Chapter 038
"…Haah."
The sigh was deep.
It was right after meeting with Yi Jonhyo, who had returned to Dragon Gate Pavilion immediately after Ju Geumye left.
Under Baek Sugyeong's arrow-like gaze, Yi Jonhyo couldn't raise his head and avoided his eyes.
Avoiding Baek Sugyeong's reproachful gaze meant he felt guilty about something.
Baek Sugyeong drained his cold dragon well tea in one gulp.
'At least it seems he avoided the steamed dumplings and becoming a golden can…'
He had a feeling that if he had accepted, he would have become a slave writing while eating only steamed dumplings.
Then he really would have become a golden can.
Putting those thoughts aside, Baek Sugyeong looked at Yi Jonhyo.
"Would you explain everything to me, sir?"
No matter how disappointed he was with Yi Jonhyo, the man had shown him great kindness.
He couldn't just unilaterally cut ties with such a person.
After all, Baek Sugyeong could live so comfortably in Luoyang because Yi Jonhyo had taken such good care of him.
Yi Jonhyo opened his mouth.
His face was still full of apology.
"I'm sorry, Master Baek. I didn't mean to deceive you.
Though it ended up that way…"
"…Was it Princess's order?"
Yi Jonhyo nodded slightly.
If it was a royal command, there was nothing to be done.
No matter how powerful they were in Murim, the Dragon Gate Li Clan was a family with connections to the imperial palace.
So they had no choice but to be mindful of the royal family.
Especially if it was Princess Luohong.
Baek Sugyeong clicked his tongue.
"If the Princess commanded it, you had no choice."
"I hope you understand our family's situation, Master Baek."
Baek Sugyeong gave a bitter smile.
The Dragon Gate Li Clan, a family that bridged both officials and Murim.
Naturally, they couldn't refuse an order from Ju Geumye, the imperial family's precious daughter who belonged to the official side.
It wasn't a situation he couldn't understand.
"…What disappointed me about you, sir—"
Yi Jonhyo flinched at Baek Sugyeong's words.
"—was that you kept it to yourself. If you had told me in advance, I wouldn't have been so surprised."
"The Princess insisted on absolute secrecy… I'm sorry, Master Baek. It was my fault."
"How could that be your fault, sir?"
If there was a cause for the mistake, the original sin would lie with Baek Sugyeong himself for becoming too famous.
Baek Sugyeong asked.
"How did the Princess even know I was in Luoyang?"
"I'm not sure about that. I can only guess that the Embroidered Uniform Guard warriors who accompany the Princess brought her the information…"
The Embroidered Uniform Guard.
They were one of the two elite groups representing the imperial palace, alongside the Eastern Depot.
To be precise, they were divided into the Eastern Depot, which served as a surveillance organization, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which handled external military affairs.
However, the Embroidered Uniform Guard often appeared as if they were subcontractors to the Eastern Depot, so their status wasn't very high.
Baek Sugyeong looked down at his empty teacup.
"Since when?"
"The order came down a while ago. A little over two weeks. I never imagined the Princess would come in person…"
Yi Jonhyo's voice also contained surprise.
This was an era when royalty was considered like immortals above the clouds.
It was only natural.
Even Baek Sugyeong had been shocked when he saw her.
"I see."
"Are you leaving?"
"I plan to stay in Luoyang this year. Besides, I wouldn't cut ties with you over something like this, sir."
Of course, it was vexing that he had hidden the fact that Ju Geumye was coming to see him.
But considering what Yi Jonhyo had done for Baek Sugyeong before, it was something he could overlook.
After all, he had shown endless kindness to a mere inspector who taught Young Master Yi, Yi Jonhwi.
Baek Sugyeong said.
"But only this once. Please be careful, sir."
"Yes! I'll keep that in mind! I promise I won't disappoint Master Baek again!"
Baek Sugyeong smiled faintly.
He could feel the sincerity in Yi Jonhyo's words.
"Since you said you'll stay in Luoyang this year, I'll make arrangements for your convenience. The Dragon Gate Li Clan is always sincerely ready to welcome Master Baek!"
"I appreciate your generosity, sir."
"Luoyang's winters are harsh, so I'll prepare winter clothes for Master Baek and the three ladies."
"I'll be in your care, sir."
And so, Baek Sugyeong's winter stay was decided.
...
"You're staying in Luoyang this year?"
"That's how it turned out."
"Hmm, if the Owner has decided so, I have nothing to say… But winter won't delay your serialization, will it?"
Baek Sugyeong chuckled at So Ssanga's words.
"Do you think my writing hand stops just because it's winter?"
"That's a relief. We're being flooded with requests for Volume 7. Plus, Old Man Jang from Sugyeong Inn has been sending money every month without fail."
"How is Sugyeong Inn doing? I need to hear about Wuhan, but it's been delayed longer than I expected."
It had been almost three months since he left Wuhan.
For a while, he'd been so focused on writing Volume 6 that he hadn't had time to sit down and chat leisurely with So Ssanga like this.
She was the only one who knew about the situation in Wuhan, so she was the only one he could ask.
So Ssanga smiled brightly at Baek Sugyeong's question.
"Nothing major has happened. However, the two Taoists from Wudang returned to the Wudang Sect, saying they had work to do."
"Oh?"
Jeong Jin and Jeong U, the two Taoists, were people who had been dispatched to Wuhan to serve as Baek Sugyeong's guards.
If they returned saying they had work to do…
"It must be because of Murim Alliance business."
"I think that might be the case. Namgung Lady becoming your guard probably had a big influence…"
"Since my first novel was Wudang Sword Hero, they probably thought Wudang martial artists should naturally be chosen as guards. They must be frustrated that it didn't work out."
Baek Sugyeong had read the psychology of the Wudang Sect people all too accurately.
Even if it wasn't his intention.
"I'm glad there's no major issue in Wuhan. How is the trading company doing?"
"We're slowly building our foundation as you advised. Honestly, we could expand the size as much as we want if we inflated our scale, but we rely too much on you for that…"
"If you understand that point, Guild Leader So is wise enough."
Baek Sugyeong smiled as he picked up his teacup.
"So it would be best to find ways to build the company's foundation without relying on me. There will be a gap until I prepare my next work after Wudang Sword Hero."
"Hmm, that's true. I'll have to think about that separately."
When one work ends, there's inevitably a gap in between.
During a successful author's hiatus, readers would inevitably cry out for a new work.
Baek Sugyeong himself had once been a reader of other authors.
He would have been grateful even for side stories, and when a new work came out, he would rush to mark it as a favorite and read each episode while leaving comments.
It didn't seem like that long ago, but looking back now, it had been over eight years, almost nine years since he fell into the Central Plains.
'It's been longer than I thought.'
He was approaching thirty now.
After this year, he would be twenty-nine.
If there was something fortunate, perhaps it was the three women who clung to him saying they liked him.
With a bitter smile, Baek Sugyeong took a sip of tea.
"How are things with the Black Book?"
"We're in regular contact with the Murim Alliance. They've agreed to help us."
"Hmm, it's not surprising since Guild Leader So is acting as my agent for the exclusive sales agreement."
Baek Sugyeong looked outside the pavilion while holding his teacup.
The beautifully decorated scenery of the Dragon Gate Li Clan's separate garden caught his eye.
The pond spread out around the artificial mountain made to look like a real mountain, and the rare flowers and plants planted around the pond delighted his eyes.
Though he didn't have a hobby of enjoying scenery, beautiful landscapes, whether artificial or natural, naturally attract people's attention.
While Baek Sugyeong was looking at the scenery, he heard someone coming up to the pavilion.
"So here you are, Teacher."
"Lady Namgung. Welcome."
When Baek Sugyeong greeted her warmly, Namgung Somin's face flushed slightly.
But only for a moment.
As soon as she saw So Ssanga sitting across from Baek Sugyeong, her face froze coldly.
"…I heard you decided to stay in Luoyang this winter."
"That's how it turned out."
"Then how about learning martial arts from me during this winter?"
"Hmm? Martial arts?"
Baek Sugyeong raised his eyebrows in surprise.
So Ssanga frowned at Namgung Somin's words.
"What are you saying, Lady Namgung? The Owner is far from martial arts. Are you thinking of forcing martial arts on such a person?"
"Oh my, Guild Leader So."
So Ssanga made an unpleasant expression as she watched Namgung Somin pretend she hadn't known she was there.
The three women who followed Baek Sugyeong had a relationship like oil and water.
Two had deep connections to Murim, and one had known Baek Sugyeong for a long time, which made it impossible for them to get along harmoniously from the start.
"The choice is Teacher's, so I don't understand why Guild Leader So is getting angry."
"You must know that asking the Owner, who has already passed the appropriate age for learning martial arts, to learn martial arts is no different from saying you'll torture him, Lady Namgung!"
"Oh my, I didn't say I would teach him formal martial arts, Guild Leader So."
Their words were polite, but their voices were thorny.
As the focus shifted to the two women's verbal battle, Baek Sugyeong sighed and placed his hand on his forehead.
"Lady Namgung. Guild Leader So."
"Yes, Teacher."
"Yes, Owner!"
Looking at the two women who turned to him like puppies waiting for their master to call their names, Baek Sugyeong said.
"Please stop fighting. It gives me a headache. Are you trying to affect my creative work?"
"I-I didn't mean to."
"No! I didn't mean to! But Lady Namgung…"
"Guild Leader So started it first…"
Baek Sugyeong sighed as he watched the two grown women blaming each other like children.
"Oh, my head…"
It seemed there would be no peaceful days ahead.
Turning his gaze away from the two women who were engaged in a battle of nerves while looking at each other in front of him, Baek Sugyeong shook his head.
Beyond his shoulder, snow was beginning to fall lightly, turning everything white.
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📚 Author's Note:
Big thanks to Rigchel for the 2 shiny Power Stones!
🐧