Chapter 110 – The President’s Daughter (1)

The Spring of Elixir.

The person accompanying me today was Heo Gyeong-woo.

While arranging a residence for the old man, he had nowhere else to be, so he came with me, but this was a big mistake.

I had forgotten the fact that this old man hadn’t bathed for 40 years.

I could tolerate the ingrained smell, but seeing the grime that rolled off like noodles floating in the spring was too much of a visual shock.

“It seems you went to sleep without washing yesterday.”

“What’s so new about not washing for one night. I’ve always been like this.”

Heo Gyeong-woo’s reaction was nonchalant.

“By the way, I hear you come here every day.”

“There’s something I need to heal. It will take about five hours if I start now, will you be alright?”

“There’s no reason I wouldn’t be. I am a person more accustomed to long hours of meditation than anyone else.”

Well, he had spent a full 40 years like that, so for this old man, a mere five hours of silence probably wouldn’t even count as boring.

And so, I focused on healing my body by operating the Mana Breathing Technique for a good five hours with an easy mind.

The moment I let out my last breath and opened my eyes, Heo Gyeong-woo immediately let out a sigh of admiration.

“It was amazing.”

It seemed he had been watching me the whole time.

“In what way?”

Although he was at a much lower level than me, Heo Gyeong-woo was also a Sword Master.

I was curious about what he had seen through his eyes.

“I carefully observed the flow of mana happening inside your body. You were healing yourself so fiercely.”

“It’s a bit surprising that you can feel that.”

“Isn’t it something you can do as well?”

“Well, that’s true.”

At my words, Heo Gyeong-woo grinned.

“Strangely, your words don’t feel like a bluff at all. Even though at times, it feels like you’re looking down on me.”

Saying so, Heo Gyeong-woo suddenly put on a meaningful expression and threw a curveball.

“By the way, are you perhaps hiding your strength?”

To think this typical repertoire would come up again.

It seems even a Sword Master couldn’t help it.

“Of course not. As I’ve already told you, my body is so poor that I’m not in a position to hide anything.”

“Well, that’s true too. If you were hiding your strength, I would have noticed right away. Then, it must be that you are hiding something other than strength.”

“I will make no comment. Everyone has their secrets.”

But Heo Gyeong-woo did not back down here.

“Don’t be like that and tell me. Aren’t we secret friends?”

“That expression, ‘secret friend,’ is a bit…”

“I am a person who can take a secret to the grave. I think you would know that.”

“I don’t?”

“I’m disappointed.”

Saying so, Heo Gyeong-woo began a long speech about what kind of person he was, trying to persuade me, but I let it go in one ear and out the other.

The secret of my reincarnation was something that could shake the foundation of my existence. It was something I could not speak of under any circumstances.

Not that he would believe me even if I told him.

“It seems I haven’t been able to open the door to your heart yet. I will give up for today.”

“A wise decision. Then, let’s return to the sword family now. The matter of your residence should be resolved by now.”

“Sit down for a moment. I feel like I might be able to help you.”

Saying so, Heo Gyeong-woo placed his hand on my shoulder.

“What on earth are you trying to do.”

“I will help with your treatment. Will you trust me once?”

Heo Gyeong-woo’s meaningful smile. In that moment, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Yes. Your guess is probably right.”

While I was operating the Mana Breathing Technique, Heo Gyeong-woo would assist in my body’s healing process by injecting mana from the outside.

“It’s not as easy a problem as it sounds.”

Although it was a theoretically possible method, I had never even thought of trying it.

Because the Mana Breathing Technique of the Johan Raven Family that I operated was so difficult that no one could match its pace.

“I think I know why you think that. Your Mana Breathing Technique seemed quite difficult even from what I could vaguely feel.”

“That’s surprising.”

“What do you think I did while I was trapped in the Abyss for 40 years? Wasn’t it all things like this!”

Heo Gyeong-woo’s eyes were filled with confidence.

But there was still a part that I was hesitant about.

If this old man were to operate his Mana Breathing Technique from the outside to assist my treatment, my Mana Breathing Technique would also be exposed.

Of course, Heo Gyeong-woo wouldn’t be able to steal the secrets of the Johan Raven Family with just this, but I couldn’t help but be mindful of this old man’s talent and level.

Because Heo Gyeong-woo was a person called the greatest genius in the history of Earth.

“I know what you are worried about right now. But haven’t I already said it? That I will never show myself to the world again, and that I will keep all your secrets to the grave.”

This I could certainly believe.

That even if, by some one in a million chance, he were to awaken to the secrets of the Raven Family, it would never be passed on.

“Alright. I will accept your help. However, there is a condition.”

“What is it?”

“That you will not ask anything related to this matter.”

“At my age, when curiosity is at its peak, that is a truly difficult condition. But I will accept it. It’s a good opportunity to repay my debt to you.”

I didn’t know how effective Heo Gyeong-woo’s assistance would be.

It might even be poisonous.

The possibility that Heo Gyeong-woo would not be able to follow my Mana Breathing Technique at all was also quite high.

But it was worth a try.

The only Sword Master existing on Earth. If not him, no one else could even attempt it.

“Then, shall we start right away?”

“Alright.”

Heo Gyeong-woo placed his hands on my back.

***

Hey Seo Ji-han. Did you find a house for grand-uncle?

If you’ve decided on a place, send me the address!

A message from Heo Jeong-ah.

Without a hint of awkwardness, she immediately called Heo Gyeong-woo ‘grand-uncle’.

At first, she had seemed bewildered, but blood is indeed thick. She had even expressed her disappointment, asking why he was entrusting his residence to me and not her.

But Heo Gyeong-woo had drawn a clear line.

He intended to keep his distance not only from the world but even more so from the Taeseong Sword Family. The fact that he intended to live his entire life alone also showed that he was certainly an eccentric.

Perhaps even if he hadn’t been trapped in the Abyss, he would not have become the head of the Taeseong Sword Family.

Still, it seemed he had affection for the niece he was seeing for the first time, as he had allowed Heo Jeong-ah to visit.

“You saw him off well, right?”

“Yes! Young Master. Although he did grumble, asking why the room was so small. By the way, where did you meet that old man? He looked just like a homeless person.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“You could have just passed him by, but you are surprisingly kind-hearted, Young Master.”

“…Am I?”

“Yes. You will be blessed.”

It wasn’t surprising that Heo Gyeong-woo was being treated like a homeless person.

It meant that he was perfectly concealing his mana.

In fact, even if it had been my father and not Choi Ho-joong, he would not have noticed.

‘If it were Rosie, maybe.’

If that girl Rosie had been here, she would have made a fuss about wanting to fight Heo Gyeong-woo, so in a way, it was a relief that she was absent.

Anyway, I had arranged to meet Heo Gyeong-woo at the Spring of Elixir every day at the same time.

He assisted my healing so wonderfully it was unbelievable.

His training over the past 40 years had not been in vain.

Even though it was a breathing technique he was encountering for the first time, Heo Gyeong-woo quickly understood its subtleties and added strength to my mana operation without the slightest bit of disharmony.

A genius was truly a genius.

If things proceeded like today, the healing of my body would gain much more momentum.

As Ho-joong said, it seems I have been blessed.

***

Yoon Joo-hee visited the Haewon Sword Family again.

She had heard the news that Seo Ji-han had returned from the Abyss.

The problem was that it wasn’t a scheduled meeting.

She had tried to make an appointment with Seo Ji-han by continuously contacting them, but the Chamryongdan side had only vaguely told her the times when Seo Ji-han was at the sword family, and had not given a definite confirmation for a meeting.

She had no desire to use her status as the president’s daughter in a special way, but receiving this kind of treatment was also a very unfamiliar experience.

But what could she do.

Since she was the one in need, she had no choice but to try her luck.

‘If my application is rejected.’

She had another place in mind after this, but her number one pick was unconditionally the Haewon Sword Family.

And among them, the Chamryongdan.

Yoon Joo-hee felt a strong interest in the Chamryongdan’s commander, Seo Ji-han.

Many people said that the rumors about him were false or greatly exaggerated, but she had a reliable source of information.

Min Ha-rin of the Muwon Sword Family.

She had definitely said those words.

That unlike people’s evaluations, she herself was not a genius, and that the real genius was someone else.

That was Seo Ji-han.

‘Seo Ji-han.’

She had to meet him today.

“Please wait a moment. I will inform the Young Master that a guest has arrived.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m telling you in advance, but you may not be able to meet him. Our Young Master rarely leaves his spot while he is training.”

“Then, I will wait until his training is over.”

“You still might not be able to meet him. He usually sends back those without a prior appointment.”

That’s why I called so many times to make that prior appointment, but your side kept giving me the runaround.

The words almost came up to her throat, but.

“Then, it can’t be helped.”

She had no choice but to answer demurely.

She was in a position where she had to be humble.

Sword families or guilds that were under the influence of her father, Yoon Tae-seok, had blocked her from joining altogether.

Excluding such places, there were only a few well-known ones left.

Among them, the Haewon Sword Family was a place she was particularly interested in.

It was servile, but it couldn’t be helped.

For now, she had to belong somewhere, improve her skills, and build her strength.

‘To think that our family, which was once a prestigious sword family, has come to this!’

Although her father had been elected as the president, the head of a country, it didn’t really resonate with Yoon Joo-hee.

On the contrary, she only felt that her goal of rebuilding her sword family was getting further away.

‘If it weren’t for that incident back then…’

The worst Abyss incident where most of the warriors of the Jeongjin Sword Family were annihilated.

Although she had not experienced it herself, she could fully feel the horror of the tragedy that had occurred there just by hearing about it.

Whenever she thought about that incident, her mind always became complicated.

It was the same now.

At times like that, she would recall the image of the Jeongjin Sword Family’s training ground of the past, where the clang of swords never ceased.

Rebuilding the prestigious family.

This was a lifelong desire she had to fulfill.

Just as such thoughts were deepening, the person who seemed to be Seo Ji-han’s secretary entered the reception room again.

“Ms. Yoon Joo-hee?”

“Yes!”

“Our Young Master has just entered the physical training room. It will take a while, will you continue to wait?”

That’s why I had told him on the phone so many times to schedule an appointment, but this slow-witted guy somehow seemed to be the cause of this whole mess.

“Yes. I will wait.”

But Yoon Joo-hee couldn’t offer any protest and could only answer demurely once more.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep