chapter 04
‘It’s been so long since I last saw Mom’s face…’
But she wasn’t alone. Resting on her lap was a little girl, fast asleep.
It was Myogaryeong, Hongseol’s younger sister by two years.
Jegalseon gently fanned the sleeping child’s forehead with a folded fan.
‘Garyeong must be so lucky…’
Without realizing it, Hongseol’s eyes were fixed on the tender sight.
“Don’t even think about disturbing Young Miss Garyeong’s nap. Hurry up and go!”
At Cheong-ok’s sharp words, Hongseol’s hesitant steps faltered again.
Her gaze had caught something—a small bowl placed beside her sleeping sister.
Inside were glossy, syrup-coated candied fruits that shimmered invitingly.
‘They look so good… Maybe Garyeong will eat them when she wakes up.’
Growl.
Hongseol looked down at her sunken belly. Come to think of it, she hadn’t eaten a single thing today. Cheong-ok had used the excuse of “changing her room” to keep even salted rice from her.
“My, my—such a glutton, yet your belly gets hungry fast, doesn’t it?”
At the maid’s harsh scolding, Jegalseon’s fan suddenly stopped.
“What’s going on?”
Her sharp, cold voice pierced through the air like an arrow.
“It’s nothing, Madam! Hurry along now, Miss Hongseol!”
Even as Cheong-ok roughly grabbed her arm, Hongseol didn’t move.
She hesitated, then whispered in a voice barely larger than a breath.
“Can I… have just one of those sweets, Mother?”
“Mother? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Jegalseon’s bright red lips twisted into a cruel smile.
“Cheong-ok—did you hear that? Hongseol just called me mother.”
Cheong-ok, who had served Jegalseon since before her marriage, was quick to catch on. The maid shot a fierce glare at the girl.
“You, who can’t even cultivate inner energy, dare to call yourself the daughter of the Myo family?”
At that, Hongseol’s small shoulders shrank even more.
She was used to cold stares. But hearing such words—from the woman she loved most—was something she could never get used to.
She tried not to cry, but her eyes reddened on their own.
‘It’s all my fault. If only I could use inner energy…’
She had once been the precious heir of the Myo family, daughter of Patriarch Myowiheon—until the day she was diagnosed as someone unable to wield internal energy.
That day came when she turned five.
It was the third day since she’d begun learning the clan’s secret technique, The True Cat’s Whisker Manual (Myosujingyeol).
Her family had praised her, saying her inner energy built faster than anyone’s. But the joy didn’t last long—Hongseol suddenly collapsed in the middle of the training ground.
“Her dantian is intact, but several meridians are broken. There’s no known cure.”
From that single diagnosis, everything changed.
It was as if a decree had been issued—the Myo heir cannot become a martial artist.
Her father, Myowiheon, locked himself in his quarters, and Jegalseon fainted on the spot.
When she finally woke two days later, she pointed at Hongseol and said coldly:
“Lock that child away in the storage room.”
From that day until now, Hongseol had never again been allowed to call her “Mother.”
Jegalseon, still fanning the sleeping Garyeong, turned her emotionless gaze toward her first daughter.
“If you really want to call me mother, then prove you’re useful to this family—even without inner energy.”
“H-how can I do that?”
At that moment, Jegalseon’s eyes caught sight of a distant mountain—Daechok Mountain, famed across Anhui Province.
It wasn’t particularly tall, but its peak was always shrouded in blizzards that no one could explain. Even grown men avoided climbing it.
A sly smile crept across Jegalseon’s face.
“Bring back the core of the ‘Master of the Lake’ that dwells at the top of Daechok Mountain. Then, perhaps, you’ll be recognized as a daughter of the Myo family.”
Core? What’s that?
The young girl tilted her head, clueless.
Jegalseon and Cheong-ok exchanged glances. The perceptive maid quickly played along.
“Oh, but how could young Miss Hongseol go to Daechok Mountain all by herself? I suppose she could ride the cart that goes up to the foot of the mountain each day at noon to buy firewood…”
Noon… at the front gate… the firewood cart…
Hongseol clenched her tiny fists, memorizing every word.
‘If I bring back that core, I’ll finally be a daughter of the Myo family again. I’ll be able to call her “Mother” again!’
Cheong-ok added mockingly, “And if you bring back that core, not only will you be recognized as a daughter—you could even have those sweet candies every day!”
Candies… every day?
Hongseol’s heart began to pound.
The scent was delicious.
Even as she dreamed of the past, Hongseol’s nose twitched.
“Hongseol.”
Someone was calling her name gently. Even within the dream, she found it strange.
‘Could it be… I actually succeeded in bringing back the core from Daechok Mountain?’
No one else would ever call her name with such kindness otherwise.
“Wake up.”
Her eyes fluttered open.
Soft blankets brushed against her cheeks, and the air in the room was warm—nothing like the icy draft that haunted her attic at Myo Manor.
‘Huh? Where am I?’
She quickly sat up on the bed.
The first thing she saw was a bowl of glossy sweets on an elegant table. The sweet, nutty aroma of fried dough and sugar seemed to whisper, “Taste me.”
Then, a deep voice spoke.
“Are you awake?”
She looked up—and right before her was Namgung Ho, his face marked by old sword scars.
‘T-the head of the Namgung Clan!’
Startled, her cat ears—which had been poking out unknowingly—vanished in an instant. Too frightened, she didn’t even notice.
Gulp.
She swallowed hard.
Clutching the blanket like a lifeline, she stared at him nervously.
And then—
Growl.
Her small stomach betrayed her again.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“…”
She bit her lip, hesitant, then finally spoke in a tiny voice.
“Um… If it’s all right… may I try just one of those sweets over there?”
Oh no!
She gasped and covered her mouth. Normally, she’d never have dared say such a thing. But she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the treats.
‘If I eat one… will it taste like the candies from my dream?’
Just one. Just one bite might ease the ache in her chest.
But Namgung Ho didn’t reply. His expression hardened.
Seeing his face, Hongseol flinched. She had tried to be polite, but it must have sounded shameless—asking for sweets as soon as she woke.
Desperate, she pleaded, her voice trembling.
“I-I’ll wash your martial robes for you! I don’t need fancy soap, just a washboard will do—”
“That won’t be necessary.”
His firm tone cut her off.
Her lips trembled with disappointment, and tears welled up in her eyes.
‘Of course… even here, those sweets must belong to someone else—just like at home.’
Her head drooped, her small body shivering.
Then Namgung Ho’s stern voice filled the room.
“Food before sweets. Bring in the evening meal!”
What happened next left Hongseol speechless.
The doors burst open, and attendants in embroidered robes streamed in, carrying tray after tray of food. Soon the entire table was so full that not even a cup could fit.
Dishes she had never seen in her life—steamed fish, golden fried meats, vegetables glistening with sauce—covered the table.
“Here.”
Namgung Ho placed chopsticks in her hand.
“This is fried flounder, that’s beef meatballs, and that’s stir-fried eggs with chives. Which side dish do you like best?”
Blinking in disbelief, Hongseol hesitated, then pointed to something familiar—spicy cucumber salad.
Of all the rich dishes, she chose the simplest one.
“You have an unusual taste for a child. Why do you like that?”
She whispered, “It’s… the only food I’ve ever eaten before.”
Namgung Ho fell silent.
The Myo family might not have been one of the Five Great Clans, but they were still a powerful martial house. Yet their legitimate daughter had never been given meat? Unthinkable.
Even the Namgung servants ate meat every few days.
‘To treat their own blood like this… despicable.’
And to send a little girl—unable to use inner energy—up Daechok Mountain for a serpent’s core?
It was beyond cruelty.
He drew a deep breath, calming his rising fury.
“Go on, eat.”
But then, his words caught in his throat.
Despite her hunger, the girl sat still, chopsticks trembling in her hand.
“Is… is it really okay for me to eat this food?”
Her voice was careful, as if testing whether kindness was real.
The sight made something in Namgung Ho snap.
‘Those damn cats… how dare they treat her like this!’
The air around him vibrated, killing intent leaking out uncontrollably.
Not knowing any better, Hongseol thought he was angry at her.
She began to tremble.
“I-I don’t need the salad! Just some salted rice is fine! Or… if you’ll just let me stay here—”
“No. That’s not what I meant.”
Realizing his mistake, Namgung Ho forced his voice to soften.
This wasn’t where his anger belonged.
“Eat slowly. Try everything. It’s all made for you.”
“M-me? Even that big flounder?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes widened. She didn’t understand why he would give her so much.
“Go ahead.”
At his gentle urging, Hongseol finally began to eat—hesitant at first, then devouring the food with the hunger of someone who’d gone without for far too long.
Namgung Ho watched in silence. His chest ached, but oddly, his heart felt warm—almost as if he were the one being fed.
Just then, a sudden noise from outside shattered the quiet moment.
