Chapter 25
As I’ve said before, I don’t believe in fate. Everything is predetermined? Humans act according to their will, so how can everything go according to a predetermined fate?
However, ever since the first time we met, Samahyeong could read my thoughts and understand my situation completely. His supernatural ability was so persuasive that I couldn’t just dismiss it.
“What exactly is this ‘womanly misfortune’? Does it mean a lot of women will be attracted to me?”
“It’s not that simple.”
Samahyeong looked at my face and said, “Is it because you have a handsome face? Or because your martial skills are outstanding? Sure, women might be easily swayed, but fate has nothing to do with those conditions.”
“…?”
“It’s set in stone. It means many women will be captivated by you, try to get close to you, and this will keep happening over and over again.”
Should I be pleased by this?
“I don’t believe in fate. How could the outcome already be decided? Even if I locked myself in a room for the rest of my life, would women still line up?”
“Something would happen to force you out of that room. Maybe an earthquake, a lightning strike, or a fire starting in a place where there isn’t even a spark.”
“Isn’t that a bit too far-fetched?”
“What about at the Namgung Family? No matter how hard you tried to avoid the engagement, it didn’t work, did it? That’s what fate is. Even your attempts to escape become part of the process that leads you to your fate.”
Samahyeong spoke as if it were no big deal. “Why be so repulsed by it? If many women are drawn to you, shouldn’t you enjoy it? You were just born with that kind of luck, so just enjoy it.”
“No, old man. That’s easier said than done. If I accept women rushing at me without much thought… I might end up getting stabbed in my sleep, right?”
There’s a saying that when a woman holds a grudge, frost falls even in the heat of midsummer. Jealousy-fueled fights are dangerous. Love can be more poisonous than any toxin. If things go wrong, I might end up split into multiple pieces like Lee Se-woong.
“That’s up to you. Instead of resisting the waves, think about riding them. Women competing with each other is inevitable, but as long as they fall deeply enough for you, they won’t dare think of harming you.”
Samahyeong spoke calmly, as if his words weren’t utterly cringeworthy.
“I’m just giving you advice. Whether you listen or dismiss it as the ramblings of an old man, that’s entirely up to you.”
“Couldn’t you at least make me a talisman? Something to ward off disaster?”
“You brat. Do you think this is some fortune-teller’s shop? Go ask a village shaman for that! I’ve already used too much energy reading your fate. I’ll have to lie down for days now, and you want a talisman on top of that?”
Samahyeong turned away, as if he had nothing more to say. How irresponsible—he stirs up my worries and then leaves just like that?
“A man should have some guts! You should think about dominating women, not shrinking away! Back in my day…”
“Weren’t you a Taoist, old man?”
“So what if I’m a Taoist? A Taoist is still a person! You can only overcome the seven emotions after experiencing them. Any man who claims to transcend them without any experience is a fraud!”
For a Taoist, the old man had quite a fiery side. Well, it was better than those hypocrites who do everything and then pretend otherwise.
But still, accepting this?
I can’t forget Yeon-hee’s eyes when she warned me as I left the Namgung family.
“If you cheat on me, I’ll die, and so will you.”
Even gentle Yeon-hee turns cold when it comes to women. Right now, I can only hope that Samahyeong’s words are just unfounded worries.
“One last thing: Be wary of water.”
“Water?”
“You’ve probably had many difficult experiences because of water in your life. Water is your nemesis, so make sure to avoid it.”
Water?
I’ve never even had an accident involving water since I was a kid. I didn’t understand what he meant by warning me to be cautious of water, but seeing Samahyeong’s serious expression, I nodded.
“That’s it! Now get out and tell the girl you brought to come inside.”
With that, Samahyeong waved me away, chasing me out.
I was confused.
I could barely handle Moyong Hye trying to seduce me, and now he says things like this will keep happening in the future?
I needed to come up with a plan.
***
“Hello, Master Samahyeong. I am…”
The original meeting with Samahyeong was only supposed to be with Lee Se-woong.
Moyong Hye was puzzled when she was suddenly called inside, but she accepted it, thinking such an opportunity was rare.
“Do you like that guy so much?”
Samahyeong cut straight to the point without even acknowledging her greeting.
“Pardon?”
“Lee Se-woong. I’m talking about him.”
“…”
Samahyeong’s direct question. Moyong Hye, who had showered Lee Se-woong with affection countless times, felt that expressing those feelings to someone else required great courage.
“Yes…”
“It must be your first time experiencing such feelings. That’s what love is like. It makes a person anxious, restless, and constantly on edge. Isn’t it exhausting?”
“…Yes.”
Samahyeong, a man she had never met before, seemed to know everything about her feelings. Moyong Hye was astonished. Is this why they say Samahyeong’s supernatural abilities reach the heavens?
“He is fated for womanly misfortune. That means he’s destined to be entangled with many women. Your feelings may never be returned, and you might spend many nights crying alone into your pillow. Even then, are you not willing to give up?”
“Yes.”
Even without Samahyeong’s supernatural powers, it was obvious. Lee Se-woong’s handsome face and his exceptional martial skills. What woman wouldn’t be thrilled? She had prepared herself for this the moment she learned he had a fiancée, Namgung Yeon-hee. That’s why Moyong Hye could answer firmly, even as Samahyeong’s words seemed like a warning.
“Then, here’s one more question. Perhaps the most important one. Do you want to possess him, or do you just want to stay by his side?”
“…”
“Depending on your answer, my advice will change. There’s plenty of time, so take your time and think it over.”
Listening to Samahyeong’s words, Moyong Hye fell deep into thought.
Of course, I want to possess him.
I want him to love only me, to think of me every day, to walk beside me, and to live for me.
Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
“But it won’t happen, will it?”
He already has someone he loves. There’s no room for me in his heart. If I were to try and get between them, I’d just be a nuisance. Even though she constantly sought Lee Se-woong’s attention, part of her always felt guilty toward Namgung Yeon-hee.
But what can I do?
I can’t stop this overwhelming feeling from spilling out.
“If I can just stay by his side, that would be enough.”
“Then that’s good. If your greed had driven you to want to completely possess him, I wouldn’t have had anything else to say.”
Is that enough?
Even asking herself, Moyong Hye still wasn’t sure.
Samahyeong waited patiently with a benevolent smile as she gathered her thoughts.
“Go back home immediately. You may have rushed here with only your heart, but that’s not a good strategy.”
“…”
“Child, there’s a saying: ‘Too much is as bad as too little.’ Luckily, your connection with him won’t end here. Return home and live calmly as you’ve been doing, and eventually, an opportunity will come.”
He spoke to her as if calming a child.
“It’s a common mistake made by those inexperienced in love. Following someone around persistently doesn’t accomplish anything. Anticipation grows stronger with waiting.”
“How do you know so much about relationships between men and women, Master?”
“When one reaches enlightenment, there are ways to know everything!”
After clearing his throat with a loud cough, Samahyeong continued.
“A man loses interest when something is too easy.”
“Pardon?”
“He wants what he can’t have. That’s why you need to distance yourself in order to get closer.”
“Will that really work?”
“Oh my, have you lived your life believing nothing? Let me tell you, back in the day, there were hordes of women running after me.”
“…”
“Such lack of faith! Watch this.”
Seeing Moyong Hye’s doubtful gaze, Samahyeong scolded her as he stretched out his hand. Smoke began to rise from his fingertips, and it soon gathered like a cloud, forming a shape.
“A vision?”
It was an image of a bedroom.
Lee Se-woong stood looking down at Moyong Hye as she lay in bed. The two were depicted inside the cloud.
-I told you to stop. Was that too difficult to understand?
-Oppa, it’s not like that…
-You’re the one who tempted me first.
With heavy breathing, like a beast growling, Lee Se-woong leaned over Moyong Hye. But before the scene could unfold any further, the smoke dissipated.
“W-What was that?”
“That’s the future you’ll see if you follow my advice. Still don’t believe me?”
“I believe you!”
A Taoist knowing this much about romance?
Though she had been half-sceptical of his words until now, the vision Samahyeong showed her changed her mind.
Moyong Hye waited attentively for his next words, her posture respectful. She now seemed ready to jump into a fire if that was what he commanded.
“You’re ready to listen, so I’ll tell you more.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Let go of your obsession. Men can’t stand women who cling too much. And…”
She had already taken out a writing instrument and was jotting down his words, but she hesitated and asked with a trace of lingering curiosity.
“But, Master.”
“What is it?”
“About the vision you just showed… what happens next?”
“Bah! You’re too interested in the trivial stuff. If you follow my advice, you’ll naturally find out what comes next, so stop asking silly questions and just write.”
“Yes, yes!”
Moyong Hye straightened her posture and continued to listen carefully to Samahyeong’s words.
—
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