Chapter 256: The Letter You Sent (2)
After seeing the rough and clumsy handwriting on the letter, I couldn’t help but be momentarily dumbfounded.
The reason was that I hadn’t expected Wi Seol-Ah to send a letter, nor did I anticipate her to have written it herself.
In the midst of all this, one thought crossed my mind.
Did she know how to write?
That was the first question that popped into my head.
I wondered if I had been underestimating Wi Seol-Ah too much. After all, she had been holed up in the mountains with the Sword Venerable, and I had thought she was illiterate.
But if that were true, had she learned to write just to send me this letter?
If that were the case, the letter I held in my hand felt unusually heavy.
Rustle.
I carefully unfolded the letter.
What could possibly be written in it?
My curiosity was burning, yet my fingers moved slowly, unlike my impatient heart.
—Are you doing well, Young Master?
—I’m doing quite well.
Hehe.
What a wonderfully crooked handwriting!
Despite that, there were no signs of erasure or correction. She must have just rewritten it every time she made a mistake.
This letter was probably a product of that process.
—I’m sorry for leaving without saying anything.
Indeed.
You could have at least said something.
You should have left me a note or at least a letter like this.
—Were you sad because I disappeared?
Sad, huh?
—Honestly, I wish you were just a little sad.
Had I been sad?
Hmm.
Thinking back, I felt like there probably was a sense of sadness.
Even now, I sometimes felt an empty space.
Wi Seol-Ah, who woke me up with her loud voice every morning.
Her face that would pop up, curious about what I was doing.
The girl who would come to me, saying she wanted to eat together when it was mealtime.
—Young Master, are you okay?
That voice of concern from her filled my heart with a bittersweet ache.
Now, however, those things were gone, leaving behind a significant void.
It’s only been a year.
Just a year.
What made those brief moments so meaningful that I felt this way?
Had I truly become someone special just because she followed me around?
Had her disappearance rattled me so much because I thought I held some importance to young Wi Seol-Ah?
It seems I’m still immature, huh?
Despite all I had experienced, I remained a shallow person.
Deep down, I knew she would ultimately leave, yet here I was, acting all sad and sentimental.
The letter wasn’t long, so I took my time reading through it.
There was nothing particularly significant.
I’m doing well.
The food here doesn’t seem very tasty.
The scenery is lovely, but the mountains from the Gu Clan were even prettier, and so on.
She wrote about how she was doing.
However,
It feels as though she’s trying too hard to reassure me.
It was as if she wanted to assure me she was doing well so I wouldn’t worry about her.
—Oh, and I have started learning swordsmanship from Grandpa.
From the Sword Venerable?
So she finally began her training, huh.
Wait…?
Who had taught her when she was at the Gu Clan then?
I had always assumed it was the Sword Venerable who was teaching her.
Had she been learning on her own?
Then again, Wi Seol-Ah often spoke about her training as if she was learning from someone else.
—It’s fun. Grandpa said I’m quite skilled too!
Of course, she’d excel at it.
Thinking back to her in my past life, that actually made sense.
She wouldn’t be called the Celestial Sword if she lacked talent.
—I’ve grown quite a bit too! Grandpa said I might soon be taller than him!
Even though the Sword Venerable wasn’t very tall, hearing that Wi Seol-Ah had grown that much was quite surprising.
Was it true?
Being small was also charming, though.
If what she wrote was accurate, I might feel a little disappointed if she’s grown so much.
—I’m learning so many things.
—Being away from you, Young Master, makes me feel sad.
—But it’s necessary for the future, they said.
My brow furrowed at the last line, which implied that someone had told her that.
Did the Sword Venerable say that?
Did he have a valid reason for telling her that?
—I’m going to learn even more.
—If that happens, I can protect the Young Master.
“Who’s protecting whom?”
After reading her confidently written line without a hint of doubt, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“…Protecting whom?”
Instead of aiming to protect someone else, I just hope you’ll lead a life for yourself.
In my past life, you dedicated your life to protecting others, so I wanted this one to be different.
Protect me, huh?
What a heavy statement.
—I miss you.
Sigh.
So did the next line.
—Do you miss me too, Young Master?
And those words carried their own weight.
I find your affection burdensome.
And I wondered if I deserved to receive such words from you.
Was I even allowed to accept your feelings completely?
There was still so much uncertainty in my heart.
Despite our separation, your longing for me felt both beautifully pure and a bit frightening.
—I really miss you.
—So please wait for me.
—I’ll make sure to visit the Young Master.
Reading those lines filled with Wi Seol-Ah’s emotions ultimately made me laugh while also sighing.
Yet, you don’t ask me to visit you, do you?
Nowhere in all that did she mention wanting me to come see her.
She merely expressed her intention to come see me.
…It feels like she is asking me not to come.
Perhaps it was just how it seemed, but for some reason, it truly felt that way.
It seems like she wanted to ensure I didn’t come to see her until she was ready to come to me.
—Goodbye.
With the letter’s farewell, I gently folded it in half and tucked it away into my pocket.
While it felt like a simple letter with well wishes, there was an undeniable weight to it.
“…So, when did you receive this?”
“About three months after you left for the frontlines.”
That meant it had been almost a year.
So, nothing else came after that?
“Are you planning to go?”
…Where?
The First Elder asked me with a rather sly expression.
“If it’s Qinghai, it might be distant, but it’s not impossible to reach.”
The First Elder had previously mentioned the location of Wi Seol-Ah to me.
Qinghai.
It was the land holding the Kunlun Mountains and the Ten Sect Alliance, also the home of the Alliance Leader, the Taeryung Clan.
“Honestly, I’m curious as to why you’re not interested in going there yourself.”
The reasons for me not going were outweighing the reasons for going.
How could I possibly criticize the decisions made by the Sword Venerable and Wi Seol-Ah?
Of course, I could just brush aside all the reasoning and fabricate justifications to go.
If I failed to come up with any reason,
I could simply just visit them regardless.
“Looking at your expression, it seems you’ve contemplated the idea at least once.”
“Ahem…”
Indeed, just as the First Elder pointed out.
In my quest for excuses not to go, I eventually found myself seeking reasons to go.
…Initially, I had considered visiting her after going to Anhui.
That was the plan if I indeed needed to attend the Heavenly Dragon Academy.
Despite being somewhat pressing, if I truly wanted to do it, it wouldn’t be impossible by any means.
That was my intent all along.
—I’ll make sure to visit the Young Master.
“…I’m still uncertain.”
As I spoke, the First Elder stared at me with a curious gaze.
He seemed to view me with both concern and a hint of bemusement as if he was trying to decipher my thoughts.
After looking at me for a moment, the First Elder sighed and shifted his gaze to the Hao Clan’s Lord, who was busy sweeping the floor.
“If that’s your stance.”
“I feel a little insulted by your response.”
“It’s nothing. Anyway, have you finished what you came to do?”
“…Yeah, more or less.”
I had originally come here to argue, yet unexpected occurrences had made it all feel moot now.
…About the Dishonored Venerable.
The First Elder may have said he would come by, but he wouldn’t be arriving immediately.
“If the necessity arises, I’ll just run away.”
If he desired to see me, I could simply shield myself from his line of sight.
Although I was uncertain if I would be able to evade him even if I tried.
Let’s just avoid thinking about that right now…
Thinking about it would only lead to dark thoughts.
So, I decided to ignore it for now.
“I shall take my leave now.”
“Hmm? You’re leaving already?”
“Yes, I have to see my father about something.”
“Hmm… Well, if it’s business with the Clan Head, you can’t help it. Be sure to spend some more time the next time you visit.”
“…I will ponder that.”
I was determined never to linger here too long or else who knew what sorts of trouble could arise?
With my body weighed down, I performed a respectful bow towards the First Elder before heading out.
While I did need to have a conversation with the Hao Clan’s Lord, it felt like his expression was hinting me not to engage him right now, given the awkward atmosphere, so I decided to wait until another occasion.
Since I lived in the First Elder’s residence, I could see him the next day or later.
“Does he not plan on returning to the Hao Clan?”
Though the identity of the Hao Clan’s Lord was a secret, he was still the leader of a clan.
I was left wondering if it was permissible for him to stay in a place like this,
But then again, father must have given his approval for it to be fine.
If there were any problems or complications, my father would have likely dealt with it by now.
Glancing once more at Elder Mook, I resumed my journey to the clan.
Once Gu Yangcheon left, Elder Mook’s sweeping instantly stopped.
Only Gu Ryoon continued to wear a sour expression while lying on the floor.
“Children grow up fast, yet he’s changed quite a bit.”
Elder Mook remarked, observing Gu Yangcheon’s departing figure.
There was a strange emotion weaving through his voice.
“Stop keeping an eye on him.”
Gu Ryoon recognized the greed hidden within Elder Mook’s emotions and spoke curtly.
Moreover,
Swoosh,
Warmth began to fill the small hut.
“What’s the—? Are you going to beat up your feeble friend now?”
“You know my temperament. You should realize that I could easily do so.”
“It seems like even with age, your temper hasn’t mellowed.”
“Make sure to return once you’re done. To your rightful place.”
“That coldness remains unchanged as well.”
The affection Elder Mook had once shown to Gu Yangcheon had vanished, leaving only sharpness in its place.
Elder Mook recognized that this was the true demeanor of the Flaming Fist.
Moreover, Elder Mook knew the real title associated with the Flaming Fist, so he refrained from making any further comments.
“I wasn’t exhibiting greed.”
“What an obvious lie.”
“…Of course, for a brief moment, I thought perhaps he could suit my daughter! I should have let that roam a bit longer.”
“You old fool! That is greed! Do you even know how old your daughter is when you say such things?”
“…She’s probably over thirty by now?”
“My grandson already has a lovely, young fiancée. So get going.”
The boy even had numerous choices available to him.
Somehow, Gu Yangcheon’s astonishing luck with women had never faded.
“…Hmph.”
Elder Mook snorted in discontent, but Gu Ryoon ignored him entirely.
Leaving Gu Ryoon behind, Elder Mook fixed his gaze on the direction Gu Yangcheon had gone.
His eyes were notably calmer compared to earlier.
He’s burning brighter than before.
Gu Yangcheon’s presence felt much more potent compared to their last encounter.
Was it because he was the son of the Tiger Warrior?
No.
Rather than describe him simply as the Tiger Warrior’s son…
It’s more appropriate to label him as the child of a noble yet enchanting monster.
He didn’t know how much of his mother’s blood he had inherited, but if he possessed a significant portion, it all made sense.
Of course, it was unfortunate that his little sister didn’t seem to acquire a lot from their mother, yet the fact that even one of them had inherited was crucial.
May he continue to grow like this.
As he thought of Gu Yangcheon, Elder Mook fervently hoped that the flames born from this lineage would cleanse this land of its burdens.
“Hey! You’re slacking!”
“How about you just do it yourself if you’re so dissatisfied?”
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Elder Mook lunged at Gu Ryoon with a broom.
Somewhere in the west, a middle-aged man was sweating as he climbed a steep slope.
“…Damn, this road is a real mess!”
The birds nearby took off in a flurry after the man’s outburst.
Watching them, the middle-aged man, Chuwong from the Beggar’s Sect, contemplated how he found himself in such a predicament.
“…Damn.”
As those thoughts crossed his mind, curse words spilled from his mouth, yet there was no one around to chastise him.
Rustle.
Having stomped through branches while wandering the forest, this had already stretched into a year.
It all began when he was tricked by the True Dragon and fled west about a year ago.
…If I hadn’t gone back then.
Things might have turned out so much better.
It had been a year since he had replayed these grumbling thoughts daily without fail.
While it seemed ridiculous, if he didn’t express his grievances like this, he wouldn’t be able to cope with his miserable state.
He mused over how the Fighting Dog of the Beggar’s Sect had wound up in such a predicament.
Chuwong expelled a deep sigh.
After passing through the forest for what seemed like ages, a hut finally came into view.
…Oh crap.
As soon as he spotted the hut, Chuwong felt a surge of anxiety.
He really didn’t want to go there, but his feet wouldn’t stop moving.
Because if he didn’t keep moving, he couldn’t predict what kind of monstrous human would emerge from within.
Eventually, he arrived at the hut’s front.
Creak.
Upon opening the door and stepping inside, he noticed someone was already waiting for him.
“…Hehe, master, I’ve arrived.”
Despite his large stature, Chuwong displayed a weak demeanor upon seeing the figure seated in the chair.
This had turned into one of his survival tactics learned over the years.
Although the person sitting in front of him didn’t even seem to care.
“You’re late.”
At the heavy tone of those words, Chuwong hurriedly approached, rubbing his palms together in an urgent manner.
“Ah, I’m sorry… I was busy with some things and arrived a bit late.”
The young man glanced at Chuwong before closing his eyes.
Would hitting his head give me a chance to win?
Chuwong briefly entertained such thoughts but quickly brushed them aside.
If he could defeat him that easily, he would have already done so.
Unfortunately, the man before him was not one to be trifled with in such a way.
…Who was the idiot who labeled this person as one of the weaker Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes? I’ll track them down and make them pay!
Swimming through memories of his past year being subjected to the dragon warrior, Bi Eejin, he knew that he was nowhere near the level of some young prodigy.
He couldn’t even begin to compare him to those younglings!
What the hell is someone like this doing here?
If he had to make a comparison, it would probably either be against the famed dragon, Peng Woojin, or, in fact, the legendary Sword Phoenix.
And what about the True Dragon?
As the memory of the True Dragon, Gu Yangcheon, who had sent him here surfaced, he figured it would be hard to compare them equally.
Regardless, the undeniable fact remained: both were absurdly powerful.
Bi Eejin examined Chuwong intently.
“The letter I wrote—did you send it properly?”
“…Yes, I sent it off immediately.”
“And there’s still no response?”
“Haha… Y-yeah, that’s correct.”
Upon hearing Chuwong’s reply, the young man, Bi Eejin, frowned, revealing his displeasure.
“…Hmm.”
Was he bothered by something?
Seeing the change in the atmosphere made Chuwong’s shoulders tense.
In situations like this, the outcomes were seldom in his favor.
Thankfully, he had an approach for such instances.
Before Bi Eejin could act, Chuwong spoke up first.
“Oh, Master.”
Instantly, Bi Eejin’s cold black eyes locked onto Chuwong.
Chuwong froze under his intimidating gaze, but he couldn’t silence his tongue.
“…The youngest Young Lady was inquiring about you earlier, Master.”
“…”
The youngest Young Lady.
Chuwong observed a slight easing of Bi Eejin’s expression upon mentioning her.
As anticipated, this was effective against him.
Somehow, this tempestuous man showed an inexplicable vulnerability when it came to the youngest child.
“I believe she was looking for you to share a meal…”
However, before Chuwong could finish his sentence, Bi Eejin sprang to his feet.
He was likely sprinting down to find the youngest Young Lady.
It was pure fortune that he had bumped into a blood relative from the Bi Clan while roaming, solidifying his victory today.
Thank you for letting me live at least one more day…!
Otherwise, he might have ended up hanging from a tree today!
Bi Eejin moved swiftly.
“Come to me the instant you receive any news.”
“Of course! I will rush back immediately!”
“You’re aware of the consequences of running away again, right?”
“Y-Yes…”
Recollections of what had occurred when he tried to escape sent chills down Chuwong’s spine.
“Oh, incinerate this as you return.”
As he passed by, Bi Eejin handed Chuwong a letter.
“This is…?”
“I’m fortunate to have such an opportunity to meet them earlier than expected.”
“Huh?”
Chuwong turned around, puzzled by his comments, only to find Bi Eejin had already vanished by that point.
Soon after, Chuwong glanced down at the letter in his hands, and it read.
-Scheduled to enter the Heavenly Dragon Academy.
…Huh?
Were these words entirely unexpected?
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.