Chapter 13
It was impossible to forget that brutal battlefield where, unless one killed, they would be killed.
The moment he closed his eyes, the foul stench of blood lingered at the tip of his nose. Against the darkness that covered his vision, a sea of corpses and rivers of blood spread out before him.
That scene was none other than Namgung Seonyul’s memory of the last war against the Demonic Sect.
With every step he took, he trampled upon the cold corpses of people who had been his comrades, teachers, and juniors just the day before.
In that merciless battlefield, Namgung Seonyul had even lost his youngest sibling.
Overlooking all the corpses without the slightest flicker of emotion was the Heavenly Demon, Wi Jagang, who had slaughtered them all.
Namgung Seonyul wanted to rush at the man who had killed his sibling, but Wi Jagang’s oppressive aura made it impossible for him to even take a single step.
Shamefully, his knees trembled.
The instant he raised his sword against the Heavenly Demon, he felt as if he would collapse on the spot.
Yet, there had been one warrior who stood face-to-face against Wi Jagang. The only man who could face the Heavenly Demon.
The Soul-Chasing Sword, Cheon Yujin.
He was the hero who ended that massacre, though now he was but a forgotten dead man.
Namgung Seonyul slowly opened his tightly shut eyes.
The landscape reeking of blood, and the image of his younger self trembling in fear because his martial skills had been weak, all vanished.
“Is the bloodshed about to happen once more?”
How many more lives would be lost before it ended? Namgung Seonyul worried not only for the Namgung Clan, but for all of the martial world.
A heavy sigh escaped through his clenched teeth.
Then, a voice broke through his thoughts.
“Clan Head, I have a report.”
“Come in and give it.”
Soon, a man entered and reported to Namgung Seonyul.
“The young lord’s lady guest has awakened.”
“Oh! Truly? Then where are Jin and our new daughter-in-law—no, the young miss—right now?”
Namgung Seonyul’s serious face brightened immediately, as though he had never been grave to begin with.
“She is on her way to the Medical Hall to see Young Master Jegal Haesoo, who has yet to regain consciousness.”
“I must find out what relationship Jegal Haesoo and my new daughter-in-law have.”
“…Ahem.”
A crack finally formed on the face of the otherwise stoic man.
“Chief Yu, did you just laugh?”
This man was Chief Yu Jigwang, who had long served by Namgung Seonyul’s side.
“N-no, I did not.”
Chief Yu bit down hard on his lower lip to stifle his laughter.
Namgung Seonyul wasn’t a particularly strict master, but he also wasn’t the type to make a fool of himself in front of his subordinates.
That was why his casual use of the term “daughter-in-law” was so out of place—and funny.
Chief Yu cautiously glanced at him.
“Tell Jin this: once he checks on Jegal Haesoo, he is to come see me.”
Thankfully, it didn’t seem like he would be punished for his slip.
“Yes, Clan Head.”
“Oh, and discreetly investigate this new daughter-in-law as well. Jin wouldn’t bring someone home recklessly, but one never knows.”
“Understood.”
Though the threat of another bloodbath loomed near, ensuring the clan’s succession was also important.
Namgung Seonyul wanted to secure the woman Namgung Jin was interested in as part of the Namgung Clan.
Forever. To ensure she could never leave.
‘As long as she has no ties to the Demonic Sect.’
In a raised voice, Namgung Seonyul called for a servant.
“Bring out the finest clothes.”
Soso let out a breath of relief as she looked at Jegal Haesoo, who lay in bed breathing softly.
Though he had not regained consciousness, color had returned to his face, and his wounds no longer seemed to worsen.
He’s alive. He really lived.
Soso grasped Jegal Haesoo’s hand tightly.
“…Thanks to your treatment, young lady, he survived.”
Namgung Jin’s gaze did not leave their joined hands.
Then, as though recalling something, his lips parted.
“Ah, I never explained the circumstances under which I found you, did I?”
Namgung Jin carefully detailed how he had saved Jegal Haesoo.
There wasn’t a hint of falsehood in his words.
“What was in that cave?”
“In the cave was…”
The truth was—it had been me, the millennium snow ginseng.
Just as she was about to reveal the truth, the hand she had been holding twitched. Soso stopped speaking and looked down at Jegal Haesoo.
“Ugh…”
His face contorted as he let out a low groan.
At last, Jegal Haesoo’s eyes, long closed, fluttered open.
“Young Hero!”
Blink, blink. His eyelids flickered rapidly.
“Thank goodness you’ve woken.”
Only then did he notice Soso holding his hand.
Seeing her face, Jegal Haesoo let out a small gasp.
“So I’ve died and come to the Immortal Realm. Fairy maiden, what is your name?”
That such a beautiful woman would hold his hand, as if about to weep—it had to be a virtuous fairy.
His supposedly meaningless death suddenly felt almost worth it.
A pleased smile spread across his lips.
“Since fate has brought us together, shall we not form a hundred-year bond here in the Immortal Realm?”
“…Y-young hero.”
“Don’t call me that. Call me Haesoo. Or husband, if you prefer.”
At that, Namgung Jin, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke.
His eyes turned cold as he looked at Jegal Haesoo as if he were an insect.
“Get a hold of yourself. You are not dead.”
“Namgung… Jin?”
“That’s right. You are in the Namgung Clan’s Medical Hall.”
“I’m truly alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then, young lady, you are…”
Soso answered awkwardly.
“I’m Sami.”
“Sami? Never heard that name before… Strange. As handsome as I am, I never kept women close.”
“Young hero! Do you really not recognize me? You even made me clothes. I’m that Sami.”
“I made you clothes too? Then what exactly was our relationship? Was it that close? My heart is pounding—truly pounding.”
“We had no such relationship! I’m just Sami, with a story much like yours!”
“…What? Don’t tell me—you’re that odd Sami who danced and wrote poetry? You’re really that Sami?”
Jegal Haesoo’s eyes went wide as he finally recognized her.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“You… You’re alive.”
His voice carried a faint wistfulness.
Though his body had yet to recover, Jegal Haesoo frowned and forced himself upright.
What did he struggle up for? To reach out and lightly grasp Soso’s shoulder.
Then, as if reuniting with a long-lost cherished companion, he naturally drew her into an embrace.
Soso did not push him away; instead, she lightly patted his back.
His hot breath brushed against the nape of her neck. The unfamiliar warmth sent chills down her spine.
“Thank you… for being alive.”
That voice carried deep sorrow—one only possible for someone who had once lost someone precious.
Soso, too, had known the pain of loss, and so she could not push him away.
“And I thank you for waking up.”
But the touching moment didn’t last long.
“To think, my Sami has become a fairy. Truly, the heavens must be overturning.”
“Stop calling me a fairy! It’s embarrassing!”
Soso shoved his chest firmly.
“Sami, I’m still a patient. Hitting me like that makes my chest ache. It stings—oh, it stings.”
Ah, right. I forgot for a moment that this man is a lunatic.
“Young lady, just say the word. If you wish it, I’ll crush Jegal Haesoo right here.”
Namgung Jin clearly had no fondness for Jegal Haesoo’s shamelessness.
Soso realized she had to send Namgung Jin out before trouble arose between them—and she had things to discuss privately with Jegal Haesoo anyway.
So she carefully asked Namgung Jin,
“Benefactor, I’m fine. Young Hero Jegal has always been like this… More importantly, may I trouble you to step out for a moment?”
“If that is your wish, gladly. I’ll wait outside.”
Casting Jegal Haesoo one last sharp look, Namgung Jin left the Medical Hall.
“Why does Namgung Jin dislike me so much?”
“Think about the things you said.”
“Why? All I did was admire Sami. Is that such a crime?”
Shameless to the very end.
Soso glared at him, but Jegal Haesoo only grinned foolishly, as if even her scolding delighted him.
And seeing that silly smile, she found she couldn’t truly hate him.
