Chapter 29: Even If a Woman Like You Lay Naked Before Me, I Wouldn't Spare You a Glance
Lu Xiaoruan had no idea who was backing Yeop Hyeon. But he was the man who had killed the elders and lord of Chwiseonru—and lived to tell the tale!
Yeop Hyeon eyed Mo Sui Qing closely. He had no desire to approach a woman who looked so haughty and discerning, only to suffer needless humiliation.
To Yeop Hyeon, the most important thing in choosing a companion was mutual affection and compatible temperaments. He believed love born of talent or power wasn't true love at all. How could it be love when someone professed devotion while you had money, then ignored you once it was gone?
The banquet soon began. Yeop Hyeon and his sister sat at the same table as Lu Xiaoruan and his son. The table was laden with exquisite delicacies from land and sea.
Yeop Hyeon, Yeop Ryeong, and Lu Ming fell upon the food with ravenous gusto. Yeop Hyeon and Yeop Ryeong had endured such hardships growing up that they'd never even tasted such rarities before. As for Lu Ming, he was simply a glutton.
While others mingled, exchanged pleasantries, or called for more wine, the only sounds from Yeop Hyeon's table were the noises of enthusiastic eating.
Lu Xiaoruan could only muster a wry smile at the sight. His son Lu Ming had no knack for sweet talk or making friends—in fact, it was a blessing if he didn't offend people.
Lu Xiaoruan knew Yeop Hyeon had high standards and didn't befriend just anyone. Yet today, every time Yeop Hyeon introduced himself as a mere mountain hermit, people excused themselves and left.
Yeop Hyeon was just as baffled.
Who asked about a person's family background before even trying to get to know them!?
Moments later, Lu Xiaoruan spotted someone and rose from his seat.
"Stay here and enjoy the meal. I'll go greet some acquaintances."
Yeop Hyeon and Lu Ming were too absorbed in their food to hear him. Only Yeop Ryeong, her mouth stuffed with food, gave Lu Xiaoruan a polite nod.
Yeop Ryeong handed Yeop Hyeon a massive chicken leg.
"Oppa, eat up! You need to build your strength!"
She then piled vegetables into Lu Ming's bowl.
"Fatty, you need to lose weight, so eat more veggies!"
Lu Ming glared resentfully at the greens in his bowl.
"Isn't this a bit too much favoritism?"
Yeop Ryeong giggled and added more pork to Yeop Hyeon's plate.
"Oppa, this is so tender and delicious!"
Lu Ming could only gape in exasperation.
"Tch! When we get home, I'll ask Mom for a little sister—or two!"
Yeop Hyeon and Yeop Ryeong exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, sitting beside Mo Sui Qing was another woman with her face veiled in thin silk. It was Han Hyang-mong, who had just arrived. As she chatted with Mo Sui Qing, her eyes kept flicking toward Yeop Hyeon in the distance. She hadn't expected him to attend the banquet.
Mo Sui Qing noticed Han Hyang-mong's wandering gaze and followed it to Yeop Hyeon.
"Hyang-mong, do you know him?"
Han Hyang-mong nodded, and Mo Sui Qing smiled.
"If he's caught your interest, he must be no ordinary man... Tell me, what family is he from?"
"We've only spoken once or twice. I don't know him well."
Mo Sui Qing flashed a sly, foxlike grin.
"You don't know him well, yet you keep staring? Admit it—you're interested. Let me see... He's got a decent face, and those eyes aren't bad."
Han Hyang-mong shook her head vigorously.
"Don't read too much into it. We've really only crossed paths a couple times. I'm just surprised to see him here."
Mo Sui Qing glanced around with a laugh.
"Of course he'd come. This place is packed with talents from every city in Jiang Kingdom. He's here to build connections. In this era, connections matter as much as skill, right?"
"Have you ever seen him talking to anyone?"
Mo Sui Qing pondered her words, then looked at Yeop Hyeon again. After a moment, she frowned oddly.
"Now that you mention it, he does seem a bit unusual."
"Enough. He's got nothing to do with us."
"No, now I'm curious. Let's go talk to him!"
As Mo Sui Qing grabbed her arm, Han Hyang-mong paled.
"Sui Qing, don't! You can't mess with him!"
"Can't mess with him? Now you really have me suspicious. What happened? What's your connection to him?"
Before Han Hyang-mong could respond, Mo Sui Qing cut her off.
"Forget it. Now I'm dying to know. Come on—let's go say hi!"
Mo Sui Qing dragged a reluctant Han Hyang-mong to Yeop Hyeon's table.
The eyes that had been watching Mo Sui Qing's every move now turned to Yeop Hyeon.
Who was he?
People began wondering about his identity. How many men in the world could draw Mo Sui Qing's attention?
"Is anyone sitting here? Mind if we join?"
Yeop Hyeon looked up at the two women. He recognized Han Hyang-mong instantly.
What is she playing at?
Before he could reply, Mo Sui Qing pulled Han Hyang-mong to a seat and sat beside her. She stared intently at Yeop Hyeon.
"May I have your name, young master? Which sect are you from?"
Yeop Hyeon set down his chopsticks and cupped his fists in salute.
"Yeop Hyeon, a mere mountain hermit."
A mountain hermit?
Mo Sui Qing's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Just some random nobody from the hills?"
"Nothing more."
"Haha, a mountain hermit hardly qualifies to be here, does he?"
"I'm just tagging along with Tianshan City's Lord Lu Xiaoruan for a free meal."
Here for a free meal!?
The hall erupted in laughter at Yeop Hyeon's words.
Mo Sui Qing laughed too.
"You're the first to admit coming here just to eat."
Yeop Hyeon fell silent for a moment, then fixed his gaze on her.
"Lady Mo, if there's nothing else, please leave."
To Yeop Hyeon, drawing attention wasn't ideal. He had no wish to make enemies without cause.
"I just wanted a friendly chat. Is that not allowed? Do I seem unworthy to sit with you, Young Master Yeop?"
Mo Sui Qing's lips curved upward slyly.
The men surrounding her darkened their expressions. One strode to their table and glared coldly at Yeop Hyeon.
"Lady Mo, who is this nobody that he dares share a table with you?"
Thwack!
Lu Ming slammed the table with his palm, his face flushed with fury.
"Who the hell are you, you mangy mutt, to speak to my big bro like that!?"
The man narrowed his eyes.
"You wanna die?"
As Lu Ming reared back to retort, Yeop Hyeon grabbed his arm to stop him. He turned to Mo Sui Qing.
"Lady Mo, have I somehow offended you? Or are you deliberately stirring up trouble against me?"
Mo Sui Qing blinked innocently.
"Me, stirring trouble? No, you're so wrong about me!"
She sighed softly, muttering to herself.
"Sigh... I just thought you seemed extraordinary and wanted to talk, but you misunderstand me so. You must not want to befriend me."
"Listen, Lady Mo. Don't you realize your words are dragging me into scandal!?"
Mo Sui Qing smirked.
"That's your problem, isn't it?"
It was clear she'd come to provoke him. Yeop Hyeon pulled Yeop Ryeong and Lu Ming to their feet.
"Let's go."
Yeop Ryeong nodded obediently, then snatched an apple from the table—Yeop Hyeon's favorite—and pocketed it.
As the three turned to leave, Mo Sui Qing's eyes turned icy.
"Young Master Yeop, how rude! You won't even exchange words with me?"
The man beside her chuckled.
"Lady Mo, is this worm worth the argument?"
He turned to Yeop Ryeong with a sneer.
"Not content with freeloading a meal, he even steals fruit on the way out! Vulgar rabble act vulgar, after all."
Yeop Ryeong's face drained of color. She hastily placed the apple back on the table.
Han Hyang-mong paled too.
All the incidents on the transport ship had stemmed from Yeop Hyeon's sister!
Her ominous premonition proved true. Yeop Hyeon's figure blurred, and in an instant, he was before the man. Before the fool could react, Yeop Hyeon's fist smashed into his mouth.
Thud!
The man's body flew back several zhang, teeth and blood spraying from his mouth.
The onlookers' faces changed in an instant.
Striking someone here!
Mo Sui Qing, stunned that he'd actually strike, glared coldly at him.
"I've never met anyone so lacking in patience!"
Yeop Hyeon withdrew his fist and stepped toward her.
"I despise women like you—who rely on their looks to belittle others, know nothing of respect, and only know how to manipulate the men around them. Does it amuse you to watch them live and die at your every word? Even if a woman like you stripped naked and lay before me, I wouldn't spare you a glance—so stop harassing me!"
With that, Yeop Hyeon snatched the apple from the table and led Yeop Ryeong and Lu Ming away.
The banquet hall fell deathly silent at his words.
He was the first to insult Mo Sui Qing so publicly before so many.
Wasn't she the woman every man in the Imperial City desired?
Mo Sui Qing slammed her palm on the table.
Crack!
The table instantly crumbled to dust.
In a flash, her figure appeared before Yeop Hyeon. Her lips smiled, but her eyes blazed with killing intent.
"Repeat that. One more time."
Yeop Hyeon didn't retreat—he stepped forward. They were now close enough to feel each other's breath.
"I despise women like you—who rely on their looks to belittle others, know nothing of respect, and only know how to manipulate the men around them. Does it amuse you to watch them live and die at your every word? Even if a woman like you stripped naked and lay before me, I wouldn't spare you a glance."