Chapter 329: Sea Ice (2)

“Where are they?”

When only Gunwi and Gunyeom were visible, Jeong Minji and Jeong Suji looked around.

“They’re on their way to Shaolin Temple. Young Master Tang is leading them and already departed for Shaolin Temple.”

“Tang Cheolgi?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s unexpected. The Poison-Hearted Dragon.”

“Then these people aren’t hostages.”

Since the topic came up, Jeong Minji introduced Gunwi and Gunyeom.

“These two saved me when I was being chased by the Heavenly Demon Sect.”

As Jeong Minji spoke, Gunwi clasped his hands in greeting.

“I am Gunwi of the Wugun Clan.”

“I am Gunyeom.”

“Ah, you are the chivalrous warriors of the Wugun Clan, famous for your sense of justice. Thank you for saving my sister.”

Jeong Daji lowered her head with a bright smile upon seeing the handsome Gunwi.

“I am Jeong Daji, the Jade Pendant Sword of the Three Chivalrous Sisters.”

Proudly revealing her alias, Gunwi expressed admiration.

“So you are the renowned Jade Pendant Sword, Lady Jeong.”

Gunwi looked at the cold-faced Jeong Suji and asked.

“And this lady?”

Jeong Suji returned the clasped hands greeting.

“I am Jeong Suji of the Jeong Family Manor.”

“Ah, the Crazy Sword Lady Jeong.”

At those words, Jeong Suji glared at him, while Gunwi, not realizing his mistake, only stared back blankly.

“My sister hates that alias.”

When Jeong Daji spoke, Gunwi quickly bowed his head.

“My apologies.”

“Forget it.”

As Jeong Suji snapped back, Jeong Minji frowned.

“These people are like benefactors to me. How can you treat them like that? If you care for me, don’t commit such discourtesy again.”

With Jeong Minji’s stern rebuke, Jeong Suji reluctantly bowed her head.

“If I offended you, I apologize.”

“No, not at all.”

Wanting to break the chilly atmosphere, Jeong Daji quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, sister, mother has changed a lot. After what happened this time, I think her thinking has shifted greatly. She seems to think differently of Young Master Yong now.”

“That’s truly fortunate. But has there been any word from Young Master Geum?”

“No, mother has sent people out to search, but they still haven’t found him. If Young Master Geum is sensible, he’ll come to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union. He wouldn’t go to the Geum Family Manor alone.”

Jeong Minji became depressed, feeling that the death of the Geum Family Head and the disappearance of Young Master Geum were somehow her fault.

“Sister, don’t dwell on such thoughts. For now, let’s be thankful we are safe.”

Jeong Daji comforted her sister in a surprisingly mature tone.

“Yes. Let’s go see mother.”

Yong Hwarin received a report from the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect on the recent events.

Fortunately, nothing major had happened.

The Sky Ocean Escort Agency was bustling with work, as escort assignments were pouring in.

“But I don’t see Cheollyeong around?”

At Yong Hwarin’s question, Mu Iso answered.

“The Young Master went out with Elder Ma, Elder Hae, and Miss Seok. Shall I send word for him to return immediately?”

Since it was a rare outing for Hae Cheollyeong with others, Yong Hwarin didn’t want to interrupt.

“No. Let him be. Has he been training diligently?”

“Don’t even mention it. He trains all day, every day. Today, it was only because Miss Tang felt sorry for him that she persuaded the elders to take him out.”

Given Hae Cheollyeong’s personality, that was no surprise.

After consulting with Baekseom, Deuksang, and the others on the matter at hand, Yong Hwarin greeted Hoi Unkyung and Hoi Jongbaek before finally heading to the medical room where Jo Gyeongmae was.

Upon entering the medical room, he found Jeong Minji and Jo Gyeongmae seated together.

At a glance, it didn’t seem like the mother and daughter had spoken much.

“How is your health?”

“I’m much better. The Merchant Union provided good medicinal ingredients to treat my internal injuries. I owe a great debt to Miss Hoi and the Chairman.”

“Did I interrupt your conversation?”

“No. In fact, we were just about to invite you in, Young Master Yong. Please, sit.”

When Yong Hwarin sat beside Jeong Minji, Jo Gyeongmae looked at the two of them with eyes tinged with regret. To her, they resembled her younger self and Yong Biyang.

‘If these two come together, my lingering regrets will vanish as well.’

Looking at the two children, she felt not a resurgence of past resentment, but rather its dissolution.

‘Because of a narrow-minded woman’s view, only the children suffered.’

After discarding all her old grudges, her heart felt much lighter.

That lightness naturally brought a smile to her face.

‘I feel like I can finally be a good mother now.’

This trip to Shaolin had cost her much, but the realizations it brought were by no means small.

Although the Geum Family Head had been lost and Young Master Geum was missing, the realizations she had gained as both a person and a martial artist were greater than ever.

“Young Master Yong, I won’t speak in circles. I’ll keep it short.”

“Please go ahead.”

“I’m grateful to you for putting a smile on my child’s face. This child grew up not knowing how to smile. Can you keep making her smile like that?”

“I will keep her by my side and always make her smile.”

At those words, Jo Gyeongmae smiled.

When she wasn’t smiling, it wasn’t obvious, but with a gentle smile on her lips, one could see that Jo Gyeongmae had once been one of the Three Beauties of Jiangnan.

She had a different charm from Ha Yanggyo.

‘Father really was peculiar. How did he ignore these two beauties and instead tie fate with Mother?’

Even to himself, his mother’s looks could not compare to the two beauties.

Yong Hwarin’s mother had a plain and gentle dignity, but she didn’t have the breathtaking beauty of Ha Yanggyo or Jo Gyeongmae.

‘Perhaps Father had been wearied by beauties and thus preferred someone simple and pure like Mother.’

Looking at Jo Gyeongmae, Yong Hwarin suddenly thought of his own mother.

“I know you’re busy, Young Master Yong. Go ahead with your work. We two still have much to say to each other.”

Yong Hwarin gave a faint smile.

“If you need anything, tell the maid outside.”

“Yes.”

Yong Hwarin could tell that although the two women had yet to become truly affectionate as mother and daughter, they were making the effort to become so.

As he rose to leave, Yong Hwarin spoke.

“Imagine that decades later, you die and then return to this very moment. Then, the past would probably feel foolish to you. Everything would seem so lovable, and you would feel that nothing is more precious than family. When I find myself disliking someone, I sometimes think that way. Then, instead of disliking them, I end up liking them.”

As he quietly spoke and walked out, Jo Gyeongmae murmured toward his back.

“Thank you, for the good advice. Come to think of it, I hadn’t said this… thank you. Young Master Yong, thank you for being by my daughter’s side.”

Yong Hwarin bowed his head and left the medical room.

Jo Gyeongmae found his words lingering in her mind.

Jeong Minji felt the same.

“Daughter, let’s think as if, like Young Master Yong said, we have died and are meeting again now. If we do, I think the pain of the past will mean nothing.”

When Jeong Minji thought that way, she felt the wall she had built up against her mother crumble.

Something so simple, yet she had kept that wall up for over twenty years.

“Yes, Mother.”

The two women looked at each other, affection in their eyes.

Suddenly, Jeong Minji shed tears.

For the first time, feeling her mother’s gaze as warm, she was overcome with emotion without realizing it.

“I’m sorry, Mother.”

As her daughter wept, shoulders trembling, Jo Gyeongmae gently stroked her back and shed a tear herself.

“No, I’m sorry. Because of my twisted feelings, you suffered. Forgive this mother of yours.”

From a distance, Yong Hwarin listened to the conversation between mother and daughter and looked up at the sky.

For some reason, he missed his own mother terribly today.

Returning to his quarters, Yong Hwarin smiled when he saw Bukri Sehee waiting quietly.

She had likely been the most worried of all, yet had endured and waited, the restraint showing plainly on her face.

“Gaga.”

Bukri Sehee ran into Yong Hwarin’s arms and hugged him tightly.

The moment she had heard he returned, she had wanted to run to him, but had held back to maintain propriety, waiting until he came to her.

Having spent her life in seclusion, living as another person, Bukri Sehee was used to such waiting.

After savoring Yong Hwarin’s lips for a long while, she pulled away from him.

Yong Hwarin briefly recounted what had happened during his absence.

“You must have had a very hard time, Sister.”

Even then, Bukri Sehee was concerned about Jeong Minji.

“Please give Min Mae plenty of comfort.”

“Yes, don’t worry. You’ll be reading the Royal Consort Record, right?”

From his story, Bukri Sehee sensed that Yong Hwarin now wanted to read the Royal Consort Record.

Feeling she shouldn’t keep holding him, she stood up.

“I’ll take my leave for now. But you’ll have to be prepared for tonight.”

Looking at the considerate Bukri Sehee, Yong Hwarin nodded.

“I should go and pay respects to Sister.”

Bukri Sehee and Jeong Minji had yet to establish their relationship, both having Yong Hwarin as their beloved.

Jeong Minji only knew Bukri Sehee as Bukri Sogun.

The two women had not yet met as women who loved the same man.

“She’s with Min Mae’s mother right now, so go after one shichen.”

“Then, play with me until then.”

Although mature for her age, Bukri Sehee still had a youthful side compared to Jeong Minji.

Yong Hwarin stroked her head.

“I’ll play with you tonight. I have a lot to do now. Sorry.”

“All right. I’m disappointed, but it can’t be helped.”

Realizing he had matters to handle, Bukri Sehee let go of her desire to monopolize him.

“Gaga, then I’ll go bathe.”

Knowing exactly what she meant, Yong Hwarin pinched her nose.

“You little thing.”

“And who was it that turned this little one into a woman?”

With her tongue playfully flicking out, she left the room, making him smile.

As always, she was a lovable child.

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