SYM 11

Namgung Juwon must be over the age of forty, but looking at him, one might think he had only just reached thirty.

In contrast, Namgung Eun-gwang, Eun-hyeon’s half-brother, looked older than his age due to his imposing build. This created an odd dynamic when they stood together, as they appeared more like senior and junior colleagues than father and son.

“I greet you, Father.”

Eun-hyeon stood up and bowed his head towards Namgung Juwon.

He had thought that Namgung Juwon might visit someday, but he never expected that Madam Hwang and Namgung Eung-wang would come along as well.

The neat attire of Namgung Juwon, Madam Hwang, and Namgung Eung-wang made Eun-hyeon’s shabby appearance look even more pitiful.

“…Madam Hwang and Eung-wang… What brings you all the way here…?”

“Madam Hwang? What kind of speech is that towards your mother?”

Before Eun-hyeon could finish his sentence, Namgung Juwon interjected with a frown.

“How can you, as the eldest son, be so narrow-minded? Even if she’s your stepmother, she genuinely cares for you!”

Namgung Juwon seemed offended by Eun-hyeon’s words, clicking his tongue repeatedly.

“My lord, I am fine. It is my lack of virtue that has not allowed Eun-hyeon to open his heart. If you must blame someone, blame me.”

Madam Hwang’s voice, holding Namgung Juwon’s arm, was as soft as silk and as clear as a silver bell. Her expression was kind, resembling that of a benevolent mother painted in a picture.

It was then that Eun-hyeon looked at Madam Hwang in disbelief.

“Eun-hyeon, you can call me whatever you like, so do what makes you comfortable. By the way, how is your health?”

At Madam Hwang’s gentle voice, Eun-hyeon fell silent.

He thought he had seen it all while wandering the martial world. However, Madam Hwang’s cunning surpassed his imagination.

If he had not witnessed Madam Hwang’s behavior yesterday, he too would have been deceived.

It seemed that Madam Hwang wanted him to be angry and act out.

But he was no longer the twenty-year-old Namgung Eun-hyeon.

He was not foolish enough to stick his head into a trap knowing it was set by a cunning fox.

“…I have caused you concern. I apologize. My cold has improved after a short rest.”

“Oh my, Eun-hyeon.”

At Eun-hyeon’s words, Madam Hwang gasped, covering her mouth in surprise.

Eun-hyeon looked at the tips of Madam Hwang’s fingers. Those hands, which looked like they were only meant for holding flowers or doing embroidery, were capable of far more vicious acts. Just thinking about it now made his wrists tingle.

At first, he had thought that Madam Hwang might be hiding a knife in her sleeve. But seeing the ragged wounds, he thought a sharp knife would have been better.

She was a truly ruthless woman in every way.

“Eun-hyeon, do not worry. I have already spoken to your father. We are family, after all.”

Eun-hyeon unconsciously took a step back and looked at Madam Hwang.

He had a bad feeling about what she was about to say.

“About your wrist… the injury you sustained yesterday.”

“What?”

Did Madam Hwang just say that herself?

Did she say he had harmed his own wrist?

“Please do not be angry with this mother. Given the circumstances, I could not keep it to myself. Family should help each other.”

“That is right, brother. Although I am a lacking younger sibling, I will help you if you are in trouble.”

At Madam Hwang’s words, Eung-wang stepped forward from behind.

Eun-hyeon let out a hollow laugh. He finally understood what Madam Hwang was trying to do.

It seemed that even though she had cut Eun-hyeon’s wrist, Madam Hwang claimed that he had done it to himself.

It appeared that Namgung Juwon had been fixated on Eun-hyeon’s wrist since he entered the room because of this.

“…I, my wrist…?”

Madam Hwang held a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes.

Eun-hyeon thought that Madam Hwang’s face hidden behind the handkerchief must be smiling.

“My lord, this is all due to my lack of virtue. It’s because I failed to raise the child properly that Eun-hyeon is so lost.”

“No, how could that be your fault, Madam? It is my own lack of virtue.”

“Brother, though we may have different mothers, we still share the blood of the Namgung family. If you’re going through difficulties, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

Madam Hwang was truly not an ordinary shameless woman.

To lie about having inflicted such wounds on himself was something only someone with a lot of audacity could do.

It was something she could only say if she was absolutely certain that Namgung Eun-hyeon wouldn’t be able to refute it. Eun-hyeon didn’t even need to witness what she’d done to him over the years to know exactly how she had treated him.

“Namgung Eun-hyeon. Your father is greatly disappointed in you. No matter how weak your body is and how much you were coddled, this time you have gone too far.”

Eun-hyeon stared blankly at Namgung Juwon, who was scolding him with a stern face.

The twitching black eyebrows of Namgung Juwon seemed to show his discomfort.

“Moreover, is this not a time when external guests have gathered to celebrate my achievements in training? If you didn’t do it deliberately to disgrace the Namgung family, then what was your intention?”

Namgung Juwon treated Eun-hyeon as if he were a common thug.

He thought Eun-hyeon had intentionally made a scene by pretending to harm his wrist at this time.

At that moment, Madam Hwang, who had been dabbing at her eyes with the handkerchief, grabbed Namgung Juwon’s arm.

“My lord! If you speak like that, Eun-hyeon will be hurt! Especially to a child who is already struggling emotionally…!”

“Enough! Madam! You must change your mindset as well. How long has it been since Eun-hyeon has passed his youth? Are you still treating him like a child and indulging him?”

“My lord, not every child is born with the same temperament, are they? Just as there are strong ones like Eung-wang, there are also gentle ones like Eun-hyeon.”

Eun-hyeon felt dizzy listening to the conversation.

It all felt like a well-scripted play.

He knew Madam Hwang was not ordinary, but he hadn’t realized the extent of her manipulation.

During his time as the Taoist of Kunlun, Eun-hyeon hadn’t been particularly skilled at schemes or strategies. After all, he had enough strength to crush injustice without needing to resort to trickery.

But now…

Eun-hyeon sighed briefly as he thought.

Back then, he used to complain about being reincarnated as a poor Taoist of Kunlun. But now, he was starting to realize that being born into a powerful family wasn’t always a blessing.

“Father, I have never done such a thing.”

“What? Are you now trying to deceive me by claiming you have never done it?”

“Yes, Eun-hyeon. If you lie here, it will only make it harder for you to be forgiven by your father!”

Madam Hwang’s words sounded like a threat to quickly admit and agree.

But Eun-hyeon had no intention of doing so at all.

“I don’t know who told you this and made you angry, but it seems the information was passed on incorrectly. Look for yourself, Father.”

Eun-hyeon glanced briefly at Madam Hwang before beginning to unravel the bandage around his wrist.

Everyone’s eyes in the room were fixed on his wrist as the bandage slowly came undone.

As Eun-hyeon’s wrist was exposed. There were faint traces of a wound, but that was all.

“I thought you were worried because I caught a cold, but I am surprised that it is because of this. Does this look like a self-inflicted wound to you?”

The scratch was too minor to be considered self-harm.

“Brother, then how did that happen…?”

“This was just a scratch from a branch while I was out for a walk yesterday. I said I was fine, but Soso worried and bandaged it for me. Because of that, I have caused everyone unnecessary concern.”

Eun-hyeon’s words silenced the room.

“What is this…? What happened, Madam? You clearly…”

“Wait a moment, My lord. This cannot be. Eun-hyeon must be hiding it out of fear of being scolded. Eun-hyeon, there is no need to hide it from your mother. Lying will only cause you pain.”

Madam Hwang looked at Eun-hyeon with a concerned expression, but the fingers holding her handkerchief had turned pale from tension.

Eun-hyeon smiled as he met Madam Hwang’s gaze.