Chapter 203
Chapter 203
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: Peach Blossom in Full Bloom
Zhuge Seol-ha was born with the Peach Blossom Physique.
And the Peach Blossom Physique lived up to its name, a constitution that innately harbored Peach Blossom Energy—an aura that enchanted those around her.
The Heavenly Punishment it brought had been a hellish nightmare for the young Zhuge Seol-ha, who couldn't control that energy back then.
In his previous life, the Zhuge Clan had failed to find a way to strip her of it, and Yang-hwi had been all but certain that Zhuge Seol-ha would become the Soul-enslaving Demon Queen, sparking a reign of bloody terror.
'So this is what happens when the Peach Blossom Physique fully blossoms.'
Wow. He'd thought she'd grow up pretty, but...
Zhuge Seol-ha, now in her late teens, was more beautiful than he could've imagined.
Even Yang-hwi, who had weathered every storm under the heavens, lost his composure for a moment and could only stare at her in a daze.
"Have you been well, Hwi oppa?"
Clear and deep eyes with their own unique hue.
A palace robe embroidered with the intricate patterns unique to the Zhuge Clan.
Skin like flawless white jade—making it instantly clear why "jade" was in her epithet—and long, glossy black hair like polished ebony, contrasting perfectly with her complexion.
In that moment, it hit him.
'Some of us are defying time itself through hellish ordeals just to earn the title of world's greatest... while others...'
Zhuge Seol-ha had already claimed the crown of the world's greatest beauty.
No one could argue otherwise in this era.
"Hwi oppa? It's been so long, and you're not saying a word?"
She smiled brightly and glanced around.
Dozens of young experts, their attendants or supervising elders, even Namgung Cheon-yeong and the Namgung Four Swords—all of them.
Every single person was staring only at Zhuge Seol-ha.
Her beauty was more than enough to leave everyone spellbound in awe.
'The truly amazing part is that this reaction comes purely from her looks and presence, without any Soul-enslavement arts interfering.'
He could sense the Peach Blossom Energy's inherently seductive yet warming aura, but it wasn't as overpowering as before.
She wasn't even wearing a veil, which meant she'd gained perfect control over her constitution.
It went beyond mere suppression or sealing through energy.
'She must've worked hard for it. Then again, her master wouldn't have just left her be.'
About a year ago, Yin Hu had publicly declared Zhuge Seol-ha as her disciple to the world.
She'd half-accepted Yang-hwi's advice to disguise it as building her own faction and make the Wudang Sect sweat.
Given Yin Hu's personality, she wouldn't have announced it unless Seol-ha was fully prepared...
'Come to think of it, this girl's internal energy feels impressive.'
Three years ago, Yang-hwi had guided her a bit hastily to the Peak Realm.
Reaching Peak Realm just past early teens had been astounding.
But now, she seemed to have surpassed even that. It felt like she'd stepped into a realm most would struggle to reach even at twice her age.
Well, that's what it took to call her the direct disciple of one of the Ten Heavenly Martial Sovereigns.
"Hwi oppa?"
As the silence dragged on, a hint of puzzlement crept into her dark eyes.
Seeing her after so long had made his thoughts wander.
-What's this? Don't tell me even my senior brother is smitten by his junior sister's beauty?!
'Ugh, snapped right out of it.'
Even through transmission, her playfulness and liveliness shone through.
It was a bit too cheeky coming from a face like a celestial fairy.
That thought tugged his lips into a smile.
It jarred him a bit, but this was Zhuge Seol-ha through and through.
-Yeah. You've gotten really pretty, Seol-ha.
-Ah, ah...!
She clearly hadn't expected the direct compliment, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Calling him "Hwi oppa" for the first time ever, and now this—she seemed to have something in mind.
'Perfect timing.'
The Namgung fools had put him in a bind, but this worked out nicely.
Maybe he should play along.
"Seol-ha. Long time no see."
"Yeah, Hwi oppa. It's been almost three years, right?"
"Yeah. It has."
-So why call me oppa all of a sudden?
-Senior brother never revealed he's my master's disciple. Should I call you senior brother?
It was consideration. But weren't there other titles like young hero or young master?
-It'd make things awkward between us. Just call me that.
-No. Then I'd have to call you Young Master Zhuge.
-Eek. True.
After all their shared childhood time, stuffy titles like young master or miss felt wrong.
"Seol-ha, what brings you here?"
"What do you mean? You're so mean, oppa. We were supposed to meet at Tai Lake."
We were...?
When...?
At any rate, it was clear she wanted some kind of help.
"True, but we said specifically at that one tavern in Tai Lake."
"I got bored wandering around and heard the commotion."
"Ah. Looks like you're not wearing a veil anymore."
She turned her face slightly so no one else could see and stuck out her tongue playfully.
-Isn't this beauty too precious to hide away?
-True.
-Ah! Admitting it right away again? What'd you eat wrong?
-It's the truth, and... it's nice to look at.
Back when they first met, Zhuge Seol-ha had cursed her constitution and innate beauty.
The pain it caused had been too great.
Now, she embraced herself.
Like a weed battered by harsh winds blooming into the world's most beautiful flower.
How could he not admire it?
"Oppa, let's catch up inside... Ah."
Only after chatting enough did Zhuge Seol-ha make an "oh no" face.
As if she'd forgotten the onlookers in her excitement with her close friend.
"Zhuge Seol-ha of the Zhuge Clan greets you all."
She lifted the hem of her robe and bowed to the young experts.
In that moment, Yang-hwi noticed she'd subtly employed a sound art.
Her voice was incredibly pleasant as a result.
'Truly, a voice like jade.'
"May this unworthy girl escort the son and brother served by Lord Yi-baek?"
It was a graceful request, but also a firm declaration.
None of the young experts dared refuse.
Except one.
"Young Lady Zhuge. It's been a while."
"Ah, Senior Namgung Four Swords."
"You say you're leaving with the Baek heir, but how can you overlook our Great Namgung Clan? There was an agreement between our clans..."
"Ah!"
Zhuge Seol-ha hurriedly raised her voice.
"Father commanded me to escort the group from Lord Yi-baek's household. This is a prior promise and an order from the family elder and my father. Apologies, but precedence comes first today."
Whoosh—a gust of wind blew.
As the dust settled, Yang-hwi and Seol-ha had vanished clean away.
"Lightness skill at the Peak Realm...!"
"The Yin Hu branch's twin sound and lightness arts, as rumored!"
"Worthy of being Disciple of Sky-Piercing Yin Hu!"
As the young experts marveled, Namgung Four Swords glanced aside and frowned.
'All the Tang and Baek brats are gone too.'
They must've slipped away on prior transmission while attention was focused.
"Tch. Coming all this way was for nothing."
Baek Yang-hwi of the Heaven-Covering Baek Clan. Zhuge Seol-ha of the Zhuge Clan.
He'd aimed for two birds with two stones, carefully.
But the birds met each other and flew off before he could throw.
Namgung Four Swords could only seethe.
"Let's go, Cheon-yeong."
"Uncle Four Swords. I have a question."
Namgung Cheon-yeong stared incredulously in the direction Zhuge Seol-ha had gone, a hint of betrayal in his tone.
"Why did Young Lady Zhuge go with them? She should be... with me."
Namgung Four Swords clicked his tongue again.
He had no idea where to even start explaining.
* * *
"Kyaaah! Seol-haaa!"
"Yeon-i unnie! It's been too long! And you too, Yeon!"
"Seol-ha unnie, so glad to see you!"
A tavern in a county a couple ridges past Tai Lake...
Yang-hwi watched Zhuge Seol-ha, Dang Yeon, and Baek Yeon-yeon reunite with shrieks and hugs.
"Heh. This'll take a while to calm down."
"It's been ages for all three. Women tend to bond deeper and faster than men anyway."
Dang Gun, Yang-hwi, and the others sat by the wooden window frame of the guest room, watching the women.
Truth be told, except for Yang-hwi, none of them particularly felt like joining the reunion.
Zhuge Seol-ha was different from before—no, even back then she'd been stunningly beautiful.
But the change made her feel distant somehow.
"Brother. Mind if I ask something since we've got time?"
"Chudal, don't bite too hard."
"That's a terribly lame joke. Anyway, why'd you lose your cool meeting those Namgung bastards?"
Yang-hwi glanced at Chudal.
"Was it obvious?"
"You think I haven't known you for a day or two?"
"It's your fault, you punk."
"Me? What'd I do?"
"Just know that."
He couldn't exactly say his past life's image of you made my blood boil.
"I felt it too. You've always been extra fierce about anything Namgung-related, brother Yang-hwi."
It was a nudge to explain.
Unable to tell the truth, maybe butter him up.
"They're just annoying. The crap Namgung Cheon-hu pulled on Brother Dang back at Tai Lake—I haven't forgotten."
"Mm...!"
Emotion flickered in Dang Gun's eyes just then, when Zhuge Seol-ha—flanked by Dang Yeon and Baek Yeon-yeon—thrust her face right up to Yang-hwi's nose.
"Oppa."
"Seol-ha. Bad habit."
"What is?"
"I get you've gotten stunningly pretty, but popping your face in like that in front of a guy might give him ideas."
"I only do it to you, so no worries."
"Why me then?"
"You've always been so nonchalant and sly, it makes me want to startle you?"
So that's why the sneak attacks every meeting?
Well, better than sudden sound transmissions.
Either way, it was a treat for the eyes.
"You're calling me oppa even here?"
"Gotta get used to it when others are around from now on. Practice."
"Whatever, not important. So why'd you show up out of nowhere?"
Perfect timing and helpful, sure, but curiosity remained.
"Oh, right. Uncle Yi-baek asked me. Said since you're heading to An-hwi, keep you out of trouble."
After deciding on the letter pigeon hunt, he'd rerouted to An-hwi but kept contact with home.
'Father doesn't trust his own kid.'
"In the end, Uncle Yi-baek's foresight shone. Helped me out too."
"Ah, yeah, gotta ask. What's going on lately? You were acting earlier."
Zhuge Seol-ha's face instantly soured with irritation.
"Even that expression looks beautiful on our Seol-ha!"
"Thanks, unnie. But I'm seriously pissed."
"What happened?"
Zhuge Seol-ha's answer was simple.
"Aren't those guys ashamed?"
"What happened?"
"The Namgung Clan is pushing an engagement."
"What?!"
"Seriously?!"
"No way!!"
All eyes snapped to Yang-hwi at his final shout.
"......"
"......"
"......"
"Brother Yang-hwi. Why not?"
"Brother, don't tell me...?"
Suspicious gazes locked onto Yang-hwi.