Goodbye, Everyone!
Namgoong Juhee lifted only her head while sprawled out on the floor, staring at Hwangbo Gang.
Just this morning, he'd been bristling like a porcupine. Subtly looking down on the Namgoong family and her. And now, suddenly, a deep bow.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You don't need to get on your knees."
"No."
Hwangbo Gang shook his head firmly.
"Hwangbo Un is the future of the Hwangbo family. It's only right to show proper respect to the one who saved him."
"Hey, Hwangbo Gang…"
"And personally, Un is like a little brother to me. Thank you once again."
Hmm, sure, whatever. If the young master were here, he'd just steal the finishing blow anyway. Saved him? That's putting it wrong. Namgoong Juhee thought to herself.
"What about the young master?"
"Ah… you mean the young heir? The escorts are giving him emergency treatment right now. He didn't even show signs of internal injuries."
"Good to hear."
A plain response. As long as he was alive, that was enough. That was her attitude, exactly.
But to Hwangbo Gang, this demeanor left a deep impression.
Saving the Hwangbo family's young heir meant becoming their benefactor. It opened the door to any reward short of overstepping boundaries.
Gold, jewels, elixirs, even martial arts manuals. It was like hitting the jackpot.
And here she was, saying it was good he was alive. The bearing of a true hero. Yesterday's madwoman was all an act. Hwangbo Gang was convinced.
In reality, she was just clueless. If Juhee knew, she'd uproot the Hwangbo family on the spot. Lucky for them.
"Hoo, if the hero insists, it puts my mind at unease."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
Hwangbo Gang rummaged in his bosom and pulled out a golden plaque etched with black letters spelling Hwangbo. The so-called Silver Benefactor Plaque.
"At least take this."
"Huh? Isn't this that thing? The benefactor plaque or whatever."
"Correct. The Hwangbo family will always regard you as our benefactor and treat you as an honored guest."
"Well, if it's just that much."
"If time allows, visit our home in Jename sometime."
"Sure. If I have time."
Hwangbo Gang nodded lightly. Then turned his back.
"The kids will love hearing how you took down the Gale Ghost. Well then."
"Heading out, mutt?"
"That's right. The Namgoong family caught the Gale Ghost and neutralized the bandits faster. To be precise, the Namgung young lady… but the victor writes the history, doesn't he?"
"You get it."
"I might not know the Dark Mountain Sword or the Namgung young lady, but you—stay away from Jename. Or you'll learn the wrath of the Hwangbo."
Boom!
With that, Hwangbo Gang vanished. His Iron Steel Corps would soon leave Wuhu too.
In other words, the Namgoong family now controlled Wuhu. All thanks to Namgoong Juhee alone.
Whatever. Right now, Namgoong Juhee was hungry. She'd spent the whole day fighting bandits, after all. So her next words were:
"Guardian Sihoon. Let's eat. Oh, and booze too."
"……Yes."
Even after dominating a Peak realm expert, nothing changed. Sihoon let out a sigh mixed with half relief, half exasperation.
From the moment Namgoong Juhee's group returned to Wuhu, the hospitality was nonstop.
They treated her like they'd reveal all of Wuhu's secrets. First, she got to taste every delicacy under heaven.
Whoa, dongpo pork is insane. Wait, that's a carrot? Not meat? How do you get this flavor from a carrot? Whoa, rice. And rice wine. This is sex. This is drugs.
After stuffing herself, high-ranking escorts from the escort agency took turns visiting. At first, it seemed annoying, but it wasn't. Sihoon handled the hospitality, and Juhee just sat receiving gifts. Felt like unboxing hauls.
One standout was the branch manager from the Silver Moon Merchant Group. While others brought hairpins and such, he brought pastries. Why do sweet things I hate suddenly taste amazing in games? Namgoong Juhee pondered as she munched.
"So, Dark Mountain Sword. You won't reveal who beheaded the Gale Ghost?"
"It was the combined effort of the entire Namgoong family. Does it matter who struck the final blow?"
"Of course it matters, man. Reputation is as crucial as power when raising a clan. Just announce you did it, and the Namgoong name's value skyrockets."
"Appreciate the words, but we have family rules."
"Hah. Stubborn."
Very clan-head-like. He wanted to recruit the expert who felled a Peak realm master on the cheap.
Not Juhee's problem. Fame brought no perks. Filling her dopamine hits moment to moment was enough.
After such trivial chats, it was time to head to her lodgings. Then another crowd of commoners blocked their path.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"We bow to Wuhu's benefactors."
"Damn, I knew we could count on you!"
"Namgoong! Namgoong! Namgoong!"
Catching one bandit's gang caused this much ripple? Namgoong Juhee blinked blankly until Sihoon spoke.
"Miss, have you ever seen a city ruled by bandits?"
"No, this is my first time out in the martial world."
"Ah, right. To continue, cities under bandit rule are hell on earth. Crushing tax rates, brutal punishments. Anyone trying to leave vanishes without a trace."
"Hmm…"
"The officials just watch. Humans demoted to livestock."
Namgoong Juhee nodded vaguely. Her city suddenly turning into North Korea? Yeah, hell.
Then, a squeeze in her hand. Looking down, an old woman gripped it.
"Aigoo… Aigoo… Heroes. Thank you."
"No, it was nothing…"
"Wuhu's sons lost to those bandits—dozens of them. My boy among them… Aigoo… Thank you. So grateful."
Devs made a brutal storyline. Juhee thought, squeezing the old woman's hand back. Pressing X to pay respects.
"Aigoo… Thank you. Thank you."
"No problem. See you."
Eat, rest, get thanks—then crash. The inn was luxury beyond luxury. Places like Clear Wind Inn looked like slums.
This level of fluffiness in ancient China?
No AC, yet so comfy.
Whoa, pastries insane. Is this even allowed?
They'd clearly spared no expense—Namgoong Juhee kept gasping in awe. Days like a hotel vacation. A week flew by.
And the seventh night in Wuhu was no different. She'd devoured every delicacy, gotten gifts and pastries, received street thanks. Now, time to sprawl and munch pastries. That's when it happened.
"Miss, may I come in?"
Sihoon's voice from outside. Juhee agreed readily.
"Come in."
"Yes, then…"
Sihoon's brows furrowed at the room's state.
Juhee recognized the look. Identical to her past-life mom nagging about her pigsty room.
Man, miss Mom.
Namgoong Juhee thought, finishing her pastry.
"What is it?"
"I'm thinking it's time to head back to the clan. Time's passed, and we've achieved our goal."
"Already?"
"Yes. I've already bid farewell to the escort agency's reps, so we can leave right away."
"Yeah, fair. Wait outside a bit? Need to get ready."
Sihoon scanned the room, as if to say what's to prepare? Her luggage was one outfit, and she never changed anyway. Why delay?
Catching his drift, Juhee grinned.
"What, wanna watch me change?"
"No, miss! Don't say such things lightly!"
"What's wrong between guys. Wait inside then. I'll change quick."
"No, I'll wait outside."
Bang! Sihoon shut the door fast. Juhee's grin faded to mock seriousness. Then, one word.
"Boring."
A tongue-out taunt. But the intent was clear.
Having tasted the secular world, Juhee found training fun—but didn't want to return to the stifling Namgoong family.
So much fun here. New NPCs, unique boss monsters, eye-candy graphics. Why go back to the tutorial zone? Leveled up—time for high-level areas. No need to train in the clan.
Namgoong Juhee firmed her resolve.
"Got stamina. Got money. Got everything."
Namgoong Juhee used green ink to scrawl on the wall.
Goodbye, everyone! I'm casting off all the chains and shackles of this world to chase my own happiness! Be happy too!
It was bitchiness personified.