Chapter 301 – To the Witch’s Lair? (1)
“What… did you say?”
Nung Hwi-yeon, who had come to visit her mother after a few days, was suspicious of her mother’s words. However, Ma So-hyang’s expression was a bit awkward, but it didn’t seem like she had made a slip of the tongue.
“Did I hear wrong? Maybe…”
“If you said you’re going to have a child, then you heard correctly.”
Ma So-hyang drove the point home again, and Nung Hwi-yeon shut her mouth. Her trembling pupils were demanding an explanation from Ma So-hyang.
“It seems like there’s no way to have the child except to ruin the mother’s body.”
She had already heard that there was a possibility. There was also the fact that there might not be any other way.
But something felt strange, and Nung Hwi-yeon couldn’t shake the feeling.
“I’m sorry that I’m making you lie again, but… can you please make sure that this fact doesn’t reach Father or Poong-yeon’s ears?”
Even if Nung Hwi-yeon’s behavior was a bit strange, it didn’t mean that she had no thoughts about her mother’s infidelity and pregnancy. She just thought that something had happened or that she had been intimidated by the shaman.
She thought that it might not be that way, judging by her mother’s expression when she first spoke in front of her.
“What will happen to the child?”
“Jegal Yeohyeop… said she would take care of it. Since there’s already a born child, she said she could raise it as that child’s sibling…”
“…”
Nung Hwi-yeon’s expression didn’t show as usual, so Ma So-hyang couldn’t tell what she was thinking and felt uneasy.
Nung Hwi-yeon would already know about the relationship between Jegal Mi-ryeong and Ma So-hyang, and if she stumbled upon it, things could become troublesome.
But there was no one else to present externally except Jegal Mi-ryeong, so when she mentioned her name, her daughter remained silent.
“Hey, Hwi, Hwi-yeon…”
“Yes, Mother.”
When Nung Hwi-yeon answered obediently and looked into her mother’s eyes, Ma So-hyang didn’t know what to say.
Should she confess everything that was bothering her, even though her daughter didn’t express any suspicion?
In front of her eyes, where she couldn’t tell what her daughter was thinking, Ma So-hyang felt like she was getting smaller and smaller.
“Mother, it’s not your fault…”
“What’s done is done.”
However, when Ma So-hyang opened her mouth under pressure, Nung Hwi-yeon spoke as if it was nothing.
It wasn’t really comfortable for her, but there was nothing that would change even if she received an apology from her mother.
Chapter 301 – To the Witch’s Lair? (1)
But there was something else on her mind, something she couldn’t tell Ma So-hyang.
“I’ll tell Father and Poong-yeon just enough.”
She wasn’t the most eloquent speaker, but she didn’t think her father or Poong-yeon would pay much attention anyway.
Her father was indifferent, and Poong-yeon trusted her mother too much.
“Thank you… Hwi-yeon.”
“Don’t worry and take care of yourself.”
Nung Hwi-yeon said goodbye to her mother, who had a troubled expression, and stopped her from leaving.
Of course, she had to take care of her body and give birth to the child, but there was another reason.
She planned to leave a message before the business started in earnest.
[…I’ll send another letter soon as the business picks up. It’s getting colder, so take care of your health, and please give my regards to everyone else.]
After reading Yeong-ho-gyeong’s letter, written in a strong hand, I slowly put it down.
Then the man in black who had been watching me read the letter spoke up.
“Shall I write a reply right away?”
“Yes. Can you wait a moment?”
“I have no business to ask of you. If you write a reply, it was also the shogun’s order to wait and receive it.”
The man in black, wrapped in black from head to toe, nodded obediently and started waiting by my side like a stone statue.
As I got used to life in the martial arts world and had more opportunities to write, I began to write with my own skills.
“Thank you for the good news…”
While I was suffering from smallpox and being a reckless bastard, Yeong-ho-gyeong had mobilized all his resources in the upper echelons and the battlefield to finally start his logistics business, Ma-gyo Coupang.
Since it was in the early stages of the business, they registered personal information to reduce shipping costs and tested the service by delivering to homes or setting up a delivery point near the well in the neighborhood. The response was quite good.
Seeing that they had started the business after only half a year, I warned him to take care of himself since he had a child on the way.
“He seems to be handling it on his own, but…”
It had been five months now, and he said his belly was starting to show, but there was a skilled doctor who had joined the Ma-gyo gang after that, so he was receiving regular treatment from him, so there was no need to worry.
Chapter 301 – To the Witch’s Lair? (1)
But that’s beside the point. The doctor was sent to take care of Yeong-ho-gyeong and Chae Su-ran from the beginning, and she suspected that her father had deliberately sent him to keep an eye on them. When she saw him sleeping with her daughter, she was furious and couldn’t wait to get her hands on him.
“I like money too, but… take it slow. You don’t have to rush to make a profit.”
I debated whether to write that you are more precious to me than money, but before I could decide, the man waiting on the other side cleared his throat.
I wondered if he had been secretly reading the contents of the letter, but I quickly sensed someone approaching from the other side.
“My guest has arrived. I’m sorry, but could you come back later?”
“Of course. I’ll come back around five to seven today. Please be ready by then.”
As soon as he said that, the man disappeared outside the window like a light-footed cat. His martial arts skills were impressive, and it was clear that he was a master of the Ma-gyo gang.
“Can I come in for a moment, Kang So-hyeop?”
“Sure, come on in.”
As soon as I opened the door, Nung Hwi-yeon appeared as I had expected.
Her expressionless face could look both fierce and sharp, and I still couldn’t tell what she was thinking. But I had told her the truth today, so she must have come to say goodbye before leaving Sachon.
“You look quite stylish.”
“Really? I just wore what was given to me…”
As a modern person, I still struggled to match the sense of color, but it seemed that Dang Hye-won had a good sense of it, as her outfit looked quite nice.
After exchanging brief pleasantries, Nung Hwi-yeon got straight to the point.
“Please take care of my mother.”
“Of course. I’ll do my best to ensure her health and comfort.”
But Nung Hwi-yeon tilted her head at my words.
“Kang So-jo…?”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
Nung Hwi-yeon bit her lip and started whispering.
[I think you know what illness my mother is suffering from.]
[…Yes, I do. But don’t worry, I won’t reveal it to anyone else.]
[Thank you. But that’s not enough.]
As I listened to Nung Hwi-yeon’s explanation, I was sure that Ma So-hyang was right. This woman was too intuitive.
Chapter 301 – To the Witch’s Lair? (1)
It was clear that Ma So-hyang had harbored resentment towards the man. She had shown it occasionally since coming here, but today, it was nowhere to be seen.
Nung Hwi-yeon suspected that Ma So-hyang was not revealing her animosity towards the man because he had some leverage over her. “I don’t know what excuse he’s using to blackmail her or what leverage he has over her, but I’m sure someone has approached her and used it against her,” Nung Hwi-yeon explained.
“I’m sorry. We should have protected Ma Yeohyeop better,” I apologized, but Nung Hwi-yeon shook her head.
“I’m not blaming you. Right now, you’re the only person I can turn to for help. I know it’s a lot to ask for you to protect my mother completely on your own, but if you could keep an eye on her and help her in any way possible, I would be grateful.”
As Nung Hwi-yeon looked at me with her determined eyes, I couldn’t help but feel surprised. Or was it expected? Their relationship didn’t seem bad.
But as she made her request, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation in my chest. ‘Bad idea, bad idea.’ It was enough to have the mother-daughter duo as my clients. It wasn’t normal to expect to accept someone who had slept with his own mother.
Pushing away those thoughts, I replied firmly, “I’ll do my best to ensure Ma Yeohyeop’s comfort and safety.”
“Thank you,” Nung Hwi-yeon nodded her head in appreciation, and I felt a little embarrassed.
‘He’s actually the one being watched.’
“I’m sorry for coming to you out of the blue and asking for a favor. If I get the chance, I’ll repay you for your kindness.”
No… don’t do that…! I’m trash…!
As I was struggling with my conscience, Nung Hwi-yeon looked around the room and noticed the empty scroll hanging on the wall.
“Are you interested in turtles?”
“Turtles?” I repeated, surprised.
“There’s a saying that while cranes live for a thousand years, turtles live for ten thousand years…”
Nung Hwi-yeon explained that turtles symbolize longevity, and if I was interested, she could draw a turtle for me. I politely declined her offer.
That was Nung Hwi-yeon for you. I finally felt at ease.
