Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 94. Shared Suffering
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The Nangong Family, hegemons of Anhui Province.
Even now, with merchants lining up outside to forge connections with them,
word arrived that Yuseong and his group had come, and the Sword King himself emerged to greet them.
“Welcome, Medical Pavilion Leader.”
One might think he’d be eager for news of his granddaughter, but he tended to Yuseong first, before Nangong Yurin.
“It’s the Sword King!”
The man who commanded absolute authority in Anhui Province, enough to make passersby on the streets of the Nangong Family shout in awe.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Baek Yuseong, Leader of the Murim Alliance’s Medical Pavilion.”
“I’m Nangong Jin, bearer of the empty title Sword King. If I hadn’t been tied up with urgent matters before, I would have made a point of meeting you, Medical Pavilion Leader…”
“Your reputation precedes you. I’ve long wanted to meet you myself. Thank you for the warm welcome.”
Yuseong knew full well that the Sword King had stayed at the Murim Academy for a time, helping Nangong Yurin with her martial arts training.
But he didn’t point it out.
The Sword King was blaming himself for not having built a rapport with Yuseong beforehand.
Of course, Yuseong back then had no way to treat Nangong Yuhyeon’s eyes.
The middle-aged man standing beside the Sword King offered his greetings as well.
“I’m Nangong Hwan. Thank you for coming all this way to treat my son.”
“It’s an honor to meet you too, Patriarch. I apologize for the delay—I was asked long ago, but my skills weren’t up to the task until now.”
Yuseong glanced at Nangong Yurin.
“You’re too modest. If the Divine Physician says his skills were lacking, the whole world would laugh. But Yurin asked you long ago, you say?”
“Yes. Yurin and I are close enough to speak informally, so I hope you’ll forgive that. Please feel free to do the same with me.”
“Haha, no need for formalities then. Treat us the same.”
“Yes. Even back when I was working at the Luoyang Medical Hall, Yurin came to me with the request. I promised her that once my skills improved, I’d treat her brother. That’s why I’ve been waiting for the official request from the Murim Alliance this time.”
“Thank you for keeping your promise.”
“It was the least I could do.”
Once greetings with Yuseong were done, the Sword King turned to Nangong Yurin.
“You brat. Do you know how baffled I was when I heard you’d gone off with the Qingcheng Sect?”
The Sword King lightly scolded her, but Nangong Yurin stood tall.
“I’m sorry, Grandfather. But Yuseong said he’d treat my brother, and I wanted to watch over him.”
“She’s right. If Yurin hadn’t been there, my life would’ve been in danger.”
At Yuseong’s words, the Sword King’s stern expression softened—just as he’d been about to chide Nangong Yurin.
He’d already heard how, during the Demonic Cult’s raid, she’d reached the Peak Realm and subdued the enemies.
In the end, hadn’t it all helped with treating Nangong Yuhyeon?
“…Hmph. And why’d your hair and eyes end up like that? If you hadn’t mentioned it in your letter ahead of time, I would’ve been shocked.”
“It was a stroke of fortune.”
“A stroke of fortune?”
“I’ll explain later.”
“Fair enough. That’s not what matters right now.”
Nangong Hwan quietly interjected.
“Have you eaten yet?”
Even as he asked, his fidgeting mouth seemed eager to say something else.
Yuseong gave a slight smile.
“Not yet, but I’d like to treat your son before we eat.”
“You will?”
Judging by his delighted reaction, Nangong Hwan had been hoping to hear exactly that.
“Of course. He comes first.”
Yuseong preferred to handle business cleanly and then enjoy a meal without worries.
***
Before his injury, Nangong Yuhyeon had been positive and brimming with confidence in all things.
Born into the greatest family with exceptional martial talent, and handsome like his mother to boot.
There wasn’t a single junior martial artist who didn’t envy him.
Sociable by nature, he got along well with everyone around him.
Despite growing up without want, his personality wasn’t prickly—he treated those beneath him kindly too.
But then.
Not long after reaching the Peak Realm himself, the incident happened.
A shocking betrayal by a servant who’d been with him for years, ambushing him!
He’d never dreamed the man he’d kept close and cherished would turn on him, so he’d let his guard down.
“…!”
He struck back and slew the man, but Nangong Yuhyeon lost his sight forever.
A hopeless situation.
Yet even after going blind, he didn’t crumble right away.
He honed the heightened senses he’d gained upon reaching the Peak Realm, and his hearing sharpened to compensate for his lost vision.
He didn’t want to become a burden to others, at the very least.
But despite his efforts, there were limits to what he could do alone.
Even with Peak Realm senses, he couldn’t constantly perceive his surroundings.
It was a technique usable only in short bursts, when absolutely necessary.
Meals were barely manageable if laid out for him,
and going to the outhouse alone was out of the question.
One day.
“Haah…”
He heard a maid sigh faintly while clearing his chamber pot.
It was a small sound, but with his sharpened hearing, Nangong Yuhyeon caught it clearly.
Extending his senses, he felt her pinching her nose.
Self-loathing crashed over him.
The man once showered with affection by every woman was now holed up in his quarters, shitting himself—a useless wretch.
The thought of living in darkness forever, scorned by all, gnawed at him. His nerves frayed.
Every night, he dreamed of the trusted servant gouging out his eyes.
He scrutinized every action of his maids.
One was too slow, irking him. Another seemed to see him as filthy. Yet another held back a sneer.
Sometimes fear gripped him—that one might stab him.
Nangong Yuhyeon dismissed the irritating maids, one by one.
New ones were brought in to replace them, but none lasted; all were chased from his quarters.
In the end, only one remained.
“Juyeon.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Juyeon, once Nangong Yurin’s personal maid and escort warrior, hurried over in response.
She wasn’t any more skilled at her duties than the others,
but he could always feel her genuine sincerity toward him.
That was the difference between Juyeon and the rest—he realized it late.
Moreover.
‘My situation’s no different from hers.’
Juyeon, jilted on the eve of marriage after a disfiguring wound to her face.
Himself, blinded and abandoned by his fiancée.
They shared the same misfortune. That was why Nangong Yuhyeon kept only Juyeon by his side.
He reached out, tracing her face. A long scar ran across it.
“I’m sorry about what happened before.”
There had been a time, tangled up in matters with his sister, when he’d treated her coldly.
Seeing her devotion now only deepened his regret.
“Why bring that up again, Young Master? You’ve apologized plenty already. And… I have my own sins against the Young Lady…”
***
Juyeon didn’t remember that day, but everyone except Nangong Yurin said the same.
That it was her fault Nangong Yurin came to fear swords.
A mere maid and third-rate warrior wasn’t on equal footing with the granddaughter of the Nangong Family.
It was only natural that her visible scar mattered less than the wound scarred into Nangong Yurin’s heart.
And so Juyeon carried a massive debt of guilt toward the Nangong Family.
She endured the other maids’ malice in silence.
She saw it as her karma, something to bear.
Then one day.
With most maids driven off by Nangong Yuhyeon and Nangong Yurin gone to the Murim Alliance, the turn came to Juyeon—who’d been relegated to menial chores—to attend him.
The others figured she wouldn’t last long either.
‘But he treats me kindly…?’
Before long, Juyeon became his sole remaining maid.
***
Time passed—not a short span.
After rumors reached Nangong Yuhyeon’s ears that Yuseong had even cured someone else whose eyes were injured.
His fiancée came calling.
“Um… Young Master, Miss Gong Mihyang is here to see you.”
The woman who, after his injury, had suggested postponing the marriage with a curt word of comfort before leaving.
The first time he met Gong Mihyang, Nangong Yuhyeon had taken a liking to her despite the arranged marriage.
She was chosen by the family, the woman who’d be his lifelong partner.
Even if plain, he’d have forced affection; there was no reason to dislike someone with an appealing appearance.
When she left, he understood. She had no desire to marry a blind man.
But.
‘To brazenly show up now, after all this.’
In the past, he might have endured it. It wasn’t a love match, just politics.
The Gong Clan’s ties to the courts were strong; allying with them benefited his family.
However.
Nangong Yuhyeon no longer cared about such arrangements.
***
The group arrived at Nangong Yuhyeon’s quarters.
Juyeon happened to step out just then and bowed her head upon seeing the Sword King and Patriarch leading the way.
“You’re here.”
“Juyeon unnie…”
A soft murmur escaped Nangong Yurin’s lips, startling Juyeon into looking up.
A long horizontal scar marred her face.
“Ah, Young Lady!”
Juyeon frantically covered her face and turned away.
She knew Nangong Yurin had hated seeing it before leaving for the Murim Academy.
But.
This time was different.
Nangong Yurin stepped forward and gently pried Juyeon’s hands away.
For the first time since childhood, she faced the scar she herself had inflicted head-on.
It no longer repulsed her.
She traced it carefully and spoke.
“I’m sorry… It must’ve been so hard because of me.”
“W-Why this all of a sudden? I’m the one who should apologize.”
Juyeon’s pupils trembled with agitation.
Nangong Yurin sighed.
Even if the scar were erased, Juyeon would carry guilt toward her forever.
‘The one truly at fault was me. I begged to hold a real sword.’
That day, showing off the Celestial Palace Sword Dance for the first time, ignoring the skill gap and accidentally slashing her.
But.
No matter the truth, as long as Juyeon couldn’t recall that day, Nangong Yurin could never truly be forgiven.
‘First things first—let’s get the treatment done.’
Nangong Yurin turned to Yuseong.
“Could I ask you to treat him then, Yuseong?”