Chapter 43 : Military Advisor, Yeo Seon (呂蟬)

Chapter 43: Military Advisor, Yeo Seon

The bustling marketplace of Chengdu overflowed with life.

Among the merchants and customers, a young woman moved busily.

It was Seori, servant girl of the Sichuan Tang Clan. She greeted the shopkeeper of the last store she stopped at.

“Hello, Uncle!”

“Oh ho, Seori, you’ve come.”

“Yes, it has been such a long time since I last saw you.”

The shopkeeper, who had been puffing on a long pipe in a corner, jumped to his feet in delight when he saw Seori.

It was because, before she entered the Tang Clan as an orphan, Seori had worked the longest as a clerk in this very place.

After chatting warmly for a while, Seori brought up her purpose.

“Ah, Uncle. The Sichuan ginger and Sichuan Sichuan peppercorns that came in this time—are they very spicy?”

“Hmm? Why, do you worry they’ll be too spicy?”

“Come on, would a Sichuan person ever worry about that? It’s the opposite—I worry they might not be spicy enough.”

“Heh heh, our Seori has truly become a Sichuan girl now. Very well, I’ll pack only the finest of today’s goods for you.”

“Oh, really?”

The shopkeeper, finding her sparkling eyes adorable, packed far more than the regular measure and handed it over.

Seori received it with a bow and turned to leave, then suddenly stopped.

The shopkeeper tilted his head, wondering if she had forgotten something.

“Ah, right! This isn’t for me. It’s for my Young Master.”

“What! Then put it back right now!”

“Hehe, goodbye Uncle!”

The shopkeeper chuckled as he watched Seori walk away.

But soon his smile faded, replaced by worry and pity in his eyes.

‘Hah… Still, it’s a relief she seems to have found her smile again after that accursed incident.’

He had heard the rumor that she had lost an arm and gone mad, but even that seemed not enough punishment in his opinion.

“If only someone would utterly crush those bastards from Qingcheng Sect, or Qing-whatever they are.”

That was his small wish, alongside Seori’s wellbeing.

“Hmm, good! With this much, I’ll be able to prepare a proper feast of the dishes Young Master likes best.”

Looking at the basket filled to the brim, Seori felt satisfied.

As Sewoon’s personal servant girl, she had come all the way to Chengdu so that, when her master returned from his outing, she could serve him his favorite dishes.

No one had ordered her to do this—it was entirely voluntary.

Even the money for the ingredients had come from all the wages she had carefully saved up.

‘I must repay him, even just a little!’

To her, Sewoon was not only her lifesaver but someone she sincerely admired and respected.

He had not merely dealt with Lee Hoseong.

For her, shaken in both body and heart, he had even prescribed expensive medicinal decoctions and personally treated her wounds, ensuring perfect follow-up care.

What young master of a great clan would bestow such kindness upon a mere servant girl?

Seori felt ashamed that the only thing she could do in return was something so small.

Alright, time to go back.

Just as she hoisted the bursting basket onto her back and was about to leave—

“…Excuse me, young miss.”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, someone spoke to her from the side.

It was a man’s voice.

Startled, Seori turned to find a man about her own height standing there awkwardly.

“Wh-who are you?”

“My apologies. I am but a traveler, unfamiliar with Sichuan. Might I ask you for directions…?”

Ever since the incident with Lee Hoseong, she still harbored fear toward strange men. She scanned him up and down, wary he might be dangerous.

He was about five and a half cheok (165 cm).

His shoulders hunched inward, with a neck jutting forward like a turtle’s.

His thick spectacles hid his eyes entirely.

And since he carried no weapons, he looked far more like a scholar than a martial artist.

Her fear lessened somewhat.

“Yes. Where do you wish to go?”

“Ah! Thank you, young miss. Could you perhaps tell me how to get to the Tang Clan from here?”

“…The Tang Clan?”

At the name spilling from his lips, she flinched unconsciously.

But the scholar noticed nothing and continued speaking.

“Yes, yes. The horseman who brought me here suddenly claimed that place was plagued with trouble these days, and outright refused to go further. He just dropped me here and rode off!”

His voice carried resentment, as if still angry over the incident.

After a moment of hesitation, Seori thought perhaps this man was an important guest of the Tang Clan. She spoke cautiously.

“…Then please follow me. I actually work there as a servant girl.”

“Oh, really? Thank you, young miss!”

But…

She would soon regret her kindness.

On the mountain path toward the Tang Clan—

“Do you know how tragic the fate is of a military advisor who chooses the wrong lord to serve!?”

“I-I’m not sure…”

“Long ago! When Liu Zhang of Shu listened to the words of his minister Zhang Song and invited Liu Bei into Yizhou, the loyal Wang Lu tied himself to the city gate with a rope around his neck to beg him to reconsider!”

“…Ah, yes.”

“But Liu Zhang ignored him, mocking his concerns as needless worry. In the end, he lost Yizhou. Do you know what became of Wang Lu?”

“…I’m not sure.”

“Alas! He killed himself in despair! You see, no matter how talented one may be, if one serves the wrong master, such a pitiful end awaits! Isn’t it unbearably sad?”

“…Ah, yes, yes.”

“And that’s not all! Chen Gongtai also met ruin because of a worthless lord…”

The scholar was the very definition of a chatterbox.

He rattled on without rest, until Seori’s ears ached and her head spun.

He prattled like a sparrow, and she began to suspect he might be a fraudster.

‘Maybe I should just make up an excuse and sneak away while I can…’

“Hmm? Seora.”

Just then, a familiar voice called from behind.

“…Young miss? Young Master?”

Turning her head, Seori saw Tang Serin and Tang Sewoon looking at her.

But their appearance was strange.

Like miners who had just finished their work, their entire bodies were blackened with dust. Each of them carried a sack that looked twice the size of their own bodies.

“Wh-what in the world happened to you two!?”

“...Too many things happened to explain it all.”

Tang Serin replied bitterly.

“Anyway, were you on your way back to the clan?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Hmm, but that companion of yours is someone I haven’t seen before.”

“Ah, that is…”

How should she explain this man?

As she thought so and turned toward the scholar—

“…Pupils as dark as if inked. Long and high-arched brows.”

“A bright forehead and a high nose. The cheekbones on both sides align toward the nose.”

The scholar muttered incomprehensible words, completely entranced.

Regardless of the two’s confusion, he firmly continued his words.

“The forehead and chin also align toward the nose. This is a face destined to command all the officials of the court…”

The scholar’s eyes blazed with fervor.

And then—

“…It is the visage of a Hegemon King!”

His gaze was fixed squarely upon Sewoon.

Ssshh—

For an instant, silence swept over the surroundings.

The face of a Hegemon King.

Even to hear it once was enough to carry extraordinary weight.

“…Why is that physiognomist traveling with you?”

“M-my apologies. He said he was heading to the Tang Clan.”

“My greetings are late—!”

The scholar fell to one knee and gave a formal bow.

“My name is Yeo Seon! By the order of the Murim Alliance, I have come this very day to serve as escort warrior to Young Master Tang Sewoon of the Sichuan Tang Clan!”

The Murim Alliance!

All were stunned by the scholar’s unexpected identity.

‘So, he has arrived.’

Only Sewoon gazed at Yeo Seon with a terrifying calm.

Chaa-chang!

Weapons clashed, scattering sparks of orange light into the air.

Dressed in green martial uniforms, warriors shouted their battle cries as they swung their weapons with all their strength.

It was the Dark Flower Unit of the Sichuan Tang Clan, engaged in training nearly identical to actual combat in the Grand Martial Training Hall.

Swaeek!

Chwaah!

The Dark Flower Unit warriors moved with extreme concentration, executing techniques one after another.

Since most of the Tang Clan’s martial arts were based on hidden weapons, the slightest carelessness could result in grave injury, even in practice.

After what seemed like endless drills, the long-awaited rest finally came.

As everyone cooled themselves in the shade, hiding from the blazing sun—

“Phew, what’s the point of training so hard anyway.”

“Hey, why speak like that again.”

One of the senior members sighed deeply as he spoke.

His expression mixed frustration with a deep sense of grievance toward someone.

“Isn’t it true? When our Young Master doesn’t trust us, what use is training?”

“…It is discouraging, I’ll admit.”

“It’s more than that. Can’t you see how openly he shows his distrust of us? It’s truly disheartening.”

At his words, most nodded in agreement.

“To request a separate escort warrior from the Murim Alliance, of all things.”

“We’re all prepared to give our lives for the Tang Clan…”

“But isn’t that because we failed to stop those assassins last time?”

Just then, a youthful voice cut into the conversation of the seniors.

All turned their eyes toward the source.

It was a new recruit recently assigned to the Dark Flower Unit—Daewoong.

True to the name “Great Bear,” he had a huge frame with bulging muscles. His fierce eyes and tightly sealed lips made him look more like a Green Forest bandit than a soldier.

A senior member scowled, suppressing his anger as he spoke.

“Hey, rookie. You should learn when to speak and when to stay silent.”

“Is there any need to stay silent when people are speaking falsehoods?”

“…What?”

Ssshh—

The atmosphere instantly turned frigid.

But Daewoong, unaffected by the sharp stares directed at him, continued.

“We should blame our weakness for failing to protect our master. Those words are nothing but the whining of losers.”

“What did you say! Losers?”

“You fool! How could we stand against martial artists of the Murim Alliance!”

Daewoong cast a pitiful look at the senior who spoke last, finishing firmly.

“That right there is the mindset of a loser. If we could not stop the enemy, we should feel shame before our master and keep our mouths shut, devoting ourselves to training.”

“You brat—!”

The senior leapt up, storming toward Daewoong as if ready to throw a punch.

Daewoong too clenched his fists and squared his stance, unwilling to retreat.

A major incident was about to erupt when—

“What is this ruckus!”

The roar of Tang Bi, leader of the Dark Flower Unit, thundered across the hall.

All froze in place like statues.

Then, their eyes turned toward Tang Bi—

Their eyes widened in shock.

Clack!

“Loyalty! We pay respects to Young Master!”

All dropped to one knee, offering formal salute.

Standing beside Tang Bi was Sewoon, his face cold.

Just how much had he seen?

Cold sweat ran down the warriors’ backs.

“This is pathetic.”

Sewoon’s single remark froze the atmosphere of the training ground even further.