Chapter 588: Healing Her
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 588: Healing Her
"...I shall take that into consideration."
Lee Jae-won replied with a face turned ashen. He then began to walk away even faster, looking like a man who had just seen something he wished he hadn't.
Sun-woo watched Lee Jae-won’s retreating figure in silence until he had completely vanished from sight.
After a short while, once Lee Jae-won was gone, Sun-woo quickly turned his head toward Joo So-yang.
"Madam, are you alright?"
"I am... fine..." Joo So-yang replied weakly.
Her voice was thick with melancholy. The realization that her face had been hideously marred weighed heavily on her heart. Now, as in the past, a woman’s natural beauty was considered more precious than anything else.
The thought that her inherent beauty had been ruined by Lee Jae-won brought a wave of immense depression and a sense of loss. Furthermore, she was terrified—terrified that these scars might never fade, remaining on her face like a permanent brand.
"You are far from fine. The wounds are deep; we must apply medicine at once. Let us go inside for now."
Sun-woo reached out, took Joo So-yang’s hand, and led her toward the quarters.
"...Alright."
Joo So-yang nodded weakly and followed him, allowing herself to be led. Before long, the two of them disappeared inside.
'Wait... what about me?'
Left alone in front of the quarters was Heo Sam-gwan, still frozen by Acupoint Striking. His eyes began to tremble uncontrollably with a sense of betrayal. He had risked his life to block the way, and this was how he was treated? His gaze soon filled with a mixture of indignation and fury.
*
"Mother!"
Lee Ye-seol cried out in shock. She had realized that her mother’s condition was incredibly serious. Her mother’s cheeks, once fair and soft, were not only swollen red but were also dripping with blood.
"How... how did this happen?"
Lee Ye-seol asked with a tearful face. She couldn't control her emotions at the sight of her mother’s injuries.
"It is just... a minor injury..." Joo So-yang replied feebly.
"Was it... Father?" Lee Ye-seol asked, her expression turning grim.
"..."
Joo So-yang remained silent, offering a vague response that was neither a confirmation nor a denial.
"It was him!"
Seeing her reaction, Lee Ye-seol knew. The person who had done this to her beloved mother was none other than her father, Lee Jae-won.
"How! How could he do this to Mother!"
Lee Ye-seol’s temper flared. Her resentment and anger toward Lee Jae-won boiled over.
"It is alright... I am... fine."
Joo So-yang tried to reassure Lee Ye-seol, sensing that the girl was horrified by her mother's wretched appearance.
"What do you mean, 'fine'?! You're hurt so badly!"
Lee Ye-seol raised her voice, shouting in distress. Even at a glance, the wounds were severe. How could her mother try to comfort her by saying she was fine?
"...Seol-ah... I am truly... alright."
"Don't say you're alright! It hurts! You're bleeding!"
Lee Ye-seol screamed in anger. To a woman, her appearance was a precious asset that could not be traded for anything. A woman’s value was often judged by the degree of her beauty. Yet, her mother’s face had been scarred. Her cheeks were burst open, the skin torn, and blood was flowing. How could she not be angry?
"..."
Hearing her daughter’s grief-stricken cries, Joo So-yang fell silent. She could feel the depth of Lee Ye-seol’s concern for her.
"I'm going to get medicine right now, so stay right there!" Lee Ye-seol declared firmly.
"......I understand."
Faced with her daughter’s unusual intensity, Joo So-yang relented. She didn't want to send her daughter on such an errand, but she felt that if she refused, she would only be lectured further.
"Sun-woo, I'll be back in a moment."
Lee Ye-seol then turned to Sun-woo.
"Go ahead. Hurry back," Sun-woo replied, giving his permission readily.
He had wanted to speak with Joo So-yang alone anyway. Her leaving the room was actually a welcome development.
"Thank you."
Ye-seol bowed deeply to Sun-woo and then hurried out of the room with quick, light steps.
"Oh, right. Ye-seol."
Watching her back, Sun-woo suddenly remembered something and called out to her.
"Is something the matter, Sun-woo?" Lee Ye-seol turned her head slightly.
"On your way, please unblock that strange ahjussi's acupoints."
"A strange ahjussi?" Lee Ye-seol tilted her head in confusion.
"Yeah. If you go to the front of the quarters, there's an ahjussi who can't move because his acupoints were struck. Unblock him on your way."
"I understand, Sun-woo."
Lee Ye-seol nodded. She could guess who he was referring to. If there was someone paralyzed in front of the residence, it had to be the Palbok Hall Master, Heo Sam-gwan.
Lee Ye-seol turned back and resumed her hurried pace to find medicine for her mother’s wounds.
Creak.
Thud.
The door closed, leaving only Sun-woo and Joo So-yang in the room.
"So-yang."
Once Lee Ye-seol was gone, Sun-woo called her name in a soft voice.
"......Yes."
Joo So-yang answered weakly.
"It hurts, doesn't it?" Sun-woo asked, looking at her with pity.
"I... I am fine..."
"How can you be fine when you're hurt this much...?"
Sun-woo continued as he looked at her swollen cheeks. He felt a pang of sorrow seeing her face in such a state. Her cheeks, once as white as jade, were now stained crimson. How could he not feel distressed?
Sun-woo slowly raised his hand and placed it against her cheek.
"Ugh..."
A faint groan escaped Joo So-yang’s lips. The contact of Sun-woo’s hand against her wounds caused considerable pain.
"Wait... just wait a moment."
Sun-woo spoke as he looked at her, her fine brows furrowed in pain.
Wooooooong.
He slowly began to circulate the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art. The Nature Qi in the surroundings began to seep into Sun-woo’s Dantian, where it was transformed into the energy of the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art.
In that state, Sun-woo began to channel the Yin-Yang Harmony Qi into the hand caressing her cheek. The energy immediately began to envelop her injured skin.
Wooooooong.
The Yin-Yang Harmony Qi surrounding her cheeks began to activate her natural healing abilities. The red swelling started to subside. The bloody wounds closed up, and scabs began to form. Then, one by one, the scabs began to fall away.
New skin had grown.
Before long, Joo So-yang was able to regain her original jade-like skin, all thanks to the efficacy of the Yin-Yang Harmony Qi.
"There, it's done."
Having completely healed the wounds, Sun-woo slowly withdrew his hand.
"......Am I... healed?"
She asked Sun-woo, her eyes wide like a startled rabbit's. She could no longer feel any pain in her cheeks.
"See for yourself."
Sun-woo gestured with his chin toward the bronze mirror on the vanity. Hearing this, Joo So-yang quickly walked over to the vanity and looked at her reflection.
The mirror reflected the image of a beautiful woman with skin as white as jade.
'Ah!'
Seeing this, Joo So-yang realized that Sun-woo had perfectly restored her.
".......Sun-woo..."
Joo So-yang looked at Sun-woo with glistening eyes. She was deeply moved by the fact that he had returned her hideously altered face to its original state.
"I just sped up the recovery that would have happened eventually. It's better to be beautiful, isn't it?"
Sun-woo said with a refreshing smile as he looked at her.
Fling!
Suddenly, Joo So-yang lunged at Sun-woo and threw her arms around him.
"Sun-woo.... I... I... I love you so much..."
She began to rub her face against Sun-woo’s broad chest.
"Wait... calm down, So-yang."
Sun-woo tried to soothe the agitated Joo So-yang, feeling a bit flustered by her unexpectedly intense reaction.
"Sob... I was... I was so scared... I thought... I would have to live with this hideous face forever... that the scars... would stay for good... I was so... so scared..."
Joo So-yang continued, letting out the tears she had been holding back. She had pretended to be composed and fine in front of her daughter, Lee Ye-seol, but in truth, she had been more terrified and sorrowful than anyone. She had repeatedly said she was fine to reassure her daughter, but she hadn't been fine at all.
Appearance was a vital element for a woman. How could she be alright when her face had been ruined? She had been worried—worried that the scars on her face would be permanent, and that because of them, her beloved Sun-woo would come to despise her.
But those fears had been completely dispelled by Sun-woo. How could she not be overcome with emotion?
"Waaaaaaaah!!!!!"
Joo So-yang began to wail loudly in Sun-woo’s arms, tears streaming down her face. Casting aside her responsibilities as a mother, as the Heavenly Moon Palace Master, and as a martial artist, she began to cry simply as a woman.
Pat, pat, pat.
Sun-woo began to gently pat her back, continuing until all her sorrow had been washed away.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
As if sensing Sun-woo’s heart, Joo So-yang cried even harder until the grief within her was completely gone.
.
.
.
.
.
After some time had passed...
"Sniff... sniff... thank you."
Joo So-yang finally began to stop crying, feeling as though she had let it all out.
"I should be the one thanking you."
Sun-woo shook his head as he spoke. He was the one who owed her gratitude—for buying him time until he could wake up. If she hadn't risked her life to stall for time, he surely would have met his death.
"Thank you for risking your life to protect me..."
Sun-woo said, looking at Joo So-yang with a gaze full of warmth.
"............I only did what was natural..."
Joo So-yang lowered her head in embarrassment. She felt bashful. As his slave, it was only natural to protect her master. To be praised for something so obvious made her feel shy.
Stroke, stroke, stroke.
Sun-woo began to gently stroke Joo So-yang’s ebony hair. Everything she said was endearing to him.
"Hehe..."
Perhaps enjoying Sun-woo’s gentle touch, Joo So-yang let out a bright, innocent laugh that didn't quite match her age. It was a happy smile that made anyone watching feel good.
After stroking her hair for a while...
"But... Sun-woo..."
Joo So-yang called out to him cautiously.
"Yes?" Sun-woo asked, looking curious.
"I suddenly became curious about something... may I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Since... you could heal me perfectly... why didn't you stop Seol-ah when she said she was going to get medicine?" she asked with a puzzled expression.
"I couldn't let her see you crying, could I? You were forcing yourself to hold it back in front of her."
Sun-woo replied with a calm expression.
"..........Was that... out of consideration for me?"
"Well, you could call it that."
Sun-woo nodded. It was indeed a form of consideration—a small kindness for Joo So-yang, who felt she had to be strong because she was in front of her daughter.
".......Thank you..."
Joo So-yang looked at Sun-woo with a dreamy gaze, touched by his delicate consideration. Her affection for him seemed to swell even further.
".....It's nothing."
Sun-woo scratched his cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed.
".....Even if it is nothing to you, Sun-woo, to me it is... something I am so grateful for and moved by..."
Joo So-yang said, her eyes still fixed on him dreamily.
"......I love you.... Sun-woo."
She confessed her sincere love as she looked at him.
"I love you too, So-yang."
Sun-woo spoke, looking at her as if she were the most adorable thing in the world. She was a woman whose cuteness seemed to stack with every passing moment. And her loveliness as well.
The two of them exchanged a heated gaze. Then, without knowing who started first, they began to kiss.
It was incredibly passionate.
Soon, a storm of heated ecstasy began to swirl within the quarters.