An awkward silence followed Song Yiyeon's suggestion.
The martial artists of the Heavenly Tiger Unit looked at the Black Tortoise Unit's newest recruit as though he had said something absurd.
Even the members of the Black Tortoise Unit seemed to be hoping they would visit the Nangong family instead.
Such was the prestige of the Nangong family in the martial world.
Its patriarch was invariably counted among the greatest swordsmen of his generation, and the family had produced countless Martial Alliance Leaders throughout its long history.
Sensing the mood, Song Yiyeon cleared his throat.
"Ahem. My apologies. Please pretend you didn't hear that. Since we're already in Anhui, I simply thought it would be nice to offer my seniors some hospitality."
At his apology, Nangong Jin let out a faint chuckle.
Song heard it, but he could say nothing more.
After all, what else was there to say when the members of both the Heavenly Tiger Unit and the Black Tortoise Unit clearly preferred visiting the Nangong family over his own?
Just then, Zhuge Lin, who knew about the strained relationship between Song Yiyeon and Nangong Jin, glanced between them and quietly spoke up.
"Commander, why don't we simply visit the Song family?"
"Hmm..."
Cheol Jiak scratched his beard with his index finger.
Truthfully, he didn't particularly care whether they stayed with the Nangong family or the Anhui Song family.
He had never been the sort of man to admire someone merely because they belonged to a prestigious martial household.
He simply found the prospect of arranging separate accommodations in the middle of a mission rather troublesome.
Seeing that he was considering the matter, Zhuge Lin continued.
"No matter how distinguished the Nangong family may be, it would still be discourteous for so many people to arrive without warning. Besides, the Song and Nangong family residences aren't far apart, so staying with the Song family wouldn't interfere with our mission. And frankly, I'd feel rather uncomfortable imposing on someone else's household."
As she spoke, Zhuge Lin glanced toward Nangong Jin.
At the words "someone else's household," his eyebrows twitched.
He had been generous enough to extend an invitation to the likes of the Black Tortoise Unit, only for them to start drawing distinctions and keeping their distance.
He found that thoroughly displeasing.
However, with two unit commanders present, he could hardly speak out of turn.
A brief silence followed.
Then Cheol Jiak nodded.
"Very well. Let's do that. It would be rather shameless of so many of us to impose on a single household."
"Exactly. Our Black Tortoise Unit may be a little shameless, but even we have our limits."
Zhuge Lin smiled gently when she saw Song Yiyeon's expression brighten.
Meanwhile, the thoroughly oblivious Jang Woopyeong heaved a disappointed sigh.
"Ahh... If I don't visit the Nangong family now, when will I ever get another chance?"
Zhuge Lin immediately jabbed him in the side.
Only then did Jang Woopyeong realize what he had said.
He hurriedly turned toward Song Yiyeon and explained that he hadn't meant it that way.
Song merely gave him an easygoing smile.
"Our Song family is a wonderful place too, you know."
"Of course! Of course it is!"
Nevertheless, Jang Woopyeong and several other members of the Black Tortoise Unit couldn't entirely conceal their disappointment.
The martial world had always placed martial families above merchant families.
And when the martial family in question was the Nangong family, that preference was only natural.
******
"Commander, I could die today without a single regret."
Jang Woopyeong patted his enormous belly contentedly.
The other members of the Black Tortoise Unit seemed to share his sentiments.
The moment they arrived at the Song family residence, they had been ushered into an enormous banquet hall overflowing with food and wine.
Despite having already stuffed themselves with everything within reach, they found the servants continually arriving with fresh dishes and setting them on the tables.
"Hahaha! Why aren't you gentlemen eating more?"
A middle-aged man's hearty laughter rang throughout the banquet hall.
He was not particularly large in stature, yet his unusually deep-set eyes gave him a presence that seemed to command the very air around him.
He was Song Habaek, the head of the Anhui Song family.
Looking at the man, whose features closely resembled those of the Black Tortoise Unit's newest recruit, Jang Woopyeong found himself reflecting on his own assumptions.
I've been looking down on merchants without even realizing it.
In truth, he had never encountered a merchant of genuine standing.
The same was probably true of most of the martial artists present.
Their experience with merchants had generally been limited to watching ordinary vendors sell their wares in marketplaces.
Yet the head of the Song family standing before him was a truly remarkable man, entirely unlike the merchants Jang Woopyeong had imagined.
The Anhui Song family's wealth and influence were also far greater than he had expected.
He had heard that more than four hundred people depended on the family for their livelihoods, including servants and laborers.
In terms of sheer scale, the Song family was certainly no smaller than a respectable major martial sect.
Cheon Woojin, who had long since set down his chopsticks, was also observing Song Habaek with quiet astonishment.
He hasn't learned martial arts, yet his presence dominates everyone around him.
It was an entirely new experience.
Powerful martial artists naturally possessed a certain aura.
It was almost instinctive, something that radiated from them without conscious effort and left those around them feeling tense and apprehensive.
Yet Woojin was sensing a similar presence from a middle-aged man who had never trained in martial arts.
Just then, Song Yiyeon quietly approached and filled Woojin's wine cup.
"I was actually rather worried, but I'm relieved to see everyone enjoying themselves."
He glanced toward his father.
"By the way, what do you think of him? My father, I mean."
"He's a remarkable man."
Song Yiyeon broke into a broad grin.
"Right? I haven't lived all that long, but there are very few people I've met whom I consider truly remarkable. My father is one of them."
"He's certainly worthy of your admiration."
Woojin nodded calmly.
Young Hero Song's father possessed a peculiar charm.
His presence was substantial without being oppressive, and he had a way of putting people at ease.
If he could disarm even martial artists—people who were naturally wary and difficult to deal with—and persuade them to relax and drink freely, then ordinary merchants would hardly stand a chance of keeping their own intentions hidden from him.
Even Zhuge Lin and Cheol Jiak had flushed faces from all the drinking.
Of course, although their mission was temporarily suspended, it had not officially ended. Both were carefully circulating their internal energy to dispel the effects of the alcohol and maintain their readiness.
Song Yiyeon's eyes curved into his characteristic smile.
"Of course, Young Hero Cheon, you're another one of those remarkable people."
"Hmm?"
"Of course you are. When we were attacked during the examinations, I was genuinely terrified. It was the first time I'd ever confronted such vicious killing intent firsthand."
"..."
Cheon Woojin couldn't quite understand what he meant.
From the first time he had picked up a sword, to the occasions when his two masters had nearly killed him during training, to his encounters with the countless assassins and martial experts who had come after him...
He had never once felt afraid.
That remained true even when his martial abilities had been incomparably weaker than they were now.
White Master had once told him that this particular trait of his was rather unusual.
—So, when you make friends someday, if one of them says something you don't really understand, just nod along.
Recalling White Master's advice, Cheon Woojin gave a vague nod.
Song Yiyeon emptied his wine cup and grinned.
"I knew it! So even you were nervous, Young Hero Cheon. Still, what you did was incredible. Most people would have run away or called for help, but you pursued the mastermind and ended up destroying the entire West Heaven Society. All by yourself, no less! And that's not even everything. You stood up against the notorious Gu family, and when you faced the eldest son of the great Nangong family, instead of being intimidated, you actually made him retreat..."
"Hahaha! That Yiyeon brat has been holding a sword instead of a brush since he was little! Honestly, what a ridiculous child!"
Song Habaek's booming laughter interrupted Song Yiyeon in mid-sentence.
Naturally, both Song and Woojin turned toward him.
Seated across from Zhuge Lin and Cheol Jiak, Song Habaek was enthusiastically recounting stories from his son's childhood.
"A merchant's son, picking up a sword before he ever learned to hold a brush! And the boy was so sickly when he was young. You can't imagine how much I worried about him."
"Indeed! And now that disobedient son of yours has joined our Black Tortoise Unit as a new recruit. But what am I to do? Having heard of your worries, Family Head Song, I understand your feelings perfectly. Yet the boy's talent is so exceptional that I can't possibly tell him to abandon the sword! It puts me in quite a difficult position too!"
"What? Hahaha!"
"Hahahaha!"
Surprisingly, Cheol Jiak and Song Habaek seemed to be very much alike.
They were particularly delighted whenever the conversation turned to Song Yiyeon.
Song Habaek was fondly recalling his son's adorable childhood, while Cheol Jiak was remembering how endearing the young man had looked when he chose the Black Tortoise Unit over the prestigious Heavenly Tiger Unit.
Naturally, Song Yiyeon found the whole exchange terribly embarrassing.
He finally spoke up.
"Ahem. Father, it's getting rather late. We don't know when the Martial Alliance might contact us again, so perhaps we should call it a night..."
"Ah, of course! I hadn't realized the hour. I hope I haven't kept you busy gentlemen here too long."
Song Habaek sounded genuinely apologetic.
Cheol Jiak's eyes widened, and he hurriedly waved both hands.
"Not at all! Not at all! Our mission has been suspended for three days anyway. The important thing is to rest properly during that time and get ourselves into the best possible condition. And speaking for myself, the more I drink, the better my body feels!"
"Hahaha! Commander Cheol, it seems you and I have quite a lot in common."
"Hahaha! Then please, feel free to speak more casually with me. I may look like this, but I'm not even forty yet."
"You're joking!"
Song Habaek waved a dismissive hand.
However, Cheol Jiak's expression remained perfectly serious.
Seeing that, Song Habaek's smile slowly faded.
"Really?"
"...Yes."
"Ahem. Even so, how could I possibly address a commander of the Martial Alliance so informally?"
"Family Head, I'm disappointed! We've shared drinks together, and I thought we'd already become kindred spirits. I was even prepared to address you as my elder brother!"
In the end, the two men became sworn brothers on the very day they first met.
And once that had been settled, they ordered a servant to bring the wine by the jar.
At some point, the two men noticed the bewildered expressions on Song Yiyeon's and Cheon Woojin's faces.
Unlike the other unit members, who were already drinking enthusiastically, the two young men had little interest in alcohol and were simply sitting there listening to everyone's conversations.
Cheol Jiak reached into his robes, took out a money pouch, and handed it to Zhuge Lin.
Receiving the unexpected pouch, she tilted her head.
"Why are you suddenly giving me an allowance...?"
"Take the newcomers out to a tavern. It looks like our conversation is going to take quite a while."
Zhuge Lin narrowed her eyes.
"I'm still the Deputy Commander, you know..."
Even as she spoke, she beckoned to Jang Woopyeong, whom she spotted nearby.
Jang Woopyeong, whose face was flushed red, initially pretended not to notice.
But the moment Zhuge Lin's expression turned cold, he hurried over.
"Yes, Deputy Commander!"
"Take the youngsters out for a drink."
Jang Woopyeong blinked in confusion as she handed him the money pouch.
Cheol Jiak continued.
"There's something I need to discuss privately with the family head."
As he spoke, he gestured toward Song Yiyeon with his chin.
Apparently, the two men intended to discuss something concerning Song—something they felt would be inappropriate to bring up in front of him.
Jang Woopyeong was quick enough to understand the implication.
He nodded immediately.
"Understood! Since we've finally welcomed some new recruits, I'll treat them to a proper drink on behalf of the unit."
With that, Jang Woopyeong approached the two young men and draped his arms across their shoulders.
"Come on, youngsters. Let's leave the grown-ups to their conversation and go have a drink together."
As he discreetly tested the weight of the money pouch, Jang Woopyeong invited a few of the other unit members to accompany them.
Seeing this, Cheol Jiak's eyes widened.
Unfortunately, he had already handed over the pouch in a grand display of generosity.
Taking it back now would be far too embarrassing.
"There are so many people."
Cheon Woojin gazed around the bustling streets in open amazement.
Having spent nearly his entire life in the mountains, he still found the sight of so many people gathered in one place astonishing.
There had certainly been plenty of people in Hubei, where the Martial Alliance was headquartered.
Yet the marketplace in Hefei, Anhui Province, was so crowded that walking through it without bumping into someone was practically impossible.
There was a reason powerful martial households and merchant families, such as the Nangong family and the Anhui Song family, had established themselves here.
Suddenly, Woojin's gaze settled on the man walking ahead of them.
Jang Woopyeong, who still had an arm draped across Woojin's shoulders, noticed where he was looking and began explaining.
"That's Senior Do. He might not look it, but he's actually got a surprisingly gentle side. He's also served in the Black Tortoise Unit longer than anyone except the commander. Though he did sulk quite a bit when Deputy Commander Zhuge Lin was promoted above him. Ah, and he can be rather sensitive and stubborn sometimes. He's also a little timid, and..."
Jang Woopyeong abruptly fell silent.
Do Seonghwi had turned around and was staring directly at him.
Jang Woopyeong immediately adopted an innocent expression, as though he had never said a word.
Watching the exchange, Cheon Woojin nodded thoughtfully.
Just as I thought. The Black Tortoise Unit really is full of rather peculiar people.
How long had they been walking?
Eventually, following the guidance of Song Yiyeon, who had grown up in Hefei, the group arrived before a tavern.
Its magnificent exterior alone suggested that the establishment charged exorbitant prices.
Jang Woopyeong hesitated, nervously fingering the money pouch at his waist.
"The commander might actually kill me..."
Song Yiyeon offered him a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Senior. It may look extravagant, but the wine here isn't nearly as expensive as you'd think."
Of course, that was a lie.
The establishment before them, Cheonghwaru, was the most expensive tavern in the entire district.
Song Yiyeon had already decided that if the bill became too large, he would simply put it on his family's account.
This was his first opportunity to enjoy a private drink with his new seniors.
He couldn't very well take them to some ordinary tavern.
And so, the four men—Cheon Woojin, Song Yiyeon, Jang Woopyeong, and Do Seonghwi—entered Cheonghwaru.
"Oh my! Isn't this the eldest young master of the Song family?"
The speaker was a woman with a distinctly alluring presence.
Her voice was as clear and pleasing as jade beads rolling across a polished tray.
Between her appearance and her beautiful voice, both Jang Woopyeong and Do Seonghwi were already staring wide-eyed.
Song Yiyeon, however, answered quite naturally.
"I've come to enjoy a drink with some people who are very important to me. Do you have a room available?"
"Of course we do. And even if we didn't, we'd certainly find one for you."
The tavern owner's eyes curved into slender crescents as she laughed.
Although merchant families generally received less respect than martial households in the martial world, matters were quite different within the merchant community itself.
Anyone who wished to conduct business and make a living in Anhui needed to maintain good relations with the Anhui Song family, while taking care not to offend the Nangong family.
The tavern owner cast a meaningful glance toward her staff.
Immediately, the entire establishment sprang into coordinated motion.
"As it happens, our finest private room on the third floor is available. It overlooks the lake. Allow me to escort you there."
"Thank you."
Naturally, there was no chance that such a desirable room had simply happened to be vacant.
It was undoubtedly one of those rooms kept ready at all times for exceptionally important guests.
Guests just like the eldest son of the Song family.
The tavern owner led the way with an elegant, self-assured bearing.
Watching her, Jang Woopyeong looked at Song Yiyeon as though seeing him for the first time.
"Good heavens. Have we actually recruited a great young master into the Black Tortoise Unit?"
Song Yiyeon scratched his head awkwardly.
Then he glanced toward Cheon Woojin.
Could Young Hero Cheon be susceptible to a beautiful woman's charms too?
Woojin hadn't taken his eyes off the tavern owner for a single moment.
He was watching her with such unwavering attention that one might have thought he had just encountered his first love.
******
Before long, the four men were seated in their private room, and food and wine began arriving.
Everything looked extraordinarily expensive.
The dishes spread across the table practically seemed to gleam.
Jang Woopyeong's eyes widened.
Despite having already eaten his fill at the Song family residence, he found his mouth watering all over again.
Then the tavern owner, who had personally escorted them upstairs, spoke.
"Bring them in."
At her command, the courtesans waiting outside entered the room.
They were dressed in garments so revealing that they could scarcely be called fully clothed.
For some reason, the very air in the room seemed to grow humid.
While Jang Woopyeong's eyes darted about helplessly, Song Yiyeon abruptly sprang to his feet and waved his hands.
"No, no! We don't need any courtesans. I simply wanted to have a quiet drink with my seniors..."
The tavern owner smiled faintly.
"Oh? Are these girls not to your liking? Well, I suppose the eldest young master of the Song family is so handsome that he must have rather particular tastes."
She dismissed the courtesans with an understanding look.
Apparently, she was already considering which other women she should summon to replace them.
Once the tavern owner had stepped outside, Song Yiyeon let out a long sigh.
"Why would she arrange something I never asked for? My apologies, Seniors. If she sends more courtesans, I'll make sure they're sent away immediately."
Jang Woopyeong and Do Seonghwi merely shrugged.
Soon, the four men began exchanging cups of wine.
Only a short while passed.
"May we come in?"
A delicate, beautiful voice sounded from outside.
Before Song Yiyeon could even voice his refusal, the door slid smoothly open.
For a moment, both Do Seonghwi and Jang Woopyeong stared in astonishment.
Jang Woopyeong had always been a man who wore his emotions openly, but Do Seonghwi was different.
He ordinarily made an effort to maintain the dignity expected of a martial artist of the Martial Alliance.
Yet the courtesans who had just appeared were so extraordinarily beautiful that he had never encountered anyone like them in his life.
It was as though the legendary beauties Daji and Yang Guifei, whose charms were said to have shaken entire nations, had been reborn before his eyes.
Of course, their exceptional beauty wasn't the only reason the two men reacted that way.
"Hmm."
Cheon Woojin leaned against the wall and quietly observed the courtesans.
The moment they entered, a peculiar energy had begun circulating throughout the room.
There was something strangely cloying about the air, an almost tangible heaviness that interfered with one's breathing.
Unfortunately, neither of his two seniors seemed to notice anything amiss.
Song Yiyeon, on the other hand, appeared surprisingly unaffected.
Is his martial ability greater than I thought?
He clearly hadn't detected the strange energy itself.
Nevertheless, his lack of reaction was rather unexpected.
Song Yiyeon frowned slightly and waved a hand toward the courtesans, indicating that they should leave.
"We're in the middle of an important conversation, so please excuse us. We'd prefer to enjoy our meal quietly, just the four of us."
One of the courtesans knitted her delicate brows in disappointment.
Her eyes glistened with such pitiful sadness that it was difficult to look away.
"Great Hero, couldn't you allow us to pour just one cup of wine before we leave? We have our pride as women too. If we're turned away the moment we enter, the other courtesans will surely make fun of us."
Song Yiyeon sighed, plainly uncomfortable with the situation.
Meanwhile, Jang Woopyeong picked up a wine cup and spoke.
"Junior Song, why don't we let them do that much? They said the others would tease them. That wouldn't be right. No, it certainly wouldn't."
In the end, Song Yiyeon sighed once more and sat down.
His senior had already spoken in their favor.
And if the women truly intended to pour a single cup of wine before leaving, there was hardly any reason to make a fuss.
The courtesans settled beside the four men and began filling their cups.
Cheon Woojin's cup was filled as well.
He gazed at the wine for a moment, then raised it to his lips and drank without the slightest hesitation.
"Is this Yanghe Daqu?"
Yanghe Daqu was a precious wine, difficult to find even in the finest establishments.
Some enthusiasts traveled considerable distances simply for the opportunity to taste it.
One of his masters' greatest pleasures had been drinking, and Woojin remembered that both Black Master and White Master had been particularly fond of Yanghe Daqu.
The courtesan seated beside him looked surprised when he recognized it.
"You have excellent taste, my lord."
"My lord?"
"Ah! Forgive me. I should address you as Great Hero, shouldn't I? I've never served martial artists before, so I'm not quite accustomed to the proper forms of address. Hohoho."
Woojin continued savoring his wine with complete indifference.
Whether she addressed him as "my lord" or "Great Hero" was of no consequence to him.
As he rolled the lingering taste across his tongue, however, he noticed something unusual.
A faint, foreign flavor had been mixed into the wine.
At the same moment, an unfamiliar energy emerged from the wine that had entered his stomach and attempted to invade his dantian.
Yet before it could accomplish anything, that energy evaporated without a trace.
A faint smirk appeared on Cheon Woojin's lips.
Is this Beauty Poison?
Just then—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The three other members of the Martial Alliance—Song Yiyeon, Do Seonghwi, and Jang Woopyeong—collapsed forward, striking their foreheads against the table.
Beauty Poison was a peculiar type of poison.
Once absorbed into the body, its poisonous energy reacted with the energy of women trained in Yin-based martial techniques, disrupting the victim's internal energy circulation.
The poison itself was not particularly harmful to the body.
Rather, much like a paralysis poison, it temporarily deprived the victim of the ability to resist.
In other words, whoever had administered it clearly had some particular purpose in mind.
The four courtesans gently stroked the heads of the fallen Song Yiyeon, Do Seonghwi, and Jang Woopyeong.
Then, as though acting in perfect unison, they turned their attention toward Cheon Woojin.
A moment later, Woojin quietly closed his eyes.
Only then did faint smiles finally spread across the courtesans' faces.