Chapter 93
"Hey, wait a minute. Young Master Namgung."
"Don't touch me."
"Ah, sorry, sorry. Are you mad?"
"……."
"My brother's attitude was a bit rude, wasn't it? Let me apologize on his behalf."
"Why should you?"
"Because I'm still his little brother... even if he doesn't really see me that way...."
His voice was thick with dejection.
Namgung Ryu-cheong said nothing, so Jang O pressed on.
"Actually, I kind of saw this coming, so I asked Mother if I could come along."
So that's why Jang O—who supposedly doesn't get along with Jang Cheol—came too. He begged his way into this.
I was starting to dislike Jang O more and more. Begging his ailing mother to tag along, then not even staying by her side or checking on her.
Namgung Ryu-cheong asked, "You knew Jang Cheol would act like this?"
"Yeah."
Jang O continued in a bitter tone. "After he got hurt sparring with you last time... he's been badmouthing you everywhere."
A faint scoff escaped Namgung Ryu-cheong.
"So when he said he was coming to apologize, I figured it'd turn out like this. Let me apologize instead. Please don't think too badly of him."
Hmm.
Before I knew it, I had my arms crossed, listening intently.
He was trying hard, but he was just a kid—his intentions were crystal clear.
Stirring up trouble like that...
Apologizing on Jang Cheol's behalf? If he really cared about his brother, Jang O never should've come here. Who wants their little brother watching them grovel? Especially when they already don't get along.
A younger brother you already clash with, spectating your humiliation? I'd die of shame.
Since Jang O was the family head's favorite, his mother probably couldn't refuse his plea to join her. But if he truly cared about Jang Cheol, he should've stopped the mess before it happened—not shown up after to "apologize" and casually drop that Jang Cheol had been trash-talking Namgung Ryu-cheong all along.
And he didn't even mention me! He definitely came to apologize to me first!
Listening to this, anyone would think Jang Cheol had targeted Namgung Ryu-cheong from the start.
I'd heard enough. No need to worry—Namgung Ryu-cheong wasn't the type to fall for cheap tricks like that. Besides, things between him and Jang Cheol were already irreparably broken, scheming little brother or not.
And now Namgung Ryu-cheong probably hates Jang O too.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and turned to leave.
But as I headed down the stairs, I froze again.
What's Jang Cheol doing here?
He'd appeared out of nowhere, standing right at the bottom of the stairs I was descending. He froze too when he spotted me.
"……."
As we stared at each other, Jang Cheol bit his lip hard and started climbing the stairs.
Wait, hold on—if he comes up here...
He brushed past me.
"...My brother's always been a bit selfish like that."
At Jang O's voice, Jang Cheol whipped his head around.
"It's causing Mother so much worry too. For her sake, at least, let's keep things smooth between the Jang family and the Namgung clan...!"
Jang Cheol's face twisted in fury as he gripped the railing tight.
The instant he lunged forward, I shot out my arm like lightning and struck his acupoint.
He froze mid-leap.
"...!"
"...!"
He was shocked, but so was I. First, that it actually worked. And second...
Why the hell did I do that?
With his acupoint sealed, Jang Cheol couldn't even turn his head. He just glared at me wide-eyed.
I crept around in front of him, and his eyes followed, burning with curses.
I glanced around quickly. By some miracle, no one had seen.
What do I do? What do I do?
Spotting an empty room nearby, I dragged him inside by the collar.
Click.
I closed the door carefully, crossed my arms, and shut my eyes.
"Hoo."
Jang Cheol. A side character villain with no standout qualities, occasionally tripping up Namgung Ryu-cheong. Rude to me, on the outs with Namgung Ryu-cheong already.
I'd gleaned a bit about the Jang family from chatting with the second madam. Jang Cheol and Jang O were the same age, birthdays close. She probably let it slip thinking I was too young to care.
But I wasn't a kid. Those birthdays let me piece together the family history.
The family head had been fooling around with his concubine while his wife was pregnant with Jang Cheol.
His wife carrying his child, and he's off with the side chick? Trash of the highest order.
Sickly mother, neglectful father, pampered illegitimate little brother. No wonder he grew up twisted.
The novel never mentioned his mother—probably too peripheral to Namgung Ryu-cheong. But she'd likely passed away. Her vitality was already fading when I checked with my golden eyes. Cause unknown.
Hmm...
I groaned, deep in thought.
Do I really need to get involved?
Butting in could backfire. Better to stay clear—I knew that.
I chewed my lip over and over.
But... still...
No one acts purely rationally all the time.
I'm only human, with emotions.
A side character villain from the novel. In a similar spot to mine back then. Seeing a kid like that—reminding me of my own past—suffer like this made my blood boil. I couldn't just stand by while he stepped into obvious doom.
I opened my eyes, turned, and leaned against the door.
Jang Cheol still looked stunned, like he couldn't believe it. No surprise—who'd expect a qi-deviated cripple to seal their acupoint out of nowhere?
Even I hadn't planned it.
I pinched his cheeks hard and yanked.
Soft and plump, like a well-fed kid's should be.
Tears welled in his immobile eyes from the pain.
This is payback for mouthing off to me!
I twisted until red marks bloomed, then spoke.
"You were about to charge out there and beat the crap out of Jang O just now, right?"
"……."
"Yeah, thought so. I'll unseal your voice acupoint, but if you yell, I seal it again."
Unsealing just the throat meant his body stayed frozen, but he could talk.
I said it casually, but inside I was panicking.
I've never unsealed just the throat before... Is this even right...?
Imagining his freakout if he knew, I awkwardly channeled qi into the point.
No choice. Acupoint strikes involve jabbing qi into meridians for impact. In my past life, without qi, it was useless.
I'd practiced as a third-rate martial artist out of desperation. Tried a few times with innate essence, but that was risky and rare.
Real practice on people? Fingers could count it. Successes? Fewer. Unsealing? Never.
Thankfully, my golden eyes guided me true.
The second his throat freed, Jang Cheol yelled.
"You crazy—! Mmph!"
I clapped a hand over his mouth, prepared.
"Keep it down. If I strike again, I might not unseal it this time. You know I'm... a qi cripple, right? Not much practice."
I grinned wickedly.
"Gonna stay quiet, or nah? Blink three times if yes."
He resisted until I raised my hand like I was striking—then nodded furiously, like double-speed.