"Family Head! Family Head!"

Baekgang, the leader of the Dokgak-gwi, came running breathlessly and burst through the door of the Three Yang Hall.

Cheonyeong, who had just finished his morning training and was drenched in sweat, frowned.

"Family Head! Something big has happened."

He looked very flustered.

But these guys kept using informal speech whenever they got a chance...

"What? Did a war break out? Did someone die? Why are you making such a fuss this early in the morning?"

"This isn't about war!"

"What?"

"They've come, they've come! They're here!"

"Who's here?"

"The Black Heaven Sect!"

"What?"

"The Black Heaven Sect has come!"

"The Black Heaven Sect?"

What was that?

Cheonyeong tilted his head and frowned.

Why would the Black Heaven Sect suddenly come?

The wedding was still days away.

Moreover, there had been no contact with the Black Heaven Sect, so he hadn't even sent them an invitation...

Could it be that they found out he had only sent invitations to the Nine Dragon Gang because of connections through the Jang Family?

"So? Where are they?"

"In the Three Yang Hall."

"What? You've already brought the guests to the Three Yang Hall?"

"Yes."

"You fool! When guests arrive, you should take them to the reception hall!"

"No, that's... I was so flustered."

"Huh? Flustered?"

"Yes."

"What's there to be flustered about? The Black Heaven Sect is nothing special. Though they do divide Sichuan's Orthodox Faction equally with the Nine Dragon Gang."

"No, that's not it."

"Then what is it?"

"They... brought a birth chart."

"A birth... what? What did they bring?"

"A birth chart."

Suddenly, his mind went blank.

Not a marriage contract, but a birth chart?

A birth chart is sent to someone with whom marriage is promised.

And it's customary for the groom's family to send it first...

Cheonyeong was equally flustered.

"Why would the Black Heaven Sect send a birth chart? It can't be Sanghui, and could they have found someone among the Tang Family's household members they like?"

He was so bewildered that all sorts of thoughts came to mind.

Who knows?

Perhaps a high-ranking member of the Black Heaven Sect passing through Ganyang found a woman he liked, investigated her background, and discovered she was from the Tang Family. That kind of story.

"That's not it."

"It's not?"

"The person meant to receive the birth chart is you."

As Baekgang spoke with a troubled expression, Cheonyeong remained silent for a long time with a blank look.

Then, after a long moment, he slowly raised a finger and pointed at himself.

"Me?"

"Yes."

Baekgang nodded earnestly.

"Huh? Insane..."

No, he didn't even know anyone in the Black Heaven Sect, and they send a birth chart?

He couldn't understand how things were unfolding at all.

To resolve his curiosity, he would first need to hear what they had to say.

What was the Black Heaven Sect thinking by doing this?

"Damn, I don't understand what's going on. So? Who came?"

"Meng Serling."

"Meng Serling? A woman? What does she do?"

"That's... she's the person whose birth chart is in the document."

He fell silent again.

Cheonyeong, who was putting on his outer robe, froze like stone and stared at Baekgang for a long time.

"Meng Serling. She's the youngest sister of the current Black Heaven Sect Leader and the daughter of Former Sect Leader Meng Sheguang."

"So... she came here herself?"

"Yes."

"With her own birth chart?"

"Yes."

Cheonyeong's mind went completely blank.

What kind of situation was this?

* * *

Silence filled the area around the Three Yang Hall of the Tang Family.

A crowd of Tang Family household members who had rushed out watched a group of martial artists waiting in front of the Three Yang Hall's door with caution, whispering among themselves.

The flag fluttering in the wind was entirely black.

Within it was embroidered only the two characters "Black Heaven" in white thread.

Behind the flag, martial artists with sword-like auras that had been well-honed stood in two lines.

They were expressionless and maintained a confident stance without any looseness, as if they were not intimidated even within another sect's territory.

Rather, it was the Tang Family's martial artists who were nervous.

The Black Heaven Sect.

One of the four heavens that had dominated Sichuan.

Together with the Nine Dragon Gang, they divided the east of Sichuan, commanding numerous mid-tier sects below them and making their name known throughout the world.

They were not merely a sect representing each region of Sichuan like the Tang Family of Ganyang or the Yi Family Manor of Mishan, but strong figures representing Sichuan itself with just the name Black Heaven Sect.

"What's going on? Why did the Black Heaven Sect's daughter come?"

"That's... she came with a birth chart?"

"What? A birth chart?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Yes."

"Why?"

"The person meant to receive it is the Family Head."

"What?!"

Among the bewildered Tang Family martial artists, murmuring began to grow louder.

And inside the Three Yang Hall, unlike outside, only an awkward atmosphere flowed.

"It's been a long time since we've met."

"Ah, yes. It has been a long time."

At Meng Serling's polite greeting, Ahn Chilgang responded with a troubled expression and a bitter smile, bowing his head.

When she smiled, the young men of the Tang Family unconsciously blushed.

She gave off the feeling of a single flower.

Though her face was covered with a veil, the eyes revealed above it shone as clear as a lake reflecting sunlight, and her hands revealed beneath her sleeves were white and delicate.

Moreover, her laughter sounded as lovely as flower petals swaying in the spring breeze, enough to make the men's guard falter.

"Hey."

"Uh, what?"

"Aren't you paying attention?"

As Yongcheon made a dazed expression, Sanghui poked his waist with her elbow and glared at him.

"Ahem!"

Yongcheon, pretending not to notice as he quietly averted his gaze, coughed artificially, and Meng Serling smiled brightly and greeted them.

"You two are the main characters of this wedding ceremony, aren't you? Congratulations. I've brought gifts on behalf of the Black Heaven Sect to celebrate the two of you. I hope you'll like them."

"Thank you. I apologize for the late greeting. I'm Sanghui, managing the Inner Hall of the Tang Family."

"I'm Meng Serling. They say you're called the Twin Fairy Swordmaster? I've heard much about your accomplishments. It's an honor to meet someone as beautiful as your name."

"You're too kind. It's an honor for me to meet the precious daughter of the Black Heaven Sect."

"Precious daughter. I see."

At Meng Serling's inexplicable bitter smile, a strange light flickered in Sanghui's eyes.

It was odd.

How could she, who had lived without lacking anything, feel envy toward her?

Sanghui, who seemed to have made an unintended slip of the tongue, was about to quickly correct herself when the back door of the hall opened and Cheonyeong entered with Baekgang.

Sanghui, who had missed the moment, quickly returned to her place.

"Greetings to the Family Head."

As the officials lined up on both sides shouted in unison, Cheonyeong sat on the highest seat in the Three Yang Hall.

Gongsun Seung took out the red silk containing the birth chart and handed it to Cheonyeong, introducing Meng Serling.

"Ahem! Family Head, this person is from the Black Heaven Sect..."

"What exactly are you thinking?"

"Yes?"

It was before the birth chart was even handed over.

Cheonyeong interrupted Gongsun Seung's words and asked with a furrowed brow.

His gaze and words were naturally directed at Meng Serling.

"F-Family Head."

At words that could only be considered rude, not only Gongsun Seung but even the Tang Family's officials looked at Cheonyeong with bewildered expressions.

"Tell me. I didn't have much time to think while hurrying here, but I can't understand the reason for such actions at all."

Cheonyeong's words, spoken while frowning at Meng Serling, had an edge to them.

"Family Head, that's disrespectful."

"Disrespectful? Your side committed it first."

Gongsun Seung tried to point out the mistake, but Cheonyeong seemed unwilling to listen.

"Listen, daughter of the Black Heaven Sect."

"..."

"I'm asking what situation this is. Why did you bring a birth chart instead of a marriage contract? And you yourself, the very person involved."

At those words, Meng Serling lifted her head and gazed at him quietly.

The Tang Family Head.

He was quite a direct person.

Usually, when people heard the name Black Heaven Sect, they didn't react that way.

They would bow first and try to make a good impression in any way possible.

But the Tang Family Head simply asked.

As if he paid no attention to the prestige the Black Heaven Sect possessed.

It was a strange feeling.

"Why do you ask such a thing?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"...?"

"From your expression, it seems you know but are pretending not to. Fine. Then let me explain."

Cheonyeong spoke with a cold expression, holding a hint of sarcasm.

"First, the Tang Family is currently preparing for a wedding. But instead of a wedding gift, a birth chart?"

"We've prepared separate gifts to celebrate the Vice Family Head and Inner Hall Master's wedding."

Meng Serling answered in a soft tone, seemingly unperturbed by Cheonyeong's attitude.

"Second, a birth chart is something exchanged between those who have promised marriage. To be precise, it's something the man's family sends to the woman's family, not the other way around. And we haven't made any promise of marriage."

"That's true."

"Third, this is what I'm most curious about. Why me?"

"Yes?"

"Everyone knows that a martial family's daughter becomes a tool for political marriage. But political marriage occurs when both sides have something they need."

"That's a fair point."

"Of course, from my perspective, a marriage with the Black Heaven Sect would be very beneficial. But the Black Heaven Sect isn't, is it? There would be no reason for you to establish a connection with me specifically."

At Cheonyeong's question, Meng Serling remained silent for a moment, then smiled bitterly and removed her veil.

As her face was fully revealed, Cheonyeong's frown deepened.

She was a beautiful woman.

Her face harmonized well with her eyes, clear and transparent like a deep lake, and she held a faint smile that put the viewer at ease.

"What are you doing? Are you going to try a beauty scheme since I'm being cold?"

"F-Family Head."

At Cheonyeong's intentional sarcasm to see if it would change Meng Serling's expression, Sanghui stopped him with a troubled look.

But not even a small frown appeared on Meng Serling's face.

"A beauty scheme? That's quite an overstatement."

"What?"

"I removed my veil because I thought your point that the Black Heaven Sect committed the first discourtesy was correct. I believed it was proper etiquette to remove the veil and face you directly."

"..."

"However, I'm afraid I cannot answer your question."

"You can't give an answer?"

"No, I am a woman of a martial family."

Meng Serling simply smiled with a gentle expression.

It was genuine, not artifice.

"As the Family Head knows, a political marriage is not my will but my father's and my family's will. I cannot judge what reasons lie within it, nor can I refuse. So how could I possibly answer the Family Head's question?"

She was composed.

And throughout her speech, she never lost her smile.

In the end, having learned nothing, Cheonyeong stared at Meng Serling for a long time before speaking coldly.

"Then I refuse. I have no intention of entering into a political marriage with the Black Heaven Sect, so you should leave."

The moment Cheonyeong finished speaking and stood up, Meng Serling spoke.

"Then I shall convey your refusal."

"What?"

She should have felt ashamed.

Wasn't she a woman rejected by a family that couldn't even compare to hers?

And she had come with the birth chart herself and received a rejection, so she should have been angry.

But Meng Serling maintained her faint smile as she always had.

"Why aren't you angry?"

"Should I have been?"

"..."

"As I said, the political marriage is not my will. Therefore, your refusal is also your choice, Family Head. I need only convey it. However, my visit also carries congratulations for the wedding, so please allow me to stay until then."

At Meng Serling's words, Cheonyeong looked at her with a mysterious light in his eyes.

A woman whose thoughts were unfathomable.

"Tch! Do as you please."

"Thank you. Then I shall take my leave."

Having received permission, Meng Serling bowed politely and extended her hand gracefully to Gongsun Seung.

"Ah, here..."

"Thank you."

Gongsun Seung, who was taken aback, handed over the red silk containing the birth chart with both hands.

"Then."

She bowed once more and left the Three Yang Hall.

Sarak, sarak.

No one spoke until her footsteps completely left the Three Yang Hall. The silence was so profound that the sound of her skirt dragging could be heard.

Click.

The moment the door closed and her figure completely disappeared.

"Hey!"

"Family Head! What's wrong with you?"

"You're being terrible!"

The household members glared at Cheonyeong as if they would devour him.

Including Yongcheon and Gongsun Seung.

"Huh, that was too much."

"I agree."

"The Family Head really..."

"Sigh, I can't even defend the Family Head on this one."

Even the older officials, including Ahn Chilgang, clicked their tongues as if scolding Cheonyeong.

What did I do wrong?

Damn, what a bewitching woman.

She pretended to be kind and made people feel strange, then slipped away.

Then, Sanghui, who had been staring at the door where Meng Serling had left, spoke in a low voice.

"Family Head."

"Hmm?"

"While she's here, may I be the one to look after her?"

"Hmm? Why you specifically? The wedding is coming up soon."

Cheonyeong tilted his head, and Sanghui spoke.

"Her smile looked too lonely."

(End of Chapter)