Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Fairy's Descent
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While everyone was entranced as if they'd beheld a fairy descended to the mortal world, Baek Yang-hui tossed out a single remark.
"Why are you acting all pretty? It's annoying."
Je-gal Seol-ha's brow furrowed sharply.
"Senior Brother! It's been a year since we last met, and that's your greeting? Annoying? Really?"
"What else should I say? It's the truth."
Je-gal Seol-ha clamped her mouth shut and glared at Baek Yang-hui.
"Hmph. I heard your voice amid the commotion and came running gladly. Should've just kept drinking alone if I'd known it'd be like this."
"Are you sulking?"
"No, I'm not?"
"You're sulking."
"I'm not!"
"Glad you came. It's good to see your face. Long time no see, Seol-ha."
Only then did Je-gal Seol-ha break into a radiant smile.
A smile of exquisite beauty. The men around them stared at her in a daze once more.
"By the way, what about your veil? You should probably put it back on."
"Ah. I took it off while drinking alone. Forgot."
"Always so scatterbrained."
"Well, even if I trip and fall, I've got Senior Brother to catch me."
Her beauty was that of a celestial fairy, yet her banter with Baek Yang-hui was just like any earthly girl.
That brought the men back to their senses, bit by bit.
"Ahem. Ahem! And who might you be, miss?"
A man who tried to strike a suave pose with a cupped-fist salute as he asked.
This was the same one who'd been barking at So Wol-hyang to pour him more wine.
Je-gal Seol-ha turned her gaze toward him.
Unlike the warmth she showed Baek Yang-hui, her eyes were icy cold.
"A cultured person doesn't make the first move in formal introductions without yielding precedence."
In other words, your manners make you look uneducated.
The man's face flushed beet red with embarrassment, but her beauty was too much to explode in anger over it.
"I lost all decorum, intoxicated by your peerless beauty. This young master is Jeong Yeong-sang of Hangzhou's Jeong Clan Manor."
"Ah, I see."
"And you, miss?"
"I don't really feel like saying."
She'd mentioned that introductions start with yielding precedence, but she'd never agreed to exchange names.
Even after the stinging rebuff, Jeong Yeong-sang didn't give up.
"Well, names aren't all that important anyway. Who would've thought that rude fellow over there had such a lovely junior sister. Since fate has brought us together, how about enjoying the night's pleasures with me?"
"How old are you? I'm sixteen."
"......"
Jeong Yeong-sang was exactly twenty-six this year. The age gap was too wide for a stranger to suggest revelry together.
But he pressed on shamelessly.
"I'm ten years your senior. If you'd like, you can call me big brother. Haha!"
Baek Yang-hui watched with a smirk tugging at his lips.
This punk doesn't even notice me anymore, huh?
Well, it was only natural to lose one's wits upon first seeing Je-gal Seol-ha's beauty.
Even if she'd overcome her heavenly punishment, her Peach Blossom Constitution remained unchanged.
"Ten years can change even the finest landscapes, yet you want to be called big brother."
"My admiration for you is as unyielding as diamond. It won't change. Haha."
Je-gal Seol-ha swallowed the retort rising to her throat and glanced sidelong at Baek Yang-hui.
"......"
She couldn't just let it slide; it grated on her too much.
Instead of speaking aloud, she sent him a mental message.
-What a load of crap.
In an instant, Jeong Yeong-sang's eyes widened like saucers and fixed on her.
"M-Miss...?"
-What're you staring at? Got a death wish or something, you bastard?
Diamond? What diamond?
The real diamond... Je-gal Seol-ha's gaze shifted to Baek Yang-hui.
Firm and upright, the steadfast presence that had changed her and become the object of her admiration and desire to follow.
The scarred rock that never changed.
'That's the real diamond.'
Even now, wasn't it?
While everyone else lost their minds over her beauty, he told her not to act pretty?
That was why Je-gal Seol-ha cherished her peer senior brother.
"Senior Brother. Why are you here? Come down and let's catch up."
"I've still got business. Wait a bit."
"You'll buy me expensive drinks instead of making me wait? I couldn't order because I'm short on cash."
"Yeah. My treat, the good stuff."
"Yay! So what's the business?"
Baek Yang-hui pointed at So Wol-hyang.
"Her. I want to take her with us."
"Ah, got it. From the vibe, I can guess the situation."
Jeong Yeong-sang gaped at Je-gal Seol-ha in bewilderment.
Her attitude was utterly different from the mental voice that had rung in his ears.
Oddly, he wasn't offended or angry.
He just wished she'd treat him the same way, to hear even a bit more of her melodious voice.
In that brief encounter, genuine admiration and longing for Je-gal Seol-ha had taken root.
This was the effect of her Peach Blossom Constitution, influencing hearts.
"Sister. Come with us. You seem deeply versed in music—shall we discuss kindred spirits together?"
Je-gal Seol-ha boldly invited the men.
"You can come too, right?"
"Uh, well."
"Miss Wol-hyang does need to stay here, technically..."
"If you'd like to go..."
Jeong Yeong-sang and the others couldn't bring themselves to refuse her.
Even the Lake Shadow Tower's guards couldn't stop her as she led So Wol-hyang away.
'I was gearing up for a fight, but things worked out nicely.'
Sending that letter to Mount Guk-ryeol had been the right call.
She hadn't anticipated this use, but Je-gal Seol-ha fulfilled her role perfectly.
'Help my junior disciple while persuading Miss So. Two birds with one stone.'
That was why he'd invited Je-gal Seol-ha along to Hangzhou.
"Yang-hui, you're back? This is delicious!"
As they returned to the original room with So Wol-hyang, Adu called out brightly.
A grin crept onto his face unbidden. This guy had stuffed his face amid all the ruckus.
"Yeah. Eat up."
A brief reply was followed by silence.
They hadn't even introduced themselves yet, so awkwardness was inevitable.
Baek Yang-hui broke the quiet first.
"Drinking on West Lake after initial clear then rain. Truly, the scenery of West Lake is unparalleled."
The short poem Su Dong-po had composed upon seeing West Lake, likening its beauty to that of sinking fish.
As he spoke while gazing out at West Lake from the window, So Wol-hyang turned her head too.
"You must like Su Dong-po, young master."
"Anyone who enjoys poetry can't help but admire him."
"......"
No reply came, but he caught a glimpse of her inner thoughts.
'Scored a few points. Well, naturally.'
With that in mind, he spoke again.
"Miss So. My junior sister requested this talk, but if you're disinclined, feel free to go."
"No. I'll stay a little longer."
He'd expected as much. So Wol-hyang hated owing favors.
Considering what she wanted, she might even desire friendship with Je-gal Seol-ha.
'She's more sincere about music and arts than anyone.'
Sure enough, So Wol-hyang looked at Je-gal Seol-ha.
Her usual calm gaze held a hint of warmth.
"I was truly impressed by the Spring Night you hummed, miss. Such refined skill at your young age."
"Thank you for the praise, sister."
"Calling a mere courtesan 'sister' is too much."
"What else would I call a sister but sister? Anyway, your skills must be no ordinary thing either."
As she said this, Je-gal Seol-ha's eyes went to So Wol-hyang's hands.
Jade-like fingers, but closer inspection revealed hidden calluses.
Traces of how diligently she'd honed her musical talent.
"Sister. What's your favorite instrument?"
"I've learned many, but I'm most confident with the seven-stringed zither."
"Ah, what a coincidence. I love the sound of the seven-stringed zither too. Too heavy to carry around, though."
He watched the two women chat amiably.
Well, they were both quite young for women.
Even the older So Wol-hyang was still a couple years from thirty.
'Like a painting.'
So Wol-hyang, one of Hangzhou's three great beauties.
In terms of looks alone, surpassing any woman he'd seen in both lives—Je-gal Seol-ha.
Watching them discuss music under the moonlight filtering through the window felt like gazing at a fairy portrait by the era's master painter.
As he watched, Je-gal Seol-ha sensed his gaze, turned, and their eyes met.
"By the way, Senior Brother. Who's the monk over there?"
Oh right, he hadn't introduced Adu.
"He's from Shaolin. Name's Adu."
"Wow, a Shaolin monk? What great sights right after descending the mountain. Hello, monk?"
Adu, who had ignored everything to focus on his food, tilted his head.
"Hm...? Half a good person."
"Pardon? What does that mean?"
"Seems half good even though good."
"......?"
Je-gal Seol-ha shot Baek Yang-hui a look asking for explanation.
Hm. It wasn't easy to call someone simple-minded to their face.
"Our monk here is a bit innocent. You'll get used to it traveling with us."
"You travel with him all the time?"
"Yeah. He clings to me like glue and won't let go."
Adu grinned and shouted.
"Yang-hui, good person!"
"......So I'm only half good, but Senior Brother's fully good? That's weird. Shouldn't it be the opposite?"
"Seol-ha, sharp tongue much?"
Still, he was curious why Je-gal Seol-ha was only half good.
'I'm good because of my virtuous aura. But Seol-ha has none—why half good?'
"Adu. How's Seol-ha half good? What does that mean?"
Adu scratched his bald head thoughtfully.
"Could've not been good, but became good."
"Hm?"
A profoundly meaningful statement.
'Past life's Enchanting Demon Queen. And this life's Seol-ha. No way?'
Nah, impossible. Even seeing through virtuous auras wouldn't reveal past and present differences.
While Baek Yang-hui pondered, Je-gal Seol-ha and So Wol-hyang had returned to their conversation.
"Sister! Mind showing me your skills? I'm dying to know."
"Of course."
At her eager plea, So Wol-hyang smiled softly and began plucking the seven-stringed zither in the corner.
Ting, ting, ting-a-ling.
Exquisite melodies blended with So Wol-hyang's voice.
"The sound of flowing stream feels like Buddha's sermon, the swollen valley waters from last night's rain like the eighty-four thousand sutras."
Su Dong-po's Ode to Crossing the Lake. With Adu present, she'd chosen a poem tied to Buddhism.
Soon, her tune faded into a lingering final note.
"Having heard such fine music, I must respond in kind."
As Je-gal Seol-ha untied her satchel,
"Seol-ha. Want to do it together?"
"Huh? With you, Senior Brother?"
"Yeah. I'm in the mood too."
Truth be told, it was to leave a stronger impression on So Wol-hyang.
She opened her heart more readily to those versed in music.
Just as she'd instantly warmed to Je-gal Seol-ha.
"Sounds fun."
"I'll play. You sing. Cool?"
"Cool? It's mandatory. Your singing's terrible, Senior Brother."
"I'm pretty decent, aren't I?"
"Makes my ears rot."
This girl?
He'd have to discipline her manners soon and restore senior brother authority.
"Miss Wol-hyang, pardon the intrusion."
Baek Yang-hui had been clueless about music when he first met Yin-hu.
But three years at a village school teaches one to recite romances.
Years as Yin-hu's disciple had changed him plenty.
"It's a humble skill, but please judge my effort over talent."
Drawing his sword, Baek Yang-hui held the seven-stringed zither vertically.
"Why hold the sword?"
"Not confident plucking strings by hand. Thought I'd use my forte, the sword."
He brought the sharp blade to the strings.
Oddly, not a single string snapped.
Then, he gently slid it left and right, friction with the strings.
In essence, using the sword as a bow to play the zither.
A clear, resonant tone unlike hand-plucking spread through the room.
Charang, charang, chararang!