Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Harem Management
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The top floor of the Murim Alliance headquarters in Shaanxi Province.
In the place where only those at the pinnacle of the orthodox martial world gathered, I was finally playing the part of a proper fortune teller.
"Try extending your right foot just half a step further."
"My right foot?"
"Yes. That's the only thing I can read right now. Does anything come to mind?"
"...Hmm."
The massive Beggar Clan Chief propped his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
And he wasn't the only one. Almost everyone else in the room was doing the same.
[I'll divine just one thing for each of their questions.]
That was my proposal, after I'd gauged the right moment.
Hiding behind the Sword Empress would get me out of this mess for now, but what if they came looking for me later?
I couldn't stick to her twenty-four-seven, so I figured I'd handle it all right here.
The result? Everyone except the Sword Empress, Yeo Sochen, and... my father-in-law(?), had gotten their fortunes read and was now deep in contemplation.
And scary as they might be, these were ultimately upright faction folks who valued propriety above all.
Building up favors like this would come in handy later.
"Haaah... haaah..."
I flopped dramatically over the table, pretending to be utterly exhausted.
In truth, I wasn't tired at all, but I had to sell the act, right?
They didn't know much about divination anyway, so this would plant the idea that 'reading fortunes is actually incredibly draining.'
If they caught on that it was easy, they'd probably demand more.
Yeo Sochen was glaring down at me coldly, but I stuck my tongue out at her from inside my cloak.
I was curious how she'd react to my taunt, but I couldn't exactly take the cloak off here, so I held back with some regret.
And then, the last person remaining approached me.
The head of the Tang Family of Sichuan.
Dang Ayoung's father regarded me with a complicated mix of emotions.
"...Shall I read your fortune?"
"...My heart is conflicted."
"Pardon?"
"Bringing in talented outsiders as sons- or daughters-in-law has certainly helped build the Tang Family as it is today. But when the candidate turns out to be my own daughter, the family head in me clashes with the father."
"Ha... ha..."
I couldn't utter a single word, no matter how I tried.
If I said we weren't like that, he'd ask what we were like now—and I'd have to answer.
'Why today of all days...'
If I'd known, I would've sorted out our relationship properly before coming—whether as lovers or enemies.
Or better yet, not done what we did last night.
I inwardly cursed my past foolish self.
"Of course, if your abilities are real... you more than qualify to claim my daughter. A power bordering on prophecy beyond mere foresight? The doting patriarchs of the other families would be tripping over themselves to offer their daughters."
"It's not that impressive. It has more limitations than it seems... and it's hard to use effectively..."
-Boom!
A loud crash echoed from outside.
"W-Wait just a moment! You can't barge in right now! The elders are having a private conversation..."
"Out of my way! I'm here to find my lover!"
"If you just wait a bit, he'll come out...!"
Familiar voices and a scuffle reached my ears.
The thumping grew closer and closer to the door.
-Bang!
"Aaaah! Nooo!!"
The door flew open amid what sounded like a staff member's scream.
"Ah! There you are!"
I stared in shock at Dang Ayoung bursting through the door.
For a moment, I wondered if this was even real.
"Why are you here, Ayoung...?"
-Whoosh!
"I was worried sick! I heard you got dragged off to the Murim Alliance out of nowhere...!"
Before I could even finish asking, she'd rushed over and thrown her arms around me.
I felt a soft sensation through my clothes, but now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
-Glare...
"...Ayoung?"
Her father was staring at us with eyes burning like fire.
Behind him, the uncles looked on in stunned confusion,
"...What is this?"
the Sword Empress gawking with wide eyes like she'd seen something unbelievable,
and
"...Hmm."
Yeo Sochen watching with an amused expression.
The head of the Tang Family of Sichuan, Dang Ayoung's father Dang Ayun, had pulled his suddenly appeared daughter aside for a talk.
"Why are you here, Dad? Did you cause this? Did you drag him all the way here?"
"Ayoung, it's not like that..."
"Touch him again, and I swear—father or not—I'll never speak to you again."
"Ahem."
Dang Ayun cleared his throat awkwardly at his daughter's resolute attitude.
He'd thought they were close, but not this close.
'She used to say her dad was the best when she was little...'
Even as the patriarch of one of the murim's greatest powers, to his blood kin, he was just a father.
"If it's because of his abilities, you don't have to sacrifice yourself. The Tang Family has plenty of other eligible daughters... and you bear the name Phoenix with peak-level talent at your age. His power is impressive, sure, but I'm more worried your talents will go to waste in marriage. And if you get pregnant? You'd have to give up life as a martial artist."
"I don't care about abilities anymore. Even if he lost them, I'd still love him."
"...You're in deep."
Dang Ayun sighed inwardly.
Having experienced passionate young love himself back in the day, he couldn't outright condemn his daughter.
Still, no father wants to hand his girl over to another man.
"What's so great about him? Let's hear it."
I couldn't see his face under the cloak, but the rumors suggested he had a silver tongue. He wanted to know just what sweet words had reeled her in.
'That playboy.'
And then Dang Ayoung's response hit him like a thunderbolt, sending his mind reeling.
"He's sexy."
"...Pardon?"
"His body is sexy... his voice is sexy... everything he does is sexy. He's like a walking aphrodisiac. Good thing he covers his face—if he didn't, he'd have been dragged off somewhere ages ago."
"Ayoung...?"
"Honestly... I want to lock myself away at home and make love all day. But I hold back because I think he'd hate it, and I might not have the stamina."
"....."
"Haa... haa... How many times have I fantasized about climbing on top of that little body, tying his hands so he can't move, and ravishing him mercilessly..."
As she blushed and hugged herself, he thought:
No matter what, I have to make him take responsibility.
"...So you're saying you're just friends?"
"Yes. We only just reunited yesterday after so long. Then I hear you've been hauled off to the Murim Alliance? Of course she freaked out and followed."
"I see..."
"Exactly."
I broke out in a cold sweat inside as I explained my relationship with Dang Ayoung to the Sword Empress.
'How do I tell the woman I asked to pretend our sex—her first time, no less—never happened, that I slept with someone else here?'
What an insult that would be.
It was my fault, but I couldn't bring myself to confess.
[...After saying that to me, you went and seduced another woman here?]
[N-No, Sword Empress, it's not—]
[No excuses, you lecher.]
[-Slash!]
"...I can never tell her."
"Hm?"
"N-Nothing."
I knew how ruthless she could be to villains. I couldn't point her sword at myself.
Sure, hiding it might blow up later...
'But if I confess now, I might die right here.'
Can't plan for later if you're dead first.
Rationalizing it to myself, I finished my excuses to the Sword Empress and hurriedly sent her on her way.
Once she was gone,
"Huuuuh..."
I let out a sigh of relief, relaxing my body.
I was finally alone here, so no one would bother me if I rested for a bit...
"You sure fooled her good."
-Jump!
"W-Whoa!"
I whipped around at the voice sneaking up behind me.
Yeo Sochen was grinning mischievously at my back.
"Why so jumpy? Anyone would think you'd committed a crime."
"That's what happens when someone sneaks up and talks!"
"Then train your martial arts. Learn to sense approaching presences."
"You gonna fix my dantian?"
"Nope?"
"Then shut up..."
It was obvious, really.
Of course she knew about my wrecked dantian.
"Haaa..."
I buried my face in the table again and sighed.
A rare chance to rest, and I couldn't even enjoy it.
Today must be my unlucky day.
"...Hey. Let's talk."
Approach Yeo Sochen.
That was the clue the Saintess had left me.
As I struck up a conversation with her for that purpose, I couldn't help thinking:
Why does it feel like I'm surrounded by women everywhere?