Bachelor [EN]: Chapter 47

Madam Ryu, the third wife, met Han Li’s gaze without any change in expression, even giving him a strange wink that left Han Li dumbfounded.

Madam Lee, the second wife, fidgeted under Han Li’s gaze and slightly turned her head. Perhaps because she was an educated woman who knew propriety, she seemed ashamed of Madam Eom’s recent words.

However, Madam Wang, the fifth wife, still had a cold face and showed no expression. Her tightly clenched fists clearly indicated some agitation, but it was impossible to know the cause.

“If there isn’t a deep-seated grudge between Master Moon and you, as you said, then it will be easier to talk,” Madam Eom said, opening her red lips and smoothly changing the subject.

“There’s no need for a long discussion. If you hand over the Nanyang Jade, I’ll leave Master Moon without looking back.”

“That won’t do.”

“Why won’t it do?” Han Li asked calmly again, facing Madam Eom, who had rejected his proposal with a smile.

“As you heard yesterday, Master Moon is in a precarious situation, like standing on the edge of a cliff. Without someone’s help, Master Moon’s destruction is not far off. Since that’s how it will end anyway, what difference does it make if you kill us all?”

Even while spouting such brazen words, Madam Eom maintained a pitiful appearance with reddened eyes. Even as Han Li stared intently at her, Madam Eom did not drop her act and continued to meet his gaze.

* * *

“Just tell me what you’re thinking. Stop beating around the bush.”

Madam Eom’s act didn’t work on Han Li’s cold expression. At this, Madam Eom’s eyebrows twitched. She realized that the young man before her was more difficult to deal with than she had thought, and no matter how she tried to coax him, he was not someone who would fall into her grasp.

‘Is it possible that I really have to show all my cards to persuade him?’

Madam Eom had led the Gyeonggyo Society for many years, wielding immense power, and had never started negotiations without securing a favorable position. She had no choice but to turn to Madam Wang. She wanted to know if Madam Wang had a different opinion, as she was the only one among the wives capable of disagreeing with her views.

“It’s up to you, Master, to negotiate with him. I have no objections,” Madam Wang said, reading Madam Eom’s gaze. Only then did Madam Eom feel a little relieved.

“Alright. Since it has come to this, let’s get straight to the point and tell you our conditions.” Madam Eom had already returned to her original demeanor as the leader of the three great factions of Gawon Fortress, and the weak woman she had shown just moments ago was gone.

‘That’s right. That’s how you should be.’ Han Li smiled as she dropped her pretense.

“If you destroy the Five Colors Gate and the Dokpa Mountain Manor, the enemies of the Gyeonggyo Society, and eliminate all future threats for Master Moon, we will immediately offer you the Nanyang Jade and allow you to choose one of Master Moon’s daughters as your wife. However, if you plan to forcefully take the jade, you should abandon that idea right away. We have already entrusted the jade to one of our confidants and instructed them to destroy it immediately if even the slightest accident occurs.”

Madam Eom’s tone was firm.

“Destroy the Five Colors Gate and the Dokpa Mountain Manor by myself? You have a very ingenious idea.”

He was not surprised at all, as he had already expected them to try to threaten him.

He didn’t think he could easily take the Nanyang Jade. Besides the warning they had given, they would be protecting the jade in other ways as well.

Forcing them to hand over the jade was the worst possible option. The best way was to make them hand it over voluntarily.

“Master Han is a cultivator, isn’t he? There shouldn’t be anyone in the martial world who can match you. Besides, we don’t want you to kill all the members of the opposing factions. We just need you to deal with the main leaders.”

This time, the third wife sent him a captivating smile and tried to persuade him with a seductive voice.

“What does being a cultivator have to do with it? I don’t know about other cultivators, but I know myself well. I don’t have the ability to foolishly rush into a fight against tens of thousands of people. And do you think cultivators can just kill anyone without facing any consequences?”

Han Li glared at the third wife with cold eyes. He had already been circulating the Everlasting Spring Technique [a cultivation technique] in preparation for this situation, so he was not affected by any charm technique she might use.

“According to what you said, does that mean that even cultivators have limitations when dealing with ordinary people?” Madam Eom asked, as if surprised.

“I don’t know the specifics, as I haven’t been a cultivator for long. There’s no way for me to know such rules.”

As Madam Eom showed signs of questioning him again, he waved his hand to stop her.

“But isn’t it easy to figure out if you think about it? If cultivators were allowed to harm ordinary people as they pleased, would the three great factions of Gawon Fortress, the so-called three hegemons of the Southern Continent, still be safe? They would have been destroyed by some evil-minded cultivator long ago. And all of you beauties would have fallen into the hands of such cultivators.”

At his last words, the wives showed fearful expressions.

“That’s just your speculation, it’s not a fact.”

“I won’t take a path that leads to death, even if there’s only a one percent chance.”

As Madam Eom still tried to persuade Han Li without giving up, Han Li answered clearly, as if he didn’t want to leave any room for negotiation.

“Then, does Master plan to come empty-handed and steal our daughters’ dowry?” Madam Eom’s complexion worsened, and she emphasized the word ‘dowry’ in particular. Although she showed no reaction outwardly, her heart sank.

‘It was your husband who poisoned me, and I’m not even turning Master Moon upside down. What more do you want?’

Resentment surged, but there was no point in bringing up such a story. It was clear that they would never hand over the Nanyang Jade unless he was of some benefit to Master Moon.

“I’ll give you two options. Choose one of them,” Han Li said in a clear voice, having suppressed his dissatisfaction for a moment.

“The first is for the entire Master Moon faction to pack up and leave the Southern Continent. You can live peacefully as ordinary wealthy people in a remote area, far from the reach of your enemies. You will completely sever ties with the martial world. Then, I will guarantee your safety during your departure. No other faction will be able to touch you.”

Han Li paused and observed the wives’ expressions.

Except for Madam Lee, who showed a slight interest, Madam Eom and Madam Ryu were both opposed to this idea without even saying a word. And Madam Wang still maintained her cold expression.

At this reaction, Han Li sneered. It was impossible for ambitious people like Madam Eom and Madam Ryu to abandon a great power like the Gyeonggyo Society and become country bumpkins.

“Then what’s the other option?” The third wife couldn’t hold back and urged him as Han Li stopped speaking.

“The other one is…”

Han Li stood up from his chair and began to talk about the other option.

* * *

“I will break my principle just once and deal with one of the leaders of the two factions. If the leaders of both major forces disappear, it will surely attract attention, and the risk I have to bear will increase. There is no other way besides these two options.”

After finishing his words, Han Li waited for the wives’ answers.

“This is not something we can decide easily, so we need to gather and consider various circumstances. Please give us some time.”

“Of course. But you must give me an answer by tomorrow morning. One day should be enough for you to discuss it.”

With these words, Han Li left the room without even glancing at the wives and returned to the inn where he was staying. The moment he stepped into the inn, Son I-gu hurriedly greeted him.

* * *

“If you have something to say, say it in the room.”

“Yes, Master!” Han Li calmly instructed before Son I-gu could even open his mouth. As they entered the room with Son I-gu following respectfully, Han Li went to the side of the bed and stretched.

“Judging by your haste, do you have some important news?”

“Master, there is indeed a big matter that I was about to report to you,” Son I-gu said cautiously, taking a step closer and whispering as Han Li opened the conversation.

“If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t hesitate.”

“Hehe! It’s not that I’m doing it on purpose, but a truly incredible thing is happening! According to my sources, a group of immortals have recently gathered near Gawon Fortress, and it turns out they are participating in an immortal competition. It is said that even ordinary people can become immortals and join the ranks of the immortals if they participate here.”

Son I-gu explained enthusiastically, spitting as he spoke.

“Immortals?”

“Yes, someone saw them directly. They were real immortals who rode on clouds, shot lightning, and breathed fire. Master, immortals are not people you can see so easily unless the heavens are working their magic.”

Only then did Han Li realize that the immortals Son I-gu was talking about were actually cultivators, and he couldn’t help but be surprised at how the faction members knew about the cultivators’ affairs.

“How did you find out about this? Do many people know this news?”

“It’s reliable information. Our faction members saw it with their own eyes and heard it with their own ears. However, the faction leader was worried that the immortals might punish them, so he issued a gag order. Only the higher-ups within our Sapyung Faction know about this. I heard this information from a high-ranking official who was rambling while drunk. I thought someone like you, Master, would definitely be interested in such a thing, so I rushed to inform you.”

“Hmm, you’ve worked hard. I won’t forget it. But first, tell me how your faction members managed to deceive the immortals’ eyes and obtain this information.”

Han Li praised Son I-gu, who was subtly showing off his achievements, and immediately asked a question.

“I heard it from a drunk high-ranking official, and it was like this…”

As Han Li became interested, Son I-gu told him everything he had heard without missing a detail.

It turned out that the person who had brought the information was the sub-leader of the Sapyung Faction. A few days ago, while hiding in a cave to escape enemies, he had seen a pair of men and women riding a giant hawk.

Through their conversation, he learned about the immortals’ competition, and when he realized they were immortals, he was so shocked that he lost his mind. He regained his senses the next morning, but the immortal couple and the giant hawk had already disappeared. He was trembling with fear and barely managed to return to the faction.

As soon as he returned, he told his superiors everything, and the superiors passed the information on to the faction leader, Wonbi Shim Jung-san, who then issued the gag order.

Even after hearing all the details, there was no change in Han Li’s expression. But inside, his heart was boiling with excitement.

‘A gathering of cultivators! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If I can participate, I can step into the true world of cultivators. Then, I won’t have to train in a dark room like this anymore!’

Han Li barely suppressed his excitement and looked at Son I-gu again with a serious expression.

“So, according to what he heard, when and where did the immortal couple say the immortal gathering would be held?”

# 49