Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: You Think Too Much
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You think too much
"Young Master, you have a visitor."
"A visitor?"
Byeok Taesan glanced at Soso, who had just told him a visitor had arrived.
Soso's expression wasn't very good.
"She's very beautiful..."
"Beautiful? And you don't know her either?"
Soso nodded.
"Yes. I've never seen her before."
The reason for Soso's gloomy expression was likely because she thought he was seeing another woman behind Yeon Harin's back.
She was a girl who genuinely hoped Byeok Taesan and Yeon Harin would end up together.
Byeok Taesan figured that if a woman Soso didn't know had come to see him, it was highly likely he wouldn't know her either.
'Or maybe she's a courtesan from the Fragrant Flower Pavilion. Ah, could it be the Master of the Fragrant Flower Pavilion?'
If it was the Master of the Fragrant Flower Pavilion, a visit was to be expected. After all, he had let that man go earlier.
Although he hadn't ordered it, Cheon Gyeongwan had tailed the man and confirmed he entered the Fragrant Flower Pavilion.
He also mentioned that a commotion had broken out inside.
'She must be scared stiff.'
He had feigned ignorance about last night's events, but that probably weighed on her mind.
He expected the Master of the Fragrant Flower Pavilion to react in some way. In Byeok Taesan's eyes, the Fragrant Flower Pavilion was no ordinary brothel.
"Bring her in."
"H-here?"
As Byeok Taesan stared at her silently, Soso flinched and quickly bowed her head.
"I'll bring her right away."
Once Soso left, Byeok Taesan sat quietly and cultivated the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
The Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts was not a technique that could be practiced carelessly just anywhere.
Its energy was incredibly violent and difficult to control.
But Byeok Taesan was someone who had reached the pinnacle of the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
It was no exaggeration to say his control over power had reached a divine level.
Yet, upon achieving enlightenment at the moment of his death, even the instability of the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts had vanished.
As a result, he could now cultivate the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstances.
He could even stop midway through his cultivation at will, allowing him to train during brief intervals like this.
What Byeok Taesan was doing now was purifying the power he had acquired earlier through the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
His plan was to thoroughly purify it, make it completely his own, and then reconnect his severed meridians one by one.
'How many more will I have to devour...'
So many of his meridians were severed that he had no idea how much longer he would have to do this.
While he was diligently cultivating, Soso, who had gone out, returned.
She brought the visitor with her.
Seeing the visitor who entered the room, Byeok Taesan wore a peculiar expression.
"Danyeong?"
The visitor was Danyeong. But she had changed to a surprising degree.
It was only natural that she looked different from yesterday, but she was also markedly different from when they had parted ways earlier.
The other courtesans from the Fragrant Flower Pavilion who had spent nights with Byeok Taesan had also changed, but Danyeong's transformation was by far the most remarkable.
Danyeong knelt respectfully before Byeok Taesan and bowed her head low.
"From now on, I will serve you, Young Master. Please grant me your permission."
"Why?"
"The life you gave me... I wish to live it for you."
Byeok Taesan gazed down at the bowing Danyeong. Then he turned his head to look at Soso, who was standing beside them, fidgeting nervously.
The sight made him chuckle for some reason.
'It's only been a few days, but it seems I've really changed.'
The thought suddenly occurred to Byeok Taesan. So, he made a generous decision.
"Prepare a room for her."
"What?"
Soso, startled, stared at Byeok Taesan with wide eyes.
Byeok Taesan ignored Soso's reaction and asked.
"Where do you stay?"
"Huh? M-me?"
"You have a talent for making me repeat myself."
"I stay in the servants' quarters."
"Is that so?"
Byeok Taesan looked at her as if surprised. He had assumed that as his personal attendant, she would be staying in a slightly better place.
"Then you move too."
"What?"
"You don't have any other duties besides attending to me, do you?"
"N-no. I do! I have a lot of work."
Byeok Taesan frowned.
"Quit all of it. And move your quarters near my room. Prepare a room for her next to yours."
Soso was completely flustered, but she answered first.
"Yes. O-okay."
Her mind grew complicated. Matters concerning the servants were managed by the Steward's Hall. Any decision had to go through them.
But it didn't seem like Byeok Taesan would care about such things.
Soso quickly tried to organize in her mind what she would have to do later.
"While you're arranging the quarters, prepare one for Cheon Gyeongwan as well."
"What? Is Sir Cheon moving here too?"
"He will if I tell him to. Well, if he wants to stay there, let him."
"Yes. I will relay the message."
Byeok Taesan waved his hand dismissively.
"Both of you, leave. Soso, show her the way."
Soso hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Um... so this lady... will she be working as a servant?"
Byeok Taesan gave Soso a sullen look.
"What else would she do?"
Soso glanced back and forth between Byeok Taesan and Danyeong. Even after what Byeok Taesan had said, Danyeong's demeanor didn't change in the slightest.
'She looks like she's never done that kind of work before...'
That wasn't the only problem. Danyeong was too beautiful to be a servant.
She wasn't quite on Yeon Harin's level, but she was beautiful enough that one would have to search far and wide in Wuhan to find a woman prettier than her.
'She's going to cause some trouble.'
If Byeok Taesan's position were secure, it might be different, but as it was, there would be countless men hitting on her or openly harassing her.
'Sigh. I don't know anymore.'
With a look of resignation, Soso shook her head and led Danyeong out of Byeok Taesan's room.
Just as Soso was about to close the door, Byeok Taesan gave her a final instruction.
"Tell Cheon Gyeongwan to get ready. We're leaving as soon as the sun sets."
Soso almost blurted out, "Again?" but she managed to hold it in and nodded.
"I'll tell him when I talk to him about the quarters."
As Soso and Danyeong left, Byeok Taesan chuckled.
"Still can't control her expression."
Soso had conveyed all her thoughts with just her expression, without needing to say a word.
"That's a talent in itself."
Though it probably wasn't intentional.
* * *
Cheon Gyeongwan had a mutually beneficial relationship with the Golden Jade Trading Company.
In exchange for overseeing the martial arts of the Sword Dragon Squad, he secured elixirs and a place to train.
That was why even the leader of the Sword Dragon Squad couldn't treat Cheon Gyeongwan carelessly.
It was also why Cheon Gyeongwan had exclusive use of one of the Sword Dragon Squad's smaller training grounds.
In addition, he was granted the privilege of studying all the secret manuals the Golden Jade Trading Company acquired for the Sword Dragon Squad to learn.
For Cheon Gyeongwan, these were conditions he simply couldn't refuse.
Cheon Gyeongwan taught the Sword Dragon Squad martial arts with utmost sincerity.
While he couldn't pass on his ultimate techniques, he thoroughly imparted some of his other martial arts.
Furthermore, if the Golden Jade Trading Company ever faced a crisis, Cheon Gyeongwan would do everything in his power to help them.
That was as far as Cheon Gyeongwan's commitment went.
He planned to leave the Golden Jade Trading Company once he perfected his martial arts.
But a variable had appeared.
Byeok Taesan.
Cheon Gyeongwan swung his sword in the Sword Dragon Squad's small training ground until he was exhausted.
It was a process of internalizing his newfound enlightenment.
But every time he swung his sword, Byeok Taesan's words kept bothering him.
'He said he thought he had seen wrong.'
Those words kept circling in his mind, making it impossible to focus on his training.
After pondering their meaning, he came to one conclusion.
He had not yet truly broken through his wall.
And the more he trained, the more certain he became of it.
If he had gained nothing at all, he probably wouldn't have felt this way.
But that wasn't the case now. Every time he swung his sword, he felt a strange sense of frustration, and his sword path wouldn't flow smoothly.
'I thought I had become free from my weapon... but I was wrong.'
One thought led to another, but something remained just out of his grasp.
The more it happened, the more he thought of Byeok Taesan's face.
As he stood there, sword hanging limply, lost in thought, he sensed someone peeking into the training ground.
Cheon Gyeongwan turned his head to see who it was.
"Soso?"
"The leader of the Sword Dragon Squad told me to come here... The Young Master said he's leaving as soon as the sun sets."
Soso was about to add a few more words.
Unlike usual, Cheon Gyeongwan's expression was so dark and intimidating that she worried he might harbor some resentment toward Byeok Taesan.
But there was no need. She could see his face light up.
"Is that right? Then I must go at once. Let's go."
With those words, Cheon Gyeongwan left the training ground before Soso could even take a step.
She stared blankly at his retreating back and muttered.
"No... he said he's leaving when the sun sets, not right now..."
Of course, Cheon Gyeongwan didn't hear her. He was already practically running from the training ground toward Byeok Taesan's residence.
"But... was he always that expressive?"
Soso muttered to herself, tilting her head in confusion.
* * *
Byeok Taesan left the Golden Jade Manor with Cheon Gyeongwan in tow.
"Are you going to the Fragrant Flower Pavilion again today?"
At Cheon Gyeongwan's question, Byeok Taesan glanced at him.
For some reason, his demeanor was different today. His tone, expression, and attitude had all changed.
"What's with you? Did you eat something bad?"
Cheon Gyeongwan hesitated before speaking cautiously.
"About... what you said before..."
Byeok Taesan raised a hand, cutting him off.
"Enough. Recommend another brothel besides the Fragrant Flower Pavilion."
Cheon Gyeongwan looked like a puppy that desperately needed to go. But he couldn't disobey Byeok Taesan's words.
"Then... what about the Fallen Flower Pavilion?"
"I wouldn't know. Let's go there, then."
Byeok Taesan said, then jutted his chin at Cheon Gyeongwan, signaling him to lead the way.
Just ten days ago, if Byeok Taesan had acted like this, he would have been met with Cheon Gyeongwan's full killing intent, but now, it all felt perfectly natural.
Cheon Gyeongwan started walking toward the Fallen Flower Pavilion.
All the while, he kept glancing at Byeok Taesan. A compulsion to gain at least one insight squeezed his heart tightly.
Byeok Taesan suddenly stopped walking. He scratched the back of his head and looked at Cheon Gyeongwan.
"Hey, if you're going to rely on me every time you hit a wall, you might as well just give up."
Cheon Gyeongwan flinched at Byeok Taesan's words. His shoulders slumped like a dejected puppy's.
With just that one sentence, the compulsion that had been squeezing his heart vanished. But in its place, self-loathing filled the void.
"Why don't you go have some fun today too?"
At those words, Cheon Gyeongwan gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"I must protect you, Young Master. Nothing may happen, but I cannot let my guard down."
Byeok Taesan scoffed.
"Who's protecting whom? Well... I like that attitude, at least. And you think too much. Back in my day, once I started swinging my sword, I'd grit my teeth and keep swinging even after all my strength and internal energy were gone. Do you know what happens then?"
Cheon Gyeongwan's eyes widened as he stared at Byeok Taesan.
"I-I don't know."
"Of course you don't. You've probably never done it."
"Th-then what should I do?"
"What do you mean, what should you do? You have to try it."
Cheon Gyeongwan swallowed dryly.
There was no way Byeok Taesan could have had such an experience. So, it had to be a joke.
But it was a joke that didn't feel like one.
"Now, let's hurry. Fallen flowers... I'm really looking forward to it."
To be compared to fallen flowers meant they had been through a lot, didn't it? If so, just how much turbid spiritual energy must be caked onto their souls?
Byeok Taesan walked on, his eyes filled with anticipation.
And Cheon Gyeongwan led the way, guarding him like an iron fortress.