Chapter 88: The Reason for Control
Mihyang unnie.
An unknown na ca up.
“It is you, right? Kwak Mihyang unnie! It is you!”
“My lady, you’ve mistaken her. This person’s na is Hahou Seojin.”
“No. It’s impossible that I’m mistaken. Her face is exactly the sa as when she was young!”
Jayeong was adamant.
Hahou Seojin’s na is Kwak Mihyang?
It is extrely rare for a prestigious family to change both their surna and given na.
They would only do so if their family was exterminated.
Why would soone like Madam Hahou, who is living well, change even her surna?
In the first place, Jayeong, who grew up in the marketplace, and the wife of a prestigious family have no point of contact.
However.
“You, are you Guseul? Yeom Jayeong?”
Hahou Seojin called out not only Jayeong’s na but also her childhood nickna.
What is this?
“Mihyang unnie!”
“Jayeong!”
The two were about to embrace each other, but since Taebok was in her arms, they only reached out one hand and held each other’s.
“Unnie! Why did you suddenly disappear!”
“Uung! Yes, I suddenly disappeared. I left without even saying goodbye!”
Not only were their hands held, but tears welled up in their eyes.
“My lady, could she be the unnie who often took care of you and your brother when you were young?”
“That’s right. It’s her. It’s Mihyang unnie.”
Tears finally stread down her face in her joy.
Hahou Seojin, Kwak Mihyang, reached out her other hand and wiped the tears from Jayeong’s face.
“Yes, back then, I often looked after you and your brother.”
“I asked Papa Kwak, but he wouldn’t answer. He just said you went to a good place.”
A neighborhood unnie, Kwak Mihyang, who used to play well with the Jayeong siblings when they were young.
But one day, she suddenly disappeared.
“What on earth happened?”
I was curious too.
Jayeong and I waited for Kwak Mihyang’s answer.
But Kwak Mihyang answered nonchalantly.
“It’s a common story. It turned out I was the abandoned daughter of a high-ranking family.”
Common?
Well, if you search the whole world, it might be a common story.
Still, isn’t it a surprising thing to happen to oneself?
“Is that so? Just as Papa Kwak said, you really did go to a good place.”
Jayeong didn’t mind that Kwak Mihyang spoke of it as if it were no big deal.
“Unnie, that’s great. I was curious all this ti, but if you’ve lived happily, that’s all that matters. You always used to envy the daughters of prestigious families.”
She seed simply happy that Kwak Mihyang had lived well.
But Kwak Mihyang, who had been calm about the question, flinched upon hearing Jayeong’s words.
“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I lived well and forgot my old ties. I couldn’t go to that neighborhood.”
“I don’t misunderstand, but…. Why couldn’t you co?”
Hwareuk, the torch flickered again.
The joyful expression from just a mont ago had disappeared from Kwak Mihyang’s face.
“In my family, you see. They found because the daughter who was supposed to have a political marriage had died of an illness. To maintain the political marriage.”
A political marriage.
The ti she had experienced flowed from her mouth.
The reason her family had sought Kwak Mihyang was not out of familial affection.
High-ranking families strengthen their ties through marriage. That bond sotis becos the foundation for maintaining the family.
Kwak Mihyang was a necessary tool for such a marriage.
“For , who had lived an ordinary life, to beco the daughter of a prestigious family, there was so much to learn.”
It was even more so because the wedding date had been set.
The family did not want to postpone the wedding date because of Kwak Mihyang.
“…Unnie.”
“The life I had longed for was different when I actually experienced it.”
A sudden change in her surroundings, but there was no ti to adapt.
She cut back on sleep and took lessons to beco the wife of a prestigious family.
She said that when she ca to her senses, she had already been married.
“I went to look for the village after I had established myself as Madam Hahou. But you know, it wasn’t even a place you could call a village. It was just a place where wanderers gathered. It was already all gone—”
Kwak Mihyang caressed Jayeong’s head with both hands.
Jayeong had grown up and was taller than Kwak Mihyang, but it was a touch as if caressing a younger sibling’s head.
The hands continued to stroke Jayeong and ca down to gently cup her cheek.
“You two were gone too.”
Even for a prestigious family, it was difficult to find the siblings who had followed the Rogues’ Guild Leader.
Kwak Mihyang was left alone.
Thrown into the proud and splendid life of a prestigious family.
I suddenly rembered what Kwak Mihyang had said as the Association Leader, that she wanted to give only obstacles that wouldn’t cause frustration.
No, before that, I could see where the idea of controlling experience itself had begun.
A powerful current of life that was difficult to handle.
After being swept away by that current and coming to her senses, all the people she had known before were gone.
She had co to live a new life, with a new identity.
But on the other hand, a resentnt towards the current of life that had sent her here had grown.
That resentnt beca a vow to not let her own children have such an experience.
“The control of experience, so that was why.”
I had said it abruptly without explanation, but Kwak Mihyang understood.
“That’s right. That was why.”
Then she chuckled.
“That was why. But how far have I gone. How foolish.”
Whoooosh.
A gust of autumn wind blew.
The person in front of now was not the Association Leader, nor Hahou Seojin.
It was Kwak Mihyang, confused about where she was.
“That’s a relief.”
“What? A relief?”
She quickly looked at .
“Because you can turn it back.”
“…Turn it back?”
“Yes. There are things you can turn back and things you can’t. What you have done, Madam, is sothing you can turn back.”
“Do you think so?”
“Of course. I’m certain.”
Certain.
I saw it clearly with my own two eyes.
“Your son said that the education of the Virtuous Mothers' Association was difficult. But even in that mont, I did not see any anger towards you.”
As far as I know, it’s normal for that age to be in a state of anger.
But he was rather sorry for saying such things to her.
“And what about Uhye? She was a sharp and clear child who got along well with her friends.”
Even the child who was struggling with turbid energy had listened to Yeom Uhye’s words.
That one thing says a lot.
“Of course, you will have to apologize to children like Kang Yoohun. You will have to help them. You can’t leave that out.”
It won’t be easy, but.
“But everyone is still here. The children haven’t gone anywhere. You can go and apologize, and you can help. You have a chance to do sothing, don’t you?”
I too had seized that one chance.
Kwak Mihyang can do it.
If she rembers the ti she spent with the Jayeong siblings, and if she stood tall as Madam Hahou, she would be better than anyone at correcting her mistakes.
“Go.”
“…Great Hero.”
“I will co to greet you when the matter is finished. And since you’ll have a lot to talk about with Jayeong, I should do so even more.”
It won’t be long.
When news of the Demonic Cult mbers cos in.
I will go out with Mukheun, and then it will be over soon.
However.
“Just a mont.”
Kwak Mihyang raised her hand.
“Just a mont. I was so flustered to et Jayeong. Is the Ink Sword Great Hero Jayeong’s husband?”
“That is correct.”
“Ah, then the son the Great Hero got is the one you gave birth to, Jayeong?”
“That’s right, unnie.”
Her mind seed to be returning to its place.
Her gaze surveys Taebok.
“To co out with such a young baby. The autumn wind is too chilly.”
It seems she was too surprised to notice until now. As her mind returned, the child ca into her view.
I pointed to the Black Tiger Skin that Jayeong was wearing.
“This is a treasure that cold and external wind cannot penetrate. Taebok, who is being held, is also fine.”
Moreover, there is also the Cotton Armor Master.
Ah—, Taebok just looked at Kwak Mihyang with his mouth open.
He just looks comfortable.
“Right. Then that’s fine. But.”
Even the explanation about the Black Tiger Skin could not calm her fluster.
What is it?
Why is that?
“Then is the person you’re looking for perhaps Gasang?”
“Yes! It seems the Demonic Cult has kidnapped my brother.”
“No.”
Hmm?
“What?”
Kwak Mihyang said firmly.
“He’s at our house.”
“……”
“……”
Hey, what?
“He’s at our house. The retainer said he hasn’t woken up from an internal injury caused by demonic arts. Anyway, he’s at our house.”
I realized in that mont.
So that’s what it was.
“Your brother knew. He knew that you were Kwak Mihyang.”
“Ah!”
Jayeong seed to have realized too.
He is the leader of the Rogues’ Guild, who handles all the information in the world.
Whether he found out recently, or knew all along and kept it to himself, her brother had known.
He hadn’t just gone into the noble family complex for nothing.
In a mont of desperation, when all his guards were dead and he himself was injured by demonic arts.
The Rogues’ Guild Leader had gone to find soone who could help him.
Soone who could perfectly control the complex, prevent any news from leaking out, and mobilize the family warriors and retainers as the mistress of a powerful family.
The leader of the Kaifeng Virtuous Mothers' Association.
The older sister he used to play with when he was young.
“Indeed.”
It was no coincidence that Jayeong had t Kwak Mihyang in this place today.
“Jayeong, let’s go right away. Let’s et your brother.”
“Yes, yes, yes.”
The corners of Jayeong’s eyes, which had been holding up well, beca moist.
Her brother, whose life was uncertain, is alive.
And he is being protected at the house of a dear older sister she has t after a long ti.
It was a situation that would naturally bring tears.
“If it’s an injury from demonic arts, I can do sothing about it. Let’s go right away. Madam Hahou, will that be okay?”
“Call sister-in-law too.”
“Uh. …Is it okay if I just call you Madam Hahou for a while?”
“Huhu. Of course, brother-in-law.”
“Oh.”
My mind beca a little confused at the sudden change in title.
Right, it might be good to control overly excessive experiences a bit.
“Now, let’s go.”
Jayeong, who had co out of the house, quickly got dressed.
“Are you taking Taebok too? Not leaving him with Elder Jeong?”
“Well. I have a feeling I should take him.”
A feeling.
Whether one is a martial artist or a commoner, one should not ignore such feelings.
“If so.”
Now we can go.
We can go, but.
“There are people I need to inform of our destination. Exactly where in the residence is he?”
I heard the detailed location of the detached building from Kwak Mihyang.
And I imdiately jumped over the wall and told the people who needed to be told.
However, since I had scattered with Hansanha earlier, I had to deliver the ssage to him separately.
“Sword Hero! I’ve co to deliver news!”
Just in ti, he appeared with news.
“Is there news of the Demonic Cult?”
“That’s right. They say the bastards are leaving Kaifeng City and heading west.”
I also told him the news I had heard from Madam Hahou.
“Oh! Is that so? The Guild Leader is safe!”
“I will go right away and rescue the Guild Leader. Branch Leader, please continue to track the Demonic Cult mbers. I will track them when I return.”
Now it’s really the end.
We can go.
.
.
We imdiately entered Madam Hahou’s residence.
The family warriors were on high alert, and although not visible, the presence of the retainers could also be felt.
It was indeed a place to be at ease.
The rear garden was very large, and there were several detached buildings.
“It’s here.”
Madam Hahou opened the door of the detached building with a key (開金).
As we entered, a man who looked like a bandit was lying on a bed.
“Brother!”
“Brother.”
Jayeong and I rushed forward.
A face with a thick beard like Zhang Fei’s had its lips firmly closed.
“Honey, my brother’s face…”
He was deathly pale.
It wasn’t due to a lack of breath or cold.
It was so pale that it was tinged with a light purple.
“It’s okay, Jayeong. It’s not as serious as it looks.”
If the injury were serious, the color would be darker and a stench would rise.
Sotis, there would even be an inexplicable sense of ominousness.
The Rogues’ Guild Leader was not at that level.
If so.
“I might be able to do sothing about it.”
“You?”
The Eight Trigram Unity Technique uses natural energy to offset demonic arts.
It might be difficult to do in the middle of a duel, but now that it’s quiet and safe, it’s worth a try.
“That’s right. And I think we should do it quickly.”
Sothing that had been bothering since earlier.
Because of that, we have to proceed quickly.
“Jayeong, please stand guard. Madam Hahou, please step back and keep an eye on the surroundings.”
The two imdiately did as I instructed.
And I imdiately mobilized the natural energy and began to offset the demonic energy in the Rogues’ Guild Leader’s body.
I wasn’t sure if I could take a long ti, so I just did enough for him to be able to open his eyes for now.
“Ugh…”
“Brother, are you conscious?”
“Brother!”
Jayeong approached, holding Taebok.
Her brother still couldn’t control himself.
“Ngae.”
He heard Taebok’s cry.
“Huh? Ngae?”
He raised his head even in his confusion.
“Ngae-ae.”
Taebok let out another cry to wake him.
“Ngae-ae? A baby is crying?”
His large, blinking eyes turned to our family of three.
“Uh, Jayeong, brother-in-law. Uh, that baby. Huh?”
Jayeong carefully stepped forward.
“Brother, say hello. This is the child I gave birth to.”
“Oh!”
The Rogues’ Guild Leader tried to sit up but seed to feel a pain and fell back onto the bed.
Cough, cough, a series of coughs followed.
He struggled to turn his head to prevent his cough from reaching Taebok.
“Ah, the baby. Be careful with the baby. Wait, where am I? How is my nephew in front of …?”
For a mont, his words stopped.
“Hansanha.”
A na flowed out.
“The traitor.”
Along with his identity.
So I told him.
“I know. Please hold Taebok first.”
Because I have prepared everything to welco the traitor.
So first, the cute Taebok.
“Uung-ung-ae.”
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