Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Yeonhui's Protection
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Even though I'd received the Restoration Pill from Namgoong Hyeok, I couldn't take it right away. Elixirs weren't like some tonic you could just pop into your mouth because they were good for you.
Elixirs, huh.
When I was a kid, I'd been obsessed with hunting them down.
Chasing after ones I'd heard about somewhere, like thousand-year fox orchids or ten-thousand-year snow ginseng. Back in the days when I'd roam around looking for opportunities to escape the gutters.
I'd poke around every peak in the old mountains and dig through snowfields in the dead of winter.
Anyone seeing me would've thought I was some lunatic.
It was all for nothing, though.
That's why they call them fateful encounters.
If a random kid rummaging around could make them pop out, they wouldn't be fateful encounters. Stuff like bowing nine times in front of a statue in a cave and stumbling upon some hidden master's contingency plan— that was just novel fantasy delusion.
'And... it was actually a blessing I never found any.'
Back then, I'd cursed the heavens for not giving me any luck, but looking back, it was heavenly luck that I hadn't found any real elixirs.
Elixirs each had their own properties and methods of use.
Plus, they contained massive amounts of energy, so if you couldn't handle it, you absolutely couldn't consume them. If you couldn't control the energy, your meridians would shatter, turning you into a cripple.
A kid who hadn't even properly cultivated a heart method, taking an elixir without a guardian...?
Just imagining it was horrifying.
Fortunately, the Restoration Pill was an elixir with virtually no risk.
Most elixirs had strong properties like yang or yin energy, so you needed another elixir to counterbalance them, but the Restoration Pill didn't require that.
As expected of the Shaolin Temple.
You just had to slowly integrate it into your inner power over time.
'But you need experience taking elixirs to know that.'
The problem was, I'd never taken one before.
Namgoong Hyeok's guess had been spot on.
My master, who'd tried every trick to boost my martial arts, had strictly controlled my access to elixirs.
Something about my vessel not being fully formed yet.
It had been disappointing for me, who'd secretly hoped for my master to slip me some elixir out of affection. I'd felt a bit miffed back then, but now I realized he was right.
Taking an elixir before my foundation was solid could've disrupted my inner power's properties.
'Should I ask someone to guard me?'
I wondered if I should've asked Namgoong Hyeok, but...
That felt awkward.
Wasn't it embarrassing, like ripping open the envelope right in front of the person who'd given you New Year's money?
Plus, after already getting guidance sparring, asking him to guard me too felt like too much.
So, there I was, just rolling the Restoration Pill around in my hand without taking it.
'Someone I can ask...'
Guarding required intense time and focus, so it was burdensome to ask out of the blue.
The first person who came to mind was Namgoong Hyu.
He'd help without question.
But rejected.
He probably didn't have enough time caring for his pregnant wife, Sanggwan Yeong.
He was already busy training the relatives these days; I couldn't interrupt their couple time by asking for his help too.
He'd rush over regardless for me, so no.
'Old man...?'
Next was Namgoong Hwan.
Rejected again.
The old man would help diligently, sure.
But he'd demand several games of go in return—many times the time spent guarding. Right now, I wanted to contemplate the insights from sparring with Namgoong Hyeok.
"I'd roll up my sleeves for you, but not right now. My wife's showing signs of pregnancy lately."
"Really?"
"Yeah. She's had a fever and nausea for a few days... We'd need a physician to confirm, but I should stay by her side. Sorry."
"Can't be helped. Should be congratulating you. No need to apologize. I'll wait for the good news."
"Thanks. It's all thanks to you."
I'd checked with Namgoong Jin just in case, but he refused, saying he had to tend to Jo Simhyang. Rumors were flying in the family that their relationship had improved since my "guidance."
Seemed like the issue he'd been agonizing over was resolved.
As I was leaving, hoping they'd welcome a healthy child as he wished...
"But if you need a guardian, why wander around like this?"
"?"
"Just ask Yeonhui. No one in our family knows elixirs better than her."
"Yeonhui?"
"Yeah. Father gathered every rare elixir from her childhood and fed them to her. More than even his firstborn."
Of course.
It made sense for Namgoong Hyeok.
A daughter born into a drab lineup of sons.
The youngest, at that.
No need to say how devotedly he'd raised Yeonhui.
"She's more confident in guarding than most people."
"Got it. Thanks for the advice."
"No problem. Hit me up if you need another favor later."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Brother-in-law, what the hell is this wound?!"
Yeonhui spotted the scratch on Yi Se-woong's cheek and yelped in shock. It was barely a fingernail scrape, but she was fretting like it was a catastrophe.
'That's why I slathered on ointment.'
His body had healed cleanly thanks to it, without a trace, but his face, with its thinner skin, hadn't recovered in one go.
"Th-this... on that perfect face! Did you get it sparring with Father?!"
"Tripped and fell."
"Liar! Anyone can see it's a sword cut. What if it scars...?"
Yeonhui couldn't bring herself to touch it, just staring at his cheek with worried eyes.
"Teasing me under the guise of sparring... I'll confront him later!"
"Don't overdo it. Injuries happen in sparring. And I got an elixir out of it."
"An elixir?"
Sorry, Namgoong Hyeok.
For breaking my promise after taking hush money.
Yi Se-woong offered a silent apology in his mind.
"Restoration Pill! Father gave you something this precious?!"
"Yeah. He said it was for the injury, but looks like he prepared it for me from the start."
"Father did...?"
Namgoong Hyeok looking out for Yi Se-woong.
That meant a lot to Yeonhui.
Had Father's mind changed since that incident?
"So, I wanted to ask you to guard me."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Third brother recommended you."
"You sure about me? Wouldn't it be better with someone stronger...?"
"I trust my Yeonhui."
Gasp.
Yeonhui sucked in a big breath.
Yi Se-woong's casual words hit her like a thunderbolt.
My Yeonhui...
"You'll do a great job, right?"
"Of course! Helping brother-in-law is my duty! I've pretty much tried every elixir out there since I was little. Leave it to me—I can guide the energy better than anyone!"
"You sound so reliable."
Yeonhui rarely boasted.
Seeing her this confident was reassuring.
Yi Se-woong relaxed and took off his top.
"B-brother-in-law! What are you...?"
"Huh? Don't we undress? I heard skin contact helps with guarding. I don't know much."
"That's true, but! Stripping like that scares me. Warn me at least...!"
Yi Se-woong's bare upper body, without a stitch on.
Compact muscles greeted Yeonhui.
Veins bulging to assert their presence.
She felt heat rush to her face.
'Oh no, my face must be red.'
Yi Se-woong had stripped purely for the guarding, no ulterior motives.
Gulp.
Yeonhui swallowed unconsciously and steeled herself.
Right, it's a necessary step.
Still, her gaze lingered, etching his muscles into her retinas.
"Why so shy?"
"Well..."
"We've seen each other naked before."
Whoosh.
Yi Se-woong was suddenly right in front of her.
He whispered softly in her ear.
'Why's he acting like this today?!'
It was weird.
He wasn't usually so forward with affection.
Even when Yeonhui acted spoiled, he'd just chuckle it off.
Suddenly closing in like this?
Some change of heart?
'Focus on guarding!'
Her heart pounded like a drum, but Yeonhui barely calmed it.
Now was the time to concentrate.
She sat behind him as he assumed the lotus position and reached out to his back.
'So firm.'
Yi Se-woong's body came into sharp focus.
Not easy even for women to maintain that.
Pale, smooth skin.
Contrasting rugged, bulging muscles.
Yeonhui needed several deep breaths to settle down.
"Alright, let's begin!"
At Yeonhui's cue, Yi Se-woong swallowed the Restoration Pill.
A rich, incense-like scent from temple rituals. Before the faint bitterness faded, fresh heat welled up from his stomach.
The pill's energy spread softly, soaking into his inner power. No rejection, as expected. That's why they rave about Shaolin. Yi Se-woong cleared his mind and spread the energy through his meridians.
A foreign sensation.
The unfamiliarity of non-inner power energy flowing through him? Occasionally, it strayed from his control.
That's when Yeonhui intervened, guiding it without injecting her own qi—just pointing the way. Thanks to her, Yi Se-woong absorbed it smoothly.
"Whew... Is it done?"
"Mostly. The remaining energy will naturally merge with your inner power as you circulate your heart method."
"Really? I don't feel much yet."
"You'll notice in a few days. It fused with your inner power more smoothly than expected."
About four hours total.
Time to fully contain the pill's energy. Still felt dazed. First time with an elixir, maybe. If Yeonhui said so, it must be fine.
Yi Se-woong stood, tilting his head.
"Thanks, Yeonhui."
"No big deal. It's what I should do."
"Gonna say it's your wifely duty again?"
"Obviously! Gotta take care of my husband!"
"Then I should give you a reward."
Reward?
Before she could process it...
Yi Se-woong pulled her into a hug.
"Eek?!"
She let out a silly squeak.
No time to mind it—her mind went blank.
Yi Se-woong's body was drenched in sweat.
A thick body scent rose from the sweat trickling down his nape.
Like cypress wood, with a raw, rugged edge. Yeonhui couldn't escape; she had to take it full force.
Her breath quickened.
Snip.
She inhaled to calm herself, but...
His scent filled her nostrils via her breath.
It threw her into panic.
'No strength...'
His arms tightly around her.
His pulse transmitted through their touching skin.
'What do I do...'
Yeonhui went limp.
Face flushed beet red.
All she could do was lean into Yi Se-woong and quiver.
Proficient at offense, but hopeless at defense—that was Yeonhui.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Something's off.
Since the day she guarded me...
Yeonhui's been avoiding me.