Chapter 151
151
- Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage
Sitting on the coachman's seat, waiting for Yeon-ryang, I reread Empress Hwang's letter.
Seeing that Mother had already replied, I figured Geun-myeong Uncle's letter would also be answered soon.
Was Woon being properly treated by the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor? He wasn't being difficult by bringing up Grandfather, was he?
As I wondered and fiddled with Ju-ryeong, I sensed Yeon-ryang's presence behind me.
"Brother's here."
"Took you quite a while, didn't it? Was there a lot to d— Eek!"
Turning around at the cheerful greeting, I hugged Ju-ryeong and shrieked.
"B-Brother! What's with your face?"
Yeon-ryang's face had transformed into that of a middle-aged man who looked like he'd been rolling around with the Black Road Clan for decades.
Yeon-ryang smiled awkwardly at my shock, scratching his cheek as he asked,
"Is it that weird?"
"Yes! Totally weird! What's with the mustache? It's a villain's mustache! Creepy!"
"Then it's a success."
As he smiled, the fine wrinkles distorted, making his expression look like a yaksha. It was an evil smile that would make anyone hand over all their money and run away if he just grabbed them and held out his hand.
Trying to suppress my discomfort, I asked,
"Is that a Human Skin Mask?"
"Yeah. My face was exposed to the Alliance, so I thought it'd be hard to go around as I am."
"Uh-huh, I also thought some measure was needed... The intention is good... But was that face the best you could do?"
"I have a few more. I can use different ones for different regions."
"...I see."
Surely the other Human Skin Masks weren't all that hideous. I don't think I could ever get used to that face, even if I saw it for a hundred years.
Avoiding the burdensome gaze, I turned my head and asked with a forced smile.
"Brother, should we buy a bamboo hat?"
\ \ \
With his face hidden by a bamboo hat, an old scabbard at his waist, and wearing black martial attire, Yeon-ryang looked like a common Martial Artist you could find anywhere.
Contrasting with my flashy Green Robe, he also looked like a Bodyguard hired by a wealthy family.
"Brother, you look like a Bodyguard hired from the Wanderer market."
"Is that so? Two silver coins a day. Where shall I escort you to, Young Miss?"
Yeon-ryang chuckled and bowed in a show of respect.
"That's strange. Last year, two coins could get you from Junggyeong to Wuhan, right? Are you ripping me off?"
"Ripping you off? How can you say such a hurtful thing? Even if I look like this, my price is quite high."
Bantering back and forth with Yeon-ryang, I draped a black Cape over my shoulders.
It was an outer garment I had bought along with Yeon-ryang's clothes. I wanted to cover up the Green Robe, at least in Yueyang.
As I stuffed the long green silk into the Cape, Yeon-ryang adjusted my clothes and asked,
"Wouldn't it be better to just take off the Green Robe?"
"I want to, but the Green Robe is just too comfortable, Brother."
Having worn the Green Robe again, I couldn't bring myself to take it off. No other clothes could match the storage capacity of the Green Robe sleeves, which were designed for the convenience of Tang Clan Martial Artists.
"Well, it is the Martial Sect's martial attire, so they wouldn't have made it carelessly."
Yeon-ryang nodded in agreement and grinned. I flinched at the eerie smile visible beneath the bamboo hat and changed the subject.
"Let's go get something to eat, Brother. I heard the fish stew here is really good?"
"Butterfly Drifting Sea. The ones that do it well are light and refreshing. So-hye, you'll like it."
"Ooh, sounds delicious."
Smacking my lips, I approached the carriage, then realized I had forgotten something.
"Ah! Wait a minute, Yang Gyo-jin!"
I forgot about Yang Gyo-jin!
At my shout, Yeon-ryang scratched his head as if he had just remembered.
"Ah. I forgot about Yang Young Miss? I wonder if she's still at that inn? Well, she'll be fine."
We hurried back to the inn where Yang Gyo-jin had run off to, but she was nowhere to be seen. I grabbed a Jeomsoi and asked,
"Excuse me, did a Swordmaster order lamb stew here? About this tall. Wearing a silver-gray Cape."
The Jeomsoi nodded as if he knew who I was talking about after hearing my description.
"Ah, if you mean that young hero, he finished his meal and left earlier."
"Huh? He didn't run away, did he? Did he pay for his meal properly?"
"Yes. He paid properly."
Did he just leave? That guy. I fed him and gave him a place to sleep, and he left without saying goodbye.
Feeling strangely empty, I pouted, and Yeon-ryang smiled and patted my shoulder.
"He must have had his reasons. He's a bit dim, you know."
"That's true. Let's just go eat."
I wasn't too worried since he wasn't the type to get into trouble anywhere. We figured we'd meet again if fate allowed it, and we took a seat on the first floor of the inn.
The fish stew was delicious.
Lightly cooking thinly sliced fish in the boiling broth and then dipping it in the sauce was just to my taste.
As we kept adding more fish, the delighted owner even gave us stir-fried eggplant and medicinal wine as a service.
"It feels good to have customers who eat so much after a long time. There aren't many outsiders these days."
"Is it because of the bandit suppression?"
"That's right. The atmosphere is unsettling, so the escort agencies have doubled their Bodyguard fees, and the Merchant Guilds are having a hard time. It's best not to go near Dongting Lake. People from the Alliance are stationed there."
I wanted to go up to Yueyang Tower, but it seems difficult. What a shame.
As we responded to the conversation without being bothered, the owner got excited and rattled off a lot about the situation in Yueyang without being asked.
The owner, who had been grumbling that the price of rice coming down from the north had become expensive due to the waterway being controlled, soon smiled broadly and asked Yeon-ryang,
"Has the great hero sitting over there perhaps married?"
"Not yet. Why do you ask?"
"You're a bachelor. Then you should stop by the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild. The Guild Leader is looking for a son-in-law these days."
This topic was a bit more interesting. I rested my chin on my hand and asked,
"Looking for a son-in-law? Are they publicly seeking suitors?"
"Yes. The Guild Leader only has one daughter, and she's seriously ill and may not last long. Since she doesn't have a son, she's going to take in a son-in-law to get an heir. But that daughter said she doesn't like weak men and asked them to hold a Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage."
Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage? They're going to make the winner of the Martial Arts Tournament their son-in-law?
The thought of my father, who had suddenly told me to prepare for an arranged marriage, made me frown. It was an idea that came from seeing his daughter not as a child but as an object.
The owner gave a meaningful expression and whispered to Yeon-ryang.
"I'm telling you this because I'm from Yueyang, but that daughter is really beautiful. If you don't have a Madam, you should give it a try. Fortune favors the bold, doesn't it?"
"No thanks."
"What a shame. If you were to participate, you'd easily make it to the finals. These days, people in Yueyang are only talking about that. There's nothing else to look forward to besides the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage."
Was it because of the hideous Human Skin Mask? The owner seemed to have mistaken Yeon-ryang for a hidden master.
Well, it wasn't entirely wrong. He was a master, after all.
As I had silly thoughts and looked at Yeon-ryang, he hurriedly waved his hand.
"I'm not interested. Really."
"I didn't say anything, Brother."
"I'm not getting married. What would I even do?"
"Weren't you saying you were the perfect groom?"
"I just want So-hye to meet a good man and be happy. That's my only wish."
...This guy, he's talking like an older brother who lost his parents early and raised his youngest sibling all by himself. Well, it's kind of similar.
Seeing him vehemently deny it every time a similar story came up, it seemed like Yeon-ryang didn't even have the option of creating a new family in his mind.
Even if it's difficult right now, it might not be a bad idea to recommend settling down in a quiet neighborhood once the Demonic Sect's affairs are settled.
Seeing that Mother liked Yeon-ryang's face, there must be Young Misses who like him. He's also good at taking care of things and good with kids. He might be able to find a different kind of happiness if he leaves the Jianghu.
"Our sister is thinking strange things again."
"Brother, I think a niece would be nice, eugh."
Yeon-ryang stretched my cheeks and shook his head, looking at the owner.
"When does the Martial Arts Tournament start?"
"It's being held for three days, starting today."
"Three days, so there must be a lot of applicants."
"That's probably right. All the local Martial Artists who can throw a punch have gathered."
Yeon-ryang stroked his chin thoughtfully and said to me,
"Let's go watch. Watching other Martial Artists' Martial Arts Tournament will be a good experience."
"Should we?"
Intrigued, my eyes sparkled. I hadn't had a proper opportunity to see others' Martial Arts Tournament before.
Everyone from the mediocre to the skilled would be gathered in one place, so it would be fun to distinguish the differences.
"If you're going to watch the Martial Arts Tournament, you should go quickly. There are so many spectators that there won't be any seats even if you go now."
"Where is the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild?"
Yeon-ryang cut off a silver coin and asked, and the owner's face lit up.
"The Golden Dragon Merchant Guild is..."
\ \ \
As the inn owner had said, the area around the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild was packed with spectators who had come to see the Martial Arts Tournament. It was a crowd that could make you believe that everyone living in Yueyang had gathered.
Moreover, the Martial Arts Tournament stage was so far away that the middle-aged man officiating looked as small as a pinky finger.
As I stood on tiptoe and struggled, Yeon-ryang asked,
"Can you see the Martial Arts Tournament stage? Should I lift you up?"
"I can't see. Lift me up."
Grumbling, I stretched out my arms, and Yeon-ryang chuckled and lightly picked me up with one hand. I grabbed Yeon-ryang's shoulder and looked at the Martial Arts Tournament stage.
"Now, we will begin the Martial Arts Tournament!"
Zing!
At the same time as the middle-aged man holding the drumstick struck the Large Gong, two people clasped their fists to each other.
Ooh, it's starting.
Gathering Inner Energy in my eyes, I could clearly see the two Martial Artists facing each other on the Martial Arts Tournament stage.
I was observing the two contestants drawing their swords with great interest, but my spine became damp with a familiar face.
No matter how I looked at it, that familiar guy was standing on the Martial Arts Tournament stage.
Hey, Yang Gyo-jin?
Why is he there?
