Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Did You Say Rejection? (2)
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After dumping a thick load deep inside Peng Yeon-hwa, I returned to my quarters to find Go Cheon already back.
His face, never one for constant smiles to begin with, somehow looked deeply troubled.
Mindful of Zhuge Mi-ryeong's gaze, I greeted Go Cheon.
"Father, have you returned?"
"Yes. Were you taking good care of Mother?"
"Of course."
I could see Zhuge Mi-ryeong's eyelid twitch. Yeah, I took real good care of her.
'With my dick every damn night.'
Go Cheon, oblivious to the nightly fireworks-dick filial piety I'd been dishing out these past few days, just nodded like it was no big deal.
"Merchant Go, is something wrong? You look so grim."
"...It's nothing."
Nothing my ass. Anyone could see something was up.
"Father, they say even a blank sheet is better with two hands holding it. I might not be much help, but I can at least listen, right?"
Go Cheon furrowed his brow for a moment before shaking his head again.
"No. It's not a big deal. Just a bit of a headache, so leave it to your father."
Go Cheon flashed a sturdy smile, like he was truly my dad now. Ugh, suddenly I felt a pang of guilt...
"More importantly, I heard from the Martial Alliance Pavilion Master that you turned down the Nine Dragons Contest?"
That old guy's been flapping his gums already, huh.
"I don't see the need to jump in right now. My skills are still lacking too much anyway..."
"Good thinking. No need to rush. Right, Madam?"
Go Cheon locked eyes straight with Zhuge Mi-ryeong, then seemed to sense something off and spoke up.
"Madam, is something wrong? Your complexion..."
The result of nightly filial piety without the Ascending Immortal Art had left Zhuge Mi-ryeong's face etched with exhaustion.
Even so, considering she lacked the art, I'd limited it to about three shifts a day, but the fatigue still clung to her features.
"You brat—didn't you say you were taking good care? What the hell did you do to leave Mother like this?"
Go Cheon scolding me looked every bit the real father. Was he seriously planning to adopt me or something?
That'd actually make me feel bad...
"Don't scold Hyeon-i. It's just... I've been having trouble sleeping lately..."
Go Cheon's face fell into an 'oh shit' expression. He must've already known about her insomnia.
"Ahem. Still, as her son, you should've paid more attention..."
"But lately, Hyeon-i holds my hand at night and sleeps with me, so it's much better. No need to worry so much, Merchant Go."
Oh, lady. You really shouldn't have said that.
Go Cheon glanced at me without a second thought and nodded, then realized what she meant and froze solid.
The instant Zhuge Mi-ryeong turned her head away, his face twisted into a demonic snarl.
Go Cheon stroked his chin at my defense—outmatched in position and power—then nodded as if convinced.
I filled him in on the full story, and Go Cheon ended up looking ashamed instead.
A wife tormented by sleep paralysis, a fake son brought in by the maids out of pity, that fake son holding her hand every night until she decided he should sleep beside her too.
No one could blame me for that. Hell no.
Setting aside the fact that my cock-club had fireworks-filial-piety'd Zhuge Mi-ryeong's pussy, I was the perfect son.
"What are you two chatting about so amusingly?"
I turned to see Zhuge Mi-ryeong glaring, probably because the telepathy dragged on too long.
"Men's talk again? Don't tell me... you were scolding him via telepathy after I said not to..."
"Hah, Madam, what do you take me for? It was nothing serious, so don't worry."
Go Cheon's momentum, already deflating, crumbled in an instant.
Even as he denied it, Zhuge Mi-ryeong eyed us suspiciously, so Go Cheon turned to me.
"Right! Hyeon-ah, take Mother to the market. Wu Gong Merchant Group's back from trading and flooding the place with goods."
It was a lame deflection, but I played along.
"Really? I think I've heard Wu Gong's the top merchant group in Sichuan..."
"Sichuan? They're top-tier in the whole world. Especially with foreign trade..."
After Go Cheon's Wu Gong promo spiel, once we'd all internalized 'perfect spot for shopping!', I said to Zhuge Mi-ryeong,
"Mother, shall we go? Your son will escort you."
I asked with a pure smile, no ulterior motives, but she flinched and sneakily checked Go Cheon's reaction.
No, I haven't even unlocked outdoor sex with Tang Hye-won yet—why are you like this...
"Then go tomorrow. You bought tons of Sichuan silk but barely any jewels to match."
Pushed by Go Cheon, Zhuge Mi-ryeong had no choice.
"Alright, shall we go out with my son then?"
This time it'd be a quiet shopping trip, nothing else—no need to look so scared...
It was supposed to be a simple grab-the-goods-and-go plan...
But while Zhuge Mi-ryeong stepped away to call the carriage, shit hit the fan.
I sensed a sticky ki clashing subtly with mine and turned to see some guy staring right back.
What the fuck is this psycho?
"You must be Sichuan's top genius, Go Hyeon!"
What the hell is this guy... Barf... Do all jianghu folks pop up like this?
"I'm Hyeong-wan, Demonic Whirlwind Dragon, disciple of Ming Cult's First Elder! My master..."
He mumbled some bullshit, and it was so cringey my limbs curled up in secondhand embarrassment.
This isn't street casting—what the fuck? There's a limit to drive-bys, right?
Is this the murim vibe I missed? Amid the fading murmurs, I looked around—the market folk were scrambling to pack up and flee.
"...I can't accept this! Thus, I challenge you to a duel!"
This Hyeong-wan whatever solo-monologued until 'duel', snapping me back to reality.
Cringe aside, getting hit means death.
The moment I focused, the bastard sneakily unleashed palm force.
I countered instantly with Heavenly Yang Palm.
The two forces collided and canceled, the backlash kicking up a gale that swept goods and merchants aside.
"You crazy fuck! Who starts shit right in the street like this?!"
"Tch, you're no true jianghu man if you're not prepared. Don't you know a real jianghu soul is ready for life-or-death anywhere?"
"Bullshit! Fine, I'm jianghu, so whatever. But what did these innocent folks do to deserve your crap?!"
"Hah, Sichuan's top genius talks like a street thug, using commoners as an excuse to dodge? Pathetic."
Hyeong-wan flicked his fingers after repelling my Heavenly Yang Finger blasts with reverse-grip dagger, all five at once.
I tensed for Finger Wind, but nothing...
"Fuck!"
Shiiik
Too late, I sensed three sinister finger forces targeting front, flank, back—spun like a top on reflex.
Brushed off the palm strikes aimed at neck, side, back with fists and feet, but Hyeong-wan was already closing in.
"Pathetic. Don't you know the simple truth in jianghu: the one who loses his head is the loser?"
"That's why I'm gonna make you the loser!"
I channeled Phantom Finger energy, infusing sinister ki into my finger force. Figured he'd parry similarly, but he dodged leisurely with footwork.
'Shit... am I getting pushed...?'
Peng Yeon-hwa always hammered 'seize control of the situation'—not happening here, so odds weren't great.
His moves flowed organically; my committed strikes barely disrupted his momentum.
All my attacks were in his calculations.
"With your skill, I could name a few others I know who match."
"Must be nice having skilled buddies, you psycho!"
Pushed his dagger with Heavenly Yang Palm, followed with delayed Dragon Ascending Kick to the jaw—but he grabbed my leg by a hair.
Shoved him with the other foot to free both legs, snapped my head back to dodge incoming Finger Wind to the skull.
This guy was a full-fledged peak master for sure.
Not a half-baked type like me with just lingering inner power—mastery in technique and cultivation.
My gains let me at least trade blows.
Plus, unlike with Huangbo Hyo-seon, surroundings were reversed.
That was empty woods, trees too dense for swordplay, and I knew rough terrain.
But this market had folks clueless about life, packing up— one errant palm strike and lives were at stake.
Thought about ignoring and closing eyes, but amid them were a few hot MILFs.
'Unless I'm dying, I ain't harming hot MILFs with my own hands!'
Hyeong-wan, knowing or not my plight, kept yapping.
"Everyone handles their own life. When a blade threatens your neck, only your skill saves you last..."
"Who're you to preach, gripping that blade?!"
Everything about him pissed me off. Plus that clashing, unpleasant ki since earlier.
Demonic qi, no doubt. He even name-dropped Ming Cult.
Master taught me about it, but who knew I'd meet a demonic-qi-spewing fucker smack in central Sichuan.
Using full power, it was faint enough to ignore if I tried—but this asshole made it grating.
Should be holed up in Demonic Cult, not stirring shit here. Ruining my mood.
Isn't Demonic Cult way off in bumfuck nowhere?
"How dare you claim top genius in Sichuan with that? What did Blood Demon see in you?"
A baby-fresh body clean of meridian waste.
"Never claimed shit, asshole! And how the fuck should I know what that old Blood Demon saw?!"
Trashing master was grave sin in etiquette, but I trusted he'd understand with his big heart.
Hyeong-wan looked properly pissed at my words.
"Old man...?"
Oh shit, Ming Cult too? Respects his master?
But now, strong or not, I didn't give a damn.
Whirrrick
I felt the clash of intense ki waves—Zhuge Mi-ryeong was back.