Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Shall Mother... Relieve It? (1)
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Tang Hye-won was in an incredibly good mood.
It had been over twenty years since nearly all the elders of her family had passed away and the Tang Family had plunged into a pit of dark clouds. This was the first time the world looked so bright to her.
Just spending one night with someone who showered her with endless praise had filled her heart to the brim with happiness.
'Pretty, so pretty! I'm so pretty that he kissed me right here on the forehead... hehehe...'
When Kang Yun had kissed her forehead, she'd been startled at first. But the more she thought about it, the fluffier and warmer her chest felt.
Such a sweet sensation. She was certain now that in the village where Kang Yun had lived, this must have been a common greeting because they all knew this feeling.
Only now did she understand her husband. He must have surely embraced those courtesans because he craved this happiness too.
Once she stopped expecting him to fulfill his role as a husband, she found herself understanding him instead—and the absurdity of the situation made her chuckle.
While she was lost in this bliss, unnoticed by her, the members of her personal squad were sneaking peeks at her face and whispering among themselves.
"Hey, have you heard anything?"
"I'm the one who goes around gathering info, same as you. What do you expect?"
The Sichuan Tang Family's Covert Squad.
True to their name—hiding secrets—they were a direct unit under the family head, wielding information like a weapon. But even to them, their superior was a fearsome existence.
Dig deep enough, and they were just people living off a monthly stipend.
The field agents who gathered high-level intel might be different, but their lives—compiling and analyzing information—were far removed from the terrifying image of an intelligence outfit.
So right now, they were desperately trying to gauge the mood of their squad leader, whose face was beaming brighter than ever.
A person who was dour even with good news, and even more so with bad—why was she smiling like this?
Has something unimaginably good happened?
Or something unimaginably bad?
Unaware of her subordinates' fearful glances and speculation, Tang Hye-won simply basked in her happiness.
After morning greetings, I was out in the marketplace with Zhuge Mi-ryeong.
Go Cheon had been eliminated because escort agency work kept him buried in paperwork.
He must have been swamped if he had to come all the way out here to handle documents.
Meanwhile, we didn't have any specific errands, so Zhuge Mi-ryeong was half-dragging me around.
"Look at this! Wouldn't a dress made from this fabric look great on you?"
"Oh my, it would suit you perfectly, young lady."
"Heh! Not my little brother—my son."
Whenever she fixated on clothes or food like this, I got dragged along helplessly.
And even more pitiful was the Tang Family warrior escorting us.
"Y-Young master. Let me take that. I'll carry it."
"If I hand this over too, how will you see where you're going?"
"...Thank you."
We'd eaten the food on the spot, but the warrior was lugging all the fabric and other goods.
I should have brought an extra person.
But pointing out Zhuge Mi-ryeong's extravagance was tricky—Sichuan bordered the western regions, so many items here weren't easily found elsewhere.
The Tang Family's accumulated wealth stemmed from that.
Most major businesses had some tie to the Tangs, making Sichuan a true Tang kingdom.
The warrior's uniform bore a large "Tang" character, which probably made merchants extra friendly.
"Why are you carrying it? Give it to the escort."
"But Mother..."
She never cut anyone else this much slack. Seeing my flustered expression, Zhuge Mi-ryeong winked mischievously.
Once she dumped my share of the load on him too, the warrior's vision was completely blocked.
"Hmm, do you think you can keep escorting us like this?"
"I-It'll be difficult, ma'am."
Ah, is this...?
"Tsk tsk... This won't do for an escort..."
"S-Sorry..."
"Enough. Take that and head back first. We'll browse a bit more."
"P-Pardon? But..."
"Tell them I sent you back. If there's any reprimand, I'll handle it. Now go."
His face was hidden by the bundles, but he must have been floundering in panic.
Still, Zhuge Mi-ryeong shoved him on his way until he finally retreated.
"Whew, I get they're fawning because you're their guest, but they need some tact. Right?"
"Mother..."
"I want some cozy alone time with my son—no third wheels."
A moment of silence for the warrior who did all the grunt work and got called a bump on a log.
"Anywhere else you want to go? Just say the word."
Zhuge Mi-ryeong beamed. Why did every little gesture feel so girlfriend-like... Heart-fluttering...
But I'd come out here to prowl the back alleys—the Underground Network's turf.
With Master's letter lost before I could even read it, I had no way to contact them. I figured wandering the alleys might draw his attention.
I wouldn't stray far from the city anyway, so going solo should be fine...
'How long is she planning to tag along?'
I'd said we were just sightseeing, but she'd stuck to me like glue, making it a headache.
As the good son in the setting, I couldn't brusquely shake her off, leaving me in a bind.
"The weather's perfect for lake-viewing these days."
A candy vendor across the way spoke up, and Zhuge Mi-ryeong shot me a look that said, Shall we?
Fine, let's g... Sigh...
The lake called Sancha Lake was enormous.
The boatman said it was modest compared to Dongting Lake, but everything here felt grand.
"Your father and I used to boat like this often when we were young. He'd drag me out whenever he could, thinking I loved it."
She'd ditched the escort but chattered freely with the boatman.
"Didn't you like it?"
"Oh, I did. But it was being with your father that I loved—not boating itself."
She laughed, saying he still didn't get that I had zero interest in pleasure cruises.
"You'll meet a nice girl someday too, and get married, right?"
"...Probably."
"Your mother doesn't ask for much. Just choose whatever makes you happiest, Hyeon."
Zhuge Mi-ryeong clasped my hands tightly in both of hers.
"You don't need to become a famed hero of the Jianghu or take over the agency and make it prosper. Your father doesn't care about that stuff either."
"..."
"Just think of your own happiness—nothing else. You understand your mother, don't you?"
Her slender hands trembled. Her poignant gaze begged for agreement.
She'd probably spent the whole day waiting for a chance to say this.
She'd acted cheerful around me, but Go Hyeon's death must have clawed deep into her heart.
The desperate plea of a mother terrified of losing her son again pierced straight through me.
I grinned and said,
"I'll stuff my face and live off you till I die an old man, Mother."
"Pfft..."
My cheeky reply made her struggle to stifle a laugh.
"That's what I wanted—to make you smile. Laugh it up, Mother."
As if waiting for those words, clear laughter burst from Zhuge Mi-ryeong's lips.
The martial artist gasped for breath before calming her giggles, then playfully swatted my shoulder.
"My boy's all grown up. He even understands his mother's heart."
"Anyone would do this much."
She went on gushing about how her son was the best for a good while, until
Plip, plop.
Rain began falling from the sky.
"Oh dear, folks! I'll dock the boat right away!"
The flustered boatman shouted hastily.
With no canopy on the boat, we were about to get drenched.
I could probably ward off the rain with protective qi, but at Go Hyeon's skill level—as I'd heard from Go Cheon—that was impossible.
I took the rain as it came, and sure enough, Zhuge Mi-ryeong did too, unwilling to shelter alone.
Ah, a mother's love...
Skillfully navigating through the downpour, the boatman beached us. He bowed repeatedly in apology.
Zhuge Mi-ryeong waved it off and headed for the nearest roofed spot.
The boatman had some sense—he soon spotted a small pavilion nearby.
Only after reaching it could we catch our breath.
"I had no idea it'd rain like this. The sky was so clear..."
"Are you alright, Mother?"
"Mother's fine. I'm a peak-level expert, you know."
She flexed her arm proudly, and suddenly it hit me.
Ah, I'm screwed.
Her rain-soaked clothes clung tightly, blatantly outlining her figure.
Less voluptuous than Tang Hye-won or Eon So-young, but beautifully harmonious curves.
Still, far from lacking—it was seductively alluring.
I'd tried drilling Confucian virtues into my dick, but it was too late.
After unloading into Tang Hye-won last night, the shameless bastard was now borrowing the Ascending Immortal Art's power to flaunt its might.
The throbbing erection seemed to taunt me:
'You're not even Go Hyeon—why the freakout? Why should I hide in front of a hot bitch?'
Totally agree, but not now, seriously not... Please go down...
The more I focused, the sharper the sensation of wet fabric clinging to it became.
And then.
"Hyeon..."
Zhuge Mi-ryeong spotted my painfully erect dick. She flinched and covered herself, but it was too late.
That very motion made it twitch harder in response.
Half-turned, she peeked back with just her eyes, but my dick showed no signs of calming.
If anything, realizing how her drenched clothes revealed her ass's perfect curve only made it rage more.
Finally, she faced me, lips pressed tight before parting again.
"Hyeon..."
I could already imagine her scolding me as worse than a beast...
"Mother, I... Mother..."
Disappointed in me? Like a drill sergeant?
"If it's... hard... shall Mother... relieve it for you?"
Ooh yeah.