Try Living Well Without Me

“Jade Flower, have you seen Cheonma recently?”

After successfully reconciling with Soeun Yu, I went looking for Cheonma first, since I hadn’t seen her since the trial ended.

“Cheonma? I don’t think I’ve seen her. Byul Rak.”

“Hmm… Could she have just left like that?”

“Could she have any lingering feelings? Or is there something she wanted to say…?”

“…No, what would I have to say to her?”

“…”

If Jade Flower, who always carries a sword at her waist and keeps watch, says so, then it’s probably true. It seems Cheonma really did leave as she originally said she had somewhere to go.

She helped clear my name from the false accusations of dark energy use. The once hostile relationship has slightly eased. Fortunately so—there’s nothing good about having enmity with someone of Cheonma’s transcendently powerful level.

“Ah, that’s right. Byul Rak, though it’s late, congratulations.”

“Hmm? On what?”

“Didn’t they clear your name? I can’t imagine how stifling it must have been for you, but still, congratulations.”

“It’s just that abnormality has become normal.”

Jade Flower placed her hands on my shoulders, as if about to give a massage.

“You must have suffered a lot, so let me help ease your meridians. I learned some techniques.”

“You know how to manipulate meridians? How did that happen?”

“…”

Jade Flower didn’t answer, simply lowering her reddened face weakly.

Gripping tightly…

She began to knead the muscles in my shoulders with her small hands. Though it was slightly uncomfortable, I decided to just let her continue since it was only a massage.

For some reason, Jade Flower seemed unusually serious right now.

“Um… Byul Rak.”

“What is it?”

“Did you reconcile well with your wife? I saw you talking with her earlier.”

“Ahahaha, of course. We laid bare our situations to each other and bloomed with stories after a long time.”

“…I see, that’s good.”

“…?”

Jade Flower’s voice darkened slightly. Her grip on my shoulders tightened ever so slightly.

She looked a bit dejected now as she spoke.

“Byul Rak, remember one thing.”

“I would remember anything for my dear friend and ally.”

“…Only me.”

It was an almost inaudible voice, like an ant crawling into a hole. I leaned in closer to ask.

“What? Could you repeat that? Sorry, I couldn’t hear you properly.”

“Only I can give you a massage and guard you.”

“…?”

Completely incomprehensible words.

“I can’t really follow. How can massage and protection belong to you?”

“…!”

“If someone offers to guard you, what should I tell them? Should I say no because only you can guard me?”

“…”

Jade Flower fell silent, emitting an increasingly somber vibe as she continued the massage.

Pressing harder…

“Um? Jade Flower? Could you ease up the pressure on your hands…”

“Your protection and massage are mine and mine alone.”

“Khh…”

“If anyone else wants to help, I might not stop them but… just those two things, they belong solely to me…”

“Jade Flower!”

Though it wasn’t painful enough to be unbearable, something didn’t feel right with Jade Flower’s state. Her voice lacked emotion but carried immense weight behind it. This wasn’t normal.

“…Ah.”

Thankfully, hearing my shout, Jade Flower immediately regained her senses. She yanked her hands away as if realizing what she had done.

“I-I’m sorry! I-I just got suddenly angry…”

“…”

“…I’m really sorry. Truly. You may not want it, but I was out of line…,”

Jade Flower stepped back two paces and bowed deeply with respect. Clearly, she felt a great sense of guilt from this brief mistake.

“…”

‘Your protection and massage belong to me.’

Why did she place so much significance on just those two things? I couldn’t comprehend it.

But if Jade Flower truly valued these tasks so deeply, if she so earnestly aspired for them…

“Then so be it.”

“…What?”

“I will leave it solely to you. My protection and…massage. Though I don’t particularly need the massage, so why…?”

“R-Really? Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“While it’s not harmful to me and you’re offering to help, I see no reason to stop you. Though please avoid obsessiveness. Obsessing about anything is unhelpful.”

Jade Flower’s face relaxed. A grateful smile naturally bloomed on her face.

Why was she so delighted about something trivial like a massage? I just couldn’t understand.

“Uncle? What are you doing here?”

At that moment, Gayoung Jin approached and spoke to us.

“Did you not say we would depart soon? I’ve already prepared all my luggage…”

“I apologize. I was briefly caught up in a conversation with the madam.”

“…Madam…”

“…?”

Today, whenever I mention Soeun Yu, the atmosphere grows tense.

Could there be some kind of grudge between Soeun Yu and them that I’m unaware of?

“Miss, there’s something I’d like to request.”

“Yes? What is it, Uncle?”

“From now on, I would like to travel alongside the madam. Would you permit this?”

“……What?”

Jade Flower’s eyes widened, and the smile that had been lingering on Gayoung Jin’s lips disappeared.

…It seems I may have said something I shouldn’t have.

– Hehehe! Such a wind-catching response! The ‘main wife’ was already decided after all!

The ominous laughter of Woo-yong Jin echoed in my mind.

*

Madam Soeun Yu rested her hands on her knees, relaxing in the guest house room.

Her heart was racing, just like in newlywed days.

Her uneven breaths flowed out in various colors.

“It still feels warm… the master’s body heat remains…”

Yu Soen crossed her arms to embrace herself.

More accurately, she embraced an illusory Cheolbin who had briefly excused himself to prepare outside.

She was happy, feeling as if she had entered paradise.

The room felt warm. Though it was summer, she wasn’t sweating, yet her face felt hot.

Her lips kept turning upward, betraying her mood. Recalling what had happened moments ago.

“I love you.”

“Keeaa-.”

Despite being thirty-five and having birthed two children, Soeun Yu let out an embarrassed moan like a teenage girl.

Her delicate hands covered her burning face.

She had yearned and hoped, dared to dream, and even hallucinated about reuniting with Cheolbin and starting over again.

However, it happened. What once felt like just a dream had become a reality. Soeun Yu felt so joyous she could have leapt around the room—though she restrained herself for her dignity’s sake.

“I should tell Su-a too. This wonderful news.”

Perhaps, they could reunite again. The family.

Her out-of-home son who had chosen the priesthood remained unreachable, but the three of them could gather together once more.

With nothing but genuine love for her family, Soeun Yu allowed herself a hopeful smile at this faint possibility.

Then.

“Hey.”

Behind her, a shrill female voice reached her ears.

It was a cold, merciless voice. The instant Soeun detected the presence of the woman, beads of cold sweat rolled down her neck.

As if well-honed blades were surrounding and watching her—it was that exact feeling. Soeun turned her head cautiously.

“Wh… who are you?”

A petite pink-haired girl in a bamboo hat appeared in her sight.

The curves visible even under her martial uniform felt somewhat threatening to Soeun.

Partly due to her intimidating aura.

“It doesn’t matter who I am.”

“…”

“You’re the former wife of our benefactor, right?”

“Y…yes? Erm, our benefactor…?”

“Sword Sage. White Blade Wanderer. Namgung Cheolbin. Lightning. The ‘Sword Sage’ and ‘Namgung Cheolbin’ versions’ wife, right?”

“…”

This was chilling.

She could feel the presence of a predator ready to kill her at any given moment.

Though she outwardly appeared younger, Soeun couldn’t afford to be informal with her. Yet, the much younger Hong Ryun spoke disrespectfully to her.

“Why are you trying to reconnect now, all of a sudden?”

“Wh…?”

“Let’s be straight here. You didn’t betray him, did you? If you truly believed those allegations so steadfastly once before, why are you now trying to reconcile?”

“Th-that’s…!”

“Recollecting this makes me irritated again. Even before our benefactor has fully opened his heart, here you come trying to insert yourself…! At least leave if you have any sense of conscience. A woman who committed betrayal doesn’t deserve to remain by our benefactor’s side.”

Each word from Hong Ryun cut deeply into Soeun’s heart. A leaden weight plummeted into Soeun’s chest with a resounding ‘boom’.

There was no way to rebut it. While she could act shamelessly and walk away, Soeun’s inherently mild personality simply couldn’t accommodate that.

The betrayal—it was a fact. She had doubted Cheolbin, and they had accumulated discord. No matter how much she had regretted it to death, she couldn’t deny her existing past.

Pain welled up somewhere deep within her once again. The feelings she had thought she had forgotten returned to envelop Soeun.

She knew this well—watching Lightning through the Sapphire Sword, she was well aware of how much the women around him cherished him. While they weren’t all purely good, at the very least, they gave their all for Lightning.

Could she possibly intrude among those women? Women who were young, beautiful, rich, and skilled in martial arts?

She lacked the confidence.

“Hmm, so. Realize your place and back off already. Though, if you feel the need, I could offer you the position of concubine. Of course, the main wife’s seat belongs solely to me.”

Sensing Soeun wavering, Hong Ryun wore a confident smile of a victor.

This would quell the urgent situation, Hong Ryun believed.

…However.

“I’m sorry.”

Soeun had experienced too painful a regret to abandon her love over someone else’s words.

“I… I really love my lord.”

[!– Slider main container –]

---