Chapter 59: Poison Xi Shi Is Furious - Part 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 59: Poison Xi Shi Is Furious - Part 2
"You crazy bastard."
Those were the first words out of Tang Seo-yoon’s mouth the moment Sun-woo stepped into the pavilion.
"……."
"Are you even human, or are you some kind of demon wearing a human face?"
"……."
"Was killing Tang Se-gi not enough? You had to lay a finger on the Great Matriarch too?"
She began to lash out at him with scathing criticism.
Since everything she said was true, Sun-woo had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.
"I’ll give you a pass on Tang Se-gi since he deserved to die, but the Great Matriarch? You crossed the line."
She glared at Sun-woo with eyes full of murderous intent.
She had already beaten him until he was bleeding and his face was swollen like a balloon, but it seemed her anger still hadn't subsided.
"Now, start talking."
"About what?"
"You must have some excuse, right? I’ve said my piece, so start barking."
This crazy woman... you should have listened to the excuse first!
Sun-woo grumbled inwardly before explaining in detail what had happened when he went to steal the Hundred-Year Flower.
"And then, after I laid the Great Matriarch down on the bed..."
"Stop! Stop right there!"
She cut him off mid-sentence.
"Why?"
"Just how much detail are you planning to give? Stop talking."
Damn, she’s so fickle.
"To summarize, you slept with the Great Matriarch just like that to escape the situation?"
"I suppose you could put it that way."
Tang Seo-yoon eyed Sun-woo suspiciously.
"Be honest with me."
"A-About what?"
Sun-woo flinched under her piercing gaze and asked back.
"Did you really not have even a shred of ulterior motive?"
"……."
Sun-woo was momentarily speechless.
How could he not have had even a shred of ulterior motive?
Of course, the surface reason he gave was that it was an unavoidable choice to escape a crisis, but in reality, he had been unable to suppress his lust and had engaged in an affair with her.
Even though he’d had enough leeway to knock her unconscious if he’d really wanted to, he had gone ahead with the deed anyway.
"I don't even need to hear it to know."
When Sun-woo remained silent, she let out a cold laugh.
She felt it every time, but this man was terrible at lying. It was a mystery how someone with this personality managed to go around impersonating Tang Se-gi.
"Then, here’s what I’m most curious about."
"What?"
"Why did you tell me?"
She glared at him with a sharp gaze.
Even if they were in a temporary alliance, she was technically his enemy. What was his intention in telling her about his tryst with the Great Matriarch?
Did he perhaps mistakenly think they were actually on the same side? Various questions sprouted in her mind.
"You must have known that telling me wouldn't lead to anything good for you."
Though they weren't deeply close, the Great Matriarch was still her brother's wife. To confess to having an affair with such a person—it was a choice that was beyond stupid.
When she first heard it, her murderous aura had been almost uncontrollable. She was curious about his motive for revealing something he could have easily kept hidden.
"Well, look at the state I'm in now because of it."
Sun-woo pointed to his swollen face.
"Wouldn't it have been better to keep hiding it rather than coming clean to me?"
"I was actually going to hide it."
Tang Seo-yoon pricked up her ears, waiting for Sun-woo's next words.
"But I realized I couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because the Great Matriarch tried to take her own life."
Tang Seo-yoon’s expression hardened at Sun-woo’s words.
If it was the virtuous mistress of the clan, it was certainly a plausible outcome.
"I managed to soothe her and send her back, but I was at a loss as to what to do next."
In the end, he was saying he had come to discuss a solution.
"Wouldn't it actually be better for you if she took her own life?"
She asked back, as if she couldn't understand.
It might sound cold-hearted, but from Sun-woo's perspective, the Great Matriarch's death would actually be the better situation. To him, she was like a time bomb that could go off at any moment.
If the fact that the two of them had shared a bed were ever discovered, Sun-woo would be killed by the Tang Clan Head. But if she took her own life, all evidence would be perfectly destroyed, so how could that be bad?
"I didn't want that."
Sun-woo answered her question.
"I can't kill her just to save myself."
This was Sun-woo's final shred of conscience, his desire to maintain his humanity.
"But it was okay to kill Tang Se-gi to save yourself?"
"That bastard deserved to die. But she doesn't."
"How arbitrary."
"I'm just doing what my heart tells me."
"……."
Tang Seo-yoon fell silent.
She truly couldn't understand. Why take the difficult, roundabout path when there was an easy one right there? If only the Great Matriarch disappeared, he wouldn't have to bear the risk or worry about her well-being.
"I don't understand people who prioritize emotion over logic."
She shook her head.
"But... I don't hate it."
She continued calmly.
She didn't understand it, but it didn't feel bad. At the very least, wasn't it proof that he still had some humanity left?
Grab.
She suddenly grabbed Sun-woo by the collar.
"Wha—What!?"
"Just stay still."
She pulled him toward her. Sun-woo was dragged along without even a chance to resist. He was flustered by her sudden action. What on earth was she doing all of a sudden?
As he got closer to her, a fragrant scent tickled the tip of his nose.
N-No!
But he couldn't. He already had his beloved Ok-ryeong!
"No, I already have someone I love!"
"Cut the crap."
Rub, rub.
After pulling Sun-woo close, Tang Seo-yoon began to apply medicinal ointment to his face with her fingers.
"……."
Sun-woo shut his mouth, feeling awkward. It seemed she had only pulled him close to treat him.
"Stop talking nonsense."
"Okay."
Answering briefly, Sun-woo stayed still until she finished applying the medicine.
"There, all done."
Her hands finally stopped after she had slathered the medicine all over his face.
"Thanks."
It was a case of giving the disease and then the cure, but Sun-woo still offered his thanks. If this was enough to earn her forgiveness, it was a small price to pay.
"So, what do you want to do?"
After wiping her hands, Tang Seo-yoon asked him.
"I'm not sure. But I don't want her to die."
"Hmm."
She fell into thought at Sun-woo's answer.
The woman had tried to kill herself out of guilt for having an affair with her own son. No matter how well he had soothed her, there was no telling when she might make such an extreme choice again.
"To stop her, you'll eventually have to work on improving your relationship."
"Do you think the current situation is something that can be 'improved'?"
She was the Great Matriarch who had slept with a stranger—and her own son at that. How could that possibly be improved?
"Why don't you use this incident as a turning point to stop acting like a scoundrel and start acting like a filial son?"
"Would that even work?"
Sun-woo shook his head firmly. From her perspective, he had committed an act that defied the laws of heaven. Would stopping his delinquent behavior be enough to earn forgiveness?
"One of her lifelong wishes is for Tang Se-gi to get his act together. If you show that you've been so shocked by this incident that you've turned over a new leaf, wouldn't that heal her heart to some extent?"
It sounded somewhat plausible.
"Actually, the Great Matriarch doesn't have a very strong position within the clan. She only became the primary wife because of the Clan Head's deep love for her. Once his interest faded, her standing naturally diminished."
It was true. Unlike the other wives, her family, the Un Clan, was neither wealthy nor a renowned Murim family. Since she had attained her position solely through the Clan Head's devotion, her influence within the clan had waned as his attention did.
She was a woman who had lost much due to Tang Se-gi's delinquent behavior. If Tang Se-gi were to come to his senses and treat her with utmost devotion, she might find the will to live again.
"Then what should I do?"
"What do you mean? Just act like a filial son."
Sun-woo thought long and hard about what it meant to be a filial son.
In the modern world, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that being a filial son meant moving one's parents with sincere devotion. That devotion could be material, like money or gifts, or it could be spiritual, like touching words or actions.
In the case of Sun-woo's own parents, they had preferred material gifts the most.
So, what should he do?
Sun-woo was lost in thought.
The Sichuan Tang Clan was overflowing with money. The mistress of such a place wouldn't be moved by something like money. Besides, he didn't even have that kind of money.
Gifts were the same. The Clan Head had showered her with all sorts of gifts in their youth. She wouldn't be moved by an ordinary gift.
"Tsk."
Seeing Sun-woo lost in thought, Tang Seo-yoon clicked her tongue. She didn't know this man's true identity, but he certainly didn't seem like he had been a filial son.
"Why are you overthinking it?"
"No, it's just that I don't know what to do."
"Is filial piety that complicated? Just paying your respects in the morning, giving her a shoulder massage, and the occasional gift is enough."
"Wait, would the Great Matriarch really be moved by just that much?"
"I think you're misunderstanding something. You're not trying to seduce a woman; you're being a filial son. You don't need something grand like an expensive gift. Just showing the best sincerity you can offer is enough."
Sun-woo fell silent at her words. Now that he heard it, it seemed she was right.
"Performing filial piety isn't about giving grand things like money or expensive gifts. If you give them out of obligation without any thought, it's worse than not giving them at all. To a parent, even a pebble from the side of the road is a joy if it's from their child. Don't try to calculate filial piety."
"……."
Sun-woo stared at her blankly.
His first impression of her was just a woman crazy about martial arts, nothing more, nothing less. Why else would he have formed an alliance with her using the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers formula as bait?
But after spending time with her, he realized she was far wiser and more sensible than he had thought. It seemed consulting her had been the right choice.
Meanwhile, Tang Seo-yoon blushed under Sun-woo's admiring gaze. She felt embarrassed by her own words.
"What are you looking at?"
She asked crossly for no reason.
"Have you... had a child or something? You seem to know a lot."
Slap!
"You crazy bastard."
Tang Seo-yoon frowned. What kind of nonsense was he spouting to a virgin who hadn't even properly held a man's hand due to her confinement?
Filled with rage, Tang Seo-yoon slapped Sun-woo mercilessly, and his cheek split open once again.
Lately, the Great Matriarch had been in a very difficult situation.
After discovering that she had shared a bed with her beloved youngest son, she had tried to take her own life out of guilt for betraying the laws of heaven.
However, she had been restrained by Tang Se-gi and was unable to fulfill her wish, leaving her to sob in sorrow. Tang Se-gi had held her warmly and comforted her, and she had finally been able to stop crying.
But that was where the problem began.
While it was true that the comfort had eased her sorrow to some extent, a feeling of excitement had also begun to stir within her. And for her own biological son, Tang Se-gi, no less.
In her confusion, she had hurriedly left the room. After returning to her quarters, she had thought about the tryst she’d shared with Tang Se-gi and had begun to rub her vulva like a woman possessed.
She was plagued by guilt. Even if she could excuse the first time as a mistake made while intoxicated, she had been sober then, hadn't she? Was she really such a lewd woman that she could be aroused by her own son?
She was troubled. After reaching a climax while thinking of Tang Se-gi, she had rubbed herself several more times since that day, and now things had reached an uncontrollable state.
The sex she’d had with Tang Se-gi had, without a doubt, provided her with an extreme pleasure incomparable to the many times she’d had sex before, and she simply couldn't forget him.
In particular, the sensation of the pleasure suddenly amplifying at the final moment was enough to still make her flush with heat.
Thinking of that time, she felt her private parts becoming wet again.
No, what am I doing!
She shook her head, scolding herself for having such scandalous thoughts. No matter what, Tang Se-gi was her son. One mistake was enough. She must not repeat the same mistake again.
She reached down and felt her traditional undergarment with her fingers.
Squish.
The garment was already soaked through with the love nectar that had leaked out.
"Sigh."
She sighed and stripped off the undergarment. She didn't know how many times a day she had to change them because of the leaking fluid.
She opened her drawer, but there were no undergarments to be seen. It seemed they had all been sent to be washed. It looked like she would have to go without anything underneath today.
Knock, knock.
It was then. The sound of someone knocking on the door reached her ears.
"Who is it?"
She asked quickly, flustered. Who would come to her quarters so early in the morning?
"Mother, it's me, Se-gi."
Hearing his voice, the Great Matriarch's face turned pale. Why was that boy suddenly coming to see her?
"What brings you here?"
"I've come to pay my respects."
What was going on? Paying his respects? It was something she had never once received from Tang Se-gi. She felt suspicious of him doing something he had never done in his life.
"Come in."
She let him into the room. No matter how awkward it was to see him, she couldn't bring herself to turn away her son who had come all this way.
"Have you been well, Mother?"
"Yes. And you?"
"Yes, Mother. Is the wound on your neck alright?"
Sun-woo continued, looking at the bandage wrapped around her neck.
"It's getting better thanks to the good medicine you applied."
She answered his questions, and they began to talk. The Great Matriarch felt both puzzled and stirred by her son's mature appearance.
She was happy to see him acting so grown-up, but every time she looked at him, memories of that night's tryst came flooding back. Her breathing grew heavy, and she could feel her lower body becoming increasingly wet.
"Well then, you should be going now."
"Mother, before I go, let me at least give you a shoulder massage."
"It's fine!"
"You don't have to be shy."
Sun-woo quickly approached her and grabbed her shoulders.
Thump.
'Ah...!'
As soon as Sun-woo's hands touched her shoulders, she felt a jolt as if an electric current had passed through her. A lust so intense it was hard to bear surged from just that light contact.
No, no!
She desperately suppressed her lust, wishing for the massage to end quickly.
Knead, knead.
'Mmm... ah... ah.'
Knead, knead.
'Ah... ah... haaa.'
Her youngest son's massage was insanely good. Every time he applied pressure with his hands, a thrilling sensation pierced through her entire body.
As the massage continued, the Great Matriarch was soon swept away by an uncontrollable pleasure, and fluid began to flow from her vulva.
Drip, drip.
Since she wasn't wearing any undergarments, the fluid leaked from her lower body. It fell straight onto the floor, making a distinct splashing sound.
"Huh?"
Hearing the sound, Sun-woo looked down at the floor.
No!!
The Great Matriarch screamed inwardly.