“Hye-ryeong, Mok-kyeong. We have a place to go.”
“Huh?”
“To where… sir?”
“That’s right.”
At my words, the two of them tilted their heads simultaneously in confusion. It seemed my statement had come out of the blue.
This was something I couldn’t help with, as much of this had been handled on my own. It was understandable they wouldn’t know. So, I kindly informed them of our destination.
“Hebei Pang family.”
“Hebei Pang Family…?”
“Is it the Hebei Pang family?”
“We’ll run there to practice our lightness skills on the way.”
If we push ourselves, we should be able to make a round trip within half a month. I intended to return as quickly as possible. According to the original story, persuasion wouldn’t be too difficult.
After all, the Hebei Pang family is the house of muscle-brains.
“Aren’t you really going, Mister?”
“If there’s something you must do, you don’t need to come.”
There’s no need to drag them along. It’s not a pleasure trip, after all.
“I’ll follow wherever you go!”
“I will accompany you, Eun-gong.”
“In that case…”
I already expected the two of them wouldn’t leave my side. As I prepared to leave, I gathered the items I had bought earlier into a bag and said,
“Prepare by tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Understood.”
They’d already gone on trips before, so they would get themselves ready properly. I lit the room’s lantern as the light dimmed, lay on the bed, and closed my eyes.
——————–
“It seems your lightness skill has made this trip incredibly fast, Mister!”
“That’s a good thing.”
“You’ve only been training for a while, and already you’ve reached this level of skill. It’s incredible.”
Mok-kyeong looked at me with admiration.
…Even with her high regard, my lightness skill is only mid to upper-tier. I still can’t do advanced moves like Snow Steps Without Traces or Soaring Flight.
Snow Steps Without Traces is simply a dream for me.
Lightness techniques are martial arts that make your body lighter for easier and faster long-distance travel. As one progresses, they can perform such advanced techniques, but I don’t really care much about lightness.
If ordinary lightness skills are like the galloping of a horse, then mine resembles a raging bull charging forward.
It lacks flexibility and finesse compared to others. But my breakthrough power is unmatched.
Even if I miscalculate and collide with rocks or trees, I can smash through them.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Mister?”
“It’s just colliding with a house-sized rock.”
“Eun-gong, most martial artists die if they hit a rock while using lightness skills.”
“Is that so?”
Isn’t it odd that martial artists who break rocks with a single punch or slash a sword through them are so fragile? I thought while smashing through an unnamed tree and moving forward.
In any case, the journey is progressing smoothly.
We’re heading directly toward the Hebei Pang family without deviation.
We normally stay in inns, eat, and resolve any incidents as they arise, keeping problems to a minimum. It’s quite a peaceful trip.
It would be nice if it continued like this every day.
“Eun-gong, it seems we’re approaching Beijing.”
“Beijing…?”
Was this the Chinese capital during this era?
I wasn’t knowledgeable about Chinese history, so I wasn’t sure.
Mok-kyeong smiled faintly at my words and added,
“It’s the largest city in the Central Plains. It’s historically significant since many kingdoms that rose and fell in the Central Plains used Beijing as their capital.”
“Is that so.”
“I’ve never been to Beijing!”
Hye-ryeong waved her arms excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
She resembles a country bumpkin visiting the big city for the first time, and it’s only natural for her to be excited.
Having often seen splendid cities in modern times, I gazed at Beijing with relative calmness.
It’s large and magnificent.
Comparable even to today’s cities.
“Eun-gong, you don’t seem at all surprised by Beijing.”
“I’m sufficiently surprised.”
I responded appropriately while glancing at Hye-ryeong, who was making a commotion on the side.
She waved her arms even more exaggeratedly than when using lightness techniques. She smiled sheepishly after catching my eye.
Why does she wave her arms even when using lightness techniques? Isn’t that not how it’s supposed to be done? Mok-kyeong moves like a ninja.
I alternated my gaze between the two of them, unsure which one serves as the proper example.
At any rate, Hye-ryeong, but Mok-kyeong stood still like a nail as she began to speak softly.
“I once came here as a child with my parents.”
At the mention of the past, I looked at Mok-kyeong, who was gazing at Beijing with a nostalgic expression.
Her childhood memories…
Could it be reviving unpleasant memories? I placed my hand on her shoulder out of slight concern.
Her face seemed oddly flushed. Was that an illusion?
“Uh, Eun-gong, I’m fine.”
“We’re here too.”
“Y-yes, y-yes…”
Why is she like this?
I could only tilt my head in confusion at her disarray, which was nowhere near her usual composed self.
Why is she behaving this way?
Maybe she’s just unsettled?
Maybe she’s uncomfortable receiving sympathy in this male-dominated world…
Recalling the typical macho behavior from the original story made me understand to some degree. I removed my hand from her shoulder and looked at Hye-ryeong, or rather, Hye-ryeong who was clinging to my arm.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mister, I’m tired.”
“You don’t look tired at all.”
“That’s when you’re supposed to humor me!”
How candid of her to say something like that herself. I chuckled as I watched her puff up her cheeks like a bold penguin.
She’s really quite adorable.
“Alright, let’s move again. I don’t want to spend the night in the mountains.”
“I’m fine with roughing it as long as I’m with Mister.”
“I don’t want to do that, though. Let’s go, Mok-kyeong.”
“Y-yes… yes…”
I left with Mok-kyeong, who hadn’t yet recovered her composure, heading towards Beijing.
———————–
The Hebei Pang family.
Recognized even in Beijing as a prestigious family, I heard that some members are civil servants and receive various benefits.
And… it’s a house of muscle-brains.
Let me reiterate.
“…I don’t really want to go in.”
Even from the guards alone, you can smell the sweat.
I sighed while looking at the massive muscular figures that seemed ready to rip their clothes.
“Wow…Mister, they’re even smaller than you!”
“They feel as big as bears.”
Brushing off the two’s comments, I walked boldly toward the main gate of the Hebei Pang family.
The Hebei Pang family only acknowledges those who walk confidently wherever they go. If you’re intimidated by their aura, you might be turned away at their gates.
“Who are you?”
“My name is William. I’ve come here with matters concerning the Hebei Pang family.”
I tipped back my wide-brimmed hat. The guards, upon seeing my face, stared in surprise.
A familiar sequence.
“A Colored-Eyed Person?”
“Could it be…the Lion Sword Hero?”
“Thank you for recognizing me. Is the head of the household currently in residence?”
“Yes, he’s likely practicing at this moment.”
I took out the letter written by Zhuge Hyeon-sang from my sleeve and handed it to the guard.
“I have come from the Martial Alliance to meet Elder Billek Dodezi. Would it be possible to request an audience?”
“Yes, please wait a moment.”
The guard swiftly entered after opening the gate. The remaining guard cleared his throat and alternated glances between me and the two women beside me, Hye-ryeong and Mok-kyeong.
You’re male too, huh.
Though noticing his gaze linger on Hye-ryeong’s chest, I didn’t say anything.
Even Buddha would look if someone walked around with two watermelons on their chest. That’s just an irresistible force.
Something akin to a natural disaster level.
As we awkwardly passed the time, the guard finally broke the silence by poking his head through the door and saying, “You’re allowed to enter.”
Finally, the Hebei Pang family.
We entered through the opened gate into the compound of the Hebei Pang family.
“When will we meet with the head of the house?”
“You can go directly to the head’s quarters. He happens to be free at the moment…”
That’s fortunate.
It’s easier to pull out an iron spike while it’s hot. If I can quickly resolve my business, it will be a good thing for me.
“You two stay in the guest room. I’ll handle this quickly.”
“Safe travels!”
“May you succeed in your mission…”
I immediately headed toward the main hall where the head resided.
“Head of the house! The Lion Sword Hero, Young Xiao, has arrived.”
“Bring him in!”
A voice like a roaring tiger slammed against my eardrums as it broke through the door.
Certainly a hearty tone.
I took off my shoes and entered the room.
And my eyes met with the head of the Hebei Pang family…
“Are you, by chance, unmarried?”
What?
I froze at the unexpected question, scanning my body.
Why ask such a random question?
