Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Failed Sabotage
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Today was a major turning point in my life.
Because I was scheduled to meet Namgoong Yeonhui's mother this evening.
For this day, I had made thorough preparations.
Unlike her husband, who was renowned for his invincible prowess across the world, information on Namgoong Yeonhui's mother was incredibly hard to come by, no matter how much I searched.
As if it had been deliberately erased.
'Did the Murim Alliance cover it up?'
There was no other explanation.
Namgoong Hyeok seemed to be more of a doting husband than I'd imagined.
Well, it was actually better for my plan.
'Madam likes beautiful and elegant things.'
So, I had no choice but to rely entirely on the information Namgoong Yeonhui provided.
Her mother, much like her daughter, had refined tastes and deep knowledge in elegant pursuits.
I'd forgotten amid all the daily sparring, but Yeonhui was famous as a woman of many talents.
Poetry, calligraphy, embroidery, flower arranging—she excelled in all the arts befitting a noble lady.
It seemed her interest in such things stemmed largely from her mother's influence.
'Excellent intel, Namgoong Yeonhui.'
The gift I'd prepared to suit her prospective mother-in-law's tastes was something I'd put special care into.
Before heading out, I pulled a leather pouch from my bosom and unfurled it.
From the pouch, shaped like a secret compartment, poured forth an array of hidden weapons.
Darts, long needles, snake swords, flying blades, coins, daggers, and even claws that could be concealed on the wrist.
The ten types of hidden weapons, bought with three months' salary, gleamed with sharpness befitting their price.
This was the gift I'd prepared.
My goal was singular.
To have my engagement to Yeonhui rejected.
To that end, it was a carefully chosen item.
'Hidden weapons are common gifts among martial families.'
Though their purpose was deadly, it was common sense.
In the martial world, one never knew when disaster might strike.
Thus, keeping a few hidden weapons for emergencies was essential.
'Which makes it perfect.'
No matter the goal of rejection, I couldn't offer something outrageously insulting under the guise of a gift.
There was a difference between displeasing someone and earning their enmity.
It lacked the finesse for a lady with hobbies in arts like painting or embroidery.
A gift with justification but not quite to her liking—that was the exquisite move!
And that's what these hidden weapons were for.
On top of that, I'd avoided Yeonhui for three days under the excuse of busy duties and hadn't trimmed my beard at all.
Could there be a sorrier prospect for a son-in-law?
I'd even deliberately set our meeting right in front of her family home.
A perfect trap.
All that remained was to meet Yeonhui's mother.
And yet.
'Where did it all go wrong?'
For starters, when Yeonhui saw my disheveled appearance and smiled softly without a hint of surprise.
Should I have sensed something then and bolted?
"Greetings, Madam. I'm Yi Se-woong."
"Yes, I've heard so much about you from Yeonhui. Nice to meet you."
Yeonhui's mother was a beauty with a refined air. She seemed untouched by the years, her preserved elegance hinting at the source of Yeonhui's own beauty.
"Hm... Young master. You must have been quite busy with duties?"
She said, eyes widening as she looked at my beard.
Roughly translating to, 'No time to shave?'—a jab, if my guess was right.
"Hehe. It reminds me of our young master in his youth. A true man devotes himself to his work and ignores trivialities... This girl somehow inherited her mother's tastes."
"Oh, stop it."
Her mother smiled as if lost in fond memories, while Yeonhui beamed and shook her head.
That reaction to my unkempt, beard-neglected look was odd.
This wasn't it...?
"Madam, this is a modest gift I've prepared."
"Oh my, such a thing."
I hesitated at the unexpected situation, but I couldn't stop now.
The beard was just seasoning, after all.
This gift was the real deal.
"What is this?"
Her face hardened instantly as she opened the pouch I'd handed her with a bright smile.
Just as planned.
"How could you..."
Yeonhui's mother trembled, her fingertips shaking violently.
The reaction was too intense.
What was this?
If she felt insulted, that would be trouble.
"Offer such a magnificent gift!"
"?"
"Yeonhui praised you so much... I had no idea you were this thoughtful."
She stroked the hidden weapons with trembling hands, as if moved to tears.
"It's been thirty years since I left my family home. Following my husband's orders, I kept away from weapons... But facing these hidden weapons brings back such nostalgia. Truly the best gift, young master."
"Madam, if I may ask your name..."
"Didn't Yeonhui tell you? This girl. I'm Yeonhui's mother, Dang Aryeon, young master."
Dang Aryeon.
Dang Family.
Sichuan?
The Sichuan Dang Family...!
'No way.'
A chill ran up my spine.
Looking at Yeonhui standing behind Dang Aryeon, her face was full of mischievous glee.
'You didn't see this coming, did you?'
Namgoong Yeonhui mouthed silently.
Only then did I realize I'd lost the battle of wits.
Not a trap for them, but a self-inflicted wound.
This scheming girl.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Young master, try to relax your face a bit."
"Ahem, Madam. I haven't given my permission yet!"
"Young master?"
"No matter how you look at me, it changes nothing!"
And that was why I now stood before Namgoong Hyeok and Dang Aryeon.
With Namgoong Yeonhui watching, her expression oddly relaxed.
"You."
"Yes, Father."
"Ahem! Though your spirit is impressive, I cannot permit this yet!"
"May I ask the reason?"
I couldn't suddenly abandon the groundwork I'd laid.
I was a man desperate to marry Yeonhui.
That's what I had to convince myself.
'Just oppose it a little more, Alliance Leader!'
"I've vowed since long ago. The man who becomes Yeonhui's husband must be able to defeat me!"
"Young master, is that even reasonable?"
Maybe eloping was the answer after all.
Murim Alliance Leader Namgoong Hyeok was even crazier than I'd thought.
Who could be stronger than the invincible ruler of the world?
"But since it's only an engagement for now... If you withstand ten exchanges, I'll permit it."
"You'll spar with me directly?"
"Indeed. You may use your internal energy."
Meaning he wouldn't.
And Namgoong Hyeok went even further.
He permitted me a real sword while wielding a wooden one himself.
'It's only natural, in a way.'
This was Namgoong Hyeok, after all.
Even holding back, it was like an egg striking a rock.
Still, something boiled in my chest.
'Can my sword reach the pinnacle?'
From the moment I recognized Namgoong Hyeok's presence.
When I faced his overwhelming aura.
The crushing sense of helplessness that nearly made me black out.
Perhaps I'd been waiting for this moment ever since.
'A golden opportunity.'
An experience priceless to any warrior.
Engagements and such meant nothing.
Not even Yeonhui, watching with unreadable eyes, trying to dissuade him.
"Come at me first."
Namgoong Hyeok simply stood there, wooden sword lowered to the ground.
He looked almost defenseless.
But it felt like facing a jagged mountain range.
'A different league.'
My limbs stiffened.
I forcibly circulated internal energy from my dantian to activate my body.
After two full cycles, I could finally take my first step.
"Urraaah!"
I had to shout or my momentum would falter.
The first strike targeted his waist lightly.
Chaeng!
Metal clashed against wood, ringing like steel.
Resisting the recoil vibrating up my arm, I swung again.
Chaechaeng!
Two exchanges.
His sword swept away the dust, dismantling my attacks effortlessly.
"Now it's my turn!"
Namgoong Hyeok charged, his breathing steady.
His sword tip thrust indifferently, aura of mountain-splitting power gathered at the end.
I hastily formed sword energy to block.
Pajik!
His sword, devoid of internal energy, shredded my sword energy to pieces.
'As expected of the monster called Beyond the Heavens!'
Clinging to my crumbling sword energy, I barely blocked. Then two more exchanges followed.
Jjeok!
My blade, unable to withstand, split in half.
"Seven exchanges left. Do you yield?"
I shook my head silently.
Every ounce of strength was needed just to twitch a finger.
Namgoong Hyeok raised his wooden sword high overhead at my response.
'Giving me time to prepare?'
Battle lust surged.
Was the heat coursing through my veins blood or my own burning desire?
Murim Alliance Leader Namgoong Hyeok.
I know you're the strongest.
But enough treating me like a child?
Wooong!
Sword energy surged from the broken blade tip.
It densified, weaving like a spiderweb into a pillar of light.
Sword aura.
The utmost I could muster now.
From below, I clashed it head-on with Namgoong Hyeok's sword.
Ttak!
Was that wooden sword made of legendary divine wood?
It met the sword aura with only a dull thud.
Ttak!
The second clash.
I took heavy damage.
Pushed back five steps by his sword.
'Damn it all!'
Still incomplete, but no choice.
I swelled the sword aura further.
Like a reptile's inflated belly threatening a beast.
It converged into a single line.
A thread-thin awl.
I thrust it at Namgoong Hyeok.
Ttik!
Like flint striking steel, my sword shattered to fragments.
'You said no internal energy...'
My final, desperate technique crumbled under a mere gesture from Namgoong Hyeok.
I lost consciousness right then.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'I need to tighten up the Secret Shadow Unit's discipline soon.'
Had I been too lenient?
According to the Secret Shadow Unit's reports, the Fighting Ghost had just entered the initial stage of sword aura.
But what was this?
The Yi Se-woong facing Namgoong Hyeok was knocking on the door beyond sword aura.
'I instinctively circulated my internal energy without thinking.'
A hollow laugh escaped.
Where was a parent who didn't root for their child?
Namgoong Hyeok had meant to go easy on Yi Se-woong at first, but the junior's fierce momentum after so long stirred his fighting spirit.
"Father, will you permit it now?"
His daughter's slightly sharp gaze saddened him.
"Yes. Truly the man my daughter chose. He has ample qualification."
"Really?"
Watching his daughter leap with joy, Namgoong Hyeok felt mixed emotions.
Yes.
Yi Se-woong had gotten so absorbed in the spar that he'd forgotten his own goal.
Fighting Ghost Yi Se-woong.
Namgung Family's youngest son-in-law, confirmed.