“Wake up, you rascal.”

At Jangyeo’s call, I opened my eyes, and a large gate came into view.

As I was rubbing my two eyes at the magnificent majesty, like the entrance of a fortress, the gate, which was made by connecting a giant tree whole, opened.

Beyond it, a spacious area and the people of the Zhuge family, standing in a line on the left and right, were revealed.

A movement that was orderly without a single gap.

‘As expected, a prestigious family is different.’

It felt as if I had become a triumphant general. I was passing by on a horse on a road paved with high-quality stone, but suddenly, the procession stopped.

Zhuge Taeseong, who was at the very front of the line, turned the reins of his black horse and raised his voice.

“Today, we have won against the threat to our family! All members of the Crane Fan Troupe and the Iron Hyun Troupe who participated in the battle will be rewarded according to their merits. From now on, the Zhuge family will not tolerate any recklessness from any external enemy!”

“Waaaah!”

As Zhuge Taeseong raised his hand, the cheers that spread around him shook the earth.

‘He’s considerable.’

As expected, it was a dignity befitting the young family head of the Five Great Families. To the point where I even thought that perhaps he had volunteered for my rescue mission, despite his status as a young family head, to show such leadership.

‘It makes sense.’

An enemy with a high reputation who had appeared near the territory of the Zhuge family. Since this side’s power was superior and the justification was also sufficient, it was also suitable to show the authority of the young family head after the battle.

‘He was also a smart one in this kind of thing in the original work.’

And so, after a moderate distribution of rewards, the martial artists began to scatter to their respective affiliations.

“Then rest. You’ve worked hard.”

As Protector Jangyeo also disappeared to his residence, several servants from within the family approached.

“Since the family head is absent, please receive treatment first.”

As I was about to get off the horse according to the servant’s guidance, I frowned at the excruciating pain.

Whether my whole body had stiffened because I had dozed off for a moment earlier, my muscles were screaming with pain.

‘I’ll have to be bedridden for at least a few days.’

Although I had grown by doing all sorts of things until now, I couldn’t do anything about this weak constitution.

And on top of that, this time, it had been a forced march for several days.

‘It was amazing that I endured.’

Since I had been enduring with only my mental strength in a state of virtual exhaustion, I fell onto the horse without any strength.

“A-are you alright?”

The servants who belatedly lifted me up as if moving a seriously ill patient and moved.

In the passing scenery, I closed my two eyes, looking at the medical office that was gradually getting closer in front.

* * *

“…This is crazy.”

And so, after sleeping for a full day, I woke up today.

My limbs were tied with a cloth, and needles and moxibustion were stuck all over my body. At that strange sight, I narrowed my two eyes.

At first, I thought I had been kidnapped. Because on top of the severe muscle pain all over my body, there were even needles stuck in me.

“You’re awake!”

Soon, a physician from the Zhuge family approached, making a fuss.

“What is this situation?”

Currently, a splint was applied to both of my legs. Even though there was no place where I had hit hard.

“The bones are damaged. The bone and flesh have cracked from the inside, making it difficult to function, so we have fixed them.”

The physician explained with a tense face.

In modern terms, it was an injury corresponding to a stress fracture. In my case, it had worsened to a considerable severity, coupled with my weak body.

‘I’ll have to recover first.’

My body was like that, and even the mana in my circle, which I had at least believed in, was not fully recovered.

Since I had used too much mana in a short period of time and had overworked it as if squeezing it out again during the recovery, the aftereffects were bound to be greater, just like at the time of the King of Insects.

It was best to take time and recover.

‘Still, it’s good that the food comes regularly.’

Although I was treated like a scoundrel, Zhuge Cheonwu was still a direct blood relative of the Zhuge family. That’s why at least the meals came out high-class.

A feast began to be set on the desk that had been brought into the sickroom.

From beef marinated in a thick sauce and grilled, to shrimp dishes, to the skin of a Peking duck, and even a seafood soup that was good for fatigue. The delicacies of the land, sea, and air were contained and were steaming.

Grumble!

For the past few days, I hadn’t been able to eat properly because I was being chased by the bandits, so my stomach was rumbling loudly. Feeling a terrible hunger, I immediately began to eat the shrimp frantically.

A moving taste. They say that when you’re very hungry, your body wants it, so the sense of your tongue becomes more sensitive, and this was exactly that case.

“Phew!”

After eating to my limit, I sat down and patted my stomach.

“I’m sorry after your meal, but I will place the needles again.”

“Is there a reason?”

The painful parts are my legs and wounds, but I don’t know why he’s putting needles on my back or ears.

Still, thinking there must be a reason, I asked, and the physician answered with a stiff face.

“It’s to stimulate the acupoints to promote recovery and to remove the dead blood.”

“Is that so?”

There’s nothing like qi circulation to get rid of dead blood. And so, just as I was getting into position and was about to operate the cultivation method of the Six Harmonies Art.

“Wait a minute!”

The physician hurriedly approached and stopped me.

“If you do qi circulation during the recovery period, it can be dangerous!”

It was because the blood pressure could rise and the wound could burst.

Because if a novice were to operate a cultivation method for no reason in an unstable physical condition, it was a perfect way to fall into qi deviation.

Of course, masters sometimes did qi circulation to heal their internal injuries, but since I was just a scoundrel at the second-rate level until I entered the Martial Academy, it was understandable for the physician to show such a reaction.

“I see. Thank you.”

At my words, the physician, who had finished his explanation and had been closing his two eyes tightly, made a surprised expression instead.

“N-no, it’s nothing!”

‘What’s with him again? Ah!’

Zhuge Cheonwu was a scoundrel. A subordinate dares to interfere when such a scoundrel is about to do something?

And on top of that, if he were to say that you’re not a master, so don’t even think about doing something like qi circulation in an injured state?

Even if it was the right thing to say, a scolding would fall.

‘This is really something.’

I licked my lips in bitterness. As expected of a scoundrel, my reputation was the worst.

“I know your hard work well, so don’t worry and just focus on the treatment.”

“Yes!”

The physician nodded his head vigorously and then went outside to boil some medicine and brought it. But when he came back, he was not alone, but with several people.

“You guys?”

A total of four men. They were the escorts who had been chased by the Green Forest Eighteen Fortresses with me before. They looked at me and bowed their heads together.

“Thank you! We were saved thanks to you.”

“What do you mean, it was thanks to our efforts to live together.”

“No, it’s not!”

They shook their heads. If it weren’t for the strategy I had come up with at that time when we were surrounded by the bandits, they would all be dead by now.

“It’s nothing much, but we contacted the workshop and prepared it. We heard you injured both your legs.”

What they had brought was a chair with two wheels, a wheelchair.

Originally, I would have been bedridden, but with this, I wouldn’t have to stay inside in a stuffy way.

“Thank you. You guys take care of yourselves too.”

I obediently expressed my gratitude and then sent them back. Since their bodies were also not in a sound state, it was better for them to rest.

Them who were rushing out.

‘Now I can rest a bit.’

My digestion was also mostly done. I was gradually getting sleepy after the meal. Since it was a long-awaited rest, I was thinking of just sleeping comfortably, but suddenly, the hallway outside the medical office was noisy.

‘What is it?’

Thinking so, I was on edge.

“We pay our respects to the lady of the main house.”

Suddenly, a voice that I couldn’t ignore was heard. Along with the sound of knocking on the door, the door opened.

“Is your body a little better?”

A beautiful woman with a gentle voice and a lovely appearance. Even at an age close to middle age, she had a graceful beauty like a well-managed actress.

She was Dang Hujeong, an elder of the Zhuge family and the first wife of the family head.

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried when I heard that the Green Forest Eighteen Fortresses were after you.”

She expressed her concern with a gentle tone. But it was a tone with a somewhat artificial echo.

‘If she was really worried, she wouldn’t have neglected me acting like a scoundrel. And the contemptuous reactions of Zhuge Paegang and the family members.’

If the lady of the house, who was one of the real powers in the family, had really wanted it, there would have been no way for such treatment.

Those who were in the background of him becoming a scoundrel were all targets of my vigilance. Dang Hujeong asked as if throwing a remark.

“I heard you got the top student position at the academy this time? Go and have some fun. I’ll give you some pocket money too.”

At a glance, it seemed like a compliment, but it was an attitude as if to induce me to use it for entertainment.

“By the way, you must have worked hard there?”

“That’s right.”

“I hear you’re famous for your fire art at the academy too?”

She was casually asking for information about this side. Perhaps I was being too suspicious. Because from the outside, she also looked like a guardian who was very interested.

But at the words that followed, such an impression disappeared.

“If you had told me in advance, I would have looked into the related martial arts. I feel bad for having neglected a precious talent.”

“It’s alright.”

There was no way there wasn’t such an opportunity in the Zhuge family. It was the role of a parent to provide a suitable background for a child to find their own talent.

It wasn’t a small or medium-sized family, and if a family didn’t even give an opportunity to experience fire art, it was right that they had half-neglected me.

As I casually distanced myself, she gently held the back of my hand and said.

“I want to support you with a related master even now. I’ve invited a famous master from Honam, the Sura Flame Fist, so I hope you’ll receive his teachings.”

A coercive gaze looking this way. And on top of that, she had already invited a master, so it was an atmosphere that was difficult to refuse in many ways.

Of course, it didn’t apply to me.

“No. I’m going to study on my own.”

A momentary silence. But I did not bend my will.

“Thank you for your concern, but I will find my own path.”

“But wouldn’t it be better to have a teacher?”

“There are already many who have decided to teach me.”

“Who?”

Dang Hujeong’s eyes shone casually.

“Chief Professor Gu Jabeom and the elders of the Huashan Sect, Professors Maeng Dong and Maeng Ha.”

They were people who had a friendly relationship with me and also had a reputation. Since both of them were professors at the Martial Academy, it wasn’t entirely a wrong statement.

Since they had a reputation at least greater than the Sura Flame Fist, it would be difficult for her to recommend me further.

“Can’t you do it just for the vacation?”

“Because I want to train alone. And I even got the top student position that way.”

When I even mentioned my strong connections and achievements, Dang Hujeong did not demand any more.

The support of the family, at a glance, it was a sweet proposal, but once I got entangled, it was obvious that I would be dragged around by Dang Hujeong.

There were one or two things I had to do during this vacation. There was no time to leisurely train under a master.

‘And most of all, circle magic is not something you can learn from anyone.’

In that sense, Dang Hujeong’s active support is not helpful to me. On the contrary, it was a restraint.

And on top of that, what I had to be wary of right now was her curiosity about me.

‘Although it’s understandable.’

Zhuge Cheonwu was a scoundrel. For such a scoundrel to suddenly enter the Martial Academy, show his abilities, and even become the top student, she couldn’t help but be curious.

‘It seemed that the reason she had attached escorts was also to get information about me.’

Then it’s time to slowly distance myself.

“Is that all you have to say to me? Thank you very much for coming, but I’m getting tired.”

“Ah, is that so? Actually, I came to return something.”

Dang Hujeong took out the bundle she had brought in front of me.

‘Come to think of it, I had lost consciousness at the last moment.’

I swallowed dryly inwardly.

What was taken out from inside were clothes, a bill, a key made of an alloy, and the Cheongeumcheon. Among them, what was most noticeable was the bracelet that was shining blue.

In a strange airflow, Dang Hujeong parted her lips.

“But I remember giving this Cheongeumcheon to our Gang-ie?”

Although it was a gentle gaze looking this way, her eyes were not smiling. In an atmosphere as if she were interrogating me, I answered naturally.

“It’s mine now. Because I received it.”

“You received it?”

She frowned. Although it was short, the wrinkle on her forehead was revealed beyond her makeup.

“Yes, as a sign of affection.”

“…It’s quite strange. That child really liked this.”

Dang Hujeong looked at the Cheongeumcheon with a doubtful tone. An artifact with an aura that was clearly not ordinary.

She must have thought that Zhuge Paegang would not have handed it over easily. And in fact, that was the case.

I decided to be even more shameless.

“It must mean that he liked me that much.”

“…Is that so? It might be a bit too much for you to use, shall I exchange it for something else? That kind of object is often dangerous.”

“No.”

Dang Hujeong muttered, ‘Well, it’s your choice,’ with a somewhat reluctant face and stood up from her seat.

And then, to catch her breath, she walked over to the orchid that was placed by the window for decoration.

“The orchid has grown quite a lot. I think it’s about time to trim it.”

“Doesn’t the grown appearance also have its own charm?”

“My taste is quite different from yours. Young Master.”

Dang Hujeong, who had been touching the end of the orchid for a moment, soon changed the subject.

“Ah, come to think of it, I forgot the most important story.”

“An important story?”

‘Is this finally the real purpose?’

There was no way the lady of the Zhuge family would personally come just for a scoundrel’s sick visit.

I braced myself inwardly and kept my mind straight. I was planning to counter any kind of trick.

Dang Hujeong looked this way with a smiling eye and said.

“Your fiancée will be coming in two days. Get ready to greet her.”

“Yes?”

But what I heard after that was content that far surpassed my expectations.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep