Chapter 55
Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Unstoppable Betrothal
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Namgoong Hyeok was wandering aimlessly around the estate.
Because his mind had been thrown into turmoil by the news that arrived like a sudden storm.
During the mission to capture the Blood Slaughter Guest, Yi Se-woong had achieved an unexpected feat.
That was the reason Namgoong Hyeok had fallen deep into contemplation.
'Demonic Cult...'
The bloody calamity ignited by the generation-before-last Heavenly Demon.
To halt the Demonic Cult's attempt at world unification, countless sacrifices were made. The Qingcheng Sect suffered damage bordering on annihilation, barely clinging to its lineage.
The pact forged with the previous Heavenly Demon to prevent such a tragedy.
After that de facto ceasefire took hold.
The Demonic Cult vanished from sight for many long years.
Was it because even the Demonic Cult had sustained near-annihilating blows from the reckless campaign?
Having shown no signs for decades, people's vigilance toward the Demonic Cult had faded considerably.
Demonic Cult?
Oh, right, there was such a group.
At this point, haven't they simply self-destructed due to their own isolation?
That was the prevailing sentiment among most martial artists.
Or they simply didn't care at all.
But the Demonic Cult remained very much alive.
'It's been ages since they've revealed themselves like this.'
Rooting out and purging Demonic Cult followers.
It was the Murim Alliance Leader's longstanding mission.
One might have slacked off after such a long lull, but Namgoong Hyeok had never once lowered his guard against the Demonic Cult.
How deeply did that vigilance run? Even when Moyong Cheon toyed with Yeonhui.
He couldn't outright dismiss Jegal Sang's plea that they must prevent schism in the Orthodox Factions at any cost.
It was a measure of how preoccupied he was with the Demonic Cult.
'The key is whether this is isolated action by a few, or the Demonic Cult mobilizing in full force.'
Probably the former.
This incident was far too sloppy for a planned scheme.
And excessively flashy to boot.
Enchanting someone harboring a grudge to slaughter bandits en masse.
If the Demonic Cult were truly unleashing hell, they'd have operated in secrecy. And on such a pitiful scale.
Even so, wary of any possibility, he had ordered a thorough probe.
With the full intelligence apparatus of the Murim Alliance and Beggars' Sect deployed, results should emerge soon.
'Nothing ever goes according to plan...'
Yi Se-woong.
The Baekyang Unit member who claimed the brightest laurels in this affair.
And the man set to become betrothed to his beloved daughter Yeonhui.
The reason Namgoong Hyeok had recommended him to the Baekyang Unit was straightforward.
To stir conflict among the family members.
Prospective son-in-law or not, slotting him into the Baekyang Unit was an enormous favor.
He'd even anticipated clashes with the unit's rough-edged members. Sure enough, on his very first day, Yi Se-woong thrashed a pack of seniors in a fiery initiation rite.
Namgoong Hyeok had slapped his knee in satisfaction, figuring it'd keep yielding fodder for criticism.
But.
'He piled up merits far too grand.'
Starting with the Blood Slaughter Guest's capture.
He sniffed out and smashed the Demonic Cult's scheme.
He even exposed the Hyungsan Sect's corruption festering amid the bandits.
It left him agonizing over what reward to bestow.
The man himself sought only leniency for the Blood Slaughter Guest's crimes, but that was impossible.
Deeds demand fitting rewards and punishments.
No room for personal bias.
Who could've foreseen that excelling too much at his duties would bring headaches.
'No pretext left to block the engagement.'
Namgoong Hyeok knew it inwardly.
That reversal was no longer possible.
Most of the family had already accepted Yi Se-woong.
Yet the reason he'd clung to doubt until the end was...
His love for Yeonhui ran that deep.
The situation, now impossible to delay further, felt utterly cruel.
"Does this even make sense?!"
"Should an outsider gobble up the recommendation slot meant for one of our own?!"
"A rolling stone gathers no moss, indeed!"
At that moment, cries pierced the air as Namgoong Hyeok roamed the estate.
At the center stood Namgoong Jun, surrounded by branch family kin.
"Son-in-law status excuses everything? He should covet what's truly worth coveting!"
"His moves scream it: he wormed close to Yeonhui chasing a status leap!"
"We need to sway opinion. Can't let an outsider steal our rice bowl!"
Well, well?
"Having quite the intriguing chat, I see."
Those slandering Yi Se-woong spotted him and blanched in terror.
"F-Family Head!"
"Th-that... it's a misunderstanding!"
"We're not challenging your will or anything..."
Namgoong Jun and his cohorts babbled excuses in fluster.
But against their fears, Namgoong Hyeok spoke with serene composure.
"Haha, no need to panic so. I fully understand."
Tap, tap.
Namgoong Hyeok patted each of their shoulders once.
"It's all born of zeal for our family's prosperity."
Namgoong Jun blinked in confusion.
They'd been trash-talking Yeonhui's betrothed.
He'd braced for the Family Head's thunderous rebuke.
Yet this felt like outright endorsement of their stance?
'Could the Family Head actually oppose the engagement?'
The notion lodged in Namgoong Jun's mind.
Yeah, that explained it.
He's the sort to settle decisions in one swift stroke.
The endless delays on the betrothal? He couldn't bear crushing Yeonhui's wishes outright... but the Family Head never wanted it!
Glossing over it wordlessly now? A subtle signal of his true intent to us.
Opposing the betrothal.
A shot at currying the Family Head's favor!
Namgoong Jun's thoughts whirled at full speed.
'The branch lot would naturally chafe at him.'
Human nature being what it is.
As Family Head, Namgoong Hyeok strove to treat direct and branch lines with impartial equity.
But those involved perceived otherwise. The branch nursed a latent victim complex of discrimination.
They simply dared not flaunt it before Namgoong Hyeok.
But Yi Se-woong?
Direct line gets a pass, but you? How dare you!
They'd long jockeyed for family perks.
Yi Se-woong's privilege must have them seething.
Why him and not us?
The branch had long carped at Yi Se-woong's lowly origins and lack of backing.
This was just them coalescing now.
No wonder his brother had vehemently opposed recommending Yi Se-woong to the Baekyang Unit.
Namgoong Jun had designs on it himself.
That made Yi Se-woong a glaring eyesore.
'He was plotting something, alright.'
Thus, Namgoong Hyeok let it be.
He'd anticipated backlash before the betrothal anyway.
Better this way.
Clash head-on now and hash it out.
Should Yi Se-woong win even them over, then—and only then—would Namgoong Hyeok deem the match heaven-ordained.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I'd been granted extended leave.
Merits earned meant rest was due, they said.
The unit leader warned he'd punish any return to duty, so I planned to hole up in my room once more to shake off travel fatigue.
"Snuuuuuurp..."
"Yeonhui. What're you doing?"
"Smelling you."
My bid to seclude failed spectacularly, thanks to Yeonhui's inevitable invasion.
She'd clung nonstop since my return—no sign of tiring—and here she was again, barging into my room from morning.
Yeonhui buried her face in my chest, inhaling deeply.
"Smell anything? I washed up spotless the moment I got back."
"No! To me, it's nothing but fragrance from Gaga. But... mixed in that sweet Gaga scent, something unpleasant lurks!"
With that, Yeonhui inhaled once, twice, thrice. Then, as if unmasking the culprit, she snapped her head up.
"Mint and apricot... You said all three went on the mission, right?"
"Yeah. It was just me and Senior Jegal Yeong at first, but another senior crashed the party out of nowhere."
"Another senior?"
"Yep. Hwangbo Seyul. Didn't I mention her?"
"Hwangbo Seyul?"
Yeonhui shot me a petulant glare.
Ah.
Now that she mentioned it.
"Don't tell me—that Elder Hwangbo Chung who swore to play matchmaker...! To persist even after that fiasco. This time for sure!"
"Nothing like that. She's a senior who joined before me anyway. Pure coincidence!"
"What an odd coincidence. I might just 'coincidentally' spill the elder's dirt to Madam."
"Yeonhui."
"Another girl added to the tally. Can't drop my guard..."
Hwangbo Chung was in for a stern tongue-lashing.
I spared him a moment of silence.
"Baekyang Unit full of women or what?"
Yeonhui asked in prim tones.
No.
It just happened that the seniors I'd bonded with were ladies.
Why treat me like some philanderer?
Hwangbo Seyul senior meant nothing.
Not that Jegal Yeong and I had anything either, mind.
"Then this apricot whiff must be from that Hwangbo Seyul."
"You can pick that out?"
"Gaga wouldn't get it. But us girls sense it clear as day!"
Some sixth sense?
I caught zero scents.
Yet Yeonhui clocked another woman's presence from a quick sniff.
Fearsome girl...
"The woes of loving a man too magnetic, I suppose..."
"Huh?"
"But parading back draped in rival perfume? I might just bawl."
Yeonhui brought her hands to her eyes.
Acting like a dam about to burst.
But she couldn't mask the mischievous curl at her eye corners and lips.
"No, sniff all you want—nothing but clean air..."
"Exactly why it's unavoidable!"
Yeonhui yelled like defending herself, then lunged into a hug. I tumbled back onto the bed naturally. She piled atop, rubbing her cheek against mine.
"Yeonhui. Fancy a little space?"
"We were apart the whole time Gaga was away! No letting go now!"
Rub, rub.
Yeonhui plastered herself on. Limbs twining like vines. I was trussed up tight in seconds, immobile.
"Sticking that close is kinda tricky."
"Bear it. Imprinting my scent on Gaga!"
"What's that even..."
"One lapse and you're tangled with girls. Gaga's fault entirely. Gotta mark you heavy so anyone sees you're my man!"
So, territorial marking?
Dead set on blanketing me in her aroma, she showed no signs of retreat.
"Not just an excuse to snuggle?"
"Perish the thought. You doubting me? Trust is husband-wife bedrock!"
"Then trust me too?"
"Trust Gaga fine. Other girls? Fat chance! Warning shot to the vixens stalking Gaga."
Seemed she just craved any pretext.
Now wielding the knife, she mauled me with cuddles.
Snuuup, haa.
Snuuup, snuuup, haa.
Head nuzzled into my nape, inhaling away.
Peeking down, her eyes swirled in hazy bliss.
Like a cat huffing catnip.
A touch perilous aura.
"Enough yet?"
"No. Not quite. Just... a bit more..."
Yeonhui's cheeks bloomed rosy with rapture.
She pressed closer, masking her thrill no longer.
Away so long, her clinginess had ratcheted up.
Scent-erasing nonsense.
The absurd ploy drew a involuntary smirk.
But hey.
What could I do?
Save gently stroking her hair, nothing else crossed my mind.
This finally made my homecoming feel real.