Surviving as the Villainess’s Servant in a Martial Arts Novel - Chapter 46

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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 46

 

Young Miss was dressed differently than usual.

 

Instead of the pink jacket she usually liked to wear, she wore shabby clothes and had a long cloak that reached her knees pulled over her.

 

The reason I could still recognize Young Miss was because of the cotton cloth covering her face.

 

I couldn’t bring myself to stand up and opened my mouth.

 

“Since when…”

 

Then I hesitated. There was no point in asking questions now.

 

Young Miss also approached my side without a word. Then she looked down at A-so and quietly paid her respects. Seeing this, I recalled what had happened at Mother’s grave.

 

After a moment of silence, I suddenly asked.

 

“Later on…”

 

I could feel Young Miss’s gaze.

 

“Could you help me recover A-so’s remains?”

 

“…”

 

“Could you help me hold a funeral and bury her in a sunny place to send her off properly?”

 

“…Well.”

 

Young Miss hesitated for a moment before answering.

 

“I can’t be certain about anything…”

 

“…”

 

“If we survive, we can do it. We can make plans for later.”

 

“…”

 

“We can do it when the time comes.”

 

‘If we survive.’

 

I repeated what Young Miss had said.

 

Young Miss was right. Whatever we wanted to do, we had to be alive first for it to be possible. Because death is the end. Because after death, there is nothing.

 

Is that why you saved me too?

 

“Even if I went back to the past, I would probably make the same choice…”

 

Then I should make sure you don’t regret your choice.

 

I reached out and briefly held A-so’s hand. Then I soon stood up from my spot. Young Miss, who had been watching me, extended her hand to me.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

I quietly looked at that hand, then grasped it tightly.

 

While secretly making a promise.

 

‘I’ll come back, definitely, I’ll return.’

 

Young Miss headed straight for the Ancestral Hall.

 

The path to the Ancestral Hall was smooth. No more Black Masked Persons appeared.

 

Was it because there was no one here? Brother Im suddenly came to mind. The sight of him taking the Masked Man and going elsewhere, saying he would buy us time.

 

‘Brother Im…’

 

What could have happened?

 

Brother Im, Uncle Hwang, and A-so too…

 

I deliberately shook my head to dispel the gloomy thoughts. Young Miss was opening the door to the Ancestral Hall. I followed Young Miss into the Ancestral Hall and hesitated.

 

‘No one… is here?’

 

Because there was actually no one in the Ancestral Hall.

 

Even the inside was a mess.

 

The incense burner and ritual vessels that should have been neatly placed on the altar were broken and fallen, rolling around on the ground, and more than half of the hanging scrolls and paintings attached above were torn.

 

I stared in dismay at the ground dirty with ash and dust. However, Young Miss, who was actually a descendant, headed somewhere nonchalantly.

 

It was in front of a certain painting.

 

It was a painting of some fairy maiden holding peach blossoms, but that painting wasn’t intact either.

 

But Young Miss lifted the painting and groped behind it. Then her eyes lit up as if she had found something. It was when Young Miss applied force and pressed something.

 

Clunk.

 

“…!”

 

The altar began to move.

 

The altar positioned in the center rotated 90 degrees and stopped, and looking closely, I could see it was hollow underneath.

 

The dark hole was just big enough for one person to enter. But I belatedly realized that it was quite deep below and even had stairs.

 

‘This was the real hiding place.’

 

That’s why Uncle Hwang told us to go to the Ancestral Hall.

 

As if supporting my thoughts, Young Miss added a supplementary explanation.

 

“There are about two secret passages like this in the Seo Family Estate. It seems some corrupt official from long ago built them to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. Father knew this fact and chose this manor.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“Father and Chief Steward Jeok agreed to use a different passage to lead the remaining household members here. We need to hurry too.”

 

Saying that, she immediately went down below.

 

I hesitated for a moment then followed behind Young Miss. After confirming I had come down, Young Miss groped the wall of the passage and pressed a certain part firmly.

 

With a clunk sound, the passage entrance closed. The altar had returned to its original position.

 

At the same time, Young Miss took something out from her bosom.

 

It was fire tongs. Using the fire tongs to light a fire, Young Miss picked up a wooden torch beside the stairs and transferred the flame to it. With a whoosh, the flames blazed up and the surroundings immediately brightened.

 

I was inwardly impressed.

 

‘Everything is prepared.’

 

Young Miss continued speaking while going down the stairs again.

 

“If you follow the passage, a large cavern appears in the center. Since it was originally built as a shelter, there is drinking water and grain, but it’s not sufficient. We don’t know when this place might be discovered either.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“So as soon as we gather, we’ll exit through the passage and go outside. The end of the passage connects to the mountain foothills of Nabu Mountain.”

 

“…”

 

“After that, Father and I will cross Nabu Mountain and head to Gangseoseong. There’s a Gangseoseong Branch of Soseong Trading Company there. We plan to arrive there and contact Uncle Namgung.”

 

Young Miss paused and hesitated for a moment.

 

“You are…”

 

However, I couldn’t hear the rest. As we turned the right corner, a bright place appeared.

 

It was the cavern Young Miss had mentioned.

 

In a space that seemed somehow like both a cave and a plaza, people were gathered. But there weren’t many of them. Considering the usual number of household members at the Seo Family Estate, it was far too few.

 

I forgot my curiosity about what Young Miss was trying to say and looked around. Suddenly, shouts could be heard from among the people.

 

“A-ri, you’re safe!”

 

It was the Master.

 

The Master approached us. Chief Steward was beside him as well.

 

“Are you alright? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“A-ri, when I heard you had left So-nang Garden first, I was so shocked… I’m relieved you’re safe, but don’t do that again.”

 

“Yes, I’m sorry, Father.”

 

Seeing my bewildered expression, Chief Steward whispered beside me.

 

“He insisted on going with you.”

 

I scratched my neck awkwardly. To think a noble young lady like Young Miss would risk danger for just one servant… I felt grateful yet sorry toward the Master.

 

However, the Master said no more. He simply spoke with a serious face.

 

“I’m glad you’re both safe. Let’s go now.”

 

We nodded our heads.

 

With the Master in the lead, the people gathered in the cavern began to move. Some were trembling, others were secretly crying. If there was one common trait, it was that everyone had fallen into resignation.

 

The group walked through the passage. The path sometimes narrowed, sometimes widened. And as the scent of grass brushed past our noses and we neared the exit.

 

Thud!

 

“…They… chase…!”

 

The Master’s expression briefly hardened at the distant sound.

 

I turned around in surprise. But there was no time to look closely. Young Miss grabbed my hand at the same time the Master’s quiet shout was heard.

 

“Run!”

 

People began running like mad.

 

Even in the midst of this, the footsteps behind were steadily getting closer. Fortunately, the exit wasn’t far. The front gradually brightened and soon the group was able to escape the passage.

 

But the Master’s face remained hardened. No, it had actually grown darker.

 

“We’ve escaped, but at this rate it’s only a matter of time before we’re caught. What should we do…”

 

“Master.”

 

Then Chief Steward stepped forward.

 

“Isn’t there a mechanism here?”

 

“What do you…”

 

“We can block the entrance to the passage.”

 

The Master’s complexion briefly turned ashen. The Master hesitated for a moment, then muttered with a devastated expression.

 

“…But to activate the mechanism, one must be inside the passage. You know this too, don’t you? To block the entrance, someone has to go in…”

 

“I will go in.”

 

I looked up at Chief Steward in surprise. Chief Steward was wearing a gentle smile.

 

“I have already lived as long as I should. I’m not afraid of death, and if I can protect you two, what is there to fear?”

 

“…”

 

“Also, I learned a little martial arts in my youth. Though it’s a meager skill, if I can hold back the enemy’s feet, I can buy time for you two to escape.”

 

“…”

 

“Please go quickly. There’s no time.”

 

The Master closed his eyes and nodded. Young Miss’s groan-like voice could be heard.

 

“Chief Steward Jeok….”

 

The Chief Steward did not answer. He simply smiled gently while looking at Young Miss. The Chief Steward turned to look at me beside him and spoke affectionately.

 

“Take good care of Young Miss.”

 

I could only bow my head.

 

Sring-.

 

Soon the Chief Steward drew the sword from his waist.

 

The Chief Steward went back into the passage. As he felt along the wall as if searching for something, the Chief Steward suddenly looked toward us. The Chief Steward clasped his hands together in respect and spoke solemnly.

 

“I pray for the peace of the Seo Family warriors.”

 

Then without a moment’s hesitation, he struck a certain part of the wall with the back of his sword.

 

Rumble….

 

With a sound like thunder, the entrance to the passage began to shake. And before long, the entrance collapsed completely in an instant.

 

Thud!

 

All that remained was a pile of stones.

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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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