141 – Heavenly Fortune
The outskirts of Gansu Province were crowded with a massive throng of people.
The great gateway, an essential passage for those heading toward the heart of the Central Plains, was a veritable sea of humanity.
Commoners carrying bundles and unremarkable third-rate warriors with swords at their hips stood in long lines at the side gates. Those using the massive central main gate were draped in luxurious silk clothes, riding horses or carriages.
Unlike the government soldiers who inspected the side gates with piercing eyes, the soldiers at the main gate maintained a consistently polite and formal demeanor.
“Young Master, we are almost at the gate.”
A convoy warrior standing beside the carriage spoke toward the closed window. The carriage, carved from glossy ebony, had its ceiling covered with red curtains woven from the finest silk.
The light armor on the backs of those escorting the carriage bore embroidery identifying them as members of the Haeun Express. It was an image of auspicious clouds covering a white and blue sea.
When it was the turn for the Haeun Express carriage to be verified, the tightly closed wooden window opened, and a white hand reached out. The hand was such a delicate, jade-like beauty that the high-grade identification token it held only caught the eye belatedly. The convoy warrior, who took the exquisitely cast silver token, secretly handed over silver coins to the government soldier as he spoke.
“This is the Young Master of the Haeun Express.”
The soldier’s eyes widened, and he soon checked the token meticulously. To be more precise, he was simply taking his time to skillfully slide the received silver into his sleeve.
It was rare to see a silver token cast with such precision. Furthermore, the martial prowess of the [visit our site]escort warriors appeared to be at least first-rate.
Moreover, information had already been passed down that the Haeun Express would be passing through Gansu Province carrying precious cargo. Of course, as a government soldier, he should have searched the carriage thoroughly even with reliable information, but the Young Master was none other than the successor of the Haeun Express.
The Haeun Express was already widely known in Gansu Province, as they transported tribute for the Imperial Court and military supplies.
Pffft! A black horse, whose nostrils seemed twice the size of any other, let out a powerful snort. It stamped its feet in place, showing the whites of its eyes as if demanding to be let through quickly; its demeanor was extraordinary.
Judging by the size of the carriage, it should have taken at least two horses to pull it without strain, yet there was only one. However, that single horse was so massive and possessed such a formidable aura that the soldier instinctively stepped back.
“Verified.”
The soldier handed the silver token back to the warrior.
‘The momentum of the Haeun Express is indeed impressive. To think such a legendary steed is reduced to pulling a mere carriage.’
The soldier ordered the way to be cleared, as if no further verification was needed. It was just as the two lead warriors on horseback, the carriage, and the remaining escorts were about to pass through the Gansu Province gate.
“Stop right there!”
A government soldier holding a long spear bluntly blocked their path. It was right beneath the gate, where stones had been stacked to form a gentle line.
The soldier who had received the bribe wore an expression that said, ‘That bastard again!’ The subordinate was so stubborn and rigid that he had been reprimanded several times for applying excessive principles even to high-ranking officials.
“Even if the identification token has been verified, I must check the inside of the carriage.”
The warriors surrounding the carriage exchanged glances before reporting to the Young Master.
“Young Master, they say they must check the inside of the carriage.”
The wooden window opened once more, and a small voice leaked out, saying, “…It is fine.” As the warrior opened the carriage door, the soldier peered inside with sharp eyes.
Inside the massive carriage, which looked as if a whole room had been plucked and placed there, sat two men.
“Was the Young Master of the Haeun Express not the only one inside?”
The two men sat facing each other across a central table. Both were wearing bamboo hats, but the man with the jade-like hands revealed his face first.
“I am the Young Master.”
Finely tied acorn-colored hair flowed down his shoulders like silk, adorning his upper body. For a moment, a dazed expression crossed the soldier’s fierce face, but he soon cleared his rough throat with a cough. The Young Master spoke with a bright smile.
“This person is my friend, Young Master Lee of the Qinghai Hoguk Merchant Guild.”
Young Master Lee neither removed his bamboo hat nor produced an identification token to prove his status. As the Young Master slightly lifted his upper body, a fragrance so pure it felt as if it cleared one’s sinuses wafted out.
On behalf of Young Master Lee, the Young Master took an identification token from a box placed beside him and held it out. The soldier glanced at it and then told him to remove the bamboo hat as well. As the Young Master lightly bit his lip, two erotic moles beneath his chin moved along with it.
“That is enough.”
Just as Young Master Lee was about to remove his hat, the one who had taken the bribe barked lowly and pulled him back. However, Young Master Lee had already set the bamboo hat down.
Because of that, the one who had pulled the soldier was instead able to see both of their faces clearly. They say those living in Qinghai all have clear complexions and great spirit, and that was no lie. However, before he could look further, the carriage door was firmly shut by a warrior’s hand.
Soon, the Haeun Express carriage carrying the Young Master passed through the Gansu Province gate.
“This is strange.”
“What is! Even if it’s a certain fact that the Haeun Express is on a convoy to the Namgung Clan!”
The soldier snapped at his subordinate, fearing that the fact he had taken a bribe might have been discovered.
“From what I know, Young Master Lee of the Qinghai Hoguk Merchant Guild is the most frail person under heaven, and I heard he rarely shows himself in public. Yet, far from being frail, he looks so robust that it can’t help but be strange.”
Tsk, tsk, the soldier clicked his tongue openly.
“Your eyes must be on the ground. He looked frail at a glance.”
The soldier had mistaken the beautiful, pale man for Young Master Lee of the Hoguk Merchant Guild, and the handsome man with the imposing build and extraordinary aura for the Young Master of the Haeun Express. To anyone’s eyes, the pale man looked the more timid.
The subordinate’s suspicious gaze was now filled with distrust toward his superior. It was a look that asked, ‘Who is the one with eyes on the ground?’ However, their interest soon shifted to a fight between third-rate warriors occurring at the side gate.
And at that same moment, the Read on Read BL NovelsYoung Master of the Haeun Express inside the carriage visit our sitepressed his hand firmly against his heart.
“I thought it was going to explode. Seriously.”
The rapid thumping of his heart was transmitted directly to Ho-yeon’s palm.
“Your Transformation was quite impressive.”
For someone so nervous, his act as the Young Master of the Haeun Express was decent. Even toward Mu-gyeong, who was teasing him by bringing up his slip of the tongue, Ho-yeon let out a joyful sigh of relief, asking, “Was it really okay?”
Mu-gyeong smirked. This was Wi Ho-yeon’s nature. Because his heart was pure, he took teasing as a compliment. Thanks to that, his intuition was terrible.
The three, who had left the hundred thousand great mountains a few days ago, had stopped by Qinghai to contact the Haeun Express, and from then on, their journey to Hangzhou had changed to a convoy trip.
The superficial purpose was to transport dozens of rhinoceros horns ordered by the Namgung Clan, along with Western musk and hundred-year-old He Shou Wu.
Do-gyeon was currently posing as a warrior, using the Face-Changing Technique to change his handsome features into a square jaw. He was the warrior who had taken the token from Ho-yeon and handed it to the soldier, and he was currently dragging along a disgruntled Tae-pyeong.
Although it was the outskirts of Gansu Province, the scale was considerable, and the area was bustling with numerous carriages and horses. The carriage headed toward an inn illuminated by many yellow lanterns. The inn, which appeared to be about three stories high, boasted the third-largest size within the border town.
As soon as the carriage stopped and the door opened, Ho-yeon quickly put his bamboo hat back on. Exhausted from the long carriage ride, Ho-yeon bolted outside. Even so, he did not forget to wait for Cheon Mu-gyeong, who would follow.
He was also wearing a bamboo hat, but his massive build, hidden beneath a black long robe, could not be concealed at all. Before entering the inn, Ho-yeon whispered to him.
“Shouldn’t you change your face and shrink your build like before?”
Like he had done at the Jade Pavilion and in the lands of the ethnic minorities.
“There is no need for such effort.”
“Then why did I have to?”
As they entered the inn, the smell of sweat from rough men was replaced by the fragrance of fine liquor and powder.
“What if someone recognizes you?”
Ho-yeon’s worry, which had persisted since Qinghai, continued here.
“I wonder if that would happen as long as you are with me.”
At the loud greeting of a waiter—”Welcome!”—Ho-yeon briefly shifted his gaze there and then back to Mu-gyeong.
“Does your identity have something to do with me…?”
Meanwhile, Do-gyeon, who had changed his face with the Face-Changing Technique, thrust one tael of silver into the hand of the rushing waiter and spoke pompously.
“Prepare meat cooked without any grease and white rice cakes, perfectly suited to our Young Master’s taste! Also, bring the most precious fine liquor in this inn. We shall pay without shortage!”
Having even changed his voice to a nasal [unauthorized copy]tone, Do-gyeon was fully immersed in his role as a loyal confidant.
Even while the waiter guided them to their seats, Mu-gyeong did not give an answer. Ho-yeon tried to deduce the reason in his own way, but no clear answer came. Not even by the time the waiter, who had received the silver, brought out enough food to break the table legs.
Ho-yeon, worn out from the carriage, soothed his stomach with a simple porridge, while Mu-gyeong drank liquor first instead of eating.
Instead of the rice cakes he liked, Ho-yeon placed a dish of boiled and seasoned chicken in Mu-gyeong’s bowl.
“Eat this too, and drink your liquor.”
Beside them, Do-gyeon, with a face that still felt unfamiliar, was eating with a silly grin.
Since neither of them had removed their bamboo hats, they did not stand out much to the other guests, but Cheon Mu-gyeong’s build and the white skin of Ho-yeon’s arms peeking out from his sleeves were enough to draw attention.
“Are we staying here tonight?”
Ho-yeon asked with a slightly happy expression.
“As if anyone would recognize me.”
“I mean, what is it?”
“I am saying, who would use such a tone with this seat?”
“…….”
It was true. Who in the world could use words like ‘you’ or ‘your’ toward the heavenly demon?
“You told me that I was the only one for you…”
Ho-yeon used those words as a shield. Then, with his stomach slightly settled, he munched on a rice cake. When Cheon Mu-gyeong tilted his liquor cup, his eyes, which had been hidden in the shadow of the bamboo hat, became visible. Ho-yeon instinctively brushed his cheek at the gaze that seemed to be smiling at him.
“Do you have business with me?”
Then, at the words of Cheon Mu-gyeong, who set down his cup with a clack, Ho-yeon’s eyes widened. Ho-yeon quickly looked up. He hadn’t seen him clearly because of the bamboo hat, but a man dressed elegantly in a green long robe was standing behind Cheon Mu-gyeong. Judging by the sword worn at his side, he seemed to be a martial artist.
He placed the fine liquor he was holding between Ho-yeon and Mu-gyeong and laughed boisterously.
“Pleasure to meet you! I heard you came from the Haeun Express, and I simply couldn’t pass you by.”
Ho-yeon steadied his heart to avoid getting nervous, and Cheon Mu-gyeong once again indifferently tilted his liquor cup.
“Since I have encountered you while this seat was wandering the jianghu, is this not a tremendous fate?”
He was a very young man to be using the title ‘this seat.’ Even so, Ho-yeon thought that ‘this seat’ indeed suited Cheon Mu-gyeong the best.
“I am Namgung Won of the Namgung Clan.”
The man who had approached them so boldly was the greatest beauty of the Central Plains unauthorized copyand a prodigy of the region who had gained fame through the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.
Enjoying the story?Support me on Ko-fi
Comments 0
You must be logged in to comment.
No comments yet. Be the first!