Chapter 4

During his previous regressions, Yeon Mujin had tried making each of the six sons of the Bukgung family the family lord.

Among them were capable men, ambitious men, loafers, lunatics, timid ones, all sorts.

With each return he gained experience, and with experience came confidence.

Now Yeon Mujin was confident he could make any of the Bukgung children the family lord.

All except one.

The youngest of the Bukgung family.

Because the youngest in that household was a daughter, not a son.

No family in the world made a woman the family lord. At least none that Yeon Mujin knew of.

Naturally, during his repeated regressions the youngest daughter never once came up as a candidate for family lord.

She was like a ghost.

That was generally the way people referred to the Bukgung youngest.

‘The flower trapped in the family, the ghost of Flying Swallow Manor, the reclusive young lady, and so on…’

Here was the problem.

“I don’t know anything about Bukgung Yoon either.”

Indeed.

He knew nothing.

He knew the other Bukgung brothers inside out from all the skirmishes and clashes, but not the youngest daughter.

She had always lived quietly like a ghost and vanished with the Bukgung family’s downfall. Even Yeon Mujin had never paid her any attention.

If any of her brothers had been fit to lead the family, he would never have cared in the future either.

So.

“I should find out. Whether the last card is a losing card or a golden one.”

Bukgung Lord, don’t blame me if I can’t keep my promise.

If your children are all the problem, that’s on you. It’s not my fault, right?

With a sense of tension, Yeon Mujin opened the door where Bukgung Yoon waited.

Creak!

All eyes turned toward Yeon Mujin.

To Yeon Mujin’s left stood the guard warriors protecting Bukgung Yoon. They glared, trying to intimidate him. It was laughable.

Facing them on the right were middle-aged women lined up, likely the ones who managed Flying Swallow Manor’s household affairs. They glanced at Yeon Mujin with curious, sour looks.

And.

On Bukgung Yoon’s right and left stood, respectively, a full-bodied lady and a stern-looking warrior.

The well-built lady wore a face full of avarice, and the older warrior was burly with a rough demeanor.

And at their center sat Bukgung Yoon, the Lady of Flying Swallow Manor.

Snap!

The woman holding a large folding fan looked at Yeon Mujin and spoke.

“So the young swordsman Yeon has come.”

“Yes.”

“I am Wang Ga-hwa, the housemistress in charge of Flying Swallow Manor’s interior affairs.”

“I am Jeong Yeo-gwang, the head of exterior guards here at Flying Swallow Manor.”

The lady stayed silent while her retainers introduced themselves first, as if to say they were the ones Yeon should impress.

So Yeon Mujin replied, neatly.

“Yes.”

The two were taken aback by the short answer.

Yeon Mujin ignored them and bowed to Bukgung Yoon.

“I am Yeon Mujin.”

Bukgung Yoon, flustered, replied in kind.

“I am Bukgung Yoon.”

Yeon Mujin stared only at Bukgung Yoon, as if Jeong Yeo-gwang and Wang Ga-hwa did not exist.

The two didn’t like his attitude and glared at him in silence.

Yeon Mujin also kept his mouth shut, observing Bukgung Yoon in his own way.

Thus a peculiar silence held for a moment.

Eventually Bukgung Yoon, unable to bear it, spoke first.

“You volunteered for the position of my personal guard, you say.”

“Yes.”

There were warriors guarding her at Flying Swallow Manor, but none had come from the Bukgung Guard Competition.

If they could choose, no one would pick this place. Who would walk into a grave by their own feet?

“Excuse me, may I ask why?”

“What kind of reason?”

“Why bother choosing the Flying Swallow Manor, specifically?”

Yeon Mujin scratched his chin.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Not a single winner of the Bukgung Guard Competition has ever volunteered to be my guard. It’s natural.”

“Why is that natural?”

A few chuckles escaped among the retainers listening to their exchange.

It seemed the new guard was an innocent youth who knew nothing of the Bukgung affairs.

“Because it’s a good path to advancement. If the one you serve is chosen as the next family lord, the personal guard’s status naturally rises. Everyone picks one of the young lords to serve for that reason.”

“I see.”

“Then it benefits not only the guard but his sect or family as well… Which sect does Yeon the swordsman belong to?”

They assumed he must have a sect since he won the Bukgung competition.

But Yeon Mujin’s answer was unexpected.

“I’m a wanderer; I have no sect. I learned martial arts skills to survive and earn my keep.”

“….”

Bukgung Yoon was startled.

Asking about a sect was a breach of etiquette towards a wanderer like Yeon Mujin.

They’d always surrounded her with well-born warriors, so it was a mistake they made.

Still, to openly state his low birth in front of everyone…

Jeong Yeo-gwang, having heard that, opened his mouth.

“No wonder. I thought he looked shabby. A shabby person in a noble clan, he must be stunned. He chose the young lady because if he served one of the other brothers he’d be pushed aside for his background, right? Hahaha!”

People burst into loud laughter at his words.

The warriors held their bellies laughing, and the ladies covered their mouths giggling.

Only two people in the room did not laugh.

Yeon Mujin and Bukgung Yoon.

Actually, Yeon Mujin oddly smiled; the only one not smiling was Bukgung Yoon.

Yeon Mujin looked at her and asked.

“Not laughing?”

“Huh?”

“It was a funny joke; why aren’t you laughing?”

When he said that, everyone who had been laughing fell silent.

Any joke loses much of its bite when the target remains composed.

Yeon Mujin said to Bukgung Yoon.

“I came to Flying Swallow Manor to further my own prospects.”

“Prospects? Here?”

“I intend to make you the family lord.”

“…!”

The reactions to Yeon Mujin’s statement were varied.

Some snickered, some laughed, some were stunned.

None among the guards, retainers, or women here believed Yeon was speaking seriously.

Including Bukgung Yoon.

“But I’m a woman?”

“So?”

“Do you think I can be the next family lord of the Bukgung?”

“It depends on the young lady herself.”

“Excuse me, Yeon Mujin, isn’t this the first time you’ve met me today?”

“It’s my first time having such a long conversation with you.”

It was a vague answer. Bukgung Yoon let it pass.

“But what makes you say I could become the family lord?”

“I’ll find out that slowly from now on.”

“Oh, come on.”

This time the scoffing came without restraint.

Her guard warriors and the ladies laughed openly, not caring that Bukgung Yoon could hear.

Amid the scornful laughter, only Bukgung Yoon looked at Yeon Mujin with a bewildered expression.

Yeon Mujin thought as he looked at her.

‘She’s being oppressed.’

It was obvious by whom she was being suppressed.

He glanced alternately at Jeong Yeo-gwang and Wang Ga-hwa, who laughed loudly.

Those two were the power behind Flying Swallow Manor.

“Young lady, that’s enough introductions with Guard Yeon Mujin. You have other appointments.”

Wang Ga-hwa said to Bukgung Yoon.

“It’s late; Warrior Jeong Yeo-gwang, please escort him to the guard quarters. Let’s end today’s introductions here.”

Bukgung Yoon didn’t answer, yet Wang Ga-hwa’s single command cleared the noisy hall.

Moreover, they treated the Bukgung guard appointed by the family lord as if he were a subordinate.

Yeon Mujin calmly engraved that scene into his memory.

“We’ll all be one family from now on… Warrior Jeong Yeo-gwang, please take charge of Guard Yeon Mujin’s training.”

Jeong Yeo-gwang nodded obediently, the same man who had mocked Yeon Mujin earlier.

“Don’t worry, housemistress. I’ll give the newcomer a proper training, you see.”

“Hey, rookie.”

When only the two of them remained, Jeong Yeo-gwang immediately showed his true colors.

No matter how lowborn Yeon Mujin was, he was a winner of the Bukgung Guard tournament. He deserved proper respect.

Jeong Yeo-gwang’s attitude implied the manor’s hierarchy was in such disrepair.

However.

Yeon Mujin was not as easy as Jeong Yeo-gwang assumed.

“Why.”

“What?”

“Why did you call me?”

“What?”

“How dare this brat speak informally to a senior?”

“Sorry.”

“Uh… right?”

“But you spoke to me informally first.”

“….”

Jeong Yeo-gwang gave him a look that said, ‘What is this?’

Even someone who lives by the sword had seen all kinds of men, but never such a colorful madman.

“You, what nonsense are you spouting in front of the young lady?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You want to make the young lady the family lord? Oh my. Where did this ignorant brat crawl out from?”

Yeon Mujin tilted his head and looked at Jeong Yeo-gwang.

“Bukgung Yoon is also of the Bukgung bloodline; why couldn’t she?”

“But she’s a daughter! In this world, which family sets a daughter up as the head? Do you want to ruin the family on purpose?”

“A daughter, you say?”

Yeon Mujin’s eyebrows twitched.

Jeong Yeo-gwang felt a momentary chill of fear, then confusion.

‘Why am I watching this brat’s every move?’

“If Bukgung Yoon becomes the family lord, will the Bukgung family fall?”

Jeong Yeo-gwang looked at Yeon Mujin as if incredulous.

“Is that even a question?”

“So would the family not fall if another brother became the lord?”

“At least they’d be better than lady Yoon. What could that child possibly know…”

Jeong Yeo-gwang saw, for a moment, a sneer pass over Yeon’s face.

But it passed so quickly he wasn’t sure he had really seen it.

“You brat, don’t stir the young lady up just because you want to rise. She doesn’t have such ambition. You look like you’re puffing yourself up with youthful bravado. Know your place. Kid, wake up from your dream.”

Jeong Yeo-gwang threatened Yeon Mujin.

He hoped the message would land, but it didn’t.

“How do you know?”

“What?”

“How do you know whether Bukgung Yoon has the desire to become family lord or not?”

Jeong Yeo-gwang looked at Yeon Mujin as if incredulous.

“How long have I served the young lady? I know her better than you, who just set foot in Flying Swallow Manor today!”

“Have you ever asked her?”

“What did you say?”

“Have you ever asked Lady Bukgung Yoon directly?”

Of course not. What guard would ever ask such a thing?

Yeon Mujin stared at him and then said.

“Is there any reason lady Bukgung Yoon shouldn’t want to become family lord?”

“What!”

Jeong Yeo-gwang flared up, but Yeon Mujin didn’t give him a chance to stay angry and shot back.

“This place is odd. The housemistress cuts off the lady’s words. The retainers openly sneer and chatter while their lady is present. Now that only two of us remain, you threaten me, saying don’t touch Bukgung Yoon. Why, is it a problem if a guard helps their lady succeed?”

“This brat still hasn’t come to his senses…!”

“Hey, Jeong Yeo-gwang.”

Yeon Mujin spread his palms and called Jeong Yeo-gwang’s name.

Meeting Yeon Mujin’s gaze, he felt an inexplicable overwhelming pressure.

A pulling intimidation and fear, it was in Yeon Mujin’s eyes.

“If you have no loyalty to the young lady, at least don’t show it. I don’t know how you’ve controlled lady Bukgung Yoon until now, but from here on it won’t go as you please.”

Meeting Yeon Mujin’s eyes, Jeong Yeo-gwang felt as if his whole body were bound by iron cords.

An oppressive force that prevented even a finger from moving.

‘What is this?’

Cold sweat slowly seeped down his back.

He could neither resist nor avert his gaze.

Yeon Mujin tapped Jeong Yeo-gwang’s stiff shoulder and said.

“I look forward to your cooperation going forward.”

Even after Yeon Mujin left, Jeong Yeo-gwang remained glued to the spot for a long while.

After a long time he muttered.

“…Just who the hell is that guy?”