Chapter 61: I’m Your Mother (1)

“Is it truly acceptable for the martial world to be like this?”
Murong San, the vice-leader of the Murong Family, let out a deep sigh as he reviewed the details of the questionable dealings between the imperial palace and the clan’s medical division.

“The emperor has vanished, the empress has become youthful, and in the court, two mysterious young maidens are openly sharing their love and exploring each other.”

“What’s the problem with that?”
Tang Yoori, the nurse who had brought the report, shrugged with a cheerful smile.

“The emperor has managed to fulfill two wishes at once. He relieved his guilt towards his sister and also towards the empress.”

“Wasn’t the empress only interested in women?”

“That’s precisely what the power of love overcame, isn’t it?”

“Love, you say.”
Murong San shook his head with a bitter expression.

“Love. Truly a terrifying emotion.”

“Oh my, doesn’t the vice-leader love his wife?”

“I do. I love her, but sometimes, there are moments when she seems afraid or intimidated by me.”

“When would that be?”

“After we did it 12 times in one night…?”

“……”
Tang Yoori gulped and gave an awkward smile.

“Oh dear, my apologies. Since we get along so well, I sometimes let such idle talk slip.”

“It’s fine. Actually, I find it a bit intriguing.”

“Intriguing…?”

“I can’t quite grasp whether it’s truly enjoyable for a man to do that with a woman, or if it’s more about the sense of conquest that comes from claiming her.”

“…The balance may vary from person to person, but fundamentally, it’s probably ‘both.’”
Leaning back comfortably in his chair, Murong San replied.

“However, the nature of the relationship changes drastically depending on the emotions underlying it. For men like me or my elder brother, the foundation is usually ‘love.’”

“What about those who pursue carnal desires without love?”

“Such people do exist. In fact, it’s quite common. But when taken to excess, they’re labeled as sex maniacs or worse.”

“Hmm…”

“Why? Are you worried that you might develop an interest in such things and become a lustful deviant?”

“A little, perhaps?”
Tang Yoori lowered her head slightly.

“I’m afraid I might end up going around seducing women recklessly, like His Majesty.”

“……What?”

“To be honest, if humiliating a woman could serve as a means to an end, I think it could be a valid option.”

“What exactly are you thinking? Wait—have you discussed this with Doctor Seok?”

“Oh, Doctor Seok would understand. We joked about such things back when we were in the Tianshan sect.”
Tang Yoori smirked and rubbed her lower abdomen.

“If I were a man, I’d line up all the daughters of the Sichuan Tang Clan and impregnate every one of them to spread my seed throughout the clan.”

“…Wait a moment.”
Murong San raised his hand.

“Is that even possible?”

“Oh my, I am from the Tang Clan too. If I master poison arts and reach at least the level of a grandmaster…”

“No, I mean the pregnancy part.”

“Pardon?”

“With your strong will and effort, you could certainly destroy or dominate the Sichuan Tang Clan. But you’re…a woman, aren’t you?”

“Well…we’d only know if we tried, wouldn’t we?”
Tang Yoori pointed in the direction of the medical division.

“After the Emperor took the Empress’s second chastity, wouldn’t the story change if the Empress were to conceive again?”
“The Emperor wasn’t originally a man, was he?”
“What if I desperately wished to become like that?”
“…….”
“Wouldn’t it be hard to definitively say it’s impossible?”
“…I’m not sure.”
Murong San crossed his arms and tilted his head with a serious expression.

“Would such a child even be considered human?”
“If it looks human, lives as a human, and behaves as a human, then it’s human. And if it could share love with a human and produce offspring, there’s no question about it.”
“Hmm….”
“The only difference is that the child would carry ‘Doctor Seok’s miracle’. And, to be honest…”
Tang Yoori sat on the desk where Murong San was seated, crossed her legs, and leaned toward him.

“Don’t you want to draw in the latent poisons scattered across the martial world into the Murong Family before the demonic cult reclaims them?”
“…….”
“Not just those with affection or romantic feelings for Doctor Seok, but the ones who owe him their lives—patients saved by him—to guard the area around the medical division?”
“You’ve caught me.”
Murong San nodded readily.

“But where did you learn to speak so seductively, as if tempting someone? Was it from the Poison Demon? Or your father?”
“Oh my. While the Poison Demon might be possible, I don’t have parents, you know? I only know I’m from the Tang Clan.”
“Your parents must have had a hard time… Wait. Don’t tell me?”
“Well, my mother passed away. I plan to ask Doctor Seok about it one day.”
Lick.

“To think that a woman abandoned by her parent would give birth to a new lineage of the Tang Clan—there’s no greater humiliation for a man than that, is there?”
“…What a terrifying revenge. If that revenge succeeds, it would be the end of him as a man.”
“Exactly. So, please.”
Tang Yoori knelt on the desk, bowing her head deeply toward Murong San.

“Teach me your bedroom arts.”
“…….”
“The techniques that subdued the Enchantress Demon and earned you the title of the Supreme Lover—I want to learn them.”
“This is absurd.”
Murong San twisted his lips into a faint smirk.

“Everyone else comes to my elder brother begging to learn martial arts, but you come to me asking to learn bedroom arts? Specifically, how a man handles a woman?”
“Someone has to take responsibility for the shadows of the Murong Family, don’t they? I have no other demands. Once I sow my seed in the Tang Clan, I’ll return.”
“It’s obvious how the Tang Clan would raise those children, though.”
“That’s why I want to secure more latent poisons. Even if I remain in the Murong Family, the poisons could manage the Sichuan Tang Clan on their own.”
“…….”
“It’s not a bad proposal. After all, if I refine my skills further in that direction, it would benefit both Doctor Seok and Lady Murong, wouldn’t it?”
“Why is that?”
“Well.”
Smirk.

“If I handle the ‘villainesses’ throwing themselves at Doctor Seok, wouldn’t Lady Murong be quite pleased?”
“…I have no idea anymore.”
Murong San raised his hands.

“No matter how the martial world changes, as someone of the Murong Family, I can only do my best.”

* * *

Human greed knows no bounds.

If humans could achieve anything they desired, they would sometimes overstep boundaries.
However, as long as they bear the burden or risks of crossing those boundaries—or if their wishes are reasonable—it’s possible to grant those wishes repeatedly.
Provided they bring conditions that match.

“Doctor, this is… uh…”
“They say these are clothes worn in the Western regions.”
“Th-this shameless outfit…!”

Murong Xue blushed deeply as she looked at the garments sent from the imperial palace, specifically a gift from the Emperor and Empress.
While the clothing was entirely unlike the styles of the Central Plains, its explicit design left her no choice but to turn red.

“Uh, um…”
“I’m fine with it, Lady Xue.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s fine whether you wear it or not.”
“…But you look like you’re very much hoping I’ll wear it.”
“Ahem.”

That said, human greed knows no bounds.
Even though Murong Xue and I share nights together with nothing covering her body, the desire to see her in a new look isn’t inherently wrong.
To be honest, is someone even human if they don’t have desires?
Anyone would wish for the person they love to show a different side of themselves, and in a healthy relationship between adults—particularly a married couple—this shouldn’t be an issue.

Even more so.
“These were originally meant for the Emperor and Empress to use, but they passed them on to us. No one else has used them; in modern terms, they’re what the young people of the Central Plains call ‘brand-new.’”
The items were tributes to the imperial family, as well as new and unused.

“…Hmm.”
Murong Xue carefully picked up the clothing.
“So, you’re saying these are worn like pants?”
“Indeed. In the language of the Western regions, they’re called [stockings].”
“You’re quite proficient in the Western language, aren’t you?”
“It’s not very useful in the martial world of the Central Plains, but since Tianshan sect often interacts with people from the West, I learned it from orphans… and latent poisons. The pronunciation, the language itself.”

Among the orphans, there were a few who taught me.
“Slave traders from the West sold children to the Demonic Cult. A few surviving girls became latent poisons, and during their treatment, they taught me their language.”
“Those latent poisons… none of them had feelings for you, did they?”
“I can’t say for sure, but she’s already dead, so there’s no need to worry.”
“…I’m sorry.”

At my words, Murong Xue lowered her head, a regretful expression on her face.
“The latent poisons I’ve known so far were all alive or women who seemed to have designs on you, so I thought this might be another one of those cases.”
“It’s my fault for causing a misunderstanding. So, will you try on the stockings?”

“……Well.”
Murong Xue fidgeted with the stockings.
“Even if I wear these, they’ll just outline my figure. What’s the point? I’ll be wearing a skirt that comes down to my ankles anyway.”
“…….”
“Unless, perhaps, you’re imagining what I’d look like wearing only these after taking off the skirt?”

“Ahem.”
Could it be that the people of the Murong family have mind-reading abilities?

“If that’s the case… fine. I’ll wear it and show you sometime soon.”
“Truly?”
“But in return, I’d like you to do something for me.”
“What is it? If it’s my body you need, I can oblige anytime.”
“Your body is already mine, so I can take care of it whenever I want. What I need from you has to do with ‘that woman’ who’s coming.”

Murong Xue openly displayed her dislike.
“The patient from the Nangong family with Yin Vein Disorder, Nangong Ye.”
“…….”
“You’ll treat her, won’t you?”
“Of course.”

It’s rare for Murong Xue to show such direct animosity toward someone, but regardless of her feelings, a patient suffering from Yin Vein Disorder must be treated.
“I’m a physician, and she’s a patient. She traveled a long way from Anhui Province, crossing the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers to come all the way here to Liaodong for treatment.”
“…….”
“The treatment must proceed.”

“Um, doctor, there’s something I want to ask.”
“Speak.”
“Is it… possible for a woman to impregnate another woman or something like that?”
“……..”
Sigh.
“Did Tang Yoori put you up to this?”
“Th-that’s…”
“What exactly happened between you and Nangong Ye?”
“Well.”

Murong Xue furrowed her brows as she replied.
“She keeps saying she’s going to become the lady of the Murong family.”
“……?”
Hmm?
“I mean, ah, it’s a bit embarrassing to say, but…”
Murong Xue looked serious as she pointed toward the sky.
“She’s dead set on becoming my stepmother. The mother-in-law of you, the doctor.”