Chapter 19:
“Hoyun? What did you just say…?”
Peng Sohwa looked at him in surprise. Hoyun quickly stammered an excuse.
“I… I said it’s… fate! Ha, haha!”
“Hoho, right? Some people hate prenatal engagements, but I think this kind of connection is rare and precious.”
“Ahem, indeed. And Hoyun, even though it’s a prenatal engagement, it’s just a verbal promise for now, so don’t feel too pressured.”
Hoyun forced a smile at Peng Sohwa and Namgung Baek’s words and nodded.
“Yes…”
‘What the hell is this? Are they kidding me?’
But despite bowing his head, Hoyun’s forehead was deeply furrowed.
Right now, Hoyun had activated his Telekinetic Sense and spread a psychic net around Geumran Pavilion.
Just moments ago, several people entered the area, and among them, a certain woman was recklessly releasing spiritual power.
‘Did she trade her Spirit Barrier for candy? Whatever her ability is, she’s showing it off like crazy.’
If this were a battlefield, Hoyun would’ve rushed out and slit her throat already.
When you don’t know what kind of power your opponent holds, a swift and decisive strike is always the best answer.
‘Especially if it’s some kind of curse ability… Wait… Could it be…?’
Just then, the woman emitting the chaotic energy entered the pavilion and started walking toward them.
“Looks like she’s here.”
With Namgung Baek’s muttering, a servant outside announced the visitor.
“Lady Jegal has arrived.”
“Let her in.”
Creak—
The door opened, revealing a woman dressed in white palace attire.
She was about 5 cheok 8 chi tall (around 175 cm)—quite tall for a woman—but her small head and well-balanced figure made her appearance harmonious.
Her skin, glowing like it was freshly moistened, high nose bridge, defined brows, and lips tinted red like mountain cinnabar completed her striking look.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jegal Ahyeon.”
As she bowed, her long hair cascaded like silk.
“I’m Namgung Baek.”
“Hoho, I’m Peng Sohwa.”
Both greeted her warmly.
They subtly gestured for Hoyun to introduce himself.
‘Tsk, she’s no ordinary woman. Figures my fate would be like this…’
Cursing his bad luck that hadn’t changed even after 300 years, Hoyun stood up with a reluctant sigh.
He clasped his hands in greeting and at the same time, focused his telekinetic energy on her forehead—her glabella point.
Vmm!
“I’m Namgung Hoyun.”
“…!”
Jegal Ahyeon’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at him.
(Scene shifts to Jegal Ahyeon’s room before visiting)
“My lady! You’re absolutely stunning!”
Seo Seonrim exclaimed as she admired Jegal Ahyeon after her bath and dressing.
Ahyeon’s exotic beauty, already rare in the Central Plains, seemed even more vivid with her makeup and dress.
‘Like a wild horse tamed from the steppe…’
Despite not training martial arts for three years, her body remained perfectly toned.
‘And with beauty like that… She’s certainly worth the price.’
Seonrim’s gaze ran over Ahyeon like she was evaluating a prized colt at the stables.
“…”
Vmm.
Those feelings flowed straight into Ahyeon through her Empathic Resonance.
Wearing a bitter smile, Ahyeon asked Seonrim,
“Really? Do I look expensive?”
“…Pardon?”
“Guess I’m not for meat use yet… Haha, thank goodness.”
Rustle, rustle.
Seonrim hurried after her, worried.
“Are you… feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine.”
“If you feel faint, say you’re tired and come back quickly.”
“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t want to lower my value by showing weakness.”
Seonrim froze for a second.
Because those words echoed her own secret thoughts.
‘Creepy girl…’
Seonrim frowned briefly but soon smiled.
‘Well, at least she knows her place. No wonder she was called the Sword Peak back then.’
Rustle, rustle.
As Seonrim fell behind, Ahyeon smirked faintly.
‘So dark… That envious green… It’s pure inferiority.’
Through her Empathic Resonance, she often saw emotions in colors.
Dark tones for negativity, bright tones for positivity.
‘Poor thing… Instead of envying me, she should care more about herself.’
Ahyeon swallowed her thoughts.
When she first awakened her ability, she used to speak out loud about people’s feelings, thinking it would help them face themselves.
But all she got back was anger and hatred.
People hated being seen through.
Since then, she kept others’ emotions to herself.
‘Just a little more… Once I’m at the Muryong family, I’ll live quietly like a dead mouse.’
This morning’s episode happened because she’d left a familiar environment and was overwhelmed by unfamiliar emotions.
‘How ironic… I hated the Jegal family so much, but their emotions became my comfort zone.’
With a bitter smile, Ahyeon arrived at Geumran Pavilion.
A servant greeted her, and Seonrim gave her a last reminder.
“Remember, my lady.”
“I know… Not to break the engagement yet.”
“Exactly. Observe him carefully. See if he’s a real dragon or just a worm.”
“I will.”
Led inside by the servant…
Flash!
‘…Hm?’
Ahyeon froze.
For the first time since awakening her ability, she felt a blinding emotional light pouring from inside.
‘…Ah!’
If she could describe it in color—
Orange-yellow.
The warm sun’s hue, mixed with red passion and yellow affection.
‘Who…? Who’s feeling something like this…?’
Someone inside was overwhelmed with happiness, barely believing their fortune, and vowing never to let this joy slip away.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Ahyeon’s steps quickened.
Startled, the servant hurried after her.
“Lady Jegal has arrived!”
“Let her in.”
Creak—
The door opened.
Three people sat around a round table.
‘Ah…’
They all radiated bright light.
Kindness, interest, bonding, excitement, and curiosity.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jegal Ahyeon.”
Suppressing her trembling heart, she gave a refined bow.
“I’m Namgung Baek.”
“Hoho, I’m Peng Sohwa.”
The head of the Namgung family and his wife welcomed her warmly.
No trace of dark emotions clouded them.
Rare people indeed.
And then…
‘Ah… Aaaah…’
Ahyeon stared at “the light.”
It took the shape of a young man in blue martial robes.
Sculpted features, still youthful and pouty, yet undeniably handsome.
A boy on the cusp of manhood, just under her nose in height.
‘Warm… So warm…’
Looks didn’t matter.
What mattered was his emotion.
The sunlight-like warmth melted her weary heart.
Finally, the young man rose and offered a greeting.
“I’m Namgung Hoyun.”
“…!”
And with that—
Winter arrived.
(Later, at dinner and walking after)
“Hoho, what’s your hobby?” Peng Sohwa asked Ahyeon sweetly.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity about her possible future daughter-in-law.
“I… like horseback riding.”
“Oh my, really? Are you good?”
“I’d say… yes.”
“How wonderful! I’m terrible at it. Will you teach me later?”
“Of course…”
Throughout the conversation, Ahyeon was distracted.
Peng Sohwa assumed she was just nervous, but the real reason was different.
‘Why…? Why isn’t my Empathic Resonance working?’
Since entering this room, her ability had completely shut off.
Or more precisely—ever since she greeted her fiancé, Namgung Hoyun.
She couldn’t feel any emotion from him at all.
‘Why now?! It never stopped when I begged it to!’
Ahyeon desperately focused energy on her glabella point.
But her spiritual power remained frozen, like a rabbit terrified before a tiger.
‘Ah… That warmth… I want to feel it again…!’
Her gaze instinctively turned toward Hoyun.
And he was already watching her.
‘Hmm, simple spiritual overload? Doesn’t seem hostile. But what kind of ability makes someone leak energy like that?’
Spiritual Overload—when someone loses control over their ability, like Qi deviation in martial arts.
‘I’ve seen people lose their minds from this. Usually kids who awakened young without learning control.’
Spiritual power was different from inner Qi. It was a force of the soul itself.
‘If she goes berserk, she’ll end up like the Joyous Witch.’
That’s why Hoyun forcibly sealed her glabella point with his Telekinetic Force.
‘Well, if she were as strong as the Joyous Witch, this wouldn’t work… But she seems newly awakened.’
So the two stared at each other, each lost in very different thoughts.
Namgung Baek and Peng Sohwa smiled warmly, nodding in satisfaction at the scene.
(After dinner walk)
Ahyeon hardly remembered what she ate.
Local Anhui dishes were on the table: crispy roasted duck, shrimp from the confluence of the three rivers, and delicate egg dumplings.
Not flashy, but deeply homely.
The Namgung family’s warmth was evident.
But Ahyeon couldn’t enjoy any of it.
Because…
Step, step.
Rustle, rustle.
She glanced sideways.
Hoyun, in blue martial robes, was walking beside her.
He’d accompanied her all the way to Cheongun Pavilion.
He hadn’t seemed willing at first, but Peng Sohwa’s gentle gaze forced him up.
‘Am I… not attractive enough?’
Ahyeon knew well how men usually looked at her.
Old or young, they all showed desire and conquest.
‘Is it because I’m taller? Some men dislike women taller than them.’
Arrogant men hated looking up.
‘But with my beauty, that shouldn’t matter… Maybe he’s too young?’
Hoyun was two years younger—16 years old.
‘He’ll grow taller soon enough… Wait.’
Ahyeon suddenly realized something.
‘Am I… worrying about what he thinks?’
It felt like being her 13-year-old self again.
Back then, she trained hard just to please others, craving approval.
‘Do I… want him to like me? No… That’s ridiculous. I’m just agitated because my ability isn’t working…’
As she shook her head, Hoyun spoke.
“Have you ever attended the Baekga Sword Tournament?”
“…This will be my first time.”
“Then we should head there early. Children’s play can easily turn into adult pride battles.”
“Are you aiming to build fame through the tournament?”
Hoyun glanced up at her and replied,
“You could say that. As long as the name ‘Namgung’ stands before mine, I can’t afford embarrassment.”
“…”
Ahyeon fell silent.
So different from her, who desperately wanted to erase the name ‘Jegal.’
“Going to some kids’ strength contest is a bit embarrassing, but… what choice do I have? If you’re weak, you die.”
“…You have quite a foul mouth.”
“Why? Lost interest?”
“You seemed polite back in the pavilion.”
“This and that are different.”
“Why?”
“Because now it’s just the two of us.”
Hoyun stopped, shrugged, and added,
“This is my true self. If you’re going to stay engaged, you’ll have to endure it.”
“Engaged… if I stay?”
Ahyeon’s delicate brows furrowed.
“Are you always this irresponsible with your words?”
