Chapter: 72
A Little Scratch (1)
Not long after, Yung Pung entered my room again with a somewhat awkward expression.
The situation hadn’t calmed down much, but I sent the two girls to eat breakfast nonetheless.
Wi Seol-Ah still looked quite displeased, but I guess the idea of food managed to win her over.
I needed to eat too, but considering Yung Pung’s early visit, I thought it might be something urgent, so I decided to wait.
When Yung Pung returned a little later, he was glancing around uneasily.
Who would have known that the genius who would represent Mount Hua in the future would be so easily flustered…?
Is it because he’s getting beat up by his seniors?
To me, it seemed like friendly harassment, but I wasn’t sure how Yung Pung really felt about it.
I asked him as he shifted his gaze nervously.
“Master Yung Pung, what brings you here so early in the morning?”
“Oh.”
Maybe he snapped back to reality after hearing my call; Yung Pung faintly smiled.
Or maybe he was just relieved that the atmosphere had lightened up a bit?
“The thing is, the sect leader is looking for you.”
“The sect leader? At this hour?”
Celestial Plum Blossom is looking for me?
I wondered briefly why he’d be looking for me, then thought about the energy within me.
“Should I go see him now?”
“He said you could come whenever you’re free.”
So that meant I didn’t have to rush.
It worked out; I could eat before diving into whatever trouble awaited.
“Have you eaten yet?”
I directed the question to Yung Pung, who seemed to be doing laps around the place this early.
To be honest, given his neatly donned outfit, I had a suspicion I already knew the answer.
“Oh, I had a quick bite and was just about to do some morning training.”
“…Training early in the morning? Impressive.”
“Really? Don’t most people train at this hour?”
What on earth is he talking about?
I barely had the words to respond to Yung Pung’s innocent query.
Taoists typically rise much earlier than the average folk.
There’s a saying that Taoists must absorb the morning’s energy, so they usually get up around 5 to 7 AM.
…While I, on the other hand, generally woke up just as the sun fully lit up the sky.
Today was a bit of an exception since I hadn’t slept well last night.
Just say that you couldn’t sleep because of the breathing next to you…
‘…’
Ahem.
Namgung Bi-Ah was remarkably still while asleep.
She merely lay there peacefully, making gentle noises, but that was enough to keep me wide awake all night.
Because of that, I barely caught any z’s.
‘…I guess I did enjoy the morning air, thanks to that.’
The fresh morning breeze always felt invigorating.
But still, waking up so early wasn’t something I craved to do.
For some reason, Yung Pung had a bright gleam in his eyes after hearing me.
What’s with those sparkling eyes?
He suddenly spoke, catching me off guard.
“Young Master, I can’t help but think that it’s fate we met like this.”
“Fate? You came here to deliver a message, not to weave destinies.”
“Then how about we train together?”
…Talking to him felt like talking to a wall.
Just like when we traveled to Mount Hua together, Yung Pung seemed to have an inexplicable urge to train with me.
Was he just incredibly passionate about training, or was there a deeper reason I wasn’t aware of? He asked me daily to join him for practice.
“…No, I think I’ll pass—”
I had to eat, and preferred to train solo, so I planned to refuse again.
But suddenly, curiosity piqued my interest regarding the training methods of Mount Hua.
He kept pestering me about it every day, so maybe they did something different?
Plus, I couldn’t imagine they’d engage in some ludicrously demanding training this early.
“Well… If you’re okay with waiting for me to eat first, then…”
“Woohoo!”
So, I decided to humor him just this once.
What could it hurt? It wouldn’t kill me, right?
I could just treat it as slightly heavier morning training than usual.
Little did I know later on,
That curiosity is indeed a dangerous thing.
…And I already had a strong feeling this would turn out badly.
Fuck my life…
Less than two hours into the training,
“…Ugh… Pant…”
I was sprawled on the ground, merely groaning in agony.
My body felt clammy from the sweat, and every joint ached painfully, resonating even in my head.
Damn…
I was barely able to breathe…
Yung Pung was still doing his routine beside me, unperturbed.
He even mentioned he planned to climb the mountain afterward wearing sandbags on his arms and legs…
Is he insane?
I hadn’t been slacking off since my resurrection.
I’d trained whenever I could find the time, believing I had contributed a decent effort.
And yet, no matter how I’d trained, nothing compared to this.
I noticed other third-generation disciples training too, but Yung Pung’s level of dedication stood out, overwhelming everyone else.
“Are you alright, Young Master?”
Concerned, Yung Pung approached me, having noticed my pitiful state on the ground.
I saw the beads of sweat on his forehead, but absurdly, he bore a relaxed expression.
“Master…”
“Hmm?”
“…Why are you still so fine?”
“…Huh?”
To Yung Pung, that question must have seemed ludicrous.
Was my body really this weak?
Perhaps it was because I hadn’t fully committed to my training after all.
I felt an urgent need to amp up my training intensity.
It was embarrassing to realize I’d been somewhat lazy despite having faced death.
Exhausted but still managing to think, I found a silver lining amidst the pain.
It was a much-needed wake-up call.
‘…Although I’m not going to train this much ever again.’
I struggled to rise my aching body.
I really had to push myself because it didn’t want to cooperate, hence I ended up using a bit of my Qi, but somehow I managed to stand.
Are you going to be alright?
While wiping the sweat off my face, Elder Shin asked.
What do you mean?
Is it okay for you to recklessly exert yourself with that thing inside you?
Elder Shin was referring to the potential inner chaos that could occur from such reckless training damaging my body due to the two opposing energies.
My chaotic flame energy, the Mount Hua’s energy, and whatever else was hiding inside me.
Really, what a mix of nonsense I have inside me.
The owner of this body doesn’t even seem to notice that two unpaying squatters are living rent-free inside.
What’s more, these squatters could explode at any moment, which really was laughable.
But,
I’m fine for now.
I understood Elder Shin’s concerns, but so far, I was alright.
It wasn’t due to a naive thought of, ‘If it was going to explode, it would’ve done so by now.’
I had some idea of the potential consequences.
I even had some notion of the way to resolve it as well.
Just not in a conventional way…
It wasn’t exactly healing but more of a preventive measure.
…I seriously didn’t want to do this.
Even if it might be necessary, I still had to think it through.
Gingerly lifting my drenched hair, I asked Yung Pung.
“Are you going to keep training before you leave?”
“Hmm? Oh, yes, of course, I haven’t even completed half of it yet.”
“What…?”
“Such a shame… You seem to be feeling a bit unwell today?”
“…I guess I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Oh! Then that explains why you’re suddenly so exhausted!”
Well, I wasn’t exactly tired for that reason, but it was nice to have an excuse at least.
I shook my head at Yung Pung’s ridiculous statement.
As a martial artist, I should be taking notes from him, so why did I feel so hesitant?
It’s because you’ve yet to appreciate the beauty of training. Tsk tsk… You’d get used to this level of soreness if you just try running a lap. I can’t believe you’re just giving up before even doing that…
Are the Mount Hua guys all insane, or is it just me?
Honestly, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
After rinsing off my sweat, I changed clothes into something fresh.
When I glanced over, Namgung Bi-Ah was taking a cat nap, seemingly recovering from a lack of sleep.
Wi Seol-Ah was dozing beside her, and with their beauty, they almost seemed like sisters.
I found it frustrating that they were peacefully sleeping while I struggled to stand upright.
So, I made my way over and pinched both their noses.
“Mmm!”
“…?”
Wi Seol-Ah shot up immediately, unable to breathe, while Namgung Bi-Ah groggily opened her eyes yet remained still.
She still hasn’t gotten up…?
Looking at Wi Seol-Ah, the perfect hairstyle done by Hongwa was now a tangled mess from her sleep.
I said while observing this.
“You’ll turn into a pig if you sleep right after eating, you know?”
“…Hmm… Huh?”
Still not fully awake, Wi Seol-Ah rubbed her eyes and got up.
Namgung Bi-Ah appeared to have never truly awakened and had dozed off again.
“Young Master…”
“Hmm?”
“Where are you going?”
“The sect leader is summoning me.”
“Will it take long?”
“Hmmm…? I don’t think it’ll take too long.”
“Will you come back before bedtime…?”
“Well, I should, considering I must sleep.”
Sleeping on the street is something I’m done with.
That sort of uncomfortable sleep has been more than enough of my life.
“Well then, it’s all good! Have a safe trip!”
Saying this with a grin, Wi Seol-Ah nestled back beside Namgung Bi-Ah.
I left her be, knowing Hongwa would soon show up to drag them away for work.
With a body creaking from exertion, I walked toward the sect leader’s quarters.
I could feel the Mount Hua students glancing at me as I walked, but I paid no mind since they looked at me like a rare creature.
As long as there was no malice behind those stares, I was indifferent.
Upon reaching his door, I heard Celestial Plum Blossom’s voice, “Come in.”
I haven’t even stated my intention yet… talk about keen ears.
Carefully entering, I was greeted once again by the scent of plum tea, just like the last time I visited this place.
And this time there were snacks prepared as well.
“I thought you didn’t have any last time. Did you manage to buy some?”
“Right! It felt too empty, so I went down to the market yesterday to pick some up. They look pretty tasty, right?”
They looked sweet and enticing…
But my taste for sweets had dulled over time, so I merely offered a smile.
“What was the reason behind calling me here?”
As soon as I sat down and asked, Celestial Plum Blossom chuckled lightly.
“I thought maybe you could enjoy some tea first… All of you from the Gu Clan seem to be in a constant rush…”
“Oh.”
I couldn’t help but picture the second elder in Celestial Plum Blossom again.
He seemed fine, except that he bore a striking resemblance to that volatile old man…
Unreal.
Feeling thirsty, I popped a yakgwa into my mouth and washed it down with tea.
Celestial Plum Blossom noticed my somewhat displeased demeanor and spoke up again.
“It’s not much, but do you recall the hut we visited yesterday?”
“Yeah… That’s where the Plum Blossom Sword is, right?”
It was the very place where the Plum Blossom Sword was receiving treatment by the Immortal Healer, so there was no way I would forget about that.
Celestial Plum Blossom handed me a letter and said, “Would you mind delivering this to Tae for me?”
“Me?”
That was quite the unexpected request.
Delivering a message was tricky business for someone outside the circle.
So why was I being asked to do this when there were so many capable third-generation students around?
For instance, someone like Yung Pung, or, oh, Yung Pung.
My confusion must have been clear, as I failed to hide my reactions.
Seeing that, Celestial Plum Blossom chuckled.
“Your expression says you’re puzzled why I’m asking you this.”
“Honestly, yes; it’s a topic that’s a little tricky for outsiders.”
“…Truth is, most members of the Mount Hua Sect are unaware of where the Plum Blossom Sword is.”
I froze at Celestial Plum Blossom’s revelation.
What? They’re unaware?
“And not many know of her being unwell either.”
“Then why did I, of all people, happen upon such critical information…?”
“…”
If the majority were in the dark, that must include Yung Pung, along with other second- and third-generation students—possibly even first-generation ones.
So why am I, who simply showed up out of nowhere, suddenly privy to such sensitive matters?
Did Celestial Plum Blossom really think this through?
Yet it seemed he wasn’t ready to answer my query promptly.
His gaze seemed to evade mine—it felt like more than just my imagination…
Driven by unease, I peeked at him and asked, “Did you… maybe forget to mention something?”
“…Ahem! Of course not!”
His fervent reaction made it clear.
He really did forget, didn’t he?
And it seemed even more likely as Celestial Plum Blossom coughed again, trying to mask his embarrassment.
I thought there had to be some calculated plan behind carting me off to the Immortal Healer, but it appeared he was improvising.
Mount Hua Sect… are they really going to be okay?
…Oh heavens, save us all…
Even Elder Shin was pleading for divine help at this point.
“Even so, for an outsider like me to handle this rather than you, the leader—”
“Yakgwa.”
“Huh?”
“You ate the yakgwa.”
“What do you mean…?”
I wondered what Celestial Plum Blossom was getting at, yet as I looked around, I spotted an empty spot on the platter where the yakgwa sat.
So it was because I took one?
‘…Can’t be, right? He wouldn’t really make me deliver this just because of a piece of yakgwa…’
Desperately trying to believe there was some dignity to the situation, I glanced at Celestial Plum Blossom, who blatantly avoided eye contact.
My once-heroic impression of him crumbled into dust.
I addressed him, “Master…”
“…Yes?”
“I think I now understand why you and the Second Elder get along so well…”
“…Ahem.”
At the mere mention of the Second Elder, Celestial Plum Blossom turned away, clearly flustered by that comparison.
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