[Face That Can Ruin a Kingdom]

The distance from Mount Song to Luoyang was not that far. If one were determined and whipped a fine horse, one could arrive within two hours. Even if one were to travel on foot, three days would be more than enough. Seo-yeon, having decided to leave, intended to enjoy the rare excursion to the fullest.

That was why she decided to board a pleasure boat heading to Luoyang.

The crew was busy preparing for departure. Unlike cargo ships, the purpose was different from the start. As befitting a ship favored by wealthy young guests who enjoyed excursions, the lively melodies of the musicians and the fragrant aroma of delicious food tickled the tip of her nose even before boarding.

"It's eight hundred nyang per person."

At the shockingly expensive price, Hwa-ryeon, who was beside her, blinked. "Too expensive," Hwa-ryeon muttered quietly.

But Seo-yeon paid without hesitation. She hadn't even touched the gold she had received from the Namgung family. She also wanted to show off as a proper adult on this occasion.

As she boarded the ship, she saw young men and women sitting and chatting in one corner. They seemed to be of similar age to the Namgung siblings she had met in Anhui Province. Each of them seemed to be from wealthy families, with bodyguards behind them.

They smiled strangely at Seo-yeon and Hwa-ryeon. Why are they making such expressions? Just as Seo-yeon was wondering, a young nobleman holding a wine glass suddenly approached.

"May I ask, young lady, how much did you pay for the boat fare? Surely you didn't really pay eight hundred nyang each?"

She thought he would flirt with her. At the unexpected question, Seo-yeon simply nodded.

Then, the young nobleman said with a troubled face.

"Actually, we rented the entire boat today, and as a joke among friends, we bet on what would happen if we raised the boat fare to eight hundred nyang. We thought no customers would come at all. I bet that no one would come."

No wonder there weren't many customers on the boat. She had no idea there was such a story behind it.

"So, should we get off?"

"No. The person who loses the bet will treat the guests and return the money. I was the only one among the six of us who bet that no one would come, so I have to treat you."

He said with a smile.

"I'm late with introductions. I am Geum Jin-song, the third son of the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild. It's not something to be proud of, but I was born and raised in a wealthy family, so this isn't a big burden. A gentleman's word is as heavy as a mountain, so if you refuse, young lady, it will put me in a difficult position. Please, help me save face among my friends."

"Golden Dragon Merchant Guild!"

Seo-yeon hadn't said anything, but Hwa-ryeon shouted as if screaming.

Then she awkwardly shut her mouth, but because she was a child, no one reprimanded her.

"Is she perhaps your younger sister?"

"She's a child I'm teaching."

"What are you teaching, by any chance? Ah, would you like to go over there and continue this conversation? Interesting stories should be heard by many. This is for the story. Please, accept it."

Geum Jin-song said that and took out a coin pouch from his pocket and handed it over. It looked like it contained much more than eight hundred nyang. As Seo-yeon was about to refuse, Geum Jin-song returned to his seat with a nonchalant face.

Seo-yeon chuckled. As expected of the son of a merchant guild, he was unreserved in leading the atmosphere. Now, she couldn't refuse.

But she didn't feel bad, so it could be said that he had an excellent ability to handle people.

As Seo-yeon approached, laughter erupted from various places. It wasn't ridicule. They were teasing Geum Jin-song, who had lost the bet.

Geum Jin-song pointed to an empty seat with a good-natured smile.

"You can sit here. Although I said that earlier, if you feel uncomfortable, you can mingle appropriately and leave whenever you want."

It was a circular table, so no matter where you sat, you would inevitably be next to someone. Seo-yeon chose a suitable seat and sat down, and Hwa-ryeon sat next to her.

A young lady sitting in her seat nodded.

"I am Woon Cho-ah of the Woon family. And you are?"

"I'm Seo-yeon."

"Your family?"

When Seo-yeon shook her head, Woon Cho-ah's brow furrowed momentarily. She couldn't even imagine that someone who readily paid such a large sum of money, hundreds of nyang, could be an ordinary commoner.

"Then, which sect are you from? Mount Hua? Or Jongnam?"

"I don't really belong to any sect."

"……."

As everyone held their breath, Geum Jin-song hurriedly stepped in. He realized that the situation was turning strange.

"Are there only one or two people in the Martial World who hide their identities? Miss Woon, please stop."

"……."

"Don't be like this, listen to me. I just asked Miss Seo-yeon, and she said she teaches a disciple. Aren't you curious about what she teaches?"

Geum Jin-song said that and looked at Seo-yeon. In fact, he had his own thoughts.

A woman traveling alone in the Martial World, with a young female disciple. Moreover, she conspicuously wore a sword at her waist.

'She must be an excellent swordsman.'

She had to be.

Otherwise, he would become a scoundrel who publicly humiliated a guest he had invited.

But the sentence that came out of Seo-yeon's mouth betrayed Geum Jin-song's expectations.

"I'm teaching carving."

"Carving?"

"I heard that the Carving Arts Competition is being held in Luoyang, so I'm going to broaden my horizons."

Woon Cho-ah's lips were already twisted upwards. Arrogance was already blooming in her eyes.

The other young masters were the same. There were only differences in degree, but they all exuded an aura that subtly ignored Seo-yeon.

It was their nature. Perhaps it was because they had grown up ruling like kings in their respective regions.

Only Geum Jin-song didn't know what to do. Was it because he was the only one from a merchant family? No. It was just his innate personality.

Woon Cho-ah retorted in a tone that tried to hide her ridicule.

"Do you always cover your face like that? It's not because you have other intentions, is it? It just looks uncomfortable."

Her gaze was blatant. Her thoughts were written all over her face.

Seo-yeon also noticed the atmosphere. She could just get up and leave, but Geum Jin-song was looking at her with such a sorry expression that she couldn't.

Also, Hwa-ryeon was eating the food so deliciously. Phoenix Soup, Jade Tofu... they were all splendid dishes she had never even heard of. She also wanted to feed her to her heart's content on this occasion.

'Well, there have to be people like this.'

How could there only be virtuous people in the righteous sects? Rather, she had been too lucky so far.

When Seo-yeon reacted as if nothing was wrong, Woon Cho-ah became even more blatant.

"Or is it because you're hiding your ugly appearance?"

"Miss Woon, stop it. You're crossing the line now."

Despite Geum Jin-song's restraint, Woon Cho-ah didn't care. It was because the other young masters, except for Geum Jin-song, were silently agreeing. In the first place, except for Geum Jin-song, they were all from martial families. They were able to react like this because they were subtly ignoring Geum Jin-song, who was from a merchant family.

"It's also strange that a mere sculptor has that much money. I'm also curious about how she earned all that money."

Geum Jin-song jumped up. He could no longer hide his anger.

He didn't bring her here to make fun of her. Although they met because he lost a bet, he sincerely intended to treat her. But when the guys he introduced as friends were making his guest drink water, his face naturally flushed.

He glared at Woon Cho-ah with fierce eyes and then bowed deeply to Seo-yeon.

"I'm sorry, Miss Seo. It seems like I chose the wrong day. If we meet at the Carving Arts Competition later, I'll treat you properly, so it would be better to move to another place now."

But Woon Cho-ah didn't stop.

She blatantly blocked Geum Jin-song, who was trying to get Seo-yeon up.

"I heard that many followers of the Demonic path have recently entered Henan, so perhaps that's why she's covering her face."

"I also think Miss Woon's words make sense."

"We have to see her face."

The young masters who had been silent also opened their mouths. They began to pressure Seo-yeon from all sides.

Among them, there were those who secretly sent signals to their guards to surround her.

The joke had crossed the line. No, perhaps it had stopped being a joke at some point.

It was as Geum Jin-song thought. The young masters all thought that if Seo-yeon was a follower of the Demonic path, they would cut off her head and enhance their reputation, and if not, she was just an ordinary commoner, so they would silence her.

"That's enough!"

"I can't understand why Young Master Geum is acting like that. Is it such a big crime to see her face?"

The guards were now blatantly surrounding Seo-yeon. There were also many who had their hands on their sword hilts. They were ready to draw their swords at any moment.

'I can't take it anymore.'

Seo-yeon thought that she couldn't just listen anymore. If she was alone, it would be one thing, but Hwa-ryeon was right next to her.

"Is it enough if I show you my face?"

Seo-yeon said that and put her hand on her bamboo hat. The reason she had been covering her face was simple. She was worried about getting involved in unnecessary trouble.

But now that covering her face was causing problems, it was right to reveal it.

Woon Cho-ah said in a tone that didn't hide her sneer.

"I'm glad you're not stupid."

She said that and stared at Seo-yeon with a face that said she had won.

Woon Cho-ah was feeling tremendous displeasure at the fact that Seo-yeon, who was just an ordinary commoner, had dared to join them at the same table. Even if she wasn't a follower of the Demonic path, she thought that she had to humiliate her in this place.

'A sculptor carrying a sword.'

It also bothered her that she was pretending to be a martial artist. She was going to properly educate her on this occasion and make sure she didn't come near her surroundings.

The education she was talking about here wasn't ordinary education. It meant making her kneel down and feel the difference in status so that she wouldn't dare to look up at her, like Woon Cho-ah's servants.

It was then.

Swoosh.

As soon as Seo-yeon lowered her bamboo hat, her hair, which was like a peach blossom, shimmered with radiance.

"What!"

"How can there be such a color……."

Some of the young masters, who were impressed by the hair color that was more elegant than silk, forgot the situation and gaped. Even the guards who were standing with solemn faces stared at Seo-yeon with wide eyes.

Woon Cho-ah was also flustered. It was because her outstanding appearance was revealed on its own even though she hadn't taken off her veil. So she shouted desperately.

"Ta, take off your veil too!"

She even forgot the honorifics she had been maintaining on the surface.

Everyone's eyes turned to Seo-yeon's delicate hands. As the veil gradually came down, her white jade-like skin was revealed.

At the end of her slender, long, and curved eyes were pupils like lotus flowers on the wall.

It was an appearance that was not enough to be called the most beautiful in the world.

A man muttered in a voice as if he had been possessed.

"……It's a beauty that could topple a kingdom."

Perhaps because she felt burdened by the attention, Seo-yeon opened her mouth slightly and let out a long breath.

Every time her red and soft lips, like luscious cherry blossoms, moved, the men sighed. Seo-yeon asked.

"Is it enough now?"

"Ju, just a little more."

Seo-yeon turned her head in the direction of the voice.

The man who had been muttering with a dazed face hurriedly covered his mouth.

"……I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

It was Geum Jin-song.