Chapter 46 – Did You Say No? (2)

After thoroughly satisfying Pang Yeon-hwa, I returned to my quarters to find Ko Cheon waiting for me.

His face, which had always been full of smiles, now seemed to have a deeper meaning to it.

I greeted Ko Cheon, conscious of Lady Jegal’s gaze upon me.

“Father, have you returned?”

“Yes, and how is your mother doing?”

“She’s doing well.”

I could see the corners of Lady Jegal’s eyes twitching. She must have been well taken care of. Very well.

“Every night with a raging hard-on.”

Ko Cheon, who had no idea that I had been dutifully serving my mother every night for the past few days, nodded his head as if it were nothing.

“Father, they say that even a blank sheet of paper can be useful. Although I may not be of much help, I can at least assist you with something, can I not?”

Ko Cheon furrowed his brow for a moment before shaking his head.

“No, it’s not that difficult. It’s just a bit of a headache, so leave it to me.”

Ko Cheon smiled confidently, as if he had truly become my father. Ugh, suddenly I feel guilty…

“Speaking of which, I heard that you refused to go to the Guryongjaengpae?”

That old man must have been running his mouth.

“I don’t feel the need to go right now. My skills are still lacking…”

“Good, you thought well. There’s no need to rush. Isn’t that right, my lady?”

When Ko Cheon met Lady Jegal’s gaze, she opened her mouth as if she had sensed something strange.

“My lady, is something wrong? Your complexion…”

Lady Jegal’s face was tired from fatigue. Even though I had limited myself to only three hours of service per day, her face still showed signs of exhaustion.

“What did this guy do to make your complexion like this, saying that he took good care of you?”

Ko Cheon’s scolding was truly like that of a father’s. Was he really trying to put me in my place?

Then I really feel sorry…

“Don’t scold Hyeon-ee. I just haven’t been sleeping well lately…”

Ko Cheon’s expression suddenly changed. It seemed that he already knew that Lady Jegal had been having trouble sleeping.

“Hmm, even so, you should have paid more attention as a son…”

“But these days, when I hold Hyeon-ee’s hand and sleep with him, it’s much better. You don’t have to worry too much, Father.”

Ah, lady. You shouldn’t have said that.

Ko Cheon nodded absentmindedly at me before freezing in place as he understood Lady Jegal’s words.

“You, you son of a bitch… I told you not to do anything suspicious…!”

“Just a moment, Lady Jegal. You’re mistaken. We only held hands.”

“Mistaken? You think I’ll believe that you only held hands and slept together? I’m your mother, and you’re my son, a son who’s supposed to be skilled in martial arts. How dare you do anything to me?!”

I tried to defend myself, saying that I had limited myself to only holding hands, but Ko Cheon just stroked his chin for a moment before nodding in agreement.

“I see.”

“I’m glad you understand. Since I’m serving as your mother, I haven’t been able to sleep properly, and seeing her cry and suffer has been too much to bear…”

“You…”

When I explained the situation in more detail, Ko Cheon’s expression became even more uncomfortable.

His wife, suffering from the pain of childbirth, a fake son brought in to cause trouble, and that fake son holding Lady Jegal’s hand every night, leading her to decide to sleep with him. Anyone would understand why I did what I did.

Except for the fact that I had been a little too enthusiastic with Lady Jegal’s vagina, I was a perfect son.

“What are you two talking about so animatedly?”

When I turned my head, I noticed that Jegal Mi-ryeong was looking at us with suspicion, probably because our conversation had been too long.

“Is it another conversation between men? Did you tell him not to talk about it, and he’s talking about it anyway?”

“Oh, Lady, why do you see me like that? We were just talking about nothing important, so don’t worry.”

Ko Cheon’s momentum, which had been subsiding, was suddenly broken.

Even though Ko Cheon denied it, Jegal Mi-ryeong still looked at him suspiciously, so Ko Cheon turned to me.

“That’s right! Hyeon-ee, go and serve your mother and then go to the market. You caused a commotion by selling goods at the Guryongjaengpae after returning from the market.”

It was a cheap trick, but I went along with it.

“Really? I think I’ve heard that the Guryongjaengpae is the most famous market in Sacheon…”

“It’s not just in Sacheon, it’s one of the most famous markets in the world. Especially when it comes to trading with the Seowae, it’s…”

As Ko Cheon’s viral marketing for the Guryongjaengpae passed, I spoke to Jegal Mi-ryeong.

“Mother, will you be going out? I’ll accompany you.”

I asked with a smile, trying to hide my true feelings, but Jegal Mi-ryeong secretly glanced at Ko Cheon.

What? I haven’t even had outdoor sex with Dang Hye-won yet, why is she acting like this?

“Well then, go tomorrow. You bought a lot of Sacheon silk, but you didn’t buy any jewelry that suits it.”

As Ko Cheon pushed her, Jegal Mi-ryeong had no choice.

“Okay, then should I go out with my son?”

This time, we really planned to go out quietly without any trouble, so don’t be too scared…

But things happened while Jegal Mi-ryeong went to call the carriage.

I felt a sticky, uncomfortable aura and turned to see someone staring at me with the same intensity.

What the hell is wrong with this crazy guy?

“You must be the one who made a mistake in the Sacheon Jeilgijae, Gohyeon!”

What the hell is this guy… get lost… do they all act like this in Gangho?

“I am Ma Hwan-ryong, a disciple of Myeonggyo Iljangro! My master…”

He kept mumbling something, and his hands and feet were shaking so much that he seemed like he was going to go crazy.

No, isn’t this supposed to be a street casting or something? Shouldn’t he at least act a little bit more natural?

Is this the martial arts sentiment that I didn’t know about? As the sound of people running away grew louder, I looked around and saw that the vendors were closing their stalls and fleeing.

“…I cannot accept this! Therefore, I request a duel!”

As he muttered to himself, whether it was Hyeong-wan or Nabal, he suddenly started chanting about the duel, and I regained my senses.

It’s one thing to have a sentimental feeling that makes your hands and feet shake, but if you get hit, you’ll die.

As soon as I regained my senses, the bastard pushed his energy towards me.

I also immediately sent a Cheonyangjang back at him.

As the two energies collided and neutralized each other, a whirlwind swept through, sweeping away the surrounding objects and merchants.

“You crazy bastard! Who does this kind of thing on the street!”

“Tsk, you’re not prepared to be a Gangho-in. Don’t you know that life and death can happen anywhere?”

“What the hell are you talking about! Just because I’m a Gangho-in doesn’t mean I have to get hit because of someone like you!”

“Heh, it seems that the so-called Sacheon Jeilgijae is just a coward who tries to avoid a fight by using the common people as an excuse.”

Hyeong-wan, who wielded a short sword and repelled everything with a reverse grip, flicked his fingers into the air.

I was a little tense because of the flying wind, but nothing happened…

“Fuck!”

Shiiing!

I belatedly sensed the three strands of Yin energy coming at me from all directions and reflexively spun my body like a top.

I used my fists and palms to deflect the attacks aimed at my neck, ribs, and back, and by the time I finished, Hyeong-wan had already approached me.

“Pitiful. Don’t you know the simple truth that in Gangho, the one who loses their head is the bad guy?”

“That’s why I’m going to make you the bad guy!”

I also raised my Hyunumjigi and infused it with Yin energy to unleash my power. I thought I could counter his attacks with a similar technique, but he effortlessly dodged them all with his Bojup.

‘Am I falling behind…?’

Judging from the fact that Pyeong Yeon-hwa’s proposition of “controlling the situation” was not being followed, the odds were not in our favor.

His movements were organic, and even when I deliberately launched an attack, his momentum only wavered slightly.

All my attacks were within his calculations.

“With your level of skill, I can name a few people I know who are better than you.”

“It must be nice to have so many skilled friends, you crazy bastard!”

I pushed away Hyeong-wan’s short sword with Cheonyangjang and then, with a time lag, lifted my chin with Deungryonggak, but he caught my hand with a hair’s breadth.

As soon as I pushed him away with my other foot, freeing both legs, I dodged the flying Jipung aimed at my head by twisting my neck.

He was undoubtedly a complete master.

Not a half-baked person like me, who only had inner strength left, but a master who had reached the pinnacle in both technique and inner strength.

Moreover, the surrounding circumstances were the opposite of when I fought Huang Bo-hyeon.

At that time, it was a forest where no one was around, and the trees were so dense that it was uncomfortable to use a sword, and I was somewhat familiar with the rough mountains.

But in this battle, there were people carrying their belongings and not caring about their lives, and if the energy went awry, their lives could come and go.

I even thought about ignoring them and closing my eyes, but I saw several suspicious-looking Milpfs lurking among them.

“I can’t harm Milpfs who only show up when I’m not in mortal danger!”

Hyeong-wan seemed to understand my situation and kept interfering.

“A person’s life is something I take care of myself. When a blade threatens my neck, the only one who can protect me is my own skill…”

“Where did that bastard holding the sword learn that kind of nonsense!”

Anyway, he was a bastard who didn’t like anything from one to ten. Moreover, since a while ago, there was a disagreeable energy that repelled my inner strength.

This was undoubtedly a Magi. He even recited Myeonggyo’s teachings, so there was no doubt about it.

There was a common sense of martial arts that Sabu had taught me, but I never thought I’d meet someone who exuded Magi in the middle of Sachon.

In fact, fighting like this with all my might was causing a slight discomfort that I couldn’t ignore, but the bastard who had insulted me made me angry.

This bastard should be stuck in Magyo, why is he causing trouble here? It’s disgusting.

Isn’t Magyo in a really far-off place?

“How can you claim to be the best in Sachon with that level of skill? What did your Blood Devil see in you?”

A body that is as clean as a newborn baby, without any impurities in the blood.

“I never claimed to be the best, you bastard! And how would I know what that old Blood Devil saw in me!”

Swearing at Sabu is a sin of the highest order, but I believe that if it’s Sabu, he’ll understand with a broad mind.

Meanwhile, Hyeong-wan seemed to be really angry after hearing my words.

“Old man…?”

Oops, this bastard is from Magyo Doji. Does he respect Sabu?

But now it didn’t matter if this guy was stronger or weaker than me.

Whirring

I felt the collision of a powerful energy, and Jegal Mireyeong had returned.