Listening Carefully, But Nothing Was Heard.
Perhaps it was because he had trained his internal energy? Since childhood, Yeo Ha-ryun had always been said to have a keen sense of intuition.
Jin Cheon-hee spoke up, "Want to eat this?" He pulled out another rice cake and handed it to Yeo Ha-ryun.
Then, with a slight movement of his lips, he signaled, 'Act as naturally as possible.' Yeo Ha-ryun immediately caught his drift.
He brought the rice cake to his mouth.
"It's delicious," he said sincerely.
"Right? The kitchen chef made it himself," Jin Cheon-hee replied.
Not long after, a woman walked out.
She was tall, with a refreshing and bold appearance.
"Ah, it's my savior," she said, recognizing the familiar face.
"Ah, hello!" "How have you been, my little savior?" It was Gongson Yeong.
Ever since Jin Cheon-hee had saved her life, she had taken to calling him 'my little savior.' Some of the servants whispered behind her back about her casual tone, but Jin Cheon-hee knew that her words, though light, carried a heavy promise.
Why had she come all the way here, leaving her sister Gongson Hyeon behind? As Jin Cheon-hee wondered, she spoke up.
"I'm gathering flowers for my sister. She loves flower tea."
In her large hands were numerous flowers, plucked roots and all.
Whether it was because of her strength, her intention to brew the roots into tea, or simply her straightforward nature, it seemed the idea of just picking the flowers had never crossed her mind.
"My little savior, I heard you're a great physician? You must know a lot about medicinal herbs, right?" "I don't know much about herbs. I specialize in surgery. But shouldn't you be the one taking the herbs, Gongson Yeong noona?" "My body is stronger than anyone else's, so I'm fine. Look."
She picked up a stone and exerted her strength.
With a crunch, the stone turned to dust in an instant.
Jin Cheon-hee was inwardly shocked. 'Wow, I really need to learn martial arts too.'
She continued, "My sister cried herself to sleep last night worrying about me, and then she caught a cold. I'm not smart enough to gather anything but these flowers... And since she's going to be the family head, she can't afford to get sick." 'Actually, that sister of yours wants to pass the family head position to you,' Jin Cheon-hee thought.
"The family head of the Gongson family must be strong and steadfast. It's not a position for someone as weak and cunning as me. Yeong-ah, my Yeong-ah."
Jin Cheon-hee sighed.
"I can find some mugwort for you. But why not just have a servant brew the tea?" "She won't drink it unless I give it to her. My sister gets picky when she's sick."
Gongson Yeong smiled.
"And thank you. Not only did you save my life, but now I'm in your debt again."
"Want to brew some tea together? My sister really wanted to meet you alone."
What was it about Gongson Yeong that Gongson Hyeon was so deeply attached to? In the novel, Gongson Yeong dies early on, so all descriptions of her come from Gongson Hyeon's memories.
Memories of the dead are often idealized.
This was how Gongson Hyeon remembered Gongson Yeong: "Sister, don't worry. With you by my side, what is there to fear in the world? I'll work hard at martial arts and studies to become a great person."
But reality was different.
"Over there, the mugwort..."
"Hup!" Thud thud thud thud thud! She pulled out the mugwort with terrifying speed, like a human planting machine.
In the process, weeds got mixed in.
That's right.
She couldn't tell the difference between weeds and mugwort.
No matter how many times she was taught, she never remembered.
But her ability to completely clear the area of all vegetation was nothing short of genius.
'Is this what happens when you learn martial arts?' Jin Cheon-hee glanced to the side and saw the Little Heavenly Demon, Yeo Ha-ryun, also speechless, staring blankly at Gongson Yeong.
Apparently not. 'This is different from the description.
Well, the hard work is the same, but something is fundamentally different!'
The situation of digging up mugwort in the garden was funny, but what was more frightening was how quickly it was piling up.
Jin Cheon-hee gave up on trying to keep up.
He knew humans couldn't compete with machines.
He sorted out the weeds, mugwort, and flowers one by one. 'This looks like an expensive orchid...
It's probably a hundred, no, a thousand times more valuable than mugwort...
Well, let's just blame it all on noona.
It's true, isn't it? I told her to pick mugwort, not turn the area into a desert.'
Jin Cheon-hee smiled brightly.
"Noona, we've gathered enough. Actually, it's too much."
"Ah, really? I can do more...!" "No, I think it's better to stop here."
"Really? Do you need anything else besides mugwort? Should I get some wood too?" -My Yeong-ah, as pure as snow, as delicate as a flower... 'Where do you see snow or flowers...
This is just a human farming tool.'
Jin Cheon-hee shuddered as he realized that 80% of memories of the dead are lies.
And that Gongson Hyeon's rose-tinted glasses for Gongson Yeong were made of titanium.
"This is mugwort. There's so much, so after making it into tea, let's share it not just with Gongson Hyeon noona but with others too."
"Ah? Okay! You're so kind, my little savior! Thinking of such things." 'Well, since you've ruined all these expensive flowers, we might as well make everyone accomplices.'
There's a saying his military senior once told him: if you eat alone, you'll get indigestion.
By the time the truth comes out, everyone will have mugwort tea in their stomachs.
Jin Cheon-hee smiled brightly.
"I don't really know how to brew tea."
"It's okay."
At that moment, the Little Heavenly Demon, Yeo Ha-ryun, with a pale face, said, "I... I'll go back. If anything comes up, let me know."
"Alright. Anything else?" "... Hyungnim."
"Yes, dongsaeng."
Jin Cheon-hee didn't forget to brainwash (?) the Little Heavenly Demon while digging up mugwort.
After digging up the mugwort, Yeo Ha-ryun disappeared. 'Tsk tsk.
He's still a kid.
He got scared and ran away.' Jin Cheon-hee clicked his tongue and looked to the side.
Simply boiling mugwort doesn't make mugwort tea.
There was a process needed to turn mugwort into tea, and the result of that process was right beside him.
What was the process? Wash the mugwort, leaving only the leaves and removing all the stems.
Then, dry the washed mugwort in the shade and roast it over a fire.
After that, let it cool and dry again.
This process had to be repeated several times before the mugwort tea was complete.
With the help of the servants from the Gongson family, they worked all day, and finally, there was enough to brew into tea.
But the taste was still questionable. 'It doesn't matter.
What's important is Gongson Yeong's sincerity.' Gongson Yeong had been involved in the entire process, making it herself.
It felt more like she was ruining the servants' work, but that wasn't important.
When everything was ready and they could finally brew the tea, Gongson Yeong smiled brightly.
Jin Cheon-hee thought her smile was beautiful but didn't say it out loud.
"I hope my sister likes it."
"She will, noona."
"My little savior! You always say such nice things."
She laughed heartily and ruffled Jin Cheon-hee's hair.
Her large hand covered all of his hair.
It was a warm hand.
This tedious process had been carried out by the young master of a prestigious family, and a martial artist at that.
Not once did she show any sign of displeasure.
The servants watching her all had bright expressions, as if they were basking in the spring sunlight.
Gongson Yeong was the kind of person who constantly uplifted those around her.
'No wonder Gongson Hyeon cherished her so much.' To envy someone for what they have is the act of a petty person.
In contrast, Gongson Hyeon was a great person.
When the mugwort tea was ready, Gongson Yeong brought out a black tea set.
Though there were many beautiful white and blue tea sets, Gongson Hyeon had said she preferred black ones.
She poured hot water to steep the tea, then discarded it.
The first brew is discarded, and the second brew is used for drinking, as it has a more delicate aroma and better taste.
After pouring the second brew, she carried the tray herself and headed straight to Gongson Hyeon's room.
"Sister, I brewed some tea!" A small voice soon replied, "I'm not feeling well right now..."
It was a clear dismissal.
Gongson Yeong laughed heartily.
"I knew my sister would be like this."
Without waiting for permission, she slid the door open.
She was too bold.
No, perhaps it was better to say she was straightforward.
As Jin Cheon-hee hesitated about whether to follow her in, she nudged his backside with her knee.
"It's fine. Come in."
Inside, there was a bedroom with thin curtains.
Through the curtains, the silhouette of a woman could be seen.
She was dressed in black.
"Won't you drink my tea?" "... Yeong-ah."
"I made it with my little savior. We even added some herbs that Baek Rin's teacher said were good for the body."
Pushing aside the curtains and stepping closer, they saw a pale, thin woman sitting there.
Her body was so emaciated that the outline of her spine was visible through the back of her neck.
She sat hunched over like a cat, making her thin body look even more grotesque.
Gongson Hyeon, the Black Ice Poison Dragon.
She was known for wearing black (黑), rarely smiling (冰), and occasionally making remarks as sharp as poison (毒).
By the bedside was a Go board, with black and white stones tangled like mud.
The chaotic battle on the board sent shivers down one's spine.
She placed a Go stone down.
Tap— What could she be thinking as she sat at the board? If Jin Cheon-hee hadn't read the novel, he might have taken her at face value.
To Jin Cheon-hee, if Gongson Yeong was like a heroic figure, Gongson Hyeon was like a strategist.
But not the kind like Zhuge Liang or Zhou Yu.
Xun Yu.
It was strange.
The woman before him was the one people called the Poison Dragon.
She didn't even smile lightly and kept people at a distance.
She cleared the Go board.
"You've come. I've wanted to meet you for a while, but I'm sorry you have to see me like this." 'Under normal circumstances, you would have invited me to a formal setting.
But now, Gongson Yeong just barged in.'
Gongson Yeong, smiling like a big dog, poured tea for her sister.
The sound of the tea pouring was awkwardly loud.
Jin Cheon-hee spoke up.
"It's alright. Please speak comfortably. Gongson Yeong noona is also comfortable with me."
"This fool... Sigh..."
Gongson Hyeon shot a glance at her sister and finally let out a sigh.