MTL NOVEL Chapter 41
The gazes of the two figures collided in mid-air.
Confusion, bewilderment, anxiety… and underlying it all, a faint sense of hostility and wariness.
Indescribable emotions surged between the two.
“Y-you… why are you here? No… why does your voice sound like that..?”
Soeun Yu looked at Byul Rak in disbelief.
Even though his appearance had changed somewhat during his time with the Taewon Jin Clan, Soeun, who had once been his wife, could still recognize him.
“…Now you’re speaking politely to me again.”
Feeling a complicated mix of wanting to converse but also wanting to avoid it, Byul Rak coldly asked a question.
It was his way of trying not to care too much.
“You still remember that incident, don’t you?”
Byul Rak… or rather, Namgung Cheolbin and Soeun Yu.
The last time they had spoken…
If it could even be called a conversation, it was a very short and one-sided moment.
– “I’ve never seen a monster like you.”
– “…Fuck”
– “Just go away quickly. Living as your wife and a Namgung family member has been the most regretful thing of my life.”
– “Shit!!”
It was the first time Soeun Yu had verbally insulted Byul Rak.
Until that day, despite living in the Namgung household, they had treated each other almost as if they were transparent.
“What… Is it the kind of memory you can easily forget?”
Given their estranged relationship.
“That day… I’m sorry. As the Lady of the Namgung household, I had to assert my authority.”
“There’s no need for a hollow apology. By the way…”
Byul Rak’s gaze moved to the case Soeun held demurely.
“Why have you come here?”
At his cold stare, Soeun flinched momentarily before trying to calm herself as she extended the case.
When the lid was opened, about twenty round pills were revealed.
“These are Gongchen Pills. I came to deliver them because I heard Sword Flower wasn’t feeling well.”
The pills were medicinal supplements, rare enough to be fit for an emperor.
“For Sword Flower…? What does her state have to do with you?”
While watching it in silence, Byul Rak furrowed his brow and asked with evident confusion.
“…Miss? Why do you call Sword Flower ‘Miss’?”
“Answer my previous question please. Why have you come to deliver medicinal pills to Sword Flower?”
“…”
Byul Rak stood by the door like an emperor’s royal guard, his back turned as if on guard outside Jin Gayoung’s chambers.
To Soeun, it felt like an immovable barrier.
“Why don’t you answer?”
“…Su-a.”
“…”
“I’ve come to ask you to take care of Su-a.”
“Your words are incomprehensible.”
As if exposing a shameful secret, Soeun continued while keeping her gaze down.
“You don’t know, do you? Su-a stays cooped up all the time and doesn’t have any friends.”
“…”
“You wouldn’t have known. There was no way you would have known. You never showed any interest.”
“Regarding peers, I was aware. I just didn’t have the time to concern myself.”
“I understand, you’ve always been busy. But this isn’t about peers. Su-a is truly, completely alone.”
Her lips trembled slightly. It wasn’t just because she was meeting her ex-husband.
“Su-a is only fifteen. And she doesn’t have any proper adults around her.”
“Bin is there. And the supervisor too. Don’t they look after Su-a well?”
“The supervisor was chased away by the young master. And as for that person… I’m not sure. They seem to try their best with Su-a, but it feels… strange.”
“So? How does that justify you coming to deliver pills to Sword Flower?”
“I can’t be with Su-a forever. Since she’ll be the next generation’s main protagonist in the martial world, I at least need to establish some connections for her.”
“So now a noblewoman of the Namgung family has to go around carrying gifts to make these connections? Even going to small clans like Taewon Jin Clan that can’t compare to Great Namgung?”
“I haven’t only come here. I’ve already visited Heavenly Flower, White Flower, and Jade Flower… and I plan to visit all the Seven Flowers for Sword Flower.”
“I don’t understand. Is the Namgung name so insignificant to you? The First Family of the Realm, Namgung?”
With a hint of irritation, Byul Rak scolded.
Having been apart from his lifelong home for only a few months wasn’t enough time to completely sever ties with his Namgung name.
“Then what should I do? I have to do something. While White Flower of Hua Mountain looked down and laughed, and Jade Flower of Kunlun ignored me and told me to leave, Heavenly Flower of Wudang happily accepted my gift. That’s enough. Even just having a contemporary like Heavenly Flower by Su-a’s side when she enters the martial world would be better than nothing.”
“That’s supposed to be a gesture from other sects toward Namgung. Namgung shouldn’t have to bow down and beg. Don’t you have any pride?”
At this stinging rebuke, Soeun lowered her already downcast gaze further and spoke hesitantly.
“It’s better to endure a little humiliation than to let Su-a become a loner. You once said that pride isn’t worth having… don’t you remember?”
“Hmph.”
“Opportunities like the Seven Flowers meeting won’t come again. The Great Namgung family will still exist even after you left, won’t it…?”
“There’s someone cleverly taking your place as the head of the Namgung family. Saying that the Namgung name has fallen is laughable.”
Though he hadn’t done anything wrong, perhaps due to his signature sharp aura,
Soeun couldn’t meet his eyes and hid one hand under the opposite elbow, like a guilty person.
Despite this, she spoke her piece clearly.
“…”
“?”
“It’s all your fault, you know that?”
“What are you talking about?”
“The respected Sword Sage’s reputation has fallen. Who would still revere the Namgung family now? We’re lucky they don’t insult us.”
Of course, from Byul Rak’s perspective, everything she said only made him more frustrated.
“It’s not my fault. I haven’t committed any sins. I’ve clearly said that.”
“Fine, I don’t feel like arguing about this anymore. We’re not on friendly terms anyway. We’re… strangers now.”
“… Give me that. I’ll pass it on to Sword Flower as is.”
Swish.
Almost tearing it from her weak fingers, Byul Rak grabbed the case.
As he turned to enter the room, Soeun peeked inside, catching sight of a woman just emerging from her teenage years.
For some reason, the woman seemed to be glaring at her with bright gold eyes.
“Sword Flower… I saw her once before, but she really is beautiful.”
However, something felt off.
The heated air inside the room,
The slightly transparent white shoulder-length undergarment,
Namgung Cheolbin who called her ‘Miss’ being alone in the room with her,
And her irregular breathing that could be heard in the quiet.
“?…?”
A sinister suspicion suddenly arose in Soeun’s mind.
An unpleasant suspicion.
A suspicion she didn’t want to think about anymore.
“…”
“Now go back. Sword Flower said she understands.”
After giving the gift to Jin Gayoung, Byul Rak returned and faced Soeun again.
“So you have that kind of taste after all.”
Soeun, who was already looking down, lowered her gaze even further and muttered in a deeply melancholic voice.
“?”
“If you’re done, please leave. There’s nothing more to say between us. Are you trying to cause some misunderstanding?”
At Byul Rak’s pointed question, Soeun resolutely turned around.
“…”
“…”
“And thirteen years ago, was it?”
“…”
“…”
“When my love for you faded?”
“Soeun’s self-deprecating and resigned words.
“What are you talking about?”
“Right after I came of age, you suddenly became cold toward me. Now I think I understand why.”
“I don’t know what your ‘reason’ is, but it’s wrong. I guarantee it.”
“In fact, I already knew. Your… your victims in the past, they were all young girls, right…?”
“…”
“Watch your words. Your excuses are making me angry.”
Was it the sunlight reflecting? Soeun’s eyes glittered with tears.
Just slightly.
“Thirteen years ago, were you not seeing me as a woman at all? Did you think I didn’t know?”
“At that time, I didn’t even know what emotions were… Forget it. Just go. Don’t keep airing private matters to strangers.”
“Alright, in that case, I’ll take my leave. Sorry for the personal conversation.”
With that, Soeun was about to leave, leaving tracks in the snow.
She stopped abruptly,
Hesitated for a moment, then asked in a trembling voice that showed considerable courage for her – and no small amount of humility.
“Su-a… would you like to greet me…?”
To which, with a dull expression as he closed the door, Byul Rak replied.
“A stranger.”
Click.
After that, Soeun quickly wiped her eyes as she headed to her next destination, Duoxia of Tang’s Poison Flower.
“Hmm…”
Meanwhile, in the mental world of the remaining pair,
An old man appeared, teasing him.
“Damn, this is entertaining. You didn’t even notice your sweets were gone.”
Indeed, the bowl of sweets in his hand had become empty.
*
Soeun.
The name of my previous master’s ex-wife.
Once an expert of Hua Mountain Sect known as the Plum Blossom Swordswoman, she’s someone I couldn’t not know, being the previous ‘Sword Flower’.
But why has her name come up now?
“…”
“…”
Twisting my body a bit, I peeked out of bed between the open door and his broad back, and caught sight of a woman.
A woman with long flowing hair tied neatly at the back, cascading all the way down to her toes – a woman whose presence was incredibly intimidating to me.
However… As I kept watching, I realized her intimidating qualities were not just that.
“…Is that even possible?”
Clearly, she was dressed modestly.
She seemed to embody the word ‘precocious’ – her every movement, appearance, posture, and attire were impeccable, free from any blemish.
So delicate, as though she might break at a touch, she appeared to provoke sympathy through her very stance, as if trained in the best manners.
But…
“…”
“…”
As they conversed, their words didn’t register in my ears.
Because her figure had completely monopolized my vision.
No, what kind of torso is that?
Despite wearing layers upon layers of clothing, there was no hiding the curves – her ample bosom and her pronounced hips were undeniable.
Somehow… Is it because she’s a mother? Just her build, her very skeletal structure… it’s all so lewd, so vulgar. That’s all there is to it.
Even standing still, her body seemed to ripple and sway seductively.
“Damn…”
Compared to her, me…
Lowering my gaze, I noticed how much smaller my frame appeared after seeing his ex-wife.
“I can’t let this be…”
Should all women look like that after having kids?
No, I know that’s not true.
That woman… that older woman is just naturally that vulgar.
“I haven’t gotten his seal yet…”
I must conceive his child soon.