Anger tends to be best expressed by those who have already let it out.
“Hyang, what are you yelling about?”
“Oh my, are you really raising your voice here?”
Miss Zhuge thought she had erupted with anger like a volcano, but to the aunts, it looked more like lava easily flowing by.
“Miss Zhuge.”
Kang Yoon-ho noticed that Miss Zhuge’s clenched fists were trembling. At this rate, something terrible might happen. Just as he approached her to say something…
“What on earth are you doing?!”
A volcanic voice cut through the confusion.
“Father!”
It was Man Geum-jeon.
All eyes turned to the entrance where Man Geum-jeon had appeared.
“Father! Is it true? You’re really considering this barbarian as a candidate for the successor?”
Jang Noya frowned deeply as his daughter asked that question out of the blue.
“Barbarian? What did I just say to my invited guest?!”
“W-Well, still, he is a barbarian, isn’t he?”
“Have you ever seen me judge a person based on their hair color? To a merchant, it’s the color of the gold they bring that matters!”
“R-Right, Father, does that really mean…?!”
Though Man Geum-jeon’s reprimand had a ring of truth, his daughters, who had their minds set on greed, did not hear it.
“Yung-yung already has the Zhuge clan as a wife! Father! You need to take care of your less gifted children, not just the married ones!”
“That’s right! He’s been struggling a lot lately!”
Hehe Today is quite the spectacle, indeed.
Man Geum-jeon couldn’t help but chuckle quietly as he watched the behavior of his daughters.
“…….”
“Father. Just what is our child lacking that you would consider a barbarian… or even a black-haired one?”
“You don’t understand? Have you sent someone to buy the fabric our son is selling?”
Man Geum-jeon scolded his daughter, who could not easily correct her words despite his warning.
“But, Father, how could I?!”
Jang Noya gazed at her daughters, as they hurriedly avoided his gaze, knowing there were too many issues to face.
What on earth have they been doing for the last six months? If it weren’t a test, they would have recovered the funds long ago. No, they wouldn’t have even lent it out at all!
Man Geum-jeon had to suppress the rising sigh as he looked at the root of his frustrations.
“Even though Yung-yung is the mistress of the Zhuge clan, she is still my daughter, just like you.”
Man Geum-jeon mentioned his daughter who had not participated in this test.
“Father, when did this suddenly become an issue!”
“Right? Barbarian?! Father, are you sure you aren’t being a bit too emotional after your son’s untimely death… Ah.”
Man Geum-jeon’s sharp gaze turned towards the daughter who had spoken out of turn.
“Did I give you permission to bring that up?”
The anger that flowed from Man Geum-jeon caused all his gathered daughters to flinch back.
“F-Father….”
At that moment, his daughters began to wake up to the frightening reality that they could lose Man Geum Battlefield to the barbarians.
“How can you be so oblivious at your age? Or are you trying to insult your father knowingly?”
“…….”
“To insult an invited guest and still hold your head high, do you think I have to be lenient with such behavior?!”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’ll disregard the matter of the successor.”
With Man Geum-jeon’s firm words, the daughters looked at him with pale expressions.
“Father!”
“Get out of here!”
“Father, we were wrong!”
“Sometimes we do act foolishly. Please! Please, reconsider!”
Typically, his daughters would not have dared to speak back to his authority. They hastily returned to their spots and knelt, begging their father.
Jang Noya gazed at them for a while, his heart heavy. He had raised them without shame. Was it time that changed them? Or was it greed?
Man Geum-jeon soon turned to look at someone.
“I will not be the one to relent first.”
At the end of his gaze, there stood Kang Yoon-ho.
‘Me?’
Lord Man Geum-jeon! I was just an interested bystander, watching the exciting scene unfold. It’s like being called out while trying to change the image of the quietest kid in class during a field trip—talk about awkward!
“What will you do?”
It’s not like you’re handing me a microphone; suddenly throwing a sword into my hands is absurd! If it were a microphone, then you could pull out Hamurin Prince! Am I to decide punishment for the insult I just received?
The aunts, who had just called me a barbarian, were eyeing me with nervous expressions.
‘You want me to nullify all the tests my cousins have been through and gulp down Man Geum Battlefield at once?’
What a tempting offer.
So blatant, it practically screams “trap.”
“I should be apologizing to someone else, right?”
Why should I be the one to receive their apologies? I smiled confidently at Man Geum-jeon.
“How dare you speak to my father like that?!”
“Woah!”
Jang Noya warned his daughters, giving me a curious look, as if egging me on to continue.
“It wouldn’t do to punish a guest just because a daughter misbehaved. The guest waits for the owner’s sincere apology instead.”
No matter how old a daughter is, it’s the father who should reprimand her. If I wielded the rod here, I would pay the price physically!
“That’s a valid point.”
“However….”
I nodded towards Man Geum-jeon, who was agreeing.
“…?”
“In matters concerning family, I think we need to settle the apology first.”
“K-Kang Master?”
The woman who had been internally suppressing her anger behind me looked up at me with a perplexed expression.
Hehe. Right! Since the prospective spouse was insulted, the one who should apologize first is evident. What are you all doing?!
Jang Noya’s command made the aunts, who were kneeling, turn their attention towards Miss Zhuge.
“Hyang, I’m sorry. I should have thought this through.”
“I’ll buy you a gift you like later. I’m truly sorry, Hyang.”
Miss Zhuge responded with a pout, full of anger, and didn’t reply.
Clearly, she didn’t seem like the type to forgive easily, but with the continuous apologies, she finally gave a slight nod in displeasure.
“Now that that’s settled, get lost!”
With the situation under control, Man Geum-jeon issued a decree for the daughters to depart.
“B-Father! About the successor matter…!”
“In a few days, I will hold the next test with Kang Yoon-ho. Until then, stay in self-restraint!”
There would be no leniency for anyone who dared to contest this decision. No parent protested about the student entering halfway through.
——
“I should not have seen that.”
In a room now empty of everyone except for three, Man Geum-jeon spoke to me with a bitter expression.
“You needn’t worry, Elder.”
“What can I say, if the one wielding the sword does not swing it?”
It was a golden opportunity to become the successor in an instant. Why didn’t I swing it? Man Geum-jeon replied to me.
“A blade that can’t sever life will hurt me instead. Elder.”
Suddenly announcing that all of your children are eliminated because they insulted me, and that I am now the successor of Man Geum Battlefield… would you accept it?
“Woah.”
“Besides, didn’t you promise to prove me right?”
It’s obvious; what Man Geum-jeon had aimed for was to put me naturally into the test without any resistance. In that case, the answer I had to provide was clear.
I would proudly prove that I was worthy of being his successor before everyone.
“Indeed. That is the way a successor should act.”
Man Geum-jeon smiled at me as if I was correct. It felt like a professor, who after I perfectly handled a test, homework, and a presentation, was now asking me to join for lunch.
“Now then, would you enlighten us with your insights?”
He seemed to have something he wanted to say, so I lowered my posture.
“People are prone to thankfulness when they borrow and harbor ill will when repaying. If you blindly threaten with a sword to solve a problem, soon you will be forced to carry a martial artist every time you visit the restroom.”
“There are people who will stake their lives more than money. What should be done then?”
Is this one of the teachings of Man Geum-jeon? At such times, rather than merely nodding along, one must return a counter-challenge.
“You must identify what is more precious to the other party than money.”
“Something more precious than money?”
“Slaughtering a cow is only feasible when it cannot give birth to calves or provide milk any longer, or when it’s utterly useless in agricultural work.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
So squeezing the opponent dry is only a last resort.
“I’ll suffice with this apology.”
“Eh?”
“I’m expecting you to prove yourself worthy.”
Man Geum-jeon turned away, donning a strange smile toward me.
———
Huff Finally home!
Having fought through the stormy coastal road, it felt like returning to a beloved haven.
Miss Zhuge, perhaps exhausted, slumped her way into the living room.
“Miss Zhuge.”
“Yes? Yes!”
As I called from behind, she instantly froze in place as if turned to ice.
Is she still embarrassed by what happened a few days ago? I found it rather endearing, but my consideration to not speak first might have backfired on me.
“Thank you for today.”
Wait, she’s actually thanking me. That was unexpected. I bowed my head to acknowledge Miss Zhuge’s gratitude.
“Ah, um, it was nothing special.”
Miss Zhuge slightly turned her head, casting a fleeting glance at me before averting her eyes again.
“I was looked down upon as a barbarian, but what you did was special, Miss Zhuge.”
The contempt has become such an everyday occurrence. Here we go again. I had thought she would just let it flow, not expecting her to genuinely defend me.
“Um, r-really?”
Miss Zhuge peeked at my bowed head and then turned away again.
Miss Zhuge, your face is turning red! Your cheeks are even shaking!
“Miss Zhuge.”
Before I realized it, without hiding my emotions any longer, I boldly stepped forward and held her defenseless hands.
Eep! “K-Kang Master!”
Her bright red face filled my view.
Thus, the opportunity to certify for the position of successor under Man Geum-jeon had been confirmed. In addition to becoming the successor, I would have to pledge to undertake another commitment.
A marriage with Miss Zhuge.
Even though I still have countless issues to grapple with, suddenly the issue of marriage approached with a leap.
What should I even say to Miss Zhuge? How should I address other women? After days of contemplation, I arrived at a single answer.
“I’ll do my best.”
“What?”
“Suddenly talking about marriage… Miss Zhuge, I imagine that makes you uneasy. I also find it hard to sleep.”
When I considered each person individually, I found that it was an issue that would require all my fingers to count it, making it impossible to rest peacefully.
“Ah… um… yes.”
“I will show my worthiness to Lord Man Geum-jeon. I will prepare myself appropriately. After that, may I have a deeper conversation with you, Miss Zhuge?”
The one I must engage in sincere conversation with after proving myself is not just Lord Man Geum-jeon.
In Miss Zhuge’s blue eyes, my face shone brightly.
Normally, a woman dazzling enough to make guys gossip about would sit only so far from me as if I were an untouchable, yet here she was, looking only at me.
I held her hands delicately with both of mine.
The way her gaze wavered between my face and her hands seemed adorable.
At this moment, there was no luxury for me to ponder love. So, I made one promise to Miss Zhuge.
For now, I shall focus entirely on the exam. And then, after establishing my worth, I will talk candidly. This was the best promise I could make in this situation.
“Um… um… okay….”
Miss Zhuge glanced between my gaze and the floor, nodding her head.
“Yes. Then let’s prepare for the exam together….”
“Um… Kang Master! I’ll just take a day off!”
“What?”
Miss Zhuge skillfully wriggled out of my grasp and hurried to distance herself.
“A day! No wait, I’ve exhausted all my energy for a week! I’m sorry! …Ah!”
Keep your eyes open! Why trip over the door frame while trying to escape?
———
Did I push the housewife’s daily limit without realizing it?
“Kang Yoon-ho!”
While I secretly chuckled, a familiar voice echoed from outside.
Has it already spread?
“Shut it, my ears are bleeding.”
I rubbed my ears as if annoyed and opened the door.
“Pant pant! You! You, you!”
“The weather is getting chilly. Come on in.”
The visitor was my water supplier, a kindred spirit, and now, somewhat of a frenetic adversary—Jeon Gil-san, one of the candidates for the successor position in this test.
