Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: I Spent the Night with the Murim Alliance Leader's Youngest Daughter
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It was a strange standoff.
After a short conversation.
Even though he'd made it clear he had no desire to talk anymore, Moyong Hye showed no signs of leaving.
'What’s she thinking?'
No matter how basic the warm-up movements were, it was bound to feel awkward with her staring so openly.
But he couldn't exactly tell her to get lost to her face.
The best option was to ignore her and assume she'd get bored eventually.
'This might actually be good.'
His master had once said that anyone could immerse themselves in training alone. To build true focus, one needed to train in crowded places, ignoring surrounding gazes and noises—that was the mark of real dedication.
Of course, when his master had made him train in a busy marketplace corner, he'd seriously considered quitting on the spot, master or not. It was ridiculous, but he'd followed through anyway, which was pretty funny in hindsight.
But it had actually helped, so there was that.
Treating it like that time made it easier.
'She's just a rock. A rock.'
There was that saying about ignoring gold like a stone. No matter how stunningly beautiful she was or how intently she stared, he could just pretend she wasn't there.
He pictured Namgoong Hyeok's fists pummeling Moyong Cheon.
Recalling the precise control of power he'd shown, Yi Se-woong moved his body.
"Is bare-handed fighting your specialty, young master?"
At that moment.
Moyong Hye, who had been quietly watching, spoke up.
"If I had to pick, it's the sword. Why do you ask?"
"You seem quite skilled in fist techniques too."
"Skilled enough to call it that? It's just wild swinging."
"Hmm, wild swinging."
What was her deal?
Even when he responded curtly on purpose, Moyong Hye didn't budge. It felt like tossing stones into a calm lake.
"I heard Moyong Cheon got thoroughly beaten, so I figured you'd focused on fist techniques."
"......"
"For a Moyong Family heir to lose to an unarmed swordsman..."
He got that she didn't like Moyong Cheon, but why keep rubbing it in his face?
"I've already discussed that matter with the Family Head."
"Oh my. I'm not blaming you for it. I hope you don't misunderstand."
Tap.
As she said that, Moyong Hye touched his shoulder.
What? Was she picking a fight?
Afterward, she kept circling around him, occasionally striking up conversations.
"Young master, have you ever strolled through a snowy plain?"
"Not once."
"Wandering snow-covered hills has its own charm."
"I hate the cold."
He couldn't fathom her intentions.
It wasn't about confronting him over Moyong Cheon, so why was she hanging around?
"Father rarely hosts banquets like this. He must really like you."
"I see."
"Yes. You can tell just from this estate. He prefers simplicity."
He even got an earful of trivia about Moyong Guk.
At this rate, she'd probably tell him how many wardrobes the Moyong Family owned.
"Miss. How long do you plan to watch?"
"Am I bothering you?"
"Honestly, yes."
"Oh dear. You should have said so sooner."
She'd been getting the hints for a while now.
Was she just trying to annoy him?
It almost seemed like she hated Moyong Cheon verbally but was retaliating by bothering him instead. That suspicion was growing.
Otherwise, there'd be no reason to keep hovering.
"See you later."
Only after enduring her for quite some time was he able to send Moyong Hye away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The day word arrived that Moyong Cheon had groped Namgoong Yeonhui and gotten thrashed.
Moyong Hye smiled more gleefully than anyone in the family.
'To trip over his own feet.'
Moyong Cheon was a thorn in her side.
A trash heap who rampaged relying solely on the family's prestige.
How had a guy like that even been born into their house?
'He absolutely cannot become the heir.'
She couldn't let a wastrel like Moyong Cheon take over as Family Head.
Her father was respectable, but his love for his children was overly indulgent. No matter how many scandals Moyong Cheon caused, he'd just chuckle it off.
-He'll come to his senses eventually.
Far too optimistic.
If Moyong Cheon became Family Head, he'd destroy the family within ten years.
Moyong Hye was certain of it.
'Time to get prepared.'
Thanks to the severity of this incident, Moyong Cheon had been ordered into three years of secluded training. Plenty of time to sway the factions supporting him. It was time to reap the rewards of her ongoing schemes.
'Yi Se-woong, was it?'
At first, it was mere curiosity.
Who was the one who'd beaten Moyong Cheon so soundly?
And when she heard he was the Namgung Family's son-in-law, she thought he might be useful.
'A pretty good card.'
There was no harm in getting on friendly terms. The more allies she had, the better.
'Easy enough.'
Winning men's favor was child's play for Moyong Hye. Her natural beauty and figure did most of the work. A soft smile was usually enough to have them halfway hooked.
Without her even doing much.
So she figured this time would be no different—no great effort required.
With that in mind, Moyong Hye headed to the training grounds.
The moment she first laid eyes on Yi Se-woong training, her mind went blank.
'?'
It was an unfamiliar emotion.
Like the first time she'd stepped on snow as a child. Always walking on firm ground, that novel sensation.
She remembered happily crunching through the snow for a long time, enjoying the sound.
'This is weird.'
Something pressed on her chest.
She'd prepared plenty in advance.
How to start the conversation, what expression to use.
Her plan to bring Yi Se-woong to her side.
But it all vanished like a blank slate.
Moyong Hye just stood there, dazed, staring at him.
'What is this?'
She couldn't tear her eyes away.
A feeling she'd never experienced before.
What was it? Fun?
Could a person's face be fun?
His body was already drenched in sweat from the rapid movements. Watching sweat glisten on his flushed upper arms, Moyong Hye unconsciously swallowed.
Clap, clap.
While watching his flawless, fluid motions, at some point she found herself clapping without realizing it.
"Impressive."
The words slipped out unfiltered.
All her pre-planned lines flew out the window in an instant.
'Get a grip!'
Moyong Hye barely pulled herself together.
Why she'd come all this way.
Right—she needed to make this man her ally.
"I've never heard of beating family and getting rewarded for it."
Pretending to be casual, she kept talking, but the conversation didn't flow.
No matter what she said, Yi Se-woong responded curtly. Even mentioning Moyong Cheon got no real reaction.
'What did I do wrong?'
Of course, someone watching her train might be annoying.
But Yi Se-woong's attitude was excessively cold.
Even more so than the snowy plains' weather.
'Why?'
It felt alien.
This was a first.
Men were always desperate to exchange even a word with her.
'Because of his fiancée?'
She'd heard they hadn't held the wedding yet.
Namgoong Yeonhui.
She'd glimpsed her once at the Seven Great Families' gathering.
Beautiful enough to leap out of a painting.
'I'm not that inferior.'
It irked her for no reason.
She didn't like how Yi Se-woong acted utterly disinterested.
I'm Moyong Hye.
Prestigious young masters lined up just to share tea with me.
'How do I get him to notice me?'
Racking her brains was useless.
She'd never had to flirt with a man before.
They always came to her with just a smile.
'Men are weak to praise.'
Ah, right. She remembered.
Something Jegal Yeong had said at the last gathering.
-Hye-ya, you know nothing about men. You'll cry bloody tears later.
-Sister, I'm not interested in men.
-That's why you're clueless. So what if you're smart? You don't know what really matters.
-......
-I'm saying this for your sake, so listen. Men are, by nature...
Knowledge drunken Jegal Yeong had hammered into her. Moyong Hye had brushed it off as useless nonsense and left, wondering why her sister kept saying such things. But now, those memories were desperately needed.
"Is bare-handed fighting your specialty, young master?"
So she praised him.
But surprisingly, the response was poor.
Maybe mentioning Moyong Cheon was a mistake.
Yi Se-woong shot back sharply.
"Oh my. I'm not blaming you for it. I hope you don't misunderstand."
Tap.
She lightly patted his shoulder.
'Sister, what's going on here?'
You said men like this.
His expression grew even fiercer...
'Do I really have to go this far?'
In the increasingly chilly atmosphere, Moyong Hye thought.
This was the first man to ignore her so thoroughly.
Did she really need to cling like this?
'No. I need to make him my ally!'
She recalled her original goal.
Right—all this was to recruit Yi Se-woong.
Nothing else.
Rationalizing it that way, she continued circling him.
'What am I even saying?'
After that, it was all rambling.
Watching Yi Se-woong's face harden more and more, she kept talking without knowing what she was saying anymore.
Even her renowned sharp mind, rivaling Jegal Yeong's, was useless now.
In the end, after receiving a clear dismissal from Yi Se-woong, Moyong Hye had to leave.
'Sister, none of it worked!'
Her heart was filled with resentment toward Jegal Yeong.