Hahaha!
Wahaha!!
The guesthouse where I-seol and I-seol’s Subordinates were staying was filled with laughter. The newcomers were excitedly reenacting the situation from earlier, causing I-seol’s subordinates to burst into giggles.
In contrast, the atmosphere on the second floor, where I, I-seol, and Hyeok Gi-rin were located, was relatively calm.
I-seol introduced herself to Hyeok Gi-rin while demonstrating a martial technique.
“I am Dokgo I-seol of the Dark Dragon Sect.”
“I am Geum Myeong-wol. I don’t belong to any sect.”
“I heard you assisted with my work along with Yongji Maeng. I couldn’t help but come to pay my respects.”
“There’s no need for that. I merely assisted the Master.”
“Forgive my curiosity, but if you say you have no sect, I wonder how you come to call Yongji Maeng your Master.”
“I was once part of the First Swing Sect, but it no longer exists.”
“Ah… I see.”
A light exchange of probing ensued. Naturally, from I-seol’s perspective, it was not unusual to investigate Hyeok Gi-rin, considering a subordinate had suddenly brought an outsider along.
The problem lay with Hyeok Gi-rin.
On the surface, he bore his usual warm and friendly smile, but the aura he radiated felt completely different than usual.
It was as if he had sharpened his inner blade.
Honestly, it was a bit of a shocking reaction, but considering that Hyeok Gi-rin was a princess and the Grand Master of the Jeomchang Faction, it was understandable.
In the end, whether from the perspective of the core of the Yunnan Outcast Faction or from that of the Grand Master of the Jeomchang Faction, I-seol couldn’t afford to look at him with kind eyes.
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat to break the ice. Regardless, I was currently in a situation where I was infiltrating the Sanghwa Tower, so being with Hyeok Gi-rin was advantageous.
“Currently, Myeong-wol is wandering around the Central Plains much like I am. Would you be able to spare a room for Myeong-wol?”
“Um.”
I-seol lightly uttered a voice filled with double meanings. From I-seol’s standpoint, my request probably wasn’t pleasing to her. After all, she was inviting an unidentified guest into her domain.
However, it wouldn’t be easy for I-seol to refuse. This was a request from a subordinate who had just returned from a significant mission, and since Hyeok Gi-rin was involved in this operation and had also been of assistance.
As expected, I-seol looked at me with a soft smile and nodded in agreement.
“How could I refuse your request?”
I thought that with how cautious I-seol often was, she might hesitate a little, but she agreed more readily than I expected.
The makeup and flashy attire that she didn’t usually show, and the fact that she had come to greet me, seemed to imply that I-seol was quite pleased after hearing about my performance from the newcomers.
“Though it is a small palace, I will host you as a guest, Myeong-wol. Please stay comfortably for as long as you wish.”
“…Thank you for your generosity.”
Even Hyeok Gi-rin, who had shown some animosity towards I-seol, did not forget that he needed to stay with me, and he bowed his head in compliance.
“Then it seems all problems have been resolved.”
I-seol stood up.
“Attention! I-seol has something to say!”
Eungjo raised his voice to gather the attention of those at the drinking party.
As I-seol stood at the edge of the second floor, silent gasps of admiration erupted from her subordinates and the newcomers.
I-seol, adorned for the banquet, was strikingly beautiful.
“Everyone worked hard.”
I-seol surveyed her subordinates on the first floor and glanced at me and Hyeok Gi-rin before continuing.
“I cannot express how delighted I am that you achieved such results without any special support. It’s also worth celebrating that everyone has safely returned.”
I-seol raised her cup as she spoke.
“Therefore, let’s enjoy ourselves to the fullest today!”
Waaaah!!
I-seol’s subordinates and the newcomers erupted into cheers and stomped their feet. In an instant, the guesthouse was filled with noise. I-seol joined in the merry atmosphere, raising her cup in delight.
“Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
Her subordinates lifted their cups, and Hyeok Gi-rin and I followed suit. I-seol glanced at me and extended her cup. I playfully moved my cup to pretend to clink with hers.
Everyone emptied their cups at once.
“Pour it!”
“Drink it!”
Thus, the joyous festive day began.
* *
“Hoo…”
Hyeok Gi-rin’s morning came a step earlier than everyone else’s.
To keep her disguise from being unraveled, she had to wake quickly and sleep less than others. If she acted at the same time as everyone else, it was inevitable that discrepancies in hygiene or cleanliness would give her away.
Living a life somewhere between diligence and obsession, Hyeok Gi-rin had opened the day at Sanghwa Tower quicker than anyone else.
The reason Hyeok Gi-rin headed to the training hall early in the morning was to recall the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword. She had practiced it to teach Ho Cheon-an, but it had been over half a year since she had last displayed it before leaving Nangyang, so some practice was indeed necessary.
Swish!
The first force of the Azure Cloud Sword split through the air. The essence of the technique, far beyond what Ho Cheon-an could comprehend, was beautifully etched into the space.
The basic principles of swordsmanship: strength, swiftness, change, and fluidity.
Hyeok Gi-rin possessed the capability to fully understand and manipulate all those principles freely; thus, while the technique she displayed was the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword, in reality, it was akin to the quintessence of the technique itself.
Chun Hoon Chong Pa, Jeol Hoon Dan Su, Jan Wol Hyeol Gyeong, Hwi Un Sak Yeong…
In an instant, ten techniques had passed.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Hyeok Gi-rin did not flinch at the sudden sound of applause as she sheathed her sword.
“Your skill is remarkable.”
I-seol clapped and praised Hyeok Gi-rin’s swordsmanship. Hyeok Gi-rin accepted the compliment with calm composure.
“I merely showed my lacking skills.”
Hyeok Gi-rin recalled I-seol’s behavior from the previous evening at the banquet. She had come to greet Ho Cheon-an in a fitting outfit, a sight straight from a dream, her body revealed in an unabashed outfit, and she had often smiled while gazing at Ho Cheon-an throughout the event.
‘Her eyes were practically dripping honey.’
Hyeok Gi-rin clenched her fist, trying to shake off Ho Cheon-an’s words.
What? Wasn’t she trying to attack me the first time we met?
Then why was I-seol’s gaze dripping with honey as she looked at Ho Cheon-an?
‘You liar!’
While Hyeok Gi-rin simmered in anger, I-seol, who was convinced that Hyeok Gi-rin had gone cold towards her, sighed inwardly.
‘Am I truly someone she dislikes…?’
Reflecting on her actions from the previous day, I-seol felt her face turning slightly red.
Meeting a Master for the first time, only to see them clad in skin-tight attire that left no room for modesty, how could any Master view such a figure positively?
I-seol bit her lip, recalling the banquet. Despite her attempts to boldly reveal her shape and put in her effort to look good, Ho Cheon-an’s gaze and attitude had not shifted one bit.
Even though she spoke sweetly and looked upon him with warmth, he never offered a single compliment!
In a mind-boggling twist, she had laid bare her pride and pulled out her secret weapon, yet Ho Cheon-an remained indifferent.
So, what exactly could I-seol do to entice Yongji Maeng? After a night of tossing and turning in despair, I-seol had come to the training hall, drawn by the sound of Hyeok Gi-rin’s movements early in the dawn.
Watching Geum Myeong-wol perform the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword, an idea struck her.
To catch a tiger, one must not hesitate in the hunt.
‘I’ll target Myeong-wol, Yongji Maeng’s subordinate first!’
It was clear that the bond between Yongji Maeng and Geum Myeong-wol was unique. Geum Myeong-wol had readily rolled up her sleeves for the Master’s sake, and then Yongji Maeng had offered a request with ease.
If she could get someone like Geum Myeong-wol on her side…
Wouldn’t it be possible to topple Yongji Maeng, who refused to budge alone?
I-seol steeled her resolve as she continued to face Hyeok Gi-rin, whose gaze still held some discontent towards her. Although their first impression had been poor, first impressions were just that; they could be improved upon!
She deliberately softened her voice and said, “I’d like to learn more about that technique; may I join you in warming up?”
And so, I-seol’s covert operation of softening her approach began.
* *
It had been some time since returning to Gonmyeong.
“Ugh, Okgyo has become utter chaos.”
“All those arrogant fools are trying to copy us!”
It seemed the expected disorder was unfolding in Okgyo. There was no special need for intervention; everything appeared to be progressing smoothly.
I was initially considering using Hyeok Gi-rin’s influence or Black Cat to mobilize the Wolbok-dang, but now it seemed unnecessary.
After all, natural occurrences often led the way.
If I were to forcefully change the natural direction of events, it would inevitably attract attention, and there was a risk that I might eventually be caught.
“Hahaha! The newcomers truly did well!”
“Well, they may be a bit arrogant, but they’ve earned their celebration!”
“Hehehe! It’s been a while since we got back at the other nobles!”
While I had no idea what the other heirs of the Dark Dragon Sect were up to, there was no way they could surpass the achievements of the Seohwa Sect and the Great Dark Sect.
In the chaotic affairs unfolding now, accomplishing even that much was nearly impossible.
Yet, even if they did achieve such near-impossibilities, ultimately, the frontrunners would be valued higher than newcomers in the hierarchy.
It seemed I-seol had gained significant points in the heir competition.
I-seol’s subordinates observed me with joy, their expressions as if a decade’s worth of stagnation had been lifted, watching the excited newcomers as if they were adorable.
And thus, waves of laughter echoed through the peaceful Sanghwa Tower once again.
“Hahaha!”
It was the sound of I-seol’s laughter.
“Heh.”
I-seol seemed to be quite fond of Hyeok Gi-rin, who was using the alias Geum Myeong-wol, calling on her multiple times a day to practice martial arts, eat meals together, and share snacks.
Well, Hyeok Gi-rin was indeed adorable.
Of course, even though everyone knew she was a girl, her pretending to be a boy while sporting a resolute expression was incredibly cute, but the girly version of Hyeok Gi-rin had its own charm too.
While she radiated a sharp pressure learned from the imperial palace, Hyeok Gi-rin fundamentally reminded one of a gentle little village puppy.
Her charm had captivated even the solitary Black Cat.
“Ah, Master.”
However, Hyeok Gi-rin seemed somewhat burdened by I-seol’s friendly approach. Given the circumstances of her infiltration, it was understandable that building a rapport with I-seol was uncomfortable for her.
When our eyes met, Hyeok Gi-rin silently sent a distress signal through her gaze. I pretended not to see her plea and subtly turned my head away. After all, approaching would only get me caught up in that situation too.
As I felt Hyeok Gi-rin’s piercing gaze on my back, I tried to act nonchalant when suddenly…
Creeeak!
The door to the guesthouse, which rarely opened, creaked.
“Is Dokgo I-seol here?”
A messenger from the Black Dragon Sect had arrived.
“I am here to deliver the Master’s order to present yourself to the main sect by tomorrow.”
The news of the second meeting that would shake the succession hierarchy of the Dark Dragon Sect was now upon us.
