Chapter 208
Chapter 208
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Try Catching This (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Eon So-young was tired.
"Miss Namgung, you truly take after the former matriarch. She was so beautiful. And your groom is every bit as splendid—what a perfect match of handsome man and virtuous woman!"
There weren't a few retainers slathering on the flattery now that she had returned to the family estate after so long.
Even though she had already stepped down from her position as matriarch, her status as the family head's mother was one that could sway the interests of countless people with a single casual remark.
What had once been her daily routine felt utterly exhausting now, perhaps because she had spent the past year leisurely bearing and raising a child.
"Thank you for coming. I trust you'll attend the wedding ceremony."
Once the fawning man withdrew, Eon So-young let out a short sigh.
In truth, there was one more thing plaguing her.
The frustration of her husband being right there within the same compound walls, yet being unable to go to him, was wearing her down more than she expected.
She even resented the family head's filial devotion in instructing the servants to attend to his mother so attentively upon her return to the estate.
'Moreover...'
Eon So-young loved her young husband dearly, but there was one thing she simply couldn't trust about him: his fidelity.
Every time she was reminded of just how many women he might fancy gathered here in the estate, she found herself half-resigned to it.
Even if one more were added, it wouldn't be strange at all.
[Mother, are you there?]
"Come in."
At Eon So-young's permission, the door opened and Namgung Hye entered, carrying a full tea set herself.
This was one good thing about returning to the estate after so long, Eon So-young thought as she sat facing Namgung Hye across the table.
It wasn't a skill vital to women of prestigious martial clans, but her daughter took a keen interest in household matters and was quite skilled at them.
"This cool yellow tea tastes wonderful. I almost regret not having it last year."
"Shall I prepare some and send it over?"
Namgung Hye smiled as she replied, but Eon So-young found herself momentarily at a loss.
Once Namgung Hye finished her wedding and departed for the Huangbo Family this time, Eon So-young planned to tidy up the manor and head to Sichuan.
She wouldn't receive it even if it were sent, of course.
She needed to tell her, yet somehow the words wouldn't come, so she had kept putting it off day by day.
"Hye-ah."
"Yes, Mother."
"Mother..."
Namgung Hye waited innocently for Eon So-young to continue.
"Mother probably... won't be here anymore by then."
She wasn't fool enough not to understand that "here" meant Anhui Province rather than just the Namgung estate.
"I... see..."
The only reason her mother would leave this place was the one obvious one: to join her new husband.
Namgung Hye, who had resented the man for leaving her mother here alone, now felt a confusing mix of emptiness and blame toward him.
'As long as Mother is happy, that's what matters... So why do I...'
Imagining the lips of that villain—disciple of the Blood Demon—curling up slyly made her feel suffocated.
"I'll speak to Hak about it soon as well."
"T-to Brother?"
She could guess why her brother Namgung Hak had insisted on meeting Kang Yun in person. He must have suspected she and Kang Yun harbored feelings for each other.
She had no idea how that misunderstanding stood now, but it surely hadn't been fully dispelled and still lingered in his mind.
Telling him this truth in such circumstances could lead to who knew what.
"No need to worry. After your wedding ends, I might choose the right moment to tell him... Or I could hold off on the facts for the time being..."
Only after Eon So-young soothed her that way could Namgung Hye calm her pounding heart.
It was merely what had to happen. Ever since witnessing that man and her mother spending the night together, she had averted her eyes from a truth she had known deep down all along.
"My daughter... We won't see each other often anymore, but please be happy."
Shandong, the Huangbo Family's stronghold, lay close to Anhui, but Sichuan was a far-off frontier.
Her mother's tender words, acknowledging how seldom they'd meet, left a bittersweet ache in Namgung Hye's chest.
The wedding between Namgung Hye and Huangbo Jun would naturally be a grand affair, of course.
Even family members of such a mighty clan were dizzy with final preparations and hosting guests, giving some idea of the scale.
"Ooh..."
Three days before the ceremony, today they were holding a banquet for the guests.
I was eating at a gathering of young folk, guided by Namgung Chang—whom I supposedly met at the Nine Dragons Contest (honestly, I didn't remember well).
"Miss Neung, any interest in poetry?"
"No."
"Have you ever seen Huangshan's scenic wonders..."
"Huashan Sect's views suffice."
For some reason, Neung Hui-yeon—who had claimed the seat beside me—was ruthlessly cutting down the men peppering her with questions from the side. Quite the spectacle.
She radiated "back off, I'm fed up," yet their desperate bids for attention were amusing to spectate.
Once the sweaty heir of the Iron Family slunk away dejectedly, Neung Hui-yeon—situation seemingly cleared—resumed her diligent chopsticks.
Her delicate frame belied a hearty appetite, so I stared curiously until our eyes met.
"What?"
I tried slyly looking away, but she asked.
"Just thought the head chef must feel accomplished watching Miss Neung eat."
I phrased it as praise for her appetite, and Neung Hui-yeon fixed me with blank eyes for a moment before replying.
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"...I see."
Accepting the bland response, Neung Hui-yeon attacked her food with renewed vigor.
I saw no need to drag out talk with her, so I demolished the unfamiliar dishes instead.
My mind was fixed on stuffing myself now to unleash this energy on Mae So-hyang later.
'Oh crap.'
Remembering Neung Hui-yeon was Mae So-hyang's daughter, the realization that I was plotting to fuck her mother right beside her made my cock twitch.
Good thing it wasn't buffet-style; maids passing by fetched food on request, no standing required.
Then the man beside me vacated his seat, and some woman slid in.
"Hello, Young Hero Kang."
"...Hello?"
Quite the beauty, but with a fox-like face.
No memory of her, and by age or looks, not remotely milf material—low on the list.
"We've never even greeted each other before, so... do you know me?"
"...Sorry, not really..."
"You don't... Heh heh..."
Most with her air of self-assurance would bristle at not being recognized, but she glanced toward Neung Hui-yeon with a knowing smile.
"I'm Gyeon Ye-jin of the Wudang Sect. Know Gyeon Yong-jin? My brother."
"Ah!"
How could I forget Wudang's hero Gyeon Yong-jin, who shielded me from drunken Peng Wol's clutches during the Nine Dragons Contest!
"Pleased to meet you. Learned a lot from Hero Gyeon back at the Contest."
With the ice broken, amiable chit-chat flowed easily.
Perverted as I was toward non-milfs, even I didn't mind bantering with a pretty girl.
Her occasional glances at Neung Hui-yeon irked me oddly, but talking with Gyeon Ye-jin was fun overall.
"Ah, there's Miss Namgung. We'll go say hello."
"Sure. Enjoy."
Neung Hui-yeon rose with Gyeon Ye-jin, and I waved them off lightly.
The banter had eased my erection some; focus on food should kill it fully.
Pondering what to order next while side-eyeing others' plates, I inadvertently locked eyes with the man across from me.
'Why the hell are you here?'
He struggled to mask his expression, but his eyes brimmed with murderously vengeful hate.
Definitely the Zhuge Family's black sheep—Zhuge Ryong, glaring daggers at me. Hot.
Zhuge Ryong felt like he might explode.
He had tried disciplining that lowly scum, only for Father's intervention to ruin it—he was already seething.
'Nine Dragons? Who cares!'
The Nine Dragons might be Jianghu's top bridegrooms, but it was just the nine strongest ranked in order.
An untraceable mutt like him could never bridge the gulf to heirs of the Nine Great Sects and Five Families.
Yet there the Twin Peaks sat flanking him, chatting merrily—jealousy scorched Zhuge Ryong's guts.
Had they merely sat, fine—but enjoying themselves?
He ached to bellow, but with Father watching hawk-like from afar, rashness was impossible.
Zhuge Ryong forced his stiff lips to move.
"We meet again, Young Hero Kang."
"Yes, good to see you, Young Hero Zhuge."
His pork-chewing reply was neither deferential nor rude, yet to Zhuge Ryong it screamed arrogance.
"Yesterday... I apologize."
"...No big deal. Don't sweat it."
The man brushed it off casually, but Zhuge Ryong couldn't shake the sense of dismissal.
He swallowed his pride and pressed on with what he wanted.
"No wine? You don't drink?"
"Not against it per se... Just haven't tonight."
"Can't have that. The world has wines to match every dish, after all..."
Before the puzzled man, Zhuge Ryong took an empty cup from a maid and filled it with baekcheongju.
"This baekcheongju should pair well. Give it a try."
His eyes gleamed viciously as he shoved the cup. True to his martial lineage, inner power kept it steady, gliding straight across the air like on ice.
'Try catching this!'
The seemingly simple push concealed hefty force and five subtle shifts.
Imagining him fumbling it—wine spilling over clothes and face in humiliation—Zhuge Ryong's lips curled smugly.