Chapter 34
Namgung Do instinctively took a step back, sensing something.
“Y-you crazy bastard. Could it be that someone like you has already reached that level?”
Even Hong Seol, who knew nothing about martial arts, could tell that punch wasn’t ordinary.
‘If someone got hit by that fist, it’d be serious.’
Yet, for some reason, Hong Seol didn’t want to stop Namgung Baek.
It was obvious that situations like this—Namgung Do picking fights—had repeated countless times in his life.
‘No matter what happens from now on, I’ll be on Namgung Baek oppa’s side!’
Hong Seol braced herself firmly.
Namgung Do, terrified, was shouting at the top of his lungs.
“Y-you idiot! Do you think you’ll be fine after hitting me with that fist? Do you think the elders will just let you go?”
“Of course, they won’t just leave it.”
Hearing this, Namgung Do’s face finally showed a hint of relief.
“Right! Think carefully!”
Heh.
Namgung Baek alternated between looking at his own fist and the terrified Namgung Do, chuckling softly. Then, without hesitation, he thrust his fist into his own solar plexus.
“Ugh.”
Unable to withstand the impact, Namgung Baek dropped to one knee, a thin trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth.
“Aren’t you an idiot?”
Just as Namgung Do muttered in disbelief, there was a rustling sound.
A black shadow seemed to cover the sky, and in an instant, more than ten martial artists surrounded them, frozen in astonishment.
“Master Namgung!”
“Someone’s attacked Master Namgung Baek!”
“I heard a commotion and came running, but what is this!”
These were Dongcheon University martial artists assigned to guard the Namgung household.
“Uh…”
“Are you alright, Master Namgung?”
“How dare anyone touch Master Namgung!”
Seeing the martial artists gather, Namgung Baek slowly turned his gaze. The eyes of the martial artists naturally focused on a single point.
There stood Namgung Do, sword in hand, looking every bit the fierce figure he had just been.
“Uh, uh-oh?”
Only then did Namgung Do realize he had fallen into a trap.
The sun was already setting.
It had been about an hour since Namgung Baek entered the main house.
Hong Seol had been pacing back and forth in the front yard, her fine leather shoes worn down from all the hurried steps.
From somewhere came a familiar voice.
“Hong Seol.”
Namgung Baek was trudging down the steps of the main hall alone. Thankfully, the blood on his mouth had stopped flowing.
“Oppa!”
Hong Seol ran up the high steps in a single leap and threw herself into his arms.
Startled by her unusual behavior, Namgung Baek quickly wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
“The evening wind is chilly. Have you been waiting for me here all this time?”
Hong Seol nodded vigorously, tears soaking the collar of Namgung Baek’s clothes. Seeing this, he teased her lightly.
“I thought you were a composed child, but you’re just a crybaby.”
“Y-you said you were going to, going to die soon…!”
“Why would I die?”
“Even at twenty, you can’t die!”
“….”
This time, there was no answer.
Hong Seol looked up at Namgung Baek with tear-filled eyes.
But he only turned his gaze away silently.
“Waaaaah!”
Hong Seol finally burst into tears.
But Namgung Baek couldn’t make her any promises.
His poisoning had happened long ago.
At first, everyone who saw him looked at him with pity—sometimes annoyingly so.
But before even a year had passed, people had grown used to the fact that Namgung Baek would die.
Everyone, including the members of the Namgung household and even his own family.
“The head of the medical hall will find a way, I’m sure.”
“And even if there isn’t a way, he’s still living as the Namgung heir. What regrets would there be?”
“There are still two more heirs in the Namgung family, so it’s fortunate for the household.”
It was a hollow feeling, knowing life’s end was predetermined.
So from some point, Namgung Baek lost interest in everything.
He couldn’t taste food, and even when his arm was scratched during martial arts training, it didn’t hurt. He allowed Namgung Do to climb on him out of inferiority, because he thought, ‘I’m already marked for death; what’s the point of fighting?’
But tiny Hong Seol had expressed anger for him.
‘Not only did she get angry, she bravely scratched Namgung Do in the face.’
Recalling the memory, Namgung Baek let out a faint chuckle.
A baby kitten pouncing on a boy over five feet tall, wielding a sword…
It was reckless, but it brought a small sense of relief.
‘Sometimes, that’s enough to feel comforted.’
Namgung Baek realized this today.
“The sky looks beautiful today.”
The two of them sat on a secluded step of the main hall, watching the sunset. Hong Seol sniffled through red-rimmed eyes and asked cautiously,
“What happened to the Namgung branch heir?”
Hearing this, Namgung Baek smiled, rare for him, then whispered softly to the stunned Hong Seol.
“For hitting the direct grandson of the Namgung main house, he was banned from entering the main house for a year, forbidden from going out for two months, and received a severe beating from his grandfather.”
“Wow.”
Hong Seol’s mouth dropped open in awe. Namgung Baek chuckled awkwardly.
“Do you think I was too harsh?”
“No?”
Excited, Hong Seol jumped to her feet.
Far from thinking he was harsh, she still felt a rush of emotion thinking about what Namgung Do had said to Namgung Baek.
In a slightly choked voice, she said,
“I’ll always be on your side, oppa.”
Surprised, Namgung Baek widened his eyes, then chuckled quietly and lowered his head to hide his unusual flush.
After a short pause, he looked up again, pretending to hide his awkward feelings, staring only at the distant setting sun. A deep red sun was slowly dipping below the horizon.
Clearing his throat, Namgung Baek asked Hong Seol,
“Hmph, by the way, why did you pounce on Namgung Do earlier? So fearless.”
“…I don’t know.”
Only then did Hong Seol calm down slightly, bowing her head in embarrassment.
In truth, she did know why.
It was because she felt sorry for Namgung Baek oppa.
After all, she was the one who understood better than anyone the sorrow of being different from others here.
‘I, who can’t use internal energy, and oppa, who will die at twenty…’
Perhaps she had always hoped someone would step up for her, just like she had for Namgung Baek today.
She answered that she didn’t know on purpose, fearing she might start crying again.
Even now, it was a struggle. Hong Seol wrinkled her nose to keep from crying.
Namgung Baek chuckled softly.
He pretended not to notice, but he knew.
He knew why Hong Seol had attacked Namgung Do.
‘Does she see me as lonely…?’
A child rejected by her family, yet this tiny girl knew how to whisper comfort to those in pain: I know your suffering too, so be brave.
Perhaps, in the vast Namgung household, she was the only one who truly understood him.
Feeling a surge of warmth, Namgung Baek playfully said,
“You’re small, but you’re brave. Here, eat this.”
He reached into his clothes and offered her a rice cake wrapped in bamboo leaves. Hong Seol’s eyes went wide.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Weren’t you the one who wanted it and went to the kitchen earlier?”
Silly Namgung Baek oppa!
It wasn’t that she wanted it for herself; she had tried to take some of his portion and was caught by Lady Lee, and he didn’t even know!
“Hng.”
Still upset but obedient, Hong Seol accepted the rice cake. Strangely, the now-cold rice cake felt warm.
Taking a bite, she finally burst into tears. Namgung Baek, watching her, smiled faintly and took out a silk handkerchief to wipe her tears.
Half-teasing, he said,
“Ah, what to do… looks like Uncle, all worked up, will end up beating Father in tomorrow’s martial arts match.”
Hic!
Hong Seol, holding the rice cake, hiccupped in surprise.
