Taoist Arts (4)

27. Taoist Arts (4)

Lately, Jeong-hyang had been coming to me earlier and earlier. I couldn't be sure without a clock, but now she'd slide into my room around three in the morning and slip right under the covers. She'd sleep in my arms, then at the appointed hour she'd wake like an alarm clock, swallow my semen, and then we'd share each other's warmth, naked, until she left. It had only been a few days, but I never knew waking to another person's warmth beneath the blankets could feel this good. That must be why everyone and their brother rushes into marriage.

Today was the day I'd go down to the village with Son Yeong, after breakfast, to buy liquor jars. Cho-ryeong had sidled over, hoping to tag along, but Master saw us off while holding Cho-ryeong tight in her arms, so today's village trip became just Son Yeong and me, the same way it had been when I first came to Yeongsan Sect. Son Yeong gazed steadily at me as I shouldered the iron carrying-frame.

"Senior Sister, would you like a ride?"

"Me? No, I'm fine. I consider walking the mountain path proper training in itself. It's only that, even an empty iron frame must be very heavy, yet you carry it without the slightest strain, Junior Brother. I'm simply too envious of your build."

As I'd thought. I'd sensed it before: while everyone gathered around during weight training looked at my muscles the way they might look at an attractive man, Son Yeong's gaze was a little different. It held a desire to improve her martial arts, a longing for strength. I wanted to praise that spirit, but the idea that she envied this lumpy body of mine made me recoil. Muscles like mine on that pretty face? Absolutely not. I needed to use the Spirit-Binding Art to find her a past master's martial art before it was too late, so she'd stop looking at me that way.

"Walking this road with you, Junior Brother, it's already been over a month now."

It felt like several months had passed, but had it really only been one?

"More than the silver you gave us, I'm so grateful you came here. Master and all us sisters, truthfully, we'd been deeply exhausted. But ever since you arrived, everyone has brightened remarkably. Thank you. Junior Brother."

I recalled my first impression of her at Baek Clan Estate, when she'd looked no better than a beggar. Her martial uniform was still that same coarse sackcloth, but her cheeks, once hollow from starvation like a refugee's, had filled out decently, and her smile had improved immensely. Overshadowed by Jeong-hyang, but she too was quite a beauty. They'd decided to try on all five sets of clothes, sewn from cloth in various lovely colors, together once they were all finished. Even for Lee Eun-ha, making five full sets of clothes in between household chores left no spare time, so she remained in that sackcloth uniform for now. Once she put on those new clothes soon, she'd look truly beautiful.

"I'm the grateful one. You're the one who decisively persuaded Master to accept my admission, after all."

We both shared our sincere gratitude as we headed down the mountain path. Unlike the first time, she had fully recovered her stamina from the long starvation and travel fatigue, and since this road was no longer new to me either, we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠picked up speed and arrived at the village in a flash. Without refrigeration, perishable ingredients had to be bought in the village by Son Yeong on regular trips like today's. Contrary to her image as a martial arts obsessive that made her seem blunt, Son Yeong was unexpectedly sociable, perhaps from frequent village runs. She'd haggle the price of bok choy with a cute charm she never showed at Yeongsan Sect, or wheedle one extra green onion for free.

Since the jars were heavy, we decided to buy them last, and stopped at the inn, the highlight of any village trip, to order food. Roast duck and braised fish. Somehow the order shrank every time we came. The inn's cooking was excellent, fine ingredients brought to life by superb skill, but by now I too had become addicted to Lee Eun-ha's touch, just like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the other disciples. Still, the food was only meant to accompany the drink. The main event was the Pear Blossom Wine.

"Young Master. A letter delivered from the Yongrim Escort Agency."

Just as I was taking a drink, an inn servant, with extremely deferential bearing, held out a letter along with a small pouch. A reply had come from Baek Clan Estate. Frankly, it was genuinely unexpected. I'd naturally expected the reply to come from Father, but the sender was Dan-yeong.

—Hyung. Congratulations on your admission. I pray for your boundless martial fortune. We've also conducted a brief investigation into your sect on our end. I understand they are a sect of difficult circumstances, but this younger brother firmly believes that you, Hyung, will steadfastly achieve whatever you set your mind to.—

Just like Dan-yeong. A letter exactly like the bastard. Insincere blather. With a guy like this, you just read from the bottom for the real point.

—It pains me that I cannot help you now that you have left for such arduous training, Hyung. I am sending a little silver in the hope that you can at least buy something to eat during your training. I know how heavily the family weighs on you as its eldest son, but until you achieve what you seek, this younger brother will do everything within his limited strength to protect Baek Clan Estate.—

A huge laugh escaped me before I knew it. Dan-yeong, that brat. Had he always been this adorable? He must have looked into Yeongsan Sect, realized it was a shitshow beyond imagination, and worried that I'd get fed up, change my mind, and return to Baek Clan Estate. That was why he'd sent a letter like this. When I opened the pouch, however, it wasn't silver at all. Ten taels of gold—an enormous sum—glittered inside. He'd probably pestered Lady Tang and his maternal family into sending enough money to keep me from changing my mind. Given Yeongsan Sect's current situation, there was no such thing as too much money. I'd gratefully accept my little brother's allowance and do exactly as he wished: settle down at Yeongsan Sect and stay put.

"You must be on good terms with your family. I think this is the first time I've seen you smile so brightly."

"We weren't originally, but that's changed recently. All thanks to you, Senior Sister Son."

It was because she'd come to Baek Clan Estate that things got resolved so cleanly. But she must have taken it as a joke, because she only laughed lightly. We finished a simple bottle of wine, and on our way to the pottery shop to buy jars, a shrill voice suddenly rang out from behind us.

"Hey! You!"

I glanced back. A woman about Son Yeong's age was jabbing a finger at us and shouting. A somewhat decent face, flashy silk clothes. A thin sword at her waist—she appeared to be a martial artist as well.

"So now you don't even say hello?"

"Miss Cheon. It's been a long time."

Unlike the fuming woman, Son Yeong greeted her calmly.

"You've got some nerve, haven't you? You, who used to come begging to our Seven Fingers Sect? Looks like you're managing to scrape by these days?"

Clearly, she hadn't called out in goodwill. What the hell? Who was this crazy bitch?

"Thanks to heaven's aid, I met a benefactor and was able to overcome my hardships."

"I heard you went begging as far as the next village since you couldn't make it here. Guess you survived somehow. How'd you get the money? Don't tell me you sold your body? Tch. You don't know a damn thing about martial arts, yet you kept stubbornly insisting you were a martial artist. Surely you didn't do that?"

My fist clenched involuntarily, but Son Yeong gently took my hand and silently stopped me with a look. No matter how poor we were, we were martial artists by our own reckoning. Seeing Son Yeong, who'd always said so, only smile awkwardly at such bullshit, I grasped the general situation.

Damn it all. This bitch was apparently a child or disciple of the most prosperous sect in this area. Sects located near each other in the Martial World were mostly rivals. Just as Gyeongse ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sect groveled at Baek Clan Estate, offending a large neighboring sect was a genuinely dangerous act. As that fact resurfaced, I too could only silently swallow my rage, unable to say a word.

"As I've always told you, I am a martial artist. Even if I were to collapse from starvation, I could never do anything so shameful."

"A martial artist? A martial artist? If someone who knows nothing but the Three Talents Sword is a martial artist, are you trying to make me laugh myself to death?"

"Everyone's achievements differ. A martial artist ought to reflect on their own achievements, not those of others."

The woman cackled madly at Son Yeong's composed words. No, it didn't just seem like madness—she truly looked insane.

"Amusing. For entertaining me, I'll help you out. In five days, our Seven Fingers Sect is holding a grand banquet. My master has achieved tremendous progress after closed-door training. We've invited no fewer than fifty respected figures of the Martial World to honor my master. Even the Murong Clan has said they'll send someone, so even you can guess the scale, can't you? The pay will be generous, so come help out. I know you've been begging, but you're still struggling, aren't you? With your face, if you just pour drinks for eminent guests from all over, everyone will show you a little pity."

"I appreciate your kindness, but I am no village housewife."

"Don't make me laugh. You don't even know your place."

The sneers were getting worse, and I was reaching my limit of endurance, but if I drove my fist into that bitch's face here, the damage would fall squarely on our Yeongsan Sect. Son Yeong seemed worried about me too, as she gently took my hand and held me back. But just then.

"Oh? Young Master Baek? It is Young Master Baek, isn't it? It's been a long time."

A new voice, suddenly. Because of that crazy bitch's bullshit, I'd been keeping my Qi Sense tuned to our surroundings in case of sudden trouble, but a woman had slipped right through my senses and materialized before me in an instant.

"Puhahaha. Daoist robes? Young Master Baek, don't tell me you've become a Daoist?"

Damn it. I hadn't expected to see her here. The woman who made me more uncomfortable than anyone else under heaven. A universally acknowledged madwoman who could choke the breath right out of me, beyond comparison with the half-baked crazy bitch standing before us. What was she doing in a backwater like this?

"Yes. I became a Daoist recently. What business brings you here, my lady?"

I barely managed to open my mouth, minding my manners to an extreme degree, with a respectful cupped-fist salute.

"Me? Ugh, seriously. Some shitty sect in this neighborhood, their so-called sect leader finally reached the Twelfth Stage of their martial arts, and they begged me to come to the banquet. Isn't it ridiculous? Anyway, he's only about the level of a commander at Baek Clan Estate. Has he no shame? But they sent fifty taels of gold, so my father sent me. That's why I'm so pissed off I could die."

She was clearly extremely irritated. I had to be careful. She was as pretty as Son Yeong, but her irritation was never cute. This was someone who could lay waste to this entire region if things went wrong.

"Wh... what did you say? What did you just say!"

The crazy bitch, having realized the "shitty sect" just mentioned was her own, spoke with explosive fury, but the woman didn't spare her a single glance, looking at Son Yeong instead.

"Oh my. What a pretty person. I'd heard that Young Master Baek got bewitched by a beauty and ran off to a sect in our Liaoning, and indeed, she's a beauty that someone like Gyeong Su-yeon can't even compare to. You must be Young Master Baek's senior sister? Pleased to meet you. I'm Murong Rin."

Murong Rin greeted Son Yeong with a radiant smile. The Nine Great Sects and the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Beggars' Sect stood at the pinnacle of the martial world, rivaled by the Five Great Clans. The Murong Clan ruled Liaoning Province, and Murong Rin was the granddaughter of its head, Murong Hyeok-jung.

"I-I am Son Yeong of Yeongsan Sect. Heroine Murong."

Son Yeong, who'd answered the crazy bitch's harangue with composure, had frozen in extreme shock before the Murong name. The Murong Clan was based in Liaoning, but to appear in a place like this—no one could have predicted it. Including that crazy bitch over there, of course. And me too, for that matter.

Baek Clan Estate had to present its formal respects to the Murong Clan every year. But not just anyone could meet the head of the mighty Murong Clan. Even for us, receiving guests had been my responsibility. But the Murong Clan, operating on an entirely different scale, had numerous reception officers outright. Among them, the one in charge of our Baek Clan Estate was this Murong Rin. From our standpoint, the officer in charge was as important as the clan head himself. We could never meet the clan head, so all business always had to go through the officer in charge. For Baek Clan Estate, its relationship with the Murong Clan meant the same as its relationship with Murong Rin.

Truthfully, we'd hoped that men like the eldest son Murong Su or the second son Murong Jun would be put in charge of us, not Murong Rin. But Baek Clan Estate's standing fell short for that. Murong Rin was an impressive woman herself, and she wielded strong influence within the clan, doted on heavily by her grandfather, but the fact remained she was a woman. If she ever married off somewhere else, over a decade of carefully cultivated ties with our officer in charge would vanish overnight. But it wasn't a problem Baek Clan Estate could do anything about. For an ordinary sect, even making a connection with Murong Rin was an impossible dream. Just like that Seven Fingers Sect, or whatever it was, the crazy bitch's sect that had paid fifty taels of gold to invite her without even knowing what Murong Rin looked like.

Since I was Baek Clan Estate's eldest son and she was the same age, we'd met for many years. I'd lived my whole life in the position of the one with power, and Murong Rin was the sole person who forced me into the weaker role and kept me on perpetual edge. I seriously needed to learn some fortune-telling from Elder Hwangseong or something; encounters like this were terrible for my heart. Still, today, I felt slightly glad to see her. Because she hadn't given that bitch who'd picked a fight with Son Yeong a single glance, and had spoken only to me and Son Yeong, turning that bitch's doglike face the color of shit.