Chapter 87
Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: What Do You Call It?
Peeping on others' actions in secret and deriving sexual pleasure from it is commonly known as voyeurism.
So, what would you call it if someone wanted to watch others' actions—especially those of the person they love—boldly and without shame?
'...Pervert?'
Seeming to catch on to the glint in my eye, Moyong Hui let out another squeal.
"Gaga! That's not what I meant when I said I wanted to see it!"
"Ahem, right..."
I knew full well she only said it to help me out.
I was just embarrassed, that's all.
Moyong Hui let out a deep sigh at my reaction.
"If you bring it up yourself, Hwajeong unni will just look at me awkwardly anyway. Better if I say it first... but I don't have a good reason."
It was certainly a valid point.
But something still bothered me.
"Huiya. Are you okay with this?"
"What choice do I have? We'll explain everything once it's over—that it was all because of the Blissful Creation Art."
That should clear up any misunderstandings.
But that wasn't what I meant.
"No, I mean, are you okay just watching from the side?"
"...I don't know. If it gets too bad, I'll just leave midway."
"What if you joined in too..."
"Gaga!!"
Moyong Hui shouted as if that was absolutely out of the question.
Looking at her heaving with anger, I smacked my lips inwardly.
'What a shame.'
I'd floated the idea of all three of us just to test the waters, but her reaction was way too intense.
Because of that, I had to spend quite a while soothing her pouting self.
A moment later, Moyong Hui shot me a sulky question.
"By the way, Gaga. Were you serious earlier about taking Hyeon-i as your disciple and finding Hwajeong unni a job in Beijing?"
"...Of course."
Taking Baek Rihyeon as a disciple might be a hassle, but it wasn't impossible.
His body and talent had piqued my interest anyway.
'And if it gets too annoying, I can just dump him on Cheon Woojin.'
Disciple or not, I had no intention of teaching him diligently.
Especially not my unique art, the Blissful Creation Art.
'Just toss him a few sword techniques or something.'
But Moyong Hui seemed satisfied with my answer, her expression softening.
"Got it. Then wait here a bit."
"Huh?"
"I'll convince Hwajeong unni alone, so stay here until I call you, Gaga."
After Mok Jimyeong and Moyong Hui stepped out to talk privately, Yang Hwajeong was left alone in the lodge, feeling deeply troubled.
How thrilled she'd been when Mok Jimyeong offered to teach her child martial arts.
But then Moyong Hui had pulled him away, saying they needed to discuss it first.
Of course, she didn't resent Moyong Hui for it.
She just felt sorry.
Yang Hwajeong knew full well how precious proper martial arts training was.
She hadn't even repaid the previous favors, and now this—teaching her child? It was beyond shameless.
And yet, she'd dared to hope...
'...It probably fell through, didn't it.'
Whether the martial art was top-tier or how strong Baek Rihyeon could become didn't matter much to her.
As long as he learned something, he could at least earn a living.
Life after leaving the Baek family had been pure hell for Yang Hwajeong.
Having spent her whole life as a servant in one household, she had no idea what to do or where to go.
With the savings she'd scraped together, she managed to buy a house in Seungdeok and give birth to Baek Rihyeon, but that was it.
A newborn still too young to wean.
No one to leave him with.
She had no choice but to carry him everywhere, but the jobs available to a woman lugging around an infant were severely limited.
So she'd tried everything possible—except selling her body.
She'd considered prostitution too, but thinking of Baek Rihyeon growing up watching her do that... she just couldn't.
He deserved to see and hear only good things.
But now, she regretted even that.
'If I'd known it'd come to this, I should've...'
Because of her incompetence, Baek Rihyeon had to go to the market starting at age five.
Instead of playing, he foraged herbs in the mountains; instead of throwing tantrums, he served customers at the market.
If she'd known her child would suffer like this, maybe selling her body would've been better.
As she wallowed in regrets over her past life, Moyong Hui returned from outside and entered the lodge.
Seeing her enter alone, Yang Hwajeong tilted her head.
"Where's Mok gongja-nim?"
"...He said he had something to take care of and stepped out."
Moyong Hui's expression looked somehow dark as she answered.
Seeing that, Yang Hwajeong thought to herself.
'Looks like it didn't work out.'
It was only natural.
She'd been the shameless one for hoping.
Masking her disappointment, Yang Hwajeong flashed a bright smile.
"Come to think of it, you two look great together. How did you meet?"
"..."
She'd meant to lighten the mood, but it only brought silence crashing down.
Forcing her to gauge the atmosphere quietly.
'Did they fight or something?'
Yang Hwajeong felt unnecessarily guilty.
But Moyong Hui's silence stemmed from an entirely different reason.
She'd told Mok Jimyeong she'd handle it, but now she had no clue how to start.
'How do I even bring this up?'
And hearing they looked good together only made it harder to speak.
The lodge fell so quiet even breaths were audible.
Eventually, Moyong Hui broke the silence first.
"Hwajeong unni, what do you think of what Gaga said earlier?"
Yang Hwajeong startled, thinking her inner thoughts had been exposed, and waved her hands frantically.
"Oh! You don't need to worry about that!"
"...Pardon?"
Caught off guard by the exaggerated reaction, Moyong Hui reflexively questioned back.
She could've figured out why with a moment's thought, but her mind was elsewhere.
"..."
"..."
Silence stretched again.
Then Yang Hwajeong's coughing broke it.
"Ahem—ahem."
Only then did Moyong Hui steel herself.
'...Yeah. Just say it.'
She couldn't keep this up forever—not with Mok Jimyeong waiting outside alone or Yang Hwajeong coughing away.
"Hwajeong unni, please don't misunderstand."
With that preface, Moyong Hui began.
But her words were impossible not to misunderstand.
"Would you... spend one night with Gaga?"
"...What?!"
Over half a shichen had passed since Moyong Hui entered the lodge alone.
I wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation, but her barrier completely blocked all sound.
'What on earth are they talking about?'
I could force my way through if I tried, but she'd notice for sure.
So I sat in front of the lodge, letting my imagination run wild about their discussion.
'Cheon Woojin should be back soon, though.'
He might find it weird seeing me out here alone.
As various thoughts crossed my mind, the barrier around the lodge vanished.
The door cracked open slightly.
"Gaga. Come in."
Moyong Hui called me from the gap.
Stepping inside, I saw Yang Hwajeong with her face beet red, head bowed.
'...Did it go well?'
The mood suggested yes, but it felt awkward to ask outright.
I had to consider the chance it hadn't.
Moyong Hui resolved my doubts.
"Hwajeong unni agreed too."
My lips nearly twitched up involuntarily, but I fought it down desperately.
This was the most crucial moment.
"Oh... really?"
Playing it as cool as possible.
I shot Moyong Hui a concerned glance, as if checking on her.
She met my eyes sharply but turned away without a word.
After our silent exchange, Yang Hwajeong finally lifted her head.
Her ears were red as could be as she hesitantly spoke.
"I heard from Moyong gogo, but... are you sure you're okay with this, Mok gongja-nim?"
Of course I was.
More than okay—I was grateful.
But I couldn't forget Moyong Hui was right there.
"If Huiya and you, Madam Yang, are fine with it..."
I stopped there.
Not knowing what they'd discussed, I had to tread carefully.
Then Moyong Hui spoke up.
"Gaga, what about Cheon Musa's group and Hyeon-i?"
"Huh?"
"It's taking too long even for just fetching dinner..."
Now that she mentioned it, it was odd.
I'd told Cheon Woojin to return in one shichen via transmission.
"Who knows. They'll be back soon, probably?"
Speak of the devil—the lodge door swung open right then.
"We're back!"
Baek Rihyeon burst in beaming, arms full of food.
Cheon Woojin, following behind, froze at the threshold.
He glanced at Yang Hwajeong's flushed face, then sent me a transmission.
[My lord, did you finally stoop to it?]
[...No, you idiot.]
It was Moyong Hui who'd made the move.
I'd just cheered her on.