Chapter 04
It wasn’t that my dantian was broken—it was merely blocked.
“Someone deliberately and precisely blocked my meridians.”
If I knew how to clear them, I could reclaim the scattered internal energy.
My heart raced.
Even if others didn’t know, I had been at the center of all information in the martial world.
Hurriedly, I began rifling through the solutions stored in my mind.
❖ ❖ ❖
Four days passed.
During that time, a few more physicians had come and gone, and my body gradually recovered.
Of course, my memory hadn’t returned yet.
“Is this all for breakfast?”
“Yes… Miss usually hardly ate breakfast.”
“No wonder you’re so thin. You need to eat more. Is there any more?”
I finished the white porridge Sibi brought and added,
“Do you know anything about me? I’ve lost a lot of memory.”
“Ah… I haven’t been your personal attendant for long.”
She said she had only been assigned to me after my accident. So there was very little information about Heerin I could get from her.
For the next two days, I focused solely on recovery.
The meals were simple, mostly grains and vegetables, but for restoring the body and internal energy, easily digestible food was better.
After meals, I checked my physical condition and often went for walks.
The area I was allowed to roam was limited to this chamber, the back garden, and the forest walking paths.
Almost no one passed by inside or around the residence.
“If everyone knew you lost your memory, why has no one come?”
“Miss Liri has visited a few times. She came while you were sick, so you wouldn’t remember.”
They were referring to Yeom Liri, the youngest daughter of the Yeom family.
“The herbal remedies you received recently were all sent by Miss Liri. She said she would come later after you’ve had a proper rest since you lost your memory.”
I had thought no one outside Yeom Ho-pyeong or Yeom Ho-ryeong would care about Jeok Heerin’s survival, but it seemed there was at least someone who did.
As I sipped tea brewed from cheap leaves, I suddenly heard several footsteps outside the door.
“Miss Liri has arrived.”
Before I could even give permission, a woman in dazzling red clothing entered.
Her upturned eyes gave her a somewhat sharp and bold impression.
It was Yeom Liri.
The youngest legitimate daughter of the Yeomhwa family’s head, two years older than Heerin at twenty-four.
“Miss Jeok, I’m relieved to see you look healthier than I expected. Has your memory returned?”
“No.”
“Is that so?”
She replied casually and gestured toward the door.
Three Sibi attendants entered carrying red garments and accessories.
“The wedding day is approaching. The bridal gown must be altered to fit Miss Jeok, and the embroidery done, so let’s hurry.”
“Yes, Miss.”
The attendants quickly swarmed me, starting to dress me in the red bridal outfit.
At the mention of a wedding, my body shivered.
Heerin’s emotions were controlling my body. I forced my hunched shoulders back and asked Yeom Liri,
“I’m getting married? When?”
“Yes. Precisely, in twenty-one days. Even though Miss Jeok lost her memory, the ceremony will proceed as scheduled.”
Even though I asked informally, she barely looked at me, unconcerned.
Judging by how she busily inspected the jewelry box for pieces that would suit me, she must dislike wasting time.
Hmm?
On the hand that picked up a piece of jewelry, I noticed fresh calluses. Clearly, she practiced swordsmanship diligently, as befit the main line of the Yeomhwa family.
At that moment, one attendant removed the cloth around my neck.
Revealing the marks left two days ago when Yeom Ho-pyeong had grabbed my neck.
“…So it was Brother Pyeong.”
A brief look of contempt for Yeom Ho-pyeong passed over Yeom Liri’s face and vanished.
She clearly knew how he had treated Heerin.
Yeom Liri looked away for a moment. There was a hint of pity, but also some discomfort.
It was the expression of someone who didn’t want to intervene.
“Miss Jeok, may I ask one more thing?”
“What is it?”
“About the ‘demonic dog’…”
The moment I uttered that title, Yeom Liri’s brows furrowed, and a tense silence fell.
The sudden quiet from the attendants was no coincidence.
“He saved me, didn’t he?”
Yeom Liri froze. Even the air seemed to stop.
With a gesture, she had the attendants leave.
Now, only Yeom Liri and I remained in the chamber.
“Miss Jeok, you mustn’t speak that title carelessly.”
Her once confident mouth trembled slightly. Her eyes reflected caution.
“Who exactly is he…”
“Uicheonso, the Third Son of Cheonmu Sect.”
Even I had never heard of him. A lot must have changed in the demon sect over the past ten years.
“Before catching the eye of the Celestial Lord and becoming the Third Son, he had no notable origin. That’s why some of the sons of noble families called him the derogatory ‘demonic dog.’ Brother Pyeong was among them.”
Apparently, the noble families looked down on him.
Perhaps Yeom Ho-ryeong felt inferior to the suddenly empowered Third Son.
“I don’t know why he saved you, Miss Jeok, but he’s dangerous. And as for how dangerous… it’s better not to ask.”
Yeom Liri drew a clear line and clapped her hands.
The attendants returned, dressing me and adding jewelry again.
Why would he save Heerin…
Was it, as Yeom Ho-pyeong suggested, because they knew each other?
No, Heerin’s diary mentioned nothing about him. They likely didn’t know each other.
Yeom Liri’s idea that he acted on a whim made more sense.
With a serious expression, Yeom Liri had the attendants take my measurements again, then gestured for them to leave with the clothes.
“When the wedding gown is complete, they will bring it again.”
With that, Yeom Liri left, followed by the attendants.
One of the attendants brushed past me, leaving something in my hand.
A small note.
I quickly tucked it into my sleeve.
Alone, after the personal attendant left, I returned to the bed and unfolded the note.
It bore the same coded message I had written:
Tonight, between 19:00–21:00, at Soheongru.
It seemed the one who read my code wanted to summon me.
It was also a test.
I intended to accept the invitation.
To do so, I would have to leave this chamber and go to Soheongru…
“First, I must restore my body.”
From what I had observed over the past three days, certain mental techniques could partially heal me.
First, I had spent the initial two days regulating my body and understanding its flow.
Now it was time to apply the methods I had prepared.
I sat cross-legged and performed a special meditation technique, drawing up vital energy to consolidate my dantian.
With careful application, I could remove the needles blocking my meridians.
Following the hand seals, I drew energy toward the empty dantian.
With shallow breaths, the vital energy slowly traveled along the meridians, enough force to break through the rigid barriers.
“…Just a little more.”
Thud.
A tiny black needle popped out and embedded itself in the wall.
For a brief moment, I felt a liberating relief as if my breath returned.
Even the removal of a single needle allowed the faint energy to settle in my dantian.
Eight more needles remained.
Each would require careful recovery before removal, meaning the full process would take time.
“About two weeks per needle… so at least four months for all of them.”
It was still far from fully clearing them.
Though not perfect, the result was satisfying compared to my days as a martial cripple.
Besides, with such a small amount, no one would notice my restored internal energy for now.
I was ready to go outside.
As the sun began to set, I declared to my personal attendant that I would light a sleep-inducing incense.
“Let me sleep through tomorrow. Do not wake me before morning.”
Her quarters were far away. The placement was deliberate, to isolate Heerin—but it worked in my favor. She wouldn’t come to check on me unnecessarily.
Once she left, I secretly lit a misty incense I had prepared with herbs.
Even if someone peeked inside, it would obscure my presence.
I piled clothes and blankets on the bed to make it look like I was lying there.
Then I pulled on a veil to hide my hair and face. Luckily, I had one among my few garments.
Because Jeok Heerin had been so obedient, the guards did not patrol directly outside at night.
“If I return by dawn, I won’t be caught.”
As soon as I stepped outside, the cold wind pierced my chest.
“I want to escape like this.”
Even after ten more years, I still had the information from Sangcheondang. Hiding my appearance would not be difficult.
Yet I would return to the Yeomhwa family.
If I vanished without a trace, who knew what harm could come to Heerin’s household?
Having decided to repay Heerin, I had no intention of fleeing.
I activated a low-energy stealth technique, Sangcheon Star, allowing me to minimize my presence.
I passed quickly through the Yeomhwa residence.
Then, using the paths remembered by Heerin, I left the estate.
It was my first outing since deciding to become Heerin.
The destination was Soheongru, northward.
There, someone would remember me—Cheongrin.
