"Lord Junghwa, are you sure about this? She isn't the first person who wanted to make use of the Everfrost, and she probably won't be the last. Why bother entertaining someone who won't meet your standards?" he exclaimed.
"Jaha, what makes the Moon Blood Sect so great?" he asked.
The guardian furrowed his brows, puzzled by the sudden question. "Our power over the other sects is, of course, substantial."
Junghwa nodded. "And what makes the northern region great?"
"Its fierce weather?"
"Those are all appropriate answers. The north is great, but we are limited."
Jaha raised an eyebrow when he heard this. "How so?"
"Because of how closed off we are. We are isolated from the rest of the world, stuck in our own little bubble. Though we are thriving now, we could be doing so much more. The only way to do that is by expanding."
Jaha scrunched his face in confusion. "I'm afraid I don't understand, Lord Junghwa."
"…Sects are like businesses. They aren't just about cultivating martial strength or enlightenment—they are about power, resources, and influence. Just like businesses fight for customers, sects fight for influence, disciples, and the like. And so, any good merchant would want to expand their business someday, right? That's how one grows and becomes more successful. It's the same with sects. In order to be more powerful, we need to make our name known in the world.
When people hear the word 'Blood Moon,' they should tremble in fear and reverence, whether they are normal civilians, wanderers, or part of the greatest sects. We want to be known. I fear we will slowly start to lose our light if we remain as we are. Those who fail to adapt are often left in the dust, after all." he explained.
Jaha was stunned by his words. He never knew the sect leader had such thoughts. He couldn't help but feel a newfound appreciation for him at that moment.
"And you think Madam Soo holds the key to that?"
Junghwa leaned back in his seat and patted his hands on his lap. "Who knows?" he shrugged. "But one must start somewhere to find out, right?"
Jaha nodded, considering his words.
"Whatever it is you wish to do, I will support it," he said. Junghwa gave him a smile in response.
Though he was sincere about wishing to expand their name in the lands, the true reason Junghwa wished to conduct business was yet to be revealed.
~*~
Wooyun made it back home that afternoon, and thanks to Auntie Lim and the others, preparations for the banquet were underway. Since there were three important guests, Kang Choon-hee insisted everything be perfect.
She worked Wooyun especially hard, telling him not to embarrass the family. Wooyun had to once again resist the urge to roll his eyes.
Yu-jun snickered when he heard this.
"That's a bit of a hard ask for Seo-yoon, don't you think, mother? I mean, just look at him. His very existence is an embarrassment," he sneered.
Wooyun didn't flinch at his words and simply chose to ignore them. He didn't rise to the bait and didn't even look Yu-jun's way. Instead, he calmly adjusted the sleeve of his robe, as if the insult was nothing more than a breeze passing through the room. Do-yun silently observed him, choosing to say nothing, but his eyes carried a heavy amount of disdain.
Once everything was ready, Auntie Lim approached him with a pair of robes neatly folded in her hands. Wooyun looked confused when she handed them to him.
She gave him a kind smile. "Myself and the others thought it would be best for you to have something nice to wear. We pitched in to get you something; I hope you like it."
Auntie Lim recognized that the madam was most likely up to no good and would find any excuse to publicly embarrass Seo-yoon. He should at least wear something nice when facing the beast.
Wooyun felt touched by their gesture and thanked them profusely. He would never forget their kindness. He was also surprised to learn how many people pitied him and wished the best for him, as the book never mentioned how many people were on the original Seo-yoon's side.
He went up to the small room that had been provided for him now that he was no longer sleeping outside and laid the robe on the bed.
It was an elegant blue and white robe, embroidered with intricate gold detailing that shimmered subtly in the light. The outer robe was a soft, pale blue with delicate swirling patterns reminiscent of clouds or flowing water, while the inner layer was a pristine white, accentuating the contrast between the two fabrics.
A richly designed golden belt was included to cinch the waist. It was simple, yet elegant enough for such an occasion.
A soft smile tugged at his lips as he put it on, liking the way it felt against his skin. It had been a while since he was able to wear proper clothes. He decided that, since he had something new to wear, he would take a nice bath, perfume his hair, and look presentable. Today was the day he would finally start laying down the first part of his plan.
Sitting around waiting for a knight in shining armor to come rescue him was not his style, so he would pave his own future using his wits and charm.
~*~
Three horse-drawn carriages entered the Han Estate, and Kang Choon-hee stood outside alongside her sons as she greeted her esteemed guests.
A smile painted her face, but there was an unmistakable glint in her eyes. "Be on your best behavior, both of you," she said. Her sons nodded their heads, their expressions grim.
"Madam Kang, it's good to see you again," a tall man greeted with a large smile.
"Mister Hwan, it's good to see you as well. Thank you for coming all this way," she replied with a full smile. Behind him, an older woman stepped up, giving Choon-hee a light nod. She was Miss Nari, Mister Hwan's wife.
They came from a reputable merchant family that dominated the azure sky market. They had gained outstanding success over the last decade and had been close to the Han Clan. Kang Choon-hee had tried to keep a closer relationship with the pair to secure powerful connections for Do-yun's future.
The next person to step forward was Elder Kong, another giant in the merchant world who came from a prominent sect but had decided to make a name for himself on his own. He was a person Kang Choon-hee had her eye on to help her regain the glory that was once the Han Empire. He greeted her with a curt nod. As always, he was a man of few words. Though she was glad he had accepted her invitation, the person she was most excited to see was Elder Cho, the head of the Stormcallers merchant group.
If anyone wanted to make it big in this world, it was through him. Surprisingly, Elder Cho and Han Beom-seok were close friends and associates, having known each other since childhood.
As children from noble families and well-respected clans, they grew up in the same environments, learning in the same academies and later pursuing similar paths in life. When Beom-seok told the elder he was thinking of moving from cultivation to trading, he was in full support, even offering to help him out, as he had already made a name for himself.
Thanks to him, the Han Clan received massive success, and the two became leading players in the market. Things took a turn when Elder Cho found out about Beom-seok's death. He had hoped that with his father gone, Seo-yoon would take the mantle, only to find out that it would be passed on to the son of the woman Beom-seok had remarried. Elder Cho wasn't happy to hear that the business was no longer staying in the family, so he pulled away.
Kang Choon-hee had to pull a lot of strings to get him to agree to a meeting. She hoped today would be the day to convince him to stay as partners, assuring him that things would go back to normal once her son, Kang Do-yun, took charge.
That very son of hers was actually attending school to learn business, but it was obvious to her that Do-yun had no particular interest or ambition to carry on. But that didn't mean she was going to let him do as he pleased. Kang Choon-hee was an ambitious woman and craved a certain lifestyle. Even if it meant exploiting her children, she would get what she wanted.
She quickly invited the guests inside, leading them into the foyer where drinks were prepared for them. A cup of refreshing fruit tea, poured over ice, was handed to them.
"Oh? What is this? It's delicious!" the woman exclaimed. The others were in agreement; even the inexpressive Elder Cho had a look of pleasant surprise on his face.
Kang Choon-hee glanced down at the cups with a frown. She didn't recall asking the servants to prepare such a drink. She too took a sip of the beverage and was taken aback by its taste. It was slightly sweet but not overpowering and had a nice invigorating effect, making one feel both refreshed and energized.
She couldn't help wondering who prepared this, and Mister Hwan, the more bold and talkative of the bunch, expressed his thoughts out loud. "Just who prepared these delicious drinks?"
"That would be me, sir," a voice called from behind them. They all turned to look at the origin of the reply, and Kang Choon-hee's mouth instantly formed into a scowl.
"I'm glad you all enjoyed it," Wooyun said.
"Oh? May I ask who you might be?" Mister Hwan asked as his gaze fell on the young man.
The guests all took in Wooyun, dressed in fine robes that gave him a refined air befitting a young master. Not to mention how handsome he looked.
Wooyun stood with an effortless, almost careless grace, his long black hair loosely tied back in a low ponytail, stray strands slipping free to frame his angular yet boyish face. His straight brows lent him a sharp, almost discerning look, but the playful glint in his deep black eyes softened the impression—like someone always on the verge of an amused remark.
His nose was long and narrow, giving him a refined air, while his medium lips carried the faintest hint of a smirk. Though his skin was pale, there was a natural rosiness to his cheeks, adding an almost youthful charm to his otherwise worn-down appearance.
Draped over his frame was the white and blue robe that had been gifted to him. Despite how simple the robe was, he wore it with an air of nonchalance, as if he didn't care what he wore or looked like—he would look good, regardless. His build was lean but sturdy, not particularly imposing, yet there was an ease in the way he carried himself—like a man who could hold his own if need be, thanks to the training he had undergone with Eun-woo.
At about 5'9", he neither towered nor shrank among others, but there was something about his presence that made him stand out. Perhaps it was the quiet confidence in his posture or the way he seemed both unbothered and entirely aware of his surroundings.
Seo-yoon was handsome in an understated way, and Wooyun's personality seemed to add to his unpolished, rough-around-the-edges, but undeniably striking looks.
In other words, he was a fine piece of specimen.