Chapter 602: The Truth Revealed.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 602: The Truth Revealed.
Ok-ryeong’s eyes began to shine with a coldness that couldn't be more chilling.
Lee Jae-won was the man who had repaid her grace with betrayal, the one responsible for leaving her with wounds that could never truly heal.
The mere thought of such a loathsome man coming to the Tang Clan caused a surge of murderous intent to bloom within her.
Thanks to Sun-woo, most of her past scars had faded, but her resentment toward Lee Jae-won remained as vivid as ever.
And now, that man was coming here.
How could she not feel a murderous urge?
"Ok-ryeong... surely... you don't mean the Alliance Leader?"
Seeing her expression, Tang Seo-yoon asked with a look of unease.
She had heard the secret history involving the Cheonmu Alliance Leader, Lee Jae-won—specifically, the fact that he had ruthlessly trampled over Ok-ryeong.
That was why she was worried. She feared Ok-ryeong might lose control of her anger and throw herself at him.
"You don't need to worry."
Ok-ryeong shook her head slightly as she continued.
"I have no intention of doing anything foolish."
Her tone was calm.
While her desire for revenge against Lee Jae-won was greater than anyone else's, she was well aware of the reality. In her current state, challenging him would only result in her being ruthlessly killed.
Unlike him, who had mastered the Heart Sword, she had yet to even set foot upon the Heart Sword Path.
Drawing her blade against him now would be utterly futile.
"I'm sorry... I suppose I was worried over nothing."
Tang Seo-yoon apologized, fearing she might have offended Ok-ryeong.
"No, it's fine. If I were in your shoes, I would have been keeping a close eye on me too, wondering if I was about to cause a scene."
Ok-ryeong gave a soft, understanding smile. It was a warm, comforting expression that naturally put those around her at ease.
"But really, don't worry too much. I'm not so young that I'd let my emotions cloud my rational judgment."
She spoke with a calm face, her words carrying the weight of her years of experience.
"Will you really be alright?"
Tang Seo-yoon asked again, still looking anxious.
She knew exactly how miserably Ok-ryeong had been discarded by Lee Jae-won. Her resentment would be just as deep as that misery.
That was why Seo-yoon was afraid—afraid that when Ok-ryeong finally came face-to-face with him, that profound grudge would consume her entirely.
"Yes, I'll be fine. Because now, I have Sun-woo."
She continued with a happy smile.
In the past, she had lived without any motivation, simply existing because she happened to be alive. But things were different now. She had a lover she cherished more than anyone.
She had no intention of ruining her happy daily life by obsessing over revenge.
"..........."
Tang Seo-yoon watched Ok-ryeong’s happy smile in silence. She was struck once again by the power of Sun-woo’s love, which could make a woman who had suffered such horrors smile so brightly.
After watching her for a moment, Tang Seo-yoon spoke up as if something had just occurred to her.
"Ok-ryeong."
"Yes, go ahead."
Ok-ryeong looked at her curiously.
"If the Cheonmu Alliance Leader comes... I think it would be best if you stayed out of sight while he's here."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke with an apologetic expression.
It would be incredibly problematic if Lee Jae-won recognized Ok-ryeong. To the public, she was a reclusive master who had vanished from the Murim, but to Lee Jae-won, she was an accomplice of Jang Sam who needed to be hunted down and killed.
"...It can't be helped. It's sad to have my freedom restricted, but I don't want to cause trouble for the Tang Clan."
Ok-ryeong nodded slowly. She realized that her presence would indeed put the Tang Clan in a very difficult position.
"Thank you, Ok-ryeong."
Tang Seo-yoon bowed her head slightly to express her gratitude.
"In exchange, I get to monopolize Sun-woo while I'm cooped up, right?"
Ok-ryeong added with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Huh? That... that's..."
Tang Seo-yoon began to stammer, caught off guard by the unexpected response.
"No way!"
"I cannot allow it!"
Yorang and Neung So-hwa, who had been sitting quietly until then, raised their voices.
"I won't tolerate you monopolizing Sun-woo! Sun-woo is going to play with Yorang!"
Yorang spoke with a slight flush of anger on her face.
"I cannot permit this either. How can you even suggest monopolizing him for yourself? It is utterly preposterous!"
"But I'll be stuck inside my room. What am I supposed to do all by myself?"
"Yorang will play with you!"
"I shall also help alleviate your boredom. Therefore, do not even dream of monopolizing him."
"Now, what should I do..."
Seeing their reactions, Ok-ryeong continued with a playful smile. She seemed to find the two women's responses quite entertaining.
"I'm just joking."
Ok-ryeong said with a clear, bright smile.
"Phew... you scared me..."
"Hmph... you startled me."
The two women let out sighs of relief. They had genuinely feared she might take Sun-woo all to herself. They hadn't seen him in three months; they weren't about to let him be snatched away again.
"But Seo-yoon, is it confirmed then? That the warriors of the Cheonmu Alliance are coming to the Tang Clan?"
"...Yes... it seems it will turn out that way... We have no pretext or reason to refuse..."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke with a regretful expression. It was clear she was just as unhappy about the Alliance warriors staying there.
"I... I don't like them..."
Yorang said, her shoulders slumping. The thought of her home being invaded by outsiders made her feel gloomy.
"Yorang, don't be too discouraged. You just have to endure it for... a month or two."
Un Ga-ryeo, who was sitting next to her, began to comfort her.
Flump.
"I still don't like it!"
Yorang buried her face in Un Ga-ryeo’s soft, ample chest and began to act like a spoiled child. When she felt mentally uneasy, the sensation of a soft chest was quite helpful.
Un Ga-ryeo gave a warm smile as she looked down at Yorang. Seeing her throw a tantrum made her feel like she was looking at a flighty daughter.
Stroke, stroke.
She gently stroked Yorang’s back, hoping to ease her gloominess even just a little.
"Um..."
At that moment, Kang Ha-yoon, who had been quiet, slowly raised her hand.
"Yes, please speak, Ha-yoon."
Tang Seo-yoon turned her gaze toward her.
"Will the Tang Clan... be able to accommodate all the personnel from the Cheonmu Alliance?"
She asked with a doubtful expression. The Cheonmu Alliance’s strength easily exceeded three thousand. If the various sects in the Central Plains sent volunteer forces as well, that number would swell even further.
Even though the Tang Clan estate was vast, she doubted it was large enough to house that many people.
"We won't be able to provide proper rooms for everyone, but if we set up temporary barracks in the main halls or the training grounds, we should be able to accommodate them to some extent."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke calmly. As Kang Ha-yoon said, housing over three thousand people was a tall order. Although many pavilions were empty due to the recent Blood Incident, they would quickly fill up if given to the Alliance's high-ranking officials.
However, there was a way. If the buildings were full, they could simply use the vast grounds. By setting up temporary tents in the training grounds or the main halls, they could fit everyone.
"Then... the place will be crawling with Alliance members wherever we go."
Kang Ha-yoon noted.
"It seems so... so I'd like everyone to be careful."
Tang Seo-yoon looked around at the women in the meeting room.
"We don't want to give anyone a reason to start rumors."
"How annoying."
Yorang scowled. She was genuinely irritated. Her freedom in her own home was being restricted because of some random lowlifes. How could she not be annoyed?
"I'm sorry, Yorang."
Tang Seo-yoon apologized.
"Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault at all, Seo-yoon!"
Yorang waved her hand dismissively. In her mind, Tang Seo-yoon was blameless.
"This is all Sun-woo’s fault!"
"Pardon?"
"Huh?"
"What did you say?"
The women looked at Yorang with bewildered expressions. Why was Sun-woo being brought up so suddenly?
"If he had cut off his head instead of his arm, they wouldn't be coming here like this."
Yorang spoke with a huff of indignation.
"Heh..."
The women let out dry laughs. Her logic was quite amusing in its own way.
"You're right. It's all Sun-woo’s fault. We should punish him when he gets back."
Ok-ryeong agreed with a warm smile.
"I shall be the one to deliver the punishment."
"...I... wouldn't mind helping with the punishment..."
"No, no! I'm going to do it!"
The meeting room quickly became as noisy as a marketplace. The women were all stepping forward, each claiming they would be the one to punish him.
As they were chattering away, Geum Jeok-hwa, who had been watching the scene, spoke up.
"Excuse me, Acting Clan Head."
"Yes, Lady Geum."
"...Shouldn't we inform Sun-woo that the Cheonmu Alliance members will be staying at the Tang Clan?"
She spoke cautiously. Even if Sun-woo didn't do much, he was technically the person in charge of the Tang Clan. He needed to be told about the Alliance's request for cooperation.
"I've already sent a letter to him. He needs to be properly informed about the situation."
Seo-yoon nodded.
"Is that why you were late earlier?"
"Yes, I was delayed because I was sending the letter to Sun-woo."
Tang Seo-yoon replied calmly.
"Do you think he'll agree?"
"He definitely will. He might seem a bit lax, but he's not so foolish that he doesn't understand the disadvantages of refusing the Cheonmu Alliance's proposal."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke with conviction. While Sun-woo appeared careless and had a strong streak of being a pushover, he wasn't so stupid that he couldn't read the flow of things. He wouldn't like it, but he would certainly agree.
"...I see."
Kang Ha-yoon nodded, finding the explanation reasonable.
"And Ha-yoon, please keep a low profile once the Alliance forces arrive."
Tang Seo-yoon said, looking at her.
"...Yes... I think that would be for the best."
Kang Ha-yoon agreed. Currently, she was at the Tang Clan as a form of exile for her punishment. If she were seen wandering around freely as she was now, people would definitely talk. It was best to live as if she weren't even there.
"Thank you for the consideration."
"It's nothing. It's only natural."
Tang Seo-yoon waved it off. It wasn't something she felt she deserved thanks for; it was simply the logical thing to do. Being thanked for something so obvious made her feel a bit embarrassed.
"So, is that everything then?"
Ok-ryeong asked curiously.
"Yes, that's all for the announcements."
Tang Seo-yoon nodded.
"Then shall we decide on the next item on the agenda?"
Ok-ryeong suggested with a mischievous smile.
"The next item?"
Tang Seo-yoon asked, looking puzzled. She thought she had covered everything. What else could there be?
"Yes—specifically, who gets to spend the first night with Sun-woo when he returns."
She said with a refreshing smile.
"Shouldn't we just follow the order we had before he left the Tang Clan?"
Tang Seo-yoon tilted her head, not understanding the issue.
"Well... the thing is... the order got a bit tangled before he left."
Ok-ryeong spoke with an apologetic look.
"Tangled? You don't mean...!"
Tang Seo-yoon stared at her, looking shocked.
"............Thinking about not being able to see him for so long... my body just got so restless... I know, I've lost my dignity, haven't I?"
Ok-ryeong’s face flushed slightly. She seemed embarrassed by the fact that she couldn't control her desires and had cut in line.
"How could you do that!"
Tang Seo-yoon flared up, her voice rising. She felt a deep sense of betrayal. Ok-ryeong wasn't the only one with desires; every woman here felt the same way. How could she not endure it and cut the line?
"I'm so disappointed!"
She spoke with a look of genuine letdown.
"Um... excuse me..."
At that moment, Un Ga-ryeo slowly raised her hand.
"What is it, Great Matriarch?"
"Actually... I was... with Sister Ok..."
She stammered out a rather shocking confession.
"What did you say?!"
Tang Seo-yoon’s face was a mask of pure bewilderment.