The Martial God with Psychic Powers

Seeing her father’s reaction, Seong Yeon-hwa realized it without a doubt:

he intended to marry her off into a family that would benefit their household.

She would rather die than allow that to happen.

For now, however, openly defying him would be foolish.

If she provoked him further, he might lock her away —

and she desperately needed time to escape.

Still, a wave of sorrow welled up, and tears began to fall.

Without even bothering to wipe them away, Seong Yeon-hwa shot her father a resentful glare and stormed out.

Once she left, the Golden Sword Manor Lord pressed his hand to his forehead and sighed heavily.

“Haah... This is maddening.”

Given the way she had glared at him through her tears, it was safe to assume they wouldn’t be speaking for at least a month.

“But I can't back down now. Everything I’m doing is for her sake. One day, she’ll bow her head and thank me.”

He was determined this time.

Better for her to marry into the Deputy Leader’s family, where she could live comfortably,

than to be dragged into the misery of marrying into some nameless, insignificant clan.

Of course, the enormous political benefits that would follow were just an added bonus.

****

Seething with anger, Seong Yeon-hwa stormed into her room.

“So that’s it, huh? He promised he’d let me marry someone I loved — and it was all a lie!”

She paced around, fuming.

Then, as if coming to a decision, she began packing her belongings.

Not that there was much to pack.

She carefully selected only the most valuable and compact items she owned.

“This much should be enough for the two of us to live on forever.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration.

Even if they sold only a portion of the treasures she packed, they would have enough to live comfortably.

Even if it meant starving, she wanted to be with Jang Un.

How hard did I work to win his heart?

She had spent half a year harboring one-sided love before finally reaching him.

After packing, she wrote a letter.

In it, she declared she would never marry the man her father had chosen,

and that she had decided to live with the one she loved.

Placing the letter neatly on her bed, she changed into clothes that were easy to move in,

quietly opened her door, and slipped out.

Glancing around, Seong Yeon-hwa sprinted toward the far wall and climbed over it.

Without looking back, she ran with everything she had.

Only when the manor was no longer in sight did she stop to catch her breath.

It was then—

“Where are you off to in such a hurry, young lady?”

“Ahh!”

Startled by the sudden voice, she whipped around—

and found Eun Baek-gi grinning mischievously at her.

“Uncle Eun! You scared me!”

“I could say the same, you know. Running away in the dead of night?”

“My father’s trying to marry me off to someone I don’t even know!

Wait, don’t tell me—are you here to drag me back?”

If so, it was all over.

He would surely lock her up and never let her outside again.

If she couldn’t see Jang Un even for a single day, she felt like she might go mad.

“I wasn’t sent by the Manor Lord. I simply came because I was worried.

Wandering around alone at night is dangerous.”

“You won’t tell my father, right?”

“Haha. I’m always on your side, young lady.”

“Thank you, Uncle Eun!”

Overcome with gratitude, Seong Yeon-hwa rushed over and hugged him tightly.

Eun Baek-gi smiled warmly but spoke in a mock-stern tone.

“Young lady, you shouldn’t just throw yourself into any man's arms like that.”

“Heehee. But you’re not just any man — you’re family.”

Tzing—.

Hearing her say that with such a radiant smile, Eun Baek-gi’s heart tightened with emotion.

At that moment, another voice wheezed from the distance.

“Huff, huff... Goodness, I’m exhausted.”

“Nanny?”

“How could you leave without me, young lady? How heartless!” the nanny wailed dramatically.

“I— I didn’t mean to... But how did you know where I was?

Wait, does everyone at Golden Sword Manor know I’ve run away?”

“The Manor Lord doesn’t know.”

“He doesn’t?”

“No. Everyone else is cheering you on. Stay strong, young lady.”

Tzing—.

Seong Yeon-hwa’s heart ached at those words.

“Everyone... Thank you.”

The truth was, when she had climbed over the wall,

all the guards of Golden Sword Manor had seen her.

They had panicked for a moment,

but Eun Baek-gi had quietly signaled for them to stay silent — and the guards had smiled and nodded.

They weren’t worried because she was escaping —

they were worried about the dangers of traveling alone at night.

There wasn’t a single soul at Golden Sword Manor who wasn’t rooting for her.

“Where are you planning to go?”

“To the training grounds.”

“At this hour?”

“He’s probably still training even now.”

At her confident answer, Eun Baek-gi blinked in surprise.

He suddenly felt curious to see it for himself.

“In that case, allow me to escort you.”

****

“Haaah! Hup!”

Sharp cries split the night air in the dark valley.

Only the crackling campfire lit up the clearing,

casting shadows that revealed who was shouting.

Soaked in sweat, Jang Un frowned, clearly frustrated.

Something wasn’t going the way he wanted.

“Whew... This part isn’t flowing right.”

Flop—.

He plopped down onto the ground,

lost in thought, trying to figure out how to make his movements more natural.

From a distance, six eyes watched him.

It was Seong Yeon-hwa, Eun Baek-gi, and the nanny.

Seong Yeon-hwa’s gaze was already half-dazed, completely absorbed in him,

while Eun Baek-gi and the nanny looked on in astonishment.

He’s really hardworking, the nanny whispered telepathically.

Eun Baek-gi nodded.

Well, he ought to be. He’s the man the young lady chose, after all.

Do you know what martial art that is?

Hmm. I can’t tell exactly. I don’t know every martial art in existence.

Still, it looks like a pretty advanced art.

It is. If he masters it, he’ll make quite a name for himself even within the Martial God Sect.

The nanny glanced at Seong Yeon-hwa.

She was utterly spellbound.

The sight made the nanny smile warmly.

She really loves him.

Yet even so, Seong Yeon-hwa had made sure to keep a good distance,

worried she might interrupt his training.

She’s grown up so much... the nanny thought, feeling a rush of emotion.

She had nursed this girl as a baby, and now she was old enough to speak of marriage.

Completely unaware that anyone was watching him,

Jang Un continued to focus on his training with single-minded intensity.

Then—

Something stirred in the forest.

A shadow streaked toward him.

Shuack—!

Sensing the sudden attack, Jang Un swiftly batted it aside.

Seong Yeon-hwa nearly screamed,

but Eun Baek-gi clamped a hand over her mouth just in time.

She trembled violently, but Eun Baek-gi calmly watched the situation with sharp eyes.

Stay calm. If anything happens, I’ll step in immediately, he whispered telepathically.

Seong Yeon-hwa nodded.

If Uncle Eun was watching, there was no real danger.

She narrowed her eyes, determined to see who had dared attack her beloved.

At last, the figure emerged from the shadows. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

When she saw who it was, her eyes widened in shock.

Do you recognize him? Eun Baek-gi asked.

Yes. It’s Seon Woo Baek — the top first-year student at Baekyeong Martial Academy.

A classmate?

Yes.

Then why would a classmate attack him?

They’re very close. They probably spar like this all the time.

Now that she mentioned it, the two boys’ expressions were bright and easygoing.

PAPAPANG—!

A loud clash of forces resounded as the two fighters broke apart.

“What are you doing here this late?” Jang Un asked.

“I heard a rumor that you’ve been training even through the night.

Came to see if it was true,” Seon Woo Baek replied.

“Then just watch quietly. What’s with the sudden ambush?”

“I had to check.

Make sure you weren’t... doing something else.”

“Something else?”

“There’s a lot of rumors flying around, you know.

Like, someone said you’ve got a girl now.”

“That— That kind of rumor’s going around?” Jang Un stammered.

“Is it true or not?” Seon Woo Baek pressed.

From the sidelines, there was tension.

What if Jang Un said no?

Seong Yeon-hwa would be crushed.

She, too, was staring at Jang Un with a face full of nervous anticipation.

“...Yeah. It’s true.”

“It’s true?”

“Yeah. Actually... there’s someone ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ I like.”

“Is it one-sided?”

“I’m not sure. But... what I do know is that I definitely like her more.”

The unexpected answer didn’t come from Jang Un.

“No! I’m the one who likes you more!”

Startled, both boys whipped their heads toward the voice.

Seeing who it was, Jang Un’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“You— What are you doing here at this hour?”

Eun Baek-gi and the nanny, standing beside Seong Yeon-hwa, both pressed their hands to their foreheads in silent agony.

Seong Yeon-hwa had lost control after hearing Jang Un’s confession.

Seeing the stunned faces of Jang Un and Seon Woo Baek, Seong Yeon-hwa finally realized what she had done.

“I— I mean...”

Flustered, she stumbled over her words, and Seon Woo Baek seized the moment.

“W-well, I’ve got something urgent to take care of, so I’ll get going!”

“Huh? Oh— Yeah, sure.”

Seon Woo Baek quickly slipped away, leaving the two behind.

Jang Un stepped closer and asked,

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

“Suddenly?”

“Why? Am I not allowed?”

“No— I’m happy to see you. I just thought... maybe something happened.”

“...I ran away from home.”

“Huh?”

For a moment, Jang Un thought he had misheard.

“I ran away. I have nowhere else to go.”

“Y-you ran away from home?! W-why?”

Flustered beyond belief, Jang Un stammered.

Seong Yeon-hwa lowered her head and muttered,

“My father’s trying to marry me off to someone else... But I don’t want anyone but you.”

At her confession, Jang Un’s face turned beet red.

When he didn’t respond, Seong Yeon-hwa timidly lifted her head to look at him.

“Uh?”

Jang Un stood there, staring into space, completely out of it.

“I said... I don’t want anyone but you...”

He just kept mumbling the words under his breath.

“I have nowhere else to go now. So you have to take responsibility.”

That snapped him out of it.

Jang Un’s face twisted with panic.

What was he supposed to do in a situation like this?

At that moment, a voice whispered in his mind.

Young Master, just say yes.

She doesn’t need much — just let her stay somewhere nearby.

It was Eun Baek-gi’s voice.

Jang Un looked at Seong Yeon-hwa again.

She had come here because she couldn’t stand the idea of being with anyone else.

He couldn’t very well let her sleep out in the cold night air in the mountains.

But taking her home wasn’t an option either.

There was only one place that came to mind — the Baek Yak Pavilion.

It should be empty now, since everyone had been sent off for separate training.

“I know a place where you can stay. Let’s head there for now.”

“Okay.”

****

When they arrived, Jang Un was startled.

He had thought the place would be empty—

but dozens of students were already there, training.

From a distance, Yeon Woo Jin frowned as he spotted them.

“What’s going on?”

“Uh, W-Woo Jin... I-I thought you said group training was suspended...”

“It was. So why are you here?”

Yeon Woo Jin’s eyes landed on Seong Yeon-hwa and the two figures escorting her.

He immediately understood.

So that’s why I assigned him to solo training.

I set it up so they’d have space to grow closer.

Hearing Yeon Woo Jin muttering to himself, Jang Un realized it too.

It had all been for his sake.

He felt a surge of gratitude toward Yeon Woo Jin.

“Judging by the situation, you ran away from home, didn’t you?” Yeon Woo Jin said casually.

“...Yeah.”

“Then take her to the new annex we just built. Let her rest there.”

“Got it.”

Meanwhile, Eun Baek-gi was staring around the Baek Yak Pavilion, stunned.

It was a sight one would expect from the training grounds of an elite household —

methodical, systematic, disciplined.

Each and every student here looked like a rising star.

His gaze naturally drifted to the one leading all of them — Yeon Woo Jin.

At that moment, their eyes met.

A slow smile curled Yeon Woo Jin’s lips.

And immediately—

A chill ran down Eun Baek-gi’s spine.

Is this what it feels like to be a frog facing a snake?

He couldn’t move.

It felt as if a massive force was bearing down on him, squeezing his entire body.

This wasn’t the power of someone at the Haegyeong level.

It was higher.

Myth-class?

At his age?

It didn’t seem possible.

Was he some hidden master who had reversed aging?

To make things worse, that terrifying pressure was directed only at him.

The proof was that Seong Yeon-hwa beside him hadn’t noticed anything at all.

As Eun Baek-gi broke out in cold sweat, Seong Yeon-hwa looked at him in concern.

“Uncle Eun?”

The moment she called out, the crushing force vanished.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-Yes, I’m fine.”