TSBIRBV Ch 311

Chapter 311. The Bird Leaves Its Nest (3)

“What in the world happened?”

Tang Segi asked, his face full of bewilderment.

He was watering the flowers, completely unaware that the stream from his bowl had overflowed, soaking his own feet.

Yegyeol gently nudged his arm to redirect the flow, then turned to Hwangbo Yulhui.

“…There was a bit of a disagreement after the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament,” she said quietly.

Her expression was dark. She didn’t go into detail, but it wasn’t hard to imagine she’d been scolded for not winning.

She’s trying to put it mildly—but she’s terrible at hiding the truth.

“I know it was all due to my lack of ability. Still…”

Yulhui’s shoulders trembled once or twice.

“Oh dear…”

Tang Segi’s face turned ashen. He looked like he might rush to comfort her on the spot.

Then, as if realizing her slip, Yulhui quickly lifted her head and looked at Yegyeol.

“Please don’t misunderstand, Lord Je. I didn’t mean to speak ill of my mother.”

“Of course not,” Yegyeol replied politely.

Some of the tension eased from her face.

“The words you said at the drinking table the other night… about running away. They lingered with me. Before I knew it, I’d actually left. If it isn’t too much trouble, may I stay here for a while?”

At first glance, it looked like the foolish escapade of a noble daughter who’d been coaxed into rebellion by an ill-timed bit of advice. It might’ve seemed childish—taking one drunken comment too seriously and fleeing home.

But Hwangbo Yulhui was far stronger and more capable than she appeared. If she wished, she could easily find lodging and food at any merchant guild or escort agency. And as the young successor of the Hwangbo Clan—one of the Five Great Houses—many sects and families would welcome her with open arms.

Like Namgung Un, she often traveled alone to carry out righteous deeds, earning favors and gratitude from countless people.

So if she’d come here, it could only mean one thing—she needed space to collect herself.

Whatever her reason, this is a golden chance to build a tie with the Hwangbo Clan.

Yegyeol had intended to build rapport with her through Tang Segi, but the Tang heir was far too bashful for that. Now that Yulhui herself had come to him, his goal had practically achieved itself.

“I don’t mind at all,” Yegyeol said cheerfully. “But this guest house isn’t mine—I’m just borrowing it. If you’d like to stay, you should ask Young Master Tang.”

It was, frankly, a rather shameless attempt to nudge things along.

“Lord Tang…”

Yulhui’s deep, subdued gaze turned toward Tang Segi.

When their eyes met, Tang panicked visibly, which amused Yegyeol.

Her eyes resembled Haryang’s quite a bit. And seeing Tang so flustered made Yegyeol realize he was usually much calmer around Haryang than he thought.

“But won’t your mother… the clan head… be terribly worried?” Tang asked, his gentle eyes drooping further in concern.

It wasn’t the Hwangbo Clan’s disapproval he feared—it was the thought of a daughter hurt by her mother’s anger.

He’s not the kind to overthink things anyway, Yegyeol mused.

Some people don’t read between the lines—they take words at face value, and act the same way. Tang Segi was exactly that kind of person.

Yegyeol glanced at Yulhui, who looked like she might turn back at any moment.

But Hwangbo Yulhui isn’t that simple.

“If my presence makes you uncomfortable, Young Master Tang,” she said softly, “I’ll go elsewhere. Forgive me.”

Her eyes were slightly red. Emotion pressed against its limits behind them, and it was clear she’d followed that drunken suggestion here on impulse.

Just as Yegyeol opened his mouth to respond, the door burst open.

It was none other than the “Raging Tiger,” Peng Munhyeong.

His hair, half-white and half-black, was as untidy as ever, and like Yulhui, he carried a travel pack slung over his shoulder.

“Oh! I heard Miss Hwangbo would be staying with us. My room’s empty—you can use it.”

Then, realizing how that sounded, he quickly added, “No, wait, no. My room’s probably a mess. Better to have Young Master Tang lend you his and I’ll take his place.”

Yegyeol couldn’t help but be impressed—this beast of a man always had a perfect sense for timing, especially when it came to teasing Tang Segi.

“This morning, despite a hangover, he was up early, cleaning with a towel wrapped around his head,” Peng added with a laugh.

Tang’s face turned scarlet.

“A hangover? I was perfectly fine! And there are plenty of spare rooms here for Miss Hwangbo—please stop saying strange things!”

For him to raise his voice at the mighty Raging Tiger meant he’d gotten used to the man’s rough temperament. But in his fluster, he’d made a fatal mistake.

Yegyeol seized it immediately.

“Then it’s settled,” he said smoothly. “Miss Hwangbo will be staying with us for the time being.”

Relief flickered across Yulhui’s face, while Tang looked like a squirrel that had just lost its acorn again.

“Thank you very much,” Yulhui said gratefully.

“Y-yes, of course…” Tang stammered, dazed.

Before he could recover enough to backtrack, Yegyeol changed the subject.

“By the way, Brother Peng, where are you off to?”

“Ah. Did I not mention it?” Peng scratched the back of his head.

“You remember how I was gone for a while, meeting with our clan leader after you arrived in Wuhuan?”

“Of course.”

“Well, he asked for my help.”

“The Peng Clan head himself?”

“There’s a merchant caravan under our clan’s protection. Every time they cross the Yangtze, they’re completely ransacked.”

He shrugged.

“One of our surviving escorts said it’s likely the work of the Flood Dragon Bandits.”

His voice dropped low, as though sharing a secret.

Yegyeol’s mouth fell open.

The Flood Dragon Bandits? Why are they involved here?

“Wait… you mean that Flood Dragon Band? Led by the Flood Dragon King…?”

Yegyeol’s voice quivered. Peng, mistaking it for fear, nodded gravely.

“Yes. They’ve been quiet for a while, but it seems they’re active again.”

Wait— the Flood Dragon King? Isn’t he the one infatuated with Yeonsoseo, who’s still in the Yegok Village?

Though her location might’ve changed during the tournament, she was likely still investigating the villages along the Yangtze—and tracking the traffickers who’d abducted villagers earlier.

If the Flood Dragon Band was raiding again at the same time… he’d need three bodies to handle it all.

But Yegyeol couldn’t possibly reveal Yeonsoseo’s identity—or his connection to the Flood Dragon King. Peng, in his straightforward righteousness, would storm straight into their base the moment he heard the name.

A clash between the Peng Clan and the River Alliance… it’s like watching Romeo and Juliet in the martial world, Yegyeol thought, sighing inwardly.

“If the Flood Dragon Band truly is moving, that’s a serious matter…”

Yegyeol’s eyes shifted, searching for the one person who could answer his questions.

Today’s Yaryul Hongye was, on the surface, Hongye—but beneath the mask, it was Je Haryang.

When Hongye was unusually gentle, talkative, and hovered near Yegyeol, it was almost always Haryang in disguise.

Lately, he had been visiting the guesthouse frequently under this borrowed face, leaving small, secret signs for Yegyeol.

For instance, if Beambeam’s water bowl had been moved, it meant the real Hongye had come. But if a new flower appeared by the window, it was Haryang. If someone had neatly deboned his fish—Haryang. If fresh clothes were laid out—Haryang again.

Yegyeol never made it obvious that he always noticed. Not because he couldn’t tell, but because…

It’s cute when he tries to hide it.

The oblivious Peng never noticed the difference. Tang Segi, meanwhile, spent his days frowning in confusion, like a squirrel that couldn’t remember where it buried its nuts—but he never dared voice his suspicions.

Whenever Hongye would suddenly seem strange and then revert to normal, Tang simply doubted his own senses.

“Oh! Hongye!”

Yegyeol waved brightly.

Rounding the corner of the building, the man appeared—carrying a small bamboo basket that looked comically tiny in his large hands.

His dark gaze first fell on Yegyeol.

“Miss Hwangbo will be staying here for a while,” Yegyeol said with a grin.

“We met briefly at the drinking table last night, but I don’t think you were properly introduced. This is Miss Hwangbo Yulhui of Mount Geumho. Miss Hwangbo, this is Yaryul Hongye—he’s traveled with me since Qinghai.”

Only then did those black eyes shift from Yegyeol to Yulhui.

Haryang looked calm—astonishingly so, given that he was facing his runaway niece.

“I’m honored to finally meet you,” Yulhui said, bowing politely. “I am Hwangbo Yulhui of the Hwangbo Clan. I’m embarrassed to say people call me the ‘Golden Tiger of Mount Geumho.’ Should I address you as Hero Hongye?”

Her tone was warm and respectful, her every movement measured.

They really do resemble each other, Yegyeol thought.

Not just in features, but in spirit. There was something about her manner—steadfast, sincere—that echoed Haryang perfectly.

Why did it seem like everyone—Namgung Un, Hwangbo Yulhui, even that upright Taoist from Mount Wudang—somehow mirrored his master’s temperament? Coincidence, perhaps, but an eerie one.

“I am Yaryul Hongye,” Haryang replied gently. “I’ve lived mostly on the borders of the Central Plains, so I have no notable title. I merely follow my lord here, to whom I owe much. Please address me however you wish.”

His tone was far smoother and softer than Hongye’s usual blunt speech. But Tang Segi, too distracted by Yulhui’s presence, didn’t notice the oddity.

“Please, make yourself comfortable,” Haryang said, inclining his head.

“Please, Hero Hongye, you needn’t speak so formally,” Yulhui insisted.

“I’m more used to it this way,” Haryang replied evenly. “Perhaps, in time, I’ll learn to relax my manners.”

He slowly lifted his gaze—past Yulhui, to Yegyeol.

Yegyeol raised his palm and smiled faintly, wordlessly assuring him that he’d had no hand in his niece’s sudden appearance.

A flicker of light passed between them—Mind Transmission.

[Yeonsoseo is still in Yegok Village. She’s relaying information to Jin-yeong.]

Without so much as a movement of his lips, Haryang answered Yegyeol’s unspoken concern—and then added, with quiet amusement,

[It seems someone is impersonating the Flood Dragon King.]