultimately, both sides would clash fiercely.
Not only the Heavenly Blade Gate and the Night Merchants, but even the Ho-yeon Family now displeased me. There was the matter of Song Hwarin, and their alliance with the Night Merchants.
Very well. Now that things have come to this, I must observe their movements closely. If there's anything to gain in the process, I'll seize it all.
The division among my enemies is my opportunity.