Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Ordinary Yuyeon (3)
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Yuyeon often forgot that she was blind, thanks to her Divine Sense.
However, no one knew about her supernatural ability, so she always had to keep servants around to act as her eyes. Usually, that was the Wet Nurse's role.
That said, Yuyeon needed time to herself.
It wasn't for savoring solitude or indulging in deep emotions. As mentioned, it was to maintain the Concealing Form Formation.
As stated before, Yuyeon didn't want others to know about her extraordinary nature.
On top of that, she was perceptive and conscious of others' gazes. She knew exactly what would happen if people saw her, a mere child, already circulating her energy.
'Do you think I'd flaunt my exceptional talents just to hear the rumors that would spread?'
Yuyeon wanted nothing more to do with her life getting tangled up in Immortal Cultivation or the martial world.
In any case, she occasionally asked the Wet Nurse for some alone time, a set amount each time.
And that was also why she found her younger brother so annoying—and adorably so—for interrupting her solitude out of the blue, and why she punished him for it.
But if you flipped the story so far, it also meant Yuyeon entrusted most of her daily life to the Wet Nurse.
For example, even now, when picking out clothes for going out.
The Wet Nurse held up a bright, pretty outfit to Yuyeon. Yuyeon recoiled inwardly in horror, taking a small step back and shaking her head.
The Wet Nurse gave an awkward smile and put the clothes back in the wardrobe.
It was full of bright-colored outer robes adorned with fancy fabrics that girls would love, but they all looked brand new.
The reason was obvious: Yuyeon freaked out at such clothes. She preferred manly attire in line with her inner self as a grown man.
Among them, she favored the simple scholar's robes that boys wore to the private school.
Of course, being a girl, she couldn't attend the school. Or rather, she hadn't.
'Of course not.'
Even if she could, it would be childish and beneath her level—she had no intention of going! That was her private thought.
In any case, though she had no connection to the school, Yuyeon liked the simple, scholarly clothes that boys mainly wore.
On the other hand, the Wet Nurse never gave up, always trying to dress her in something cute now and then. Of course, Yuyeon always refused like a ghost sensing it coming.
"Young Lady, sometimes I wonder if you really can't see at all—it's amazing how you distinguish girls' clothes from boys' so precisely."
"I have my own ways. So please give up already."
"Yes, ma'am—who could argue?"
Of course, even as she said that, the Wet Nurse had no intention of giving up. She secretly vowed to one day dress Yuyeon up properly.
After their usual back-and-forth, Yuyeon finished preparing to go out.
She wore her familiar light outing clothes underneath, topped with her favorite outer robe.
The name Northern Sea Province made it sound like there should be an ice palace somewhere, evoking biting cold. But digging into the meaning revealed it wasn't so.
Northern Sea Province simply meant the land with a sea to the north.
And that sea was like the Mediterranean, caught between two continents, slicing through the middle of the continent.
In other words, Northern Sea Province was actually closer to the south geographically. It had all four seasons and a mild climate, making it a pleasant place to live.
Thanks to that, there was no need for thick padded clothes this time of year, nor for pulling a children's hat over her head.
For the record, hats were one of the things Yuyeon hated as much as frilly girls' clothes.
Not because they trapped heat on her head and harmed hair health. Never that.
As Yuyeon stepped out of the manor for her walk, gazes naturally followed her.
At the same time, six warriors followed behind her and the Wet Nurse, two pairs keeping about ten paces back.
Originally, bringing so many escorts for a stroll inside the city walls felt awkward and excessive. Even high officials didn't do that.
But everyone in Xifeng County knew Yuyeon was blind, so no one criticized it.
Instead, they wondered why the escorts weren't right beside her but hanging back so far.
All sorts of rumors flew, but the truth was simple: Yuyeon didn't like strolling with escorts in tow.
One reason was the discomfort of having several armed men in her Divine Sense range.
The second was that she already drew enough eyes when going out—she didn't want to advertise "I'm out for a walk!"
But unaware of her feelings, the escorts had once tried to follow much closer.
When she firmly refused, they didn't know what to do. For reference, in Namgung Manor, the consensus was that the Lord's beloved youngest daughter came first, and the manor itself second.
In the end, they chose to follow from a distance stealthily. But Yuyeon sensed it like a ghost and wouldn't budge until they backed off.
At first, the escorts wondered if she truly knew or was just testing them.
But after a few tries, they all realized she could precisely detect them trailing behind.
Well, with her Divine Sense, it was easy to pick up faint sounds from afar and piece them together.
In the end, only after the Namgung Manor Lord—treating his daughter like royalty—came and pleaded with her did they agree on ten paces back, leading to the current setup.
Townsfolk had no way of knowing these details.
With her striking appearance and unique background, Yuyeon was one of the most watched people in Xifeng County.
A blind child who never once tripped, stumbled, or wobbled—it amazed everyone.
Sometimes, she'd speak like an adult in a child's clear, jade-like voice. To townsfolk, she felt like someone from another world.
Especially to kids her age, she was an object of envy.
Several incidents had fueled this perception, all happening during her walks.
Once, while strolling, Yuyeon came upon two men arguing heatedly.
One was a martial family heir learning martial arts to roam the jianghu; the other, a scholar attending the county school.
She didn't know what started it, but tempers flared, and they called each other clueless fools.
Essentially, the martial artist dreamed of venturing into the jianghu like the Namgung Manor Lord, making a name and fortune—so he focused on sword over books.
The scholar, meanwhile, aimed for an official post via recommendations from school seniors, seeing it as more realistic and honorable, and dismissed the jianghu dreamer.
They'd started with constructive talk but, egos bruised, devolved into an emotional shouting match, causing a scene.
This path was one Yuyeon frequented, so she quietly watched before speaking up.
"A gentleman becomes crude if his foundation overcomes his refinement, and overly pretentious if his refinement overcomes his foundation. Only when refinement and foundation harmonize perfectly can one become a true gentleman."
Her voice wasn't loud, but its clear, pleasant high tone drew everyone's attention.
Even more remarkably, it was a direct quote from the book the scholar held.
Those present with any learning recognized it at once; even the unlearned could tell she was citing a classic amid their spat.
Everyone stared at the child in wonder. The arguers paused, grasped the situation a beat late, stopped fighting, and felt ashamed.
After this, fewer people caused scenes on Yuyeon's usual paths. The full story was this:
Yuyeon had just been spectating like it was a show. Fights and fires are must-sees, after all.
Then her Divine Sense caught the book in the scholar's hand.
Reading the cover, she realized it was his study text. Curiosity struck—what did scholars here learn?
Yuyeon was an avid reader who'd skimmed the Four Books and Three Classics back in her past life. She wondered about this world's scholarly texts.
Plus, she hadn't read a book in years. She craved one badly.
The Namgung family was nouveau riche; the manor had little beyond ledgers for the Lord's review.
And being a blind girl, she couldn't request books. Who'd bring them to a child girl who hadn't even learned to read?
Thus, Yuyeon hadn't read a new book in six years.
She'd just sit blankly, dredging up old reads with her freakishly improved memory, rereading them endlessly in her mind.
Her Divine Sense brushed the book just as her longing peaked, and it eagerly scanned the text.
That was when Yuyeon learned a new trick for her Divine Sense.
Focusing intently on desired info made it respond accordingly.
She'd vaguely known from a past-life cult book that it could read "jade slips," special info mediums.
But she hadn't realized it worked on normal books—or quite like this.
Excited, she devoured the book in her head.
A passage matching the scene flashed by, and she blurted it out loud in the thrill.
Realizing her mistake too late—she'd acted like an excited kid, muttering aloud—she felt adult shame and hurried off.
But onlookers saw it as mystical and lofty.
Anyway, this incident revealed she could read books without opening them, birthing her essential walking route:
The private school, county school, and bookstore.
That's when her daily walks began.
Yes, Yuyeon just wanted to sneak peeks at books that day. But people saw it the opposite way.
Reciting classics young was standard for geniuses here.
But Yuyeon? A girl, blind to boot. Surely her ambitions were stifled.
Yet she passed the school walls daily, so people pitied her earnestly.
They thought she eavesdropped to study. Not wrong, just emotionally off.
For the record, folks saw it as a child genius's tragedy. Yuyeon figured they stared because she was pretty and cute.
As a man inside, it embarrassed and secretly thrilled her. She walked, basking self-consciously in the attention.
Especially at the bookstore, her steps slowed markedly. The regular owner and Wet Nurse nearly teared up each time.
When Yuyeon shivered faintly, they'd blame the heavens.
'How can Heaven be so cruel to such a talented young girl with great aspirations?'
The big gap? Yuyeon thrilled at free peeks, sometimes giddy over "jackpots."
Today, she finished her route, fulfilling her reading quota.
Luckily, new light novels dropped, lifting her mood.
Reading free daily felt guilty toward the owner, so Yuyeon acted with conscience.
"Shopkeeper, how much is this book?"
When allowance was ample, she'd buy one.
Obviously, buying light novels would shame even a child from a rich house—miss, no, young master that she was.
To save face, she always bought the priciest, dullest classics.
No need to discuss the resulting misconceptions.
From her past life's knowledge, new books were rare here.
Most were personal manuscripts leaking to market, or scholars copying classics to pad resumes—few true novelties.
But this world—at least Fu Nation, where Yuyeon lived—was better.
Paper was common, printing tech existed. Books weren't precious rarities.
Thus, fun-driven light novels thrived.
Airily, one staple was collecting real jianghu tales, fictionalizing characters, and selling as novels.
Not being a typical girl her age, Yuyeon pieced this together from context.
Once aware, she justified reading them: learning the world was essential for someday.
Because Yuyeon planned to run away when the chance came.