The prince broke her inner demon through close combat, leaving Gu Moli seething on the sidelines

Zhen Meili leaned closer, pointing to the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup. "This is very precious; I've hardly ever had it even in Luoyang. Eat up, it's delicious!"

Yun Shuyue moved a small stool and sat down next to Kim Seon-a, holding a bowl. "Sister, let me serve you some soup."

Shen Ling'er picked up her chopsticks, placed a piece of fish into Kim Seon-a's bowl.

"Princess, this fish has fewer bones, please eat this first."

Meng Jiuning picked up a piece of chicken and said, "This chicken is stewed until it's so tender it melts in your mouth."

Lin Qingdai also came over and picked up a piece of braised pork knuckle. "This is chewy and satisfying to bite into."

Murong Xue didn't touch her chopsticks, but simply pushed the vegetables towards Kim Seon-a.

"Eat some vegetables, don't just eat meat."

Kim Seon-a held the bowl, looking at the overflowing food inside.

Fish, chicken, pork hock, and green vegetables, layered on top of each other.

Her throat tightened, and she couldn't swallow a single bite.

Seeing that she wasn't eating, Shen Ling'er squatted down beside her and asked softly, "Princess, is it not to your liking?"

Kim Seon-a shook her head, her voice hoarse beyond words. "No... I just..."

She looked down at the food in her bowl, and tears fell again.

"It's been twelve years... and no one has ever served me food..."

The tent fell silent.

The women looked at each other in bewilderment.

Kim Seon-a looked up, her eyes still red.

"Within three feet, my aura can harm people. Therefore... therefore, no one dares to approach me."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her head again, and her shoulder twitched.

Even the Empress Dowager wouldn't dare.

Silence fell once more inside the tent.

Shen Ling'er sighed and reached out to pat her shoulder.

"That was all in the past. Things are different now."

Meng Jiuning nodded. "Yes, didn't His Highness say that your barrier can be dispelled now?"

Zhen Meili said nonchalantly, "From now on, I can touch whoever I want and eat whatever I want. I don't have to hold back anymore."

Yun Shuyue, holding up her spoon, said, "Sister, eat quickly, the soup is getting cold."

Kim Seon-a took a deep breath and picked up her chopsticks.

My hands were shaking so badly that it took me two tries to pick up a piece of fish.

She put the fish in her mouth and chewed slowly.

The fresh taste of the fish melted on her tongue, and she choked, almost swallowing it.

Seeing this, Shen Ling'er quickly handed her a cup of tea.

"Princess, eat slowly, don't choke."

Kim Seon-a took the teacup and took a sip.

The tea slid down her throat, scalding her eyes and making them red again.

She put down her teacup and picked up a piece of chicken.

This time it didn't shake; it was steadily placed in my mouth.

She chewed a couple of times, then suddenly smiled.

I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face again.

"Tasty."

Her voice was incredibly hoarse.

"It's really... delicious."

The women exchanged glances and then laughed.

Zhen Meili clapped her hands. "Then eat more, don't be shy."

Murong Xue picked up a piece of braised pork knuckle and put it in her bowl, saying as she ate, "You're too precious. From now on, if you follow us, I guarantee no one will dare to bully you."

Lin Qingdai glanced at her. "Say less."

Murong Xue muttered, "Did I say something wrong again?"

Gu Moli watched from the side, a slight smile playing on her lips.

She picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of braised beef, and put it into Kim Seon-a's bowl.

"Eat. Don't cry."

Kim Seon-a raised her head and looked at Gu Moli.

Gu Moli didn't look at her, but just kept her head down and ate her own food.

Kim Seon-a gripped her chopsticks, staring at the piece of braised beef in her bowl, and her throat tightened again.

She took a deep breath and put the beef in her mouth.

I chewed it twice and swallowed it.

Then she put down her chopsticks.

Thank you.

The sound was very soft, as if it would be blown away by the wind.

Shen Ling'er smiled and said, "You're too kind, Princess."

Meng Jiuning replied, "From now on, we're all family, no need to be so formal."

Yun Shuyue, holding a spoon, said, "Sister, the soup is getting cold."

Kim Seon-a stopped crying and smiled, took the spoon, and drank a sip of soup.

The broth was so delicious it made her tongue tingle.

She held the bowl and drank it all, sip by sip. When she put the bowl down, the tear tracks on her face were still wet.

After finishing breakfast, Murong Xue dragged Kim Seon-a towards the training ground.

"Let's go, let's go. We need to move around after eating, otherwise we'll get indigestion."

Kim Seon-a stumbled, her legs trembling as she was pulled by her sleeve. "I... I still need to administer acupuncture... My Protective Barrier isn't fully controllable yet."

"That's perfect, let's go try it first. We can do the acupuncture this afternoon. I'll talk to the prince about it."

A group of women followed behind, carrying Kim Seon-a out of the warm room.

On the training ground, Murong Xue brandished her spear in the center and beckoned to Kim Seon-a with her finger. "Come on, let me see how tough Peak Second Rank Goryeo really is."

Kim Seon-a took a deep breath and stepped forward, clasping her hands in a fist salute.

As soon as she started, she subconsciously distanced herself from Murong Xue by three feet, her movements stiff as if she were reciting a poem.

Murong Xue frowned.

He darted forward, his spear tip aimed straight at her face.

Kim Seon-a sidestepped, but took two steps back.

Lin Qingdai coldly reminded from the sidelines, "Why are you backing away? She's not a poisonous snake; touching her won't kill you."

Kim Seon-a gritted her teeth and steadied herself.

She raised her palm and unleashed a tiger palm strike, the wind from which was fierce, the tiger's aura taking shape, and the phantom of a white tiger opened its blood-red maw.

When the palm strike reached half a foot away from Murong Xue, she suddenly withdrew her force.

The tiger's shadow had mostly dissipated.

Murong Xue was forced back half a step by the force of the palm strike, and laughed, "So you're afraid of hurting me? Then I won't hold back."

Gunfire was like a dragon.

Murong Xue unleashed three consecutive attacks, forcing Kim Seon-a to roll to the side.

"Of course I can't hurt you, I'll put away my Protective Barrier."

But she simply couldn't control it.

The gun barrel swept across her back, and Kim Seon-a instinctively deflected a layer of qi. Murong Xue was knocked back three zhang and fell into the sand.

She got up, spat the dirt out of her mouth, and cursed.

"Your barrier is useless; it still bounces back. But it's good this way, at least it protects you."

Zhen Meili walked over carrying the wooden dummy. "I think the problem isn't with the barrier, it's that she's afraid to touch people. Her body has remembered twelve years of habits, and she can't change them."

Shen Ling'er nodded. "Muscle memory and psychological suggestion combined mean that willpower alone can't suppress it. Someone needs to force her to overcome this hurdle."

Gu Moran jumped down from the high platform beside the training ground.

It kicked up a cloud of dust upon landing, and the crowd made way for it.

He walked up to Kim Seon-a, extended his right hand, palm up. "Come on, I just entered the Second Rank yesterday, let's spar."

Use all your strength.

Kim Seon-a stared at the hand.

Her fingertips twitched, but she ultimately shook her head and took a step back. "I'm afraid I won't be able to control my strength..."

Gu Moran grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her back, pulling her into his arms.

He whispered, "Then don't try to control it. I'll hide myself."

Kim Seon-a struggled.

Gu Moran didn't let go; instead, she gripped it even tighter.

She panicked and kicked him in the kneecap.

Gu Moran stepped aside, and in the instant Kim Seon-a was airborne, he caught her around the waist, spun her halfway around, and threw her onto the sand.

A dent was punched in his back.

She scrambled to her feet, panting, her hair disheveled, her face covered in dirt, and finally, anger flared in her eyes. "You really want me to go all out?"

Gu Moran laughed, "Enough talk, let's get started."

Before he could finish speaking, he struck her on the top of the head with a palm.

Kim Seon-a Sun-ah's pupils contracted.

Instinctively rousing his tiger energy, he conjured a protective white tiger, its four claws pouncing towards Gu Moran's face.

Gu Moran advanced instead of retreating.

He withstood the tiger's claws, a bloody gash torn open on his shoulder. His right hand reached into the shadowy figure, aiming straight for Kim Seon-a's acupoint on her shoulder.

Kim Seon-a didn't have time to stop her attack.

Just as her fingertip was about to pierce his eye socket, she flipped her wrist, grabbed his wrist, and twisted it forcefully.

Gu Moran seized the opportunity, and with her other hand, her fingers tapped rapidly.

" Sunflower Acupoint-Sealing Hand!"

The two froze simultaneously.

Kim Seon-a felt the pulse of Gu Moran throbbing in her palm.

I can't move, I can't pull my hand away.

Gu Moran just stared at her.

The surroundings were so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.

Murong Xue's mouth remained open for a long time.

Zhen Meili muttered under her breath, "These two... they seem rather ambiguous, could it be..."

Gu Moli stood outside the crowd, staring at the two people whose eyes met.

The fingernails dug into the palm.

Gu Moran released her pressure points and patted Kim Seon-a's shoulder. "Not bad, very skilled."

Kim Seon-a- ah looked down at her hands.

He opened his palm, then clenched it again; the warmth of his wrist still lingered on his fingertips.

Murong Xue leaned closer. "Alright, Princess, that's good enough now. You can control the barrier. Shall we try again?"

Kim Seon-a shook her head. "I... I need to calm down."

She turned and walked towards the tent, her steps unsteady.

Shen Ling'er followed, saying, "Princess, I'll accompany you back to rest."

Gu Moran stood there, watching her retreating figure.

A system notification sounded in my mind:

[Abnormal emotional fluctuations detected in Gu Moli. Host, please be aware.]

Gu Moran her head and looked at Gu Moli outside the crowd.

She was staring at Kim Seon-a's back, her eyes so deep they seemed to be dripping with water.

[Thanks to: Erii's certification, Anchu's lavish update, Ranmo's 5 update urging charms + likes, Sikong's inspiration capsule, Junzhi's milk tea, Muxun's 2 flowers + 2 likes, Beiji, Crocodile, Tsunade, Xiaohei, Lebu, Nickname, Twelve's update urging charm, Diandao, Wuya's likes, SAN, Guiqi, Yongge, Favorite Flower, Xueyao's likes + love letter.]

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