TSBIRBV Ch 36

Chapter 36 Namgung Un (1) 

“This is bad.”

Yegyeol let out a sigh as he turned his face this way and that in the small bronze mirror.

Watching him, Samrang, who had been lifting the travel pack prepared by the servants, tilted her head curiously.

“What is, Young Master?”

“Look at the bags under my eyes. They said at least I should take care of my face…”

He pointed under his eyes with a serious expression.

“And who told you that?”

She asked, puzzled.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Lowering his gaze, Yegyeol swallowed another sigh. Her reaction suddenly reminded him this wasn’t Korea, but Jianghu in the Central Plains.

Take care of your face anyway — that had been the iron rule passed down by the older espers. If you wanted to capture a guide’s heart, exploiting your natural good looks was the very basics. Some even used their pet animals to pull tricks.

Back then, he’d only clicked his tongue, thinking it ridiculous. Men whose characters cried for discipline instead sharing dermatology tips — pitiful.

But now that he had met his guide, he found himself peeking into mirrors more often.

Yegyeol pushed firmly against the shadows under his eyes.

The dark circles came from nightmares, restless through the night. The talk with Haryang had been the trigger.

“…Any news from Kunlun?”

“My lord severed all ties there.”

Samrang chuckled discreetly behind her hand. She had already prepared to climb the snowy mountain and cut down Baekyang Jin-in’s head, but Haryang had simply issued no such command. Somehow, she had guessed it was his last courtesy to his former sect. Instead, he had begun cutting every support to Kunlun.

The Taoists of Kunlun had always maintained airs of cloud-walking sages because their purse was padded. Now that their patron was gone…

Maybe intentional, maybe not. But after that, even the search for missing Young Master Wen fizzled away.

“I see.”

For now, Yegyeol sighed in relief, but he decided that at the next chance he’d deliberately drive a wedge between Baekyang Jin-in and Haryang. So he asked a mischievous question:

“By the way, what does Senior Brother do now that he’s handed me Qinghai Trading?”

At first, they had introduced him as their guild master. Soon after Qinghai was handed over, that title vanished, and everyone freely called him simply lord. Jinyoung and Samrang never hesitated — they seemed never to have meant to hide it.

“He invests. Travels across the Central Plains, funding promising people and enterprises, then takes shares of their profits. That is why our estate is often left empty.”

“Ahh.”

So that was the cover story.

Yegyeol nodded obediently, as though satisfied. The answer was too smooth, clearly practiced beforehand.

“He said juggling both trading and guild duties was too much. Having a reliable disciple eased his load.”

“Because of me?”

“Indeed. It’s harder to find someone trustworthy than merely talented.”

Samrang certainly had a knack for a courtier’s tongue, and Yegyeol, brimming with the makings of a tyrant, swallowed it whole.

“To think he praised me in my absence…”

Yegyeol blushed sheepishly — a sight almost designed to tug hearts. But to an assassin hardened to ice, Samrang felt little. Only wondered whether Jinyoung would still keep suspecting him even seeing this.

“Our lord always praises Young Master Wen.”

Empty flattery or not, it was pleasing to hear.

Suppressing a rising grin, Yegyeol stood.

“Let’s set off quickly.”

He couldn’t wait to return and boast to his Senior Brother of what he had done.

Whether she knew his eagerness or not, Samrang rose leisurely. Yegyeol also took along a black basin — for Baembeam.

Just yesterday, while seeking the snake after spending time with Haryang, he had stumbled across it swimming in the back pond. For a moment he thought raw gold dust was glittering there — but it had been the scales of the Millennium Thunder-Horned Python.

This creature could do almost anything — save fly.

Once it does, it’ll be a dragon soaring to heaven. Why remain on the ground?

Yegyeol fondly stroked his partner within his sleeve and stepped forward.

The second trip to Sichuan wasn’t as grueling as the first. His body was regaining vitality. Most matters were also swiftly handled by Samrang, sparing him effort.

Arriving, he had to meet the new branch sects with whom contracts had been signed. Though contracts as trading guild to sect had already been agreed, he hadn’t been present yet.

First came disciples of Qingcheng’s branch sect, Yipseon Sect. They alluded to Tang Clan pressing them. But offered no help themselves. Yegyeol only returned them a genial smile.

Expecting too much of an untrained civilian just because he’s got a good backer.

An S-class esper from Korea, dubbed a walking disaster, was shameless indeed.

Once their greetings and offerings were done, Yegyeol murmured to Samrang:

“With them, keep it strictly short-term.”

“Yes, as you say.”

Next came Okhyeong Sect, a branch disciple order of the Emei Sect, rooted in Chengdu, small but solid.

“Any difficulties?”

“None worth mentioning.”

“I heard of some frictions…”

Samrang had not told him, but after the hints from Yipseon Sect, Yegyeol guessed the pattern.

Tang’s unique closedness made them lenient inside, hostile outside.

“That is exactly why we hired your company’s escorting, is it not?”

Confident words. Yegyeol’s lips curved up. This was the spirit trustworthy for the future.

“Correct.”

Their meeting ended warmly. Later, alone with Samrang, Yegyeol whispered:

“For Okhyeong, extend longer.”

“You needn’t confirm with me.”

“I wasn’t asking. I was ordering.”

“…Understood.”

“And these frictions — Tang Clan troubles them often?”

“From what I’ve seen, not too badly. Just nudges, nothing dire.”

“I thought Yipseon was being more dire than that.”

Traders in Chengdu all had to mind the Tang Clan. That’s why Qinghai only gave branch sects modest contracts. For Yipseon to cry trouble already was odd.

“They say Okhyeong dares more because they have backing.”

“Not just Emei, surely.”

Same could be said of Yipseon backed by Qingcheng.

“Rumor is Okhyeong shelters a very special guest.”

Samrang’s eyes curved. Yegyeol didn’t ask how she knew — useful information sufficed.

“A special guest? Who?”

“That I can’t say. But if Okhyeong faces crisis, they may intervene.”

Her curious eyes all but pushed to send Okhyeong into danger just to test it. Yegyeol clicked his tongue — what a dangerous temperament she had.

“Is that today’s schedule finished?”

“Yes. Do you have other business?”

Feigning innocence, Samrang asked quietly.

“Buy gifts — something for Senior Brother, and something fit for Black Ghost.”

His voice drifted as he looked away. Samrang’s eyes narrowed. He too had keen senses.

“…I will escort you.”