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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: A Twenty-Year Bond
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He looked to be around thirty.
The man was burning with fever, gasping in agony.
Before she was the poisoner of the second prince, Choryeon had been a physician.
She had the courage to die, but not the courage to walk past a dying man.
“Hey! Hey!”
“Ugh…”
Grunting with effort, Choryeon managed to turn the man, who had collapsed on his side, onto his back to examine his wound. She gasped involuntarily.
The sword wound driving him toward death was far more severe than she had imagined.
It was so deep and long that she could glimpse bone.
A wound so grave, it was a miracle he was still alive.
*‘Medicine… anything I can use as medicine….’*
Choryeon pulled everything out of her pockets.
All she had was some wound powder and a clean bandage.
She had hastily grabbed them when fleeing the imperial palace, just in case.
*‘I suppose it’s a relief I have at least this much….’*
Choryeon immediately poured the powder onto the man's wound. The white dust covered the injury, slowly staunching the blood flow.
Choryeon searched the surroundings, gathering every medicinal herb she could find.
Since she had found him deep in the mountains where people rarely tread, untouched herbs were easy to come by.
She brought back the herbs, crushed them into a pulp, and slathered the paste onto the man's wound where the bleeding had stopped.
“Ugh…”
The man groaned in pain but remained completely still, entrusting his body to Choryeon.
His body was heavy, making it difficult to wrap the bandage.
By the time she finally managed to apply a clean cloth and wrap the bandage, sweat was pouring down her like rain.
“Ja… gang… Jagang-ah…”
Just then, the man mumbled something.
Another layer of pain settled over his face, which was already contorted from the agony of his wound.
His voice was laced with sorrow and grief.
Tears streamed from between the man's closed eyelids, tracing a path down his cheeks.
Choryeon found herself staring at the tears of a man who hadn't cried out from the pain of his sword wound.
“He must be someone who caused you pain.”
Having done all she could, Choryeon roamed the mountain, gathering berries that could be juiced and fetching water.
By the time she had given the man some water and moistened his lips with raspberry juice, the sun was already setting behind the mountains.
Choryeon slumped down beside the man.
As a fugitive, she couldn't risk lighting a fire.
The mountain nights were cold, and there was a risk of wild animals being drawn by the scent of blood, but she still couldn't light a fire.
The only saving grace was that it wasn't the dead of winter.
“…Speaking as a physician, whether you die from your wound, freeze to death, or get mauled by a wild animal. There are many ways to die, but almost no chance of survival.”
The bleeding had stopped, but he hadn't received proper treatment. In truth, she didn't think he would make it.
“You have a tragic fate, too.”
The night deepened, and the cries of wild animals echoed nearby. Amidst it all, Choryeon suddenly found herself laughing at what she had done all day.
If she was going to die like this anyway, why did she struggle so hard to save him?
She, who had been searching for poison, ended up gathering medicinal herbs. She, who had intended to die, had sweated to save a life.
And now, to be waiting for death alongside this man… it was all so terribly ironic.
Taking comfort in the faint, precarious sound of his breathing in the darkness, Choryeon buried her face in her knees.
The next day, to her surprise, the man was still alive.
And the day after that, and the day after that.
The man lived, and so did Choryeon.
Seven days passed.
The man opened his eyes for the first time.
Returning with raspberries as usual, Choryeon was so startled to see the man awake that she dropped the berries.
“You're… actually alive?”
The man, who had been staring blankly at her, furrowed his brow slightly.
*Is she glad I'm alive? Or displeased?*
*What kind of reaction is that for someone who just came back from the dead?*
*No, who is this woman?*
Another three days passed.
When the man sat up, Choryeon dropped the herbs she had just gathered.
His recovery was monstrous.
The man didn't comment on the lack of a fire, nor did he ask about the anxiety that often showed on Choryeon's face.
Another three days passed.
By now, it was difficult to find herbs or berries nearby.
They had stayed in one place for too long; the imperial guards' pursuit must be closing in.
They hadn't been discovered yet thanks to the terrain, hidden by the surrounding bushes and a low hill, but it was too dangerous to stay any longer.
“Can you move?”
“…”
Though she knew he was in no condition to move, the man stood up in response to her question.
Supported by Choryeon, the two of them walked slowly, ever so slowly.
They rested when they found a stream, and when the pain became too severe, they stopped until it subsided.
Despite it all, the man's condition gradually improved. One day, seeing him circulating his energy, Choryeon realized he was a martial artist.
“Who is Jagang?”
Choryeon watched the man wash his face by the stream and asked casually. The man froze and turned to look at her.
Seeing his cold, hardened expression, Choryeon realized her mistake.
“Ah, I'm sorry. You kept calling that name while you were delirious. You don't have to answer if…”
“My younger brother.”
“…What?”
“He was my younger brother. And my name isn't 'you,' it's Seop Mugwang.”
After his blunt reply, he turned his head back to the stream.
Just moments ago, he'd been radiating a chill that could kill, but now he was splashing water as if nothing had happened. Choryeon asked, bewildered.
“…How old are you?”
“Twenty-six.”
“No way.”
*I thought he was well over thirty.*
Seop Mugwang arched an eyebrow and looked back at Choryeon.
“…What did you say?”
“What kind of life have you lived to look so old?”
“…”
Seop Mugwang's lips twitched slightly.
In the end, he couldn't answer.
***
“It's been over twenty years since we met then. Time flies, doesn't it?”
Choryeon smiled brightly.
Seeing that smile, which somehow looked sad, Seolhwa said.
“So you're the reason the Division Head is alive.”
“That's right. The one who struggled to save a dying man is still alive today.”
Her resolve to die had naturally faded away in the chaos, and the life she lived day by day had somehow become enjoyable.
The one who taught Choryeon the joy of living again was none other than Seop Mugwang.
“I want him to live. To live for a long, long time, and keep giving me a reason to live.”
Choryeon looked at Seolhwa.
“Young Lady. He can… come back, right? Him.”
“Do you trust me?”
Choryeon nodded without hesitation.
“You're a special person, Young Lady. I know you're different from others.”
“…”
“I trust you, Young Lady.”
Perhaps it was because of her past, where she had lived solely for revenge. Choryeon's eyes were filled with conviction as she looked at Seolhwa.
Faced with such boundless trust, Seolhwa gave a faint smile.
“It'll be alright. The Division Head is….”
*My master.*
“He's a strong person. I'm sure he'll choose the path of life. So let's focus on doing our best with our own tasks.”
Choryeon nodded slowly.
Meanwhile, the group had already entered Lingbao, at the western edge of Henan.
***
Before entering Shaanxi, the group stopped in Lingbao.
They needed to meet the sect leader before stepping into the Hwasanpa's territory.
It was deep into the night, during the Hour of the Ox.
After confirming that Yupyo was asleep, Yugang carefully stepped outside.
The Black Dragon Division Head, who was standing guard outside, saw him and nodded.
Yugang bowed politely to the Black Dragon Division Head, then slipped between the tents and into the forest.
For a moment, only the rustling of his footsteps filled the darkness. Then, Yugang's face lit up as he spotted someone.
“Lady Namgung…!”
Seolhwa, who had come out first and was waiting, turned to him.
Yugang hurried over to her.
“I'm not late, am I?”
“Nope. Looks like you didn't get lost this time.”
“I-I don't get lost over short distances like this!”
As he shouted in embarrassment, Seolhwa let out a light laugh.
“This time?”
A rustling sound came from the woods behind Seolhwa, and a towering figure emerged.
It was Namgung Mucheon, who had been scouting the area.
“Have you two met alone before?”
Namgung Mucheon arched an eyebrow, looking down at Yugang.
Overwhelmed by his imposing presence, Yugang involuntarily gulped.
“Uh, well…”
“We met and spoke privately when he visited the main family estate before. It was about that matter I told you about, Grandfather.”
She had already told Namgung Mucheon about her conversation with Yugang and why he had been at the Surochae.
At Seolhwa's explanation, Namgung Mucheon's arched eyebrow relaxed.
“I see.”
Yugang breathed a sigh of relief without realizing it.
“So, you know the whereabouts of the Okmaegeom's hiding place?”
Yugang quickly nodded.
“Yes…! But…”
“What is it?”
“You can only get there through the main sect building. The Sect Leader's residence is near the top of a cliff… and the stairs leading to it are connected to the main building.”
“Is that all?”
Namgung Mucheon scoffed.
“If there's no path, we'll make one.”
“Whoa!”
Namgung Mucheon scooped Yugang up in his arms and asked Seolhwa.
“Can you keep up?”
“Of course.”
“Then, let's go.”
The next moment, Yugang let out an involuntary scream.
His scream was instantly scattered by the wind.