Chapter 203

Chapter 203
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**Chapter 203: Peach Blossom in Full Bloom**

Zhuge Seol-ha had been born bearing the Peach Blossom Physique. True to its name, this innate constitution housed what was known as Peach Blossom Energy—a radiant aura that naturally cast a spell over everyone around her. For the young Zhuge Seol-ha, who had lacked the ability to master that power, the heavenly retribution it drew had been nothing short of a living nightmare. In his former life, the Zhuge Clan had never found a way to sever the physique from her, and Yang-hwi had been utterly convinced she would one day become the Soul-enslaving Demon Queen, unleashing a reign of blood and terror across the land.

*So this is what it looks like when the Peach Blossom Physique reaches full bloom.*

He had always imagined she would grow into a striking beauty, but reality far outstripped his expectations. Now in her late teenage years, Zhuge Seol-ha surpassed every image he had ever conjured of her. Even Yang-hwi, who had weathered every tempest the world had to offer, found himself momentarily stripped of his composure, standing transfixed as he gazed upon her.

“You’ve been well, haven’t you, Hwi oppa?”

Her eyes held a clear, deep hue all their own. She wore a palace robe woven with the distinctive, intricate embroidery of the Zhuge Clan. Her skin was flawless as polished white jade—making plain at a glance why “jade” formed part of her byname—and her long, lustrous black hair flowed like carved ebony, striking a perfect contrast against her complexion.

In that instant, a thought took hold of him. *Some of us endure hellish trial after hellish trial, fighting to earn even a chance at being called the greatest under heaven… and then there are others.* Without striving or struggle, Zhuge Seol-ha had already claimed the title of the world’s most beautiful woman. In this era, there was no one who could dispute that truth.

“Hwi oppa? It’s been so long, and you haven’t said a single word?”

She beamed warmly, then glanced about the gathering. Dozens of rising young masters, their attendants, the elders overseeing the assembly—even Namgung Cheon-yeong and the four swordsmen of the Namgung Clan—every last set of eyes was fixed solely on Zhuge Seol-ha. Her beauty alone was enough to hold them all utterly captivated.

*What is truly remarkable is that this awe springs purely from her appearance and presence, with no Soulenslavement arts at work.* He could sense the Peach Blossom Energy: seductive by nature, yet soft and warm, no longer overwhelming as it once had been. She wore no veil, which meant she had gained absolute mastery over her own constitution—far more than merely suppressing or sealing its power.

*She must have devoted herself to this. And besides, her master would never have left her to face it alone.* Roughly a year prior, Yin Hu had formally declared Zhuge Seol-ha her disciple before all the realm. It had been a move that followed Yang-hwi’s counsel: framing it as the founding of a new faction, designed to keep the Wudang Sect on edge. Knowing Yin Hu’s character, she would never have made such an announcement unless Seol-ha was fully prepared…

*Come to think of it, her internal energy is extraordinary.* Three years ago, Yang-hwi had guided her to the Peak Realm in somewhat hurried fashion; to reach that height barely past childhood had been an achievement beyond measure. Yet now she seemed to have ascended even further, stepping into a sphere of mastery that most could not hope to attain even at double her age. That was the standard one would expect of the direct disciple of one of the Ten Heavenly Martial Sovereigns.

“Hwi oppa?”

As the silence stretched, a faint look of confusion touched her dark eyes. His prolonged staring had set his thoughts wandering.

*—What is this? Don’t tell me even my own senior brother has fallen under my spell?*

He gave a mental shake, rousing himself. Even spoken from afar, her playfulness and bright spirit shone clearly. It was a bold, teasing tone to hear from one who looked like a celestial being descended to earth, and the thought drew a quiet smile to his lips. It felt a little unexpected, yet it was unmistakably Zhuge Seol-ha—through and through.

*—You really have grown into something beautiful, Seol-ha.*

*—Ah…!*

She had clearly not anticipated such a straightforward compliment, and a soft flush rose to her cheeks. Calling him “Hwi oppa” for the first time, and now this—she had plainly given careful thought to how she would address him.

*This could not be more timely.* The Namgung Clan had backed him into a difficult position, yet this turn of events suited his purposes perfectly. He might as well play along.

“Seol-ha. It has been a long time.”

“Yes, it has, Hwi oppa. Nearly three years, hasn’t it?”

“It has indeed.”

*—So why start calling me oppa all of a sudden?*

*—Senior brother never told me he was my master’s disciple. Should I address you as senior brother instead?*

It was a thoughtful consideration, though surely titles like Young Hero or Young Master would have served just as well.

*—That would make things awkward between us. Best to keep it as it is.*

*—No, then I would have to call you Young Master Zhuge.*

*—Eek, you’re right.*

After all they had shared growing up, formal titles such as “young master” or “young lady” felt unnatural between them.

“Seol-ha, what brings you here?”

“What do you mean, oppa? How can you say that? We were meant to meet at Tai Lake, remember?”

*We were? When was that arranged?* Whatever the case, it was evident she had come seeking to lend aid.

“That is true, though we agreed on a specific tavern beside the lake, if you recall.”

“I grew weary of wandering and heard the commotion here, so I came to see what was afoot.”

“I notice you are no longer wearing a veil.”

She turned her face slightly aside so others would not see, then stuck out her tongue in a lighthearted gesture.

*—Why should I hide beauty such as this?*

*—There is truth in that.*

*—Ah! You agree without a moment’s hesitation? Have you taken leave of your senses?*

*—It is the truth, and besides… it is a pleasure to look upon.*

When they had first met, Zhuge Seol-ha had despised her physique and the beauty that came with it; the suffering they brought had been too great to bear. Now she accepted herself fully, like a delicate flower that had endured fierce storms and grown into the most magnificent bloom in all the world. How could he not admire what she had become?

“Oppa, let us speak somewhere more private—ah.” Only after they had talked for some time did she realize her oversight, wearing a look of sudden alarm as she remembered the onlookers standing all around.

“Zhuge Seol-ha of the Zhuge Clan greets you all.” She lifted the hem of her robe and bowed to the assembled young masters. In that moment, Yang-hwi perceived that she had subtly employed a sound art; her voice carried with a sweet, melodious clarity. *Truly, a voice as pure as jade.*

“I ask permission to escort the son and brother of Lord Yi-baek’s household onward.” It was a gracious request, yet carried the weight of a firm resolve. None of those gathered dared to refuse—all save one.

“Young Lady Zhuge, it has been some time.”

“Ah, Senior of the Namgung Four Swords.”

“You speak of leaving with the Baek heir, yet how can you set aside our Great Namgung Clan? There was an understanding between our families…”

“Ah!” Zhuge Seol-ha spoke up clearly and respectfully. “My father has instructed me to escort the party from Lord Yi-baek’s household. This was agreed in advance, and is the command of my father and the clan elders. I am sorry, but prior duty must take precedence today.”

A gust of wind swept through the clearing, and when the dust settled, Yang-hwi and Seol-ha had vanished.

“Peak Realm lightness skill!”

“The twin arts of sound and lightness passed down through Yin Hu’s line—just as the tales say!”

“Truly worthy of being called the disciple of Sky-Piercing Yin Hu!”

While the young masters marveled, the leader of the Four Swords turned aside and scowled. *The young ones of the Tang and Baek clans are gone as well.* They must have slipped away unseen while all eyes were fixed elsewhere, departing in response to a secret message.

“Tch. A wasted journey.”

Baek Yang-hwi of the Heaven-Covering Baek Clan. Zhuge Seol-ha of the Zhuge Clan. He had aimed to secure both alliances at once, yet the two had come together and escaped before he could make his move. There was nothing left for the Four Swords but to seethe in frustration.

“Let us be on our way, Cheon-yeong.”

“Uncle, I do not understand something.” Namgung Cheon-yeong stared toward the direction Seol-ha had departed, his tone wounded and bewildered. “Why did she leave with them? She should be leaving with me.”

The Four Swords clicked his tongue again; there was simply no way to begin untangling all that needed explaining.

***

“Seol-haaa!”

“Yeon-i unnie! It has been so long! And you too, Yeon!”

“I am so happy to see you, Seol-ha unnie!”

The reunion took place in a quiet tavern, just beyond the hills overlooking Tai Lake. Yang-hwi watched as Zhuge Seol-ha, Dang Yeon, and Baek Yeon-yeon greeted one another with joyful cries and warm embraces.

“Heh. It will take some time for things to settle down.”

“It has been years for all three of them. Bonds between women tend to deepen faster and run deeper than those between men, in any case.”

Dang Gun, Yang-hwi, and the others sat beside the room’s wooden window, observing the joyful gathering. To tell the truth, none of the men besides Yang-hwi felt quite at ease joining in. Zhuge Seol-ha had changed—though she had always been breathtakingly beautiful, there was something about her now that made her seem almost distant, as if she belonged to a different world.

“Brother, may I ask you something while we have the chance?”

“Go ahead, Chudal—though do not go looking for trouble.”

“That is a terrible joke. But tell me—why did you lose your composure back there with those Namgung men?”

Yang-hwi glanced over at him. “Was it so obvious?”

“I have known you long enough to tell when something is amiss.”

“It is your fault, you know.”

“Mine? What did I do?”

“Nothing that needs spoken of.” He could hardly say *the image of you from my past life still makes my blood burn*.

“I noticed it too. You have always been especially sharp whenever the Namgung Clan is involved, Brother Yang-hwi.” Dang Gun’s tone was gentle, inviting him to speak freely. Unable to share the whole truth, Yang-hwi decided to speak plainly of what could be said.

“They are simply difficult to bear. I have not forgotten what Namgung Cheon-hu did to you at Tai Lake.”

Dang Gun’s expression shifted, touched by the memory. Just then, Zhuge Seol-ha stepped forward, standing directly before him with Dang Yeon and Baek Yeon-yeon at her side.

“Oppa.”

“Seol-ha, that is a habit you ought to break.”

“What habit?”

“You have grown into a striking beauty, yet appearing suddenly before a man like that might give him the wrong idea.”

“I only do it to you, so there is no cause for concern.”

“Why me, of all people?”

“You always remain so calm and guarded—I simply cannot resist seeing if I can catch you off guard.”

So that was why she always took him by surprise. It was certainly preferable to receiving sudden voice transmissions. In any case, it was a pleasure to see her.

“And you intend to keep calling me oppa even when others are present?”

“I must grow accustomed to it from now on, if we are to keep up appearances. I am practicing.”

“Very well, that is not what I wish to ask. Why did you come just when you did?” Her arrival had been perfectly timed, yet he was curious.

“Ah, that—Uncle Yi-baek sent me. He said you were traveling toward An-hwi, and asked me to ensure you stayed out of trouble.” After deciding to pursue the letter pigeon, Yang-hwi had altered his route but kept in contact with home. *My own father does not trust me to manage on my own.*

“In any case, Uncle Yi-baek’s foresight has proven invaluable. You helped me greatly today as well.”

“That reminds me—what has been happening? You spoke as though something troubled you earlier.”

Her expression darkened instantly. “Do they truly have no shame at all?”

“What has happened?”

“The Namgung Clan is pressing for a betrothal.”

“What?!”

“Surely not!”

“It cannot be!”

All eyes turned toward Yang-hwi as he spoke the last word, his voice ringing out sharply.

“Brother Yang-hwi, why do you react so?”

“Do not tell me you have some connection to this…?”

Suspicion settled over their gazes as they looked to him for an answer.
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