Chapter 81

People think I solve every problem with violence, but that’s not true.

Martial arts might be the basic way to settle things, but I don’t fix everything by beating people up.

What? You say that’s the same thing?

Come closer—let me explain in my own way.

In truth, I’m an insatiable drinker, a silver-tongued speaker, and an excellent strategist and negotiator.

They say most negotiations, rhetoric, and schemes come from the fist. You get what I mean?

Bang!

“Bukgung Family’s Flying Swallow Manor’s Yeon Mujin has arrived!”

What is this?

This is the first rule of negotiation: act unpredictably.

“Who are you!”

A Hwangbo warrior kicked open the gate and rushed out.

That’s the second rule of negotiation: never let your opponent look down on you.

“Argh!”

Bukgung Yoon stared at me like I’d lost my mind as I flipped the Hwangbo warrior backward with a single hand technique.

“Captain Yeon, what are you doing right now?”

“I’m following the principles of negotiation.”

“Stop that immediately. We’re guests here.”

“Oh? Were you?”

At least I’d grabbed their attention. That alone was a success.

Third rule of negotiation: make everyone focus on what you say.

“What kind of man dares to knock on the great Hwangbo clan’s gate without fear!”

“From the great Bukgung Family!”

As my voice rose, our family lord bowed like a stalk of ripe rice.

Endure it, young lord. Shame is brief, but negotiations last.

“Bukgung Family…?”

At the mention of the Bukgung Family, a murmur ran through the warriors. Someone broke from the crowd and ran into the inner courtyard.

“Tell them the Bukgung Family’s Flying Swallow Manor’s lord has come to meet your leader!”

“Manor lord!”

The minor lords of the Southern Four Alliance greeted Bukgung Yoon with warm bows.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Glad to see you. Meeting you in a place like this.”

“Do you remember us?”

“Of course, certainly.”

Bukgung Yoon named Ha Ho-baek, Noh Ja-kwang, and Yoo Woon-seok in turn; the three bowed as if flattered.

“Are the sect lords in good health?”

“Do not worry about the Southern Lake matter. We’re busy day and night; it’s all thanks to you, lord.”

Indeed, without Flying Swallow Manor’s support, the Southern Four Alliance’s cleanup would have taken twice as long.

They showed respect to the young lord not only in words but in their hearts. It was the fullest tribute they could offer at the moment.

“That’s a relief.”

When Bukgung Yoon smiled, the room seemed to brighten.

The minor lords also bowed to Yeon Mujin standing behind her.

“Long time no see, External Protection Troops’ leader.”

“If you’re living well, pay your debts.”

“Don’t worry. The day we repay Flying Swallow Manor’s favor is not far off.”

“Together the three owe 270,000 coins.”

“…”

“Interest applied.”

Bukgung Yoon jabbed me hard in the side.

“Master Yeon, don’t mind what he says.”

“Tch.”

After a brief greeting, Bukgung Yoon stepped forward and bowed to the Family Lords of the Zhuge and Hwangbo clans.

“I am Bukgung Yoon of Flying Swallow Manor. It is an honor to meet you, Family Lords.”

Her tone and manners were the exact opposite of the arrogant Drunken Manor lord.

But their response was cold.

“What brings the Flying Swallow Manor’s lord all the way here?”

“I have something to say to the two Family Lords, so I shamelessly came to see you.”

No sooner had Bukgung Yoon begun than Zhuge Gun waved a dismissive hand.

“I won’t listen. It’s obvious. You’re trying to recruit us to Flying Swallow Manor, aren’t you? If that’s the case, go back. Drunken Manor’s lord has already come and gone.”

His annoyance was blunt.

Bukgung Yoon faltered.

I drew in qi, channeled it into my right foot, and stomped down hard.

Thud!

The Hwangbo clan’s polished floor shattered with the impact.

At the explosive sound, people stared at me in stunned silence.

“Shut up, you insolent lot.”

“…?!”

Those who’d never seen me before looked uncertain. The four who’d seen me at Solitary Cloud Manor thought, He’s the same lunatic as ever. Bukgung Yoon felt dizzy again at my tantrum.

Fourth rule of negotiation: when at a disadvantage, strike aggressively.

“How dare you spout such words in front of anyone? Show respect to the great Bukgung Family’s manor lord.”

Zhuge Gun’s face hardened. He might have been discourteous to the Flying Swallow Manor’s lord, but he was no one to be lectured by a mere guard.

Just as Zhuge Gun was about to erupt, I spoke his name first.

“Family Lord Zhuge, the first thing you should have done was offer thanks.”

“…?”

“Isn’t it proper to thank us for uncovering Solitary Cloud Manor’s scheme and saving the life of that minor manor lord? The minor manor lords here know how to offer thanks—what kind of rudeness is it for the Family Lord of a Zhuge clan to do otherwise?”

My words reddened Zhuge Gun’s face because they were true. Many eyes watched him; he couldn’t let it slide.

“…Late as it is, on behalf of the Zhuge clan, I offer our thanks.”

Hwangbo Ack followed and awkwardly expressed gratitude as well.

“Hwangbo clan as well. We thank Flying Swallow Manor.”

Bukgung Yoon was surprised by my ability once more.

It was always like this: when the situation turned against him, he boldly and clearly twisted it to his favor. He might seem to rage without cause, but afterward he’d expertly find justification.

Truly, his rhetoric alone couldn’t be beaten. It was almost unbelievable that such a man followed her.

‘…I really can’t figure him out.’

Bukgung Yoon accepted the Family Lords’ greetings with dignity.

“No. We merely did what was right to do.”

If I took the aggressive role to seize the initiative, Bukgung Yoon played the calm conversationalist.

It’s a psychological truth: with a lunatic beside you, people tend to look for someone reasonable to talk to. She knew her role well.

“But. If you’re thinking of using that as a pretext to bully us, don’t. I’m tired of what that Bukgung Family has been doing.”

Zhuge Gun’s remark drew a sneer from me.

“Tiring? Perhaps because you think there’s nothing to gain by comparing the powers of Flying Swallow Manor and Drunken Flower Manor.”

Zhuge Gun’s expression stiffened.

“Do you think the profits to be gained from Flying Swallow Manor are less than from the Drunken Flower Manor? If it were some other manor, would you have treated them the same?”

Hwangbo Ack agreed with me.

“Exactly! This fellow has no pride and just argues to bow because of Drunken Flower Manor’s name. What a lack of pride.”

I laughed at Hwangbo Ack.

“And you?”

“…Huh?”

“If the Zhuge family abandons pride to follow Drunken Flower, what about the Hwangbo family?”

“Hwangbo has no intention of submitting. How long will you be dragged by the Bukgung Family’s name? There’s already the precedent of Shaanxi, isn’t there? You can survive even without allying with the Bukgung Family.”

“Hmph! As a result, the sects of Shaanxi are on the brink of destruction.”

Zhuge Gun snapped coldly.

“A Family Lord’s virtue is to preserve the clan even if it means bearing temporary shame. Go against natural order and it becomes a backflow; the Bukgung Family’s influence reaches everywhere—how would you oppose that?”

I exposed the fault line between the two Family Lords with a both-sides argument.

As their voices rose, Bukgung Yoon saw the perfect moment to persuade.

Clack.

Amid the commotion, she stepped to the center of the crowd and set an object down.

Everyone’s eyes turned: what was this?

“This is a gift from Flying Swallow Manor to you all. This is Green Field and Sunny Breeze.”

At the peak of the Family Lords’ conflict, when no one was paying attention to her, Bukgung Yoon drew her sharpest weapon.

It was precisely the first rule of negotiation: act unpredictably.

‘Not bad…’

My eyes lit up and I took a step back. Up until now it had been my part; from now on it’s hers.

As I expected, Bukgung Yoon looked at the Hwangbo Family Lord.

“Family Lord Hwangbo values face and refuses to submit to the Bukgung Family.”

Then she looked at the Zhuge Family Lord.

“Family Lord Zhuge desires practical benefit without going against natural order.”

And then the conclusion.

“Face and profit, profit and face. The Bukgung Family has a way to secure both.”

She’d touched the very things that troubled them.

Third rule of negotiation: make everyone focus on what you say.

“If you follow Family Lord Zhuge’s path, you’ll forever remain under the Bukgung Family’s shadow, and if you follow Family Lord Hwangbo’s path, you’ll face decline. The former is mere loyal service; the latter is a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Neither is a solution, merely options.”

“Then do you, Family Lord, have the correct answer?”

“Yes. Join us at Flying Swallow Manor. That is the answer I offer you both.”

“…What is your basis for that?”

They were already captivated by the sacred item called Green Field and Sunny Breeze. Unlike before, people now focused on Bukgung Yoon’s words.

“Drunken Flower Manor’s lord already has followers. Those who have established themselves in the east all heed Drunken Flower’s command. Would you risk placing new stones on a game already set by others? Entering a firmly established order yields little. But Flying Swallow Manor is different.”

Before anyone could object, Bukgung Yoon raised a second finger.

Right. When you have momentum, don’t give them a chance to speak.

“Are you afraid of the Drunken Flower Manor’s retaliation if you turn your back on them? Rest assured. We’ll block them for you.”

A scoffing laugh burst out. Flying Swallow Manor and Drunken Flower Manor—who would be protecting whom? Exactly the reaction Bukgung Yoon wanted.

“Our Flying Swallow Manor is under the patronage of Heavenly Martial Manor.”

“…!”

The name Heavenly Martial Manor carried special weight among warriors.

The greatest under heaven, Heavenly Martial Manor. Among the hundred strongest in the murim world, more than a third were guests of Heavenly Martial Manor—a transcendent group gathered there.

Someone asked in a trembling voice.

“Flying Swallow Manor… an ally of Heavenly Martial Manor?”

“Yes.”

‘(Although temporarily, at that.)’

Bukgung Yoon swallowed the rest of her sentence.

Now my words made sense. What matters isn’t which card you hold, but whether you make others believe you hold that card.

“But!”

Someone from the Hwangbo clan shouted.

“But what difference is there in ignoring Drunken Flower and following Flying Swallow Manor? In the end aren’t both Bukgung? Becoming Flying Swallow Manor’s ally won’t free you from the Bukgung Family’s shadow.”

Bukgung Yoon smiled at the objection. She’d thought about this long and hard. There was one thing she alone could do that her brothers could not. The single point that made Flying Swallow Manor different from the other Bukgung Family manors was…

“I will become the Family Lord of the Bukgung Family. By any means necessary.”

At the sudden declaration, people tilted their heads in puzzlement.

“And the world will remember me as the last Family Lord of the Bukgung Family.”