Chapter 30 – The Beginning of the Plan

Chapter 30 – The Beginning of the Plan

Tang San-ho, who had run wild to his heart's content, was truly unpredictable.

“Family Head Paeng. It is an honor to meet a hero of the Jianghu.”

“Glad to meet you, Young Master. I was actually hoping to have a chat with you anyway. But seeing you come to visit me like this makes me very happy.”

Tang San-ho was currently sitting in the reception room of the guest hall where the Hebei Paeng Clan was staying.

Normally, it was customary to receive guests at the Cloud Joy Hall in the inner castle, but on the contrary, Tang San-ho had visited the guest hall where the guests stayed.

Paeng Mu-hyeok, the Family Head of the Paeng Family, looked at Tang San-ho with a relaxed expression.

“So, what is the reason you came to find me first?”

“I simply wished to personally meet the hero of the Paeng Family.”

The Hebei Paeng Clan, located in Beijing, was famous for their innate physical frame and robust strength, and was called the prestigious family of sabers for their practical saber techniques. Since their natural strength was immense, they naturally developed a relaxed and heroic personality; thus, it was said that many of the Paeng Clan's martial artists were boisterous and cheerful heroes.

Paeng Mu-hyeok burst into a pleasant laugh at Tang San-ho's words that he had simply come to meet a hero.

“Uhahat! Even though I know it is just a courtesy, it is good to hear. Ah, right. My daughter wished to see the Young Master; if you do not have any urgent business, would it be alright if I call her here?”

“Of course.”

Tang San-ho showed a bright smile.

‘This is perfect. In fact, meeting Paeng Ju-hyeon was my goal anyway.’

Before long, the precious daughter of the Paeng Family Head, Paeng Ju-hyeon, entered the reception room.

“I am Paeng Ju-hyeon of the Paeng Family. I greet the Young Master of the Great Sichuan Tang Clan.”

“Ah, Lady Paeng. Nice to meet you. I am Tang San-ho of the Tang Clan.”

“It was a pity that I could not see you properly at the banquet hall because of the distance, so I am glad you walked over here. I really wanted to see the Young Master up close, so I pestered my father despite the rudeness.”

Contrary to her elaborate hair ornaments, Paeng Ju-hyeon was a beauty whose pure and elegant beauty stood out.

Tang San-ho tilted his head and asked.

“Me? Did you have something to say to me?”

“Ah…”

Hesitating for a moment, Paeng Ju-hyeon cast her eyes downward as if shy and said.

“It is because I tend to value aesthetics. Thus, how could I ignore the Young Master's features, which are like polished jade?”

“…Pardon?”

Contrary to her shy expression, bold sentences popped out of Paeng Ju-hyeon's mouth. Tang San-ho blinked several times at the unexpected reply.

“Skin like white jade, eyes wet with melancholy! Even lips like cherries… This harmony is highly coveted. I really want to paint you at least once.”

Having said all those embarrassing words, she slightly turned her head in shyness, which was somewhat confusing.

“…”

In his embarrassment, Tang San-ho looked at Family Head Paeng Mu-hyeok with a gaze pleading for help.

“Uhahahahat! Our Ju-hyeon is proficient in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, but among them, she is especially good at painting. She particularly likes to paint beautiful men and women.”

“Ah, so that is what it was. I have actually heard that Lady Paeng has an outstanding talent not only in landscape paintings but also in portrait paintings. That is why I prepared something… I would be pleased if you would accept it.”

Tang San-ho smiled faintly and placed the item he had brought onto the tea table.

It was a wooden box wrapped in silk with a subtle green tint.

“A gift?”

Paeng Ju-hyeon tilted her head slightly, untied the wrapped silk, and opened the wooden box.

“My goodness…!”

Clasping both hands together in emotion, Paeng Ju-hyeon let out a short exclamation.

“Did you really bring this to give to me? Oh my, I like it so much!”

The wooden box, which was the size of two palms put together, was divided into several compartments, and in each compartment, paints of various colors sparkled vividly in full color. The inside was meticulously lacquered, so this wooden box itself served as a coloring vessel, that is, a mixing palette.

“Since I attached a handle with a leather strap, you will be able to carry it with you to any place of beautiful scenery. So that you will have no regrets in every moment you face a beautiful landscape.”

“…My goodness. Young Master, not only is your appearance handsome, but your inner self is an even more beautiful person. On top of that, even your every word is a moonlit chapter and starry verse.”

Moonlit chapter and starry verse. It meant that the writing was like the moon and the sentences were like the stars.

In short, it was about the level of, 'You speak so beautifully.'

Paeng Ju-hyeon held the wooden box tightly and could not take her eyes off it, as if she truly liked the gift. Since he had gifted a portable palette to her, who liked to paint, it was only natural for her to like it. It was worthwhile preparing the gift after finding out her hobby.

Tang San-ho raised the corners of his mouth in satisfaction as he watched her.

“Where did you get this mineral green? My father has also obtained many precious paints and pigments for me over the years, but this is the first time I have seen such a beautiful and deep mineral green.”

“There is a stone called malachite. If you grind that malachite and use it as a mineral pigment, you get mineral green, and if you bake it in fire once during the process, you can obtain a more vivid and deep color.”

“So there was such a method. Wow… but how did the Young Master know that?”

“Hmm… Malachite powder is toxic, so it is one of the materials commonly seen in the Tang Clan. It is a minor trick I learned while conducting various experiments. Oh, by the way, the poison was removed during the baking process, so you can use it with peace of mind.”

Paeng Ju-hyeon's eyes sparkled brightly.

The strategy had worked perfectly.

“The Young Master of the Tang Clan is different from the men I have seen so far.”

“I am glad it pleased Lady Paeng. It was good that I prepared the gift.”

It was not a lie.

Because from the very beginning, Tang San-ho's purpose was to win Paeng Ju-hyeon's favor.

The precious daughter of the Hebei Paeng Clan, Paeng Ju-hyeon.

‘I heard that he would search the entire world to find whatever Lady Paeng wanted.’

Family Head Paeng Mu-hyeok was, by his own and everyone else's account, a famous doting father.

The Hebei Paeng Clan had gained unparalleled power as a sect by having only sons one after another from three wives. However, since it was swarming only with men who lacked a single gentle quality even if one searched with washed eyes, the atmosphere was stifling to the extreme.

In the midst of that, a late-born daughter arrived like a gift.

It was only natural for him to fall in love with his cute daughter, who giggled just by looking at Paeng Mu-hyeok's face.

‘The rumor that this delicate lady controlled Paeng Mu-hyeok, who was famous for being rough and domineering, at will was indeed true.’

Therefore, when he needed the help of the Hebei Paeng Clan, the one he had to target was not the family head, but his daughter.

With an excited face, she chattered repeatedly, “Do you see how beautiful this peach pink and scarlet are, Father?” as Paeng Mu-hyeok watched her warmly.

“My, our Ju-hyeon must have taken a great liking to the Young Master's gift. It is my first time seeing her like it this much… Right, I will give you something precious, so please wait a moment.”

It worked.

Tang San-ho quickly lowered the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise and spoke words he did not mean.

“No, that is not necessary. I did not come expecting such things, so I will simply accept your kind thoughts.”

“Uh-huh, it is fine to accept what an elder gives. Moreover, with our Ju-hyeon being so happy, how could I send the Young Master back empty-handed?”

“Oh, if you do this, I will feel uncomfortable. It is really fine.”

“The Paeng Clan definitely returns what we receive. Is the Young Master planning to embarrass my offered hand?”

“It is really fine…”

Waving his hands to reject Paeng Mu-hyeok's offer, Tang San-ho finally spoke as if yielding.

“…Then, instead of a gift, would you grant me a favor?”

***

Coming out of the guest hall where the Paeng Clan was staying, Tang San-ho stretched widely.

‘Good, the Hebei Paeng Clan is won over.’

He was currently preparing the things needed for the so-called “Finding the Culprit” plan one by one.

The next destination Tang San-ho headed to was none other than the guest hall where the Zhuge Clan was staying.

“What brings the Young Master here?”

“I greet Family Head Zhuge. I am Tang San-ho of the Tang Clan.”

“I know. I remember the Young Master throwing down a challenge to the Young Clan Leader of the Murong Clan at the banquet.”

“It is an honor that the Family Head of the Divine Machinery Zhuge remembers. Have you had any discomfort while staying here?”

“We are staying comfortably thanks to the Tang Clan's hospitality.”

Zhuge Jun, the Family Head of the Zhuge Family, received the greeting with a gaze that was not very welcoming. It seemed that the rumors that he was highly cautious and selective with people were true.

Tang San-ho recalled the information he had heard about the Zhuge Clan.

Settled in Xiangyang of Hubei, the Zhuge Clan was famous for their extensive knowledge of machinery, formations, and tactics. A family where many with brilliant minds were born, compensating for their deficient martial skeletons with various martial arts.

Generally, in the Jianghu where the strong survive, a brilliant mind was often treated as inferior to mighty strength, but the Zhuge Clan was the sole exception.

The current Alliance Leader of the Martial World was also a person of the Zhuge Family.

“I am glad. Ah, I heard that Family Head Zhuge especially enjoys the tea ceremony, so I brought some precious tea.”

Having found out in advance that Zhuge Jun liked to enjoy tea alone, Tang San-ho pulled out the gift he had prepared.

It was hard to chase away a guest who brought food as a gift.

“…Will you come inside?”

As expected.

As he followed Zhuge Jun into the reception room of the guest hall, the scent of incense sticks drifted in.

“It is Ancient Tree Black Tea. It was harvested from ancient tea trees in Yunnan that are over three hundred years old. Its depth and aroma are said to be incomparably rich, so I would be pleased if it suits your taste.”

“…Hmm, the Young Master seems to know quite a lot about tea.”

“'Through simplicity, one clarifies their aspiration; through tranquility, one reaches far'—though I enjoy tea for the sake of composure, it is merely what I have picked up from watching and listening.”

A phrase from the Admonition to My Son. It meant that only when one's mind was clean could one establish a clear will, and only when one's mind was peaceful and tranquil could one go far.

Upon hearing those words, Zhuge Jun widened his eyes and asked.

“Have you read the Admonition to My Son?”

“Living in the fertile land of Sichuan, how could I not know the writing written by Kongming?”

The Admonition to My Son was a letter sent by Zhuge Liang, who was the Chancellor of Shu Han, to his late-born son from the battlefield. Since its content was about teaching his son, it was named the Admonition to My Son.

“Ho… there are not many who have read even the Admonition to My Son. Especially at the Young Master's age.”

Since it was pleasant news to hear for the Zhuge Clan, the descendants of Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Jun withdrew his sharp, wary gaze and began to look at Tang San-ho with curious eyes.

He then asked Tang San-ho about the academic subjects that descendants of prestigious families studied, evaluating the depth of his knowledge.

Zhuge Jun would not know it, but.

passing his evaluation was incredibly easy for Tang San-ho, who had shown the amazing feat of memorizing three hundred secret manuals at once.

Before they knew it, the evaluation became a conversation, and the conversation soon led to a debate.

After passing through various topics from the Four Books to the Thirteen Confucian Classics, a double hour had already flown by in the blink of an eye.

“…He is different from those fellows who only swing swords ignorantly. He is a child with a rarely seen, outstanding comprehension. Sigh, it is a pity that he is, of all things, the Young Master of the Tang Clan, so I cannot even suggest that he marry into the Zhuge Clan.”

In Zhuge Jun's mind after their conversation, Tang San-ho had already become a coveted talent.

It was truly the first time in a long while that he had met someone from another family besides the Zhuge Clan with whom he could communicate so well.

“Oh, by the way, I have some Wuyi Rock Tea kept in the detached villa, and the taste is very good. I will have a servant send it to you later.”

Even his enjoyment of tea suited Zhuge Jun's taste perfectly.

‘How does a Young Master who has just passed the age of fifteen possess such insight? He has excellent views not only on martial studies but also on general studies.’

He showed a satisfied smile and nodded.

“More than that, since I received such precious tea, I should naturally repay it. Ah, if you like teapots (: a vessel used to brew tea), how about a purple clay teapot (: a teapot-shaped tea set)? It was made by the artisans of Yixing .”

“It is fine. Having tasted the tea brewed by the Family Head himself, that is enough.”

“Hoo…”

He had thought of him as just one of the combative descendants of the prestigious families after seeing only his appearance at the banquet.

When faced in person, Tang San-ho knew propriety, knew gratitude, and was even humble.

Zhuge Jun even felt the urge to kidnap Tang San-ho and take him to Hubei.

If the Tang Clan were not so closed off that they insisted on taking in marrying-in sons-in-law, he would have quickly paired him up with one of his daughters.

“Do not be like that. If I only receive, my heart will be very uncomfortable.”

Tang San-ho, who was showing a modest attitude toward Zhuge Jun's repeated urgings, quietly raised his gaze.

Historically, the martial artists of the Jianghu are clear about favors and grudges. It meant that they never accepted even a single gift without giving back.

The eyes of Zhuge Jun, who had not even thought of letting him into the guest hall, were now filled to the brim with goodwill.

“It is really fine…”

Having finally obtained what he wanted, Tang San-ho wore a satisfied smile.

“…If you insist, would you grant me a favor?”