Namgung Jin-wi's Good News (Complete)
Namgung Jin-wi, having received the attribute lecture, waved his hand with tears in his eyes.
"Thank you so much!"
Even though they were bandits from the unorthodox paths and ordinary folk who knew nothing of martial arts, in that moment, Namgung Jin-wi saw them all as his teachers. Three people walking together must include my teacher. No matter their status, there was always something to learn. Today, he was reminded once again of the ancient sages' wisdom.
"Thank you so much!"
He emphasized his gratitude one more time before turning with light steps toward home.
"Honey! I'm back! Today of all days, I'll..."
His face beaming with anticipation, he stepped into the room—only to see, as expected, Dan Jeong-yu lying on her side with her back to the door.
"H-Honey? Did you turn in early because you're tired already?"
"...You're back now? Hurry and put out the candle."
"Going to bed?"
"What else would I do, stay up?"
Namgung Jin-wi's heart sank. He'd spent days pounding the pavement, barely scraping together that information. To fail without even trying...
As his shoulders slumped, he suddenly recalled the stories he'd heard at the convenience store.
Men's got to have confidence!
Straighten those shoulders! Think positive!
They'd all cheered him on and comforted him.
It's okay if you can't. No big deal.
The words from that guy called Jung-gang stuck with him the most.
Make her antsy. The situation'll sort itself out.
More valuable than any empty encouragement—practical advice.
Remember this. You two didn't marry just to have kids. You married because you can't live without each other, right?
Right! Time to man up!
Namgung Jin-wi dropped to his knees on the floor and called out in a low voice.
"Jeong-yu."
The man who always called her "honey" suddenly using her name so tenderly—Dan Jeong-yu slowly turned her head to look at him.
"Do you remember the day we first met?"
"Wh-Why bring that up out of nowhere..."
"Do you remember what I said under that willow tree, with the spring breeze all around?"
Dan Jeong-yu thought for a moment, then nodded.
"You blurted out that you liked me, just like that."
She recalled the moment and let out a small chuckle. But Namgung Jin-wi didn't smile.
"That's when it started. I vowed from then on to gaze only at you, without fail, every single day of my life."
His serious gaze. His tone and demeanor. Everything was just what Dan Jeong-yu loved about him. Seeing that earnest side after so long brought a flush to her cheeks.
"Even if my condition means I can't give you an heir, it doesn't matter."
"Doesn't matter...?"
"It means we won't let family interests taint our love. I love you madly, Jeong-yu. I adore you. Even seeing you every day leaves me wanting more."
Dan Jeong-yu covered her mouth. Right—he was that kind of man. The type who said the most embarrassing things without batting an eye.
"Forget the results. Let's just spend time together, you and me."
Tears welled up in Dan Jeong-yu's eyes. She nodded vigorously.
Namgung Jin-wi blew out the candle.
The next morning, as always, I stepped outside to sweep the fallen leaves. To keep everything spotless, I couldn't slack off even for a day.
As I worked the broom, yesterday's events came to mind. Namgung Jin-wi—hope it went well. Nah, nobody fills up on the first bite. If he comes back, I'll cheer him on again.
Swoosh-swoosh-clink-
"Yaaawn, boss, good morning."
"Oh, you're up?"
"What were you guys talking about yesterday? You were out late."
Ahem. Men's secret time.
"Just guy stuff."
I brushed it off and kept sweeping, but Yoo Hwa-yeon tilted her head.
"What's this?"
She was shaking a bottle of Men's Power Booster Max this way and that.
"Huh? What else? It's for sale."
"What do you use it for?"
Male potency enhancer! Yeah, too embarrassing to say straight out.
"It's like an elixir. Good for men."
"Men only?"
Even as she asked, Yoo Hwa-yeon was munching on something.
"What're you eating?"
"You said it's an elixir? Wanted to see how good it is."
"N-No, why would you eat that?"
Too late to stop her—she'd already swallowed a whole pill.
Anyway, it's fine for a woman, right? No effect probably.
Yoo Hwa-yeon sat cross-legged right there, closed her eyes, and circulated her qi. But her face scrunched up in concentration.
"What? Nothing at all?"
Of course not. It's not that kind of elixir.
She steadied her posture and tried circulating again, but with zero new internal energy absorbed, she opened her eyes.
"Thought it'd be something since you called it an elixir."
She looked pretty disappointed. Gauging her mood, I asked,
"Where've you been sneaking off to during breaks lately?"
"H-Huh? I told you, I've been training hard."
"Sure, but Hwa Hyo-seon was always up on that rock. You two aren't training together?"
Yoo Hwa-yeon laughed awkwardly, flustered.
"I can train alone too!"
True, but why the panic? She's not the type to cause trouble.
"Got it. Why get mad?"
"Argh! I'm out! Going to train!"
"Don't go too far! Shop opens soon."
She'll come back when it's time, I figured, and resumed sweeping.
Yoo Hwa-yeon slipped away to a clearing in the woods and whistled.
"Wheek-"
A white bird emerged from the dense foliage and perched on her arm. She tied something to its leg and released it skyward.
Lately, she'd been stepping out like this to send carrier pigeons.
Still time left. Might as well train.
Yoo Hwa-yeon drew her sword. The elegant blade wove through the air, neatly slicing falling leaves.
Why does my body feel so light?
Just yesterday, training left her with sore muscles and a sluggish body as usual. But today, she felt like a feather.
Fasting since morning? Nah, even empty, it shouldn't feel this light.
Just in a great mood today? Hmm, no. She'd woken up in a foul one.
That left one possibility.
Yoo Hwa-yeon pulled out the Men's Power Booster Max from her bosom.
The only thing she'd taken. Unreadable letters, bottle black as shadow.
He called it an elixir.
But no new qi gathered. She'd checked while sitting cross-legged.
!! Maybe?
She peered intently into the bottle. Pills tangled together. She'd never seen an elixir with so many.
Meaning, maybe they'd split one dose into multiples?
One pill isn't enough to feel the effect?
Spot on.
Yoo Hwa-yeon tipped the whole bottle into her mouth.
Crunch-munch-grind-
Bitter, astringent, weird taste—but elixirs were like that. Satisfied, she chewed them down with a pleased expression.
She raised her sword.
Flashy moves poured out effortlessly, ones she'd never done before.
Yoo Hwa-yeon reveled in her feather-light body. She leaped onto branches, sliced leaves twenty times in a blink, skimmed puddles without a ripple, became the wind itself slipping between trees like an arrow.
Clink-
"Goodbye."
After seeing off the last customer, sunset began. Gazing at the beautifully sinking sun, I spotted a familiar figure approaching from afar.
Hand behind his back, striding confidently—it was none other than,
"Young master!"
Namgung Jin-wi.
"Haha, boss. Such a warm welcome gladdens my heart."
"How'd it... Ah, your face says it all."
"Truly... it was all thanks to everyone's lectures. I'm so grateful!! My marriage is mended, and my... little problem... I can hold my head high again!!"
No shame? Shouting it like that?
Namgung Jin-wi seized my hand and shook it vigorously. Still, I smiled warmly.
Jung-gang and the others would've been thrilled to hear this.
Oh, right.
I dashed into the store and pulled something out, holding it before Namgung Jin-wi's eyes.
"What's this?"
"Pregnancy test. Well, pregnancy detector."
"Don't you judge by morning sickness?"
"This is way more accurate."
"How much?"
"Just two coppers!"
Back home, they ran about two bucks.
"No way—a handy thing like this for two coppers? Take two silvers instead."
Huh? A hundred times?
He forced two silvers into my refusing hand. I eyed the register warily—no alarms.
Looks like overpaying wasn't an issue, even if tricking wasn't allowed.
"Use your first morning urine. Two lines means success."
"Got it. I'll repay this favor someday."
He gripped both my hands tightly, eyes resolute.
A favor indeed. If the Namgung family backed me in tough times, nothing could be more reassuring.
"Take care!!"
I waved enthusiastically at our customer, heading off with good news and his purchase.
Selling adult toys in the Murim world wasn't enough—I'd even saved one man's life. What next?
"......?"
What the hell?
"Bo-Boss... I feeeel... straaange......."
I'd sent Namgung Jin-wi off, closed up, and hit the bunk room for some shut-eye before tomorrow's shift—barely half an hour ago.
Woke up to heaviness in my legs, and there,
"Boss... my body's all... weeeird......."
In the dim bunk room, Yoo Hwa-yeon's feverish voice rang out.
"Wh-What the...?"
Yoo Hwa-yeon, straddling me, leaned in fiercely.