Chapter 262: Yong Hwarin’s Choice (2)

“And all the elders have arrived this time.”

“What?”

“The Grand Madam and our father will be arriving at River Center Escort Agency. First, they’ll gather here, and then depart for Shaolin Temple. Since the Three Central Alliances meeting is taking place there, the elders have left the manor. The Grand Madam said she’ll be taking Lady Jeong back to the manor as well.”

Jeong Minji’s face turned pale.

“When did she say they would arrive?”

“Looking at the time, they’ll probably arrive today.”

If she were dragged back to the Jeong Family Manor, there was a high chance she would be forced into a marriage with Geum Yujin against her will.

‘Seeing that Mother arrived together with Young Master Geum, it seems she’s made her decision. Even if it’s because of the Three Central Alliances meeting, she surely came because of me.’

From Jeong Minji’s point of view, it felt like her entire world was collapsing.

Then she pulled herself together and stood up.

“Young Master Geum, please excuse me.”

Jeong Minji abruptly stood and left the room, and Geum Yujin shook his head.

He had been persistently pursuing her all this time, but Jeong Minji still hadn’t opened her heart to him. That was frustrating.

It might’ve been obsession in some ways, but for Geum Yujin, who had only ever looked at Jeong Minji, he couldn’t let her go.

Jeong Minji, once outside, hurriedly looked for her two younger sisters.

“What’s wrong, Unni?”

“We’re leaving this place immediately. Get ready.”

“Right now? What about Young Master Yong?”

“We have no choice. I’ll leave a letter behind.”

“Where are we going?”

“Let’s return to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union first.”

It had been such a long time since they saw their sister flustered.

Even when facing formidable opponents, their sister had never panicked.

She had always remained calm even in life-threatening situations, and the two younger sisters had believed that the real tough one among them was her.

But now that she was flustered like this, they were bewildered.

Then, as Geum Yujin opened the door and came out, they realized the reason.

“Unni! Could it be? Mother’s coming?”

When Jeong Minji nodded, Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji’s faces darkened instantly.

“Hurry and pack. We’re leaving immediately.”

“Unni, calm down. Why would Mother be coming here? There’s no way she came just to take us back.”

“It seems the Three Central Alliances meeting is happening at Shaolin Temple. Since she’s affiliated with the Northern Justice Alliance, she must be attending. I also heard Young Master Geum’s father will be coming.”

“Oh no.”

Jeong Suji let out a groan.

Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji understood their sister’s feelings.

“Got it. Let’s return to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.”

Just as the three sisters turned to leave, someone came around the pavilion and spoke.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

The three sisters froze on the spot, not even turning toward the voice.

“You dare think to leave even knowing I’m coming! Insolent girls!”

Moments later, the sisters turned and bowed their heads toward the approaching woman.

“We greet you, Mother. Have you been well?”

“Do I look well to you?”

The three sisters lowered their gazes to avoid the wrath of their mother, Jo Gyeongmae.

She was the epitome of a middle-aged beauty.

In some ways, she held the gracefulness of Jeong Minji, the intellect of Jeong Suji, and the brightness of Jeong Daji—all in one.

But now, she had the cold, stern demeanor of Jeong Suji. With a red whip in her hand, she emanated an unapproachable aura.

“Didn’t Young Master Geum’s father come with you?”

When Jeong Minji looked up and asked, Jo Gyeongmae replied coldly.

“Since our manor is closer to Henan, I arrived first. But you girls—how could you defy my orders and continue wandering around the martial world? Did you think your mother’s words were nonsense?”

Jeong Minji met her mother’s eyes and responded.

“Not at all. On the contrary, we were following your orders. To find the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm.”

“What nonsense is this? Didn’t you already find the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm? And didn’t you give it to someone inappropriate?”

“You once said that the rightful owner of the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm is the one who can wield it properly. And that such a person would likely be in the Geum Clan Manor or the Heavenly Central Sect. But when we saw Young Master Yong wield it properly, we accepted him as its rightful owner.”

“Who gave you permission to do that? Only I and the Geum Clan Manor Lord have the authority to decide that.”

A cold tension drifted between mother and daughters.

Jeong Family Manor Lord Jo Gyeongmae, having raised her three daughters alone while upholding the dignity of their house, had always disciplined them strictly.

Because of that, the three sisters grew up under a stern mother, with little warmth between them.

Jeong Minji let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes.

Yong Hwarin, on his way out of the national pavilion room, stopped when he saw a middle-aged beauty standing at the entrance of Yeongbingak with the Three Chivalrous Sisters.

As he approached, he instinctively realized the resemblance and knew she was their mother.

Though the atmosphere seemed tense, Yong Hwarin knew he couldn’t ignore her and approached Jo Gyeongmae to offer a greeting.

“Greetings.”

Jo Gyeongmae stared at Yong Hwarin as he bowed with a clasped-hands salute.

“And you are?”

“I’m Yong Hwarin of the Heavenly Central Sect.”

Jo Gyeongmae replied in a cold tone.

“So you’re the Heavenly Sword Hero.”

“I am the Final Flame of the Martial World, paying my respects.”

Jo Gyeongmae was quietly impressed by Yong Hwarin, who had reached the level of fully suppressing his presence.

‘Impressive.’

Whenever she heard rumors about her daughters, it always felt strange that they’d survived those deadly battles. By all accounts, those who fought them were all formidable figures.

The Heaven-Cleaving Saber Gu Hyeong of the Three Demonic Absolutes, masters of the Heavenly Demon Sect, assassins from Secret Beyond Secrets, and experts of Ihwa Palace.

She had wondered how her daughters managed to survive them. But now, seeing Yong Hwarin, she understood.

“Does Young Master Yong possess the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm?”

“Yes, I currently hold it.”

“That item does not even belong to my household. It should be returned to its rightful owner.”

Yong Hwarin assumed the three sisters were being scolded over the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm.

“I was planning to return it when its rightful owner appeared.”

Yong Hwarin untied the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm from his left wrist and held it out toward Jo Gyeongmae.

At that moment, Jeong Minji stepped forward and said,

“Mother, the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm has already chosen Young Master Yong as its owner. We confirmed it ourselves.”

“What did you say? How can you be so sure?”

“He wields it freely, something none of us could do.”

“That alone doesn’t make him the owner.”

Jo Gyeongmae was inwardly surprised at the change in her eldest daughter.

She now knew how to assert herself and speak her mind clearly. She had always been an obedient child who followed her mother’s every word without question.

Though that obedience had been appreciated, it also felt lacking.

She had always seemed too soft to be someone who could lead the Jeong Family Manor.

But seeing her now, resisting her mother, made Jo Gyeongmae both proud and a little sad.

Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji stood silently in the corner, only watching their mother’s mood.

“I clearly gave Young Master Yong the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm under the authority of Acting Manor Lord, which you entrusted to me. If I break that promise, it would be a disgrace to the Jeong Family Manor’s honor.”

As she spoke, affection filled Jeong Minji’s gaze toward Yong Hwarin.

It was a sight so unfamiliar.

To witness her daughter looking at a man with eyes full of love was, surprisingly, a deep shock.

Given that Jeong Minji had already been promised to marry Geum Yujin, it was an even greater shock.

‘I heard rumors that Yong Hwarin and our daughters have been seen together so much they were even called the Dragon and Phoenix Companions. So it’s true. If men and women stay together, feelings are bound to grow.’

Thinking that she needed to separate them now, Jo Gyeongmae said,

“From now on, you’ll stay at my side and not leave. Once the meeting ends and we return to the manor, you will marry Young Master Geum.”

“Mother!”

Jeong Minji looked at her mother with a sorrowful expression.

Then, she turned to look at Yong Hwarin.

“No more words. Come with me.”

Jo Gyeongmae snapped her red whip once and turned away.

Seeing Jeong Minji’s gaze, Yong Hwarin suddenly felt his chest tighten. He had always known how she felt, but he had never expressed anything in return.

He had ignored it, thinking their bond was just a passing connection.

But the more time he spent with her, the more he realized that his relationship with Jeong Minji was not something simple.

Whenever he faced an enemy, she had always watched his back.

When she was behind him, he always felt at ease.

After realizing that, Yong Hwarin began to think deeply. Unlike Bukri Sehee, who had swept him up in just a few encounters, Jeong Minji had gradually become someone he could not be without.

Even when he left for River Center Escort Agency with only the Three Chivalrous Sisters, it was largely because he wanted to spend more time with Jeong Minji and understand his feelings for her clearly.

She had always believed in him and followed him into places where she could have died. Quietly, silently, always standing by his side, always smiling for him.

If Yong Hwarin had truly been a young man, he might have passed it all by, not even knowing what it meant.

But having lived half a lifetime in his past life, Yong Hwarin knew—this was a woman who truly loved him. And if he lost someone like her, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

‘It’s time for me to make a decision. If I let Lady Jeong go like this, there’s no meaning in reliving this life. If I don’t even know who I love and who loves me, there’s no reason to live again.’

As Yong Hwarin remained silent, deep in thought, Jeong Minji slowly averted her eyes.

Her expression, as she turned her face, was filled with sorrow.

Jeong Minji summoned her courage and conveyed her feelings to Yong Hwarin with her gaze.

But as Yong Hwarin seemed to turn away, she spoke to herself inwardly.

‘Is our bond really ending here? How cruel.’

As Jeong Minji stepped into the long shadow of her mother, Yong Hwarin shouted,

“Manor Lord, I’m sorry, but I cannot let Lady Jeong go!”

Jo Gyeongmae stopped mid-step, her heart sinking.

She turned back with a chilling look and asked,

“What do you mean? Young Master Yong, do you understand what you are saying?”

Yong Hwarin approached Jeong Minji.

“Lady Jeong is already my woman. I cannot let her go like this.”

“What!”

As he said this, Yong Hwarin grabbed Jeong Minji’s hand.

Her body trembled, and tears began to stream down her face.

Her sobs made her shoulders shake.

“Please don’t cry.”

Yong Hwarin gently spoke and pulled Jeong Minji’s head into his chest. It was a bold move, but it showed Jo Gyeongmae the truth of his heart.

Jo Gyeongmae stared at the two with eyes full of complex thoughts.

“This is it.”

Jeong Suji chuckled from behind and said, and Jeong Daji sniffled and added,

“Ah, Young Master Yong is so cool.”

But unlike her two excited younger sisters, one person stood still with the same expression and posture as Jo Gyeongmae.

It was Geum Yujin.

He stared at the two with a complicated expression, then clenched his fists tightly and stepped toward Yong Hwarin.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep