Father's Vigil and the Secret of Golden Eyes

Father had been waiting for me in front of Changgung Hall for a full seven days—the exact number of extra days I'd stayed inside.

I kept rubbing my face against his chest and wriggling happily in his arms.

Namgung Wan frowned and said, "Hey, stay still for a bit."

"It's fine."

"Hah. You've turned into a complete doting father."

"……"

Namgung Wan crossed his arms and looked down at us imperiously.

"If you'd been even a little later, Yi-gang here was about to smash down the doors of Changgung Hall."

"That never happened," Father said firmly.

"Didn't you try to go in?"

But even if he'd forced the doors open, it would have led to a different space altogether, thanks to the profound mysteries of the formation. Namgung Wan grimaced and asked, "So why'd you come out so late anyway?"

"Uncle said I could stay longer if I needed to, right?"

"Ah."

Namgung Wan's expression turned to one of complete bewilderment, as if wondering if I'd really said that.

Father stared steadily at him.

"Looks like some explanations are in order. From what I've overheard, Yeon-i seems to have had no idea I was coming."

"……?"

What was that supposed to mean?

I looked up at Father in confusion, and he gently stroked my head.

"Before heading to the Namgung Clan, I sent a messenger hawk estimating my arrival date. I assumed you'd been informed, of course."

But I hadn't known a thing, so I'd spent an extra week in Changgung Hall—leaving Father to wait anxiously outside for that same week.

We'd been separated by life and death—or at least it felt that way!

Namgung Wan cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Ahem. When Yeon-i came out, I figured you'd be happy to see her, Yi-gang, so……"

"So?"

"I didn't say anything to surprise you."

I widened my eyes and stared at Namgung Wan.

Then he shouted, "Who knew she'd come out this late! If I'd told you ahead and you'd gone in, wouldn't time have dragged on endlessly inside? I did nothing wrong."

"I haven't said a word."

I stuck out my tongue a good two inches and glared at Uncle Namgung Wan.

Father softly stroked my head.

"What's a little waiting? It doesn't bother me at all. As long as Yeon-i had a good experience, that's enough."

Wow, as expected of my father.

Anyone else would have been fuming after waiting anxiously for a week. But my father was a true magnanimous soul, his mindset worlds apart from ordinary people.

If I'd known beforehand before entering Changgung Hall, I wouldn't have been able to focus on my training.

Following Father's example, I decided to show Uncle Namgung Wan some magnanimity.

"You're right. Changgung Hall was so amazing! When I went in, there was this huge field with a lake! The water looked totally real. But don't closed-door trainings usually happen in caves? Why make it a field?"

Namgung Wan replied in a tone as if his nose was pointed to the heavens.

"How can one embrace the world without training amid vast wilderness?! Such petty secluded spots offer no aid to true enlightenment!"

Father calmly countered, "Many murim sects and families train in caves. The Baek Clan does too. Yeon-i, you mustn't look down on them."

"Yes!"

Father gently tugged my hand and continued, "I heard you hurt your hand? Let me see."

"Wait—!"

Father glanced at Namgung Wan at his outburst.

"……No, it's nothing."

"Foolish."

Namgung Wan tried to play it cool but couldn't tear his eyes from my hand. It was only natural—he felt guilty since his son had inflicted the wound, even if by accident.

Father placed my hand in his.

Compared to his, my already small hand looked tiny. His long, thick-knuckled fingers and rock-hard palms spoke volumes of his deep cultivation.

In stark contrast, my hand hadn't held a sword in ages, so there were no calluses to be found. A long, diagonal line of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pale new flesh stretched across my small palm.

"Must ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have been deep. How's the sensation?"

Father had me wiggle my fingers, clench my fist, and more, examining my hand meticulously. He even infused it with his inner energy before nodding.

"Thank you. You've really taken good care of her."

"It was only natural."

Namgung Wan cleared his throat again and added, "Ryu-cheong got an earful from me. And he's reflecting on it—a bit, anyway?"

Why phrase it like a question?

He clearly wanted to defend his son, but it was painfully obvious he'd never done it before.

No helping it—I had to step in.

"That's right! Uncle beat Ryu-cheong so hard to scold him that his face got all bruised right here."

"How would you know that? Did Ryu-cheong tell you?"

Namgung Wan widened his eyes and demanded.

"Huh? Who else but you, Uncle? Who in the Namgung Clan would dare bruise the young master's face?"

"……It wasn't beating—it was sparring."

"Got it. I'll believe it was sparring. Father, you heard that? It wasn't beating—it was sparring."

"……"

Uncle Namgung Wan's face was one of utter speechlessness, while Father covered his mouth with his fist and turned his head slightly—clearly holding back a laugh.

"And while I couldn't use my hand, the young master came every day to tend to me!"

"Tend to you?"

"Yes! He brought me tea, massaged my legs, took me to the library pavilion, and even taught me to read!"

"Ryu-cheong massaged your legs?"

Namgung Wan cut in in shock.

I clapped my hand over my mouth with an oh no.

But the words ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were already out.

"Ah, well, um, it just kinda happened……"

Asking him to massage my legs had started as a joke, but the memory was so vivid I'd blurted it out without thinking.

Father lightly booped the tip of my nose.

"You shouldn't tease your friends."

"……Friends?"

I murmured to myself.

Does Ryu-cheong really see me as a friend?

"Understood. Since you've disciplined him and the boy regrets it, I'll let it go. Yeon-i, no more such pranks in the future."

"Yes!"

I giggled and hugged Father's arm tightly.

Namgung Wan cleared his throat to draw attention and said, "Well then, I'll take my leave. It's late—rest here tonight, and tomorrow come to Yeon-i's quarters."

It was past midnight, well into the Hour of the Rat. Changgung Hall was so remote in the Namgung Clan grounds it was practically a separate annex. Getting back to my room would take quite a walk.

Father nodded. "Understood."

Namgung Wan bid us rest well and departed. Father gently stroked my hair.

Savoring the touch, I slowly spoke up.

"Father, there's something I need to tell you."

I sat up in his arms.

Up close like this, I could see how worn his face looked. My heart ached.

I closed my eyes, clasped my hands, took a deep breath—and opened them.

"……!"

Father's expression hardened.

My golden eyes reflected in his pupils.

Shocked, he suppressed his voice and cried out, "Yeon-i, why are your eyes like that?!"

I told him everything that had happened since we parted, holding nothing back: getting swept into the landslide and barely surviving in the collapsed royal tomb; wandering the warehouse and encountering the dying Manshin-ui; how he'd passed this ability to me.

I added a little embellishment too—that Manshin-ui had said the landslide was suspicious.

Of course, he'd never said that. I was the one who'd found it odd.

In my past life, I'd stayed in Palgwaechon for quite a while waiting for Uncle Namgung Wan, and the rain had come and gone repeatedly then ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠too—but no landslide.

Not until after I'd left.

And later, when I checked if Manshin-ui had reappeared in Palgwaechon from time to time……

There had to be a connection between his sudden death this time and the landslide.

Father listened without interrupting, then first circulated his energy to examine my body. A faint sigh carried regret.

"Your dantian still hasn't recovered."

But he quickly shook it off, his face brightening.

"Still, your meridian wounds have healed considerably."

"It happened while gathering natural qi."

After a moment of joy, Father's gaze turned worried again.

"To see natural qi to human meridians—all qi pathways. I've never heard of such a thing."

It didn't feel sinister yet, but if this ability was tied to some wicked sorcery, it could be trouble.

Father's concern was justified.

Deep in thought, he continued, "But it helped heal your body, and now you can use inner arts somewhat…… I can only be grateful to Manshin-ui."

I giggled and nestled back into his arms.

He caught me effortlessly, stroking my back.

"This is truly wonderful."

I looked up and said, "For now, let's keep this a secret."

"Why? If you start learning martial arts, you won't be able to hide it from people's eyes."

"Well……"

I hesitated.

But to convince Father, I had no choice but to bare my innermost fears.

"We don't know how far this ability can take me."

"What do you mean?"

"What if word gets out that I can learn martial arts, and people start expecting too much?"

His hand paused on my back.

After becoming a qi cripple, I'd endured all sorts of scorn. They whispered that Baek Ri-gang's daughter was half-broken, tarnishing her father's reputation—pointing fingers from every direction.

But if it leaked that I could cultivate again, they'd expect great things.

And if I fell short, or if this ability had limits for martial arts? Those same people would be disappointed again—and treat me even more harshly, claiming I'd deceived them.

Better to remain known as a qi cripple.

I didn't have the strength to endure that twice.