Chapter 241
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: If Not? (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Eon So-young felt the jolting vibrations of the shaking carriage and glanced outside.
No one would pay them any mind, yet she couldn't help scanning the surroundings, feeling like a thief guilty at heart.
'What's really gotten into me?'
Kang Yun was riding ahead on horseback, just a bit in front of her carriage, so no one would notice them anyway. Still, she couldn't shake the nagging worry that someone might appear and start suspecting their relationship.
On top of that, her maid's expression—grinning knowingly as if she understood exactly why Eon So-young was glancing around—felt strangely uncomfortable.
'It's not like I'm thrilled about living together or anything...'
Of course, whether she showed it or not, she actually was pleased.
She had braced herself for the possibility of having the child and then living apart for years, so being able to live together before the baby even turned one was nothing short of delightful.
Eon So-young gazed at Kang Yun's back as he rode ahead, her heart full even without a bite to eat.
He had struggled quite a bit on the previous journey because he wasn't good with horses, but now he looked quite respectable, guiding his mount at a leisurely pace.
At that moment, the horse carrying the man suddenly bolted forward.
"K-Kang Young Hero? Where are you going?"
[I've spotted someone I know. Be right back.]
Someone he knew?
Come to think of it, Eon So-young realized she knew hardly anyone in Kang Yun's circle.
She knew all about the women he kept around him, but his other acquaintances, his hometown, his past—nothing.
While she was lost in thought for that brief moment, the man had galloped quite far ahead. Eon So-young instructed her maid, who was driving the carriage, to follow slowly without hurrying.
There was no issue anyway, since their only traveling companions were her and her maids.
'But who on earth could it be?'
For Kang Yun to spot someone from afar and rush off to greet them on horseback.
Eon So-young decided she would definitely ask him who it was once they reunited.
I urged my horse a bit faster and galloped toward the person standing at the entrance of the market.
It might have been a trick of the eye from the distance, but there couldn't be many monks dressed in the exact same Shaolin kasaya robes with long hair grown out.
I knew even Shaolin didn't accept female monks, calling it a field of little brothers or whatever.
But as I drew closer, the situation looked a tad troublesome.
"You wench, you're the bald fake! Who are you calling a monk?"
A man, drunk in broad daylight, was yelling at her, and she responded measuredly, word for word.
"You are correct that these are the robes of Shaolin Temple. However, this poor nun is undoubtedly a true disciple of Shaolin..."
"Hey now! If you're gonna deceive, at least do it right! Where do they have women among Shaolin monks?!"
I got the gist. There were occasional scammers impersonating Shaolin monks, and she must have been mistaken for one of them.
Just pass by if it doesn't concern you—why pick a fight just to hear you're right?
"The more scum like you run around, the more damage it does to real Shaolin monks—do you even know that?! Can't you stop this imitation nonsense?!"
"Patron, but..."
"It's been a while, Monk."
I reined in my horse beside them, dismounted, and brought my hands together in greeting. I didn't really believe in religion, but this was the convenient way here.
"...Kang Young Hero?"
"Yes, Sister Ho-yeon. How have you been?"
"Hojae?"
The drunkard gaped wide-eyed. Was Hojae a high rank? I'd heard Shaolin's senior disciples were called Wise Ones or something.
"Th-this guy's in on it too! You punk, if she's a Hojae, that means she's sworn brothers with the Shaolin Abbot—I've never heard of a female Shaolin monk anywhere! If you don't scram..."
"If not?"
I kicked up a pebble rolling underfoot and caught it.
Crackle...
My hand, infused with inner energy, effortlessly turned the pebble into sand like magic. The drunkard stared wide-eyed, his thighs trembling and clapping together in terrified applause.
"If not?"
"Y-Young Hero... how can you..."
Ho-yeon seemed to chide me from the side, but the drunkard stumbled backward on shaking legs and fell on his rear.
"If not?"
"U-U-Uwaaaah!"
Shhh...
I let the last of the sand in my hand pour onto the ground, and the drunkard, now sitting on the dirt, scrambled back before turning tail and fleeing.
"I'm not chasing you, so don't run—go carefully!"
"Uwaaaah!"
Did I say I was gonna kill him? I just repeated what he'd said to me.
"Young Hero..."
"How have you been, Sister?"
"Haa... I've been well."
Ho-yeon shook her head and returned my greeting with a one-handed clasp, proper for a Shaolin monk.
"It was just a brief misunderstanding—will intimidating with force really resolve it?"
"Oh, force? I merely proved I'm a martial artist of the Jianghu to lend credibility to my words. No malicious intent at all."
"...I remember the Young Hero who helped me before as wiser and more gentle..."
"Everyone gets the treatment they deserve. What can I do when someone with eyes refuses to see and harbors suspicions?"
"..."
"Stones naturally turn to sand over time anyway. What's wrong with hastening nature's course a bit to open a fool's eyes?"
Ho-yeon gave me a subtle look before nodding.
"The Young Hero has his own enlightenment and path. It would be arrogant of me to try correcting it."
No, it wasn't that profound. Somehow, I'd gotten caught up in her demeanor and made an argument she'd accept.
"More importantly, what brings you to Anhui, Sister?"
"I stopped by the Namgung family to offer congratulations on the occasion, then detoured to Old Huashan to deliver a letter to a senior brother's friend."
"Ah, you too...? But I don't think I've seen you there."
"It was difficult to join the other patrons... I obtained permission from the family head and stayed only in my quarters."
I'd idly imagined if the visitor from Shaolin was Ho-yeon, and it turned out to be true.
"Shaolin sends congratulations to worldly weddings too?"
"Pardon...? Ah, no. It's not something that happens often..."
Ho-yeon trailed off. What was it? She seemed hesitant to speak. Since it wasn't important, I changed the subject.
"Anyway, good to see you, Sister. I didn't spot you at the Namgung family—never thought we'd meet here."
"Y-Yes, Young Hero. Truly..."
She seemed at a loss for words again. Why? It was just small talk.
But compared to Mong-a brazenly spinning lies, she almost seemed ethereal.
At that moment, I sensed Eon So-young's carriage approaching slowly and turned back.
"Kang Young Hero. What happened?"
"Ah, Madam. I got ahead of myself in excitement upon meeting an acquaintance."
"Oh, a Shaolin monk. But...?"
Eon So-young narrowed her eyes slightly, harboring the same suspicions as that drunkard.
"Pleased to meet you, Patron. This poor nun is Ho-yeon of Shaolin Temple."
"Eon So-young of the Namgung family. I am the mother of the family head, but... might you be one of the Shaolin visitors who graced our home recently?"
"Indeed, Lady Eon. I stayed at your household until lately."
Ah, she knew. But her gaze wasn't entirely friendly...
[So-young, I really haven't done anything with her.]
[But you plan to later, right?]
Guess that was the issue. My fault for not keeping my dick in check—who else to blame?
Honestly, if Ho-yeon had been mentally stable back then, I might have already made a move.
After exchanging brief pleasantries, Ho-yeon clasped her hands once more.
"Then I'll be on my way, Lady Eon, Young Hero."
"Wait, Sister. You're leaving just like that?"
I grabbed Ho-yeon before she departed. The sun wasn't setting soon enough to leave right away.
Better to find an inn here and set off tomorrow...
"That's right, Sister. If it wouldn't trouble you, why not stop by our estate and rest?"
"Pardon...?"
But before I could speak, Eon So-young had interpreted my words and invited her to our estate.
"No need, Patron. As a monk, I must decline..."
"Had we not met, it would be one thing, but sending away a guest of the family like this would be rude. If it's no burden, please stay the night."
Ho-yeon pondered briefly before replying.
"Very well, I gratefully accept your kindness, Patron."
As we helped the nodding Ho-yeon into the carriage, Eon So-young glanced at me and nodded.
No, this wasn't the development I wanted...
'But with Gyeon-i there, is it really okay to bring her?'
The baby couldn't even walk yet and wailed at every chance. I couldn't fathom Eon So-young's confidence in inviting her.
Ho-yeon slipped into a bathtub filled with slightly warm water.
The weather was hot, so cold water would have been fine, but the warmth melted away the fatigue from her whole body.
'Kang Yun... Young Hero...'
He was quite the memorable figure.
Last time, he had comforted her like a kind scholar, but this time he threatened and chased off a drunkard like a ruffian.
She hadn't expected the sudden change, so she had scolded him, but she was grateful for the help itself.
She felt the same.
On her way to the Namgung family, she had detoured to Old Huashan. She didn't strictly need to come this way, but she had taken the longer path on purpose.
To the market where she had met him.
She hadn't investigated where Kang Yun kept his residence or if he lived nearby.
But wanting to take one chance, she came here—and like a miracle, reunited with the man.
Purrrr...
Ho-yeon realized her heart was subtly racing at this coincidence and submerged half her face in the water.