Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Descendants of the Crouching Dragon
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I wasn't just sitting there lost in thought until the sun set and evening arrived.
No matter what, I couldn't attend a banquet looking like a disheveled mess who hadn't properly bathed for days.
The Zhuge Clan must have realized this too, because when I returned to the guest quarters reassigned to me, a swarm of maids had gathered.
“Young master, the bath is ready.”
Following the maids to the bathroom inside the guest quarters, a large wooden bathtub rising with hot steam greeted me.
Delighted by the hot water after so long, I stepped into the bathroom—only for the maids to follow me right inside?
“No, why…?”
“We will assist you with your bath.”
Reddened faces, sly smiles playing on their lips.
Faces blatantly revealing their intent to indulge their desires.
I silently ushered the maids out of the bathroom.
“Y-Young master?”
“I don't need assistance. Please withdraw.”
The flustered maids' faces vanished through the crack in the door.
Only after securely locking the bathroom door did I undress and slip into the tub, letting out a contented groan as the warm water enveloped my entire body.
But it seemed I had underestimated the maids' lust.
Unable to touch or fondle me directly, they settled for a visual feast, peeking through the gaps in the bathroom wall.
I noticed it with my expanded senses but merely smirked.
Well, it wasn't my first time experiencing this.
Even back home, maids around my age had frequently sneaked peeks at me bathing.
After thoroughly washing my body for the first time in ages and returning to the room, the maid who had guided me to the guest quarters earlier appeared, holding new clothes.
“Young master, I've prepared clothes for you to change into.”
“Clothes to change into…?”
They didn't even know my measurements, did they? How on earth did they prepare these?
Contrary to my doubts, the fine black robe of luxurious fabric handed over by the maid fit me perfectly.
Amazed, I asked how she managed it, and she replied with a confident smile.
“We can gauge sizes by eye. This much is basic.”
Gauging sizes by eye is basic?
Did the maids of martial clans train in some special measurement technique?
Impressed inwardly, I examined the martial robe here and there when the maid let out an odd sigh.
Looking up, her face was strangely flushed, adorned with a pleased smile.
Seeing the maid's smile, I smirked.
She must find my appearance quite appealing.
The maid, who had been scrutinizing me from head to toe, met my eyes and flushed in embarrassment. With a fake cough, she bowed her head.
“Excuse me. Then, I'll return once the banquet preparations are complete.”
Even in her fluster, the maid didn't forget her words as she left the room.
Her presence rapidly receded into the distance.
At a speed like she was fleeing.
Hmm, had I embarrassed her too much?
Or did she have some urgent business?
*
“Haa….”
The maid who had hurriedly left the guest quarters where Ja-seong was staying let out a small sigh of relief.
A swarm of other maids rushed toward her.
They were all the maids who had been chased out of the bathroom while trying to assist with Ja-seong's bath.
“Soso, how was it?”
“Did you happen to see anything?”
“…Haa.”
Soso sighed as she watched her colleagues lose their composure over the alluring man who had appeared after so long.
She fixed them with a fierce glare.
“You lot…! Haven't you come to your senses? Didn't Madam Cho tell us? These are guests we must treat with utmost care, so mind your words and actions—mind them again!”
Madam Cho was the woman who oversaw all the maids of the Zhuge Clan.
She was usually sweet and gentle, but just as terrifying when angered. If she saw this scene, an edict of punishment would surely fall.
“And yet you're sneaking peeks at the guest bathing!”
At Soso's sharp cry, the maids flinched and huddled, mumbling excuses.
“B-But… It's the first time we've ever seen such a handsome young master.”
“Not just handsome—what about that body? Did you see that broad back and those powerfully muscled pecs…!”
They cowered only briefly.
Soon enough, they perked up and began spouting vulgarities, prompting Soso to press a hand to her forehead.
Undeterred by her reaction, the chatter about Ja-seong continued, soon veering into circulating rumors.
“But is that rumor true? That this young master outdoes even the Celestial Young Master and Hero Ri in martial prowess.”
“Oh, I heard that too. They say both were utterly defeated in the sparring match.”
“Hey, do you really believe that? Does it even make sense?”
As the maids debated the rumor's truth, Soso remained oddly silent.
The reason was simple.
She knew the truth.
Soso had learned it just moments ago, by chance overhearing the words spoken when the Great Madam visited Madam Cho.
—Great Madam.
—No long talk. Tonight, Seo-hee will visit the guest quarters.
—…!
Madam Cho was shocked, and so was Soso.
Seo-hee—did that mean Zhuge Seo-hee, the youngest daughter of the clan head?
Who was she?
The woman hailed as Hubei's foremost beauty, the Zhuge Clan's priceless treasure.
Was the clan really giving their pride away to a guest from the guest quarters?
—How can you say such a thing…! Does the young miss know?
—It's time to tell her.
Madam Cho's face flashed with disbelief at the words implying Seo-hee was still unaware.
But the Great Madam pressed on regardless.
—That child is a woman of the Zhuge Clan. It's something she'll face one day.
—Even so!
—It's the clan head's command.
Madam Cho—and even Soso, who was eavesdropping—trembled at the Great Madam's stern rebuke.
—…Haa.
With a sigh tinged with resignation, Madam Cho inquired about the guest in the quarters, Ja-seong.
—For the clan head to offer his cherished youngest daughter… just who is this man?
—I don't know the full details myself. But Geun-young's letter stated he one-sidedly crushed both the Celestial One and his father, Fierce Tiger Blade Ri Gwang, in sparring.
—What…? That's impossible. How could a young man who seems barely past twenty…?
Soso nodded vigorously in agreement with Madam Cho's words.
Zhuge One-Sword Zhuge Cheon-sang and Fierce Tiger Blade Ri Gwang.
They were the Zhuge Clan's top experts, acknowledged by all in the clan.
The notion of a youth in his twenties one-sidedly defeating such masters was utterly absurd by any common sense.
—I find it hard to believe as well. But the letter's phrasing was unmistakably Geun-young's. Would that child ever spout nonsense?
—Well… that's true.
Madam Cho accepted it with great difficulty.
The Great Madam leaned in close, whispering in a voice so low that Soso could barely make it out from right in front of the paper-screen door.
—At tonight's evening banquet, the clan head intends to witness that young hero's skills firsthand.
—Witness firsthand… Does that mean a sparring match?
At Madam Cho's question, the Great Madam nodded gravely.
—Indeed. So you must subtly let it slip to Perfect Heaven Fist, Black Wind Saber Guest, and One Flash Spear.
—Those three…
Madam Cho's face brightened as she grasped the Great Madam's intent.
Soso recalled the three retainers the Great Madam had just named.
Perfect Heaven Fist Jang No-kyeong.
Black Wind Saber Guest Gwak Rang.
One Flash Spear Baek Ri-gyeong.
They were guest experts whom the Zhuge clan head had invited.
Though they wielded different weapons and hailed from different backgrounds, they shared one thing in common: all three coveted Zhuge Seo-hee.
Perfect Heaven Fist had his only son utterly smitten with her, while Black Wind Saber Guest—a man over forty—pathetically yearned to become her husband himself.
One Flash Spear desired marriage with Seo-hee as well, but at least he had just crossed thirty, making him marginally better than Black Wind Saber Guest.
These were men who would froth at the mouth in outrage if they learned Seo-hee was spending the night in the guest quarters.
Subtly informing them meant…
'The Great Madam is trying to thwart this in her own way.'
Even if they didn't match Fierce Tiger Blade, they were among the strongest of the clan's retainers.
Should they defeat the guest in a spar, the clan head might even reconsider sending Seo-hee miss to the quarters.
“Soso—!”
“Eh, wh-what!?”
Soso snapped out of her recollection at the sudden shout ringing in her ears.
Flustered by her colleagues surrounding her, she cleared her throat briefly and changed the subject.
“Al-alright! How long are you going to stand around gossiping? The banquet preparations are already hectic. Uh, let's get moving!”
Stammering slightly, Soso hurried off first.
The other maids, taken aback by her reaction, followed belatedly.
*
Before long, the sun had vanished beyond the horizon, and night had fallen.
“Young master, I'll escort you to the banquet hall.”
I followed the maid who arrived right on time.
We didn't have far to go before arriving at a banquet prepared with dazzling splendor, unlike anything I'd ever seen.
On the central empty stage, dancers moved gracefully to the sound of golden instruments, while the surrounding tables overflowed with every delicacy imaginable.
“Wow….”
The scale far exceeded my expectations, leaving my facial muscles slack and my jaw agape.
…They held a banquet this grand simply to welcome us?
No way.
My instincts were screaming for caution.
Something more was afoot.
This extravagant banquet was groundwork for something.
But what, exactly?
Unable to guess, I furrowed my brow when a familiar voice came from behind.
“You arrived first.”
“I just got here too. Hwa…ryeon?”
The moment I turned my head, my mind went blank white for an instant.