Chapter 19 – A Marriage Proposal

Chapter 19 – A Marriage Proposal

I was currently facing a very peculiar sight.

A boy, with both cheeks flushed red like peach blossoms bathed in sunlight, had come to find me. The boy wore fine indigo silk clothing and carried a sword engraved with the cloud pattern that was the symbol of the Namgung Family, and looking at his ebony hair and fair skin, he was not an impostor.

I composed my flustered voice as I looked at the boy who introduced himself as Namgung Yeon.

“So, right now…”

“You heard correctly. I have come to propose marriage to Lady Dark Flower.”

“……”

So this was what it felt like to be so dumbfounded that words wouldn't come out.

I, who had almost become a bachelor ghost without even dating once, received my first confession after two lifetimes.

…Of all people, from a man.

Seeing his unwavering eyes, he seemed sincere, so I asked back, wondering if I might have misunderstood.

“Young Hero Namgung, I do not know what kind of rumors you have heard, but… are you sure you came here knowing who the Dark Flower is?”

“Of course. Is there anyone who does not know the rumors of the Dark Flower, the flower of Sichuan?”

“……”

What, what flower?

I pressed my temples firmly, praying that there was indeed a beautiful woman with the alias of Dark Flower in Sichuan. However, Namgung Yeon paid no mind to my troubled expression and continued speaking.

“The flower hidden by the Tang Clan. Possessing not only a beauty that eclipses the moon and shames the flowers but also a noble heart that suppresses the strong and supports the weak, how could I not fall in love?”

“……”

“Is that all? Since even a martial prowess that combines both strength and gentleness is said to have bloomed, I only wish to make a lifelong matrimonial pledge with Lady Dark Flower with all my heart and enjoy marital harmony.”

“…Ha…”

What on earth is this rice-cake-like young master talking about right now?

I'm really going crazy.

Dizzy from the pouring confession of love, I raised my hand to stop Namgung Yeon.

“Stop. Please stop. Where on earth did you hear such nonsense?”

“Nonsense? Then are you saying the rumor of the Dark Flower punishing the wicked and atrocious martial artist who bullied the young servant is all a lie?”

“……?”

“Moreover, even the self-determining courage to personally invite everyone in the Tang Clan and defeat him in front of them all, at a time when everyone predicted the Dark Flower's defeat? No way. Surely all of this cannot be a lie?”

Finding Namgung Yeon, whose eyes sparkled as if he were standing before a precious jewel, burdensome, I distanced myself from him.

So…

It was true that before the duel with Tang Jae-shin, I had intentionally written down the alias containing contempt and mockery. Since I knew they secretly called me that, I had openly acknowledged it to get on his nerves.

Yes, there was also a slight determination to show that the Dark Flower was no longer the flower of the annex.

'But the rumors spread like this?'

Interpreting the words of Namgung Yeon, who spouted complex words worthy of a young master from a noble family, it went like this:

'The Dark Flower (=me) who proudly defeated the wicked martial artist (=Tang Jae-shin) bullying the young servant (=Sawol) in front of everyone and stood on the side of the weak.'

This much was correct.

The only problem was that the Dark Flower was not a beautiful woman who eclipsed the moon and shamed the flowers, but a man who was worrying about muscle loss until just a moment ago.

“…Ha…”

Now that I thought about it, was an alias meaning a flower in the Jianghu usually reserved for women boasting a beautiful appearance?

Where should I start explaining this…

I spoke to Namgung Yeon, whose eyes were shining brightly, in the calmest voice possible.

“Now, Young Hero. The rumors you heard are not false, but there is a misunderstanding in the most important part.”

“A misunderstanding? What do you mean?”

For starters, that a man cannot marry the Dark Flower?

Namgung Yeon was a fair-skinned boy who looked to be around my age. In other words, he was a teenager going through a highly sensitive and emotional puberty. If he came to propose and found out the other party was a man, wouldn't he be so embarrassed that he would flip out?

Thinking it would be best to wrap it up as plainly as possible, I chose the right words.

“…I am the Dark Flower.”

But could this sound reasonably gentle?

I quietly read Namgung Yeon's expression. Since we had to meet at the assembly soon, I hoped he wouldn't be too flustered or overly embarrassed.

“……”

Namgung Yeon, who narrowed his eyes and fell silent for a moment at my words, slapped his palm with his fist as if something had occurred to him.

“Ah, is it because you do not know what kind of man I am? If so, do not worry. I am the younger brother of Brother Namgung Hyun, the Young Clan Leader of the Namgung Family, and I carry the bloodline of the Clan Leader. Is this not good enough as a marriage partner?”

Even if you were the Clan Leader himself instead of a direct descendant of the Namgung Family, you still couldn't marry the Dark Flower…

“Yes, you are a fine man… but marriage is impossible.”

“I have never heard anyone say that I am lacking in any way. Why does the Young Master reject me without even knowing Lady Dark Flower's intentions?”

“It is not that… I am telling you once again, I am the Dark Flower. It is not because the Young Hero is lacking as a marriage partner.”

“The Young Master? Ah, of course. I heard the Young Master is a direct descendant of the Tang Clan Leader. Then Lady Dark Flower must be your sister. Ah, I committed a discourtesy by failing to recognize my future brother-in-law.”

Creating a non-existent sister and committing a grand discourtesy upon our first meeting…

My head throbbed as I stood before Namgung Yeon, with whom communication was completely impossible. Did this guy pour concrete into his ears, why does he refuse to listen to a word I say?

“Brother, please speak comfortably. As your future brother-in-law, I will fulfill my duty as a younger brother.”

“……”

Namgung Yeon kept stubbornly speaking his mind, looking as if he had been raised very preciously indeed.

Young masters who had lived their entire lives believing their words were always right exuded a unique atmosphere. This was apparent just from Namgung Yeon's way of speaking; his speech pattern of raising the other person without lowering himself showed that he had lived in a dominant position his whole life.

In the end, I gave up speaking gently and spoke in a firm voice toward Namgung Yeon.

“The Dark Flower is not a woman, it is me. Understood? I am a man, a man.”

“…Brother. If you are doing this out of a desire to protect your sister, I will obtain my brother-in-law's approval first. Would that suffice?”

“Approval or whatever… No, I am telling you that the Dark Flower the Young Hero is thinking of does not exist in this world.”

“It is fine even if she does not possess a face like a flower and a form like the moon, but seeing Brother's handsome face, it is obvious that you two would show off the beauty of outstanding siblings. How then can you say she does not exist?”

“Wow, I am really going crazy…”

How can someone speak only what they want to say like this?

Namgung Yeon countered the statement that the 'beautiful woman' Dark Flower did not exist by saying 'it is fine even if she is not beautiful.' This felt almost like denial of reality, but seeing his confidence, he seemed sincere.

It seemed he thought my repeated denials were simply because I, cherishing my sister, was hiding the Dark Flower.

“I will make an effort to receive Brother's approval. Please drop the formal language, Brother, and look kindly upon your younger brother.”

I realized that my voice wouldn't reach Namgung Yeon's eardrums through gentle words. In the end, I set aside the polite formal language and spoke as if coaxing a neighborhood younger brother.

“Your confidence is outstanding… Fine, let's say I approve as you wish. But if the Dark Flower rejects you, that's the end of it, right?”

“I heard the Lady likes spirit medicines. Thus, I brought something precious, so wouldn't she be pleased if she receives it?”

“…Spirit medicine?”

The five families ruling the Jianghu. Among the Five Great Families, the Namgung Family was particularly famous for being wealthy.

The Namgung Family, which accumulated wealth centered around Hefei in Anhui, exerted its influence throughout the Central Plains, and there was a saying that their wealth could allow their descendants to live in abundance for three, five, or even ten generations.

Even within such a Namgung Family, he was the direct son of the Clan Leader. Namgung Yeon was the beloved younger brother of the Young Clan Leader Namgung Hyun, and his position within the family was solid. If it was a spirit medicine brought by such a Namgung Yeon, and for a marriage proposal at that!

“…What kind of spirit medicine?”

Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked back subtly. Seensing an opportunity, Namgung Yeon pulled out a small wooden box from his chest and whispered secretly.

“It is a Vermilion Fruit that grew harboring the spiritual energy of Mount Huang. It not only maintains ageless beauty but also has the efficacy of rapidly boosting massive internal energy.”

“…Gasp!”

I covered my mouth and swallowed a gasp.

The Vermilion Fruit.

The very spirit medicine said to grant disease-free longevity to ordinary people, agelessness to women, and massive internal energy to martial artists.

I ended up being hooked on the part of the Vermilion Fruit's three efficacies: 'rapidly boosting massive internal energy.'

'This is it. The big one-shot I was looking for! If it is a Vermilion Fruit, at least ten years of cultivation, no… maybe even more than that.'

Gulp.

What I had been searching for was held in Namgung Yeon's hand.

Noticing that I, who had been frowning all along, was wavering for the first time, Namgung Yeon quietly continued speaking.

“There is also the Clear Heaven Pill made with the secret recipe of the Namgung Family. How about it, from Brother's perspective, do you think Lady Dark Flower would like these?”

Yes. The Dark Flower says he likes them.

The Clear Heaven Pill of the Namgung Family.

That small pill, containing the meaning of a clear and shining sky, was so precious that its value could hardly be measured. Not only did it have an outstanding effect on boosting internal energy, but it was also a spirit medicine with excellent compatibility with my constitution as a Heavenly Martial Body.

However, unless one carried the bloodline of the Namgung Family, one couldn't even catch a glimpse of the pill, so I had given up on it early on. But to think that both the Vermilion Fruit and the Clear Heaven Pill would roll in on their own feet.

'What a stroke of luck.'

I pondered, as calmly as possible, a way for the spirit medicine in Namgung Yeon's hand to roll into my mouth.

'It was brought to be given to me, so if I just shove it in my mouth… no, that wouldn't do. After all, he is a guest of the Namgung Family…'

To eat or not to eat, that was the question.

I conflicted between reason and instinct. In the first place, it was a spirit medicine brought to be given to me, and I had already stated multiple times with my own mouth that I was the Dark Flower. So, strictly speaking, there shouldn't be any problem, right? …So what if I'm a man?

When I remained silent for a moment, tapping my collar with my fingers, Namgung Yeon suddenly grabbed my hand and spoke.

“Brother. If I fail to win Lady Dark Flower's heart before the assembly… I will give up like a man and give these to Brother. So please help your younger brother.”

The fifteen-year-old boy vowed with eyes full of determination.

So, if he fails to win the heart of the non-existent Lady Dark Flower, he will give those two spirit medicines to me, right?

'There are about three weeks left until the assembly. If it is that much time…'

I showed a gentle smile at the satisfying solution. In the first place, there was no way Romeo's love could be realized when Juliet did not exist.

“Should we do that, then?”

Namgung Yeon, looking highly satisfied, shook his shoulders, unable to hide his excitement.

“Brother! It is said that the way of husband and wife is the union of two surnames, so this younger brother will strive to become a good relation to Brother!”

Hearing Namgung Yeon's words about becoming a new family since the way of spouses is the union of surnames, a chuckle escaped my lips. This rice-cake-like young master seemed to already be growing old together with the Dark Flower after making a lifelong matrimonial vow in his head.

'Right, it's not like I hid it, and what can I do if he refuses to believe it? In any case, if he stays near Sichuan's capital, he won't be able to remain at the Tang Clan manor the entire time, and if I go along with his tune to that extent, I've fulfilled my moral responsibility.'

“But what about the rest of your party that you came in alone? Where are you staying until the assembly?”

It was a quite long distance from Anhui to Sichuan.

Since one had to pass through both Hubei and Chongqing, it was a distance that would take even a swift-footed martial artist half a month to a month. Thinking we should hurry our preparations if the guests of the Namgung Family had arrived before the assembly, I asked.

“Ah, that is…”

“Hmm?”

Seeing him hesitate, unlike a moment ago, I had an ominous feeling for some reason.

“Since the Clan Leader was so busy with public and private affairs, I came alone… without telling him separately.”

“…Only to the Namgung Clan Leader? Did you tell your older brother?”

“Well…”

“……Sigh.”

Namgung Clan Leader, I caught your runaway son.

Yeon… can you hear it? The sound of your Clan Leader's stomach turning upside down? It seems I can hear it, at least.