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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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The room erupted in shocked murmurs.
‘Why are you alive?’
How could she say such a thing to their family’s benefactor?
Even for the Peng Family, known for their straightforwardness and disregard for strict etiquette, this was too much.
Though no one spoke aloud, a collective gasp echoed through the room.
‘Did I hear that correctly? My ears must be failing me!’
‘The rumors about the Ghost Gates and dark magic… they must be true!’
‘Born with an open Celestial Gate, destined to become an imbecile… the heavens are cruel!’
These unspoken thoughts were mirrored in their expressions, but they knew it was wishful thinking.
Such disrespectful words directed at the man who’d saved Peng Ha-ryeong and Peng Mu-ho, the family head’s daughter and brother.
They couldn’t imagine how to salvage the situation.
But Namgung-Woo, the target of this apparent insult, had a completely different reaction.
‘What?’
He felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
Her words weren’t just a child’s attempt to drive away a stranger.
It was a deeper, more fundamental question.
Like he could dissect a person’s essence, energy, and spirit with his Ever-Clear Vision, this girl, Peng Ye-ryeong, had seen something in him.
No, she didn’t have the Ever-Clear Vision, so “sensed” was a more accurate term.
She’d perceived something incomprehensible, something she couldn’t understand.
And there were several things about him that could be considered incomprehensible.
‘What did she sense? That I’m from another world? The strange knowledge I possess? This body? Or my Ever-Clear Vision?’
Whatever it was, she was special.
He released his clasped hands, knelt down, and met her gaze.
“What do you mean by that?”
Muyong Hye responded on behalf of her daughter, saying,
“Benefactor, please forgive her rudeness. Ye-ryeong sometimes speaks in a peculiar manner…”
She apologized repeatedly, but then Ye-ryeong tugged on her sleeve.
“Ye-ryeong?”
“He’s like me.”
“What?”
Muyong Hye frowned and felt confused.
But Ye-ryeong ignored her mother and spoke directly to Namgung-Woo.
“What do I mean? You… Unnie’s benefactor… you noticed it too, right?”
‘Like me.’
‘You noticed it too, didn’t you?’
His eyes shimmered with a faint blue light.
The Ever-Clear Vision activated, visualizing Ye-ryeong’s open Celestial Gate, the connection to a higher dimension.
“…Yes.”
Muyong Hye watched their cryptic exchange, unable to understand their words, despite them speaking plainly.
“Benefactor? Ye-ryeong? What are you talking about? Explain it… simply, please.”
“Simply? Hmm… it’s just… he’s like me. Our constitutions. We’re connected to the heavens.”
“What?”
Muyong Hye’s eyes widened in disbelief, her eyelids fluttering in surprise.
‘Like her?’
Impossible.
There were only three possible fates for those born with an open Celestial Gate, connected to the heavens.
Embrace destiny and become a shaman, blessed by the spirits.
Defy destiny and become an esoteric practitioner, mastering forbidden arts.
Or succumb to destiny and become an imbecile.
Peng Ye-ryeong had been unable to follow either of the first two paths.
They’d been told it was too late, that she was too close to the heavens, that she should have defied destiny sooner.
That’s why they’d turned to Ghost Gates, seeking an otherworldly solution.
And now, she was saying this man was ‘like her’.
Born with the same curse, a curse that drove almost everyone mad before adulthood, yet he was not only sane but thriving.
He was living proof that Ye-ryeong could survive, a lifeline of hope dropped unexpectedly into their laps.
The answer came so suddenly, so unexpectedly. Muyong Hye couldn’t quite process it, unable to fully grasp the joy.
And neither could anyone else.
Even Peng Ha-ryeong, who’d secretly hoped he possessed some miraculous ability to help her sister, was stunned.
But Ye-ryeong, oblivious to their reactions, continued, “I asked the wrong question. How are you alive?”
“…That’s…”
He paused, realizing that he didn’t fully understand his own condition.
He’d practiced self-reflection, but he’d never pushed himself to the absolute limit, never unleashed the full potential of his three dantians, his skills, and his abilities.
Even with his Ever-Clear Vision, he’d only used a fraction of its power when healing Peng Ha-ryeong.
How could he understand others when he didn’t fully understand himself?
It was too early to give a definitive answer.
And unlike Ye-ryeong, he had the awareness and consideration to think of others.
“It’s not the right time or place for this conversation.”
He stood up.
“Oh…”
He glanced at Ye-ryeong, her disappointment evident, then met Muyong Hye’s gaze.
Her eyes burned with an intensity, a desperation, which he had never seen before.
“I understand you have many questions, but perhaps we should wait?”
“…Benefactor…”
Muyong Hye’s voice trembled and tears welled up in her eyes.
He didn’t know.
He couldn’t know.
How could he possibly understand the pain of a mother who couldn’t protect her child? The joy of finally finding hope?
Every second was precious.
She wanted to give Ye-ryeong a future, and she wanted to do it now.
Perhaps she’d overexerted herself.
She swayed as her legs trembled after just a few steps.
“Mother, we should listen to our benefactor.”
“Yes, let’s go inside. You must be tired after traveling from Beijing to Tianjin.”
Peng Ja-ryeong and Peng Ha-ryeong supported her on either side.
Even Peng Ye-ryeong, usually oblivious to social cues, sensed her mother’s distress.
She wrapped her arms around her and offered comfort.
Soothed by her children’s concern, Muyong Hye took deep breaths and calmed herself.
She’d been so overwhelmed that her breathing, honed through years of cultivation, had become erratic.
“…I’ve made a fool of myself.”
“Not at all.”
“I should be showing you around myself, but… Ha-ryeong, would you escort our benefactor to his room? If you don’t mind, Benefactor?”
“Of course not.”
She bowed deeply, and he returned the gesture.
Peng Ja-ryeong gave him a respectful nod and escorted their mother away.
Peng Ha-ryeong then tugged on his arm.
“Come this way. I’ll show you to your room and give you a quick tour of the estate.”
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Once they were settled in their guest room, the Yang brothers finally unleashed the questions they’d been holding back.
“Boss, what was that all about?”
“Can you really cure her? They said she has the same constitution as you. Is it some kind of blocked meridian?”
“Calm down, both of you. I’m not sure myself.”
They coughed, slightly embarrassed by their outburst, and sat down.
“But it was shocking. I’d heard the Peng Family’s precious daughter was ill, but… are you some kind of immortal, Boss? Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Seriously. They say the Peng Family’s Young Master never loses his composure. Did you see him? He was completely stunned when you were talking to the little girl.”
“Oh, that. Yeah, I saw it. ‘Unshakable Blade,’ my foot.”
Peng Ja-ryeong was known for his unshakeable demeanor and his unwavering calm.
Even though he was from the Peng Family, known for their boisterousness, he was so composed and affable that people compared him to members of the more refined Muyong and Zhuge families.
Yet, he’d lost his composure.
But Namgung-Woo wasn’t pleased by this reaction.
“This is troublesome. Their expectations are too high.”
“Yeah, if you can’t cure her, things will get awkward.”
“Hyung, what are you talking about? They said she has the same constitution. That means Boss overcame it, right? What’s the problem?”
“Are you stupid? Boss is a once-in-a-millennium genius. He hasn’t told us his exact level, but he’s at least mid-stage Transcendent Realm. Mid-stage Transcendent Realm at twenty-six? I only know of two other monsters like that. And look at that Peng girl. I could knock her over with a feather.”
“Watch your mouth. Do you know where we are?”
“Relax. Boss isn’t saying anything, which means there’s no one listening. Don’t you trust Boss?”
As usual, Yang Jeong was silenced by Yang Kwai’s logic.
He was annoyed, but his brother always had a point.
“Don’t worry. There are no guards watching us.”
“The Peng Family is known for their trust. Other families would have assigned guards or attendants.”
“Only the Hwangbo Family is similar to the Peng Family in that regard.”
The Seven Great Families of the Righteous Path.
It used to be eight, including the Namgung family. The Hwangbo family, like the Peng family, was known for its straightforwardness.
“Never mind the families. I’m curious about those two you mentioned. Two people who reached mid-stage Transcendent Realm in their twenties?”
“Oh, that? One from the Righteous Path, one from the Black Path. The Qingcheng Sect’s Ha Gyeong-jin and the leader of the Black Martial Union, Dan Un-ak…”
Yang Kwai launched into a lecture on Jianghu trivia.
Meanwhile, after escorting Namgung-Woo to his room, Peng Ha-ryeong returned to the main house.
And the words of the two people immediately reached her ears.
“Ha-ryeong, come sit down.”
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