Chapter 2
“Let’s see now. Oh dear, it’s still hot. Our Young Miss can’t handle hot food well, can she?”
Touching the porridge bowl, Seol Jadan made a grave expression. Then he began to gently fan the bowl.
The nursemaid, who had been anxiously watching beside him, finally spoke.
“Young Master, stirring it with a spoon should be enough. Please, let me do it.”
“No, no. I want to do it myself. You may step back.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The nursemaid stepped back, looking regretful, as if she had no choice.
Sitting on the bed, Woon-young frowned as she watched Seol Jadan’s actions.
Sigh… She couldn’t help but exhale at the unfamiliar sight.
What on earth was he doing to this extent?
Sigh, she sighed again and ran her hand down her face. She’d been sighing a lot lately.
The adults around her were concerned by how often she sighed. But considering she had just recovered from a severe illness, they seemed to understand. After all, the most important thing was that Woon-young had woken up from the brink of death.
That alone was incredibly fortunate for Woon-young.
‘If I acted like my true self, they’d probably all faint. I need to quietly observe for now… Maybe it’s a good thing I was already known as a quiet child?’
Children born into noble Central Plains families often matured quickly.
Those who had much to protect raised their heirs with great care from a young age. Thus, children were taught about their family’s legacy early on.
Woon-young’s childhood wasn’t much different.
The Seol Clan, a noble family in Honganhyeon, had a long and distinguished history. Though freer in culture compared to other prestigious families, they still educated their girls equally. Woon-young had started learning to read at age three.
‘Haha, maybe I wasn’t called a genius, but I was told I was clever a lot…’
Moreover, the turbulence around her had forced her to grow up early.
“Young Miss, are you hungry?”
Seol Jadan asked gently. Surprised, Woon-young simply nodded.
He smiled and added, “Good. Just wait a bit more. Why is this porridge so hot?”
Woon-young examined Seol Jadan closely.
His appearance was exactly as she remembered. Though he was over forty, he looked to be in his early thirties.
His face was as fine as polished jade, and his demeanor was refined. Wearing a white silk robe, Seol Jadan exuded the aura of a scholar.
If he walked outside like this, no one would mistake him for a merchant.
Even years later, his appearance would not change much.
She had never felt it before, but now Woon-young knew.
The day the bloodshed occurred, she had seen the killing aura emanating from Seol Jadan’s sword.
Seol Jadan was a martial artist. Not just any martial artist—but a top-level master with high-level martial arts.
She didn’t know the origin of his martial skills, but they clearly concealed their prowess well.
Her grandfather, Seol Wonpyeong, and older brother, Seol Dojin, were the same.
They too had learned martial arts, and it seemed these skills were passed only to the clan’s firstborn sons.
For some reason, everyone kept their martial training secret…
‘Well, it’s not incomprehensible. That sort of thing is common in Jianghu.’
They say one should hide at least 30% of their true strength. If you can keep it hidden, all the better.
‘Still… passing down powerful family techniques to only one heir, and keeping that fact strictly hidden?’
It was certainly suspicious.
‘And disguising themselves as merchants for generations? Even if it’s common, it’s still odd. I need to look into this.’
Though she had survived alone and experienced so much, there were still many things she didn’t know about her family.
She studied Seol Jadan again, trying to gauge his martial level through his energy.
‘As expected, I can’t sense a thing. Ugh, this damned body. This cursed, useless body.’
Naturally. Woon-young’s body was far too weak now.
At ten years old, she had never learned martial arts and had only just recovered from a near-fatal illness.
‘I need to start training soon…’
If she wanted to fix her cursed constitution and regain her health, she needed martial arts.
More importantly, those bastards from Cheongung would surely come again. She had to protect the Seol Clan from them first.
To ensure her family’s continued peace, she would have to protect the Central Plains martial world as a whole—but that was for later.
Right now, she couldn’t even stand. No wonder she wanted to roll around in frustration.
“Alright, alright. It’s cooled down nicely.”
Seol Jadan’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
Satisfied with the porridge’s temperature, he smiled—a truly picturesque smile.
He scooped up a spoonful, blew on it gently, and held it in front of her mouth.
“Now… say ah.”
Caught completely off guard by this, Woon-young’s eyes widened.
What on earth was this now?
“Haha. Our little one seems surprised. If it cools too much, it won’t taste good. Hurry and eat.”
“F-Father… I-I’ll feed myself.”
Woon-young waved her small hand and tried to decline, but Seol Jadan didn’t lower his arm.
“I know you’re still weak. Just for today, let your father help. There’s no need to be embarrassed.”
It wasn’t embarrassment, or… was it? Maybe it was.
Others might laugh it off, but Woon-young felt embarrassed.
She was someone who knew everything—someone who remembered everything.
And now she had to be spoon-fed like a child?
“My arm is getting tired.”
There’s no way a martial artist would get tired holding a spoon like that. But seeing Seol Jadan’s face made it hard to keep refusing.
Though he joked, his eyes were filled with concern. As always, he looked at his daughter with such aching tenderness.
She couldn’t resist those eyes. Woon-young shut her eyes tight and opened her mouth.
The porridge entered.
It was delicious. The warmth filled her mouth and comforted her. A smile naturally formed on her lips.
“How is it? Does it taste alright?”
“Yes, Father. It’s really good.”
“Good, good. Let’s have more, then.”
Though still a bit dazed, Woon-young felt happy to be back at the Seol household. It was so good to see the people she had missed.
But perhaps because she had wandered Jianghu alone for so long and returned from life-or-death battlefields…
This peaceful atmosphere was hard to get used to.
‘I don’t know. Let’s just eat. Since when did I overthink things? The faster I eat, the sooner this ends.’
Even after she finished the bowl, Seol Jadan lingered for a while, reluctant to leave.
Just a few days ago, he and the nursemaid had stayed at her bedside through the night. But tonight, she had sent them away before sleep.
“They’re overprotective… Well, I am the precious daughter of the Seol Clan now. I suppose it’s natural.”
Though she grumbled, a smile lingered on Woon-young’s young face.
Lying back down, she fell into thought.
Now that she had accepted the reality of returning to the past, it was time to plan what to do next.
What should she aim for?
— It is because you are strong that no one dares to speak against you. That is what power is.
She recalled hearing something like that once, though she couldn’t remember when or from whom.
Yes. If a clever person had said it, it must be true.
The former sword demon, Seol Woon-young, had power. But power wasn’t limited to martial strength.
To keep others from interfering, one had to gain power. Whether wealth, strength, or influence—it didn’t matter.
Among those, what could the Seol Clan obtain?
— The Great Namgung Clan, the number one family under heaven, can do anything.
She remembered another arrogant remark. That smug face… Ugh, so irritating to think about even now.
‘Hmm… In that case, why not just aim for it all?’
What if she gained everything and became the top household under heaven?
Then no one would dare touch them. And the Seol Clan could hold everything.
‘I’ll make it—the strongest household in the world. And I’ll become the best under heaven. Simple enough.’
With her thoughts settled, Woon-young closed her eyes again.
The strongest household in the world: the Seol Clan of Hubei.
The best under heaven: Seol Woon-young.
Woon-young’s dreams were sweet as honey.
