Do You Know the Saber? (2)
"Won't you come into our family as a daughter-in-law?"
"Ha… are you insane?"
"Do… Young Lady Dokgo!"
"Such insolent manners…!"
Wi Ilcheong, flustered, clamped a hand over Dokgo Ryeong's mouth, while Paeng Yudeok blocked Hwangbo Gi as the man rose in fury.
"It's fine, Kwonjon. She's that Dokgo Jin's daughter, so I expected this much."
"But Blade Immortal! There's no propriety to this at all!"
"I said it's fine, kuhahah."
"…I apologize. Young Lady Dokgo is rather…"
"No need. You don't have to apologize. This much is nothing. If anything, I should be the one apologizing."
When Paeng Yudeok bowed his head, Wi Ilcheong grew even more flustered.
"Coming unannounced and bringing up something like this—it's only natural to be called crazy. I apologize."
"Ah… no…"
"I also apologize to Young Master Wi for my earlier rudeness. I was so enamored of sabers that I committed an impropriety—please forgive me."
"…Yes."
Watching Wi Ilcheong readily accept the apology, Dokgo Ryeong scrunched up her face.
"It'd be nice if you just didn't do rude things in the first place… you know."
"Kuhahah! Can't even use honorifics properly. Just speak freely, daughter of Dokgo Jin."
With Paeng Yudeok's permission granted, Dokgo Ryeong seized the moment and spoke as she pleased.
"Fine then. Explain what the hell this bullshit is supposed to mean."
"…"
Paeng Yudeok's mouth fell open as if his soul had left him, and Dokgo Ryeong pressed again.
"What? You told me to drop the formalities. Explain why I have to come in as a daughter-in-law."
"Keuk…! Keukkeuk…! Kuhahahah! Truly Dokgo Jin's daughter. I'm convinced—that girl is definitely Dokgo Jin's daughter."
"…So it would seem, Blade Immortal."
As Paeng Yudeok laughed and pounded the floor, the ground itself seemed to tremble.
Worried the establishment might collapse, Eun Yakbyeok hurried the conversation along.
"I share Young Lady Dokgo's thoughts, Blade Immortal. To suddenly appear and mention a marriage arrangement… I was under the impression there was no such promise between the two of you?"
"Ah… talking directly with Dokgo Jin would be most convenient. Where has he gone?"
"…He has stepped out for a moment. So please speak with me."
"Is that true, daughter of Dokgo Jin?"
"…Yeah. Just tell the Hao Sect Leader everything."
"Th… this girl…!"
Watching Dokgo Ryeong casually drop into informal speech, veins bulged on Hwangbo Gi's neck.
"Even if she lacks manners, how dare she act so disgracefully toward a senior of the martial world decades her elder!"
"My, the head of the Hwangbo Clan speaking of manners? Did a scolding from the Sword Queen reform you?"
"Both of these girls are completely mad!"
"…Hwangbo Gi."
Paeng Yudeok called the Hwangbo Clan head's name once more.
"…I should never have brought you along."
"But Blade Immortal…!"
"We're here to make a request, so shouldn't we overlook this much rudeness?"
Huh?
The great Paeng Yudeok.
That Paeng Yudeok who knew no propriety had used the word "request," and Dokgo Ryeong's eyes went wide.
"…What do you mean by request…"
"Th…!"
"…yo?"
When Hwangbo Gi looked ready to have another fit, Dokgo Ryeong reluctantly tacked a polite ending onto the word.
Fucking ridiculous, seriously.
Dokgo Ryeong glared at Hwangbo Gi for a moment before turning her eyes to Paeng Yudeok.
"Hmm…. I'd prefer to speak directly with Dokgo Jin."
"Just think of me as Dokgo Jin and talk… yo."
"Listen here, daughter of Dokgo Jin."
Paeng Yudeok asked,
"How strong are you?"
"Uh…"
"Is that an important matter, Blade Immortal?"
"No, it's not particularly important, but I simply can't believe it."
Paeng Yudeok stroked his beard and regarded Dokgo Ryeong with peculiar eyes.
"Even the idea that Dokgo Jin has a child is hard to believe, and such a lovely daughter at that. Honestly, I find it difficult to accept."
"Ah, shit… look."
Dokgo Ryeong stood and drew her soft sword.
"Hm?"
Whoosh!
She swung the soft sword once and sheathed it again.
"Satisfied?"
"The Saber of Asura Rakshasa. But why a soft sword?"
"Ah… well…. My bones and muscles haven't fully developed yet."
"I see. Indeed… the saber friend I recognized, Dokgo Jin, would never teach his child something like a sword."
Dokgo Ryeong sat back down, grumbling inwardly.
What saber-friend bullshit.
"Judging by that, you seem to know the Saber of Asura Rakshasa as well. The terms of the deal remain the same. I want you to form a marriage arrangement with my son."
"Calling it a deal, it seems you have something to offer, Blade Immortal?"
"Of course. I've brought what Dokgo Jin would love most."
"Nonsense…"
"I will cooperate in erasing the Moyong Clan and the Tang Clan from the martial world."
"!!"
At the sudden, massive proposal, Dokgo Ryeong's mouth clamped shut.
"Wh… what did you say?"
"Did you not hear? Our Hebei Paeng Clan and the Hwangbo Clan who came with me will join forces to eliminate the Moyong Clan and Tang Clan from the martial world."
"Why would you two…"
"Young Master Wi. Just a moment."
Eun Yakbyeok covered Wi Ilcheong's mouth, and Paeng Yudeok grinned.
"Our Hao Sect Leader seems quite flustered."
"…Are you serious?"
"I do not speak empty words."
"The words the Blade Immortal just uttered mean internal strife among the Five Great Clans. Going further, it could split the Wulin Alliance in two. Do you understand the implications… of what you've said?"
"Of course."
The answer came from Hwangbo Gi, seated beside him.
"…It's war."
…War…
Dokgo Ryeong couldn't easily follow what was being said.
"…What does that have to do with my marriage? War?"
"If you enter our family as a daughter-in-law, then sure—we'll even go to war with the Moyong Clan and Tang Clan."
"Are you insane?"
"I am not insane."
"Wh… what am I that…"
"Hmm… it would be better if I organized the story."
Hwangbo Gi opened his mouth.
"Recently, the movements of the Moyong Clan and Tang Clan have been unusual. The Hao Sect Leader must know this as well?"
"…I am aware that Sichuan is in chaos."
"And the Moyong Clan is also consolidating the north. But I find this rather displeasing."
"That seems an insufficient reason to start a war?"
"Gu Poison."
"!!"
Hearing that familiar, cursed name, Dokgo Ryeong stared at Hwangbo Gi with a shocked face.
"Judging by your expression, you know of it as well."
"Th… that accursed thing—why…"
"The Tang Clan is creating Gu Poison once again. One in Sichuan, and another near Shanxi."
"…"
"Looking at how things are going, even the Beggars' Sect is turning a blind eye."
"Those bastards…!"
Thud!
When Dokgo Ryeong slammed her fist into the floor, Paeng Yudeok spoke.
"Truthfully, the marriage arrangement with Dokgo Jin's daughter is… more of a way to solidify an alliance. I want Dokgo Jin's help, you see."
"Then…!"
"Is that all there is to the story?"
When Eun Yakbyeok cut her off, Dokgo Ryeong's head whipped around.
"Hao Sect…!"
"Is there nothing more you wish to say?"
"…I should have left the Hao Sect Leader out of this conversation."
"Young Lady Dokgo, please cool your head first and calm down."
"Those Tang Clan bastards…!"
"Young Lady Dokgo."
Eun Yakbyeok spoke to Dokgo Ryeong as if scolding her.
"Think carefully. I believe this story is a trap."
"Kuhahah! Saying that right in front of the parties involved."
"If you need Hero Dokgo Jin's help, just try asking once. No matter how I look at it, there's no reason it needs to go as far as marriage."
"Continue, Eumjon."
"The grounds for going to war with the Moyong Clan and Tang Clan also seem insufficient. To be frank, if the two of you learned of the Tang Clan's 'Gu Poison' and your sense of justice boiled over, you would have gone to the Wulin Alliance."
"And if the Wulin Alliance is already in cahoots with the Tang Clan?"
"No. Because the Sword Immortal is there."
Eun Yakbyeok confidently invoked the name of the Wulin Alliance Leader, Sword Immortal Namgung Jin.
"If the Blade Immortal simply bowed his head once to the Sword Immortal, I believe he would gladly step forward. Am I wrong?"
"Hmm…"
"Your sense of justice boiled over, yet you don't want to bow your head to your rival—that's a laughable story."
"Keukeukeuk. Then tell me."
Paeng Yudeok leaned forward, looking at Eun Yakbyeok with a fierce smile.
"You seem to think my words are empty. Then what exactly do I desire, wanting Dokgo Jin's daughter while even mentioning war?"
"The Saber of Asura Rakshasa seems the most likely possibility."
"Wrong. Though it is a martial art that is the dream of every saber user, the Hebei Paeng Clan's Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber is no less."
"…Or there seems to be some hidden intention behind it."
"No, fuck! They're saying they'll smash the Tang Clan anyway! Cut the bullshit… mmpf!"
When Dokgo Ryeong erupted and thrashed about, Eun Yakbyeok clamped a hand over her mouth.
"…Young Master Wi, I'm sorry, but please share a brief chat with the two gentlemen."
"Hm? Planning to go outside?"
"Of course not. I'd be too anxious to leave Young Master Wi alone. However…"
Raising her inner energy to form a qi barrier, Eun Yakbyeok said,
"There's a secret conversation between us women."
"Truly displeasing. The way you openly declare you'll whisper among yourselves."
"My, those aren't words the Paeng Clan head who came with hidden intentions should be saying? Huhu…."
When Eun Yakbyeok completed the transparent qi barrier of inner energy, the surrounding sounds were blocked.
Then she looked at Dokgo Ryeong and said,
"Guest, please calm down first."
"Calm down my ass! The Tang Clan making that Gu Poison…!"
"Guest. Do you truly believe those words?"
"…What?"
"Everyone who knows knows that the guest goes berserk whenever the Tang Clan is mentioned. And now those two clans suddenly offer to erase the Moyong Clan and Tang Clan for you."
The Hao Sect Leader clicked her tongue.
"Isn't that too good a story?"
"…"
"If the guest were still strong, it might be different, but in your current state you're utterly fragile. I'd prefer you not do something stupid like walking into an obvious trap."
"Fuck…."
"If I were the Paeng Clan head, I'd use Gu Poison as a pretext to take Young Lady Dokgo as a daughter-in-law and use her as a hostage, then throw Hero Dokgo Jin wherever I wanted for my own gain. Doesn't that sound more plausible?"
"…"
Eun Yakbyeok's words had merit.
When Dokgo Ryeong silently nodded, Eun Yakbyeok smiled.
"Huhu… good. We can communicate. We still don't know for what reason or what those two are after. In times like these, rather than blindly believing their words, simply observing is best, don't you think?"
"Just stay quiet?"
"You've understood well. Shall I pat your head?"
"Sh… shut up! Who do you take for a kid…."
"Huhuhut. So please stay quiet. This is my specialty, you know?"
"…Fuck."
Eun Yakbyeok looked beyond the qi barrier.
Fortunately, Wi Ilcheong was cheerfully conversing with Hwangbo Gi and Paeng Yudeok.
"Young Master Wi is buying us time well."
"But that Paeng bastard keeps staring at me and it's pissing me off."
"It's impossible to eavesdrop through a qi barrier, so don't worry."
Dokgo Ryeong glared at Paeng Yudeok for a moment before looking back at Eun Yakbyeok.
"…So I just have to stay quiet?"
"Of course not. Ultimately, the guest is at the center of this story. I also want to uncover their true intentions, so please endure only until we discover their real motives."
"…Fine."
"The talk of going to war with the Tang Clan and Moyong Clan is probably empty words as well. So don't concern yourself with it."
"Huh? That's possible?"
Seeing Dokgo Ryeong's expression, Eun Yakbyeok scoffed as she spoke.
"Why wouldn't it be? There's no one else listening besides us."
"No, fuck. You looked so flustered I thought you were serious?"
"Haa, guest…. Don't you even know what a deception strategy is?"
"Fuck, a bit…."
"If they truly intended to start a war, they would have done so long ago. And how much would adding one guest change the balance of a clan-versus-clan war?"
Eun Yakbyeok's words were correct.
No matter how strong Dokgo Jin was, he was merely one individual. He could barely handle even a single peak expert on his own, and if the Tang Clan's elites coordinated an assault, there would be plenty of situations where he'd find himself in difficulty.
So those fucking bastards were just toying with me?
The more she heard, the more her rage boiled. Shaking her with grand talk of war and Gu Poison while hiding their true intentions—she didn't like that attitude one bit.
"I need to regain my strength quickly."
Dokgo Ryeong looked at her frail hands and clenched them into tight fists.
Seeing that, Eun Yakbyeok smiled and said,
"Huhu, the method to grow stronger is right beside you, you know?"
"Huh?"
"This is an important moment, so let's leave the jokes for later. I'll lower the qi barrier again."
"…Fine."
"Please maintain your composure, guest. In these political struggles, the emotional one loses, you know?"
"I got it."
"Then…"
When the Hao Sect Leader withdrew the qi barrier, the sounds from outside returned.
The first voice heard was Wi Ilcheong's.
"So no matter how I think about it, I must apologize to the Blade Immortal, but Young Lady Dokgo simply will not do."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. Having spoken with Young Lady Dokgo, I am certain."
Wi Ilcheong declared.
"You… you crazy bastard!!"