Chapter 51
Soso closed her eyes.
Je-gal Hae-soo, watching her intently, saw her focus all her energy at the tips of her fingers. Seeing her struggle to raise her still-uncontrolled power after witnessing his despondent state, he couldn’t help but feel both admiration and tenderness.
Who would ever go to such lengths for a complete stranger?
It was a sincerity he had never once felt from anyone in the Je-gal clan—warm like the sunlight of spring.
Though their meeting had been by chance, he didn’t want to let this bond go easily. He wanted to repay the kindness and warmth she had given him—many times over.
“You… I’ll protect you, no matter what.”
Even if it meant putting his life in danger again. Even if it meant he could never find his brother.
Still, he wanted to do something—anything—for her.
At that moment, tears suddenly began to stream down Soso’s cheeks.
He was just wondering why she was crying when—
“…!”
Golden light began to bloom from the tips of her fingers.
It wasn’t like before, when she’d only managed to heal the tiniest wound on Namgung Jin’s shoulder.
This time, the light swelled to the point of enveloping both her hands.
“…So, Sami has grown.”
He’d heard that she had fully healed a heavily injured Namgung clan warrior while he was asleep. It seemed that story wasn’t exaggerated after all.
The golden light that flowed from Soso’s hands began to seep into Je-gal Hae-soo’s meridians.
That mysterious energy of pure spirit began to wrap around the dark qi within him—not pushing it away, but embracing it, harmonizing with it.
Yet, once the two forces merged completely, only the pure spiritual energy remained.
He felt as if the dark energy within him was being cleansed.
The warmth was so gentle that tears pricked his own eyes.
It was a warmth he had never felt before in his life—a warmth that didn’t just embrace the corruption in his body, but seemed to embrace his very soul.
He found himself wishing he could feel this warmth for the rest of his life.
He even began to hope, against reason, that perhaps all the dark qi might truly disappear.
“…Ugh!”
But then, Soso let out a small groan, strained from overexertion.
Startled out of his reverie, Je-gal Hae-soo quickly grabbed her hands.
“Stop this at once!”
“Haa… haa…”
“I told you not to push yourself!”
“But… it felt like it was working. Haa…”
“That’s not something that can vanish all at once. Still… I feel lighter now. That’s enough. You don’t need to push yourself to the point of tears.”
“…”
She couldn’t argue with him. Even she could see that the dark qi in his body was immense.
Seollin’s cold energy had been concentrated in her heart, but Je-gal Hae-soo’s corruption was deeply embedded throughout his entire body. It wasn’t something that could disappear easily.
Still—
“I’ll try again.”
Soso wanted to give it one more attempt.
She couldn’t erase it all, but she wanted to at least soothe it, make it so he wouldn’t be in pain anymore.
Even if she had to bite her lip until it bled—she would.
“But your health comes first. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
That brief moment of warmth was enough for me.
Je-gal Hae-soo was secretly grateful it was night. At least the darkness hid the redness in his eyes from emotion.
“Sohyeop, I’m fine—”
POOF!
He didn’t even finish the sentence before he saw Soso collapse downward.
She’d exhausted her energy too much and turned back into a Millennium Snow Ginseng.
“You don’t look fine at all.”
Je-gal Hae-soo gently lifted the ginseng up. Both of them were far too used to this kind of situation by now.
“Let’s return to your quarters. Sami needs rest.”
The tiny roots drooped weakly in his arms, rustling as if to say she was disappointed.
‘How much stronger do I have to get to purge all of Je-gal Sohyeop’s dark qi?’
Someday, when she could use her power freely and still keep her human form, she would completely cleanse him—no matter what.
Oh no.
How could this happen?
That was the first thought that came to her when she woke up.
Even in the morning… she was still a ginseng.
No matter how much she used her powers, she always turned back to human after a good night’s sleep. Why not this time?
Disbelieving, Soso jumped up and down on the bed—but nothing changed.
Even after quite some time passed, she remained a Millennium Snow Ginseng.
Growing increasingly anxious, she went looking for Je-gal Hae-soo.
He had fallen asleep sitting on the floor, leaning against her bed—guarding her through the night.
Rustle, rustle—
Soso scurried across the sheets on her tiny root-like legs and climbed onto his shoulder.
Once she was settled there, she used a thin root like a hand to tickle his nose.
‘Wake up! Hurry!’
Before long—
“Achoo!”
A loud sneeze echoed through the room.
“Sami, did you just wake me?”
Je-gal Hae-soo still looked a bit dazed from sleep.
Soso smacked his cheek with her root.
‘Get a hold of yourself!’
That woke him up instantly.
“Huh? Why are you still in ginseng form?”
Now realizing how serious it was, Je-gal Hae-soo looked genuinely concerned. Soso shook her little roots in confusion—she didn’t know either.
“Wait a moment. I’ll get my brush and ink.”
Soon after, he returned with paper and ink, and Soso dipped one of her roots into the ink to write:
‘I don’t know why I haven’t changed back!’
“Are you feeling any pain? Any loss of energy?”
She shook her roots again—no. She felt perfectly fine. Her energy had recovered completely, and she even felt like she could run—though it would be with her little roots.
‘What do I do?’
“Perhaps it’s from using your power too often. We’ll just have to wait until your body recovers and you change back.”
…
She didn’t dare ask, ‘What if I never turn back?’
Words have power, after all—and she didn’t want to tempt fate.
But Je-gal Hae-soo seemed to read her thoughts.
“You’ll turn back. I’m sure of it. But even if you don’t, I’ll find a way to make it happen. So don’t worry too much.”
Even without a face, he always seemed to understand her feelings perfectly.
In gratitude, Soso bowed politely with her little roots.
Je-gal Hae-soo smiled softly and wiped the ink off her root ends.
“Your roots are as lovely as ever.”
…At this point, she’d find it strange if he didn’t say something like that.
As soon as her roots were clean, Soso quickly pulled away and hid them inside his sleeve.
“Sami, hiding your roots now, I see.”
‘Stop narrating everything!’
Soso turned away in protest.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Young miss, are you awake? I don’t see that Je-gal rascal anywhere—don’t tell me…”
Namgung Jin’s voice came from outside. It sounded like he was sure Je-gal Hae-soo was inside already, judging by how he called him a “rascal.”
Before Soso could respond, Je-gal Hae-soo raised his voice—
“The rascal’s right here!”
BANG!
The door flew open, and Namgung Jin burst in, startled and wide-eyed.
