My Recovery Period - 2

The road to Kaepyeong was peaceful. Normally, I'd get tangled up in incidents at every stop, exchanging formalities with high officials along the way, which left me exhausted. Just the cities I visited and officials I met on the trip from Kaepyeong to Jiayu Pass—countless. But not this time. I was heading straight to Kaepyeong purely for recovery, nothing more. Thanks to that, no incidents or officials could hold me back.

"Wi-cheo."

"Yes, my lord."

"Feels like you're steadier than Kki-ing-i."

That let me enjoy the scenery from Jo Wi-cheo's back with a calmer mind than ever. Riding piggyback on a Chojeoljeong master using ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his lightness skill felt surprisingly comfortable, even on a person's back. Sure, being carried was awkward in principle, but there was no vibration. Of course, if asked whether I'd keep riding Jo Wi-cheo or switch back to Kki-ing-i, it'd be the latter every time. No matter how smooth, riding a person around just felt wrong. Others might think it was my crazy boss abusing his power.

"I'm putting extra care ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into my pace today."

Jo Wi-cheo answered my riding review with his usual calm. A thoughtful gesture. If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he'd run at full speed like normal, the vibrations would've transferred straight to me. My barely settled internal injuries could've flared up again. That's why I'd chosen Jo Wi-cheo over Kki-ing-i this time.

"I'll ride with you only until Kaepyeong."

- Kki-ing!

- Kki-iiing!

"Your antlers got snapped off, so take it easy for a bit. Carrying a grown man all the way to Kaepyeong isn't easy."

- Kki-ing...

Even Kki-ing-i needed recovery, just like me. Right after breaking off those massive antlers himself, making a sturdy spirit deer haul a full-grown man to Kaepyeong? Too harsh, even for a spirit beast. Truth be told, I wanted to carry Kki-ing-i too, but sprinting with a deer on my back was out of the question. I couldn't exactly tell Ak Wang, "Excuse me, but could you serve as my deer's mount?"

"We'll reach Seoan soon. Rest for about an hour, then move out."

"Ah, yes."

As I gazed wistfully at Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i trailing behind Jo Wi-cheo, Ak Wang up ahead called for a break.

A bit further past Seoan lay the Western Capital's Henan region, commonly called Luoyang. Once there, Kaepyeong was practically next door.

Was this distance really traversable this fast?

It was both awe-inspiring and bittersweet. My own trip from Kaepyeong to Jiayu Pass had taken ages, but even going straight, this felt too quick.

...I did loop around a lot.

Thinking back, before Jiayu Pass, I'd detoured through Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. No wonder it took so long—that route was a mess. No idea who planned it, but it was garbage. And I was the idiot who followed it.

Damn it.

I closed my eyes quietly, my heart heavy. At least after recovering in Kaepyeong, I wouldn't have to head to Qinghai.

"Yangyang Wang happened to have business at Kunlun Sect. His visit will be more effective than yours, so forget about Qinghai."

A king was going personally, after all.

I should send a thank-you letter soon.

I pictured Yangyang Wang, probably arriving at Kunlun Sect by now, and gave a wry smile. Ak Wang said it was business, but even Samshik or that brat Maek wouldn't buy it. If it was real business, he'd have visited Kunlun on imperial orders before Jiayu Pass.

...Still, grateful someone else was handling it. Honestly, trekking from Kaepyeong to Qinghai again sounded nightmarish.

Thank you, Yangyang Wang.

You probably went at Ak Wang's request, but thanks for stepping up. I'll bow toward your estate three times a day from now on.

The plan to rest just an hour fell apart the moment we arrived in Seoan. A single messenger hawk flew in from the direction of Kaepyeong. A mere hawk derailed the Iron King's plans with a thunderous crash. But there was no helping it. The hawk carried a letter with utterly shocking contents.

"Damn it."

The letter was a string of disasters, so Ak Wang incinerated it on the spot. A flawless Samadhi True Fire, but no one dared comment. I would've cursed under my breath too if Ak Wang weren't right there.

Handwriting.

My head throbbed. Why hadn't I thought of that? Such an obvious detail. Ak I-yeon, bedridden from qi deviation, had devoured countless books. With her literary cultivation, she'd spot even subtle phrasing changes, let alone a different handwriting. We basically sent a letter screaming "someone else wrote this." Worrying would be the sane response.

I'm going insane. Our first letter after ten days ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of silence—a ghostwritten one. Like a condolence note to a warrior's family.

"...We move out now."

Ak Wang, sharing my sentiment, spoke with uncharacteristic gravity.

Grandpa and Father-in-law still hadn't come today. The firmly shut main gate stood mockingly still.

"Yeon-i."

"Father?"

Still, I believed it would open someday—soon. As I stared at the gate, Father approached and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Let's go inside now. Standing in the wind isn't good for you."

"I'm fine. As a martial artist, this is nothing."

I forced a smile, but Father sighed softly.

"Your body's fine, but your heart isn't."

I bowed my head silently. He was right. I could handle the wind or standing all day since I might walk the martial path again. The problem was my heart burning away while I stood there blankly.

"Doing nothing only breeds more thoughts. A tiny seed in the heart blooms in an instant."

"I'm sorry..."

"I'm not scolding you. Worrying for your fiancé is fine, but don't greet his return looking haggard."

Another spot-on point, so I nodded mutely. When Un returned—just back in Kaepyeong—I had to greet him pretty and bright. I needed to warmly embrace the weary Un after his long journey. If he saw a tired fiancée instead of a smiling one, how worried he'd be.

"And with you standing there, everyone's tiptoeing around."

"S-sorry."

Father's half-joking rebuke made my face burn. I hadn't considered that. Standing alone in a place bustling with retainers and guests—anyone would notice.

"Yeon-i. I understand your worry. But would your grandfather lie just to dodge a crisis?"

"No..."

"What about your fiancé?"

"Un wouldn't lie either..."

Father gently hugged me.

"Then that's enough. You already know the answer but are fretting needlessly."

My trembling body calmed. The squeezing pain in my chest eased.

"If Grandfather wrote the letter, there must be good reason. You'll hear it directly when he returns to Kaepyeong."

"You're right, Father."

"That's my Yeon-i. So wise."

With that, Father spun me around and patted my back lightly.

"Now, go rest in your room."

"Yes, Father."

Worry for Un still weighed heavy, but my steps felt a bit lighter. Father worried for me like I did for Un. Keeping him uneasy to soothe myself was wrong. And as he advised, I'd greet Un brightly. A short nap and some makeup. With Grandfather, Un would reach Kaepyeong from Jiayu Pass in no time.

Un was back. Not that Father told me. I'd just given up standing endlessly at the gate—but I still checked it constantly: after training, after scriptures, after meals.

And then...

"...Un?"

"I-Yeon?"

I saw Un entering, carried on Jo Wi-cheo's back. I saw Kki-ing-i with one antler broken.

"U-Un..."

My hands began to shake. So many words I'd prepared, but only "Un" escaped my lips. Un, carried on someone else's back. Kki-ing-i's antler—the one that carried Un—broken. What on earth happened at Jiayu Pass? What disaster struck?

"I-Yeon, I can explain everything... I-Yeon!?"

"Yeon-i!"

Un and Grandfather's voices faintly registered, but I couldn't make them out. Instead of Un, the sky filled my vision.

"Yeon-i— she's collapsing— ——!"

"——! ——!"

Ah. I'm... collapsing.