WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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Chapter 98: When Young, I Knew Not Sorrow's Taste (3)

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Namgung Ujin, the fourth young master of the Namgung Family, flushed red.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

Bang!

He slammed a hand on the table and glared at Yeon Sowol.

He was six and a half cheok tall.

By twenty-first-century standards, he stood over 195 centimeters, even taller than Yeon Sowol. By this world's standards, he was practically a giant.

He was not especially huge or burly, but he was solidly built.

His eyes were sharp.

Without blinking once, he fixed Yeon Sowol with wide, glaring eyes.

"Wasn't that a line from Xin Qiji's poem? Are you insulting me by saying I know nothing of sorrow? Calling me a brat who climbs a lofty tower and forces himself to write sorrowful verses. Isn't that it? Well?"

He had said he was studying for the civil service examination. Apparently, he had not been slacking off.

Yeon Sowol clicked his tongue inwardly.

'Even so, he took it as nothing but an insult aimed at him.'

It was true that Yeon Sowol had found Namgung Ujin a little pathetic at first.

Coming to a place like this for fun, then putting on airs about how hard studying was... It rubbed him the wrong way.

Even while preparing for the college entrance exam, Yeon Sowol had never gone to karaoke once. Let alone while preparing for the civil service examination.

Still, what he had said was not aimed at Namgung Ujin.

He had not even had time to think about something like that.

He had only been thinking of Eun-yeong.

Yeon Sowol decided not to argue any further.

He cupped his fists.

"That isn't it. I only said it because someone I miss came to mind. If I made you misunderstand, I apologize."

A small commotion rose around them.

The reactions were split down the middle.

"Oh? Is the Featherless Arrow backing down?"

"As expected of Young Master Namgung! Yuezhou's foremost rising young talent! Yeon Sowol knows Young Master Namgung's reputation, that's all."

"......Young Master Namgung was being a little sensitive. I didn't think Young Hero Yeon meant anything like that at all. Yet he still stepped back so readily. He knows proper etiquette. I'd heard he had a fierce temper, but those were all baseless rumors."

"......Who are these people saying Young Hero Yeon got scared? Do they have knotholes for eyes?"

On the murmuring top floor of Yueyang Tower, Namgung Ujin finally lost his patience. He slammed the table again and stood.

Bang!

"Hey. Saying you're sorry doesn't make everything..."

"Come now. It didn't sound that way to me either. Please calm yourself, Young Master Namgung."

It was a beautiful voice.

Clear enough to pierce through the noise and reach their ears, yet soft enough to calm an agitated heart.

Yeon Sowol was startled.

The voice itself was one thing, but the direction it came from was another.

'That was a person?'

As Yi Yubaek had once declared, Yeon Sowol's qi sense could be called unmatched under heaven.

He had sensed something landing on the railing some time ago.

The presence had been so faint that he had assumed it was a bird, perhaps a goose or a swan.

Then the bird suddenly spoke like a person. Naturally, he had been startled.

'What kind of Movement Art...'

Yeon Sowol's gaze naturally turned toward her.

Red lips and white teeth.

Clear eyes, their whites and blacks sharply distinct, so that the movement of her pupils was visible.

Cloudlike hair and a face like a flower.

A beauty who seemed painted from a story stepped down from the railing and walked toward them with light, graceful steps.

Even as he watched her, her presence remained faint. It was as if a bird with long wings folded behind its back was walking toward them.

"Lady Moyong...!"

A blush colored the cheeks of Namgung Ujin, who had been pressing Yeon Sowol.

"Oh! When did you return? Come, this way. Please, sit here."

Hwangbo Hwi, the flamboyantly dressed handsome man, welcomed her with delight as well.

"It's good to see you, Young Master Namgung. Young Master Hwangbo."

Moyong Ha smiled warmly and sat beside them.

Then So Hye sent Yeon Sowol a voice transmission.

「Uh. Ah. Ugh. Ah. Ah. What do I do?」

When Yeon Sowol looked back, So Hye had lowered her head, fidgeting anxiously.

'What's wrong with her?'

Not knowing voice transmission was inconvenient at times like this.

'I need to learn it soon. I should be able to learn it at Wudang.'

So Hye's voice transmission came again.

「Th-that woman is a natural beauty.」

Yeon Sowol felt even more confused. So?

「F-fakes like me can't lift our heads when we meet someone real like that... Wh-what do I do?」

Yeon Sowol blinked. Why was she acting like this?

"Well. Lady So Hye is more than beautiful enough herself."

He spoke quietly enough that only So Hye could hear.

It was not flattery.

Moyong Ha's beauty was extraordinary, but So Hye was not inferior to her. Considering that So Hye was still young, her looks might bloom even more brilliantly by the time she reached Moyong Ha's age.

But So Hye shook her head.

「I know. I'm a crow. I've used every kind of secret alchemical art to adorn myself with pretty things. But Sister Moyong Ha was simply born that way. Not yet... I can't compete with her yet. Not until I cross some realm and become naturally, effortlessly ordinary...」

Ah. I see. That must be it.

Yeon Sowol gave up trying to understand.

Just then, the others invited Yeon Sowol to sit as well. Seated beside So Hye, he naturally shared drinks with the others and built friendly ties.

The atmosphere at the drinking table clearly revolved around Yeon Sowol and Moyong Ha.

"Young Hero Yeon. Those words from earlier carried deep meaning."

"Young Hero Yeon. Meeting you today has made me realize how false the rumors of the Jianghu can be. This Bai has learned a great deal from you today."

Yeon Sowol drew curiosity, competitive spirit, and admiration.

Moyong Ha drew longing, excitement, and affection.

Namgung Ujin tried to pick fights with Yeon Sowol from time to time, but Moyong Ha subtly redirected his attention elsewhere each time.

'She's looking out for me quite a bit.'

They had not exchanged a single word or even a greeting, yet he could clearly feel her consideration.

It was the first time he had received this kind of consideration from a woman, and Yeon Sowol felt oddly moved by it.

He was grateful, too.

As the mood gradually grew warmer and friendlier, Moyong Ha suddenly stood and cupped her fists toward everyone.

"Fellow martial artists of the Jianghu. I, Moyong Ha, have something to tell you all."

She had been laughing brightly, tossing out jokes, and guiding the conversation. Since it was Moyong Ha speaking, everyone's attention naturally turned to her, and the noisy voices fell quiet.

"The truth is, I saw something very strange today. I heard groans coming from a cart entering Yuezhou, so I opened it slightly to look inside."

A cart? Groans?

Yeon Sowol's ears perked up.

"Inside, I found no fewer than twenty people with their mouths gagged and their bodies tied up. I caught the people moving the cart, gave them a sound beating, and reported them to the authorities before coming here."

Everyone had already been listening closely to Moyong Ha, but now their attention sharpened further.

"But I found myself wondering. Why would they kidnap as many as twenty people and try to bring them into Yuezhou? And were those people I caught truly all of them? How many people might be getting dragged into this city without anyone knowing?"

A flash of lightning seemed to spark in her clear, shining eyes.

"Could Demonic Path forces be operating in secret here in Yuezhou?"

The moment she finished speaking, murmurs erupted all around them.

"This is no ordinary matter."

"Demonic Path forces... If it's true, then this must be a sore point for Lady Moyong."

"Ah. There was that incident in Liaoning, wasn't there?"

"It was a disaster. A disaster."

Liaoning was where the Moyong Family, Moyong Ha's home clan, was located. It lay on the northeastern frontier of the Central Plains and sometimes received as much contempt from Central Plains people as Guangdong did.

Moyong Ha cupped her fists again and spoke.

"That is why I, Moyong Ha, intend to investigate Yuezhou's wicked elements one by one. I want to find out who dares kidnap innocent people and take them away. If any of you wish to join me, let us uphold the righteous spirit of the Jianghu together."

The moment she finished speaking,

"I'll join you, Lady Moyong!"

Namgung Ujin leaped to his feet and cupped his fists.

"I'll join too!"

"Me as well!"

One after another, everyone rose and cupped their fists.

They all held deep affection for Moyong Ha, and the cause itself was meaningful. It would have been harder to find someone unwilling to step forward.

Yeon Sowol also raised his cupped fists slightly as he thought,

'This is good...'

Kidnappings.

The incident in Hengyang had already been bothering him.

If he could do this with so many people, it would be perfect for building his reputation and making friends. It could only be called an opportunity.

Having finished thinking, Yeon Sowol looked at Moyong Ha.

As she returned the greetings of everyone around her one by one, Moyong Ha's eyes met his.

She smiled.

Her white teeth appeared briefly like a crescent moon, then disappeared.

* * *

The drinking party at Yueyang Tower showed no sign of ending.

Someone left, someone arrived. Then someone else left, and someone else arrived.

Yeon Sowol and So Hye enjoyed themselves for a while, then headed outside.

Jin Geol and Won Huiseung were waiting in front of the tower.

"Hey. Did it go well?"

Yeon Sowol shrugged.

"I don't think I did badly."

"That's what I thought."

Jin Geol grinned and slung an arm around his shoulders.

At that moment, So Hye seemed to have regained her spirits. She practically skipped as she walked.

"Young Hero Jin! Young Hero Won! I met Sister Moyong Ha today, you know? And she's planning a chivalrous venture!"

She went on and on, telling them everything from the kidnapping case to Moyong Ha's plans.

"You two will take part too, right? I think Sister Moyong Ha considers this very important!"

So Hye spoke excitedly, but Jin Geol and Won Huiseung had not actually met Moyong Ha, so they were not particularly stirred by that part.

Still,

"Kidnapping? Just like in Hengyang. Huh. All right. We should do it. It's about saving people."

"Hm. I'll join as well."

They only intended to lend a hand with their blades, as was proper for people who practiced martial arts.

Yeon Sowol found it a little strange to watch.

So Hye had not exchanged a single word with Moyong Ha, yet suddenly treated her with remarkable familiarity.

"Lady So Hye?"

"Yes?"

"Didn't you dislike Lady Moyong?"

"Me?"

"......You couldn't even lift your head earlier."

"Ah. That was only because I felt ashamed of myself. I really respect Sister Moyong Ha! Of course I'm going to help her."

She respected her that much?

Yeon Sowol could not understand this petite beauty's heart at all.

"Is that so?"

"Yes, of course. Beautiful people should be respected. That's the way of the world."

Was that the way of the world?

"That's why I'm good to you too, Young Hero Yeon."

?

This time, Yeon Sowol truly tilted his head.

A memory suddenly came to mind, and he asked,

"Didn't you call me a Guangdong monkey back then..."

"Aah! Ah! Ah!"

So Hye jumped.

Her face turned red in an instant, all the way to her ears.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Aah!"

Covering both ears, she hurriedly ran away.

Yeon Sowol stared blankly at her retreating back while Jin Geol and Won Huiseung snickered.

* * *

After taking rooms at an inn, Yeon Sowol went outside alone.

The sun was slowly setting.

Golden sunset light melted across Dongting Lake's gentle waves.

Yeon Sowol simply walked wherever his feet took him. After walking for quite some time, he came upon a small forest. There were no people nearby, nor any buildings.

Among the trees, he looked out at Dongting Lake as it sank into gold.

He watched.

And watched.

Then suddenly, he sensed a bird landing behind him.

Its presence was faint, unmistakably like a bird's.

Perhaps an egret or a goose.

Unless it was...

Yeon Sowol glanced back and asked,

"Lady Moyong?"

"Oh?"

His eyes met Moyong Ha's.

Yeon Sowol looked around.

There was nobody else.

No houses, either.

"Did you come looking for me?"

"No?"

"......Is that so?"

For someone claiming otherwise, she was awfully suspicious. What were the odds of running into someone he had seen earlier that day in a place like this?

"I really didn't!"

"All right. I understand."

"No, I really didn't. Want me to prove it?"

"That's not necessary. I believe you."

"No..."

Moyong Ha was frustrated by Yeon Sowol's slightly halfhearted answer. Then she sighed and took a step closer.

"Well, since we've met like this, let's exchange the greetings we couldn't earlier. I'm Moyong Ha, daughter of the Moyong Family of Liaoning."

"I'm Yeon Sowol of the Guangdong Martial Alliance. It is an honor to meet the young lady of the renowned Moyong Family."

The Moyong Family.

One of the Five Great Families, famous as one of the martial world's great powers alongside the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.

Moyong Ha smiled softly, then suddenly straightened her clothes.

Though she was a woman, she wore a top and trousers like a proper Jianghu martial artist. She brushed dust from her clothes, smoothed their creases, then straightened her posture as she spoke.

"You said earlier that it was a lovely autumn, didn't you? I couldn't say it then. I wanted to offer comfort to that person, and to you as well."

Yeon Sowol flinched.

Moyong Ha continued.

"I offer my deepest condolences. May they rest in peace."

"......"

She was speaking of Eun-yeong.

Yeon Sowol understood at once. After a long silence, he answered.

"How did you know?"

"It was Xin Qiji's poem. Someone asked what you wished to say to another person, and you spoke of such profound grief... I thought it must be something like that."

"......"

Yeon Sowol looked steadily at Moyong Ha.

Her red lips hid her white teeth.

Her clear eyes, their whites and blacks sharply distinct, were calm.

Her cloudlike hair was bathed in the golden sunset, while her flowerlike face was lowered gently.

"Thank you."

To say those two words, Yeon Sowol had to swallow several times.

Footnotes:

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