Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Outing
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Outing.
The only way to escape the clutches of Yeonhui, who clung to me and refused to let go.
She wore a slightly disappointed expression, but the suggestion of heading to the market together must have pleased her, because she quickly got ready to go out.
"Disciple!"
While I was browsing the goods lined up at the stalls.
A familiar voice called out, and when I turned around, there stood my master.
Why was my master here?
Sudden reunion.
I didn't even have a chance to express my joy at the unexpected encounter before facing a torrent of scolding from my master.
"Master?"
"Holding hands with some random woman in broad daylight! Shameless! I didn't raise you like that!"
Somehow, she had looked grumpy.
I understood immediately with that one line.
The reason my master launched into nagging before even exchanging greetings.
-Disciple. When you're out in the martial world, stay away from women.
-Yes?
-Do you know how the Gokju clan fell? Or King You of Zhou and King Fucha of Wu?
-They were ruined by women.
-Exactly why you must stay away from women!
-But aren't you a woman, Master?
-A master-disciple bond is the exception!
My master was especially sensitive about interactions between men and women.
She would recite tales of kings brought low by beauties, earnestly warning me over and over.
No matter how skilled in martial arts, no one could escape it.
The temptation of a woman.
So always be on guard against women and avoid getting close if possible.
She even claimed it was sometimes more important than training.
"Master. It's not like that..."
"Hurry up and let go of that hand!"
No helping it.
My master's continued shouting.
I reluctantly released Yeonhui's hand.
I knew the conversation couldn't go on otherwise.
Yeonhui's gaze stung as she made a hurt expression at the sudden release.
"It's been so long since we met, but you won't even give me time for greetings. Don't you feel a little bad?"
"Argh, is that what's important right now? You ignored my order to work as a gatekeeper too!"
"There's a rather long story behind that."
"A story? Nonsense like becoming the Namgung Family's son-in-law?!"
How did she know?
I had deliberately avoided mentioning that I was staying with the Namgung Family in my letters, beyond the bare fact. I hadn't written about any engagement or the like, not knowing what kind of uproar it might cause.
I'd planned to explain it gradually once we met.
I hadn't expected her to barge in like this.
"Where did you hear that?"
"First, tell me if it's true or not!"
"Well..."
Where should I even start?
To explain enough to satisfy my master, I'd have to go way back.
All the way to the day I first met Yeonhui while working as a gatekeeper.
Up through the day we drank together.
"Se-woong. Is this your master?"
"Oh, yeah. Got so caught up I forgot to introduce her."
That was when.
Yeonhui, who had been silently watching ever since I let go of her hand, cut in.
I hadn't spared her a thought amid my master's rampage.
"Hello. I'm Namgoong Yeonhui, who pledged my engagement to Se-woong. I've heard so much about you from him."
"Se, Se-woong?"
"You looked after him like your own child, right? That makes you like a mother-in-law to me. Feel free to call me Yeonhui. Or daughter-in-law?"
"Daughter-in-law?!"
My master seemed utterly flustered by Yeonhui's greeting.
She staggered as if struck directly by a Heart Sword.
Having sent her disciple off to a distant land, to suddenly hear he had a fiancée demanding to be called daughter-in-law—it was bound to shock anyone.
"You seem to have a lot of questions. Instead of doing this on the roadside, why not head to the family estate? It'd be more comfortable for the two of you to catch up there."
She had every reason to feel miffed at being left out of the conversation.
Yet Yeonhui graciously guided my master home.
I was grateful for her thoughtfulness.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I was upset.
More than him letting go of my hand in front of another woman.
More that he sprang into action at that woman's single word.
'My guess was right.'
I'd felt uneasy ever since I heard his master was a woman.
I should have pressed him harder then.
My hesitation stemmed from how he shied away from delving deep into talk of his master.
It might come off as rude to imagine romance between master and disciple, but what could I do?
Yeonhui couldn't shake the sudden suspicion.
And her hunch proved correct.
"Hmm, quite a nice room."
His master glanced around.
The way she inspected the furnishings was so youthful—no trace of the passage of years.
Her blue eyes gleamed like jewels carved by a master artisan.
Her flowing hair matched in hue, a vivid blue.
Her porcelain skin, white as the paper it cradled them upon, seemed proof of rejuvenation itself.
Not even her travel-worn outer robe, frayed from the long journey, could dull her beauty.
'She's pretty.'
It was an odd sensation.
I rarely compared my beauty to others'.
This was the first time I'd ever thought someone beautiful upon seeing them.
World's Greatest Beauty, my foot.
The title I'd never liked felt more cumbersome than ever today.
"Right? My disciple lives here getting such fine treatment."
"This isn't the time to brag about it!"
What irked me most was their eyes.
Se-woong looking at another woman.
With eyes so warm and affectionate.
I'd never seen it before.
That tenderness that had seemed reserved only for me.
Directed at another woman.
Something heavy pressed down on my chest.
A sticky emotion far worse than when Jegal Yeong had fawned over Se-woong.
'And that so-called master.'
I could tell at a glance, no close inspection needed.
Eyes smitten with love.
When she looked at Se-woong, it was probably like gazing into a mirror of my own face. I could feel her reluctance to let him out of her sight.
"Hmm, not sure where to start explaining."
"Disciple. Before that, come knead my shoulders a bit. I rushed here without rest after a long trip—my body's all stiff."
Issuing commands with such familiarity.
Yet Se-woong immediately moved behind her.
Knead, knead.
His large hands enveloped her shoulders.
Each time his fingers worked the muscles.
"Hmm, that's good!"
Or.
"There, right there! Harder!"
And the like.
Her little encouragements somehow grated on Yeonhui.
'Is that how a normal master-disciple relationship works?'
No need for such foolish doubts.
Sure, it could be commonplace between master and disciple.
But the impure intentions radiating from it were the problem.
'She's showing off to me right now, isn't she?'
"Should I call you Elder?"
"Hm? Suit yourself."
She adopted a languid demeanor, mellowed by Se-woong's massage.
No sign of her earlier sharpness.
"Even a rejuvenated body like yours can't escape fatigue, it seems?"
"Is that so? Maybe. That's why I always get massages from my disciple like this!"
She answered as if it were nothing.
Yeonhui ended up on the receiving end of her own jab.
"Ordering a massage the moment you see him."
"So many complaints now. Haven't seen you in ages, and you've gone soft!"
Familiarity.
The easy naturalness in their conversation was something she lacked.
It looked so comfortable.
"There, that's enough. You haven't been slacking off completely, have you? Your grip feels even stronger."
"Somehow ended up honing my external arts a bit."
"That's good too. Better than fixating on internal energy alone—pairing it with external makes it perfect."
There was no room for her to butt in between them.
Se-woong, who had been glued to her side until morning.
Now he somehow felt distant.
"Phew. Truly superb massage."
"Sometimes I wonder if what you really need isn't a disciple, but a personal masseur."
"Such impudence! Doubting your master, are you?"
His master propped her hands on her hips as she spoke.
She declared it boastfully.
"Got it, got it."
"What?"
"Looks like you needed some petting. Go on, stroke my hair too!"
'What did I just hear?'
Yeonhui doubted her own ears.
The words spilling from this so-called master's mouth.
They refused to compute in her head.
Petting as a reward? Stroking her hair?
What on earth?
Before the shock from that absurd combination could fade.
Even more astonishing was Se-woong's hand naturally stroking his master's hair.
"Hmm, how is it? Soft, right!"
"Yes. Like the finest silk."
"Good. Consider it an honor to stroke my hair!"
"Of course, why wouldn't it be."
"Impudent!"
She acted spoiled like a cat.
Se-woong responded in his usual dry tone, yet went along with it.
No idiot would look at that and think master-disciple.
Yeonhui was convinced.
Master, my foot.
She was just a female.
One threatening her place.
"You two seem awfully close."
"Of course! Isn't the master-disciple bond even tighter than family?"
Family?
Only then did Yeonhui understand the woman's scheme.
Infiltration.
She'd heard Se-woong had lived a harsh life before meeting his master. Only after did he find someone to rely on.
Aiming for that gap in his heart.
Using the pretext of a family-like master-disciple bond to seduce him that way.
Like clothes soaking through in a drizzle, until it all became familiar.
'She only met him first. That's all.'
It infuriated her.
If only she'd met Se-woong first.
She could have treated him better.
Wouldn't have bossed him around like a servant.
She could have made him happier than anyone.
She could have.
It was so unfair.
"Hmm, as you can see, Master's just like this."
"What?!"
"A bit unique, right?"
Se-woong's helpless tone only fueled her resentment.
"Se-woong, I think I'll head back now."
"Huh? Already?"
"Yes. You two look like you have plenty to discuss... I'll prepare a room for the elder, so if it gets late, you can stay there."
"No need for a separate room—mmph!"
"Thanks, Yeonhui."
For now, she had to withdraw.
She hated the idea of leaving that woman alone with Se-woong. But she needed time to sort her thoughts.
And.
If she stayed any longer.
She had no confidence in keeping her expression in check.