Chapter 626: Sun-woo is Back!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 626: Sun-woo is Back!
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone began to knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Madam Un Ga-ryeo asked, looking puzzled.
"Sister, it’s me... Jeok-hwa."
The voice of the Third Madam, Geum Jeok-hwa, drifted in from outside.
"Please, come in," Madam Un Ga-ryeo replied with a gentle smile.
Creeeeeak.
The door opened, and Geum Jeok-hwa, a woman exuding an air of luxury, stepped into view.
"What brings you to my quarters?" Madam Un Ga-ryeo asked curiously as the woman entered. She didn't recall having any prior arrangements to meet.
"Has Lady Yorang come by here, by any chance?" Geum Jeok-hwa asked, her expression uncharacteristically grave.
"Lady Yorang?" Madam Un Ga-ryeo tilted her head at the question.
"Yes. She has... disappeared again..." Geum Jeok-hwa continued, looking quite ashamed.
"Again!?" Madam Un Ga-ryeo blurted out in surprise.
"Yes... I suspect she ran away to avoid the month-end settlement." Geum Jeok-hwa sighed, looking like she had a massive headache.
"Oh dear..." Madam Un Ga-ryeo let out a sympathetic sigh.
"Has she stopped by here at all today?"
"Unfortunately, she hasn't visited today." Madam Un Ga-ryeo shook her head slightly.
"......Are you sure?" Geum Jeok-hwa narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"I am quite sure."
"Hmmmm..."
Despite the firm answer, Geum Jeok-hwa didn't withdraw her suspicious gaze. Madam Un Ga-ryeo was notorious for secretly hiding Yorang whenever the fox girl tried to escape her duties. There was no way her words could be taken at face value.
"Are you perhaps doubting me?"
"Just a little."
"You are far too suspicious, Lady Geum..."
"Well, you do have a history of hiding Lady Yorang, don't you?" Geum Jeok-hwa’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. "This is what they call 'reasonable suspicion,' Sister."
"If you're that suspicious, feel free to search the room," Madam Un Ga-ryeo replied nonchalantly.
"Hmmmm..."
Geum Jeok-hwa looked conflicted. She was genuinely debating whether or not to toss the room.
"No... if you're going that far, I suppose she really isn't here."
In the end, she gave up on the search. While searching was the only way to be certain, she didn't want to be a nuisance to Madam Un Ga-ryeo. Moreover, she figured that if Yorang were actually hiding there, the Madam wouldn't be acting this bold.
"I really don't mind if you look..."
"It's fine. Thinking about it, I doubt she'd hide in the same place twice." Geum Jeok-hwa shook her head and let out a long, heavy sigh. It seemed she would have to look elsewhere.
"Why don't you try Princess Gyeonghwa’s quarters?" Madam Un Ga-ryeo suggested.
"Princess Gyeonghwa’s quarters?!" Geum Jeok-hwa’s eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes. The two of them have been inseparable lately. If she isn't here, she's likely there."
Madam Un Ga-ryeo nodded as she answered. In the Tang Clan, Princess Gyeonghwa was a difficult person for most to approach. Her noble bloodline as a member of the Imperial Family made people hesitant to even get close to her.
However, Yorang didn't care about status at all. To a spiritual being like her, there was little difference between a Princess and a subordinate like Tang Sam.
Perhaps Princess Gyeonghwa found that attitude refreshing, as the two had become quite close. They had started hanging out everywhere together. It was highly probable she was with the Princess right now.
"Thank you, Sister. I'll head there immediately!" Geum Jeok-hwa gave a slight bow of gratitude and reached for the doorknob, intending to leave.
It was then.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, someone began pounding on the door relentlessly. It was incredibly violent.
"Madam Un Ga-ryeo! Madam Un Ga-ryeo! Madam Un Ga-ryeo!"
Then, a very familiar voice began to scream from outside.
"Open up! Open up!"
It was a beautiful voice, like jade rolling on a silver tray.
'Lady Yorang!' Geum Jeok-hwa’s eyes lit up.
Creeeeeak.
She slowly pulled the door open, and Yorang, standing outside, came into view.
"Madam Un Ga-ryeo! Something big just—Jeok-hwa?" Yorang tilted her head in confusion. She hadn't expected the person opening the door to be the very person she was avoiding.
Grab!
Geum Jeok-hwa immediately lunged forward and hugged Yorang, as if determined never to let her go again.
"Just where do you think you've been!" Geum Jeok-hwa scolded, raising her voice.
"No... wait... I was just... taking a walk..."
"What kind of walk takes over two shijin?"
"I just have a lot of stamina... hehe." Yorang gave an awkward laugh.
"Let's go!" Geum Jeok-hwa began to drag Yorang away.
"Wait... wait! I have something to say!" Yorang resisted, digging her heels in.
"We don't have time for this! We have to finish the month-end settlement today!" Geum Jeok-hwa was having none of it. Every second was precious now; she couldn't afford to waste any more time.
"Sun-woo is back!" Yorang finally screamed at the top of her lungs.
"............What?" Geum Jeok-hwa stopped in her tracks, looking dazed.
"Sun-woo is back! He's on his way to the Tang Clan right now!"
"..........You're... you're not lying, are you?" Geum Jeok-hwa asked, her eyes filled with doubt.
"Do you think I live to deceive you?" Yorang asked, looking offended. How could there be so little trust?
"You trick me every single day!" Geum Jeok-hwa snapped back, her voice rising. Now that Yorang had grown more accustomed to human ways, she had developed a taste for playing pranks. There was no reason to believe her.
"It's for real this time! Really! Really! Sun-woo is back!"
"Where... where is he? Where is Lord Sun-woo?" Madam Un Ga-ryeo asked, her voice trembling. The thought of her beloved husband returning filled her with overwhelming emotion.
"I don't know exactly where! But Sun-woo's scent is getting stronger and stronger! He'll be here soon!" Yorang shouted, her eyes full of certainty.
"I have to go to the main gate!" Madam Un Ga-ryeo immediately began to move. Her mind was entirely consumed by the thought of greeting Sun-woo.
"Wait for me!" Seeing this, Yorang shook off Geum Jeok-hwa’s grip and dashed after Madam Un Ga-ryeo.
"Oh, right! Jeok-hwa, go tell Seo-yoon!" Yorang shouted back at Geum Jeok-hwa as she ran, quickly picking up speed.
Geum Jeok-hwa stood there, staring blankly at Yorang’s receding back.
"....Hmm."
Tang Seo-yoon wore a troubled expression. A letter had just arrived for her.
The sender was her older sister, Tang Jin-seol, the mistress of the Cheonmu Alliance. She couldn't decide whether she should open it or just throw it away.
Immediately after Tang Jin-seol's massive embezzlement scandal had come to light, Tang Seo-yoon had sent her a letter. She told her she wouldn't demand the stolen money back, but in exchange, she should never dream of receiving further support from the clan.
Since then, Seo-yoon hadn't given her sister a second thought. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say she had forgotten about her.
But now, a letter from Tang Jin-seol had arrived. It was impossible not to be worried.
'Hmmmm.'
Tang Seo-yoon’s dilemma deepened. After agonizing over it for a while...
Slit.
She finally opened the letter and began to read the contents slowly.
Crumple.
Her brow furrowed deeply. In truth, she had a hunch about what the letter would contain from the moment it arrived. Whenever Tang Jin-seol contacted the Tang Clan, it was either because she needed a favor or because she needed money.
Her hunch was spot on. The letter contained a demand for money—and a staggering amount at that: 300,000 Nyang.
She couldn't help but scowl. Did her sister think 300,000 Nyang was pocket change?
Yorang, who received the highest monthly salary in the Tang Clan, earned two hundred silver taels. 300,000 Nyang was such a gargantuan sum that Yorang would have to work for nearly a hundred years to see that much money.
To demand such an amount so casually made Seo-yoon’s blood boil. There had to be a limit to how shameless one could be.
In the past—back when her brother Tang Jin-cheol was still alive—they might have given her whatever she asked for without a second thought. Back then, maintaining a cooperative relationship with the Cheonmu Alliance was of paramount importance.
But things were different now. After Lee Jae-won’s arm was severed by Sun-woo, the Cheonmu Alliance was being treated like a toothless tiger. There was no longer any need to walk on eggshells to maintain the partnership.
Furthermore, thanks to their friendship with the Master of the North Sea Ice Palace, the Sichuan Alliance now held a near-monopoly on North Sea specialties. Even without the Cheonmu Alliance, they had plenty of other sources of income.
Supporting Tang Jin-seol in this situation was utterly absurd.
Vroom.
Tang Seo-yoon concentrated her internal energy.
Whoosh!
She immediately ignited the Samadhi True Fire. Tang Jin-seol’s letter began to burn at an incredible speed.
Fwoosh.
The letter turned into black ash and scattered into the air.
"Phew."
Having completely incinerated the letter, Tang Seo-yoon let out a sigh. A sense of frustration welled up from deep within her chest.
The Tang Clan intended to distance itself from the Cheonmu Alliance. They no longer had the desire or the need to rely on them. Yet, Tang Jin-seol seemed oblivious to this fact, given how shamelessly she requested support.
'I'll have to have a stern word with her the next time she comes to the Tang Clan.'
Seo-yoon’s eyes sharpened. It seemed it was time to make a final decision—to no longer be swayed by her sister. If she let this slide, Tang Jin-seol’s demands would only grow larger and more burdensome, offering absolutely no benefit to the clan.
'I can't let that happen.'
Her eyes flashed with resolve. This was the sister who had turned against her beloved husband. There was no reason to show her any more consideration.
Just as she was hardening her resolve...
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock.
Someone began knocking on the office door.
"Who is it?" Tang Seo-yoon asked, her gaze fixed calmly on the door.
"It's Geum Jeok-hwa, Acting Clan Head."
"Come in."
The moment permission was granted, Geum Jeok-hwa appeared.
"What is it, Lady Geum?" Tang Seo-yoon asked, wondering what could have brought her here.
"I have urgent news to deliver, which is why I've come."
"Urgent news?" Tang Seo-yoon asked, her curiosity piqued. She wondered what kind of news was important enough for Geum Jeok-hwa to deliver it personally.
"Yes. It seems our husband has returned."
"Hus... husband... you mean..." Tang Seo-yoon’s expression froze in shock.
"Yes. It's Lord Jang Sun-woo."
Geum Jeok-hwa nodded firmly.
"....Where... where is he right now?" Tang Seo-yoon asked, her voice trembling.
"We don't know his exact location. But we're told it's certain he's on his way."
"Who said that?"
"Lady Yorang."
".......Ah."
Upon hearing that, Tang Seo-yoon immediately accepted it. If it was Yorang, she could certainly sense things that others couldn't. Unlike ordinary humans, she was a spiritual being who had lived for hundreds of years.
"Have the other wives heard this news as well?"
"Yes. Lady Yorang and Princess Gyeonghwa are spreading the word."
"Oh dear..... I'm the last to know."
Spring!
Tang Seo-yoon bolted upright from her seat.
"Thank you for bringing me the news, Lady Geum." She bowed politely to express her gratitude.
"I only did what was natural," Geum Jeok-hwa replied, waving her hand dismissively. Such a formal greeting for something so obvious felt a bit overwhelming.
"Then... I must... go as well."
Tang Seo-yoon began to walk toward the door, her steps light and brisk. She looked overjoyed at the mere fact that Sun-woo was returning.
Watching her, Geum Jeok-hwa soon began to follow after her.