Chapter 52: Sword Demon Eats Douhua

Several peaceful days passed.

The Namgung clan was still abuzz with stories of the youngest son who had returned with a dazzling new nickname.

Above all, each division was busy receiving overdue lessons from Hoyeon.

In fact, they had their own intentions, which Hoyeon was well aware of. So, every time he went out to lecture, he would demonstrate Cheonroegi (Heavenly Thunder Qi).

Every time white lightning erupted from Hoyeon’s sword, the martial artists would cheer as if it symbolized the glorious future of the Namgung family.

By now, within the hearts of the people of Namgung, the existence of Namgung Hoyeon had become a priceless treasure, irreplaceable by anything.

“Phew, persistent buggers.”

Tap! Tap tap!

Hoyeon shook his head as he sprinted through the clan grounds.

He was returning from a visit to Cheonpungdae.

The lord of Cheonpungdae had tried to keep Hoyeon around by offering all kinds of sweets.

But today, Hoyeon planned to stop by Dangdangdang (糖噇堂) for the first time in a while, so he had refused and run away.

―Hey, Oni-ya-ro, since when do you like sweets? You used to say only brats eat them.

―That’s because this brat is a bonafide child. Hasn’t even lived a hundred years and dares talk back to elders.

―Puhaha! Your tastes really changed? Sore wa omoshiroi! (That’s interesting!)

―If you observe closely, you’ll see his diet is exactly like a six-year-old’s. He won’t even take medicine if it’s bitter.

Two swords at his waist—Cheonroegeom and Heugya Taegum—were chatting noisily.

It was nice to have reunited with Heugya, but the noise had doubled.

Tap!

“Shut up. You don’t even have a mouth.”

Hoyeon slapped the hilt of Heugya Taegum irritably.

Three swords hung from his waist, and even though Heugya Taegum was strapped as horizontally as possible, it looked dangerously close to touching the ground.

―Hey! That was too much, you idiot!

“What now, you black hunk of metal.”

―Apologize! I, too, have cravings!

“Like what?”

―A specialty from my homeland—Chungseung soba! (Okinawa soba!)

Heugya Taegum wasted no time launching into an enthusiastic monologue.

―Slurp! Wheat soba noodles in pork bone and bonito broth! Then a bite of soki (braised pork ribs) and kamaboko (fish cake)! Ohhhhhh!

“You’re insane. I’ll stir your hilt in some broth later.”

―Tch! I take back calling you my only friend, idiot!

“Do as you please, idiot.”

Despite the bickering, a soft smile appeared on Hoyeon’s lips.

Tap tap! Tap!

Hoyeon wasn’t heading to his own quarters, but to Namgung Sang-ah’s residence.

She was supposed to accompany him on today’s outing—and more importantly, Morong Yul had been “kidnapped” there.

Slide!

As he opened the door, a deadly scene unfolded.

“Oh my! This one’s lovely!”
“Everything looks good on you!”
“Where’s my lapis lazuli hairpin?”
“Gold suits you better than silver with that fair skin.”

Namgung Sang-ah and Paeng Sohwa were bustling around, holding up various ornaments.

Target? Morong Yul.

“Uuugh…”

Dressed in Namgung clan’s blue martial robe, Yul sat in the middle, spirit broken, clutching Wolmyo.

“H-Hyung!”

“Nyan?”

Spotting Hoyeon, Yul gave a desperate look as if he’d seen a savior.

But Hoyeon couldn’t do anything either.

Because—

“Hoyeon, you’re here?”
“Come here, dear. Mother got some premium olive oil.”
“N-no thank you.”
“Nonsense! Just look at your hair! Even ghosts wouldn’t befriend you looking like that.”

Forced by Paeng Sohwa’s insistence, Hoyeon ended up sitting beside Yul, also getting his hair done.

Resigned, he silently exchanged looks with Yul.

‘Weren’t you here to rescue me?!’
‘Sorry. I got caught too.’
‘Unbelievable!’
‘Hang in there. It’ll end eventually.’

Hoyeon closed his eyes and activated sword-sense perception to endure the ordeal, having learned that resistance only prolonged the dressing-up time.

―Puhaha! You deserve this divine punishment!
―Tsk tsk! Still clinging to your mother’s lap at your age? Pathetic!

Small talk made the time pass faster.

With Heugya around, maybe twice as fast.

“Wow, you’re so beautiful! How are your eyes that blue?”
“A-ah…”
“Right? Like the famed Qinghai Lake!”
“Ugh…”

Peeking with one eye open, Hoyeon saw Morong Yul blushing, twisting his body under the barrage of compliments.

Feeling a shared fate, Hoyeon chuckled.

Encouraged, Yul began sweeping his hair back, revealing his eyes.

Namgung clan members were known blue-lovers—anything blue was beloved.

So no one found his blue eyes strange; they found them beautiful.

Now with his shaggy hair tamed, Yul’s exotic features—high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, defined jaw—were revealed.

Whenever he passed by, maidservants would blush.

‘Well, good thing you’re here. Your presence diverts attention from me.’

As Hoyeon closed his eyes again, Yul glanced at him.

‘Truly… thank you…’

Since arriving at the Namgung estate, Yul felt like he was dreaming.

Everyone was kind.

And he knew it was because he was the “younger brother” brought by Hoyeon.

‘I will definitely…!’

Yul’s blue eyes sparkled with firm resolve.

Five people walked the bustling streets of Hapbi and arrived at a shop.

“Whoa, it’s packed.”

Sanggwan Hae marveled at the line outside Dangdangdang.

Dang Segi glanced at the signboard and muttered wistfully.

“Three ‘Dang’s, but no ‘Tang’ (唐).”

“Pfft! What?”

“Ah, my apologies.”
“No, that was funny, sir.”

As Namgung Sang-ah laughed, Morong Yul clenched his fists.

“This is Dangdangdang! Is it yours, Hyung?”

“Yeah.”

“Amazing! You have a business too?”

“It was mostly luck.”

When Hoyeon shrugged modestly, Sanggwan Hae responded with sparkly eyes.

“Luck? In business? Come on, I know how cutthroat the market is.”

“Really, it was luck. I just like snacks, so I invested in Uncle Pil. Everything else just happened.”

Hoyeon truly believed that.

He wasn’t a merchant. Dangdangdang started as a hobby.

But Sanggwan Hae shook his head in admiration.

“That’s exactly what business talent is! Doing what you love and making money from it!”

“…Is that so?”

“Of course! I’m from the Sanggwan Merchant Clan, so trust me!”

“Hmm… Now that you mention it, maybe I was destined to be a businessman.”

―Whoa, really?
―Don’t feed his ego! That merchant guy is ruining the kid!

As the two swords reacted to Hoyeon’s musings—

A middle-aged man in fine robes ran out of Dangdangdang like a puppy seeing its master.

“Ah! Young Master Hoyeon!”

“Uncle Pil, long time no see.”

“Haha! I saw you the other day when I came to welcome you back!”

“Were you one of the assassins?”

“Pardon?”

“Anyway, you look younger.”

“Haha, all thanks to you, sir.”

Pil Jongdae—the man whose life turned around thanks to Hoyeon’s branding.

Once a street vendor, now the owner of a teahouse sponsored by Namgung.

The luckiest man in Hapbi whispered shyly.

“I… I think I might get married soon.”

“Oh?”

“Hehe! A matchmaker introduced someone, and we really click. No more lonely nights!”

Seeing his joy, Hoyeon grinned.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“Huh?”

“If your new dessert fails, you can kiss marriage goodbye.”

“I—I’m confident!”

“You better be. Show up with medicinal herbs again, and I’ll bankrupt you.”

“…P-please, come in.”

Sweating, Pil Jongdae led them inside.

The shop was three stories high, unusually crowded with young people for a teahouse.

“Hooh?”

Sanggwan Hae scanned the tables, analyzing the desserts and tea.

‘Unique desserts I’ve never seen before. And this tea—could it be high-grade?’

They were seated at the best spot on the third floor and ordered.

Hoyeon naturally chose Pil’s new dessert. He didn’t order tea—he never understood how people could enjoy bitter water.

Soon, everyone’s tea arrived. Pil personally brought Hoyeon’s order.

“You’ll love it!”

“What is this? Looks like Washing Bitterness Dessert from last time.”

“Totally different from Nokjeonggo! Please try it!”

He presented a milky-white jelly-like dessert.

Hoyeon dug in with a spoon and brought up small black pearls.

“Chomp chomp.”

“…”

As Hoyeon chewed, Pil clenched both fists in anticipation.

“Oh?”

After a few bites, Hoyeon let out a satisfied sound. Pil’s face lit up.

“What is this? It’s nutty and delicious.”

“It’s called Douhua! Ground soybeans mixed with goat’s milk to coagulate.”

“What are these sweet bits?”

“Hehe! Made cassava starch balls simmered in brown sugar—just for your taste.”

“These black pearls are great.”

“Sweet black pearls—what poetic naming, sir!”

As Pil buttered him up, Hoyeon nodded with a grin.

“I suppose you can marry now.”

“T-thank you!”

Overjoyed, Pil bowed deeply. Hoyeon waved him off.

“Hyung! This mandarin Tanghoro is the best!”

“Right? My favorite too.”

“Hehe. Looks like we have similar tastes!”

Yul smiled awkwardly, holding up a skewer of Tanghoro.

His tongue was burning from the sweetness, but he decided to love it more than anything now.

“Slurp. Oh?”
“Sip. Hm?”

“How is it? These tea leaves were grown on our family’s Seook Soil.”

Dang Segi and Sanggwan Hae each sipped, and Namgung Sang-ah watched confidently.

As expected, the praise poured out.

“This is leagues above any Tieguanyin I’ve had.”

“My goodness! How is this quality so cheap?”

Dang Segi focused on taste; Sanggwan Hae was shocked by the low price.

“Fufu, the tea farm is right next door. Plus, Hoyeon owns half the rights to the Seook Soil. There’s no need for profit.”

“Oho! Really?”

Sanggwan Hae’s eyes sparkled at Hoyeon.

Land that could grow such premium tea was rare across the entire Central Plains.

And Hoyeon owned half of it?

“Brother! Let’s do business together!”

“Huh?”

“This is imperial-level quality! I’ll pay top price!”

He smelled opportunity.

A deal with the imperial family? It wasn’t just about money anymore.

“Hmm…”

Hoyeon thought for a moment and asked:

“Does your firm have job openings?”

“Job openings?”

“I have some kids who can read and do math. Interested in hiring them?”

Namgung Sang-ah gave him a proud smile.

Still confused, Sanggwan Hae tilted his head.

“Well, we’re always short on workers. But merchant life is tough—lots of travel, barely any breaks.”

“That’s fine. These kids have nothing but grit.”

“In that case, we’d be honored…”

“Let’s sign a contract. Good chance to reduce military trainees too.”

As Hoyeon reached out, Sanggwan Hae was about to shake hands when—

Bang! Clatter!

A crash from below, followed by a loud voice.

“What?! No seats on the third floor? Do you know who I am?! I’m Baek Won of the Baekun Merchant Group!”

At that, Namgung Sang-ah’s face stiffened.

And a smirk curled on Hoyeon’s lips.

“Oh?”