Chapter 157
Translator: penny
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: Blissful Secrets
'I wonder if I can keep this a secret...?'
That was because Nangong Sua's internal energy had increased far too much.
If Moyong Hui, who had reached the Enlightenment Realm, saw her, she'd notice immediately.
'Tch, but first things first—I need to give it a shot.'
To do that, cleaning up this room was the top priority.
I left Nangong Sua, who still hadn't come to her senses, and began erasing every trace of our passion one by one.
As I opened the windows to air out the place and cleaned, a chuckle escaped me.
'Getting used to this now, huh.'
Back in my Lecherous Demon days, I'd just leave a woman after ravishing her and move on, but these days, I'm always the one tidying up.
Of course, it was unavoidable since the women I'd been with always ended up out of it, but still—doing this cleanup made me realize anew that I wasn't that Lecherous Demon anymore.
By the time I'd wiped away all signs of our tryst and finished washing up, Nangong Sua finally stirred.
"...Young Master Mok?"
"Lady Nangong, you're awake."
"Ah... ah...!"
Realizing the situation late, she flushed crimson and covered herself with both hands.
As if hiding her body now, after I'd already admired every inch, would make a difference.
I smirked, and she spoke in a trembling voice.
"Where are my clothes...?"
"Right beside you."
She glanced where I pointed and hurriedly dressed.
Only after she was fully clothed did she look at me.
"What time is it now, by any chance?"
"Still Shen hour (3-5 PM). Hwiya should be back in about two hours."
It was thanks to Nangong Sua waking up sooner than I'd expected.
I'd planned to wake her if she didn't stir, though.
Hearing that, Nangong Sua suddenly shot to her feet.
"Ah! My internal energy!"
She plopped right back down and assumed a meditative posture.
I knew exactly what was happening, so I just smiled and waited.
About fifteen minutes later, after completing a minor heavenly circuit, Nangong Sua looked at me with wide-eyed shock.
"Young Master Mok, my internal energy...!"
"Has increased, right?"
"...Could you tell me what happened?"
I explained the now-familiar Blissful Creation Art.
Of course, I changed the name to just Harmony Art.
Her eyes trembled faintly as she heard the full story.
"There's a technique like that...?"
"You just experienced it yourself. How does it feel to have internal energy surpassing the Absolute Peak?"
To be precise, it was on par with early Enlightenment Realm.
That didn't mean Nangong Sua had instantly reached Absolute Peak, but it wouldn't take long.
Divisions like early, mid, and late Peak depended heavily on quantity and quality of internal energy.
'And Absolute Peak just means projecting sword qi, which comes quick with enough internal energy.'
I knew from personal experience, so it was certain.
"...Young Master Mok, you're not just exceptional at martial arts."
Obviously.
I was a man whose bedroom skills outshone my martial prowess.
But instead of a crude joke, I said something she'd like more.
"Oh, and this is a secret too, Lady Nangong."
I winked at her.
She burst into a soft laugh.
"Secrets keep piling up between us, Young Master Mok."
Nothing bonds people faster than sharing secrets.
Sensing the mood lighten, I stood.
"Lady Nangong, I'd love to stay here with you longer, but... we should probably head out. Where are you off to now?"
It felt lousy, like kicking her out right after, but no choice.
If we lingered and Moyong Hui returned, our secret friendship would end on the spot.
Nangong Sua got it too, her face falling a bit.
"I should head back to the Murim Alliance. Need to check on my brother in the Medical Division and meet my maternal uncle too..."
"Your uncle—the Patrol Division Leader?"
"Yes. Actually..."
She hesitated mid-sentence.
I wondered why, after we'd seen everything of each other, but her next words made it click.
"My uncle's worried about your relationship with our family, Young Master Mok. After this incident, he fears you might hold a grudge against the Nangong Family..."
Was that why she offered herself?
'Hmm, didn't feel like it, though.'
Me, Mok Jimyeong.
I've embraced countless women.
Many wanted something from me, but I hadn't sensed that from Nangong Sua at all.
But she panicked and clarified.
"Don't misunderstand! Today had nothing to do with the family! Sure, I got permission to befriend you, but it wasn't for that reason at all!"
I believe her.
When it comes to women, my instincts trump circumstantial evidence.
I smiled to reassure her.
"No worries. I won't assume that. And why would I hold a grudge against the Nangong Family? You're part of it, Lady Nangong."
She beamed at my firm words.
Made me want to stay longer, but time was truly short now.
"Then let me escort you to the Murim Alliance. Can't go inside since I'm grounded, but up to the gate."
She smiled again at "grounded."
Then shook her head.
"Even to the Alliance is fine—people might see us together."
"Mm, fair point. How about to the estate gate, then?"
I naturally wrapped an arm around her waist.
Her smiling face turned beet red.
"Young Master Mok...?"
"What? Uncomfortable?"
She couldn't speak, just shook her head vigorously.
We walked out of the estate like lovers until then.
After seeing Nangong Sua off, I scanned the estate interior with my internal energy.
As expected, I sensed one presence.
'Baek Rihyeon, that kid's holed up alone in his room.'
Sweat stench hit me as I entered Baek Rihyeon's room.
Couldn't train in the inner courtyard, so he'd been practicing solo inside.
He looked at me casually and asked.
"Can I go out now?"
"Yeah, kid. Lady Nangong's gone."
"Ah, so she was Sword Phoenix?"
Come to think of it, I'd chased him out before proper introductions.
From his state, he hadn't really gone out—just stayed cooped up.
I decided to drive the point home, just in case.
"Obviously... but if you tell Hwiya or Cheon Woojin, it'll be no fun, right?"
I pulled another silver tael from my pouch.
Hush money.
But he refused it, shaking his head.
"The money from before's enough. Mind if I ask something?"
What could this kid possibly want to ask me?
The secret to my popularity with women?
'Hmm, tricky.'
How do you explain innate charm?
But his question blew past my expectations.
"Were you... that close with my mother too?"
I nearly choked.
What did this eight-year-old know to ask that?
"Cough, cough... Ahem, what kind of 'close'?"
"I know all about it. Back in the markets, you think only one or two guys approached my mom wanting to sleep with her?"
So mature.
But I had no clue how to respond.
As I pondered, he pressed first.
"Can I call you Father?"
"What the hell, you crazy punk! Who do you think you're blocking from marriage?!"
The absurdity made me snap back instantly.
Me, father to Baek Rihyeon? No way.
'The guy who beheaded me in my past life is this kid...'
"No proper title fits. Calling you brother feels off since your senior calls you liege, but calling you liege too is weird."
Still, he insisted on being a filial rebel.
To stop this kid from going full rebel, I told him the truth.
"Kid, even so, why would I be your dad? Your father's the Baek family head, bedridden in Shandong Province after qi deviation."
His real brother was in the White Tiger Unit now.
First squad, so dead soon.
'Hold on. Who's running the Baek family then?'
Something felt off mid-explanation.
Family head bedridden, eldest son Baek Rijun here.
Only other direct kin left was Baek Rieunjeong...
'So she's running the Baek family now?'
I recalled her naive visit with the death squad.
Pretty enough, but her pouting after rejection stuck with me.
Back then, I'd firmly rejected Baek Rieunjeong mainly because of her father, the family head.
No guarantee that guy, who lusted after his daughter's maid (Yang Hwa-jeong), wouldn't eye my woman.
But recent info from Shadow Gate Sect Leader and my past life changed things.
-Actually, the Baek family's in a rough spot. Their head got qi deviation crossing the wall half a year ago and hasn't recovered. Eldest son and young lord Baek Rijun is currently...
His father probably dies without recovery.
Baek Rijun dies in the Uprising War too.
Past life memories of the Baek family surfaced.
Baek family rose to Five Great Families with Shadow Gate help.
Then head and heir die suddenly; they propped up bastard son Baek Rihyeon as puppet lord out of desperation.
But his Heavenly Martial Physique shot him to Enlightenment Realm fast; he ousted Shadow Gate and took full control.
'This life, Shadow Gate cut ties, and Baek Rihyeon's here?'
The Baek family wouldn't collapse overnight, but they'd be in dire straits.
Only direct blood left: Baek Rieunjeong.
As I sorted my thoughts, the rebel kid kept rebelling.
"Hard to call someone I've never seen 'Father'."
"Hard how? He is your father."
"Fine, Father aside... what do I call you?"
What to call me, hmm.
Time to settle titles properly.
Then Baek Rieunjeong's face popped up.
A bit short of Moyong Hui or Nangong Sua, but enough to stir me.
"Hmm, call me brother-in-law from now on."
If the Baek head really died, she'd qualify fully.