Chapter 183 : A Mother’s Instinct
Chapter 183: A Mother’s Instinct
A deep night where only the moonlight remained awake.
Bang.
At the sudden sound of the door, Namgung Hee-yeon was startled and shot upright.
Within her vision, she saw the dark silhouette of a man standing by the door with the moonlight at his back.
A chilling sense of anxiety made her heart drop, and she hastily pulled the blanket up to her chest.
Looking at her, the man standing firmly at the doorway spoke.
“Let’s do it.”
“W-What… what do you mean!”
Her trembling voice was filled entirely with fear.
However.
“Dating. I’m saying we should try it. I don’t want to die and turn into crap.”
The shadow uttered words that made absolutely no sense.
“Then give me your answer tomorrow.”
After saying that, he closed the door again and left.
Only after realizing that the other party had no intention of forcing himself on her did Namgung Hee-yeon regain her senses, and her thoughts began to function properly.
Only then did she realize that the voice had been that of the Vice Cult Leader, and she was once again shocked.
“……!”
Thus, the night passed—one that brought resolution to someone, and astonishment to another.
The Cult Leader, who had been quietly staring at Yul Han—who had arrived earlier than usual—asked,
“Did you eat something good behind my back?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Really? Then did something good happen?”
“A good thing is……”
Yul Han seemed to ponder something for a moment before shaking his head and continuing,
“……Not yet.”
“Then why do you look so happy, grinning like that?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You’re still smiling right now. What, did you see a sparrow’s thing while training or something? Why are you smirking like an idiot?”
“I wasn’t smiling.”
“Even as you say that, do you realize the corners of your mouth are curled up?”
“Really?”
“Do you think I’d talk nonsense? Hey, Blood Sword Unit Commander. Am I wrong?”
At the Cult Leader’s call, the Blood Sword Unit Commander, who had been training in a corner, smiled faintly and replied,
“The Cult Leader is correct. It’s subtle, but the Vice Cult Leader is definitely smiling repeatedly.”
At those words, the Cult Leader looked at Yul Han as if to say, see?
Under that gaze, Yul Han merely shrugged.
“There’s really nothing. More importantly, Senior Brother.”
“Why?”
“You said you’ve had a lot of dating experience, right?”
“Well, of course. No need to even say it.”
“Then how do you do the first one?”
“The first time?”
“Yes.”
“Well, for the first time, you gently coax……”
“Gently coax?”
“Yeah. The first time is always difficult.”
Neither of the two martial brothers realized that what they were asking and answering were entirely different things.
After finishing morning training, he would eat lunch and immediately head to his residence for afternoon training.
That was Yul Han’s usual routine.
However.
“Senior Brother, there’s a bathhouse, right?”
“There is, but why?”
“I’m going to wash up.”
“You’ll sweat again during afternoon training anyway, so didn’t you usually wash in the evening?”
“How can I stay dirty… From today onward, I’ll wash.”
“I-Is that so? If you go right and turn, there’s a bathhouse. Should I have them heat the water?”
“No need to bother. I’ll heat it with Samadhi Ignition.”
“Alright. There should be a few jars of cold water inside.”
“Yes.”
As Yul Han headed toward the bathhouse, the Cult Leader stared at him before quickly moving next to the Blood Sword Unit Commander.
“That brat definitely has something going on today, right?”
“Yes. He suddenly says he’ll wash, and it seems like something good happened.”
At that response, the Cult Leader thought for a moment, then the corners of his mouth lifted.
“So when he asked about first love… Heh heh heh. Looks like today I’ll finally get to see a nephew. Heh heh heh.”
Unable to suppress his laughter, the Blood Sword Unit Commander spoke in exasperation,
“Even if that happens today, wouldn’t it take ten months before you see your nephew?”
“You bastard. Don’t kill the mood. It’s just a figure of speech. Anyway, it could happen today. Hahaha!”
Still unable to stop laughing, the Cult Leader was asked,
“Is it really that good?”
“Of course. If Han takes a new woman by his side, it means he’s at least healed a little from that wound.”
At those words, the Blood Sword Unit Commander fell silent.
He knew better than anyone how much his lord regretted that incident from fifteen years ago.
As silence fell and the Cult Leader continued grinning foolishly, the sound of water began coming from the bathhouse.
Wearing a dress prepared with care by the believers and adorning herself meticulously, Namgung Hee-yeon was being watched intently by Hwayeong.
“You’ve finally made up your mind?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Aren’t you preparing thoroughly to fight right now? Like you’ve resolved to definitely knock down the Vice Cult Leader.”
“W-Why would you say that…?”
At her flustered question, Hwayeong answered,
“Do you have any idea how incredible you look right now? Even I can’t take my eyes off you. Men would probably go crazy.”
“M-Miss!”
At Namgung Hee-yeon’s embarrassment, Hwayeong burst into laughter.
“Hohoho. Even that reaction is pretty. You’re really amazing. Anyway, even that stone-like Vice Cult Leader won’t resist today. At that level, even Buddha wouldn’t be able to endure it.”
“M-Miss!”
Hwayeong laughed loudly at her continued fluster.
“Hohohoho.”
Though her words were teasing, calling her amazing was genuine.
A simple dress, elegant makeup, and butterfly-pattern accessories that weren’t excessive made her look breathtaking.
It was hard to believe such simple things could bring out that level of beauty.
Just as Namgung Hee-yeon finished preparing amid Hwayeong’s teasing—
“Ahem. Miss. Are you inside?”
The same man who had barged into a woman’s room late at night was now speaking politely from outside the door in broad daylight—it was absurd.
Seeing this, Namgung Hee-yeon let out a small laugh.
Hwayeong, who saw that, widened her eyes.
“Make sure you show that smile again in front of the Vice Cult Leader.”
“Pardon?”
“Even I almost pounced on you just now. If it’s a man, he definitely won’t be able to resist. Smile like that no matter what when you see him.”
At that, Namgung Hee-yeon gave her a sidelong glance and stood up.
Since she had no servants, she was about to open the door herself.
But Hwayeong stopped her and moved instead.
“Princess, please wait. This servant will go greet the prince. Hohoho.”
Namgung Hee-yeon watched her quietly as she left with a bright smile.
Though she claimed otherwise now, Hwayeong once liked that man enough to fall lovesick.
It couldn’t be pleasant for her to guide him to another woman.
Yet she still stepped forward.
Namgung Hee-yeon felt sorrowful, apologetic, and grateful.
Creak.
As the door opened and Hwayeong appeared, Yul Han stood there, neatly washed and dressed in clean martial attire, looking surprised.
“W-Why is it Miss…?”
Understanding why he was surprised, Hwayeong pouted.
“What? Disappointed that it’s not the person you were waiting for?”
“N-No! It’s not that……”
Seeing Yul Han flustered in a way unlike him, Hwayeong smiled brightly.
“It’s okay. I like another man more than you now anyway.”
“Ah! Actually, I had something to tell you about that.”
“Something to tell me?”
Tilting her head, Hwayeong listened as Yul Han said,
“Yes. The Namgung Clan has accepted the marriage between you and Namgung Chang-yeon.”
At those words, Hwayeong’s eyes widened.
Even though the Vice Cult Leader had rescued the Namgung Clan Head, she hadn’t believed the Namgung Clan would accept the daughter of Golden Flower Manor, which had ties with the Bright Cult.
So she froze in shock.
Yul Han continued,
“I also informed your father. He was pleased. The wedding will be carried out properly by both families. Soon, someone will come from Golden Flower Manor to escort you.”
Still frozen, Hwayeong listened as he added,
“So you don’t have to suffer anymore. You’ll soon meet the man you long for, Namgung Chang-yeon.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a surprised voice came from behind her.
“Is that true? The clan approved the marriage between my brother and Miss Hwayeong?”
As Namgung Hee-yeon appeared, Yul Han froze.
Thus, at the threshold, both Hwayeong and Yul Han stood stiff, while only Namgung Hee-yeon’s voice filled the air.
Leaning against the wall of his residence and watching, the Cult Leader whistled.
“Whew. That’s terrifying. If my sister-in-law were the enemy general, all your heads would’ve been chopped off.”
At that, the Blood Sword Unit Commander tilted his head.
“I understand she’s incredibly beautiful, but why would our heads…?”
“Just look. Even Han can’t control himself. If she said she’d embrace you after cutting off your heads, do you think she’d let you live?”
At that, the Blood Sword Unit Commander looked again and shook his head.
“We wouldn’t survive.”
“Right?”
As the Cult Leader smiled, the Blood Sword Unit Commander asked,
“Then why give such a woman to the Vice Cult Leader when he doesn’t even want her? Don’t you feel tempted?”
At that dangerous question, the Cult Leader turned his gaze toward him.
If anyone else had said that, he would’ve been killed instantly for sowing discord.
But the Blood Sword Unit Commander was different.
He trusted that he was genuinely curious.
That was why he entrusted his back to him in battle.
“Why do you ask?”
“I just thought… wouldn’t having something good make you happy too?”
“It would.”
“Then why?”
“Because I’d rather Han be happy than myself.”
“Do you think the Vice Cult Leader would feel the same?”
Another dangerous question.
Yet the Cult Leader chuckled.
“You brat. What kind of question is that? What mother in this world devotes herself expecting repayment from her child?”
“W-Well…”
“Instinct. A mother’s instinct. I’m the same. It’s instinct—for my child.”
After pondering those words, the Blood Sword Unit Commander asked,
“Um… do you want to become a woman, Cult Leader?”
“What?”
“You’re talking about being a mother instead of a father—kek!”
He let out a strange scream, hopping around while clutching his foot.
The Cult Leader had suddenly stomped on it.
Turning his gaze back toward the pavilion, the Cult Leader smiled foolishly again.
As if simply watching was enough to make him happy.