Chapter 47
“Would you become my daughter-in-law?”
“Hah… Are you crazy?”
“M-Miss Dokgo!”
“You insolent…!”
Wi Ilcheong hurriedly covered Dokgo Ryeong’s mouth, while Peng Woo-deok stopped Huangbo Gi, who was rising in anger.
“It’s all right, Fist Venerable. Since she’s the daughter of ‘that’ Dokgo Jin, I expected as much.”
“But, Saber Immortal! That’s no way to behave!”
“I said it’s all right, kwahaha.”
“…I apologize. Miss Dokgo is, well…”
“No need. You don’t have to apologize. This much is nothing. In fact, I should be the one apologizing.”
When Peng Woo-deok bowed his head, Wi Ilcheong was even more flustered.
“Showing up without warning and bringing this up, I suppose I deserve to be called crazy. My apologies.”
“Ah… no…”
“I’ll also apologize to Young Master Wi for my earlier discourtesy. I was rude because I love the saber so much. Please forgive me.”
“…Yes.”
Seeing Wi Ilcheong accept the apology so readily, Dokgo Ryeong frowned.
“It’d be nice if you just didn’t do things you need to apologize for in the first place… sir.”
“Kwahaha! You don’t even know how to use honorifics properly. Just speak freely, daughter of Dokgo Jin.”
With Peng Woo-deok’s permission, Dokgo Ryeong took the opportunity to speak casually.
“Then I will. Explain what the hell this is about.”
“…”
When Peng Woo-deok gaped as if stunned, Dokgo Ryeong asked again.
“What? You told me to drop the formalities. Explain why I have to become your daughter-in-law.”
“Heh…! Heh-heh…! Kwahaha! You’re certainly Dokgo Jin’s daughter. I’m convinced—that wench is definitely Dokgo Jin’s daughter.”
“…It certainly seems so, Saber Immortal.”
Peng Woo-deok laughed and tapped the floor, making it seem as though the earth itself trembled.
Worried the brothel might collapse, Eun Yak-byeok hurried them along.
“I have to agree with Miss Dokgo, Saber Immortal. You’ve suddenly shown up and brought up a marriage alliance. I was under the impression there was no prior agreement between you.”
“Ah… It’d be easiest to speak directly with Dokgo Jin. Where has he gone?”
“…He’s away for a little while. So tell me instead.”
“Is that true, daughter of Dokgo Jin?”
“…Yeah. You can tell the Hao Sect Leader everything.”
“You… you little…!”
As Dokgo Ryeong answered so calmly and casually, a vein stood out on Huangbo Gi’s neck.
“No matter how rude you are, what kind of behavior is this toward a senior of the martial world who’s lived several decades longer than you?!”
“Oh my, the Huangbo Clan Patriarch is bringing up manners? Did you reform after the Sword Queen gave you a lecture about yours?”
“You’re both crazy!”
“…Huangbo Gi.”
Peng Woo-deok called the Huangbo Clan Patriarch’s name once more.
“…I shouldn’t have brought you along.”
“But, Saber Immortal…!”
“We’re here to ask a favor. Shouldn’t we overlook this much rudeness?”
‘Huh?’
Peng Woo-deok, of all people.
When Peng Woo-deok, who knew nothing of propriety, used the word ‘favor,’ Dokgo Ryeong’s eyes widened.
“…What do you mean, a favor…?”
“You…!”
“…please?”
When Huangbo Gi started to fly into a rage again, Dokgo Ryeong grudgingly tacked ‘please’ onto the end of her sentence.
‘What a fucking mess.’
Dokgo Ryeong glared at Huangbo Gi for a moment, then turned her gaze back to Peng Woo-deok.
“Hmm… I’d rather speak to Dokgo Jin directly.”
“Just pretend I’m Dokgo Jin and tell me… please.”
“Listen, daughter of Dokgo Jin.”
Peng Woo-deok asked,
“How strong are you?”
“Uh…”
“Is that really important, Saber Immortal?”
“No, it’s not all that important, but I find it hard to believe.”
Peng Woo-deok stroked his beard as he looked at Dokgo Ryeong with a peculiar gaze.
“It’s hard enough to believe that Dokgo Jin has a child, let alone such a lovely daughter. Honestly, it’s difficult to accept.”
“Damn it… Just look.”
Dokgo Ryeong stood and drew her flexible sword.
“Hmm?”
Swoosh!
Dokgo Ryeong swung her flexible sword, then sheathed it again.
“Satisfied?”
“That’s the Shura Rakshasa Saber Art. But why use a flexible sword?”
“Ah… well… My bones haven’t fully grown yet.”
“I see. Well… there’s no way my saber friend Dokgo Jin would teach his child something like swordsmanship.”
As Dokgo Ryeong sat down, she grumbled to herself.
‘Saber friend’ my ass.
“It seems you know the Shura Rakshasa Saber Art as well. Then the terms of our deal remain unchanged. I’d like you to marry my son.”
“Since you’re calling it a deal, I take it you have something to offer, Saber Immortal?”
“Of course. I’ve brought something Dokgo Jin would like more than anything.”
“What nonsense…”
“We’ll help wipe out the Murong Clan and the Tang Clan from the martial world.”
“!!”
When the two suddenly brought up such a weighty matter, Dokgo Ryeong fell silent.
“W-what did you say?”
“Didn’t you hear me? Our Hebei Peng Clan and the Huangbo Clan, who came here with us, will join forces to wipe the Murong Clan and the Tang Clan from the martial world.”
“Why would the two of you…”
“Young Master Wi, wait a moment.”
When Eun Yak-byeok covered Wi Ilcheong’s mouth, Peng Woo-deok grinned.
“Our Hao Sect Leader seems quite surprised.”
“…Are you serious?”
“I’m not speaking idly.”
“What you’ve just said means a conflict within the Five Great Clans. It could even split the Martial Alliance in two. Do you understand what that means?”
“Of course.”
Huangbo Gi, seated beside them, answered in Peng Woo-deok’s place.
“…War.”
*
‘…War…’
Dokgo Ryeong couldn’t quite follow what they meant.
“…What does that have to do with my marriage? War, you say?”
“If you become my daughter-in-law, we won’t hesitate to go to war with the Murong Clan and the Tang Clan.”
“Are you crazy?”
“I’m not.”
“W-what am I supposed to…”
“Hmm… I’d better explain this myself.”
Huangbo Gi began speaking.
“Lately, the Murong Clan and the Tang Clan have been acting suspiciously. You know that too, Hao Sect Leader, don’t you?”
“…I know Sichuan is in turmoil.”
“And the Murong Clan is also consolidating its hold over the north. But I find that rather troubling.”
“That doesn’t sound like enough reason to start a war.”
“Gu poison.”
“!!”
Hearing that familiar term, Dokgo Ryeong looked at Huangbo Gi in shock.
“Judging by your expression, you know about it too.”
“W-why would they make that cursed thing…”
“The Tang Clan is making gu poison again. There’s one in Sichuan and another near Shanxi.”
“…”
“From what I can tell, the Beggars’ Sect is turning a blind eye to it as well.”
“Those bastards…!”
Thud!
When Dokgo Ryeong slammed her fist into the floor, Peng Woo-deok spoke.
“Truthfully, this marriage to Dokgo Jin’s daughter is mostly a way to solidify our alliance. We want Dokgo Jin’s help.”
“Then…!”
“Is that all you have to say?”
When Eun Yak-byeok cut in, Dokgo Ryeong’s head snapped toward her.
“Hao Sect…!”
“Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?”
“…We should’ve talked without the Hao Sect Leader present.”
“Miss Dokgo, you should cool your head and calm down for now.”
“Those bastards in the Tang Clan…!”
“Miss Dokgo.”
Eun Yak-byeok admonished Dokgo Ryeong.
“Think about it carefully. I believe this is a trap.”
“Kwahaha! You’re saying that right in front of the person involved.”
“If you need Great Hero Dokgo Jin’s help, just ask him. I can’t see any reason this needs to go as far as a wedding.”
“Go on, Sound Venerable.”
“There doesn’t seem to be enough reason to go to war with the Murong Clan and the Tang Clan, either. To be honest, if the two of you had learned about the Tang Clan’s gu poison and were burning with righteous indignation, you would have gone to the Martial Alliance.”
“What if the Martial Alliance is already in league with the Tang Clan?”
“No. The Sword Saint is there.”
As if certain, Eun Yak-byeok invoked the name of the Martial Alliance Leader, Sword Saint Namgung Jin.
“I think the Sword Saint would gladly step in if you bowed your head to him once, Saber Immortal. Am I wrong?”
“Hmm…”
“It’s absurd to be burning with righteous indignation while refusing to bow your head to a worthy rival.”
“Heh-heh-heh. Then tell me.”
Peng Woo-deok leaned forward, looked at Eun Yak-byeok, and smiled fiercely.
“You seem to think I’m speaking idly. If so, what exactly would I want with Dokgo Jin’s daughter? Why would I bring up war?”
“The Shura Rakshasa Saber Art seems the most likely reason.”
“Wrong. It may be the dream martial art of every saber artist, but the Hebei Peng Clan’s Five Tigers Sever the Gate Saber Art is just as good.”
“…Then it seems you have some other hidden motive.”
“No, damn it! They’re saying they’ll crush the Tang Clan! Cut the crap and—Ugh!”
When Dokgo Ryeong flew into a rage, Eun Yak-byeok covered her mouth.
“…Young Master Wi, I’m sorry, but please chat with the two of them for a moment.”
“Hmm? Are you planning to leave?”
“Of course not. How could I leave Young Master Wi alone when I’m worried about him? It’s just…”
Eun Yak-byeok raised her inner energy and formed a soundproof barrier as she spoke.
“We women have something private to discuss.”
“I truly dislike that. The way you announce to everyone that you’re going to whisper to each other.”
“Oh my, that’s hardly something the Peng Clan Patriarch, who came here hiding his true intentions, should say. Hehe…”
When Eun Yak-byeok finished forming the transparent barrier of inner energy, the sounds around them were cut off.
Then she looked at Dokgo Ryeong and said,
“Guest, calm down for now.”
“How can I calm down?! The Tang Clan’s making gu poison…!”
“Guest. Do you really believe what they said?”
“…What?”
“Anyone who knows you is aware that you fly into a rage whenever the Tang Clan comes up. And now those two clans are saying they’ll wipe out the Murong Clan and the Tang Clan for you.”
The Hao Sect Leader clicked her tongue.
“Isn’t that just a little too convenient?”
“…”
“If you were still strong, perhaps. But in your current state, you’re as fragile as can be. Please don’t do something foolish when the trap is staring you in the face.”
“Damn it…”
“If I were the Peng Clan Patriarch, I’d use the gu poison as an excuse to make Miss Dokgo my daughter-in-law and hold her hostage, then send Great Hero Dokgo Jin wherever I wanted and profit from it. Doesn’t that sound more plausible?”
“…”
Eun Yak-byeok’s words made sense.
When Dokgo Ryeong silently nodded, Eun Yak-byeok smiled.
“Hehe… Good. I’m glad you’re listening. We still don’t know why those two came or what they’re after. At times like this, it’s best to watch and wait rather than blindly believe them, don’t you think?”
“You want me to sit quietly?”
“You understand perfectly. Would you like me to pat you on the head?”
“D-don’t! Who do you think I am, some little kid…?”
“Hehe. So please do stay quiet. This is my specialty, after all.”
“…Damn it.”
Eun Yak-byeok looked beyond the soundproof barrier.
Thankfully, Wi Ilcheong was chatting cheerfully with Huangbo Gi and Peng Woo-deok.
“Young Master Wi is doing a good job keeping them occupied.”
“But it’s fucking annoying how that Peng bastard keeps staring at me.”
“Don’t worry. They can’t eavesdrop through the barrier.”
Dokgo Ryeong glared at Peng Woo-deok for a moment, then looked back at Eun Yak-byeok.
“…So I just have to sit quietly?”
“Of course not. You’re at the center of this matter, after all. I want to find out their intentions just as much as you do, so please hold back until we uncover what they’re really after.”
“…Fine.”
“They’re probably lying about going to war with the Tang Clan and the Murong Clan, too. So don’t worry about it.”
“Huh? Can they do that?”
Seeing Dokgo Ryeong’s expression, Eun Yak-byeok scoffed.
“Why not? There’s no one else here to hear us, is there?”
“No, damn it. You looked surprised, so I thought you were serious.”
“Honestly, Guest… Don’t you know what a feint is?”
“Damn it, just…”
“If they really wanted to start a war, they’d have done it already. Besides, how much would one more person change the course of a war between clans?”
Eun Yak-byeok was right.
No matter how strong Dokgo Jin was, he was only one person.
Even Poison Immortal alone would be hard for Dokgo Jin to handle; there were plenty of situations where things could get troublesome if the Tang Clan’s elites ganged up on him.
‘So those fucking bastards were just playing me, huh?’
The more she heard, the angrier she got.
She hated how they’d rattled her with grand talk of war and gu poison while hiding their true intentions.
“I need to get my strength back soon.”
Dokgo Ryeong looked at her frail hand and clenched it into a fist.
Seeing her, Eun Yak-byeok smiled.
“Hehe, there’s a way to get stronger right beside you.”
“Huh?”
“This is an important moment, so let’s save the jokes for later. I’ll take down the barrier.”
“…Fine.”
“Please stay calm, Guest. In political maneuvering like this, the emotional one loses.”
“I said I got it.”
“Then…”
When the Hao Sect Leader lowered the barrier, the sounds outside returned.
The first voice she heard was Wi Ilcheong’s.
“So, no matter how I look at it, I’m afraid Miss Dokgo won’t do, Saber Immortal.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. After talking with Miss Dokgo, I’m certain.”
Wi Ilcheong declared,
“I love Miss Dokgo Ryeong.”
“Y-you crazy bastard!!”