Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Please Consider It Positively (1)
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Anhui Namgung Family.
The new family head, Namgung Hak, who had succeeded his predecessor Namgung Tan, doubted his own ears.
"You're... leaving the family?"
"It's a bit different, but similar enough, Family Head."
Sitting across from him was Eon So-young, who had been called the Great Madam ever since Namgung Tan's death.
"What do you mean, Mother? Father passed away not long ago. At a time like this, you should be the one holding things together..."
"The center of the Namgung Family has always been the family head. You know that."
Eon So-young chided her son, now the family head.
"I'm not familiar with family affairs right now, so it makes sense for me to handle the lady of the house duties. But once you get used to things, Family Head, I'm saying it'd be better if I weren't around."
"It's not that urgent, is it?"
Namgung Hak said hastily.
His mother had just returned from suffering in some distant place, tangled up with a random unorthodox expert.
Sending her out of the family in that state was unthinkable, both as family head and as a son.
"I know, Family Head. But we can't put it off forever. What good would an old mother like me be to you except a burden?"
"Mother..."
"Don't worry. Three months of teaching should be enough. You're sharp, after all."
Namgung Hak, whose mouth would split into a grin at any praise from his wife, furrowed his brow, unable to understand why his mother was pushing so hard to leave.
His thick features gave him a weighty impression that could look intimidating, but to his mother Eon So-young, it was just pitiful.
If not for the possible life growing in her belly, she wouldn't have any reason to rush like this.
It hadn't even been a full month, so it wasn't certain yet, but if Kang Yun was that confident, the chances were high.
'I can't see the family physician. I'll have to find a good doctor elsewhere.'
In about two months, the pregnancy would be clear. Once confirmed by pulse diagnosis, she planned to acquire a manor in a remote location and live there.
Her maids from her parental home and their daughters would keep the secret.
'Our baby...'
A child made purely of love, with no regard for family ties.
Her four children with her late husband were still precious, but this one was especially dear.
She would feed it only the best food, dress it in the finest clothes, and show it only the most beautiful sights.
Eon So-young gently stroked her belly, praying the baby was growing safely.
A few days had passed since Peng Yeon-hwa had witnessed my happy sex time.
I had planned to go see her right away, but Tang Hye-won said it was better to let it sit for a few days.
At first, she'd reject it fiercely out of disgust, but after time passed, her curiosity about why would kick in.
Then approach gradually and nudge her along—that was her advice. Info agency experience really is something else.
Tang Hye-won, who had spilled everything to me in a panic—is this the same woman? Tang Hye-won is a legend...
And today, finally, she was going alone to persuade Peng Yeon-hwa. She must have gone by now.
Meanwhile, what was I doing...?
Clang!
"Excellent!"
Excellent my ass.
I was wielding a sword, attacking Go Cheon.
With my master's permission, I told Go Cheon I would accept his proposal.
Go Cheon, who had already been getting free son-service from me, didn't look thrilled about having to pay for what he'd been getting gratis, but sorry, customer, full price it is.
For starters, to fool Zhuge Mi-ryeong, he taught me the basic patterns, sword grips, and footwork of his unique swordsmanship.
Of course, it was limited to the external movements, with all the inner energy flows omitted.
I was just mimicking those motions and swinging with raw physical power, but from afar, Zhuge Mi-ryeong wouldn't see through the feints, he said.
[How long do I have to do this?]
[Until your wife leaves.]
My swordsmanship was trash even by my own standards, but my speed and strength were solidly peak expert level, so Go Cheon seemed genuinely excited for once.
He hadn't taken a break even when I suggested one midway, blocking my attacks nonstop.
There was something mountain-like in Go Cheon's defense.
A steadfast mountain that had weathered eons beyond human measure.
His sword was even smaller than Huangbo Hyo-seon's, which made it odd.
And his sword forms didn't particularly feel suited to overwhelming with brute force.
Watching Go Cheon move his sword brought those thoughts to mind.
Before I knew it, I forgot about the persuasion's success or failure and got absorbed in observing how Go Cheon's sword moved as I swung mine.
Tang Hye-won stood properly composed in front of Peng Yeon-hwa's quarters—precisely, her training ground—announcing her visit.
It had been a long time since she last came here, but the space still felt oppressively gloomy.
As if it symbolized Peng Yeon-hwa's current position, leaving a bitter taste in Tang Hye-won's mouth.
Even if husband and wife had grown distant, Peng Yeon-hwa was a pillar of the Tang Family.
Many wondered if the Tangs could have held their place as Sichuan's overlords without her steady presence at the center.
It was strangely telling that, aside from the Martial Alliance Pavilion Master, no one had directly condemned the family head's intent to push her aside.
'What if she gave up devoting herself to the Tang Family...?'
As her thoughts reached that point, enough time had passed that the warrior who went to relay her message returned and opened the way inside.
The path leading underground was studded with expensive luminous jewels.
A measure taken since torches couldn't be lit in the air-restricted depths.
Tang Hye-won found it absurd that such lavish spending created a gilded cage to hide his wife from the world.
A powerful expert in the same group boosts morale just by existing.
You could tell from the aura felt from afar.
A different league entirely.
An overwhelming presence that made you believe no hidden weapon or poison could harm her.
For such an expert to seclude herself in training out of her brother-in-law's inferiority complex...
As Tang Hye-won neared her, the saber Peng Yeon-hwa wielded gracefully exploded in speed, then halted abruptly as if by magic.
Complicated emotions clouded Peng Yeon-hwa's sweat-glistened face.
"Come in, Deputy Leader. I called you here since I was training."
"It's fine, Matriarch."
Familiar terms between them had vanished long ago.
Peng Yeon-hwa wiped her sweat lightly with a cloth from the side, hung her saber on the weapon rack, and turned to Tang Hye-won.
"Almost no one visits this training ground."
"..."
"And even if someone sneaks in, few in the entire jianghu could evade my eyes. So speak freely."
Gulp.
"An explanation that could justify... that kind of relationship."
She hadn't expected it to be easy, but facing Peng Yeon-hwa's sunken gaze made Tang Hye-won tense anew.
Still, thinking of the pitiful woman's plight bolstered her resolve.
"First, there's something I'd like you to confirm, Matriarch."
"What is it?"
Instead of answering, Tang Hye-won extended her arm, inner side up. The gesture's meaning was singular.
'Check my pulse...?'
Peng Yeon-hwa tilted her head but extended her hand to Tang Hye-won's pulse point after a nod.
She carefully infused qi to observe the inner energy—and couldn't hide her shock.
No matter how she examined it, the flow was markedly stronger than before, its purity astonishing.
Still first-rate at best, but peak expert wasn't far off now.
Withdrawing her qi, Peng Yeon-hwa steadied her breath and spoke.
"You've been training diligently, Deputy Leader..."
Tang Hye-won met her gaze with deep intent.
Her eyes seemed to say: You know this isn't from training alone.
Tang Hye-won's original inner power was a mess, a hodgepodge from the spirit elixirs she consumed.
Spirit elixirs form naturally from abnormally clumped qi.
Naturally, none suit specific cultivation methods perfectly; useful and useless qi mix chaotically.
That's why harvesting, refining out impurities, forming pills, and consuming them is necessary.
Even refined, remnants require diligent meditation to absorb only the needed qi.
Tang Hye-won had skipped all that.
Her martial talent wasn't exceptional, and as a woman, growth was limited.
She got the leftovers after distribution to talented direct and branch members.
She couldn’t even purge the impurities properly.
The mediocre, impure energy even hindered her progress.
Peng Yeon-hwa knew all this.
"I misspoke. You must have had some special encounter. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Even in this situation about her affair, Peng Yeon-hwa stiffly offered congratulations.
True to her rigid nature, she didn't forget the point.
"But remember, this isn't a gathering to celebrate your achievements."
"Don't you see?"
A question out of nowhere.
After seconds staring at Tang Hye-won's meaningful smile, realization struck Peng Yeon-hwa like lightning.
"No, it can't be... Impossible. That couldn't happen!"
"But the proof is right in front of you."
Tang Hye-won stated it firmly to the denying Peng Yeon-hwa.
"My current achievements are the result of intercourse with him."
"That man—is he some kind of human elixir!?"
Tang Hye-won shook her head and explained the Ascending Immortal Art—renamed, focusing on its effects.
"Yin-Yang Divine Art... Never heard of it."
"If you had, it would already be known."
True enough. Peng Yeon-hwa thought she'd never forget a technique that purified and strengthened inner energy through intercourse.
"Did you report this to the family head...?"
"No. No need, and shouldn't."
"But for the family's sake..."
Tang Hye-won let out a dramatic sigh at that.
"What if word of this technique spread? It wouldn't stay the Tang Family's problem."
"..."
"The entire jianghu would descend into chaos, and within the family, they'd try to seize and monopolize it from him."
Peng Yeon-hwa berated herself at Tang Hye-won's question of whether that truly revived the family.
"Sorry. I was so shocked I didn't think that far..."
Tang Hye-won inwardly smirked at the sincere apology.
Everything so far matched her expectations.
"Then how did you... get help from Young Master Kang?"
"Help?"
"To advance your cultivation through... intercourse with him."
Tang Hye-won chuckled.
"No."
"...No? You don't mean..."
"Exactly. I embraced him because I like that man. Because I love him."
Seeing Tang Hye-won say martial gains were merely a bonus, Peng Yeon-hwa grew confused.
"What about your husband?"
"Which husband? The one from a political marriage where we made kids like a chore? The one who visits courtesans whenever he can? Certainly not one who treats his wife with respect..."
"..."
"I don't know who you mean."
Peng Yeon-hwa couldn't bring up the husband anymore. She knew Tang Hye-won's marriage was loveless.
"That man holds me passionately. Like he can't help adoring me."
"Enough..."
"I've imagined erasing my marriage to my husband countless times. Every time his manhood pierces me..."
"I said stop!"
Peng Yeon-hwa felt her energy drain. The Tang Hye-won she knew was gone, replaced by a lewd harlot vulgarly describing her affair.
Waving her hand without meeting eyes, she said,
"I'll keep silent on this. Now go. Don't torment me further."
"Just one more thing."
Even with the dismissal, Tang Hye-won added curtly.
"I—and Young Master Kang—want you, Sister-in-Law, to know this joy too."
"What...!"
Ignoring Peng Yeon-hwa's shock, Tang Hye-won said firmly.
"Please consider it positively."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Peng Yeon-hwa wanted to stop her but dreaded more shocking words.
Relief came from Tang Hye-won's consistently calm demeanor.
The first clear thought in Peng Yeon-hwa's chaotic mind: it had been ages since Tang Hye-won called her "Sister-in-Law."