Chapter 186: Chapter 186

To Zhuge Yeon, this family was truly strange.

The Zhuge Family was one that had protected the Martial World since the time they were called the Five Great Families instead of the Eight Great Families.

Naturally, their history was deep, and thanks to that, their concept of orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic was clearly established.

However, this manor was somewhat strange.

First, there was the Sword Emperor, Namgung Cheon.

It was surprising enough that the Sword Emperor, whom everyone thought was dead, was alive, but by his side was Sa Do-hak, who was called the worst demon in history.

Orthodox and the Demonic Cult?

They could be called sworn enemies, and considering those who had died at the hands of the Demonic Cultists, it would not be strange if they grabbed swords and charged at each other right now.

Yet, the two of them were spending their time leisurely playing Go.

Seeing that their laughter was heard continuously, they seemed to boast a considerable friendship.

Was it not funny that this was actually happening? If other famous seniors of the orthodox path heard this story, it would not be strange if they went wild with rage.

Even Gwon Mu-jin was from the Martial Emperor Castle.

Looking at his state, it seemed true that he had escaped the Martial Emperor Castle, and although he could no longer be called a martial artist of the unorthodox path, it was an undeniable fact that his roots were in the Martial Emperor Castle.

Having even seen Ma Jang-gang last time, people from the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic paths were gathered in one place in this family.

“Sigh… It’s strange.”

Zhuge Yeon, who was sitting on the wooden veranda, sighed. Because she had never even imagined that such a thing could be possible, her astonishment was beyond words.

At first, she had doubted if something was wrong with her own eyes.

‘Even that girl…’

She rolled her eyes and looked to one side.

She saw Namgung So-hye walking with quick steps. She was carrying food along with a woman called Hoyeon Ji, and upon accidentally seeing the face of Dan Woo-hyun passing by, she hurriedly bowed her head.

She could see her face turn slightly red.

‘No matter how I look at it…’

…she looks like she has fallen for that man.

For the great Namgung So-hye to fall for someone?

She was the object of admiration for countless men, and she was a girl for whom suitors lined up more than anyone else.

Even so, to think she would witness that cold woman, who had never given a single glance to any man, shyly bowing her head.

This place was truly full of surprising things.

“What’s so good about him…”

Zhuge Yeon clicked her tongue.

She did not like her friend falling for a man like that.

Besides, doesn’t he even have a child?

She did not know what Namgung So-hye, who lacked absolutely nothing, found so good about him to fall for a man like that.

Because his martial arts were high?

‘What’s the point of having high martial arts when his personality has flaws…’

It had already been two months since the matter of the Hunan Merchant Group was resolved.

Having watched Dan Woo-hyun from his side all this time, Zhuge Yeon realized that Dan Woo-hyun’s personality was not very good. He spoke informally not only to Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak, but even to her father, Zhuge Un.

And that was from someone who looked far younger.

Grumbling, Zhuge Yeon could not take her eyes off the scene taking place in the yard with a sullen gaze.

It was right then that someone sat down next to her. Zhuge Yeon, who had been staring blankly ahead, looked to her side with a somewhat surprised gaze.

“Hehe.”

She saw Dan So-mi staring up at her as if asking, ‘Can I sit here?’

She saw that there were four sugar candies and two dumplings on a large plate in her hand.

“Didn’t you just… eat breakfast?”

Zhuge Yeon asked with a slightly fed-up look.

It had not even been an hour since she ate breakfast. Yet, she was quite surprised that she was already trying to eat snacks.

She sent her a look that said it would definitely not be good if she kept eating recklessly like that.

“It’s delicious!”

“I know it’s delicious. But if you eat like that, you might gain weight.”

“Hehe, Daddy said that So-mi is ex-tremely pretty, so she won’t gain weight even if she eats a lot.”

For a moment, Zhuge Yeon’s eyebrows twitched.

‘Girl, what are you talking about?’

For some reason, Dan So-mi’s brightly smiling face looked annoying.

Since Zhuge Yeon had focused on academics rather than martial arts and also loved to eat during her childhood, she had gained a lot of weight, so those words felt like a dagger to her.

“You shouldn’t believe those words so easily. If a woman doesn’t manage herself even a little, she swells up instantly. Soon, So-mi might become fat too…”

She looked at Dan So-mi with a strange smile on her lips. It was full of intention to tease, and thanks to that, her expression had turned quite mischievous.

“Ugh-!”

Dan So-mi, who was about to put a dumpling in her mouth, stopped her movement.

She quietly stared at the dumpling held in both hands, swallowing her groans several times.

As if contemplating whether she should eat it or not, her gaze fixed on the dumpling would not leave.

Then she turned her head to look at Zhuge Yeon.

Tears welled up in those clear, bright eyes.

“R… Really…?”

“Ugh…!”

A groan escaped Zhuge Yeon’s mouth.

She wanted to tease her, but she had no intention of making her cry. Moreover, looking at her with such eyes naturally weakened her heart.

Zhuge Yeon barely managed to turn her head away.

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard along with a presence.

“It’s okay, So-mi. You can eat it deliciously and then play with older sister.”

“Really?”

“Of course, if you play to your heart’s content, you won’t gain any weight.”

Namgung So-hye, who had approached at some point, tightly hugged Dan So-mi from behind and glanced at Zhuge Yeon. As the narrow, sharp gaze hit her, Zhuge Yeon unconsciously flinched.

“You have no filter even when speaking to a child.”

“The younger they are, the more they need management…”

“Hmm, the younger they are?”

Zhuge Yeon flinched.

Namgung So-hye’s eyes seemed to say, ‘Think about your own past self.’ Then, she stood up from her seat and suddenly grabbed Zhuge Yeon’s hand.

“W… What is it?”

“What else? Those who do not work, do not eat. Don’t you know that saying? Since you’ve played around for two months, you should earn your keep now.”

Namgung So-hye gave a thin smile as she said those words. It was definitely not Zhuge Yeon’s imagination that the smile somehow looked evil.

* * *

“Th… This makes no sense!”

Namgung So-hye looked at what was happening before her eyes, lost for words. She had thought about flattening Zhuge Yeon’s nose with a few dishes she had recently become good at making.

However, Zhuge Yeon skillfully prepared the dishes as if she were a professional chef, and before long, she had set up a table full of appetizing food.

The presentation on the plates was so beautiful that Namgung So-hye felt she could not even mimic it.

Zhuge Yeon’s gaze, dusting off her hands and shrugging her shoulders, landed on her. That confident expression carried the meaning of ‘How is it? Can you do something like this too?’

‘N… Now that I think about it, she loved food so much that… she even made it herself to eat…’

She had forgotten.

Why did she always forget the important facts?

“It’s super delicious!”

“Really? Thank you.”

Dan So-mi, who took a bite, made a bright expression. Although it was not as good as Jang Sam-tae’s food, there was no food as delicious as this among what she had eaten recently.

“Is this enough to earn my keep?”

Zhuge Yeon smirked as she looked at Namgung So-hye.

At the obvious ridicule, the corner of Namgung So-hye’s mouth trembled.

‘Fine, she can be good at cooking! That can happen!’

Every human being has at least something they are good at.

But she could not back down here. Namgung So-hye’s pride did not allow it.

Just like when she first entered this manor, she would wipe that confident expression off by making her do unfamiliar household chores.

Namgung So-hye clenched her fists tightly as she thought so.

“No! There’s still more left.”

“Oh, really?”

Contrary to her thoughts, Zhuge Yeon’s confident expression still did not change.

* * *

Flap-!

A fish that had come up resisted fiercely. However, Namgung So-hye naturally caught it, pulled out the hook, and threw it into the basket.

Perhaps because it was not her first or second time doing it, she was quite skillful.

On the other hand, Zhuge Yeon had not caught a single one.

“How is it? Fishing? This is the side dish we will eat for dinner tonight.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Namgung So-hye, raising the basket with a confident expression, sparkled her eyes.

It was an expression telling her to try catching one if she could.

However, Zhuge Yeon did not show much interest. When she gently lifted her fishing rod, the bait was gone and only the empty hook remained.

“Wait a moment.”

“Where are you going?”

“Just wait.”

Zhuge Yeon walked while humming. She stared intently, wondering where she was going, but soon Zhuge Yeon’s figure, having completely vanished, was nowhere to be seen.

Namgung So-hye was certain.

This time was definitely her victory.

Since she had never beaten Zhuge Yeon in anything other than martial arts, this victory today greatly heightened her mood. A hum escaped her lips on its own.

Had about an hour passed like that?

She saw the vanished Zhuge Yeon returning. In one hand, she held a large basket, which looked quite heavy even from afar.

“W… What is that?”

A flustered Namgung So-hye asked.

Then Zhuge Yeon gave a thin smile.

“Fish, of course. Didn’t you say we’re eating it as a side dish for dinner tonight?”

As she said this, Zhuge Yeon showed her the inside of the basket. Unlike Namgung So-hye, who had caught only three or four fish despite fishing for an hour, it was filled with so many fish that she could not count them even if she used both hands.

Namgung So-hye’s mouth fell wide open.

“H… How did you… this…?”

She was at a loss for words as she looked at the unbelievable sight. Zhuge Yeon had never even tried fishing. Yet, she had caught this many fish in just an hour?

Unable to believe it, she stared blankly at Zhuge Yeon.

At that gaze, Zhuge Yeon showed an even brighter smile.

“I bought them.”

“W… What!?”

“I said I bought them. If you go up this road a bit, there’s a place with a lot of fishermen. I bought them there. Extremely cheap, too.”

“Uh…?”

She saw Namgung So-hye looking flustered.

Zhuge Yeon seemed to enjoy watching that.

Sweeping back her long bangs, she looked down at Namgung So-hye with a somewhat arrogant expression.

“Why fish like a fool when you have money? It just makes your hands smell fishy. When you can just pay and buy them like this…”

“Uh…”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t even think of buying them?”

“…”

“Right? Hahaha.”

Zhuge Yeon burst into laughter and headed toward the family residence while carrying the basket. It was definitely not an illusion that her steps looked somewhat light.

Namgung So-hye stood frozen in place, unable to move.

The fish in her basket thrashed wildly as if mocking her.

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