Chapter 28
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Meeting (2)
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I spotted a group of beautiful young women I'd never seen before, gathered with Seok Su-a and sharing drinks.
"Bro. What're you doing?"
Gwang-u, who'd crawled up the hill, asked.
"Over there. Your girl's drinking."
I nodded toward the rocks, and Gwang-u's head whipped around like lightning.
"Whoa, where... You're right."
Gwang-u stared blankly at the women.
"Weren't we going to buy meat? Hurry up and change. While we're out, let's scout some land too. Can't just play around and mooch forever."
"Oh, got it, bro. Wait just a sec."
Gwang-u dashed inside and emerged in his finest clothes—the silk robe the Black Bear Gang had gifted him.
"Getting married? Today the big day?"
"What're you talking about, bro? Gotta dress sharp for our first village trip in ages."
Sigh...
"Idiot. If you can't even talk straight..."
I let out heavy sighs and headed out the gate first.
Gwang-u hurried after, clinging to my arm.
"Bro, let's head that way today."
Gwang-u pointed toward the rocks where the women sat.
That spot was where the boat had snagged during the flood.
"Village is this way. Why go there?"
"Uh, just."
Gwang-u mumbled vaguely and quickened his pace toward the rocks.
"Totally lost it. He's gone."
Gwang-u's unrequited crush on Seok Su-a seemed unbreakable, even by brutal force.
I gave up and trailed behind him.
But this fool, as he neared the rock where Seok Su-a sat, couldn't get closer and veered toward the village, circling wide.
"Gwang-u. Wanna die? Just confess to Miss Seok now."
Gwang-u jumped back, vehemently denying it.
"W-what? Bro, when did I ever say I liked Miss Seok?"
The absurdity boiled my blood.
"You. Tonight. I'm killing you."
"Why're you mad? What'd I do wrong?"
Sigh...
As I sighed deeply, women's laughter reached my ears.
Kkirikiki...
"Like little sister Seok said, their speech is rough, but they seem honest folk."
Before I knew it, Zhuge Ji was calling Seok Su-a "little sister."
And Seok Su-a took it in stride.
"Yes. You're right, big sis. Father said those hunters aren't the type to harm others. He even said if he'd met the big hunter sooner, he'd have taken him as a disciple. He pitied how this once-in-a-generation martial bone was wasted as a mere hunter, all because the timing was off."
To Zhuge Ji's eyes, the burly hunter would've been famous in the martial world by now if born into it.
But the one catching her interest wasn't the big hunter—it was his companion.
From the hill, he'd glanced their way before turning away indifferently, and it nagged at her.
"Enough drinks. Let's head back to the family."
As Zhuge Ji moved to leave, Peng Ok looked disappointed.
"Stay a bit longer, big sis."
Namgung Hye comforted her.
"We can come back tonight. Gotta see how beautiful the moonlight on the river is."
Peng Ok nodded, easing her regret, and stood.
As they packed up and headed back, Seok Su-a asked,
"So, what's Young Master Moyong like?"
She seemed taken with the Moyong family.
No wonder—Moyong was handsome, sturdy, and polite.
The three women besides Seok Su-a burst into laughter at once.
Kkirikiki.
"Not a bad guy, but the world's biggest playboy. So stay far away."
"I see..."
"Most popular with courtesans in the jianghu."
Ah...
Then Seok Su-a recalled a jianghu rumor.
The Moyong family had one fine butterfly, and countless flowers bloomed around to woo it.
'That's how he got the nickname Butterfly Sword.'
Seok Su-a dropped her interest in Moyong.
No matter how great the man, playboys were a hard no.
"Zhuge Ji, Namgung Hye, and Peng Ok returned to the Seok family under Seok Su-a's guidance, strolling along the riverbank."
Jo Gu, receiving the report from Si Wang-saeng, slapped him across the face without warning.
Smack! Crash!
Si Wang-saeng tumbled across the table onto the floor.
"Useless fool! Do you even grasp what you've done? You squandered the perfect chance to wipe out the Seok family!"
Even sharp Si Wang-saeng couldn't follow.
How was that a golden opportunity to destroy the Seok family?
Touching the daughters of Zhuge, Namgung, or Peng families, and it'd be the Si family annihilated overnight—not the Seok.
But Si Wang-saeng scrambled up, knelt, and prostrated.
Jo Gu loomed over him, berating loudly.
"If you'd reported on time, I'd have killed one of those three bitches. What happens to a family that can't protect noble visiting guests? Other families mock and bully them. Then I raid the Seok family and slaughter their daughters—no one would question it. Got it?!"
Experience in the jianghu made all the difference.
"This one's thinking was shortsighted."
"Shut up and secure Seok mourning garb. Report everyone entering or leaving the Seok family to me. No exceptions."
"Understood."
As Si Wang-saeng left, Jo Gu spat one last barb.
"The world's most pathetic wretch."
After dinner, the women headed out again.
"Mind if I join?"
Moyong followed.
But Zhuge Ji politely refused.
"We want girls' night. Young Master Moyong, next time."
"Too dangerous for ladies alone at night."
Namgung Hye smirked, tapping her sword hilt.
"No dangers."
Urgh.
Moyong had no choice but to let them go.
Rumors said Namgung Hye matched her brother Namgung Hu in martial prowess.
Like midday, they packed snacks and drinks and headed to the river.
"Young Master Moyong looked so disappointed."
"Who doesn't know his lecherous heart? Gotta give him credit."
At the riverbank, they climbed the rock and alternated gazes between moon and water.
As Seok Su-a said, a clear crescent moon floated on the pristine river.
The moon on the waves shimmered and danced.
"Day and night feel so different here..."
The women laid out snacks and shared drinks.
Gazing at the moon's reflection, Peng Ok smiled unwittingly.
"Wish we could share drinks here next year too. Bring more friends to show them this place."
Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye shared the sentiment.
Prettier spots existed, but few tugged the heart like this.
Drunk on the ambiance, Zhuge Ji recited a poem.
Deep night, bright moon afloat on the river.
Facing you and me, before we know it, friends we be.
Kkakakaka.
"As expected of a Zhuge family lady—even her poems have flair."
The women's laughter seeped into the deep darkness.
"Zhuge Ji, Namgung Hye, Peng Ok, and Seok Su-a have left the Seok family."
Jo Gu, mid-tea with family head Si Ju-pyeong, shot up.
"Bring Seok mourning garb and masks."
"What do you plan?"
Si Ju-pyeong fidgeted uneasily.
If it went wrong, the Si family was done.
Who could withstand the Five Great Families' wrath?
"How's a family head so spineless? That's why you've bowed to the Seok family like rats, scraping by."
Si Ju-pyeong had no retort.
He hung his head amid the humiliation as the door opened—Si Wang-saeng entered.
"Here."
Jo Gu took the garb and mask, changing on the spot.
"Remember: I'm not the killer—Seok daughters are."
"No worries. Even if my head rolls, my lips are sealed."
Satisfied with Si Wang-saeng's vow, Jo Gu nodded.
"Seeing you, the Si family's future isn't all doom."
Jo Gu slipped from the Si family unseen and raced to the river.
Reaching the bank on the dark path, he crept along the trail.
How far had he gone?
Faint women's laughter drew him to hide in a pine grove.
There, under clear moonlight, women sat on the rock, sipping and chatting.
'Stupid bitches drinking, clueless to death's door.'
No better chance.
Jo Gu sought a stealthy path to the rock.
But the pine grove to rock was open ground—tough to sneak.
Water approach? His aquatic skills were mediocre.
Jo Gu left the pines, crouching low to close distance.
Then, far off on a dim hill: a house amid pines.
'Perfect.'
Jo Gu retreated into thick shadow, elated inwardly.
"Ah... damn it."
Why these women come at night to yap like that?
"Bro, don't be like that. We're hot and sleepless—imagine how they feel?"
Gwang-u, back in silk, peeked over the wall.
"You moron. Quit peeking—go say hi."
"What? Bro, I got no interest in Miss Seok."
This fool ogled Seok Su-a shamelessly while playing dumb.
Talking more would just hurt my mouth, so I sprawled on the porch.
Gwang-u, peeking at Seok Su-a, slunk toward the gate.
"Gonna watch closer?"
He froze, caught.
"Bro, really? I swear no interest."
"Fine, fine. Have fun."
"It's really not..."
A smile crept as I watched Gwang-u dawdle out the gate.
I lay staring at the clear crescent moon.
Suddenly, an unpleasant chill hit me.
'Assassins again?'
I bolted up and rushed outside.
"Gwang-u."
"What, bro?"
Gwang-u, hiding behind a tree by the house peering at the rock, turned irritably.
"Feel anything?"
"Feel what?"
"Assassins incoming."
Gwang-u's body flared with murderous intent.
I scanned around, hunting the source.
"There."
A black shadow flickered amid distant trees.