Volume 2 Chapter 17 – Dragon Eyes

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The day she first met Geum-ju.

Although Jeong-ah collapsed as if fainting, that phenomenon was actually far from common overwork.

“It is not simple overwork.”

It was only Yeon So-hyeon who noticed it.

For all the physicians who had taken her pulse beforehand had said she was merely sleeping because she was tired.

He spoke to the collapsed Jeong-ah.

“You must be listening to my words, right?”

She wanted to reply, ‘Yes,’ but her body did not move in the slightest.

“I investigated your constitution. Actually, it took quite a while.”

It seemed that a conclusion had finally been reached only after finishing taking her pulse today.

“I thought it was a rare constitution, but it far exceeded my expectations.”

He said that she possessed not just one, but two very rare constitutions.

“The first is the Dragon Eyes , but frankly, I am not even sure if translating it as Dragon Eyes is correct.”

He said that since it could not even be found in the land of the Central Plains, he had found it in records of a distant land.

“It is said that one born with these Dragon Eyes has a body closer to a dragon-human than a human. It is said to be an extremely precious constitution, but frankly, a more detailed translation than this was difficult.”

It meant that her ‘eyes’ were called the Dragon Eyes.

However, she felt a bit doubtful about the statement that it was an extremely precious constitution.

This was because, from her experience so far, it was hard to think that she was born with an ability that could be described so grandly.

“I also know your doubt.”

He said that the reason the Dragon Eyes could not exert their proper power was entirely due to her second constitution.

“The second is a type of Severed Meridians . You wouldn’t know the name even if I told you anyway.”

He said that the severed meridians prevented her, who had a natural martial frame , from accumulating internal energy at all, and even severed the meridian where the Dragon Eyes flowed, preventing her from properly exerting the power of the Dragon Eyes as well.

“From now on, I will begin the treatment of those severed meridians of yours. Of course, do not expect that all treatment will be completed at once.”

His touch was surprisingly delicate, and also warm.

Even though he was a master who usually seemed so scary.

As he practiced medicine, he seemed to have become a completely different person.

Soon, she fell into a deep sleep.

* * *

“If we do up to this treatment, you can consider the first stage completely finished for now.”

With her entire body densely covered in golden needles , Jeong-ah asked.

“Master.”

“What is it? But it would be best if you did not speak if possible.”

However, she really wanted to ask.

“May I dare to ask what the Golden-Eyed Witch is?”

Yeon So-hyeon’s hand stopped in midair.

“…So you were conscious back then too.”

It referred to the time when she had first fainted in Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

She remembered the name Yeon So-hyeon had called her.

“It is a memory I could not recall until now. As I received treatment from Master this time, it came back to me.”

“Yes, yes. I get it, so shut your mouth now.”

He went on to insert golden needles into Jeong-ah’s face.

For some reason, she could feel that he was feeling troubled.

Her master’s state of mind was something she could not read at all until now.

Perhaps this also meant that his treatment was taking effect.

“…That is a name completely unrelated to you. So you may forget it.”

Jeong-ah wanted to hear more.

As if having read her mind, her master told her a little more of the story.

“It is the moniker of a woman who lived an extremely unfortunate life. She hated the world to the point of throwing away even her own life.”

Hesitation was felt from him.

“…One day, in the end, I had to perform an autopsy on her with my own hands.”

Having finished administering all the needles, he raised his hand and brushed back her flowing hair.

It was a touch just like that time.

The touch of that time, when he had stroked the head of the collapsed her on the day she first came to Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

Strong regret and sadness were transmitted from him.

…And an immense anger too.

That anger was to the point where she could hardly dare to bear it.

“…Sleep a little.”

As he tapped her acupoints, she felt her eyes closing.

“As I said, since it is a story unrelated to you…”

For some reason, those words felt as if he were speaking to himself, not to Jeong-ah.

“Forget it now.”

* * *

Yeon So-hyeon looked into her golden eyes with a serious expression.

“The effect of the treatment is better than I expected. We have only taken the first step… Or perhaps, the thing called Dragon Eyes is far more incredible.”

He smiled as he looked at her face.

“…Now you must be able to see exactly what kind of being I am.”

He closed her eyes for her.

“Rest assured. I have absolutely no intention of ordering you to walk the same path as me.”

He pulled up the blanket and covered her body.

“What I wish is simply for you to do your best as this Eldest Young Master’s exclusive maid.”

He said as he left the room.

“This treatment is merely a small gift bestowed upon you who has sworn loyalty to Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon, so do not feel burdened.”

* * *

Her older sister, Se-ah, left the safehouse with her subordinates, leaving only the minimum number of personnel behind.

The final attack against the Black Bone Gang was about to begin.

Having finished preparing a late-night snack for her master, she sought him out.

“Hmm…?”

She knelt down in front of him.

“This sword is now yours forever.”

He did not say anything for a while.

She did not say anything more than that, but her master would understand her action.

Apart from swearing loyalty as a maid, it was a ritual as a sword serving a lord.

It was a vow to walk his path with him.

“…I will accept your sword.”

He accepted her sword somewhat awkwardly.

“But where did you get this sword?”

She smiled.

“I exchanged a trinket with a female warrior guarding the safehouse for it.”

Yeon So-hyeon burst into a hearty laugh.

She felt the sadness flowing out from his laughter.

“Master. Perhaps…”

She could feel his heart now.

That was why she could convey these words.

“If ‘she’ had also met Master just a little earlier, she would have acted in the same way as me.”

Surprise appeared on his face.

And then, a gentle smile was hung on his face.

* * *

“…Are you not scared?”

At her older sister’s words, she could not say anything for a moment.

Was she not scared?

Of course she was scared.

He was a being more terrifying than all the nightmares she had dreamed so far combined.

But at the same time, he was a person whose heart was warmer than anyone she had ever met until now.

He was the person she wanted to resemble the most.

“It is so that I can become like him too.”

* * *

Sensing that familiar energy, the demonic qi , Jeong-ah woke up from her sleep.

She headed toward the place where the demonic qi was felt with footsteps as quiet as possible.

Entering Yeon So-hyeon’s bedroom, she could see her master lying in bed.

“…Mother.”

Apparently, that horrible ‘thing’ clinging to her master was tormenting him again.

“I am sorry, Mother…”

She quietly approached him and brushed back his hair.

Just like he had done for her.

Did it have an effect?

Before long, his expression became comfortable again.

She watched that face for a long time and then quietly left.

Without going far, sitting on the wooden veranda where the moon could be seen, she began the basic Qi Circulation he had taught her.

* * *

Outside Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, a cold north wind was blowing, making the morning sunlight a welcome sight.

However, in Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, only a cool breeze of a warm spring day gently brushed against the flower petals.

It was the power of the barrier-class formation installed in Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment.

Yeon So-hyeon was sitting on a chair placed in the empty lot, dressed in comfortable everyday clothes.

“Do you know what the root of the problems surrounding you is?”

Jeong-ah, wearing a black martial robe instead of a neat maid outfit or an elegant outing dress, possessed a different kind of charm.

“…Perhaps the status of a lowborn girl is the most fundamental problem.”

Slavery was forbidden by law in the land of the Central Plains.

However, no matter where one went in the Central Plains, one could see those who lived lives no different from slaves.

It was the same for her, who had been sold to the Sword Family in her childhood.

“Correct.”

He nodded.

“The highest position you can rise to with that status could be said to be positions equivalent to a maid.”

He continued speaking calmly.

“In the Sword Family, being the exclusive maid of a direct bloodline is a position that can earn respect from most people on that basis alone, regardless of one’s original status.”

He pulled up his knees on the chair, rested his chin on them, and looked at her.

“…But you also know well that that is not enough.”

The figures of the Second Young Master’s escort steward and the Third Young Master’s Three-Absolute Warriors rose in her mind.

For even to those who had just a little power and backed by authority, the position of exclusive maid was nothing.

Because a maid was merely a maid after all.

“There is only one way to raise one’s status here in the Sword Family. What is it?”

“Becoming a warrior .”

The existence of a warrior, meaning a martial artist belonging to the Sword Family, was a status and a class in itself.

“Indeed. Therefore, no matter how difficult it is, you must follow my training as much as possible.”

“This lowborn girl does not know what to do before Master’s grace.”

Yeon So-hyeon thus began the martial arts training for her.

“The name of the sword technique you will learn is called ‘Flashing Shadow Instant ‘. It is a high-grade martial art highly evaluated even within the Sword Family.”

He grinned.

“However, because the required conditions are fastidious and the martial principles to follow are profound, it is a sword technique so difficult to train that it is hard to find someone who has achieved great success in it even within the Sword Family.”

Jeong-ah swallowed dry saliva.

The things she had learned over the shoulder through the power of her ‘eyes’ were nothing more than the skills of the lower-class warriors of the Sword Family.

She doubted whether she could learn and master a high-level martial art like that.

Moreover, was it not famous for being difficult?

“Given your constitution, you more than satisfy the conditions required by this martial art, so let us give it a try even if only to not let it go to waste.”

“Yes, Master. This lowborn girl will do her best.”

“Good. Then let us start with the basic understanding.”

He picked up a tree branch, swung it here and there, and taught her the forms .

Since it was a form performed without internal energy, the original appearance could not be verified, and there were many parts where the flow was interrupted.

Moreover, high-grade martial arts were, as he said, extremely profound.

However, with Yeon So-hyeon’s fluent explanation added, she could somehow deduce the original form through the Dragon Eyes.

Thus, although it was difficult, Jeong-ah managed to learn the forms at last.

“Master! How is it?”

“……”

What should he say to the maid who had mastered the forms of a high-grade martial art in just half a day?

Yeon So-hyeon let out a hollow laugh.

“You, stop preparing meals from now on.”