Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Long Time No See (1)
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I could hear some commotion from behind me, but it probably had nothing to do with me, right?
As I stepped inside, a man who introduced himself as a collateral branch member of the Namgung Family hurried over to guide me.
No matter how much they talked about Nine Dragons or whatever, when it came to someone like me—a young expert of the later generation—this level of guide seemed appropriate.
"Please use this room."
The man showed me to my room and then hurried off somewhere. Probably back to the entrance to wait for the next guest.
The room the Namgung Family had given me was just that—a room. Like in an apartment building, multiple rooms gathered under one roof.
I didn't know who else might show up here, but unlike the Tang Family's guest quarters, sneaking a woman in didn't look easy.
'Of course, I have zero intention of doing something like that while here to celebrate a wedding.'
To be honest, sneaking off for a secret romp with Eon So-young while fantasizing about banging the bride's mom sounded thrilling, but Namgung Hye would probably be watching.
Sure, I could hide and manage it somehow, but with even one person keeping an eye out, the risk of getting caught was too high.
'No, of course I wouldn't actually do it.'
For now, I unpacked lightly, changed clothes, and started wandering around.
Since I didn't know who might show up, Mom hadn't specified anyone I absolutely had to meet.
But her advice was that leveraging my own reputation to make connections with as many people as possible would benefit my future life in the Jianghu.
"Oh my, oh my, oh my! Fancy running into you here, young hero!"
As I strolled around using the larger buildings as landmarks, I bumped into a familiar face.
A woman of slightly short stature, with round eyes and mischievous lips.
"Long time no see, Lady Gwak."
Unlike her quiet, lanky younger brother standing silently beside her, she greeted me warmly. It was Gwak Cheong-ra of Jeomchang.
"Long time no see. How have you been?"
"Yes, Lady Gwak. Young Master Gwak, long time no see."
"...Long time no see."
What was his name again...? I had no brain space to spare for this kid's dick, and we'd barely ever talked properly, so it was only while chatting with Gwak Cheong-ra that I finally recalled his name was Gwak Do-heung.
"So you came here today? You cut it pretty close."
"Yeah, I ended up checking the invitation late..."
The wedding was in five days. Maybe because I'd arrived so last-minute, the people who got here first had already started mingling and exchanging greetings.
With guests arriving from all over the land at different times, it made sense to leave plenty of buffer for receptions.
"Perfect timing. I was just about to sit down with some folks I've gotten acquainted with here. Join us, young hero."
"Is that okay?"
"Why wouldn't it be? You're my lifesaver—this barely counts as repayment."
Gwak Cheong-ra naturally linked her arm with mine and took the lead, dragging me along.
Gwak Do-heung shot me a look of pity, so it seemed even he got bossed around plenty by his older sister, despite the age gap.
Hey, it worked for me. I followed behind Gwak Cheong-ra, pretending to be helpless.
Baek Ri Myoyang of the Zhongnan Sect found this gathering terribly uncomfortable.
She could have guessed Mae So-hyang of Huashan would show up at the Namgung Family.
Her daughter, Neung Hui-yeon, was one of the Three Peaks, and it was customary for the other Peaks to attend when one married.
'Why did it have to be me...'
But with the sect leader insisting she was the only suitable person to send, Baek Ri Myoyang had no choice but to head to the Namgung Family.
Huashan and Zhongnan Mountains were quite close, and both sects were renowned sword factions.
Endless rivalry over superiority and turf wars persisted, and though united under the Nine Great Sects banner, they remained sworn enemies at heart.
And at the peak of Baek Ri Myoyang's fame as Zhongnan's top female young expert, Huashan produced the exceptional Mae So-hyang—marking the start of her misfortunes.
<Why can't you outperform Mae So-hyang!?>
<They say Mae So-hyang's mastered the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique. You should at least handle the Radiant Sword Arts...>
<You're Zhongnan's pride, Myoyang!>
Constantly compared to Mae So-hyang overtly and subtly since her youth, Baek Ri Myoyang once felt nauseous at the mere sight of plum blossom patterns.
On top of that, even the Three Peaks position she'd assumed was hers by right had been snatched by Peng Yeon-hwa of the Peng Family, making Baek Ri Myoyang loathe facing Mae So-hyang altogether.
"Myoyang, try this. It's sweet and delicious."
"Th-thank you, So-hyang..."
With self-loathing added to her resentment toward Mae So-hyang's gentle smile and offered treats, Baek Ri Myoyang felt her mind reeling.
Of course, she had no idea about Mae So-hyang's personality: kind and affectionate toward those she deemed inferior.
Had she known of Mae So-hyang's jealousy toward Zhuge Mi-ryeong and Peng Yeon-hwa, her sharp demeanor toward them, or even her competitive spite toward some man simply for associating with them, Baek Ri Myoyang might have felt a bit better.
"Ah, am I the last one?"
At that moment, a lively voice rang out—one that soothed the soul just to hear.
"Come on in, Lady Gwak. Lady Namgung must have put extra care into today's refreshments—they're especially..."
Mae So-hyang's warm welcome to Gwak Cheong-ra cut off unnaturally.
And as Baek Ri Myoyang looked up, she saw it.
Mae So-hyang—always so confident and beautiful—pale as a ghost.
As expected, it was all Nine Great Sects folks. Not outright hostile, but a subtle wariness lingered between them and the Five Great Families.
It felt a bit off to act this way at a wedding between Namgung and Huangbo Families, but it wasn't my business, so I let it slide.
With Gwak Cheong-ra's help, I got introduced one by one, familiarizing myself with the faces.
Women and men alike, but I firmly memorized the names, faces, and sects of any beautiful MILFs.
You never knew when they might come in handy.
'Qingcheng... Oh Ju-hye... Kongtong... Seong Do-rim...'
"There's one from Shaolin too... but not here right now."
"From Shaolin?"
Suddenly, I recalled that Shaolin nun, Ho-yeon, whom I'd tried to seduce last year but ultimately left untouched because she looked too worn out.
Shaolin supposedly had no nuns, so if it was one, it had to be her...
Just as I was about to ask if it was a nun, Gwak Cheong-ra introduced me to the last person.
"This is Lady Baek Ri Myoyang of Zhongnan. And this is... well, you know him."
I greeted her politely with cupped fists, etching the soft-featured Baek Ri Myoyang's face into memory before turning to the final one.
"Yes. Long time no see, Lady Mae. And Miss Neung."
"Oh, long time no see. How have you been?"
Unlike her daughter Neung Hui-yeon, who merely nodded curtly with a sour face, Mae So-hyang's pupils were quaking like an earthquake.
"Yes, you look healthy too, Lady Mae. Glad to see it."
"...Are you alright, Lady Mae?"
Gwak Cheong-ra asked Mae So-hyang, whose ashen face looked anything but healthy.
"I-I'm fine. Thanks for worrying."
Mae So-hyang waved it off and shakily lifted her teacup. Her trembling hand made the tea slosh precariously.
She seemed to be trying to compose herself, but it only deepened the concern on Gwak Cheong-ra's face.
'I didn't expect it to hit her this hard.'
Among the women so far, the ones I'd openly blackmailed and raped were Eon So-young, Mae So-hyang, and Chae Su-ran.
Eon So-young and Chae Su-ran had ended up on good terms, so no psychological scars, but seeing Mae So-hyang this rattled almost gave me a pang of guilt.
"You should probably rest, Lady Mae. And maybe call a physician..."
I beckoned a waiting maid from the corner to guide her to one, and Neung Hui-yeon—pale but worried—supported Mae So-hyang as they left.
Approaching Mae So-hyang would have to wait for the right moment. Even I felt bad pushing if she stayed like this.
Her son Neung Pung-yeon's issue probably wasn't resolved yet anyway, so if desperate, she'd come find me.
I thought of the antidote for the Virgin Blood Pill tucked in my luggage back at the room as I sat with Baek Ri Myoyang, Gwak Cheong-ra, and Gwak Do-heung, passing time with light chatter.
Namgung Hye rushed to her mother's quarters with Huangbo Jun in tow upon hearing Eon So-young had arrived.
Her mother's old rooms in the family estate had already been yielded to the new lady of the house, Jongri So-so, so she headed to the quarters for the family head's mother.
"Mother!"
"Hye, you're here. And my son-in-law."
Namgung Hye intuited it from Eon So-young's beaming smile in response to their greetings.
Her mother had already met Kang Yun. Which meant he'd arrived or would soon.
"I heard you weren't well, Mother-in-law, but thankfully you've recovered before the ceremony."
"It wasn't serious. I feel bad worrying my son-in-law too."
After replying to the kind, meticulous Huangbo Jun, Eon So-young soon chatted amiably with her son-in-law.
He probably hadn't come straight to her upon arrival. Four days, five, or six—barely any difference.
'Y-yeah...'
Her mother's radiant glow, that beaming face—it might be proof of a satisfying time with her young husband. At the thought, heat crept up Namgung Hye's cheeks.
"...Hye?"
"Y-yes? Huangbo Family Head?"
Lost in memories of the lewd scenes forced upon her all night, Namgung Hye panicked at her fiancé's pure, innocent gaze.
"You said you wanted a child right away after we marry, Hye."
"Huangbo Family Head..."
Namgung Hye elbowed his side, and Huangbo Jun looked flustered.
Even if true, airing something that could sound promiscuous in front of her mother before the wedding...
"Why? It's not wrong for loving spouses to have children."
"...Sorry, Hye."
To Huangbo Jun, his mother-in-law's smile seemed kindly affectionate, but Namgung Hye saw it clearly.
Her mother knew she'd been thinking of having a child soon while caring for Gyeon-i—and was teasing her for it.
That subtly uncomfortable feeling left Namgung Hye just wanting to leave.