Chapter 43 : Rescuing Shangguan Mijong (3)

Chapter 43: Rescuing Shangguan Mijong (3)

"You’ve done well, Young Master Yong. It was a success."

Yong Hwarin felt a tremendous physical and mental fatigue, likely due to the strange experience he had just undergone.

"To be honest, I didn’t mention this beforehand, but if your mental fortitude had been weak, this technique would’ve failed. Had that happened, you might’ve ended up in the same condition as Shangguan Mijong, or been consumed by the spirit. But your willpower is remarkably strong for someone your age."

Nan Myeonggwak had, in truth, been half-prepared for failure.

Yet Yong Hwarin followed his instructions perfectly.

By the end of the technique, Nan Myeonggwak Nan Myeonggwak realized just how incredible Yong Hwarin’s mental strength truly was.

Having endured all kinds of hardship in his past life, Yong Hwarin naturally possessed a powerful will. He was familiar with pain, and held no fear in accepting it. He had tasted it so often it had become mundane.

'If I hadn’t gone through my previous life, I wouldn’t have withstood this technique. That pain felt like my head was being split open… I honestly wanted to die.'

Yong Hwarin didn’t bother with humility in response to the praise—because it was the truth.

Just then, Shangguan Mijong’s body twitched.

*Cough! Cough! Cough!*

She raised her upper body and suddenly vomited a mouthful of clotted blood.

"Is something wrong?"

Startled, Yong Hwarin spoke quickly, but Nan Myeonggwak responded with a smile.

"That’s actually a sign that it worked, so don’t worry. She’s expelling the clotted blood that formed as her fragmented ego was being destroyed. It would’ve been more dangerous if she hadn’t thrown it up."

*Huff! Huff!*

After coughing up a bowlful of blood, Shangguan Mijong began to regain her senses and looked around.

Upon seeing Yong Hwarin and Nan Myeonggwak, she opened her mouth to speak.

Her lips, stained red with blood, gave off an oddly alluring glow.

He hadn’t noticed while she was lying down, but now that she was awake, he could see that Shangguan Mijong had a very different charm from Shangguan Yuseol.

She resembled Ha Yanggyo more—enough to be called a matchless beauty.

Where Shangguan Yuseol’s beauty was pure and delicate, Shangguan Mijong exuded a provocative and seductive aura.

"So it was you. In the end, you were the one who saved me."

She looked at Nan Myeonggwak as she spoke.

"Indeed. Had we failed to save you today, I was destined to be executed tomorrow. But thanks to this Young Master Yong who came to find me, we were able to rescue you. You should thank him more than me."

Shangguan Mijong stood up and wiped the blood from her lips with a silk cloth.

"I know. You were the one kneading my chest like dough."

Yong Hwarin’s heart jumped as he lowered his head in a formal greeting.

"It’s an honor to meet you. I am Yong Hwarin of the Heavenly Central Sect. That action was solely for the purpose of treating you, so I hope you won’t be too offended."

"I know. It’s not like anything terrible happened just because you touched my chest. Thank you—it couldn’t have been easy... My father brought in all sorts of doctors and healers, and none of them could help me. But you two succeeded. I’ll ask my father to bestow a reward upon you."

"If one is offered, I’ll gladly accept. Since I nearly died, I’ll be expecting quite a bit."

Nan Myeonggwak was planning to collect a hefty price for saving her life. Yong Hwarin also felt he deserved it, so he kept quiet.

"Young Master Yong, do you have something you wish for? Surely you didn’t save me without wanting something in return?"

"Not exactly. But refusing any compensation at all after saving you would be foolish. May I tell you later? It’s nothing extravagant, so don’t worry."

Shangguan Mijong stared at Yong Hwarin for a moment, then took a mirror from the room and began tidying herself up.

'Even in this situation, she’s composed. She really is a strong woman. No wonder she was chosen as one of the Twelve Flowers of the Martial World.'

After giving a nod to both men, she walked out.

"I should let them know I’m awake."

As Shangguan Mijong opened the door and stepped outside, her family, who had been waiting, let out joyous cries and cheers.

"Whew..."

Nan Myeonggwak let out a long sigh of relief.

Yong Hwarin, watching the reunion, spoke to him.

"Why did you tell me to touch her chest? Was there no other way?"

"There were alternatives, but none as fast or accurate. From what I saw, the fragmented ego had become masculinized—likely due to a powerful desire to learn martial arts. So when a male ego forms in a female body, it causes a clash between yin and yang, leading to qi deviation. But since she trained in martial arts, it didn’t appear as deviation—more like poisoning or illness. That’s why they brought doctors, applied acupuncture, and fed her medicinal decoctions."

Upon hearing this, Yong Hwarin realized there truly had been no better way than to feel her chest at the time.

"You’ve worked hard. Now, when can we wake the spirit inside me?"

"First, we must set up a barrier to suppress the spirit. It’ll take a day or two to prepare, so you’ll have to wait."

"I trust you, Master Nan Myeonggwak."

Yong Hwarin nodded and left the room.

Nan Myeonggwak had words on the tip of his tongue, but he held them back. Saying too much might land him in trouble again.

‘When souls exchange places, they share a sensation of intimacy and synchronicity, almost like having shared a bed. I bet Shangguan Mijong will develop a strange fondness for Young Master Yong. It's inevitable, like how spending the night together can spark unexpected affection. Soul exchange creates an even stronger pull. I’m curious to see how this unfolds.’

With a sly smile, Nan Myeonggwak found himself increasingly curious about the spirit hiding inside Yong Hwarin.

‘That spirit nearly broke my formation. I’ve never seen such a powerful one before. What kind of spirit could push back the best spiritual technique of the Unorthodox faction?’

Nan Myeonggwak stepped outside and raised his voice for all to hear.

"Take me to my quarters. I need some rest."

The head of the Shangguan clan, who had been smiling at his daughter, frowned slightly but said nothing, choosing instead to cough awkwardly.

Chief Administrator Yoo immediately ordered a servant to escort Nan Myeonggwak to the guest quarters.

Yong Hwarin smiled as the man walked off like a triumphant general. Without him, Shangguan Mijong would never have survived.

"Young Master Yong, you’ve truly done well. Thanks to you, my daughter lives."

Ha Yanggyo grasped Yong Hwarin’s hands gratefully, while Shangguan Byeokin narrowed his eyes and watched carefully.

"I’m just glad she had the mental strength to awaken on her own. I merely guided the way."

Ha Yanggyo smiled warmly and praised him.

"You don’t act like young people these days. Whose son are you to have grown up so well?"

Worried she might reach out and stroke his cheek next, Yong Hwarin quickly pulled back his hands and stepped away.

Shangguan Byeokin’s eyes were like flying swords—hard to endure any longer.

"I’ll take my leave and get some rest now."

"Yes, yes. I’ve been too clingy. You must be exhausted. Look at that—still sweating."

Ha Yanggyo, brimming with rare motherly affection, treated Yong Hwarin with tenderness.

Shangguan Yuseol and Shangguan Mijong looked puzzled, having never seen their mother like this before.

‘Was Mother always this affectionate?’

That’s how unfamiliar it felt.

With disapproving gazes not just from Shangguan Byeokin, but even the two daughters, Yong Hwarin gave a quick bow and retreated.

‘Such petty and narrow-minded people.’

Muttering under his breath, Yong Hwarin headed toward the guest quarters.

The moment he arrived, he bathed and enjoyed a relaxing meal.

"Young Master, I’ve returned."

"What’s Nan Myeonggwak doing?"

A servant returned from checking on Nan Myeonggwak, and Yong Hwarin asked.

"He ate and then fell into a deep sleep."

Yong Hwarin had planned to meet with Nan Myeonggwak to discuss the spirit and possible solutions, but now he had to wait—leaving him frustrated.

"When he wakes up, tell him to come see me."

"Understood."

As the servant left, Yong Hwarin quietly reflected on the day’s events. He had met Nan Myeonggwak, performed a ritual, and even extracted the spirit that had been residing in his upper dantian.

‘And as for Shangguan Mijong...’

"Shangguan Mijong... right, Shangguan Mijong."

Suddenly, Yong Hwarin shot to his feet.

"You fool! How could I have missed that?! Idiot! What’s the point of living fifty years in a past life if I can’t even make that connection?"

He spun in place, smacking his head hard with his palm.

Then suddenly, he burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha! Finally, it all makes sense!"

He rushed to the writing table and began scribbling with brush and ink.

Shangguan Clan.

Yiungjang.

Ancestral Decree Sect.

Haewol Temple, Monk Bangwoo.

River Immortal Pavilion.

On each sheet of paper, he listed the places Ha Cheolryeong had visited, tapping them one by one.

"Now I’m getting it. Finally."

Nan Myeonggwak had said Shangguan Mijong’s ego had split while practicing a unique internal art of the Shangguan Clan.

"Shangguan Mijong’s ego split from training the Two Minds, Divided Sword technique."

That was a martial art no one of this era could’ve known.

The Two Minds, Divided Sword of the Shangguan Clan was only revealed to the world much later—after Shangguan Mijong became one of the Twelve Flowers of the Martial World.

Until then, the world had no idea such a martial art existed. Not every clan or sect revealed their martial techniques. Many had arts they kept secret—ones only their members could know.

With that one thread unraveled, everything began falling into place.

"Yiwoong Manor was famous for Mind Replacement Spirit. Ancestral Decree Sect for Mental Grafting. Monk Bangwoo of Haewol Temple for Strange Heart Control."

The full picture was starting to emerge.

"And River Immortal Pavilion..."

As if recalling something, Yong Hwarin rummaged through his travel pouch and pulled out a golden medallion.

It had been issued by Chouhui, the most beautiful woman of  River Immortal Pavilion.

"Chouhui. Now everything fits. She was the master of the famed Left and Right Divided Mind Technique, a sensual art no one else could match."

This, too, was something Yong Hwarin only learned several years after failing the Five Gate Trials in his past life.

At that time, the Left and Right Divided Mind Technique became known to the world. It was an art that split the mind in two, allowing simultaneous execution of separate techniques.