Chapter 198
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Major Hurdle
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It had only been a day since the entire village went up in flames in a massive disaster.
Fortunately, from the middle of it all, the vampires' attention had strangely shifted to him, which seemed to have spared the civilians some of the damage. Still, no one could call the village's atmosphere anything but grim, not even as empty words.
The exact casualties would have to wait for the official tallies from the magistrates, but it was clear from the mood alone that a great many had died or been injured—no investigation needed. Walking through streets like that was deeply unsettling in every way.
There were far too many people sitting vacantly in front of their burned-out homes.
No matter how wealthy she was, she couldn't help them all.
That kind of scale demanded action at the family level...
With damage this severe, the Murim Alliance or even the imperial court wouldn't just stand by and watch the common folk suffer. Those people would get aid somehow.
In any case, she was out now looking for laborers to repair houses.
And that plan had hit a snag right from the start.
"...None left?"
"Y-yes, miss... As you know, the whole village is in chaos right now... The Murim Alliance and merchant guilds have swept up all the building materials. There's nothing left... The woodcutters rushed to the mountains in a hurry, but processing it takes time, and with things like this, prices are dozens of times higher than usual."
"Hmm..."
Thinking about it, this was an obvious variable.
The whole village had been engulfed in fire, so demand for timber to rebuild would skyrocket predictably.
Organizations like the Murim Alliance or merchant guilds had massive structures, needing several times more than ordinary folk, so of course they'd hoard everything. She should have anticipated it.
Reserving fresh shipments wasn't feasible either. Even for someone as wealthy as her, prices dozens of times higher were too much.
They were probably booked solid anyway.
'Guess I'll have to ask the family for help.'
If she contacted her family, they'd source materials from nearby in no time.
When her cultivation was lower and she wasn't living with him, she always had escorts waiting close by. She'd sent them away because they made things awkward, so now she needed a way to reach out.
And ever since leaving the house earlier, a strange feeling had lingered in her chest.
It was about him and his Master.
She'd assumed "Master" meant some middle-aged woman or elderly lady, but seeing her in person... her looks were beyond imagination. Blazingly so.
Not just young, but...
'...Doesn't that get uncomfortable...?'
As a fellow woman, it stirred an inexplicable sense of defeat.
Of course, the Master being young and beautiful wasn't an issue.
She might have taken him in early, or perhaps she was a supreme expert like the Thunderclap Sword or Sword Empress, reversing age through half-immortal transformation. It wasn't impossible.
Whatever explained that figure, it wasn't a real problem.
The problem was...
'...Is she really his Master?'
They just seemed too intimate.
A master–disciple relationship turning impure was absurd, unthinkable—merely imagining it felt irreverent and filthy. But they appeared close enough to give rise to such suspicions.
A child under ten might not notice, but two grown adults sleeping plastered together like that? It looked less like master and disciple...
...and more like lovers.
'No, of course not...'
Obviously, no master-disciple pair would have that kind of relationship, but a woman's intuition kept casting suspicious glances.
Their overly intimate vibe, plus the prickly way the Master treated her—it felt laced with jealousy, like parents wary of their child's lover...
-Throb throb
"Agh..."
Common sense screamed it couldn't be, clashing with her woman's instincts and breeding chaos.
She couldn't just ask outright.
"Are you two in that kind of relationship?"
If it was true, maybe, but if it was just her misunderstanding? It wouldn't just sour things—it would shatter them.
Accusing her trusted lover of an illicit affair with someone like a parent figure? The hurt to him would be immense.
That thought cooled her head.
'...Right. It can't be.'
They were just unusually close for master and disciple. Nothing impure like she imagined.
No one would look at someone they'd raised from childhood that way. And come to think of it, hadn't he said his first was the Sword Empress... not her?
-Slap slap
'Get it together, Dang Ayoung. No baseless suspicions.'
She slapped her cheeks to cool her overheated mind and calm her chest.
Maybe surviving that near-death ordeal had her on edge.
Living with him had shifted her goal to becoming a good wife and wise mother, so she'd slacked on training. Maybe restart that, she thought, then messaged her family to help with house repairs before heading home.
No matter the disaster yesterday, humans were adaptable creatures, it seemed.
She bought some snacks from a vendor outside and opened the door.
-Swing!
"I'm back!"
"Hm?"
She froze the moment she stepped through the entryway.
Golden hair cascaded in waves, white skin gleamed brighter with steam, and those twin mounds—more weapons than assets—proclaimed their presence without shame.
Not a spot on her body lacked confidence; even the towel she had was just draped over her shoulder as she stared blankly this way...
"Oh. You're back? Master's washing up, so just a sec—wha?!"
"..."
-Gulp
She'd never lost a beauty contest before, but this time? Total defeat.
Face, body—outclassed.
A looks worthy of "nation-toppling beauty."
"Master, have you lost your mind?! Why stand there naked staring like an idiot with someone right here! Put some clothes on!"
"What's there to hide? A man, maybe, but we're both women."
"Even so, we just met yesterday—that's rude! And I'm a man!"
"It's not like it's the first or second time. You're used to it by now. You probably know every mole on me."
"Hey!"
While she stood stunned, he covered his eyes and yelled at his Master.
Her brain had frozen along with her body, so she barely caught the words, but something felt off.
'...Not the first or second time...?'
"Oh, Young Master. Could I borrow some clothes? I'm washing the ones I wore before, and Master has nothing else right now. Perfect timing since you just got back..."
"Ah, sure? Yeah, go ahead."
"Thanks!"
"..."
Even as he rushed to his room for clothes, his Master made no move to retreat to the bathroom or cover up.
"...Something to say?"
-Rustle
Arms crossed under her chest, she even asked if she had business.
"..."
Only then did she realize why he was so obsessed with breasts.
She knew men found women's chests sexually appealing, but he'd seemed especially into them—maybe all men were like that? No.
'Grew up seeing these since he was little...'
No wonder he loved them.
Probably felt nothing for average sizes now.
For a moment, she thanked her parents gratefully, then averted her eyes carefully.
"...By any chance, did you eat something special growing up...?"
"Born this way."
"...I see."
Too late for her age anyway—asking just hurt her feelings.
She, once envied daily as the "jealousy magnet" among friends, never imagined ending up like this.
"H-here! If you don't know how to wear it..."
"Oh, I'll show her. You, stay over there. I'll handle it."
"Got it!"
-Whoosh!
He tossed the clothes and fled without looking, while she helped his Master dress.
The real ordeal was gathering the front.
-Creak
"Hng... grr..."
"...Do you usually wear small sizes?"
"I bind them with bandages... so..."
Good thing it tied with strings instead of buttons or knots—otherwise, it might've ripped.
After much struggle, she finally got the clothes on.
-Uncomfortable
"...Uncomfortable?"
"Pray the laundry dries quick."
Her face screamed "uncomfortable," spurring Dang Ayoung's impatience.
Should've prepared something bigger ahead...
'How do you even prepare for that!'
No shop sold clothes that could handle it.
Hers were all custom-made, and even those were a step below.
Custom order would work, but tailors would be stunned by such a client.
"...Looks like I'll stay in the secular world a while instead of returning to the mountains right away. Need new clothes."
Ah. Staying here a while...
"...Pardon?"
"Learned the Central Plains' situation from my disciple while you were out. It's chaotic, so best to linger until it settles."
"Th-then he'll..."
"...Stay too."
-Flush
Her face lit up, lips curling into a smile.
And how could it not?
Yesterday, as he collapsed and they headed home, his Master had said she lived apart from the secular world, had no plans to stay long, and would naturally take her disciple when leaving.
That's why she'd tried coquettishly winning her over...
"R-really?!"
"...Not forever. Just till that mess resolves. Don't get too happy."
"Y-yes! I'll serve you even better from now on! I'll show you all the secular world's tasty foods and sights...! Once your old clothes dry, we can head to a tailor for new ones!"
"...Do as you like."
Having cleared the biggest hurdle, her mood soared. She eagerly guided the Master with buoyant steps, completely forgetting her earlier suspicions about him and his Master.