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“How dare you sneak into the Young Lady’s room! I will surely take your head today.”
Namgung Jin was so enraged that he had even drawn his sword.
“Your assumption is baseless, Namgung. I didn’t sneak in. I couldn’t help it!”
“What do you mean you couldn’t help it...!”
Only then did Namgung Jin notice her, transformed into a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
“Y-Young Lady! Why are you in that form again?”
“...It happened last night while she was treating me.”
“...”
Knowing that Jegal Haesu suffered from an illness, Namgung Jin couldn't openly rebuke him.
He also knew that Jegal Haesu took his own weakness quite seriously, so he couldn't press him on why he hadn't stopped Young Lady Baek.
And though Jegal Haesu could be thoughtless, he knew he wouldn't have forced her to provide treatment.
‘Young Lady Baek must have overexerted herself out of pity for Jegal Haesu.’
It was obvious without even seeing it.
In any case, the more he saw of Young Lady Baek, the more he realized what a truly kind-hearted woman she was.
As if drawn by something, Namgung Jin approached the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
Seeing the ink, brush, and paper on the table, it seemed they had been conversing through writing until just a moment ago.
As Namgung Jin unconsciously reached out his hand, the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng extended a rootlet.
The tip of his finger and the tip of her root gently touched.
“Young Lady Baek...”
Why, it felt just like holding her hand.
Namgung Jin gently wrapped his hand around the tip of her rootlet.
As he did so, he felt as if he could see some sort of expression on the upper part of the faceless Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
It seemed as if she wore a bitter expression.
“Young Lady, why haven't you returned to your human form?”
He had asked Soso, but once again, Jegal Haesu answered for her.
“Sami doesn't know either. She says it's not because her energy is depleted.”
Without even looking at Jegal Haesu, Namgung Jin said, “This is a problem. In that case, we'll have to postpone today's plans.”
Today, they were supposed to visit the Wudang Sect with Myeong.
The purpose was to gather information about the Demonic Cult and to find out about Myeong's identity.
They even had a letter of introduction from Namgung Seonyul, so they expected everything to proceed smoothly.
But suddenly, she had turned into a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
Soso felt sorry for her companions.
“Sami, don't you dare feel sorry. I don't know about young brother Namgung, but I'm fine with it.”
“Young Lady, I am fine as well.”
The two men, completely ignoring each other, continued to speak only to Soso.
“Besides, I have other business to attend to in Hubei. While I wait for you to become human again, I'll take care of my other plans first.”
Only then did Namgung Jin look at Jegal Haesu.
“What plans are you talking about?”
“After I find a hidden treasure, I'm going to meet the Moonlit Night's Enchanting Healer.”
A hidden treasure.
He was referring to another Spiritual Herb written about in the documents left by his Grand-uncle, Jegal Taek.
This time, Jegal Haesu planned to search for a spiritual grass called the Nine-Leaf Purple Branch Grass.
It was a rare grass with nine leaves per stem, which increased one's Internal Energy upon consumption.
His Grand-uncle had hidden the Nine-Leaf Purple Branch Grass in a cave on Mount Longzhong.
‘It's unsettling to go near Xiangyang, where the Jegal Clan is, but I have no choice.’
The reason he had gone all the way to Anhui first, despite a Spiritual Herb being near the Jegal Clan, was to avoid encountering anyone from his family.
But now, he had to find that herb.
It was less about increasing his Internal Energy and more about the consultation fee he had to pay the Moonlit Night's Enchanting Healer.
“...Treasure? The Moonlit Night's Enchanting Healer?”
“Haha, even a straight-laced fellow like you covets another's treasure?”
“Enough. I'll join you on that journey. And of course, Young Lady Baek will come with us.”
Namgung Jin was certain that this ‘treasure’ was connected to the Secret Retreat his father had mentioned.
He recalled Namgung Seonyul's words.
“I had a feeling Young Master Jegal was hiding something.”
His father had expressed suspicion of Jegal Haesu and ordered him to investigate the Secret Retreats of Jegal Taek that he intended to visit.
Perhaps the treasure was hidden in one of those retreats.
‘And the Demonic Cultists might appear there again.’
Namgung Jin unconsciously clenched his fists.
He could never forgive the Demonic Cult, which had not only lured away his uncle but had also invaded the Namgung Clan and caused great damage.
Especially if he met Soma-gi again, this time he wanted to wring the life out of the bastard. He absolutely had to.
That was why he couldn't let Jegal Haesu go alone.
“Huh? There's no need for you to follow, brother. Just stay and protect Young Lady Baek. I'll take care of my own business.”
“Not only is this ‘treasure’ of yours suspicious, but you won't be able to find the Moonlit Night's Enchanting Healer. Not even a decent master can see through her human-skin mask.”
“That's right! Of course I can't recognize her! Because my martial arts are weak!”
“...?”
To say something like that so brazenly...?
Namgung Jin stared at Jegal Haesu as if he were looking at a madman.
“If you don't have teeth, you make do with your gums.”
“And what do you have to make do with?”
“Brother, aren't you underestimating me too much?”
“...”
Namgung Jin eyed Jegal Haesu with suspicion.
He had no idea how Jegal Haesu planned to find the Moonlit Night's Enchanting Healer.
Just what kind of trick was he planning to pull this time...?
“I don't know what clever plan you have, but I still can't let you go alone.”
“Could it be... Brother, are you worried about me?”
“...”
Namgung Jin clenched his fists even tighter.
Worried? What nonsense!
Jegal Haesu, on the other hand, despite sensing Namgung Jin's menacing aura, covered his face with both hands and feigned a look of being deeply moved.
“Are you so worried I might get hurt or come to harm that you're planning to protect me with your profound martial arts?”
“...”
Namgung Jin's fists finally began to tremble.
“Brother... I can only apologize for not being fond of men.”
At last, Namgung Jin exploded.
“Jegal Haesu! I will kill you today.”
“Thank you for granting me the honor of dying at your hands!”
“You bastard!”
His thunderous roar was laced with Internal Energy.
Caught off guard, Jegal Haesu's body was pushed straight back.
Soso, who had been fidgeting anxiously between the two men, was also sent rolling by the force of the shout and fell under the table.
‘Young Masters, please stop fighting!’
If she were human, she would have shouted at them to stop!
Soso could only feel frustrated by her lack of a mouth.
All the while, the argument between Jegal Haesu and Namgung Jin continued, as if they were unaware she had fallen to the floor.
Soso crawled out from under the table.
As she emerged, she came face-to-face with an unexpected figure.
It was none other than Myeong.
Myeong, who must have entered the room silently at some point, tilted his head and stared intently at Soso.
Wait, he's staring?
A boy who can't see?
Moreover, it was strange how he tilted his head so precisely toward her, a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.
Even though he was a blind boy with his eyes closed, it felt as if their gazes met head-on.
Startled, Soso stood frozen on the spot.
Even knowing the boy couldn't possibly see her, her whole body seemed to stiffen.
In that moment, Myeong let out a small smirk.
Goosebumps erupted all over her body.
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