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I sat on the edge of the bed in the guest room, feeling oddly deflated.
'She's practically the lady of the house already.'
Paeng Sin-hye indulged in vanity and extravagance, even bringing in a musician. Paeng Yuwol, meanwhile, tightened her belt relentlessly to cut expenses. Which of them was truly working harder for the family's sake was obvious. Even so, she had tried to drive me out of the Paeng Clan, knowing full well it would make her the rude one.
'If there's a reason she was willing to be cursed out just to expel me from the clan...'
Soft.
I laid my hand on the freshly painted wall. It looked flashy and luxurious on the surface, but that was only skin deep. The paint was cheap—it would peel and rot away in a few years.
"Ha. This family is thoroughly doomed."
The Paeng Clan was poor. It had grown poor.
In trying every possible way to cure the illness of the Clan Head, Evil Slash Sword Paeng Iwang, they had drained their entire fortune on medicine.
'Even marrying off Paeng Yuwol was because the family was collapsing.'
Even though I had arranged for the remaining assets of the Chuso Escort Bureau to go to Paeng Yuwol, it must have been woefully insufficient to fully revive a crumbling great clan.
Thanks to Chu So-gwang's legacy, the Paeng Clan had barely survived. It was like a person on the brink of starvation swallowing a single Fasting Pill.
Without Paeng Yuwol, the Hebei Paeng Clan would have truly been finished. History—the future—proved that.
'But why doesn't she tell anyone that the clan was revived thanks to her?'
Was it humility? Or did she think it wasn't worth mentioning?
Knowing Paeng Yuwol's personality, it was the latter.
She must have decided there was no need to tell the clan's secret history to a guest—especially a guest associated with Paeng Sin-hye, a direct-line woman.
Given her nature, she had blown her top and throttled Paeng Sin-hye the moment her daughter was insulted, but that much was perfectly understandable. What mother in the world could endure hearing her child cursed?
Paeng Sin-hye, guilty. Whether she was the Blood Torture Witch or not, she was guilty for now.
As for which of the two—the sinner or Paeng Yuwol—had the better public reputation, it was, regrettably, Paeng Sin-hye.
—I heard Lady Paeng Yuwol insulted Lady Paeng Sin-hye....
—Isn't that too much? For a collateral line member to....
Even the passing servants were gossiping about Paeng Yuwol behind her back. I could understand their feelings, given the way of Murim.
'Because she's practically the family's shame.'
Paeng Yuwol was the Paeng Clan's savior and, at the same time, the shameful evidence of their moment of weakness. And there was no need to dredge up shame. I could understand Paeng Yuwol herself realizing that and walking on eggshells.
However, as the Sky-Soaring Lust Demon who knew the whole truth, I thought Paeng Yuwol had every right to act high and mighty in front of Paeng Sin-hye.
The Paeng Clan's downfall was due to Paeng Sin-hye's vanity and extravagance, and the Paeng Clan's revival was entirely due to Paeng Yuwol.
Paeng Yuwol had brought the Heavenly Rejuvenation Pill and saved the Clan Head, allowing Paeng Iwang to set the family's affairs in order again. And Paeng Yuwol had brought the capital from the Chuso Escort Agency and filled the Paeng Clan's storehouses, if only for a time.
'If she had a conscience, she couldn't talk to Paeng Yuwol like that.'
It was safe to say Paeng Yuwol practically held the power second only to the Clan Head. And Paeng Sin-hye dared to speak so harshly to her?
'What a conscienceless wench.'
Typical of a Blood Cult remnant. The Blood Torture Witch was rotten from the root. And I wasn't saying that because of any nonsense about tainted blood—absolutely not.
'She's probably deliberately trying to ruin the family.'
It was even possible that Paeng Sin-hye had subtly encouraged Paeng Yuwol's marriage to Chu So-gwang.
The fact that Paeng Yuwol, a collateral line member, was chosen among all the family's women—it was highly likely that, while Paeng Iwang was incapacitated, the direct line members steered the discussion toward her during their talks.
It was only a possibility, my own judgment colored by bias, but Paeng Sin-hye was truly the type of person who would do that.
'I ask the Baby Sex Demon. Is this a woman worthy of a Sex Demon's deeds?'
Erection morning exercise.
I nodded immediately and rose to my feet. I shed my outer coat and changed into lighter clothing.
"Hoo."
It was time to begin. I radiated my inner energy across the entire Paeng Clan estate, searching for an exit I could use to move covertly.
"Excuse me."
Until Paeng Sin-hye, who had fled from my musical martial art, returned.
* * *
"Yuwol, please forgive me just this once."
"Clan Head, please say something to Paeng Sin-hye. A houseguest, at a time like this?"
It was a fact not widely known to outsiders, but the authority of the Paeng Clan Head had fallen to the ground. The Clan Head, Paeng Iwang, had no choice but to bend to a collateral-line woman—a widow who had married out, lost her husband, and returned.
"I'm sorry. But that child didn't take her in out of malice either. Hasn't Hebei been in an uproar because of that Sex Demon? And since a woman was traveling alone, how could my soft-hearted Shin-hye just stand by and watch?"
"......."
Paeng Yuwol couldn't bring herself to reveal the truth. She wanted to shout that his daughter was not soft-hearted at all, and that she certainly hadn't taken the woman in as a houseguest out of worry over a Sex Demon.
But if Paeng Iwang ever learned the other side of his daughter—that she liked women—he would be profoundly shocked.
As far as Paeng Yuwol knew, Paeng Sin-hye was a woman who enjoyed homosexual relations. And Paeng Iwang either deliberately ignored it or genuinely had no idea.
"Clan Head. If that is the case, then all the more reason you must speak to Paeng Sin-hye. There must be no repeat of last time—taking her to the finest inns for meals or calling in a musical troupe."
"Ahem, Yuwol. We have our pride. When a guest has come—"
"Where exactly is the money for that?"
They had pride, but no money. Faced with the cold, hard truth, Paeng Iwang was struck dumb. After all, seventy percent of the reason the Paeng Clan's fortune had been squandered was due to Paeng Iwang's medical costs.
"Don't worry. If the amount falls short, I'll somehow manage the funds myself."
"Isn't that all just debt...? And what will you do if she asks for a marriage proposal like last time? Didn't we end up hastily selling off one of our training halls to pay compensation?"
"Ugh...."
Paeng Iwang could offer no rebuttal. The Evil Slash Sword, who had once commanded Hebei with such swagger, had become an old tiger stripped of fangs and claws. Robbed of his martial arts, he had no power left at all.
With no martial might, no political power, and no financial strength, the only thing remaining to him was the title of Clan Head. And even that meant nothing before Paeng Yuwol, who had risen as the family's real power.
"Clan Head. I'll be honest with you. ...Only about forty percent of the inheritance is left now."
"What...?!"
Paeng Iwang turned pale at once.
"Th-that enormous inheritance, only forty percent left...?"
The various treasures from the secret warehouse of the Chuso Escort Agency had become the property of the Hebei Paeng Clan. Under Paeng Yuwol's leadership, the treasures had been liquidated into cash—either at bargain prices or fair market value—and even after that, enough capital remained to comfortably operate an entire fortress for a year.
"Yes. I won't bother going into the debt repayments or the clan reconstruction costs. But you must know this. The funds that Paeng Sin-hye alone squandered amount to ten percent of that inheritance."
"......."
Paeng Iwang covered his face with his hands. As someone who had managed a great clan, he knew all too well just how heavy a weight that ten percent represented as Paeng Yuwol spoke of it.
If they could only recover all the money Paeng Sin-hye alone had wasted on luxury, they could build at least five more Paeng Clan training halls across Hebei and still have money left over.
"...Yuwol. Please forgive me just this once."
But Paeng Iwang could do nothing but beg Paeng Yuwol for forgiveness. Because he was the Clan Head, and at the same time, Paeng Sin-hye's father.
"I know I am truly sorry to you. I also know that you are deliberately playing the villain. But just this once, just this once, won't you forgive her? I will tell my Shin-hye never to do it again."
"...Understood."
Ultimately, Paeng Yuwol raised the white flag. She could not bring herself to remain ruthless in the face of the Clan Head's weakness, and Paeng Yuwol's eyes reddened at the sight of Paeng Iwang grown so terribly frail.
The Paeng Clan had been revived.
Yet the revived form of the Paeng Clan was as terribly weak as Paeng Iwang was now.
As if a single moment of carelessness might stop its breath forever.
* * *
"My word, is this truly that famous Beijing Erguotou Wine?"
"Hoho, yes. It tastes on a completely different level from the cheap stuff circulating on the market. Would you like a glass?"
How could I refuse a fine liquor? The world was full of Erguotou Wine, it was said, but Beijing Erguotou Wine boasted the highest quality among them all.
"Thank you, Shin-hye."
"......."
When I called her by name, she gave a languid smile and poured liquor into my cup. I, in turn, filled her cup.
Cup? Dish? Calling it a bowl might be more accurate. A single bottle of Erguotou filled only two cups, and the bottle was empty in no time.
Clink.
The cups met with a clear ring. The fire sliding down my throat sent a thrill through my entire body.
"Hoo, it's truly fine liquor."
"Isn't it? In the Paeng Clan, if you can't drink this, they tell you to drop the Paeng name. And also...."
Paeng Sin-hye pointed at three wooden cases stacked neatly beside her. Each case held ten bottles, all packed solid with Erguotou.
'As expected of the Paeng Clan.'
In other great clans, they'd be sipping such high-priced liquor one drop at a time to savor the flavor, but the Paeng Clan was different. The Paeng Clan drank liquor by volume.
"Will you have another glass right away?"
"Gladly. Allow me to pour first."
I did not refuse Paeng Sin-hye's liquor. When else would I get the chance to drink for free? The clean taste was on another dimension compared to the cheap stuff I'd drunk at the Pleasure House during my time with Sam-gu.
"Drinking with a beautiful person... I feel a melody coming to me."
"Oh my, then you must let me hear it later. Here, here. One more glass."
"......."
What was she planning, trying to get me drunk? At my dubious look, Paeng Sin-hye beamed with an expression of pure innocence and filled my cup again.
"Hohoho, please forget my unsightly behavior earlier. Yes? Yes?"
Paeng Sin-hye was trying her utmost to work some angle on me. But I knew the cruel nature hidden behind her pitch-black heart.
Paeng Sin-hye was in the process of trying to make me collapse from drink. After I passed out, she would show her true colors.
'Then the solution is simple.'
"Shin-hye, shall we drink one more?"
First, enjoy the liquor a bit.
'Still, I'll let it slide since her face and figure are pretty.'
"Here, here. Drink up now. And... get drunk."
As I matched Paeng Sin-hye drink for drink, I let myself slip into slumber.
* * *
"Sleep well."
Paeng Yuwol finally managed to put the child to sleep and rose to her feet. She didn't know who the child took after, but the way it suckled so fiercely made her breasts feel as if they were being torn off.
"Hoo."
The night was late, but she couldn't stop her inner energy cultivation. Paeng Yuwol moved to the window where the moonlight shone brightest and breathed the night air as she built up her inner energy.
"......."
As inner energy filled her entire body, Paeng Yuwol felt vitality surge through her. Raising a child came with its share of mental pain, but thanks to her inner energy, she could dispel all her physical fatigue.
"......."
However, an unfillable emptiness was inevitable. After giving birth, every time she practiced martial arts, Paeng Yuwol could not shake the feeling that something was missing.
Ahahaha!
From somewhere within the estate, the frivolous laughter of a woman rang out. Paeng Yuwol was instantly annoyed.
"That wench Paeng Sin-hye, eating and drinking again...!"
Would she only come to her senses after getting beaten with another bottle of liquor? How was getting a woman drunk and then forcing oneself on her any different from a Sex Demon? Paeng Yuwol moved to leap outside immediately—
"Baby, sleep well."
—but before she did, she blew true qi onto her daughter, who was deep asleep, to send her into an even deeper slumber. Then she launched herself toward the source of the laughter.
"Today, I swear—"
"Haa, haa, haa."
Rough moans came from inside. Paeng Yuwol realized who the drunken owner of those moans was, and a chill crawled down her spine.
'Has this wench truly lost her mind?!'
Paeng Yuwol stealthily flew near the room where the moans were coming from and reached a hand toward the slightly open door. She steeled her resolve, ready to barge in the moment she found 'evidence.'
She was sorry to Yeon Bung, but this would be a good opportunity.
'That wench Paeng Sin-hye is determined to ruin the household finances, I see.'
She would witness it with her own eyes, and once she was certain, she would immediately bring the Clan Head. The moment Paeng Yuwol hardened her resolve—
Waaaaaaaaah.
—a crying sound came from far away, and Paeng Yuwol clenched her fist. Through the gap in the door, she saw Paeng Sin-hye sitting in a chair, gasping raggedly.
"Uuuuh...."
"...I'll let it slide this time."
She had already caught evidence of her squandering the clan's fortune yet again, so there would be no issue in confronting her tomorrow morning. Paeng Yuwol hurriedly turned and returned to her room.
"Yeah, yeah. That's right. Did you miss Mommy? Ungh...."
Paeng Yuwol broke out in a cold sweat trying to soothe the child who had woken in the night.
* * *
"...Fuck, I thought I was caught."
Paeng Sin-hye sighed of relief.
"Stupid bitch. As if I'd just drink and do nothing. Heuheu."
Paeng Sin-hye wiped the drool from the corner of her lips. On the bed, Yeon Bung was panting low, her entire body flushed red.
"Euhuhung, looks delicious. Haa. Time to dig in."
Paeng Sin-hye immediately knelt down below Yeon Bung's lower half. Rubbing her hands together with a smile, Paeng Sin-hye, like a child who had discovered treasure, lifted up Yeon Bung's pants.
"A skirt would be sexier. Tsk. Heuheung, trying to hide it with something like this—"
Boop.
"Jee...."
Paeng Sin-hye fell into confusion. An object that should absolutely not exist on a woman tapped her forehead with a 'smack,' and her mind went blank.
"What is this—"
"Reverse rape."
Wh—am.
Paeng Sin-hye's vision went white from the kick that struck her in the solar plexus.