Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Is Drinking Good?
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Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, sitting across from me, spoke in a tranquil voice.
“We received the Marshal’s final letter a few days before we left Yeon-un Port in Jiangsu.”
The Alliance Lord’s inner circle had all taken turns reading the letter, so they were well aware of its contents.
“The Marshal dedicated most of the letter to praising you, Brother Yong. He seems completely taken with you.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo smiled faintly, while I felt a bit awkward.
It seemed her retainers had accepted her calling me ‘Brother Yong.’
In truth, the authority of the Martial Alliance Lord was absolute, so it was unthinkable for anyone to question her decisions or words.
“And at the end of the letter, he wrote something important. He strongly insisted that the Dong-ro Branch meets all the criteria and should be converted into the main headquarters. But he also mentioned that you, Brother Yong, adamantly refused to allow it.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo smiled gently and looked around at the others.
“None of us have ever seen the Dong-ro Branch, but I, along with everyone here, am in complete agreement with the Marshal’s opinion.”
For them to agree on such a crucial matter based on just a few words in So Yang-gun’s letter spoke volumes about the trust he commanded.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo gazed at me steadily before parting her red lips.
“I’d like to hear it from you directly, Brother Yong. Do you grant permission to convert the Dong-ro Branch into the main headquarters?”
I nodded.
“I grant my permission.”
The assembly watched the two of us in silence.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo spoke calmly.
“According to the Marshal’s letter, the Dong-ro Branch is already perfectly established, so all we need to do is move in.”
“That should be the case.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo bowed her head respectfully.
“We feel we are imposing greatly.”
No one spoke while Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo was talking.
She looked at me with a curious expression.
“By the way, what exactly is the position of Grand Branch Master?”
Sang Gang-jo spoke respectfully.
“Would it be all right for me to explain?”
Seeing me nod, Sang Gang-jo began.
“Under the Zhejiang regional branch, the highest position in the Dong-ro Branch is the Branch Master, a man named An Do-pil.”
This was the first time any of them were hearing this story, and they all listened with keen interest.
Sang Gang-jo gestured respectfully toward me with both hands.
“How could a mere Branch Master like An Do-pil dare to have this man as his subordinate? So, the position he devised was that of Grand Branch Master.”
“Grand Master over all branches?”
“No. He is the Grand Master only of the Dong-ro Branch.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo smiled at me.
“Are you satisfied with that?”
“I am.”
“Do you have any other demands?”
“I am not a subordinate of the Martial Alliance, and you are not to interfere in my affairs. As long as you abide by that, we are fine.”
“Those are not demands, Brother Yong. They are your natural rights.”
“It’s refreshing to speak with someone so perceptive.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo smiled softly.
“If you think of anything else you require from us in the future, please do not hesitate to tell us. We will accommodate anything.”
She said, ‘anything.’ A powerful word.
“I will.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo straightened her posture and spoke solemnly.
“We will establish the main headquarters at the Dong-ro Branch.”
Everyone smiled brightly, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo stood and asked for my leave.
“May I have a moment to speak with Chief Sang?”
“Go ahead.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, Sang Gang-jo, and Zen Master Yeong-gak moved to another area.
She was going to hear Sang Gang-jo’s report.
* * *
After returning to her seat, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo asked me.
“What should we do now?”
She was asking how we would get to Dong-ro Prefecture. If she and her retainers were to travel there as they were, they would attract a great deal of attention.
“Alliance Lord, you and I will go ahead to the Dong-ro Branch on the Divine Roc.”
“I will.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo did not ask what would become of the people here, or what would happen next.
Instead, I spoke.
“The ship Mae-dang is on is two days away. I’ll meet him on the way and tell him this ship’s location. The people remaining here can transfer to his ship and come then.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo’s face lit up.
“The Marshal is coming?”
“He is.”
Sang Gang-jo explained.
“Upon hearing the report that the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union had departed for Seonjuk Island, the Grand Branch Master ordered a man skilled in seafaring to head to the island on a fast boat. Mae-dang is coming on that vessel.”
“Is that so?”
“He prepared for the possibility that we might not find the Alliance Lord.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo looked at me and smiled brightly.
“You are very thorough.”
“However, I never imagined the Demonic Emperor’s Grand Union would find the ship you were on, Alliance Lord.”
The Drunken Beggar laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! But didn’t the Grand Branch Master handle that splendidly as well?”
The Drunken Beggar joked playfully.
“The title ‘Grand Branch Master’ really rolls off the tongue. It does!”
I stood up.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
As Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo rose, everyone else stood as well.
Sang Gang-jo spoke.
“Should I come with you?”
“You meet Mae-dang and come with him.”
“I understand.”
I spoke to Sang Gang-jo in my usual manner, which must have seemed odd to Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo and her retainers.
But Sang Gang-jo remained composed and offered no explanation.
White Cloud was waiting, hovering about a hundred feet in the night sky.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo decided to take her handmaiden, Hye-so, with her.
The three of us—myself, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, and Hye-so—stood together, encircled by her retainers.
Her retainers bowed to her in unison.
“Alliance Lord! We will see you at the Dong-ro Branch!”
“All of you, travel safely.”
Zen Master Yeong-gak, with his immortal-like demeanor, spoke to me.
“Please take good care of the Alliance Lord.”
“I will.”
Although Zen Master Yeong-gak was one of the most senior figures in the martial world, I paid no mind to such things and simply nodded.
Among the Four Heavenly Kings, a robust man in his fifties with a short, black beard, Hyeon-mu, Eom U-beon, spoke in a heavy voice.
“If anything happens to the Alliance Lord, I will hold you responsible.”
I felt a slight twist of annoyance in my gut.
“And how will you hold me responsible?”
“...”
Eom U-beon, with a look of confusion, could not answer.
I decided I needed to teach this man a lesson about his impertinence and what he was failing to understand.
“And if nothing happens to the Alliance Lord, what will you do?”
“...”
Eom U-beon was at a loss for words.
I delivered a sharp rebuke.
“I don’t think you’re in any position to say that, being one of the people who let the Alliance Lord get into this state. Or am I mistaken?”
A quick glance revealed that only Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo was smiling sweetly; the others wore bitter expressions.
No, Sang Gang-jo was also trying hard to conceal a triumphant look.
How incompetent must these so-called chief retainers be to let their Alliance Lord wander the world like a beggar, then be hunted by the Demonic Emperor’s Grand Union to the point where her life was in danger?
A quiet anger simmered within me, and I had just reprimanded them for it.
“Before I arrived here, the Alliance Lord had already met with misfortune. How will you take responsibility for that?”
They were rendered speechless. Even if they had a hundred mouths, they would have nothing to say.
I rebuked Eom U-beon bluntly.
“You have no right to say such things to me.”
Eom U-beon’s face flushed red and pale, but he didn’t lash out. If he had any sense, he would know that not a single word I said was wrong.
Zen Master Yeong-gak spoke quietly.
“We are all deeply remorseful for letting the Alliance Lord fall into this state. Please forgive us.”
“If my words were too harsh, then forgive me.”
“Not at all. Your point was accurate.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo looked at me without a word.
It was a sign that it was time to leave, but my martial arts were not activated, so I couldn't jump up to White Cloud.
As I stood there motionless, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo also waited silently. She would never dream that I couldn't ascend to White Cloud because I lacked martial skill.
But I couldn't just stand here forever.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo replied but remained still. She was waiting for me to lift her up as I had done before.
If only I could use telepathy, I would tell her to carry me up, but that wasn't an option either, and my insides were churning with anxiety.
‘This is maddening!’
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo stared at me quizzically, as if wondering if I had some unfinished business, but there was nothing more I could do.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
I had just said to go, and she had just replied, ‘yes.’
I was burning up inside, but I was helpless.
I was about to wrap my arms around the waists of Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo and her handmaiden, Hye-so, and ask Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo to leap up, when I felt a *swoosh!* as my martial arts activated.
‘It worked!’
It seemed the intense anxiety had activated my skills. At any rate, I was relieved to have avoided embarrassment.
I pushed off the ground lightly with my feet and shot upwards.
As I ascended dozens of feet with Sky-Striding Heavenly Ladder, White Cloud swooped down to meet me.
*Thud!*
Landing in the palanquin, I helped Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo to the seat of honor at the back, while Hye-so and I sat facing each other.
Hye-so was a petite woman of about thirty with a neat appearance, clutching a large bamboo case.
Mi-hyang spoke cheerfully.
“Young Master Ak! Shall we head to the Dong-ro Branch?”
“Let’s.”
“Yes!”
White Cloud turned west and began its leisurely flight.
* * *
Hye-so began to pull things out of the bamboo case and arrange them on the table, speaking shyly.
“I’ve prepared some food. Please eat before it gets cold.”
Knowing that Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo would be leaving again, Hye-so had hastily prepared a meal. The fragrant aroma of the food stimulated my nose, and I suddenly felt hungry.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo asked Hye-so.
“Is there any alcohol?”
“Of course.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo smiled at me.
“Do you drink?”
Years ago, when I traveled from Mount Heng to Luoyang with a ten-year-old Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, we were penniless and could barely afford meals, so alcohol was an impossible dream. Besides, I couldn't even touch a drop back then.
As I looked at Hye-so, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo said with a laugh.
“Brother Yong, please, just be yourself.”
I nodded.
“Let’s drink.”
“Allow me to pour you a cup.”
“You don’t drink?”
When I spoke informally to Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, Hye-so’s eyes widened in shock, but she said nothing.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo shook her head.
“I’ve never tried it. What’s it like to drink?”
“You’ll know once you try. In my case, I find it good.”
“Really? Then maybe I’ll try.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo poured me a cup of alcohol, then held out her own empty cup.
“This is the first cup of my life.”
We lightly tapped our cups together.
*Clink!*
“A toast to our reunion after thirteen years.”
I drained my cup in one go, but Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo took a small sip and grimaced.
“It’s bitter.”
She set her cup down.
“Why do people drink something so bitter?”
“From my experience with drinking…”
“What is it like?”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo’s eyes blinked with curiosity.
I smiled faintly.
“It puts the mind at ease.”
“How so?”
I hadn't been drinking for very long, but I shared my experience with her.
“When you're drunk and at ease, people tend to speak their minds more freely. It makes it easy to tell who is a friend and who is a foe.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo looked amazed.
“Is that so?”
“So, I can push away those who don't suit me and grow closer to those who do.”
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo exclaimed in admiration.
“Ah! Alcohol must truly be a wonderful thing!”