Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Pain Sensitivity
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Nangong Yurin’s words made Yuseong gaze at her steadily.
“Since you speak casually with Harin-unnie, it feels right to do the same with me.”
She seemed somehow upset.
It was true that they had grown quite close during the journey to Sichuan together.
Perhaps because they were around the same age, they often chatted separately, and during the ambush, she had risked her life to protect him.
Having seen her drop formal speech with Tang Harin first and act all friendly(?), it made sense that she might feel left out.
“Got it, Yurin. Like this, right?”
“Yes, Yuseong-nim!”
Her blue eyes sparkled as she instantly shook off her sulk and beamed.
“Then shall we go grab dinner together?”
“Sure.”
Late that night.
Nangong Yurin headed to a dim corner of one of the compounds.
A woman slipped out from behind a pillar.
“How’d it go? Did you try it my way?”
Casual attire. It was Tang Harin.
“Yes, unnie. Yuseong-nim started speaking casually just like you told me. It’s all thanks to you.”
“Oh, you dummy. You were just suffering in silence when all you had to do was say it? Did you confess, by any chance?”
“That’s… not yet… I still don’t know Yuseong-nim’s feelings… For now, this is good.”
“Sigh, do what you want. I’m not responsible if someone else swoops in meanwhile? Anyway, I’ll put in a good word for you with Yuseong now and then.”
“Yes, unnie. Thank you.”
When they first arrived at the Tang Clan, Nangong Yurin had thought Tang Harin was interested in Yuseong, but she boldly declared herself single for life.
While Yuseong was off greeting the Tang Clan Patriarch, Nangong Yurin asked her.
—Miss Tang, were you serious about what you just said?
—Oh, staying single? Yeah. I’m fated to live alone anyway. Feel better now?
—Huh? What do you—
—Miss Nangong likes Yuseo—
—Shh, quiet! P-Please!
Tang Harin kept teasing Nangong Yurin after seeing her reaction.
But it wasn’t just teasing.
—Want me to help you two get together? I was gonna tease you out of jealousy, but you’re so cute, Miss Nangong.
—H-How?
—First, to get closer, drop the formal speech. Act a bit sulky and use me as an excuse for how I speak casually with him—it won’t be hard for Yuseong to follow. Hmm, a little exposure wouldn’t hurt? Guys are weak to that. Try it today.
Tang Harin, who had always teased Nangong Yurin relentlessly, seemed utterly serious when giving advice.
To the innocent Nangong Yurin, it didn’t feel like a lie.
—...Okay. Then speak casually with me too, Harin-unnie.
—Oh my, our Yurin’s a quick study?
Once she confirmed there was no rival, Nangong Yurin grew much closer to Tang Harin.
***
While the Murim Alliance delegation stayed at the Sichuan Tang Clan, an emergency meeting was convened at the Luoyang headquarters.
“We’ve gathered you all because of the news just relayed from the Sichuan branch.”
Jegal Yeongyeong had been greatly shocked upon first hearing it, but learning the full situation allowed her to stay calm.
She briefed the elders on the sorted details.
“Demonic Cultists tried to delay Elder Cheongun’s group heading to the Qingcheng Sect, but they ended up ambushing them at the Sword Gate Pass.”
“The Demonic Cult! So those who attacked Dao King and Yucheon Immortal were Demonic Cult too!”
“Sword Gate Pass—the gateway into Sichuan, right? Hah, the Demonic Cult scum showed up there without fear?”
“What was the enemy’s scale, and our casualties, Chief Strategist?”
Jegal Yeongyeong held a document compiled by the strategist division from the messenger pigeon report.
She had already grasped the contents, but the unbelievable feat made her glance at it again as she spoke.
“The enemy consisted of two Peak Realm experts, about ten Harmony Realm masters, and around twenty first-rate warriors… Our alliance’s casualties… were only minor injuries. Even those were treated by the Medical Pavilion Leader, so there were no losses.”
“Huh, just that much damage? Lucky it didn’t escalate to full war.”
This side, including Jeongu Taoist, had a few Peak Realm experts too, but a full clash would surely have produced alliance casualties.
A few Harmony Realm masters could tie down Peak Realm foes, even if briefly.
That was the implication behind the elder’s question.
“No. A full battle did break out, but they killed all the enemies and captured one Peak Realm leader.”
“...”
The elders’ thoughts froze for a moment.
‘Killing all enemies and capturing a Peak Realm—that can only be explained as a full rout.’
Was Elder Cheongun’s martial prowess and command that outstanding, when he usually talked so much?
But as Jegal Yeongyeong continued, the full story emerged.
Yuseong had wielded mysterious divine arts to aid the group, even healing their minor injuries completely, allowing them to annihilate the foes without a single loss.
“I’ve seen the Mosan Sect’s divine arts before, but I’ve never heard of one that swiftly strengthens others’ bodies. The Medical Pavilion Leader has so many talents. Truly fortunate we scouted him.”
“Indeed. We must treat the Medical Pavilion Leader as a core member. Maybe we should form a dedicated escort unit?”
“Chief Strategist, your eye for talent is sharp. Weren’t you the one who strongly recommended him when we first proposed the Medical Pavilion?”
After praises for Jegal Yeongyeong who discovered Yuseong and for Yuseong himself.
Another piece of good news was announced.
“The Murim Academy cadet accompanying the Sichuan trip… Nangong Yurin… became a Harmony Realm master in that battle.”
People heard a slight lisp in Jegal Yeongyeong’s words but couldn’t dwell on it due to the follow-up.
“The Sword King’s granddaughter reached Harmony Realm already?!”
“Hah, the Sword King threw a fit demanding we produce his granddaughter, and turns out her talent is that exceptional? We thought his grandson’s case might bring crisis, but the Nangong Family is the Nangong Family.”
After discussing various matters and concluding the meeting, Jegal Yeongyeong rubbed her temple.
The faint headache plaguing her after curiously studying the third stage of the Comprehensive Analysis of Celestial Divination Formations.
Not as bad as while studying, but the persistent ache was bothering her bit by bit.
Hadn’t Deputy Strategist Tae Jeongheon hesitantly brought it up?
—Anything going on lately? You always look so worried—it’s concerning us all.
He probably meant she seemed unusually on edge.
But she had no real solution.
With the holy water Yuseong left limited, on days she craved even a moment’s relief,
She’d make slight progress in the formation, drink holy water to ease the headache, then endure the creeping faint ache anew.
She’d pulled Yuseong into the Murim Alliance initially out of selfish desire for daily headache treatments.
Yet his abilities far exceeded expectations, forcing them to send him to Sichuan—what a regret.
“Chief Strategist, a guest has arrived.”
“Who is it?”
“Well… your father…”
Jegal Yeongyeong was startled.
Her father coming all the way to the Murim Alliance?
Shortly after, she met him in the reception hall.
“Father! What brings you here?”
“I had business at the Luoyang branch on the way up, so I stopped by to see your face. How long has it been? We’re both so busy, it’s hard to even meet.”
After catching up on lost time, Jegal Yeongyeong asked what she’d wanted to when meeting her father.
“Father, I told you I’m learning the Comprehensive Analysis of Celestial Divination Formations, right?”
“Yes, you said you’ve already reached the second stage? Impressive. Due to its difficulty and nasty side effects, only a few ancestors mastered even the second over lifetimes… Think you can handle the third?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask about. Something’s off. I am learning the third stage, but even on normal days without studying, my head throbs. Is that normal?”
Most ancestors who challenged it quit after the first stage.
Some reached the second.
And as far as Jegal Yeongyeong knew, some had attempted the third, even if not fully mastering it.
How had they endured the headaches that came even at rest?
Had they borne it lifelong...?
She asked if her father knew.
But.
“Huh? That’s new to me… I’ve heard of headaches during study, but no records from ancestors challenging the third mention constant headaches.”
“No way. I feel it clearly? It’s throbbing here even now.”
Jegal Yeongyeong rubbed her temple.
The pain was still there—couldn’t be her imagination?
Her father pondered deeply, then tossed out a question.
“Yeongyeong, remember how I’d scold you for being overly dramatic?”
“It’s not dramatics. I told you, it really hurts—”
Jegal Yeongyeong caught on to what her father meant and shut her mouth.
“Right. Sorry I didn’t believe you then. But it seems you feel pain more acutely than others.”
“No way…”
“It must be your constitution making the third stage’s faint headaches noticeable. Nothing else explains it.”
“...”
Not everyone who began the third stage complained of headaches.
And Jegal Yeongyeong had been called overly dramatic since childhood, her pain sensitivity highly developed.
Combining those facts led to the conclusion…
‘My body’s just pathetically sensitive…?’
Father and daughter of the Zhuge Family uncovered the secret together.
Jegal Yeongyeong’s body was unusually frail!
In the end, there was only one way to escape this pain.
‘Once the Medical Pavilion Leader returns, I’ll keep him from going anywhere and master up to the tenth stage fast. I can’t live with this agony forever…!’