Giving a Name to Someone (6)
I cooled Ohae's feverish forehead with a damp cloth. Whenever the cloth warmed from the heat, I dipped it back into the basin of water nearby and refreshed it. I nursed her in silence, repeating the process over and over.
"Young master, let me take over now. You should rest."
"...Nah, I'll do it. Sorry, but could you fetch some fresh water in the basin?"
'An 'I'm sorry' from that thick-skinned mouth of hers? No idea what happened, but she's really down in the dumps. Guess I'll make some meat dish for her tomorrow.'
Jang Sambung thought that to herself as she picked up the basin and left. Once I confirmed she was fully out of the room, I rolled up Ohae's sleeve and checked her pulse. Fortunately, nothing seriously wrong. Her dantian was completely drained of inner energy, and she'd pushed her body too hard, leading to exhaustion.
"Set your mind straight, and emotions fade. When the body weakens, build up your energy."
I straightened her posture, circulated the Quanzhen Orthodox Inner Cultivation Method, and channeled my inner energy through her wrist. It wasn't my first time using the inner method for healing. I'd adapted it before to treat minor scrapes from training, hiding them from Mother.
"When the mind dies, the spirit lives. When yang flourishes, yin dissipates."
Infusing true energy to heal someone else was new, but it was fine. I was Sima Mancheon, the genius who could even deceive the heavens. Plus, we'd both learned the Quanzhen Orthodox Inner Cultivation Method, so there was no risk of tangled energy leading to qi deviation. She was a sturdy kid to begin with, and once I got the method flowing, her energy recovered quickly. Now I just had to swap out the cloth and wait for the fever to break.
...
I blinked my eyes open, coming to. Must've dozed off while nursing her. The cloth's probably lukewarm now. Time to change it.
In the dark room, a pair of cat-like, sparkling blue eyes stared straight through me. It was Ohae.
"...Awake?"
"Yeah."
"Any pain?"
"Nope."
"Good."
Silence settled in. After a moment's thought, I asked what felt like an important question.
"Ohae, do you like martial arts?"
"...Dunno."
Unexpected. Her eyes always lit up whenever I taught her new techniques. She was full of enthusiasm too. I'd assumed she loved martial arts itself.
"Then why'd you train so hard?"
Ohae glanced cautiously at my face, then slowly pulled the blanket up to hide it.
"...Cuz I like it."
The blanket lowered a bit, and only her round, pretty blue eyes peeked out, looking up at me.
"Cuz Mancheon likes it. So I like it too."
"...You think I like martial arts?"
"Yeah. Whenever you talk about it, your eyes sparkle. So I like it too."
She likes it because I do? What a kid...
...She really is a kid.
I deflated. What the hell was I so scared of? Idiot.
Her forehead felt cool when I touched it—the fever was gone. No need to nurse her anymore. I lay down beside her and stretched out an arm, pulling her into my embrace. She fit perfectly.
"!!!!!"
"You climb on top of me when I fall asleep anyway. Let's just sleep like this tonight."
I gently patted her small back.
"I don't love martial arts. I just like them."
I whispered softly to Ohae, who buried her face in my chest and went quiet.
"...Martial arts are nothing. The world's full of way more fun stuff. So starting tomorrow, let's play together."
Pat, pat.
"We'll grab snacks at the market. Check out some toys."
"Oh, flower viewing sounds nice. And water play."
Pat, pat.
"Yeah... yeah... with Chick-Chick too."
"...Come to think of it, I never taught you yutnori, the most fun game ever."
Pat, pat.
"Plenty of time. We'll do tons... tons of it together. ...Getting sleepy now. ...Night."
Mancheon drifted off with a refreshing sense of relief, but Ohae couldn't sleep. Her fever was gone, but her face burned hot, flushing red. She needed that damp cloth.
Life at the Jegal family manor wasn't boring before, but now it was insanely busy. I taught Ohae all sorts of games while still drilling her in martial arts. Once you commit to teaching, you do it right—no half-assing.
One thing I realized from ongoing lessons: martial arts really do depend on your constitution.
"You really don't get it? This is super easy."
"...No. It's hard."
I figured since she picked up the Quanzhen Orthodox Inner Cultivation Method and Empty Brightness Fist so easily, she'd master the Celestial North Dipper Formation in no time. But nope, she just couldn't grasp it. The core principle is simple—memorize the pattern and move accordingly. Why is this so tough for her?
Looks like group tactics just don't suit her. But then she mastered Dual Hands Mutual Combat like it was nothing. How?!
"What? I only explained the theory. How are you even using it!?"
"Huh? It's easy. Like this. Like that. And that way. Done."
...Master was right. Dual Hands Mutual Combat is for simple-minded folks too smart for their own good.
Honestly, who needs that crap? Not jealous at all. I've got my Dog-Beating Stick Technique. Staff art supremacy~ Forever together. Thwack~ Thwack!
(Of course, partner!)
As I polished my staff, savoring defeat's bitter taste, Ohae started feeding and playing with her soulmate, Chick-Chick.
"Tweet~ Tweet~ Tweet tweet~ Tweet~"
Chick-Chick was much better now, able to flit around a bit. For the pricey treatment from the physician, it'd better fly—or it'd be sparrow roast that day.
"Definitely flying around after the doc's treatment. Sparrow healing, huh? Bet the physician was stunned. How much'd it cost?"
I pulled jerky from my robes, chomped it, and held up two fingers at Jang Sambung's question.
"Two silver taels. Said small ones are trickier to treat."
"Holy shit. Might as well buy a new one."
I watched Ohae play with the sparrow, grinning like she owned the world. Even in the same room, it felt like we were divided: the jaded, corrupt adult world versus her pure, untainted innocence.
"Don't be like that. There are tons of sparrows in the world, but Chick-Chick's one-of-a-kind to Ohae."
Struck by my poignant wisdom, Jang Sambung rolled her eyes and stuck out her hand.
"Then I'm one-of-a-kind Jang Sambung too. Cough up two silvers."
I whacked her head with my shiny, well-maintained staff.
Clang!
"Gah?!"
"Think I'm easy 'cuz I've been chill lately? Go make food. Shoo."
I taught her martial arts, indoor and courtyard games. She was a natural at tag and hide-and-seek. Now it was time for outdoor fun. Perfect timing with the festival coming up—I'd take her out then.
But plans hit a snag. The Jegal family blocked Ohae's outings. Someone from the family even came to "advise" me—basically, quit messing around. Stop hanging with Ohae.
If Father's friend Jegal Biyeong were here, he might've backed me up, but he's off on some Murim Alliance mission.
Could a kid who knows a bit of martial arts protect a poor girl in the heart of the clan's mafia cartel turf? Answer: no way.
But that doesn't mean stop thinking. Figure out the why and how. Keep the brain churning. One universal truth: the fish that stops swimming dies first.
From my view, at least the family head, Jegal Gyugeun, isn't behind isolating Ohae again. He's the one who let her get abused in the first place, but not this time. He's hands-off—doesn't care if she's mistreated, as long as she's out of sight. He won't bother doting or checking on her.