“Why are my long-time rivals increasing so much lately!”
Pfft!
Gayoung Jin gritted her teeth and struck a tree. The tree cracked halfway from the force of her punch.
With her body mostly recovered, Gayoung Jin was certain that, if she had exerted herself fully, she could have completely toppled the tree. However, she couldn’t give it her all because her emotions were agitated.
It’s only natural that when emotions are heightened, tranquility is disrupted, and the power of techniques doesn’t manifest properly.
“Haa… The shock from that previous wife is still fresh…”
Her knuckle marks were clearly visible on the tree. These were imprints of Gayoung Jin’s frustration.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Gayoung Jin recalled a woman she had seen during the Seven Flowers Tournament – Byul Rak’s deceased wife, who had come bearing tribute under the guise of a gift.
“I may not lose to anyone in terms of looks, but that woman… she’s got that body type!”
Unlike Gayoung Jin, who mostly had an hourglass figure with a slim silhouette, this woman had prominent curves where they should be and a slim waist where needed. Even considering that the woman had given birth, the difference between them was striking, and it was something Gayoung Jin couldn’t help but dwell on incessantly.
One could argue that, since Byul Rak no longer had that woman by his side, it shouldn’t matter. However, Gayoung Jin had a woman’s intuition.
She knew that despite being aware that their relationship had ended, Byul Rak’s previous wife still harbored lingering feelings for him. Her intuition never failed her, so she knew this was true.
In fact, if it had been just the previous wife, Gayoung Jin wouldn’t have been overly concerned.
However, a pink-haired woman had somehow attached herself to Byul Rak recently.
“Annoying! When did THAT woman latch on!”
She angrily remembered the person, her temper flaring: pink eyes, lotus-patterned hair, and a body reminiscent of what she had seen in the previous wife during the Seven Flowers Tournament. She might have been younger, giving her a more taut figure, but nonetheless, her body remained incredibly curvaceous—much more so than Gayoung Jin’s.
Her name was Hong Ryun, and Gayoung Jin was sure she was definitely a martial artist. She was shrouded in layers of silk, but little else about her was clear: her alias, martial arts style, or affiliation. When questioned, Byul Rak only gave vague answers.
One thing Gayoung Jin had noticed: instead of using “I” or “me,” she referred to herself as “Benzo” or “Benye,” suggesting a lofty position. That was about all she could gather.
Of course, such matters of status or prestige meant nothing to Byul Rak, who showed little interest in worldly achievements.
The problem was that, aside from her physique, Hong Ryun outshone Gayoung Jin in most other respects. Her only advantage was her youth, but being excessively young sometimes detracted from one’s appeal, making it difficult to seem mature.
“Uncle only had eyes for me… If only I hadn’t ended up with that move against White Flower at the Seven Flowers Tournament!”
Gayoung Jin lashed out at White Flower, who was already dead, completely unaware that White Flower had actually been killed.
“This can’t go on… This just won’t do… I guess I’ll have to take action on the plan I’ve been plotting sooner than I thought!”
Despair gripped Gayoung Jin as she clenched her fists. Her two golden eyes shimmered with fierce determination.
“If I just get pregnant from Uncle, I’ll be just as curvy as those women!”
Inspired by seeing the ex-wife at the Seven Flowers Tournament, she had devised her plan: pregnancy.
Of course, Gayoung Jin very well knew that getting pregnant wouldn’t necessarily make her as curvy as the ex-wife or Hong Ryun. Yet, her decision showed just how desperate she had become.
Even as she was out here in the mountains, Hong Ryun was still with Uncle. Her mind couldn’t help but grow increasingly urgent.
At least with the ex-wife, they hadn’t lived together. Gayoung Jin had secretly considered this a source of relief. However, now it was Hong Ryun, and she seemed to be with Uncle for a longer time.
Worse still, Gayoung Jin had occasionally overheard their conversations.
“Do you remember, Lord Benefactor? Do you remember the day we first met and what clothes you were wearing?”
“Hmm, how could I possibly remember something from so long ago?”
“I do! You were wearing a dark blue martial arts uniform! I remember it so vividly even now!”
“…”
“…Thank you.”
It seemed Hong Ryun had more memories with Uncle than Gayoung Jin herself, even though she had spent a year with him—albeit nearly three months in a coma.
“Hiiing… Uncle… please don’t leave me behind! It doesn’t matter who or what… just stay by my side…”
On the surface, she seemed to be tearfully lamenting, her voice trembling with sorrow.
But hidden beneath her words was her true intention:
“If you keep trying to distance yourself, I’ll have no choice but to ambush you one night!”
If Byul Rak had heard this, he would have found it chilling indeed.
At the moment she crushed the thin branch in her hand with a loud crack.
*
“Are you leaving now?”
With a forlorn tone, I asked. Tang Sobaek smirked and replied.
“Why, have you grown attached during our time together?”
“We’ve spent days and nights together; wouldn’t it be strange if I hadn’t grown attached?”
“Haha, I feel the same, so I have no argument.”
“… Thank you.”
Tang Sobaek was ready to head out the door with her luggage. As for me, I intended to leave as well but now in a different direction.
Tang Sobaek was heading back to the Sichuan Tang family, while I was bound for the Taewon Jin Clan in Shanxi.
One might ask: Why am I going to the Taewon Jin Clan when I previously said I was heading to the Namgung family? Well, the Taewon Jin Clan has been entirely neglected for quite some time now. No one knows how the power structure or personnel have changed.
Moreover, I killed the clan’s manager during my last visit. Not that I regret it in the slightest, for he deserved it, but there’s some cleanup that needs to be done with Jin Gayoung.
“Toxic Flower Senior, are you leaving now?”
Jin Gayoung took a step toward Tang Sobaek. Although they had not interacted closely as Seven Flowers, they still seemed to share a certain kind of fellowship.
“Yeah, what about you, junior?”
“I’ll return to my family home. By the way…”
“Hmm? Is there something specific you want to say?”
“Not much really…”
Jin Gayoung hesitated for a while, as if unsure of what to say next.
“Is there any problem? Is it something sensitive?”
“It’s just… isn’t my younger sister in the Sichuan Tang family? Is she doing well?”
Younger sister?
Ah, she means Jin Yeryeong.
Jin Gayoung’s sister, Jin Yeryeong, was the one Jin Gayoung had exiled under the pretense of rehabilitation after falsely accusing her of mental illness. Eventually, she found herself in Sichuan Tang’s medicinal facility instead.
“Your sister? If you mean Jin Yeryeong… yes, she’s the one I’m talking about, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. How is she, is she alright?”
“Doing well? She was sent to the medicinal facility, so she’s probably been heavily experimented on by your father by now. If she’s even still alive at all.”
“…”
…Experiments? What exactly does the Sichuan Tang family do?
“Don’t like it?”
“Erm… honestly, it’s not pleasant to hear that someone who was once my sister has gone through that.”
“There’s no way that’s true. Jin Yeryeong was your enemy, which is why she was sent to the main family’s medicinal institution. You knew this, didn’t you? Don’t you always have access to the full details through the clan’s intelligence?”
“…”
“Jin Yeryeong. The second daughter of the Taewon Jin Clan, who lost in the power struggle. She bears significant grudges against Moon Blossom Jin Gayoung and was coerced into exile at the main family’s medicinal facility. That’s all the information I have on Jin Yeryeong. Is it correct?”
Tang Sobaek’s sharp eyes gleamed as she recited these facts.
How exactly does she know all of this information? I’ve noticed this sort of thing during my time with her before, and it’s always been unsettling. The Sichuan Tang family truly has its eerie moments.
“… Haha, I was trying to feign concern, but you can’t be fooled, can you?”
While pretending to mourn, Jin Gayoung suddenly burst into laughter, shaking off her facade.
Of course not. It wouldn’t work.
“Of course not. I do know your personality.”
“Alright, then. I’ll keep sending you folks who I don’t like. I’ll trust you’ll handle them properly. Take care. Farewell then.”
Hold on just a moment. Why such an ending?
Is this truly how the righteous martial artists conduct themselves? What happened to the righteous martial artists I knew?
“As Iron-Bin, are you leaving now?”
Just as I prepared to go, a woman appeared from the residence behind me, stopping me in my tracks.
In this house, there is only one person who would call me by my past name.
“Si Lang.”
Eastern Invincible, Si Lang.
“You have your tasks ahead. I won’t hold you back, and I certainly won’t follow you around just to make things more difficult.”
“Thank you.”
“Still, when you think of me, come visit occasionally. My schedule is flexible, so don’t feel pressured.”
“…Alright. I will. Take care.”
There’s no need for long goodbyes. Si Lang is trying to let go of her feelings for me, and I don’t want to disturb her.
After all, I am beyond the capacity for romantic relationships.
“Ah, now that I think about it, there was something I wanted to say.”
As I turned back solemnly, reflecting on this, I saw that Tang Sobaek, who had just finished talking with Jin Gayoung, was now speaking to Si Lang.
“Toxic Flower? Speak your message. What is it you wish to say to me…?”
“Um, please clean the house thoroughly. No corner should be spared. Dust the drawers daily, and clean the floor three times a day: morning, noon, and night. And light enough repellent scents for rodents in case any appear.”
“Pfft, Poison Flower, it seems you truly emphasize cleanliness.”
“I guess so? I used to only eat and clean, so I couldn’t help but suppress my habits in someone else’s house.”
Tang Sobaek’s meticulous advice to Si Lang made me chuckle, remembering the day Tang Sobaek had hauled water from the river below to thoroughly clean the house.
Honesty, it was a fond memory. Even though I tried to help during the cleaning, Hong Ryun, Jin Gayoung, and Jade Flower had taken all the work from me. Still, the lively atmosphere stuck with me as a vivid and fulfilling moment.
“Alright, let’s go now. Hong Ryun, are you ready?”
“I only need Uncle with me.”
“And Jade Flower? Are you all set?”
“I’ve packed enough food, a little bedding, and my sword. It ought to suffice.”
“Good then. Si Lang, farewell.”
“Goodbye, Iron-Bin.”
Our footsteps quickened. Si Lang gently waved from behind, bidding us a warm farewell.
Tang Sobaek goes in a different direction than we do. When will we meet again? If we do, I hope it’ll be as pleasant as it has been.
Jin Gayoung, Jade Flower, and Hong Ryun follow behind me. To be precise, only Jade Flower is truly trailing behind us. Gayoung Jin and Hong Ryun have positioned themselves on either side of me, chirping like birds.
Though we’ve gone from six to four, there’s no sense of quiet. Honestly, both Jin Gayoung and Hong Ryun are full of energy.
Originally, it was just me, when we started from the Taewon Jin Clan—no, from the Namgung family—but now, we’re a party of four.
Together with my companion, my daughter, and my lord.
I feel warmth all around me. It’s a feeling I haven’t forgotten in recent times. It’s a pleasant sensation.
