Episode 235: The Dilemma of Gyo Bu-hwa

Around the same time, Gyo Bu-hwa was feeling more than just frustration; she was utterly at a loss.

She had been doing everything in her power to win over Dang Mu-jin. She answered his questions with sincerity, subtly dressed more revealingly, and sat closer to him. Given that the clothing of her homeland was already quite revealing, it wasn’t particularly out of the ordinary.

She even flirted openly during their conversations, with gestures bold enough to make any man lose his senses. Her goal was singular: to somehow captivate Dang Mu-jin and bring him back to her homeland.

‘I have to win him over, no matter what.’

Yet, Dang Mu-jin remained strangely unresponsive, showing interest only in his martial arts training and stories about the martial arts of her homeland.

‘Is it me? No, that can’t be it…’

What puzzled her even more was that on the day they first met, Dang Mu-jin had seemed quite friendly. Touching a stranger’s stomach and back wasn’t something one did lightly.

For nearly ten days, Gyo Bu-hwa pondered the reason but couldn’t figure it out.

‘Could it be that he really doesn’t like me?’

That seemed unlikely. While she wasn’t a legendary beauty, she had always been considered quite attractive. Her natural looks, combined with diligent care, made her beauty stand out anywhere.

This wasn’t baseless confidence. Even within her clan, she had received several marriage proposals.

Capturing a man’s heart had always been as easy as flipping her hand.

Then she thought of Mok Wan-ah.

Her confidence wavered slightly. Could it be that with that woman around, she wasn’t appealing enough?

‘No, no man would refuse a woman. Besides, he brought a woman all the way to the mountains, so he must be quite fond of female company… Surely he hasn’t missed my intentions?’

Gyo Bu-hwa shook her head at the thought.

Even if the cultures and customs of the central plains and her homeland were different, no normal person could be that oblivious.

‘He doesn’t seem to be married to that Mok Wan-ah woman. Is his wife an extraordinary beauty? Or perhaps the daughter of a high-ranking official, making it difficult to dismiss her?’

This seemed more plausible. Mok Wan-ah might be a spy planted by his wife, which would make sense.

Gyo Bu-hwa subtly asked Dang Mu-jin, “You mentioned before that you were married, right?”

First, she needed to confirm if he was indeed married.

Dang Mu-jin replied indifferently, “Did I say that?”

“Yes. What kind of person is your wife? If you married her, she must be from a notable family.”

“Family? She lost her parents young and lived alone. When I first met her, she was living in a hut.”

“A hut?”

She could imagine a modest family, but a hut was beyond her expectations.

Momentarily at a loss for words, Gyo Bu-hwa pressed on, “Then she must be a great beauty. People from the central plains like fair skin, right? Is she as fair and delicate as Miss Mok?”

“No, she’s a bit tanned. She spent a lot of time outdoors as a child, so she’s quite sun-kissed. It was a bit unfamiliar at first, but now I like it. She looks lively and healthy.”

Gyo Bu-hwa glanced at her own arm. Compared to other women from her homeland, her skin was fair, but it was slightly darker than Dang Mu-jin’s.

So what was the problem? Gyo Bu-hwa was lost in thought.

Four days later, Gyo Bu-hwa made a decision.

After spending the entire day discussing martial arts with Dang Mu-jin, it was late at night when she spoke up.

“Dang Mu-jin.”

“What?”

Dang Mu-jin, lying on his side deep in thought, responded in his usual indifferent tone.

Gyo Bu-hwa was used to his demeanor by now and wasn’t surprised.

“Let me be direct. Would you consider coming south with me?”

“Why the south?”

“The martial arts knowledge I’ve shared with you is just a fraction of what my clan possesses. If you come back with me, you’ll gain access to immense knowledge and countless rare poisons.”

“You said you fled because you lost a power struggle in your clan. Wouldn’t returning cause chaos?”

“The history of my clan is long, and all the major families have had their ups and downs. My family has been pushed out before.”

Gyo Bu-hwa spoke with conviction.

“Moreover, my family has only temporarily lost power, not its foundation. With your skills, we could reclaim dominance within ten years. I guarantee it.”

But Dang Mu-jin remained unimpressed.

“Confidence is good, but things don’t always go as planned.”

“I’m not an optimistic fool. I’m certain.”

Dang Mu-jin glanced at her. She didn’t seem to be speaking lightly.

Gyo Bu-hwa continued to persuade him.

“As a person from the central plains, it might be hard for you to understand, but holding power in my clan is akin to ruling a vast land. It’s not just about controlling a single sect.”

“What? It’s that significant?”

Finally, Dang Mu-jin showed interest. Gyo Bu-hwa seized the moment to boast about her clan.

“The size of my clan alone rivals several major sects in the central plains. That’s why the southern kingdoms haven’t been able to surpass us for centuries. In regions where our clan is strong, we’re practically kings.”

Her clan was more formidable than he had imagined.

Yet, Dang Mu-jin found the story too good to be true, like a peddler selling miracle cures.

A thought crossed his mind.

“Even if what you say is true, I’m an outsider. Sharing so much with an outsider would surely cause issues.”

“Yes, you’re an outsider. For now.”

Gyo Bu-hwa took his hands and looked him in the eye.

“But if you marry me, you won’t be an outsider anymore.”

It took Dang Mu-jin a moment to grasp her meaning.

“What? Why are we suddenly talking about marriage?”

Hearing his response, Gyo Bu-hwa felt a wave of dizziness.

’…Did he really not notice my advances all this time?’

Regardless, she knew what she had to do.

Gyo Bu-hwa moved closer, sitting on his lap, a gesture bolder than any courtesan would dare.

“Surely you have dreams befitting a man. Why not leave the central plains and become the ruler of my clan? You could wield power greater than a king’s and command the world. Everyone in the south would bow before you.”

But Dang Mu-jin still seemed uninterested.

“How can I trust you?”

“Don’t worry. As soon as we return south, I’ll take the child poison, and I’ll give you the mother poison. That should be enough to earn your trust, right?”

It was better to propose bold terms and reclaim her clan’s power than to die in obscurity.

The child poison was a tricky matter.

But as long as she maintained a good relationship with Dang Mu-jin and ensured his well-being, the fact that she was bound by the poison wouldn’t matter much.

“Dang Mu-jin. Come with me.”

To make her point clear, Gyo Bu-hwa let her shoulder slip, causing her garment to fall slightly. But Dang Mu-jin quickly reached out and adjusted it back in place.

He pointed to a spot a little distance away.

“I’m not interested in going south. Get off.”

Instead of retreating, Gyo Bu-hwa leaned in closer.

“Don’t be indecisive. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“I said I’m not interested.”

His response was so straightforward that Gyo Bu-hwa felt a twinge of frustration.

“Then why did you ask how you could trust me? I’m offering to take the child poison myself!”

“I was trying to let you down gently. Being direct can be… harsh.”

A faint glint of anger appeared in Gyo Bu-hwa’s eyes.

Dang Mu-jin, uncomfortable with the situation, gently pushed her away and sat up.

Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like it was time to leave soon.

‘First Wan-ah, now Gyo Bu-hwa. What a strange series of events.’

But as he fully sat up, Dang Mu-jin sensed something off. There was someone behind him.

‘Who…?’

No need to wonder. It was Jin Ram. Mok Wan-ah wouldn’t approach so stealthily.

A martial artist had crept up behind him. It couldn’t be for a good reason.

Dang Mu-jin immediately sprang up and swung his sword, the best response he could muster from his awkward position.

But Jin Ram’s martial arts were a step ahead of Dang Mu-jin’s swordsmanship. An incomplete strike wouldn’t land.

Jin Ram blocked Dang Mu-jin’s sword with ease and, maintaining his advantage, launched a series of attacks.

Dang Mu-jin, on the defensive, swung his sword desperately. As soon as a small opening appeared, he reached into his robe.

‘I can win this.’

The true strength of Dang Mujin lay not just in his swordsmanship, but in the deadly art that accompanied it.

If one were to analyze it, the poison techniques were the main act, with the swordplay serving as a mere accompaniment.

With a subtle flick of his hand, Dang Mujin launched a poison-tipped needle.

As he narrowly parried Jinram’s sword three times, his left hand moved stealthily.

The needle, which had flown off somewhere, suddenly changed direction, aiming for Jinram’s back.

Jinram seemed completely unaware of the incoming poisoned needle.

Dang Mujin clenched his left fist.

“I’ve won.”

But what happened next was something he hadn’t anticipated at all.

The needle, which should have embedded itself in Jinram’s back, was deflected by a strange rebound and flew off course.

Gyobu-hwa, who had been watching the fight from the sidelines, chuckled.

“Jinram is a bodyguard who has survived among those skilled in poison arts. Naturally, he has trained in external techniques to fend off venomous insects and snake bites.”

Dang Mujin cursed under his breath.

Caught off guard in an awkward position, he found himself at a disadvantage, his martial arts poorly matched against Jinram’s.

Jinram swung his sword with even greater ferocity, seizing an opening to throw a punch with his left hand.

Dang Mujin, unable to counter the unexpected and peculiar martial art, took a hit to the jaw. His body crumpled to the ground.

Jinram checked the pressure points of the unconscious Dang Mujin and turned to Gyobu-hwa.

“What do you plan to do?”

“I’ll try to persuade him for a few more days.”

“His stance was quite resolute. What if you can’t convince him?”

Gyobu-hwa looked at the limp form of Dang Mujin.

It was true that the Gyo family had faced numerous ups and downs within the Odokmun, but they had never regained their former glory in just one or two generations.

It took decades, sometimes over a century, to reclaim their past prestige.

This meant that without a special opportunity, Gyobu-hwa might never return to Odokmun in his lifetime.

“Even if I can’t persuade him, I won’t give up entirely. I will return to Odokmun alive.”

To revive the Gyo family before his death, and for the sake of future generations, Dang Mujin’s abilities were essential.

If the best path wasn’t available, he would have to choose the next best option.

“Before killing him, I’ll have to ensure his lineage continues.”

Gyobu-hwa adjusted his attire and pointed outside the cave.

“Jinram, go and kill the woman outside.”

“As you command.”

Jinram replied in his usual emotionless voice.