Chapter 598: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (143)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 598: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (143)
The Ak Clan of Shandong.
Once prosperous enough to vie for the title of the greatest clan in the world, they were now on a path of decline.
Larger than an ordinary family, yet far from being comparable to the prestigious great clans... they were in an ambiguous position. That was the current state of the Shandong Ak Clan.
They struggled relentlessly to reclaim their former glory, but time was cruel. The clan had already lost its momentum, and recently, the movements of a cult known as the Celestial Sphere assembly had caused damage throughout their lands. To make matters worse, territorial disputes with Demonic Faction sects were slowly eroding their land and influence.
Amidst this, the young mistress, Ak So-cheong, was called the hope of the clan for her martial talent alone. She had been hailed as a prodigy since childhood and had even forgone marriage to devote herself to training and restoring her clan... but in the face of their decline, her talent alone was not enough.
To save their failing clan, they had to resort to any means necessary. It was then that someone from the Hwangbo Clan arrived.
“Hwangbo Chu! I have long heard of your reputation.”
Ak Han, the current head of the Ak Clan, came out to greet him personally.
“Family Head, it has been a long time. I am humbled by such a warm welcome.”
“But what is the reason for the Hwangbo Clan’s sudden visit?”
“We heard that our neighbors have fallen on hard times.”
“Are you suggesting... that the Hwangbo Clan intends to offer support?”
Hwangbo Chu slowly nodded with a smile.
“That is correct. I hear the Murim Alliance is too preoccupied with the Celestial Sphere assembly to offer any aid. That is why our Hwangbo Clan has decided to step forward.”
Ak Han frowned. He knew better than anyone that such an offer would not be made out of pure goodwill.
“I’ll ask you directly. What is the price?”
Hwangbo Chu’s smile vanished for a moment. He looked at Ak So-cheong, who was sitting quietly beside them, and spoke.
“Since you put it that way, Family Head, I will answer you plainly. We wish for a marriage between our eldest son, Hwangbo Sam, and the Ak Clan's eldest daughter, Lady Ak So-cheong.”
“Hwangbo Sam... you said?”
Ak Han’s expression twisted for a second. The words ‘that degenerate bastard’ nearly escaped his lips, but he managed to swallow them. Instead, he tried to phrase it more diplomatically.
“In many respects... I have heard that the young master's reputation is not favorable.”
Hwangbo Chu nodded nonchalantly.
“I am aware. Due to previous unfortunate incidents, all of my eldest son’s marriage prospects have been severed. However, most of those rumors are fabricated. The recent rape and murder incident was merely a story exaggerated and spread by someone trying to slander him.”
Ak Han’s fingertips trembled slightly at the plausible-sounding excuse.
If those rumors had been false, the Hwangbo Clan would never have stayed silent. The reason they had hushed it up was obvious: the rumors were true.
His pride was so wounded it made him tremble, but without the Hwangbo Clan’s support, there was no way to sustain his already collapsing family.
A heavy silence fell. Just then, Ak So-cheong, who had been listening quietly, slowly stepped forward.
“...Father. I will... accept the marriage.”
Ak Han’s face contorted.
“So-cheong...!”
Hwangbo Chu, on the other hand, wore a meaningful smile.
“You are as wise as the rumors say, my lady. I highly commend your decision and noble will to save your clan.”
Ak Han tried desperately to stop her.
“Wait. So-cheong, you should leave for a moment.”
But Ak So-cheong shook her head.
“Father, this is an opportunity.”
The clan’s retainers, who were standing nearby, all voiced their support.
“Family Head, please accept!”
“If we miss this chance, when will another come?”
“You must consider the Ak Clan’s current situation!”
Ak Han bit his lip hard. Hwangbo Chu’s offer was undeniably one he couldn't refuse. With the Hwangbo Clan’s support, they could withstand the pressure from the Demonic Faction. But to marry off his daughter, the treasure of his clan, to a man more disgusting than a degenerate... it was an unbearable humiliation.
Just then, Hwangbo Chu spoke again.
“And if you accept our proposal, the Hwangbo Clan will provide its full and unconditional support for the Ak Clan’s reconstruction.”
That was the final blow. Ak Han closed his eyes. After a long silence, his lips finally parted.
“...Very well.”
A few days after Hwangbo Chu’s departure, Ak So-cheong found herself in a palanquin heading toward the Hwangbo estate. They had wanted the wedding to happen as soon as possible.
Ha... to be married to the degenerate of the Hwangbo Clan. How could such a fate befall me...
She had heard the rumors. Hwangbo Sam. Not only was he infamous for his womanizing, but the scandal of him raping a woman from the Demonic Faction to death had shaken the entire Murim.
Ak So-cheong clutched the hem of her skirt with her fingertips.
I’m doing this to save my clan... but is this truly the right path?
*
The two women and I strolled around the Hwangbo Clan's estate, gathering information under the guise of a date.
I could have just stormed the Hwangbo estate and taken Hwangbo Cheon's wife, Du Seol, by force. But ending it so simply would be no fun.
I only saw her briefly from a distance... but her ass was perfect for childbirth.
Du Seol. She had married into the Hwangbo Clan at a young age and given birth to two sons and a daughter, yet she still maintained the fairy-like beauty and perfect figure of a married woman.
Piecing together the rumors I heard while wandering around, her image was painted as a woman who surpassed even a celestial fairy. Noble, gentle, and respected by all.
Ironically, however, her eldest son, Hwangbo Sam, was the complete opposite. He was notorious for being a psychopath, and his reputation in the Murim was abysmal.
It was to the point where people wondered how such a demon could have been born from a woman like Du Seol.
Some even whispered that Hwangbo Sam was the reincarnation of the previous Hwangbo Clan head, that the evil karma in his blood had been reborn.
Fortunately, the second son and the youngest daughter, Hwangbo Ran, took after their mother and had decent reputations.
It's a shame Hwangbo Ran is still so young. But she'll definitely grow up to be a stunning beauty. It won't be too late to fuck her then.
As I was smiling slyly to myself, Bi-yeon, who was eating across from me, frowned and said.
“Ew, your expression is totally weird.”
Seo Ryeo-hwa picked up her chopsticks and chuckled.
“Just leave him be. It’s not the first or second time he’s made that face. More importantly, big sister, can you pass me some of that food?”
“Here.”
I cleared my throat and composed my expression.
“Ahem, won't you spare some for me as well?”
It was then that a conversation from the table behind us caught my ear.
“Did you hear? The Hwangbo Clan and the Shandong Ak Clan have agreed to a strategic marriage.”
“Oh, are the two families finally joining hands? Does that mean it’s a marriage between the second son, Hwangbo Baek, and Ak So-cheong?”
“Nope.”
“Then... is it a marriage between a son from the Ak Clan and Lady Hwangbo Ran?”
“Prepare yourself for a shock. This marriage is between Hwangbo Sam and Ak So-cheong.”
“What?! That degenerate Hwangbo Sam and Ak So-cheong?”
“Shh, keep your voice down! You know what happens if you speak ill of him.”
“Ahem...”
“I hear the Ak Clan’s situation is so dire that they had no choice but to marry her off.”
Instantly, the gazes of the two women at my table turned to me.
“...Well, that's some interesting news.”
I took a sip of my drink and smirked. Ak So-cheong was a woman I'd already put on my list to fuck.
She was a character from the original work. She had a brief fling with Jin Myeong-woo, and with her outstanding martial talent, she played a significant role in many events.
Looks like I can get Ak So-cheong as a bonus on my way to take Cheon Dan-so.
Seo Ryeo-hwa put down her cup and muttered.
“Ak So-cheong... you mean the lady of the Azure Blue Sword. What a pity.”
“You seem to know her?”
“Yes. Six years ago, I had occasion to stay at the Ak Clan’s estate for a while, and I gave her some light instructional sparring. She was a rather bright and pure child. To think that child is marrying a degenerate... it’s truly sad.”
“Then I suppose it's time for the righteous lecherous couple to step in and help.”
“Righteous...?”
Seo Ryeo-hwa gave me a look of disbelief. Instead of answering, I just smirked and stood up from my chair.
“Let’s get moving.”
*
On a night with a full moon, silvery moonlight shone down on the high walls of the Hwangbo estate. Seo Ryeo-hwa and Bi-yeon completely concealed their presence as they lightly leaped over the wall with me.
Bi-yeon landed and glanced around.
“The security is more lax than I expected.”
Seo Ryeo-hwa replied.
“Large clans like this usually use formations to stop intruders. But they don’t mean much to masters like us.”
Indeed, I could feel the flow of invisible qi throughout the Hwangbo estate.
“I know a lot about formations, so I’ll take the lead. Follow me.”
As Seo Ryeo-hwa led the way, we moved as silently as shadows.
It was surprisingly quiet inside. The faint sound of the guards’ changing shifts echoed from a distance, but the night at the Hwangbo estate was eerily still. Old-fashioned buildings stood in the darkness, and plum trees planted throughout the courtyard scattered a faint, sweet fragrance.
From a rooftop, Seo Ryeo-hwa pointed to an annex to the west.
“That’s where Du Seol is staying.”
“By the way, did we really have to come with you? You could have handled this alone.”
Bi-yeon grumbled with her arms crossed.
“The more the merrier. The more we have, the better.”
Seo Ryeo-hwa stared at the annex for a while before letting out a sigh.
“...Du Seol has been a close friend of mine since I was young. So... please don’t be too rough with her.”
“I can't promise that.”
“Ugh... I’ll do something nice for you later. So, just this once... please.”
“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”
When I pushed open the door to Du Seol’s chambers, it swung open smoothly, allowing moonlight to seep into the room. The interior was silent, with only the sound of shallow, rhythmic breathing.
We completely suppressed our presence so as not to wake Du Seol.
I heard she had a huge fight with her husband over Hwangbo Sam and has been staying in separate quarters.
I smiled slyly to myself. The situation couldn't be better.
The woman on the bed looked like a fairy sleeping under the moonlight. Her blue-black hair spilled over the pillow, and her fine eyelashes cast long shadows.
“She’s certainly worthy of being called a fairy.”
As I admired Du Seol’s beauty, Bi-yeon, who had followed me in, also commented.
“Wow, and this woman is married?”
“Du Seol’s beauty is still famous, after all.”
I sat on the edge of the bed and slowly reached out my hand. As I stroked Du Seol’s fine hair, her eyelashes fluttered lightly.
She’s about to wake up.
Du Seol slowly shifted, turning onto her side, causing the silk collar of her nightgown to part slightly over her beautiful chest.
“Shall we wake the sleeping fairy?”
As I said that, I slowly unfastened my pants, turned my head toward Seo Ryeo-hwa, and commanded.
“Ryeo-hwa, get me hard.”
Watching Seo Ryeo-hwa quietly kneel, I also spoke to Bi-yeon.
“Bi-yeon, the moment that woman opens her eyes... you restrain her immediately.”
“Okay.”
And with that, a qi barrier enveloped the room.