Chapter 206
Chapter 206
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: The Returned Prodigal (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The servant who spotted us hurriedly dashed inside.
"Madam! I must report this!"
It wasn't long before clattering noises erupted from within the manor.
"Wang Madam is right. Calm down a little. There are other guests too, aren't there?"
"When I think of Yong-un, who left home without clearing his grievances, this wife of mine couldn't help but get ahead of herself. But you seem perfectly calm, my lord, as if nothing's amiss?"
"……."
Just like that, with a creaking groan, the great gates swung wide open.
And Plum Blossom Madam burst out with an excited expression, seizing my hand.
"Yong-un!"
"…Mm. …Yes. Mother."
As if the others weren't even there, she began inspecting me from head to toe.
"Are you hurt anywhere? Your face has gotten half as plump as when you lived at the Eon family home. Your body looks sturdier now… but why are there such dark circles under your eyes?"
Unsure how to handle Plum Blossom Madam, I sent a telepathic message to Eon Jeong-ung, who had come out with her.
[…Uh, Father? The Murim Alliance Leader came with us. Isn't it rude to keep this up?]
Eon Jeong-ung let out something like a sigh, cleared his throat, and stepped forward.
"Ahem. Madam?"
At that, Plum Blossom Madam's gaze sharpened toward Eon Jeong-ung.
"…Ahem."
Eon Jeong-ung halted his words and stared off at the distant mountains for a moment.
'When I left the Pearl Eon Family, the atmosphere between Mother and Father wasn't like this.'
What was it? A tension underpinned by mutual respect?
But now, Father seemed completely on the back foot.
And the reason wasn't hard to guess.
'…Because of me?'
Due to my escapades, the previous Yong-un's misdeeds had merged with my own actions.
'In the end, it boiled down to me restoring the corpse servant techniques and hunting the Demonic Cult alone.'
As a result, Eon Jeong-ung now bore the blame for chasing me out without proper investigation.
'…A bit sorry, but a couple's quarrel is like trying to cut water with a knife. Father will handle it himself.'
Setting aside the unexpected butterfly effect,
I looked at Plum Blossom Madam gripping my hand and spoke up.
"…Uh, Mother? This is the Murim Alliance Leader. He had business in Hebei and joined us on the way. The rest are my companions."
At my words, Plum Blossom Madam gave a light bow to everyone.
"Oh, look at me. I am the lady of the Pearl Eon Family."
Gonghon Mugyeol and the other juniors returned the courtesy with clasped hands.
Plum Blossom Madam then addressed the group.
"I am deeply grateful for your trouble. So-jin and So-cheon look healthy too. Leader, you attended our wedding long ago, didn't you? I wore a veil that day and couldn't greet you properly—allow me to do so now."
"Hahaha. Come to think of it, this is only the second time I've seen you since then. Back then, I came merely as a junior to a Eon family senior, without any grand title. Your memory is impressive. Today, this Gonghon Mugyeol has confirmed the source of the brilliance in young talents like Eon Yong-un and Eon Yong-myeong."
"You flatter me. I was just beside myself moments ago. Please accept my apologies once more."
"No need. We are uninvited guests arriving without notice, so if apologies are due, they are mine. Knowing the Eon family history, I understand how worried you must have been for Yong-un. Think nothing of it."
With that opener, Gonghon Mugyeol gave a light clasp of hands to Eon Jeong-ung as well.
"Eon senior, I saw you in Luoyang not long ago, and here we meet again."
"Indeed. Rather than standing around, everyone, please come inside."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We followed Eon Jeong-ung to the Pearl Eon Family's reception pavilion.
Plum Blossom Madam sent in the maids with tea and excused herself.
"Please have some tea, and we'll prepare a meal shortly."
In the meantime, Father and Gonghon Mugyeol began their private conversation.
"The Leader always seems like a fine man, so seeing you so often is personally welcome, but with the world in turmoil, I can't be entirely pleased about it."
"Yes. These days, I understand why 'no news is good news' became a saying."
Meanwhile, So-neung whispered to Jeong Hyeon.
"Eon hyung's mother is truly beautiful, isn't she?"
"Yes, Eon young hero definitely takes after his mother's looks. Now I see why Elder Sansu of Shansi Golden Peng favored him so."
"Oh, right—she's Elder Sansu of Shansi Golden Peng's daughter? No wonder when she glared at Eon family head earlier, my legs went numb too. And that look she had matches the one the elder gave when lecturing the household—definitely mother and daughter."
"That glare seems to have passed down to Eon young hero too."
"You're right."
"What's wrong with my glare?"
"Ah, nothing."
"…Uh, Primordial Heavenly Venerable."
Thus, the adults conversed among themselves while we juniors did the same, for quite some time.
A savory aroma wafted into the pavilion.
Plum Blossom Madam returned with dishes as splendid as any emperor's feast.
"The preparations are modest. Please partake with that in mind."
At her words, my master at my waist let out a hollow laugh.
- Modest? That's Hebei's famed duck cuisine and sweet-and-sour pork, matsutake and pine mushrooms—the kings of fungi—and that looks like shark fin soup. Land, sea, and sky all gathered, and she calls it modest?
Gonghon Mugyeol's mouth also fell open.
"Modest? Visiting Jinju today feels like the best decision I've made this year."
"You flatter me. It's just a few extra side dishes on the usual spread."
At Gonghon Mugyeol's praise, Plum Blossom Madam smiled faintly and demurred.
"…The usual."
For some reason, Eon Jeong-ung gave a wry smile at those words.
Cheon Jang-ho brightened and raised his voice.
"You eat like this every day? Any spare adopted son spots open in this house?"
His remark drew laughter from the group, and the meal began.
"Please eat your fill, everyone."
Inn food on the road was all much of a muchness, so facing a proper spread after so long, everyone busily wielded their chopsticks.
All but one—Paeng So-cheon, who poked at his food despite his size.
Plum Blossom Madam addressed him.
"So-cheon, does the food not suit your taste?"
Paeng So-jin answered instead.
"That pig only eats lean meat to keep just muscle on his body, so don't mind him, Aunt."
"I see. Still, it's been so long—try some other dishes too."
Even at Paeng So-jin's reply, Plum Blossom Madam seemed regretful.
Her disappointment stuck in my throat like a fishbone, so I spoke to Paeng So-cheon.
"So-cheon hyung, eat up today. Double the training afterward."
"Really?"
Only then did Paeng So-cheon's chopsticks pick up speed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the hearty meal,
We juniors left the adults, who had more to discuss, and headed to our lodgings.
The lodging was Yeon-un Pavilion, where I had stayed at the Pearl Eon Family.
In front of Yeon-un Pavilion, Yong-myeong spoke in an excited tone.
"Even after you left home, hyung, we kept Yeon-un Pavilion empty. Of course, we maintained it as if you were still here."
My master's reaction to Yong-myeong's words seemed puzzled.
- For a family of the Pearl Eon Family's stature, keeping one pavilion vacant and tended shouldn't be a big deal. Why boast about it?
'Yeon-un Pavilion has always been the residence for the Pearl Eon Family's young heir. Yong-myeong's way of saying he knew I'd return.'
As I explained, Paeng So-jin spoke to me.
"Eon Yong-un."
"?"
"I held back on the way here, worried it'd look like I was anxious in front of Master. Is it true you've reached the Transcendent realm?"
Paeng So-jin's question seemed less about rumor-mongering and more a warrior's curiosity.
Truth be told, I was curious about her progress over the past half-year too.
I smirked and replied.
"Want to check for yourself?"
As expected, Paeng So-jin nodded eagerly.
"Yes. Belly full—let's spar, sis."
With that, from Paeng So-jin's waist, where a straight sword once hung, emerged an azure-crimson sword identical to Gonghon Mugyeol's.
I drew Regret and faced her.
"Rumors aside, I see no openings, and you still seem a cut above. Shamelessly—!"
Paeng So-jin charged with the Hyunwon Sword's signature rough strikes, kicking off the ground.
"Here I come!!!"
Swaeek!!
Clang!!
In her form, I glimpsed Gonghon Mugyeol from our wooden sword days.
Clang!
Without flourishes or feints, just precise swings and distance control dispersing my attacks like foam.
Clang clang!!
But that moment was fleeting.
Unlike Gonghon Mugyeol's sword, which held its path firm against any harmony, like facing a waterfall,
Paeng So-jin's blade couldn't maintain its solidity before Heaven-Splitting Sword.
Clang clang clang clang!!!!
After unleashing a fierce barrage, I deliberately knocked her sword wide.
Clang!!
With Shadowless Heaven-Splitting Step, I lunged like lightning, tracing a crescent.
Swaaaaek!!!
Paeng So-jin inverted her blade, blocking with both hands, then recoiled in spasms.
Pop pop pop!
Had I pursued with sword aura-wreathed strikes, the bout would have ended, but there was no need to go that far in a casual post-meal spar.
Instead of chasing, I stood firm, wrapped Regret in inky sword aura, then
Woooong!!
sheathed it and spoke.
"Peerless growth, they say. Sis, you've become someone else? It really suits you now."
Paeng So-jin flopped down with a grievance.
"You monster. Training at the Alliance, I occasionally thought I might catch up soon—total delusion. What the hell did you get up to in Hebei?"
Just then, Plum Blossom Madam entered Yeon-un Pavilion's courtyard.
"…Mm. Mother?"
She and her maid carried trays of peeled fruit.
As we exchanged awkward glances, the sprawled Paeng So-jin sprang up and took the fruit.
"Give it here. And Yong-myeong."
"Yes, sis."
"Eat this in your room. I won't dine with that monster today. Pig, beggar, and you Qingzhu Hall folks too."
She herded the other juniors and slipped out of Yeon-un Pavilion.
"Aunt, we'll eat at Yeon-hwa Pavilion."
"…Oh. Alright?"
She seemed to have noticed Plum Blossom Madam wanted time alone with me.
'Not just barging into Yun-guk Pavilion after all.'
Ah, but being alone with Mother right now felt awkward.
I'd planned to talk about my youngest uncle during break, but yeah, awkward.
"Yong-un, can you spare some time for your mother?"
But the moment had arrived.
"…Sure. Whatever."
As we stepped into Yeon-un Pavilion, I ran scenarios in my head.
'If she asks why I didn't say I was hunting the Demonic Cult, say it was to protect the family. If she asks about restoring the corpse techniques….'
But Mother's words were different.
"I'm sorry."
…Sorry.
The mess left by the previous Yong-un went without saying.
My own path had given parents plenty of worry.
'Even Master, always by my side, had her expressing shock at what a vicious guy he was.'
Yet I couldn't fathom why she was sorry.
It was perplexing, strange.
Unknowingly, these words slipped out.
"What does a son who only caused heartache have to…."
Plum Blossom Madam paused at my words.
After a long silence, she pointed to my waist.
"Is that sword at your waist the one Chief Steward Gam gave you?"
"Yes."
"May your mother take a look?"
She received the drawn Regret, gazed at the engraved name on the flat, then spoke again.
"…Everything, I'm sorry. Your father and I—this is our first time being parents, so we were clumsy at it all. This mother only tried to wrap you up so you wouldn't break, while your father was stern lest you grow weak."
"……."
"We were both inept. We realized it only on the day you left the family, yet you've grown so splendidly—thank you."
With that, she returned Regret to me.
Then, staring toward the family head's quarters, she chuckled.
"Lately, your father lives for news of you from Hugang. He receives letters from Uncle Jae-hyeok, smirking as he reads and rereads them, but for the ones you sent me, he'd sooner die than ask to see them."
"……."
"That's the man he is. Gruff on the outside, full of affection within. Sending you from the family wasn't his heart's desire—it was the family head's duty. If it left a grudge in your heart, Yong-un, don't misunderstand."
That was when
As I spent time with Mother, an old servant rushed into Yeon-un Pavilion.
"Madam! Guests have arrived."
"Guests? Wang steward, didn't I say no other visitors while we have honored guests?"
"…Well, the Jin-gang Manor Lord and two clan kin have come."
…Jin-gang Manor Lord?
The one who tried to steal the young heir position meant for Yong-myeong?