Chapter 56
Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Seeking the Sword Phoenix
The morning after arriving in Shenyang.
As Cheon Woojin had suggested, I dressed in my sharpest outfit before stepping out of Yi Yeon Lou.
It was to head to the Moyong Clan.
"My lord, you must honor our bet."
"Don't worry. I'm Mok Jimyeong—I don't go back on my word."
Cheon Woojin and I had made a little wager the day before.
If things went well following his plan, I'd raise his salary from two silver taels to five.
'Five silver taels is a small price if it means I can claim the Sword Phoenix.'
I'd even be willing to pay five gold taels.
Of course, that didn't mean I'd actually hand over gold to the guy.
For reference, the method Cheon Woojin proposed was the straightforward approach.
Arrive at the Moyong Clan, boldly declare my identity, and request a meeting with the Sword Phoenix.
Once I met her, conduct the conversation as politely as possible and at least secure an appointment...
'As if that would ever work.'
This wasn't some minor family—it was one of the Five Great Families.
No way they'd grant an audience just because some random guy showed up asking for one.
If he weren't her husband from his past life, I wouldn't have even taken the bet.
'No matter how I think about it, it'd be better to wait for her to come out and strike up a conversation then...'
Putting aside having Cheon Woojin threaten her, why not just approach her casually when she's out, like I did with Eun Garyeon?
But Cheon Woojin had strongly opposed that.
-My lord, I really don't think so. What woman would like some guy suddenly asking her to grab a drink? Just visit the clan openly and set up a proper meeting in advance.
He'd raised his voice, insisting that first impressions were everything.
I, on the other hand, maintained that his direct approach was impossible.
So naturally, our bet included a condition where I'd win.
Turned away at the door.
If I followed his plan but got chased off before even securing an appointment, it was my victory.
And if I won...
"You know, right? Fail this, and your salary's gone for life?"
Cheon Woojin's pay would vanish entirely.
But he looked confident.
"Whether the two of you hit it off depends on your actions, my lord, but at least you won't get turned away at the gate."
We chatted idly like that as we walked, until a vast estate sprawled out endlessly before us.
The Moyong Clan's grounds.
Having visited the Nangong Clan—another of the Five Great Families—I wasn't impressed, but Cheon Woojin gaped, eyes wide.
"...All this belongs to the Moyong Clan?"
"Yeah."
"How does a single family own...!"
He stared in shock at the walls encircling the estate.
Clearly far grander than he'd imagined.
'Yeah, it's speechless the first time.'
Our Mok Family Clan was well-known in Shanxi Province, but the Five Great Families were on another level.
Vaster than most villages, with towering, elegant buildings.
Less a family estate, more a fortress.
Realizing the might of the Five Great Families late, he looked deflated.
"My lord... Coming here unannounced might be a bit tough after all..."
"What then? Forfeit?"
"..."
Remembering our bet from yesterday, Cheon Woojin clamped his mouth shut.
Then, with a resolute expression as if he'd made a vow, he shot me a determined look.
"I'll make this a success."
With that, he strode ahead briskly.
As we approached the massive gates, one of the two guards stepped forward to inquire our business.
"What brings you here?"
As planned, I hung back quietly with hands clasped behind me, letting Cheon Woojin take the lead.
"This gentleman is Mok Jimyeong, third son of the Mok Family Clan from Shanxi Province. He's here to see a lady called the Sword Phoenix."
"Sword Phoenix? You don't mean... Miss Hui?!"
"That's right. We've come to meet Sword Phoenix Moyong Hui."
"Do you have an appointment...?"
"No. But we're here to make one."
Thanks to our polished attire, the guard seemed torn on what to do.
Just as I started hoping it might actually work, the other guard stepped up.
"What's going on?"
"Ah, senior. These gentlemen say they want to see Miss Hui..."
His senior—arms crossed—listened to the explanation.
Then he eyed us with a sour look.
"So... you're the son of the Mok Family Clan from Shanxi?"
"Yes."
"How do you know our Miss Hui?"
Cheon Woojin, who'd been handling it smoothly, suddenly glanced at me.
As if unsure how to respond.
No choice—I spoke up.
"Just heard rumors?"
At my utterly honest answer, Cheon Woojin squeezed his eyes shut.
The senior guard looked equally baffled.
"So you heard rumors and came all the way from Shanxi to meet her?"
"Yep."
I shrugged, and he shook his head.
Then he snapped at his junior.
"You gotta chase off types like this yourself! Why waste time?!"
"I thought maybe they were from some influential family..."
"Influential my ass! Never heard of 'em!"
The guards badmouthed us right to our faces.
I nearly burst out laughing.
'Oh man, poor Cheon Woojin.'
Truth be told, two silver taels was nothing for a peak master under me.
I just enjoyed his twisted expression.
Then Cheon Woojin blurted desperately.
"A duel! He's here to spar with the Sword Phoenix!"
"Ugh, sparring? He's just here to gawk at our Miss Hui."
That senior guard had sharp instincts.
But Cheon Woojin pressed on frantically.
"No, he's one of the top swordsmen not just in Shanxi but across the Central Plains. Drawn by her title, he's come from afar to test his skills against her."
The guards eyed me skeptically.
Then snorted.
"Top swordsman in the Central Plains? Him?"
"Yes. The Sword Phoenix herself would learn much from a duel with him."
Maybe it was Cheon Woojin's confident tone and face.
Even the senior looked intrigued.
"...So what's your title, then?"
Cheon Woojin glanced at me again.
His eyes full of expectation.
'What? You don't even know my title, Cheon Woojin?'
Come to think of it, we'd never discussed it.
We'd talked martial arts and women plenty, but barely anything personal since day one.
No helping it.
Time to enlighten him.
I faced the guard with bold, shameless confidence.
"Title? Don't have one."
The bet's outcome: Mok Jimyeong's victory.
After getting turned away at the Moyong Clan gates, we stopped by a tavern on the way back.
For a light lunch.
Cheon Woojin, silent till then, downed his drink in one go and bellowed.
"I won't accept this!"
"Why not?"
"You kept giving weird answers, my lord!"
"What was weird? I answered honestly every time."
I shrugged, and he chugged straight from the bottle, parched.
"Even so... couldn't you have made up a flashy title? How can you not have one?"
"Can't make something outta nothing."
Sure, I had that self-made "Divine Dragon of Creation" from before, but no way I'd use that.
It'd only work once I was famous; otherwise, I'd just look insane.
'And I'm keeping the Chu Munrak kill under wraps as much as possible.'
Too many witnesses for total silence, but few believed it anyway.
Think about it.
A Four Black Alliance elder killed by a warrior barely past twenty? Absurd.
Plus, the Eun Merchant Group and Shadow Gate Sect were muddying the info together, so my name hadn't surfaced anywhere yet.
"...You're really not paying me from now on?"
Cheon Woojin looked glum.
Time to stop teasing and cut him some slack.
"Come up with another plan. Succeed, and I'll keep your two silver taels."
I trusted his resourcefulness.
This time it was lack of intel on the Five Great Families, but he'd once united the righteous, evil, and demonic factions.
And he was Moyong Hui's husband, to boot.
'Can't have Cheon Woojin threaten the Sword Phoenix for real.'
Unlike some groom, he had the Martial Emperor as backup—too big a risk.
One slip, and the Moyong Clan might vanish.
'And I might go down with them.'
So we needed another way.
Cheon Woojin pondered deeply, eyes gleaming at my words.
I gave him time, sipping alone.
'Hmm, who to call tonight? That Geumyo from yesterday looked promising.'
As I mulled over evening companions,
the bustling tavern fell suddenly quiet.
Even Cheon Woojin stared blankly behind me.
'What?'
I glanced back casually, and
"Are you the gentlemen who came all the way from Shanxi Province to meet me?"
There stood Cheon Suyeon, the World's Greatest Beauty.