Chapter 214

Carts piled high with every kind of treasure lined the wall one after another.

Each cart bore the unmistakable emblem of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild.

What has Jang Miryeo gotten up to this time?

As I stared around in bewilderment at the seemingly endless stream of carts, Tang Juyeop happened to pass by. He whistled and called out to me.

“I heard the Poison Butterfly’s fame had soared to the heavens, and I suppose it really has. You only just returned, Sister, and already someone’s come running to forge a connection with you.”

“Brother. Please keep walking.”

“...Yes.”

One sentence was enough to make Tang Juyeop flinch. Looking thoroughly cowed, he gave me a wide berth and hurried away.

Why are you scared now when you were the one who started sniping at me?

As I watched him go with a sour look, one of the men nearby cautiously approached and gave me a clasped-hands salute.

“The Guild Head sent us.”

Then he held out a letter.

I sincerely hope I understood you correctly. Please accept these as a token of our friendship.

What was that supposed to mean?

My head tilted at the baffling message, but this hardly seemed like something I should ask the messenger.

“Please give her my thanks. No, I’ll send the Guild Head a letter myself.”

I answered loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear, pretending nothing was amiss, then tucked the letter into my sleeve.

Jang Miryeo was not the sort to create a spectacle for no reason. There had to be a purpose behind this performance.

And as long as she still had something to squeeze out of me, she was hardly going to do anything that would hurt me.

So it should be fine.

The man, who had been anxiously studying my reaction, finally broke into a bright smile and began reciting the inventory of everything Jang Miryeo had sent.

Most of it was the sort of treasure only the fabulously wealthy would ever bother with—so rare that I would have trouble finding buyers for it on my own.

...Is she telling me to sell all this back through her later?

More importantly, how had she even found out I was back at the Tang Clan?

You had to give her credit for how fast news traveled to her.

At the same time, I realized Jang Miryeo had never once asked why I had vanished from the merchant guild without a word, and a twinge of guilt pricked at me.

I could hardly explain everything that had happened, but I should at least send her a letter letting her know I was safe.

After giving the goods a cursory inspection, I turned to the man.

“Could you set the tea leaves aside for me?”

“Yes, of course. Ah, shall I separate the porcelain as well? This tea set was made by the finest craftsman in Jingdezhen...”

“That sounds good. Put that aside too, please.”

I’ll take it to Grandfather.

I watched the man pull out the box containing the tea utensils, then suddenly realized something was strange.

“Wait. How did you get into the inner compound?”

“The Seventh Elder guided us in.”

Uncle Geunmyeong? Why?

My eyes narrowed.

Apparently, Jang Miryeo had not devised this little performance by herself.

Whatever the reason, though, there was no denying the show had opened successfully.

More than a few members of the household were watching from a distance and whispering among themselves.

“Even the Third Young Master has never received gifts that valuable...”

“They said she’d made quite a name for herself. I suppose it wasn’t an empty name after all.”

The hushed voices around me were all busy speculating about what I had been doing during my time away from the Tang Clan.

Pretending not to hear them, I had Jang Miryeo’s gifts carried into my detached residence.

By then, Tang Seho had changed his clothes and come running over.

He asked excitedly,

“Hey, do you know Commander Paeng from the Dragon and Phoenix Corps?”

“Sister Jiyun? Yeah. Why?”

“You got a letter from her!”

His eyes practically sparkled as he thrust the letter at me.

Still confused, I opened it. The bold handwriting almost made me hear Paeng Jiyun’s hearty laughter in my ears.

She apologized that her schedule would not allow her to come all the way to Sichuan and said she had sent a modest gift in her stead.

I don’t remember inviting Paeng Jiyun.

When I frowned, Tang Seho, who had been circling me impatiently, urged me to hurry up and tell him.

“What does it say? Why’d she write to you? Is Commander Paeng coming to Sichuan?”

“No. She says she’s too busy.”

“She can’t come? Damn. I thought I’d finally get to see her this time. She didn’t come to the last gathering either.”

“She must be busy with Martial Alliance work. But why do you care so much whether Sister Jiyun comes?”

“She’s incredible.”

So you like older women. That’s your type, huh.

“Open this too. Hurry.”

The instant I set Paeng Jiyun’s letter down, Tang Seho pushed a small wooden box into my hands.

Inside was a short note and an ice crystal of exceptionally high purity.

Give my regards to the Poison King. See you again.

“What? Is that an ice crystal? Commander Paeng sent you an ice crystal? You’re really close to her? Introduce me too!”

Tang Seho’s fussing drew everyone’s attention.

I stared quietly at the brief note written in Paeng Jiyun’s bold, sweeping hand.

At last, I thought I understood.

This is Grandfather’s doing.

He asked her.

There was no other reason Paeng Jiyun would go so far as to send me a precious ice crystal simply to advertise our acquaintance.

She was not the sort of person who enjoyed this kind of thing in the first place.

Realizing Grandfather had drawn outsiders into this for the sake of strengthening my position left a bitter taste in my mouth.

I had made him bend even his own rule of never interfering unless the Tang Clan’s safety was at stake.

...This time, I have to secure a real place for myself in the Tang Clan.

As I rolled the ice crystal between my fingers, Tang Seho leaned close and whispered,

“Hey. Can I touch the ice crystal just once?”

“Sure. No.”

I struggled to keep my face straight as I tucked the wooden box into my robe.

******

Walking through the streets of Chengdu for the first time in years felt as awkward as visiting a completely unfamiliar city.

Then again, even before I left, I could barely remember ever going outside the Tang estate.

Noticing how unfamiliar everything seemed to me, Tang Seho looked puzzled.

“Hey. Are you feeling sick? If you’re not well, should we go home?”

“No. I was just thinking about something. Where did you say the restaurant was?”

“We’re almost there. You’ll be shocked once you try it.”

Tang Seho lifted his chin smugly and chattered away about the food as if he owned the restaurant himself.

I chuckled and humored him.

“Well? Good, right?”

“Yeah. It’s good.”

“See? Told you. Hey, you don’t have anything to do after training tomorrow, right? Tomorrow you should come with me and—”

I chewed my twice-cooked pork while letting about half of Tang Seho’s words go in one ear and out the other.

He was a little loud, but spending time with him was not entirely unpleasant.

The food was clean and well prepared, befitting a restaurant that had won over such a picky young master, and listening to his pointless nonsense emptied my head enough to keep unwanted thoughts away.

At least until I spotted the Moon Fragrance Pavilion towering in the distance.

The moment I remembered Hwahong, my heart began pounding.

The Hao Sect might know where Yeon Ryang was.

I forcibly suppressed the urge to leap up and run there immediately, taking slow breaths to steady myself.

Not now. Too many people are watching.

But controlling myself was easier said than done.

The chopsticks in my hand snapped cleanly in two.

Tang Seho’s eyes widened, and he whispered,

“Hey. Your hand’s bleeding.”

“I’m fine. Keep eating.”

“You’re not fine at all. What part of this looks fine to you?”

His expression hardened.

Tang Seho pulled my sleeve down to hide my bloodstained hand, placed some silver on the table, and rose naturally to his feet.

“Come on.”

I followed him without arguing.

Every step away from the Moon Fragrance Pavilion felt reluctant, but I could hardly let people see me suddenly walking straight into the place.

After returning to the Tang estate, I waited restlessly until late into the night.

“My lady, aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I am. Songji, you should get to bed too. Deokju, you can go for the night.”

“Yes, my lady. I’ll take my leave.”

The brief time it took to send Deokju away and wait for Songji to fall asleep felt like an eternity.

At last, silence settled over everything.

My heart was beating so hard it felt ready to leap from my chest.

I changed clothes, pulled a bamboo hat low over my face, then silently vaulted over the wall.

The Moon Fragrance Pavilion blazed with light in the darkness, filled with music and the mingled laughter of its guests.

I had come here on impulse, but now that I had arrived, I could not think of any way to meet Hwahong discreetly.

I was wondering whether I should make contact first and return another day when I sensed someone approaching.

“Welcome, miss. The proprietor asked me to escort you in.”

It was Jagyeon.

Recognizing his face, I gave him a small nod and followed.

The moment I entered a small private room, Hwahong rose from his chair and greeted me with a formal salute.

“Have you been well? Please forgive my discourtesy in coming unannounced—”

“Discourtesy? Hardly. You are welcome here at any time. Please, sit.”

He waved away my apology with a smile and offered me a seat.

I nodded and sat across from him.

Blinking his characteristically long eyelashes, Hwahong spoke in his soft, measured voice.

“I heard that you had returned. But I worried that if a mere courtesan presumed to acknowledge you, it might cause trouble for you, so I kept my distance. You cannot imagine how pleased I am that you came to see me yourself.”

“I’m grateful you feel that way.”

“I also heard something of the hardships you suffered. I wanted to help you, but by the time word reached me, you had already disappeared, and there was nothing I could do.”

“Yes.”

“My. I seem to have gotten carried away because I was so happy to see you. What is it you need from me?”

Hwahong’s voice was gentle, inviting me to speak freely.

But the words would not come easily.

“You said... you said I should come to you if I ever needed help.”

The moment I stumbled over the words, Hwahong swiftly raised an energy barrier and gave me a bright smile.

“Yes. Tell me.”

“I want to find my brother.”

“Your brother...?”

“You must know whom I mean. My maternal half-brother. I want to know what he has been doing recently.”

In that instant, a crack appeared in Hwahong’s smile.

His voice trembled.

“Wol... that child is alive?”