Regret, Ruin, Awakening (8)
"Sima Gongzi is my precious benefactor. If you wish to learn, of course I must teach you. However…."
As her words trailed off, Soso's calm gray eyes darkened.
"It's not important, but… could you tell me who 'Yeomhwa' is, and what your relationship is?"
"Pardon? Yeomhwa?"
"Yes. Yeomhwa."
Her completely unexpected question made me blink in surprise, but Soso's expression was utterly serious. Beneath her usual composed face, real emotion flickered through. She was genuinely curious.
…But my relationship with Yeomhwa? Looking up at the sky to sort through the tangled emotions that made a simple brother-sister explanation impossible, I saw Yeomhwa's face floating amid the drifting clouds. Cherished memories surfaced.
After the Demonic Cult raid, Uncle Mukgang had taught me esoteric external training from his sect. So there I was, doing muscle workouts in the courtyard, and right on cue as my session ended, Yeomhwa would appear with food or snacks.
"Orabeoni, you must be hungry. Here's some Khoresh Fesenjan—great for restoring stamina."
"…Huh? Kho-what? What?"
"Khoresh Fesenjan. It's a stew made by simmering pomegranate molasses, walnut powder, chicken, and various spices for about two hours."
I never dreamed I'd get authentic Persian—Iranian?—traditional cuisine in a Central Plains household, something I'd never even tasted in my past life.
"Back home, it's a dish prepared for special occasions or honored guests, since it takes so much time."
Sure enough, with pomegranate and spices, the ingredients weren't cheap—it wasn't something you whipped up easily.
"But today's not special, and there's no honored guest. Thinking of you slaving away in the kitchen just for me makes me feel guilty eating it…?!"
The warm stew filled my mouth with its sweet-tart, clean flavor—delicious was the only word for it.
"Hehe~ No need to think that way."
Yeomhwa, who had scooped up the affection-packed stew and stuffed it into my mouth, flashed a radiant smile, boldly dismantling my needless worries.
"To me, orabeoni is the most precious person in the world—my husband, even."
No empty words. To Yeomhwa, Mancheon was the most treasured person who had brought light to her barren life. And weren't we bound as husband and wife under the peach tree, swearing our love? For her beloved husband and orabeoni, this was no hardship at all.
"So just eat up and enjoy, orabeoni."
I swallowed the warm stew, gazing into those red eyes fixed solely on me. A smile bloomed naturally. In response to her adorably irrefutable logic, I gently stroked the head of my hardworking sister.
"Thanks. I'll dig in."
No more words needed. From then on, I'd show my gratitude through actions. I happily devoured and savored every dish Yeomhwa had prepared just for me.
‧ ‧ ‧
…And starting with the stew, by the time I finished the full Persian course including dessert, my stomach was stuffed to bursting. I raised the white flag.
"Hoo… hoo… Yeomhwa, too much food… I'm not Sima Mancheon anymore—I'm Sima Manbok, Fullbelly Sima…."
I thrust out my bloated belly as proof, and Yeomhwa covered her mouth with elegant fingers, chuckling softly. Then she brought her slender white hand to my rounded gut and stroked it tenderly.
"Hehe~ It's fine. Even if you gain weight, orabeoni is still the handsomest in the world. And…"
Suddenly, a shadow darkened Yeomhwa's face. Sultry flames danced in her red eyes. She whispered so softly it was barely audible.
"To ward off those thieving cats, getting a bit round and cute might not be so bad."
I had no idea how me getting pudgy and cute connected to keeping stray cats away, but after that, Yeomhwa kept fussing over my health and making delicious meals. Preparing ingredients, prepping them—it wasn't easy work. What a sweet, caring girl.
…That's why I snapped out of the flashback, pouring my usual gratitude into introducing my lovely little sister to Soso.
"Yeomhwa is my precious little sister. And she always made me meals."
"…Pardon? Meals?"
"Yeah. Always tasty ones. These days, when I'm hungry, her face pops up instead of Mother's."
Soso nodded slowly at my answer.
"I see… So that morning, on an empty stomach after just liquor… you were calling for Yeomhwa… Not comparing me to Mother…."
Relieved that Yeomhwa wasn't Mancheon's lover but his sister—contrary to her fears—Soso placed a hand on her chest and sighed in relief. Freed from the anxiety that had plagued her since morning, she regained her calm, gentle expression. Meeting the beast-like, greedy yet pure amber eyes of Mancheon, she smiled softly.
"Thank you for answering, Sima Gongzi. Now, I'll teach you how to apply inner energy."
She had borrowed the hot spring solely to help with Mancheon's training. Whatever his relationship with Yeomhwa, she'd planned to teach him from the start.
…But even she hadn't realized why she'd asked about 'Yeomhwa'—a question that could stir unease—right before serious training began. Her cool gray eyes, chill as winter, reflected only Mancheon. In the heart of this love-ignorant girl, seeds of possessiveness began to sprout.
Just as warrior realms have names like third-rate, first-rate, peak, lightness skills too vary by proficiency and execution.
The most basic is Grass Flying Step. As the name says, flying across grass blades—grand title for simply bounding with inner energy.
That was my current level with the Forward Church's staple Golden Goose Skill.
Second stage: Treading Snow Without Trace. Treading snow leaves no footprints, using inner energy to lighten the body and boost efficiency.
To master Treading Frost Shattering Ice Palm, which demands precise control, I naturally needed Treading Snow Without Trace.
…And to reach that, I needed Thousand Jin Weight.
A wry smile escaped me. This martial world was wave after endless wave.
…But what could I do? The thirsty dig wells, the eager train. Endless is what keeps it fresh and fun. Martial arts truly were endless long-term content, never boring.
"With your solid foundation and stable core, Sima Gongzi, you'll reach Treading Snow Without Trace quickly once you learn inner energy control."
I gazed at Soso, balanced on one foot atop a wooden plank floating lightly in the hot spring's center, her inner energy reducing her weight. The water was mirror-still—impossible with someone standing there. The reverse of Thousand Jin Weight.
Training was theory plus practice. Following her instructions, I applied inner energy and stepped confidently onto the plank.
…And slipped, staring at the clear sky as I plunged into the warm spring.
Day: Treading Snow Without Trace with Soso. Night: theory on Treading Frost Shattering Ice Palm with Little Master Wang Miyang. A monumental first dip.
Three days into serious training. Thanks to consistent basics from my childhood master, as Soso predicted, I clumsily but quickly reached Treading Snow Without Trace.
Problem: not a single clean Treading Frost Shattering Ice Palm success.
Like mountaineering, stalled just shy of the peak on a steep slope, stamina drained. So close, yet stuck. Frustrating.
With recovery ending soon and return to the Murim Alliance looming, impatience gnawed.
As I waited downstairs for Little Master Wang Miyang—who'd stepped out briefly—Soso approached.
"Sima Gongzi, I must meet a cousin here briefly. I'll go welcome her."
"Sure, be careful. Is she a Namgung too?"
Knowing some Namgung elders targeted her after the assassination, I worried.
Grasping my intent, Soso wryly shook her head.
"No, from Mother's side. I'll be right back."
She'd wanted private time with Mancheon, but fearing trouble from her cousin—the North Sea Ice Palace princess—she hurried off.
…And unluckily, as Soso left toward the village gate, a girl with snow-white hair and skin, gleaming golden eyes—eerily resembling Soso—entered with attendants and guards.
"Th-the Ice Dragon's sister, Snow Phoenix Seol Wolhwa, came especially to see you! Show yourself, Sword Dragon!!"
Her bold voice rang through the inn, drawing all eyes to Wolhwa—but her cousin, the Sword Dragon Namgung Soso (in male guise), was nowhere.
"We agreed to meet here—where is she?!"
"Seems we crossed paths. We'll send a servant to find her. Please sit and wait."
Excited to see Soso, Wolhwa grumbled but sat and ordered refreshments, no other choice.
To deflect, servants tossed bait amid the chatter.
"Milady, word is Jegal Ohae, that monster, arrived at the Murim Alliance for the Young Phoenix Tournament."
"Hmph! Let her join! If she crosses orabeoni, she'll freeze solid like the lizard she is!!"
It could have ended there, but lightly gossiping to kill time, servants dragged in Ohae's origin tale.
Too loud, perhaps. A chair scraped. A man with beast-like amber eyes rose slowly.
Dragging his right leg with a limp-limp, he strode straight to Wolhwa's table.
Calmly, he stated his name and purpose.
"I'm Sima Mancheon. And you insulted my woman. Choose: apologize, or—"
Fighting was reckless, foolish. …But I wasn't wise. My adorable disciple openly mocked? I don't calculate that well. So I steel myself and strike first.
"Shut up and fight."
My left arm, bitten by Ohae, throbbed, filling the void in my right hand. Time to return as heaven-deceiving genius, Murim's Shanks, Sima Mancheon.