Chronicles of the Martial God’s Return - Chapter 153

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Wow…… it’s really enormous…….”
Ho Yeon-ji stood before the manor, utterly lost for words.
She had visited Ak-yang several times before, but never imagined such a residence could exist in this area.
In her childhood, she had once accompanied merchants delivering liquor to the Imperial Palace, but this estate seemed even more magnificent than that.
What captured her attention most was the enormous pine tree standing at the center of the courtyard.
It stood perfectly upright as if it had guarded this land for ages untold, and the mere sight of it inspired a sense of awe.
All that, and it was merely a single tree.

[Honam Danga]

The ornate calligraphy on the plaque above the gate also drew her gaze.
Though she did not know whose brushwork it was, the characters seemed to depict a dragon brought to life and movement.
The reason Ho Yeon-ji hesitated at the threshold, unable to step inside, stemmed from this very sense of oppression.
“Come in.”
Yet Dan Woo-hyun opened the gate without the slightest concern.
The landscape revealed beyond the threshold astonished her all the more.
“What…… exactly are you, sir?”
“A father raising a child.”
“……Ah, I see?”
To her eyes, he was anything but an ordinary father of a single son. A man of such wealth could easily maintain a wife and several concubines without raising eyebrows. Yet the sounds from within were smaller than she had anticipated.
Save for what sounded like a woman’s martial shout, nothing else could be heard.
Nothing at all.
“You’ve arrived?”
Just then, a small child came scampering toward Dan Woo-hyun.
Leaping up with a bound, the child nestled into his arms, which he raised with easy strength.
“Yes, greet her. As of today, she is our guest.”
“Hello! I’m Dan So-mi!”
“Yes, I’m Ho Yeon-ji.”
As the child threw up a hand in greeting, a bright smile blooming across her face, Ho Yeon-ji felt her heart thump against her ribs in a way she could not quite explain.
‘What…… what is this?’
How could a child’s greeting and smile possess such devastating charm? Despite herself, she found a fondness welling up toward the girl.
“Hehe, So-mi learned something called Martial Arts from Grandfather Namgung today!”
“Ha, is that so? How did it go?”
“Hmm! I’m still not very good at it…… but it seems easier than what Father taught me…….”
“Martial Arts is a means to protect your precious body, so learn as much as you can.”
‘Grandfather Namgung?’
Even Ho Yeon-ji, who lived almost entirely severed from the world of men, knew well the weight that name carried.
‘Surely…… not the Namgung Clan?’
The pillar of the Eight Great Clans, and the true house of the Sword Emperor.
What business would someone from the Namgung Clan have in a place like this?
The impossibility of the thought made her laugh bitterly, shaking her head almost involuntarily.
“So, that girl? The one from that family you mentioned could brew liquor well?”
“Yes, went there and found her alone.”
Then an elderly man with a lean frame approached slowly, his gaze curious and appraising as he examined Ho Yeon-ji from head to foot.
She shuddered slightly, but strangely, his scrutiny did not feel unpleasant.
Perhaps it was because his eyes held no mockery, no ill intent of any kind.
“But does she wash herself?”
“What!?”
The abrupt remark left Ho Yeon-ji flustered.
Now that she thought of it, the recent cold had prevented her from bathing properly. Even if she could gather water from the river, she had neither a large vat to heat it in, nor the luxury of burning firewood for warmth.
She sniffed at herself cautiously, worried that her body might reek.
“How would you know what your own body smells like?”
“Is…… is that so?”
“You’re filthy, that’s no way to make a good impression. You ought to make some effort with your appearance…….”
Sa Do-hak clicked his tongue and turned away.
In the distance, Namgung So-hye appeared, wiping sweat from her brow after finishing her training.
“That one, this one—nothing but strange creatures around here.”
“Don’t worry about it!”
“……Ugh!”
Unlike Ho Yeon-ji, who shrieked in embarrassment, Namgung So-hye swallowed a groan and turned away.
The way she dashed out with her face flushed crimson made it clear she too had realized she hadn’t bathed properly in some time.
“Mu-jin! You rascal!”
Sa Do-hak suddenly called for Kwon Mu-jin.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Kwon Mu-jin materialized from what had appeared to be empty air.
He bowed his head to both Sa Do-hak and Dan Woo-hyun.
Ho Yeon-ji flinched at his sudden arrival.
“You called, sir?”
“Give this girl a separate wing and have her wash up. The stench is unbearable—I can’t stand to be in the same room.”
“……Yes? Am I to help with bathing, sir?”
“I can wash myself just fine!”
Ho Yeon-ji cried out, her face ablaze.
Her voice was thick with mortification, and she couldn’t bring herself to meet anyone’s eyes, staring instead at the floor.
“Heh heh, So-hye has a few spare robes lying about. We’ll give her those.”
Another elderly gentleman, kindly in appearance, stepped forward.
‘Why are there so many old men in this estate?’
Ho Yeon-ji turned to look at the old man, then shook her head.
“No, no. I’m already grateful just to have a place to stay…….”
“Your clothes reek. That’s why.”
Confronted with Dan Woo-hyun’s matter-of-fact words, she had no choice but to accept, dropping her head in a deep bow.
Her fists clenched so tightly she looked ready to throw a punch.
Yet she did nothing, only followed Kwon Mu-jin toward the separate wing, her steps heavy and lifeless.
“An amusing child. Direct descendant of the Ho Yeon-se?”
“Seems like it. It would’ve been nice if her clan still had brewmasters. Too bad about that.”
Dan Woo-hyun gave a wry smile at Namgung Cheon’s remark.
The wine from the Ho Yeon-se—which he’d sampled before.
It had fallen far short of his expectations. She likely knew this herself and hadn’t dared bring it to her parents, abandoning the effort instead.
“But her face carries good fortune. The mark of one destined for great success.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Her temperament is sturdy, not brittle. A promising child. Heh heh heh.”
Namgung Cheon stroked his beard, watching Ho Yeon-ji fade from sight. For all her bedraggled appearance, the qualities written in her face hadn’t gone anywhere.
She was hunched now, but one day she would stand.
Perhaps that was why Dan Woo-hyun had brought her here.
Yet oddly, the two men had fallen silent.
When Dan Woo-hyun glanced over, Sa Do-hak heaved a heavy sigh.
“Reading faces now that you’ve nothing else to do?”
“Ah, no, it’s not like that. When you look, you just see it, don’t you?”
“I don’t see anything. Looks like a beggar to me—stinks too. How could anyone read good fortune in such a state?”
“Reading the fates like some charlatan? Looking at a person’s fortune—how amusing.”
Namgung Cheon was left speechless.
There was no way Sa Do-hak and Dan Woo-hyun hadn’t seen what he’d seen, but hearing them talk like this made him feel foolish for showing off, and his face went completely red.
He fanned himself with his hand fan to cool his burning cheeks.
“You two are merciless—picking on an old man. I misspoke, true, but I wasn’t entirely wrong either, was I?”
“Well, I can’t say for certain.”
Dan Woo-hyun let out a soft chuckle.
A pleasant breeze drifted past.

***

“Ahhh…….”
Ho Yeon-ji couldn’t quite remember the last time she’d soaked in hot water.
Winter came, snow fell, and the firewood grew soaked through. No matter how much she dried it, the flames wouldn’t catch properly.
Bathing naturally became impossible.
“Still, there was no need to say it so bluntly…….”
Ho Yeon-ji recalled Sa Do-hak’s spiteful expression and ground her teeth.
Though… she did know, at least, that it was shameful.
Ho Yeon-ji sighed once more and rose from her seat. She dried her body with the cloth that had been prepared, then changed into the clothes Kwon Mu-jin had brought, fumbling a little with the fasteners.
The garment was made of fine silk.
Though it was light armor, it clung smoothly against her skin.
The soft sensation startled her without warning.
How long had it been since she’d worn anything like this?
Excluding her childhood, she’d barely even laid eyes on such finery.
Rustle—swish!
She returned to the room and gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror.
Her skin had suffered from prolonged neglect. When she thought of the woman who’d owned this dress, her shoulders drooped.
“Um… are you all right?”
Just as she was heaving a long sigh and lamenting her appearance as a woman, the door opened cautiously, and a figure peeked through.
Ho Yeon-ji jumped in alarm and stepped back from the mirror, then bowed quickly in greeting.
“Oh, hello! I’m Ho Yeon-ji…”
The woman who entered was the owner of the dress.
The moment Ho Yeon-ji saw her face, she was left breathless by her beauty.
She possessed a beauty so overwhelming that Ho Yeon-ji found herself wondering how two women could differ so vastly.
“Hehe, there’s no need to be so stiff. More importantly—does the dress fit well?”
“Oh, yes! It seems like such an expensive garment. I’m truly sorry to trouble you.”
“It’s fine. Women should help each other.”
When Namgung So-hye smiled brightly, the room seemed to grow even brighter.
‘Is this how a person smiles?’
Her beauty was so enchanting it made Ho Yeon-ji wonder if even the legendary nine-tailed fox must have looked like this.
The tension within her refused to ease.
“Still, thank you… madam. Thanks to you, I was able to wear such a nice dress.”
“…?”
Namgung So-hye’s eyes widened in surprise.
‘Madam…?’
It suggested that she appeared to be a married woman.
For a moment, she seemed to receive a shock, her expression growing dazed.
Namgung So-hye realized the other woman had misunderstood something.
‘But who did she think I was married to?’
Then only one face came to mind.
The instant Dan Woo-hyun’s visage appeared in her thoughts, Namgung So-hye’s face flushed crimson and she waved her hands in denial.
“No, that’s not it! I’m merely a guest here. I and… Young Master Dan are not in that kind of relationship.”
“Oh? Is that so? I could have sworn…”
She had heard that there was a child, and had even seen the beautiful girl. Naturally, she’d assumed the child must have a mother.
Since the only woman she’d met here was Namgung So-hye, Ho Yeon-ji had naturally inferred the connection between them.
But seeing such vehement denial suggested her guess had been wrong.
“Oh, if that’s the case, I’m truly sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize… hehe…”
Namgung So-hye giggled awkwardly, her flushed cheeks cradled in her palms, and mumbled something unintelligible.
It was too quiet to hear clearly, but it seemed to be something about Dan Woo-hyun.
Watching her, Ho Yeon-ji understood.
‘She’s smitten.’
Ho Yeon-ji nodded with conviction.
“Um… are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine! Anyway, I should introduce myself properly. I’m Namgung So-hye! As I just said, I’m a guest at this estate. Since we’re the only grown women here, let’s get to know each other!”
“!?”
In that moment, Ho Yeon-ji was so startled she lost all words.
Namgung So-hye.
Was there anyone in the Murim who didn’t know that name? The woman who had received recognition from the Murim Alliance and become the youngest Danju.
Her martial arts skill was said to be foremost even among those of the later generation.
And that Namgung So-hye was standing right before her eyes.
Just what manner of man was Dan Woo-hyun, to be living alongside someone from the direct line of the Namgung Clan—someone whose beauty rivaled the Most Beautiful in the Land?
Ho Yeon-ji could only stare blankly for a long while.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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