Chapter 154
Translator: penny
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: Namgung Sua's Unexpected Visit
Namgung Sua's unexpected visit had me quite flustered, but I couldn't very well leave her standing at the front gate forever.
I hurriedly ushered her into the estate.
"Please, come in first."
"Ah… Is that really okay?"
Watching her step cautiously into the estate, all sorts of thoughts raced through my mind.
'Is it possible? It feels like it might be…?'
My instincts as the Lecherous Demon were telling me it was doable.
But recalling her close friendship with Moyong Hui made me hesitate just a bit.
It was different from the time with Yang Hwajeong.
Back then, I'd gotten Moyong Hui's permission first under the pretext of treatment.
On the other hand, there was no guarantee why Namgung Sua had come to see me now.
If I acted purely on gut feeling and it didn't go as planned, only to have it reach Moyong Hui's ears…
'…But if it's Hui-a, maybe she'd understand?'
Yeah, decision made.
As the saying goes, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission—better to act first and apologize later.
If it failed, oh well, no big loss.
Of course, the aftermath worried me a little…
'Since when have I ever been afraid of that?'
As Namgung Sua and I walked side by side, I spotted the guy I'd completely forgotten about.
"Young Master Mok? Who's that kid?"
It was Baek Rihyeon, practicing martial arts in the inner courtyard.
He must have sensed our presence too, because he stopped his training and looked our way.
'…But how do I even explain this guy?'
He wasn't my disciple, first off.
He was a disciple of the Martial Emperor Cheon Seonwu. (Though the Martial Emperor himself didn't know it.)
And Baek Rihyeon wasn't exactly my subordinate either.
To be precise, he was a junior of my subordinate…
'That sounds weird. Besides, Namgung Sua doesn't even know about Cheon Woojin.'
After a moment's thought, I settled on a safe answer.
"Oh, he's a kid I'm looking after for a bit. He's preparing for the White Dragon Tournament to join the Murim Alliance."
Namgung Sua looked shocked at that.
"The White Dragon Tournament? So he's about to become a White Dragon?"
I wondered why she was reacting like that until I remembered she was part of the Azure Dragon Squad.
And what the Azure Dragon Squad did was train White Dragons.
Baek Rihyeon, realizing we were talking about him, started walking over.
This was bad.
If her attention shifted to Baek Rihyeon for no reason, I might not even get a chance to make a move.
I quickly pulled a silver tael from my money pouch and tossed it to him.
"Oh yeah, didn't you say you had someone to meet for lunch today? Stop training and go handle that."
Of course, Baek Rihyeon had no such appointment.
The kid had no acquaintances in Jeongju to begin with.
But he deftly pocketed the silver and nodded along.
"Ah, has it gotten that late already? Then I'll be off."
Not even bothering to change out of his sweat- and dirt-caked training clothes, he left the area.
True to his connection to Cheon Woojin, the kid was sharp.
'Or maybe it's just from growing up in the markets as a kid?'
Either way, since I'd given him silver, he'd stay holed up in his room quietly even after returning.
Thus, I successfully cleared away the immediate obstacle.
But Namgung Sua seemed struck by the mention of the White Dragon Tournament and asked about him again.
"Young Master Mok, how old is that kid?"
"He'll be nine soon."
"Nine?!"
She looked genuinely surprised.
And she glanced in the direction he'd walked off.
'No way—did she notice his skills?'
Baek Rihyeon's level was first-rate.
Not quite up to my current standard, but still an incredible talent.
Even the so-called geniuses among the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes probably hadn't reached that level at his age.
'That's why I hurried to shoo him away…'
Of course, Namgung Sua wasn't likely to take a romantic interest in a mere nine-year-old boy, but it was still a situation with zero upside for me.
A genius shines brightest alone; another talent at a similar level just dims their light.
In other words, it could slightly reduce her favorable impression of me.
"Did you teach him yourself, Young Master Mok?"
But at Namgung Sua's follow-up question, I smiled inwardly.
"Well, you could say that. Actually, even before you arrived, Lady Namgung, I'd been overseeing his martial arts training."
It wasn't that Baek Rihyeon was special.
I, Mok Jimyeong, was special—and that's why he could be special too.
Of course, all I'd done was check his form briefly today, but it wasn't exactly a lie.
My intent hit the mark perfectly; Namgung Sua looked at me with wide-eyed amazement.
"As expected…! I thought you were just exceptional at martial arts, Young Master Mok, but you're even this good at teaching others…"
"Haha, no, no. The kid still has a long way to go."
It sounded humble, but really, it was subtly downplaying him while elevating myself.
Like implying, 'I was way better at that age.'
"How is that 'a long way to go'? Even my brother, who was called a prodigy, hadn't reached that level at his age…"
Namgung Chan's name popped up suddenly, making me flinch a bit.
I couldn't help it, given what I'd done to him.
It was a topic I wanted to avoid at all costs, but brushing it off here would just make things awkward, so I politely inquired.
"By the way, is your brother recovering okay?"
"Ah… They said it'll take about six months for full recovery."
'Tch, only six months?'
For the bastard who'd dared to insult my woman, six months to full recovery was too lenient.
I regretted not shattering his dantian.
But I couldn't voice such thoughts in front of Namgung Sua, so I feigned an embarrassed expression.
"I'm sorry about that incident."
"No, no! Honestly, my brother was the one in the wrong. He started it and acted so disgracefully…"
Her blunt honesty caught me off guard, and I let out a slight chuckle before I could stop myself.
Now she looked embarrassed.
"Keep this between us, okay? Even from Sister Hui-a."
"Don't worry. I'm the tight-lipped type."
For the record, I planned to keep today's meeting a secret too.
If we got caught, oh well.
But I'd need to make sure Baek Rihyeon kept quiet…
'I'll slip him another silver tael later.'
I was dreaming of the perfect crime.
We took a quick tour of the estate, then set up a light drinking spread in my room.
I'd considered an early lunch, but she'd already eaten, so that was scrapped.
I wasn't big on tea either.
Fortunately, Namgung Sua enjoyed liquor and readily agreed, starting our intimate little drinking session.
The snacks were ones Cheon Woojin had prepared in advance, by the way.
"By the way, Lady Namgung, don't you need to go to work?"
"I told them I'd take some time off after the incident. The squad leader understood…"
The conversation kept circling back to that incident.
Each time, the mood turned a bit strange.
It seemed like we needed to clear the air properly.
"Lady Namgung, do you hold any grudge against me?"
"A grudge? Hmm…"
Namgung Sua pondered for a moment, then hesitantly spoke.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. It still doesn't feel real, you know? My brother getting hurt like that, and you being so incredibly strong…"
I listened quietly, refilling her cup.
She smiled gratefully and continued.
"I never thought my brother was the absolute best, but I figured no one his age could match him. That was the reputation in the Murim Alliance too… But seeing him get beaten by you… Well, beaten? Anyway, it felt so surreal. Like, is this reality, or am I dreaming?"
With that, she downed the cup I'd poured.
Then she started giggling.
"Truth be told, it feels kinda satisfying too. Watching the guy who strutted around like he was the best come crashing down. Oh, this is a secret, right?"
"I told you, don't worry."
"Then, since it's a secret, I'll add that I'm actually glad it happened. Meeting Sister Hui-a in the Murim Alliance made me realize how vast the Central Plains martial world is, how high the sky… But my brother never got that and lived his whole life oblivious. Maybe this was the wake-up call he needed?"
She beamed as she said it.
That smile suited her so well, unlike her usual cool demeanor—it surprised me.
"And my brother was wrong anyway. I was so mad at what he said back then… It was only natural for you to get angry, Young Master Mok."
"No, I think I went too far."
I said something I didn't mean.
But Namgung Sua shook her head firmly.
"No! It just shows how much you care for your lover! Honestly, I'm jealous of Sister Hui-a, dating a man like you."
It felt like reeling in a fish without even casting the bait.
But there were still some doubts, so I probed a little more.
"Doesn't Lady Namgung have an Earth Dragon partner?"
"Ah…"
Her expression hardened instantly.
She let out a deep sigh.
"Forget what kind of person Squad Leader Pang is—first off, we're not in any kind of relationship. We haven't even spoken in quite a while."
Pang Deokjo must have taken my advice to heart from before.
'Is he really that stupid…?'
No matter what, after the incident, he could've at least offered some comfort…
No time to meet?
'Whatever, doesn't matter to me.'
It was good news for me.
The opportunity had rolled right into my lap.
I decided to probe one last time.
"So, what kind of man would Lady Namgung like to be with? Don't worry, it'll stay between us."
"Someone I'd like to be with?!"
The direct question made her blush.
She glanced at me shyly, then murmured softly.
"Someone like you, Young Master Mok…?"
No need to probe any further, it seemed.