Chapter 127
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: A Predator's Proposal
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Cho Ak-ryang could neither laugh nor get angry.
In the meantime, the ship they were on entered the port of Hainan Island.
After furling the sails and dropping anchor to finish mooring, the warriors of the Hainan Sect headed straight for the ship's cargo hold.
And a moment later.
A group of people, bound in thick ropes, were dragged out in a line.
“Who are those guys?”
At Beom Gye-wi’s question, Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s eyes turned chillingly cold.
“They’re scum who were plundering the nearby area.”
The waters around Hainan Island had long been infested with pirates, including those from Japan.
The imperial court, which had long been troubled by this problem, decided to actively utilize the Hainan Sect as a solution. That was why the court had offered the Hainan Sect unprecedentedly favorable terms.
In exchange for suppressing the surrounding pirates, they were granted tax exemption in this region and given authority that was close to absolute.
One could tell just by looking at the falcon Byeok Hwa-ryeong kept with her.
First falconry, second horsemanship, third concubines.
It meant that the greatest pleasure in the world was falconry, the second was riding horses, and the third was keeping concubines.
That was how special the bird was; not just anyone could raise one.
This was especially true for the gyrfalcon perched on Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s shoulder.
It lived only in the Haedong region and was incredibly difficult to tame, making it an item that the king would present to the imperial court along with a royal falconer.
Therefore, it was permitted only to the emperor and his close relatives.
No matter how wealthy or powerful a high-ranking official was, they could not and should not raise a gyrfalcon.
Doing so was a grave offense that could be seen as challenging the dignity of the imperial family.
Yet, Byeok Hwa-ryeong openly carried the gyrfalcon with her, and the government officials, knowing this, completely turned a blind eye.
And that wasn't all.
The ships operated by the Hainan Sect were proper warships built for naval combat.
They were even loaded with cannons.
Weapons using gunpowder were strictly under the court's authority.
That was why the once-famous Thunderbolt Hall of Shanxi, renowned for its explosives, had been wiped out in the past.
Currently, the Hainan Sect was the only martial arts faction permitted by the court to use firearms that utilized gunpowder.
* * *
Guided by Byeok Hwa-ryeong, Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi arrived at the Vast Sea Pavilion, where all the major and minor affairs of the Hainan Sect were decided.
“Well, well! Look who it is! Isn’t it our son-in-law who hasn't shown his face in ten years!”
An old man with a physique as imposing as his fierce expression welcomed Beom Gye-wi.
He was Byeok Dae-gyeong, Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s father and the leader of the Hainan Sect.
Though his words were quite pointed, the three middle-aged men standing beside him showed genuine goodwill.
‘If the youngest marries this guy, we’ll get our chance!’
‘I don’t even care if I don’t become the Vice Sect Leader, just please take her with you!’
‘Once Hwa-ryeong leaves this place, the world is ours!’
Though their individual thoughts differed, they all shared a single, common goal.
That was for Byeok Hwa-ryeong to marry Beom Gye-wi and leave Hainan Island.
A daughter married is a daughter lost.
According to the laws of Hainan, Byeok Hwa-ryeong would have to step down from her position as Vice Sect Leader upon marriage.
‘Please!’
The three brothers looked at Beom Gye-wi and Byeok Hwa-ryeong with desperate eyes.
As they constantly had to deal with pirates, the laws of the Hainan Sect were slightly different from those of the core sects of the Central Plains.
Their pursuit of efficiency and practicality naturally influenced the sect’s principles, and their martial arts were, accordingly, exceptionally practical.
In short, to succeed on Hainan Island, one needed ability.
The responsibilities and authority that came with a position were determined solely by performance.
Due to the achievements of Byeok Hwa-ryeong, who had distinguished herself since coming of age, the three men were always being compared to her.
It wasn't that they were incompetent.
It was just that Byeok Hwa-ryeong was far too exceptional.
Though the siblings were not on bad terms, Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s existence was like an insurmountable wall to them.
So, Beom Gye-wi was their only hope.
Byeok Dae-gyeong, who had been glaring at Beom Gye-wi with displeasure, flinched.
Feeling a piercing gaze, he turned his head to see Byeok Hwa-ryeong staring at him venomously.
“Ahem.”
Letting out a dry cough, Byeok Dae-gyeong said to Beom Gye-wi.
“First, rest from your journey. But let me say this in advance: while you are here, you will abide by the rules of our Hainan Sword Sect.”
This place was, for all its differences, the righteous Hainan Sect.
Accepting two of the Ten Great Villains as guests was absurd in itself.
But as the saying goes, no parent can win against their child, and he couldn't ignore the wish of his only daughter.
Byeok Hwa-ryeong had long since declared that if she couldn't have Beom Gye-wi, she would rather live alone for the rest of her life. Knowing better than anyone her stubbornness to keep her word once spoken, he couldn't treat Beom Gye-wi carelessly.
Still, a part of him remained displeased with Beom Gye-wi.
It felt like he was losing his precious daughter, dearer to him than his own eyes, to a man who looked like a mountain bandit.
Byeok Dae-gyeong cast his gaze toward Cho Ak-ryang.
“Please, make yourself comfortable during your stay.”
At Byeok Dae-gyeong’s polite and courteous attitude, Cho Ak-ryang also clasped his fist in return.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Sect Leader.”
While he could speak informally to Beom Gye-wi as his prospective son-in-law, Cho Ak-ryang was different. This was even more so considering his fame and position in the martial world.
After the brief introductions, Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi were led to their lodgings by a servant.
Byeok Dae-gyeong, Byeok Hwa-ryeong, and her older brothers began a meeting to decide the fate of the captured pirates.
On the way to their assigned quarters, Beom Gye-wi whispered to Cho Ak-ryang.
“Brother Cho, you got any good ideas?”
“I do.”
Beom Gye-wi’s face lit up.
“That’s my Brother Cho! I knew I could count on you!”
“The solution is simple. You just have to marry Hwa-ryeong.”
Beom Gye-wi’s expression soured as if he had bitten into something bitter.
Seeing Beom Gye-wi’s evident reluctance, Cho Ak-ryang continued to persuade him.
“Let’s be honest, it’s just us. Have you ever had a woman who adored you as sincerely as she does?”
“…”
“Ten years. A whole ten years. She waited for you, a public enemy of the martial world, without any conditions. Plus, she's the Vice Sect Leader of the Hainan Sect, so her background is impeccable. She’s not lacking in looks either. And don’t even get me started on her age.”
“…”
“At this point, shouldn’t you be the one bowing down to take her as your wife?”
Toward the deliberating Beom Gye-wi, Cho Ak-ryang delivered the final blow.
“Besides, wasn’t it you who promised to talk about marriage? The great Mang Mountain's Thistle isn’t thinking of going back on his word, is he?”
“I can’t break a promise.”
Cho Ak-ryang nodded.
“Right. If nothing else, the one and only virtue of Mang Mountain's Thistle is that he thoroughly keeps his word.”
Cho Ak-ryang smiled and patted Beom Gye-wi’s shoulder.
“Good. That’s settled then. Now go pick some flowers and propose to Sister Byeok.”
At those words, Beom Gye-wi let out a long sigh.
“Phew. But there’s something you don’t know, Brother Cho.”
“What is it?”
“That I’ve never broken a promise.”
And then he brought up an unexpected story.
“The bet to find a lover within five years. I won that one.”
“What? You had a lover? Who was it?”
“Min So-rin.”
“Min So-rin?”
Tilting his head, Cho Ak-ryang soon asked again in shock.
“Don’t tell me it’s the Min So-rin I know? The daughter of the Yunnan Sculptor's Guild Leader?”
As Beom Gye-wi nodded, Cho Ak-ryang couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“You crazy bastard! She’s Hwa-ryeong’s friend!”
“You can never predict matters between a man and a woman, can you? And it’s not like I cheated. I wasn't officially with Hwa-ryeong back then.”
Beom Gye-wi stared into the distance with a wistful look.
“Don’t be so hard on me. It’s a painful memory for me, too.”
“A painful memory?”
“I was really thinking about marriage…”
“…?”
“I got dumped at the crucial moment.”
“Why?”
Instead of answering, Beom Gye-wi glanced down at his own crotch.
Cho Ak-ryang was speechless for a long time.
Only then did he understand the whole situation.
“Sister Byeok is going to flip if she finds out.”
Knowing her personality, she would never let it slide.
Cho Ak-ryang no longer wanted to be here.
“I suddenly miss Physician Dan. Take care.”
Thud.
Beom Gye-wi grabbed Cho Ak-ryang’s shoulder.
“Now that you know everything, Brother Cho, you’re an accomplice.”
Cho Ak-ryang sighed as if the ground would collapse.
“Haaa… I never should have gotten involved with you in the first place.”
Cho Ak-ryang spoke firmly to Beom Gye-wi.
“Just marry her. There’s no other good option in this situation.”
“What if she finds out later? I won’t be the only one to die. Min So-rin will die with me.”
“Still, she wouldn’t go as far as to kill her own husband, would she?”
“She’d leave me barely breathing. Just like what I do to that bastard Neung So-mil and Ga Du-dal.”
“It’s all karma. You made this mess, so you take responsibility.”
“What about you, Brother Cho?”
“Me? I’m getting the Blazing Iron and going back.”
“Are you really going to do this to me?”
“Did I make you do it? You’re the one who caused all the trouble, what do you want me to do?”
They were still bickering long after arriving in front of their quarters. It was then that Byeok Hwa-ryeong, her meeting apparently over, walked up and linked her arm with Beom Gye-wi’s in a gentle manner.
“What are you two talking about that’s so interesting?”
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi laughed awkwardly.
Cho Ak-ryang shot a glare at Beom Gye-wi, who was rubbing the goosebumps rising on his arm, and then asked Byeok Hwa-ryeong.
“By any chance, do you know about the Blazing Iron?”
“Blazing Iron?”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong, who had asked back with a curious expression, smiled sweetly and looked up at Beom Gye-wi.
“Of course, I do. I know where it is, too.”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong gave Beom Gye-wi a meaningful smile.
“I could bring it to you right now if I wanted to…”
Cho Ak-ryang’s face brightened.
“Then, right now…”
At that moment, Byeok Hwa-ryeong cut Cho Ak-ryang off.
“I need consent for that.”
“Consent?”
Nodding, Byeok Hwa-ryeong stared intently at Beom Gye-wi.
“Yes. Beom’s consent.”
Beom Gye-wi’s eyes wavered.
Even he, as clueless as he was, couldn’t fail to understand what that consent meant.
“Can’t you just give it to me?”
At Beom Gye-wi’s bold request, Byeok Hwa-ryeong wore a rapturous expression for a moment.
Seeing that, Cho Ak-ryang was inwardly dumbfounded.
Just how full of flowers was her head that she could find even that shamelessness attractive!
However, Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s expression soon changed.
“No.”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong pouted and narrowed her eyes.
“You’re not planning to get it and then ditch me, are you?”
When Beom Gye-wi flinched, Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s gaze turned frigid.
“You wouldn’t. Right?”
As the atmosphere began to grow increasingly murderous, Cho Ak-ryang quickly intervened.
“Instead of doing this here, why don’t you two take a nice, quiet walk together for a change?”
Unlike Beom Gye-wi, who was clearly reluctant, Byeok Hwa-ryeong beamed a radiant smile at his words.
“That’s a great idea.”
Nodding, Byeok Hwa-ryeong took Beom Gye-wi’s hand and led him away.
“Come on. I’ll make you fall in love with the charms of Hainan Island.”
Like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse, Beom Gye-wi cast a desperate look at Cho Ak-ryang.
Though he inwardly clicked his tongue at the sight, Cho Ak-ryang ultimately ignored him.
A short while later.
A speedboat carrying the two of them left the port of Hainan Island.
As someone who had lived her entire life with the sea as her home, Byeok Hwa-ryeong was skilled at handling the boat.
Cutting through the waves, the speedboat ventured into the open sea and only came to a stop when Hainan Island was a distant speck.
Inside the boat, which bobbed as it surrendered to the waves, the two silently gazed at the distant sea.
“It’s so vast, isn’t it?”
It was only after a long time had passed that Byeok Hwa-ryeong spoke.
“I like the sea.”
Beom Gye-wi nodded absently. At that, Byeok Hwa-ryeong slowly stood up and gripped the anchor.
As Beom Gye-wi flinched, Byeok Hwa-ryeong offered him a smile.
Then, she suddenly swung the anchor towards the surface of the water.
With a tremendous splash, the speedboat rocked violently.
Beom Gye-wi yelled.
“What are you doing!”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong smiled quietly and, instead of answering, pulled on the anchor.
Then, red blood began to spread across the blue surface of the water.
Thump.
At the same time, a giant great white shark was hauled onto the speedboat.
Even with an anchor pierced through its head, the great white shark thrashed about. Byeok Hwa-ryeong grabbed it, pulled out a small knife, and carved out a large chunk of flesh.
Then, she took a bite of the flesh, which was dripping with blood.
“I guess that’s why I like you, Beom.”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s mouth was smeared with blood as she chewed the shark’s flesh.
In that state, she grinned.
“Your untamed and ever-changing nature reminds me of the sea.”
“Someone once told me I was thoughtless and fickle.”
Sparks flew from Byeok Hwa-ryeong’s eyes.
“Who dares to speak such nonsense? Who was it?”
Faced with her utterly murderous expression, Beom Gye-wi couldn't bring himself to say Cho Ak-ryang’s name.
But one thing had become certain.
‘This is wrong. No matter how I think about it, this woman is an absolute no.’