Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Each One's Choice
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“…….”
In the end, the conversation circled right back to the beginning.
No, I'd half-expected it to go this way, but experiencing it firsthand still left me utterly dumbfounded.
What kind of face was I supposed to make when facing a father asking why I hadn't bedded his daughter?
Desperately hiding my bewilderment, I opened my mouth.
“...Spending the night with a woman whose name I don't even know would be difficult in many ways. Let alone....”
I paused there, quickly racking my brain.
Was it okay to say the next part?
Hmm. Master already seemed to have figured it out, and Seol... she'd be shocked, but she's so oblivious to that sort of thing anyway.
More importantly, if the Zhuge Clan Head kept pushing Zhuge Seo-hee on me, Hwa-ryeon would hate it.
So, yeah, it should be fine to say it, right?
In less than a single breath, I'd reached a conclusion and continued.
“...when I already have a lover.”
“Uh, uhm....”
The moment the word "lover" left my mouth, the Zhuge Clan Head furrowed his brow and let out a groan.
Zhuge Seo-hee, who had been hanging her head, looked up in surprise.
“...I see. It's the one I think it is?”
“Yes, that's right.”
Hearing my answer, the Zhuge Clan Head's face darkened slightly.
He clearly hadn't expected this response.
“Heh, well....”
He let out a hollow chuckle, stroking his beard, then started spouting more nonsense.
“A man of your caliber will surely establish his own house someday. Perhaps a second wife...?”
“That's a distant future we can't predict, and it's even less of an issue before any marriage has taken place.”
Second wife, my foot.
He was basically telling me to take her as a concubine.
Suppressing the urge to curse him out, I forced myself to respond politely.
Perhaps realizing it was an overreach himself, the Zhuge Clan Head fell silent.
Even so, watching his eyes dart around as if scheming some new alternative, I sighed inwardly.
To think he'd say something like this right in front of someone who has a lover.
The story about me creating my own martial arts might have backfired.
What I'd hoped for when telling the Zhuge Clan Head about creating martial arts was a proposal to join our alliance in exchange for those techniques.
Pretending to desperately need the Zhuge Clan's cooperation was part of that plan.
It's not common to demand martial arts as payment, but if they were that eager, maybe they'd bite.
Yet the Zhuge Clan Head showed no sign of even considering it.
As I pondered why, his voice reached my ears.
“What a shame, truly a shame. I thought it would be nice to become family and continue our bond for ages.”
Continue our bond for ages.
Hearing that, I realized his true intentions and chuckled inwardly.
If he received martial arts as payment for a deal, he'd only get one technique.
But if we became family, the Zhuge Clan could claim every martial art I created from now on.
His greed for martial arts was overflowing.
It was absurd, but I was the one who needed a pretext to teach martial arts to the Zhuge Clan.
No helping it. I'd use the same method that worked on the Nangong Clan.
“Clan Head, may I make a proposal?”
“A proposal? What is it?”
“To tell the truth, I'm working on a new martial art.”
“Heh, you're saying you're creating yet another one?”
Amazed by my words, the Zhuge Clan Head couldn't hide his greedy gaze.
He forcibly pulled up the corners of his mouth that threatened to twist downward and nodded.
“Yes. But I'd like to reference the Zhuge Clan's martial arts for it.”
“...Our martial arts?”
His face mixed surprise and disbelief.
Meeting his gaze squarely, I nodded without hesitation.
“Yes. In fact, the Changgung Mu-ae Swordsmanship I showed you at the banquet was created with reference to the Nangong Clan's techniques.”
I recounted what happened at the Nangong Clan.
When I said I'd passed on the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique in exchange for teaching them the Changgung Mu-ae Sword, his eyes gleamed.
Good, he caught on right away.
“...In other words, you'll create a technique based on our clan's martial arts and pass it on to us?”
“Yes. What do you think?”
Pretending to ponder as he stroked his chin, the Zhuge Clan Head...
But having already spotted the greed in his eyes, I was certain of his answer.
“...Very well. If you pass on the new technique you've created, we'll provide our clan's martial arts.”
Perfect. The purpose of coming all the way to the clan head's quarters was achieved.
The Zhuge Clan Head and I exchanged genuine smiles for the first time.
But the futures we envisioned in our hearts were bound to be entirely different.
Sorry, but the future you desire won't come to pass.
Just as you chose the worst path in the past—researching demonic arts and sacrificing your own blood kin...
I've made my choice too.
To dismantle everything you've done and reshape the Zhuge Clan into what I envision.
*
...If only it had ended on that harmonious note with some polite laughter.
Struggling not to grimace, I glanced sidelong at Zhuge Seo-hee walking beside me.
-Seo-hee, please escort Young Master Goon to the guest hall.
The Zhuge Clan Head and I had agreed: new martial arts in exchange for their clan's techniques.
Though our intentions differed, the tense conversation had concluded on a warm note.
With the discussion over, as I rose to leave, he'd tasked Zhuge Seo-hee with seeing me off.
What, was I some lost child who'd get turned around in the manor grounds?
Of course, I knew it was less about that and more an attempt to entwine us somehow.
Grumbling inwardly, a hesitant voice came from beside me.
“Um, that thing you told me yesterday... I've been thinking about it.”
“Pardon?”
For a moment, I wondered what she meant, then recalled the words I'd said last night while draping my outer robe over her on the hill.
-Don't let others dictate your life. No one has the right to force that on you. Not even your birth parents.
Ah, right, I'd said something like that.
Scratching my cheek, I replied.
“So, have you reached a conclusion?”
“...No. I still don't know. I've only ever heard that I must devote my life to the clan, so suddenly hearing that confused me. But....”
“But?”
“...I felt ashamed. Compared to you, Young Master, I seemed so weak and worthless.”
Zhuge Seo-hee murmured dejectedly.
Watching her for a moment, I posed a question.
“Is that all?”
“...Pardon?”
“I'm weak and worthless. Is that the end of it?”
Evidently not expecting such a question, Zhuge Seo-hee looked up at me with wide eyes.
I met her dazed gaze directly.
“So, being weak and worthless means my life should be that way too. Is that what you're saying?”
“...Ah, no! That's not it!”
Her voice rose twice its usual pitch.
Then she startled herself and clapped a hand over her mouth.
She really was like some small, skittish animal.
With a wry smile, I continued.
“If you don't think that's natural, then there's only one answer, isn't there?”
“...That I have to change myself?”
As expected of someone from the Zhuge Clan.
She immediately grasped my meaning and countered with a question.
I nodded silently, and after pondering deeply for a moment, she lowered her head dejectedly again.
“But... even after thinking about it, I don't know how. How I could change....”
That figures.
From what she'd told me, Zhuge Seo-hee had lived her entire life in obedience to the Zhuge Clan Head.
Telling her to suddenly take charge of her own life was naturally a tall order.
No helping it.
Maybe I could offer a bit of advice?
After mulling over what to say, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Weakness means lacking power, in other words. Why not start by building your own strength, Lady Zhuge?”
“Power? If you mean martial prowess, I am a woman of a martial house. My talent is lacking, so my achievements are modest, but....”
I shook my head at Zhuge Seo-hee's words.
“Power doesn't have to mean martial might. Wealth, information, wisdom—they can all be power.”
I turned to look at her as I spoke.
“What to make your power is for you to choose.”
“...Wealth, information, wisdom....”
As she repeated my words, I sensed a familiar presence drawing near.
Turning my head, I saw the figure approaching and couldn't help but smile.
“This is far enough for the escort. Then I'll be off.”
“Huh? W-Wait a moment...!”
Ignoring Zhuge Seo-hee's call from behind, I walked toward the figure.
I'd worried she might be angry again about me being with Zhuge Seo-hee, but fortunately, she didn't seem to be.
“What, you here to pick me up?”
“You were taking so long.”
Hwa-ryeon replied as casually as ever, then glanced back at the flustered Zhuge Seo-hee.
“That lady was the one the clan head called too?”
“Yeah. Seemed desperate to tie me to her somehow.”
I took Hwa-ryeon's hand as I spoke.
Lacing our fingers tightly.
“Told them I already have someone I'm deeply tied to like this.”
“...Good job.”
I smiled faintly at Hwa-ryeon, whose face flushed slightly as she murmured her reply.
*
Hwa-ryeon looked into Ja-seong's eyes gazing at her.
His usual sharp gaze had softened.
It was worlds apart from how he'd looked moments ago walking with Zhuge Seo-hee.
Just earlier, worried after he'd been gone for over an hour, she'd come out and seen Ja-seong walking with Seo-hee.
For an instant, that ugly jealousy crept up again.
But it didn't last.
Because she'd seen the way Ja-seong looked at Seo-hee.
Cold, impassive eyes even with the North's Hubei Premier Beauty at his side.
He might not realize it himself, but Ja-seong's face—usually inexpressive with its sharp features—gave a profoundly cold impression.
Yet those eyes softened the moment they turned to her.
Confirming that, the jealousy melted away like snow in sunlight.
What remained was a single certainty.
‘In this man's heart, there's only room for me.’
That certainty gave Hwa-ryeon strength.
No matter what thorny path lay ahead, as long as he was by her side, it would be all right.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
She thought that as she squeezed his interlaced hand.