Chapter 36
The area in front of the clan hall was a complete madhouse.
Headless corpses of crazed men lay scattered without a gap between them, and even the martial artists of the Namgung Clan who had fought them looked utterly exhausted.
Fortunately, most of the madmen who had invaded the clan were slaughtered, and not one of the clan’s martial artists had lost their life.
However, there were many who were wounded after fighting such vicious enemies—some even grievously so.
Without immediate treatment, they could be crippled… or worse, dead.
Soso slipped down from Namgung Jin’s arms and took in the horrific sight before her.
For some reason, it reminded her of the final moments of the Cheongseong Sect.
Even after all these years, that day’s horror—something she could never forget—flashed before her eyes once more.
“P-please… spare me…”
“Help me… it hurts so much…”
The desperate voices of servants wounded by demonic cultists echoed in her ears.
A few physicians from the medical hall were tending to the wounded martial artists, but they clearly lacked enough hands.
Soso hesitated, torn about whether she should step in to help.
“Lady Baek, will you be treating them?”
Namgung Jin seemed to have read her mind completely.
“I want to, but…”
She was worried. Was it safe to reveal her power openly? What if it brought danger upon her later?
That hesitation froze her in place.
“Are you hurt anywhere, Lady Baek? I should’ve asked sooner.”
“I only have a few grazes. My father protected me.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But, Lady Baek,” he continued.
“Yes?”
“If it’s something you’re not comfortable with, it’s fine not to help. You are not of this clan, and your gift is not some public resource. I would never demand sacrifice—and I won’t think you a coward for refusing.”
“…”
“You already healed my mother’s internal injury. The Namgung Clan owes you a great debt for that alone.”
Soso knew Namgung Jin was not one to speak empty words.
Even if someone died because she didn’t act now, he would not resent her for it.
Yet… her heart would not let her stay still.
‘Young Master Eonwoo… would it be right for me to do nothing? Wouldn’t I regret this later?’
Meanwhile, groans of pain filled the air. Each sound pierced her ears like a knife.
No. She couldn’t stand by any longer.
Even if it meant turning back into the Millennium Snow Ginseng again… she had to help.
Taking a deep breath, Soso looked up at Namgung Jin.
“I’ll help.”
“But if you reveal your power like this…”
“I know it’s dangerous to let others see what I can do. Still, I can’t ignore those who are suffering.”
If she stood idle now, she knew she would regret it for the rest of her life—and she didn’t want that.
“Lady Baek…”
“But if I overuse my power and turn back into the Millennium Snow Ginseng, please… hide me, so no one learns the truth.”
“I promise. But precisely because of that secret, please don’t overexert yourself.”
“Yes. I’ve no wish to let the world learn the strange story behind this body.”
With her resolve set, Soso ran to the most critically injured man.
There was no hesitation in her steps.
Namgung Jin watched her frail back with anxious eyes.
The man’s right leg had been deeply cut—half-severed from his body.
At this rate, he would never walk again.
The physician, fearing infection and further damage, was preparing to amputate the leg entirely.
“Please wait a moment,” Soso said.
She placed her hands gently over the man’s mangled limb.
“Who are you, miss? This is urgent—don’t interfere!”
As the physician glared suspiciously, Namgung Jin stepped forward.
“She can be trusted. Please, give us a moment.”
“…Young Master Namgung?”
“I’m asking you as a favor.”
“If it’s the young master’s order, then I’ll comply.”
Though the physician still looked doubtful, he stepped aside.
Soso had no intention of wasting the opportunity Namgung Jin had bought her. She wanted—no, needed—to save this man’s leg.
All right… let’s do this.
She decided to combine what Namgung Jin had taught her about spiritual resonance with what she had personally realized about how her power manifested.
First—empathy.
But she didn’t know this man’s story.
All he could manage were pained groans: “Ugh… ahh…”
Still, unlike when she had faced Namgung Hyuk, she thought she might be able to summon something to empathize with.
Soso recalled the Cheongseong Sect engulfed in flames—then remembered Uncle Yoon, the gatekeeper who used to buy her sweets.
He had been brutally mutilated by cultists.
She had personally closed his eyes after he died.
If only she had possessed this healing ability back then…
She could’ve restored his severed limbs, saved him.
She had never been able to repay the man who always shared his sweets with her.
That memory—vivid and heavy with sorrow—wrapped around her heart.
Tears streamed freely down her cheeks.
From her fingertips, a golden radiance began to shimmer.
She could feel the warmth gathering in her hands and focused harder.
She tried to understand Uncle Yoon’s grief—the unwillingness to die, the desperate human will to live.
Then, she overlaid that image onto the wounded man before her.
Empathy she hadn’t been able to summon against Namgung Hyuk now poured out naturally.
The golden aura flared brighter.
Everyone nearby began to notice the strange, holy energy radiating from Soso.
They watched her, awestruck.
Not only was the light wondrous—it made her appear unearthly beautiful.
“So this is what meeting a celestial maiden must feel like,” many thought.
Soso, eyes closed, noticed none of it. Her only wish was to heal.
Soon, the golden light enveloped the man’s body.
When the warmth steadied, she opened her eyes—
—and saw something astonishing.
The man’s half-severed leg was reattaching itself.
Wherever the light touched, wounds vanished, and fresh skin regenerated.
It was unbelievable, even to those witnessing it.
“Haa…”
When Soso judged the healing complete, she slowly lifted her trembling hands away.
The man’s leg was whole again, as perfect as when she had healed Jegal Haesu’s wound.
The man stared wide-eyed, unable to believe it.
“Are you all right, Lady Baek?” Namgung Jin asked.
“Yes… haah…”
But after using her energy twice in one day, she felt drained. Her fingertips trembled slightly.
She’d spent even more power than when she healed Seollin—yet, surprisingly, she hadn’t turned back into the Millennium Snow Ginseng.
Could it be… the more I use my power, the longer I can maintain a human form?
Still, she didn’t think it would last long. Her legs were already unsteady.
Just as she was about to warn Namgung Jin that she might revert soon, she realized—
—it was utterly silent around her.
Everyone was staring at her.
The strange stillness was broken by someone’s whisper:
“…The Golden-Robed Goddess.”
Golden-Robed Goddess.
It was the same title Namgung Jin had once called her.
Like ink spreading in water, the words rippled through the crowd.
“The Golden-Robed Goddess has appeared!”
“The Golden-Robed Goddess has saved us!”
“Uwaaaah!”
The martial artists of the Namgung Clan erupted in cheers, forgetting their pain.
The passionate roar was far louder than she’d ever expected, and Soso stood there, flustered.
Namgung Jin looked equally awkward amid the cheering but turned to her with a warm smile.
“You’ve done wonderfully. Truly amazing.”
“But… I think I’ve reached my limit. I might turn back into the Millennium Snow Ginseng soon. I wanted to help a bit more, though…”
“Help, you say…”
Namgung Jin trailed off, gesturing for her to look around.
The people were still cheering for her.
“She looks like a real goddess…”
“That golden aura—just feeling it makes my internal wounds feel lighter.”
“The Namgung Clan owes her an immeasurable debt.”
“Come to think of it, isn’t she the lady the young master brought back? I heard she was beautiful, but she’s even more stunning in person.”
“I hope she and the young master end up together.”
…For some reason, that last line rang louder than all the others.
“Ahem.”
Namgung Jin, having clearly heard it too, cleared his throat in embarrassment.
