Chapter 71
The next day, Soso didn’t wake until well past noon.
The men who had stayed in the room, seemingly to protect her, were nowhere to be seen.
Where did they go?
Soso got out of bed and went to the next room.
The three men were gathered there.
Sitting around the table, they didn’t speak; they simply stared at each other.
Were they about to start another round of their silent standoff?
Soso decided to mediate—and to check on Namgung Jin—so she sat across from him.
Before she could even settle, Namgung Jin spoke first.
“I didn’t want to disturb your sleep, so we gathered here quietly.”
Ah, it was a relief—they weren’t there to fight after all.
“I see. Namgung, are you alright?”
Namgung Jin looked perfectly fine, nothing like the bloodied mess from yesterday.
Even his handsome face seemed to shine more today.
“I’m completely fine. It’s hard to believe I was seriously injured.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“I owe you another favor, Soso. But are you okay? I heard you turned into a perennial snow orchid because of me.”
“I’m fine. And if you understand my gratitude, you must never risk your life in duels again.”
“I will remember that.”
It was only fortunate that things had gone well yesterday. If Sau had abandoned a seriously injured Namgung Jin and he had never met her again…
Soso squeezed her eyes shut.
Becoming a perennial snow orchid had allowed her to meet good people, but it also brought worry.
She feared losing those she cared about in an instant, as she had with the Cheongseong Sect.
If such a future was predetermined, she no longer wanted to get attached to people.
She felt she couldn’t bear the sorrow that would come.
“But…”
“But?”
Namgung Jin spoke words that somehow carried unease. Soso furrowed her brow and looked at him.
He gave her a wry, ambiguous smile, then turned his gaze to Sau.
“Sau, I hope we can duel occasionally.”
“Namgung!”
Soso couldn’t understand him. He seemed utterly fearless of death.
Her thoughts immediately recalled what Sau had said:
“But who knows? Namgung Jin seems full of fighting spirit. People like that will risk death to become stronger. If they have something to protect, they’ll throw themselves at it like moths to a flame.”
Indeed, he was nothing but a moth to danger.
Namgung Jin spoke to Soso, then looked at Sau again.
“I will only duel enough that you don’t need to treat me.”
But… but…!
Soso looked up at him worriedly.
Yet Namgung Jin made the shameless request with calm confidence.
“I don’t know if I should ask this, but please control the pace. Enough that I don’t need treatment from Baek.”
“The pace? Who would think I’m your servant if they heard this arrogant request?”
“……”
“And why should I bother with this? Adjusting to your level, no less.”
“If you grant my request, I will fulfill one of yours. Of course, only within my ability.”
“Hmm. A request, you say.”
“As you know, I am the young master of the Namgung family.”
“So what?”
“……Anyway, I can do far more for you than you think.”
Sau narrowed her eyes at Namgung Jin, as if gauging what request she might make.
Finally, she made up her mind.
“Very well. I accept your request.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m not losing out, so I agreed.”
Soso called Namgung Jin again, noticing he seemed pleased.
“Namgung….”
“Baek, I need to become stronger. I don’t know how powerful my future opponents will be, and I want to protect you and the others.”
Also, though he hadn’t succeeded last time, he wanted to learn the technique Sau used to better understand her true identity.
That was the main reason, but he didn’t voice it.
Such things couldn’t be done by a weak Baek Soso or the mediocre Jegal Haesu.
There was no need to burden them with it.
But Jegal Haesu, unaware of Namgung Jin’s intentions, shouted:
“Namgung! Thank you for promising to protect the others too!”
Namgung Jin shot a glare at “the others,” frustrated that Jegal Haesu didn’t realize he was already considering them.
But Jegal Haesu continued jabbering, oblivious to his glares.
“I want the others to grow stronger too, but first, I need to heal this illness.”
Tab-mak syndrome!
Soso considered treating it again.
While healing Namgung Jin yesterday, she had realized she could handle her abilities with far more control than before.
The more I use it, the more I can control it.
If she had been afraid of returning to a perennial snow orchid, she would never have discovered this.
Soso felt confident that risking herself to heal others had been the right decision.
“Jegal, shall I heal you again?”
“No. I can’t just ask you to do it.”
“Really?”
“The full moon will rise in about three days.”
No wonder the moonlight had been so bright last night.
“Why so poetic all of a sudden?”
“The Moonlit Healer appears on the night of the full moon.”
The Moonlit Healer.
Soso had long wished to meet him.
If he were trustworthy, she wanted to discuss her abilities with him. Even if he didn’t know much about her powers, he might know about the Golden Divine Lady fifty years ago.
Soso asked with eager curiosity.
“Will he appear in Hubei this time?”
“Yes.”
The Moonlit Healer appeared each full moon at alternating regions, inns, or taverns, making it possible to predict his appearances.
“He will appear at the tavern called ‘Dragon Gate.’”
“I see.”
“And before I meet him, I have a brief errand to run.”
“Where?”
“I plan to retrieve a hidden treasure.”
The treasure Jegal Haesu sought seemed to be one of the items his uncle had hidden, possibly even Soso herself.
Soso was curious about what he would bring back. Hopefully, he wouldn’t transform it into a person like her.
Still, she worried about him. What if he encountered cultists there, as in Anhui Province?
“Anyway, Soma, I will go to Yongjung Mountain. Wait at the inn.”
“Are you sure you’ll be fine alone?”
“Yes. I found treasure alone in Anhui as well. It was an invaluable treasure beyond price.”
Soso couldn’t help but smile.
She realized that the “treasure beyond price” he referred to was, in fact, herself.
“I will go with you.”
Those words came from Namgung Jin.
He had also said yesterday that he would accompany Jegal Haesu on the treasure hunt, fearing cultists might appear at the secret garden again.
“It would be reassuring if Namgung Jin accompanies you.”
Namgung Jin was strong enough to defeat Soma Gi, so no major disaster should occur if he went along.
But at that moment, Sau intervened.
“No, I will follow, not Soma. Namgung Jin, you stay here and protect Baeksam.”
