Dragon-Phoenix Gathering (14)
Dragon-Phoenix Gathering (14)
Morning broke. After pounding rice cakes deep into the night and lounging around like idle playboys, we rose, still wiping drool from our faces. Having rolled around in a heap like that, for some reason my body felt light and refreshed, and my mood was good. Blinking and yawning, Im Seo-ryeon stretched and said.
"...It's been a while since I slept this well. I feel like I've been asleep for an entire day."
Seon-go, who had been wedged between me and Im Seo-ryeon, rose as well and said in a half-asleep tone.
"I know. My body feels languid, but I slept so pleasantly. You know that feeling, like you could just collapse and never get up again."
I knew exactly what that felt like. Even if you're a transcendent warrior who can get by on little sleep, that doesn't mean you stop enjoying it. Waking up refreshed feels good, and it was nice to bask in the morning sunlight and go over the day's plans. Seon-go, leaning on a chair for support, looked out the window and murmured.
"So, this morning there's the match with Hong Ye-ssi..."
"Mm...?"
"Huh?"
Seon-go froze mid-sentence. Both Im Seo-ryeon and I looked at each other, blinking. Without anyone needing to say it, we all glanced outside. The sun was blazing down, and firecrackers were bursting at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering arena.
Then, accompanied by a knock on the door, came Zhuge Yeong-yu's urgent shout.
"Um, great hero? May I come in? The first match is just starting, so if we don't leave now we might miss Miss Yang Hong-ye's bout...? Great hero? Are you up?"
"...Fucked."
A flustered voice and the sound of banging on the door. To me, that sound was like a heartbeat.
"Q-quick! Quickly!"
"Hurry!"
The three martial artists scrambled to find clothes to change into. I roughly picked up my clothes and threw them on, shouting for Zhuge Yeong-yu to give me the bath reservation token, while Seon-go tossed Im Seo-ryeon the clothes she had been wearing, shouting.
"Quickly! Quickly!"
"W-wait! I'm getting dressed!"
Udatangtang.
Right now, we were fighting against time as fiercely as in a martial arena.
******
"Uwaaaaak!"
A martial artist went spinning out of the arena. Standing there was Hong Ye. Her sleeves had puffed up as if about to burst and then settled, and the spot where the two had collided was gouged out as if a meteorite had struck. Hong Ye caught her breath, wiped sweat from her forehead, and gave a fist-wrapping salute.
"I learned a thing or two."
The fallen martial artist seemed to glare at Hong Ye for a moment, then brushed the dirt from his body and offered her a greeting.
"...This was also a good opportunity for me. Please forgive me for looking down on you because of your Southern Barbarian blood."
Meanwhile, we were sitting and catching our breath. My hastily thrown-on clothes looked as if I'd slept in them after a drinking session, so Zhuge Yeong-yu was diligently fixing them, and Seon-go and Im Seo-ryeon were also busy checking each other's clothes and hair. As I felt Zhuge Yeong-yu's hands tugging at my clothes, I muttered.
"...At least we made it in time. That's a relief."
"You said it. We nearly would have arrived after the match was over."
Zhuge Yeong-yu agreed with me. That was how quickly Hong Ye's match had ended.
The gist of the match was easy to summarize. The moment we took our seats, the opponent jeered, bringing up Hong Ye's Southern Barbarian lineage, then charged in, declaring he would show off his martial arts. Hong Ye received his force with the profound principle of Taijiquan, then countered, sending him out of the arena for a ring-out loss.
Only after the match did Hong Ye look around, and as soon as our eyes met, she gave a small wave. She was still trying to keep a straight face, but she couldn't suppress the slow grin that crept out. Now that we had confirmed we were getting married, there was no need to be discreet. I waved back at her, and the people around us murmured, glancing at me or whispering among themselves.
I looked at Zhuge Yeong-yu and asked.
"Is anything odd about me? Still, I don't want to look like I spent the whole night sleeping with a woman."
As I said that and leaned my face closer, Zhuge Yeong-yu averted his gaze and replied.
"...Well, you look the same as ever, great hero. As usual... you're dashing."
Thinking too deeply about Zhuge Yeong-yu's words was a sure way to develop a heart demon. I simply nodded vaguely at his comment.
"Mm, it's fine. Perfect."
"Th-the madam too, I see."
Seon-go and Im Seo-ryeon faced each other and straightened each other's clothes. Of course, since many people had witnessed them rushing out of the same inn room with me, this was nothing more than closing one's eyes and pretending.
Im Seo-ryeon was well aware of that. She grumbled as she fixed her hair.
"After causing such a commotion since yesterday, rumors will now spread about the debauchery of a Hengshan Sect direct disciple. It's embarrassing."
Of course, there wasn't a trace of regret on Im Seo-ryeon's face. The corners of her mouth, which had murmured regret, twitched every time she recalled last night's events. I asked her.
"Is it conduct your sect would take issue with...?"
Im Seo-ryeon shook her head.
"Originally, the Dao is based on the harmony of yin and yang and does not forbid the coupling of man and woman, but as a sect that walks the righteous path, it is only proper to maintain a minimum of dignity. A disciple of Hengshan fooling around with a married man... now that I think about it, it's a bit... well. When I return to the sect, my master will scold me."
Im Seo-ryeon's face crumpled. Hengshan Sect's discipline seemed quite strict. I lightly touched her waist and asked.
"Couldn't you just say that you had the wife's permission and enjoyed it together? Moreover, if you reveal that you are still a pure maiden, it shouldn't be that big a problem."
"....My master would collapse."
I didn't know who Im Seo-ryeon's master was, but they seemed a truly frail and conservative person. How could they be angry when their disciple was still a virgin and had consensually enjoyed healthy intimacy with a married man, with his wife's full permission? Zhuge Yeong-yu rolled his eyes at Im Seo-ryeon's words and, seeing Hong Ye heading our way, said.
"Great Hero Docheol. The madam is coming."
******
"Husband!"
As soon as Hong Ye saw me, she raised her voice, then glanced around and continued in a smaller voice.
"D-did you watch my match?"
"Of course. It was a gripping match. Your opponent was quite a skilled expert, yet you dispatched him so easily—truly, your Taijiquan is in a league of its own."
Since I'd arrived just in time and seen the entire match, it wasn't a lie. At my praise, Hong Ye laced her fingers together and rubbed them nervously, then bowed her head and froze. Then she said in a small voice.
"Th-that is undeserved praise."
"You were also my teacher—how could I hold back praise? You are my guiding star."
"P-please, stop..."
Saying so, Hong Ye blushed and cupped her cheeks with her hands. The way she turned her head sharply was so girlish that I wanted to immediately knead her bottom. Im Seo-ryeon watched us converse with a somewhat complicated expression and twisted a strand of hair around her finger.
And she asked Seon-go.
"This might be an impertinent question, but aren't you anxious when your husband has many women?"
"Why would I be anxious? I'm the first wife. If my husband adds more women, they're all under me. Because I'm the first wife!"
Seon-go declared, puffing her chest out proudly. Im Seo-ryeon looked speechless. I, listening with one ear, could only laugh in disbelief. Hearing that, Hong Ye wore a thoughtful expression for a moment.
Then she quietly approached Seon-go and spoke. She hesitated, her face flushed, but she clasped her hands together politely.
"F-first wife."
"See? See?"
Seon-go reacted like someone seeing a baby say 'mama' and 'papa' for the first time. Im Seo-ryeon looked at us with an incredulous expression and murmured.
"...You're a match made in heaven."
I shrugged and replied.
"I'm just blessed with women, that's all."
And Seon-go stuck close to Hong Ye, chattering like a bird.
"No, but I'm not really going to lord it over you or anything. It's just a joke. I won't order you around, Hong Ye-ssi. Okay? So, there's no need to be so nervous."
"Ah, i-it was a joke?"
Hong Ye still didn't seem used to Seon-go's jokes. Im Seo-ryeon adjusted her sword grip and said.
"Docheol."
"What is it?"
Im Seo-ryeon wore an expression as if about to say something, then shook her head. And with a smile, she said.
"No, I'll tell you later. There will be another chance. But I must go now. Starting tomorrow, I have back-to-back matches, and as the one representing Hengshan Sect, I can't keep my attendants idle any longer. I'll take my leave here."
Im Seo-ryeon's expression looked truly regretful. Seon-go also looked somewhat regretful, and Hong Ye, looking at Im Seo-ryeon, said.
"I had wanted to talk about Hengshan Sect's swordsmanship and teachings, but it's a pity."
"....If an opportunity arises, we'll see each other again. Perhaps... in a different relationship."
The look in Im Seo-ryeon's eyes as she said that was challenging. Hong Ye looked puzzled at the words 'different relationship' and that gaze, then seemed to realize something and said.
"We might face each other in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering."
Im Seo-ryeon looked as if she'd been caught off guard, then rolled her eyes and replied.
"....I'll look forward to the skills of the Yang Family Taijiquan Gate."
And Im Seo-ryeon turned away. Watching Im Seo-ryeon leave with a toss of her hair, Hong Ye asked me.
"Should I grow my hair out too?"
"You're fine as you are."
A bronze-skinned beauty is best with short hair. That's common sense. While I nodded to myself, upholding my own personal common sense.
"Hoo..."
Zhuge Yeong-yu let out a big sigh and sat down in a chair. Stroking his chin, he looked around, then frowned.
"Hm?"
"What's wrong?"
When I asked, Zhuge Yeong-yu, instead of answering me, said this.
"The head of the Eight Trigrams Association, who I hear has been very busy lately—what brings him here?"
Only then did Hong Ye, Seon-go, and I turn our heads. A man wearing a martial robe embroidered with the Eight Trigrams Association's emblem was walking toward us, languidly, as if he were an aristocrat.