Chapter 186: If I Truly Offer My Body, Will You Forgive My Daughter?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 186: If I Truly Offer My Body, Will You Forgive My Daughter?
Lee Ye-seol froze in place the moment she heard Sun-woo’s voice.
The sheer killing intent radiating from him sent a wave of primal fear washing over her.
How on earth was this man here?
And how was he looking so perfectly fine?
"I asked you a question. Did you do this to her?"
Sun-woo continued, his gaze fixed on the blood-soaked Tang Seo-yoon.
He was currently incensed beyond belief.
Joo So-yang had clearly told him that while they had Tang Seo-yoon in custody, they had never laid a finger on her.
After all, Sun-woo was the one they had a grudge against, not her.
Yet, the Tang Seo-yoon he finally found was a bloody mess.
There was no way he wouldn't be furious.
Step, step.
Sun-woo rose from his seat and walked over with brisk strides.
He practically snatched Tang Seo-yoon out of Lee Ye-seol’s arms and held her.
Carrying her, he walked straight toward the bed.
"Move."
Standing before the bed, Sun-woo addressed Joo So-yang.
Startled, Joo So-yang scrambled out of the way.
Sun-woo laid Tang Seo-yoon down and sat beside her, checking her pulse.
Fortunately, it didn't seem like her qi was disordered or her heart vessels damaged.
Sun-woo began to channel his Yin-Yang Harmony Qi into Tang Seo-yoon’s body.
Before long, he felt that her acupoints were tightly blocked throughout her body.
Restraints.
Sun-woo easily identified them as energy seals.
Woooooom.
He channeled even more Yin-Yang Harmony Qi.
The surging energy began to force open every single one of Tang Seo-yoon’s blocked acupoints.
After several cycles of Full Circulation, vitality finally began to return to her body.
"Haa... haa..."
Her ragged breathing gradually stabilized.
Whew.
Sun-woo let out a sigh of relief.
Since there were no major internal injuries, she would likely be back on her feet soon after this treatment.
He began to wipe the blood from her face.
It pained him to see such a beautiful face obscured by gore.
Grit.
Sun-woo ground his teeth.
The thought that someone had turned this lovely face into such a wreck made his blood boil.
He turned his head and glared at Lee Ye-seol.
I’ll kill her.
His murderous aura surged.
He hadn't originally intended to kill Lee Ye-seol.
He had planned to keep her alive, knowing she was far from enough to handle Lee Jae-won.
But seeing Tang Seo-yoon in this state changed his mind.
He would kill her. He would definitely kill her.
Sun-woo began to rouse his internal energy.
Fine, we’ll all just move to the West and live there. With my martial arts, what is there to worry about?
Having made his decision, Sun-woo stood up.
He intended to crush her skull in a single strike.
Tug.
Suddenly, he felt a force pulling at his dragon robe from behind.
Sun-woo quickly turned his head.
Tang Seo-yoon had managed to push herself halfway up and was clutching his robe with a trembling hand.
"Wa... wait."
She looked at Sun-woo and continued.
"Don't... kill her."
"You want me to leave the bitch who did this to you alone?" Sun-woo shouted, his voice rising.
"Revenge... I’ll do it myself."
Tang Seo-yoon met his eyes as she spoke.
"If you... touch her... I won't forgive you."
A look of grim determination flickered in her eyes as she finished.
"Sigh... fine. I get it, so just let go."
Sun-woo sighed and relented.
Only after receiving his word did Tang Seo-yoon finally release his robe.
Haa... haa... haa...
Then, her head slumped, and she lost consciousness again.
It seemed she had been worried Sun-woo would actually kill Lee Ye-seol.
"I won't kill her. I won't."
Sun-woo laid her back down properly before turning around.
As he turned, he saw Lee Ye-seol, her face now deathly pale.
Sun-woo glared at her with a frigid gaze.
Flinch.
Lee Ye-seol shuddered under his stare.
An inexplicable chill ran down her spine.
"Come here."
Sun-woo beckoned her.
At that gesture, Lee Ye-seol’s face turned ashen in an instant.
"Not coming? Should I go to you?"
When she remained frozen, Sun-woo began walking toward her.
Step, step.
With every step he took toward her, Lee Ye-seol’s heart hammered against her ribs as if it might explode.
"Wa... wait a moment!"
Joo So-yang quickly stepped forward, blocking Sun-woo’s path.
"Move."
"My daughter’s fault is my fault. Please, blame me instead."
She spoke with tears welling in her eyes.
She didn't want her daughter to suffer at this man’s hands again.
Though she was terrified, she summoned the courage to stand in his way.
"Move."
Sun-woo repeated, his brow furrowed deeply.
The person he needed to beat was right there; why was Joo So-yang making such a fuss?
"I beg of you. I’ll do anything you ask. Please, just don't touch my daughter."
She began to plead in a pathetic voice.
"Get out of the way."
Thud.
Sun-woo forcibly pushed her aside and continued walking.
No matter how much she begged, some things were non-negotiable.
Grab.
The pushed-aside Joo So-yang lunged and clung to Sun-woo’s leg.
"Please, I’m begging you. Please don't lay a hand on my daughter. Punish me instead. Please don't hurt that child anymore."
Driven by overwhelming maternal love, Joo So-yang tried to shield Lee Ye-seol again and again.
Fear of Sun-woo was etched into her very soul.
Because of that, she usually obeyed his every word like a conditioned reflex.
But even so, she couldn't stand by and watch her daughter get hurt.
Even if her daughter had committed a terrible crime by severely injuring Tang Seo-yoon, she was still her child.
The thought of her daughter suffering at the hands of this ruthless man gave her a courage she didn't know she possessed.
She was afraid. She was terrified out of her mind.
But she was even more afraid of her daughter being in pain.
Is this what they call motherhood?
Sun-woo clicked his tongue at the sight.
Joo So-yang had clearly chosen submission out of fear, but it seemed her maternal instincts had triumphed over that terror.
However, Sun-woo pushed her away once more.
No matter how much she pleaded, the punishment had to be dealt.
Did she think an emotional appeal would work?
Having lived in the 21st century, he was immune to tears and sob stories.
Sun-woo drew the Dragon Tail Soft Sword from his waist.
Chirr-ring.
He lashed it out toward Lee Ye-seol.
"No!"
Joo So-yang screamed at the sight.
The flat of the Dragon Tail Soft Sword instantly wrapped around Lee Ye-seol’s neck.
"Keuk!"
Lee Ye-seol felt the air being choked out of her as the sword tightened.
Sun-woo jerked his hand back.
Whoosh!
Lee Ye-seol, her neck bound by the sword, was yanked toward him.
Thump!
Sun-woo slammed her onto the floor right in front of him.
"Aaargh!"
She screamed as the impact rattled her entire body.
Sun-woo slowly lifted the Dragon Tail Soft Sword.
Bound by the neck, she was slowly hoisted up following his hand.
"Since Tang Seo-yoon asked me not to, I won't kill you. But it’s going to hurt. A lot."
Squish.
Sun-woo placed his hand on her chest.
Then, he began to inject poisonous qi.
Specifically, it was Scorching Poison.
"Aaaaaaaaagh!"
Before long, the poison seeped in, and Lee Ye-seol’s screams began to echo through the room.
Lee Ye-seol screamed.
An excruciating pain permeated her entire body.
She knew this pain.
Was this not the very same agony that had made her lose her mind back in Gyunhyeon?
She fell into despair.
Tears streamed down her face involuntarily.
Pain was not something one grew accustomed to, no matter how many times it was experienced.
It only added a layer of terror to the sensation.
Because she knew it, she was more afraid.
Because she knew it, she was more despairing.
She knew exactly how much worse this pain was going to get.
"Aaaaaaaaaagh!"
She let out a pain-filled shriek.
She knew.
She knew that the only way to express this agony was to scream.
Her voice grew even louder.
*
"Aaaaaaaaagh!"
Lee Ye-seol’s screams filled the room.
"Please... please... take back the poison."
Hearing her daughter’s screams, Joo So-yang desperately clung to Sun-woo, pleading.
"It’s only been fifteen minutes."
Sun-woo wore a nonchalant expression, as if it were no big deal.
"She’s going to die at this rate! I... I’ll take the poison instead. Please, just release my daughter."
She begged with tearful eyes and a mournful voice.
She was in mental agony.
She felt like she was going insane.
This was her only daughter in the world.
Furthermore, she was the sole direct disciple who would inherit everything from the Heavenly Moon Palace.
To Joo So-yang, Lee Ye-seol was both daughter and disciple—an infinitely precious existence.
And yet, that daughter was rolling her eyes back in agony.
She was on the verge of losing her mind, with tears, snot, and saliva streaming down her face.
Joo So-yang had no choice but to beg.
With her internal energy sealed, all she could do was plead and pray.
"Aaaaaaaaaagh!"
Lee Ye-seol’s screams intensified.
Correspondingly, Joo So-yang’s mental anguish grew even deeper.
"She’s going to die!"
Joo So-yang raised her voice, a rare occurrence, as she urged Sun-woo.
She had experienced that maddening pain herself.
She knew better than anyone how agonizing that poison was.
If she, who had reached the heights of the Transcendent Realm, had been forced to submit because she couldn't bear it, there was no way Lee Ye-seol, who was only at the Peak Realm, could endure it.
If left like this, she would turn into an imbecile from the pain.
She couldn't let that happen.
"Young Master, please forgive Seol-ah. I will do anything you want. Do you want money? I’ll give you all the treasures of the Heavenly Moon Palace. Do you want revenge? I will take her place and pay for the crimes myself. Do you want women? No matter who it is, I will kidnap them and bring them to you. Please, please forgive her. Sob, sob."
Finally, Joo So-yang burst into the tears she had been holding back as she looked at Sun-woo.
The sense of helplessness from being unable to do anything while her beloved daughter suffered overwhelmed her.
"Hic... sob... hic..."
She wept uncontrollably, pleading with Sun-woo.
She knew this was the only way she had left.
"Disgusting."
Sun-woo looked down at her with cold eyes.
"What? You’ll kidnap women for me? So it’s okay to hurt and victimize others just for the sake of your precious daughter?"
Sun-woo spoke with blatant contempt.
Her words infuriated him.
In the first place, wasn't Tang Seo-yoon’s kidnapping something she had carried out just for the sake of her daughter’s revenge?
Had she learned nothing even after her selfish behavior had led to this?
Sun-woo grimaced.
He realized this woman would do the exact same thing again at any time for Lee Ye-seol’s sake.
"Crazy bitch."
Sun-woo spat out a curse as he looked at Joo So-yang.
He felt nothing but loathing for her selfish words and actions.
"If you’re going to offer a woman, offer your own precious body. Don't go hurting others for no reason."
Sun-woo criticized her sharply with pointed words.
".........."
Joo So-yang fell silent.
It seemed Sun-woo’s scathing critique had hit the mark.
Sun-woo shook his head at the sight.
She was a woman he had once respected as a mentor's wife.
Even though she had reached middle age, she still possessed a beautiful appearance and an elegant, dignified aura. Furthermore, her martial arts were so profound she was called the Best Among Women.
Because she seemed to have everything, he had inwardly admired and respected her.
But now that he had seen her true colors, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
To think she was such a selfish and foolish woman.
They say a husband and wife resemble each other; she truly was Lee Jae-won’s wife.
Birds of a feather.
Sun-woo turned his head back to Lee Ye-seol, who was still screaming.
He had wasted too much time on a pointless conversation.
He intended to enjoy Lee Ye-seol’s agony a bit longer.
Rustle.
Just then, a strange sound reached Sun-woo’s ears.
Slide, slide.
"Will you really be satisfied with me?"
Joo So-yang’s voice came from beside him.
Sun-woo slowly turned his head.
There stood Joo So-yang, nearly naked, wearing only her traditional undergarments, trying to cover her large breasts with one arm.
Her face was flushed deep red as she continued.
Tears were still shimmering in her eyes.
"If I truly offer my body... will you forgive my daughter?"
Sun-woo stared at her, his mouth hanging open.
Something completely unexpected had just happened.