Chapter 151
Translator: penny
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Homecoming
After parting ways with the Murim Alliance Leader and returning home, Moyong Hui greeted me at the front gate.
"Honey!"
She rushed into my arms all at once, just like lovers reuniting after a long separation.
I gently embraced her in return.
"I'm home."
I wondered if this was how Gyeonwu and Jiknyeo felt when they finally met on the magpie bridge.
Of course, they'd been apart for a year, while we'd only been separated for a day.
But there was one guy ruining this touching reunion.
"My lord, what did the Alliance Leader say?"
It was Cheon Woojin, the one who'd been eagerly pressing his face against the Alliance Leader's earlier.
Unfortunately, there was no story for him to look forward to.
"Don't get your hopes up, punk. I didn't mention you."
He clicked his tongue softly at my firm response.
"Tch... Anyway, don't do this in front of the gate. Come inside. I've already prepared dinner."
"Oh, really? Hui, let's eat first."
As I entered the manor with Moyong Hui, a delicious aroma teased my nose.
Who knew Cheon Woojin would turn out useful in so many ways.
The biggest worry when I first bought this manor had been meals.
I couldn't exactly eat out at restaurants every single day.
And hiring separate staff felt burdensome without steady income.
On the first day, Moyong Hui had insisted on cooking to show off her skills, but honestly, it wasn't to my taste.
A direct descendant of one of the Five Great Families wouldn't have cooked more than a handful of times.
I hadn't lived a life particularly tied to cooking either.
That's when I realized Cheon Woojin, who'd grown up alone with his father, had decent culinary skills.
After that, he naturally took over meals.
For the record, cleaning and other chores were all Baek Rihyeon's responsibility.
He was living off me while lounging at home every day (well, practicing martial arts, technically), so it was only fair.
During dinner, talk naturally turned to the trial.
"Honey, what happened? House arrest for 30 days...?"
Perhaps because the punishment was far lighter than expected, Moyong Hui showed interest in the details.
But I couldn't exactly admit to blackmailing them.
If I'd planned to tell her, I wouldn't have stopped her from attending in the first place.
"Hmm, who knows. Maybe because my Hui worked so hard for me?"
"What do you mean I worked hard? You were the one who suffered."
Moyong Hui giggled sweetly.
I smiled back at her.
Cheon Woojin sighed at the sight of us.
"Save the affection for after dinner... So, why did the Alliance Leader summon you, my lord?"
"Oh, that?"
I honestly shared what the Murim Alliance Leader and I had discussed.
Unlike the trial, there was nothing incriminating.
After hearing it all, Moyong Hui grew serious.
"Honey, are you planning to quit the Murim Alliance?"
"Not exactly, but there's no real need to stick around in this situation. Investigating the Blood Cult would be easier on my own anyway."
"Then should I quit too and help you look into it?"
Whoa, hold on—no way.
Absolutely not.
Traveling with Moyong Hui would be nice, but it came with too many restrictions.
Like not being able to meet new women, or struggling to visit brothels...
Of course, that's not all.
Investigating the Blood Cult was extremely dangerous.
By my estimates, they had over ten Peak Realm experts, and the Blood Demon might even be at the Transcendent Realm.
Alone, I could always escape with my life in any situation, but with Moyong Hui, it could turn deadly.
Of course, voicing these concerns would only worry her, so I put it off.
"No, it's not decided yet. We'll talk later."
I planned to just relax for the next month anyway.
***
Having been forced into abstinence in the Judiciary Hall's prison, I spent an even hotter night with Moyong Hui than usual.
I woke up refreshed the next morning, but Moyong Hui, who should have been beside me, was gone.
Oh, right. Hui must have gone to work.
I couldn't go to the Murim Alliance due to house arrest, but she was still affiliated with them.
She'd taken yesterday off for my trial, but she couldn't keep skipping.
Smack, what should I do?
It was too late to head to a brothel.
I could go if I wanted, but... money was tight.
With the Murim Alliance in Jeongju, prices were high—not as bad as Beijing, but still.
Having spent most of my funds on the manor, I couldn't afford lavish brothel visits.
If I had a free pass at the Brothel Hall, that'd be one thing, but sadly, they had no branch here.
Can't be helped...
The nine judges at my trial yesterday were all Peak Realm experts.
Including elders absent on external duties, the Alliance had nearly twenty Peak Realm masters.
And Peak Realm experts could distinguish hidden Shadow Gate Sect members.
Father-in-law spotted them right away.
So even the Shadow Gate Sect steered clear of Jeongju.
Meaning I had to pay for brothels like anyone else.
Smack...
Still, I couldn't just sit in my room forever, so I leisurely got up.
After washing up, I stepped into the inner courtyard and spotted a familiar kid.
"Haat!"
Baek Rihyeon practicing his forms first thing in the morning.
His sword swings were starting to take proper shape.
Normally, I'd walk past, but bored myself, I called out to him.
"Doing alright?"
He looked up at me in surprise.
"Me?"
"Who else is here besides you?"
"..."
He scowled, apparently not liking my friendly tone.
Tsk tsk, all Cheon Woojin's fault.
But with a heart as vast as the sea, and bored for once, I magnanimously forgave him.
"Cheon Woojin's been teaching you the Heavenly Extremity Swordsmanship lately, right? How far along are you? Show me."
"...Understood."
Baek Rihyeon slowly began demonstrating the Heavenly Extremity Swordsmanship.
He wasn't proficient yet, so it was quite rough...
Still, not bad?
Considering he was only eight—turning nine in a few days—it was impressive.
Cheon Woojin wasn't exaggerating about his 'Heavenly Martial Body' after all.
As I watched absentmindedly, something felt off.
"Hold up. Redo the Beyond Heaven stance. Did Cheon Woojin teach you like that?"
He was using the old form, not the corrected version (well, the one the future Martial Emperor fixed).
"Oh, Senior Brother did mention splitting it into three branches. But for initial practice, he said to maximize the number of strikes like this..."
I got the idea.
But practicing on my dime?
"Tsk, you think now's practice time? Do that alone. Now, do it properly!"
"...Sorry. I'll do it again."
"Nah, get in stance. I'll show you right."
Nothing better to do, so I'd mess with the kid today.
Of course, 'mess' was just talk—it'd actually help him a lot.
Especially with someone watching.
I corrected his form and nagged a bit, and half a shichen passed quickly.
Giving the panting kid a break, I asked something that suddenly came to mind.
"By the way, when's the White Dragon Tournament?"
"A bit over half a month left."
"Yeah? Confident?"
"...Not sure."
Trembling over the kids' White Dragon Tournament, not even the Yellow Dragon one.
I knew he'd pass easily—obviously—but decided to tease him.
"Hmm, looks tough right now. You'll need to train hard the rest of the time. If you fail, I'll ship you back to Beijing."
Baek Rihyeon looked shocked.
"I still have so much to learn from Senior Brother Cheon Woojin..."
"Tsk, you want me worrying about that too? If it's unfair, pass on the first try. And how long you gonna rest? All day?"
At my glare, he stood up, breathing still ragged.
It was kinda fun watching.
Is this the joy of raising a disciple?
Perfect for killing time.
No need to move myself, just bark from the shady spot—couldn't be easier.
But something felt slightly lacking.
I puzzled over it and realized why.
Should grab some snacks for while watching him train.
"Hey, practice alone for a bit."
I stood to head out when—
Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the front gate.
Who could it be?
Moyong Hui or Cheon Woojin would've just come in.
No one else would visit.
Staring at the gate, another knock knock.
"Is Young Master Mok home, by chance?"
The familiar, beautiful voice had me opening the door immediately.
What I saw was utterly unexpected.
"Lady Namgung? What brings you here...?"
It was Namgung Sua, my fanboy Namgung Chan's younger sister, bearer of the epithet Spear Phoenix.
She'd come alone to see me.