Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Chapter 74: The Sincere Hero

Is there a reason to control things to this extent?

I had been to several large cities besides Kaifeng. Every city has a district where prestigious families gather.

None of those cities controlled entry and exit so thoroughly.

A district so difficult that even a single member of the Rogues' Guild had trouble entering.

And yet, the Virtuous Mothers' Association was accomplishing this difficult task.

At this point, I am curious.

Was the Virtuous Mothers' Association truly created solely for education?

“I heard from someone I know that they even inspect the goods that go in.”

“Hohot, so you've heard that. For a gathering of mothers, it seems excessively thorough, doesn't it?”

“It does seem that way.”

The Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader didn’t seem particularly offended by my question.

She seemed to welcome it?

“Great Hero, did that person you know also tell you about our Virtuous Mothers' Association's motto?”

“Yes. I heard it was perfect control. That's why I was curious about why it was necessary.”

“Huhu. To put it simply, it is perfect control. But to be more precise, one word should be added.”

I tried to combine this word with perfect control in my mind.

Among the several combinations, the one that made the most sense was.

“Perfectly controlling experience? Is that correct?”

“That's right. That's exactly it.”

A deep smile spread across the Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader's face.

“We intend to control our children's experiences. The people they meet, the things they use, and even beyond that.”

I found myself looking at the Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader in a new light.

I had roamed the Jianghu and met many people.

I had seen many with grand ideals and those with noble intentions.

But this was the first time I had met someone .

She wants to perfectly control every experience her child will have?

“Honestly, a little.”

She burst into laughter.

“What the retainers said wasn't entirely wrong.”

“What might you have heard about me? Did you hear that I am stuffy and rigid?”

“Hohot, that's right. But after seeing you at the selection tournament, I realized that you've changed.”

“Then what part wasn't entirely wrong?”

“They also said you don't know falsehood.”

I've gained a lot of confidence in it lately.

“The retainers were right about that.”

While searching for the Rogues’ Guild Leader, there might be times when I have to lie.

It would be better to pretend to be sincere.

“It is a tremendous policy. But……”

“I have many questions.”

“Oh, what kind of questions?”

I took a moment to organize my thoughts.

“It's full of questions, but three main ones come to mind.” The source of this content ɪs novel~fire~net

“Is it possible? Why do you do it? Is it good for the children?”

Possibility, necessity, and outcome.

Controlling experience is a massive undertaking. I wasn't sure if it was possible even with all the effort.

What was the reason? The prestigious families in other large cities didn't do this.

And most importantly.

Is it okay for the children?

For a moment, an emotion flickered across the Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader's face.

So that's why she welcomed my question.

The Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader was proud of this policy and of themselves for carrying it out.

How could she not be pleased when someone asked about it?

“Building this system, yes, it was an incredibly difficult task. It's easy to inspect goods, but people? But we did it. We only use people who have served for generations, and any other individuals were vetted by each other. At some point, it reached a level where no news gets out.”

The Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader was not only capable but also a persistent person.

Even outside of Kaifeng, the districts where prestigious families gathered had a certain degree of exclusivity.

The level the Virtuous Mothers' Association had achieved was impossible without an almost obsessive level of scrutiny.

This level of persistence could not be dismissed as mere personality.

Her will was at work.

“What on earth is the reason for going to such lengths? As you said, it must have been a difficult task.”

She asked an unexpected counter-question.

“How do you plan to raise your son in the future?”

I didn't have much to say.

In the past, I was busy trying to find spiritual medicine.

After regressing, stabilizing the situation in Luoyang was the priority.

And then I came here to save the Rogues’ Guild Leader.

“I wanted to think about it, but I never had the chance. I would like to think about it now, but embarrassingly, I have nothing to say at this moment.”

“Not at all. He's still a baby, so you can take your time thinking about it.”

“Yes, I will take my time-”

“But children grow up unexpectedly fast.”

In her eyes, a father who didn't know which way to go seemed quite amusing.

“Great Hero, it is experience that raises a person. What one is born with is fixed, but depending on what experiences a person has on top of that, they can become a completely different person.”

“I agree with that, but.”

“Then there should be no need to ask for the reason, right? It's obviously to let the children accumulate the best experiences.”

The best experiences.

As someone who was rescued by my master and raised in the mountains, I don't really have a say.

Still, I enjoyed my time with my master.

“Do you mean you will let them experience only good things?”

“Frustration, and obstacles, are also necessary. The experience of meeting someone who has lived a completely different life, like the Sword Hero, is also necessary.”

“Putting me aside. Did you say frustration and obstacles?”

“Yes, I am not a fool. I have no intention of raising children as hothouse flowers. I will provide appropriate frustration, appropriate obstacles.”

Appropriately provided frustration and obstacles.

“I don't know if that's real frustration and obstacles.”

“Isn't it better than excessive frustration and obstacles? Isn't it much better than experiences that break and twist a person?”

I fell silent for a moment, thinking.

Yes, that could be true, but.

“In the first place, do the children of noble families have many experiences that would break and twist them?”

I meant, aren't they well-protected even without going to such lengths?

But the Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader seemed to think differently.

“Hohot, that's something the Great Hero doesn't know.”

Of course, there must be parts of a noble family's life that I don't know.

But for some reason, I had a feeling that there was something hidden in that unknown part.

It wasn't something to press on now, so I moved on.

“Are the children satisfied?”

The Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader smiled faintly.

“Oh, the question has changed, hasn't it?”

“Hmm? Did I do that?”

“A moment ago, you asked if it was good for the children. Whether it will be good for the children in the long run and whether the children are satisfied now are completely different questions.”

I hadn't thought of the two separately.

The days I spent in the mountains were satisfying then, and in the end, they turned out to be good for me.

That's why I couldn't think of them separately.

“Satisfaction comes a little later. They will understand in time. When that time comes, they will understand the intentions of the Virtuous Mothers' Association.”

The leader turned her head and looked toward the direction of the noble family complex.

Her face was full of pride and determination.

“For now, it is time to follow.”

Her head turned back to me.

“And you too, Great Hero, if you become an instructor of the complex, you will have to follow this policy.”

I realized that this was the reason the Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader had appeared.

Apologies and thanks were important, but.

I had left the selection tournament without agreeing to the contract. I hadn't expressed my intention to follow the Virtuous Mothers' Association's policy.

She was explaining all of the Virtuous Mothers' Association's policies and asking me.

Perhaps because of the way I've lived, I'm not keen on it.

“I will follow. As long as I am an instructor, I will follow.”

The Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader smiled.

“You agreed so easily. Thank you.”

The reason I agreed so easily.

“Just as the retainers said, I have no falsehood in me. Please believe me.”

Because now, I could lie quite well.

“My lady, you're dressed like a commoner again. I heard they picked a new martial arts instructor, did you go to check for yourself?”

When Hahou Seojin returned home, her husband, Yeom Jaehaeng, greeted her.

“And you? Did you have a good hunt?”

“It was so-so. I shouldn't have promised to go.”

Yeom Jaehaeng shook his head.

The Yeom family had distinguished themselves in the war twenty years ago.

After being appointed as a meritorious family, there were few who could rival their influence in the Kaifeng area. Many members of the family had also entered official positions.

As such, there were many people who wanted to meet Yeom Jaehaeng.

“It would have been more interesting to watch the duels.”

“This is the work of the Virtuous Mothers' Association. It's the work of mothers. Especially if Elder Yeom had shown up, the atmosphere of the tournament would have changed.”

“How would it have changed?”

“People who wanted to catch your eye would have flocked immediately. People who wanted to become government officials, not instructors.”

“Such people are second-rate as martial artists and are not suitable as instructors. The selection becomes complicated, so please leave these matters to us mothers.”

Of course, there were masters in the government as well.

They were martial artists who had a special purpose, were directly trained, or were brought in by imperial decree.

What Hahou Seojin was talking about were those who tried to gain an official position by catching someone's eye and riding on their coattails.

Such people were utterly unnecessary.

“I will leave it to you. I will leave it all to you.”

Yeom Jaehaeng looked at his intelligent and beautiful wife with a pleased smile.

“So, did you choose a suitable instructor?”

Hahou Seojin thought of Jin Yeomyeong.

“He seems strange in some ways, but…”

“He was a martial artist who was good at identifying Demonic Cult followers.”

“Haha. I heard. They say one infiltrated the selection tournament? But it doesn't matter, does it?”

“That's right. Even if he had become an instructor, the retainers would have identified and dealt with him the moment he entered the complex. Even so, an achievement is an achievement. We can't not praise him for catching a Demonic Cult follower in front of people.”

“And being able to identify a Demonic Cult follower means his martial arts are pure. I valued that point highly.”

“I didn't think of that. As expected of you.”

Yeom Jaehaeng nodded.

Hahou Seojin smiled slightly and walked away.

“I'll go check if the second child has done her homework first.”

“My lady, why go to such lengths…”

Letting Yeom Jaehaeng's words flow past her, Hahou Seojin entered her dressing room.

With the help of her maids, her appearance changed quickly.

Her hair was braided high and put up, colored powder was applied to her face, she wore a splendid outfit, and finally, she finished with gold and jadeite accessories.

“My lady, you are beautiful.”

“You have great dignity today as well.”

The maids bowed their heads beside her.

This was the real Hahou Seojin.

The leader of the Virtuous Mothers' Association, the most virtuous of the virtuous mothers, the mistress of the Yeom family, Madam Hahou.

Leading the maids, she headed to the room of her second child, her daughter Yeom Uhye.

“Mother, you're back.”

“Yes. Have you finished all the transcribing I assigned before I left?”

A collection of eight-legged essays was open in front of Yeom Uhye.

Ten-year-old Yeom Uhye was still at the age to learn Elementary Learning.

Also, regardless of her age, the eight-legged essays, which were learned for the civil service examination, were not necessary for Uhye.

“I am transcribing the last chapter now.”

At the words ‘last chapter’, Hahou Seojin stopped speaking.

“It is the last chapter, right?”

“Alright. Finish transcribing it.”

Sigh, Yeom Uhye let out a breath.

If it hadn't been the last chapter, she might have received a scolding.

“How was your schooling today?”

“It was no different than usual.”

Perfect control, no different than usual.

“A new martial arts instructor will be coming tomorrow.”

“Attend the first class and tell me what you think. If the lecture is poor or if he spouts nonsense like the last instructor, I will send him away.”

“I liked the last instructor too… er… never mind.”

Yeom Uhye trailed off after seeing her mother's frowning eyebrows.

“Uhye, you don't know yet. I will tell you in time, so for now, you just need to follow.”

She didn't know what it was that she didn't know, or what she would be told.

Still, Yeom Uhye answered yes. Because she knew that no other answer existed.

She and her friends spent every day as planned by the mothers of the Virtuous Mothers' Association.

According to the mothers, it was the ‘inescapable net of education.’

‘The new instructor will probably be someone who suits my mother's tastes, right?’

Probably a stuffy and rigid martial artist who keeps an eye on the mothers.

Yeom Uhye gave up on her expectations.

She didn't know at this time.

That a great storm was about to rise.