Episode 26: Few n Know Flowers
"Loser? Isn't it just a transportation business for ships and goods along the Xiang River waterway? Besides, the upper reaches of the Xiang River are the territory of the Heavenly Observation Pavilion."
When Won Seung subtly belittled them, the warrior's face twisted with displeasure.
"The Xiang River waterway is just one of the businesses of the Clear Water Sect. The Clear Water Sect is..."
"Enough. I'm not interested in trivial matters, so there's no need to elaborate... Does the Clear Water Sect have any martial arts masters?"
The face of the Clear Water Sect warrior turned bright red. Such arrogance!
"Even beggars on the streets of Xiangyang know that the Clear Water Sect is swarming with masters. They're too nurous to count, especially the Three Gate Lords..."
"Ah, ah, enough. I have ears too, so I know about the Three Gate Lords of the Clear Water Sect. Isn't the second one among the Top 100 Masters? Besides the Three Gate Lords, is there anyone else noteworthy?"
"Hmph! The children of the Great Gate Lord are already masters at their peak..."
The warrior, provoked by Won Seung, began listing the masters of the Clear Water Sect. After hearing it all, Won Seung expressed admiration.
"Hmm. Impressive. Truly worthy of being called the overlords of Xiangyang? Is the Heavenly Observation Pavilion similar?"
"Hmph! The Heavenly Observation Pavilion may flaunt the prestige of the Daoist Forest, but they are no match for us."
The warrior strongly protested, showing his bias.
The Daoist Forest is part of the Three Great Blade Sects.
The Three Great Blade Sects are comparable in reputation and power to the Four Great Sword Sects. The Clear Water Sect and the Heavenly Observation Pavilion are fiercely competing for dominance in Xiangyang, each representing their own sect leader.
If the Clear Water Sect has Hua Cheon-gang, the Heavenly Observation Pavilion boasts Do Baek Cheon Il-hae, also counted among the Top 100 Masters of the Central Plains. The power of these two visible forces is evenly matched, and only a true confrontation would reveal the outco.
Won Seung, aware of the situation in Xiangyang's martial world, inwardly scoffed at the warrior's words.
'If I kill Hua Cheon-gang, you'll be swallowed by the Heavenly Observation Pavilion imdiately.'
Won Seung suspected that the client for Hua Cheon-gang's assassination was the Heavenly Observation Pavilion.
'But who is that man in brown clothes, and where did he suddenly appear from?'
To dare challenge a Top 100 Master of the Central Plains. Could he be an underling of the Heavenly Observation Pavilion? It's possible. Or perhaps from Red Blood Mountain?
Won Seung doubted that Red Blood Mountain would entrust the mission of assassinating a Top 100 Master to a trainee like himself.
'I must be expendable. If I succeed, great; if I fail, they discard ... They probably sent a real assassin while using as a decoy. Could that man in brown clothes be from Red Blood Mountain?'
As of now, nothing is certain. Won Seung is not one to indulge in vague speculations.
Shaking off his chaotic thoughts, he explored the outer courtyard, observing the terrain. While his eyes scanned the paths, he continuously asked questions about the martial sect with a tone of admiration, preventing the warriors from suspecting anything.
As they passed by Wolhyeongmun, which was connected to the inner courtyard, the laughter of won could be heard from inside.
Won Seung's gaze naturally turned towards the inside of Wolhyeongmun, where three won were passing by, laughing as if sharing sothing amusing.
"Oh?"
One of the three won was Hua Yeo-wol, whom he had t yesterday. Hua Yeo-wol noticed his gaze and turned to see Won Seung, their eyes eting.
"What brings you to the Clear Water Sect?"
Hua Yeo-wol approached with a friendly expression and asked.
"Uh, I'm staying here for a while on business. You... Ah, you're also a Hwa, so you're from the Clear Water Sect?"
"Watch your words. This is the precious daughter of the Third Elder."
The warrior, who had been polite until now, suddenly changed his attitude and spoke bluntly.
Of course, Won Seung didn't care at all.
"Ah, I see! No wonder..."
"No wonder what?"
"You were so generous, buying drinks for a stranger?"
When Won Seung ntioned yesterday's events, Hua Yeo-wol shook her head.
"I don't see you as a man. It's more like having a younger brother."
"That comnt is a bit unsettling. I may look young, but we're probably around the sa age."
Won Seung frowned, but Hua Yeo-wol chuckled.
"Why are you laughing? Don't you believe ?"
"Oh, sorry. I wasn't laughing at you."
Seeing Won Seung reminded Hua Yeo-wol of the humiliation suffered by the clan's guards, making her laugh.
"That hornet must have fled a thousand miles by now."
"Who knows? Maybe he couldn't resist the allure of the Milsohwa scent and ca back."
The two conversed as if they were close friends, leaving the warriors and the won beside them bewildered.
A petite woman asked, "Who is this person?"
"Oh, right! Let introduce you. He's a scholar from the Imperial Capital."
Hua Yeo-wol introduced the two won.
"This is Yang Yeon-seo, and this is So San-san."
"I'm Seung."
Won Seung introduced himself, omitting his surna. Having re-entered the world, he didn't want to hide his na.
"Seung? Is that your surna or your na?"
Yang Yeon-seo asked.
"It's my na. I'll tell you my surna if fate allows."
Yang Yeon-seo and So San-san looked puzzled, but Hua Yeo-wol, knowing Won Seung's eccentricity, laughed and said,
"Seung values fate. I didn't even hear his na yesterday."
Hua Yeo-wol added introductions about Yang Yeon-seo and So San-san.
"Yeon-seo is the younger sister of Senior Brother Yang, whom you t yesterday. San-san is the only daughter of the Governor."
"Governor? The Governor of Xiangyang?"
eting the daughter of a high-ranking official in the Clear Water Sect was unexpected.
Won Seung looked at So San-san. Although all three were well-dressed, So San-san seed more lavishly adorned. Moreover, she appeared sowhat delicate, evoking a protective instinct.
So San-san seed to want to say sothing but hesitated.
Hua Yeo-wol spoke on her behalf.
"San-san lived in the Imperial Capital until she was ten. She ca to Xiangyang five years ago with her father."
"Oh, really? Then you've been to Ilseonru?"
"Uh-huh. It's really delicious there."
When Won Seung ntioned a place she knew, So San-san's eyes sparkled with delight.
"I miss the Imperial Capital."
'She grew up sheltered, unaware of the world's harsh realities.'
Missing the blood-soaked Imperial Capital.
All three were fellow students of the Cheongsan Academy, with Hua Yeo-wol, at seventeen, being the eldest.
Yang Yeon-seo and So San-san were fifteen, a year younger than Won Seung. Unlike the lively Hua Yeo-wol, Yang Yeon-seo and So San-san behaved with the decorum typical of daughters from scholarly families.
"We're on our way to see the new flowers planted in the garden. Want to join us?"
"Ah, miss. This person is involved in so incident..."
The warrior in charge of surveillance hesitated, but Won Seung interrupted.
"Wait here."
Won Seung ordered as if the warrior were his servant and left with Hua Yeo-wol's group.
Hua Yeo-wol led them to her garden and pointed to a spot.
"Over there. It's called Geumyeonghwa, a very rare flower."
A cluster of golden flowers shimred by the pond.
'That's a poisonous plant.'
As Won Seung examined the Geumyeonghwa, he muttered to himself. It resembled Geummawha, a poisonous plant. Consuming the dried root poison damages the kidneys, leading to death.
Unaware of this, the three won continued to admire the beauty of the Geumyeonghwa. The yellow flowers, combined with the jade-green pond, indeed appeared elegant.
"Oh, to see Suranseol here. That's unexpected."
Won Seung marveled at the cluster of aquatic plants. Suranseol is notoriously difficult to cultivate.
"Oh my, do you know about flowers?"
So San-san, who had a keen interest in flowers and gardens, asked.
"The heart that tends to flowers is the heart of a gentleman."
When Won Seung spoke nonchalantly, a deep light appeared in So San-san's eyes.
"It's the first ti I've heard soone say that."
"There won't be anyone else. Few n know flowers."
Won Seung shrugged and explained the various flowers blooming throughout Hua Yeo-wol's garden. The three won were impressed by Won Seung's extensive knowledge of flowers. In truth, he had learned it to master poisons, but to the won, a man knowledgeable about flowers was intriguing.
"Indeed, people from the Imperial Capital are different."
Yang Yeon-seo admired.
While Won Seung basked in the admiration of the three won, soone entered the garden's entrance, clearing their throat. Turning around, a middle-aged man approached with a displeased expression.
Looking over forty but not yet fifty, Hwa Cheon Woon had a calm deanor and an appearance akin to a scholar. However, Won Seung knew he was the third-ranked expert in the Clear Water Sect and a martial artist comparable to the Top 100 Masters. Thus, he cautiously managed his energy.
Hwa Cheon Woon, having gone to the guesthouse and not finding Won Seung, ca directly upon hearing that he was with his daughter in the inner garden.
As Hwa Cheon Woon approached, he scrutinized Won Seung and spoke.
"Are you the one Jung Ho-chang brought in?"
Though his voice carried no emotion, there was a hint of coldness.
"Ah, Father."
Hua Yeo-wol was taken aback, not expecting her father to appear suddenly. Moreover, he was unusually cold.
Won Seung, with a nonchalant expression, reassured Hua Yeo-wol.
"There was a bit of misunderstanding. Don't worry."
Then, he slightly bowed to Hwa Cheon Woon and spoke.
"I wasn't brought in; I ca on my own. You must be the esteed Third Master of the Clear Water Sect."
When Won Seung responded without any hesitation, Hwa Cheon Woon's eyes twitched slightly.
'This brat?'
To address the Third Master of the Clear Water Sect as if he were a neighbor.
Hwa Cheon Woon looked Won Seung up and down, nodding at his scholarly attire.
'If he doesn't know the martial world... that might explain it.'
Hwa Cheon Woon alternated his gaze between Won Seung and Hua Yeo-wol and asked.
"What business does a man have in a won's garden?"
"I just followed along because they were showing the garden. After all, a garden is cultivated to be shown to soone, isn't it?"
"That's right. I invited him."
Hua Yeo-wol chid in. Hwa Cheon Woon, seeing his beloved daughter speak up, softened his voice but maintained a stern face.
"Haven't I told you not to bring outsiders into the inner garden?"
Hua Yeo-wol pouted but couldn't sulk at her father in front of others.
"Oh, I see. I'm an outsider. Then I'll be on my way."
Won Seung said to Hua Yeo-wol.
"Thank you for showing the beautiful garden. I'll be going now. It was nice eting you, Yeon-seo and San-san."
He then turned to leave.
"Wait."
Hwa Cheon Woon stopped Won Seung.
"I have sothing to discuss. Co with ."
Hwa Cheon Woon led Won Seung away, and Hua Yeo-wol tilted her head in curiosity as she watched them go.
'Why is Father looking for Seung? No, more importantly, why did he co to the main sect?'
*
Entering Hwa Cheon Woon's office, Won Seung felt like he was stepping into a scholar's study rather than a martial family's room. It was similar to his father's room in Won Manor.
'They say all the strategies of the Clear Water Sect co from the Third Master...'
Won Seung recalled information from Red Blood Mountain. While his martial arts might not surpass Hua Cheon-gang's, Hwa Cheon Woon was the most dangerous person in the Clear Water Sect.
'Those who kill with strategy are more insidious.'
Maidservants brought tea to the tea table.
"Please have so."
Won Seung took a sip of the tea.
Hwa Cheon Woon's sharp gaze calmly swept over Won Seung from head to toe.
He doesn't force answers through intimidation. He believes that answers given out of fear may not be complete.
He enjoys piercing through deception, distinguishing truth from lies, and piecing together fragnts of truth.
Thus, while the world views the Third Master of the Clear Water Sect as gentle, those who know his true nature say he is more ruthless than anyone.
Hwa Cheon Woon silently observed Won Seung. Most people cannot endure such silence.
However.
Won Seung nodded and nonchalantly remarked.
"Indeed, the Third Master's tea is sowhat better."
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