Surviving as the Villainess’s Servant in a Martial Arts Novel - Chapter 83

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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 83

What kind of person is Okseol Sannin?

Lee Yeon still doesn’t know this person well.

They’ve only met a few days ago, and though she received great help, she doesn’t know their character well.

Perhaps helping her also has other ulterior motives. In reality, they might be a heartless villain, or perhaps a public enemy of the martial world.

However, whatever kind of person Okseol Sannin was, if she took her as master, Lee Yeon had to follow unconditionally.

Taking a master meant exactly that.

It meant gaining another parent. The character for father is included in the word master for this reason. A master’s teachings are no less than parental grace, so one must serve them like parents.

Then, could Lee Yeon serve Okseol Sannin as a parent?

‘…I’ve already owed my life several times.’

Okseol Sannin spoke of opening the Eight Extraordinary Meridians as if it were nothing, but Lee Yeon knew. She knew how difficult that was.

Opening the Eight Extraordinary Meridians requires profound internal energy and precise techniques.

One’s internal energy must be deep enough to penetrate each meridian, and one must have the skill to accurately target dozens of acupoints belonging to the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

If any of these are lacking, not only the subject but even oneself could be injured. Moreover, even if successful, much vital energy would be lost, requiring long periods of recuperation.

However, Okseol Sannin opened Lee Yeon’s meridians without hesitation.

That alone was enough for Lee Yeon to decide.

“Benefactor, you said you came to find a disciple?”

Okseol Sannin nodded. Lee Yeon immediately rose from her seat.

For a moment her vision shook and her limbs trembled, but Lee Yeon endured it and silently stood before Okseol Sannin. Then she bowed deeply and said.

“Once again, I sincerely thank you for saving my life. I will never forget this grace until I die. And though it may be presumptuous, if I may make one more request…”

Lee Yeon spoke directly.

“I want to become your disciple.”

“…”

“Please accept me as your disciple.”

Unexpectedly, Okseol Sannin said nothing.

She had said from the beginning that she came looking for a disciple, and their constitution matched, so Lee Yeon thought she would accept immediately. But Okseol Sannin maintained silence as if pondering.

Did she say something wrong? As Lee Yeon swallowed her dry saliva several times.

“You’re saying that because of your constitution, aren’t you?”

At the words that hit the core, Lee Yeon flinched. But if she was going to serve her as master anyway, she had to tell everything truthfully.

“That’s correct. As you probably suspect, I am the only daughter of the Master of Seo Family you were looking for.”

Okseol Sannin didn’t say anything particular. It seemed she had indeed been suspecting it.

“…As for why the daughter appears as a man, it’s because of my constitution. The first person who examined my condition advised me to dress as a woman to maintain balance, even temporarily.”

“…”

“Thanks to recently taking spiritual herbs, my body has improved somewhat, but the danger hasn’t completely passed. As you can see, my energy is peculiar, and yin energy keeps trying to fill my body.”

“…”

“So I was looking for a master of extreme yin. They said if I learned how to circulate yin energy with extreme yin mental cultivation methods, my body would improve further…”

Lee Yeon paused to catch her breath, then spoke respectfully.

“I know it’s irreverent to make such a request for my own life. But if you take me in, I will follow you for life and repay this grace. I will regard your words as heaven and serve you like a parent!”

Lee Yeon bowed her waist again. Cold sweat flowed down her back.

Okseol Sannin just looked at Lee Yeon without saying anything. Her heart beat frantically under that gaze, but Lee Yeon only gritted her teeth and endured.

After a long while, Okseol Sannin spoke in a calm tone.

“I understand your thoughts. Certainly, if you could learn extreme yin mental cultivation methods and handle yin energy, living longer isn’t wrong either.”

“…If I’ve displeased you, I apologize. If my impure intentions have offended you…”

“No.”

Unexpectedly, Okseol Sannin was firm.

“It’s not such an impure thought. Everyone has different reasons for wanting to learn martial arts. Some for survival, some for wealth and fame, some for revenge…”

Suddenly Okseol Sannin trailed off. Lee Yeon somehow thought Okseol Sannin’s cold face seemed to darken.

“In any case, thank you for speaking honestly. I don’t particularly like lies.”

“…!”

“Of course, taking you as a disciple isn’t difficult. I came to the Central Plains to take a disciple in the first place, and your constitution is good for inheriting my teachings.”

Lee Yeon’s eyes sparkled with hope.

“Then you’ll accept me…!”

“However.”

Okseol Sannin said.

“There are two things that concern me.”

Lee Yeon answered hastily.

“What are they? Whatever they are, if you tell me I’ll accommodate…”

“The fact that you’re male.”

“…Pardon?”

Lee Yeon’s mouth fell open blankly. However, Okseol Sannin continued with infinite seriousness.

“Our sect’s history is quite long. In the past, our sect flourished greatly and had several disciples, and it’s not that there were no male disciples among them.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Our sect’s martial arts are extreme yin martial arts. Usually men have strong yang energy and women have strong yin energy, so it could be called martial arts suited for women. Originally, even if there were male disciples, they were extremely few.”

“…”

“However, as time passed, our sect began to decline and the number of disciples also decreased. Eventually, now we’re continuing the lineage by taking in only a small number of disciples.”

Okseol Sannin added.

“In short, it means we haven’t accepted a male disciple even once over several generations.”

“…”

“Although the sect rules don’t say we mustn’t accept male disciples, I’m a bit hesitant. Whether it’s alright for me to accept a male disciple in my generation when we haven’t accepted one for several generations…”

“I, I…!”

Lee Yeon spoke hastily.

“Though my body is male, I’ve lived my entire life like a woman. Being regarded as a woman feels more natural than being considered a man.”

“…”

“Rather, I’ll continue living dressed as a woman from now on. If you could also regard me as a female disciple…!”

“Enough.”

Okseol Sannin chuckled.

“When you grow up, you’ll develop into a complete man, so would women’s clothing suit you then?”

“…That’s.”

“As I said, it doesn’t violate the sect rules, so there’s no reason I can’t accept you. However, all of our sect’s training is tailored for women, so it might be difficult for you. Can you handle it?”

Lee Yeon’s face brightened again. Lee Yeon answered confidently.

“I can do it!”

“Then that’s settled. The next problem is…”

Suddenly, Okseol Sannin’s face was shadowed.

Unlike before when she spoke without hesitation, Okseol Sannin couldn’t open her mouth for some time. In a way, she seemed to be hesitating.

As Lee Yeon waited for the rest in bewilderment, only after some time did Okseol Sannin continue.

“…That you have someone precious to you.”

Lee Yeon’s face went blank.

“Pardon?”

“This is different from the implicit rule of not accepting male disciples. It’s also a matter written as Article 1 in our sect’s rules.”

“What…?”

Okseol Sannin said.

“Do not love.”

Lee Yeon’s eyes widened.

“Our sect’s disciples must never give their hearts to the opposite sex for life. Do you know why?”

“…I don’t know.”

Soon after, Okseol Sannin’s solemn voice was heard.

“Our sect’s martial arts training method includes something called ‘Twelve Lessens.’ It means to lessen emotions like thoughts, contemplation, lust, work, words, laughter, worry, joy, happiness, anger, good, and bad.”

“…”

“The foundation of these Twelve Lessens lies in suppressing the seven emotions and six desires. Only by cutting off basic human desires and restraining oneself can one obtain truly pure internal energy.”

Okseol Sannin paused for a moment.

“The founder who established our Geumgang sect viewed love as the worst among the seven emotions and six desires. He said that when a person falls in love, their eyes become clouded, they lose their wisdom, cannot distinguish right from wrong, and ultimately reach ruin.”

“….”

“Therefore, the founding master prohibited love as the first article of our sect rules. He ordered that any disciple who becomes blinded by love and loses their chastity should be immediately expelled from the sect.”

“….”

“Let me ask you one thing. Is this precious person of yours a woman or a man?”

Lee Yeon answered immediately.

“A man.”

“That one thing is fortunate. However, those feelings of yours could become poison to your training.”

“….”

“When the bond between people deepens, emotions become shaken. When a calm mind is shaken, that is called worldly troubles, and when worldly troubles deepen, one eventually falls into heart demons.”

“….”

“I will ask you one last time.”

Okseol Sannin’s cold voice was heard.

“For the sake of your training, would you be able to cut off even this precious person?”

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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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