Chapter 71
At the moment when Gu Yangcheon and Namgung Bi-ah had drifted off to sleep, the residence of the sect leader, perched at the highest point of Mount Hua Sect, remained aglow with light.
Inside the residence, Celestial Plum Blossom had a solitary candle delicately lit, as he brewed green plum tea. A variety of snacks brought from the capital were placed in the center, and two teacups were prepared.
This was because a guest was expected.
After pouring the tea into the cups and sitting quietly with his eyes closed, Celestial Plum Blossom suddenly spoke into the air.
“Come in.”
Riding on this tranquil void, the door to the residence swung open with an creak.
Surprisingly, the person who entered was none other than the Sword Emperor.
Celestial Plum Blossom wore a relaxed expression, as if he had already anticipated this visitor.
The Sword Emperor calmly entered the room and settled himself directly across from Celestial Plum Blossom. After a moment of silence, the Sword Emperor looked at Celestial Plum Blossom and said,
“I apologize for coming at such a late hour…”
“It’s alright. I was just feeling a bit lonely, to be honest.”
The Sword Emperor took a sip of the tea, perhaps to quench his thirst, and in that moment, Celestial Plum Blossom patiently awaited his next words.
After a brief silence, having gathered his thoughts, the Sword Emperor finally addressed Celestial Plum Blossom.
“I came to ask you something.”
Given that he had chosen to visit at such a late hour, Celestial Plum Blossom had an inkling of what the question might entail.
“Please, go ahead; I’m all ears.”
With Celestial Plum Blossom’s kind invitation, the Sword Emperor did not hesitate to dive straight in.
“Do you happen to know the whereabouts of the Immortal Healer?”
At the Sword Emperor’s inquiry, Celestial Plum Blossom opened his eyes. It was indeed the question he had expected, but he hadn’t anticipated such a blunt approach.
This implied a certain level of urgency on the part of the Sword Emperor.
“Indeed, I know,” Celestial Plum Blossom responded.
To that, the Sword Emperor’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Do you also know that I am seeking the Immortal Healer?”
“Yes, I’m well aware. Additionally, I know that both Wudang and Shaolin are also searching for you.”
It remained unclear whether they were directly looking for the Sword Emperor himself or something tied to him.
“Then why are you so quick to tell me this?”
“Because, I assumed you already knew when you came here.”
“…”
Celestial Plum Blossom understood that the reason behind Sword Emperor’s visit at such an hour wasn’t merely due to the Mount Hua Sect’s strong presence.
“Am I correct, Sword Emperor?”
“…Yes.”
Shaanxi is vast.
Even though he had arrived, the Sword Emperor hadn’t expected to locate the Immortal Healer easily.
If he carelessly spread his Qi around, he would surely attract unwanted attention.
So, he thought that a search could take him several days at the least.
To his surprise, however, finding the Immortal Healer proved to be much easier than anticipated.
Starting near Huayin had been the right choice, as he sensed a dense aura emanating from the nearby mountains.
The Immortal Healer was not a martial artist. Unlike regular doctors, he possessed a small amount of Qi, yet it was impossible for him to harbor such heavy energy.
Furthermore, the Qi distinctly carried the scent of Taoism, mingling with the fragrance of plum blossoms.
It would be somewhat inaccurate to label this as a magical formation;
the presence was too pronounced for that.
A better term would be ‘barrier.’
While the difference between a magic formation and a barrier was subtle, their purposes were distinct.
In the eyes of the Sword Emperor, this setup felt more protective than concealing.
He recalled that there was only one martial artist in all of Shaanxi capable of forming such a substantial Qi barrier.
“However, I wasn’t entirely certain, which is why I came to ask you directly.”
No matter how thick and formidable a barrier might be, breaking through it would be a trivial task for the Sword Emperor.
Despite his urgency, he decided to first consult Celestial Plum Blossom regarding this matter.
“Still, you didn’t simply barge in.”
“I thought it more respectful to ask before doing something like that.”
“…At this hour?”
“…”
“Just kidding.”
The Sword Emperor was indeed searching for the Immortal Healer.
This was the purpose of his ongoing efforts over the last few days that had led to his absence.
Celestial Plum Blossom was aware of this but wasn’t privy to the underlying reasons for such a search.
Nevertheless, the important detail was that both the leaders of Shaolin and Wudang were looking for the Sword Emperor.
‘To sneak around while avoiding those two? Is that the extent of the Sword Emperor’s prowess?’
Reflecting on this, Celestial Plum Blossom suddenly posed a question to the Sword Emperor.
“May I ask why you are seeking the Immortal Healer?”
Hearing this, the Sword Emperor averted his gaze, staring at the ground.
“The reason I’m searching for him… is quite similar to that of others.”
Celestial Plum Blossom nodded in understanding. While the motivations for seeking the greatest doctor of the land varied, the essence remained the same.
The ultimate goal was to survive or to save others’ lives.
Even if the Immortal Healer showed reluctance, Celestial Plum Blossom was aware that he often made his whereabouts known.
He understood that despite saying he wanted to retire from healing, his heart still yearned to help others.
Celestial Plum Blossom studied the Sword Emperor closely. Regardless of the angle he viewed the situation from, it didn’t appear the Sword Emperor was seeking the Immortal Healer for himself.
Though he recognized the Sword Emperor was a high-level martial artist, he still couldn’t discern the depth of his capabilities.
He had noticed that martial artists tended to equate themselves—and the Sword Emperor—with a similar rank.
However, Celestial Plum Blossom alone understood that the Sword Emperor existed on an entirely different level.
Sword Emperor (劍尊).
‘…What a frightening title it is.’
With such a grand title, Wi Hyogun seemed unbothered by worldly affairs.
Yet, this very individual was now showcasing a vulnerability that left Celestial Plum Blossom bewildered.
‘…Could the pursuit of the Sword Emperor by Shaolin and Wudang connect to this fact?’
Celestial Plum Blossom had always stood apart in ideals, so he had no clear grasp on the currents surrounded by the Sword Emperor.
But he found the self-proclaimed guardians of the world’s future to be quite unsettling.
Instead, he would much prefer the likes of Gu Ryoon or the Immortal Healer, who were solely focused on their personal gain.
It was this very reason that fostered his friendship with them.
The Sword Emperor then spoke, breaking Celestial Plum Blossom from his thoughts.
“…Lord.”
“Yes?”
“I sincerely hope you’ll inform me about the Immortal Healer’s location.”
“I believe the Immortal Healer’s perspective on this matter holds precedence over mine.”
“Then, would it be acceptable for me to break in myself and visit him?”
‘There’ clearly referred to the small hut where the Immortal Healer resided.
It wasn’t far from sounding like a threat, suggesting he’d simply charge through the barrier to meet the Immortal Healer.
Celestial Plum Blossom could only offer a wry smile in response.
“What if I say you are not allowed?”
The Sword Emperor remained silent, but Celestial Plum Blossom could tell he was determined to see the Immortal Healer by any means necessary—even if that meant clashing with the Mount Hua Sect.
‘What has pushed him to such a degree of urgency?’
Back when he presided over the Murim Alliance, the Sword Emperor hadn’t been excessively easygoing, but he definitely wasn’t a man to act in desperation.
With a heavy sigh, Celestial Plum Blossom spoke again.
“Not now.”
“…”
Currently, the Immortal Healer was tending to the Plum Blossom Sword.
Although Gu Yangcheon was an exception, as Celestial Plum Blossom personally guided him there for a momentary examination, this situation was altogether different.
“The Immortal Healer is currently attending to another. Even if you go to him now, you won’t be able to achieve what you seek.”
“…”
“However…”
Sword Emperor lifted his head at the indication of possibility in Celestial Plum Blossom’s tone.
“It isn’t entirely impossible.”
“…What do you mean?”
Celestial Plum Blossom smiled before asking, “Can you do me a favor?”
The Sword Emperor did not respond immediately, but he adjusted his posture—an indication he was preparing to accept the request.
—
Is this an emergency?
Am I facing an emergency right after waking up in the morning…?
That was my immediate thought upon seeing Wi Seol-Ah.
This felt utterly like a crisis.
At first glance, it seemed trivial, but an alarm was blaring in my mind signaling impending doom.
Furthermore, Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes appeared different from usual.
The familiar puppy-like charm coupled with a gentle smile was missing; her face had turned expressionless.
This was the Wi Seol-Ah who usually wore a bright smile from ear to ear.
Moreover, the prolonged silence in the atmosphere was something so awkward it heightened the discomfort.
After a while, drenched in cold sweat, I finally asked, “…D-Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
“…I see.”
Her response felt painfully cold.
I feared the chill would kickstart another wave of cold sweat all over me.
‘…Wait, why am I the one feeling nervous here?’
I didn’t really do anything, right?
Namgung Bi-ah was the stubborn one insisting on sharing a bed, and I was merely a victim here…
So, why was I suddenly so attuned to the mood around Wi Seol-Ah?
At that moment, it felt like I had to assert myself as the master.
Wi Seol-Ah seemed to be forgetting her position with the way I had been treating her.
This was ridiculous; as her master, I shouldn’t feel this way.
With my resolve, I fixed my gaze upon Wi Seol-Ah.
I could see my own reflection teeming in her clear, innocent eyes.
“I’ll ask again,” I began, contemplating on what to say to correct her tone in front of me.
“…Would you like some yakgwa?”
“Yes.”
…Alright then.
…At least you still accept food at a time like this, huh?
My mind was swirling as I struggled to find what to do next when Namgung Bi-ah stirred behind me.
She appeared still groggy, yet somehow wore a oddly cheerful expression.
Namgung Bi-ah waved at Wi Seol-Ah.
“…Hey.”
Wi Seol-Ah frowned at her wave.
Tears began to well up in her eyes.
“Sis… you’re so mean.”
“…Huh?”
Namgung Bi-ah, taken by surprise from the unexpected comment from Wi Seol-Ah, blinked.
With her eyes brimming, Wi Seol-Ah added,
“I… I also want to sleep with the Young Master.”
Her voice trembled, drawing her closer to tears.
Namgung Bi-ah urgently approached her and wiped away the moisture at her eyes with her sleeve.
…What in the world is happening?
“I also want to sleep with him…”
While still rambling, Wi Seol-Ah allowed herself to be held by Namgung Bi-ah, even as she complained.
I stood by, utterly confused and bemused.
‘So, why am I just standing here, staring blankly?’
“Then, shall we sleep together?”
“Huh…?”
‘Huh?’
Wi Seol-Ah looked at Namgung Bi-ah, startled by her proposition, while I was frozen in disbelief.
“What did you just say?”
Namgung Bi-ah replied breezily, “We can sleep… together.”
The sheer nonchalance of her words sent my mind reeling.
Not only was there an issue with Wi Seol-Ah’s position, but I had no intention of sharing a bed with Namgung Bi-ah again.
Additionally, it was apparent neither did Wi Seol-Ah want that…
“Sis, can I really do that…?”
Could it be…?
Namgung Bi-ah nodded emphatically at Wi Seol-Ah’s wide-eyed question.
“Yeah…”
“Are you for real…?”
“Yeah, let’s sleep together from now on.”
Things had spiraled into increasingly perplexing territory.
Quickly, I decided to interrupt this bizarre train of thought before it derailed entirely.
“What on earth are you talking about—”
“Young Master! Good mor—”
Just at that moment, Yung Pung made his grand entrance, cutting off my words with boisterous volume.
The joyful Yung Pung, who had come in with smiles, was greeted by the sight of Wi Seol-Ah, who was on the verge of tears, Namgung Bi-ah, who was embracing her, and me, standing in complete shock.
“Uh… I, I came to tell you something…”
The moment his eyes flitted around the unusual scene, Yung Pung’s gaze filled with nervousness.
“It seems like I came at the wrong time. I-I’ll come back later.”
“No, wait! You’re here at the right t— Where are you going, Master Yung Pung!?”
Yung Pung clearly either ignored or did not hear my pleas, opting instead to swiftly exit the room.
Thud.
The sound of the closing door echoed in the now silent residence.
It wasn’t until about half an hour later that Yung Pung returned to my room…
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