BYWMANML Chapter 162

Chapter 162

The horses, too, were well-kept, their coats glistening with a smooth shine.

“I begged my father to pull some strings,” Youngju answered proudly.

Standing next to her, Master Jo Ha-seong looked utterly exhausted.

“Ugh, Youngju was relentless…”

“And you, father, kept pestering about how you needed to repay the kindness to my unnie and the palace lord,” she teased.

“….”

Master Jo Ha-seong quietly shut his mouth, embarrassed.

“You insisted on finding the finest carriage, going through all the merchant shops nearby,” Youngju added.

“Alright, alright. I get it, I get it.”

Master Jo Ha-seong waved his hand dismissively.

He cleared his throat and spoke again.

“In any case, you two practically saved our Youngju’s life,” he said sincerely.

“But…”

“Though it may be modest, we wanted to repay the kindness somehow. So please, don’t refuse it,” Master Jo Ha-seong insisted.

With those words, Yerin and Doyul couldn’t bring themselves to decline.

Moreover, Youngju gave Yerin an intense, pleading look.

‘Hurry up and accept it!’

…It was hard not to feel pressured by her gaze.

Reluctantly, Yerin and Doyul eventually boarded the lavish carriage.

At that moment, Hyuk Min-woo spoke up.

“Don’t worry about the Sicheondang Sect. I’ll handle it well.”

“Thanks,” Yerin said, nodding with a smile.

“Shall we depart now?”

“Let’s go.”

With Doyul’s suggestion, the carriage began to move.

“Travel safely!”

“Thank you so much!”

As the carriage started to roll, the crowd cheered and waved them off.

Seol Geom and a few martial artists from the Northern Sea Ice Palace followed the carriage on horseback.

“Unnie, I’ll definitely come visit soon! Please take care of our Jo Yangpyo Bureau Branch!” Youngju shouted from a distance, waving her hands.

Yerin, who had waved back, stared at the retreating figures, lost in thought.

“It feels a bit strange,” she murmured.

Although she hadn’t meant to say it aloud, Doyul immediately turned to her.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just…” Yerin shook her head, forcing a smile.

“Back when we first had our wedding at the Sicheondang Sect and returned, there was no one to see us off.”

“….”

“But now, so many people are sending us off,” she said, her expression a little complicated.

Doyul, sensing her mood, spoke up unexpectedly.

“It’s because… everyone values you.”

“Huh?” Yerin looked at him, surprised by his answer.

But Doyul’s expression was sincere.

“Don’t you think so?”

“….”

“Youngju, the people of the Murim Alliance, the people of North Sea Fortress, the disciples of the Ice Palace, the soldiers of the Seolgeom unit, and even the elders… and me too.”

Doyul’s voice grew earnest.

“We all truly cherish you.”

“…Doyul.”

“So, please.”

Doyul didn’t finish his sentence, but his lips trembled slightly as he bit them.

He had helped Yerin finish the original storyline by stopping the resurrection of the Blood Demon and by helping the disciple move on from their past.

Now, the world no longer had the Blood Demon or the Blood Sect.

North Sea Ice Palace was continuing its legacy as in the original story.

So, Yerin, having completed her purpose, might leave this world without hesitation, leaving behind any attachments.

That thought made Doyul feel afraid.

He impulsively spoke up.

“Is there any chance, would you…”

Doyul’s hands, which were placed on his knees, trembled slightly.

“Would you want to go back… to your life before, as Baek Seol-yeon… or as Dang Yerin?”

“…”

“Would you want to go back?” he repeated, his voice strained with the question.

Ever since he learned of Yerin’s secret after stopping the resurrection of the Blood Demon, this question had lingered in his heart for a long time.

Yerin gazed at him silently, her mind turning.

‘Would I want to go back…?’

It felt like a distant past now.

If she said that time wasn’t happy, it would have been a lie.

A typical, peaceful middle-class family found in any neighborhood.

Kind parents, a mischievous younger brother, and a fluffy cat, even more aloof than Manyeon Bingjeong.

High school memories of laughing and chatting with friends while eating tteokbokki.

The first year of university, enjoying newfound freedom, struggling over group projects, and venting about professors when bombarded with assignments…

‘I miss it.’

How could she not miss it?

She had dreamed of her past life many times.

Every night, in her dreams, she met the family and friends she had left behind, and she wept each time.

Sometimes, she lay awake at night, replaying fragments of the dreams in her mind.

Even when she finished Baek Seol-yeon’s life, she firmly believed that she would return to her past life as if it was the natural course of things.

She had longed for that life so deeply.

‘But now, it’s different.’

No matter how deeply she missed it, she had never once thought about wanting to return to those days.

Why?

“That can’t be true.”

Yerin shook her head and replied playfully.

“Why would I go anywhere when I have my rabbit-like husband?”

“…Ugh.”

Doyul’s face flushed instantly.

She meant it.

Whether as Baek Seol-yeon or as Dang Yerin, there had been countless happy moments throughout her long life.

But in all of that time, there had only been one person who had promised to share her burdens and told her not to shoulder it alone.

‘And that person was Doyul.’

That’s why she had decided to stay by his side.

For the first time in her wandering life, she had found a place where she truly belonged.

Even if Doyul, feeling weary, pushed her away, she had resolved to stick by him no matter what.

Compared to everything else in this world, nothing held more value than Doyul.

But…

‘Wow, Doyul. You’re blushing.’

Seeing Doyul flustered was so endearing that Yerin couldn’t help but feel a bit mischievous.

“By the way, why are you asking about something like that?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Could it be that now that everything’s been settled…”

Yerin shrugged her shoulders exaggeratedly as if feeling a little hurt.

“You think I’m no longer needed?”

“That can’t be true!”

Suddenly, Doyul became serious.

“Do you see me as that kind of person?”

“No, it’s not like that…”

“Don’t joke like that.”

Doyul pressed his lips tightly.

“I honestly don’t know how I would live without you.”

His voice trembled as emotions surged within him.

Yerin felt cold sweat running down her back.

‘What happened? Why am I the one comforting Doyul?’

“I like you the most in this world, so I’ll stay by your side forever.”

“…Really?”

“Of course!”

Yerin nodded eagerly.

“You promised.”

Doyul finally relaxed and smiled brightly as if relieved.

Looking at his smile, Yerin felt a rush of warmth in her heart.

‘Of course, I won’t go anywhere without my cute husband!’

But then…

Tap tap.

A small, fluffy paw tapped Yerin’s arm.

It was Manyeon Bingjeong.

– ‘Contractor, what about me?’

“Huh?”

– ‘If you love the young palace lord the most, what about me?’

“…”

Yerin was left speechless at the sight of Manyeon Bingjeong sulking.

Meanwhile, interpreting her silence in his own way, Manyeon Bingjeong puffed up his cheeks in a pitiful expression.

– ‘What’s the point of pampering the contractor if it means nothing?’

“No, it’s not like that…”

– ‘How could a spirit who hasn’t even married be happy?!’

Manyeon Bingjeong threw his tail down with an annoyed slap.

– ‘Go have your love affairs without me watching. It’s embarrassing!’

—

After a long journey, they finally arrived at Northern Ice Sea Castle.

The first thing that greeted them was…

“Wow, it’s snowing so much.”

A flurry of snowflakes falling in thick sheets.

The biting cold wind that scratched at their cheeks made them instinctively huddle their heads down.

Despite that, Yerin and Doyul’s expressions were bright.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen snow. It’s nice.”

“Yeah. I used to think it was such a hassle back then…”

Doyul gazed affectionately at the snow-covered surroundings.

Beyond their view, the familiar scenery of Northern Ice Sea Castle stretched out.

People wrapped in fur and cotton garments walked briskly to avoid the cold.

Merchants setting up their stalls to sell goods.

Children huddling around small stoves, warming their hands.

It was all a lively scene.

‘Finally.’

Yerin felt a surge of emotions.

‘I’m home.’

The feeling washed over her like a wave.

The carriage passed through Northern Ice Sea Castle and stopped in front of the grand gates of Northern Sea Ice Palace.

Then…

“Lady! Lord!”

A loud voice echoed.

The elders completely disregarded formalities and rushed to surround the carriage.

Behind them were Seolgeom’s members and disciples.

“Did you finally arrive?”

“Do you have any idea how worried we’ve been?”

“How long did you plan on making us fret like this?”

The wrinkles around their eyes shimmered with tears, just as Yerin had imagined.

“Yerin.”

Doyul, watching the scene, turned to look at Yerin.

Their eyes met.

Doyul smiled brightly and extended his hand.

“You’ve really been through a lot.”

“…”

“Welcome back.”

His greeting was so natural as if she had always belonged here.

Yerin stared at him blankly for a moment.

Then…

“…I’m home.”

Finally, Yerin took his hand, smiling in return.

Holding his wife’s hand tightly, Doyul motioned to the outside of the carriage with his chin.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes!”

Together, the couple stepped forward into the embrace of those who loved them.

—

“The End of “The Martial Artist’s Young Wife”