Chapter 465: I Think... It Would Be Okay... If You Hit Me More.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 465: I Think... It Would Be Okay... If You Hit Me More.
He wanted to refuse.
He wanted to refuse so badly it was driving him crazy.
He didn't want to leave the Tang Clan.
When everything he could ever want was within arm's reach, why on earth would he go wandering around outside?
Humans are driven by various desires.
The desire for food, the desire for sex, and the desire for sleep.
Only when these three basic desires are fully satisfied can a human finally feel a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
In that regard, Sun-woo’s current life was incredibly happy and fulfilling.
Women of the kind one might see only once in a lifetime were everywhere; they would come running into his arms at the slightest gesture, and with a single word, all sorts of delicacies were served right before his eyes.
Furthermore, no one would complain even if he slept all day, and he had a plush bed and warm blankets prepared for high-quality rest.
To Sun-woo, calling the Tang Clan the Peach Blossom Spring was no exaggeration.
So why, after ending such a blissful life, was he being told to enter the Cheonmu Alliance, where that devilish bastard Lee Jae-won was?
It was preposterous.
He didn't want to go.
There was no way he could possibly want to go.
However, he couldn't refuse.
The justification was simply too perfect.
Tang Jin-seol’s assassination request and Lee Jae-won’s mobilization notice.
These two factors became the justification that forced him toward the Cheonmu Alliance.
To resolve things amicably without making an enemy of Tang Jin-seol, and to avoid offending Lee Jae-won, he had to head to the Cheonmu Alliance.
"Damn it."
Sun-woo spat out a curse.
He knew all too well that he had to go, but the thought of returning there brought back memories of the past.
The days when he was ignored by everyone as the lowly Jang Sam.
To the current Sun-woo, who had merged with Jang Sam, the Cheonmu Alliance was an incredibly uncomfortable place. It was where he had endured all sorts of insults and contempt.
The disciple of the World's Greatest Martial Artist, yet a dullard lacking talent.
He had been called the only flaw of the perfect Alliance Leader.
How could he possibly go to such a place with a light heart?
I thought... I’d have at least a month before I had to go.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation.
"What do they mean, a mobilization notice...?"
Sun-woo lamented with a dejected expression.
"It’s likely a whim of the Alliance Leader," Tang Seo-yoon replied in a calm tone.
"Isn't there any other way? I really don't want to go."
Sun-woo pleaded.
"There isn't... I can't think of a suitable alternative."
At Sun-woo’s question, Tang Seo-yoon slowly shook her head and continued.
"If I could help it, I wouldn't want to send you to the Cheonmu Alliance either. I know how disgusting Lee Jae-won is to you... and how uncomfortable that place makes you. But there is no proper solution. Tang Jin-seol singled you out, and Lee Jae-won summoned you. I think the best course of action here is to head to the Cheonmu Alliance."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke with a sorrowful expression.
"..."
Sun-woo remained silent, his lips pressed firmly together.
He had no idea what to say.
He knew it too—that heading to the Cheonmu Alliance was the best move right now.
It was the best way to protect his own nest.
But even if his head understood, his heart didn't.
The pent-up emotions regarding the Cheonmu Alliance made him hesitate.
"Sun-woo."
When Sun-woo didn't speak, Tang Seo-yoon spoke up softly.
"If you don't want to go, you don't have to."
She continued in a steady voice.
"As I told you before, you have no obligation to sacrifice yourself for the Tang Clan by doing something you don't want to do."
She looked at Sun-woo with an incredibly serious gaze.
"I said heading to the Cheonmu Alliance is the best option, but it's not mandatory. I want you to act according to your heart."
"..."
"I have no intention of becoming your shackles."
"But... if I refuse, the Tang Clan will have to bear everything."
Sun-woo spoke with a heavy expression.
In his heart, he wanted to refuse. But if he did, the Tang Clan would have to face the full brunt of Lee Jae-won and Tang Jin-seol’s wrath.
"That is the Tang Clan's problem."
"No, it's my problem too."
Sun-woo shook his head with a determined look.
"The Tang Clan is the only nest where I can rest peacefully with the women I love."
Sun-woo met Tang Seo-yoon’s eyes with a sincere gaze.
"...Then, do you intend to head to the Cheonmu Alliance?"
"Yeah, that's the plan."
"Will you really be okay?"
Tang Seo-yoon looked at Sun-woo with a worried face.
"I'll be fine. It's a place I had to go eventually for the succession competition anyway."
Sun-woo maintained a calm facade as he spoke.
"And I'll take this chance to see with my own eyes just how strong Lee Jae-won really is."
"Haven't you encountered him a few times?"
"Back then, my realm was too low, so I couldn't gauge how strong that bastard was."
Sun-woo continued in a level tone.
"But now, I think I'll be able to feel it... exactly how strong he is."
Sun-woo’s eyes sparkled.
Since he had to go anyway, he figured he might as well properly assess Lee Jae-won’s full power.
When they met before, his realm was so shallow that he couldn't even guess the man's strength.
But things would be different now.
Unlike when he was merely in the Super-Peak Realm, he had now reached the Half-Immortal Stage, a realm said to transcend humanity.
"......Are you sure you'll be alright?"
Despite Sun-woo’s spirited words, Tang Seo-yoon asked again, her expression still filled with anxiety.
It felt as though she were pushing her beloved into a pit of fire.
"It's fine. It's not like I'm going there to die."
Sun-woo spoke reassuringly.
"......Will the disguise hold up?"
She asked, her face clouded with concern.
"It'll be fine. The Zhu-Rong Art is a disguise technique that twists the very bone structure... Unless someone looks very closely, I won't be caught."
"........But what if they do look closely?"
"Even if he looks closely, that bastard is too stupid to recognize me."
".........Aren't you being a bit too optimistic?"
She pouted as she spoke.
"Life is meant to be lived positively. That's how the energy of the universe helps you out."
Sun-woo let out a small smile.
"What is that... you sound like you're trying to incite people with some cultish nonsense..."
Hearing Sun-woo’s words, Tang Seo-yoon looked at him as if he were absurd.
How could he spout such nonsense in such a serious situation?
"Anyway, don't worry. You know, right? I have strangely good luck. I'm sure I'll be able to resolve this luckily this time too."
Sun-woo spoke slowly, keeping his Plot Armor in mind.
He was a bit nervous, but he decided to trust in his Plot Armor.
If he had Plot Armor, he might work himself to the bone, but it wouldn't let him die.
"Sun-woo."
Tang Seo-yoon called him with an incredibly serious expression.
"Promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
"Don't do anything reckless."
"Reckless?"
"Yes. Don't do anything reckless by relying on luck... Your luck is strangely good, but there's no guarantee it will last forever... So... if it looks dangerous, run away... No one will blame you if you run."
"Don't worry. If it looks like something's about to happen, I'll bolt immediately."
Hearing her words, Sun-woo replied with exaggerated movements.
"If you couldn't talk, you'd..."
Tang Seo-yoon let out a chuckle.
She could see Sun-woo’s intention to ease her worries with his playfulness.
Cute guy, Tang Seo-yoon thought.
She found this younger husband of hers, who seemed so carefree, to be endlessly adorable.
A warm atmosphere began to flow through the Clan Head's Office.
*
".......Lord Sun-woo. You've come?"
Joo So-yang welcomed Sun-woo with a flushed face.
It certainly wasn't her turn to be held today.
There were still three days left.
Yet, Sun-woo’s sudden visit to her quarters made her heart start to throb.
"Have you been well?"
Sun-woo asked casually as he looked at her.
"Yes... of course... thanks to the... consideration you've shown me... I've been living comfortably and abundantly."
Joo So-yang spoke while twisting her body sensually.
"I... see?"
Seeing her reaction, Sun-woo asked back, looking somewhat bewildered.
He didn't recall showing her any particular consideration.
"Yes, giving me such a quiet and secluded place to stay..."
This was the only place left...
"Not to mention the professional maidservants and the daily feasts... Thank you... Lord Sun-woo."
Joo So-yang spoke, looking at Sun-woo with hazy, unfocused eyes.
Seeing this, Sun-woo felt a sense of perplexity.
The treatment she was receiving was just the standard hospitality given to any guest.
Yet, seeing her so moved and grateful made him feel awkward instead.
"I... see. I'm glad you're satisfied..."
Sun-woo spoke with a lukewarm expression.
"Hehe... it's all thanks to your holy consideration... Truly... Lord Sun-woo... you are so perfect... Your handsome... face... your sturdy body... your kind... heart... and even... your massive phallus... how can you be so..."
She continued to praise him while meeting his eyes with that same hazy gaze.
It was to the point where anyone listening would feel burdened.
"Pha... phallus?!"
Sun-woo blurted out in shock at her praise.
How could a lady from a respectable family utter such lewd words?
And this was a woman who was supposed to be the mistress of the Cheonmu Alliance.
"Oh my... I'm sorry... I said something so lewd without thinking... But... it's such an undeniable fact... that I didn't have time to watch my tongue..."
Hearing Sun-woo’s point, Joo So-yang spoke with a feigned dejected expression.
"I... see... Well, it's never bad to watch your tongue..."
Sun-woo muttered with a sour face.
She was strange in many ways, but he didn't particularly want to point it out.
"By the way... Lord Sun-woo... what brings you... to visit me? It's not my turn today, is it?"
Joo So-yang asked, looking at Sun-woo with an expression full of anticipation.
"Ah. I have something to tell you today."
Sun-woo spoke in a calm tone.
"Haa... I'm curious... exactly what you have to say... that made you knock on my door... at such a late hour."
Joo So-yang spoke, her eyes burning with heat as she looked at Sun-woo.
"Just so you know, it's not what you're thinking."
Sun-woo spoke firmly.
"What... would that be?... I'm not sure... would you... teach me, Lord Sun-woo?"
Joo So-yang began to approach Sun-woo slowly, exhaling hot breaths.
Her movements were incredibly seductive and sultry.
"No, I said it's not that!"
Sun-woo cried out in bewilderment.
"It's okay... purposes... can change at any time, can't they?... I don't mind if the purpose changes..."
Having closed the distance to right in front of him, Joo So-yang stared at Sun-woo with a heated gaze.
Grab.
"No, I mind. I mind, so stay still!"
Sun-woo eventually grabbed both of her shoulders.
He felt that if he let her be, she would spiral even further out of control.
"Hah-huuuung!"
Immediately, a faint moan escaped her lips.
It was an incredibly lewd and erotic moan.
"Hey! Why are you moaning!?"
Sun-woo shouted at her with a look of pure shock.
Why on earth was she suddenly moaning?
"Haa... haa... being grabbed by Lord Sun-woo... I felt it without realizing..."
Joo So-yang spoke, her cheeks flushed bright red.
"Wow."
Hearing that, Sun-woo let out a hollow laugh.
Her crazy words had made his mind go blank.
This... is my fault, isn't it?
Sun-woo’s expression turned serious.
He felt a pang of guilt at the fact that this woman, who used to be so haughty and authoritative, had become such a lewd and wanton woman that she would moan just from being touched.
Let's calm her down first.
Flick.
Sun-woo raised a finger and flicked her forehead.
He intended to snap her out of her excited state.
"Ack!"
As his finger hit her forehead, Joo So-yang let out a cry.
A significant amount of pain had flared up.
"Are you back to your senses now?"
Sun-woo asked, looking at Joo So-yang as she clutched her forehead.
"Haa... yes... I think... it would be okay... if you hit me more."
"............"
"Is this what you intended to do today? Fine... I'm prepared to be hit as much as you like... Did you perhaps prepare a cane?........ Or maybe a whip?...... I'll enjoy being hit by anything.... Haa... Lord Sun-woo......."
She continued, exhaling hot breaths in a state of total excitement.
"............"
Seeing this, Sun-woo wore a look of utter disbelief.
He had never imagined such a reaction.
Just how much of a pervert has she become?
Sun-woo was horrified.
He felt as though he had seen the very bottom of her character.
And he realized something.
It was going to take a considerable amount of time to have a proper conversation with her.
"Haa."
A deep, heavy sigh escaped Sun-woo’s lips.