Free Web NovelAfter the incident with Jin Taeryeong.
I passed him by and arrived at the Mo Yong Family.
I already had an appointment, so getting in was not difficult.
After throwing Bow Ghost outside like I was tossing her away for causing trouble, I faced White King in the Family Head’s office.
“You have come.”
“I greet Family Head Mo Yong.”
After giving the proper courtesy, I handed him the letter I had prepared.
“This is information regarding Sky-Crushing Palace.”
“.......”
A strange light settled in White King’s eyes as he accepted it. After checking the letter for a moment, he asked me,
“Judging by how fresh the ink is, it does not seem to have been written long ago.”
“......Correct. I stayed up a bit to prepare it.”
“Does that mean this was not information you already had?”
“I did have it.”
In my head.
As proof, I tapped my forehead with my index finger and said,
“I had only memorized it. I had not organized it, so I needed some time if I was going to give it to you.”
“.......”
At that, White King checked the letter. There were quite a lot of pages. I thought I did not know much, but once I started organizing it, there was more than I expected.
I had sorted all of that out and handed it to White King. Seeing the considerable amount, White King nodded.
“Young Master Bang.”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. This will be of great help.”
“Not at all.”
“As promised, I will increase the support going to the Academy.”
“Thank you.”
That was enough. After hearing that, I was about to turn as if my business was finished.
“However.”
“.......”
At White King’s next words, I had to stop.
“I hear something happened at the inn.”
Damn it.
He had already received a report. Well, of course he had. It was an inn managed directly by the Mo Yong Family, of all places. Since I had caused a scene there, the report must have gone in long ago.
Holding back a sigh, I said to White King,
“There was a brief friction.”
“Friction, was it? With other younger generation members?”
“Yes. He said he was Young Master Jin Taeryeong of the Jin Family.”
“Hm.......”
“I tried not to injure him if possible. But the cause seems to have been mine, so if you intend to punish someone, please punish me.”
“I do not mind. I have enough flexibility to let that much pass.”
“......Then I am grateful.”
If he was letting it pass, that was good for me. The Jin Family stepping forward would be another matter, but I was not particularly afraid of that side moving.
Just as I thought I should leave again—
Rattle.
“.......”
My hand stopped on the door I was opening. I mumbled with my lips. Should I ask, or not? After thinking deeply about it—
“Good grief.”
I decided to just spit it out with a sigh.
“Family Head.”
“Speak.”
“Young Master Jin Taeryeong said something. He said he came to request a marriage arrangement with the Mo Yong Family. Is that a matter discussed with the Mo Yong Family?”
“.......”
At my question, White King looked at me. A question appeared in the cold gaze that had been reading the letter.
“That is a strange question.”
“.......”
“It is not something I ever thought you would be curious about.”
Even I thought so. I found myself absurd for asking this damn thing, but I could not help asking.
“I apologize. What I heard from Young Master Jin Taeryeong bothered me.”
“It is true.”
“Yes?”
I froze at White King’s answer.
“The talk of a marriage arrangement with the Jin Family. I said it is true that it is being discussed.”
“.......”
“Is there a problem?”
The calm question stirred a current through the turmoil inside me. What was I supposed to say? My lips parted, but no answer came out.
There was nothing I could say. In the end, there was only one thing I could force out right now.
“......I see. Thank you for answering.”
I could not ask anything.
I had no right to know anything.
That was where I stood right now.
After hearing White King’s words, I lowered my head and truly left.
*****
Creak. Tap.
The door closed.
“.......”
White King quietly looked back down at the letter after watching the place where Bang Seongyeon had left. He read each written line with focus, one by one, until at some point his gaze stopped.
A faint laugh slipped out.
Young Master Jin Taeryeong said something. He said he came to request a marriage arrangement with the Mo Yong Family. Is that a matter discussed with the Mo Yong Family?
The question returned to his mind.
“How amusing.”
It was amusing. White King found the lie he had told without thinking funny, and when he imagined the aftermath it would bring, he smiled.
There was nothing more for him to do.
It was the last prank he would commit as the father of a grieving daughter.
*****
Tap.
The door to the Family Head’s office closed, and I moved my feet. The path, which should not have been very long, felt strangely drawn out.
[Your heart is beating far too quickly. Will it not burst at this rate?]
The tactless woman inside the dagger spoke to me. I ignored her. My heart, my ass. Hearts were supposed to beat fast. If they stopped, you died.
I smoothed out my expression while hiding my irritation.
[Doing that will not improve your mood.]
Even the Heavenly Demon joined in. What was with these ghosts today? They must have been desperate to scrape at my nerves.
“Oh, y-you’re back.”
Bow Ghost, who had been waiting outside, reacted when she saw me. Her expression was awkward beyond belief. She was watching my mood right now.
“The, uh, weather is quite ni—”
“I am warning you.”
“.......”
My voice was cold enough that even I was surprised after saying it.
“If you cause trouble again, I will just throw you away. Do not do useless things. Do you understand?”
“......I, I...... I understand.”
Bow Ghost answered with a cowed face. Her outside looked like a fifteen-year-old girl, but I clicked my tongue as I remembered the old woman inside.
Damn it. It was something worth getting angry about, but somehow it felt like I had taken it out on her. It did not feel good.
“Hah.”
I sighed and was about to go back with Bow Ghost.
“This way.”
“.......”
I saw someone entering behind a Mo Yong Family servant. It was a face I knew. He also stopped the moment he saw me.
“You......”
“.......”
Jin Taeryeong.
The bastard who had clashed with me earlier. He frowned when he saw me.
“Why are you here?”
“I had business.”
“Business? You had business with Family Head Mo Yong?”
“I might.”
“Hah.”
At my words, Jin Taeryeong’s lips curled. It was an exceedingly rude expression.
“I heard that relationship was already over. I wonder why you keep coming and going.”
“......What?”
“I heard the engagement was broken long ago. Or do you still have lingering feelings?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“If so, give up.”
Jin Taeryeong spoke as he passed me.
“Lady Mo Yong will belong to this Jin Taeryeong.”
“.......”
“No matter how great you are, that fact will not change.”
Tap. He brushed past my shoulder and headed for the room where White King was.
“Family Head Mo Yong. I am Jin Taeryeong of the Jin Family.”
“Enter.”
The door opened. Watching Jin Taeryeong go inside, I swept a hand through my hair.
Ah. This is no good.
It looked like I had to admit it.
I am starting to get really damn pissed off.
It bothered me, and I felt terrible. It was truly one shitty state to be in.
*****
Ssshhh.
Before heading home, I walked along the garden path as though trying to soothe my mood.
It was a carefully decorated space. It was also a place I had walked through several times with Mo Yong Yeongsun when I was young.
Do you know what this flower is?
Not interested. A flower is a flower. What else would it be?
You’re no fun.
Truly useless conversations. They were nothing but fragmented chatter without much substance.
Usually, Mo Yong Yeongsun would talk to me. I would answer as if it was a bother. That was the kind of talk we had.
I remembered her chattering face. Back then, it had been annoying. No, pretending to be annoyed had been easy.
What about now? I had no idea.
This flower. Its name is—
It was a flower Mo Yong Yeongsun had told me about. Its white, slender petals were unusual. Its fragrance was pleasant, too.
“White—”
“White Fragrance Blossom.”
“.......”
At the name I heard from behind me, I turned my head. A familiar face stood there, looking at me.
“What are you doing?”
It was Mo Yong Yeongsun. She was holding flowers.
“A person with no interest in flowers is staring at that?”
“......It was just there, so I was looking at it.”
“You do not even know its name.”
“I do. White Fragrance Blossom.”
“You only know because you just heard it, don’t you?”
“......I remembered it.”
Mo Yong Yeongsun looked at me with suspicious eyes. It was true, though. I might not know about anything else, but I was fairly confident in my memory.
Well, it did not matter whether she believed me or not. That probably went for Mo Yong Yeongsun as well.
“So why did you come?”
“......I had some business with Family Head Mo Yong.”
“With the Family Head?”
“Yes. I had something to give him.”
“Hm.”
Mo Yong Yeongsun accepted that as if that was enough. It seemed there was [N O V E L I G H T] no need for further conversation.
“Then what was the trouble you caused today?”
“.......”
But she asked about something else. How did she know about that? I was slightly flustered.
“How did you......?”
“I am the manager of that inn.”
“Ah, damn it.”
So that was it. No wonder it had been so neat and pretty. I recalled that the places Mo Yong Yeongsun managed were usually like that. I wondered if it could be, but she really was the manager?
“I heard Moon Hero suddenly got into friction with another martial artist, so I found it strange. You? I did not think you would fight someone like that.”
“......Something just happened.”
“I am sure it did. Something must have happened. You are not the kind of person who would fight when nothing happened.”
“.......”
“The person you fought was Young Master Jin Taeryeong, was it?”
Jin Taeryeong. I paused when I heard Mo Yong Yeongsun mention him.
“I heard he is somewhat famous among the younger generation. What did he come to Liaoning for? Do you know?”
“......I do not.”
The marriage arrangement with the Mo Yong Family. I had heard that was why he came, but I pretended not to know. Ah, yes. I simply wanted to.
“You do not?”
“That is not the sort of thing I need to know. As I said, we only had friction. Why would I know?”
Irritation mixed into my words. I had no idea what was wrong with this idiot bastard.
I was so embarrassed I could die.
“Why are you irritated?”
Mo Yong Yeongsun tilted her head and asked.
“Who knows. I suppose I am a little sensitive today.”
I shook my head slightly and said,
“......I am leaving.”
“Yes. Go, then.”
Mo Yong Yeongsun spoke lightly. At her words, I turned around and started down the garden path.
I should just go back and prepare to return to Henan. Right as I was thinking that—
“Hey.”
“.......”
Mo Yong Yeongsun called me. When I looked back, she was looking down at me from the rise.
“Idiot.”
“......What?”
“I said I am the manager. Did you not understand?”
“What are you—”
“I am not getting engaged to that bastard.”
“.......”
“So stop acting pathetic. Act like you always do.”
After saying that, she smiled and turned away. Wow, damn it.
The moment I saw it, heat rushed straight up to my ears.
“......Damn it......”
It felt like she had caught me seeing something I had not wanted her to see.
It was a situation where every last shameful part of me had been exposed.
Embarrassment clung to my whole body and dragged itself up.
And in the middle of it all—
I am not getting engaged to that bastard.
Like an idiot, I was relieved.
Hah.
I rubbed my face again and again.
No matter how I thought about it—
This is no good.
I was about to reach the limit of what I could endure.
The limit of the promise I had made to Mo Yong Yeongsun’s mother.
