Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 42

“From today, your task is to secretly gather information about the Moon family, especially about that Young Master Oh. The more details, the better.”

After a moment of thought, Han Li turned to Sun Yigu and gave him instructions, then pulled something from his pocket.

“Keep this silver for now. If you handle this task well, I’ll reward you handsomely again. Now, you may leave.”

Han Li generously handed a pouch of silver to Sun Yigu.

“Understood! Young master, don’t worry! I’ll take my leave then.”

Sun Yigu, delighted with the silver, quickly left the room.

‘This young master is very generous. And the task he gave me is just to gather information, which is easy. Working for him for a while might not be so bad after all.’

With his mood lifted by the heavy pouch of money, Sun Yigu completely forgot about the Soul-Nourishing Pill. Han Li, watching Sun Yigu’s excited departure, let out a small sigh.

‘That Oh Geom-myeong, that Young Master Oh, is truly peculiar. He’s already inside the Moon family, just as I was planning. Moreover, judging by his actions, he’s not only after wealth but also women. Since things have turned out this way, I need to go to the Moon family as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Warm Yang Jade might end up in the wrong hands.’

* * *

In the most bustling area of Gawon City, Nanling Street, stood a mansion that occupied an enormous plot of land.

In the center of the high wall surrounding the mansion was a pitch-black gate, above which hung a plaque with the words ‘Moon Family’ written on it.

Beneath the plaque, eight burly men stood guard in light armor, each with a dignified presence and sharp eyes.

Not far from the Moon family, across the street, was a three-story restaurant called Fragrant Home Restaurant. It was one of the largest restaurants in Gawon City, especially famous for its special liquor called Hundred Mile Fragrance, and many people came to taste it.

It was around noon, and the entire Fragrant Home Restaurant was bustling with customers. From the first floor to the third floor, people were packed in, enjoying their meals.

Even the pedestrians walking along the street couldn’t help but salivate at the fragrant aroma of the restaurant’s food.

Han Li was sitting near the south window on the second floor of the Fragrant Home Restaurant, enjoying several delicious dishes and the Hundred Mile Fragrance. Behind him stood Gu Hun, who looked intimidating enough to make anyone back away.

Han Li was looking out the window at the scenery, fiddling with the wine cup in his hand.

He stared at the Moon family not far away, then turned his gaze back to the street, emptying the wine cup into his mouth. Then, he looked outside again.

From the information he had gathered, he learned that Master Moon had two biological daughters and one adopted daughter. They were all renowned beauties in Gawon City, with fair skin and flower-like faces. Because of their fame, countless young masters, knights, and heroes sought their hand in marriage.

Among them, Moon Ok-ju was considered the most beautiful, and she had the most admirers. Her recent engagement had plunged many men in Gawon City into despair.

Some of these suitors, unable to contain their anger, challenged Young Master Oh, but Oh Geom-myeong defeated 16 challengers in a row, further enhancing his reputation.

It was also said that this had deepened his relationship with Moon Ok-ju.

Listening to these stories, Han Li found Oh Geom-myeong amusing. Others might not know, but he could clearly see through his intentions.

Most likely, Oh Geom-myeong was sent by a faction that opposed Master Moon. Since Master Moon had not shown his face for a long time, someone must have become suspicious and sent Young Master Oh to investigate the situation.

However, it was unclear how he had gained the trust of the Moon family. It was unlikely that he could have deceived all of Master Moon’s wives with just a token and a letter.

Han Li tapped the table with his finger, lost in thought.

“Young master, please sit here! Your ordered dishes will be served soon.”

A waiter from the restaurant, wearing a short tunic, guided a young man in navy blue clothing, who looked to be about twenty-seven or eight years old, to the second floor. The young man sat at a table opposite Han Li’s.

The young man had distinct features, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, giving him a fierce appearance. As soon as he sat down, he looked around, and his eyes met Han Li’s.

When their eyes met, Han Li felt as if the power emanating from the young man was pulling him in, and he quickly turned his head away.

The young man also looked puzzled, glanced at Han Li, then turned his head and paid no further attention.

At that moment, Han Li’s complexion had turned slightly pale. When he had just met the other’s eyes, he felt as if he had been completely seen through.

It was the first time he had felt like someone was seeing right through him. Han Li was restless and extremely uneasy.

Without even needing to use his Heavenly Eye Technique [a technique to see spiritual energy], a strong spiritual energy was already emanating from the young man in blue. Clearly, the other party was a cultivator with far more profound magic power than himself.

So far, Han Li had only seen two cultivators, Lim Ja-dong and the Golden Light Merchant. One was just a primordial spirit who had lost his body, and the other was a cultivator with weak magic power.

Therefore, Han Li had no way of knowing about ordinary cultivators, and especially when faced with a cultivator stronger than himself, he didn’t know what to do.

‘This person wouldn’t kill me for no reason, would he?’

Without realizing it, Han Li was imagining the worst-case scenario. While Han Li was unable to control his troubled mind and was trembling with fear, the man in blue finished his meal and wiped his mouth.

Then, he placed some silver on the table and left without a word. He didn’t even glance at Han Li, acting as if he had completely forgotten Han Li’s existence.

As soon as the man in blue had completely left the restaurant, Han Li let out a long, held breath and slumped back in his chair.

Although the time the other party had spent eating was not long, it felt like an endless night to Han Li. The mental pressure had been so intense that he was exhausted, as if he had just fought a life-or-death battle.

* * *

At the end of the alley, a man in a yellow shirt was waiting for the man in blue.

“Fourth, why are you so late?”

The man in the yellow shirt said with dissatisfaction.

“Hehe! Second brother, don’t be angry! It’s been so long since I’ve had worldly food, so I just went to have a taste.”

The man in blue grinned at him.

“How can you be so gluttonous! How many times have I told you! We cultivators must purify our minds and abandon greed. You shouldn’t eat and drink so much, but you keep doing this every time…”

The man in the yellow shirt glared at the man in blue and scolded him.

“Haha! I understand, I understand. I won’t do it again next time! Oh, right, I encountered another cultivator at the place I just went to.”

Changing the subject, the man in blue mentioned his encounter with Han Li.

“Oh? Really? How was the other party’s magic power?”

The yellow-clad man’s attention was also drawn to the new cultivator.

“His magic power was terrible. He seemed to have barely reached the 7th or 8th level of the basic cultivation method, barely qualified to participate in the Ascension Gathering [a tournament for cultivators]. It’s really baffling. What is he going to do in Namju with such weak magic power? Surely he doesn’t think he’s going to win the Ascension Tournament because he’s lucky?”

The man in blue curled his lip.

“How old did he look?”

“He looked about seventeen or eighteen years old.”

“Perhaps he came to gain worldly experience following a senior. He’ll probably be able to participate in the Ascension Gathering in 10 years.”

“That’s what I’m saying! If you think about it, his aptitude seems decent. If it’s 10 years later, he might reach that level.”

The man in blue said confidently.

“That self-praise of yours. You’ve only just reached the 10th level. You can see countless people like that in the Ascension Tournament. It’s not too late to show off when you reach the 11th or 12th level… tsk tsk.”

As if amused by the man in blue, he scoffed at him and turned to walk away.

* * *

For Han Li, it was certainly frustrating that the man in blue had not even glanced at him, but he knew very well that the difference between his magic power and the other’s was like heaven and earth, so there was nothing he could do. His body, which had been stiff with tension, felt lighter again.

Even so, Han Li, who could not completely regain his composure after seeing the man in blue, immediately got up, paid the bill, and prepared to leave the restaurant. At that moment, the faint sound of horses’ hooves began to be heard from outside. The sound grew closer and clearer. Startled, Han Li sat back down in his chair.

From what Sun Yigu had said, the sound of hooves was from Moon Ok-ju, the eldest daughter of the Moon family, returning from outside the city.

It was said that Moon Ok-ju disliked women’s work such as embroidery and was only interested in playing with swords and sabers. Moreover, she had learned martial arts from a master of the Gyeonggyo Society [a martial arts society], and her skills were not to be underestimated.

The most surprising thing was that she was so fond of hunting that she roamed the forests outside the city almost every day.

Because of this, the young masters who admired her also often flew hawks and released dogs, running around to help her with her hunting.

They were desperate to win her favor, a beauty as unattainable as the moon reflected in a lake.

Listening to these various stories about her, Han Li also became interested. It was true that it was rare to find a woman with such a bold personality.

About a dozen people were riding fine horses down the main street, with a man and a woman leading the way.

The man was a handsome young man with straight eyebrows and clear eyes, and the woman was wearing a fiery red hunting outfit and a bamboo hat, so her face could not be seen.

In an instant, the riders passed the Fragrant Home Restaurant and stopped in front of the Moon family. The men guarding the gate immediately bowed their heads and paid their respects.

“Eldest Miss, Young Master Oh, you have returned. How was the hunt today?”

“So-so! Tang-yi, take the horses to rest and take care of the game.”

The woman said in a clear voice, and when she took off her bamboo hat, a beautiful face that could captivate anyone was revealed. Then, she lightly dismounted from her horse.

“Yes! Miss!”

The one just called Tang-yi hurriedly took the reins and headed towards the side gate of the mansion. Although there was some distance between the Moon family and the restaurant, Han Li was able to see a little of the woman’s face. He felt his breath catch. Her skin was as white as snow, her straight nose was like a finely carved jade, and her dark eyes and apricot-colored lips were enough to steal anyone’s gaze.

‘That woman is Moon Ok-ju! There’s a reason why the men of Gawon City are going crazy over her. The term ‘national beauty’ must have been coined for her.’

While Han Li was thinking this, Young Master Oh and the others all dismounted from their horses. The young man approached Moon Ok-ju with a smile and whispered something, causing Moon Ok-ju’s face to turn red.

She patted the young man’s shoulder a few times, then, blushing at the young man’s gesture, disappeared inside the gate. The young man laughed heartily and followed her in.

# 44