Chapter 51: Lovers
‘How can he be so consistent?’
Ding-a-ling…… Ding!
As the sound of a geomungo echoed through the room, the drunken Yeon Ja-ryong and Jang Ryong were dancing merrily.
“This is great, great.”
“As expected, alcohol should be d*unk at a courtesan house.”
I also joined them in dancing.
Jang Ryong was shaking his short and stout body as he danced, and the courtesans burst into laughter at the comical sight.
Ha ha ha……! He he he……!
After dancing and shaking our bodies in a funny way, the two of them and I sat down almost simultaneously and drank alcohol.
But Seolmae sat next to me, filled my glass with alcohol, and said something strange.
“I heard you faced a hundred bandits alone in Henan?”
I couldn’t help but be surprised.
No matter how quickly rumors spread in courtesan houses, this was too fast.
“Where did you hear that rumor?”
“Azure Dragon Unit members have been drinking in this courtesan house since early evening. They’re probably still drinking now.”
At her answer, Yeon Ja-ryong emptied his glass and grumbled.
“Those loose-lipped b*stards. As soon as they get some silver, they come here to drink.”
Ihwa pointed her finger and laughed beside him.
H* h*……
“That’s how courtesans like us make a living.”
Jang Ryong also chimed in as he drank.
“That’s right. Make those b*stards lose everything.”
H* h* h*……!
The courtesans burst into laughter, finding his words amusing.
Seolmae continued in a suggestive voice.
“The unit members were saying that from now on, we should call Hero Kang a black swan instead of a crow.”
Ha ha ha……
“D*ng-jae was never a crow, he was a black swan from the beginning. Now those guys finally recognize his true worth.”
Yeon Ja-ryong laughed heartily and emptied his glass in quick succession.
‘Black swan…… That’s much better than a crow.’
I also emptied my glass, feeling good.
Jang Ryong also laughed and added to Yeon Ja-ryong’s words.
“Now that the courtesans will spread the rumor, you’ll be called a black swan instead of a crow, D*ng-jae. Of course, there will still be those who call you a crow, but don’t mind them.”
Yeon Ja-ryong filled his glass with alcohol and stood up.
“Now, let’s have a drink for Hero Black Swan.”
The courtesans laughed and filled Jang Ryong’s and my glasses with alcohol.
Jang Ryong stood up, and I had no choice but to rise as well.
“To Hero Kang D*ng-jae, the Black Swan……!”
Jang Ryong raised his voice, and Yeon Ja-ryong emptied his glass at once.
I followed them and drank.
Then Yeon Ja-ryong grabbed the bottle and filled the empty glasses.
“One more drink, Hero Kang D*ng-jae, the Black Swan.”
I shouted at the two of them.
“Stop teasing me!”
Ha ha ha ha……! He he he……!
The courtesans burst into laughter again.
‘Poor guy.’
Yeon Ja-ryong had realized at first glance that Kang D*ng-jae was different from other talented individuals.
No, strictly speaking, it was at their second meeting.
The first time, they were in a cart, so they couldn’t even have a proper conversation.
But the second meeting was so intense that it was still vividly etched in his mind.
Among all the talented individuals he had met and parted ways with, none had given him such a strong impact.
Even Ak Mun-yeong, the Unit Leader of the Vermilion Bird Unit, wasn’t as intense as Kang D*ng-jae.
‘He would be perfect as a Vice Unit Leader or a Unit Leader right now……’
But Chief Administrator Zhuge would never promote Kang D*ng-jae to the position of Vice Unit Leader or Unit Leader.
It wasn’t because he lacked ability or martial arts skills.
It was because there would be many unit members who wouldn’t acknowledge him as a Vice Unit Leader or Unit Leader.
Yeon Ja-ryong pretended to be d*unk, staggered, and put his arm around Kang D*ng-jae’s shoulder.
“Even if there are those who aren’t human, you should overlook them at least once.”
Ha ha ha……
D*ng-jae just laughed without answering.
Yeon Ja-ryong, Jang Ryong, and Kang D*ng-jae hummed and walked into the Martial Alliance.
But as they were about to enter the Martial Alliance, Yeon Ja-ryong stopped humming and stopped walking.
“Brother Yeon.”
A clear voice like jade beads rolling came from the darkness.
D*ng-jae turned his head towards the direction of the voice.
A young woman was walking out of the darkness, and perhaps because of the moonlight, she looked like a celestial fairy.
Ha ha……
“Lady Hye. When did you return from your family?”
Yeon Ja-ryong greeted the beautiful woman, who looked like a fairy, with an awkward smile.
“It’s been a while, Lady Zhuge.”
It seemed Jang Ryong knew her as well.
“It’s been a while, Vice Unit Leader.”
The woman greeted Jang Ryong and then stared at Yeon Ja-ryong with a cold smile.
“But where are you coming from so late at night, Brother?”
“I’m on my way back from having a drink with my friends.”
Yeon Ja-ryong answered in a soft voice, even smiling as if he had never been d*unk.
Then the woman’s cold smile deepened.
“Don’t lie, Brother. You were drinking with the courtesans, weren’t you?”
Ha ha ha……!
Yeon Ja-ryong’s laughter was louder and clearer than usual.
‘She’s an incredibly beautiful woman.’
She was so beautiful that my eyes were dazzled.
Although I haven’t lived for many years, this was the first time I had seen such a beautiful woman.
“How could I possibly drink with courtesans? I’m not a scoundrel.”
I was dumbfounded by Yeon Ja-ryong’s answer, but I stood still, afraid that I would get into trouble if I intervened carelessly.
The woman turned her gaze to Jang Ryong, who was standing with me.
Then Jang Ryong smiled and spoke.
“We were drinking at an inn and are on our way back, Lady Zhuge.”
The woman didn’t seem to believe him either.
“Is that so? You’re saying that’s true?”
The woman’s gaze turned to me, who was standing still.
“I’m Zhuge Hye of the Zhuge Family. What is your name?”
I was slightly flustered by her greeting.
“Ah…… My name is Kang D*ng-jae.”
When I revealed my name, a flash of light flickered in the woman’s deep eyes and then disappeared.
“You’re the most famous person in the Martial Alliance these days. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Ah…… Yes.”
I was even more flustered by her words that I was famous in the Martial Alliance.
It was because I hadn’t really felt that famous.
“If it’s Hero Kang, I think you’ll answer honestly…… Where have you been drinking until now?”
As soon as her question fell, a chilling feeling spread through my body.
‘If I give the wrong answer here, I think I’ll be in big trouble.’
I quickly composed my expression and voice.
“I was drinking at the inn with the sword stuck in the stone wall and am on my way back.”
“Is that so?”
Even with my answer, the woman didn’t seem to have completely erased her suspicion.
But her expression softened a bit compared to before.
Yeon Ja-ryong didn’t miss that opportunity.
“Lady Hye. It’s late, but let’s take a walk and talk alone.”
The woman’s expression softened even more, as if she didn’t dislike the suggestion.
“If Brother wishes, let’s do that.”
Yeon Ja-ryong disappeared into the darkness with the woman, side by side.
Jang Ryong, who was watching them from behind, opened his mouth.
“Lady Zhuge Hye is a blood relative of the Zhuge Family and the daughter of Chief Administrator Zhuge Don. She is not only known as the most beautiful woman in the martial world but is also intelligent and skilled in martial arts. Originally, she should have received the Hundred Martial Arts Plaque, but Chief Administrator Zhuge brought her into the Martial Alliance first. The work of the Chief Administrator’s Office is quite demanding and busy, you see. They have to take care of everything in the Martial Alliance.”
I didn’t hear anything else he said.
What stuck in my ears was that Zhuge Hye was the daughter of Chief Administrator Zhuge Don.
‘Oh my god…… How can such a beautiful child be born to a boar-like Chief Administrator……’
I was so shocked that my true feelings slipped out.
“Is it true that Lady Zhuge is…… the Chief Administrator’s daughter?”
Ha ha ha……!
Jang Ryong burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.
“Don’t ever say that in front of the Chief Administrator. Your head might roll right there. Lady Zhuge resembles her mother more than her father. And even though Chief Administrator Zhuge Don looks like that on the outside, I hear he was quite handsome when he was young.”
“But the two of them seem very close.”
“They can’t help but be close since they like each other. The Chief Administrator has already acknowledged Unit Leader Yeon as a potential son-in-law for a long time. Well, there’s no better son-in-law in the martial world than him.”
I nodded and started walking.
“But what kind of woman does the Vice Unit Leader like?”
Jang Ryong fell into deep thought as he walked.
Hmm……
“First of all, I’d like her to be shorter than me. I don’t like looking up. And a woman with a cute face who’s not s*upid would be the best.”
I tried to recall the women among the unit members who fit Jang Ryong’s ideal type.
‘There are a few, but since he hasn’t shown any interest so far, I guess there aren’t any in the Four Divine Units.’
“Alright, it’s time to depart. Come out!”
At Yeon Ja-ryong’s urging, I shouldered my packed luggage and left the lodging.
“Why do I have to get involved when the Azure Dragon Unit and the Vermilion Bird Unit are departing?”
Ever since I joined the Four Divine Units, I’ve been dispatched with the Azure Dragon Unit or the Vermilion Bird Unit far more often than with my main unit, the Black Tortoise Unit.
The situation was such that I was confused whether I belonged to the Black Tortoise Unit, the Azure Dragon Unit, or the Vermilion Bird Unit.
But I didn’t have any major complaints because I felt more comfortable than when I was dispatched with the Black Tortoise Unit.
“It’s because you’re good.”
Yeon Ja-ryong patted my shoulder and walked ahead.
“Please let me achieve a great feat this time.”
“Please let me return safely this time.”
The unit members lit incense in front of the statue of a deity.
I also waited my turn and stood in front of Uncle.
“It seems like it’ll take a while this time. I’ll be back.”
Uncle, who was standing next to the statue of a deity, followed me.
“I’ll go with you since it’ll be boring to be left alone.”
I had already guessed that Uncle would follow me.
Since the Azure Dragon Unit, the Vermilion Bird Unit, the White Tiger Unit, and even the Black Tortoise Unit were all away, he wouldn’t want to be left alone.
I walked alone at the back of the unit members.
“I’ve been hearing your name mentioned frequently within the Martial Alliance these days.”
Uncle seemed very pleased that I had made a name for myself.
“That also means the number of people who dislike me has increased.”
“Just pretend you don’t hear those things. They’ll disappear once you become a hero. When you become a hero, those who badmouth you will be the first to bow their heads.”
“It seems like Uncle has experience with that too?”
Ha ha……!
“Of course. Did you think we were called the Four Martial Heavenly Kings from the beginning? We became known as the Four Martial Heavenly Kings after overcoming envy and jealousy with dignity. Some were even blinded by jealousy and tried to k*ll us brothers.”
“What did you do to them?”
I was quite surprised to hear that there were even those who tried to k*ll the Four Martial Heavenly Kings.
“My youngest brother and I tried to forgive them. But the second and third brothers have a bit of a harsh temperament. But they have a lot of affection.”
In the end, it meant that the Western Heavenly Spear Master and the Southern Heavenly Blade Emperor had killed them all.
As I was walking and listening to Uncle’s story, Yeon Ja-ryong approached from behind.
“I have a difficult request, will you listen?”
I postponed my answer and stared at his face.
What kind of speech pattern is this again?
“Uh…… What exactly is this difficult request?”
Yeon Ja-ryong smiled brightly.
“It’s nothing much, but when we arrive in Shanxi, I want you to move alone and shake things up. The White Tiger Unit and the Black Tortoise Unit are working on that, but it’s difficult for them to move stealthily because there are many unit members. Besides, there aren’t many unit members who are bold enough to freely enter and exit a tiger’s den.”
