Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: Because I Was Drunk... It's Okay (3)
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"Madam, we'll take our leave then..."
"You've worked hard. Go and rest."
After dismissing the maids who had finished preparing her bath with a bow, Yang Ha-jeong slowly undressed.
She carefully examined her own body, which she would normally pass over without a second glance.
She prided herself on not neglecting her training, but perhaps because of her age, she could see that fat had started to accumulate.
Breasts and hips that sagged slightly from the excess weight.
A greasy lower belly. Thick pubic hair.
She thought it was still acceptable, but even entertaining such thoughts felt shameless.
'I should at least trim the hair...'
But then she reconsidered—no one would see it anymore anyway.
Staring wouldn't change anything. Yang Ha-jeong first immersed herself in the bathwater.
As she sank in up to her shoulders, her body warmed, and her mind eased.
'Yeah, nothing happened. I just went crazy for a moment.'
She had heard that Peng Wol had gone to the guest quarters and was drinking, so out of worry, Yang Ha-jeong went to check.
Sure enough, as she'd feared, the two were heavily drunk, slumped over the table.
She tried waking Peng Wol first, but no luck. Kang Yun was the same.
Up to that point, no problem. But the next moment was the issue.
Kang Yun, without even opening his eyes, wrapped his left arm around her back and grabbed her breast.
'Not some twenty-year-old girl...'
Yang Ha-jeong let out a shrill scream and shook off his hand, but Kang Yun, still drunk, wouldn't wake.
In the end, she gave up on rousing them herself and called the servants who hadn't yet retired, ordering them to move the pair.
'He was drunk... so it's fine. He won't remember. So even that was okay.'
The real unforgivable part came after.
'B-breasts... insane...!'
After the servants laid Kang Yun on the bed and took Peng Wol away, Yang Ha-jeong was left alone beside him.
It was curiosity. Nothing more.
But from the moment she knew she couldn't proudly tell anyone about it, she already knew she was doomed.
Undoing her robe, exposing her breast for a young man to grope—it wasn't just any madness.
She felt sorry for Kang Yun. She wasn't some young maiden in her prime; she'd let him fondle an auntie's breast.
The silver lining was that, blackout drunk, he'd never remember.
<Hye-won...>
Murmuring a woman's name as if she were his lover, fondling her breast with a blissful face—it was a relief, at least.
'Never get close to him again.'
Due to her unique circumstances, she'd given in to curiosity and done something foolish, but she still had her shame.
That's why she'd rejected Peng Mu-do's proposal.
After committing such a filthy act, she couldn't shamelessly play the role of virtuous stepmother just because it was the family head's wish.
For Yang Ha-jeong, who didn't know Kang Yun's true nature, it was the natural conclusion.
No work... to do!
She'd fled to the Peng family, which was fine, but there was damn near nothing to do.
One of the two pillars sustaining her daily life—intense milf sex—had vanished.
Of course, while she was there, she kept up with the remaining pillar: martial arts training. As a guest warrior provided by a martial clan, the training hall came standard.
She diligently repeated palm strikes, finger techniques, fist methods, and kicks according to their forms...
'Honestly, it's not fun...'
Steadily repeating and checking her movements did reveal deficiencies.
Reviewing what was lacking against attacks from her master in memory, Huangbo Hyo-seon, Peng Yeon-hwa, and her mother led to improvement.
Sometimes, she even gained new insight into the meaning behind moves she'd done absentmindedly before.
But perhaps because the catharsis of suddenly realizing a skill leap while desperately training under high masters' assaults was too great.
Gradually building strength honestly felt boring at times.
'I've pretty much mastered first-rate level now.'
Taking the Nine Dragons Contest spars against those middling foes as a stepping stone, my skill had risen another level.
Now, I could clearly envision which technique to use, when, and in what situation.
But the techniques I knew didn't perfectly cover every scenario I'd faced so far.
'Does transcending techniques make you a peak master?'
Common in wuxia novels: transcend forms to reach Flower Realm or Manifestation Realm.
But I couldn't grasp what "transcending techniques" even meant, let alone if it was correct.
Distracted, my forms kept deviating, mistakes repeating.
"Enough."
No point forcing it without focus. I wiped sweat with a cotton towel and walked out of the training hall.
Peng family disciples or sword-bearing folk were swarming about.
"They're everywhere..."
Something big was going on at the Peng family, they'd said.
Feeling awkward as the only idle one amid the busy crowd, I subtly avoided people.
Damn, that uniquely Korean discomfort when you're the only one free.
"Then, with the guard shifts changing, it'd be better to secure more break rooms. We could repurpose some empty guest quarters..."
As I slipped away unnoticed, a familiar voice caught my ear.
I turned, and our eyes met—she'd spotted me too.
But the instant our gazes locked, she hurriedly looked away and continued talking to the middle-aged man.
"Once the personnel assignments are finalized, let me know."
"Yes, understood."
"Then... anything else?"
"No, that's all."
Even after his reply, Yang Ha-jeong chatted with the middle-aged man a while longer.
It was harmless small talk, nothing sensitive, so I patiently waited nearby.
Soon the conversation ended. He nodded at me and left, leaving just Yang Ha-jeong and me.
"Hello, Madam Peng."
"...Yes, have you been well?"
She hesitated before answering my greeting.
Yeah, she's avoiding me, right? My mind's full of wild fantasies of ravishing her, but what have I actually done?
"Yes, thanks to your consideration, I'm comfortable."
"G-good. If anything's inconvenient... come find me."
Even suggesting I visit felt reluctant, with awkward pauses.
Where the hell did I tank my favorability?
"Madam, are you busy right now?"
"Not particularly..."
"Then, could you spare time for a cup of tea with me?"
Unable to rudely refuse a guest, she stiffly nodded.
'W-whoa, she hasn't figured it out, has she?'
Yang Ha-jeong's heart pounded. She'd deliberately kept distance, yet here he was approaching.
No young girl would seek out an older woman without reason...
She anxiously wondered if he'd confront her.
"Madam, I have something to ask..."
"Uh, y-yes?!"
Kang Yun's eyes widened, he cleared his throat, then continued.
"It's just, the Peng family seems very busy—may I ask what's going on?"
Aha.
Yang Ha-jeong understood.
Peng Wol was too busy to answer, so he'd come to her.
Her mind eased, but she realized she couldn't freely share either.
'Can't just say we're dispatching warriors to secure government support...'
Common saying: government and jianghu don't interfere.
To the state, even jianghu folk were lawless civilians; they should punish murders.
But policing superhuman warriors cost more than it was worth, so they turned a blind eye.
What if such folk grew their power with government aid?
'National support's unlikely, but...'
Even one province's backing would irk other jianghu powers.
"Young hero, sorry, but that's hard to explain."
"I see. Can't be helped then."
I'd expected some pushback, but he accepted lightly and sipped tea.
To Kang Yun, it was just a conversation starter with Yang Ha-jeong; he wasn't that invested.
"Oh, right—Madam, you returned midway, so you missed your son's spar."
Contrary to her assumption I'd sought Peng family info, Kang Yun kept her there, chatting.
His vivid, amusing recount of Peng Wol's strength had her chuckling occasionally.
Even describing his own loss, he boasted like the victor—impressive.
"Honestly, felt like punching a city wall. Vowed to land one hit even if I lost... but yeah, I lost."
"Pfft, but aren't you one of the Nine Dragons now? Just making the list means you're a future jianghu pillar—no regrets needed."
"Knew I couldn't win going in... but head vs. body shot difference stings a bit."
His face showed no regret as he continued.
"Must be proud. Your labor-pains son declared strongest latecomer talent publicly. Tied first, but still."
Yang Ha-jeong's face darkened sharply. She spoke heavily.
"You didn't know? Wol didn't tell you?"
"...Pardon?"
"Wol's my stepson. I'm the family head's second wife."
"Ah..."
People always gave awkward smiles at that.
She meant "don't mistake again," but they saw it as drawing bloodline lines.
She couldn't shake the thought his son, unopened to her after decades, wouldn't like being mistaken for blood.
"Got it. Scratch the 'labor-pains' part."
Yang Ha-jeong eyed him curiously. Aware or not, Kang Yun spoke.
"I was raised by a foster mother too. Blood ties nice maybe, but no issue loving and cherishing without."
"...I see."
Unable to know his foster love, it felt sincere and heartwarming to Yang Ha-jeong.
Meanwhile, guilt swelled for toying with such a fine youth while he slept.
'Sorry. I'm a coward who can't even apologize... but if I can help, I will.'
Of course, if she could read his mind, that resolve would vanish without trace.