Chapter 075 - Political Marriage
The veil slipped slowly downward.
In that instant, the gloomy aura blanketing the night forest lifted, and it was as if two flowers bloomed in the darkness.
“······!”
“···Wow.”
Muheo was speechless, while Oepari swallowed hard and froze. Even Jin Hayeon gaped, staring at the two women.
Their eyes were slightly downcast in shy elegance, their skin white as snow, their full lips softly gleaming in the firelight. It was merely the unveiling of two veils, yet the drab forest seemed transformed into a spring garden bursting with blossoms.
Muheo glanced back and forth between Buso-yong and her two disciples, then nodded meaningfully.
“As expected. Age is something you just can’t beat.”
Oepari unwittingly chimed in.
“Right? Women and age— whoa!”
Ching!
Muheo hurriedly swung his sword. Sparks bloomed like flowers in the darkness.
“We didn’t unveil for the likes of you. Step back. And quit yapping.”
The cold voice rang out. Buso-yong’s gaze was frosty as icicles.
“Ahem! Palace Lord, you’re jealous too, eh?”
“Jealous? Did you just say jealous? Me?”
Buso-yong let out an incredulous scoff, glaring at Muheo. He averted his eyes and nudged Oepari’s side.
“Stop staring. Or they’ll gouge your eyes out.”
“Ah! Y-yes! Right!”
Oepari flinched and hunched his shoulders. Meanwhile, Jin Hayeon couldn’t tear her gaze from the women’s faces.
“Wow… they’re so incredibly beautiful. How can anyone be that pretty? I feel plain by comparison.”
Muheo snorted and shook his head.
“Tch. Hayeon, those girls are pretty only because they’ve had knives carved into their faces. In my eyes, you’re far better.”
“Huh? Knives?”
“Yep. The women of Okhwa Palace craft beauty with blades, so they should rename it Dohwa—Blade Flower Palace. Yep yep.”
Muheo nodded knowingly, and the disciples’ delicate brows furrowed slightly. Buso-yong smirked at him.
“Hmph! Think anyone becomes this beautiful just by wielding a knife? No amount of blades could save an old coot’s ugliness.”
Thud!
Muheo stamped his foot and jabbed a finger at Buso-yong. She flinched momentarily at his spirited vigor.
“Just you wait, Palace Lord. You’ll regret treating me like this soon enough.”
“What… do you mean by that?”
“Palace Lord! As you say, no knife can fix this ugly mug of mine. But! I’ve got an ace up my sleeve!”
“An ace?”
Muheo scanned the surroundings smugly. Living proof that his lifelong dream wasn’t delusionary. But Jin Muhon was nowhere in sight.
“Where’d Jin family head go?”
“······?”
“······?”
He’d undoubtedly been standing right there moments ago. Yet no one present had noticed his disappearance.
Incredible. Truly incredible. Even his movement technique has reached the divine realm.
Buso-yong, renowned for her peerless lightness skill, inwardly clicked her tongue in admiration. Then Jin Hayeon pointed toward the campfire.
“Uncle’s over there!”
All heads turned simultaneously. At the end of their gazes, Jin Muhon sat calmly in a meditative pose, eyes closed. Red smoke wafted from the crown of his head, tracing flower-like patterns.
Muheo narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice.
“Circulating energy now? Something happen?”
Buso-yong gazed at Jin Muhon and murmured softly.
“Looks like our unfinished talk waits till tomorrow. Girls, stand guard for Jin family head.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Yes, Master.”
The disciples donned their veils again and moved to Jin Muhon’s side.
“Ahh…”
A faint sigh of regret escaped Oepari in the darkness.
The next day.
Chirp chirp— chirp chirp chirp—
Sunlight pierced the leaves, sparkling off the dew. Mountain birds heralded the new dawn from early morn, while the extinguished campfire retained only faint embers, its duty done.
“······.”
Jin Muhon slowly opened his eyes. A short distance away, Jin Hayeon squatted under a blanket, nodding off drowsily. He eyed the drool trickling from her mouth, pondering soul division.
Ma-seon…
Truth be told, when he’d first awakened last night, he hadn’t fully purged Ma-seon’s split soul. Sensing incoming murderous intent from outside, he’d hastily roused himself. But during his talk with Buso-yong, feeling an ominous vibe, Jin Muhon had plunged into deep samadhi, clashing with the split soul all night.
A battle of soul strikes. Not of flesh, but of will and soul.
To think a mere split soul was this formidable.
Ma-seon, etched in records from centuries past. He was no mere man. Still, Jin Muhon was confident he wouldn’t lose easily in martial combat. But in soul strikes—Ma-seon’s domain—even a fragment demanded his full power to barely overcome.
So that’s how he wields the soul.
From the fierce clash, Jin Muhon had gained much, especially methods of soul manipulation.
He turned his head. The two disciples who’d stood guard all night startled and straightened up.
“······.”
Jin Muhon gave a slight nod of thanks, then looked at Oepari, crumpled asleep right by the fire.
“Yum yum… slurp…”
Licking his lips with a pleased expression, lost in some dream.
He’ll do nicely.
For testing his newly mastered split soul application. Oepari would be the first subject.
“Ugh…”
Sensing something, Oepari shuddered as if gripped by night paralysis, despite sleeping soundly moments before.
A few days later.
Clop clop. Clop clop. Clop clop.
The carriage bearing Jin Muhon’s group trudged slowly along the official road today as well. Tomorrow, they’d reach Hefei, host of the Murim Conference—the heart of the Nangong family estate, one of the Five Great Families.
Thump!
Hitting a large rock, the carriage jolted. Muheo promptly flung himself sideways.
“Whoa!”
“······.”
Despite Muheo practically throwing himself into her arms, Buso-yong remained unmoved, her gaze icy.
“Old man, get off if you don’t want to die.”
“Hey, I didn’t choose to fall. Blame the damn jolt.”
“Can’t even steady yourself from that? How’s your filthy lust still kicking after all these years?”
Muheo scooted back indignantly.
“You’re the one who insisted on riding together! And lust? I’m a pure virgin who’s never even held a woman’s hand!”
“······.”
Buso-yong tsked pityingly.
“That’s a brag?”
Muheo’s face flushed beet red.
“Wh-what about you? Treating me like this—have you even met a man?!”
“Of course. What’s my age?”
“······!”
Muheo’s eyes bulged. Buso-yong stared blankly, devoid of emotion.
“······.”
Muheo opened his mouth to retort but couldn’t utter a word. Instead, his wildly twitching pupils betrayed his turmoil.
Across from them, Jin Hayeon lightly tapped Jin Muhon’s arm. Even amid the carriage racket, as he sifted through Haomen chief’s memories for Ma-seon’s traces, Jin Muhon turned.
“······!”
Jin Hayeon nodded toward Muheo, signaling. Jin Muhon widened his eyes: What do you want me to do?
Say something! Master’s so pitiful!
Her lips and eyes conveyed the plea. Jin Muhon glanced at Muheo—shoulders slumped like a rain-soaked kitten.
“Palace Lord. You asked me to choose your successor?”
Buso-yong’s gaze shifted to Jin Muhon. The chill toward Muheo vanished, replaced by a radiant smile.
“Yes.”
“I hear Okhwa Palace Lords can’t marry. Must remain pure virgins.”
“You know our circumstances well. Few do.”
Surprise flickered in Buso-yong’s eyes; Muheo’s wilted face brightened like sunlit dawn. Jin Muhon smirked fleetingly at Muheo and continued.
“Yet you propose a political marriage to me?”
“What?! Un-Uncle! What did you just say?”
“Huh?”
Jin Hayeon and Muheo leaped up, staring. Even the two disciples flying alongside perked their ears. Silence from Jin Muhon prompted Jin Hayeon to ask Buso-yong.
“Palace Lord! Uncle’s joking, right?”
Buso-yong smiled softly at her.
“Jin young lady, would choosing Okhwa’s next lord be so trivial?”
“Th-then! No way!”
Buso-yong nodded.
“Indeed. That’s my request of Jin family head.”
Jin Hayeon paled and clutched Jin Muhon’s wrist.
“N-no, Uncle!”
Jin Muhon had lost interest in women after sending away his wife. Buso-yong’s disciples were beautiful, but stirred no special feelings. Still, for family and Hayeon’s sake, a political marriage wasn’t out of the question. Her vehement opposition piqued his curiosity.
“Why not?”
Jin Hayeon burst out.
“Why?! What about Sister Somwol?!”
“Who? Doctor Han? What about her?”
“Uh… well…”
Jin Muhon and Muheo stared blankly. Buso-yong instantly grasped and smiled slyly.
“Don’t worry, Jin young lady. Three wives and four concubines are no flaw for a hero.”
“N-no! It’s not that… Right! Your disciple’s beautiful, but she looks too young! The age gap with Uncle’s too wide!”
“Hmm…”
Buso-yong nodded in seeming agreement. Muheo pouted supportively.
“That’s true.”
Buso-yong asked Jin Muhon.
“If it’s not rude, how old are you this year?”
“Thirty-seven.”
“Thirty-seven…”
Buso-yong nodded vaguely; joy bloomed on Jin Hayeon’s face.
“Palace Lord! How old’s your disciple? She looks my age!”
“Both turn nineteen this year… An eighteen-year gap with Jin family head. Perfectly suitable.”
“Yes, perfectly— wait, eighteen?! Not eight?!”
Buso-yong beamed.
“Great men transcend age. What do you girls think? Too old?”
Her cool voice carried outside. Soon, melodic replies drifted from either side.
— Not at all, Master.
— Perfectly fine.
Buso-yong asked Muheo.
“And you?”
Her first soft gaze and smile toward him. Muheo blinked dazedly.
“A man’s age doesn’t matter?”
“Right. Don’t you agree?”
Muheo nodded vigorously.
“Yep! Yep! Absolutely!”
“See, Jin young lady? Everyone disagrees with you.”
“······.”
Jin Hayeon blinked at Jin Muhon. Truthfully, no real reason to block his marriage—especially to Okhwa’s disciple, an ideal bride.
If Uncle wants it…
Sorry to Han Somwol, but Jin Hayeon smiled brightly, wishing his happiness above all.
“Hearing you, Palace Lord, my thinking was shortsighted.”
“Hohoho! As expected of Jin family head’s niece—sharp as ever. Pleased, Jin family head?”
Jin Muhon chuckled, patting her head like a child’s. She bristled slightly but felt good. He stared at Buso-yong.
“Nothing ties families like political marriage. Blood ties with Okhwa? Jin family welcomes it.”
“Hohoho! So refreshingly straightforward, unlike others.”
“One condition: change the partner.”
“···Pardon?”
Buso-yong’s eyes widened. Stirring outside too. Jin Muhon stated flatly, unperturbed.
“I’d have you and Muheo old man wed.”
“······?”
“······!”
Unforeseen words silenced the carriage.
“Jin family heeead!!”
Muheo recovered first, seizing Jin Muhon’s hands desperately.