Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: I Spent a Night with the Murim Alliance Leader's Youngest Daughter
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The Murim Alliance was thrown into chaos over Moyong Cheon's outrageous act.
Kwachik!
The sound of the Grand Historian's chair arm snapping.
As Namgoong Hyeok created a murderous atmosphere, no one dared speak up.
"Jegal Sang."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
"Did you deliver the message properly?"
"I relayed your exact words to the Moyong Family without adding or omitting a single bit."
"Then today is the day the Moyong Family vanishes."
"Alliance Leader!"
It took tremendous courage to interrupt Namgoong Hyeok when his eyes were bloodshot. But as chief advisor, Jegal Sang had to step forward.
"You must calm down."
"How can you say that?!"
Namgoong Hyeok's lion's roar was beyond what anyone could endure.
All the standing warriors dropped to their knees, and some even spat blood.
"Moyong Guk must think he's a king up there in the north, bloated with arrogance. He dares lay a hand on my daughter?"
"Alliance Leader. The remnants of the Demonic Cult are still lurking in the shadows. At a time like this, we must prevent the Orthodox Factions from fracturing."
"I have no need for those rats hiding behind the curtain of winter!"
"Please withdraw your command!"
Jegal Sang's words rang true.
No matter the justification, given the turbulent state of the murim world, attacking the Moyong Family was impossible.
That was why Namgoong Hyeok was deliberately exaggerating his rage.
"I don't want to hear it!"
"Alliance Leader!"
Namgoong Hyeok knew full well that the Alliance couldn't intervene.
Yet he had gathered the Alliance members and was pressuring them like this for an obvious reason.
"If the Murim Alliance can't act, then the head of the Namgung Family will have to step in."
"Alliance Leader!"
"And if even that's not possible, I'll step down as Alliance Leader. Make sure you understand that."
This was a show of force.
A signal that the Namgung Family would handle it themselves, so the Alliance should stay out of it.
'This charade is exhausting. The Alliance Leader should know when to stop.'
Jegal Sang had no choice but to play along with his lord.
At least if it became a clan dispute, it could be managed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "You know what crime you've committed, right?"
"A-Alliance Leader! It's a misunderstanding!"
In the Namgung Family's head's quarters.
Moyong Cheon, bound with ropes, looked up at Namgoong Hyeok with an aggrieved expression.
"Oh? A misunderstanding. Go on, explain yourself."
Namgoong Hyeok asked quietly.
That was even more terrifying.
It reminded one of a powder keg on the verge of explosion.
"It had been so long since I'd seen Lady Yeonhui, so I greeted her warmly! My longing got the better of me and I grabbed her wrist, but isn't that normal between lovers?"
"......"
"That lunatic brute swung at me out of nowhere! To lay hands on me... This is a challenge to one of the Seven Great Clans, Alliance Leader! You must punish him severely!"
In a way, it was impressive.
No, was his head full of flowers?
He seemed to live in his own little world.
"I'm furious that such a fool got close to her, but embracing the flaws of the woman who will be my wife is the mark of a true man. Lady Yeonhui, a single apology is enough."
Did people who grew up without reading the room end up like this?
"Hah, this guy's even crazier than I thought."
"Alliance Leader? Why are you suddenly approaching? Alliance Leader? Gah, gaaaah!"
Namgoong Hyeok approached as if he had no need to hear more and started beating Moyong Cheon.
Thwack!
"Lovers, my ass!"
Thwack! Thwack!
"You dare touch our Yeonhui's body!"
Bam bam bam!
"What if her slender wrist had broken!"
At that guy's level, he couldn't even scratch her fingertip, let alone break her wrist.
Yet Namgoong Hyeok was still the ultimate doting father.
"Canes are the only medicine for mad dogs!"
Namgoong Hyeok's punches were at a professional level.
They looked wild, but precisely targeted spots that wouldn't threaten his life!
A skilled hand at work.
'Terrifying.'
Beating a guy who's already a mess?
When it came to Yeonhui, Namgoong Hyeok lost his mind.
Why did I imagine those fists aimed at me?
"This is too much! Beating your son-in-law before the wedding—Moyong Family won't stand for this!"
"Son-in-law my foot! Our Yeonhui belongs to no one!"
Namgoong Hyeok subtly revealing his true feelings.
Even as he got beaten, Moyong Cheon didn't shut up.
In a way, impressive.
To yap like that in front of Namgoong Hyeok, relying solely on his family name.
As Moyong Cheon thrashed about, Namgoong Hyeok struck his pressure points.
"Gaaaaah!"
Moyong Cheon's body twisted grotesquely, and soon he couldn't even scream, just trembling uncontrollably.
Bone-Disrupting Sinew Severance.
A technique purely for inflicting pain.
How many people had he tortured for the motion to be so natural?
"The Murim Alliance has decided not to intervene. How should we deal with this scum?"
Namgoong Hyeok grimaced as he scanned the room.
His gaze stopped on me.
A silent interrogation.
He wouldn't look away until I answered.
"I'll go to the Moyong Family."
"You?"
"Yes. No matter the circumstances, this started between me and him. It's only right I settle it myself."
I'd made up my mind.
I had to leave the Namgung Family immediately.
Yeonhui closing in and the harmonious family had made me forget.
'Namgoong Hyeok is a madman.'
Moyong Cheon rolling on the floor from Bone-Disrupting Sinew Severance.
The price for daring to touch Yeonhui.
That could be my future.
'Like hell I'm okay with that.'
My senses sharpened.
This was the guy who stirred up opposition even after losing a bet.
Would he quietly let me get engaged to Yeonhui like this?
'He'll pull some scheme.'
Who knew when those seasoned fists might turn on me!
'I have to escape this house, even if just for a while!'
It felt like breaking free from a demonic illusion.
Yeah, son-in-law? Screw that!
"I'll go to the Moyong Family and hold them fully accountable."
"Hah, if you're that insistent, I have no choice."
See that?
He approved as if he'd been waiting.
'The Moyong Family is a death trap.'
After beating their eldest son black and blue, would they just bow and apologize?
The way he eagerly sent me there confirmed what Namgoong Seon said.
This guy still harbored ill intentions toward me.
"What are you talking about?!"
Of course she couldn't stay quiet.
Yeonhui snapped at Namgoong Hyeok.
"Even hedgehogs think their young are smooth. Even for a thug like him, once the Moyong Family learns he got beaten by Gaga, they won't sit still!"
It wasn't just beaten; he was still writhing on the floor in real time.
"Father, really! If you don't like Gaga, just say so instead of pretending to approve and pulling this!"
"What are you saying?!"
Yeonhui glared at Namgoong Hyeok fiercely.
Even the World's Strongest couldn't stand firm before his daughter.
"Someone has to take responsibility."
"They were the ones at fault, so why should Gaga?"
"He's the one who started it by beating that Moyong punk."
"Then you should take responsibility too, Father!"
"Y-Yeonhui! What do you mean?!"
As if wounded, Namgoong Hyeok's eyes wavered.
The look of "Raising kids is pointless."
Ignoring him, Yeonhui teared up as she looked at me.
It was a bit pitiful.
'Don't weaken!'
I desperately averted my gaze and turned my head.
Moyong Cheon convulsing on the floor.
Right! I can't waver!
"Yeonhui, do I look like someone who goes around getting beat up?"
"Gaga?"
"Don't you trust me?"
Magic words.
The only way to make Yeonhui docile.
"Well... I don't think the likes of Moyong Family could hurt you."
"Exactly."
"But I'm still worried!"
Her pouty tone was cute.
No, focus.
Remember Moyong Cheon!
"Father, I'll calm Yeonhui down. We'll depart by tomorrow. Wait for my word."
I scooped Yeonhui up in a princess carry.
Startled, she blushed and froze.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Really, Father went too far!"
The moment I set her down in my room, Yeonhui started nagging like a sparrow.
"You're just as bad, Gaga! Deciding something like that without discussing with me..."
"I have a gift for you."
"Huh?"
Interrupting her, I pulled out an item from my bosom and placed it in her hand. A butterfly-shaped hair ornament with striking blue wings.
"What's this?"
"Thought it'd suit you."
"Gaga..."
Yeonhui burrowed into my arms.
"It's so pretty."
"Good, then."
"Put it on me yourself, Gaga."
That was tricky.
After some fumbling,
I managed to attach it without tangling her hair.
"Does it look good?"
"Of course."
"But that doesn't change anything!"
Sharp as ever, even when I tried to gloss over it.
The bribe had limited effect!
"I'm furious. That Moyong Cheon touched you. I want to go demand answers from the Moyong Family myself."
"......"
"I'll be back soon."
"Really?"
"Promise."
Yeonhui hooked her pinky with a prim expression.
"Fine, Gaga. But promise one more thing."
"What?"
The final hurdle.
I was confident I'd grant any reasonable request.
"No eyeing other women."
A chill ran down my spine.
Unlike her earlier whining, Yeonhui whispered coldly in my ear. Her low voice and those dangerous eyes—her pupils seemed empty.
No, why this suddenly? The mood was good.
"They say the Moyong Family's eldest daughter is stunningly beautiful."
"Yeah? Never heard of her."
"Like a single flower blooming in the snowy plains..."
"Frontier folk exaggerate."
"......"
I knew of her but played dumb.
I wasn't oblivious enough to go, "Oh, you know Lady Moyong Hye of the Seven Beauties!"
"Besides, I'm not into eldest daughters. I prefer the youngest."
Of course, since they only have one daughter.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Youngest daughters grow up spoiled with love, so they're affectionate."
"You like youngest daughters?"
"Yep."
"Th-then, you like me?"
Where did she learn lines like that?
Yeonhui looked up with coy eyes and snuggled closer. My chest buzzed, strength drained from my body, and I collapsed onto the bed.
Soft bed, the curves of Yeonhui's body intertwined with mine.
The floral scent tickling my nose muddled my mind.
'Snap out of it! This is the devil's temptation!'
My head turned to mush.
No. This flow would lead to hasty consummation.
'Namgoong Hyeok, Namgoong Hyeok, Namgoong Hyeok!'
I chanted his name in my mind like a mantra.
Moyong Cheon beaten like a dog in summer heat.
Namgoong Seon's warning to be careful.
Namgoong Hyeok's smile as he tried to send me to Moyong Family.
Those images let me hold on.
"If you cheat, I die, and so do you."
Yeonhui clung to me for a long while.
Until I stroked her hair and said,
"Never gonna happen."
She really worries too much.
Going to Moyong Family was mediation in name only—it was basically picking a fight.
No time to get involved with women.
"Be careful out there."
And so, under Namgoong Hyeok's orders, I set off for the Moyong Family.
My first taste of freedom in ages.