Rescued a Damsel, Got a Tycoon's Son
Letting out a soft sigh, I approached the women huddled in a corner of the clearing.
One of them, shivering on the ground with a bandit's cloak draped over her shoulders, stumbled to her feet.
"M-My lady... No, benefactor."
Tears welled in her eyes as she collapsed to her knees, bowing deeply before me.
"Thank you... thank you so much. If not for you, we would have become playthings for those horrible bandits, living lives worse than beasts. I will never forget this immense grace, even in death."
At her heartfelt words, the other women threw themselves to the ground as well, sobbing with relief.
Feeling a bit awkward, I scratched the back of my neck and gently took the woman by her shoulders to help her up.
"Ah, please stand. It was really nothing. I only did what anyone should have done. Besides, as a fellow woman, how could I stand by and watch those beasts commit such atrocities?"
The words "as a fellow woman" rolled off my tongue with terrifying naturalness.
Well, whatever. My shell is officially a woman now, so of course I can't stand by and watch such vile things. Yes, absolutely.
Having completed this shameless self-rationalization, I gently patted the women's shoulders.
"You must all be exhausted and shaken up, so please rest here in the fortress tonight. I've cleared those pests out of the way, so you'll be perfectly safe. But tell me, do you have anywhere to go once morning comes?"
At my question, the woman's face fell once more.
"...The merchant caravan escorting us was completely wiped out by those bastards. We have nowhere to return to, and no way to make a living... We will have to figure out what to do once dawn breaks."
Her resigned tone put me in a tight spot.
Ah, rescuing them was fine and dandy, but am I supposed to take responsibility for their livelihoods and travel expenses too?
I was a penniless, dirt-spoon wanderer barely managing to look after myself. How did the legendary heroes in wuxia novels handle this stuff with such effortless grace? Should I split some of the silver I just plundered from Jeok Mumeong's tent?
While I was locked in a fierce internal battle over distributing the stolen goods, a soft, incredibly sweet voice spoke up from behind me.
"Excuse me... perhaps I could be of assistance?"
I turned around to see the beautiful boy standing there politely, wearing a loose-fitting woman's robe that Soso had scrounged up for him.
Draped in what looked like a skirt, he cut the perfect figure of a tragic, sorrowful beauty under the dim glow of the campfire.
"Hmm?"
As I stared at him with questioning eyes, the beautiful boy modestly adjusted his collar and bowed.
"Forgive my late introduction. I am Seomun Jin, the second son of the Hebei Seomun Family. Though I have shown you a pathetic and unsightly side of myself, I possess a considerable amount of personal wealth. I will gladly cover all their travel expenses and provide enough support to ensure they can safely return home and rebuild their lives."
The boy's generous offer instantly brought color back to the despairing women's faces. However, what caught my attention wasn't his noble heart, but the highly familiar family name that had just slipped past his lips.
The Seomun Family? The second son of the Hebei Seomun Family?
In an instant, a vivid, sticky memory from the Dragon Gate Inn flashed through my mind like lightning.
Ah! Seomun Cheol!
That absolute beast of a sugar daddy who, without a lick of martial arts, had corrupted the wicked sect leader Soyoyo into a whimpering bitch using nothing but his monstrous cock.
Right. Seomun Cheol's junk was absolutely, obscenely massive too. And considering what was dangling between this kid's legs just a moment ago... Does the Seomun Family have some kind of legendary, generational giant-dick lineage?!
While I was internally marveling at the Seomun Family's miraculous lower-body genetics, Seomun Jin, sensing my blatant and intense gaze, tilted his head.
"Does my benefactor happen to know of our Seomun Family?"
"Ah... Well, before coming to Kaifeng, I happened to run into someone named Seomun Cheol at the Dragon Gate Inn."
At my reply, Seomun Jin's tear-rimmed eyes sparkled.
"Ah! You met my brother! Heavens, to think the benefactor who rescued me from that horrific abyss is already acquainted with my brother. This must be a profound destiny woven by the heavens themselves."
Seomun Jin stared at me with a look of deep emotion—and a strange, subtle hint of heat.
Seeing this well-endowed, beautiful boy—who had been lying naked on Jeok Mumeong's bed just moments ago—gazing at me with such yearning while babbling about "profound destiny" sent a cold shiver straight down my spine.
"Uh... Oh. Is that so? Haha... What a strange coincidence indeed..."
I wiped the cold sweat from my brow with the back of my hand, awkwardly averting my eyes.
Completely unfazed by my awkwardness, Seomun Jin clasped his hands together, his eyes shining like stars as if he were already planning how to repay his debt of gratitude.
Unable to bear the sheer weight of his gaze, I cleared my throat and quickly turned back to the women.
"Ahem! Anyway! You've all been through a terrible ordeal today, so you must be thoroughly exhausted. Since Young Master Seomun has offered to cover your travel expenses, please rest easy and get some sleep here tonight. Once morning comes, we will arrange for everyone's departure."
"Thank you, benefactor!"
"We will never forget your kindness as long as we live!"
The women nodded in relief, and Seomun Jin also bowed politely.
Staying in a bandit fortress was a bit unsettling, but dragging these traumatized women out into the dark night would have been far worse. Having settled the matter, I headed straight over to where Soso was working.
Soso, who had been busily moving about, quickly straightened up as I approached.
"You gathered everything, right?"
When I asked with my arms crossed, Soso nodded vigorously, as if she had been waiting for the question.
"Of course! See that cart over there? I packed up absolutely everything that looked valuable."
I glanced in the direction she pointed. Sure enough, the cart parked to the side was loaded to the brim with pouches of silver, expensive-looking jewelry, fine silks, and various ornaments.
"Oh." I nodded in spite of myself. "Impressive. Excellent job."
As I reached my hand out to accompany the praise, "Eek!" Soso reflexively hunched her shoulders and squeezed her eyes shut. The sheer trauma of all the forehead flicks I'd given her seemed deeply engraved in her brain.
But instead of flicking her forehead, my hand landed gently on her messy hair. *Pat, pat.*
"Huh...?" Cowering in fear, Soso blinked her round eyes and looked up at me. I chuckled, ruffling her hair.
"See? If you do your job this perfectly, you don't get hit. Isn't this much better?"
"Hehe..." A silly grin instantly spread across Soso's face at my praise.
She rubbed her head against my hand like a puppy, then proudly thumped her chest.
"Exactly! Just leave things like this to me from now on, Sister!"
I clicked my tongue at her cheeky response and pulled my hand back.
"Right, looting is definitely your true calling."
"Aw, don't call it loot. Call it spoils of war, Sister. Spoils of war."
I let out a dumbfounded laugh at her shamelessness. Thanks to Soso's silly banter, the night in this bloody, hellish fortress drew to a peaceful close.
After spending the night at the fortress, we set off for Kaifeng early the next morning.
We hitched two horses left in the fortress stables to the cart and carefully loaded the exhausted women onto it. Of course, the sacks of silver and treasure Soso had so diligently plundered were also secured tightly in a corner.
With everything ready, we finally began our journey toward Kaifeng, kicking up dust along the main road.
As we walked under the warm morning sun, Seomun Jin, who had been quietly gauging my mood, spoke up hesitantly.
"Um... benefactor."
"Ah, yes, Young Master Seomun. What is it?"
"I heard that you subdued the vicious Jeok Mumeong in a single blow yesterday. If it isn't too rude to ask, may I inquire under whom you studied such incredible martial arts?"
At his cautious question, I hesitated for a brief moment.
As I remained silent, trying to formulate an answer, Soso, who was walking alongside us holding the reins, chimed in eagerly.
"Ahem! Listen closely! Our Sister Yeonhwa is the sole true successor of the greatest and most noble master in the Jianghu, the legendary Musangsinnye! She is also the 32nd Sect Leader of the Divine Maiden Sect!"
"...?!" At Soso's booming introduction, Seomun Jin's beautiful lips parted in shock. "The... the Divine Maiden Sect?! Do you mean the legendary sect composed entirely of women, renowned as one of the Ten Great Mysterious Sects?!"
Seomun Jin clasped his hands to his chest, practically trembling with awe.
Meanwhile, listening to this exaggerated praise, I was busy having entirely different thoughts. Huh? What the hell are the Ten Great Mysterious Sects? If it's a secret sect, just call it a secret sect. Why does it have to be a top ten list like some idol group? If there are ten of them, how is it even a secret anymore? It's basically a neighborhood social club. These Jianghu folks really love their pretentious names.
Swallowing my silent complaints, I gave a casual nod. At this, Seomun Jin's gaze shifted from looking at a mere savior to gazing upon a goddess descended from the heavens.
Blushing deeply, Seomun Jin hesitated for a long moment before clasping his hands together and speaking with utmost sincerity.
"Benefactor... no, Sect Leader. On your way to Kaifeng, would you perhaps be willing to stop by our Hebei Seomun Family's main estate?"
"Your family estate?"
"Yes! I cannot possibly repay the immense debt of you saving my life with just a few words on the road. I must invite you to our estate so our family can properly and grandly express our gratitude!"
Gratitude. At those sweet words, my ears perked up, and the calculator in my brain began spinning at high speed.
While I stroked my chin, pretending to be locked in deep, solemn thought, Soso suddenly nudged my side and began shooting me an incredibly intense, desperate look.
What's with her? Why is she bugging her eyes out like that? Does she have something to say? Unable to decipher her frantic facial expressions, I frowned.
Ah, right. This is exactly what the Transmission of Sound is for. I decided to attempt my first telepathic transmission to Soso.
When my voice echoed directly in her mind, Soso jumped in surprise and stared at me. However, she could only blink. Unable to send a telepathic reply, she kept twitching her facial muscles, screaming "YES!" with her entire body.
At my dumbfounded telepathic question, Soso made a crying face and nodded vigorously.
Seriously, do I need to properly train this kid's martial arts? She can't even use telepathy? Maybe I should find some spiritual elixir to feed her.
As I stared at her with pity, I leaned down to let her whisper. Soso pressed her lips close to my ear and hissed urgently, "Sister! Tell him we're going to the Seomun estate! Right now!"
"Why are you making such a fuss?"
"It's not a fuss! The Hebei Seomun Family is the wealthiest clan in the entire province! You saved their precious second son! The reward we'll get will make the bandit loot in this cart look like pocket change!"
The moment those words left her mouth, any lingering hesitation in my mind vanished instantly. True. In this world, you can never have too much money.
Succumbing to the laws of capitalism, I cleared my throat and offered Seomun Jin a benevolent, gentle smile. "If you insist, then once our business in Kaifeng is concluded, we shall pay a visit to the Seomun Family."
The moment the words left my mouth, Seomun Jin's face lit up with dazzling joy. "Really?! Ah, thank you, benefactor! We will welcome you to our estate with the grandest hospitality!"
Seomun Jin beamed and bowed deeply. Soso, too, was secretly drooling, a look of pure ecstasy on her face as she imagined a cart overflowing with solid gold.
