Hebei (5)

101. Hebei (5)

The Jeong-hyang Pill.

Lee Eun-ha gave that name to the era's most powerful internal-injury pill, which had perfectly healed Peng Seok's internal injuries in the blink of an eye. Its defining traits, aside from that staggering efficacy, were its absurd cost-efficiency—it could be mass-produced anytime with Jeong-hyang's breast milk and ingredients no better than weeds—and its sweet, mild flavor, like milk candy. But once the pill was finished, she found one flaw in the Jeong-hyang Pill. Perhaps because it was breast-milk-based, its shelf life was extremely short. The longest she could predict was maybe five days. She must have freely given the two little girls a Jeong-hyang Pill each, knowing that as long as she had Jeong-hyang's breast milk and the firepower of my Flame Aura, she could manufacture the pill anywhere, even outdoors.

"Your semen can boost internal energy, Junior Brother. How about we make a Yeongmok Pill?"

Jeong-hyang was talking happily with the last Jeong-hyang Pill in her own mouth. What did it even feel like to taste your own breast milk?

"What would we even do with that? Master and the senior sisters are already taking in Junior Brother's essence directly with their whole bodies, and as for internal power, I have enough."

Lee Eun-ha had been growing increasingly prickly as Jeong-hyang's sexual harassment intensified.

"Wouldn't Junior Brother need it? We're the only ones building internal power through the Yin-Yang Art, after all."

"Don't say horrible things, Senior Sister. Just thinking about eating my own semen gives me the creeps."

"I like it, though."

Jeong-hyang said it with a soft smile.

"What're you all talking about that's so much fun?"

Master walked into the empty dining hall with two girls, Cho-ryeong and Peng So, cradled in her arms. They were kids, sure, but no longer babies, and had to weigh quite a bit. Holding one up in each arm like that—no ordinary person could ever do it. It was proof she was a seasoned martial artist now, but her characteristic gentle face just made her look like a mom with two kids.

"Master. So what's the plan going forward?"

"Nothing different from before. We'll rest here for three days, then stop by the Peng Clan briefly to pay our respects to the Clan Head before heading to Henan again. Young Hero Peng has offered to oversee Seungbok Manor after we leave, so we should accept it gratefully."

Receiving a manor far larger than the Yeongsan Sect they were about to build had made everyone lose their minds for a while, but now, with some time and reflection, we could be a little calmer. Seungdeok Estate was a gift with staggering value as a sect's domain, but right this moment it had no value to us whatsoever. We couldn't sell the manor for cash, and as a domain, it was just a symbolic gift to make us feel good, given we had no connections whatsoever to the trading companies, escort agencies, or local powers around here. Master, who'd also realized that a little late, was playing with the two children in her arms with a much more relaxed look on her face.

Just then, a commotion arose as a large group entered the manor. The Peng Clan had left the furniture, but they'd taken every blanket and every grain of rice back to the main house. Despite the splendid dining hall, Lee Eun-ha had therefore been forced to sit there and chat with us. When we stepped outside, dozens of people who looked like merchants were filing through the manor, each carrying blankets, quilts, and all manner of foodstuffs.

"Are you Great Hero Baek? I'm Hong Seon-hwa, Peng Gang's wife. I've stocked the manor with the immediate necessities, so if you experience any inconvenience during your stay, please let me know at any time."

A young woman spotted me from a distance and greeted me courteously. She was a woman of considerable beauty, fitting for a daughter-in-law of the Peng Clan direct line. Not just pretty—she was a seductive beauty much like our own Yeongsan Sect women, the kind who cultivate the Yin Blossom Art and exude a subtle carnal allure.

"I appreciate the words, but we are on our way to Henan and plan to rest only three days before departing."

"Oh my, that is terribly soon. It wouldn't be too late to take your time looking around the manor you've been gifted and rest thoroughly before you go."

"It is my master's policy. Yeongsan Sect cannot neglect training even while traveling."

"What a shame, truly. Even so, this is Yeongsan Sect's manor now, and my husband and I will always keep it clean and well-maintained, so please come and stay comfortably whenever you wish."

"We'll be in your care."

Slightly different from what I'd expected, her polite and affable manner somehow reminded me of Ban Ho-jeong. True, her husband Peng Gang had been rude to us, but the Peng Clan Head had personally gifted us this manor, which completely settled the scores of gratitude and resentment. What made this truly remarkable was that even a guy like Dan-yeong had virtually no experience bowing his head back in Jilin. Which was why, on his first ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mission as Junior Estate Head, attending Murong Rin's birthday, he'd maintained a stiff posture, and the Baek Clan Estate had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lost a great deal of the multi-generational bond it had built with the Murong Clan. When even the Baek Clan Estate's second son was like that, the fact that a Peng Clan woman whose standing was absolute among warriors throughout Hebei and even military officers serving in the imperial court could be this affable was a genuinely refreshing shock.

"I've brought along capable servants. You must be hungry—please wait just a moment."

My private worry that a woman who'd probably never held a broom in her life would scarcely be any help was put to shame. As befitted a daughter-in-law of a prestigious house, she deployed her competent servants with pinpoint precision and began bringing the household operations of the enormous manor to life in an instant.

"Peng Gang—darling. I've set out a drinks table at Seunghwa Pavilion. Please escort Big Brother there and introduce him to Hebei's celebrated wine, Gangyi Pear Wine."

Now she was even tasking her own husband Peng Gang. Did she just call her husband by name? She didn't seem like an ordinary woman.

"Big Brother, Hebei truly has a great many points of pride. The fifth is the Jinju Eon Clan. The fourth is our Hebei Peng Clan. And the third is this very Gangyi Pear Wine. Hebei's pears are the finest in all the Central Plains, so the Gangyi Pear Wine brewed from them has a truly exceptional taste."

Peng Gang led me toward a small pavilion, talking like a storyteller.

"What about the second and first?"

"The second is wheat. Everyone from the imperial household in Beijing down to the highest officials and nobles always enjoy dishes made with Hebei's high-quality wheat. And the very best thing about Hebei is its people. The people of Hebei, the heart of the Central Plains, are richly endowed with righteousness and courage."

So it was just hometown pride after all. Well, I understood capital-region chauvinism well enough, but the point of this not-terribly-funny story was, in the end, that the Peng Clan was greater than the Eon Clan—that sort of thing. The spread was modest but matched my tastes: simple drinking snacks. And even if the setting was rustic, a drinks table in a pavilion like this still felt refined and impressive. The Gangyi Pear Wine Peng Gang had boasted of wasn't so much sweet as it was incredibly strong. I wasn't sure if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I had this right, but I'd heard that with infused wines, the higher the sugar content of the fruit, the higher the alcohol proof.

"Let me ask you one thing. You, a direct-line member of the Peng Clan, personally volunteered to manage the manor. We're grateful, from our side, but what's the reason? The way I see it, we'll hardly ever have reason to come to this manor, so is it that you want to use it yourself?"

At those words, Peng Gang flinched in surprise.

"What are you saying? Even after Yeongsan Sect leaves, my wife and I intend to come by with servants once every few days strictly to maintain it and then leave. It isn't proper for guests to stay in a house whose owners are absent. Ah, of course, we'll post a simple gatekeeper or two on the outside of the manor, so Big Brother need not worry about that."

Peng Gang spoke hurriedly. It didn't seem to be a lie. Well, even if it was bullshit, it didn't matter. A house with no one living in it dies fast anyway, so Peng Gang's using it in our absence wasn't a problem in the slightest.

"Then why has the Peng Clan Head's own grandson volunteered for this work?"

I asked him, refilling his cup.

"Hmm... It's because of a Peng Clan teaching that differs somewhat from what ordinary martial artists follow. Big Brother, have you heard the unique family precepts of the other Five Great Clans?"

"I know the Murong Clan's and the Tang Clan's, at least. For the Sichuan Tang Clan, it's the famous 'Return kindness twofold, vengeance tenfold.' And for the Murong Clan, 'Make not your neighbor your enemy, but make him a Murong sword.' Something like that?"

"Among the Five Great Clans, the Murong and Peng Clans are a little unusual. Murong controls not only Liaoning's military force, but also its economy and administration, almost like a regional lord. By contrast, the Peng Clan sits directly beside Beijing and cannot afford such an arrogant posture. We coordinate with the imperial court to maintain order in Hebei and have produced countless military officers. That is why the Peng Clan thinks more like an army than an ordinary martial clan. Our family precept says that, to a true warrior, a wise surrender is more important than a lucky victory. At first hearing, another martial artist might mistake it for the words of cowards, but surrender on a battlefield requires even greater prudence than victory. Surrender too early and you extinguish the possibility of winning; surrender only after defeat is certain and you can expect no mercy from the enemy. I missed the proper moment to surrender. But since you gave me another chance, Big Brother, I must fulfill the duties of the defeated."

Ah... Now I understood a little. The conduct of the Peng Clan martial artists I'd seen earlier, the manor that resembled a military installation, and Peng Gang's rapid change in attitude all fit together.

"Does our Peng Clan precept sound like a coward's excuse to you too, Big Brother?"

"Hardly. I'm a little impressed, honestly. If you'd kept clinging to your pride after the matter was settled, I would have slipped away from Master and finished you myself. You are right—nothing is more precious than life. Yeongsan Sect is completely unknown, isn't it? As recently as the beginning of this year, we weren't even a real sect. We were slash-and-burn farmers on the verge of starving to death. Then, as though one disaster were not enough, we became Heuk Cheon-gyeon's target. Our entire sect was burned down, and every disciple except me was dragged away as a prisoner. Yet despite Heuk Cheon-gyeon's invasion, all of us survived. Now we've grown enough to receive hospitality from the Peng Clan, far beyond what we deserve. Three years from now, Yeongsan Sect will wage war on the Black Heaven Association to avenge that day. As long as you don't die, you can always repay a humiliation someday."

At my sincere words, Peng Gang smiled in satisfaction, his face full of pride. It seemed he had learned to distinguish wounded pride from the pride of belonging to the Peng Clan.

"Well, to be honest, I do have an ulterior motive. Since I already suffered a crushing defeat at your hands, Big Brother, I thought I would throw away my paltry pride and use it as an excuse to stay close to you. I trust the Clan Head's judgment. Yeongsan Sect will undoubtedly soar. Getting into your good graces this early is an investment in my future."

Peng Gang openly revealed his intentions with an honest laugh and brazen charm. Our first meeting may have been the worst possible, but he was difficult to dislike.

"I wasn't going to Henan anyway, but since I've already met the future victor of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, staying in Hebei was clearly the right choice."

"Huh? I'm not entering the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering."

"What? Why not?"

"We're not part of the Martial Alliance. I'm only going to Henan because the Martial Alliance Leader said he wanted to meet the man who defeated the Black Heaven Association Leader."

Peng Gang sighed at that.

"Ah... I see. Well, with your level of martial prowess, Big Brother, the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering would be meaningless anyway."

"Exactly. But why did you not go to Henan?"

He was a legitimate grandson of the Peng Clan. The Eight Dragons might have been beyond him, but depending on the bracket, his martial prowess was still enough to distinguish himself. Why was Peng Gang, of all people, still here? He lifted his cup with a bitter smile.

"The truth is, I've been completely pushed out of the competition for Young Clan Head. My father has two wives. Originally, my biological older brother—the eldest grandson and an outstanding martial artist—was expected to become the Young Clan Head. But the heavens were merciless, and he died of a heart condition several years ago. After that, my half-brother Peng Il-su emerged as the new candidate and began gathering the clan's support. Unlike me, who lost my only older brother, that bastard has four older sisters, and every one of them supports him with the full power of her husband's family. Someone like me cannot compete with that."

Peng Gang spoke with bitterness. The Baek Clan Estate, the Murong Clan—no martial estate structured this way could avoid succession struggles. In the end, I myself had been in the position of losing the succession competition to Dan-yeong, who had the backing of his maternal family, so the wine tasted a little more bitter for it.

No—wine was bitter to begin with.

"Even so, I am all right. I have a beautiful wife, and although I lost my biological older brother, I met a new older brother like you, did I not, Big Brother?"

"Uh. We're not sworn brothers, though?"

"You saved my life. Does that not make us sworn brothers? I don't know what you think, Big Brother, but I have decided to regard you as my older brother."

"Whoa. You're astonishingly thick-skinned, aren't you? Thinking that's your freedom, but there's already one bandit brat who calls me hyung just like you. That bastard is older than me, so if you're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠saying you're my little brother, that makes you the little brother of that bandit brat."

"A bandit? You don't mean the White Tiger Sect Leader?"

"You know him?"

"Of course I do. Isn't he the most famous martial artist in Liaoning these days? Ah, I see. So the White Tiger Sect Leader also became your little brother and now enjoys his current glory. Once you've left the manor, Big Brother, I'll have to go pay White Tiger Sect a visit myself."

Peng Gang spoke happily. To a junior of the Peng Clan, ties with the White Tiger Sect might not provide much direct power, but just as Murong Rin maintained relationships with minor clans like the Baek Clan Estate to strengthen her influence within her clan, the connection might still help him. In the previous village, Cho-ryeong and I had gained the bond of friendship; here in Hebei, Peng Gang and I had gained the bond of brotherhood.

Meeting people and forming bonds was more enjoyable than I'd expected—provided, of course, that I possessed the strength to protect those bonds.