Surviving as the Villainess’s Servant in a Martial Arts Novel - Chapter 33

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 33

 

I felt a surge of emotion.

 

“Why? You said I had talent!”

 

Namgung Jeong also got emotional and shouted.

 

“Look at yourself! How many times am I teaching you this now? At this point, you should have memorized all the techniques and be practicing form variations, but you keep making mistakes on even the basic techniques!”

 

“Sniff…”

 

I had nothing to say and stared into space.

 

Actually, the sword technique Namgung Jeong taught me wasn’t that difficult. He said it was third-rate martial arts that could be commonly found on the streets, and true to its reputation, the techniques themselves were simple.

 

Compared to martial arts with 36 or 72 techniques, this one only had 3 techniques. At first, I thought I could learn it quickly.

 

However, the more I practiced, the more problems arose.

 

“Again, again! I told you to cut straight, not diagonally! Why do you keep doing that!”

 

I started modifying the techniques on my own.

 

It wasn’t intentional, actually. My mind kept telling me to do it as I was taught, but when I tried to execute the techniques with my body, I’d think ‘wouldn’t it be better to do it this way?’ and the direction would change on its own.

 

Of course, this only frustrated Namgung Jeong.

 

“I’ve told you countless times that doing it that way only exposes weaknesses!”

 

“B-but this way seems better for my body. When I do it the way you taught me, the movements become too big and my body sways…”

 

“Are you a grandmaster? You’re changing techniques on your own because they don’t suit you? If you had the qualities of a grandmaster and could improve the weaknesses in techniques, I wouldn’t say anything. But you’re making the techniques a mess, that’s the problem!”

 

The situation became even worse when learning form variations.

 

Form variations, which involve changing mid-technique for improvised use, could expose weaknesses if used incorrectly, so they needed to be remembered more precisely, but I couldn’t understand this concept at all.

 

I asked timidly.

 

“Why do I have to memorize even the form variations? Can’t I just modify them appropriately according to the situation? If even these have set formulas, wouldn’t it be easier for opponents to counter when they know the techniques?”

 

“Right, right. So I suppose the great grandmaster can create other amazing form variations besides the ones I taught?”

 

“That’s not what I meant…”

 

When I scratched my head, Namgung Jeong shouted.

 

“Form variations are created by considering all those variables. Peak masters who have reached the pinnacle of martial arts can forget techniques and combat patterns and execute techniques according to situations, but are you such a peak master? Stop talking nonsense and memorize it!”

 

This kind of situation repeated at least ten times.

 

Eventually, Namgung Jeong became exhausted.

 

“This won’t work. Don’t even think about holding a sword. You might end up hurting innocent people.”

 

“I-is it that serious…?”

 

“What do you think? Sigh, it’s disappointing to end it like this… Would you rather try learning palm techniques or fist and leg techniques?”

 

The palm techniques and fist and leg techniques I learned that way were much better than before.

 

Since I thought of them as part of my body from the start, they were easier to control, and even if the direction of techniques went slightly wrong like before, I could quickly recover. With swords, when the direction went wrong, I was too busy trying to recover.

 

Namgung Jeong sighed genuinely.

 

“What a shame, such a shame! What good does it do to have talent in palm techniques and fist and leg techniques? To inherit my legacy, you need to learn the sword. I suppose I’m not destined to have a disciple in this lifetime.”

 

I felt awkward but subtly objected.

 

“You just told me to learn it casually… I never said I’d be your disciple, did I?”

 

“Ugh, I know, I know! I was just thinking of trying to persuade you once more if you had talent with the sword. What a glorious thing it would be to inherit my legacy!”

 

“Ah, yes…”

 

Honestly, it didn’t seem like it would be particularly glorious for me, but seeing his dejected appearance made me feel sorry for him, so I offered some flattering words.

 

“Well, someday a disciple perfectly suited for you will come along, won’t they? I’m sure you’ll be able to take in a much more excellent disciple than someone without talent like me.”

 

“You don’t lack talent, you’re just… Sigh, never mind. Let’s end this conversation here, and I’ll teach you one last thing.”

 

“What? There’s more you want to teach me?”

 

At my bewildered words, Namgung Jeong grumbled.

 

“Originally, I had specially devised an ultimate technique to teach you when I took you as my disciple, but since that’s also a sword technique, it won’t be possible. Still, given the affection I’ve built up teaching you all this time, though it’s not an ultimate technique, I’ll teach you one decent method.”

 

“Really? What is it?”

 

“A technique you can use when your life is in danger. If used well, not only can it save your life, but you can also grasp your opponent’s lifeline…”

 

Namgung Jeong grinned.

 

“It’s the Life-Saving Single Move.”

 

* * *

 

The man who would become the Young Sect Leader of the great Byeokdo Gate… no, not yet the Young Sect Leader, Wang Ju-geon.

 

He was drinking alcohol at a pleasure house in broad daylight.

 

“Alcohol, bring me alcohol! Alcohol…!”

 

“Oh my, what could have upset our handsome Young Sect Leader so much?”

 

Wang Ju-geon snorted at the words of the courtesan pouring his drink while grinding his teeth.

 

The reason Wang Ju-geon’s mood had hit rock bottom.

 

It was because of the Young Master of the Namgung Family, Namgung Jeong, who had appeared a few days ago.

 

‘What’s so special about the Namgung Family? How dare they treat me like…!’

 

Namgung Jeong had been displeasing from the start.

 

Since childhood, Wang Ju-geon had grown up hearing Namgung Jeong’s name. Receiving all sorts of praise like being a genius with the sword or a promising young talent, hadn’t it constantly deflated Wang Ju-geon’s spirit?

 

He had even interfered with Wang Ju-geon’s affairs. When he tried to educate that insolent servant at the inn, Namgung Jeong had butted in and helped the guy.

 

At the time, he had no choice but to retreat, but when he later learned that the man in the bamboo hat was Namgung Jeong, how shocked he had been.

 

‘They had planned this from the beginning to screw me over, these bastards…!’

 

He was so frustrated he didn’t know what to do, but it wasn’t like he could do anything about it.

 

If Wang Ju-geon made an issue of harming his servant, Namgung Jeong would naturally bring up the story of the Seo Family Estate’s servant. Then the matter between him and Lady Seo would come to light as well.

 

In the end, Wang Ju-geon had no choice but to swallow his anger.

 

However, Namgung Jeong’s tyranny didn’t end there.

 

He swept through every corner of the Seo Family Estate, monopolizing people’s attention. Thanks to that, despite being the same kind of guest, hadn’t Wang Ju-geon instantly become relegated to leftovers?

 

Moreover, the story he overheard while secretly watching him with Master of Seo Family was quite significant.

 

“A-ri’s condition has improved that much?”

 

“Yes, it’s truly fortunate. Though she’s not completely cured yet, seeing her complexion look so much better than before puts my mind at ease…”

 

“How fortunate, how wonderful! I should go see her face after such a long time. Before, whenever I suggested meeting, she would make such a fuss that I didn’t dare visit…”

 

At his words about wanting to visit her face in such a familiar way, as if they had known each other for a long time, Wang Ju-geon instinctively realized.

 

‘Could it be that…?’

 

Had a son-in-law candidate already been decided?

 

Thinking about it, that made sense. The deep friendship between Master of Seo Family and Namgung Jeong was widely known in society. Given such a special relationship, wouldn’t it be natural for him to want to marry off his daughter to him?

 

So what was Wang Ju-geon’s situation? He was like a dog that lost the chicken it was chasing…

 

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!”

 

In that instant, the hypocritical face of Master So smiling as if he were a good-natured person and the arrogant face of Namgung Jeong, who looked down on him and pretended not to know him, flashed through his mind.

However, Wang Ju-geon’s anger ultimately turned toward one person. The cause of all this trouble, and the insolent woman who didn’t even treat him like a human being.

 

Seo Yeon-ri.

 

Soyeon-ri.

After fuming for a while, Wang Ju-geon suddenly blinked his eyes and grinned wickedly.

 

Wang Jugeon, who had been panting heavily for a while, suddenly blinked his eyes and grinned.

“Did you prepare what I told you about last time?”

 

Understanding Wang Ju-geon’s words, the courtesan took out a small bottle from her bosom.

 

“Did you prepare what I told you about last time?”

“This is the Confusion Drug you mentioned. Even a small amount will paralyze the entire body and gradually cause loss of consciousness. It’s made to be colorless and odorless, so even if mixed into alcohol or tea, no one will notice.”

 

The bottle contained a clear liquid.

“Young Sect Leader, there’s something I’d like to say about that matter, if that’s alright?”

 

Wang Ju-geon hesitated at the courtesan’s sudden interruption. Irritation crossed Wang Ju-geon’s face, but he soon answered in a gentle tone.

 

“Great, with just this…!”

“Rather than doing the deed immediately after giving her the Confusion Drug, how about taking her somewhere to hide for a while?”

 

Wang Jugeon hesitated when the gisaeng suddenly interrupted. Irritation flashed across Wang Jugeon’s face, but he soon responded in a gentle tone.

The courtesan’s sweet voice whispered seductively.

 

“If you commit the act right there, wouldn’t it be harder to handle the aftermath? If it’s even discovered that you used a drug, Young Sect Leader might face trouble.”

 

“Rather than proceeding immediately after administering the love potion, how about we take her and hide for a while?”

“So how about hiding away and then lighting the wedding candles? The Confusion Drug can be used multiple times without problem if used in small amounts, so if you hide for several days and form a marital bond, she’ll eventually accept Young Sect Leader as her husband.”

 

The courtesan’s sweet voice whispered softly.

Wang Ju-geon fell into thought for a moment.

 

Certainly, if he caused trouble right there, he might get Seo Yeon-ri but wouldn’t be able to avoid Master of Seo Family’s wrath.

 

“Hmm….”

‘Yes, that would be better.’

 

“Hahaha, you old woman are quite clever! But I never told you the details, so how do you know so well?”

 

“When rumors about who Young Sect Leader proposed to are spreading all over the street, how could I not know? But it’s such a shame. To think I won’t be able to serve such a handsome man anymore…”

 

If he had caused trouble right there and then, he might have gotten his revenge on Soyeon-ri, but he certainly wouldn’t have been able to avoid the wrath of Master So.

“Kyaa!”

 

‘Yeah, that would be better.’

It would be safer to have Soyeonri herself say that she accepted him as her husband.

“Hahaha, you old hag are quite clever! But I never mentioned the details, so how do you know so much?”

“Don’t you know? Word has spread throughout the streets about who the young master proposed to. What a shame though. To think we can no longer serve such a handsome gentleman….”

“Oh my, how can a person live on just rice alone? One must occasionally enjoy some tea and sweets as well. Come, come up here and see!”

“Kyaa!”

The gisaeng house was filled with constant laughter.

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