Chapter 21

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I took a deep breath, opened the door, and ran straight toward my father. “Father!”
“Didn’t I tell you not to run in my room?” he scolded.
I giggled.
“Why are you up already? Aren’t you tired?” Father asked.
“I’m fine.”
Even though he’d raised his voice at me just moments before, he now hugged me lightly with a gentle expression and sat me by his side. “You’ve already met, but this is my daughter, Baengri Yeon,” he said, introducing me to Lord Wan.
My interruption had prevented them from arguing further, but the frustration was still visible on Namgoong Wan’s face. His presence had been imposing even before despite his dirt-ridden clothes, but now… Freshly bathed, clean-shaven, and dressed in indigo silk robes, it was clear that Lord Wan was an incredibly handsome man. He had a masculine face with strong features and thick brows, but there was also something about him that hinted at arrogance and danger.
He was nothing like my gentlemanly father. Many wondered how two people so different in everything from appearance to personality could become friends. Perhaps it’s because they are evenly matched in their martial prowess. They’d both achieved similar accomplishments at similar ages, after all. People were even placing bets on who would reach the grandmaster stage first.
But isn’t it obvious that it’ll be my father?
That is… If he can stay alive...
Father now introduced Lord Wan to me. “And this is Namgoong Wan, deputy head to the Namgoong clan as well as my old friend.”
“Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from Father,” I said politely.
“Nothing good, I’m sure,” Lord Wan replied.
I blinked frantically, not knowing how to respond to his unexpected sarcasm. Father sighed and rubbed his forehead.
Eondu soon appeared with a tray holding a teapot, three teacups, and light snacks. As always, I picked up a treat and held it to my father’s mouth. Father chewed instinctively, not realizing what had happened until he lifted the teapot to pour Lord Wan a drink. He looked at Lord Wan to find him aghast, his jaw hanging open in disbelief.
Just as Lord Wan was about to speak, I quickly moved my tiny hands to feed him a snack as well. Now that both men were unable to speak, I took my chance. “Father, don’t bully Mister Wan.”
Father broke out in a fit of coughs, and I quickly refilled his teacup. The dumbfounded Lord Wan snapped his jaw shut, and the sound of crunching filled the air as he was forced to chew and swallow the snack in his mouth.
Baengri Euigang had no idea where to begin correcting his daughter. Mister Wan? Bully? Where else would the almighty Namgoong Wan face such indignities?
The girl who’d left both men speechless continued, “You’re in the wrong this time, Father.”
Still coughing, Father choked out, “Me?”
“This happened because you didn’t write in the letter that he was a su-per important guest.”
Father remained silent.
“If you’d written that in the letter, would the gatekeepers still have treated him that way just because of his clothes? You could say that this is all your fault!”
Lord Wan smirked with satisfaction. I refilled his teacup, then proceeded to sit down on my father’s lap, my feet dangling off to the side. “Father, how were the gatekeepers punished?”
“Three months of cut pay and fifteen days of suspension.”
As expected, it wasn’t much of a punishment at all. Lord Wan must have anticipated the light sentencing as well, especially considering that they had refused to apologize to him to the end. No wonder he had gone as far as to hit one of them with his bamboo hat.
Father sighed and patted my head. “I’m sorry, you shouldn’t have seen that. I’ve given them a stern talking-to, so don’t you worry.”
I could tell he wanted to end the discussion here and now without taking it any further. Not a chance. There was still something I had to tell him. “The gatekeeper misters must be dummies!”
“Yeon.”
“Dummies?”
The two men spoke simultaneously.
I glanced at my father before turning to Lord Wan. “They knew they’d be in trouble once Father returned, but they still insulted you. So they’re dummies.”
Lord Wan aimed his sharp gaze toward me. “Are you saying their actions were deliberate?”
It was best to seem a little clueless. I had to keep up my act. “What does ‘de-libber-at’ mean?”
With a hint of disappointment in his eyes, Lord Wan explained, “It means that they did it on purpose.”
“Oh. But that would be weird, too. Who likes getting punished?”
The room fell silent at my remark, but I saw Lord Wan’s Adam’s apple tremble from the other side of the table. I glanced up and saw that my father’s was trembling as well. The two had started to qi-speak.
Good, good. With the seed of doubt I had just planted, the two were bound to figure it out.
Honestly, they should’ve long ago. But Father had assumed that there was no reason for anyone in his family to oppose him so blatantly, and Lord Wan, being the only son of the Namgoong clan, had simply been ignorant of the veiled enmity possible within a clan.
Father’s expression began to darken, as did Lord Wan’s. Were the gatekeepers actually stupid enough to send away someone with a letter from my father? Had they harassed Lord Wan just for the sake of it, even when it was clear that they would be in trouble once Father returned?
No, they had a goal in mind. Father was highly renowned in the martial world. In the course of his travels, he’d helped many who were in need and had made many friends in high places along the way. People like Lord Wan, for example.
The gatekeepers’ goal was simple: to discover the identity of Father’s guest. And they succeeded in the end. Everyone in the Baengri clan must know of Lord Wan’s visit by now. Sooner or later, Lord Wan would be swarmed with requests for him to meet with the other Baengri children.
Once they finished their secret conversation, Lord Wan stared at me, his expression grave. I simply tilted my head curiously.
“So, you’re not just an idiot,” he said.
I was shocked. That’s rich, coming from you!
Father peered at his friend as he lifted his teacup. Lord Wan flinched for a moment and avoided his gaze, but Father continued to stare at him silently.
Lord Wan coughed a few times. “All right. Now that we’ve met, let me give you a present,” he said, putting on an awkward show of kindness.
What now? He’d rather buy forgiveness than apologize?
Before Father could speak, Lord Wan took something out of his chest pocket and placed it on the table. Father’s frown deepened when he laid his eyes on it, while I tilted my head and leaned in to take a closer look. “Is that a dagger?”
Lord Wan nodded and unsheathed it. The dagger’s blade was extraordinarily white. As Lord Wan twisted his wrist slightly, a blue sheen slid across the blade quickly before disappearing. I had heard of blades of such a mysterious shade before. But from what I’d heard, this wasn’t something to gift so casually.
Just to make sure, I spoke as if I had no idea what it was. “Whoa! I’ve never seen a blade this color before!”
“Of course you haven’t. It’s made with White Lotus Steel.”
I gasped. So it was real! It was said that a blade made from White Lotus Steel could slice through cast iron. Such a blade was worthy of being considered a family treasure. And even if it was only a dagger instead of a full sword, he was gifting something so precious to me, a mere child? I’ll gladly let you call me an idiot if this is the reward!
But Father was ruthless. “Don’t be foolish. Take it back.”
“I’m just giving it to her because she looks like she needs it.” Lord Wan returned the dagger to its dark blue sheath and placed it in my hands, whispering, “The next time someone annoys you, stab them with this.”
My mouth gaped open. Was he referring to the twins?
Father tore me away from Lord Wan. “Stop speaking nonsense to my daughter. Yeon, don’t look so tempted!”
I blinked rapidly and put on a clueless face. Father looked at me suspiciously but turned to Lord Wan as he interjected, his voice light. “Come on, it’s nothing compared to what I’ll be receiving.”
“What you’ll...?”
I stared at them blankly until I finally realized what Lord Wan was referring to. The sachet! He was serious about that? My mouth involuntarily fell open as I remembered our conversation.
“Yeon, what is he talking about?”
“Well, uh... I... There is... something I was going to give him...”
“You? What is it?”
“Th-that’s... That’s a secret!”
Father looked surprised. “You’re already keeping secrets from your father, I see.” He tried not to let it show, but I could tell he was feeling a little hurt.
Before he even had time to look away, the secret spilled out of me. “It’s nothing, really. I promised to make him a sachet, that’s all.”
Lord Wan mumbled to himself, almost disappointed. “I thought you said it was a secret.”
“Be quiet, you,” Father told him, then turned back to me. “You’re making a sachet?”
“It just turned out that way...”
Pouting at the thought that I could no longer surprise my father with the gift, I glanced at Lord Wan. He looked back at me shamelessly, as though asking what he could possibly have done wrong.
“I see,” Father said.
I glanced back at him, thinking that he would be pleased to have been let in on the secret, but he looked even more down than before. Why? Why? What is it now? Why is he still upset?!

Chapter end