It had been a few days since Ho Cheon-an and the group stayed at the Cow Valley Inn.
Even after those few days, the conversation between Black Cat and Son Mi-ok continued. After a decade apart, how could they possibly catch up on everything in just a few days?
“So, when I popped up with a ta-da! Sarah’s eyes were sparkling like stars, it was just so cute!”
“Ho ho ho, I see.”
Black Cat excitedly reminisced about the magic performance at Podalap Palace. Son Mi-ok watched Black Cat with a warm gaze.
However, beneath that serene exterior, Son Mi-ok’s insides were anything but calm.
Hiding in the shadows to avoid others’ attention had not been an easy time for Black Cat, and Son Mi-ok didn’t dare mention those painful memories to avoid hurting her mother’s feelings. Instead, Black Cat only spoke of joyful events.
Thus, most of the stories Black Cat shared were related to Ho Cheon-an or the adventures they had together.
Listening to Black Cat, Son Mi-ok couldn’t help but wonder why Black Cat admired that guy so much.
Her mind naturally settled on thoughts of Ho Cheon-an, leading to discomfort within her.
Son Mi-ok recalled her first meeting with Ho Cheon-an just a few days ago.
This was a guy who had come to visit, only to lie flat on the floor. He had invested an absurd amount of money, 300 gold coins, trusting only his instincts on a gamble… But Son Mi-ok genuinely wanted to accept Ho Cheon-an.
Despite some rather significant flaws, he was the one who had returned her only daughter.
Her daughter, So Yeon-hwa, had to reach the Hwa-gyeong level to fully improve her conditions. Yet, Yeon-hwa had come to see her despite not achieving that level.
Why did she behave that way?
Son Mi-ok already knew the answer.
The legendary hero of the martial world, the Brain Knife Outcast Ho Cheon-an, who was known by everyone in the Central Plains. She believed in his strength and reputation.
Though her problem had not been completely resolved, it was enough to believe that being with Ho Cheon-an could help her overcome it.
What if Ho Cheon-an hadn’t been around? Would her daughter, Yeon-hwa, still have shown up in front of her before achieving the Hwa-gyeong level, which could have taken years, or even her entire life to attain?
So Son Mi-ok thought of Ho Cheon-an as the one who had returned her daughter to her.
How could she judge or alienate such a person?
She was simply deeply grateful to Ho Cheon-an.
Moreover, she didn’t even need to check her daughter’s feelings; it was clear they were strong. Ho Cheon-an had come to say hello at the Cow Valley Inn with Black Cat, after all, so there was nothing to worry about.
“I thought at that time…!”
Son Mi-ok inadvertently clenched her fists.
She had opened her heart to Ho Cheon-an and prepared the most elaborate dinner ever.
But what she found at that gathering were the companions of Ho Cheon-an, whom Son Mi-ok had also heard about through rumors.
As soon as she laid eyes on Ho Cheon-an’s companions, her instincts blared alarm bells.
These people clearly had a significant relationship with Ho Cheon-an!
The sudden feeling of betrayal…
Just when this overwhelming emotion hit, Black Cat’s stories of adventure provided Son Mi-ok some solace as she tried to steady herself.
Then, there was a commotion outside.
Squeak! Squeak!
“Seo Gong!! How many times must I tell you not to dig a hole in someone else’s home?! Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson!”
Squeak! Squeak!
Seo Gong, protesting that establishing a hideout was essential, and Hyeok Gi-rin, furiously chasing him with a broom, shouted.
Seeing Hyeok Gi-rin bouncing around outside the window, Black Cat smiled and stood up.
“Ho ho. Looks like Seo Gong is causing a ruckus again. I’ll go help.”
“Then go.”
Black Cat lightly embraced Son Mi-ok and disappeared, while Mi-ok looked at Hyeok Gi-rin wielding a broom like a sword, and Seo Gong, an entity countering the Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist’s footwork.
Son Mi-ok thought about Hyeok Gi-rin.
When she had first encountered Ho Cheon-an’s party at dinner, she had felt anger that could boil over. It wasn’t abnormal for capable men to have multiple wives, but she had never heard of them visiting the families of their connections!
“Hey, troublemaker. Causing another fuss, are we?”
“Black Cat Miss! Glad to see you! Please block them over there!”
Squeak!
Suddenly, Seo Gong, realizing he was surrounded, looked around and fled. Hyeok Gi-rin, with an angry face, chased after him, while Black Cat laughed heartily, following behind.
As Black Cat vanished from view, Mi-ok collected her thoughts over a cup of tea.
At first, when she saw the group, she felt furious for treating her and her daughter with disdain and lacking proper etiquette.
However, after spending days with her daughter, she understood that Ho Cheon-an visiting the Cow Valley Inn was meant to introduce his close companions to her daughter.
Even so, her heart hadn’t entirely settled, but after cooling her anger, Son Mi-ok was leaning towards accepting the current situation.
The Brain Knife Outcast Ho Cheon-an was indeed a significant figure.
Having achieved the Hwa-gyeong level at a mere twenty years old, he had already accomplished remarkable feats that shook the world. He lacked a faction of his own but had the backing of the Heavenly Demon Sect, one of the most powerful forces in the world.
Considering his growing prowess, it was easy to predict that Ho Cheon-an would soon stand at the center of the martial world.
Any clan or sect with even a hint of ambition would want to curry favor with him by offering everything they had, including daughters and wealth. So, it was practically impossible to think her daughter could win Ho Cheon-an’s heart.
“Right. Welcoming a significant son-in-law means not everything can go my way.”
As a mother, wanting her only daughter’s marriage to be perfect was natural, but she had to acknowledge it was an impossible dream.
Having accepted this fact, Son Mi-ok decided to rise from her seat.
Outer appearances and inner essence couldn’t both be secured, so she had to take care of what she could.
How many wives Ho Cheon-an had was just a superficial concern. Ultimately, it was about who captured his heart, and winning over Ho Cheon-an’s heart was the true substance of the matter.
“I will have to check on my daughter’s competitors.”
To comprehend that substance, she needed to assess the abilities of her competitors.
Son Mi-ok began to move to scrutinize the other four individuals.
* *
Swoosh!
The first person Son Mi-ok decided to approach was Miss Yeo Il-ye.
According to the stories her daughter had shared over the past few days, Yeo Il-ye had a bond with Ho Cheon-an almost equal to her daughter’s.
“Hmmm.”
As she observed Yeo Il-ye performing a sword dance, Son Mi-ok let out a sigh. She hadn’t realized it before, but the charm Yeo Il-ye radiated was exceptional.
A woman’s face can be a work of art. Therefore, any flaw in such a face was a significant detriment. Just a scratch can signify a big defect, but if the eyes were harmed, what could one possibly say?
If one were to add an eye patch across her face, it could only be called a significant loss to her beauty.
“Ah, you’ve come.”
Yeo Il-ye, gracefully drawing her sword with a smile, looked far too magnificent for Son Mi-ok to find fault with.
“I came to see you because I felt bad for not paying attention after welcoming you as a guest for a few days.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’ve welcomed your daughter home after over a decade; I can only imagine how much you need to catch up.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“Ho ho, no need to mention it. Since arriving here, Black Cat Miss hasn’t stopped smiling, so how could I not be happy?”
Mi-ok felt a pang of conscience at Yeo Il-ye’s delightful bamboo-like smile. She had only come to spy on her daughter’s competitor, yet Yeo Il-ye was genuinely considering her daughter!
“This Yeo Il-ye may not be much, but I will draw my sword for the sake of Black Cat Miss, so if anything happens, please speak your mind without hesitation.”
With a keen eye developed through years in the market, Mi-ok felt a surge of admiration.
Yeo Il-ye’s calm words carried a will forged like steel.
If she were indeed to seek help, Yeo Il-ye would draw her sword without a moment’s hesitation.
A presence as straight as bamboo and a will as strong as steel.
The word “Heroine” clearly popped into Mi-ok’s mind as she gazed at Yeo Il-ye.
* *
“Ugh.”
As Son Mi-ok separated from Yeo Il-ye, a sigh escaped her lips.
In truth, Son Mi-ok hadn’t been overly concerned about how many wives Ho Cheon-an had.
After all, So Yeon-hwa was no ordinary beauty. She held a stunning beauty that no man could resist, so surely no woman could compete with Yeon-hwa’s allure.
Given such overwhelming charm, Ho Cheon-an’s heart could only belong to her. If that were the case, what was the problem with numerous wives?
Such confidence crumbled after her meeting with Yeo Il-ye, who was definitely a tough competitor.
How reassuring it would be to have such a heroine as the lady of the house!
Even Mi-ok, who had merely stopped by for reconnaissance on Yeo Il-ye, couldn’t help but think this way. It was easy to see how Ho Cheon-an, having spent as much time with Yeo Il-ye as with his daughter, would have fallen for her.
“Alright, let’s acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged.”
Son Mi-ok admitted her arrogance.
Assuming she could easily overpower the four in front of her was an excessive expectation.
Nevertheless, she doubted the others would be anything special.
As she walked in search of Dokgo I-seol, who was said to be viewing fabrics, Son Mi-ok recalled Black Cat’s stories.
Dokgo I-seol of the Dark Dragon Sect. Her time spent with Ho Cheon-an was merely a fraction compared to her daughter, and she had heard there was significant friction in their process of becoming companions… So, she didn’t expect her to be too great of a competitor.
Musing on this to calm herself as she faced Dokgo I-seol, Son Mi-ok instantly sensed that this was no easy opponent.
If one were to liken a woman’s charm to warfare, a beautiful face would represent a troop of healthy soldiers. Well-trained, vibrant soldiers were the most critical factor in war!
However, were wars fought bare-handed?
No.
To wage war, one needed the spear and sword, armor and helmet, as well as a bow and arrows.
The beauty of a woman is much the same.
No matter how stunning her looks, without adornment, she could easily be outshone by someone lesser!
Son Mi-ok’s merchant instinct allowed her to quickly assess Dokgo I-seol’s entire appearance: her coiffure and maintenance, makeup techniques and products used, jewelry and clothing.
Everything fell flawlessly into place, exuding a grace that captured attention — a kind of radiance distinctly different from her daughter’s.
Whether or not Dokgo I-seol was aware of Mi-ok’s thoughts, she continued to admire the showcased silks before her.
“Silks dyed with an essence of northern silkworms, it’s truly beautiful.”
“Your eye is quite sharp.”
“Not at all. I simply have some interest and wanted to share my knowledge.”
As Mi-ok watched Dokgo I-seol express interest in the fabrics, she involuntarily held back a groan. Even when among numerous fabrics, her ability to choose only the finest was no ordinary eye for quality.
“This fabric would be perfect for Feng’s inner lining. With so many fine materials, I find myself getting greedy. Ho ho.”
Should she start teaching her daughter to embellish herself starting now to catch up with Dokgo I-seol?
For a moment, she contemplated this, but quickly concluded it was impossible. There’s no singular method to styling, and defeating someone with natural talent is inherently difficult.
“Ugh.”
Ultimately, after only confirming Dokgo I-seol’s remarkable style, Son Mi-ok had no choice but to exhale a sigh.
Her frustrations mounted as she met her companions, noticing that with each encounter, her daughter’s potential share seemed to dwindle.
Squeak!
As she sighed and walked, Seo Gong popped out in front of her. Just then, a small figure rushed in, crashing into Seo Gong.
“Gotcha!”
Squeak! Squeak!
Seo Gong struggled as Hyeok Gi-rin, having caught him, lifted him high.
“This time, you’ll really learn your lesson! What kind of ruckus are you causing in Black Cat Miss’s home?!”
Hyeok Gi-rin, with a smug smile, held squirming Seo Gong tightly. Realizing there was no escape as he was firmly held in Hyeok Gi-rin’s embrace, Seo Gong ceased his resistance and flopped like a wet rag.
Only then did Hyeok Gi-rin look around and spot Son Mi-ok, his eyes widening in shock.
“I-I’m so sorry…! I didn’t mean to cause a fuss…”
Hyeok Gi-rin panicked and scrambled for an apology. Momentarily stunned, Son Mi-ok found herself smiling at the sight of Hyeok Gi-rin, bowing repeatedly until he was almost showing the top of his head.
“Ho ho, it’s alright.”
“No! As the owner, I bear full responsibility for the trouble my pet causes! You, apologize at once!”
Squeak?
“Oh dear!”
Watching Seo Gong tilt its head in confusion while Hyeok Gi-rin scolded it seriously made Son Mi-ok burst into laughter.
“I will definitely fill in the hole Seo Gong dug.”
“I’m really fine, so please don’t worry!”
Son Mi-ok chuckled as she watched Hyeok Gi-rin hurriedly scurry away, repeating his apologies.
Suddenly, an idea struck her.
Wait… wasn’t I completely disarmed just now?
“….”
Son Mi-ok resumed her footsteps. While it wasn’t part of her original plan, she had met Hyeok Gi-rin, and now all that was left was to meet Moyong Yeon-hwa to finish inspecting Ho Cheon-an’s group.
“Right… since Moyong Yeon-hwa was actively supported by her clan to join, she should be an easier adversary.”
With such misguided optimism, Son Mi-ok approached Moyong Yeon-hwa, only to feel a sense of despair at her overwhelming maternal figure being so captivating that it left her speechless.
“Mom? What’s the matter?!”
“Ugh, this mother is so exhausted…”
She could only collapse like a wilted vegetable into Black Cat’s embrace, as Black Cat, unaware of the struggles, pat her back soothingly.
