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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: A Difficult Resolution
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"Sister—!"
From afar, Hwarin spotted Seolhwa and scampered over, throwing herself into Seolhwa's arms.
A rabbit-shaped hair ornament dangled from her head.
Seolhwa, who had been blankly gazing at the ornament, let out a chuckle and stroked Hwarin's hair.
A little distance away, Namgung Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa watched the two with contented expressions.
Seeing Jin Soyak and Yugang approaching, Namgung Cheongun said to Seolhwa,
"I'll go explain the situation to your uncle."
"Yes, Father."
Because he had hastily followed Ma Jongui, he hadn't been able to say anything to Namgung Cheongsan and his wife.
As Namgung Cheongun went to explain the situation to them, Jin Soyak and Yugang approached.
"Is it over?"
"Probably."
To say it was completely over would be premature, as they hadn't yet left the Water Fortress.
"I'm glad it ended well."
Yugang smiled faintly.
Seolhwa, seeing his kind smile, said,
"Thank you. For protecting Hwarin until the very end."
In truth, Yugang could have escaped at any time.
What the Water Fortress wanted was a child of Namgung, and if he were alone, he could have easily slipped past the water bandits' eyes and left this place.
Yet, he remained until the end and protected Hwarin, which is why Hwarin was safe. And,
"Thank you for protecting us."
It wasn't just Hwarin whom Yugang had protected.
"When we return to the family, I'll be sure to reward you."
"Hmm..."
Yugang scratched his chin.
"Well... I didn't really do much. No need for a reward. But there's something I want."
"Something you want?"
A mischievous smile spread across Yugang's face. It was a smile that seemed somehow uneasy.
After a moment of contemplation, Seolhwa hid her displeasure and reluctantly asked,
"What is it?"
"Call me 'Oppa'."
Seolhwa's expression stiffened.
At her rigid expression, Yugang's confident demeanor instantly faltered.
"...Just once."
"..."
"C-Come on, honestly, I *am* your older brother, aren't I?"
"..."
"You're two years younger than me! Aren't you?"
Seolhwa stared at him with a frozen expression.
'...'
*He wouldn't know.*
*That we tried to kill each other, that the only conversations we had were about death, and that I actually drove you to the brink of death.*
*'Oppa,' my foot.*
*At least for this guy, it's a word I don't even want to imagine.*
"..."
"Huh, where are you going? Hey, hey!"
Seolhwa didn't reply, instead scooping Hwarin into her arms. Then, she walked past him towards where Namgung Cheongun was.
"You said thank you! You said thank you!!"
Jin Soyak, who was by Yugang's side, didn't understand the situation but patted Yugang's back.
* * *
Maeng Deungho returned shortly thereafter.
Judging by the fact that he had even changed his clothes within such a short time, it seemed he had killed Ma Jongui in an instant.
Inside the tent, Seolhwa, Namgung Cheongun, and Namgung Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa were waiting for him.
Upon entering the tent, Maeng Deungho immediately bowed towards the Namgung party.
"I sincerely apologize. Gwiyoungchae will compensate Namgung with utmost sincerity."
It was a clean apology.
Namgung Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa's expressions became uncomfortable.
Before Maeng Deungho's return, the two had already heard the reason why he had abducted Hwarin.
They couldn't easily forgive him, so they were fully prepared to express their anger, but Maeng Deungho had preempted them.
Namgung Cheongsan slammed his hand on the table with a bang! and shouted,
"Compensation? *Compensation*? If you know how precious your own child is, you should know how precious other people's children are! If it weren't for Seolhwa, you were going to casually sell my daughter off, and you think merely offering compensation makes everything fine?!"
He couldn't deny it.
If it weren't for Seolhwa, Maeng Deungho truly would have handed Hwarin over to Ma Jongui.
Seolhwa also had no intention of defending him on that point.
"What's done cannot be undone, so I am offering compensation."
"That's just for your own peace of mind! What if the child suffered trauma, huh?!"
"Then what do you propose? Is there something specific you desire?"
At the blunt reply and the expression that conveyed even annoyance, Namgung Cheongsan felt something ignite fiercely within his chest.
Namgung Cheongsan slammed his hand on the table with a bang! and rose from his seat.
"You filthy water bandit—!"
"Cheongsan!"
Namgung Cheongsan and Maeng Deungho's gazes locked.
It felt as if the two men's energies were clashing in the air.
"Sit down, dear."
Only after Moyong Yeonhwa stopped Namgung Cheongsan did the standoff between the two men conclude.
Namgung Cheongsan grumbled and sat down, and Maeng Deungho looked at him and said,
"I swear that no harm was inflicted upon the young lady of Namgung."
Namgung Cheongsan glared at Maeng Deungho.
Just as a second round seemed about to begin.
"I can vouch for that."
Seolhwa, who had been silently observing, stepped forward.
'There's no way demanding the standards of the orthodox path will work when dealing with the Heukdo.'
She knew what Namgung Cheongsan wanted. He probably wished for Maeng Deungho to kneel and show genuine remorse.
However, water bandits are fundamentally Heukdo.
How could people who live by preying on the merchants passing through their waterways genuinely repent for harming someone else's precious possession to get what they needed?
'Their way of life is fundamentally different.'
A life where taking and being taken from is natural. The common sense of the orthodox path wouldn't apply to these people.
"The Gwiyoungchae Master did not inflict any harm upon Hwarin. On the contrary, he meticulously looked after her meals and sleeping arrangements."
"...Hmph."
"Master, I hope you will also consider my uncle's feelings. How would you feel if Hyeolsachae had abducted Jin Soyak?"
Maeng Deungho's brow furrowed.
He was the one who had instantly killed Ma Jongui for trying to deceive him with his son's treatment method. Understanding Namgung Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa's feelings was not difficult for him.
Maeng Deungho once again gave a pokwon towards Namgung Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa, bowing his head deeply.
"I sincerely apologize. From now on, our Gwiyoungchae will not collect any tolls from ships flying the Namgung flag."
For water bandits who lived off tolls to declare they would not collect them was a matter of immense significance.
Furthermore, Muho, where Gwiyoungchae was located, was a crucial choke point on the mighty Yangtze River waterway leading to Hefei.
Maeng Deungho's declaration was a great advantage for Namgung and a significant loss for Gwiyoungchae.
Namgung Cheongsan still seemed displeased, but he took a step back for now.
"...Let's just be more careful from now on."
With the situation smoothly concluded, Seolhwa offered a gentle smile.
Maeng Deungho stared intently at Seolhwa, then his eyes met Namgung Cheongun's.
"You have an excellent daughter."
"My daughter is indeed exceptional."
Maeng Deungho nodded briefly, genuinely acknowledging the statement. Then, his face grew serious as he said,
"Thanks to Young Lady Namgung, it's fortunate that this concluded without major harm, but knowing that Hyeolsachae's Master is in the vicinity, this place is not safe."
The Baekrihyangsin-tan Ma Jongui used was a hundred li (approximately 40 kilometers) range.
A very short distance, close enough that they could invade in less than half a shichen (about an hour) if they wished.
It was a dangerous situation where Hyeolsachae could attack at any moment.
"Since they don't know Ma Jongui is dead, they won't attack immediately. What do you intend to do?"
Hyeolsachae's Master would likely be waiting for a signal from Ma Jongui.
It would take a few more days for them to find Ma Jongui's lack of contact suspicious.
However, they couldn't complacently remain in Gwiyoungchae with the enemy so close.
"Namgung intends to depart from Gwiyoungchae immediately."
Outside, dusk had already begun to settle, but they couldn't delay their departure.
Namgung Cheongun's internal injuries were severe, and Namgung Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa were also not in perfect condition.
To protect the children before they potentially got caught in a fight between the two water fortresses, they chose to leave Gwiyoungchae right away.
Maeng Deungho nodded.
"I'll provide a ship. Since you might not be accustomed to navigating in the dark, I'll also send a few of my men."
"Are you sure?"
Namgung Cheongun asked worriedly.
Though brief, Gwiyoungchae, having just fought with Namgung, would likely not be at full strength.
He was concerned about their battle with Hyeolsachae.
"Though we are called the Eighteen Water Fortresses of the Yangtze, encompassing eighteen fortresses, we are not allies. Rather, we are rivals competing for control and hegemony over the waterways."
At times, they might unite under the name of the Yangtze Water Fortresses, but water bandits are inherently those who take.
"Hyeolsachae and we have never been on good terms. I didn't like how they constantly coveted our Gwiyoungchae. If Hyeolsachae steps into the tiger's den themselves, it will be an unparalleled opportunity for us."
"However, aren't you currently suffering significant losses in strength?"
"Even so, Hyeolsachae is no match for us."
Hyeolsachae, which amassed wealth and expanded its power by controlling the sea routes, could never defeat Gwiyoungchae, which was centered on martial might.
Maeng Deungho, who knew Hyeolsachae's strength well, spoke with full confidence.
