Chapter 6
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“Strangely, my arms and legs feel full of vigor.”
Namgung Ho smiled with satisfaction.
‘It’s only natural she feels full of vigor.’
Hong-seol’s body was a wreck from two opposing energies fighting each other.
It was just like how the surroundings get destroyed when two equally skilled warriors fight.
Because of this, Hong-seol had no way to properly accumulate internal energy.
No matter how much internal energy she gathered in her elixir field, it would immediately leak out through her damaged meridians. It was the same principle as grain spilling from a torn sack.
Moreover, her small body couldn’t handle the energy that leaked out. She was truly like a shack that could collapse at any moment.
“The Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root you just ate is something that will mend your meridians.”
It was like a skilled mason applying plaster to repair the cracks in a wall.
Although, it was still a precarious state, as one never knew when the wall might crumble again.
‘Hoo, for now, I’ve put out the most urgent fire.’
At the very least, the chance of the child suddenly collapsing and dying had been greatly reduced.
Hong-seol didn’t know it, but Namgung Ho’s heart was beating quite a bit faster than usual.
‘What a strange feeling.’
Discovering a child with outstanding talent was something to be happy about as a senior in the martial arts.
Even more so if that child could fulfill his long-held wish.
But that wasn’t all.
‘The heart is a strange thing.’
At first, he had only thought she was pitiful.
But now that he had seen the child’s dazzling talent, he had become greedy. A greed to watch her grow by her side, to see how far she could go.
And this from a man who had never taken a disciple in his entire life, finding them to be a nuisance.
As if amazed by her lightened body, Hong-seol was repeatedly clenching and unclenching her small fists.
Namgung Ho, watching her with a contented smile, spoke.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t explained how you got here. You must have been exhausted from climbing to the peak of Mount Daechok on a cold day with such a weak body. You suddenly lost consciousness, so I brought you here for the time being.”
Hong-seol’s eyes sparkled.
‘This old man saved me!’
And on top of that, a mountain of food and a precious elixir.
‘Th-then I should thank him right away!’
After all, she would only be allowed to stay here if she was a well-mannered child.
Thinking quickly, Hong-seol slid down from her chair, brought her small hands together, and bowed her head.
“Thank you for saving my life. Great Hero, you are my b-benefactor.”
Benefactor.
Namgung Ho let out a small chuckle at her old-fashioned way of speaking, so unlike an eight-year-old.
There was no way those sinister bastards from the Myo Clan would have taught etiquette to a child they cast out. She must be mimicking something she overheard somewhere.
Knowing nothing of this, Hong-seol unknowingly followed Namgung Ho’s lead and smiled shyly.
‘What a relief. My greeting must have been proper!’
With her belly full and her tension eased, she grew curious about many things.
Hong-seol asked, sneaking glances at the cloud-shaped pattern embroidered on Namgung Ho’s collar.
“Um, is this the Namgung Clan?”
“It is. And this is the Azure Sky Pavilion, the residence of the Grand Patriarch.”
What?
Hong-seol’s eyes widened.
The Grand Patriarch meant the former head of the Namgung Clan. Hong-seol tilted her head, studying the perpetually beaming Namgung Ho.
“You’re the Grand Patriarch? But your face doesn’t look that much like an old man’s…”
“Gwahaha!”
At the unexpected compliment about his youthful appearance, Namgung Ho laughed so heartily his uvula was visible. It was a laugh so loud that all the warriors in the inner training grounds turned their heads to look at the Azure Sky Pavilion.
“Does it look that way? If you cultivate pure internal energy, you can look somewhat younger than your actual age.”
“Wow.”
Hong-seol’s lips parted slightly in wonder. Not missing the opportunity, Namgung Ho asked.
“How about it, little one? Would you like to learn some martial arts from me?”
This was none other than the Grand Patriarch of the Namgung Clan. It was no exaggeration to say that if one wanted to become a martial artist, it would be difficult to find a better master.
She couldn’t use internal energy right away, but she could train in the external arts.
If she prepared her body in advance, she would be able to learn the Yin-Yang Divine Art more easily later on when her illness was cured.
It was a question from Namgung Ho, who was looking far into the future.
But a shadow instantly fell over Hong-seol’s small face.
“Ah… I… I have a body that can’t use internal energy.”
After speaking, Hong-seol hung her head low.
Namgung Ho realized his mistake.
In her helpless expression, he could picture the child who must have been tormented her whole life for being unable to accumulate internal energy.
Hong-seol would have no idea what kind of warrior Namgung Ho wanted to raise her to be.
She was a child who hadn’t even adapted to the Namgung Clan yet. It was too soon to talk about the future.
‘…I said something I shouldn’t have.’
Damn it! You old dog, getting ahead of yourself!
It was as if he could hear Dang Yimu’s chiding voice from somewhere.
“I’ve made a mistake. It seems even pure martial arts can’t stop an old man’s foolishness. Please forgive me.”
Startled by his words, Hong-seol raised her head, thought for a moment, and then replied maturely.
“I’ll forgive you. Because you’re my benefactor, Grandpa.”
Seeing Hong-seol acting like a grown-up, a chuckle escaped Namgung Ho’s lips.
Fortunately, it seemed he had passed the crisis of being hated forever by the little kitten.
“But I have a favor to ask.”
Hong-seol looked at him with a determined expression. But seeing her clench and unclench her small hands, it was clear that, unlike her expression, she was extremely nervous.
“You see…”
What did she want to say that she was hesitating so much?
Namgung Ho’s stern face filled with curiosity. Hong-seol took a deep breath, then opened her cute, cherry-like lips.
“Could I work as a servant in the Namgung Clan?”
She said it!
Hong-seol, extremely tense, watched Namgung Ho’s expression.
Somehow, Namgung Ho’s face was growing sterner by the second. Judging by his expression alone, it wouldn’t have been strange to call him a member of some dark faction rather than the Grand Patriarch of the Namgung Clan.
“That will not do.”
At the blunt refusal, Hong-seol’s eyes wavered.
The disappointed child was about to hang her head low.
Namgung Ho’s voice rang out.
“You are not here as a servant, but as a guest of the Namgung Clan’s Grand Patriarch. How could I possibly make you do menial chores?”
“A guest? Then, does that mean I can stay here…?”
“Of course. I have decided it, so no one in the Namgung Clan will dare to object. You may stay here for as long as you wish.”
A gentle smile filled Namgung Ho’s face. In response, Hong-seol’s tense expression softened like a spring day.
‘I did it!’
Hong-seol’s cheeks turned pink.
Hong-seol had been anxious the whole time, knowing she had nowhere to return to.
The fear that she might end up living alone on the streets melted away in a wave of relief.
‘Now, as long as they don’t find out I’m a cat beastkin…’
For the time being, she could live under a roof. She wouldn’t have to starve at every meal. For this alone, Hong-seol was deeply grateful.
“Attendant.”
Namgung Ho said to the servant who had just come to clear the table.
“Wash this child and dress her in new silk clothes. She is a guest who will be staying in the Azure Sky Pavilion.”
The servant, who had been bowing with her hands gathered, widened her eyes.
“But, Grand Patriarch, it will take three days to make new silk clothes that fit the young lady.”
“We have ‘that dress,’ do we not?”
“Pardon?”
Hearing Namgung Ho’s words, the servant’s face turned pale. But she could not disobey the Grand Patriarch’s stern command.
“I will prepare it as you command.”
The servant bowed politely and extended a hand to Hong-seol.
“I will escort you, Young Lady.”
“Ah.”
Hong-seol instinctively hid her hands behind her back.
It was because she remembered Cheong-ok, the servant from the Myo Clan. Annoyed by young Hong-seol’s slow pace, she would often snatch her hand.
Once Cheong-ok grabbed her hand, she would have to scurry along so fast it felt like her legs would tear. And sometimes, Cheong-ok would suddenly squeeze her hand tightly, hurting her.
‘It’s scary!’
That was why Hong-seol couldn’t bring herself to take the servant’s hand, even if it wasn’t Cheong-ok’s.
“Young Lady?”
“Yes…”
Only after being prompted once more did Hong-seol cautiously extend her hand. Soon, she felt a touch enveloping her small fingers.
The Namgung Clan servant’s hand was surprisingly warm and soft.
“Shall we go, then?”
The two of them walked slowly down the corridor of the Azure Sky Pavilion.
She didn’t suddenly squeeze Hong-seol’s hand to hurt her, nor did she yank it to make her walk faster. She would simply smile gently whenever their eyes met.
“I am Mae-ran, a servant of the Azure Sky Pavilion. Please feel free to call me by my name.”
Hong-seol couldn’t answer, only blinking her eyes. The sight of a servant treating her so politely was completely unfamiliar.
Once they turned the corner of the wall, out of Grandpa Namgung Ho’s sight, would Mae-ran’s attitude change in an instant?
Worry filled her small heart.
“The chambers where you will be staying are just ahead, Young Lady. It’s only a little further.”
“Okay.”
Hong-seol suppressed the anxiety that kept trying to bubble up and followed where Mae-ran led.
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