A woman known by the nickname Dongbang Bulpyo (Invincible East) in the hidden martial world.
Seorang.
Once, she ruled the land under the Sword Sage, but now that she has gone into seclusion, her daily activities are rather uneventful.
She plucks vegetables for the day from her vegetable patch and occasionally goes to the mountain to gather herbs.
Apart from occasionally hunting wild animals, her lifestyle resembled that of a monk who has renounced the world.
However, Seorang’s daily life had significantly changed from some time ago.
Precisely, from when the group led by the Sword Sage had visited and departed.
There was an additional responsibility placed on her.
Although the one entrusted to her had ceased biological activity and didn’t require to be fed, it was still a troublesome duty that she could not take her eyes off for even a moment.
However, Seorang, knowing that it was a request from the Sword Sage, did not neglect the task simply because it was tedious.
To Seorang, who cherished the Sword Sage more than anyone, neglecting the care of Moon Blossom was unacceptable.
Today was one of those usual days.
Getting up early in the morning, she prepared provisions for the day starting from the early hours.
This ordinary routine was broken when someone entered her territory.
…!
Step-step.
A small footstep.
A small footstep that was enough to suddenly rouse Seorang from her usual unexpressive state.
Thud-thud!
Holding her racing heart close to her chest, Seorang dashed barefoot to the door.
Standing there at the door was a man.
A man whose white hair and clear eyes created a curious harmony.
For Gayoung Jin, the sense of smell is the only sense that remains.
Because she was in a coma.
Since she was young, Gayoung Jin had an unusual ability to smell extraordinarily well.
Food, people, objects… Occasionally, she would even astoundingly detect the scent of spiritual entities.
Even now, Gayoung Jin’s sense of smell is highly active.
Only, there is a problem.
She doesn’t like the scent that tickles her nose.
The smell isn’t coppery or sour or anything like that.
However, no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t detect the scent she had been longing for. That was the issue.
‘Ajie… Where have you gone…?’
Since Byul Rak entrusted her to Dongbang Bulpyo, Gayoung Jin had been staying at Dongbang Bulpyo’s residence.
Of course, Gayoung Jin was unaware of this fact since she couldn’t hear or see anything.
All that Gayoung Jin knew was that at some point, ‘Ajie’s’ scent had disappeared. And the never-ending scent of some woman’s fragrance kept penetrating her nose.
‘Don’t leave me behind…’
She was only filled with fear.
She was desperately curious about the situation outside, but her own helplessness terrified her.
She was afraid that she might have been abandoned.
She had no sense of time, but the unknown fear of being left forever outside terrified her.
Hoot.
Once more, the scent of a woman’s fragrance tickled her nose.
Instinctively, Gayoung Jin tensed up.
Though she had been with this particular scent for quite a while, it was a smell she could never get used to.
Because it was an unnatural, artificial scent.
Hoot.
However, the scent reaching her now was a little different.
A gentle spring breeze.
A fresh floral fragrance.
And.
A scent that she could never forget— Ajie’s scent.
It was mixed in the complex odor among various other scents.
‘…!’
Sniff, sniff-sniff.
Gayoung Jin’s nose violently twitched.
Like a bee seeking honey, Gayoung Jin ardently investigated the faintly sensed scent of Ajie.
Would it be fortunate or unfortunate? Ajie’s scent grew stronger, and the more it did, the more Gayoung Jin’s mind became blanketed with white.
Tuck.
Finally, an unfamiliar sensation covered her nostrils.
Roll-roll.
A mysterious round object slid down Gayoung Jin’s throat.
The spherical object, like a bead, melted as it passed down her throat.
As cherry petals fall beautifully after blooming in full, it was splendid.
‘What is this…?’
A warm and cozy energy spread through Gayoung Jin’s extremities.
Her body, which had ceased activity, regained vitality from the energy spreading from within.
‘It’s ticklish.’
Shocked by the foreign energy, Gayoung Jin shivered.
‘Wait.’
Shiver?
Her own body, who couldn’t move even a finger like a vegetative patient?
Could this trembling be from an unknown thrill due to the unbelievable transformation?
Gayoung Jin’s frail body vibrated tremulously.
‘Again, again…?’
It was confirmed now.
She herself shook.
Ever since her abdomen was pierced by White Flower at Chilhwa Hall, her body had not moved even once.
And now, it was stirring as if awakening from a very long slumber.
‘Ah, Ah…!’
A feeling of liberation like a flood overwhelmed her.
Though she still couldn’t open her eyes or feel anything,
she concentrated all her strength on her fingertips.
Even for a moment,
please, please move.
A droplet turns into a wave, and a wave becomes a tide.
Even a small movement, if successful, would lead to the control of her entire body.
Like her self before falling asleep.
‘Please…!’
A familiar and longed-for sensation grazed Gayoung Jin’s fingertips.
Swoosh!
Simultaneously, a bright light dazzled her eyes.
The eyes that had long refused to open were suddenly wide.
‘…’
Gradually, the blinding light that had irritated her eyes began to fade away.
‘…Miss.’
The first thing she saw was a man staring at her anxiously with bright blue eyes.
“A, Ahahh…!”
A sigh of relief flowed from her open lips.
Could what she was seeing now be a dream?
Would it disappear like a lie the moment she blinked?
“Ajie!!”
Clinging to the man for fear of losing him, Gayoung Jin shouted desperately, pleading.
And then, wrapping her thin arms around the man’s long neck,
She placed her creaking jaw on the man’s shoulder.
“Haha, it’s fortunate that the medicine worked well.”
“Ajie, Ajie, Ajie, Ajie…!”
As if making up for the time they had been apart, Gayoung Jin clung to him for a while longer.
The now considerably longer white hair of Byul Rak displayed the time they had been separated.
“Ajie… Ajie….”
“Stop calling me. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Huh… Ajie… Where, where have you been…?”
“We’ll talk about that later. First, try to move a bit. Since you’ve been stiff for so long, you need to stretch your body.”
“…! No, don’t let go of me. I’m not separating from you anymore!”
Summoning all the strength she could muster, Gayoung Jin clung to Byul Rak.
Even though it was far less than half her past strength, she managed to cling to Byul Rak using her arms and legs.
“Sob, Haa… Ajie…”
“Miss, people are watching.”
“Let them watch… I’ll never leave Ajie anymore…”
“…”
Unaware because of the chaotic situation, Gayoung Jin missed the fact that around them stood Jade Flower, Hong Ryun, Dongbang Bulpyo, and Tang Sobaek.
For Byul Rak, who felt the prickling sensation at the back of his neck, it was unavoidable.
But right now,
Now that she had just awakened,
he thought that maybe,
just maybe, he could indulge her tantrum.
Swish.
Byul Rak’s large palm gently caressed Gayoung Jin’s back.
With that warm caress, Gayoung Jin instinctively closed her eyes and buried her head in Byul Rak’s shoulder.
As the small tear that had formed at the corner of her eyes fell with a soft plop,
“It was tough for you.”
It’s troublesome.
Very, very troublesome.
“Ah… That… Miss, we should go eat now…”
“N-n… I won’t separate from Ajie!”
“Then how about the meal…?”
“Ah, I will manage to eat it fine! Please, whatever you do, don’t leave me behind…”
“…”
It had been two hours since Gayoung Jin was awakened with Ishenghwan.
She is still clinging to my arms and legs.
Despite the long rest, her martial artist prowess has hardly faded, and her grip remains firm.
“Ajie, I will never leave you… even if the sky collapses, I’ll stick with you…”
I understand Gayoung Jin’s feelings.
How scared must she have been?
She had to stay still for months, just like when I was trapped by the ‘Cursed Face Art.’
Even I could perceive sounds and sights while under its influence, but she couldn’t even have that.
If it were just the two of us, I would accommodate her feelings.
“Knack… knack…”
Others are fine.
Tang Sobaek is busy with the tea Seorang served, and Jade Flower stands by the door like a bodyguard, expressionless, with her sword out.
Only Hong Ryun is problematic.
Hong Ryun, who’s uncharacteristically biting her nails, mutters under her breath while glaring at me and Gayoung Jin.
“Knack… that was originally my seat next to Wen Shu… Only I should be hanging on him like this….”
Her ominous muttering continues as she gazes our way.
As her grip tightens, I try to detach her but,
“Uuugh…!”
“Hey, you mischievous kid! Why are you acting like a fox spirit all of a sudden…!”
…with such fierce resistance, there’s nothing I can do.
Everything was fine before—when we arrived at Seorang’s place and I administered Ishenghwan to Gayoung Jin—the atmosphere was harmonious.
“Relax… She’s young… However much she might act childish, I remain the only one in charge….”
“Hehe… let’s stay like this forever…”
“Eeek…!”
Sparks fly from Hong Ryun’s eyes.
When exactly did her pink eyes turn red?
This uncomfortable situation—how long must it persist?
I haven’t felt fear since achieving a higher realm, but today I inexplicably feel anxious about the future.
– Son-in-law, don’t waver.
“…Yes?”
– As a man, you must focus on one and only one woman! Single-hearted! Pure! That is how it must be!
“…Could you be referring to them with such a statement? She’s like a younger cousin to me.”
– What, what did you say? No! You must not forget that you are my son-in-law!
“This title you’ve given me on a whim—I never agreed to it.”
– Guh, guh…! You unmanageable son-in-law…
With Gayoung Jin’s tenacity and Hong Ryun’s jealousy, not to mention Jin Woo-yong’s meddling, this situation is even more uncomfortable than when I was under the influence of ‘Cursed Face Art.’
