Chapter 26: Appearance of the Go Saint from the Great Scholarly Institute (2)
Wi Yeonho casually turned his head.
'Hmm?'
Mun Eunji was exchanging sharp words with a man.
That alone wasn’t particularly strange. Given what Wi Yeonho knew of Mun Eunji’s personality, it wouldn’t have been odd even if she had picked a fight with a sparrow mid-flight.
She was the kind of woman always itching for a fight.
The issue wasn’t Mun Eunji—it was the man she was speaking to. His appearance was extremely peculiar.
His clothes weren’t especially unusual.
That golden silk robe, which was clearly expensive at a glance, stood out, but could even be considered a positive point. Anyone could tell the golden garment was of high quality.
The excessive jewelry and ornaments draped over that golden robe were perhaps a bit too much, but still within the bounds of tolerance.
It was slightly unpleasant to look at, but everyone had different tastes. And Wi Yeonho was a broad-minded man who knew how to respect the individuality of others.
However, if a man dressed like that was so grotesquely obese that a passing pig would bow its head and call him ‘big brother’, then the story changed entirely.
Being somewhat overweight could actually be a symbol of wealth and could even leave a favorable impression.
But the man standing across from Mun Eunji was grotesquely corpulent.
Even now, he was repeatedly wiping away the sweat pouring down his face with a handkerchief, unable to handle the weight of his own body, and panting heavily after every sentence he spoke.
The sagging flesh beneath his chin completely obscured his neck, and his drooping belly made his legs appear shorter than they were. Looking closely, he was actually quite tall, but his body was so round that unless one stood close, he even seemed short.
He certainly had a unique look.
The man, continuing to wipe the sweat streaming down his face, finally opened his mouth.
"Why don’t you think it over one more time?"
Mun Eunji scoffed.
"There's nothing to think about."
"You'll regret it, you know?"
"Not a chance."
The fat man smiled faintly.
"What is it that you dislike so much about me? It’s not every day a woman gets the chance to marry a man with a background like mine. You of all people should understand that, Lady Mun."
"You know very well I'm not the kind of woman who cares about that sort of background."
The man burst out in loud laughter.
"Exactly. That’s why I’m so enamored with you."
Mun Eunji twisted her face in displeasure.
"In any case, I have nothing more to say to you."
"Think it over again. I've never failed to obtain something I wanted. I’m the kind of man who can’t rest until I get what I set my heart on. I may be making a polite offer now, but if you keep rejecting me, next time it won’t be so polite."
His voice was soft, but the meaning hidden within was anything but gentle.
"Go ahead and try, then."
"Are you saying it’s fine if the Great Scholarly Institute, with its long and proud history, is destroyed all because of you?"
"The Great Scholarly Institute doesn’t crumble that easily."
The man smiled.
"True. But I can make it happen. You know that too, don’t you?"
Mun Eunji’s gaze turned cold.
"What are you planning to do?"
The man shook his head as he wiped his sweat.
"I’m not planning anything—yet. But if you keep turning me down like this, I might change my mind."
Mun Eunji replied in a cold voice.
"That’s exactly what I hate about you. Do you think the world will move according to your will?"
"It’s not impossible."
"No. At the very least, I will never marry you. So there’s at least one thing that won’t go your way. This is where I leave."
As Mun Eunji turned to walk away, the man reached out and grabbed her shoulder.
"Wait a moment!"
“Let go of me!”
"It would be unwise to anger me!"
"Hah! And what will you do if you get angry?"
The man smiled.
"I pride myself on being a noble gentleman, but I also know that those who stand at the center of power must not be bound to just one way. I prefer solving things through dialogue, but if circumstances demand it, I won’t hesitate to use violence or authority."
A satisfied smile spread across the man’s face.
"So? If I were to violate you right now, do you think you could keep acting this stiff?"
Mun Eunji’s eyes trembled slightly.
At that moment, a calm voice came from behind her.
"That’s not something you say in another's house."
Mun Eunji turned her head.
"You!"
Startled by the sudden appearance of an uninvited guest, the man let go and took a step back.
Mun Eunji quickly ran and stood behind Wi Yeonho. The man quietly looked at Wi Yeonho and then spoke.
"Don’t you think eavesdropping on others' conversations is rather rude?"
"Apologies. I guess I’m a bit lacking in manners. But you don’t seem like someone fit to talk about manners. Don’t you think your words just now went a bit far?"
The man’s small eyes, buried deep in fat, gleamed faintly.
"Now I think I know who you are. You must be the one they call the Go Saint from the Great Scholarly Institute."
Wi Yeonho tilted his head.
"Thanks for recognizing me. But here’s the problem—I don’t know who you are."
The man’s expression stiffened slightly.
"I am—"
"Oh, that’s alright. I don’t really care to know. Doesn’t seem like it’d do me any good anyway."
The man narrowed his eyes and glared at Wi Yeonho.
"The Go Saint from the Great Scholarly Institute... If you’d just stuck to playing Go and watching the years go by, you never would’ve ended up on my bad side."
"Exactly. In that sense, I feel bad for you. Must be hard for someone like you to fall out of anyone’s sight—you’re too conspicuous to ignore."
"You—!"
The man’s face trembled with rage.
But he soon took a deep breath and looked back at Mun Eunji.
"I’ll leave it at this for today. But don’t think it’s over. I’ll give you three days. If, by then, you haven’t come to me of your own will, I’ll deal with things in my own way."
His eyes gleamed with a cold, blue light.
"You’d best keep that in mind."
Leaving those words behind, the man slowly walked away.
Wi Yeonho quietly watched the man retreat and spoke.
"Who was that?"
Mun Eunji shuddered and answered.
"That man’s name is Nok Mokpung."
"Nok Mokpung?"
"Yes. He’s the adopted son of Nok Gi, the eunuch who wields full imperial authority. People call him Lord Nok."
"A eunuch’s son?"
Mun Eunji nodded.
"Technically, adopted son."
"I see."
Wi Yeonho looked again at the man’s back, now with fresh eyes.
"So what was he saying to you?"
Mun Eunji scowled sharply.
"He told me to marry him."
"Oh?"
Mun Eunji gave another shudder.
"I’ve told him no more times than I can count, but he just won’t give up. He’s a constant nuisance!"
"But... he’s not entirely a bad prospect, is he?"
Mun Eunji’s eyes narrowed.
"Not... entirely bad?"
"I’ve heard of Nok Gi too. He’s the leader of the eunuchs. That alone means he comes from a powerful background. And the way he clings to you—that kind of obsessive devotion..."
"If you were a woman, would you want to marry that man?"
Wi Yeonho paused as if giving it some thought, then replied.
"Doesn’t sound like a very pleasant image."
"Right?"
Mun Eunji gave a bitter smile.
"And that man isn’t trying to marry me because he likes me."
"What do you mean?"
Mun Eunji’s expression darkened slightly.
"I don’t know if you’re aware, but my father is held in high regard among the Confucian Forest."
"I’ve heard that."
"It’s not something I like saying myself, but people say he’d be fit to serve as Prime Minister of the nation. Even so, the reason he lives a quiet life away from court isn’t simply because he has no interest in office."
"Then why?"
"Because the eunuchs who control the imperial court are keeping him in check."
"The eunuchs are holding him back? Why?"
Mun Eunji let out a sigh.
"The thing that sets the Great Scholarly Institute apart from typical factions within the Confucian Forest is that it's not affiliated with any single power. Because of that, it was difficult to gain influence at first—but over generations, that independence became its strength. Since we don't belong to any faction, we’ve been able to build ties with many, maintaining strong relationships across the board."
"Ah!"
"The reason the eunuchs haven’t been driven out, even though everyone knows they’re corrupt, is because the Confucian Forest is too divided to unite against them. That’s why a group of eunuchs, not even one-fifth the size of the whole, holds so much power. If Father were to return to public office and coordinate the Confucian forces, the ones who’d be most endangered are the eunuchs."
"That makes sense."
"That’s why Lord Nok did everything in his power to keep Father from entering office. And lately, he’s found a different method."
"You mean your marriage to that fat guy?"
"Exactly. If that happens, Lord Nok wouldn’t need to fear the unity of the Confucian forces. On top of that, he’d gain a familial connection to Mun Yuhwan, one of its most respected figures."
"Like giving a tiger wings."
Mun Eunji sighed.
"That’s why that man keeps pestering me. It’s not about affection or anything like that."
"Hmm…"
Wi Yeonho nodded.
"Then, would you consider accepting if there was affection?"
"What?"
"You just said he has no feelings for you. So if he did, would you consider it?"
Mun Eunji shook her head firmly.
"No."
"Thought so."
Wi Yeonho smiled.
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"You're so shallow! Judging people by their looks—shallow!"
Mun Eunji’s face flushed red.
"That’s not it!"
"Oh, come on. It's obvious."
"I said it’s not!"
"Really?"
"..."
"Then why wouldn’t you accept him, even if there was affection?"
"Th-that's..."
Wi Yeonho's grin grew wider.
"Come on, tell me. Why not? Why? Why?"
"I mean… obviously… someone like him wouldn’t have genuine affection!"
"Look at you trying to dodge the question. I asked clearly—if there was genuine affection, would you accept?"
"..."
"You wouldn't, even if he loved you. So it’s because he’s fat. See? People need to be good-looking, that’s how the world works."
"Who said that?!"
"Then?"
"If there’s affection, it’s fine! I said it’s fine if there's genuine affection!"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
Wi Yeonho started to walk away.
"Where are you going?"
"To tell him."
"Tell him?"
Wi Yeonho grinned broadly.
"You said it’s fine if there’s affection, right? He just looks so pitiful, I figured I’d help him out. He’s lacking sincerity, so I’ll let him know—he needs to show his feelings!"
Mun Eunji screamed.
"Aaah! Stop that!"
"What? You said it’s fine!"
"Ugh! Stop it! I said stop!"
Wi Yeonho kept grinning as he teased Mun Eunji.
Though she knew it was all a joke, Mun Eunji still grabbed him with a flushed face.
Just the thought of it was horrifying!
And then—
"You scoundrel!"
A loud shout rang out.
Startled, Mun Eunji and Wi Yeonho turned their heads. A furious young man was glaring at Wi Yeonho.