Chapter 53
Chapter 53
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Side Effect
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A glint appeared in Palace Lord Ok Tae-je's eyes.
"A strange guy? If he's strange... could he be the legendary protagonist we've been searching for?"
The man shook his head as he replied.
"No, he didn't seem like that at all. He was... far too ordinary."
"Hmph. Hiding the extraordinary within the ordinary—that's the very charm of a protagonist."
"You're right, Palace Lord. This subordinate has much to learn."
Just then, as if it had suddenly come to mind, Ok Tae-je spoke up.
"By the way, where exactly was Gu Cheon-se seriously injured?"
"Well..."
The man scratched his head awkwardly.
Ok Tae-je bellowed.
"Why can't you speak?!"
"Y-yes, sir. I'll tell you. He... suffered fractures in his right arm and both legs."
Ok Tae-je's expression remained unchanged.
"But that's nothing compared to his other injuries."
"Other injuries?"
"Yes. He... can never father children again."
Ok Tae-je blinked for a moment.
Then...
"Uhahahahaha!"
He burst into laughter that shook the palace.
"Hahaha! Turned into a eunuch? What karma... That wastrel can never use his manhood again... Now that's hilarious. Heh heh heh."
After laughing until tears streamed from his eyes, Ok Tae-je finally continued.
"Who did it?"
The man shook his head as he answered.
"We were scouting elsewhere and arrived late. There was only one woman and one man lying there, plus a young male disciple."
"Hmm... How peculiar..."
Ok Tae-je fell silent, lost in thought.
The man spoke.
"What should we do with Gu Cheon-se?"
Ok Tae-je replied.
"Gu Cheon-se... Well, he still has his uses. A master of that caliber is rare. Since he's injured and can't chase women anymore... We'll keep an eye on him for now. Make sure his limbs are properly set."
"Yes, Palace Lord. Understood. This subordinate will take his leave."
Ok Tae-je nodded, watching his subordinate's retreating figure as he sank deeper into contemplation.
Han Ibi was terribly curious about So Eun-ri's current condition.
After much deliberation, he headed to the lodging where Bok Yeon-hwa and So Eun-ri were staying together.
The two were using a small building in a quiet corner of the Qingcheng Sect grounds—a former stable that had been repurposed.
When Bok Yeon-hwa returned to the sect and insisted on using the stable, everyone had rolled up their sleeves to dissuade her...
But no one could break her stubborn will.
In truth, she simply wanted a secluded spot for undisturbed training.
So Han Ibi's visit wouldn't draw any eyes.
Knock knock knock.
Han Ibi performed the universal courtesy of knocking.
"Who is it?"
Bok Yeon-hwa's irritable voice rang out.
It wasn't without reason—the Qingcheng Sect disciples knew Elder Bok's temper all too well and wouldn't dare disturb her rest.
Han Ibi spoke in a low voice.
"It's... Elder. Jong Ri-mae here."
"What?"
Clearing his throat, Han Ibi repeated himself.
"Jong Ri-mae is here. Could you open the door... just for a moment?"
A brief silence followed.
He wondered if he should press his ear to the door when...
A voice came from inside.
"It's open. Come in."
Han Ibi quickly replied.
"Yes. Thank you, Elder."
The old wooden door creaked open.
'Gah!'
As soon as Han Ibi stepped inside, Bok Yeon-hwa fixed him with a tiger-like glare.
She barked in a booming voice.
"What do you want?"
Han Ibi hesitated before answering.
"Ah... well... I was worried about Junior Sister So..."
"Hmph. A mouse fretting over a cat?"
"No, that's not it..."
Just then, Han Ibi caught sight of So Eun-ri lying on the bed behind Bok Yeon-hwa's shoulder.
Seizing the moment, he stepped forward toward her.
"Ah! Junior Sister So. How are you feeling?"
So Eun-ri weakly opened her eyes and murmured.
"I asked them to let you in."
Han Ibi blinked in confusion, but she continued.
"I said I had something to ask you."
Understanding dawned on him, and he smiled gently.
"Aha. I see. Go ahead, Junior Sister So."
So Eun-ri closed her eyes again, then struggled to open them.
"That day... I don't remember clearly, but... when I collapsed from the poison, it felt like you... like you did something..."
'Gah... Does she somehow remember my covert actions...?'
He vigorously waved his hands.
"Must've been the poison's effects. I collapsed right alongside you. I nearly... Ahh... I almost..."
So Eun-ri made a horrified face and cut him off.
"Enough. Say no more."
It was understandable.
She had nearly witnessed the horrific moment when Han Ibi was almost assaulted...
Han Ibi said.
"Anyway, I truly owe you my life, Junior Sister So. Thanks to you... I made it out unharmed. But I'm worried about your condition. How are you holding up?"
A gruff voice came from behind him.
"Don't bother the sick girl. If you're done, get out. Eun-ri can barely move right now."
"Ah... Y-yes. Right... But... how's her internal energy circulation? Any lasting damage?"
Bok Yeon-hwa scowled as she replied.
"Her qi is unstable... The intermittent breaks and reverse flows are still happening."
"Tch..."
Han Ibi clicked his tongue, feigning concern. In her state, participating in the Sect Leader Selection Tournament is out of the question.
Better to push Jong Ri-hyeok in as planned.
At that moment.
"I will!"
Han Ibi and Bok Yeon-hwa turned to see So Eun-ri.
With a resolute expression, she declared.
"I will enter the tournament. It's been postponed, so I'll recover by then."
Whoa~ Look at that iron will.
She's the spitting image of her master.
But the story must follow its course. Can't let it veer off like this.
The more it twists, the harder it gets for me to predict the future...
Han Ibi said.
"Elder Bok, wouldn't it be wise to reconsider? For example, have my brother compete in Junior Sister So's place..."
Bok Yeon-hwa shook her head.
"You mean Jong Ri-hyeok? He's decent enough, but a novice compared to Eun-ri."
No... That kid's the protagonist of this world... You're the one who's mistaken, granny!
"Besides... the generational ranks don't match."
"Generational ranks?"
"Exactly. So Eun-ri is my direct disciple, making her second-generation like Seong Chun-don. But Jong Ri-hyeok is third-generation, so he doesn't qualify for the tournament rules."
'This old lady's really testing me... In the novel, when So Eun-ri got injured, you forced Jong Ri-hyeok in as her substitute!'
But he couldn't let it show.
Han Ibi gave an awkward smile.
"I... see. There's a rule like that."
He sighed deeply inwardly.
'Whew... Looks like I really shouldn't have shown up here... It's all tangled up beyond repair...'
"If you're done, please leave."
Bok Yeon-hwa issued her dismissal.
Han Ibi gathered his swirling thoughts and left their lodging.
Qingcheng Sect elders' meeting.
Today's hot topic was, without a doubt, the villains who had ambushed So Eun-ri and Jong Ri-hyeok.
Of course, Jong Ri-mae was conspicuously absent from the discussion, as if by prior agreement...
Bok Yeon-hwa raised her voice.
"This is an unprecedented humiliation in the history of our Great Qingcheng Sect! We must form a pursuit team immediately and exterminate them!"
Lee Sin-song countered.
"But we don't even know who's behind them. How can we act rashly?"
"That's why we send a pursuit team to uncover their backing!"
At that moment, the most hot-tempered elder, Ki Baek-eom, shouted.
"Exactly! Track them down and capture them all!"
Nam Cheol-hong spoke up.
"Rushing won't solve this. We can afford to think it through carefully."
Lee Sin-song added.
"Indeed. We need to reorganize our forces first. Moreover... we have the critical matter of selecting the next Sect Leader ahead."
Bok Yeon-hwa shrieked in agitation.
"What nonsense is that? Our current Sect Leader is sitting right here, eyes blazing!"
Sect Leader Hong Gu-geum waved a hand to calm them.
"Everyone, lower your voices."
All eyes turned to Hong Gu-geum.
"Both sides have valid points... But with the selection deadline passed and me staying silent, it'll breed misunderstandings."
Bok Yeon-hwa retorted.
"With such a crisis in the sect, who would dare misunderstand?"
Hong Gu-geum smiled.
"Now, now, Elder Bok. Hear me out without getting worked up. Per Qingcheng Sect rules, if the tournament is delayed, it can be postponed up to ninety-nine days. That number holds profound meaning tied to our sect's principles."
The number ninety-nine was also seen in the Qingcheng Sect as one that invited fortune and repelled misfortune.
Bok Yeon-hwa protested.
"That's absurd. With danger at our doorstep..."
Hong Gu-geum cut her off sharply.
"Listen, Elder Bok. You just spoke of me with respect moments ago, but now you act like I'm not even here."
At a loss for words, Bok Yeon-hwa fell silent.
Hong Gu-geum declared.
"As Sect Leader of Qingcheng, I hereby proclaim: The Qingcheng Sect Leader Selection Tournament shall be delayed ninety-nine days per sect rules. We will dispatch two disciples to investigate the villains' backing. Further actions will be at the new Sect Leader's discretion. Is that clear to all?"
These days, Han Ibi was visiting So Eun-ri's quarters every other day.
So Eun-ri didn't seem entirely displeased—though not thrilled either—but Bok Yeon-hwa was quite annoyed.
"You shouldn't come anymore."
She'd said it multiple times already.
But Han Ibi held firm.
"All this happened to save me. How can a true man ignore that? I'll do whatever I can until Junior Sister So fully recovers."
Her persistence wore Bok Yeon-hwa down completely. Of course, her packed schedule meant she couldn't block him every time...
One day, Han Ibi felt a spark of inspiration.
He organized his thoughts.
Operation name: 'Restore the Story to Its Original Path.'
Above all, keeping the plot on track was essential for his own survival.
Han Ibi pondered deeply.
How to steer things back to the original story?
In short... how to ensure Bok Yeon-hwa's faction wins the Sect Leader Selection Tournament...
'First, the constraints. Hmm... So Eun-ri's dead set on competing, but she's not fully healed. If she faces that bastard Seong Chun-don in her half-recovered state... she'll lose every time.'
Clutching his head, Han Ibi thought further.
'If I can't change this flow, maybe it's better to help her recover completely.'
And so, Han Ibi devised his plan.
(To be continued in the next installment)