Chapter 402: A Token of Sincerity
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 402: A Token of Sincerity
'Was the depth of her resentment too great?'
Hearing her refusal, Sun-woo felt a pang of regret.
On second thought, he wondered if he had underestimated the scale of her grudge.
To ensure her silence, he had forced himself upon Joo So-yang. He had thoroughly subjugated her so that she wouldn't dare harbor any other thoughts.
There was no way the weight of that resentment could be small.
'It’s a mistake.'
Sun-woo thought to himself. He had made a blunder.
Lee Ye-seol didn't know that Joo So-yang had been forced into a relationship with him. That was why she could so easily speak of settling their debts of gratitude and resentment.
'This isn't good.'
Sun-woo felt a sense of unease. He felt as though things had gone wrong from the very first step.
"..............."
Sun-woo remained silent, his lips pressed firmly together. He was agonizing over how to find a proper solution.
"It’s too unfair," Joo So-yang said slowly, breaking the silence.
"....Is it?" Sun-woo replied with a lukewarm expression.
It certainly was unfair. He had raped a married woman who even had a child, yet here he was, asking for an easy settlement of their grievances. It was indeed unreasonable.
"Yes, it’s too unfair to you, Sun-woo. I believe you deserve more compensation."
Joo So-yang nodded as she spoke.
"......Excuse me?"
Sun-woo looked at her, utterly bewildered. What on earth was she talking about?
Unfair to him?
"You’ve cast aside the immense honor of being the future Greatest of All Time just to come and help us. You’ve even severed your ties with the Tang Clan. How could a mere settlement of grievances possibly compensate for all of that?"
"..............."
Sun-woo kept his mouth shut. He was floored by Joo So-yang’s completely unexpected statement.
He calmed his nerves and carefully processed her words. He wondered if he had missed something or misheard her.
'What is this woman talking about?!'
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't understand. He was the one in the weak position here, so why was she taking such a submissive stance?
"I believe you should receive even more compensation, Sun-woo," Joo So-yang continued in a calm tone. Her eyes were filled with firm resolve.
".....I’m really fine, though?" Sun-woo tried to decline.
"No. I cannot allow that. I do not like receiving favors without giving something in return."
"What do you mean, without return? You agreed to settle our grievances."
"That... that’s... because our wrongdoing was so great... we can’t act like it never happened... but still... it’s not enough to outweigh your kindness."
Joo So-yang mumbled her response.
'You were raped! You crazy woman!'
Sun-woo barely managed to swallow the words rising to the back of his throat and stared at her. His eyes were full of absurdity. He couldn't understand why she was being so incredibly humble.
'Why is she acting like this?'
A sense of suspicion crept in. The Joo So-yang he knew was a woman from a prestigious family with immense pride. How could a person change one hundred and eighty degrees in just half a year?
'Let’s just refuse for now.'
Sun-woo decided. There was no need to pluck a poisoned apple.
"No, settling the grievances and providing support for the Tang Clan is enough for me. Besides, we don't even know if we'll win or lose yet, right? I think that promise is more than enough just for my participation."
Sun-woo tried to persuade her with logic. There was no guarantee that his participation would lead to reclaiming the succession position. The contest was essentially about how many talented people one could gather. Even if the quality was high, they could still lose if they were outnumbered.
"No. If you are with us, we will definitely win."
Joo So-yang shook her head, speaking with absolute certainty. Her eyes shone with conviction.
"Because no talent in the Central Plains can compare to you."
She was certain. Sun-woo was the key to their victory.
At only twenty-eight years of age, he had one-sidedly thrashed her—someone who had reached the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm. He had beaten her like a dog, despite her being called the Best Among Women.
What did that imply? It meant his realm had already surpassed the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm. He had reached a magnificent height.
Currently, there was only one person she was sure could defeat Sun-woo: Lee Jae-won, the Greatest of All Time and the Alliance Leader of the Cheonmu Alliance.
How could someone like Sun-woo be compared to mere Rising Stars? It wasn't even a contest. The gap in their levels was vast.
That was why she was sure. Whoever possessed Sun-woo would possess the Cheonmu Alliance.
And so, she felt she had to reward him for helping them secure the succession.
"I’m telling you, it’s really fine. Just resolve the grudge between the Tang Clan and the Heavenly Moon Palace, and give the Tang Clan some support. That’s all."
Sun-woo spoke with a flustered expression. How could a woman be this stubborn?
"That is not enough. You must be compensated more."
Despite Sun-woo’s words, Joo So-yang did not budge. A tug-of-war began between the two. Joo So-yang passionately argued that he needed more compensation, while Sun-woo waved his hand, insisting he didn't need anything. Neither side gave in, and the conversation dragged on.
After some time had passed...
"................."
Sun-woo fell silent. He realized he couldn't break Joo So-yang’s bull-headed stubbornness no matter what he said.
'What is she thinking?'
He was genuinely curious. He couldn't get a read on her intentions at all.
"Fine."
Eventually, Sun-woo nodded. He felt like they would be there until dawn at this rate.
"What can you give me then?"
"........T-That is..."
When Sun-woo suddenly agreed, Joo So-yang began to stutter, flustered. Although she felt the compensation was lacking, she hadn't thought of anything specific to give him.
"...Money... perhaps?"
"Do you have any idea how rich the Tang Clan is?"
"...Then..... martial arts manuals..."
"You’re weaker than me..."
"...Weapons..."
"Did you forget I have the Dragon Tail Soft Sword?"
Sun-woo refuted her suggestions one by one.
"U-Ugh..."
As all her proposals were rejected, Joo So-yang’s face crumpled. She realized she had nothing suitable to offer.
The Tang Clan was currently so wealthy they were said to be eyeing a spot among the Five Great Merchants of the Central Plains. To Sun-woo, the heir of such a clan, money meant nothing.
It was the same for martial arts. Sun-woo was an absolute master at a realm so high that even she looked up to him. Teaching him martial arts? Even a passing dog would laugh at that.
Weapons were no different. He already possessed the Dragon Tail Soft Sword, one of the Six Great Treasures of the Murim. There was no way he’d be greedy for other weapons.
'I have nothing to give.'
She realized she had nothing of value to offer him. What could a man who was so perfect possibly lack?
".................."
Joo So-yang fell silent, thinking deeply. She searched for a reward that he would actually want and be happy with.
After a while, her face began to turn a deep shade of red, like a ripe persimmon. She had thought of something she could give him.
"......T-The... woman..."
With her face flushed like an apple, Joo So-yang spoke hesitantly.
"A woman!?"
Sun-woo asked back, sounding absurd. What kind of nonsense was this now?
"What, are you going to kidnap someone again?" Sun-woo asked, looking at her with a cold gaze.
"I-It’s not like that."
Meeting Sun-woo’s eyes, Joo So-yang quickly shook her head.
"Then what, are you going to sell one of your disciples?"
".......No."
"Then exactly what woman are you going to offer me?"
Sun-woo asked mockingly. The idea of her providing "entertainment" was ridiculous. She was a woman born of the most noble bloodline in the Murim. She had lived her whole life wanting for nothing. Where on earth would she procure a woman to serve him? It was nonsense.
".....I-If... if I am acceptable to you..."
Joo So-yang, her face burning, continued in a voice as tiny as a crawling ant.
".........What!?"
Of course, to Sun-woo, whose physical abilities were at their peak, it sounded as loud as a thunderclap. He stared at her, dumbfounded.
What kind of madness was this? Joo So-yang was offering herself? He felt his mind go blank for a moment.
"............"
When Sun-woo didn't respond, Joo So-yang hung her head low. An overwhelming sense of embarrassment welled up from deep within her.
The silence stretched on.
"I will act as if I didn't hear that."
Finally, Sun-woo’s voice rang out, firm and decisive. He spoke with formal politeness, dropping the casual speech.
"......But.."
"Look here, Madam Joo. Get a grip. You are a married woman with a child. How can you offer to 'serve' someone? Is that something a woman with a husband should do?"
".........."
"Even though we had a relationship at the Heavenly Moon Palace, that was for the sake of silencing you, not because I love you."
Sun-woo glared at her with sharp eyes.
"Save that kind of relationship for someone you love. I have no intention of having that kind of relationship with you."
Sun-woo flatly rejected her offer. This wasn't some adultery-themed comic; what kind of situation was this? A married woman with a husband and a child openly offering herself.
"............"
Stung by Sun-woo’s harsh rebuke, Joo So-yang slumped.
Sniffle, sniffle.
Soon, she began to cry. The rejection of the offer she had gathered so much courage to make left her feeling miserable.
"Ugh... hmph... hmph... hmph..."
Along with that, a sense of guilt toward her husband and daughter, as well as a feeling of depravity, washed over her simultaneously.
"I’m leaving. I’ll call your daughter, so discuss things well with her."
Sun-woo looked at the weeping woman and stood up. He had no desire to comfort her.
"D-Don't go... hic..."
Joo So-yang grabbed Sun-woo as he tried to leave. She didn't want to let him go.
"What is wrong with you?"
Sun-woo frowned deeply.
"I... I was wrong... please... don't leave me..."
Looking at Sun-woo’s retreating back, she saw the image of Lee Jae-won. The back of Lee Jae-won, who hadn't sought her out even once since she became pregnant with Lee Ye-seol. Seeing Sun-woo’s cold back made her feel abandoned. Utterly miserable.
Sun-woo looked at Joo So-yang with pity.
Pat, pat, pat.
He slowly raised his hand and began to pat her on the back.
"I won't go. So please, stop crying."
Sun-woo spoke as he soothed her.
"Hmph... hic... hic... I’m sorry... I just... hic... wanted to... hic... show you a token of my sincerity..."
She continued to speak through her endless tears.
"I understand. It’s human nature to want to repay an overwhelming favor. I don't blame you for that feeling. In fact, I think it’s much better than those who shamelessly take everything and then keep their mouths shut."
Sun-woo gently stroked her back.
"But your token of sincerity was too much. A woman like you, with a husband and a daughter, offering herself? Why would you make such an extreme choice? A relationship without love only leaves behind emptiness."
Sun-woo spoke in a calm tone.
"Hmph... hic... Sun-woo... do you... find me unattractive?"
"......How did the conversation suddenly turn to that?"
Sun-woo asked, looking flustered by her question.
"If not, why did you reject me so instantly?"
Joo So-yang continued to weep uncontrollably.
"Hic... hic... hic... You also despise these hideously large tits, don't you?"
Joo So-yang lifted one of her incredibly massive breasts and asked him.
'.........What the fuck.'
Sun-woo was stunned. He couldn't decide whether he should comfort her or just leave her be.
"No. How could a woman as beautiful as you be unattractive?"
Sun-woo began to soothe her with a gentle voice. She was going to be an ally. He felt she needed some consideration.
"Don't lie to me!"
Joo So-yang glared at Sun-woo and raised her voice.
"You also despise me because of these hideously overgrown tits and this disgustingly large ass!"
Joo So-yang’s eyes were filled with resentment. She actually knew. She knew why her husband, Lee Jae-won, had neglected her.
It was because of her breasts and hips. The problem was her tits and ass, which had grown massive after she became pregnant with Lee Ye-seol.
Lee Jae-won was a man who preferred small breasts and moderate hips. There was no way he would like Joo So-yang, who had huge breasts and a thick, voluptuous ass.
She thought Sun-woo was no different from Lee Jae-won. She was certain he disliked her because of her massive tits and ass.
'No, those are the hottest parts! What are you talking about?!'
Meanwhile, Sun-woo vehemently disagreed in his mind. Those were the most erotic parts, so what the hell was she talking about?