Chapter 31: I guess you could call it Chaeyangboeum.

Creak.

“Phew…”

As I closed the door behind me, I let out a deep sigh without realizing it.

The events inside had drained me, leaving me dizzy and exhausted.

‘What… did he mean by all that?’

Even outside, my mind was still racing, trying to decipher the Clan Leader’s cryptic words.

A time of choice, not being able to have everything you want…

Those ominous, villain-like words left me uneasy.

I didn’t know much yet, but one thing was clear.

The Clan Leader was planning something big, centered around Baek Yeon’s death.

I knew her death wasn’t far off, but it was a reality I’d avoided facing.

I’d been pretending it wasn’t real, but his words forced me to confront it.

It was a future closer than I wanted to admit.

“You’re done talking, I see.”

“!”

I was about to sink deeper into gloom, but Dowan’s voice snapped me out of it.

Despite my obviously downcast face, he laughed heartily, as if nothing was wrong.

“You must’ve heard from the Clan Leader. I’ll be overseeing your training from now on.”

“…Yes.”

“I saw your talent firsthand, so I’m excited for what’s to come. Let’s work well together.”

His smile was as bright as when we first met, but…

‘…It feels a bit off.’

After that conversation with the Clan Leader, his friendly demeanor didn’t feel as genuine anymore.

Considering the people I’d met in the Baek Clan, it was more likely he was hiding something.

Who can I even trust here…

‘…No, stop it.’

I shook my head, exhaling.

I was overthinking everything.

For now, I had to focus on doing my best with what was in front of me.

Steeling myself, I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them and grasped Dowan’s outstretched hand.

“Please take care of me, Master.”

“…The word ‘master’ always has a nice ring to it.”

He grinned, firmly gripping my hand.

“I don’t teach my disciples half-heartedly. I’ll train you with all my sincerity, so give me your all in return.”

…Oh.

‘That’s kinda cool?’

“We’ll start training this evening. Physician Pyun is waiting in the guest room, so head there first.”

“…Oh.”

“See you later.”

With a suave wave, he turned to leave.

But—

“Wait a second!”

“…Hm?”

I had to stop him.

“Uh… where’s the guest room?”

“…”

You’ve gotta tell me where it is…

Dowan’s expression turned strange, as if saying, You’ve lived here for years and still don’t know?

I averted my eyes.

‘It’s not my fault.’

It’s because the Baek Clan’s estate is ridiculously huge.

—

After awkwardly detaining the coolly departing Dowan, he guided me to the guest room.

“You’re here, kid.”

There was the old physician, sipping tea like he owned the place.

His reason for calling me was obvious.

He wanted to tell me about my constitution, which he couldn’t discuss in front of the Clan Leader.

And… I had something to ask him too.

‘He’s supposed to be one of the top physicians in the Central Plains…’

Despite the Clan Leader’s teasing, he’d said Pyun was among the top five.

Maybe he knew a way to treat Baek Yeon’s terminal condition.

But—

“Let’s head to where Yeon is.”

His words deflated me instantly.

“Are you close with the Young Lady?”

“I’ve been treating her illness since she was born. I was away for a while, so I could only send medicine.”

“Oh…”

I let out a disappointed sigh.

Right… That makes sense.

He’s close to the Clan Leader, so of course he’d treat his granddaughter too.

I’d held a sliver of hope, but the disappointment was inevitable.

Did my feelings show on my face?

“Hah, really.”

The physician chuckled abruptly.

“Your thoughts are so obvious, kid. Let’s use this chance to ask—what’s your relationship with Yeon?”

“W-What?”

I flinched at the sudden question.

Our relationship?

It’s definitely not normal, but I’m not thick-skinned enough to talk about it with a stranger.

“I-I’m just… her maid?”

“Just a maid?”

He smirked, as if that was absurd.

“Do maids and their masters have such… intimate interactions?”

“…!”

H-How did he know?

I stared at him, eyes wide.

He seemed pleased with my reaction, laughing heartily and puffing out his chest.

“Haha! These old eyes see everything.”

“N-No, but…”

Glancing around nervously, I lowered my voice.

“How… did you know?”

“It’s related to your constitution.”

He shrugged.

“I’ll explain when we get there. Hurry up and move.”

“…”

His casual response left me blinking dumbly.

‘My… constitution?’

What does that mean?

How are those two things related?

—

“Seoran, you’re—Oh, Physician Pyun!”

As we entered Baek Yeon’s room in Baekryu Hall, she gasped and rushed to the physician.

His face softened instantly, and he laughed warmly, hugging her tightly.

“It’s been a while, Yeon.”

“When did you get back?”

“Just this morning. Sorry I couldn’t come sooner—Wooncheon held me up.”

“Grandfather…”

She muttered, and he laughed again, blatantly changing the subject.

“Let’s not talk about that gloomy guy. We have plenty to discuss, don’t we?”

“Oh.”

Baek Yeon glanced at me.

She gently pushed out of his embrace and ran to me.

“Seoran, everything okay?”

She inspected me, her voice full of worry.

…By the way, she was adorable.

Ahem.

Anyway.

“Why are you here with Seoran?”

Clinging to me like a stuffed toy, she asked the physician.

“I have some things to explain. It’ll be a long talk, so let’s sit.”

We settled at a table in her room.

“Hm…”

The physician hummed, staring at us alternately for a while.

How long did that go on?

“…Hah, what an interesting fate.”

Chuckling, he finally spoke.

“Kid.”

“…Yes.”

“You were born with the Yin-Yang Body.”

…Yin-Yang Body?

I tilted my head at the unfamiliar term.

Baek Yeon looked puzzled too.

Seeing our reactions, he nodded understandingly.

“It’s not well-known, so it’s no surprise you don’t know. Let me explain.”

“…”

“You know what yin and yang are, right?”

I nodded.

It’s a concept any Easterner would know.

“Yin is dark and cold, a quality women are born with. Yang is bright and warm, inherent in men. But…”

He pointed at me.

“For some reason, your body perfectly harbors both energies in balance.”

“In… Seoran?”

Baek Yeon asked, surprised, but I was stunned for a different reason.

…Wait.

‘I think I know why.’

“Yes. Her nature is yang, but her body is yin. I don’t know why such opposing forces coexist in one body, but that’s what makes her a Yin-Yang Body.”

He didn’t know the reason, but I had a guess.

I was reincarnated.

I was a man, but reborn in a woman’s body.

That anomaly must’ve affected my physique.

“Thanks to harboring both energies, you can sense qi far more acutely than others. If you progress further, you could achieve the Taiji Body, a perfect harmony of yin and yang.”

His explanation continued.

“But you haven’t fully realized the Yin-Yang Body yet.”

“Is… something wrong with Seoran’s body?”

“Not wrong, just incomplete. Both energies coexist, but yang is still dominant.”

“Oh…”

I let out a small sigh.

I could guess why.

I’d lived longer as a man than as a woman in this life.

Maybe with time, the balance would even out…

“But, um…”

That aside, the biggest question remained unanswered.

“What does this have to do with the Young Lady…?”

He’d said he needed to explain this in front of her.

He nodded, as if waiting for the question.

“Good question. As I said, your yang energy is dominant, so you shouldn’t be able to fully utilize the Yin-Yang Body’s potential yet…”

He glanced at Baek Yeon.

“But there’s someone near you absorbing that yang energy.”

“…”

Wait, what?

I reflexively looked at Baek Yeon.

Her eyes widened, as if she’d pieced it together.

Looking at us, the physician casually muttered.

“To put it simply… it’s like Gathering Yang to Nourish Yin.”