abcnovels
Chapter 185
Chapter 185
Chapter 185 – Submission (4)
“From now on, treat Mok Gyeong-un the same way you treat me.”
‘!?’
At the unexpected order that came out of Wi So-yeon’s mouth, everyone looked at her with surprised expressions.
Naturally, they thought she would say she wouldn’t forgive Mok Gyeong-un for damaging the faction’s reputation through this incident, but they couldn’t understand what was going on.
Everyone was at a loss for words, and Woo Ho-rang, who could be considered the representative of the loyal subordinates and one of the Five Tigers, carefully opened his mouth.
“Young Lady. When you say to treat Mok Gyeong-un the same way as the Young Lady…”
“It’s exactly as I said. Treat Mok Gyeong-un as a superior.”
“But Young Lady, even though the subordinates’ mistake is grave, if we just overlook this incident…”
“Are you objecting?”
At her sharp voice, Woo Ho-rang couldn’t hide his perplexity.
Until before this incident, Wi So-yeon was someone who freely listened to her subordinates’ opinions.
No, even if not, as he was the chief disciple of Bright Blade King Son Yun, one of the Five Kings, she had always respected his opinion in any situation.
But her attitude had changed.
‘Is she disappointed in me?’
Is she showing this attitude because she’s really angry about this incident?
When he thought that the woman he loved had become cold towards him, Woo Ho-rang’s chest felt stuffy with bitterness.
However, if he had given up because of this, he wouldn’t have loved her in the first place.
Woo Ho-rang knelt on one knee, clasped his hands together, and said,
“How could a subordinate object to the Young Lady’s order? However, please allow me to at least ask the reason for making such a decision.”
“…”
At his words, Wi So-yeon stared intently at Woo Ho-rang and then glanced at the other loyal subordinates.
They also had expressions of wanting to know the reason.
Judging that it wasn’t like she wouldn’t tell the reason even for an arbitrary decision, she said,
“I joined hands with Mok Gyeong-un.”
“What? If you say you joined hands… Does that mean Mok Gyeong-un has agreed to come under the Young Lady’s command?”
Woo Ho-rang asked in surprise.
It was Mok Gyeong-un who had accepted his challenge and openly insulted her, saying she wasn’t qualified to be a leader.
So he thought they would never work together.
But the surprise didn’t end there.
“Not under my command.”
‘!?’
At Wi So-yeon’s following words, everyone’s expressions stiffened.
What does she mean by not under her command?
As they were puzzled,
“Mok Gyeong-un and I joined hands as equals. So regarding the treatment of him…”
“Young Lady!”
Before she could finish speaking, Yeop Wi-seon, Son Yun’s disciple, shouted as if he couldn’t stand it anymore and got up from his seat.
Then he said,
“Even so, this is unacceptable. Young Lady, how could you treat that guy…”
Smack!
“Ugh!”
Yeop Wi-seon, hit by a flying inkstone, clutched his chest and groaned in pain.
To him, Wi So-yeon coldly said,
“I clearly said not to object, but you’re disrespecting me to the end.”
“Th-That’s not it…”
“Get out.”
“What?”
At her words, Yeop Wi-seon couldn’t hide his perplexity.
“Young Lady… What do you mean…”
“A subordinate who pledged loyalty doesn’t listen to the lord’s orders at every turn and does as he pleases. I no longer need someone like that.”
“…”
At her words, Yeop Wi-seon’s face turned pale.
He had never seen Wi So-yeon take such a hard stance before.
The shock was brief, and Yeop Wi-seon bit his lip hard.
Then he soon opened his mouth with a wronged expression.
“How… How can you do this to me? For the Young Lady’s sake all this time…”
“Shut that mouth.”
“Young La-“
Thud!
“Ugh.”
Before he could say something, someone slammed Yeop Wi-seon’s head to the floor.
That person was none other than Woo Ho-rang, Yeop Wi-seon’s eldest senior brother.
“E-Eldest Senior Brother?”
“Be quiet.”
Woo Ho-rang, who had scolded him softly, soon lowered his head and said,
“Young Lady, please forgive him. I will strictly discipline my foolish junior.”
“…”
“Thinking of all this time, please give him one more chance.”
“…”
When Wi So-yeon didn’t say anything, Woo Ho-rang gripped Yeop Wi-seon’s head tightly and urged,
“Can’t you hurry up and apologize to the Young Lady?!”
“Please forgive me.”
Looking at them like that, Wi So-yeon let out a faint sigh and said,
“This is the last time. If something like this happens again, Yeop Wi-seon, you will no longer be my person.”
“…I will keep that in mind.”
Yeop Wi-seon’s expression wasn’t good as he answered while prostrating.
He knelt because of her sternness, but for him, this incident was like a humiliation.
Yeop Wi-seon also loved her no less than Woo Ho-rang and wanted to make her his woman.
When he thought that the woman he wanted so much had humiliated him in front of everyone, he was furious.
Grit!
‘Me and Eldest Senior Brother… If Master doesn’t help her, that wench will have no opportunity at all, so how can she act like this.’
He thought he would be able to control her as he wished with time.
But now it was hard to even expect that.
His feelings of love had already turned into resentment.
Then, Gi Ok-ryeon, the eldest daughter of Sun Rock Valley Master Gi Hae, carefully said to her,
“But Young Lady. Following orders is not that difficult, but if you want to clearly establish the hierarchy as you said, shouldn’t Mok Gyeong-un also pledge loyalty to you as the next successor?”
‘Right. No matter what, how can that guy be on equal footing with the Young Lady?’
‘Gi Ok-ryeon is right.’
At this sharp point, everyone looked at Wi So-yeon with agreeing expressions.
Then she slightly turned her head to the side and answered in a small voice,
“…I will handle that myself.”
‘!?’
At her answer, everyone couldn’t understand at all.
Why was Wi So-yeon trying to treat that arrogant bastard so well without even pledging loyalty?
However, unlike them, Gi Ok-ryeon’s expression looking at Wi So-yeon became strange.
She had been close with Wi So-yeon since childhood.
Perhaps because of that, she could read Wi So-yeon’s emotions better than anyone else.
‘…Are you feeling shy right now?’
It might not be noticeable to the men’s eyes, but Gi Ok-ryeon noticed.
Just now, Wi So-yeon had acted shy.
On the surface, it wasn’t apparent, but that expression only appeared at times like this.
For a moment, Gi Ok-ryeon’s eyes slightly widened.
‘Could it be?’
Gi Ok-ryeon looked at Wi So-yeon.
Her face, which seemed to be sternly treating everyone as if trying to properly establish discipline, had the corners of her mouth slightly raised and looked unusually radiant and beautiful compared to usual.
Gi Ok-ryeon’s mouth fell slightly open.
‘Oh my…’
She was convinced.
Wi So-yeon’s reaction.
It was definitely an appearance that could only come out when she liked someone.
And it didn’t seem to end with just simple love.
They say a docile cat climbs the fireplace first.
‘She acted as if she had no interest in men at all, but look at this…’
It was truly surprising.
She felt like asking about this and that, not as a relationship between a lord and subordinate, but as a friend.
What on earth happened while they were unconscious?
Then her expression soon changed.
‘Ah!’
Thinking about it for a moment, wasn’t this a good thing in a way?
Gi Ok-ryeon’s gaze turned to Woo Ho-rang.
She loved Woo Ho-rang.
The only one who knew this fact was Wi So-yeon.
The reason she had told her was because she had developed a suspicion that Woo Ho-rang had feelings for Wi So-yeon that he shouldn’t have as her lord.
So she deliberately revealed her feelings to Wi So-yeon.
She thought that even if Wi So-yeon, as a lord, knew about the affection of the man she loved, she wouldn’t covet him.
‘…Did it turn out well.’
Gi Ok-ryeon’s eyes looking at Woo Ho-rang sparkled.
***
In the rear courtyard of the estate’s guest hall.
There, Yeop Wi-seon said to his eldest senior brother Woo Ho-rang, as if he couldn’t contain his anger, with a flushed face,
“Eldest Senior Brother. Does this make sense? Not only that Mok Gyeong-un bastard, but now she’s even joining hands with Young Master Jang Neung-ak, what the…”
“Be quiet.”
Woo Ho-rang scolded him softly as his voice got louder.
Woo Ho-rang’s expression wasn’t very bright either.
He was already troubled by the Young Lady’s first declaration, but to make matters worse, his head became complicated because she said she would join hands with the Jang Neung-ak faction, the force they were competing with most fiercely.
‘Why is she doing this?’
It was utterly incomprehensible.
Although her force was the most behind, it was still unknown.
He couldn’t understand the reason, and it was unpleasant, but if she had joined hands with Mok Gyeong-un, it was practically the same as gaining the support of the Baek Clan led by Shadow Clan and the King of Poison.
In that case, she was rather in a superior position compared to the Jang Neung-ak faction.
‘With just this, her approval rating reaches nearly 30 percent.’
If she could gain the support of either Corpse Blood Valley, which was still maintaining a neutral position, or the power of the last of the Five Kings, she might even be able to compete sufficiently with the Eldest Young Master’s side, which had the support of the elder council.
But why?
Was there a reason to join hands with Young Master Jang Neung-ak?
Young Master Jang Neung-ak was never someone who would compromise.
Rather, he would hope for them to come under his command, but he would never join hands.
Wi So-yeon clearly knew that too, so he couldn’t understand.
As his mind was complicated like that, an unexpected remark came out of Yeop Wi-seon’s mouth.
“Eldest Senior Brother… I think our choice was wrong.”
“…What?”
“This isn’t right, is it?”
“What’s not right? And what do you mean our choice was wrong?”
“I thought there was a possibility if we assisted her, given the Young Lady’s lack of skills and her nature of valuing talented people. But the current Young Lady’s vision has darkened as if someone is blocking her view.”
At Yeop Wi-seon’s words, Woo Ho-rang sighed.
This guy seemed to have taken what happened earlier quite personally.
Of course, from his perspective, it could be disappointing, but it wasn’t right to criticize the lord he had pledged loyalty to because of today’s incident alone.
So Woo Ho-rang scolded him softly,
“Don’t speak recklessly. It’s not right to blame the lord just because you don’t agree with her order. And doing that is like belittling our own choice.”
“Aren’t you angry, Eldest Senior Brother?”
“Angry?”
“We are the Young Lady’s loyal subordinates. But no matter how angry she is about this incident, using the hierarchy as an excuse to decide everything according to her will, and even treating Eldest Senior Brother and me, who have supported her for a long time, like this.”
“Stop it. Don’t…”
“If the Young Lady says she will come under Young Master Jang Neung-ak’s command, will you follow that without question?”
“That’s…”
“If she tells you to leave for opposing that, will you accept it?”
“…”
“If she draws a line every time like this, not allowing us to even offer advice as subordinates, isn’t that just the conduct of a tyrant? I can’t tolerate this situation.”
“You!”
“I think I should report this matter to Master and consider whether to continue supporting her or not.”
“You’re going too far!”
This time, Woo Ho-rang’s voice rose.
Then Yeop Wi-seon quickly took the lead, clasping his hands together in a salute.
“Let’s leave the conversation here. Rather, Master told me to bring Eldest Senior Brother, but I forgot because of that Mok Gyeong-un bastard.”
“What? Why are you telling me this only now?”
“Like Eldest Senior Brother, I was knocked out by that bastard, so when did I have a chance to tell you?”
At Yeop Wi-seon’s words, Woo Ho-rang clicked his tongue.
And he was inwardly worried.
Although he felt that his relationship with Wi So-yeon had become somewhat awkward due to today’s incident, he couldn’t help but be concerned that he might cause trouble and drift further apart from her.
So Woo Ho-rang warned Yeop Wi-seon,
“I’m saying this just in case, but don’t act rashly when you go to Master.”
“…”
“You really…”
As he was about to scold Yeop Wi-seon, someone called out to them.
“You two haven’t left yet?”
That someone was none other than Gi Ok-ryeon, the daughter of Sun Rock Valley Master Gi Hae.
When Gi Ok-ryeon came, Yeop Wi-seon shut his mouth.
There was no one among the loyal subordinates who didn’t know that she was practically Wi So-yeon’s right-hand woman.
So Yeop Wi-seon, worried that she might have overheard their conversation or seen through his true intentions, tried to move.
“I was about to go. Let’s go, Eldest Senior Brother.”
“Alright.”
“Wait a moment, Brother Woo.”
Woo Ho-rang, who was about to leave with Yeop Wi-seon, stopped.
When Yeop Wi-seon signaled for him to go, Gi Ok-ryeon smiled and said,
“It will only take a moment, so you can go slowly first.”
“Sigh.”
At this, Yeop Wi-seon shook his head and left the courtyard first.
Then Woo Ho-rang asked,
“Why are you doing this?”
“I just wanted to tell you not to be too heartbroken because of what happened today.”
“Heartbroken?”
At Gi Ok-ryeon’s words, Woo Ho-rang asked back in puzzlement.
Then Gi Ok-ryeon widened her eyes, tilted her head, and said,
“Aren’t you okay with it?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“It seems the Young Lady has marked Mok Gyeong-un as her partner, didn’t you notice that too, Brother Woo?”
“What?”
At her words, Woo Ho-rang’s eyes changed.
They became much fiercer than before, should I say?
Seeing his reaction, the corners of Gi Ok-ryeon’s mouth twitched slightly, but she soon hid it.
Gi Ok-ryeon played dumb and covered her mouth with both hands, saying,
“Oh my… I didn’t know. You didn’t know.”
“What the… That’s…”
Woo Ho-rang’s voice trembled.
In that voice, there was disappointment and a strange anger.
Seeing him like this, Gi Ok-ryeon said as if perplexed,
“I thought you and the others all knew. I guess I was wrong. It seems I made a thoughtless remark.”
Even while saying that, her eyes didn’t leave Woo Ho-rang.
She couldn’t miss this opportunity.
To make him realize that his feelings for Wi So-yeon were futile and to have a single chance to get into his heart.
If she missed this, she wouldn’t be able to make this man hers.
***
Clink clink!
A cold-looking girl wearing thin chains all over her body like clothes appeared. With her short hair and half of it dyed white, her strange appearance made both Go Chan, who possessed Jang Neung-ak, and Wi Maeng-cheon, who possessed Ho Jong-hyeok, unable to hide their inner tension.
That was because,
‘Blue Spirit?’
They could instinctively tell that this girl spirit’s rank had reached the Blue Spirit level. As spirits with lower ranks, they naturally couldn’t help but feel a strange fear beyond wariness.
Go Chan carefully asked Mok Gyeong-un,
“Master. Who is this girl…?”
– Girl? Who are you calling a girl?
The girl suddenly glared at Go Chan and raised her voice.
Despite the simple action, the chilling and tremendous spiritual power made Go Chan unconsciously flinch and take a step back.
– This young master is a man.
“A man?”
Where does she look like a man?
Anyone would see her as a girl.
However,
“Take it easy.”
As Mok Gyeong-un warned,
– Master!
The girl immediately clung to Mok Gyeong-un and rubbed her face against him like a cat.
Mok Gyeong-un pushed her away with an expressionless face.
Then the girl said with a disappointed expression,
– I’ve waited for a long time.
At this half-white-haired girl’s remark, Mok Gyeong-un, as if not caring at all, pointed to the people lying on the floor and said,
“Gyu Soha.”
– Yes.
The girl was none other than Gyu Soha, the spirit that was born from gu poison at the cliff of Corpse Blood Valley.
Mok Gyeong-un continued,
“Possess a useful body among them. That person over there seems good.”
The person Mok Gyeong-un pointed to with his finger was a muscular man with his face buried in the ground. He was Ko Yeon-hu, one of the Five Tigers, the best rear disciples of the Heaven and Earth Society.
At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, Gyu Soha, who had been carefully examining Ko Yeon-hu, soon made a disapproving expression and said,
– Master. Can’t I have one of those two instead?
The two Gyu Soha pointed to were none other than Ha Chae-rin, who was kneeling and blinking with a puzzled expression, and Seo Hye-in, the leader of the Grass Smoke Group and the Fourth Mountain of the Five Mountains Alliance.
At Gyu Soha’s words, Cheong-ryeong, who was watching inside the wooden puppet, clicked her tongue and said to Mok Gyeong-un,
– See that, you fool. I told you this wench is a girl.