Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 232
Chapter Title: How Was It? (1)
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Huangbo Jun half-dragged Namgung Hye by the hand, and she felt like her chest might burst from the guilt.
The urgency in his grip only grew heavier as she sensed his awkward gait—he was anxious to hurry, yet holding back out of concern for her condition.
Beneath Namgung Hye's skirt, her undergarments clung wetly to her skin. Of course, the liquid soaking them was mostly her own arousal.
'How could I do that right in front of him...!'
Every time a breeze slipped under her skirt and brushed her drenched folds, the chill forced her to relive what she'd done, whether she wanted to or not.
She had sucked off a stranger's cock with her mouth and let him fondle her pussy right in front of her husband.
Her core, still throbbing hotly without release, continued to leak arousal bit by bit from within.
If this wasn't betrayal, then what was? Even as the physician took her pulse, Namgung Hye was tormented by her conscience.
"The young lady is perfectly fine. No need to worry."
"Is that so? But her face looked so pale..."
"It might be a matter of the mind. Physically, though, she's in excellent health."
"I see..."
At the mention of a mental issue, Huangbo Jun's expression darkened slightly, unnoticed by others.
There were already more than one or two reasons he could think of that might cause Namgung Hye mental anguish.
As the two left the medical hall, each harboring guilt and self-reproach toward the other, a woman approached them from the front.
"Young lady, are you feeling all right?"
"Sister-in-law...? Yes, I'm fine."
Namgung Hye tilted her head at the sight of Namgung Hak's wife, Jongri So-so, heading toward the medical hall.
"Is sister-in-law not feeling well, by any chance?"
"Huh? Oh, no."
Jongri So-so smiled brightly and shook her head, then explained to address Namgung Hye's question.
"With everything that's happened lately, we've gathered every available physician from our family's medical hall and even outsiders. Supplies have been depleting fast as a result..."
Namgung Hye nodded in understanding at the explanation and stepped forward to offer her help.
"But young lady, are you really okay? Coming all the way to the medical hall..."
"I'm truly fine. I've already had my pulse checked, and they said there's nothing wrong."
Since Eon So-young had stepped back from family duties as mother-in-law, Namgung Hye had often assisted the inexperienced Jongri So-so, working together frequently.
Lately, Jongri So-so had handled things alone out of consideration for the wedding preparations and newlywed life, but it was still overwhelming for her.
"You'll really be okay?"
"Of course."
Huangbo Jun looked at Namgung Hye worriedly, but seeing her resolute expression, he sighed and nodded.
"Don't push yourself too hard."
Namgung Hye nodded to Huangbo Jun, who voiced his concern once more, then followed behind Jongri So-so.
'Thank goodness...'
Namgung Hye glanced back at the receding Huangbo Jun and sighed inwardly in relief.
Her offer to help Jongri So-so stemmed partly from guilt—she felt sorry staying by Huangbo Jun's side when he showed such genuine worry.
But Namgung Hye didn't know that Huangbo Jun felt equally guilty being near her and was relieved when she chose to go with Jongri So-so instead.
I went to meet Eon So-young, hoping to see Namgung Hak together, but it was a bust.
He was in a meeting with the elders and couldn't be seen.
Blinded by the thought that I'd soon be living with her, I'd forgotten that in the current state of the Namgung family, only my group and the newlyweds had the luxury to idle about carefree.
"With everything going on, it's no wonder they're busy. I forgot, too."
The assault during the wedding ceremony.
Major sects, seated closer in with their superior experts, suffered minimal losses, but the minor sects on the outskirts took heavy casualties, I'd heard.
Most minor sects hailed from Anhui Province, and as their de facto leader in the region, the Namgung family had a duty to look after them.
"What on earth was their goal? Could it really be the Blood Demon, like people are saying...?"
Eon So-young trailed off with an unspoken "no way" and glanced at me. I nodded.
My master was infamous in the jianghu as a lecher who preyed only on virgins, but I'd never witnessed that side of him.
Even when he first captured Namgung Hye, he hadn't preserved her for me out of some noble intent to yield a virgin.
I'd never heard tales like "some beautiful young lady lost her purity to the Blood Demon's clutches," so I figured he didn't indulge in such debauchery.
'Though he could be doing it on the sly.'
Even if he was sneaking around, he wouldn't touch Namgung Hye.
She was Eon So-young's daughter, and Master knew I'd be taking her in.
"Actually, I know one thing about their identity."
"What is it?"
I told Eon So-young I'd encountered their swordsmanship once before. She looked shocked and asked,
"Then... were they targeting you?"
"No, I don't think so. If they were, a surprise attack would've been harder."
The guests, vastly outnumbering the attackers and thus suffering greater losses, had been unarmed due to the celebratory occasion.
I'd resolved that by cracking open several attackers' skulls from behind, seizing their swords to arm the guests.
If I'd been the target, they wouldn't have let so many get dropkicked into vulnerability.
"So... we still don't know if it was the Demonic Cult or some other unorthodox faction?"
"Mm, probably not the Demonic Cult. At least, not the whole organization's will."
"Huh? Why not?"
I started to get cold feet. I'd planned to reveal my ties to Young Ho-kyeong and Chae Su-ran after returning to Sichuan, with backup from the other women.
But staying silent now and spilling later might lead to "Why didn't you say something then?"—and that felt off.
Besides, I wanted to avoid clashing with the Demonic Cult if possible, so I figured I'd get Eon So-young's input.
'I need a convincing way to say it's not the Demonic Cult without mentioning my connections there.'
So, So-young my love... don't get mad, okay?
"Darling."
"...Yes."
Eon So-young spoke reluctantly. Considering the shock from her young husband's words, her composure was impressive.
"If that was all a joke, I could laugh it off enjoyably."
"..."
Contrary to Eon So-young's hope, the man shrugged silently, conveying with his body that it was all true.
So, everything he'd said was fact?
Setting everything else aside, the Demonic Cult's Young Cult Leader...
"Darling, are you planning to conquer the Central Plains martial world?"
He shook his head vigorously. But by Eon So-young's common sense, she couldn't imagine any other motive.
His already dazzling lineup of wives was flashy enough, and now even the Demonic Cult's Young Cult Leader?
Excluding the Demonic Cult, no sect in the martial world boasted two or more absolute peak experts. His women alone matched or exceeded a major sect's might.
The weight of "Young Cult Leader" made another Demonic Cult woman seem almost normal by comparison.
'And the Demonic Cult infiltrating the Central Plains through commerce...'
She wanted to grab his shoulders and pry every secret from him start to finish, but the escort warriors nearby were a nuisance.
"...So, you're saying it's unlikely to be the Demonic Cult?"
"Yes."
Given the Demonic Cult's lack of intent for overt force in the near term, and having shown the attackers' forms to the Young Cult Leader who confirmed it wasn't Demonic swordsmanship, it surely wasn't.
Assuming they had no reason to deceive Kang Yun—which they didn't, given his modest status in the martial world.
But...
"Then how do we explain that to the others?"
"That's what I wanted to figure out together from now on."
Eon So-young felt a headache coming on as her man gazed at her with hopeful eyes, like he'd found Gongming's silk pouch.
Namgung Hye, poring over documents for a while, suddenly felt eye strain and covered them with her palm.
Even just tallying the massive medical supplies used in the hall was exhausting.
"Young lady, shall we take a break?"
"...Yeah, I think so."
Jongri So-so looked drained too. Still, seeing how much more she'd processed than Namgung Hye, her solitary efforts over the past months had clearly borne fruit.
They sat at a nearby table and sipped refreshing steeped tea, feeling a bit of energy return to their languid bodies.
"It's been a while, so it's extra tiring, right?"
"I'd love to say no, but..."
The two began chatting animatedly. There was plenty to talk about.
The guests at the Namgung family's wedding naturally fell under their purview, and they'd encountered all sorts of people and incidents.
"Ah, I see. No wonder I don't remember seeing the Qingcheng folks much."
"Yes, Lady O seemed to prefer not mingling much with others."
Namgung Hye was experiencing the truth that immersing in work cleared her mind.
With her fatigued brain refreshed by cool tea and light conversation, no stray thoughts intruded.
Like, for example...
"Yes, yes?"
"W-We're just women here, so... we can talk about this kind of thing, right?"
Tales of the animalistic marks left in her bridal chamber.
"So... how was it, young lady?"
Unaware that she'd reignited a problem Namgung Hye had momentarily forgotten, Jongri So-so looked at her with curious eyes.