Chapter 80
Foxier than One Might Think (2)
After washing up, I found Yung Pung sitting quietly on the floor, seemingly free from the anxiety he had earlier.
Though he appeared a bit rigid, I assumed it was merely due to the fatigue from my training session.
“Master Yung Pung.”
Upon hearing me call him, his stiff expression instantly brightened.
How should I put this? It felt like his expression screamed, “I’m saved…!”
“Young Master Gu!”
“I said I’d be back soon; did I keep you waiting too long?”
“Yes! It felt like an eternity waiting…!”
“…Huh?”
What I had said was obviously out of courtesy, yet Yung Pung responded with such sincerity.
Did I really make him wait that long? I thought it was quick.
Wi Seol-Ah, who had been sitting next to him, rushed over the moment I returned.
She looked quite cheerful, beaming with happiness.
“Sir, where shall we have our meal?”
“Huh?”
Yung Pung’s face froze upon hearing my question.
What’s got him so surprised?
It wouldn’t be appropriate for me, as an outsider, to use the dining hall reserved for the martial artists of the clan. Plus, Yung Pung probably couldn’t leave without the elders’ permission.
Since he came looking for me, I thought he had a place in mind for us to eat.
“Master… Did you not plan on that?”
“…Hehe.”
What do you mean “hehe,” you fool?
I felt like folding him in half because it was irritating enough coming from a guy, let alone a girl.
Maybe we can just eat here then.
But first, I needed to confirm with Yung Pung.
“I heard that the students eat together, so is it okay for you to skip them?”
His face immediately turned awkward at my question.
I had noticed that he often appeared uncomfortable for some reason.
“I’m fine. I doubt they’ll care that much.”
“…Then let’s eat at my place.”
“What are we having?”
“Is there anything prepared?”
It was nearly mealtime, but I wasn’t sure if the servants had finished preparing.
As I pondered about our food options, Wi Seol-Ah raised her hand excitedly.
“I can cook!”
“…Where’s Hongwa?”
When I pretended not to hear her, her expression quickly soured.
I felt bad, but Wi Seol-Ah’s cooking skills were not yet at a level suitable for impressing guests.
So, I grabbed a passing servant and asked her to prepare a meal for us.
It seemed the servant had already prepared some dishes, as she assured me it wouldn’t take long.
Wi Seol-Ah was taken away by the servant to help with the preparations.
Seeing this, Yung Pung let out a long sigh.
It was one of the deepest sighs I had ever heard.
“…Phew, I feel alive now.”
“Did something happen?”
“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing.”
It’s definitely not nothing. You seem like you’re hiding something…
Noticing the way he was avoiding my gaze, it was clear he was aware of my suspicion.
“Well, they’re preparing food now, so let’s just go inside and wait.”
“Ah! Understood.”
His expression transformed into a bright smile at my words, and he quickly followed me into the lodge.
*
The meal ended up being quite light.
Most of the ingredients provided by the Mount Hua Sect were vegetables, making it not exactly a delightful meal.
‘As long as I fill my belly, it’s fine.’
Honestly, I was craving meat, especially given how active I had been during my recent training sessions.
But it wouldn’t be proper for me to suddenly roast meat in a taoist sect, so I was holding back.
Suddenly, Elder Shin chimed in, responding to my thoughts.
「Who cares? Just eat it if you want to.」
‘…Elder Shin?’
「It’s not like you’re forbidden from eating meat just because you’re in a taoist place. You don’t have to hold back.」
‘I understand, but come on, I still have something called common sense, you know?’
「That’s your biggest flaw. To know that it’s the right time to eat meat… how sad…」
‘…’
Was this guy really the former Lord of the Mount Hua Sect?
Right when I was beginning to believe he was legitimate, he throws out ridiculous statements that make me question everything.
How on Earth could I start cooking meat while I’m inside a taoist sect?
This was simply going too far, no matter how many times I thought it through.
The servants visited to clear away the dishes after I finished my meal.
“I enjoyed the meal. Thank you very much, Young Master Gu.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Oddly, it felt a bit awkward since I treated Yung Pung to dinner when it was supposed to be the other way around.
“Next time… I promise to treat you!”
“You’ll have to get permission to leave the clan first…”
“…Right.”
The more I looked at him, the more naive I felt he was.
When I heard his title— The Sword Dragon— I expected a cold-hearted swordsman.
But he was vastly different from my expectations.
As I sipped my water, contemplating this, Yung Pung suddenly spoke, looking like he had something significant to say.
“Uh… Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“Now that we’ve finished our meal, if it wouldn’t trouble you, may we have a duel…?”
“A duel?”
Well, that came out of the blue.
I thought he would just ask me to train alongside him again, yet here he was asking for a duel.
Given how he was trounced in our last bout, I thought he might be feeling reserved.
But surprisingly, he didn’t seem bothered at all.
Has he really gotten over it?
He bore no inner conflict that I could see and displayed no hesitation in asking me.
‘A duel, huh.’
I glanced at the bandages around my hand.
Truthfully, I was fully healed enough now to duel him with no issue.
Yet, the memory of Namgung Bi-ah flashed through my mind.
I imagined it would create problems if she learned I had dueled Yung Pung right after my recovery.
“Why the sudden request for a duel?”
“…Uhm, you know the tournament is coming up soon, right?”
“Yes.”
“During the tournament, I’m participating with the seniors.”
“With the second-generation students?”
Is that customary? For a third-generation student to face off against a second-generation student?
Or is it just because it’s Yung Pung?
“What does that have to do with this?”
“…It’s forbidden for us to spar during the preparation period.”
Such rules existed?
Now that I thought about it, I had not seen any sect disciples sparring with one another lately.
“Hmm, so you want to duel me…?”
Yung Pung quietly nodded in affirmation.
The idea that students couldn’t duel among themselves but were allowed to duel with outsiders felt a tad bizarre.
…Although it’s also highly unusual for outsiders to come visiting the clan during this time.
Thus, his reasoning began to make sense.
He was a third-generation student, yet they wouldn’t just let an apex predator run free among a field of rabbits.
Although, it still seemed like a problematic arrangement for him competing alongside second-generation disciples.
I figured the Mount Hua Sect would handle the fallout of that outcome themselves.
“Well… I can due with you, sure.”
“Oh…! Really?”
“However, today isn’t possible.”
Yung Pung’s face instantly fell at my statement.
“Let’s do it next time. I have some matters to attend to in the city, so I can’t duel today.”
That wasn’t an excuse; I genuinely had something to handle.
With a disappointed expression, Yung Pung told me he would come back and then left.
…It looks like I’ll actually have to duel him next time.
How bothersome.
*
After sending Yung Pung off, I took Wi Seol-Ah with me down to the streets.
Last time, I came here alone for a request from the Celestial Plum Blossom, but this time I brought Muyeon and Wi Seol-Ah since it was personal.
Due to the imminent tournament, Huayin City appeared busier than usual.
It felt somewhat comparable to the Gu Clan during the Nine Dragons Day.
I hadn’t realized other clans would be just as lively.
While it may be slightly different here, it would still likely be somewhat similar.
The thrill of watching martial artists engage in combat was universal across locations.
I navigated through the bustling crowd, pulling Wi Seol-Ah along, her eyes sparkling as she took in the sights.
As I observed the cheerful streets filled with laughter and joy, Elder Shin commented.
「It seems that the world has significantly changed.」
His tone suggested a hint of nostalgia.
You were raised in a different era, after all.
Elder Shin’s active years were marked by relentless conflict.
Though, thanks to the heroes of the time, that period came to a close.
However, those streets likely bore no resemblance to this one.
「It’s wonderful.」
You seem genuinely happy.
「Of course, this is the world we yearned for… how could I not feel joy?」
I understood the emotions Elder Shin was expressing.
It stood in stark contrast to my own circumstances.
I walked along the streets for a bit, searching for the building I sought, then abruptly came to a halt.
I had finally found the destination I had been searching for.
“What’s this place?”
Wi Seol-Ah asked, holding a chicken skewer in her hand.
By the way, Muyeon had bought that for her.
The center of the building bore the characters for ‘Murim,’ indicating it was a shop affiliated with the Murim Alliance.
It was a place that bought and sold the leather and bones of monsters.
I had business to conduct here.
“Welcome!”
Inside, there were various types of leather and bones displayed before us.
Upon inspection, most items appeared to be sourced from green and blue monsters.
The high-grade ones were likely managed by the alliance themselves, so they weren’t for general sale.
“Oh, what brings such a handsome young man to our humble shop?”
A handsome young man…?
This guy definitely knew how to market himself.
He tossed out a fitting flattery right off the bat.
Without displaying any surprise, I proceeded to question the owner.
“I came to buy something, but I’d like to ask a question first.”
“Ah, yes, go ahead! We’re the largest shop in the area! We have everything you need!”
“Oh, then do you have any demonic stones?”
“Huh? Demonic stones…?”
The owner was taken aback by my inquiry.
Unlike bones and leather from monsters, demonic stones didn’t particularly hold much value.
Some had attempted to use them as decorative items due to their shine, but they would quickly lose their luster.
“If it’s possible, I’d appreciate it if you have demonic stones that are less than a day old.”
That meant I needed one that still maintained its color.
A lack of color indicated that the demonic energy had dissipated.
The owner’s expression momentarily faltered, but he quickly regained his composure.
He probably thought I was one of those customers who couldn’t afford anything.
“Uh… Young Master.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t have any?”
“Unfortunately… demonic stones aren’t in demand, and lately the appearance of monsters has decreased. Our inventory is quite sparse.”
The appearance of monsters has decreased?
“They’ve shown up less than expected this year.”
I could accept the absence of demonic stones, but the fact that the monsters were appearing so infrequently was surprising news.
I haven’t heard anything about this back in Shanxi.
While a reduction in monster activity was beneficial for peace, the abruptness of this decline raised a few concerns.
“So that means you really don’t have any demonic stones?”
“Indeed… While we may have some, if you’re looking for those with color, I’m afraid we don’t carry them.”
“I see.”
“Then how about some leather or bones? We have some great goods—”
“No, thank you.”
I quickly rejected his offer, and I could hear him grumbling as I left the shop.
I didn’t expect to find what I sought this easily.
Should I just go hunt one down myself?
They seem to always show up when I wish they wouldn’t, but where were they when I’m looking for them…
Why am I even searching for demonic stones?
‘I need to check something.’
What are you looking to verify?
The two chaotic energies swirling in my body, along with the mysterious force that kept them suppressed.
The force that goes into a frenzy whenever I try to use too much energy.
Because of this, I felt as though I was living a charmed existence.
With each conflicting energy intersecting at any moment, I was practically a ticking time bomb.
I doubted any doctor could help me with this situation since even the Immortal Healer had given up.
Definitely, my current physical condition wouldn’t allow me to withstand the clashes caused by two conflicting energies.
However, I couldn’t afford to neglect my training just because of that—
Eventually, I needed to seek a solution to this dilemma.
Elder Shin’s comments surfaced in my mind, hinting toward something that might work— though I wasn’t certain of its effectiveness.
Demonic Qi.
The ability to absorb demonic energy that had come with my rebirth.
Could this damned thing be keeping those two energies in check?
It started making sense; I felt stable despite the tumultuous energies swarming within me.
The only explanation I could even consider was that the heavenly demon’s power prevented them from crashing into each other.
Or perhaps it was that same force that consumed the demonic energy within me.
The Destructive Flame Arts would consume any demonic energy absorbed into my body.
I’d never heard of this being a trait of the martial arts within the Gu Clan.
If something like that existed, I definitely would have been aware of it in my previous life.
That meant…there was likely another reason for my present condition.
Why does my body feel like a cave full of strange things waiting to unleash?
Could this be a manifestation of my rebirth?
Or did the power of the heavenly demon linger even past my resurrection?
The more I considered it, the more disgusting it felt.
“Master, Master!”
As I was lost in my tangled thoughts, Wi Seol-Ah pulled on my clothes, calling me insistently.
“Hm?”
“Ah~!”
To my surprise, she held out a chicken skewer that she hadn’t taken a single bite from.
Wait, is this Wi Seol-Ah giving me her untouched skewer?
“What’s this?”
“The first bite belongs to you, Young Master!”
“Why not just eat it yourself?”
“Because you were making that ugly face again.”
Wi Seol-Ah’s comment reminded me of something Elder Shin once said, suggesting my face revealed my thoughts all too clearly.
Am I that obvious?
If Wi Seol-Ah felt the need to offer me food, I must have really looked down in the dumps.
Did I upset her?
I took a generous bite of the chicken skewer.
Right after biting into it, Wi Seol-Ah’s expression shifted to something amusingly shocked.
“…I-I didn’t mean for you to eat that much…!”
“It’s gggood.”
I couldn’t even form proper words after shoving a huge piece into my mouth.
Wi Seol-Ah slowly finished what little bit was left of the skewer, looking rather disappointed.
The sadness in her eyes was quite evident.
She then sighed, her voice tinged with sadness.
“…It was so delicious… but now it’s gone.”
Seeing her like that almost made me want to laugh, and I had to suppress it.
If I burst out laughing now, it would definitely all spew out.
Oddly enough, something so trivial was enough to clear away the maze of emotions in my head.
I started wondering if it was because of Wi Seol-Ah’s presence or if something within me had shifted after my rebirth.
“Want me to buy you another one?”
“R-Really?”
“Yeah, let’s get another.”
With that, I led Wi Seol-Ah back to the stall selling skewers.
I ended up buying two this time.
I wanted to try one myself because they ended up being more delicious than I’d expected.
I asked Muyeon if he wanted one too, but he turned it down, saying it wasn’t appropriate since he was keeping watch.
Thus, I strolled around the streets with Wi Seol-Ah, enjoying our chicken skewers.
Oh, and by the way, Muyeon paid for these as well.
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