Sword God Reborn

Chapter 229 : We should hold a wedding

"Will it be alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"In my father-in-law's eyes, I mean."

At Seolyeong's words, Neung-heo looked at her as if it were something new.

It was clear from his expression that he hadn't understood her meaning, so Seolyeong added an explanation.

"How do I look? Do I look neat?"

"Good grief. You know I'm not good at saying such embarrassing things. I told you you're beautiful. Really."

"Aigoo. Not that. Not beautiful, umm, do I look neat? What do you think my father-in-law will think?"

After pondering Seolyeong's question for a moment, Neung-heo finally let out a short sigh of 'ah'.

He looked Seolyeong up and down again.

It wasn't a gaze that was looking her over in an unpleasant way. Because his eyes were filled with affection.

If Cheon Mubaeck had witnessed it, he would have been so disgusted that he would have threatened to gouge out his eyes, it was filled with such thick affection.

"Hah. Good grief. You dressed like this because you were worried my father might not look upon you favorably?"

Neung-heo smiled as if he found it very amusing.

Seolyeong's attire was completely different from before. As Seolyeong, who had managed the Lotus Pavilion in Neung-heo's stead and had gained fame as a gisaeng before her retirement, she had always maintained a splendid appearance.

Now, she had changed so drastically that she looked like a different person.

Her splendid makeup, full of all sorts of colors, had also been replaced with light makeup.

With an overall clean and neat impression and her round, swollen belly, she looked so demure that she could have passed for a lady from a prestigious family.

Neung-heo smiled brightly.

"You're beautiful."

Seolyeong's eyes narrowed. Her lips pouted.

"Aigoo, not that. Do you think my father-in-law will think I'm too... you know?"

"To be honest, I don't think I resemble my father at all. But there's just one thing we have in common."

"Yes?"

She looked at him as if asking what kind of random answer that was, but Neung-heo was still smiling and being playful.

"My mother was a stunning beauty. Really."

"...You, you know you're not suited for such cheesy lines, right?"

"Keuk keuk. Well, so don't worry. Since you look pretty to me, you'll look pretty to my father too."

At Neung-heo's playfulness, Seolyeong let out a laugh as if she were dumbfounded. But she seemed to be in a good mood, as a faint blush rose on her cheeks.

However, on the other hand, her worried expression was still there.

"Goodness. You should have told me earlier. You never once talked about your family, and then you suddenly bring your young master and father-in-law, what am I supposed to do? Do you know how I felt?"

"Actually, I didn't know it would turn out like this either. I thought I had cut ties and forgotten. I had no intention of bringing them. But since he insisted on coming day and night, what could I do?"

"Did you... also tell him that I'm a gisaeng?"

Seolyeong asked carefully.

Neung-heo smiled bitterly.

Well, wasn't that a part he had also been worried about?

When he first revealed that she was a gisaeng, he had felt rather relieved. In his memory, his father was just an upright and stubborn Confucian scholar, and he had thought that he would not accept a daughter-in-law who was a former gisaeng.

Rather, the bond of a father and son who had cut ties. He had honestly revealed that she was a gisaeng to cut it off completely, so that it could not be reversed. Neung-heo's characteristic rebellious spirit had reared its head.

But what was the result?

"I told him everything. Don't worry. My father... is... umm... well, he's not that bad of a person."

Even though the wall in his heart had crumbled, he couldn't bring himself to give a cringeworthy compliment, so he awkwardly scratched his chin.

But despite Neung-heo's comfort, Seolyeong still couldn't erase her worried expression.

Well, when had she ever thought about marriage?

The end of a typical gisaeng was obvious. They would retire when they got old, retreat to the back rooms, and play the role of helping the baby gisaengs with their coming-of-age ceremonies.

Seolyeong had thought she would be the same, and in fact, she had been.

However.

'Young Master Cheon made this person a little more human.'

Seolyeong's eyes, which were glancing at Neung-heo, drew an arc. An old memory faintly came to mind.

When the Lotus Pavilion had fallen into the hands of the Blood Serpent Sect.

Neung-heo, who had been appointed as the general manager, was a typical Black Path member. A Black Path member she had seen countless times. Among them, he was particularly unrestrained and had considerable power.

But he had a surprisingly clear sense of his own principles and had never once laid a hand on a gisaeng.

That was all Seolyeong knew about Neung-heo.

'He seemed a little different then.'

When Deungcho and the Black Path members had swarmed in to take over the Lotus Pavilion from the Black Heart Chamber.

When she was about to be humiliated by Deungcho in front of everyone.

Neung-heo had saved her.

Even though his whole body was covered in blood, he had crawled and swung his sword to protect her.

She wasn't sure if it was because of his feelings for her.

But it was natural to be drawn to the human side that was melted into his actions.

After that, Neung-heo had changed.

As he traveled the martial world with Cheon Mubaeck, the person who was just a mere Black Path member had now become a chivalrous hero with a considerable reputation.

'I'll have to thank Young Master Cheon later.'

It was Cheon Mubaeck who had first told her that she was pregnant.

He hadn't even checked her pulse like a physician, but just by looking at her, he had told her that she was with child and had congratulated her. Recalling that time, he was truly an extraordinary person.

Cheon Mubaeck had not just told her the truth.

In his name, the escort agency had provided her with medicinal herbs that would be helpful to a pregnant woman and the best environment.

After her belly started to show, he had even prepared a cozy residence for her at the escort agency, not the Lotus Pavilion.

She had also told Neung-heo that fact. Neung-heo had also been surprised and had stuttered.

"Hah... g-good grief. He's a man who has a kind side in strange places. He should just be nice normally. Hmph. As if anyone would be moved by this."

"...You look moved, you."

"Hmph. I am the One-Eyed Serpent, Neung-heo. The eye of a serpent! Huh? The one-eyed snake! Do you think I'd be moved by something like that?"

Seolyeong just smiled. He seemed quite moved, though.

It was then.

"Oops. It seems my father has come."

Seolyeong's complexion changed completely. The tension rising in her face was clearly visible. Her nose twitched, and her facial muscles became stiff.

Even in her stiffness, Seolyeong tried her best to raise the corners of her mouth.

Creak.

"..."

When the door opened and Neung Jo's face with sunken eyes appeared, Seolyeong unknowingly swallowed dryly.

A stubbornness that filled his face. To put it nicely, it was stubbornness, but to put it badly, it was a stubbornness that seemed as if a needle could not enter.

"Father. This person here is my... ahem. The woman carrying my child."

At that moment, Neung Jo's sharp gaze fell on Seolyeong's face. Seolyeong flinched but hurriedly bowed.

"I-I'm Seolyeong. Father... in-law."

Bowing her head, Seolyeong glanced at Neung Jo.

The corner of Neung Jo's mouth twitched.

At the sign that he was very displeased with something, Seolyeong's face turned pale.

Anyone could see that he was a typical Confucian scholar.

No matter how open-minded a person was, it would not be easy to accept a gisaeng daughter-in-law.

Moreover, she had heard that he was a Confucian scholar who had served as a Hanlin Academy scholar.

Neung Jo's voice rang out low and deep.

"What did you say?"

Seolyeong bit her lip tightly. It was an unexpected reaction.

"I-I'm Seolyeong."

"No, not that."

"...Father-in-law?"

Her voice trembled on its own.

Was it a sign that he didn't want to accept her as his daughter-in-law? To the point where he didn't want to hear the words 'father-in-law'? Then what should she do?

"Yes. That's what I meant. Say it again."

"...Yes?"

"I said, say 'father-in-law' again."

"Father-in-law...?"

A strange warmth was felt in Neung Jo's voice. Seolyeong raised her head with a puzzled face.

"Uhh...?"

The corners of his mouth, which had been tightly closed, had risen to his cheekbones and were now filled with a broad smile.

At the sudden change, Seolyeong was bewildered. Neung Jo laughed heartily.

"Good. Father-in-law. Father-in-law. To think that I would live to hear the words 'father-in-law' from a daughter-in-law of that worthless son of mine. Yes. My dear daughter-in-law. I am the father of that worthless son. You have truly suffered a lot. I am more sorry for not having taught that worthless son properly."

"Uh... n-no."

"No? My dear daughter-in-law. Ah, that's right. Here, here. Look. I, you see? Huh? From Shandong, I brought precious medicinal herbs and, also, a gift..."

At the somehow unexpected reaction, Seolyeong couldn't help but laugh.

* * *

"Truly, a beautiful sight."

Zhuge Seola smiled warmly.

Where her gaze was directed, she could see Neung Jo taking meticulous care of Seolyeong.

Anyone could see that it was a father-in-law taking care of his daughter-in-law, so it was a very pleasant sight.

Cheon Mun-gyeong had prepared a residence for Neung-heo's family at the escort agency.

A Hanlin Academy scholar, no less. She had realized the power of his fame when she had come to Henan with Cheon Mubaeck before.

Just by revealing his name, they had passed through most of the gates, and they had even tried to accommodate them.

The escort agency was not just a world that dealt with the martial world. The relationship with the government office was also very important. To such a Cheon Mungyeong, Neung Jo, a former Hanlin Academy scholar with academic fame, knowledge, and connections, was a person he had to serve.

It was his intention to take care of Neung Jo and form a connection with him even while he was busy.

"That's one thing, and that over there looks good too."

Zhuge Seola's gaze soon turned elsewhere.

Cheon Yuwha was examining the escort goods that would soon be sent out, and next to her, Gwak Cheonhu was stuck to her side.

It wasn't a particularly lovey-dovey atmosphere, but the sight of Gwak Cheonhu smiling, writing something down, and nodding his head looked quite good.

Cheon Yuwha didn't seem to dislike it either.

"...Somehow, it seems like everyone is doing well except for me?"

Zhuge Seola's voice lost its strength as she suddenly remembered her own situation.

Zhuge Seola's eyes narrowed.

"Where did he go again?"

What was he so busy with?

After arriving at the escort agency, Cheon Mubaeck had been continuously working on something with only Jang No.

The atmosphere was not one that Zhuge Seola could intrude on, so Zhuge Seola was alone at the escort agency.

It couldn't be helped. Neung-heo, who was relatively close to her, was with Seolyeong, Cheon Yuwha was also busy, and the chief, Cheon Mungyeong, also seemed very busy entertaining Neung Jo and with various other things.

Above all, her status was a problem.

The eldest daughter of the Zhuge Clan, no less.

Wasn't she of a status where there were almost no one at the escort agency who could speak to her comfortably?

As a result, after arriving at the escort agency, Zhuge Seola felt as if she had been left all alone.

No, there was just one person. A person she could treat a little more comfortably.

Wasn't it her own handmaiden, Yua?

But even such a Yua...

"Look! Isn't this so pretty?"

"Yes. It's pretty."

Turning her head to where the coy voice came from, she saw Jeombak, who had been Cheon Mubaeck's servant, constantly talking to Yua.

Anyone could see that Jeombak was hovering around because he liked her, but Zhuge Seola knew Yua well. She was pretending to be coy, but she was secretly happy and pretending not to be.

At that moment, Zhuge Seola's fine eyes twitched. She clenched her small fists and slapped her knee.

"...Ha! Really! Everyone is so mean!"

Zhuge Seola, who was suddenly furious, let out a sigh.

"What do you mean?"

It was then. Cheon Mubaeck's voice was heard from right behind her.

"Uh, Y-Young Master."

"What do you mean by 'so mean'?"

Cheon Mubaeck's gaze followed Zhuge Seola's.

Seeing the lovey-dovey antics of Jeombak and Yua, Cheon Mubaeck unknowingly smiled.

'Come to think of it... Jeombak is also getting to that age.'

Although his actions were naive, wasn't he getting close to the age of an old bachelor?

Cheon Mubaeck's gaze also turned to Seolyeong and Neung-heo.

'That side too, if possible.'

She was about to give birth soon, so shouldn't they hold a wedding, even a simple one?

Cheon Mubaeck stroked his chin.

Jeombak too. But Yua was strictly Zhuge Seola's handmaiden, so he had to ask for her permission.

Cheon Mubaeck said in a calm tone.

"Young Lady."

"Yes."

"Let's hold a wedding."

"...Yes?"

Thinking she had misheard, Zhuge Seola tilted her head.

She didn't understand at once. She mulled it over in her head several times and finally grasped the meaning. The moment she understood what he meant, her face flushed red from her neck to her forehead.

Zhuge Seola stuttered in a fluster.

"Wh-wh-wh-what do you mean by that?"

"Shouldn't we hold a wedding?"

At the calm tone, as if he were suggesting a walk, Zhuge Seola felt as if she would lose her mind.

Her head was dizzy. Zhuge Seola couldn't even meet Cheon Mubaeck's eyes and fidgeted with her hands, her head bowed.

"No, what, I mean. Like this, suddenly, if you rush things so much, this is too, what should I say."

"Jeombak is also getting old, and Yua doesn't seem to dislike it either, so how about we ask for their opinions and decide?"

"...Ah."

"How about it? I'll ask Jeombak."

"So... ah, you were talking about Jeombak and Yua."

"Hmm? Isn't that a given?"

"..."

Zhuge Seola, in a barely squeezed-out voice, said as if she were shouting.

"Don't omit the essential subject! Really...!"

* * *

Jang No came to visit. But for some reason, he had a smile on his lips.

He seemed to be in a very good mood.

"I, I heard."

"What do you mean, Jang No?"

"That you proposed a wedding to Young Lady Zhuge..."

"...Yes?"

"Am I wrong? The escorts and the porters were all talking about it."

A look of bewilderment appeared on Cheon Mubaeck's face.

"Um, no. It was a proposal to hold a wedding for that Jeombak fellow and that Yua girl who follows Young Lady Zhuge. Well, anyway. That's not what's important. The reason you're looking for me now is..."

As Cheon Mubaeck's words trailed off, Jang No's expression also hardened. A look of determination appeared.

"Everyone, has gathered. The demons of the Sword Sect."

Cheon Mubaeck's eyes flashed.

"Then, let's go."

(End of Chapter)