CLS-Chapter 134

Chapter 134

Wei Jeong-han’s group’s departure was being delayed. Though they were burning with desire to rush to Xinyang where Wei Yan-ho was said to be, Jin Ye-ran had blocked their attempts to hurry their departure.

“Madam’s internal energy is severely damaged right now. You might think there’s no major problem at the moment, but if left untreated, it will cause serious trouble in the long run. She needs at least three days of rest and recovery. Otherwise, no matter what physician comes later, her weakened body will be beyond recovery.”

Hearing this, Wei Jeong-han had no choice but to delay their departure.

No matter how precious his son was, now that they’d confirmed he was alive, he couldn’t pursue him at the cost of his wife’s health.

Besides, if he’d said they should just treat her later and leave, that eldest son of his would probably draw his sword with fire in his eyes and come charging at him.

‘Did that boy get possessed by the ghost of someone who died from lack of filial piety?’

Wi San-ho was persuading them with such determination that if they didn’t receive treatment, he’d kill himself before leaving, that Han Sang-ah eventually had to give in.

“If one’s body is not properly grounded, no matter how great one’s intentions, one will ultimately have to bend those intentions. I understand your urgency, but someone who treats their own body as worthless has no right to worry about others.”

It was words that naturally made one nod in agreement.

‘She’s truly beautiful.’

Han Sang-ah’s eyes lit up as she watched Jin Ye-ran placing acupuncture needles in her body.

She too had lived for quite some time, and had met no small number of people. But even recalling all the people she’d met throughout those years, none had been as beautiful as this woman before her eyes.

She should be called an incarnation of beauty. To think such a pretty person was walking around in such shabby clothing made her worry that something terrible might happen to her.

After Jin Ye-ran finished the treatment and said she’d return in the evening, she went outside, and Han Sang-ah called Wei Jeong-han into the room.

“How’s your body feeling?”

“It wasn’t that painful to begin with. It’s just that someone skilled said I needed treatment, so I’m going along with it.”

“Mm, let’s focus on nourishing your body for now.”

“But more than that…”

“Speak.”

“Isn’t that young lady too beautiful?”

“Kheuheuheuhm!”

Wei Jeong-han coughed loudly.

Be careful.

What answer he gave here could determine the dinner table for the next ten years. One wrong move and he might spend the next ten years eating nothing but grass while becoming a monk at home.

“Sang-ah, in my eyes, there’s no woman prettier than you.”

How about that!

When Wei Jeong-han looked triumphant, Han Sang-ah responded with eyes that looked at him like he was a bug.

“What nonsense!”

“…”

“I asked if she wasn’t pretty.”

“…She’s pretty.”

“I’m worried because such a pretty young lady is wandering around the slums alone like that.”

“That’s what I was thinking too…”

“What?”

“It seems like there are people watching over that young lady, so I caught one and interrogated him a bit…”

Han Sang-ah nodded.

“He said he was protecting her on a commission from the Hao Clan. I found it strange, so I inquired through a certain young lady about the Hao Clan, and wouldn’t you know, the client was Yan-ho?”

“Really?”

Han Sang-ah was delighted.

“Wouldn’t it be? Yan-ho… seems to have grown up quite a bit. To think of such things.”

Han Sang-ah clicked her tongue.

“What kind of child is he that he’d go through such trouble to do something like that?”

“Then?”

“It wasn’t done out of mere kindness. He must surely have feelings for that child.”

“Surely not…”

Wei Jeong-han tried to deny it but closed his mouth.

The fact was, Jin Ye-ran was indeed dizzingly beautiful. Since Wei Yan-ho was also a man, he couldn’t help but be moved seeing such a woman. And wasn’t her heart also incredibly kind?

“How would she be as a daughter-in-law?”

“I’d be all for it, but…”

“But?”

Wei Jeong-han spoke his honest feelings.

“The truth is, speaking honestly, people should have conscience, but that young lady is too pretty and kind to match with our Yan-ho. He is my son, but our Yan-ho is lazy, and lazy, and lazy again. It’s fortunate his parents aren’t around, but if they were, even if they put a knife to my back, I’d have nothing to say, wouldn’t I?”

“…Are you done talking?”

“I, I was just stating facts.”

“You’d better not open that mouth carelessly. It seems like it might shorten your lifespan.”

“My lifespan?”

“Yes, your lifespan.”

Wei Jeong-han became like a mute who had eaten honey. He instinctively realized that if he said one more word, he might get beaten to death.

“You don’t seem to understand, but human hearts don’t necessarily consider conditions like that. I subtly probed, and that young lady doesn’t seem to be without feelings for our Yan-ho either.”

“Are you certain?”

“If that weren’t the case, would she have come running like that after hearing I was Yan-ho’s mother?”

“Hmm…”

Wei Jeong-han nodded.

But he couldn’t shake off a somewhat uncomfortable feeling. It felt like smearing filth on a pure white jade bead.

“Just stay quiet. I’ll handle everything.”

“My lady.”

“…We do need to get him married.”

Wei Jeong-han had no choice but to become a mute who had eaten honey again and nodded.

“Sigh, what is that boy Yan-ho doing right now?”

“We’ll be able to see him soon.”

“That’s right.”

Wei Jeong-han found himself missing Wei Yan-ho even more today.

***

“Why are you making all this racket next to someone who’s sleeping?”

There were several reasons for this.

First, there was nowhere else around here suitable for sparring, and second…

“Actually, isn’t it stranger that you’re sleeping at this hour!”

“People should sleep when the sun sets! Don’t you know that’s the natural order?”

“…”

Then stay awake when the sun rises.

There was much to say, but a hundred words were useless with Wei Yan-ho.

Lee Seol-hwa let out a low sigh.

The moment Wei Yan-ho appeared, his master had erased his killing intent. If the sparring had continued in the same mood as before, Jong Mi-ryeo would probably have suffered great harm.

“In any case, we’re in the middle of sparring right now, so shall we talk a bit later?”

At Gong Wu-jin’s words, Wei Yan-ho tilted his head.

Wei Yan-ho looked around at those in the courtyard and asked as if he couldn’t understand.

“Sparring?”

“That’s right.”

“With whom?”

“…With this young lady.”

Wei Yan-ho looked at the woman Gong Wu-jin pointed to and his face twisted with displeasure.

“What! Are you part of some sapling-crushing committee, sir?”

“Huh?”

“Everyone who keeps running up asking to spar is only about the level of your disciple! If a person has dignity, they should play with people of similar age, not constantly fighting with young kids who aren’t even worthy opponents! Isn’t that how you got that nickname too? Like some child abuser!”

“Child abuser!”

Gong Wu-jin spat fire from his mouth.

“This young lady was the one who asked for a match first! Not me!”

“Kids can act up out of youthful spirit! If that happened, you should have calmly and maturely advised her! But you probably got all worked up and said ‘Oh yeah? Fine. Good! Let’s have a match!’ again!”

When Wei Yan-ho looked at Lee Seol-hwa and Seomun Da-yeon, they subtly nodded.

“See!”

“I said that’s not what happened!”

Gong Wu-jin felt like he was going insane.

Child abuser!

The truth was, Wei Yan-ho was too strong to be called a child, and Jong Mi-ryeo was the one who had challenged him first. But to be treated like this was truly unfair.

“Isn’t that right?”

When he sought agreement from Seomun Da-yeon, she smiled bitterly.

“Young Master Wei’s words have merit, but in this case, it should be said that the young lady took Master Gong’s kindness too far.”

Clang.

“Huh?”

The sword fell from Jong Mi-ryeo’s hand.

A swordsman’s sword rolling on the ground!

Seomun Da-yeon had to wonder if what she’d said was really that harsh.

“No, young lady. What I meant was…”

Seomun Da-yeon tried to say something but stopped.

Jong Mi-ryeo’s face was trembling as if she’d seen a ghost.

‘Why is she acting like that?’

It wasn’t just Seomun Da-yeon who was confused. Everyone who saw Jong Mi-ryeo’s reaction was bewildered.

‘Emotionless Blade is showing emotion?’

‘That Emotionless Blade?’

The Three Dragons One Phoenix except Jong Mi-ryeo were equally confused.

Wasn’t she the Emotionless Blade who had such little emotional fluctuation that people said she wasn’t human? But that Emotionless Blade was showing not just subtle but truly noticeable emotional turbulence.

“My goodness…”

They couldn’t understand what was happening at all.

‘And to drop her sword at that.’

Sang Gwan-hong felt the situation was not ordinary.

Though she was a younger woman, he’d thought her attitude as a swordsman was something he should learn from. For such a woman to throw away her sword – which a swordsman should value more than life itself – on the ground!

‘Could they be enemies or something?’

He couldn’t understand this reaction otherwise.

“…Young Master Wei?”

Jong Mi-ryeo stared at him as if seeing a ghost, then slowly began approaching Wei Yan-ho.

“Yeah?”

Wei Yan-ho narrowed his eyes as he watched the woman approaching him.

‘A woman I’ve never seen before?’

She felt somewhat familiar, but he was certain he’d never met her. He wouldn’t have forgotten such a pretty woman after seeing her once.

But why is she coming this way?

And trembling like that too.

Wei Yan-ho frowned at the incomprehensible situation.

Jong Mi-ryeo approached right in front of Wei Yan-ho, pressed her hand to her chest, and took a deep breath.

Then she asked in a trembling voice.

“May I ask what your name is, young hero?”

“It’s Wei Yan-ho.”

There was no reason to hide his name. He’d never committed sins in his life that would keep him from sleeping peacefully.

But Jong Mi-ryeo’s reaction was incredibly strange.

The moment the name Wei Yan-ho was mentioned, Jong Mi-ryeo’s face began to contort like a demon’s.

‘What kind of woman’s face becomes that murderous?’

Just as Wei Yan-ho was about to click his tongue, Jong Mi-ryeo slowly opened her mouth.

“Wei… Wei Yan-ho?”

“Yes.”

What’s wrong?

The moment Wei Yan-ho was about to speak, Jong Mi-ryeo took one more step closer and swung her hand toward Wei Yan-ho.

“What the hell.”

Wei Yan-ho let out a dumbfounded exclamation as he watched the hand flying toward his cheek.

‘What should I do?’

It wasn’t being swung that hard, so it wasn’t even at the level of a surprise attack. The problem was that this woman was suddenly trying to hit him for no apparent reason…

‘She’ll get hurt.’

Wei Yan-ho’s body automatically responds to an opponent’s attack.

This was something Wei Yan-ho couldn’t help. It was something to take up with Baek Mu-han, who had beaten him thoroughly for five years. No matter how much he tried not to, once he perceived that he was being hit, his hand would move without his knowing.

It would be quite problematic if this young-looking woman got hit by Wei Yan-ho’s attack.

‘Whatever.’

Since she was the one who attacked out of nowhere, she wouldn’t have any complaints even if she got hit.

Wei Yan-ho put his mind at ease.

But what he expected didn’t happen. Instead, something far beyond his expectations occurred.

SMAAAAAACK!

With a striking sound so crisp it made listeners unconsciously clench their fists, Wei Yan-ho spun like a top and flew into the air.

“Gyaaaaaaah!”

With a bizarre scream, Wei Yan-ho spun about three times in the air before crashing to the ground.

“…What the hell.”

The onlookers’ eyes filled with bewilderment.