The Youngest Member Chapter 24

A strange atmosphere ford at Song Yiyeon's remark.

The Heavenly Tiger Unit martial artists looked at the Black Tortoise Unit's newcor as if he was talking nonsense, and the Black Tortoise Unit martial artists also seed to want to visit the Nangong family inwardly.

That was the na of the Nangong family in the martial world. Its family head was always counted as one of the best swordsn of the era, and they had produced countless Martial Alliance Leaders.

Song Yiyeon, who was observing the atmosphere, let out a dry cough.

"Ahem, I'm sorry. Please pretend you didn't hear . I just wanted to host my seniors since we're in Anhui."

At Song Yiyeon's apology, Nangong Jin let out a slight laugh. Song Yiyeon also saw that laugh, but he could not open his mouth any further.

What more could he say when both the Heavenly Tiger Unit and the Black Tortoise Unit wanted the Nangong family more than the Anhui Song family?

Then, Zhuge Lin, who knew about the conflict between Song Yiyeon and Nangong Jin, glanced at them and said stealthily.

"Unit Commander, shall we just go to the Song family?"

"Hmm..."

Cheol Jiak scratched his beard with his index finger. In fact, it didn't matter much to him whether it was the Nangong family or the Anhui Song family. He wasn't the type to admire the na of the Nangong family in the first place.

It was just that it felt troubleso to set up a separate residence in the middle of a mission.

As Cheol Jiak seed to be thinking, Zhuge Lin's words continued.

"No matter how great the Nangong family is, it's also rude for so many people to visit so suddenly. Also, since the distance between the Song family and the Nangong family is close, it won't interfere with the mission. Furthermore, it feels like we're imposing on soone else's house."

Zhuge Lin, who said so, glanced at Nangong Jin. At the words 'soone else's house', Nangong Jin's eyebrows twitched strangely.

He had shown favor to the likes of the Black Tortoise Unit, but the sight of them drawing a line first was not at all pleasing. However, since there were two unit commanders here, he could not open his mouth carelessly.

A short ti passed.

"Well, let's do that. It's certainly a bit shaless for this many people to rely on one place."

"Exactly. Our Black Tortoise Unit is a bit shaless, but this is crossing the line."

Zhuge Lin, who had confird Song Yiyeon's brightened expression, burst into a gentle smile. In the anti, the clueless Jang Woopyeong let out a deep sigh.

"Phew, when else would I get to go to the Nangong family if not now."

The approaching Zhuge Lin poked him in the side. Jang Woopyeong belatedly told Song Yiyeon that he didn't an it that way, but Song Yiyeon smiled nonchalantly.

"Our Song family is also a very nice place."

"Of course, of course."

Of course, so Black Tortoise Unit mbers, including Jang Woopyeong, could not erase their inner disappointnt. Anyway, in the martial world, there was a strong tendency to value martial families more than rchant families.

And if that place was the Nangong family.

* * *

"Unit Commander, I have no regrets even if I die today."

Jang Woopyeong patted his huge belly. The other Black Tortoise Unit mbers were the sa.

As soon as they arrived at the Song family, a huge banquet hall was filled with alcohol and food. Even though they had stuffed their mouths with whatever they could, the servants were still bringing sothing and putting it on the table.

"Hahaha, why aren't you all eating more?"

A middle-aged man's hearty laugh filled the banquet hall. Although his fra was not large, the atmosphere flowing from his unique deep eyes seed to grip the surrounding air.

The master of the Anhui Song family, Song Habaek.

Jang Woopyeong, who faced him who looked exactly like the Black Tortoise Unit's newcor, inwardly reflected.

'I was unknowingly looking down on rchants.'

In fact, he had never t a proper rchant. It must have been the sa for everyone here. At most, all they had seen were rchants selling goods in the marketplace.

However, unlike the common tendency to look down on rchants in the martial world, the Song family head he actually saw was a very extraordinary man.

Also, the family called the Anhui Song family was also on a scale that was incomparable to what he had thought. The number of people who relied on the Song family, including servants and laborers, was said to be over four hundred, so it was by no ans lacking compared to a decent large sect in the martial world.

Cheon Woojin, who had put down his chopsticks long ago, was also inwardly surprised as he looked at the Song family head.

'Even though he's not a martial artist, his atmosphere is dominating the surroundings.'

It was a very fresh experience. Masters usually have an aura that emanates from them. It was sothing like an instinct, and it made others around them nervous without them realizing it.

That unique energy was being felt from a middle-aged man who had not even learned martial arts.

The stealthily approaching Song Yiyeon filled Cheon Woojin's wine glass.

"I was actually very worried, but I'm glad everyone likes it. By the way, what do you think? My father."

"He is a great person."

Song Yiyeon grinned broadly.

"Right. I haven't lived long, but there are few people I've felt were great, and one of them is my father."

"He is worthy of being felt that way."

Cheon Woojin calmly nodded his head.

Young hero Song's father had a charm that was not light but made people's hearts comfortable.

If he had the skill to disarm even martial artists, who were basically wary and difficult to deal with, and make them drink, then ordinary rchants would not even be able to have other thoughts in front of him.

Zhuge Lin and Cheol Jiak were also already drunk, so their faces were red. Of course, although they were on standby, the mission was not over, so they were appropriately releasing their drunkenness.

Song Yiyeon's eyes curved into his unique smile.

"Of course, young hero Cheon is also one of them."

"Hmm?"

"Of course he's great. When we were attacked during the exam, I was honestly scared. It was the first ti I had directly faced such a brutal energy."

"..."

Cheon Woojin actually didn't understand. When he first held a sword, when he was almost killed by his two masters, and when he faced the countless assassins and masters who ca to him...

He had never been afraid. Even when his martial might was so low that it couldn't be compared to now.

However, his White Master had said that such a disposition of his was peculiar.

- So, in the future, if you make a friend and you don't quite understand what that guy is saying, just nod your head.

Cheon Woojin, who recalled the White Master's words, roughly nodded his head.

Song Yiyeon, who had emptied his wine glass, grinned.

"As expected, the young hero was also nervous. Still, it's amazing. Usually, one would run away or ask for help, but you chased the mastermind and eventually destroyed the West Heaven Society. And single-handedly at that. Is that all? You also stood up to the infamous Gu family, and in front of the great Nangong family's eldest son, far from being intimidated, you made him run away..."

"Hahaha! That Yiyeon brat was a guy who held a sword instead of a brush since he was young. Really, how absurd."

Song Habaek's hearty laughter from over there cut off Song Yiyeon's words. Naturally, Song Yiyeon's and Cheon Woojin's gazes turned to him.

Song Habaek sat Zhuge Lin and Cheol Jiak in front of him and rambled on about Song Yiyeon's childhood.

"A rchant's son holding a sword first. Furthermore, since he was a child who was very sick when he was young, I was worried beyond words."

"A disobedient son has joined our Black Tortoise Unit as a newcor. But what should I do about this. I have learned of Family Head Song's worries, but since that guy's talent is so outstanding, I can't urge him to put down the sword... I'm also in a difficult situation."

"What? Hahaha!"

"Hahahaha!"

Surprisingly, Cheol Jiak and Song Habaek seed to be of a similar kind.

In particular, the expressions of the two talking about Song Yiyeon looked very happy.

Song Habaek recalled his son's cute childhood, and Cheol Jiak recalled the cute appearance of him now, who had chosen the Black Tortoise Unit instead of the Heavenly Tiger Unit.

Of course, Song Yiyeon felt quite embarrassed by his father's such behavior, so he said.

"Ahem, Father, it's getting quite late. We don't know when the alliance will contact us, so let's call it a day..."

"Ah, that's right. I don't know if I've kept you busy people for too long."

As Song Habaek said as if blaming himself, Cheol Jiak's eyes widened and he waved his hands.

"Not at all. In the first place, since the mission is suspended for three days, the most important thing is to rest well during that ti and get our bodies in the best condition. For your information, the more I drink, the more comfortable my body becos."

"As expected, our Commander Cheol seems to have quite a few things in common with ."

"Hahaha, please speak comfortably now. I may look like this, but I haven't even reached forty yet."

"You're kidding."

Song Habaek waved his hand in the air. However, Cheol Jiak's expression was very serious. Seeing this, Song Habaek's expression also beca serious.

"Really?"

"...Yes."

"Ahem, still, how can I speak informally to a unit commander of the Martial Alliance."

"Family Head, I'm disappointed. We've shared a drink like this and I thought our hearts were connected, so I was ready to serve you as an older brother."

In the end, the two, who had beco sworn brothers on their first eting, had a servant bring alcohol by the jar.

Suddenly, the two looked at the dumbfounded expressions of Song Yiyeon and Cheon Woojin. Unlike the other unit mbers who were already drinking heavily, the two had no interest in alcohol, so they were just sitting and watching people's conversations.

Cheol Jiak took out a money pouch from his robes and handed it to Zhuge Lin. Zhuge Lin, who had suddenly received the money, tilted her head.

"Why the sudden allowance..."

"Take the newcors over there and go to a tavern. It seems the conversation will get quite long."

Zhuge Lin's eyes narrowed.

"I'm still a deputy commander..."

Zhuge Lin, who said so, beckoned to Jang Woopyeong who was visible. Jang Woopyeong, who was pretending not to know with a red face, rushed over when he saw Zhuge Lin's expression turn cold.

"Yes, deputy commander."

"Take the kids and go."

Jang Woopyeong, who had received the money pouch, blinked his eyes.

Cheol Jiak's words continued.

"Because I have sothing to discuss privately with the family head."

As he said so, he pointed at Song Yiyeon with his chin. It seed they were going to talk about Song Yiyeon. Sothing that was a bit much to discuss in front of the person concerned.

The rather quick-witted Jang Woopyeong understood at once and nodded his head.

"Yes, still, since the newcors have co, I'll buy them a big drink as a representative."

Jang Woopyeong, who said so, approached the two and put his arms on their shoulders.

"Let the adults talk, shall we go for a drink among us newcors?"

Jang Woopyeong, who was estimating the weight of the money pouch, had the others next to him join in. Seeing this, Cheol Jiak's eyes widened, but since he had already handed over the money pouch while showing off, he couldn't take it back.

* * *

"There are a lot of people."

Cheon Woojin, who had co out to the street, looked around as if he was amazed. Having lived in the mountains his whole life, it was amazing to see so many people gathered.

Although there were many people in Hubei where the Martial Alliance was located, the marketplace in Hefei, Anhui Province, was so crowded that it was difficult to even walk properly.

There was a reason why huge martial and rchant families like the Nangong family and the Anhui Song family had settled there.

Suddenly, Cheon Woojin's gaze turned to the man walking ahead.

Jang Woopyeong, who had his arm on his shoulder, said.

"Our Senior Do may look like that, but he has a surprisingly gentle side. He's also been in the Black Tortoise Unit the longest after the unit commander. Although he was sulky when he lost his position to Deputy Commander Zhuge Lin. Ah, he also has a sowhat sensitive and self-willed side. And he also has a timid side..."

Jang Woopyeong, who made eye contact with Do Seonghwi who had suddenly turned around, shut his mouth with an expression of not knowing anything.

At that sight, Cheon Woojin nodded his head.

As expected, the Black Tortoise Unit seed to be a place where rather strange people were gathered.

How long had they walked like that? Following the guidance of Song Yiyeon, a native of Hefei, they arrived at a tavern.

Just by looking at its splendid exterior, it seed that it would boast a huge price.

Because of this, Jang Woopyeong hesitated and fumbled with his money pouch.

"I might be killed by the unit commander..."

Song Yiyeon gave a gentle smile.

"Don't worry. It may look like this, but the price of alcohol is not as expensive as you think."

Of course, it was a lie. The most expensive tavern in this area was this place, Cheonghwaru.

If the amount ca out to be excessive, he was planning to pay by giving his na. Since it was the first ti he was having a drink with his seniors separately, he couldn't just drink anywhere.

And so, the four, including Cheon Woojin and Song Yiyeon, entered Cheonghwaru.

"Oh, isn't it the eldest son of the Song family?"

A woman exuding a rather alluring atmosphere said in a voice like rolling jade beads. Thanks to the woman's appearance and voice, Jang Woopyeong's and Do Seonghwi's eyes were already wide.

However, Song Yiyeon answered nonchalantly.

"I've co for a drink with so precious people. Is there a seat available?"

"There is. No, even if there isn't, we have to make one."

The tavern owner's eyes curved thinly as she let out a laugh. Although rchant families received lower treatnt than martial families in the martial world, it was different among rchants.

To do business and live in Anhui, one had to maintain a close relationship with the Anhui Song family while not being on bad terms with the Nangong family.

As the tavern owner sent a look to the staff inside, the entire tavern moved in perfect order.

"As it happens, the best room on the third floor with a lake view is available, so I will escort you there."

"Thank you."

Of course, there was no way such a good room would be available by chance. It must have been a room that was always kept empty in preparation for when the most precious guest ca, just like now.

The tavern owner walked ahead with a rather dignified attitude. At that sight, Jang Woopyeong looked at Song Yiyeon as if it was new.

"What? A great young master has joined the Black Tortoise Unit?"

Song Yiyeon scratched his head awkwardly and glanced at Cheon Woojin.

'Is young hero Cheon also weak to won?'

Cheon Woojin was not taking his eyes off the tavern owner for a mont, as if he had t his first love.

* * *

Soon, as the four entered the room, alcohol and food were served. At a glance, it looked very expensive. It was as if the food on the table was shining.

Jang Woopyeong's eyes widened. Even though he had eaten his fill at the Song family, his mouth was watering again.

Soon, the tavern owner who had guided the four said.

"Bring them in."

At the sa ti, the courtesans who were waiting outside the door entered the room, half-naked. For so reason, the room suddenly felt humid.

While Jang Woopyeong's eyes were rolling, Song Yiyeon shot up and waved his hands.

"No, the courtesans are fine. I just wanted to have a quiet drink with my seniors..."

The tavern owner gave a slight smile.

"You don't like the girls? Well, since you're the son of the Song family and so handso, you must have high standards."

The tavern owner dismissed the courtesans as if she knew everything. She was on the verge of bringing other courtesans from the tavern.

After the tavern owner left, Song Yiyeon let out a long sigh.

"Why do sothing I didn't even ask for. I'm sorry, if the courtesans co again, I'll send them back imdiately."

Jang Woopyeong and Do Seonghwi shrugged their shoulders.

Soon, wine glasses were exchanged between the four.

A very short ti passed.

"May I co in?"

A thin, beautiful voice was heard, and before Song Yiyeon could even refuse, the door opened smoothly.

For a mont, Do Seonghwi's and Jang Woopyeong's eyes widened. Although Jang Woopyeong was a man who was honest with his emotions, Do Seonghwi was a person who tried not to lose his dignity as a mber of the alliance.

However, the appearance of the courtesans who appeared was so outstanding that he had never seen or heard of it in his life. It was as if he was seeing the reincarnation of Daji or Yang Guifei, who were said to have shaken the country.

Of course, the reason the two felt that way was not just because of the courtesans' outstanding appearance.

"Hmm."

Cheon Woojin leaned against the wall and observed the courtesans. A strange air was circulating in the room at the sa ti as their appearance.

There was sothing sticky that interfered with breathing, but unfortunately, the two seniors did not seem to have noticed.

On the other hand, Song Yiyeon looked surprisingly fine.

'Was his martial might higher than I expected?'

It was clear that he had not seen anything else, but it was a very strange thing.

Song Yiyeon, who had frowned slightly, waved his hands at the courtesans as if to tell them to leave.

"We're in the middle of an important conversation, so please leave. We want to have a quiet al by ourselves."

A courtesan gathered her eyebrows as if she was very disappointed and her pupils shone pitifully.

"Great hero, then can't we just offer one drink and go back? We are also won with our own pride, so if we are kicked out as soon as we enter, we will be ridiculed by the other courtesans."

Song Yiyeon let out a sigh as if he was in a difficult situation. In the anti, Jang Woopyeong brought a wine glass and said.

"Junior Song, let's do that. They say they might be teased. That's not right. No, it's not right."

In the end, Song Yiyeon, who let out a sigh, sat down. Since his senior was saying so, and they were just giving one drink and leaving...

Soon, the courtesans sat next to the four and began to fill their wine glasses.

Cheon Woojin's wine glass was also filled with alcohol. Cheon Woojin, who was staring blankly at it, drank it without a mont's hesitation.

"Is this Yanghe Daqu wine?"

Yanghe Daqu was a precious wine that was hard to find even in decent high-end taverns. There were even people who ca from far away to drink it.

One of his masters' great pleasures was alcohol, and he rembered that both of them enjoyed drinking Yanghe Daqu.

When Cheon Woojin showed that he knew, the courtesan sitting next to him was surprised.

"You have good taste, my lord."

"My lord?"

"Ah, I will call you great hero. Actually, it's my first ti serving martial artists, so it's awkward, hohoho."

Cheon Woojin nonchalantly savored the taste of the alcohol. It didn't matter whether he was a lord or a great hero.

While he was smacking his lips, he felt a heterogeneous taste. At the sa ti, a certain energy that flowed out from the alcohol that had gone down his stomach tried to invade his dantian, but it evaporated in an instant.

Cheon Woojin let out a smirk.

'Is it a beauty poison?'

At the sa ti, the three alliance mbers, including Song Yiyeon, slamd their foreheads on the table, thud, thud, thud.

Beauty poison was a poison where the poison energy absorbed into the body reacted with the energy of a woman who had learned yin techniques, cutting off the flow of ki.

It was not a poison that hard the body on its own, but just made one unable to resist for a short ti, like a paralysis poison.

In other words, it ant that they had so purpose.

The four courtesans gently stroked the heads of the fallen Song Yiyeon, Do Seonghwi, and Jang Woopyeong, and all looked at Cheon Woojin at once.

Soon, as Cheon Woojin quietly closed his eyes, a thin smile finally spread across the courtesans' faces.

(End of Chapter)