93 - Brain Degeneration (2) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

Three days have passed since Mok Riwon began assisting. Dang Hwa-seo felt blissfully overwhelmed. His heart-stopping appearance at every moment, his innocently smiling face, and the words he unwittingly uttered had all contributed to this feeling. Now was no different. "Miss, your hair seems really nice. Combing it like this, my heart feels at ease." Combing had become part of their routine. Mok Riwon was chatting away, making embarrassingly honest comments. "Is... is that so...?" "Yes, it's soft and carries your scent." Swoosh— The brush gliding through her hair made Dang Hwa-seo's heart skip a beat. Thankfully, she was facing away from Mok Riwon, so her expression remained unseen. "Ah, we're done." Mok Riwon carefully released her hair from his hands. Dang Hwa-seo took a deep breath before turning around and smiling. "Thank you. I'm in your debt again today." "It's only right!" Mok Riwon's refreshing smile made Dang Hwa-seo's lips twitch. Then, with a weak giggle and shrug, she said, "Shall we go have a meal then?" "Are we done for the day?" "Yes, finished for today." "Understood! Then, I should treat you!" Mok Riwon sprang up, his eyes alight with excitement. Dang Hwa-seo felt a twinge of guilt. She was hiding the fact that she could manage to eat with chopsticks on her own. Human psychology can be so deceitful, and at this moment, she was justifying her actions. "...What a disgrace it would be to spill food if I eat with one hand." It was for the sake of her dignity. Despite eating food spoon-fed by a man, she dismissed any concerns about her pride or decorum. "Let's go!" With that, Dang Hwa-seo headed towards the dining hall. * The Yongbong Clan's dining hall wasn't particularly large. Naturally, with only six members, there was no need for extensive space. However, that didn't mean it lacked charm. This was a lavishly furnished dining hall. From the construction materials to the decorations and utensils inside, everything was of the finest quality. Dang Hwa-seo and Mok Riwon took their seats at the far-left table. Soon after, Sook Soo emerged from the kitchen. "Oh, Mighty Mok!" "Sook Soo! I smell meat today!" "Heh, I've gone and gotten some of my best cuts for our Mighty Mok!" "Only Sook Soo could!" Mok Riwon laughed heartily, making a scene. Dang Hwa-seo's brows furrowed slightly. "...You speak too freely." "To say 'only you' so casually to everyone. Isn't this a bit too frivolous?" Though Sook Soo was a man of advanced years with whom Mok Riwon shared a close relationship, especially concerning food, the casualness still bothered her. If saying "only you" becomes habit, it could lead to trouble. A woman might misunderstand Mok Riwon's words as affection and take advantage of him. If the bashful Mok Riwon were faced with an audacious woman, who knows how he'd react. She might even manipulate him into compromising situations with feigned innocence. Dang Hwa-seo's expression hardened. The thought of a non-existent seductress was enough to irritate her. Then, Sook Soo, who was chatting with Mok Riwon, noticed her. "Ah, Clan Leader, how's your arm?" "...Yes, Mok Riwon has been a great help." Sook Soo blinked at her curt reply, then burst out laughing. "Just wait a bit! I'll prepare something extraordinary!" The beaming Sook Soo turned back to the kitchen, full of excitement. "Ah, to be young!" Everyone in the clan knew about Dang Hwa-seo's special feelings for Mok Riwon, except for Namgung Jincheon. "It's good to see such sights at my age. Coming to Sook Soo was a great choice." Yongbong Clan's Sook Soo, Woo Jae Gun. He was a wealthy retired man who had even served as a royal chef. His presence here was just a pastime suggested by a friend, and he found great satisfaction in it. With not much work and the members always bringing joy, he never felt bored. "I wonder what will happen." As one ages, their sense of indirect involvement grows. Woo Jae Gun looked forward to seeing what would unfold between Dang Hwa-seo and Mok Riwon with eager anticipation. * "Enjoy your meal!" Woo Jae Gun placed the food on the table. It was sautéed pork. The meat was perfectly mixed with fat, and the seasonings added a rich, spicy flavor, alongside a variety of vegetables enhancing the dish's appeal. "Let's dig in!" "Enjoy your meal!" As Woo Jae Gun returned to the kitchen, Mok Riwon picked up the most succulent piece of pork with his chopsticks and held it to Dang Hwa-seo's mouth. "Here, say 'ah'!" Carefully supporting the bottom to avoid any spillage, he offered her the bite. Surprisingly, in that moment, Dang Hwa-seo felt her heart lighten. "Eh? Go on, then!" Blushing slightly, Dang Hwa-seo opened her mouth, and Mok Riwon, with a bright smile, placed the meat inside. "How is it? Tasty?" "Yes… Mok Riwon, you should try some too." "Of course!" Mok Riwon grabbed two pieces of meat as Dang Hwa-seo spoke, filling his mouth to the brim as if to really savor the taste. His cheeks puffed up with food, and he began to marvel, his own cheeks flushed. "It's incredibly delicious!" Anyone who made the food would feel nothing but pride seeing it enjoyed to such an extent. Dang Hwa-seo suddenly realized why Sook Soo and Mok Riwon were so close. "Now, it's your turn, Miss." "Ah, yes." As Mok Riwon and Dang Hwa-seo continued their meal, back and forth, "Eh? Mok Riwon?" Jegal San entered the dining hall, followed by Il Woon. Judging by their sweaty appearance, they seemed to have just finished training. Jegal San's narrowed eyes went straight to Mok Riwon's hand, the one feeding meat to Dang Hwa-seo. "Um..." "It's because my arm is injured." Dang Hwa-seo replied coldly. "My arm is." She emphasized. "Injured." Her eyes were wide open. Her unyielding stance left no room for rebuttal. Jegal San looked down, trembling like a merchant confronted by a robber. "Oh, is that so. I hope you recover quickly..." Saying so, he and Il Woon moved to sit at the opposite end of the room. This was a classic example of a natural predator-prey relationship. Normally cheeky and unfazed, Jegal San became notably smaller in front of Dang Hwa-seo. 'Why do I...' Why did he have to endure such treatment? Despite understanding the reason, he couldn't help but feel aggrieved. Il Woon observed Jegal San for a moment, then gently patted him on the shoulder. Silence is golden. That was Il Woon's philosophy. "Maybe try speaking a little less." To Il Woon, it seemed Jegal San's mouth was the source of his problems. * A week had passed since Dang Hwa-seo began receiving Mok Riwon's help. Her arm was fully healed. Yet, there she stood, holding the splint, contemplating. 'Should I take it off?' That cunning part of her was at work again. Removing the splint would mean the end of her blissful days. Despite trying to resist, Dang Hwa-seo couldn't help but feel reluctant. Having Mok Riwon comb her hair was nice. Being fed was embarrassing but thrilling. When he offered massages for her tense shoulders, she wished time would stop. But should she really have to give up all that? After much deliberation, the decision was obvious. "Ahem." Alone, Dang Hwa-seo cleared her throat and wrapped the splint around her arm again before stepping outside. She hadn't walked far when Mok Riwon appeared. "Miss! Let's give it our all today!" Hearing Mok Riwon's spirited words made Dang Hwa-seo feel a twinge of guilt. She was acutely aware that she was taking up his time. Her heart wavered once more. With rising guilt, Dang Hwa-seo spoke, "Am I perhaps taking too much of your training time?" "Don't worry! I perform my training diligently from dawn!" "That is reassuring, but..." Awkwardly, Dang Hwa-seo spoke, and Mok Riwon replied with a bright smile. "Besides, I don't consider the time spent with you as taken from me." "Really?" "Being with you makes me happy." Thump— Her heart misbehaved again. Dang Hwa-seo suddenly felt breathless, her chest tightening as everything around her faded, leaving only Mok Riwon clearly drawn in her vision. His carefree smile reflected the sunlight. His dark brown eyes seemed to hold hers alone in that moment. A mix of excitement and nervousness followed by a tinge of resentment. That the man, who knew not the art of restraint in speech, could utter such words without deeper intent stirred these feelings. This is why... She couldn't help but entertain wicked thoughts. Swallowing those thoughts, Dang Hwa-seo smiled. "Shall we go then?" "Yes! Let's go!" Mok Riwon walked beside Dang Hwa-seo. Though it was midday, the corridors were quiet. The sounds of birds and rustling leaves gently teased the ears, and the warmth of the sunlight was comforting on the skin. The atmosphere was lazy and comforting. Mok Riwon, too, seemed to enjoy this, smiling gently as he kept silent. Dang Hwa-seo stole glances at Mok Riwon and sighed, her heart still irregular from the recent shock. Upon reaching the office, Mok Riwon sat beside her and began combing her hair, filling the room with his humming. Then, suddenly, Bang— Namgung Jincheon entered, stopping abruptly as he did. Namgung Jincheon, Mok Riwon, and Dang Hwa-seo all froze. In the awkward silence, Namgung Jincheon scoured the room with his eyes, assessing the situation. Upon observing the two individuals' positions, their postures, the comb in Mok Riwon's hand, and Dang Hwa-seo's hair, Namgung Jincheon finally spoke. "The training ground needs repairs." It was a statement that seemed to ignore what was right in front of his eyes. Or perhaps, it was more accurate to say he was oblivious. Namgung Jincheon didn’t think beyond the simple act of hair combing. His thoughts did not venture into the realm of relationships between men and women. Dang Hwa-seo's face turned red. It was the inherent nature of words. Words thrown out that did not align with the current situation. While Namgung Jincheon might have spoken without a second thought, for Dang Hwa-seo, who felt a prick of conscience, it was not so simple. It felt like unnecessary consideration. Not just any consideration, but the kind born out of obliviousness that made the situation even more awkward. What followed was an unintended action. Moved by the urge to make some excuse, Dang Hwa-seo abruptly stood up, not taking into account the splint in her movements. Crack— The splint broke. Revealed was Dang Hwa-seo's arm, raised and firmly resilient, showing no sign of injury. "...Oh." Realizing too late, Dang Hwa-seo stopped in her tracks. Mok Riwon blinked before exclaiming, "Ah!" "Miss! It seems your arm has healed! I didn’t notice because you were still wearing the splint!" His naive assumption was thankfully accepted. Dang Hwa-seo, with her face flushed with embarrassment and eyes shimmering, responded, "It... seems so." She wanted to die of embarrassment. In the midst of this fiasco, only Namgung Jincheon spoke as if nothing had changed. "The training ground." His concern remained solely with the dilapidated training ground that urgently needed repairs.