Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Actually, My Master (2)
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Mong-a inwardly freaked out at the sudden appearance of the man, Kang Yun.
She had forcibly left despite Huangbo Hyo-seon's request because she hated being around him any longer.
'Every night, every night!'
The image of him summoning courtesans and bedding them flashed through Mong-a's mind once more.
The man scanned Mong-a and the woman with her, then furrowed his brow.
"Abbess, it might be best not to meddle unnecessarily this time as well."
Mong-a couldn't respond to the man's words. Both she and her companion were in disheveled states.
Her belief that one shouldn't lightly judge the enmities of the jianghu and jump in recklessly remained unchanged.
But refusing the opponent's help wasn't an easy choice in her current situation either.
Wasn't it improper to jeopardize her companion's safety out of her own stubbornness?
"Young Hero Kang, a pleasure to meet you."
"...You know me?"
Stepping forward in place of Mong-a, who hesitated to reply, was her companion, the woman.
"Not personally. But I watched your spar with Huashan Sect's Neung Hui-yeon."
"You've seen my match, Senior. Forgive my ignorance."
"It was just a passing glance. Do you happen to know Gwak Do-heung of Jecheon?"
A look of recognition crossed the man's face.
"I'm Gwak Cheong-ra, Gwak Do-heung's elder sister."
"Ah, now I remember meeting you. Good to see you again, Lady Gwak."
The man greeted her politely. Gwak Cheong-ra smiled softly at the sight and spoke.
"First off, thank you for your help. The abbess was too flustered to speak, but I'm sure she's grateful as well."
"No need. Anyone with a sense of justice would have done the same."
The man bowed his head to Mong-a with a smile, but to her, it felt like mockery. It probably was.
"I'm glad to hear that."
Gwak Cheong-ra continued, explaining how Mong-a had been ambushed, how she had stepped in to help, and how they ended up traveling together.
"You did the same before... Who on earth have you crossed to draw masked thugs like these?"
Mong-a clamped her mouth shut. There was no need to tell him that some attackers came from grudges while others didn't.
The man shook his head and turned to Gwak Cheong-ra.
"Would both of you mind if I invited you to the Tang Family for a short stay? I can't offer much as just a guest myself, but how about changing clothes and resting there?"
Mong-a wanted to refuse, but she couldn't very well tell Gwak Cheong-ra—who had helped her—to head back to her sect in tattered clothes.
"Then we'll gladly accept your kindness."
Exhausted as they were, the two women agreed to ride together, and Kang Yun followed on foot using his movement technique.
"Even so... Couldn't we all three just ride?"
"I've little experience riding horses... There's a spot that's a bit sore, hard to put into words."
The man exaggerated a bit.
But no matter how you sliced it, running on two legs couldn't be more comfortable than riding.
A guy who summoned courtesans every night, pretending to be considerate of women—it was suspicious.
'Still, a favor's a favor...'
Hanging onto Gwak Cheong-ra's back as they galloped toward the city in Sichuan province, Mong-a just wanted to part ways with this man quickly.
A gufa milf had popped up out of nowhere near Sichuan. My ironclad rule was to be as friendly as possible to any milf, no matter who.
Mong-a was still disqualified with her bald head and occasional scornful glances my way, but Gwak Cheong-ra was fine.
She looked early thirties, a bit short, with big round eyes that gave her a mischievously cute beauty.
'Ugh, feels like she'd give me endless headaches if I brought her home...'
With milfs, first rule was courtesy, second rule was courtesy. Stack up the goodwill, and you couldn't lose.
She wasn't some instant lay anyway, and if she claimed to be from the east seas or whatever, Peng Yeon-hwa or Mother would let it slide generously.
As we rode along, a familiar path appeared. The spot from a few months back where Master got busted by Peng Yeon-hwa and pretended to kidnap me.
And where I'd witnessed that woman with the killer curves washing her hair.
'If that had hit me, I'd be gone from this world for real.'
I didn't know what technique it was, but punching clean holes in trees from that range screamed hidden weapons or gun...
"Young hero, I hear water. Shall we rest a bit?"
At Gwak Cheong-ra's suggestion, I snapped out of it and easily agreed. No way that woman was there again, right?
We washed the dirt from our faces at the stream, quenched our thirst, and decided to rest a while.
"You look quite tired."
"Don't remind me. Haven't properly rested since Hubei. Ah, not blaming the abbess."
Gwak Cheong-ra was quite the talker. Really quite.
"Are you close with our Do-heung? You know, sometimes you meet someone for the first time and just click—like, this could be a friend."
"Peng's young hero was sturdy. No effective hits landed, but no regrets."
"Truth be told, it's my first time entering the city in Sichuan. No acquaintances there..."
She seemed the type to blurt out whatever crossed her mind, her round eyes sparkling as she chattered away. Even on subtly uncomfortable topics.
But her bouncy voice was oddly pleasant, keeping my mood from souring—an odd woman.
"Yes, Lady Gwak. Sorry, but shall we head out again?"
Mong-a was shooting glances from behind Gwak Cheong-ra.
Whether she hated the chatter or worried about pursuers, wasting time here wasn't smart.
"Ah, right. Let's go."
Gwak Cheong-ra's chatter mercifully ended, and after half a day's ride, we finally reached the Tang Family in Sichuan.
By then, the sunset had nearly faded, and night was falling.
Having been away over two months, I cautiously approached the guard warrior, who thankfully remembered me and opened the gates.
Peng Yeon-hwa had arranged for my guest quarters to be kept clean, which touched my heart.
Having stayed longer than even Master's hut on Ami Mountain, it felt like coming home.
It wasn't, though.
"Yun-a...!"
As I handed off the horse and headed to Peng Yeon-hwa's quarters to arrange rooms for the two women, Mother appeared.
"My son... Nothing happen while you were coming back alone?"
Embarrassing... Gwak Cheong-ra was already side-eyeing as Mother grabbed my shoulders and inspected me everywhere.
"Yes, I'm fine. Made it back safe."
"Good... Then, who are these ladies... Ah, Abbess Mong-a."
"Good to see you again, Lady Zhuge."
Mong-a didn't know, but Mother had once played courtesan and been witnessed mid-act by her.
Ignorance made Mong-a's demeanor toward Mother impeccably polite.
"Long time no see, Lady Zhuge. Gwak Cheong-ra of Jecheon."
"Ah... Lady Gwak. Forgive my ignorance."
Seemingly acquainted, Mother apologized, then asked a passing Tang Family maid to prepare rooms for them after hearing my story.
Beyond my pull, but as Peng Yeon-hwa's friend, Mother could manage it. Gave me time to wash up before meeting Peng Yeon-hwa.
"Son... So... what happened?"
Mother's eyes narrowed suspiciously—clearly, seeing Gwak Cheong-ra had revived nightmares of Mae So-hyang.
Best to time the Yang Ha-jeong story carefully...
Peng Yeon-hwa, working in her office, had heard twice from guards and maids that Kang Yun was back.
As stepmother and woman, she anticipated his visit and checked her makeup.
At peak transcendent realm, skipping qi circulation kept her skin flawless, but just in case, one more check.
"I'm here."
"You came?"
By his arrival, her makeup was back in place, and Peng Yeon-hwa calmly reviewed documents.
But her chest felt fluffy, like stuffed with cotton.
The man stepped closer, watching her read from the side.
"...These are family matters. An outsider shouldn't peek."
"Just admiring how cool you look."
"Cool...?"
Peng Yeon-hwa couldn't comprehend, but his beaming grin suggested he liked her like this.
"Heard the news. Lost to Wol-i at the Nine Dragons Contest?"
"Yeah, thoroughly."
"Any takeaways?"
"Freakishly tough."
Peng Yeon-hwa chuckled. He grinned back, arms opening for a hug.
No way he'd grown taller past thirty, yet he seemed bigger.
Nestled in his embrace, Peng Yeon-hwa savored his scent—over two months missed.
Freshly bathed, softly fragrant.
"Well done... I'm so proud of you..."
"Again. Not 'you', me."
"...You're impossible..."
Confirming no one nearby with expanded senses, Peng Yeon-hwa pulled his head down and whispered in his ear.
"My darling's the best...!"
Her face burned, but his delighted smile made it worth it.
"Need soundproofing in the office too..."
"...Even here?"
Peng Yeon-hwa frowned. Sex in a room without even a simple cot for rest?
"Heard everything. Brought Abbess Mong-a and Lady Gwak from Jecheon here?"
"Absolutely not, I swear—haven't touched a finger."
Evidently worn down by Zhuge Mi-ryeong, his denial was firm.
"No changing subjects. Set up a mat here too, yeah?"
"That's the one thing absolutely... Mmgh...!"
Peng Yeon-hwa felt his lips cover hers, parting obediently to tangle tongues.
She savored the moment of his rough lips meeting her soft ones, no avoidance.
*Smack, slurp...*
"Pha... Think a kiss fixes everything?"
"Just a greeting. 'I'm back' smooch. Now the real thing."
Lips descended again. Despite her superior cultivation, kissing him left her breathless.
When they parted, permission slipped from her lips, followed by complaint.
"Naughty boy...!"
"Only naughty with pretty women. But business time now, so stopping."
He kissed her forehead, pulled back, and drew a letter from his bosom.
Taking it, she saw "Hubei Peng Family Patriarch Peng Mu-do" on the envelope.
Addressed simply to "Sichuan Tang Family."
"Patriarch Peng asked me to deliver it to you."
Her birth family's patriarch—and personal brother—Peng Mu-do's letter made Peng Yeon-hwa groan inwardly.
Her brother, obsessed with making Peng Family the world's top, sending her a letter? Likely unpleasant news.
She shot a brief resentful glance at the innocent messenger, sighed, slit the seal, and read.