Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Jin Family Manor
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Hubei Province, Jin Family Manor.
A typical merchant family, it had risen rapidly through its alliance with the Wudang Sect.
The Jin Family Manor provided financial support to Wudang, while Wudang offered special protection in return—a symbiotic relationship that had lasted for over a century.
There were even rumors that the wealth accumulated by the Jin Family Manor surpassed that of the Hubei Peng Family, one of the five great families in the province.
'Truly enormous.'
In his previous life, Hyeonseong had once visited the half-destroyed Forbidden City in Beijing.
Of course, even if that half-ruined palace were demolished another four times over, it still wouldn't compare to this estate in scale. Yet the Jin Family Manor was vast enough to evoke memories of the Forbidden City for a fleeting moment.
The Heavenly Communication Pavilion served as a bridge connecting the Wudang Sect to the common people and a channel for voicing grievances. Thus, from a young age, Hyeonseong had often traveled hand-in-hand with his master through various parts of Hubei.
However, this was his first time visiting the Jin Family Manor. Muryul, who had been born the second son of the Jin Family and entered the Wudang Sect, had never brought Hyeonseong to his own home.
"Who might you be?"
Lost in nostalgic memories of a past decades removed, Hyeonseong was halted by the gatekeeper of the Jin Family Manor.
The man's glance flicked toward Hyeonseong's head. Hyeonseong figured it was due to his unusual hair color, different from others.
The Hyeonseong of his previous life might have jabbed the man's eyes out for such insolence, leaving him temporarily or permanently blind. But he had grown mentally.
He had learned restraint and tolerance.
Instead of demonstrating the finger technique he had honed in Xinjiang, Hyeonseong parted his robe to reveal the sword hilt at his waist, signaling that he hailed from the Wudang Sect.
To the gatekeeper, it looked like a threat: move aside, or I'll split your gut open along with the gate.
"Could you wait just a moment?"
Hyeonseong nodded, and the gatekeeper hurried inside.
A short while later, he returned with a burly warrior in tow.
"Who dares barge into the gates of the Jin Family Manor, under the great protection of Wudang, and harass our household staff? Wang Daitong of the Wudang's Number One Speed Willow Sword Gate shall deal with you!"
The man bellowed, clad in a sleeveless martial robe that exposed arms as thick as century-old willow trunks, befitting his sect's name.
Deal with me, he says. Hyeonseong drew his sword.
Wang Daitong's narrowed eyes widened like a calf's upon spotting the pine pattern etched on the blade.
"H-Hyeonseong True Person?"
Thud! Wang Daitong dropped to his knees and shouted.
"I failed to recognize your greatness! Forgive me!"
He then glared at the stupefied gatekeeper beside him.
"You ignorant fool. 'Knows naught but his own glue' was coined for the likes of you! Even with that white hair like proof of rejuvenation and a youthful face, you mistook the True Person for some riffraff. Have you never heard that Hyeonseong True Person, the great-grand elder of Wudang, has achieved reversal of aging and regained his youth?"
I stood there blankly before the kneeling Wang Daitong.
From what I gathered, tales of me had twisted into something utterly bizarre. If this Wang Daitong's words held true, I'd be my master's martial uncle.
His understanding of the jianghu was warped in strange ways from the start.
Reversal of aging doesn't leave your hair white while your face turns young. I'd experienced it myself.
The gatekeeper, having heard it all, shot back undaunted.
"If you're talking about Hyeonseong True Person, the legendary Shennong Reborn whose fame echoes through the era, I've heard he has a pair of iron horns on his forehead like the ancient Flame Emperor Shennong. But this young hero's brow is perfectly flat. I saw it clear as day with my own eyes."
I let out a sigh as if the earth itself might cave in.
I was the fool for expecting even a shred of sense from him.
And he added fuel to the fire.
"Enough."
At that moment, a middle-aged man spoke from the inner courtyard beyond the gate.
His tone was distinctly different, yet his voice resembled my master's.
"What rudeness toward our guest. Invite him in."
Only then could I escape this idiotic debate.
Hurrying into the outer hall, I found the middle-aged man personally pouring tea.
"Wei Yin tea. I hope it suits your taste."
"I am grateful for the hospitality."
Wei Yin was one of the finest teas.
A sip filled my mouth with a rich, splendid aroma.
The middle-aged man sipped his tea silently before speaking.
"I am Jin Huihyeon, lord of the Jin Family Manor. Your master, Muryul... that is, U-hyeon's older brother."
I'd suspected as much, but hearing it directly highlighted the similarities to my master. The harmony of his features felt a bit off compared to my master's, but each one individually bore resemblance.
"I've heard much about you from U-hyeon. And about your background as well. This is the first time meeting you, though."
His wrinkled hand grasped the teacup, somehow with a firmness that suggested tension.
"Thirteen years ago, when I received the letter about you, I thought U-hyeon had finally caused real trouble... But seeing you, you don't resemble him much. A relief."
I raised an eyebrow, wondering what he meant.
"Ah, forgive me. He's a bundle of trouble to me as a younger brother, but your master to you. Please overlook my rudeness."
"No offense taken. But what do you mean by 'trouble'?"
"Hm? You haven't heard of the Three Flowers Young Noble?"
"Three Flowers Young Noble...?"
What ridiculous moniker was this?
I knew playboys flaunting women on both arms were called Flower Princes, but Three Flowers?
"Heh, astonishing. In my day, everyone in Hubei knew the Three Flowers Young Noble. Must be the generation gap."
"Some kind of nickname...?"
"Not quite as grandiose as the aliases jianghu folk use. Just... a teasing nickname people gave him."
Jin Manor Lord sighed deeply, tracing the rim of his teacup with a finger.
"Hesitant to badmouth him in front of his disciple, but... U-hyeon had plenty of incidents with women in his youth. Not that he pursued them actively—more like he had some Peach Blossom Curse."
Every story that followed from the Jin Manor Lord's lips struck me with shock and horror.
It was an epic saga of a hero juggling jade pendants in one hand and slapping cheeks in the other amid endless scandals.
From minor knife fights to the grand Three Provinces War waged by women from Shaanxi's Huashan Sect, Hubei's Peng Family, and Sichuan's Tang Clan over one man.
"So when I heard U-hyeon had taken a newborn as his disciple, I couldn't help but harbor reasonable doubts. Are you alright? Your complexion..."
"I'm fine. No need to say more."
"Very well. I've prattled on. Ah, take this."
The Jin Manor Lord handed me a bundled package.
Opening it revealed a dazzling array of precious metals and gems.
I'd anticipated something, but this exceeded expectations by far.
"This is... too much."
"No need to refuse. U-hyeon treats you like blood kin, so to me, you're like a nephew. Think of it as pocket money from your uncle. If it feels awkward, I could inscribe a few talismans with your name instead."
"Would that suffice?"
The Jin Manor Lord stared at me blankly for a moment before breaking into a hearty laugh reminiscent of my master.
"Seems you don't grasp the value of the name Hyeonseong in Hubei. Lacking in perceptiveness, perhaps. Oddly, just like U-hyeon in that regard."
"What do you mean."
Me, lacking perceptiveness?
As I'd mentioned before, I possessed instincts as sharp as the Preservation Nerve.
[For a mere merchant, he has decent insight.]
Despite a minor hiccup, my farewell with the Jin Manor Lord unfolded in a warm atmosphere.
I offered a respectful clasped-hands salute as he saw me off at the gate.
'From now on, I should introduce myself as the Wealthy Daoist instead of the Poor one.'
Turning away, I patted my chest where the money pouch now sat, heavy and solid.
It felt sturdy enough to deflect even an arrow from a Divine Archer of the Tusin Society.
The Jin Manor Lord's generosity didn't end with mere coin. Upon hearing I was headed to Guangdong, he offered to procure a carriage.
Thus, I made my way with his assigned escort to the Jinseong Escort Agency, operated by the Jin Family Manor.
"To Guangdong from here? Straight-line it's four thousand li; detouring rough paths, easily five thousand. Is that alright?"
"It's fine. How long will the journey take?"
"Fastest is a month, but weather or mishaps could stretch it to two or three. Especially your route—Demonic Heaven holds sway there, so I can't guarantee safety. Our Jinseong Escort Agency offers escorts for a modest surcharge to protect clients en route..."
"No need. Just the fastest carriage available."
"Understood..."
An escort would only slow things down. Doubts lingered whether this agency even employed Peak experts, let alone Transcendents.
A mediocre guard clinging to me would be nothing but a hindrance.
By consuming Small Return Pills and storing Nine Rings Divine Art qi in my Middle Dantian, I could sustain Sword Gang for extended periods, rendering me unmatched among Peak experts.
One couldn't rule out encountering a Transcendent en route, but such an escort would be useless regardless.
'Besides, Transcendents aren't stray dogs.'
Even Mosan Sect, part of the Nine Great Schools and One Gang, boasted only five such experts.
Transcendents were rare as beans in drought, typically clustered in family compounds or mountains.
Encounters were exceedingly unlikely.
'No way I'd run into one before even reaching Demonic Heaven headquarters.'
I nodded and boarded the carriage.