Chapter 376: For Freedom
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 376: For Freedom
Slam!
"We have a major problem!"
Tang Gam burst through the door, his voice raised in urgency.
"What is it now!?"
Geum Jeok-hwa, who had been organizing documents with bloodshot eyes, frowned as she spoke. She found his behavior—barging in without so much as a knock—to be a grave breach of etiquette.
I’ll have to give him a stern talking-to, she thought.
But that would have to wait until after she heard whatever "major problem" had him so worked up.
"The Pavilion Head has submitted a resignation letter!"
"...The Pavilion Head?"
Geum Jeok-hwa asked back, her voice laced with confusion. The Pavilion Head resigning? What on earth was he talking about?
"Ah."
Suddenly, a certain face flashed through her mind. An unsettling feeling began to crawl up her spine.
"By Pavilion Head... do you mean... of the Jaegyeong Pavilion?"
"Yes! The Sixth Lady has submitted her resignation!"
"What are you talking about!?"
Geum Jeok-hwa’s temper flared, and her voice rose. Yorang, resigning? What kind of preposterous nonsense was this?
"Here... the letter..."
Cowering slightly at her shout, Tang Gam handed over a single letter written by Yorang.
"..........."
Geum Jeok-hwa took the letter and examined it closely. At the very top, the words Resignation Letter were written in bold strokes. Below that, Yorang’s handwriting spelled out her farewell.
Geum Jeok-hwa stared at the paper, her expression blank. It didn't feel real. After being promised a monthly salary, Yorang had been working with more responsibility than ever. Thanks to her, the crushing burden of the clan's financial affairs had been drastically reduced.
And now, that very person had vanished. Leaving behind nothing but a measly scrap of paper that said Resignation Letter. How was she supposed to accept this?
"And you just let her go without stopping her!?"
Snapping back to her senses, Geum Jeok-hwa glared at Tang Gam, her voice booming. She was livid. Yorang was an irreplaceable talent, a resource of immense value. How could he just let someone like that walk out and merely deliver her resignation?
"I tried to stop her! I tried desperately!" Tang Gam cried out, looking utterly miserable.
"Were you really desperate?" Geum Jeok-hwa pressed, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"I realized I might actually die after having my head shoved into a flowerpot ten times. I had no choice but to let the Pavilion Head go."
"A flowerpot!?"
"When I told her she couldn't leave until dirt got in my eyes, she actually shoved dirt in them. Ten times, no less," Tang Gam explained, his expression tragic.
".............."
Seeing his state, Geum Jeok-hwa felt her urge to blame him vanish. It was clear that Tang Gam had done his absolute best—in his own way.
"Did she say where she was going?"
"She said she hadn't decided on a specific destination. However..."
"However?"
"She said that anywhere would be better than the Jaegyeong Pavilion."
"............."
Geum Jeok-hwa fell silent. A pang of guilt struck her. Had she worked the girl too hard? Lately, she had been piling a mountain of work on Yorang, telling her she needed to earn her salary.
It seemed that had been the catalyst. Seeing her flee like this after writing a resignation letter made Geum Jeok-hwa reflect deeply. She had thought of Yorang as a spiritual being, but it seemed even her mental fortitude wasn't infinite.
"This is no time to be standing around! we have to find her immediately!"
Geum Jeok-hwa stood up abruptly, her voice urgent.
"What about the resignation...?"
"I will never accept it! It’s rejected!" Geum Jeok-hwa snapped, shaking her head vigorously. "First, have the Tang Clan martial artists under your command begin a search."
"Will she even come back if we find her?" Tang Gam asked skeptically. He had spent a long time trying to persuade her before she left, and he knew just how firm her resolve was.
"Just track her location! The persuasion will be handled by me, the Acting Clan Head, or the Great Matriarch."
Geum Jeok-hwa’s expression was resolute.
"Understood. I will deploy the martial artists immediately to check all likely routes."
Tang Gam bowed slightly and hurried out. He intended to find Yorang’s location as quickly as possible. Watching him go, Geum Jeok-hwa also moved quickly. She needed to report this to the Acting Clan Head at once.
*
"What did you say!?"
Tang Seo-yoon stared at Geum Jeok-hwa in shock. This was the last thing she had expected to hear.
"Is that true?"
"I received the resignation letter through Tang Gam."
Geum Jeok-hwa handed over the letter. Tang Seo-yoon took it, her expression grim as she read the contents. The rounded, cute handwriting was unmistakable. It was definitely Yorang’s.
Then, her eyes landed on the part about her leaving. Tang Seo-yoon’s face darkened.
"Just how much did you overwork her for her to run away from home!?" Tang Seo-yoon demanded, her face hardening as she glared at Geum Jeok-hwa.
"I’m sorry. It seems the workload became excessive because the new recruits we recently hired all quit at once."
Geum Jeok-hwa offered a defense. While it was true she had pushed Yorang hard, she felt a bit unfairly blamed this time. Everyone else had been sharing the burden left by the deserters.
"Do you really think it’s just because of this one incident? This is the explosion of everything that’s been building up!"
Despite the excuse, Tang Seo-yoon continued to scold her with a stern expression.
"...I am sorry."
Geum Jeok-hwa bowed her head. She knew she wasn't without fault.
"Whew... fine. There’s no use playing the blame game now."
Tang Seo-yoon shook her head. "Do we know where she went? Has her location been identified?"
"She said she hadn't decided where to go. I’ve already sent out a tracking party through Tang Gam."
"Good. Let’s all move out."
"Understood."
"I will pursue Lady Yorang. Third Madam, you go to Lady Ok-ryeong."
"Lady Ok-ryeong?" Geum Jeok-hwa asked, puzzled. Why was she looking for Ok-ryeong all of a sudden?
"In an emergency, she’s the only one who can physically restrain Lady Yorang."
Tang Seo-yoon’s voice was grim.
"......Is it really necessary to go that far?"
"It is. Don't you remember? What happened to the Hwangbo Clan when Lady Yorang was left unsupervised for just a moment?"
".......Ah."
Geum Jeok-hwa let out a gasp. A memory she had buried deep in her mind resurfaced. Once, Sun-woo had left Yorang alone for about fifteen minutes. That brief neglect had led to catastrophic results. She had ended up at odds with the Dragon and Phoenix rising stars, the very future of the Murim.
The situation had escalated so severely that they nearly went to war with the Five Great Clans. Fortunately, Sun-woo’s desperate efforts had smoothed things over, but the mere thought of it still made Geum Jeok-hwa’s knees weak.
Her face turned pale as she realized the gravity of the situation. This was no minor matter. If Yorang, a woman whose beauty rivaled the greatest in the world, was wandering around freely... If a fifteen-minute lapse caused that much trouble, there was no telling what would happen if she truly ran away.
"I will go to Lady Ok-ryeong immediately."
Geum Jeok-hwa spoke with a pale face, and Tang Seo-yoon nodded grimly.
*
After leaving the Jaegyeong Pavilion, Yorang headed straight for her quarters. There were a few things she needed to pack before leaving.
Once inside, the first thing she grabbed was a veil. Having been ground down by the ways of the world, she had come to realize just how dangerously beautiful she was. If she wandered around without a veil again, she was bound to run into trouble.
'Being pretty is such a crime,' Yorang hummed to herself as she pulled the veil over her head.
Next, she packed money. Since starting her work as the Head of the Jaegyeong Pavilion, she had learned the importance of currency better than anyone. Money was vital. It was an inseparable part of human society. With enough money, she could be treated well and live in luxury wherever she went.
Instead of bulky silver coins, Yorang stuffed a thick stack of easily portable banknotes into her robes. She felt a sense of security from the weight against her chest.
"Up we go."
Having packed her veil, clothes, banknotes, and some leftover Tang-gwa, Yorang stood up. Now that she had everything she needed, it was time to make her escape.
She took one last look around her room. She hadn't been able to visit often because of the constant overtime, but leaving it behind still felt a bit bittersweet.
'Bye, see you later.'
Yorang bid a brief farewell to her quarters and set off. She believed that the faster the parting, the better.
*
"La la la... la la la... la la la la la..."
Yorang hummed happily, her footsteps light. Throwing everything aside and running away felt incredibly refreshing. The sunlight was dazzling, the breeze was crisp, and the air was wonderfully clear. It was a world away from the windowless, musty rooms filled with the smell of old paper.
'Yes! This is what living is all about!'
A smile spread across Yorang’s lips. She quickened her pace. It wouldn't be long before the Tang Clan martial artists came looking for her. She had to move fast before they could pin down her location. Even if they caught her, they couldn't force her back, but she was afraid her heart might waver if she ran into the Great Matriarch or Tang Seo-yoon.
'I can't let that happen!'
Tap.
Whoosh!
Yorang’s figure blurred as she tore through the air, vanishing into the distance. Her speed was a testament to her absolute resolve not to be caught.
After some time had passed, Yorang began to slow down. She figured she had put enough distance between herself and the clan that the martial artists wouldn't be able to follow her easily. She resumed her leisurely stroll, intending to enjoy the sun, the wind, and the scenery.
"You seem to be in a good mood, Lady Yorang."
"Yeah! I'm in a great mood!" Yorang replied with a bright smile.
"May I ask what happened?"
"I ran away from that dreadful Tang Clan! I'm looking for my freedom!" Yorang continued, her expression full of joy.
"It seems your life at the Tang Clan was quite difficult."
"It was beyond difficult! They worked a talent like me for such a pittance! They're absolutely terrible!" Yorang complained like a pouting child.
"If I had known you were suffering so much, I would have helped you."
"No, Ok-ryeong, you don't know anything about administrative work... wait?"
Suddenly, Yorang’s expression froze. A look of pure dread filled her eyes as she slowly turned her head to the side. There, she saw Ok-ryeong looking back at her with a pitying expression.
"Ok...ryeong?"
"Running away from home is still a bad thing, Lady Yorang."
Ok-ryeong spoke, her eyes narrowing sharply as she glared at Yorang.
"...H-how are you here!?"
Yorang stared at her in shock. She couldn't understand how Ok-ryeong had suddenly appeared. She hadn't felt a single presence. She hadn't heard a single sound. How could she be standing right next to her so nonchalantly?
"How? I came to take you back, of course."
Ok-ryeong replied with a serene smile.
"That's... that's impossible... I didn't feel a thing!"
"I’ve had a small breakthrough recently."
Ok-ryeong’s smile was pure and clear, making her beauty even more radiant.
"............"
Yorang stared blankly at Ok-ryeong’s pristine smile.
"I'm not going back!"
Suddenly snapping back to her senses, Yorang screamed at the top of her lungs. This was the freedom she had finally gained after five long months. She couldn't go back now.
"Lady Yorang... it’s difficult for me if you act like this."
Ok-ryeong spoke with a saddened expression.
"If it's difficult, then just go back! Just leave me alone!" Yorang shouted, her voice full of indignation.
She felt wronged. She had made a huge decision and barely managed to leave the Tang Clan. How could she be caught in less than half a day?
"I can't do that, Lady Yorang."
Ok-ryeong shook her head gently. "If you leave, Sun-woo will be sad. As his primary wife, I cannot allow that to happen."
"I don't care!" Yorang declared her firm refusal.
"Even if you don't like it, I cannot let you go. I will have to block your path."
Ok-ryeong’s expression hardened as she spoke.
"I don't want to hurt you, Ok-ryeong! Don't stop me!"
"No. You are the one who should listen to me, Yorang. I’ll make sure they reduce your workload."
"I said no!"
Yorang drew power from her inner core, instantly enhancing her physical abilities.
Crack, crack, crack.
Two pairs of legs, black as obsidian and smooth as jade, began to emerge from her back.
"Oh? You want to fight?"
"I am simply continuing my struggle for freedom!"
Yorang shouted, her fighting spirit surging.
"How interesting. Come to think of it, we’ve never truly settled things between us, have we?"
Ok-ryeong smiled, looking genuinely amused.
"Don't think I'm the same as before! I've fully recovered all my spiritual power!" Yorang growled threateningly.
"The same goes for me. I am much stronger than I was back then."
Ok-ryeong replied with a soft smile.
Vroooooom.
Suddenly, a pure white internal energy began to shimmer and ripple around her body.