Vol. 1 Chapter 1.9
by @Yué
* * *
A few days later, a magnificent carriage departed from the main gates of the Hwangbo Clan. The escorting martial artists surrounding it were all dressed in impeccably tailored, pristine uniforms to match the display.
Historically, the Hwangbo Clan prided itself on frugality and humility. Seeing such an uncharacteristic display of luxury, the local townsfolk stared in awe.
“What in the world is happening?”
“I heard they’re heading to the Martial Arts Gathering.”
“I’ve never seen such a lavish carriage bearing the Hwangbo insignia. There’s no way the Clan Head would have authorized such extravagance.”
However, the gossip quickly died down once word spread that the Clan Head’s daughter, who had recently awoken from her long slumber, was riding inside.
“Ah well that explains it! Everyone in Shandong knows that man’s devotion to his daughter is second to none!”
In truth, this entire spectacle was Yeon’s handiwork. She had pestered and cajoled Hwangbo Jeong-gun until he finally relented, securing her the most luxurious carriage available. Lounging comfortably within the plush interior, she was currently reviewing the wardrobe choices So-jin had gathered.
“Look at this one, So-jin. It’s incredibly soft!”
“Yes, Young Miss! The Clan Head paid special attention to the fabric choices himself. Though, of course, it helped that I put in a good word for you. Ahem.”
“Yes, yes. Good job. What would I ever do without my So-jin?”
Patting the blushing maid on the head, Yeon ran her fingers across the smooth silk dress once more. While it wasn’t the poofy, layered ballgown of her favorite romance fantasy novels, it possessed a distinct mesmerizing charm of its own, an elegant gown brimming with traditional Eastern beauty.
So this is what real high-grade silk feels like. Absolutely divine.
She had also packed a mountain of matching jewelry. Every single piece looked exquisitely crafted and ridiculously expensive, more than enough to satisfy Yeon’s deepest materialistic desires.
For a brief second, a memory of her past life flashed before her eyes a life spent trapped in endless rotations of drab sweat-stained gym clothes. Buried beneath a sea of luxurious silks and sparkling jewels she could have only dreamed of back then, Yeon shivered with pure delight.
“Perfect…”
Everything was set.
The Orthodox Martial Arts Gathering, the ultimate gathering where all the most handsome lords and beautiful ladies of this vast continent converged.
I will show them all. A level of beauty they have never witnessed in their entire lives. The arrival of a fashion icon from the future!
In Yeon’s calculated opinion, blending the natural canvas of the ‘Greatest Beauty of Shandong’ with the refined aesthetic sensibilities of a modern-day woman was an automatic win condition. It was a flawless cheat code. Feeling her heart rate spike with excitement, she mentally checked herself.
“Calm down. The show hasn’t even started yet.”
Seeking to anchor her racing thoughts, Yeon slid open the carriage window to admire the passing scenery.
As she stared out at the landscape, So-jin suddenly piped up.
“Young Miss, since we are attending the gathering, does that mean you’ll finally meet Young Master Lee Cheon-gang?”
“Huh?”
The unexpected name caught her completely off guard.
Wait. Why didn’t I think of that earlier?
Lee Cheon-gang was none other than the literal protagonist of Martial Supreme: The Peak of Martial Arts. Because Yeon had categorized her current identity as a minor, throwaway extra, she had subconsciously assumed she would never cross paths with the main character.
“Is he actually going to be there?”
“Of course! If the young master of the continent’s number one family doesn’t attend, who else would?”
She was entirely right. True to his protagonist status, he was the direct heir to the most powerful and prestigious family in the entire martial world.
But wait… did Lee Cheon-gang actually appear at this specific Martial Arts Gathering in the novel? Why can’t I remember?
She concluded it was one of two things, either she had skipped over a critical plot point, or she simply hadn’t read the book carefully enough before dropping it.
“Have you ever seen him in person?”
“Oh, goodness no! How could someone of my low status ever catch a glimpse of someone like him, Young Miss?” So-jin’s voice practically dripped with longing. In the novel’s lore, Lee Cheon-gang was established as an unparalleled, peerless visual masterpiece. It was only natural for the maid to be starstruck.
Being a massive connoisseur of attractive people herself, Yeon’s curiosity was instantly piqued.
“What do the rumors say about him?”
“Oh, the rumors are endless! They say…” So-jin took a quick, sharp breath, her words tumbling out in an excited rush. “They say that merely looking at him forces a gasp from your throat. His facial features are constantly compared to the legendary beauties of old, and his complexion is so utterly flawless and translucent that he looks less like a mortal and more like an immortal deity who stepped out of a painting!”
Well, I guess that’s just a poetic way of saying he’s ridiculously hot.
So-jin kept gushing. “They say his eyes possess the sharp, regal tilt of a phoenix, and his nose is so perfectly straight and sculpted that the Heavenly Emperor must have molded it with his own hands. On top of that, he is so tall and imposing that most women can barely even stand next to him without feeling completely overwhelmed!”
“Is that so?”
“But I think you would look perfect beside him, Young Miss! After all, you are quite tall and striking yourself!”
With her cheeks flushed bright red and her eyes sparkling like stars, So-jin looked at Yeon with an expression full of romantic fantasy. She was clearly living vicariously through the concept.
Yeon knew that exact feeling all too well. It was the classic secondary hype you felt when your most beautiful friend in school had a chance with the campus heartthrob. Even if you stood no chance yourself, just imagining the power couple together was enough to make your own heart flutter.
Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little curious…
Still, she couldn’t help but feel a lingering attachment to Elond, the male lead of her favorite romance fantasy novel.
No matter how handsome this Lee Cheon-gang is, there’s no way he can beat Elond.
In her experience, men that were perfect only existed in two dimensions. Reality, even a novel reality always dialed things down a notch. Arriving at that neat conclusion, Yeon effortlessly brushed the thoughts of the protagonist aside.
“Anyway So-jin, once we arrive at the gathering, I need you to assist me with something very important.”
“Me? Assist you with what, Young Miss?”
“Heh heh, there is something like that. You just do exactly as I say.”
“Yes, Young Miss!”
As So-jin gave her usual prompt and energetic reply, Yeon let an enigmatic plotting smile curve across her lips.
* * *
The journey proceeded without a hitch, and the carriage safely arrived at their destination in Henan. The venue for this particular gathering was none other than Shaolin Temple,the pinnacle of the Orthodox Sect in the Central Plains.
Since the summit was meant to foster harmony among all factions, Shaolin Temple was the perfect venue, both in terms of its geographical location and its neutral political standing. To top it off, one of Shaolin’s most promising rising stars had just completed a period of secluded cultivation. The timing couldn’t have been more immaculate.
From what Yeon had picked up on their journey here, the Buddhist monk’s name was ‘Gong-yeo.’ Judging by his moniker, the ‘Iron Arhat,’ it was safe to assume his specialty lay in external martial arts and rigorous physical conditioning.
Leaning back inside the carriage, Yeon muttered to herself, “To think I’d actually visit the Shaolin Temple in my lifetime.”
In the modern world Yeon came from, the Shaolin Temple had long since transformed into something resembling a massive corporate conglomerate. She had heard they even had a CEO, when the abbot of a legendary monastery holds an MBA, that pretty much tells you everything you need to know.
Aside from that corporate reality, her only other memories of the place came from variety TV shows, the kind where celebrities went on short-term retreats to clumsily mimic kung fu and experience the lifestyle.
While she was lost in her idle thoughts, it seemed they had finally arrived. Through the carriage window, a massive stone statue erected by the roadside came into view. It was a meticulously sculpted, muscular martial monk with his hands pressed together in prayer, his vivid, piercing eyes carved so delicately that they felt almost alive.
“Oh, wow.”
Letting out a soft exclamation of genuine modern awe, Yeon stared at the statue with a brand-new sense of wonder.
The real Shaolin Temple of the martial world. It was bound to be vastly different from the tourist trap she knew. The legendary monastery, often revered as the ‘Immortal Shaolin,’ stood tall, silently welcoming a guest who had crossed through time and space.
〜End of Chapter 1〜