IBTGONFTWC CH 05

“……”

“……”

No one could answer. There was no way they could.

“Come to think of it, I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“But isn’t it the Cheonmyeong Geumhondan?”

“It brings the dead back to life, so why wouldn’t it fix a dantian?”

“That’s a different matter entirely.”

No one had ever heard of such a case.

Opinions were divided. Judging by Grandfather’s expression, as if to say see?, and Father’s darkened face, it was clear both of them had already thought about this.

The reputation of the Cheonmyeong Geumhondan, its greatness, was no lie.

‘But saving someone who is dying and restoring a shattered dantian are two entirely different things.’

Without a dantian, I could never practice martial arts for the rest of my life.

But was I dying right now?

No.

If they thought about it just a little more deeply, anyone could question it. But the fame of the Cheonmyeong Geumhondan clouded people’s judgment. And…

‘Hope… what a thing.’

Even knowing the truth, if there was even the slightest chance, people couldn’t give it up.

“I know that medicine should be used according to its proper effect. I don’t need it.”

In the past, Father had eventually obtained the Cheonmyeong Geumhondan from Grandfather.

And of course, he gave it to me. But contrary to his hopes, my dantian was not restored.

‘Of course, it’s not like the medicine had no effect.’

All the internal injuries I suffered from qi deviation were healed.

Even my chronic illnesses disappeared completely. Only the most important thing, my broken dantian, remained unchanged.

‘From a martial artist’s perspective, I just went from a sickly piece of trash to a healthy piece of trash.’

Why wouldn’t I want it?

If it could heal me, I would have wanted it more than anyone. But there was no need to consume such a precious medicine and earn resentment when I already knew it wouldn’t work.

Moreover, that medicine was something the protagonist of this novel would absolutely need later.

‘Since I didn’t take it this time, that’s one less reason to be hated.’

I turned to Father and said,

“Father, I’m really alright. Just being able to stay with you like this is enough for me.”

“……”

Father’s eyes wavered.

The elders and attendants also nodded, moved. The pressure that had been bearing down on me seemed to vanish without a trace.

Slowly stroking his beard, Grandfather fell into thought for a moment.

‘Phew… is it over now?’

Relief welled up, and I almost coughed, but I held it back to avoid breaking the atmosphere.

Soon, as if he had reached a decision, Grandfather spoke to Father.

“Uigang, your daughter says this. What do you think?”

Father, whose eyes had been wavering, tightly shut them and opened them again.

He looked at the hand I was holding, then smiled at me, as if apologizing.

‘Don’t tell me…?’

A bad feeling crept over me.

Father spoke calmly.

“My opinion has not changed. If there is even the slightest hope, how could I, as a father, give up?”

‘Ah, Father!’

You stubborn man!

I wanted to jump up on the spot. Bracing myself for Grandfather’s impending outburst, I instinctively shrank my shoulders.

But… it was quiet.

Sensing something strange, I cautiously glanced at Grandfather.

He looked utterly exasperated. But he didn’t seem angry.

“You stubborn fool.”

Clicking his tongue, it was more like of course you’d be like this.

“Both of you, stand up.”

“……”

Father didn’t seem like he wanted to rise. It looked as if he intended to keep kneeling until Grandfather handed over the Cheonmyeong Geumhondan.

But when our eyes met, he stood up reluctantly.

Then he carefully helped me to my feet.

But perhaps because I had been kneeling for too long—

“Ah—?”

As I stood, my head suddenly spun, and my vision swayed.

I reflexively grabbed onto Father’s sleeve.

“Yeon?”

Father’s voice sounded distant, as if muffled. I tried to say I was fine, but only ragged breaths came out, no words. And my face itched unbearably.

I wiped my face roughly and lowered my hand—

‘…Blood?’

The back of my trembling hand was bright red.

The moment I saw the blood, the dizziness intensified.

I sensed someone abruptly standing, but I no longer had the strength to lift my head.

Through my fading vision, I saw drops of blood falling onto the carpet.

‘What did I even do?’

Thinking that, I collapsed.

“Yeon!”

---

“Your name is Yeon, just Yeon, correct?”

A man wearing an ivory robe, a sword at his side.

Aside from the jade ornament hanging from the sword, he wore nothing extravagant, yet an air of nobility emanated from him.

Even as someone who wandered the streets, scavenging scraps to survive, I could tell. This man was not someone you’d easily see in a place like this, and certainly not someone who would have any reason to care about me.

“…Who are you?”

Frightened, I stepped back cautiously, glancing around.

The man crouched down in front of me.

With an expression as if suppressing something, he reached out his hand.

“I’ve come to take you. I am… your father.”

A large hand, rough with calluses.

When I took that hand, at first I was afraid, then I wondered if it was a dream, and finally, I couldn’t suppress my excitement.

Crossing the grand, magnificent gate, I felt elated beyond words.

Now I had a family. A home. My life would finally see sunlight.

But the moment I stepped inside—

Yellowed wallpaper stained with tobacco and an old sofa flickering with multicolored light greeted me.

A large television that didn’t match the shabby house. Laughter from a variety show filled the room.

Thud—my heart dropped.

‘Why… why am I here?’

Smack!

In that instant, my head snapped to the side with a burning sting.

“You think you can run away? How dare you!”

The man grabbed my collar and shook me violently.

The strong smell of alcohol stabbed my nose. Green bottles scattered across the floor. Thrown among them, I tumbled together with the bottles.

“Do you know how much I’ve spent raising you?! Huh?!”

I immediately realized where I was, and who he was.

“F-Father… why… why am I here… I mean, I—I did everything wrong.”

Terrified, I gasped and backed away, only to step on a bottle and fall hard.

“You ungrateful brat, trying to abandon your father—!”

I’m going to be hit!

Instinctively, I raised both arms and curled up as tightly as I could. As the unavoidable shadow loomed over me—

“Gasp!”

I sucked in a sharp breath and snapped my eyes open.

My stomach churned, my head throbbed as if splitting apart. My whole body was drenched in cold sweat.

‘What was that… what a ridiculous dream.’

Since being beheaded, I had never once recalled that past life. I had no idea why I suddenly dreamed of it.

Staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, I retraced my memory.

‘Right… I was being treated, Father wasn’t there… so I went to the main hall, and Grandfather… ah.’

The last thing I remembered was bleeding from my nose in the central hall. I must have fainted.

‘Then where is this?’

A damp cloth rested in a basin beside the bed, as if someone had just been tending to me.

But the room itself was unfamiliar. It was nothing like the vivid house from my past life dream.

‘Nice room.’

The residence I stayed in wasn’t bad either. After all, it was the Baekri family.

But one thing was certain, it was probably the simplest among the direct family residences.

This room, however, clearly reflected the refined and elegant taste of its owner.

At that moment, faint voices drifted from beyond the door.

“…when… fortunately… Physician Seok…”

“…Head of the family… the Fourth Young Master…”

I couldn’t make out the full meaning, but they were Father’s voice and one of Grandfather’s attendants.

I tried to sit up, but my arms trembled.

Just then, someone roughly pushed aside the door curtain and entered.

“Yeon!”

Father rushed to the bedside and immediately supported my back.

“Father, where is this…?”

“Don’t move! How is your body?”

“I’m fine. Um… my head just hurts a little.”

I reflexively said I was fine, then added that my head hurt so he wouldn’t doubt me. But no response came.

“……”

After a long silence, I glanced at Father—

“What were you thinking, coming all the way there?!”

Father suddenly shouted.

“F-Father?”

“I told you, I told you to be careful…!”

It was the first time Father had ever raised his voice like this.

Startled, fear gripped me.

My vision blurred, my breath caught, my mind went blank.

I couldn’t think at all. I spoke purely on instinct.

“I-I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”

At that moment—

“What did you do wrong?”

Another voice cut in.

I turned without thinking and froze.

‘Grandfather!’

It felt as if cold water had been poured over my head, snapping me fully awake. His sharp gaze pierced through me as if to dissect my very being.