***
Sunwoo Yeon-ha was adorning herself while looking in the mirror in her room.
She looked beautiful and radiant enough to be satisfying, but suddenly, the beautiful image of Jegal Seo-yul she had seen earlier and the dazed expressions of her brothers as they looked at her would not leave her mind.
Crack!
She crushed the hairbrush in her hand and muttered while gnashing her teeth.
“Hmph, once I grow a little more….”
Yes, it was only because she wasn't fully grown yet that she wasn't as radiant as Jegal Seo-yul; once she grew a little more, she would surely become as beautiful as her.
Even now, were people not praising her as one of the most beautiful women in Guizhou Province?
It was while Sunwoo Yeon-ha was comforting herself in that manner.
Suddenly, she heard the voices of maidservants passing by outside her room.
“Oh my, really?! The fourth young master was hit by the third young master and got injured?”
“Yes! That’s why the third mistress is making such a fuss!”
Sunwoo Yeon-ha’s movements came to a sudden halt.
“But is that possible? How could that pig of a young master do that?”
“I heard that the fourth young master ran into his hand by himself when he just happened to reach out?”
“Really?! Giggling! That must have been truly hilarious!”
“Do you know what’s even funnier?”
“What is it, what is it?”
“The reason the fourth young master did that was to look good in front of Young Lady Jegal, but he ended up fainting right in front of her!”
“What?! Hohohoho! That’s really funny!”
At that moment, Sunwoo Yeon-ha threw the door wide open.
Bang!
“Eek!”
“L-L-Lady?!”
Sunwoo Yeon-ha looked at them with a terrifying gaze and spoke.
“What did you just say? Brother Gi was hit by Brother Jin and got injured? He fainted?”
At her bloodthirsty gaze, which was not easily seen normally, the maidservants trembled and bowed their heads.
“Y-yes. Lady. That is correct.”
Then, Sunwoo Yeon-ha gnashed her teeth.
Her enraged eyes were glinting dangerously.
“How dare he….”
Jegal Seo-yul, the 'Heaven-Blessed Sword Phoenix' who had been assigned a luxurious guest room in the Sunwoo Clan, handed a sealed letter to her friend Hae Cheong-yeon, who was to share the room with her.
“Here, it’s the data on the third young master of Sunwoo that you asked for. They said it was purchased from a nearby Hao Clan branch.”
“Right, thanks. I’ll pay you back for the cost immediately.”
At Hae Cheong-yeon’s monotone reply, Jegal Seo-yul smirked and responded.
“What do you mean 'pay back' between us? Anyway, why did you ask for data on that fat young master? I was truly shocked, you know? Goodness, to think a person from a martial family could have a body like that. Did you see him earlier? He was so buried in fat that his eyes looked like straight lines. My goodness.”
Then, Hae Cheong-yeon replied in an indifferent voice.
“Yes, he was like that.”
Then, she glanced at her doll that she had been fiddling with in her hands.
The bear doll, made by stuffing cotton inside, looked like a fluffy ball, and the eyes on its face were drawn as straight lines.
Suddenly seeing that doll, Jegal Seo-yul burst into a giggle.
“Puhuhu! Now that I think about it, that man does resemble that doll you cherish. You didn't ask to investigate the data because of that, did you?”
Then, Hae Cheong-yeon replied again in an nonchalant voice.
“No way. It’s just that the single move he showed when he knocked out the fourth young master didn't seem ordinary. I grew curious about his past.”
“Huh? That move? Wasn't that a coincidence?”
At Jegal Seo-yul’s puzzled question, Hae Cheong-yeon replied emotionlessly while reading the documents.
“I wonder.”
“Hmm, well, I suppose. Even if my martial arts are higher, your eye for detail is higher. But even so, is there a need to care about a pig who gets exhausted and collapses after moving just that much?”
However, perhaps because she was focused on reading the documents, no answer came back, and Jegal Seo-yul simply gave up.
“Well, even Great Hero Hae gave up on your eccentric curiosity. How could I hope to understand it?”
She watched her friend who was focused on reading the documents, and then suddenly asked again.
“I’ve always thought it was fascinating, but can you even see the writing with your eyes covered like that?”
Hae Cheong-yeon, whose bangs were lowered almost to the middle of her nose, completely covering her eyes, looked as though she couldn't possibly see ahead.
However, only a flat answer came back to that question as well.
“I’m reading it because I can see it, right?”
Jegal Seo-yul knew that once Hae Cheong-yeon focused on one thing, she paid no attention to others, but she couldn't bear the silence and spoke to her again.
“When are you going to push those bangs back? I truly don't understand why you hide that beauty of yours.”
Then, a flat counter-question returned.
“Do you want me to push my bangs back?”
Jegal Seo-yul fell into thought for a moment at Hae Cheong-yeon’s question, but eventually shook her head.
“No, I don't want that. I don't want the attention meant for me to be divided, but more than that, if you were to receive more attention, I might end up becoming jealous of you. Just imagining that is horrible.”
“Right? Then that’s that.”
Then, Jegal Seo-yul smiled brightly and nodded, seemingly satisfied with the conclusion.
“I see. It’s a relief that you hate receiving attention. I’m so glad I’m friends with you, Cheong-yeon.”
At those words, Hae Cheong-yeon turned her eyes to look at her for the first time and replied.
“I also like you very much, Seo-yul, because you aren't like a person from the Jegal Clan.”
It was a very plain way of speaking, contrary to the content, but Jegal Seo-yul smiled brightly at those words.
It was because she knew well that such words rarely came out of the mouth of her unique friend.
The next day was finally the day I departed from the clan.
Outside the main gate, the ronin who would go with me had been waiting since early morning.
Father explained that they were the ones who would escort me to the Yunnan front, but anyone could see that they were the ones who would monitor me so I wouldn't slip away in the middle.
The number of people from the clan who came out to see me off was very small.
Excluding the servants, there were only Father and Yeon-ha.
“I hope you will be active in good health, if only for the sake of the clan’s honor.”
Father spoke with an authoritative and stiff expression, just like before.
But I could now easily find the emotions of regret and affection in his eyes.
I found it so easily that I couldn't understand why I hadn't known before.
“I will surely raise the clan’s honor and visit you again.”
When I knelt on the ground and performed a deep bow, Father simply nodded. The corners of his eyes were slightly tinged with red.
Next, I said goodbye to Yeon-ha.
“Thank you, Yeon-ha. To think you came out so early in the morning to see me off.”
Then, Yeon-ha spoke to me with a worried expression.
“No, Brother. It’s only natural since you are going on a long journey. And this.”
Yeon-ha held out a small, well-wrapped bundle to me.
“This is?”
“They are rice balls. I prepared them for you to eat on your way.”
Startled, I asked back.
“Rice balls? Did you pack them yourself?”
“Yes, though I can't guarantee the taste.”
I smiled at her words and expressed my gratitude.
“Thank you, Yeon-ha. As expected, there’s no one but you. I’ll enjoy them.”
With that farewell, I mounted the prepared horse, and we departed from the Sunwoo Clan.
After a short while, once the clan was completely out of sight, I stopped the horse and stepped back down to the ground.
Then, one of the ronin asked me.
“What is the matter all of a sudden, Young Master? It is not yet time to rest.”
It was a man named Jang Gang-seong, the leader of the hired ronin.
Seeing his frowning expression, he seemed worried that I was already throwing a tantrum saying I couldn't go.
I spoke to him in a firm tone.
“I am going to run from here to Yunnan.”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean I’m going to run. To lose weight as well.”
At my answer, the ronin stood with their mouths agape, unable to continue speaking.
“N-no. Do you know where that is, that you would run there with that body, Young Master….”
I understood their bewilderment, of course.
Very well, in fact.
But if there was a most urgent task for me right now, wouldn't it be losing weight?
No matter how many ultimate techniques were in my head, if my physical condition wasn't capable of performing them, they would be nothing more than knowledge.
So, what I thought of was running to Yunnan.
Since it’s a distance that takes at least three days even on horseback, if I were to run….
Well, I’m not sure.
Anyway, in my previous life, when I arrived at the front, all the unit leaders of the Biryong 13th Unit looked at my body with aghast faces.
Naturally, no one wanted to take me into their squad.
Of course, that was why Unit Leader Seol Poong had taken me in with a smile, but I had no intention of repeating that shame in this life.
No, I absolutely couldn't.
Because not only Unit Leader Seol Poong but also she, who would still be alive, would be there.
‘In this life, I will give her a good first impression. So this time, for sure…!’
While I was burning with fighting spirit and clenching my fists, Warrior Jang, the leader of the ronin, spoke to me with a troubled face.
“Well… I understand your determination, Young Master. But we also have a contract. If your arrival is delayed, there will be a loss corresponding to those days, so why should we necessarily….”
As he was rambling about the difficulty, I asked point-blank.
“How about my horse?”
When I asked while pointing to the horse I had been riding, he asked back as if he didn't understand for a moment.
“That horse? It is a very good horse. But what about it?”
“I will give that horse to all of you. For a horse of that caliber, wouldn't it be worth quite a bit of money even if you just got its fair price?”
Then, the ronin turned their heads toward the horse simultaneously.
Their eyes, which were carefully examining the horse, were shining exceptionally.
That horse was an exceptionally good horse, one of the best in the clan, which Father had specially chosen for me.
If they sold it to someone who knew a thing or two about horses, they could probably ask for any price.
So it was obvious what they were thinking right now. They were probably shouting 'hurrah' inwardly, thinking they had struck gold.
Warrior Jang, who had been staring at the horse for a moment, cleared his throat and spoke.
“If it’s a horse like that, well, it seems it would be worth the value.”
It’s only worth the value?
Well, I suppose. I expected him to say that.
They were ronin I would never see again, so it would be to their benefit to just snatch it up.
However, after hesitating for a moment, he soon let out a deep sigh and spoke again.
“I’ll just be honest with you. It seems you don't know much about horses, Young Master, but for a horse of that caliber, you can name your price. It is far too much to receive as our commission fee.”
“Ho.”
It was a very unexpected reaction.
I thought he would be happy thinking he had caught a sucker.
The other ronin were also glaring at him as if they were going to devour him, with looks asking what on earth he was doing.
I gave a hollow laugh.
It seemed I had misunderstood him.
I thought he would be someone who only cared about money since he was a ronin.
I clasped my hands toward him with a serious face and spoke again.
“I apologize to Warrior Jang. It seems you are a much more honest person than I thought. It is an honor to be able to share the journey with such an excellent warrior.”
Then, at my praise, he ended up with a surprised face instead.
“P-pardon? No, I just….”
“Actually, I also know the value of that horse well. To be honest, I’m giving it to you because I know I won't be able to sell it for a fair price once I get to the front anyway. Also, I’m worried that my will to run will weaken if that horse is still mine. So, considering it as helping each other out, can I ask for some convenience during the journey ahead in exchange for giving that horse to you, Warrior Jang?”
As I said that and held out my hand to him, he looked at my hand for a moment, then dismounted from his horse and gripped it firmly as he spoke.
“Third Young Master, you are a completely different person from the rumors. I understand. Since you have paid a great price, we will also do our best.”
And so, my running began.
From Guiyang in Guizhou Province to Yunnan Province.
It was a distance that would take at least three days even if one went by horse without resting.
For me as I was now, it was bound to be incredibly difficult.
However, I was certain that this running would become the nourishment that would allow me to be born anew.
Yes, I will change in this life.
Without fail!
And after half a gok (one gok = about 15 minutes) had passed.
I was prone on the ground, vomiting.
“Uu-weeeeeeeek!”
Warrior Jang patted my back with a pathetic gaze and said.
“Young Master. You aren't doing this because you don't want to go, are you?”
“How could you say such a thing, uu-weeeeeek!”
After a while, when I stood up again, I had to collapse once more after not even going a quarter of a gok and lie spread-eagled on the ground.
The sky was looking yellow.
“Heok, heok, heok.”
Seeing the ronin glancing back and forth at the horse I had given them with pathetic gazes, they seemed to be debating whether that horse was worth this much trouble.
I was very embarrassed, but I couldn't help it because it was tens of times more difficult than it was embarrassing.
At that moment, a handkerchief was suddenly held out beneath the yellowed sky.
“Huh?”
Startled, I turned my head to see a young lady holding out a handkerchief to me.
It was that young lady who had been with Young Lady Jegal, the one whose eyes were completely covered by her bangs.
She said to me.
“Wipe your sweat.”
It was an emotionless way of speaking without any rise or fall in tone, but somehow, the cheeks visible beneath her bangs seemed to be flushed red.
…Was it an illusion?
Anyway, at that moment, embarrassment overwhelmed the exhaustion, and I forced myself to stand up and said to her.
“Uuugh! You are Young Lady Cheong-yeon. I have shown you a pathetic sight.”
Then, she asked with a surprised expression.
“You… know me?”
I smiled awkwardly at that question and answered her.
“I heard Young Lady Jegal call your name yesterday.”
“Ah, as expected, the memory.”
After muttering that, she held out the handkerchief again and spoke.
“Wipe it. I have several, so you can just keep it.”
She held it out so confidently that it was hard to refuse.
I instinctively took the handkerchief and roughly wiped my sweat.
Then, she spoke again.
“Hang in there. I’ll be cheering for you.”
With that, she turned around and walked away.
How should I put it, it felt as if something had swept through.
Like a natural phenomenon rather than a person?
Anyway, it was the first moment in two lives that I had received a handkerchief from a woman.
It was a strange feeling.
The ronin who had been watching also burst into cheers once she disappeared.
“Ohhh! Young Master Sunwoo! You are amazing!”
“To receive a handkerchief from a woman who looks like she would be that beautiful, I am envious!”
What a strange thing to say.
If she’s beautiful, she’s beautiful; what do they mean by 'looks like she would be beautiful'?
Well, I suppose it’s unavoidable since only half of her face is visible.
Of course, it certainly wasn't what they were thinking.
I knew my own state far too well to mistake that young lady’s actions for anything else.
She must have done it because I looked so pitiable.
She seemed to be a very kind young lady.
‘Well, even so, it is true that it makes me feel proud.’
To feel proud in front of others thanks to a woman—come to think of it, this kind of feeling was also a first across two lives.
Suddenly, strength welled up in me, and I jumped up again and shouted gallantly.
“Now, let’s go again!”
The ronin warriors responded with a shout to my hot fighting spirit.
“Ohhhhh!”
Of course, I didn't last half a gok this time either.
“Uu-weeeeeek!”
The ronin warriors were now looking at the sky with faces of enlightenment.
After repeating the cycle of going for a short while and resting for a long time, and going for a short while and resting for a long time, we were barely able to leave Guiyang by around lunchtime.
Seeing the ronin who were trying hard to suppress their annoyance, I thought again that handing the horse over to them had been a very good decision.
Warrior Jang shouted.
“Now, let’s eat before we go! It seems we’ll be eating outdoors a lot!”
Hmm, it seems that was meant for me to hear.
I was embarrassed.
Turning my head away from them, I opened the bundle Yeon-ha had given me.
The small, prettily shaped rice balls entered my sight.