NOVEL NEXT WORLD I Will Raise It as the Best Family in the World
Chapter 1
There is a child who matures unusually early.
Some children are exceptionally intelligent or quick-witted, while others might be physically sick. Even children from prestigious families in the Central Plains, who have received strict education, can be like that. Seol Woonyeong, the youngest child of the head of the Seol family, matured early. Having lost her birth mother at birth, she was frail. She considered herself to be a good-for-nothing, but she wasn’t pessimistic about her situation. Ten. She lived like that until she received a diagnosis that she wouldn’t live long. But Woonyeong’s life, which was said to be short, continued and continued. – Survive. Survive… then return to the Seol family. Fifteen. On the day when everything in the Seol family disappeared, it was the words of her father that made Woonyeong run away alone. So, Woonyeong survived. Thirty-nine. She lived to the very end with all her strength. Known as Flower-Faced Sword Ghost, she became one of the top ten martial artists in the world, striving her best to seek revenge. However, returning to the Seol Family was something she couldn’t accomplish. At the moment her heart was pierced, a dazzling five color light burst before her eyes. ‘I have to go back, as the head of the Seol Family…’ That was the last thought as her eyes closed. *** ‘…So this is how painful it is to die.’ A fever surged through her entire body. It felt like her flesh was burning away. Woonyeong tried to endure, but she couldn’t hold on any longer. It felt like a scream was about to burst out, but she couldn’t make a sound. Tears just flowed down her cheeks. ‘Is this the fire of hell…?’ How much pain had she endured? The heat in her body began to subside. But. The fever continued to decrease, and her whole body grew cold. It felt as though her entire body was freezing from the inside out. ‘…Was it when I was ten years old? It feels like I was in pain like this back then too. It doesn’t feel unfamiliar.’ No tears flowed anymore. In the moment of wanting to give up everything. A warm hand wiped Woonyeong’s face. The hand constantly massaged Woonyeong’s arms and legs. Warmth gradually spread through her body. And Woonyeong slowly regained consciousness as well. ‘I should die soon…’ Weakly, even amidst the pain, Woonyeong smiled. And her senses slowly awakened. She could hear sounds. “…Huh? Yeong-ah? Can you see this father?” Hell was truly kind and cruel. First, it made her body ache terribly, and then, was it trying to hurt her heart? Hell began to show sweet dreams. “Yeong-ah. Yeong-ah.” It was the voice of someone she missed dearly. The voice of her father, whom she couldn’t remember for a long time. What if it’s cruel? Slowly, Woonyeong lifted her eyelids. She couldn’t believe it was so difficult to open her eyes. Blink. She blinked again. Little by little, more things became visible. The man with the clear face had the face of her father, Seol Jadan. No, it was her father, Seol Jadan. She forced out a sound, calling out to the one she missed dearly. Dreams can be so painfully cruel. “…F, father?” “Yes, this Father is here. Father is here.” “W, why… Why is Father in hell?” At that moment, Woonyeong became unbearably sad. No, father, why are you in hell? “I, in hell, I’m alone enough…” How did the world come to be like this, so that even a good person like Father ends up in hell? “I, I’m sorry… for surviving alone.” Seol Jadan was not supposed to come to hell like this. It was sad that this nonsense had happened. She was sad that the world was like this. She was sad to see her father. So… Woonyeong simply burst into tears. “Whaaa!” She cried like a child, sobbing uncontrollably. Tears that she had held back for so long streamed down her face. Well, whatever. This would be a dream, a fantasy. No one would know if she cried a little. “Whaaaaa! Hng, father. Why is father in hell…” “No, Yeong-ah. What do you mean? Father is here.” “Young Lord, it seems like Young Miss had a dream.” Huh? Is it a dream? She had a dream? Yeah, she must have been dreaming. While crying uncontrollably, Woonyeong gradually realized that something was strange. ‘If this is not a dream, then what is this? Have I… returned to the Seol family?’ Is this truly the Seol family? “Yeong-ah!” Listening to Seol Jadan’s voice, Woonyeong lost consciousness again. The fever rose again, and Woonyeong fell into a deep sleep in pain. One day when there was a lot of snow, the famously beautiful manor of Seol Family was stained the color of blood. Dozens of assailants dressed in black climbed over the fence of the Seol Family. Their identity was unknown, and they waved their weapons at the people of the Seol Family. There were quite a few warriors guarding the manor, but they were not enough to stop the expert warriors. The black assailants mercilessly cut down everyone inside the Seol Family. They didn’t discriminate between old people and children, men and women, employees and the owners of the house. Everyone fell like that. – I will buy us some time. Take our… Yeong-ah away. Seol Jadan, who hurriedly brought Woonyeong to the front of the secret passage of the Head of Family’s quarter, gave orders to the female servant. Seol Jadan’s gaze fell on the necklace around Woonyeong’s neck. – Your mother’s necklace. Don’t lose it. – No. No, Father. I don’t want to. I don’t want to go alone. I will stay with you, Father. She cried and hung on, but Seol Jadan didn’t listen. When he heard the footsteps of the warrior approaching, he simply drew his sword. Until then, Woonyeong still didn’t know. That Seol Jadan, a merchant, had mastered martial arts. – Yeong-ah, this father is strong. I will protect the Seol family. So, Yeong-ah, you must escape for now. And survive… Seol Jadan looked into Woonyeong’s eyes. – Survive… then return to the Seol family. Come back wearing that necklace. This father will be waiting for you here. Can you do that? Woonyeong lowered her head at Seol Jadan’s kind words. Did she say she would do that? She couldn’t remember what she answered. But questions remained. She couldn’t understand why she had to run away alone. She wanted to stay with her family. If she was going to die anyway, she wanted to be with her family. Even if she wanted to distance herself… they were still Woonyeong’s family. Seol Jadan’s sad expression made it impossible for her to insist any longer. She wanted to talk, but she couldn’t continue. She just lost her mind because she was tired of crying. The servant carried the fallen Woonyeong and left the Seol Family through a secret passage. Not even an hour later, the beautiful snow-covered manor of Seol Family caught fire. In one night, the Seol Family, who had guarded Hongan County in Hubei Province for 500 years, disappeared. Without even knowing who caused his bloody death, the Seol Family disappeared without leaving even a single foundation stone behind. It was the year Woonyeong turned fifteen. A lifelong tormenting nightmare for Woonyeong. She could feel the damp sweat on her forehead. She could feel the fever rising again. Gradually, Woonyeong’s senses awakened. The fragrant scent of the sweet osmanthus entered through the nose. And she came to her senses. Seol Family Mansion’s Crimson Chamber. It was Woonyeong’s bedroom. She remembered that everything was not a dream. ‘I’ve never heard of such a strange event before. Coming back to my childhood after death… I must have been around ten years old, probably.’ It was a severe fever. She was born sick and lived with lingering illnesses, but at this time her condition was even more serious. Seol Jadan invited numerous physicians. However, no physician was able to determine the exact condition. They just said it was a fever. After repeatedly losing consciousness and regaining it in agony, the fever finally subsided. ‘I think it’s the right time. It was the first time I felt this much pain. It wasn’t this bad after that.’ The fever that she thought had subsided rose again. In the meantime, Woonyeong continued her thoughts. Afterward, it wasn’t as severe as when she first got sick, but her fever would rise periodically and she would get chills. One physician said it was caused by an unknown poison, while another said it was due to Jeolmaek. Although there was no clear diagnosis for the illness, everyone said the same thing. ‘They told me I wouldn’t live long. These quacks.’ Woonyeong clenched her molars. ‘I was the only one who survived. Alone.’ Rambling thoughts followed. We can survive. Together. We can make it. Everyone. Family. We can save. The Seol Family. At that moment, Woonyeong’s thoughts stopped. A flash of light. Woonyeong opened her eyes. “…I can save everyone.” In the dark room, Woonyeong’s low voice echoed. “Yeong-ah, what did you say?” Her father, Seol Jadan, who had been by Woonyeong’s side, asked gently in his affectionate voice. Thank you for waiting at the Seol Family. She conveyed the words she couldn’t say out loud only in her mind. “N, no… it’s nothing.” “Yeah. I see. It’s a relief.” Seol Jadan placed a wet towel on Woonyeong’s forehead and smiled faintly. “Yes, It’s a relief.” It’s a relief. Woonyeong had the chance to save everyone. To fulfill the unfinished revenge. It’s really a relief.
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