The Light of Healing
Juyeon blinked in surprise at the conversation flowing around her.
She had come expecting to be treated for her eyes, yet Namgung Yurin kept a firm grip on her hand and refused to let go.
*Could it be that the treatment is for my face?*
The rumors about Baek Yuseong had only begun spreading through Anhui Province recently.
As the most important sect in the region, the Namgung Clan cared most about whether the eyes could be healed.
Juyeon had heard the rumor that Baek Yuseong could treat eyes, but she had never heard a word about healing facial scars.
For that reason, she had always believed she would have to live with the scar on her face for the rest of her life…
Yet she had already been engaged, and as a woman, she could not possibly remain indifferent when the scar was mentioned.
Even in this situation, however, she placed Namgung Yuhyeon first.
“I am fine, Young Master. Please treat your Lordship first.”
“Humph.”
Namgung Hwan, who was eager to heal his son at once, gave a light cough to signal him, but Baek Yuseong gave priority to Namgung Yurin’s request. Besides, they seemed to believe the treatment would take a long time.
“It won’t take long. Would you please lift your head for just a moment?”
“T-this? Like this?”
“Please wait a moment.”
When Juyeon lifted her head, Baek Yuseong placed his palm over her entire face.
A warm palm heat spread across her skin.
“…!”
And just as if nothing had happened, the palm withdrew.
Juyeon was bewildered.
*Could he have merely glanced at me before treating?*
However.
By watching the reactions of those around her, she quickly realized what had truly occurred.
“Wh-what…!”
“I still can’t believe it even after seeing. I can’t even imagine the principle behind it.”
As though they had witnessed the heavens overturn, the eyes of the Sword King and the family head widened in disbelief.
“U-unnie…”
Seeing Namgung Yurin cover her mouth and shed tears, Juyeon tentatively touched her own face.
The deeply scarred face that had once been cut by the childhood sword of young Namgung Yurin.
It was no longer the face she had seen reflected in mirrors, filled with sorrow and shame.
Her skin had smoothed out, and the shallow scar on her nose—once an inconvenience when breathing—had vanished entirely.
The treatment had ended in that brief moment when Baek Yuseong’s palm touched her face.
And then.
“…Ah!”
A trembling cry escaped her lips along with the clear-headed feeling flooding her mind.
Namgung Yurin gazed at Juyeon’s now flawless face in a daze.
The soft gaze resting on her clean skin resembled the petals of a lotus.
She had spent so many years glancing sideways, careful not to draw the eyes of others with such beautiful eyes.
Overwhelmed by guilt, Namgung Yurin pulled her into a tight embrace.
She had held her like this often in childhood, yet since the accident, she had never truly faced her. Now, Juyeon had grown taller than her.
Regret poured over her after so many years of turning away and running.
If she had only taken better care of Juyeon then, the maid might have lived a far more comfortable life now.
“I’m sorry for all the hardship, Unnie. From now on, I’ll take care of you. I’m truly sorry…”
Even if Juyeon could not remember that day, Baek Yuseong resolved to do his best for her.
At that moment.
Juyeon gently patted Namgung Yurin’s back. The touch carried no trace of resentment; it was kind and caring.
“Miss… that was an accident. Since I have already forgiven everything, there is no need to apologize any further. If you must find fault, I accepted your request to test my skill; so it was my own fault, wasn’t it?”
“T-that’s what…”
Namgung Yurin grabbed Juyeon’s shoulder in a hurry and put some distance between them. She examined Juyeon’s face closely.
Seeing the gentle, benevolent smile on her face as though she fully understood, one possibility crossed Baek Yuseong’s mind.
*Could the memories of that day have returned?*
“Yes, I remembered just now. Rather, I should be grateful to Miss. You actually performed the Emperor’s Sword Form, which you hadn’t been taught. If I hadn’t been here, you would have become even more remarkable than you are now…”
“Stop saying such things!”
The Sword King, unable to hold back his frustration over the long-standing misunderstanding between the two women, stepped in.
“No, is that really true?”
Namgung Yurin apologized, Juyeon sincerely forgave, and the Sword King and family head, regretting their own disbelief, offered their apologies to Juyeon.
Baek Yuseong watched their exchange from one step away.
*Even if Yurin repeated the story, they thought she was trying to shield her trusted maid. They were all tightly closed off. It was just that their unusual talent was too difficult to accept on a common-sense level.*
Except for Baek Yuseong himself, even a Grandmaster would find Namgung Yurin’s talent with the sword difficult to comprehend.
In the end, it was fortunate that the misunderstanding had been cleared.
How much heartache Namgung Yurin must have endured all this time. Baek Yuseong hoped this incident would finally resolve everything.
Actually.
Through Namgung Yurin, Baek Yuseong already knew the full story of what had happened to Juyeon.
It was not like the brain-damaged memory loss suffered by the former leader of the Hao Sect, Jeong Yeon.
It was a memory lost due to the shock of a sword strike to the face.
That could not be permanent erasure. It was merely hidden somewhere in the brain.
Since the case of Jegal Yeong-yeong, who had suffered appendicitis while worrying only about headaches, had occurred, Baek Yuseong had already begun spreading holy power throughout Juyeon’s entire body before the treatment even started.
He had already distributed holy power across her head and body, and the desired result had appeared.
***
Thanks to Juyeon’s guidance, the group was able to meet Namgung Yuhyeon.
Unlike the past information that he had become almost like a cripple, he now looked completely restored.
His posture was upright and proper, and the parts of his face visible beneath the black cloth wrapped around his eyes were clean.
The neatly trimmed beard suggested that someone had taken meticulous care of him.
The owner of that hand stated,
“Young Master, I have brought Lord Shin and your family here.”
“Please come in.”
A solemn voice.
Yet the thin tremor in it revealed his tension.
Naturally, he would be nervous.
The circumstances were completely different from those of Han Bu-geom, the warrior from the Murim Alliance’s Sichuan branch who had lost vision in one eye.
In this era, unlike modern times, the world was not kind to the visually impaired.
If Namgung Yuhyeon had not been from a great family, he would not have been able to live in such care.
Sadness filled the eyes of everyone around him when they looked at Namgung Yuhyeon.
“I am Baek Yuseong, who has come to treat Namgung Young Lord. Allow me to examine you for a moment.”
“Very well. Please go ahead.”
Namgung Yuhyeon removed his blindfold with a trembling hand.
The long sword scar across both eyes, which had healed well from the initial treatment, remained faintly visible.
However, the pupil—already in a state that would not heal naturally after a cut—remained completely without light.
A faint gray mark indicated where the pupil had once been.
“Hah… as I heard. It’s fortunate.”
Baek Yuseong examined the wound area in detail and let out a soft sigh.
“…Is it difficult?”
Interpreting the sigh of relief differently, the voice of Namgung Yuhyeon trembled.
The anxiety transmitted clearly.
Baek Yuseong had already heard the full details of Namgung Yuhyeon’s condition from Namgung Yurin in advance.
If he had loudly proclaimed his ability only to say now that he could not treat, he would not only fail to become the benefactor of the Namgung Clan, but also deepen their disappointment.
If the damage to the eyeballs was at this level, there was no way Baek Yuseong could treat it now.
But having examined the situation directly, he could speak with confidence.
“Yes. I can treat you.”
“…!”
A rough breath was expelled.
Baek Yuseong’s palm covered the excited eyes of Namgung Yuhyeon.
[Recovery]
Unlike the facial scar, the recovery of vision could be immediately felt by the person themselves.
Even if they felt nothing in their eyes, a bright light would flood the previously dark space.
“Ah…!”
After Baek Yuseong’s hand left, Namgung Yuhyeon hurriedly looked around.
He gazed at Baek Yuseong, who had treated him, his grandfather, father, the now greatly changed Namgung Yurin, and the single maid.
He imprinted their faces in his eyes.
“Yuhyeon, are you truly able to see?”
Namgung Hwan, who had already confirmed the color returning to the pupils and the clear focus, wanted to hear the actual recovery from his son.
“Yes, Father. I can see very clearly! It’s clear!”
“…!”
“Huh…”
Namgung Hwan and the Sword King, whose speech had been cut off, lowered their rapidly beating hearts and shared in the joy with Namgung Yuhyeon.
Namgung Yurin also laughed and cried, sharing the happiness.
Although she could not join them as a maid, Juyeon sat quietly in place, but Baek Yuseong could read the overwhelming emotion on her face.
It was genuine.
After a long while, the true Namgung Yuhyeon bowed his head toward Baek Yuseong.
“I cannot repay this debt… I never imagined I would see light again. Baek Young Master, I shall regard you as my lifelong benefactor.”
“I feel the same. Your healing arts are truly astonishing. Thanks to you, Yuhyeon has regained his sight, so the Namgung Clan considers you its benefactor and will reward you greatly. Of course, we will also actively cooperate with the Murim Alliance.”
Baek Yuseong smiled in satisfaction.
Holy power continued to rise even now, and once the fact that Namgung Yuhyeon had recovered spread among the Namgung Clan members, additional holy power would increase.
It was also satisfying because he had fulfilled his promise to Namgung Yurin.
“However, may I trouble you for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Namgung Yuhyeon stood from his seat.
Everyone, thinking he would want to look outside now that he could see ahead, smiled and made way for him.
However.
Namgung Yuhyeon, who had taken only a few steps toward the door, suddenly stopped.
He had clearly heard the voice earlier. When he stepped out, the person he most wanted to see was nowhere to be found.
Yet from the familiar eyes of the unfamiliar maid staring at him endlessly, something stirred inside him.
“…!”
He drew closer and carefully examined her.
Especially those distinctive eyes.
“Y-young… Young Master…”
Juyeon shrank back as she called to Namgung Yuhyeon. He startled and then felt her face.
“I-it really is you? Juyeon? How did your face…”
“Ah… this was treated by Young Master’s Grace just now.”
“…!”
Baek Yuseong was again astonished as holy power rose once more.
*Wait a second, he healed the maid’s face and received as much holy power as when treating the Young Lord’s eyes?*
Yet it was far less than the amount obtained from treating the Young Lord’s eyes.
Was it possible that Namgung Yuhyeon felt such gratitude for treating the maid’s face?
The question was quickly answered.
“It’s wonderful! Wonderful!”
Because Namgung Yuhyeon was embracing Juyeon as if it were his own joy.
It was not a light hug.
His eyes, which tenderly stroked Juyeon’s face with deep affection.
Juyeon, taken aback, looked around at the group.
*They are already very close…!*
A tender atmosphere blossomed that was so intense everyone could sense the unusual closeness between the two.
The expressions of the Sword King and Namgung Hwan stiffened.