Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 62

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 62
15. Survival of the Fittest
Adapting to a Sichuan summer was far from easy. The humidity was so oppressive that I felt like a dumpling steaming inside a pot.
After a fortnight of struggling to beat back the relentless heat with ice water and cold tea, I caught a summer cold—the kind even dogs supposedly don’t get.
“Achoo!”
A violent fit of coughing sent mucus streaming down my face. Startled by the sound, Song Ji came rushing over and pressed a hand to my forehead.
“Oh my, Miss. Your forehead is burning up.”
“I have a fever? My body feels so cold though.”
Something was clearly wrong. As I trembled, Song Ji adjusted the blanket over me with care.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you unwell, Miss. Have you been overtraining lately? I’ll tell the kitchen to prepare some rice porridge. We should fetch a herbal decoction from the Medicine Hall as well…….”
Song Ji’s words trailed off as she glanced toward Deok Ju. Under that pointed gaze, Deok Ju’s expression grew awkward.
“……I’ll go fetch it. I’ll also tell Master Dang that training will be difficult today.”
“Oh, thank you so much, Martial Artist.”
Song Ji beamed and waved Deok Ju off on her way. With a curt nod, Deok Ju slipped out of sight.
After sending Deok Ju on the errand, Song Ji broke into a satisfied grin.
“The martial artist is quite perceptive.”
That’s probably because you gave her such an obvious hint.
Song Ji had clearly figured out how to handle Deok Ju.
“P-p-porridge……. I, I c-can… go g-get it…….”
“Would you like to go, Kyeong A? Then I’ll stay with Miss.”
“Yes. Go on. Song Ji. Get me some water.”
I sniffled and curled my body into a tight ball. The body aches had set in earnest, and my head was pounding.
Song Ji returned with a concerned look, carrying lukewarm water.
“Miss. Here’s your water.”
“Thank you.”
I tried to take the cup from her hands, but my fingers had no strength.
“Miss, let me help you drink it.”
As my arms trembled, Song Ji retrieved the cup and brought it to my lips. I was thoroughly being treated like an invalid.
“Thanks, Song Ji. Let me sleep a bit more…….”
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and slowly closed my eyes. My mind was hazy.
When I opened my eyes again, Dang Jung was pressing his hand against my forehead. Our eyes met, and he asked with concern.
“Are you feeling any better, child?”
“Grandfather, you’re here…….”
I tried to say I was fine, but my throat was hoarse and the words came out broken.
At the ragged quality of my voice, Dang Jung clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“Goodness. This cold has a real grip on you. Just drink your decoction and rest.”
“Yes.”
Dang Jung helped me sit up and took a spoon in hand himself. As he spooned out the herbal decoction and blew gently to cool it, his expression was so earnest that I nearly laughed.
I leaned against him, accepting the cooled decoction he offered.
“Now lie back down. Your fever needs to break…….”
Dang Jung murmured with concern as he lowered me slowly back onto the bed. A cool palm settled over my eyes.
The soothing sensation eased my tension, and sleep came rushing in. It seemed Dang Jung was pressing an acupoint on me.
I surrendered to the drowsiness that overwhelmed me.
* * *
How much time had passed?
I struggled against the haze and opened my eyes, only to find my vision blurring and clearing repeatedly.
As I fought to keep my eyelids open, I gave up and closed them again. My body wouldn’t obey.
I felt something rough—a tongue—licking my cheek.
“Ju Ryeong……. That tickles…….”
“Mew. Mew-ow.”
Ju Ryeong let out a mournful cry as if chiding itself.
I could sense Kyeong A moving about restlessly nearby.
In the adjacent room, Dang Jung stood with folded arms, speaking to Deok Ju.
So this is what martial training does for you. Even with my eyes closed, I could sense exactly where everyone was.
“My senses have grown dull indeed. Poison that doesn’t work means medicine won’t work either—such a simple principle, yet I failed to account for it.”
“The Spirit Medicine showed good results, but for some reason…….”
“It wasn’t the medicine taking effect. She absorbed the Spiritual Energy dissolved within it. What a troublesome development. Anesthetic Incense won’t work on her either, I suspect…….”
Dang Jung and Deok Ju’s conversation drifted in and out of earshot.
Ah, so medicine doesn’t work on me.
I’d never been sick before, so I never knew.
“For now it’s just a common cold, so it’s manageable. But if you were to sustain an injury, you’d have to stitch the wound with a clear mind—that’s what worries me.”
Dang Jung clicked his tongue in disapproval.
I see. Stitch a wound with a clear mind…….
I was lost in his words when I nearly shrieked aloud.
No anesthesia? That meant no painkillers either, didn’t it?
This is insane. Am I Guan Yu? Am I really Guan Yu?
“Eek. Eek eek?”
As I thrashed in panic, Ju Ryeong tapped the wall urgently, calling for Dang Jung. The old man appeared at the bedroom door in response to the badger’s summons.
“How’s your body feeling, child?”
“I think I’m dying…….”
“The fact that you can speak suggests you’re better than before, at least.”
Dang Jung smiled softly and wiped my sweat-soaked brow with his hand.
Despite his playful tone, his eyes were filled with concern.
“I heard everything. You don’t need to hide it from me.”
I shrugged as if to say there was no point in keeping secrets, and Dang Jung sighed.
“It’s as you heard. Even half a double-hour after you drank the herbal decoction, your fever wouldn’t break. I examined the formula to see if there was an error, but the decoction itself was fine. The problem lies with your body, Sohye.”
“But I slept well.”
“That’s only natural—I pressed your Acupoints. A body that only responds to Spirit Medicine is peculiar indeed. Finicky beyond measure.”
You make me sound like a cat that spits out anything but organic feed.
I burrowed deeper into the quilt, looking up at Dang Jung’s face.
“So I just have to cough and wait until I recover on my own?”
“That’s right. Your grandfather will look into other remedies. For now, rest. Once you’re able to move around, practice your Qi Circulation. If nothing else works, you can always eat that Badger Core Elixir.”
“Eeeek!”
Ju Ryeong leaped as if to protest, kicking his feet indignantly.
Ignoring the badger’s objection, Dang Jung gripped my wrist and channeled True Energy into me.
His Internal Energy, flowing through my fingertips, soon spread throughout my entire body.
As his familiar energy wrapped around me, I grew drowsy as if lying on a warm ondol floor.
Sensing Dang Jung’s Internal Energy, I fell asleep.
* * *
Word of my illness spread like wildfire.
The Medicine Hall’s master sent Energy Recovery Pills said to relieve fatigue, while the Poison King Sect’s master sent an entire basket of tangerines.
Those tangerines must be precious, brought all the way from Yunnan. If they go to such lengths and I still refuse to join their sect, there’ll be trouble. This is getting burdensome.
“Miss! The Poison King Sect’s master sent you a precious basket of tangerines!”
Song Ji was so delighted that I couldn’t bring myself to refuse and merely laughed awkwardly.
“Share them with Kyeong A and Deok Ju. Eat some yourself too.”
“You should eat first, Miss.”
“I need to stick to rice gruel. I’ll throw up if I eat that now. Go on, eat.”
“But…….”
“If you leave them sitting, they’ll mold. These are precious—you want them to go moldy? Eat them now.”
Song Ji hesitated until I peeled one and handed it to her, then carefully divided the fruit among Deok Ju and Kyeong A.
Then she grinned widely and popped her share into her mouth.
“It’s so delicious! Miss! I can’t believe I’m eating something so precious!”
If I’d sent them back, she would’ve cried.
Kyeong A, who’d been hesitant, cautiously bit into her segment, and her eyes widened as she chewed eagerly.
“Go ahead and eat, Deok Ju.”
“……Yes, Miss.”
Urged by me, Deok Ju finally placed the tangerine in her mouth. The way her lips curved upward suggested she was pleased with it.
Watching my girls eat so happily made me feel warm inside.
I smiled contentedly and leaned my back against the bedpost. My fever had dropped considerably, but I had no strength in my limbs.
I’d thought that once you became a Martial Artist, you’d never suffer from minor ailments, but overexertion still brought on body aches all the same.
Perhaps I’m only slightly healthier than an ordinary person still. I should rest thoroughly while I have the chance.
I yawned widely and closed my eyes.
“Youngest!”
“…….”
Oh no. Why is she here?
“I saw your eyes open. Our youngest is sick, they say!”
Swallowing a sigh, I opened my eyes to see Dang Ju Hui sweeping into the bedroom, her jewelry jingling.
Behind her stood Dang Cho Hui, cradling a thick stack of books.
“Is it okay if we come in?”
“Come in, sister.”
Unlike someone who acted on whim, Dang Cho Hui—who had asked for my consent first—stepped slowly into the bedroom.
“What book is this?”
“An errand from our brother. He said to read it if I’m bored.”
“Oh. Please thank him for me.”
After setting the Medical Texts on the table, Dang Cho Hui stared at me as I forced the corners of my mouth upward.
“Body aches?”
“Yes.”
“You pushed yourself too hard.”
Nodding as if she’d suspected as much, Dang Cho Hui withdrew a small bundle from her sleeve.
“Here.”
“Cho Hui thought hard about what to bring so you wouldn’t be bored. Go on, unwrap it.”
“Really? Thank you, sister.”
I unwrapped the bundle with a grin, and several spheres of varying sizes came into view.
“Beads?”
“Mother-Child Spheres.”
“You hide a small sphere behind the large one and throw it. Just as your opponent evades the large sphere and lets his guard down—thunk—the small one smashes into his forehead.”
Dang Ju Hui laughed brightly, rolling a sphere in her palm as she explained.
“You can throw several at once to mess with their sense of distance too. Not bad for emergencies either. Hardly anyone suspects there’s poison on spheres, so they don’t guard against them.”
They don’t even have to be spheres—I could throw stones of different sizes and use them the same way.
As my eyes lit up, Dang Ju Hui let out a helpless laugh.
“Look at our youngest’s eyes. Those are the eyes of someone who wants to throw them right now. Looks like Cho Hui’s gift is a hit.”
“I love it. Thank you, sister. How do you even make something like this? It’s amazing.”
Dang Cho Hui’s earlobes flushed crimson. She clamped her lips shut, at a loss, and bolted from her seat.
“Rest. Let’s go.”
“Why? I still have so much to tell our youngest.”
She even showed the thoughtfulness of dragging the chattering Dang Ju Hui out of the room.
Our second sister has no immunity to words of gratitude.
I giggled and buried my face in the pillow. My head was already throbbing, even though Dang Ju Hui had only stopped by briefly.
Grateful was grateful, and exhausted was exhausted.
An unexpected visitor came to see me.
“So you’re sick?”
“Our youngest brother? Why are you here?”
I hadn’t expected Dang Se Ho to visit, so my eyes widened in surprise.
“You really are ill. Your lips are pale.”
“Yes. Now that you’re here, I feel even worse. Please just go.”
“Your mouth doesn’t look sick at all. Here, take this.”
Dang Se Ho glanced awkwardly around the room before hesitantly holding out a basket.
It was brimming with hawthorn berries.
“You know how hard it is to find hawthorn berries these days, right? Once you’re better, have a servant bring them to Dang Manor and make them into a preserve.”
“What? This is for me? Why?”
“So you won’t be sick.”
I was moved for just a moment by his bashful reply, but then he flashed me a smug grin.
“I’m going to eat these. They’ll be delicious, won’t they?”
Dang Se Ho puffed out his chest and retrieved a bamboo container, pulling out deep-fried meat dripping with oil and taking a large bite.
“Mmm, yes. This is the taste. People need meat to live, after all. You won’t be able to eat it since you’re sick, though.”
Satisfaction bloomed across his face as he chewed.
Who does this brat think he’s teasing?
“You. Get out.”
“Are you calling your brother ‘you’ again!”
“Hey. Leave while I’m asking nicely.”
…
Dang Se Ho watched my expression before slowly sliding his backside off the bed.
I glared at the back of his head.
Once I’m well, I’ll practice an Acupoint Strike on that annoying mouth first.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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