### Chapter: 75
Cold in the Midst of Summer (1)
As I stepped into the hut, I could see the Plum Blossom Sword nestled there, seemingly asleep and breathing softly.
Seeing this, I cautiously took a seat in the empty spot.
The Immortal Healer rummaged through the drawers, pulling out medicine and bandages to prepare for my wound.
A small wound like this would heal in no time for a martial artist with a decent amount of Qi inside their body.
“You aren’t thinking anything like that, right?”
“…Of course not.”
How sharp-witted…!
“Just because someone is a martial artist, it doesn’t mean they can survive having their throat slit or heart ripped out.”
While saying this, the Immortal Healer began applying the medicine to my injured hand. A slight sting hit me at first, but I felt better once he wrapped it in bandages.
“I figured you would know that more than anyone else.”
“…Huh?”
“What happened outside?”
“…!”
I was taken aback by the Immortal Healer’s sudden question. Did he somehow already know everything that had happened? His serious expression assured me he probably did.
How did he find out? I’d been careful not to get any blood on me.
At first, I thought about playing dumb, but if I told the Celestial Plum Blossom, he would definitely inform the Immortal Healer anyway. So, I decided to go with a nonchalant smile.
“I had to deal with some punks outside. I saw a few guys lurking around the hut.”
“…Did they look like they’d be a threat?”
“Yes, they seemed like they belonged to the Unorthodox Faction.”
“…”
The Immortal Healer’s expression shifted to one of pity for me.
Why was he making that face? Is it because I look young?
Well, I kind of am young.
“…Is this your first time?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Of killing someone.”
I fell silent, unsure how to respond to that. I was beginning to understand why he looked at me like that.
My hands were still trembling a bit from the earlier fight, and the Immortal Healer seemed to notice as he observed my quivering hands seriously.
There was only one thing I could say in that moment.
“I’m fine.”
For some reason, I felt oddly uneasy about that, even though I wasn’t thinking too deeply about it. Does he think this is his fault?
He is a more considerate old man than I thought. This chapter is updated by novelbiin.com
“It’s something I was bound to experience eventually.”
Even if the Immortal Healer viewed life as precious and took responsibility for it, I knew he wouldn’t preach to me about cherishing every life.
That notion held little significance for martial artists.
So, the Immortal Healer’s frown must have been from merely feeling bitter about it.
“There were some guys loitering around the hut. If I tell the Celestial Plum Blossom, he’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you.”
His words of thanks made me genuinely surprised. I hadn’t expected that from him.
Reading my expression, the Immortal Healer frowned again.
“What’s with that face? Did you think I wouldn’t thank the person who helped me?”
“…No, it’s not like that.”
“Not like that, my foot! Don’t lie all over the place; your face betrays you.”
…Does it really?
Your face practically screams it, so don’t even think about trying to hide it.
…Hmm.
Is it really that bad? I thought I was doing a decent job of keeping it concealed.
I sensed the treatment was nearing its end and stood to express my gratitude.
“…Don’t overdo the training, and try to focus more on vegetables in your meals.”
I froze at the Immortal Healer’s unexpected words.
Looking back, I saw him coughing awkwardly, trying to get me to leave the hut.
After being practically kicked out, I stood outside in a daze, when Elder Shin suddenly spoke in my mind.
It seems he said that because of the energy inside your body.
“Oh.”
He claimed he wouldn’t do anything for me—but perhaps he did care after all? He was certainly more considerate than I had given him credit for.
By the way, what will you do about the energy inside you?
What can I do? I just have to live on hoping it doesn’t explode.
Didn’t you previously say there might be a way to deal with that?
I bit my lips at his reminder. I had some ideas, but I was still hesitating over it.
Yet, I knew I had to make a choice quickly, as time was of the essence.
“Hey.”
Suddenly interrupted from my thoughts, Gu Ryunghwa approached me.
“How’s the treatment?”
“…As you can see…”
She was busy chopping something with a kitchen knife.
What is that… a potato?
It was so shredded, I could hardly recognize it. Should I even ask her about it?
Gu Ryunghwa’s concentration was entirely on that singular potato…
After some time slicing the virtually non-existent potato, she suddenly turned towards me.
“…Um… are… you okay?”
Nodding toward my wounded hand, she seemed concerned.
“Are you worried?”
Her reaction was immediate. Annoyed, she snapped back.
“Who said I was worried!? If you’re finished, I was just going to tell you to scram!”
“I plan on leaving anyway, so no need to worry.”
“I said I’m not worried…!”
Her loud protest was unnecessary, so I simply ignored her.
Letting her chatter away, I made my way back to Mount Hua.
Upon returning to Mount Hua, I relayed everything that had occurred to the Celestial Plum Blossom.
It had just been a simple task to deliver a letter, but when I mentioned returning after killing people, his expression suddenly turned serious.
“I’m sorry.”
The first thing he said, with a hardened face, was an unexpected apology.
I reassured him that it was fine.
Fortunately, he didn’t press me regarding the mess I had created in the woods. He mentioned he’d check on it later.
The conversation about the troublesome topic concluded when he declared he’d send some martial artists to scout the area, though his face remained tense.
“…It seems like I’ll need to investigate more thoroughly.”
He was clearly concerned about how close those men had gotten to the barrier, especially with one having managed to escape.
Very few knew about the Celestial Plum Blossom caring for the Plum Blossom Sword inside the barrier’s confines.
However, since I—a mere outsider—had learned of this, it would be understandable if he suspected me in relation to the incident.
Still, the Celestial Plum Blossom seemed unwilling to consider me guilty.
Even knowing there had been several recent disappearances among the Mount Hua Sect members.
Was that also the work of the Black Palace?
Though I didn’t know for sure, it felt likely.
I was curious to understand what they were doing during this period and how they could be harboring even a hint of Demonic Qi within them.
However, I had very limited ways of discovering that.
I faced many restrictions in moving my body freely at the moment.
“Kid.”
“Yes.”
I snapped to attention at his call.
It seemed he had finished organizing his thoughts, as his expression returned to its composed state.
For him to remain so calm even in dire situations… I couldn’t help but feel a bit of respect for him.
“You’ve put yourself through a lot. I’ll bring you a gift in a few days’ time because keeping you here any longer would just tire you out further.”
“A gift?”
“Since an outsider got entangled in the issues of Mount Hua, it is only fair that I provide you with something in return.”
He could have easily blamed me for the brutal killings, but I kept quiet since he had offered compensation.
How could I refuse a gift?
With that thought in mind, I bowed my head and left.
He assured me Mount Hua would handle the rest, ensuring that everything was okay on my end.
And given that the only injury I sustained was a scratch on my hand, I counted my blessings.
What a lenient world I live in, huh?
Elder Shin’s words echoed in my mind with some degree of understanding.
In truth, it might just be Mount Hua, but this world felt far more peaceful than what I had experienced in my past life.
Though that peace isn’t far off from disappearing.
Just a few short years.
Barely a handful of years remained until that dreadful time would return.
After completing my errand, the afternoon sun had just crossed over lunchtime.
When I stepped inside the lodgings, I found the servants busy with their chores.
Where is Wi Seol-Ah?
I had developed a habit of searching for her upon returning, and true enough, I spotted Wi Seol-Ah diligently working among the servants.
When she noticed me, her face lit up into a smile, and she waved her hand.
I waved back.
Wondering if the Sword Emperor was also present since Wi Seol-Ah was there, I scanned the area but found no sign of him.
I just couldn’t believe she’d returned alone without him.
Nevertheless, it made no sense to worry about the Sword Emperor, so I shrugged it off as him being preoccupied elsewhere and headed into my room.
I pondered if Namgung Bi-ah was still asleep, but the room was completely empty.
“Where did she go?”
The bedding was neatly folded, indicating she had left some time ago…
But where could she possibly go in Mount Hua?
As I stood there, a passing servant interrupted my thoughts.
“Lady Namgung went up to the back mountain.”
“The back mountain? What could she possibly be doing there?”
“…Um, I saw her taking a wooden sword with her, so I suppose she went to practice?”
“…Oh, I see. Thank you.”
“Y-Yes!”
The servant flinched at my thanks, looking startled.
I had thought things were improving between me and the staff, but clearly, I was mistaken.
For a servant to be so startled by mere thanks… How did I treat them before?
…Hmm, let’s just say I was a bit rough back then.
But I’m trying to treat them better!
I was just relieved I hadn’t returned during a particularly chaotic time.
If I had returned a year or two after making a scene…
What might have happened then?
Honestly, I don’t even want to think about it.
After glancing at Wi Seol-Ah busily hanging laundry, I headed toward the back mountain where Namgung Bi-ah had gone.
I was primarily curious as to why that dense person had chosen to climb that mountain of all places.
The mountain loomed high, and I was already dizzy from the mere sight of it. Thanks to my earlier Qi usage that morning, climbing it now even with Qi assistance felt quite exhausting.
Swoosh—!
While weaving through the trees, I suddenly felt a swift, sharp energy pass by me.
Namgung Bi-ah, despite her outwardly serene demeanor, held a unique aura that echoed her former life.
Woosh—! Swoosh—!
In her hands, the wooden sword turned her into a completely different person.
Her usual dull gaze vanished, replaced with an intense focus purely aimed at her sword.
Finding Namgung Bi-ah wasn’t particularly hard due to this distinctive quality.
Spotting a small clearing in the underbrush, I discovered her swinging her sword in that area.
I wasn’t the only one watching it seemed; a number of people from the Mount Hua Sect were gathered around as well.
There are more than I expected…?
Are they just here to watch?
Some were observing her movements intently.
Even amid the onlookers, Namgung Bi-ah continued her training unfazed.
In the midst of a sharp energy saturating the area, Namgung Bi-ah wielded her wooden sword with the poise of walking on a bed of needles.
The first time I saw her after my return—a moment forever imprinted in my mind.
The Master of Swords.
Her flexible movements were a contrast to her brother, invoking awe.
The fluid grace of the Master of Swords enveloped the area with overwhelming presence.
…Impressive.
Elder Shin’s admiration resembled the reactions he previously had towards Yung Pung.
Honestly, to my eyes, Namgung Bi-ah appeared even more impressive than Yung Pung.
Unlike the sharp aggression characteristic of the Namgung Clan’s swordplay, her movements exuded elegance and fluidity.
It was reminiscent of a dance with the sword.
In her pursuit of wisdom on the path of swords, she displayed incredible beauty.
I found it difficult to reconcile her being labeled the ‘Master of Swords’ with how graceful she looked.
Wonders of her talent resurfaced in my mind.
Both Yung Pung and Namgung Bi-ah, alongside the numerous geniuses of the world, were already shining with their own brilliance.
Unlike my past self at that point in time.
The current world is indeed filled with inspiration.
I nodded as if in agreement with Elder Shin’s sentiment.
Having watched Namgung Bi-ah’s dance for a considerable while, I realized her technique felt distinctly different from ones I had previously witnessed.
Whereas the Demonic Sword displayed ferocity, there was only purity and grace lingering within her stance.
…Beautiful.
That was all I could think to say regarding her sword art.
Her sword dance was undoubtedly mesmerizing in every sense.
Crunch!
Namgung Bi-ah halted her performance, startled by a light noise from nearby.
Oh…
The audience sighed, as if disappointed by the abrupt stop; a testament to how flawlessly she’d performed.
She turned to gaze at the direction of the sound.
And there I stood, sheepishly caught in the act.
…Damn it, I really stepped on that twig.
While trying to be careful, I’d ended up inadvertently crunching a branch.
Though the audience’s eyes were fixed on Namgung Bi-ah, she alone turned to face me.
After all her movements, a thin sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead.
But she paid it little mind, merely wiping her perspiration with her sleeve.
“…Huh?”
As our eyes met, Namgung Bi-ah’s widened in shock as though struck by something incredible.
Then, without warning, she flung her wooden sword aside and dashed toward me.
In a flash, she grasped my clothing with both hands and sniffed me, like an anxious pup uncertain of its surroundings.
“…What the! Why are you acting like this!?”
Surprised, I attempted to push her away, but she wouldn’t budge.
Confused, I thought, Why does she seem so frantic?
After a few moments of desperate inhaling, she seemed to calm down a bit as she took a step back, but not before collapsing down onto the ground.
“Why are you acting like that? Are you hurt?”
“Thank goodness…”
She sounded relieved after that sniffing session.
Was it just me, or did she seem to be sweating more now than when she was training?
Seeing her damp, I instinctively wiped her forehead with my clothing.
Then, to my surprise, she took my trembling hand and gripped it.
With delicate caution, she drew my hand toward her nose.
What on earth was going on?
“Do I smell?”
Was I reeking of sweat? Sure, a bit had gone down earlier, but I didn’t think I sweated that much with all my flailing.
Her answer was swift as she shook her head vigorously.
“…You don’t smell.”
Hearing her say that relieved me for reasons I couldn’t quite put into words.
After lingering in the stillness a bit longer, she weakly rose to her feet.
Internally, I debated again on whether to remove my hand from hers, but she seemed utterly sincere.
If you had chosen anything else, you’d never be treated as a man again.
“Did you finish your training?”
“…Yeah.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to continue? There’s still time left to train more, it seems.”
“…Since you are here.”
Is she saying she’s going to stop just because I’m here?
There were no urgent reasons for her to feel that way about my presence, but trying to reason with Namgung Bi-ah usually led to headaches, so I passed on it.
Silently, she turned to grab her wooden sword, trotting back toward me in quick strides.
“Your hand… is it hurt?”
“Just a scratch.”
You’d think everyone would stop asking me that today.
She let out a soft disappointment.
“…I wanted to challenge you to a duel.”
“…What?”
…Suddenly feeling grateful for my injury.
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