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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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At the top of the stairs, a lavish banquet awaited us.
A table laden with delicacies fit for a king, prepared in the short time since our arrival at the Jade Pavilion.
‘This makes the dumplings and noodles I had with Master Myeong-ryong-geom seem paltry…’
I stared at the spread, slightly dumbfounded.
Ha-seol, already seated and holding her chopsticks, spoke,
“Sit down, Oppa.”
“…Alright.”
“The food here is excellent.”
“…”
And so, I found myself enjoying a luxurious banquet at the top of the Jade Pavilion, with the entire building reserved for us.
As I contemplated which dish to try first, Ha-seol, sipping her tea, asked,
“So, what’s this method that requires a trip to Mount Yunhaeng?”
“…What?”
“It’s not a particularly large or impressive mountain. What could possibly be there that can cure Elder Brother’s illness?”
“…”
I couldn’t tell her I’d read about it in a novel.
I considered my response carefully.
“…There’s something called the Red Lotus.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a lotus with medicinal properties, practically a panacea, effective against all sorts of illnesses and ailments.”
“…And it’s on Mount Yunhaeng?”
“Yes. I don’t know the exact location, but I’m sure we can find it once we get there.”
“Hmm…”
She tapped her teacup thoughtfully, with a skeptical look on her face.
I elaborated,
“It’s not the flower itself, but the root. Boil it for a few days and administer it to the patient, and they’ll be cured.”
“…Are you certain?”
“If I’m not, I’ll have no choice but to return to the family and take over the business.”
“That’s true. Knowing Father, if you don’t take over, we’re in trouble.”
“Well, let’s just try it. What’s the worst that can happen? If I’m wrong, I’ll just become the heir.”
“…”
She frowned slightly at my confident words, then sighed.
“…Fine.”
“So, you agree?”
“But… if this Red Lotus isn’t a miracle cure, you’re in big trouble.”
“In that case, I’ll return without complaint.”
She seemed relieved and resumed sipping her tea.
The Red Lotus’s healing properties weren’t revealed until later in the original story.
The protagonist had stumbled upon a thousand-year-old snow ginseng on Mount Yunhaeng, consumed it, and suffered adverse effects.
He then chewed and swallowed the Red Lotus to counteract the ginseng’s effects.
I wasn’t sure if the author had introduced the Red Lotus simply as a plot device to prevent the protagonist from effortlessly consuming the snow ginseng, but in any case, various events transpired afterwards…
‘They used the Red Lotus on a critically injured heroine, thinking it might have healing properties, and she was completely cured the next day.’
Considering the protagonist-centric nature of the original story, it wasn’t surprising.
I thought about that damned Deer Brand smut-fest.
‘The snow ginseng is probably long gone, but the Red Lotus should still be there, in the lake next to where the ginseng was. In the original story, it was practically an unlimited supply of miracle medicine.’
It made sense for me to go to Mount Yunhaeng.
If I wanted to avoid running the trading company, I needed to make my elder brother the heir.
And that aligned with my goal of reaching the pinnacle of martial arts.
‘While I’m there, I should also visit the Valley of No Return.’
I nodded slowly.
The protagonist had probably already claimed the Sword Saint’s martial arts secrets and the Azure Stone Oil from the Valley of No Return, but I still wanted to see the inscriptions left by the Sword Saint on the valley walls.
‘A legendary martial artist, rivaling even the Martial God… the insights he carved into the stone walls must hold some profound meaning.’
I was desperate for any advantage I could get.
Lost in my thoughts, I started eating the food in front of me.
Ha-seol, observing me, asked,
“…You’re eating less than usual.”
“I haven’t had much cooked food lately.”
“Really? That’s unusual.”
“…”
I savored a bite of sweet and sour fish.
“…We don’t get fancy meals like this at the sect. It’s mostly fasting pills and raw food.”
“Well, at least you’re taking your training seriously. That’s something.”
“A lot has happened at the trading company, but I’ve also had my share of experiences.”
“…”
I spoke with a distant look in my eyes.
She picked at her food.
“Did you achieve anything? You’re at Mount Hua, one of the Nine Great Sects. You must have learned some martial arts.”
“…”
Now that her anger had subsided, she was curious about my time at the sect.
She didn’t seem to be inherently short-tempered.
It made sense.
‘If she were truly ill-tempered, she wouldn’t have come all the way to Mount Hua to look for me.’
Despite our short acquaintance, I could tell Ha-seol was a kind and gentle soul.
She would surely grow into a captivating beauty, capable of enchanting any man.
The glances she’d received in the marketplace were a testament to her future beauty.
‘And… well, that’s how she was described in the original story.’
I shuddered slightly, remembering the original novel.
“…I’ve learned enough to defend myself.”
“Hmm, well, at least it wasn’t a complete waste of time.”
“I suppose so.”
I nodded slowly.
As we continued our conversation, I noticed a faint smile gracing her lips.
It was a pure, innocent smile, like that of a celestial maiden.
I asked,
“…Why are you smiling?”
“Oh, it’s just… it’s been a while since we’ve had a meal together like this.”
“Hmm…”
“We used to talk and laugh together all the time when we were younger… but lately, with Father and everything… it’s been difficult.”
“…”
“I think… I’ve been feeling a bit lonely.”
There was a hint of sadness in her voice.
I smiled wryly.
“…You’ve been through a lot.”
“It’s alright. There have been good times too. I’ve made some good friends at the trading company.”
“Really?”
“Yes. And taking on more responsibilities has taught me that the world isn’t as simple as I thought.”
She continued talking about her work at the trading company, the tasks she’d undertaken, and how she’d handled them.
Her smile never faltered, a clear indication of how much she enjoyed talking to me.
I felt a pang of regret.
‘…I should have sent messages to the family more often.’
I’d been too focused on my training.
Judging by her initial anger when she’d arrived at Mount Hua, it seemed neither the family nor Ha-seol was aware of what I’d been through at the sect.
As I listened to her, I suddenly sensed someone approaching the door.
I spoke to Ha-seol, who was still chatting cheerfully,
“…Ha-seol.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Someone’s here.”
“…What?”
There was a moment of hesitation outside, then a knock.
Knock, knock!
Ha-seol, realizing I was right, tilted her head slightly and called out,
“Who is it? I told them not to disturb us…”
“…It’s the manager, Young Miss.”
“What is it?”
“There’s… something you need to see.”
“…Sigh.”
She sighed and told him to enter.
The manager, sweating profusely, slowly opened the door.
Creak!
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