Chapter 23
Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Veiled Girl
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A situation utterly incomprehensible in every way unfolded before them.
‘How on earth did that child notice?’
He hadn’t probed with any overt emanation of energy. He’d merely tried to read the aura she exuded to gauge her opponent.
To use a metaphor, it was like not touching the other person’s body but simply looking at them—that was all.
Therefore, Zhuge Seol-ha should never have detected Baek Yang-hui’s attempt.
‘And yet she did.’
That wasn’t the only strange thing.
“Seol-ha, what’s wrong? Huh? Tell your father!”
Zhuge Seol-ha had merely parted her lips slightly.
Yet Zhuge Seon reacted as if some monumental event had occurred.
“What has you so startled, brother-in-law? Is something bothering you, perhaps?”
“No, it’s nothing, brother-in-law. It’s just that my daughter reacting like this is far from ordinary.”
“Hm... Could the child be suffering from some illness...?”
Zhuge Seon examined Zhuge Seol-ha’s condition once more, gathered his thoughts, and gave a wry smile.
“I’ll explain it all slowly later. In the meantime, brother-in-law, won’t you introduce me to your family?”
“Of course, brother-in-law. You’ve met my wife before, so you’ll remember her. These three are my children.”
Zhuge Seon’s gaze fixed on the three Baek siblings.
Baek Heon-so, tense yet showing interest in his peer, Zhuge Seol-ha.
Baek Yeon-yeon, curious and delighted by the new people and situation.
And Yang-hui, with eyes far too deep for a child.
‘The other two are quite impressive... but the eldest son is a true prodigy. He must be the adopted son brother-in-law mentioned in his letter, the one who passed the family registry.’
Yang-hui now looked worlds apart from how he had months ago.
Thanks to eating well every day and never slacking in his training, he already gave off the air of an extraordinary martial talent at a glance.
“It’s been nearly eight years since I last saw your brother-in-law, so this is our first meeting. I am Zhuge Seon, your uncle.”
“Pleased to meet you, Uncle Zhuge.”
“Greetings, Uncle!”
Yang-hui joined his siblings in greeting him properly.
Even as he did, he observed Zhuge Seol-ha, who remained silently cradled in her father’s arms without a word.
‘They’re about the same age, so you’d think he’d introduce them... but he isn’t.’
Not only that, but Zhuge Seol-ha had her entire face covered with fine white silk gauze.
The semi-translucent material wouldn’t hinder her vision, but the reason for going to such lengths was a mystery.
‘Asking might be rude.’
Zhuge Seol-ha would die in the not-too-distant future.
Could this attire be connected to the reason for her death?
Her gaze, still fixed on him even now.
She hadn’t said a word, but she had clearly noticed his attempt to read her energy.
‘That means she either possesses some special spiritual ability or has innate senses as sharp as mine.’
Considering the unique aura he had sensed from Zhuge Seol-ha as well...
Suddenly, his head grew complicated.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That night, a grand banquet was held at Baek Clan Manor.
Naturally, it was to welcome Zhuge Seon, the acting patriarch and young lord of a great clan.
Curiously, however, Zhuge Seon refused to let Zhuge Seol-ha leave his lap even during the feast.
He ate his food and even enjoyed his drinks while holding his young daughter.
“Brother-in-law Zhuge, it seems your daughter is quite fond of you.”
“Haha, Seol-ha won’t leave her father or mother for even a moment in unfamiliar places.”
“Indeed. It’d be wonderful if she could spend time with Hui, So, and Yeon-yeon.”
“You’re right. By the way, brother-in-law, you look healthier than before.”
Just as Baek Mu-ryang wondered about Zhuge Seol-ha’s circumstances, Zhuge Seon was intrigued by the evidently improved state of Baek Clan Manor compared to years ago.
“It seems something good has happened to your clan recently.”
“Hm. I can’t deny it. Hahaha.”
Baek Mu-ryang chuckled softly, stroking his beard.
“Heaven has tied the knots, and the threads of fate have brought prosperity.”
As he spoke, Baek Mu-ryang glanced at Yang-hui.
From then on, the proud father’s boasting about his children began.
Baek Mu-ryang puffed out his chest and poured out everything Yang-hui had accomplished.
So many were so extraordinary they bordered on the absurd, drawing exclamations from Zhuge Seon.
“Is that true, brother-in-law? That child did all that?”
“To think such clever ideas came from an eight-year-old’s head.”
“His fearlessness might be a flaw. You must have worried greatly, brother-in-law.”
Zhuge Seon’s gaze turned to Yang-hui, who humbly lowered his head.
“My clan is known as the Marvelous Zhuges, yet by your deeds alone, you deserve that title.”
“You overpraise me, Uncle.”
Zhuge Seon’s lips curved higher.
A calm demeanor even before the young lord of the Zhuge Clan himself.
Just as his sworn brother had described—he was no ordinary child.
“Never forget the grace your father-in-law has bestowed upon you, and strive diligently for the Baek Clan.”
“I’ll engrave it in my bones and never forget.”
“Kehahaha! Good!”
With his massive build, love of martial arts, and exceptional prowess, he was called the Crouching Dragon Unparalleled.
Zhuge Seon, young lord of the Zhuge Clan and bearer of the unparalleled sobriquet like Lu Bu or Feng Xian, was pleased with Yang-hui’s attitude.
“Yang-hui, Heon-so, and Yeon-yeon. Do you want anything? Your uncle wishes to give gifts to mark our first meeting.”
“There’s no need, brother-in-law.”
Though Baek Mu-ryang tried to stop him, Zhuge Seon laughed heartily, downed his drink, and boomed,
“Then brother-in-law can give a gift to my daughter in return. Truth be told, I came with a request for you, so this works out perfectly.”
‘So he didn’t just stop by on his way. There’s a weightier reason.’
Bringing along a daughter who refuses to leave her parents... the reason was likely tied to Zhuge Seol-ha herself.
As Yang-hui pondered this, Baek Heon-so and Baek Yeon-yeon looked at him tensely.
“Since it’s a gift from Uncle, So and Yeon, tell him what you want.”
Their faces lit up at Yang-hui’s words.
They’d been agonizing over how to respond politely to Uncle’s generous offer when permission came from their big brother.
“Uncle, I want a sword used for training at the Zhuge Clan! I’ll train hard and become a strong warrior!”
“Uncle, Yeon-yeon wants to try sweets much sweeter and prettier than candy!”
“Kehahaha! Those are simple requests for this uncle. I’ll grant them all! Now, Yang-hui, what do you want?”
All eyes at the banquet turned to Yang-hui.
Yang-hui pondered for a moment.
What he truly wanted was the Zhuge Clan’s backing, but setting aside how mercenary that sounded, it was unlikely to happen.
‘What could a child plausibly gain profit from?’
The Protection Assembly’s Yuhang Branch event and sparring tournament.
The reason Zhuge Seon brought Zhuge Seol-ha to Baek Clan Manor.
Zhuge Seol-ha’s uniqueness. And the special quality of the aura he’d read.
‘In the end, gathering information is the biggest gain.’
Yang-hui deliberately spoke in an even more childlike, bright voice.
“Uncle, how should I address your daughter?”
“You’re the same age, so just call her Seol-ha.”
“We’re same-age friends after all! Could I see my friend’s face, perhaps?”
Zhuge Seon’s expression hardened instantly.
Not with rebuke for overstepping, but with heartbreaking pity.
“Sorry, but that won’t be possible. Our Seol-ha can’t show her face carelessly.”
A light refusal. Yang-hui didn’t give up.
“‘Share robe with child’—friends need no caution between them, so why does Seol-ha hide her face from everyone? I’d like to know the reason.”
“......”
“Share robe with child” was an idiom from the Book of Songs in the Classics.
It referred to friends so close they’d share a single robe without shame.
The Zhuge Clan valued scholarly knowledge above all other martial sects. Zhuge Seon was impressed and delighted that an eight-year-old could already recite from the Book of Songs.
Add the alcohol’s influence. Zhuge Seon spoke words he wouldn’t normally utter.
“It’s not that Seol-ha won’t show her face. She can’t. So ask no more.”
He clearly had no intention of revealing details.
‘Still, that’s enough. She’s forcibly covering her face with the gauze.’
“Yang-hui, I’ll grant your request with something else. Tell me what else you want.”
He’d achieved his goal, and there was nothing else a child could plausibly ask for right now.
Thus, Yang-hui decided to use the opportunity for his father.
“Then, Uncle, could you watch over me and my siblings at the sparring tournament in a few days?”
“Hm? A sparring tournament, you say?”
Baek Clan had decided to accept the Protection Assembly’s Yuhang Branch invitation.
With the Zhuge Clan’s young lord and sworn brother as a guest, they couldn’t possibly go without him—it was inevitable.
Yang-hui had stepped forward before Baek Mu-ryang could ask as sworn brother.
‘They’re flawless brothers, but from my perspective, it’s better if Father doesn’t have to ask.’
Both Baek Mu-ryang and Zhuge Seon saw through Yang-hui’s intentions.
“Brother-in-law, is what you mentioned in your letter still valid?”
Baek Mu-ryang shook his head firmly.
“Not a chance, brother-in-law. Find your disciple among the Zhuges.”
“So clever and filial! I’m truly tempted.”
Zhuge Seon laughed heartily and boomed,
“Very well! Yuhang Branch, was it? I was planning to stay a few days and find something to pass the time—perfect. I’ll go with you, brother-in-law. But!”
He slammed the table for emphasis and continued.
“It’s a sparring tournament, so they’ll divide participants by age. Win your age group. Then this uncle will reward you handsomely!”
Yang-hui’s lips twitched upward.
Talk about a windfall.
“What kind of reward, exactly? How far would it go?”
Not asking what, but testing the limit.
Zhuge Seon was impressed.
The child before him—his sworn brother’s adopted son—was so shrewd it made one question if he was truly eight.
Even compared to Zhuge Clan children.
“Testing this uncle’s resolve? No need! I’ll more than satisfy you, Yang-hui, whose ambition belies your age!”
Yang-hui grinned at Zhuge Seon’s bold promise.
‘As the young lord of the Zhuge Clan, he must be that generous.’
Still, there was no such thing as a free lunch... but now wasn’t the time to claim an immediate reward.
Learning more about Zhuge Seon and Zhuge Seol-ha took priority.
In that sense...
“The reward I want is... to accompany Uncle to wherever you plan to take Seol-ha.”
As Yang-hui stated his desire with a smile, Zhuge Seon’s eyes widened.
“Hahaha! This is fun!”