Chapter 86
Translator: penny
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: An Aspiring Disciple
"What do you think, Foster Mother Yang?"
"Pardon...?"
Was it too sudden?
Yang Huajeong tilted her head as if she didn't understand.
"Hyeon wants to learn martial arts. What are your thoughts on that, Foster Mother?"
I asked again, but she still looked puzzled about my intentions.
She glanced not only at me but also at Moyong Hui before cautiously speaking up.
"Of course, if Hyeon could learn martial arts, it would be wonderful... but martial arts aren't something you can just pick up because you want to..."
She kept stealing glances at my face as she spoke, clearly treading carefully.
Meanwhile, Baek Rihyeon was sparkling with anticipation beside her.
I turned my gaze back to the boy.
"Why do you want to learn martial arts?"
"So I can help people who are struggling!"
Baek Rihyeon answered immediately, without a moment's hesitation, as if he'd been waiting.
I chimed in right away.
"Help people who are struggling?"
"Yes. Just like how Hui-a noona helped me when I was having a hard time, I want to help others when they're struggling too."
Yang Huajeong and Moyong Hui both looked at Baek Rihyeon with approving eyes.
I felt much the same toward the boy.
'Anyone would think we'd rehearsed this.'
How was he saying exactly what I wanted to hear?
"That's a good reason. So, how strong do you want to become?"
This time, the boy hesitated a little.
Then he glanced at Moyong Hui and Cheon Woojin before answering me.
"...As strong as big brother?"
"As strong as me?"
"...Yes."
Even as he said it, he kept looking apologetically at the two of them.
It seemed the martial arts I displayed earlier had left quite an impression.
Yang Huajeong stayed quiet since she didn't know my true level, but Moyong Hui and Cheon Woojin's expressions subtly shifted as they listened.
And rightly so—the Flower Realm was no easy stage to reach.
Of course, Baek Rihyeon wasn't aware of that when he spoke, but it was a realm most martial artists could never attain no matter how hard they trained their entire lives.
"Getting as strong as me won't happen with half-hearted effort, you know?"
"I can work hard!"
"Hmm, really?"
At this point, the atmosphere in the pavilion shifted.
Yang Huajeong and her son looked expectant.
On the other hand, Cheon Woojin shot me a silent look that practically said, 'What the hell did you eat?'
His reaction was understandable.
Though I'd made a promise with Cheon Seonwoo and had been traveling with Cheon Woojin, I'd never actually taught the guy any martial arts.
Truth be told, I had my excuses.
'No time.'
Right after meeting him, we'd headed straight to Shenyang.
I'd planned to teach him a bit while staying there, but every day in Shenyang had been hectic.
I'd figured it would take about a month to meet Moyong Hui, but...
'Cheon Woojin turned out more capable than expected.'
We met her the very next day after arriving.
And after connecting with her, we'd come straight here to Seungdeok.
So there'd been no time to teach martial arts separately.
It absolutely wasn't because I was too lazy.
"You're Hyeon, right?"
"Yes."
"Good. If you really want to learn martial arts, I'll teach you. But..."
Gulp.
Baek Rihyeon's face lit up, then he swallowed hard at the words to come.
I paused for a moment before continuing.
"Martial arts can't be mastered in a day or two, and we're busy people with places to go—we can't stay in Seungdeok forever."
At my words, the boy's young eyes trembled slightly.
He clearly hadn't thought that far.
And who could blame him? Things had progressed so suddenly.
He had the passion to learn, but no plan for how.
After hesitating for a long while, he cautiously spoke up.
"Then... what should I do...?"
The boy, who'd followed along so well until now, was stumped here.
Well, you couldn't expect too much from an eight-year-old kid.
So I dangled a little bait for him.
"If you and Foster Mother are okay with it, I could take you along and teach you..."
"..."
Not enough, apparently—no response.
He must be worried about leaving his mother here alone.
That's when Yang Huajeong's support came.
"In that case, would it be too impudent to ask for your help?"
"Mom?!"
Baek Rihyeon widened his eyes in surprise.
Now he finally looked like a proper kid.
But this wasn't quite what I wanted.
"Then what about you, Foster Mother?"
"I can take care of myself, so as long as Hyeon is..."
The reason she was willing to entrust her child to me, someone she'd just met today, was probably because of Moyong Hui.
I glanced at Moyong Hui, and she had her eyes tightly shut, head bowed.
"Why not come with us? Are you thinking of heading somewhere else yourself?"
"Pardon?"
"I'll find you a job in Beijing. No need to struggle here—move to Beijing instead."
As I laid out the main proposal to Yang Huajeong, Cheon Woojin's mental transmission reached me.
[My lord, surely...?!]
He'd caught on to my scheme.
Instead of answering, I gave him a different order via transmission.
"Woojin, go buy some street food for the dinner we didn't finish earlier. Take Hyeon with you."
[Have you lost your mind? Lady Moyong is right here...!]
Was this overstepping, or was his loyalty endearing? Hard to say.
Either way, my command stood.
[Come back in about an hour.]
[...Do whatever you want, my lord.]
Cheon Woojin sighed and stood up.
Then, quick on the uptake, he said to Baek Rihyeon,
"Looks like the adults need to talk. Let's step out for a bit."
Baek Rihyeon hesitated, curious about what we'd discuss without him, but ultimately followed Cheon Woojin out of the pavilion hand-in-hand.
Once they were gone, I resumed persuading Yang Huajeong.
"I've only been in Seungdeok a short time, but the security here isn't great. I know a merchant group in Beijing. If you stay with them, it'd put my mind at ease—for Hyeon, and for us too. What do you think?"
"If this is because of what you said about Hyeon earlier... we have no ties left to the Baek family."
She'd misunderstood something.
I gave her a kind, benevolent smile instead.
"Do you think it's because of the Baek family? You know what kind of clan the Moyong family is, right?"
No matter how grand the Baek family was, it couldn't compare to the Moyong clan.
She seemed to realize that, nodding cautiously.
"Then why are you being so kind to a mother and son like us?"
"I heard Hyeon has had a long connection with Hui-a. So..."
As I was deep in conversation with Yang Huajeong, Moyong Hui—who'd been keeping her head down—interrupted.
"Brother, can I talk to you for a moment?"
Her expression was resolute, as if she'd made up her mind.
With no choice, I excused myself from Yang Huajeong.
The moment we stepped out of the pavilion, Moyong Hui stared straight into my eyes.
"Brother, what are you planning?"
"Huh?"
"Taking Hyeon as your disciple and bringing Sister Hwajung to Beijing... that's not your real goal, is it?"
I'd already hinted at it to Moyong Hui earlier, so denying it would be pointless.
"Isn't it?"
At my response, Moyong Hui glared at me with fierce eyes.
Then she puffed out her cheeks.
"Jeez..."
A rough word I'd never heard from her before.
But I could understand.
'This is cute by comparison.'
At least she hadn't called me a bastard or anything.
If I were in her shoes, I'd have already drawn a sword.
When I tried to pull her into a hug without a word like before, she shoved me away.
"Stop it! Go away!"
She was seriously pissed.
I shrugged, and her eyes welled up with tears.
"I really hate you..."
"Should I just drop it then? If Hui-a doesn't like it, I won't."
I said something I didn't mean.
And Moyong Hui didn't disappoint my expectations.
"I've already been hurt enough!"
She'd already been hurt enough.
In other words, she was permitting it.
But I couldn't show I was pleased here.
The outcome was set, so I made the most apologetic face possible.
Moyong Hui looked at me and let out a big sigh.
"So how are you going to convince Sister Hwajung?"
"..."
I'd planned to leverage her child's safety to proposition her body.
But spilling that honestly now felt like a disaster waiting to happen.
As I stayed silent, Moyong Hui spoke first.
"Do it like this."
"How?"
"I'll convince Sister Hwajung. Of course, telling her about the Harmony Art first won't make her believe it..."
She trailed off, hesitating.
I gave her a little nudge.
"Then?"
"She'll probably need to see you demonstrate the Harmony Art with her own eyes."
"Huh?"
It was so unexpected I found myself repeating her.
Moyong Hui squeezed her eyes shut and continued.
"I'll ask her to let me watch you and Sister Hwajung sharing intimacy. I'll say I want to see you with another woman."
"...Huh?"
I still didn't get it.
Watch what?
"I'll tell her I want to watch you and Sister Hwajung doing it!"
In the end, Moyong Hui shrieked at the top of her lungs.