Chapter 66
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Forget All the Pains of Childbirth (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Da Ci'en Temple was one of the most famous spots in Xi'an.
Even nestled between the famed peaks of Mount Hua to the east and Mount Zhongnan to the south.
It stood as a pillar of Buddhist pride, bolstered by the boundless grace of the Buddha and immense donations from the faithful.
And towering within the temple grounds was the grand Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
The place where the monk Xuanzang—who tamed the stone monkey, trained the pig, and toyed with the deaf demon—had sealed his enlightenment, standing as the mightiest warrior since Bodhidharma.
Gazing at the statue of Xuanzang erected before the pagoda.
One could glimpse the aura of a master who had dominated an entire era.
A subtle Buddhist devotion welled up in my chest, and I passed the time in quiet reflection.
Now, who would show up?
For some reason, a bad premonition told me that crazy woman from the Blood Cult would appear again.
But I'd already gotten the monk plastered yesterday to safeguard Xi'an's peace.
She wouldn't dare show that ferocious face of hers without staking her life.
So I waited calmly for the fateful encounter ahead.
How much time passed?
"Oh my, Sihyeon?"
"...Sword Lady."
I'd half-expected it.
Still, seeing Sister Seol saunter up in her vibrant attire stirred a strange feeling.
Even her recent personality erosion from that Ice Duke thing.
And her messages growing rounder, even sprouting age-inappropriate cutesy vibes—probably side effects.
Well.
Objectively, Sister Seol wasn't bad at all.
If she had kids, they'd go pretty hungry, but not starve outright.
"What are you doing out here all alone?"
"And what about you, Sword Lady?"
"Ahaha... Just, y'know, passing by...?"
Sister Seol trailed off with an awkward chuckle.
Something felt off, but pressing her seemed rude.
The moment I shelved my faint regret and decided to just enjoy the now.
"Hmmm?"
"...?"
A voice I hadn't heard in ages—but all too familiar—rang out from behind.
Noting Sister Seol's face stiffen slightly, I turned around.
"Master...?"
There was Chicken Lady, decked out in ornate palace robes, looking like she'd just come from some cozy time with Mother.
Wait.
Why was Chicken Lady here?
"Ahem. Sihyeon and Seol, huh? What brings you here?"
"Ah, we just ran into each other."
"Ran into each other, you say..."
Chicken Lady's expression turned peculiar.
Suddenly sandwiched between two women, I started feeling awfully uncomfortable.
This wasn't flowers in both hands—it was chicken coops.
"Oh! Young Master Geum!"
"..."
At Narang's bright, clear voice.
I squeezed my eyes shut tight.
You again.
Serendipity x3.
Give me a break, seriously...!
But ignoring the greeting wasn't an option, so I turned toward the voice.
"Uh... hello...? There...?"
Narang, still a solid 98/100 in radiance today.
Plus Luri, with that eerie glow from one eye.
The 1+1 set had made a rare joint appearance.
"Instructor Moyong! Instructor Seo! It's been so long—hope you've been well!"
"Ah, yes... Myo Instructor. Good to see you."
Chicken Lady responded tepidly on behalf of the elders to Narang's sunny greeting.
And then came the excruciatingly awkward silence.
I'd rather drop dead.
But I had to salvage this hopelessly tangled mess.
Otherwise, dual swords, axes, squirrels, and death beams would soon pierce my body.
"It's rare to gather like this by chance in a place like this. What a coincidence, haha..."
"Hm..."
"Mm."
"Hehe."
"..."
What the hell.
I threw out some random chatter, and this is the reaction?
No choice.
Time to scatter the aggro...!
"Everyone must be here for the fireworks, right? The view here's got its charm, but I've got a modest banquet set up at my humble home. If you're all amenable, why not head there and watch at leisure?"
Thankfully, no one refused.
My intimate date plans went up in smoke.
But I'd drag it into some forced 'team-building' event.
Sensing the four trailing behind, I summoned more sacrificial lambs to share this "happy" time.
[Me: Pay back the borrowed money tomorrow or else]
[Me: Get to the main house within an hour]
[Jolryeol Taek: What the fuck]
[Me: Bring that beggar bastard too]
I'd also tipped off Mother that a crowd would swarm in.
Sorry for being such an unfilial son.
"Ufufu, what a delightful sight."
Yeon Hwaran, the true lady of Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress and Geum Sihyeon's mother, wore a pleased smile.
Her third son—nearly lost to illness—had not only recovered and grown into a fine man but was now hosting a feast with a bunch of friends.
How wonderful.
And what a fine group they were.
Yeon Hwaran had a keen eye for people.
She'd spotted Geum Sihyeon's father—a mere wandering merchant back then—and claimed him first.
In an era where three wives and four concubines were common.
Even after amassing a fortune to forge House Geum, she'd remained faithful without a single concubine, building a pure love story—all thanks to that eye.
Of course, maintaining her early-thirties looks past fifty without any internal energy helped too.
Through her discerning gaze.
Whether drawn by her beloved son or gathering around him, every person here shone with brilliant futures.
The bickering sisters—one grumbly, the other coldly affectionate despite her looks.
Moyong Seol from the Moyong Family in Yonyeong, no doubt.
A prestigious house that had guarded against northern invaders for generations—flawless lineage.
And an instructor at Hundred Flowers Academy, so her martial prowess must be top-notch.
"Luri dear, is the food to your taste? I prepared lots of sweets expecting you—try some."
"Nyam."
And this tiny kitten of a girl.
Twenty years old? A shock at first, but her sulky face hid endless cuteness.
Her fate seemed precarious, like a coin's two sides.
But with good connections around, intuition said she'd find a brighter path.
...Though her looks veered far from Geum men’s tastes.
"Hehe, Mother! Your cooking is amazing!"
"Huhu. Even to Narang's taste—makes me so happy."
And the girl whose looks pierced right through Geum men's preferences: Myo Narang.
Seemingly ordinary at a glance.
But ordinary was one of the greatest virtues.
"Kyuit! Kwyuit!"
"There, there. Squirrel gets a nut too?"
"Kyuit!"
And an adorable squirrel to boot!
Yeon Hwaran's lips curved into a beaming grin.
And then.
"I, uh, think I'll head out..."
"Dohee, you'd make me sad? I worked so hard preparing."
"Eek."
Seo Dohee.
The top contributor who propelled Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress and its escort business to top dog in the Central Plains—and Yeon Hwaran's favorite little sister.
She'd once considered pairing her with the eldest son.
But he'd politely declined, not wanting a martial wife.
Yet destined ties would connect anyway.
A bit of an age gap, but if Dohee's heart held Sihyeon, she wouldn't object.
Overwhelmed by the crowd of women at the table, perhaps.
She couldn't stay seated long, hovering by Geum Sihyeon—who'd recently taken on a fierce new guest eater—pouring drinks while watching him.
"You'll have your hands full... fufu."
Yeon Hwaran smiled.
Stroking Luri's hair.
Firmly holding and reseating Seo Dohee as she tried to rise.
In that warm, harmonious scene.
One man sat in the corner, silently downing drinks through tears.
Unhak.
About an hour earlier.
"That Geum bastard says come to his house with you."
"Ho. Maybe Geum bro's got a feast ready. Let's go!"
Scavenging at funerals was a beggar's sacred calling.
Unhak sealed his beggar training rags and donned snazzy robes for the first time in ages before heading out.
At Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress's gates.
"Oh my, welcome. Sihyeon's friends? You must be tired from the trip."
"Guh..."
He caught sight of a woman vaguely like Geum Sihyeon—early thirties, maybe.
The twenty-year-old youth, Unhak.
Fell in love.
Heart pounding fiercer than ever, he followed Moyong Taek inside without a peep.
In the garden, faint pipa strains drifting.
Unhak shoveled food without tasting it, bantering nonsense with Moyong Taek while his eyes chased her relentlessly.
Never mentioned a sister.
Probably Geum Sihyeon's.
With her filling his vision, even his intimidating sister, other female instructors, and Instructor Seo faded away.
As his love bore fruit in his mind—a lucky daughter and a son obnoxiously like Geum Sihyeon.
"Sister, I'm feeling a bit tired..."
"Dohee, isn't resting with everyone like this best when you're weary?"
"Pffft—"
Unhak's mouthful of liquor sprayed across Moyong Taek's chest.
"Ah, fuck, you beggar shit. What the hell?"
Ignoring Moyong Taek's disgusted wiping.
Words unfit for Instructor Seo's mouth had emerged.
Unhak faced sheer terror.
Come to think of it, she'd introduced herself earlier—but he'd been too tense to register.
"Th-that lady is...?"
Unhak's voice quavered.
"Who? Oh, Geum... no, Geum Sihyeon's mother?"
"Cough!"
If dead men became stars, Meng Dexing would've gazed down on Unhak with a knowing smile.
Regrettably, Unhak wasn't twisted enough to share Cao Cao's orphaned hobby.
The twenty-year-old youth, Unhak.
Tasted the pain of unrequited love.
As the gathering at Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress admired the fireworks painting the night sky, each with their own thoughts.
"Eat up, everyone."
"Yes, Uncle!"
"Thank you!"
"An honor!"
One of Xi'an's famed taverns.
The top floor of Zhu Bai Lou.
On Nangong Baek's summons, the Nangong Family's collateral junior disciples from Hundred Flowers Academy had assembled.
Taking in Xi'an's glittering nightscape through the windows.
In a lax atmosphere far from Nangong Baek's usual strictness.
Food vanished rapidly.
Wine made several rounds.
"All of you, enter the martial tournament."
The disciples, already eager to join, lit up with fighting spirit.
Until his next words.
"If you face Geum Sihyeon, cut off one of his arms by any means. I'll take responsibility."
The air froze solid.