Chapter 95
Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Return to Beijing
Seven days and nights after departing from Seungdeok.
The carriage we rode pulled into Beijing.
'About two months, roughly?'
To be precise, it hadn't even been two full months since I left Beijing.
Yet it felt like years had passed since my return.
'So much has happened.'
Running into the Martial Emperor and Cheon Woojin by chance on the way, the process of claiming Moyong Hui once we reached Shenyang.
And finally, wiping out the Red Serpent Sect in Seungdeok before bringing Yang Hwajeong and Baek Rihyeon along.
I'd been uncharacteristically busy.
Thanks to that, arriving in Beijing now filled me with an odd sense of calm peace.
'Time to rest here for a while.'
Once I left this place, there'd be plenty to do.
First up, the Shadow Gate Sect leader in Shandong.
He'd even offered a spirit elixir from his Death Command Unit just to see my face—somehow, I doubted it'd end there.
Sure, the elixir came from his son, but still, something troublesome was bound to crop up.
And it wasn't just that.
I had to head to the Murim Alliance and dig into the Blood Cult too.
'But that won't be easy.'
Asking around Beggar Clan and the Alliance would be ideal, but the Blood Cult hadn't even properly surfaced in the Central Plains yet.
No one grasped its severity.
In the end, I'd have to pound the pavement myself.
Beyond that, dealing with the Murim Alliance's hypocritical orthodox bastards or the impending righteous-demonic war meant at least a year of hard times ahead.
Considering all that, my stay in Beijing from here on out might as well be Mok Jimyeong's final break.
'Once I build my fame, I won't get to relax like this anymore.'
Here, I had no obligations, no enemies gunning for me.
Not even any new women to chase.
'I've got plenty right here.'
Eun Garyeon, Somwol, Moyong Hui, Yang Hwajeong, plus all those courtesans at the Silver Flower House.
Even taking a different one each day, I'd have more than enough for a full month.
If anything, it was paradise for me.
As I happily pondered how long to lounge in Beijing, our carriage reached its destination.
"We've arrived at the Eun Merchant Group."
At Beomseok's voice—he'd been focused solely on driving—we disembarked one by one.
Confirming we'd all gotten off, he took his pay from me and bowed.
"Thank you for using our carriage these past days. I'll be off now."
[Heading to Somwol?]
I sent him a transmission.
He gave a small nod.
But that was it.
Mindful of my request not to make a scene, he drove off without another word.
I had no further curiosity anyway.
The Eun Merchant Group right in front of me mattered more.
Having stopped directly in front, the gatekeepers eyed us warily.
It would've been handy if that Jang bastard were waiting out front, but no such luck.
So I had to step up.
"Is your merchant lord inside?"
"...And who might you be?"
The guards countered with a question instead.
But I just said my piece.
"Tell him the Mok Family clan's third son, Mok Jimyeong, has arrived."
No sooner had I finished than their faces lit up in surprise.
Seemed they knew of me.
One guard quickly dashed inside.
"Please wait a moment."
Alone, I might've barged right in, but with Moyong Hui beside me, I flashed a friendly smile.
'Traveling with Hui makes this a hassle.'
Moyong Hui still saw me purely as an orthodox successor.
I'd planned to dye her in my colors by now, but it wasn't that simple.
I'd played the righteous hero to seduce her—hard to suddenly reveal my true nature.
Plus the guilt over Yang Hwajeong.
Anyway, all these little things piled up, making me cautious in speech and unwittingly acting the part of a true orthodox figure.
Of course, it was just a paper-thin mask I could shed anytime with the right trigger—but for now, it held.
Moments later, a familiar face flung open the gate.
The merchant lord here, and the woman I'd shared my body with.
Eun Garyeon herself.
"Young Hero Mok! Welcome... And these people are...?"
She still looked stunning after all this time.
No—somehow even more beautiful than when we'd parted.
And it probably wasn't just my imagination.
'Effect of dual cultivation.'
Not as dramatic as Yang Hwajeong's change, but plenty of subtle shifts.
The biggest? The faint internal energy pulsing from her dantian.
Still far from first-rate, but cultivating martial arts at all was encouraging.
Especially for women—training made a huge difference in figure.
'Eun's body was already decent...'
I ached to strip her and check right then.
Impossible, though, so I settled for scanning her curves through her clothes.
Then, with my best friendly smile, I replied.
"Miss Eun, long time no see."
"Oh, look at me. Come inside first."
Startled by my companions at first, she snapped to and led us into the compound.
The interior buzzed with activity.
A few familiar faces from the Shadow Gate Sect still helping out, it seemed.
'Where's that Jang bastard, anyway?'
I'd done him a favor—he ought to come running when word got out.
I even had preemptive instructions for him.
"Miss Eun. Where's Jang... er, Warrior Jang?"
Habit nearly had me say 'bastard,' but Moyong Hui's presence made me switch words.
Eun gave my phrasing a puzzled look, then smiled faintly.
"Young Hero Jang left for the Sichuan Tang Family on a trade run a while back. First deal with them—better send someone they know, right? Ideally it'd be me, but as you know, Young Hero Mok, I can't step away now."
True enough.
Busy, crucial time.
"When's he back?"
"Around a month from now."
A month.
Perfect timing for my Beijing rest—leave after confirming his return.
'Just in case, gotta tell him not to use Heavenly Apex Swordsmanship.'
Back then, I figured no way Eun Merchant Group and Martial Emperor would cross paths, so I taught freely.
But with Baek Rihyeon as Cheon Woojin's disciple and Yang Hwajeong staying here, exposure risk was high.
'If I'd known, I'd have taught something else...'
Plenty of arts I could've shared.
But it was my best option then.
Any with unclear origins risked claims like "that's my clan's secret art"—Chumunrak's Formless Finger Gong came to mind.
Even ones I knew the owners of were dicey.
Teaching Nangong family's Spearless Swordlessness would spell disaster if caught.
So I picked the Martial Emperor's Heavenly Apex Swordsmanship—low profile, few knew it.
'Never expected this orthodox entanglement.'
I could sever the Eun-Martial Emperor link with some effort, but no real need.
Easiest was just warning the Jang bastard off using it.
"Have a seat, everyone."
Eun guided us to the reception room and brought tea.
But she didn't touch hers, jumping straight into talk.
"Young Hero Mok, won't you introduce your companions now?"
Clearly curious about the group.
'No wonder. Just two months ago, I traveled solo—now I show up with a crowd.'
Two beauties and a kid to boot—she'd naturally be on edge.
But Eun wasn't the only one minding the sudden woman.
"Honey. Is this the lady you mentioned, head of the Eun Merchant Group?"
Moyong Hui's voice carried a chill sharper than usual.
Only now did I recall not telling her about Eun—only mentioned it to her father.
'Yeah, just Father-in-Law.'
From Moyong Hui's view, the 'man' she'd believed ran this place turned out female—betrayal sting, especially seeing Eun's warm welcome for me.
As I pondered where to start smoothing things, a frosty voice came from across.
"Honey...?"
Eun repeated the word in shocked disbelief, face frozen as she glanced between Moyong Hui and me.
Then her eyes narrowed to axes, glaring daggers.
Eun Garyeon in front.
Moyong Hui at my side.
I sighed inwardly under their sharp gazes.
Just moments ago, I'd been dreaming of peaceful Beijing rest...
'Looks like... it's all gone to hell?'
And Somwol was still waiting. Big trouble.