Chapter v21c2

*Clap, clap!*

As Yeon-Bi lightly clapped her hands, the waiting musicians rushed onto the stage.

“It’s a rare occasion to be summoned. I thought my fingers were getting rusty.”

The old man holding the daegeum remarked.

“That’s because your bones are stiff from old age. Are you going to show off your skills for once?”

The old man holding the drumsticks chimed in, eagerly.

“They say good water makes good alcohol, and the same goes for dancing. I don’t want any clumsy tunes, so please do your best.”

Yeon-Bi replied, her voice gentle yet firm.

“Haha, this young lady has a discerning ear. I’ve been bored lately, with no place to showcase my skills. This is perfect.”

The oldest musician, a blind man in charge of the geomungo, said cheerfully.

“What song will it be?”

The old man asked, and Yeon-Bi extended her hand. A neatly folded silver silk cloth landed in her hand. It was handed to her by a servant who had silently cleaned up around her.

“Hwang Jeong-Ui’s ‘Golden Wings Shelter the Snowy Night.'”

The blind man’s eyebrows twitched in surprise.

“Golden Wings Shelter the Snowy Night… it’s been a while. I guess I’ll have to show off my skills for once.”

It was a rare and beautiful song, one that she rarely performed. It seemed like she was determined to showcase her best skills for this special guest. These musicians were seasoned veterans, after all. They were the exclusive musicians of Cheonhyang Pavilion, the best in Sichuan, so it was only natural that they possessed exceptional skills.

*Rustle.*

Yeon-Bi removed her white silk veil and muttered, her voice so low that no one could hear her,

“I have to make Master proud for sending me here.”

*Clink, clink…*

The soft sound of bells and the low melody of the daegeum filled the air like a gentle breeze. The dance had already begun.

* * *

A luxurious guest room located in the back garden, not far from the main banquet hall. It was originally a bright and cheerful room, with a cozy bed and lavish decorations, but now it was dark and gloomy, the outlines of the furniture barely visible. The windows were covered with black cloth, even though it was still daylight outside. Not even a single candle was lit.

A frail young girl sat huddled in a corner of the dark room, her knees pulled to her chest.

*Chirp! Tweet!*

A small bird, the only sign of life in the dark room, chirped anxiously, pecking at its perch. It was probably disturbed by the loud banging on the door.

*Bang! Bang!*

“Ye-Rin! It’s your uncle! Why won’t you come out?”

“Please, Vice-Commander! You can’t do this!”

“Please leave.”

“Silence! Do I need permission from my guards to see my own niece?”

*Chirp, chirp, chirp! Chirp!*

The bird chirped frantically, its anxiety growing. The girl, her fingers digging into her knees, closed her eyes tightly.

“The Commander ordered us not to let anyone in. You know that, Vice-Commander.”

“You dare to defy me? Do you know who I am?”

“Of course we do.”

“And yet you dare to block my path?”

“We have our orders, sir. We can’t let you in without the Commander’s or the young lady’s permission.”

*Bang, bang, bang!*

“Damn you! Ye-Rin, I know you can hear me! Tell these fools to let me in!”

The girl, Ye-Rin, flinched and covered her ears. She buried her face in her knees, holding her breath, as if afraid of being caught if she made a sound.

*Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang!*

*Chirp! Chirp, chirp, chirp!*

…

How much time had passed?

The silence she had longed for finally arrived.

She cautiously raised her head, the commotion subsided, the bird quiet. She was a beautiful girl. Her skin, white as jade, glowed faintly in the dim light. Her black eyes, piercing the darkness, held a mysterious allure.

Anyone who saw her would think she was beautiful. That was the source of her misfortune.

‘Why are people so obsessed with possessing me?’

She had been a target of kidnappings since she was a child. But thanks to her father, Na Baek-Cheon, all the attempts had failed. She wouldn’t be safe without her father’s power and protection.

She had had countless bodyguards. But after a few incidents where her bodyguards turned out to be kidnappers, even Na Baek-Cheon became wary of male bodyguards. He had even tried hiring female bodyguards, but they were hard to find, and sometimes they betrayed her too. Her allure was that powerful.

Two months ago, after a ridiculous kidnapping attempt by her female bodyguards, Na Baek-Cheon had lost faith in any security system. He had decided to keep her close and protect her himself. He had become extremely cautious, especially after arriving in Sichuan for business, and she had been living a life of virtual confinement.

But she didn’t mind. It was her reality, even if she didn’t understand why it had to be this way. Everyone, except her parents and children, was a source of fear for her. And her accidental ability had only worsened her social anxiety.

Dragon Eyes!

The ability to read fragments of people’s hearts. It wasn’t telepathy. It was more like their emotions overflowing and spilling into her mind. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.

‘Why am I like this?’

She had lamented her fate countless times.

The kidnapping attempts were bad enough, but the glimpses into people’s hearts, especially men’s hearts, were even worse. It was like peering into the deepest depths of a swamp, filled with black sludge of malice. Every time she was exposed to their malice, she would be bedridden for days, sometimes even weeks. She had no immunity to their negativity. It was too much for her pure heart to bear.

It was so ugly and disgusting.

She felt like vomiting whenever she was surrounded by adults, their malice suffocating her. She had to hide herself in a dark corner to survive.

There was no place without people. She wanted to run away with her parents to a deserted island. But it was impossible. She was too young.

“I want to run away…”

She muttered, hugging her knees tightly in the dark room.

* * *

A lavish feast was laid out for dozens of people. They were all martial artists, judging by their extraordinary qi and the weapons they carried.

They were the followers of Namgung-Hyeon, the Branch Manager of the Sichuan branch of the Martial Alliance, and they were hosting a banquet for a very important guest.

But for some reason, these men, who usually reveled in blood and alcohol, were hesitant to raise their cups, their gazes fixed on a single point. They tapped their knees or shrugged their shoulders, as if their suppressed artistic souls had been awakened by some unknown force. The source of that unknown force was the young girl, Yeon-Bi, dancing on stage.

‘She’s so skilled for her age. She must have trained under a renowned master.’

The old man sitting at the head of the table, enjoying the best view of the performance, nodded in admiration.

Golden Wings Shelter the Snowy Night… it was a beautiful song, but it wasn’t exactly appropriate for a sunny afternoon. But as the soft sound of bells and the cool melody of the daegeum filled the air, the audience felt as if night had fallen.

Yeon-Bi’s body was enveloped in black robes, her movements graceful and fluid. Her dance was a mesmerizing blend of darkness and light, a captivating spectacle that held the audience spellbound.

*Clatter, clatter…*

Every time she twirled, her silver silk sleeves, adorned with shimmering beads, fluttered around her, creating a shower of light. The silver silk, entwined with her black robes, danced like plum blossoms blooming in the winter night.

But it wasn’t the darkness or the silver silk that captivated the audience. It was her eyes, revealed as she removed her veil, eyes that seemed to hold a golden soul, etched into their depths.

Her long, dark eyelashes cast delicate shadows over her eyes, which sparkled like polished tiger’s eye, their golden hue shifting with the light. Every time her eyes flickered, the world around her seemed to fade.

“Haha… truly golden wings sheltering the snowy night.”

The old man couldn’t help but exclaim. He had lost count of how many times he had been moved by her performance. It wasn’t just her beauty or her music. Even to his untrained eye, her dance was exceptional. Her ability to embody the essence of the song, to create a world of illusion before their very eyes, was a testament to her dedication and skill.

‘This is what a beautiful dance should be.’

Her movements were precise and elegant, yet powerful and captivating. True mastery, regardless of the field, commanded respect. He applauded enthusiastically.

‘I thought this would be a boring event, but I’m pleasantly surprised.’

His name was Na Baek-Cheon, the leader of the Martial Alliance, the most powerful man in the martial arts world. As soon as he had arrived in Sichuan, accompanied by his precious daughter, for a business trip and inspection, Namgung-Hyeon, the Branch Manager of Sichuan, had hastily arranged a banquet in his honor.

He had been secretly annoyed by Namgung-Hyeon’s eagerness to entertain him, but he was now genuinely smiling. He hadn’t expected to see such a captivating performance. It was always a pleasure to witness something extraordinary. His annoyance melted away.

‘But let’s see what he has to offer.’

He was a man of principle. He wouldn’t let personal feelings interfere with business.

*Clatter, clink.*

The music stopped, and the bell rang. As if released from a spell, Yeon-Bi’s dance came to an abrupt end. The illusion of the snowy night faded away, the falling snow melting into the ground. She bowed her head, her golden wings folding.

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

Thunderous applause erupted, long after the audience had returned to reality.

* * *

“Damn it! Those perverted old men!”

Yeon-Bi, back in her room, threw things around, her anger still simmering.

“Where do they think they’re looking?! Drooling like dogs! Ugh, men!”

*Stomp, stomp, stomp!*

She stomped on the floor, venting her frustration. It was interesting to note that she avoided stepping on anything valuable.

“Sigh!”

She sighed and slumped into a chair in front of her dressing table. She glanced at the bronze mirror next to her. It was an expensive item, with intricate carvings on both sides, and it was practically her exclusive possession.

The once-pristine mirror was now smudged with fingerprints and breath. But it was still usable. She looked into the mirror and saw an unfamiliar face staring back at her.

“Tsk!”

It was still a strange face.

“Why do I have to go through this?”

The answer was obvious. There was no other reason.

“It’s all because of that damn Master!”