Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: My Real Daughter
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I first pressed down firmly on Su-ah's nose.
"If you mess around, you're done for."
"Ehehe."
Next, I pushed away the four who came charging in noisily.
"I don't know what you're saying, but I'm not a married man."
"What kind of bullshit is that...!"
"She's your daughter, isn't she?!"
"She is my daughter. Just not my biological one."
The four froze.
"...What the hell does that mean?"
"Not biological?"
"Then... what, some fake identity?"
"Not fake at all."
I pulled Su-ah tightly into my arms.
"She's really my daughter."
"Speak plainly!"
"I adopted her."
The four blinked. Su-ah rubbed her face against my cheek.
"But she's my real daughter. Right... Daddy?"
"Of course."
"Heehee."
The stunned four looked at each other. They staggered, clutching their chests.
Eun Seol-ran asked hesitantly.
"Wait, what... Let's hear the story first. What the hell happened?"
"Let's move somewhere else first. Seems like there's a lot to talk about."
...
We found a suitable room and rented it. Seeing the four remove their disguises, Su-ah's eyes sparkled.
"...Daddy's close with pretty big sisters."
"...Th-thanks?"
"Makes me shy for no reason."
"She knows good looks when she sees them."
"...Ahem."
I explained everything that had happened. Why I adopted Su-ah. What had gone on in the meantime.
After hearing it all, the four nodded in understanding. At the same time, they whispered toward me, as expected-
"That's just the path that guy would take."
"So no wedding ceremonies or anything?"
"Makes sense. He's far from promiscuous."
"I-I knew from the start, okay?"
"Who was it that came running over crying?"
"Sh-shut up?!"
In the softening atmosphere, I pushed Su-ah forward. She hopped out and bowed politely.
"I'm Su-ah. Nice to meet you. If I ever do anything rude, please tell me right away. I'll fix it immediately!"
"...She's really cute."
"Wanna try big sis? Come on, big siiis~"
"Smart kid. Hmm... I don't usually like kids, but this one's okay."
"So polite."
Su-ah tugged at my clothes. Knowing what that meant, I nodded.
I pointed to Eun Seol-ran first.
"My senior. Someone who once did me a huge favor. Kind and gentle. Reliable."
"Eun Seol-ran. You can call me sis."
"Yes! Sis!"
"...If I had a little sister, she'd feel just like this..."
The remaining three whispered behind her.
"Did her a favor... Sounds like she's keeping some distance."
"Right? Benefactor stops at benefactor."
"Feels like there's a wall in that intro."
"Quiet."
I pointed to Joo Ryeong-ryeong.
"A trustworthy comrade. We're friends."
"Joo Ryeong-ryeong! Wanna try calling me sis?"
"Siiiis."
"...Hey, let me raise her instead. Okay?"
The remaining three whispered behind.
"Sorry to Ryeong-ryeong, but friends stop at friends. Friendships are the hardest to turn romantic."
"Exactly. Confess and get rejected? Total sobbing and running away vibe."
"You all are sharp."
"Hey."
I pointed to Black Peony.
"The one who taught me a way forward when things were tough and hopeless."
"Black Peony."
"Nice to meet you. Sis."
"Nice to meet you too."
The remaining three whispered behind.
"Taught her a method... No title even. Not friend, not anything, right?"
"Dan-hwa's intro hits the hardest?"
"Screams acquaintance level. As expected of big bro. Sharp eye."
"...Excuse me?"
Finally, I pointed to Baek Mae.
"This one's a little sister I really cherish."
"Ch-cherished... Ehehe... S-sip! I'm Baek Mae!"
"Nice to meet you. Sis!"
"Yeah. Nice to meet you."
The remaining three whispered behind.
"Little sister? No need to say more. Tsk tsk. Sigh. Can't even trash-talk that."
"Poor Baek Mae... Most ambiguous relationship. Little sister is basically an uncrossable line..."
"Match over. She'll just suck her thumb, watch him leave, then hole up at home crying..."
"Why am I the only one getting hit hardest?!"
Su-ah smiled brightly at the bickering four.
"Nice to meet you all!"
With greetings roughly done, I brought over the rest of the group. Naturally, they kept their face masks on for the intros.
As if aiming to assert dominance from the start, the four didn't hide their auras at all. Everyone they passed flinched.
"Wh-what...?!"
"Wh-who are these people?!"
"My acquaintances. The ones who agreed to join the Murim Alliance support warrior squad this time."
"Wh-what kind of presence...?!"
Gu Hwa-rin subtly stepped back. Fair reaction from her perspective.
It wasn't just Eun Seol-ran and Joo Ryeong-ryeong. Black Peony also unleashed her inner energy effortlessly, as if showing off what she'd learned.
Had she fully mended her dantian? Baek Mae was no exception. I could see her proudly directing her aura at me.
A heavy presence. It was unmistakably the realm of the Flower Mirror stage.
"You broke through?"
"Yes! What do you think?"
I gently examined her hand. Even after reaching Flower Mirror and shedding her mortal form...
Her hands were rough. Meant she'd gripped the sword a lot.
A realm unreachable without effort, no matter the talent. Even with Baek Mae's genius and great master, she'd seized it through near-death training.
I lifted her hand. Slowly stroked her soft white hair.
"Good job."
"Wh-who said you could pet my head?"
"Oh. Sorry."
"...I didn't say don't do it...?"
I tried petting again at her tsundere words, but got stopped immediately.
"I'm in Flower Mirror too, you know?"
"Mine now."
"I broke through ages ago."
I eyed the three lined up awkwardly. Su-ah quietly took her place at the end.
"I'll get there soon too!"
Gu Hwa-rin glanced around, then slipped to the back of the line.
"M-me too..."
Su-ryeon smiled broadly.
"If my little sis is lining up, it'd be weird if I didn't."
"Call me by name! I'm not your little sis!"
...Did I rub honey on my hands or something?
Anyway, I petted everyone in line. Na-rin and Gwang-yang were impressed.
"As expected. Master... No joke."
"What... Strongest at night too...?"
"Enough nonsense."
With everyone assembled, I handed the roster straight to the Murim Alliance Leader.
"Hmm... Personnel ready?"
He barely glanced at the list before tossing it aside. His voice was hearty like encouragement, but his attitude treated me like a dead man.
"Good luck. Murim Alliance Support Warrior Captain. The future of the Heavenly Dragon Society rests on your shoulders."
"...I'll do my best."
I didn't even see the strategist's face. Just two carriages handed over casually.
We finished preparations and stood before the carriages. Baek-hyeon took one set of reins. Gwang-yang the other.
"I'll do it! Bro! Leave it to me!"
"I've driven a horse briefly before. I'll take the other. Master."
"We can rotate..."
"It's fine!"
"Leave it to us. If it gets tough, sis and I can switch."
"I haven't driven before."
"Learn from the side."
"Getting cocky lately?!"
I ignored the bickering pair and grabbed one set of reins myself.
"Rest. I'll take one."
"Y-yes?! B-but still..."
"It's fine."
Driving was familiar. I'd done it before, and even trained directly under First Demon.
Holding one set of reins, the group subtly gathered toward my carriage.
"M-move over? I wanna ride here?"
"I-I think I should ride here?!"
I looked at the squabbling group. Sighed.
"We're not going on a picnic."
Su-ah jumped into my lap.
"I wanna ride here. Daddy."
"Back would be bett-"
"Teach me to drive!"
"...Sure."
The carriage began to move.
Toward the Heavenly Dragon Society.
...
Black Peony yawned lightly. Stretched, then leaned languidly against the carriage.
The carriage itself was nice. Cushioned seats, no flaws anywhere.
Maybe because Gwang-yang was driving. Barely any shaking, like a cradle.
Sleep tugged at her. But she didn't sleep. There was a reason she deliberately rode separately from Red Cloud.
Scouting new rivals was crucial in love competitions too.
"Gu Hwa-rin... was it?"
"Y-yes?"
Their eyes met; she nodded slightly. Avoided gaze like she was shy.
Pretty face. But slightly off. Beauty rare in the Central Plains.
Colored tribe... maybe.
She turned her head. Eyes met with the girl called Su-ryeon.
Young, but eyes weren't. Eyes that had seen much. Looks young, but...
Can't let guard down.
"You came out from Red Cloud's shadow..."
"My favorite spot."
This one too, blank expression like hiding shyness. She'd smiled playfully like her age next to Red Cloud, but not now.
Stiff, like wearing a mask. The guy called Number 1 next to her had half his face covered in cloth, impossible to read.
But one thing clear. Pretty. This one too.
...Does he have a fate where only beauties flock to him?
Black Peony snapped open her fan. Waved it lightly. The remaining one, Na-rin, was her disciple, paired already, no issue...
These three in front were the problem.
She'd heard the stories. Gu Hwa-rin from Mount Hua. Su-ryeon and Number 1 from Shaolin.
Connections from those places.
Doesn't matter. What matters is elsewhere.
Easy to spot anyway...
"Hey. You three."
Black Peony smiled, covering her mouth with the fan.
"Don't you want to hear Red Cloud's old stories?"
The three's eyes changed. In that moment, Black Peony was certain.
Thought so...
Yep.
All rivals.
Black Peony beamed.
"But I won't tell."
"Wh-what?!"
Why should I?
...
The Heavenly Dragon Society and the Demonic Alliance.
Their endless war was a famous tale.
The righteous coalition claiming Hunan as territory: Heavenly Dragon Society.
The unorthodox coalition dominating Guangdong and Guangxi: Demonic Alliance.
Beyond factions, crucially, their borders abutted directly.
Plus, they were long-time bitter enemies.
War had raged over ten years. Strangely, the closer to Heavenly Dragon Society territory, the more luxurious buildings and fertile fields appeared.
Unsightly for war. Su-ryeon stated neatly.
"Heavenly Dragon Society has severe wealth polarization."
"What does that...?"
"Hunan has a separate granary region. Famous for abundant rain, bountiful harvests without fertilizer. Land blessed by nature. What Demonic Alliance covets. And... source of most of Heavenly Dragon Society's power."
"Hmm..."
"In war, food and money matter most, right? Landlords there grip both, so influence grows. Heavenly Dragon Society supports them, so security around granary is good. But troops concentrate there, so borders naturally worsen."
Su-ryeon leaned her head on my shoulder.
"Poor security lets unorthodox warriors infiltrate inward, creating poverty cycles. Can't even pay protection fees? No duty to protect, so security worsens daily."
"Vicious cycle."
"Yes. Great place to live. But frontline changes scenery. Probably hellish."
...Guess we'll see when we get there.
The carriage hurried on. Long way, so frequent overnight stops.
In gaps, I taught Baek-hyeon, Na-rin, Gwang-yang. From basics to sword handling step-by-step. Baek-hyeon's gaze toward me changed.
He got friendly with Na-rin and Gwang-yang, and soon casually called me master.
"...No sect?"
"Acting as Murim Alliance support warrior, so fine, right? Master! Teaching sword means I should call you that."
Nothing to say about titles.
No rule against it.
Problem elsewhere. Stares watching me teach from behind.
"Teaches well."
"Here, he goes eutchah- Cute."
"New sight. I like it."
"...Big brooo..."
Honestly...
Kinda burdensome.
Made me awkward. Needed a way to distract their gazes.
And I thought of one there.
"If time, why not teach Su-ah?"
"...Huh?"
"Talented kid."
I stroked Su-ah's head.
"Rewarding to teach. Definitely."
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