Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Runaway Girl Yuyeon (1)
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“The young lady just went out for a walk,”
the servant reported.
The Namgung Manor Lord dismissed him after hearing the news.
Yuyeon made it a daily routine to go for a walk about two hours after lunch.
This was entirely expected, and he always received such reports. In fact, the Manor Lord never overlooked even the smallest details related to Yuyeon—he made sure to stay informed about everything.
It wasn't out of fear that she might get hurt and anger the Immortal. No, it was purely out of profound parental love. Of course it was.
There was nothing worrisome about Yuyeon simply heading out for her walk. But lately, the Manor Lord had been agonizing inwardly over something connected to her.
It all stemmed from her eighth birthday.
It wasn't about the delicate matter of a girl's birthday party—one of the most sensitive issues in a young lady's life.
A child's birthday was typically a family affair, and even princesses of a nation didn't hold grand celebrations every year.
Only kings marked their birthdays with any real significance annually, but even then, it wasn't a major event. Large ceremonies in the capital happened only on occasions laden with special meaning.
So the Manor Lord wasn't fretting over how to tailor the party to a picky little girl's tastes.
No, it was solely because of his promise to the Daoist.
Yuyeon was so exceptionally bright and talented that over the past eight years, he'd managed to push his worries aside.
But now that the day had finally arrived, anxiety crept back in.
'If that Immortal holds me accountable for this, what will become of our family?'
The only true expert in the Namgung Manor was that one man. The Manor Lord had recruited a few decent guest cultivators as protectors to maintain the estate's dignity, but that was it.
He couldn't be sure they'd uphold their loyalty to the end if he died.
With no successor to carry on the family, they could easily turn into bandits, and that wouldn't raise any eyebrows in the jianghu. Having experienced the world's harsh realities firsthand, he knew this better than anyone.
His thoughts spiraled quietly: where to hide the family fortune, how much to leave for the First Wife and Second Wife later on.
Truly, the enviable agony of a man with multiple wives.
Just then, the First Wife entered his study.
“You seem troubled, dear.”
The Manor Lord looked at her.
Subtle makeup, impeccably dressed in noble lady's attire. Her hair was elegantly pinned up, without a hint of impropriety.
He was nearly forty this year, and she was the same age—both on the cusp of their forties.
Yet seeing his beautiful wife stirred desire in him, a failing entirely due to his own lack of self-discipline.
Originally, things between the First Wife and the Manor Lord had been very good, then distant, but six years ago, after she bore a son, their bond warmed again.
To be blunt, it was because the thorn in her side—the Third Wife—had died, her child turned out to be a daughter, and the next year, she herself gave birth to the eldest son, preserving her dignity as First Wife.
The Manor Lord's active support in this went without saying. Marital relations always began and ended with such matters. How fleeting it all was.
“Don't worry about it, my lady. It's just my personal fretting.”
In truth, it was a grave issue tied to the family's legacy.
But over the past eight years, he'd borne it alone, too afraid to casually speak of the Immortal's affairs.
“Even so, if you share a little, maybe I can think of something.”
The wife spoke softly, massaging his shoulders.
After some deliberation, the Manor Lord decided to open up slightly. It absolutely wasn't because he'd succumbed to her charms.
“It's nothing major, really. It's about Yuyeon's eighth birthday. The ones who helped bring her into the world are coming this time. I'm just wondering how best to receive them.”
He couldn't bring himself to say an Immortal was visiting, so he phrased it vaguely.
His wife smiled as if it were good news.
“Perfect. I've always admired how that child, orphaned young and blind, lives so bravely and unyieldingly. I wanted to cheer her on. Let's make this birthday grand—she'll surely love it.”
Hearing this, the Manor Lord thought it might indeed be best to greet the Immortal with splendor.
Yuyeon disliked crowds, and as someone destined to become the Immortal's disciple, there was no need to introduce her to outsiders anyway.
Her birthdays had always been quiet family affairs, so this angle hadn't occurred to him.
A grand celebration was now set.
But he pondered whether to invite outsiders.
He didn't want to bother the Immortal unnecessarily, yet it was a prime chance to flaunt ties with such a great figure.
He considered branch leaders, the County Magistrate, the County Governor.
“You're right, my lady. But it's a family event, so too many outsiders wouldn't do. And Yuyeon doesn't care for strangers. I'll select and invite the guests myself. Don't trouble yourself.”
“Oh, how could I not? As the principal wife, it's my duty to handle family events.”
Having borne the eldest son and being the first to marry the Manor Lord, the First Wife subtly sought firm recognition as the true principal wife.
This was one of the classic woes for men of this era with multiple wives.
A wife's status hinged on her quarters' prestige, distinguishing principal from concubine.
The principal wife became the family's matriarch, the di mu.
In her previous home, she'd been the first wife when the second arrived, securing better quarters.
But after moving to the Xifeng estate, she'd unwittingly ended up with equal ones—a deep affront to her pride.
The Manor Lord knew all this but pretended ignorance; meddling in wives' power plays was a fool's errand for a man.
Now, he saw a way to resolve it: entrust the event to her.
“Your words give me strength, my lady. Very well, I'll leave it to you. But as I said, I'll handle the guests myself.”
Her goal achieved, the First Wife bowed silently and withdrew.
That day, after her walk, Yuyeon returned to the Namgung Manor and ran into the First Wife in the inner courtyard.
“Hello, Mother.”
Yuyeon greeted her sweetly first.
Since her birth mother passed away soon after giving birth, Yuyeon had called both the First and Second Wives simply “Mother.”
The First Wife had grown accustomed to it from Yuyeon's oblivious baby days, letting it slide.
But deep down, it bothered her greatly.
As the “First” Wife, she naturally wished for children of later wives to address her as “Principal Mother.”
Yuyeon simply avoided favoring one over the other.
“Did you go for your walk today, Yuyeon? I wonder if you saw anything fun.”
But it was fine. This time, with the Manor Lord's permission, she'd solidify her position as principal wife.
Today, she treated Yuyeon with extra warmth.
“What could there be? I just surveyed the peaceful scenery of Xifeng County and came back.”
The phrasing—“surveyed”—startled the First Wife slightly. Was the girl teasing her?
In truth, Yuyeon navigated with Divine Sense, so she spoke without thinking. Such slips happened often.
No one pointed it out, so she remained oblivious.
It would seem odd to critique such wording, and who would dare rebuke the Manor Lord's precious Yuyeon with “Blind girl, what do you mean 'saw'?”
Not close friends trading jests, anyway.
For the record, Yuyeon had no friends.
Everyone in the county knew she frequented the private school, public academy, even bookstores—yet she'd never admitted it aloud. Not a speck of cuteness about her.
“As long as you enjoy it. Anyway, your eighth birthday is coming soon. You can look forward to this year. I've always wanted to reward your steadfastness. Is there anything you'd like?”
Yuyeon tilted her head slightly.
Birthdays were just markers, celebrated with fancier family meals and gifts from adults.
She rarely mentioned wishes; hers passed especially quietly.
Yuyeon believed it virtuous for children to gratefully accept whatever adults chose.
Mature and admirable as she was, she'd always taken what was given.
'But since she's asking first, it can't hurt to request something. Money's best, of course. Rare books would be nice too.'
Yuyeon always fancied herself a self-reliant, upright gentleman.
She couldn't bluntly demand cash—it lacked decorum—so she hesitated, choosing her words.
At least, that's how it looked to the First Wife.
Would the gentlemanly Yuyeon ever purse her lips like a shy girl? No, she was just calculating inwardly.
The tasteless First Wife seized the moment.
“Come to think of it, you're such a fine-looking girl, yet you always wear those drab clothes. I'll prepare a formal palace dress for the banquet.”
Yuyeon had such dresses, of course.
But she'd received them and never worn any. They hung pristine in her wardrobe's corner.
The First Wife knew this well.
Yuyeon's boyish declarations weren't recent or rare.
But accepting it as a direct gift meant she'd have to wear it for the First Wife's face.
In short, the First Wife was toying with her.
Dressing her prettily for the grand event might even smooth marriage prospects. Despite her affliction, Yuyeon was undeniably pretty—even to another woman.
It was the First Wife's way of looking after her.
As family matriarch, her children's good matches upheld the clan's honor.
Regrettably, this sealed Yuyeon's resolve.
'Today is the day.'
That night, Yuyeon rose quietly and began preparations.
She donned a sturdy, loose-fitting windbreaker from last winter, stuffing its inner pockets with several versatile wraps.
Finally, she tucked in a small money pouch. Everything else, she'd forage or buy.
Her room held valuables worth a fortune: silks, jades, gold ornaments.
Mostly gifts from the Manor Lord, some from the First or Second Wives, or her sisters.
She'd worn them occasionally to show appreciation, then stored them— all gleamed like new.
Books she'd collected filled shelves; there were also stationery sets from county heirs.
Perceptive ones, knowing her interests, gifted them to curry favor.
Nothing was in poor condition for selling.
Yet Yuyeon touched none of it.
Selling such items anywhere—even the capital—would draw pursuit.
This she'd learned from last winter's 'The Fleeing Lady and the Ronin, Vol. 3'.
'Pity the series got axed at Vol. 4. But I gained invaluable knowledge.'
For the record, the writing was masterful. Among books Yuyeon revisited when bored, it ranked above junk food.
She double-checked her belongings and slipped out.
Since age five, Yuyeon had her own room apart from the Wet Nurse.
But not fully independent— the Wet Nurse occupied the adjoining side room.
Opening the door carelessly would alert the light-sleeping Wet Nurse to her flight.
So Yuyeon used Object Manipulation—rarely employed—to float the door open and shut silently.
Layering on Concealing Form Formation, she ghosted out without a sound.
As you might have guessed, Yuyeon was running away.
But it wasn't mere petulance over dresses.
Though she'd hardly deny that played a part.
The main trigger: the sudden news of a grand banquet.
Her birthdays were modestly lavish meals—plainer than her sisters'.
Birthdays offered perfect pretext to introduce daughters properly to other houses' heirs.
Wealthy county families were invited; occasionally, officials from county or province visited the martial luminary Manor Lord.
Bringing their children. The Namgung estate's beautiful flowers were legendary.
Thus, Yuyeon's birthdays stayed family-only. She wouldn't marry, naturally.
She loathed boys' attentions; her Divine Sense made crowds exhausting.
So this exception demanded explanation.
Yuyeon immediately thought of the old cultivator.
Her mind foggy at the end, she hadn't caught details, but she remembered the old Daoist and Manor Lord promising her future.
She hadn't known when he'd come—now she did: this year.
No reason to stay. She disliked the jianghu world; cultivators even more.
Yet turning away tugged at memories: time with the Wet Nurse, manor life.
Not a joyful start, and she still didn't fully see herself as family. Bittersweet departure, human as it was.
So from a corner, she used Object Manipulation to fetch brush, ink, paper, and wrote a letter.
'I am leaving to find my own place.'
-Namgung Yuyeon, with apologies.-
Yuyeon had never once called herself “Namgung” in introductions.
First, everyone in the county knew she was a Namgung.
Second, uttering the fancy surname felt awkward, like a burdensome load thrust upon a transient guest.
She always remembered: not true family, merely a temporary guest.
Willful or not.
Speaking such a lofty name felt like lying.
But casting off all burdens, she felt oddly fresh about it.
Thus, in the letter—first and last—she used the surname. Like shedding borrowed clothes.