Chapter 100: We Met (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 100: We Met (3)
“Young Master.”
It was indeed Sama Yeong.
Her voice was colder than usual.
Judging by the fierce glare she was directing at Seol Baek, it seemed she had completely misunderstood the situation.
Furthermore, even my father-in-law, who was wearing the human skin mask of a pleasant-looking middle-aged man, was looking at me with eyes full of utter disapproval.
However, that lasted only a moment before his gaze shifted from me to Seol Baek.
His brow furrowed.
It seemed that even though she was suppressing her energy, he had recognized her as a peerless master.
“Just who is this young lady that the outside is so—”
Sama Yeong gestured toward Seol Baek with her eyes, about to say something, but my father-in-law held up a hand, signaling her to stop.
“Father?”
Sama Yeong, having no way of knowing what was going on, couldn't hide her confusion.
Ignoring her for the moment, my father-in-law stared at Seol Baek and spoke in a voice thick with suspicion.
“Who are you?”
It was a question heavy with implication.
At his query, Seol Baek stole a glance at me.
I had warned her repeatedly.
[I’ll do the talking, so don’t say a word.]
If she said the wrong thing, this would only spiral further out of control.
I felt a genuine headache coming on.
To think that Yeong-yeong, Sama Yeong, my father-in-law, and Seol Baek would all end up in the same place at once.
If I didn't resolve this well, it would turn into a complicated disaster.
Just then, Sama Yeong spoke as if she couldn't understand.
“Father, what is the matter?”
“She is no ordinary woman.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“She has broken through the wall. No... she might be even beyond that.”
“What?”
At my father-in-law’s words, Sama Yeong’s eyes widened.
Yeong-yeong was equally shocked.
[Brother, what does that mean? Sister Wi-ji has broken through the wall?]
She was already confused enough seeing Sama Chak, the Moon Evil Sword and one of the Five Great Villains, but hearing such a formidable master describe Seol Baek as someone who had surpassed the wall left her utterly bewildered.
‘He realized it immediately.’
It seemed he had fully recovered his vitality after taking the Restoration Pill.
I had to reveal her identity, but the words wouldn't come easily.
Seol Baek was the one who had critically injured my father-in-law.
Because of her, he had suffered immensely, even being imprisoned in the Shaolin Temple.
In fact, my father-in-law had emphasized several times while recounting those events that if he ever saw her again, he would pay back that debt in full.
I’ll do that even without you telling me.
I decided I had to address the most pressing issue first.
“Father-in-law, Yeong-ah. I will explain the circumstances, so I hope you won't harbor any unnecessary misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings?”
At Sama Yeong’s question, I gestured toward Seol Baek.
Sama Yeong looked at her skeptically for a moment before nodding, as if deciding to trust me.
My father-in-law, however, did not lower his guard as he asked, “Tell me who she is first.”
“She is one of the Golden Emperor’s inner circle.”
“The Golden Emperor’s inner circle?”
“What?”
Both father and daughter were unable to hide their shock.
They might have thought she was extraordinary because she was a master who had surpassed the wall, but they likely hadn't predicted she would be a subordinate of the Golden Emperor.
“The Golden Emperor?”
Yeong-yeong asked back, sounding lost.
To her, the name Golden Emperor was likely nothing more than a tyrant who had terrorized the martial world in the past.
Then, a startled Sama Yeong said to me, “What on earth happened for a confidant of the Golden Emperor to be with you, Young Master?”
I had to be careful here.
I looked at my father-in-law and spoke cautiously.
“Father-in-law. First, I want you to know that she has left the Golden Emperor’s service and has made a deal with me.”
At this, my father-in-law frowned and said, “Why are you speaking to me like that? You sound as if you’re afraid I’m going to attack this woman.”
As expected, he was too quick on the uptake.
But if I didn't frame it this way, I didn't know what kind of disaster would erupt.
Sama Yeong looked at her and asked me, “Then has this young lady betrayed the Golden Emperor?”
“I quit, but I suppose you could call it betrayal,” Seol Baek answered nonchalantly.
I glared at Seol Baek and shook my head. It was a signal to stay quiet.
My father-in-law, watching this with a suspicious gaze, turned his head toward her.
“It seems I must hear it from you directly.”
“Father-in-law, I—”
“No. I need to ask her myself to see what you’re trying to hide by keeping her silent.”
“Please, just listen to me first—”
“What kind of deal did you make with my son-in-law that he’s trying so hard to explain it away?”
To this, she said nothing.
As if showing off that she was keeping her promise to me, she simply shrugged and gestured toward me.
My father-in-law looked at me and said, “Tell her to speak for herself. And don’t even think about giving her instructions via Sound Transmission.”
“Father-in-law. Do you not trust me?”
“I trust you. But I must know what it is you are trying to hide.”
“I am not hiding anything. I will tell you everything.”
“Then it shouldn't matter if I hear it from her own mouth, should it?”
...This is driving me crazy.
It seemed he suspected I might sugarcoat the story.
I had overlooked the fact that my father-in-law was far more intelligent than the average person.
He wasn't called the equal of Man Bak-ja in the martial world for nothing.
“Words can be interpreted in many ways. I was worried that what she says might cause you to misunderstand.”
“Do I seem so narrow-minded that I would trust a former enemy over the man I’ve accepted as my son-in-law?”
“...No, sir.”
“Then I shall ask her directly.”
Since he put it that way, I had no choice.
I looked at Seol Baek and nodded.
Of course, I warned her with my eyes not to say anything that might cause a misunderstanding.
Though I didn't know if she would actually listen.
‘!?’
However, Seol Baek was wearing a strange expression.
The corners of her mouth were curled up—an ominous sign.
She looked as if she were enjoying herself, as if she had caught me in a moment of weakness.
‘Oh no...’
Unaware of my internal turmoil, my father-in-law asked her, “What did you trade with my son-in-law?”
“He said that if I gave him what I wanted, I could leave the Golden Emperor’s service and tell him everything I know about him.”
“Hmm.”
My father-in-law stroked his chin at her words.
So far, nothing was out of the ordinary.
He asked, “If you were a confidant, your loyalty wouldn't be broken by a mere deal. What exactly did you trade that made you decide to betray him?”
At his question, she smiled and said, “I didn't follow him out of loyalty.”
“Not loyalty?”
“I had a deal with him as well. I only stayed with him because I thought being with him would allow me to meet the person I wanted to see again.”
“The person you wanted to see?”
At those words, my father-in-law narrowed his eyes and looked at me.
Because as she said that, Seol Baek’s gaze had shifted toward me.
Sama Yeong asked, sounding confused, “You speak as if you already knew the Young Master?”
“We had a connection three hundred years ago.”
At her words, Sama Yeong stared at me with shocked eyes.
Ugh, my head.
I had intentionally left out the problematic parts about Seol Baek when I told them about what happened three hundred years ago, and now it was coming back to bite me.
But that wasn't the real problem.
Vwooom!
Suddenly, a powerful killing intent erupted from my father-in-law.
The killing intent weighed down the room so heavily that Yeong-yeong turned pale and struggled to breathe, as if her airway were being blocked.
“Father-in-law!”
At my exclamation, my father-in-law held out a hand, signaling me not to interfere, and spoke to Seol Baek in a chilling voice.
“Inner circle... three hundred years ago. You are Seol Baek.”
Aaaah.
He had finally deduced her identity.
Even without me telling him directly, he had figured it out from just a few clues.
“Now I see why my son-in-law was so hesitant to tell me who you were.”
My father-in-law’s energy was rising sharply, as if he were ready to strike her at any moment.
Sensing this, a faint chill began to emanate from Seol Baek’s body.
As the room grew cold, my father-in-law’s eyes turned even icier.
The memory of the time he was injured must have resurfaced.
“Father-in-law. I understand how you feel, but this is the Martial Alliance. If you fight her here—”
Before I could even finish, Seol Baek suddenly turned around.
She showed her back to my father-in-law and said, “I was following orders, but I suppose an apology isn't enough. You may inflict the same injury upon me.”
“........”
At Seol Baek’s words, a crease formed between my father-in-law’s brows.
He probably hadn't expected her to lower herself and offer her back like that.
He stared at her exposed back in silence for a moment before finally withdrawing his killing intent. He let out a long breath, as if suppressing his rage, and spoke.
“What happened to Du Gong and Seobok?”
I was worried things would escalate, but thank goodness.
Contrary to my fears, my father-in-law had coolly controlled his anger.
If she hadn't acted like that, the outcome might have been different, but for now, both had handled it wisely.
“They are in his hands.”
“Are they alive?”
“Yes.”
At her answer, my father-in-law’s expression softened considerably.
He had called them his close friends, so he must have been worried about their lives.
Relieved, he asked her, “Where are they?”
Seol Baek shook her head and replied, “I do not know.”
“What?”
My father-in-law’s softened face turned fierce once again.
Nevertheless, she spoke as if there was nothing she could do.
“Their safety is managed by him and Noejangjo, so I do not know either.”
“Then you must know where that Golden Emperor bastard and this Noejangjo person are, don't you?”
“There are several safe houses where they primarily stay, and there is a way to exchange messages with them.”
“Then tell me.”
At his demand, Seol Baek refused firmly.
“I cannot.”
Vwooom!
As soon as her refusal ended, killing intent surged from my father-in-law’s body once more.
This time, unlike before, he looked truly ready to strike.
“If you do not speak, you die.”
My father-in-law’s hand was already moving toward his sword hilt.
At this distance, it was an interval where he could take her head in a single stroke.
I hurriedly stepped between them.
“Father-in-law, please calm down.”
“Move. I only need to make this woman open her mouth.”
It seemed he intended to force the information out of her.
But if it were that easy, I would have made her talk long ago.
“Father-in-law, please listen to me first—”
“I said move!”
Just then, a steel bead was fired from my father-in-law’s left hand like a cannonball.
It was the Flicking Finger Divine Power.
It was a surprise attack aimed at Seol Baek’s shoulder, but I caught it easily.
Thwack!
In the past, the spinning force of the bead would have injured my palm, but now I could not only stop it but crush it.
Iron dust trickled from my clenched fist.
Seeing this, my father-in-law’s eyes narrowed.
He seemed inwardly surprised.
However, since he had already seen my martial prowess at the Shaolin Temple, it didn't last long.
He said to me, “Why are you interfering?”
“She won't talk, even if she dies.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I’ve already tried inflicting serious injuries and threatening to behead her, but she wouldn't open her mouth.”
At my words, my father-in-law snorted and said, “Hmph! We’ll see if she has the mettle to withstand torture.”
He was stubborn.
Then, Seol Baek spoke to him.
“If you give me what I want, as per the deal, I can tell you right now.”
“What you want? What is it?”
Panicked, I tried to beat her to it and tell my father-in-law.
“Because of her unique constitution—”
“I want to marry this man and have his child.”
'!!!'
Before I could finish, those words flew out of Seol Baek’s mouth, and a sudden silence descended upon the room.
The words I had prepared to say scattered uselessly in my mind.
‘Because of her Heavenly Sound Body, she cannot have children, so I was going to introduce her to Gyeongwang, who suffers from Solar Severed Meridians...’
She had overturned everything with just a few words.
“Ha!”
Even my father-in-law was dumbfounded by the sudden condition of the deal.
Sama Yeong’s face turned red and then purple before she finally exploded.
“What on earth are you saying—”
“I kept telling him that, but this man is quite stubborn,” Seol Baek continued.
“What?”
“He said he would only love you, his fiancée.”
At those words, Sama Yeong’s face, which had been about to erupt in anger, flushed a deep red.
Then, the gaze she directed at me became significantly softer.
Did this woman eat something wrong?
I couldn't understand why she suddenly changed her attitude.
As I was wondering, I couldn't help but frown when I saw Seol Baek’s face.
Her eyes welled up, and tears began to fall.
‘Wait?’
As the falling tears touched her cold skin, they turned into ice crystals and clattered onto the floor.
Everyone was simultaneously bewildered and shocked by the sight.
“Wait, why are you suddenly crying?”
At Sama Yeong’s question, Seol Baek spoke in a pitiful voice.
“We of the North Sea Ice Palace learn martial arts filled with cold energy, and as a result, we develop the Heavenly Sound Body, which has caused our lineage to be completely severed. Because of this cursed constitution, as you can see, even my tears freeze, and no one can even touch me.”
“No one can touch you?”
“Yes. I have never even properly felt the warmth of another person. If I die like this, the lineage of the North Sea Ice Palace will be completely extinguished.”
‘........’
For a moment, I was speechless.
Was this woman seriously appealing to their emotions right now?
Unlike when she was trying to seduce me, she was intentionally acting weak in front of my father-in-law and Sama Yeong.
Sama Yeong frowned and said, “What does that have to do with the Young Master?”
“I don't know if it's his constitution or his martial arts, but he can touch me.”
At Seol Baek’s words, Sama Yeong glared at me and said, “Young Master, surely you didn't...”
“I only touched her while I was subduing her three hundred years ago. I didn't do anything else.”
I couldn't bring myself to mention that I had accidentally kissed her back then.
Following my words, Seol Baek said, “I have been looking for a man like this my whole life. Someone who can save the lineage of the North Sea Ice Palace and allow me to feel the warmth of another.”
At this, my father-in-law, who had been silent, chimed in.
“Can't you just give up the cold energy?”
“How can I rebuild the North Sea Ice Palace if I give up my martial arts?”
My father-in-law didn't answer.
It seemed he understood that one couldn't give up their martial arts when it came to reconstructing a sect.
I didn't miss the opportunity and said, “Father-in-law, that’s why I found a substitute who can satisfy her requirements even if it’s not me. I promised to introduce her to him in exchange for information about the Golden Emperor.”
At my words, Seol Baek looked at me piteously and said, “No. It has to be you. I’d rather you just kill me.”
I was so exasperated that I said, “That’s not what we discussed.”
“I was just trying to buy time to win your heart, but I guess I can't do that anymore. Now that the person you love so much is here.”
I think I let my guard down.
This woman was planning to settle things right here and now.
I didn't miss this chance and made my move.
[Do you really think this method will work?]
[Well, I don't know. Who knows if their hearts will soften?]
Ha! She was acting after all.
What a fox.
[Why are you going this far?]
[I told you. I like you.]
Enough to risk her life?
But she didn't know my father-in-law and Sama Yeong at all.
Having lived as a villain and a villain’s daughter, they weren't soft enough to fall for such an emotional appeal.
Furthermore, my father-in-law had loved only one woman his entire life, so he would be even less likely to be swayed.
Her gamble was a self-destructive move.
Then, my father-in-law spoke.
“I will... leave this decision to my daughter.”
“What?”
I asked back in shock.
I never imagined such words would come from my father-in-law’s mouth.
I thought he would ask if she was mocking him and try to force the information about the Golden Emperor out of her, but to follow Sama Yeong’s decision?
As I stood there bewildered, my father-in-law spoke to Sama Yeong in a cold, rational voice.
“Rather than giving up a peerless master who has surpassed the superhuman wall to someone else or killing her, your father thinks it wouldn't be bad to officially keep her under you.”
...Are my ears working correctly?
After handing over the decision-making power, he wasn't being negative; he was actually speaking quite positively.
My father-in-law wasn't the type of person to do this.
But Sama Yeong’s following words confused me even more.
She seemed to ponder his words for a moment, then asked, “Young Master. I come first, no matter what, right?”
“Well, that’s a given, but...”
“Then it’s fine. Since you didn't stray and kept me in your heart, I’ll accept her.”
“What?”
“You. You said your name was Seol Baek?”
“That’s right.”
“If you want to be the Young Master’s wife, I am the Big Sister. If you can't accept that, then just die here.”
...It seems I didn't know this father and daughter as well as I thought.