—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A sudden embrace, leaping across the table at the family meeting.
It was an act that really didn’t fit the profile of a young lady from a renowned family, let alone a martial arts family.
“M-Miss Gwahae! Show your dignity…!!”
The Jegal family maids blushed at the scandalous sight of Mancheon and Gwahae embracing and tried to intervene, but…
“Gwahae, let’s go.”
“Okay-!”
Their words fell on deaf ears.
They held hands, just like when they were children, and escaped the stuffy pavilion into the garden.
If they loved each other and promised each other a future, then that was an engagement. They could get their parents’ permission later.
But a child’s thoughts and a parent’s thoughts were not always the same.
“What is the meaning of this insolent behavior? Come back at once.”
Sima Bu’s stern voice, a tone he rarely used, stopped Mancheon in his tracks.
“Wait a moment.”
He could have just left, but it was time to make things clear. He asked Gwahae for her understanding and turned to face his father.
Between the garden and the pavilion, their similar yet different amber eyes met.
“I was worried about you, so my words were harsh. I apologize.”
Sima Bu, who wanted to refuse the engagement but not strain his family ties, tried to persuade him with clever words, but…
Unfortunately, Mancheon was no longer a child who would toddle after Sima Bu, begging for snacks.
Unlike wolves, who live in packs, tigers become independent early.
“Father, thank you for your concern. But I’m fine.”
“What?”
His amber eyes, like those of a tiger ruling over a mountain, shone with a strong light.
“I will choose my own woman.”
“Huh…!!”
It was a matter they could not persuade each other on. So he would just say what he had to say.
With those words, he turned and left the garden with Gwahae.
Sima Bu was speechless.
He stared blankly at the back of his grown son as he walked away.
‘He was so small I could lift him with both hands… when did he get so big…’
He suddenly remembered playing with him, holding him in his arms.
“Giggle~ Giggle~ Papa! Higher~ higher~!”
“Haha~ you brat! Are you having that much fun? Higher~! Higher~!”
He recalled Mancheon’s smiling face as he swung his arms.
“Mankiyat-ho! The humans look like bugs from up here!”
Thinking back, he was a strange child. A child who needed a lot of attention.
A bitter sigh escaped his lips at the vivid yet hazy memory.
“Hoo…”
Sima Bu quietly turned and returned to the pavilion, apologizing to Jegal Liang, who was watching the direction Mancheon had disappeared with a rather amused expression.
“I apologize for the trouble. I spoiled him too much, so he’s ill-mannered. It’s my fault as a parent.”
“It’s fine. A man of the martial world should have that much spirit. More importantly…”
Jegal Liang’s eyes gleamed sharply, like a hawk eyeing its prey.
“What about the engagement? They’re so in love with each other. Isn’t it right to let them be?”
A bitter smile formed on Sima Bu’s lips.
He must have really taken a liking to Mancheon, to say that even after he had stormed out.
Regardless of his personality, it was a pleasant feeling as a parent to have his child praised by a renowned master of the Ten Great Masters, but…
“An engagement is more than just a family matter, it determines a child’s future.”
Marriage was a different story.
“I apologize, but I cannot decide on this alone. I will discuss it with my wife at home and then decide.”
Jegal Liang looked surprised at Sima Bu’s polite, yet evasive, answer.
“Oh~ you’ll consult with your family~ how unexpected.”
“What do you mean?”
Jegal Liang’s gaze shifted to the Go board.
“Your Go style is secretive and dogmatic. I thought you were the type of person who would make important decisions alone and not confide in others.”
Sima Bu’s face stiffened for a moment at the piercing gaze.
“Haha… that’s an interesting interpretation.”
He forced a laugh to hide his expression and took a sip of cold tea.
Jegal Biying, who carried a portrait of him dressed as a girl, and now this.
He really didn’t get along with the Jegal clan.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The Nangong Family’s main estate, Nangong Tian’s private study.
Xiaoshao’s grandaunt, the current puppet head of the Nangong Family.
“Father, at the meeting with the Sun Moon Holy Cult… the one who killed my brother, as an elder’s guard…”
Nangong Lin, her face unusually stern, questioned Nangong Tian. Her nails dug into her palms.
“I heard that the villain… Wu Ming… appeared. Is that true?”
At his daughter’s question, Nangong Tian, though annoyed, reluctantly returned the book he was reading to the shelf.
“Hoo… yes, it’s true, Lin.”
He squeezed out the saddest thoughts he could muster and acted the part of a grieving father who had not forgotten the sorrow of losing his son.
Even though he was the one who had hired Wu Ming to kill Nangong Xian.
“Then! Why!!”
“I wanted to kill him right then and there. But it wasn’t a good strategic decision, so I didn’t.”
At his daughter’s question of why he hadn’t killed the enemy when he had appeared, he turned his back and struck a pose.
“Lin, when Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, conquered the Central Plains, there were four figures who represented their respective countries.”
Wei Zheng of the Tang Dynasty, Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo, Seongchung of Baekje, and Kim Yushin of Silla.
“They were called the Four Great Heroes of the World.”
Nangong Lin’s beautiful brow furrowed.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I hold Kim Yushin in the highest regard.”
A natural question, but Nangong Tian simply continued his story.
“When he was young, he fell in love with a courtesan named Cheon Gwan and visited her every night to be with her.”
“Enraged, Kim Yushin’s mother scolded her son with tears in her eyes, and Kim Yushin swore he would never see Cheon Gwan again.”
Lightning flickered in Nangong Tian’s eyes. It was time for his favorite part.
“Then one day, while returning home drunk, Kim Yushin’s beloved horse, remembering the way to Cheon Gwan’s house, took him there as usual. What do you think Kim Yushin did in that situation?”
A distorted smile spread across his lips.
“Kim Yushin cut off his own heart and, in front of the woman he loved, beheaded his beloved horse, bidding farewell to Cheon Gwan.”
For a warrior, a fine horse was more than a treasure, it was a comrade in life and death on the battlefield. So, Kim Yushin had shown his resolve by beheading his beloved horse.
Nangong Lin’s face fell harden further as she understood his meaning. Blood dripped from her clenched fist.
“Are you telling me to cut off my brother… to give up on my revenge…”
“It’s not giving up. It’s just waiting.”
Nangong Tian turned, placed his hands on Nangong Lin’s shoulders, and spoke in a dignified yet gentle voice.
“Endure it for the sake of Xian’s daughter, Xiaoshao. Our cooperation with Wu Ming and the Sun Moon Holy Cult is necessary for our Nangong Family.”
“huh….”
At the mention of Xiaoshao’s name, Nangong Lin bit her lip and lowered her gaze.
“Thank you for understanding.”
At her submissive demeanor, Nangong Tian smiled in satisfaction, out of her line of sight, and patted her shoulder.
“Then I’ll be going to the Martial Alliance headquarters for a while.”
“Did something happen?”
“No, it’s just… it’s about time I broke off the fake engagement with the Tang Family and…”
Nangong Tian’s gaze curved into a smile as he pointed to the documents on his desk, which contained information about Sima Mancheon.
“found a suitable match for our dear Emperor, Xiaoshao.”
Nangong’s daughter shall become king.
Though she was currently disguised as a boy, she would eventually have to reveal her true gender to become king.
The Sima Family, one of the Four Pillars of the Demonic Sects, Mang-Tak-Jo-Ui, and a family with imperial blood,
was a suitable partner for a marriage alliance.
“Then I’ll be off.”
Having made up his mind, Nangong Tian walked to the window, focused his inner energy into his legs, and leaped out. At the same time…
Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword.
One of the swords decorating the study wall erupted with lightning and flew under Nangong Tian’s feet.
As if drawn by a magnet, lightning flowed from Nangong Tian’s eyes as he stood on the sword.
He accelerated once more.
-Crash-!!
He shot forward like a bolt of lightning, a blue streak across the sky.
-Crash Crash Crash Crash-!!
Thunder roared in the clear sky.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Mancheon stared blankly at the red sunset.
He had lot of fun with Gwahae after escaping the stuffy family meeting, but as the sun began to set, he wondered where he would sleep tonight.
He couldn’t just go back home, so should he sleep at an inn? Or should he ask Xiaoshao for a place to stay again?
‘Heehee~ Sister Nangong~ Mancheon has no home! Let me sleep with you!’
As he was having these foolish thoughts, Gwahae cutely tugged at his sleeve.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Ah~ I was just wondering where I should sleep tonight.”
“Ah…”
Stop!
At his words, Gwahae suddenly stopped and began to mutter.
“Mine…”
“Hmm? What did you say?”
Perhaps to hide her embarrassment, Gwahae’s foot tapped the ground.
“Because you’re mine.”
-Slide…
She wrapped her arm around his, so he couldn’t escape. And she whispered, her face flushed with a hint of longing.
“Because you’re my man, I’m taking you to my room.”
Her beautiful blue eyes, filled with excitement, were all about him.
“No?”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Hehe… some of you may have already seen it on the announcement, but I thought it would be a good fit for this episode.
So here it is! Today’s short, pointless comic!!
The growing number of heroines… Jegal Gwahae, XX years old.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Remind me if you want to see the illustration pics ✌️
hell yeah i want to see the pics