Chapter: 230
Across the foot of the mountain.
Passing through the rugged and lofty terrain.
After traversing countless forest trails, they finally crossed Mount Tai.
Now, they have reached a point where the verdant waters are visible.
Her once pristine new shoes had become tattered and worn, and her skin, once as white as jade, was now stained with dust here and there.
At that moment, the Sword Venerable, who was holding her small and delicate hand, glanced back as if trying to read her mood.
“…”
After such a long journey, her usual pretty appearance was obscured by leaves and dirt, yet the girl’s face still radiated a glow.
However, her beautiful lips remained firmly closed, no matter how often he checked.
For almost two months, the girl had not spoken.
Considering she used to chatter endlessly, the difference felt remarkably stark.
Even while witnessing this, the Sword Venerable couldn’t muster any words.
“…Would you like grandpa to carry you if you’re tired?”
Shake, shake.
At his casual inquiry, the girl, Wi Seol-Ah, shook her head in refusal.
She had always loved being carried since she was a child, but at some point, Wi Seol-Ah had stopped wanting to ride on the Sword Venerable’s back.
It was probably after that fateful encounter with a boy from the Gu Clan.
The Sword Venerable silently observed his granddaughter, but Wi Seol-Ah could only pretend not to notice his watchful gaze.
“…Seol—”
“Yeah, quit it already.”
The Immortal Healer, following behind and struggling, cut in with a grunt.
“She’s clearly making it obvious she doesn’t want it, so don’t you think calling her constantly will change that?”
“…”
“It’s not like this is new. Just hold yourself back.”
How many days had it been now?
Wi Seol-Ah’s refusal to talk aside, watching the Sword Venerable relentlessly pinning her down with conversation was quite irritating.
…But he seems to be holding back quite a bit for his character.
Back in his heyday, when the Sword Venerable was the leader of the Alliance, he sure wasn’t the kind of old man who would act all soft around his granddaughter.
After all, he was the great sky of the Orthodox Faction. The one who commanded the respect of countless martial artists. He was the Sword Venerable, Wi Hyogun.
And this wasn’t his usual personality at all.
He must have changed so much because he’s raising a child.
But somehow, it felt like that wasn’t the whole story.
Maybe the Immortal Healer’s words got through to him, as the Sword Venerable swallowed hard, trying to ignore the tremors of his beard and gaze straight ahead once more.
Wi Seol-Ah’s hand remained tightly clasped in his.
Observing this, the Immortal Healer took a glance at the hand he was gripping as well.
It was Zhuge Hyuk, who had left the Gu Clan alongside the Immortal Healer.
Zhuge Hyuk still couldn’t speak, and thanks to the long bangs hiding his face, no one could tell what his eyes looked like.
Regardless, the Immortal Healer could sense that Zhuge Hyuk was still quite upset.
The cause was likely the blood relatives from the Gu Clan.
Especially the youngest daughter.
The cute girl from Mount Hua who used to play with his grandson during their stay at the Gu Clan.
…I’m sorry.
The Immortal Healer knew that he wasn’t in a position to call the Sword Venerable to account.
Because even though this was all for his grandson, it didn’t change the fact he ignored his grandson’s opinions for his own desires.
Is this really the right choice?
He questioned himself repetitively without finding an answer.
No, the old doctor already knew the answer.
He was just avoiding it fiercely.
“Alliance Leader.”
The Sword Venerable glanced at the Immortal Healer after hearing the call.
“There’s something I’d like to ask.”
“Speak.”
“Why there, of all places?”
“…”
What was the reason for leaving the Gu Clan to head toward Qinghai?
The Immortal Healer decided to accompany the Sword Venerable based on his opinions, but the reasoning still eluded him.
He knew that the Wudang Sect and Shaolin Temple were not options, particularly in light of the Ten Sect Alliance, yet the choice of Qinghai was utterly baffling.
Moreover, he was left even more puzzled upon finally hearing the destination.
The man who sought to avoid Shaolin, Wudang, and the Murim Alliance due to a lack of trust was heading willingly into the very hub of the Martial Arts Alliance.
“If there’s a reason, I would be grateful if you share it.”
If this were the past, he wouldn’t have cared, nor would he have interfered, but since they were now companions, he felt it necessary to have a compelling reason from the Sword Venerable to justify this route.
“…”
After hearing the Immortal Healer, the Sword Venerable briefly locked eyes with him, and it appeared as though he was about to speak, opening his lips hesitantly.
But then…
Pause.
Wi Seol-Ah unexpectedly halted her steps on a path that did not appear to be genuine, causing the Sword Venerable to stop as well.
Noting the strange behavior, the Immortal Healer immediately asked the Sword Venerable.
“Allian—”
“Someone is coming.”
…!
Upon hearing the Sword Venerable’s words, the Immortal Healer quickly pulled Zhuge Hyuk behind him.
…Who?
He wasn’t afraid.
The Immortal Healer was aware of who stood before him, so fear was unwarranted.
The Zenith of Swords.
Sword Venerable Wi Hyogun.
Among the countless martial artists in the world, he stood as the most formidable when it came to wielding a sword.
The Immortal Healer felt no fear, understanding that this man could effortlessly slice the looming Mount Tai in half.
…But who could it be?
The Immortal Healer couldn’t comprehend what the Sword Venerable sensed, as he wasn’t a martial artist.
What martial artists felt was on an entirely different level from ordinary folk.
But…
Just now, that girl seemed to sense something as well.
She was the reason the Sword Venerable was headed for Qinghai, the sole purpose for which he continued to exist.
In the Immortal Healer’s view, the girl who bore the mask of humanity had surely been gazing at something long before the Sword Venerable stopped.
As though she could glimpse something approaching from afar.
I don’t know.
He didn’t understand, even after closely observing her for the past two months.
How could so much potential be contained within such a tiny body?
Did the Immortal Healer himself even have the capacity to dissect her complex enigma?
And above all…
Could she indeed attain that enigmatic aspiration of the Sword Venerable’s for her?
The Immortal Healer had no means of knowing.
As the tension-cloaked silence dragged on…
Dddddd.
The Immortal Healer gradually began to pick up on the sounds of numerous footsteps.
And then…
Martial artists.
Even the Immortal Healer, with his modest amount of Qi, could sense the pervasive energy mingling in the atmosphere.
This indicated that all those approaching were, indeed, martial artists.
Despite this, the Sword Venerable merely stood, arms folded, watching.
However, one noticeable change was that he had briefly released Wi Seol-Ah’s hand.
Dddddd-!
As the footsteps drew nearer, the Immortal Healer began to make out the figures who were approaching.
Who are they?
The individuals visible from afar were also familiar to the Immortal Healer.
To say he knew them precisely would be misleading; rather, he recognized the attire they wore.
A white uniform adorned with a deep blue stripe.
There was no way he could mistake it.
That garment was identical to the martial uniform of the current leader of the Martial Arts Alliance, the Harmonic Sword, Jangcheon.
Which means…
He had inferred their identities from that sole insight.
Around fifteen martial artists, marching in perfect sync as if they were a well-drilled platoon, came to a halt all at once before the Sword Venerable.
Their synchronized movements resembled those of a finely trained regiment.
To add to the surprise, the figure standing right at the forefront was a strikingly young boy.
With a handsome visage, the boy deftly performed a respectful greeting toward the Sword Venerable.
“It is an honor to meet the great Sword Venerable.”
His assured movements bore no signs of hesitation, unmistakably revealing he was a refined offspring of a prestigious clan, well-trained in etiquette.
The Sword Venerable, locking eyes with the boy, seemed to be aware of his identity and inquired.
“The Alliance Leader hasn’t come, it seems?”
The boy flashed a welcoming smile to the Sword Venerable.
“Yes… My father cannot leave Hanam, so I regret to say I am here in his stead to greet you.”
“…What brings you all the way here? There’s still quite a distance to go.”
“How could I possibly just wait for your arrival? I came to personally guide you in comfort.”
The Immortal Healer was struck by how articulate and poised the boy was, astonishingly mature for his age.
Yet, Wi Seol-Ah, standing adjacent to the Sword Venerable, slipped into a frown.
While she typically didn’t exhibit displeasure or discomfort, it was perplexing that she seemed oddly unsettled this time.
As if his being was a revelation, she shifted behind the Sword Venerable.
The Sword Venerable subsequently asked the boy for his name.
“What is your name?”
The boy gradually raised his head to meet the Sword Venerable’s gaze.
“I am Jang Seonyeon.”
His voice was steadier than his appearance.
Despite being aware of the identity of the man before him…
He confidently concluded with one last statement.
“I am generously labeled as the Meteor Sword.”
“…Taeryung Clan.”
I lightly bit my lip after perusing the letter.
The note handed to me by the Second Elder merely indicated that the Sword Venerable was heading towards the Taeryung Clan.
Taeryung Clan.
That was where that rascal resided.
Jang Seonyeon, the one hailed as the Meteor Sword.
…
I sighed internally at the thought of that place.
The information suggested where the Sword Venerable and Wi Seol-Ah were headed, but that wasn’t the sole reason for my worry.
It’s the same.
In my previous life, Wi Seol-Ah flourished in Taeryung Clan.
And now, the Sword Venerable was dragging her toward Taeryung Clan once more.
Despite the numerous upheavals I had caused and the countless futures I had altered, this thread remained unchanged.
Everything else shifted, yet this remained constant.
It was frustrating.
Every other matter I wished wouldn’t change had the mysteries I didn’t fully comprehend or were shifted far beyond my control.
Yet, in the case of Wi Seol-Ah, it doggedly adhered to the original path.
Clenching my lips in vexation,
The Second Elder in front of me spoke with intrigue.
“You seem rather unfazed.”
…Huh?
“It’s as if you’ve known all along.”
“That’s impossible.”
…Hmm.
The Second Elder scrutinized me, but nothing could be done since I pretended to be oblivious.
“I gave you that overpriced info because your face looked so sour.”
…I was just surprised, that’s all.
“Fair enough. So may I ask you something else?”
I found myself curious about what he might want to inquire about.
“Do you know about Seol-Ah’s grandfather?”
…!
I gulped at the Second Elder’s words.
His question was packed with affirmation rather than inquiry.
…What are you saying…?
“Your reaction says it all. You are aware of who he is.”
…
There was no way to escape now.
The Second Elder seemed to be questioning whether I realized that the seemingly ordinary servant, Wi Hyogun, was actually the Sword Venerable.
He had more confidence than a mere curiosity.
He caught me right in the act.
Damn.
“How did you find out?”
…Just a feeling.
“A feeling, really? You appear to lack perception while being oddly intuitive about quirky matters.”
That felt like praise twisted into an insult.
“But you realize that’s not enough of an explanation.”
…
Looks like it wasn’t something I could gloss over either.
As I pondered defensively over how to respond…
“I won’t pry further.”
Huh…?
“If you say so, I’ll just consider it as such. Believing that suits you better.”
The Second Elder chuckled heartily before heftily slapping my back.
Gah… Ergh!
He hadn’t employed any Qi, yet it felt grievously painful.
“This is merely a gesture of affection for my grandson; don’t overreact.”
Overreact? Is this really an exaggeration?
I might seriously die if he did that again.
While rubbing my aching back, the Second Elder continued speaking.
“I’m uncertain what choices you’ll make after this, but have a pleasant journey.”
…Thank you.
“Make sure to look after the girls from the other clans who are accompanying you.”
They’ll manage just fine on their own.
They wouldn’t need my assistance.
Well, perhaps Moyong Hi-a would, but not Namgung Bi-a.
Tsk, tsk. I can foresee what kind of future awaits you.
“What are you hiding about?”
“Nothing, it’s on you; just don’t carry regrets later.”
Huh…?
“Set off now. People are waiting for you.”
While saying this, the Second Elder forcibly nudged me away.
You’re the one who nabbed me from leaving…!
“Oh, and one more thing.”
More?
“This is a message from the Lord.”
Hearing the Second Elder’s words, my eyes naturally widened.
Messages from Father were a rare occurrence.
“Take care, he wanted me to convey that to you.”
…
What a succinct message.
Yet, it was something I had never encountered from Father before.
With a somewhat sour expression, I bid the Second Elder farewell before stepping into the carriage.
Upon entering, I noticed Namgung Bi-a was already asleep, but sensing my presence, she leisurely leaned her head against me.
I felt a twinge of impulse to wave goodbye through the window, only to find the Second Elder already gone.
Such an impatient old man.
After confirming this, I sighed and turned to the coachman.
“…Is it alright to start now?” Why are you still sitting there?
As I prepared to indicate we could commence, my gaze fell upon Gu Jeolyub, who was perched on the driver’s seat.
Staring blankly, I asked, bewildered, while Gu Jeolyub returned my gaze with a puzzled expression.
…Isn’t this my role?
Well, yes, that was… Never mind, do whatever feels right to you.
I wanted to express that I had assigned him this role intending to tease him, but it felt alright, so I let it be.
For some reason, he seemed comfortable in that position.
“Giddyup!”
Hee-haw-!
The carriage began to inch forward.
The spirited red horse snorted powerfully, charging towards the frontline.
As I watched the shifting scenery outside, I couldn’t help but think.
…The thought of the hardships awaiting me makes my stomach churn.
I contemplated the arduous efforts that lay ahead.
The cheerful visage of Gu Huibi, always enjoying kicking me around, made my appetite plummet.
If I endure… this too shall pass.
An utterance made half in jest but grounded in truth.
Time would flow if I bore the trials.
As it always had.
And just like that…
A whole year sped by.
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