Chapter 40: The Shangguan Clan (3)

“There’s nothing special. Either tonight or tomorrow, a few of the younger generation from several clans will visit the Shangguan Clan. I’d like to spend some quality time with you until they leave.”

“You’re asking me to pretend we’re close?”

Jaegal Yohye nodded as if to say “exactly.”

And she liked that Yong Hwarin didn’t ask for a reason.

Usually, one would pry for the reason or purpose in such a situation, but Yong Hwarin already seemed to understand her intentions and was pondering them.

‘He’s a rare kind of smart man. To think Cheongyeong unni threw away someone like this, she’s honestly a fool in disguise.’

After a brief thought, Yong Hwarin opened his mouth.

“The younger generation from other clans visiting tomorrow—could it be because of the swordsmanship competition among the Six Great Blade and Sword Clans?”

“What? How did you know that?”

Jaegal Yohye was genuinely startled that Yong Hwarin knew both the name and purpose of their gathering.

That was something only the high-ranking members of the clans were supposed to know.

Yong Hwarin immediately regretted speaking up.

This gathering was probably just beginning to take shape now.

But in the future, it would grow into a major event where the Six Great Blade and Sword Clans took turns hosting martial contests, awarding great honors to the final winner.

Yong Hwarin knew this well because he had witnessed it himself in his past life.

“You really are an impressive man, Young Master Yong. Then you probably know who’s coming, too.”

Now that things had come this far, Yong Hwarin answered without hesitation.

“I suspect it’ll be the younger talents from the Three Great Blade Clans—namely, the Pang Clan of Hebei and the Seomun Clan of Shanxi.”

Together with the Shangguan Clan, those three formed the Three Great Blade Clans.

Honestly, Jaegal Yohye wanted to applaud him.

“But how did you come by that information? Do you have some great informant?”

Yong Hwarin shook his head.

“No such thing. I simply made a prediction based on what you said.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

“You told me that members of the younger generation from other clans would be visiting. Then who else could it be? Would it be one of the Sword Clans like the Namgung Clan? Or perhaps the Danmok Clan?”

The Three Great Sword Clans were the Namgung Clan of Anhui, the Danmok Clan of Shandong, and the Jaegal Clan of Hubei—just as Yong Hwarin had implied.

“And what’s stopping them from coming?”

“Lately, I heard a rumor. That the Three Great Blade Clans and Three Great Sword Clans of the north and south are organizing a swordsmanship competition to advance their martial arts.”

That rumor had been circulating in the world for quite some time now.

“I also heard that the interaction between the Sword and Blade Clans has cooled somewhat because of it.”

“Then what about me, a member of the Sword Clan, visiting the Shangguan Clan, which is a Blade Clan?”

Yong Hwarin smirked, seeing through Jaegal Yohye’s little test. That smirk unsettled her slightly, and she pressed for an answer.

“Well? It doesn’t make sense, does it?”

“You probably came to negotiate the schedule and location of the sword competition on behalf of the Sword Clans. Though the official reason is to check on Shangguan Mijong’s health, of course.”

Jaegal Yohye was genuinely impressed by Yong Hwarin’s insight.

“Would they really entrust such an important task to someone as young as me?”

That made Yong Hwarin think he understood why she had appeared at Wudang.

“Why would the Jaegal Clan entrust such a responsibility to a young girl like you?”

Jaegal Yohye reflexively parted her lips in shock.

‘He figured it out that far?’

Yong Hwarin remembered that, in his past life, the person responsible for judging the sword competition among the Six Great Blade and Sword Clans had been none other than the leader of the Wudang Sect.

Jaegal Yohye had appeared at Wudang to ask the sect leader to act as a neutral judge for the competition.

That was why Jaegal Byeok and many of the Jaegal Clan’s notable martial artists had accompanied her.

“You were probably planning to entrust the judging to the Wudang Sect leader.”

At this point, Jaegal Yohye couldn’t deny it.

Clap, clap, clap!

She clapped her hands openly and said,

“Truly amazing. I didn’t think you’d be able to figure it out and reach that conclusion.”

Conversations with Yong Hwarin were definitely intriguing. She knew she should stop here, but she couldn’t help but keep asking questions.

“Then I suppose you can also guess why I made such a request.”

For the first time, Yong Hwarin found this sly woman a little bit adorable. Her sharp intellect made her hard to keep close, but now and then, she showed these glimpses of cuteness.

Yong Hwarin smiled.

“Most likely, among the visitors tomorrow, there’s someone who has been bothering you. Maybe someone who has a crush on you and keeps sending matchmakers or endless love letters. Otherwise, there’s no reason for us to pretend to be lovers.”

Jaegal Yohye nodded in admiration.

Not a word of that was off the mark.

The one coming tomorrow from the Pang Clan of Hebei was Pang Giyok. He had been infatuated with her and kept sending letters and matchmakers, making her life difficult.

To a young girl with no interest in marriage yet, Pang Giyok was an exhausting nuisance.

“But I’m sure that wasn’t your only intention.”

Yong Hwarin wasn’t finished.

“What do you mean?”

“If we pretend to be lovers and provoke him, I’m sure I’ll end up in a duel with him. And if that happens, you’ll be able to gauge his martial level. And if I beat him, his spirit will be crushed, which would benefit the Sword Clans. Someone called the Witch of the Martial World like you would have calculated at least this far. I don’t believe for a second that you’d ask me to pretend to be your lover just because of a childish emotional whim.”

“Hah…”

Jaegal Yohye was genuinely speechless now.

She never imagined someone would be able to read her inner thoughts so completely.

‘I thought I caught a pheasant, but it was a peacock all along.’

Jaegal Yohye was overwhelmed by the feeling that she’d discovered a hidden gem.

Ever since she’d seen him on Mount Wudang, she felt there was something different about him. Maybe she was right?

‘Cheongyeong unni is such a fool. How could she not see the real value of Young Master Yong?’

She even began to think that her sister had no eye for men because she spent all her time training in martial arts.

After Yong Hwarin left, Jaegal Cheongyeong told the clan leader and her father Jaegal Yugyeol that she had no intention of marrying Yong Hwarin.

Jaegal Yugyeol had opposed it, but the clan leader stepped in and settled the matter.

From the perspective of the Jaegal Clan, it wasn’t exactly appealing for the daughter of an elder to marry the child of some obscure martial family.

Besides, Jaegal Cheongyeong was one of the most promising female martial artists in the clan.

Someone of her status could easily be paired with a scion of a renowned sect or prestigious family.

They couldn’t just throw away such a valuable card, so the Jaegal Clan accepted her wishes.

Knowing all this, Jaegal Yohye couldn’t help but wonder if the Jaegal Clan had let a great dragon slip through their fingers.

‘But what if I’m the one who catches the dragon they missed?’

She even began to entertain such a bold idea.

*

Just as Jaegal Yohye had said, when Yong Hwarin waited at his lodging, she arrived with Shangguan Yuseol.

“My mother says she wishes to meet you, Young Master Yong.”

As Shangguan Yuseol spoke, Jaegal Yohye, standing behind her, narrowed her eyes and smiled.

It was a look that hinted her scheme had worked.

“My mother rarely meets outsiders, but as soon as I mentioned your name, she seemed strangely pleased.”

“Then it’s an honor.”

Yong Hwarin feigned ignorance and rose to follow.

He followed Shangguan Yuseol deep into the Shangguan Clan’s estate.

It was curious that even within the estate, there was—a four-sided traditional courtyard house—surrounded by high walls.

When Yong Hwarin entered the a four-sided traditional courtyard house where Lady Ha resided, he immediately sensed the presence of powerful martial artists all around.

Their deliberately exuded auras were essentially warnings: try anything foolish, and you’ll die.

‘Compared to the Heavenly Central Sect, the Shangguan Clan is practically a fortress.’

But it felt so closed-off that he didn’t find it appealing.

“Mother, I’ve brought him.”

“Very well, come in.”

When Yong Hwarin entered the room, he saw a middle-aged woman whose beauty was breathtaking, and he instinctively felt a sense of reverence.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Yong Hwarin of the Heavenly Central Sect.”

“I see. I’m the matron of the Shangguan Clan. Strange… it feels like we’ve met before, though this is our first meeting.”

Since childhood, Yong Hwarin had often heard people say he resembled his father, Yong Biyang, the clan head.

But Yong Hwarin had never really liked his delicate appearance. He had always wanted a strong, masculine face befitting a martial artist’s heir.

With warm eyes, Ha Yanggyo welcomed Yong Hwarin and instructed her attendant to bring tea.

“There’s a fine tea from the palace. Have a cup before you go.”

Being connected to the upper levels of power, she drank only the finest regional teas reserved for the royal family.

“But my daughter said her father refused a request from you, Young Master. What was it about?”

Shangguan Yuseol had never seen her mother treat an outsider so kindly.

She acted almost like she was greeting a long-lost family member, and it felt strangely out of place.

But she quickly brushed off the thought, glad at least that she could help Yong Hwarin.

Yong Hwarin knew this was the decisive moment.

He realized he had to say something convincing to persuade Lady Ha—only then could he meet One Who Connects All Lives.

So he crafted a story mixing truth with fiction.

“A long time ago, I was possessed by a spirit. Because of that, I suffered from an illness for a while. Though I’ve suppressed the spirit for now, I never know when it might return to torment me. I heard that a renowned exorcist resides in Zhengzhou, so I came to find him. His name is Nan Myeonggwak, but I heard he committed a crime against your clan and is imprisoned.”

That part, Ha Yanggyo had also heard.

“I see. That must have been difficult. But even such a simple request, my husband refused?”

Ha Yanggyo had a pretty good idea why her husband refused.

And that only made her more furious with him.

No doubt, because Yong Hwarin was the son of her former lover, her narrow-minded husband would never readily agree to the request.

“I’ll speak with the Clan Head tomorrow and request his permission.”

“I’m sorry, but by tomorrow, it will be too late. They said One Who Connects All Lives is to be executed tomorrow.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll meet my husband right away. Yuseol, go and tell the attendants to prepare—we’re going now.”

Shangguan Yuseol looked at her mother strangely, surprised that she would personally go to persuade her father over someone else’s matter. She had expected her mother to write a simple letter at most, given that it was just a request from her daughter.

To make matters worse, as Yong Hwarin stood to leave, Ha Yanggyo suddenly took his hand.

“Young Master Yong.”

From the warmth of her hand, Yong Hwarin could feel her emotions.

How could the son of the man she once loved but had to part from not stir her feelings?

So he didn’t pull his hand away. He let her hold it.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep