Wandering Through Vol. 2 Chapter 56 - Reunion

“She has no husband, so that’s why…”

 

At the monk’s answer, Leegwang felt a wave of relief.

 

Though he had tried not to dwell on it, he had been worried about what to do if her husband were still alive. 

 

But now that she was without one, at least no innocent man would suddenly be possessed by a ghost and forced to leave this world.

 

The monk glanced up at Leegwang’s face and let out a long sigh.

 

Then, he finally spoke his first words.

 

“The benefactor from the lower house was once the mistress of a noble family in Hanyang, but due to her frail health, she began living below the temple after receiving the monastic precepts last year.”

 

Did that mean her former husband was still alive?

 

That didn’t sound like particularly good news. 

 

Just as Leegwang was steeling himself for some kind of resolution, the monk finally got to the main point.

 

“And, well… since last winter, um… a certain young master has, uh…”

 

The monk’s voice grew quieter and quieter. 

 

After darting a quick glance around, he hurriedly finished his sentence.

 

“A young master from the Prime Minister’s household frequently visits the benefactor of the lower house.”

 

In short, though she had no husband, she had a patron—so he should keep his distance. The monk cleared his throat awkwardly, as if embarrassed.

 

“Since the young master is still unmarried, he cannot take the benefactor away with him, but each time he visits, he donates generously to the temple and asks us to look after the lower house. He also takes meticulous care of her living arrangements, and… well, the benefactor doesn’t seem particularly displeased by it, either…”

 

The monk forced an awkward laugh in place of Leegwang, who offered no response or reaction. 

 

But since the heavy silence showed no sign of lifting, the monk quickly swallowed his laughter and trailed off.

 

“Well, in any case, that’s how things are.”

 

“…So what you’re saying is, once that young bastard gets married, he’ll take the mistress of the lower house as his concubine?”

 

When his roundabout remarks were bluntly pointed out, the old monk let out an exaggerated cough.

“Ahem, um. That is, um. Ahem. What would this humble monk know of worldly affairs? Ugh. Anyway, so it must be as you say. Now, um, since I have nothing more to add—Ahem, ugh—this humble monk shall take his leave.”

 

With those final words, the monk hastily left the room.

It seemed he had already judged that Leegwang had understood him well enough.

 

And really, even a child could have grasped the situation.

Since she was already a once-married woman, becoming the legal wife of a nobleman’s son from a prestigious family was out of the question. 

 

But since the young master continued to show interest, he likely intended to take her as a concubine instead. 

 

It was awkward to secure a concubine before even having a wife, hence the monk’s reluctance to speak plainly.

 

The saying of a needle in a bag didn’t exist for no reason.

Just because something is hidden doesn’t mean others won’t see it. If it caught my eye, it must have caught others’ too.

 

Now I see how much of a fool her late husband was. 

 

He threw something into the world that wouldn’t spoil even if swallowed whole—no wonder lowlifes are swarming around her.

 

The temple’s behavior, trying to hand her over as a concubine just because they received some petty alms from that young master, was also infuriating. 

 

Of course, the temple had only relayed that a certain young master had taken a liking to her and that she didn’t seem entirely opposed—but in Leegwang’s mind, the temple had already turned into a den of bandits trying to sell her off.

 

With a stormy expression, Leegwang descended the mountain.

Then, loosening his purse strings, he bought firewood and rice in bulk to donate to the temple before outright occupying one of its rooms and settling in. 

 

Having received such offerings, the temple couldn’t very well complain.

 

In Leegwang’s mind, his runaway bride and his lifespan had long since been forgotten.

 

🦋

 

“Young Master. Please leave that here.”

At the grinning maid’s gesture, Suyeong set down the sack of rice in the kitchen.

 

Yiseo sighed as she looked at Ban’s bright face. Though the money she earned through desperate means wasn’t exactly plentiful, it wasn’t as if Ban ever went hungry. 

 

Yet, whenever Suyeong brought food, Ban would wag her whole body with joy like a dog reunited with its owner.

 

Seeing this, Yiseo couldn’t bring herself to actively stop Suyeong from visiting.

 

This time, it seemed he had even brought some meat, as Ban was practically dancing with excitement.

 

“Are you that happy?”

 

“Of course, Madam!”

 

Ban beamed as she organized the things Suyeong had brought. 

 

Suyeong stood awkwardly by the gate, stiffening when Yiseo turned to look at him, then quickly bowed.

 

“Thank you, but you don’t have to bring things every time, Scholar.”

 

“I do it because I want to.”

 

Yiseo pretended not to hear, avoiding Suyeong’s reddened ears.

 

“Didn’t you help me last year, Madam? Think of it as repaying a debt.”

 

“I believe you’ve already repaid that debt many times over…”

 

Yiseo muttered, somewhat unimpressed.

 

Last year, she had run into Suyeong after he got lost in the mountains while searching for some famous diviner near the East Sea. 

 

When he explained that he had been on his way to his maternal relatives’ home before losing his way and getting separated from his companions, she found it oddly fated and helped him cross the mountain.

 

And she thought that was the end of it.

 

Until Suyeong, claiming it was repayment for guiding him, kept stubbornly showing up at her doorstep.

 

At first, she wondered why he was doing this when he had no memory of it. 

 

Later, she even tested him, suspecting he might remember something. But after confirming that he genuinely had no recollection and was simply doing this because he liked her, she felt a slight chill.

 

‘What could I say?’ 

 

The way Suyeong kept expressing his affection by hauling rice and meat to her felt a little… A little incestuous… It was a bit unsettling.

 

Certainly, in this life, Suyeong and Yiseo had no connection whatsoever. From Suyeong’s perspective, Yiseo would naturally be a stranger. 

 

All Suyeong had done was bring rice and meat to Yiseo. Though he carried food back and forth like that, their fingers had never once brushed against each other.

 

…Still, it was a bit frustrating.

 

No matter how many ‘buts’ she mulled over, trying to convince herself that Suyeong had done nothing wrong, she couldn’t help it.

 

Human hearts don’t always follow reason.

 

Yiseo let out a sigh and saw Suyeong off.

 

“The days are still short, so hurry back before it gets dark.”

 

Though it was practically at the level of delivering a sack of rice and then being shooed away, Suyeong’s face showed no sign of displeasure. 

 

On the contrary, as he bowed his head and retreated, Yiseo repeated the same words she always did.

 

“You don’t have to come again. I’ve already received more than enough.”

 

“I come because I want to.”

 

It was a similar response to before. Yiseo had to swallow back the reflexive sigh several times. 

 

Of course, as a human being, she didn’t dislike seeing Suyeong either. It was just that his awkward, overly polite attitude—as if treating a stranger—was grating.

 

“…I also find you quite like a younger sibling, Scholar. Perhaps in a past life, we might have been real siblings. If I had such a cute younger sibling, I’d have even arranged a match for him.”

 

It was such an obvious roundabout remark that even a child could easily understand. 

 

Yiseo’s words made it clear that Suyeong didn’t appear masculine to her at all, and Suyeong’s expression darkened.

 

“Please go on your way, Scholar. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done so far.”

 

“I’ll come again next time.”

 

Despite Yiseo’s farewell implying he shouldn’t return, Suyeong replied that he would and left.

 

From the kitchen, Ban, who had been watching them, scurried out and asked,

 

“Has the young master left?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“He could’ve at least eaten before going. Climbing the mountain must be so tiring on an empty stomach.”

 

“He probably eats better than we do, so don’t worry too much.”

 

At Yiseo’s words, Ban tilted her head in confusion.

 

“Madam, if you like that young master, why do you pretend to dislike him?”

 

The reason she wanted to become not Suyeong’s wife, but his sister couldn’t be explained without mentioning her past life, so Yiseo gave a different answer.

“I just don’t want to marry again. After what I went through in my last marriage, should I really bring in another husband?”

Ban nodded as if she understood right away.

“Well, back then, I really thought you were being eaten alive. I kept thinking to myself, ‘If they’re going to lick the meat off the bones, at least stew it first.’”

Yiseo chuckled softly at Ban’s words. It was amusing when Ban, now much wiser, occasionally brought up old stories like this. 

 

Yiseo played along lightly.

 

“Right. Since I survived without being eaten, I shouldn’t let myself get devoured again.”

“Still, it’s a bit sad seeing him come back with a sullen face every time after giving so much. If he’s going to look like that, he might as well just leave the rice and go.”

Was that concern or criticism? Hard to tell.

Yiseo shook her head and was about to enter the kitchen when she suddenly stopped. 

 

At some point, Ban had already scurried back inside and was now peeking out, calling to Yiseo as if wondering why she wasn’t following.

“Madam?”

 

Lately, she kept feeling like someone was watching her. She didn’t know why she felt that way—there was no one around in these mountains.

Every time it happened, a chill ran down her spine, as if a tiger was watching, waiting to devour her.

Of course, if it really were a tiger, Yiseo wouldn’t still be alive, so that couldn’t be it…

But today, the chill on her back was especially sharp.

It wasn’t from the cold—more like goosebumps.

…A ghost, perhaps?

Come to think of it, that seemed almost certain. Yiseo pulled out the salt pouch tucked in her sleeve, clenched it tightly, and cautiously approached the wall.