—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In a private room at the inn where the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency was staying, people sat around a circular table.
Namgung-Woo sat at the head, flanked by Pyeong Cho-yul and the Yang brothers on his right, and Peng Mu-ho and Peng Ha-ryeong on his left.
Having already eaten, Namgung-Woo was content with the tea and light snacks on the table, but no one else touched them.
Amidst the awkward silence, Peng Ha-ryeong broke the ice, offering a respectful bow to Namgung-Woo.
“Benefactor, allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Ha-ryeong of the Peng Family. I’ve been troubled that I haven’t properly thanked you for saving my life, so I sought you out to express my gratitude.”
“Ah, yes.”
Namgung-Woo averted his gaze, slightly flustered by Peng Ha-ryeong’s bright, earnest eyes.
He hadn’t quite grasped it from afar, or when she was injured and unconscious, but up close, her beauty was striking.
How could such a small face hold such large eyes and a perfectly straight nose?
Even in his time, with its abundance of beautiful people, she would have outshone most celebrities.
And as a former everyman, he was rather overwhelmed by this beautiful woman’s directness.
“It wasn’t just saving my life. You also protected Wuan County by defeating the Form Snatching Wraiths and sealing the Ghost Gate, covering for our family’s mistake. And not only did you heal me, but you also cleansed all my smaller meridians. It’s as if you’ve given me a new life. Please, allow me to repay your kindness.”
While Peng Ha-ryeong spoke, Pyeong Cho-yul, surprised by this new information, whispered to Yang Kwai.
“Form Snatching Wraiths? He defeated The ‘Form Snatching Wraiths’?”
“Didn’t you know? Our boss sliced them up in a single stroke.”
“I heard it was just a couple of lesser wraiths… and you called him ‘boss’?”
“He formed a mercenary group. We’re indebted to him, just like the Peng Family. We swore to follow him.”
“Is that so…”
Peng Ha-ryeong, eavesdropping on their hushed conversation, perked up.
She knew the Yang brothers had left with Namgung-Woo, but she hadn’t known they’d formed a mercenary group.
She quickly incorporated this new information.
“Of course, your companions are also welcome as guests of our family.”
Namgung-Woo didn’t answer immediately, covering his mouth with his hand.
If he’d received this offer in Wuan County, he would have politely refused.
The Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency was one thing; he’d approached them himself.
But the Peng Family was different.
They were a prominent martial arts family, deeply rooted in the Jianghu.
And he’d been wary of getting involved with them, not knowing why the righteous sects weren’t helping the Namgung Family.
But things were different now.
He had a better understanding of the situation, and more importantly, he’d acknowledged his own desire for connection and belonging.
According to one psychologist, human needs followed a hierarchy.
Once the basic physiological and safety needs were met, humans naturally sought belonging and love, then esteem and recognition.
These were the deficiency needs.
He was no different.
Perhaps if he’d reached the Spirit Harmony Realm, transcending human desires, he wouldn’t care.
But he was only at the Transcendent Realm, one step removed from ordinary humans.
And even that was a rare achievement, almost a miracle
While the Transcendent Realm transcended the mortal world, touching upon the realm of gods and buddhas, it was still within the human sphere.
His case was even more unusual.
While his essence and energy were at the Transcendent Realm, his spirit was still catching up. The unity of essence, energy, and spirit was incomplete.
He’d briefly achieved that unity through a moment of enlightenment, but without that experience, he might still be struggling with the dissonance.
In any case, he was now more receptive to Peng Ha-ryeong’s offer.
‘If I connect with the Peng Family, I might not need the Hao Clan.’
He’d come to Beijing to gather information about the Namgung Family from the Hao Clan and to meet with the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency.
If the information problem was solved, he wouldn’t need to stay in Beijing.
Peng Mu-ho, mistaking his silence for hesitation, offered an alternative.
“You’ve just arrived in Beijing. There’s no need to rush. You should catch up with the Yo-Pyeong folks and rest before making any decisions.”
“Uncle…”
“Ha-ryeong, don’t be so impatient. It’s not polite to pressure our benefactor.”
“My apologies. Benefactor…”
Peng Ha-ryeong bowed her head, and Namgung-Woo quickly waved his hand.
“It’s alright. How about we order some food while we talk? Has everyone eaten?”
“Boss, we just…”
“Oh, the sweet and sour pork here is excellent.”
“Sweet and sour pork?”
Wasn’t that the precursor to tangsuyuk?[1]
His mouth watered.
He stopped caring about appearances.
“Let’s order some.”
“Benefactor, it’s on us. Order whatever you like.”
“Miss Peng, what are you saying? Are you trying to make us look like poor hosts?”
“Alright. But we’ll provide the alcohol. I have some excellent Bamboo Leaf Green Wine.”
Though surprising to those familiar with its reputation, Bamboo Leaf Green Wine was originally a medicinal wine.
It was believed to improve blood circulation and calm the Qi.
The Peng Family members often drank it to treat the lingering internal injuries they’d sustained during the sealing of the Ghost Gate.
“Bamboo Leaf Green Wine! Our Shanxi Province is famous for it. If Miss Peng recommends it, I can’t possibly refuse.”
The food and alcohol definitely lightened the mood.
Namgung-Woo nodded in satisfaction.
His decision to prioritize food had been the right one.
The Yang brothers, observing this, simply assumed their boss was indulging in his love for food.
Lacking telepathic abilities, Namgung-Woo was oblivious to their thoughts, his chopsticks was already reaching for the sweet and sour pork.
“You were saying something about your escort mission? Something about a difficult delivery?”
“Ah, that. It was a piece of opal. It’s a mineral, but it’s surprisingly fragile. And it requires careful handling.”
“Opal… a milky white stone that shines with a play of colors?”
“Exactly. As expected of Miss Peng, you’re well-informed.”
Opal. Pyeong Cho-yul was right; it was fragile and required special care, so it wasn’t particularly popular in the Central Plains.
“It was a bit unusual, but tastes differ. Anyway, the delivery went smoothly. I even made a few new contacts in Beijing. Ever since you arrived, Fellow Martial Artist, everything seems to be going my way! Hahaha!”
Peng Ha-ryeong tilted her head, puzzled by Pyeong Cho-yul’s cheerful boasting.
“Opal isn’t very popular these days, is it?”
“True, but it used to be called ‘true jade.’ There’s still some demand for it.”
She found it odd but accepted his explanation.
While she considered herself knowledgeable about jewels and ornaments, Pyeong Cho-yul was a professional in the field.
He must know what he was talking about.
“Now, let’s raise a toast to this fortuitous meeting!”
As everyone lifted their cups, Namgung-Woo instinctively clinked his cup against the one next to him.
It was a habitual gesture, but the reactions were… strange.
Everyone exchanged awkward glances, and Namgung-Woo wondered if he’d done something wrong.
Finally, Peng Ha-ryeong, the owner of the cup he’d clinked his against, spoke hesitantly.
“Um… Benefactor?”
“Yes?”
“Are you… drunk?”
15th century.
Toasting.
Not a thing yet.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After the brief drinking session, the Peng Family rented a separate annex attached to the inn.
They offered Namgung-Woo a room or even a separate annex, but he declined.
The room provided by the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency was sufficient.
Instead, he asked for permission to use the courtyard of the annex as a training ground.
Beijing, being a bustling metropolis, lacked open spaces.
He and the Yang brothers continued their training.
Alcohol?
A true martial artist wouldn’t be swayed by a few drinks.
The Peng Family members stayed inside while they trained, giving them space.
In return, Namgung-Woo kept the training session shorter than usual.
While they’d insisted he didn’t need to hold back, he felt uncomfortable monopolizing their space.
His modern sensibilities, shaped by individual rights and the rule of law, were still deeply ingrained in him.
Yet, at the same time, he possessed a pragmatic, self-preserving streak, a remnant of his past life in a cutthroat world.
It might seem contradictory, but humans were complex creatures.
As he was about to leave, Peng Ha-ryeong stopped him with a hesitant request.
“Benefactor, would you please… spar with me?”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[1] Korean Chinese meat dish with sweet and sour sauce.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
