Chapter 048
The Drunken Moon Pavilion was the most famous tavern in Luoyang. It was the most luxurious establishment in the Blue Lantern District, where there were no courtesans. Even martial artists frequented the place, and rumors often circulated that martial world powers lurked behind this high-class tavern that attracted the most patrons in Luoyang.
Of course, on paper, the Drunken Moon Pavilion was established by an unnamed wealthy person, but no one knew who truly stood behind it.
The top floor of the Drunken Moon Pavilion only received distinguished guests. Baek Sugyeong was ascending to that top floor with Yi Jonhwi, who had followed him belatedly.
"M-Master, is it really okay for us to go in here...?"
Despite Yi Jonhwi's words, Baek Sugyeong maintained a composed expression. Rumors of his stay in Luoyang were already circulating openly. It was just that there wasn't much commotion since his face wasn't widely known.
Baek Sugyeong naturally passed by the guards protecting the top floor.
When Yi Jonhwi tried to follow him, the guards raised their weapons to block his path.
Seeing Yi Jonhwi looking at him questioningly, Baek Sugyeong said:
"He's with me. Let him through."
"Excuse our rudeness."
The guards withdrew their weapons as if it were only natural, and Yi Jonhwi carefully passed between them.
Following behind his former teacher after passing those guards—who exuded an aura that made them seem more than mere tavern guards—Yi Jonhwi observed the back of his old master walking slowly ahead.
When he had taught him, his former teacher had been merely an inspector at the Dragon Gate Escort Agency. Yi Jonhwi found it hard to believe that such a person could now freely enter and exit the top floor of the Drunken Moon Pavilion without any hindrance.
As Baek Sugyeong approached a room, two women who had been waiting in front greeted him respectfully.
"We've been waiting for your return, Teacher Sugyeong."
"Is the room vacant?"
"The room for Teacher Sugyeong is always kept vacant."
"I hope I'm not causing trouble."
"How could that be?"
Baek Sugyeong gave a bitter smile.
"Do you have any Hundred Flower Dew?"
"I'll check if we have any left."
"If not, please bring some bamboo leaf liquor. The five-spice pork I had last time was excellent. I'd like some of that as well."
"We'll prepare it right away."
The two women hurriedly left.
Baek Sugyeong opened the door to the room they had been guarding. A neatly arranged inner chamber welcomed Baek Sugyeong and Yi Jonhwi.
"Come in, Young Master Ahwi."
"Is it... really okay to enter?"
"You've come this far, what are you afraid of?"
Baek Sugyeong naturally took a seat by the window inside the chamber. Yi Jonhwi awkwardly entered and sat across from him.
After waiting briefly, bamboo leaf liquor and five-spice pork were served, along with several other side dishes.
With the food and alcohol between them, Baek Sugyeong spoke:
"Do you know why I asked you to come out?"
"…I don't know. Nor do I understand why you said you would teach me again."
Yi Jonhwi's answer was honest. In front of Baek Sugyeong, whom he feared so much, there was no reason to lie.
Above all else, what Baek Sugyeong hated most was lying. Though Baek Sugyeong had never raised a hand against him, the only time he had taken up a switch was when Yi Jonhwi had deceived him with a lie.
"Isn't it a life of being overshadowed by the eldest young master above you and the third young lady below? Your martial talent doesn't match your siblings, and your business acumen is terrible enough to receive harsh criticism. Isn't that right?"
"T-that's..."
"But at the core of it all is Young Master Ahwi, who has already given up on everything."
Baek Sugyeong's words pierced Yi Jonhwi's heart deeply like a dagger.
"Because no matter how hard you try, you can't surpass them. Because nothing changes despite your efforts. You've let go of everything yourself."
"T-that's..."
"Did you think I wouldn't notice Young Master Ahwi forcing himself to endure?"
Baek Sugyeong's eyes were like glass beads. Yi Jonhwi averted his gaze from Baek Sugyeong's penetrating stare.
Pouring bamboo leaf liquor into Yi Jonhwi's cup, then into his own, Baek Sugyeong said:
"Why do you only try to do what others tell you to do, instead of seeking something for yourself?"
Yi Jonhwi couldn't find words to respond to Baek Sugyeong's question.
Come to think of it, since childhood, he had only done what his parents or others had told him to do. He had never tried to find and do something on his own.
Of course, there was a time when he had been immersed in martial arts, but that was long ago. After realizing he had no talent, he had lost interest in martial arts.
Yi Jonhwi spoke as if making an excuse:
"I've tried whatever came my way. But nowhere... there was nowhere I could be of help."
"And so?"
At Baek Sugyeong's single question, Yi Jonhwi felt as if his body had frozen. The eyes looking at him felt like blocks of ice.
"Do you want to live like a corpse, having put everything down and given up?"
"How could that be!"
Yi Jonhwi raised his voice in agitation. It meant Baek Sugyeong's words had struck a nerve.
Seeing Yi Jonhwi's reaction, Baek Sugyeong smiled and drank his liquor.
After calmly emptying a cup of bamboo leaf liquor, Baek Sugyeong looked at Yi Jonhwi.
"It's widely known in Luoyang that the second young master of the Li Clan of Dragon Gate is a good-for-nothing. Just by that fact alone, Young Master Ahwi is already tarnishing the name of Luoyang's premier family."
"That's, I...!"
"Do you have any excuse?"
Under Baek Sugyeong's cold gaze, Yi Jonhwi hung his head low.
"You said you were curious why I offered to teach you again?"
"…Yes."
"In my homeland, there's a saying: 'People aren't meant to be fixed.' It means don't waste your energy and just leave trash-like humans be."
Yi Jonhwi trembled at these cutting words.
Ignoring his reaction, Baek Sugyeong continued:
"But I said I would teach Young Master Ahwi again. Partly because of what your father has done for me, and partly because I want to see Young Master Ahwi become a person who fulfills his role."
"A person who fulfills his role...?"
"There are many ordinary people in the world who live without exceptional martial or business talent. I'm just someone who has one or two things among them."
Only the sound of sipping bamboo leaf liquor filled the room.
Tap.
Putting down his cup, Baek Sugyeong said:
"Young Master is currently consumed by inferiority. You can't see and accept others as they are. You only see them as objects of jealousy and envy. That's why you cause trouble while dragging around bodyguards."
It wasn't wrong.
As Baek Sugyeong said, there were too many things that appeared detestable in Yi Jonhwi's eyes.
Where had it all gone wrong?
Perhaps it was because Yi Jonhwi, sandwiched between a talented older brother and younger sister, was simply too ordinary.
"I..."
Yi Jonhwi looked at Baek Sugyeong.
"What should I do, Master? No matter how hard I try, I can't surpass them. No matter how hard I try, I'm not better than others. Born into a martial family, I should achieve something. What can I do when I excel neither in martial arts nor as a merchant!"
It was frustration.
Long-held frustration that he had only kept inside, unable to express to others, just letting it boil over.
Baek Sugyeong said:
"In this world, if there are exceptional people, there are also ordinary ones. Among those who become martial artists, there are some who enter the martial world with just a dream. Young Master Yi simply has a different starting point from others."
"Is there a path for me too?"
"Luoyang's premier family walks three paths: official, merchant, and martial. They've produced many brilliant officials and outstanding martial artists. The same goes for merchants."
Saying this, Baek Sugyeong looked at Yi Jonhwi.
"But Young Master has yet to decide his own path."
"That's..."
"If you don't decide your own path, you'll inevitably wander."
Baek Sugyeong gave a bitter smile.
"Since childhood, my dream was to become a writer. Originally, I wanted to become a martial artist. But life was so harsh that I couldn't even dream of such things. Moreover, I had no talent for martial arts."
"Even you, Master...?"
"Is it strange for a man to want to make a name for himself in the martial world?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"My desire for martial arts was great, but lacking talent, all I accumulated was knowledge about martial studies."
Yi Jonhwi swallowed dryly as he watched Baek Sugyeong speak in a calm voice.
This was the story of Baek Sugyeong's life after falling into the Central Plains. Of course, mixed with appropriate exaggeration and falsehood.
"Can you understand the disappointment I felt when I realized I couldn't become a martial artist?"
Yi Jonhwi couldn't say anything in response to Baek Sugyeong's words.
"People each live their own lives. There's no need to compare yourself to others and belittle yourself. Young Master Ahwi became a subject of comparison because he has exceptionally talented siblings. That could be considered unfortunate."
"What should I do, Master?"
"Decide the path you want to take yourself."
Baek Sugyeong downed the bamboo leaf liquor in one go. A bittersweet taste spread in his mouth, making his Adam's apple bob.
"Just as Young Master Ahwi and I are different, just as our starting points are different. Not everything can be decided by others. You must contemplate for yourself. Do you truly want to become someone who can be of help to others?"
"I..."
Baek Sugyeong put down his cup. His gaze shone sharply, as if piercing through Yi Jonhwi's heart.
"Can Young Master proudly and confidently say that you've tried your best with all your might until now?"
Baek Sugyeong's words hit Yi Jonhwi's heart heavily.