Chapter 425

“Um, can I sit here?”

At Seo Yul-hee’s words, the temporarily hired Escorts all clamped their mouths shut. They only glanced at each other.

She was none other than the daughter of the Demon Sword Manor.

Considering the special status the Demon Sword Manor held in Yunnan Province, the very act of sitting with her was bound to be burdensome.

In particular, the Martial Artists from the Demon Sword Manor, sitting far off, were watching them with frightening eyes.

Because of Seo Gun-hwi’s orders, they couldn’t look after her, but they were sending glares that seemed to say they would slice them to pieces if they so much as laid a fingertip on Seo Yul-hee’s body.

Gulp!

The sound of someone swallowing dryly came from someone’s mouth.

Seo Yul-hee, who had been looking at the temporary Escorts with disappointment, turned her gaze to Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san.

Unlike the others, they were the only ones not paying much attention to Seo Yul-hee.

A man with fair skin and a face more beautiful than a woman’s, and a boy with lively eyes—they were Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san.

They just crunched on their dry rations, not even sparing Seo Yul-hee a glance.

Seo Yul-hee deliberately sat next to them and said.

“I’m sitting down.”

At that moment, Do Yeon-san raised his head and looked at Seo Yul-hee.

Seo Yul-hee introduced herself first.

“My name is Seo Yul-hee. And you?”

“Do Yeon-san!”

“I’m just going to sit here for a little while.”

“Do as you please.”

Do Yeon-san said as if it were no big deal.

Seo Yul-hee might hold great significance to the people of Yunnan, but to him, she was just one of the countless people he would pass by.

She was neither that great nor that special.

That was why he could treat her comfortably.

Grumble!

At that moment, an embarrassing sound came from Seo Yul-hee’s stomach.

Seo Yul-hee’s face turned bright red.

Her sorrow exploded.

It was true she had been throwing a tantrum, but it wasn’t because she wanted to.

Since she was young, Seo Yul-hee had weak digestion and was prone to stomachaches. Because of that, her mother had always been particularly careful with her food.

Her stomach had a hard time digesting rough foods like dry rations. That was why she had said she couldn’t eat it, but Seo Gun-hwi had simply dismissed it as her being immature and picky about side dishes.

The fact that her only Orabeoni didn’t understand her like that was deeply upsetting.

Grumble!

Once again, a sound echoed from within Seo Yul-hee’s stomach.

Embarrassed, Seo Yul-hee buried her head between her knees and couldn’t lift it.

It was then.

Tap, tap!

Do Yeon-san lightly tapped her shoulder.

When she raised her head, Do Yeon-san was holding out a piece of beef jerky. It was something he had bought before joining the Great Pearl Trading Company.

“Eat!”

“Huh?”

“You said you couldn’t eat the dry rations, right?”

“I can’t digest meat if it’s tough, either.”

“Really?”

Do Yeon-san suddenly squeezed the beef jerky tightly.

An immense pressure was applied to the jerky, and it turned soft.

“You should be able to digest it if it’s like this.”

Do Yeon-san placed the beef jerky in Seo Yul-hee’s hand.

Surprised by the soft texture, Seo Yul-hee looked back and forth between the jerky and Do Yeon-san.

“Wow, you’re amazing.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Thank you!”

After thanking him, Seo Yul-hee tore off a small piece of the jerky and tasted it.

It was so soft it was hard to believe it was dried meat.

Seo Yul-hee chewed the beef jerky with a happy expression.

In an instant, the piece of jerky was gone. Do Yeon-san then took out another piece from his bundle.

He applied pressure again to soften the jerky and handed it to Seo Yul-hee.

“Thank you!”

Seo Yul-hee thanked him and ate the jerky again.

After finishing the remaining jerky, her stomach felt somewhat full. There was no discomfort at all.

A smile naturally spread across Seo Yul-hee’s face.

It felt as if the heart that had been wounded by Seo Gun-hwi was healing a little.

Seo Yul-hee asked Do Yeon-san.

“But how did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“How did you make the beef jerky soft?”

“I just did it, and it worked.”

“Are you a hidden Expert, or something like that?”

“Not quite to that extent…”

“No! Even in our Demon Sword Manor, there are only a few Martial Artists with your level of skill. It’s truly amazing.”

Seo Yul-hee chattered excitedly, her face flushed red.

Do Yeon-san just scratched his head, embarrassed.

He wasn’t used to this kind of situation.

The very situation of such a pretty girl treating him so informally was unfamiliar.

After chattering for a while, Seo Yul-hee’s gaze turned to Pyo Wol, who was next to Do Yeon-san.

She had been so focused on Do Yeon-san that she hadn’t realized it before, but she now recognized for the first time that Pyo Wol’s face was more beautiful than a woman’s.

“Wow!”

She let out a gasp without realizing it.

“Orabeoni, you’re really… you are an Orabeoni, right?”

“If you’re asking if I’m a man, then yes.”

“Who are you, Orabeoni? I’ve never heard of a man as beautiful as you. Look at this hair! It’s insane. How can it be so glossy…”

Seo Yul-hee kept exclaiming, “Wow, wow.”

Her voice was so high that it drew the attention of Seo Gun-hwi and his Subordinates, who were some distance away.

From where they were, they couldn’t see Pyo Wol’s face. Because of that, they couldn’t understand why Seo Yul-hee was making such a fuss.

Seo Yul-hee seemed to have no intention of leaving Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san’s side, as she kept laughing and talking. Seeing her like that, Seo Gun-hwi pressed a hand to his forehead.

“When on earth will that child ever grow up…”

The state of Jianghu was changing rapidly day by day.

In these Troubled Times where one couldn’t see even an inch ahead, one always had to maintain their composure and carefully observe their surroundings.

He had neither the magnanimity nor the leisure to indulge his sister’s childishness.

He wanted his sister to grow up stronger than anyone. But seeing her sit with mere Escorts, laughing and chatting like that, made his stomach churn.

Cha Yun-pyeong spoke cautiously.

“Shall I go and bring the Miss back?”

“Just leave her be.”

“But…”

“If they are Escorts of the Great Pearl Trading Company, they won’t harm Yul-hee. Just leave her be.”

“Understood.”

Ji Mu-hyung, who had been watching for an opportunity, opened his mouth.

“I will speak to them and tell them to show Miss Seo the proper courtesy.”

“No.”

Seo Gun-hwi firmly refused this as well.

‘Tsk! He’s so rigid. How can he be so inflexible?’

Ji Mu-hyung found himself making a dumbfounded expression without realizing it.

Perhaps because he felt uneasy, the night felt exceptionally long.

＊＊＊

The people of the Great Pearl Trading Company woke before dawn and prepared to leave.

They extinguished the bonfires that had given them warmth through the night and hitched the horses and oxen to the carts.

Breakfast was, again, simple dry rations.

Though their mouths felt rough, not a single person complained. Except, that is, for Seo Yul-hee.

Seo Yul-hee, who had returned to the Demon Sword Manor’s Martial Artists before falling asleep, naturally approached Do Yeon-san when it was time to eat.

Do Yeon-san handed her the softened beef jerky.

“Thank you!”

Just like yesterday, Seo Yul-hee sat next to Do Yeon-san and chewed on the beef jerky.

“Hmph, hmph!”

She was in such a good mood that she hummed a tune to herself.

It was then.

Seo Gun-hwi, who had been preparing to leave, approached where Seo Yul-hee was.

He first greeted Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san with a Fist-Palm Salute.

“I am Seo Gun-hwi of the Demon Sword Manor. I apologize for the trouble my sister has caused you…”

Suddenly, Seo Gun-hwi stopped talking.

The moment he saw Pyo Wol’s face, he was at a loss for words.

‘What kind of man’s face is…’

In that instant, his brow furrowed on its own.

He couldn’t easily comprehend the fact that a man with such looks was a mere temporary Escort.

What bothered him most was the atmosphere emanating from Pyo Wol.

An extremely static atmosphere, like deeply pooled water.

He had never gotten such a feeling from any other Martial Artist.

At least among the Martial Artists he had met, Pyo Wol was the first to have such an aura.

‘He is no ordinary man.’

Even though he must have known his identity, he showed no sign of being intimidated or concerned.

He was either that confident in his own martial prowess, or he was the type who was extremely insensitive to external stimuli.

Seo Gun-hwi thought the former was more likely.

From the moment he saw Pyo Wol’s face, alarm bells had been ringing continuously in his head.

Seo Gun-hwi asked cautiously.

“Would you perhaps be willing to tell me your name, brother?”

“No, I’d like to travel quietly.”

At Pyo Wol’s refusal, Seo Gun-hwi’s eyebrow twitched.

This was the first time someone had refused to reveal their identity after he had stated his own.

“This bastard…”

Cha Yun-pyeong, who was behind Seo Gun-hwi, flared up and was about to draw his sword. But when Seo Gun-hwi raised a hand to stop him, he had no choice but to sheathe it again.

Seo Gun-hwi apologized.

“My apologies. My Subordinate was overzealous and committed a discourtesy.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I am glad you understand. Then, please answer just one thing. I understand you joined as a temporary Escort, but is it by any chance because of us?”

“Before I joined as a temporary Escort, I didn’t even know the Demon Sword Manor was here.”

“Then you must not be from Yunnan.”

“That’s right. I simply joined because my destination is the same as the Great Pearl Trading Company’s.”

“I see.”

Seo Gun-hwi nodded his head.

It was common for Wanderers to deliberately join an Escort Agency or Trading Company with the same destination.

The Escort Agency or Trading Company secured the manpower to protect their valuable goods on the cheap, and the Wanderers received food and lodging while traveling with them.

It was a kind of mutual assistance, and such cases were quite common in Jianghu.

“Then the Young Hero’s destination must also be Chengdu?”

“That’s right.”

“I understand. In that case, I will not inquire any further. However, please promise me just one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Please do not put any foolish ideas into my sister’s head. She is still naive and doesn’t know the ways of the world. I want her to learn how cold and frightening the world is on this trip. That is why I brought her, so please do not plant rosy fantasies in her mind.”

“I won’t.”

Pyo Wol readily nodded his head.

Even without Seo Gun-hwi’s request, he had no desire to bother with Seo Yul-hee.

Seemingly pleased with Pyo Wol’s answer, Seo Gun-hwi gave a slight smile.

“I apologize for the trouble. I will take my leave now. If you should change your mind and wish to talk, please feel free to come find me at the head of the column at any time.”

“Are you also traveling with the Great Pearl Trading Company?”

“It seems much more convenient to travel with the Great Pearl Trading Company until the midpoint of our journey.”

“It seems your destination is not Chengdu.”

“Unfortunately, that is so. Still, it seems we can travel together as far as Xichang.”

Xichang was a city in the southern part of Sichuan Province. It was a hub where major roads intersected, a nexus of transportation.

Once they reached this place, they could freely travel to any part of Jianghu.

He didn’t know what Seo Gun-hwi’s final destination was, but it seemed they would have to travel together for at least five more days.

“Then let us see each other again later.”

Seo Gun-hwi took his leave with a Fist-Palm Salute.

Cha Yun-pyeong followed him and whispered.

“Can you trust that man?”

“What could be more foolish in Jianghu than trusting a man you’ve never met before?”

“Then?”

“It is always better to keep a suspicious person close and watch them, rather than keeping them at a distance.”

“Ah!”

Cha Yun-pyeong let out a gasp without realizing it.

He had thought it strange that Seo Gun-hwi was treating a stranger with uncharacteristic politeness, but he had been hiding a deep scheme.

‘As expected of the Young Master.’

He hadn’t risen to the position of Young Manor Lord simply because he was the son of the Demon Sword Manor Lord, Seo Mun.

He had shown himself to be so outstanding in both martial prowess and cunning that he could not be matched by anyone, thus earning the Manor Lord’s recognition.

This mission was a case in point.

Manor Lord Seo Mun, acknowledging Seo Gun-hwi’s outstanding abilities, had given him the order.

To directly grasp the state of affairs in Jianghu.

Until now, the Demon Sword Manor had remained quiet, as if it didn’t exist. But Seo Mun knew they couldn’t maintain this neutrality forever. That was why he had sent his son, Seo Gun-hwi, to assess the situation and make a judgment.

Seo Gun-hwi glanced back.

He saw Seo Yul-hee, excitedly talking to Do Yeon-san.

“Tsk!”

A clicking of his tongue escaped his lips.