Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 85

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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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Chapter 85
Crack-crack-crack!
The moment I lay down on the bed, every bone in my body seemed to splinter audibly.
My muscles, knotted from days of sleeping rough, ached so intensely it felt as though someone had been pounding me.
I groaned and buried my face in the pillow.
I was grateful not to be sleeping on dirt anymore, yet my entire body throbbed with a pain that threatened to kill me.
“Ju Ryeong. Come here and walk on my back for me.”
“Squeak!”
Ju Ryeong, clearly irritated by my summons, bounded onto the bed with a leap. Grumbling as if the task were beneath him, he soon began patting my back and lower back with his small paws in quick, rhythmic taps.
“Yes. A little lower. That’s it. Right there.”
Ju Ryeong’s massage was better than nothing, but it felt as hollow as brushing one’s teeth without toothpaste.
As I endured his clumsy ministrations, I found myself longing for my grandfather’s massage—or rather, his Acupoint Massage Technique.
It must be like this: after receiving five-star hotel spa treatments every day, having someone tap your shoulders with a thousand-won massage stick instead.
I’d squandered the luxury of receiving the Acupoint Massage Technique daily from a true master, and I hadn’t even recognized its value.
I wanted to beat my past self senseless.
Grandfather. I promise I’ll be a dutiful grandchild later.
I sniffled and gave the mattress a weak pat.
“That’s enough. Ju Ryeong. Come down now.”
“Squeak.”
“You worked hard. Want some dried meat jerky?”
“Chirp-chirp-chirp!”
Ju Ryeong, who’d been grumbling a moment before, perked up at the mention of jerky and bounded straight into my face.
Clutching the jerky eagerly, he leapt onto the table and settled himself at an angle against something as a pillow.
I smiled at the sight of him sprawled out, munching away, but the moment I noticed what he was using as a pillow, my eyes widened.
“What? Ju Ryeong. Where did you get this?”
“Squeak.”
He’d been using as his pillow a jade pendant carved with a tiger so vivid it seemed ready to leap out at any moment.
It was the Gratitude Jade Pendant that Peng Lak had given me once.
“Why is it here? Did you bring it with us?”
“Chirp!”
Ju Ryeong, tilting his head in acknowledgment, shifted his position and settled back down.
The way he nestled his neck into the hollow shaped like the tiger’s head suggested this was no first attempt—he’d grown practiced at it.
When did he pick this up? I’d completely forgotten about it.
Among all those possessions at Byeoldang, he’d singled out Peng Lak’s jade pendant to bring along. A true spirit beast, indeed.
That little creature actually proves useful. He has an uncanny instinct for what’s precious.
“Ju Ryeong. Guard that well. Don’t lose it. Understand?”
“Squeak.”
He turned back over with an air of wounded dignity, as though I’d said something obvious.
I tore my gaze from Ju Ryeong and hurled myself back onto the bed.
Tomorrow I’d buy provisions at the market, and arrange for a carriage and coachman to take us to Wuhan…….
Maybe I should get some oil for maintaining the saber too. I’m nearly out.
As I calculated how much oil and poison remained, I was suddenly reminded of the Old Monks coaxing Jin Seong earlier, smuggling alcohol while he insisted on observing his Precepts.
Thinking of Jin Seong and his rigid insistence on propriety made me smile despite myself.
He’s so stiff, just like a male version of me. Absolutely ridiculous.
According to the novel, Jin Seong had been taken as a disciple when the Supreme Taiji Swordmaster returned to Mount Wudang after a life of wandering freely through the Martial World.
More precisely, he’d abandoned his travels and retired to Mount Wudang because child-rearing had proven too burdensome.
He’d found an abandoned newborn left in the snow and couldn’t bring himself to pass by, so he took the infant in—but he lacked any confidence in raising a child alone.
What could a Martial Artist who’d eaten nothing but sword practice his entire life possibly know about raising a child?
Bewildered by questions of why the baby cried, why it wouldn’t sleep, when to feed it, and when to change its diapers, the Swordmaster brought the infant to Mount Wudang.
There he entrusted the child to his disciples.
‘This is my disciple. He is your youngest junior brother—care for him well.’
For the disciples, the request was utterly outrageous, yet they couldn’t disobey an order from their teacher.
From the moment they removed the label of senior disciples, they found themselves balancing martial training with childcare.
The Old Monks I’d just seen were the ones who’d raised Jin Seong from infancy.
That covers Jin Seong’s childhood…….
In , Jin Seong was first mentioned during the Later Period’s Greatest Martial Tournament Under Heaven.
He was invariably the first candidate mentioned when connoisseurs debated the tournament’s potential champions, being a Later Period prodigy.
Disciple of the Supreme Taiji Swordmaster, the Sword Dragon of Mount Wudang—Jin Seong.
Just hearing such ornate titles made one think, ‘That fellow must be formidable,’ the impact was immediate and unmistakable.
A Sword Dragon appearing before the Divine Dragon protagonist—there’s no question he’s meant to be the protagonist’s rival.
In the semifinal of the Greatest Martial Tournament Under Heaven, Namgoong Hui and Jin Seong clashed in a dazzling display that left the spectators’ palms slick with sweat.
Though Jin Seong had seemed to hold the advantage at first, the tide gradually turned toward Namgoong Hui, and in the final exchange, their blades shattered simultaneously—a draw was declared.
The first match: a draw.
The second match: also a draw.
In the third match, by the narrowest of margins, Namgoong Hui claimed victory.
After that came the sort of shounen-manga development where they reunited at the Martial Alliance and rivals became comrades……. Though I couldn’t quite recall the details.
In any case, it was a peculiar twist of fate to meet the future Supreme Master of Mount Wudang practically on its doorstep.
It just went to show—the world was surprisingly small.
Lost in these peaceful reflections as I stared at the ceiling, I suddenly jolted upright with a belated realization.
……Wait a moment.
I’d completely botched my first impression, hadn’t I? Stealing glances while eating, asking about his features like some strange woman praising his face……?
Ah, Yeon Liang! This man is impossible!
I tore at my hair with a silent scream.
Surely we wouldn’t meet again? No, why on earth would I encounter the protagonist’s rival a second time?
It was ridiculous to worry about first impressions when wanted posters had my name on them, and yet…….
As I thrashed about in embarrassment, kicking at the blanket, a sharp cracking sound made me freeze.
Wherever my heels had struck, gaping holes now punctured the bedframe.
I rubbed my face with a dry hand.
The bed was ruined. Damn it.
* * *
The next morning brought an unusually refreshing awakening.
There was no chill seeping up from the ground, no wild animal cries jolting me awake in panic—the luxury of such sleep was incomparable.
Though I’d had to huddle at the edge of the bedframe, simply resting under a roof filled me with contentment.
As I rolled my shoulders, the joints now moving smoothly, and prepared to leave, Yeon Liang knocked at the door.
“Sister. You awake?”
“Yes, I’m up. Come in.”
At my reply, Yeon Liang opened the door and stepped into the room.
“I was thinking we should go find a carriage. Right now might be a good time……. Why does your bed look like that? Did a night visitor stop by?”
“Don’t ask. I’ll explain later.”
I pursed my lips and hastily covered the holes in the mattress with the blanket.
Yeon Liang tilted his head questioningly but didn’t press further, simply sitting down in a chair.
Then Ju Ryeong came scurrying over and rubbed its face against Yeon Liang’s hand, seeking affection.
“Coo-ruk.”
“There now. Furry one. Did you sleep well?”
“Coo-ruk-ruk.”
“Ha, yes. Let’s eat.”
Watching their exchange, I cocked my head.
“When I see you two like this, it seems as though brother and Ju Ryeong can actually understand each other.”
“What? This one’s a good talker. Sister, surely you understand what this beast is saying?”
“What?”
They really could communicate?
I asked again in genuine surprise, and Yeon Liang smiled mischievously.
“I’m joking. Surely you didn’t believe me? I’m no Daoist, and how would I understand animal speech?”
“…….”
Laughing, Yeon Liang rubbed Ju Ryeong’s belly.
This man really does enjoy teasing me.
I shot him a sidelong look and left the room.
The weather was fine.
Laundry hung in neat rows before the houses, drying crisp and fresh, and the people moving through the streets seemed unhurried and content.
Yeon Liang surveyed the area and stopped a passerby to ask.
“Pardon me. Where might I find a shop selling provisions?”
“Ah? Over, over there……!”
Startled by Yeon Liang’s imposing frame, the man flinched and pointed toward the merchant district.
Though Yeon Liang, realizing he’d frightened the stranger, offered a belated smile, the man had already fled.
“Brother, you do have a rather intimidating look about you.”
“That can’t be. There’s no man with a temperament as good as mine……. I mean, where would you find a fellow so amiable as I?”
Yeon Liang stroked his chin as though it were nothing. He seemed oblivious to the sheer pressure his massive frame exerted.
I lightly ignored his words and asked instead.
“Brother, is there anything you need to buy? I’m thinking of getting some oil and cloth.”
“Me? I just need provisions and dried meat jerky to get by. Though I wouldn’t mind stocking up on jerky if we can.”
“I wasn’t planning to buy dried meat jerky.”
“What? You won’t even let a person eat the jerky that furry beasts gnaw on every day? That’s too harsh, isn’t it, sister?”
Yeon Liang thrust an accusatory finger toward Ju Ryeong as though genuinely wronged.
He looked exactly like a child complaining that his older sibling handed snacks to the younger one instead of him.
“Yes, yes. I’ll buy plenty. I’ll buy lots, so you carry them around with you.”
I waved my hand dismissively, my expression betraying my exasperation.
This man was becoming increasingly childish.
After purchasing what we needed, I set out to find the Coachman. It wasn’t difficult to locate one.
“I’m looking for a carriage heading to Wuhan. Will you take us?”
“Yes? Yes, sir. Of course. Absolutely. Yes, I will.”
“Can you depart right now?”
“Right now? Well, that’s a bit…. Yes. Yes, sir. Just give me a quarter of an hour, sir. I’ll check the wheels.”
The moment Yeon Liang stepped forward, the Coachman began bustling about in preparation for departure.
“How much is the fare?”
“Thirty copper coins a day, sir. When we stop at a village to rest, just provide me with dinner.”
Yeon Liang nodded and cut off a portion of silver, which he handed to the Coachman.
“I’ll give you twice that when we reach Wuhan.”
“Yes, yes. My goodness. Thank you, sir.”
At the generous payment, the Coachman’s mouth split into a grin so wide it seemed his face might tear.
He swiftly inspected the carriage wheels and horse reins, then opened the door wide for us to board.
The four-seat carriage didn’t feel particularly spacious—likely because Yeon Liang took up the room of two people.
As Yeon Liang, sitting across from me, opened the carriage window, Ju Ryeong poked his face out through the opening.
“You’ll fall doing that. Hold on tight.”
“Squeak.”
At the warning, Ju Ryeong flinched and gripped the window frame firmly.
I heard the Coachman close the door and climb up onto the driver’s seat.
“We’re departing now. Hyah!”
With the sound of hoofbeats, the carriage began to move smoothly forward.
“How long will it take?”
“About ten days. Maybe a day or two longer.”
“Quite a while, isn’t it? I thought carriages would be much faster.”
“It’s better than walking, isn’t it?”
“That’s true enough.”
I replied and gazed at the landscape of Gyunhyeon receding swiftly behind us.
Just as the towering trees seemed about to obscure the buildings, we found ourselves already racing along a broad forest road.
“Rest your eyes, sister. The Coachman knows the way well, so until the next village….”
Clang!
Yeon Liang, who had been laughing merrily, abruptly stiffened his expression and struck something away with his scabbard.
An arrow, sliced clean in half by his blade, tumbled into the carriage.
An arrow?
In the moment I thrust my hand into my sleeve in alarm, a shower of arrows began pouring into the carriage.

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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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