Chapter 73: A Bit of a Scratch (2)
Gu Ryunghwa’s day begins early in the morning.
True to the nature of the Mount Hua Sect’s disciples, she prefers to wake up a bit before sunrise instead of rising at the very moment the sun peeks over the horizon.
Dressed neatly in her uniform, she carefully steps outside, mindful not to disturb her master if he happens to be awake.
Typically, her mornings involve training in the nearby forest, fetching water, or doing household chores.
However, today was different—she had to head out to the market.
The Immortal Healer had specifically instructed her to do so.
With a silver coin clutched tightly in her hand, she set off to gather some medicinal ingredients as ordered.
Usually, when a child makes a purchasing attempt for medicinal herbs, unscrupulous merchants would either hand over low-quality items or overcharge them. But wearing the Mount Hua Sect’s uniform changed the game.
Merchants would likely give her more than she needed, as no one in Huayin dared to pull tricks on a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, who towered above them.
The Immortal Healer was probably banking on that.
Gu Ryunghwa held the piece of paper listing the needed medicinal ingredients and headed to the apothecary to make her purchases.
‘…It smells overwhelmingly bitter.’
Cradling the box filled with herbs she had never even heard of, she stepped outside.
As soon as she re-entered the street, the delicious aromas of various foods immediately triggered her senses.
With the sun gradually beginning to rise, it seemed the vendors were preparing for business.
Although she hesitated at the tantalizing scents and visually appealing food stalls lining the street, she pressed on—her master was her main priority.
“I need to hurry back…!”
Did Master wake up yet?
Ever since her master’s health had been declining, he had been sleeping a lot more, and this worried her deeply.
What if the meal isn’t ready by the time I get back?
Gu Ryunghwa often found herself troubled by the presence of Immortal Healer’s grandson, who frequently lingered around her, though he wasn’t entirely inconvenient.
On a positive note, that kid was a phenomenal cook.
He might be a mystery in terms of his thoughts and feelings, but he deftly completed chores and was surprisingly observant, making an impression on her.
‘…I should be able to do that too.’
She pondered, wishing to acquire more skills to be helpful to her master until he fully recovered.
Lost in her thoughts, her determined strides abruptly halted.
—She wouldn’t make it past this year.
The Immortal Healer’s resolute words echoed persistently in Gu Ryunghwa’s mind.
Thud.
Suddenly, she hurriedly wiped away tears that had begun to flow down her cheeks.
She didn’t want her master to worry—he could always tell when she had been crying, no matter how stealthily she tried to hide it.
Yet, despite her efforts, the tears continued to stream.
Once they started, it was hard to stop that relentless flow.
That’s why Gu Ryunghwa detested crying.
She brushed away the tears as she thought, ‘…If Master passes away…’
What would remain for her after her master was gone?
Nothing… She was convinced she would be left with nothing.
Gu Ryunghwa knew this with certainty.
Family?
I hate that word…
The word alone sent a shiver of fear through her body.
She could still vividly recall that dark night.
It was a blurry yet razor-sharp recollection, one she could never forget.
The day when darkness shrouded everything…
Her mother’s cries mingled with her father’s cold, disdainful gaze looking down upon her.
And Gu Yangcheon—sitting on the ground, lost.
Gu Ryunghwa couldn’t forget it.
That was her mother’s final moment, the day everything fell apart.
What about the Mount Hua Sect then?
Not knowing what to think of it, Gu Ryunghwa could only shake her head.
She often found herself growling whenever anyone attempted to approach her.
Being a recent addition to the sect, she found it hard to connect with the third-generation disciples.
After her master’s departure, would the Mount Hua Sect embrace her as one of their own?
And if they did, could she even withstand it?
Gu Ryunghwa continued to wipe her tears, which showed no signs of stopping.
Eventually, she found herself nearing the small hut.
Steeling her resolve, she reminded herself to present a composed exterior.
She believed that displaying a semblance of normalcy was the least she could do as a disciple.
Collecting her thoughts, she took a step toward the hut, and in an instant, her figure vanished—like smoke dissipating in thin air.
As if under an enchantment.
Caught off guard, a group of men silently observing Gu Ryunghwa soon found themselves exchanging puzzled looks.
“…Where did she go?”
“Did we get noticed?”
“You think a girl who barely looks like a second-rate martial artist could catch us? It’d be more believable if the Celestial Plum Blossom himself transformed into that girl.”
“Shut up and start searching. I believe we’ve finally stumbled onto something.”
A small man wearing a black hood began to scrutinize the area where Gu Ryunghwa had just vanished.
He didn’t notice anything particularly abnormal, yet something felt off in the air.
Is it some kind of spatial maneuver?
It seemed odd to set such a thing up deep in the mountains, leading him to casually extend his hand toward the spot where she had disappeared.
Thud!
“…!”
His hand abruptly recoiled from an invisible barrier.
The impact was harsh.
Rubbing his hand, which had gone numb from contact, he thought to himself, ‘Not a type of location magic, huh.’
It seemed some elements of formulaic magic had been incorporated to render it invisible, but this was more like a barrier—a barrier packed tightly with Qi.
“Was it the Celestial Plum Blossom’s doing?”
Maybe not, but the only person who could create such a block in this area in his mind was the Celestial Plum Blossom.
Even the monstrous branch manager couldn’t cast such a formidable barrier.
“Seems like I did find something…”
He began to wonder if the person he was seeking was indeed inside this protective barrier.
‘I should notify the branch manager first.’
He recognized his inability to breach this barrier and knew recklessness would only alert the forces of the Mount Hua Sect.
“We’re heading back.”
As he uttered those words, a gruff voice behind him expressed disappointment.
“We’re really just going back…?”
The discontent in the voice was palpable, accompanied by the grinding of teeth.
The man in the black hood could easily guess that Dusum, his plump crew member, was sulking over the sudden vanishing of the girl they had just laid eyes on.
“What’s got you all riled up, Dusum?”
“…That girl we just saw. She was pretty, so can’t we pop back for just a taste, boss?”
Hearing Dusum’s words, the hooded man cringed.
“For crying out loud, I told you not to stir up trouble here! Are you actually serious?”
Despite the reprimand, Dusum just smacked his lips, continuing to seem disgruntled.
“…But it’s been ages since I tasted someone’s flesh. Wouldn’t it be enjoyable for you too, boss?”
“Cut out that disgusting talk! You think you’d find joy in devouring some child who hasn’t even fully matured yet? Get your head straight, you idiot!”
“Right! So leave the girl alone.”
“Alright, let’s just return…”
The man trailed off mid-sentence.
At that moment, the men milling about the barrier froze in their tracks.
A new voice, one they had never heard before, had interjected into their conversation.
Without hesitation, the hooded man drew his sword and swung it viciously in the direction of the voice.
Swish!
He put all his strength into the swing, but the sword merely cleaved the air.
A presence had definitely been there…?
Crack!
“Ugh!”
The sound of snapping bones reverberated as Dusum groaned in pain.
Gazing over, the hooded man was confronted by Dusum’s enormous figure crumbling to the ground.
While Dusum wasn’t as large as the branch manager, he was still heavily built.
Boom!
He crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, and it echoed through the quiet forest.
His neck had twisted disturbingly, making it undeniable: he was dead.
“You… Who are you?” the hooded man asked.
His eyes fell upon a boy standing proudly behind the body of the fallen Dusum.
With hair faintly tinged red and eyes like pools of blood, it was certain this boy was not just any ordinary martial artist clad in scarlet garb.
The boy directed a gaze towards the hooded man and responded, voice dripping with malice, “What will you do even if I tell you, scumbags?”
Flames erupted from the boy’s body, crackling fiercely as they consumed everything in sight.
—
The once peaceful forest had morphed into chaos in an instant.
Crackle!
Fierce flames surged wildly, engulfing the surroundings.
The man, Baechong, was utterly baffled by the uncanny situation.
What the hell is that mad, monstrous kid?
He had merely stepped out for scouting, so this unexpected turn of events shook him.
Thinking he had navigated meticulously to avoid detection from the Mount Hua Sect, he found himself face-to-face with this feral boy.
Glancing at Dusum’s lifeless body, he noted, aside from the gruesome twist of his neck, there were no other visible injuries.
But the rapidity of it all was undeniable.
He killed without a moment’s hesitation.
That was a quality no boy his age should possess.
Especially for one who primarily fought with his bare hands.
How is this boy capable of such things, especially when he can’t even be twenty yet?
Moreover…
Whoosh!
“Damn!”
He managed to evade the onslaught of the seething flames by blocking them with his sword.
What the hell are these insane flames?
Flame techniques…? There shouldn’t be anyone in Shaanxi wielding them like this!
However, he soon realized that the chaotic fire was no random eruption.
Baechong quickly deduced that the boy had complete mastery over the raging flames.
This revelation struck hard: the boy had attained a level of power that most could only dream of in their lifetimes.
Baechong, despite already being an elite martial artist, felt utterly powerless against this child.
Is this boy a monster masquerading in human form?
Just as Baechong clenched his fists, determination coursed through him.
“Aghhhh!”
One of his comrades was caught firmly by the boy’s grasp.
Flames roared as they engulfed the unfortunate man.
“Ah… Aghhh!”
The horrendous screams echoed through the forest, yet the boy remained emotionless.
“I made a slight mistake,” the boy remarked.
Upon hearing his voice, chill ran down Baechong’s spine—a cold, shivering fear gripped him.
He felt ensnared in a void where no sensation reigned.
I am here, seemingly trapped in darkness.
“I should have brutally burned that pig from the inside out first. It’s been a while since I’ve taken a life, so I fumbled a bit.”
How can such a young boy appear so desensitized to violence?
Additionally, the cold cruelty of his words somehow matched his appearance.
Baechong’s voice wavered as he stammered, “What… What are you?”
“Did you not hear me earlier? I asked what you’ll do even if I tell you,” the boy replied with a chilling calm.
“Do you even comprehend who we are…”
“Obvious—you’re just flies belonging to the Black Palace’s leader.”
…!
Those words left Baechong speechless.
“How do you know…?”
The boy stepped closer, wearing a smug smile.
The flames never dwindled in their ferocity, as he extinguished yet another man along the way.
“Kyaghhhh!”
The horrific screams erupted once more.
“Let me flip the script and ask you something too.”
The boy advanced, an embodiment of fire.
To Baechong, he appeared more as a tangible flame rather than a human being.
The fiery embodiment approached slowly, posing a question.
“I didn’t know much about your group, but I stumbled upon something interesting.”
Baechong perceived the world beginning to dissolve around him.
How can any individual assume such a terrifying form?
The fear he felt was distinct from that of the branch manager.
While both bred a sense of dread, their levels were worlds apart.
Baechong’s mind wrestled with the reality of what he confronted right now.
Then, when the flames coiled around him, seizing one of his arms.
“…No!”
He couldn’t utter a scream as he witnessed his arm being reduced to ashes by the flames, paralyzed by sheer terror.
He could only backpedal awkwardly, desperately attempting to escape this malevolent force of fear and despair.
As if mocking his futile attempt, the flames continued speaking while pinning him down with a stare.
“Why do you lot…”
With ruthless eyes glinting red,
“Harbor demonic Qi inside you?”
The boy’s question, paired with the acrid scent of burning flesh, left Baechong utterly speechless.
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