Chapter 409
The surroundings are quiet.
Everyone was holding their breath, staring at the situation as if trying to grasp the gravity of what had just happened.
A few seconds pass like this.
Though it was merely a handful of seconds, the silence felt unusually long due to the multitude of thoughts swirling in the minds of the onlookers.
The moment the prolonged silence finally shattered was the trigger of someone’s words.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Accompanied by that brief shock, the words that had been barely restrained burst forth in a relentless torrent.
“What just happened? Did you see…?”
“That White Lotus Sword got pushed away…!”
A clash among the warlike beings.
It was a brutal fight, full of bets and bloodshed.
Although it was referred to as a duel, it bore the violence of a battle that no one could recklessly interfere in and from which there was no escape.
All I could do was watch the situation anxiously, worried that something catastrophic might happen.
No one dared to intervene.
“That can’t be….”
“They said it was incredible, and the rumors were true, huh?”
Everyone’s eyes widened as they gazed at the young man who unflinchingly entered the melee.
A youth scanning the surroundings with furrowed brows and piercing glances.
He was considered the most promising warrior in the current Central Plains.
“Soyeomra….”
Soyeomra Gu Yangcheon.
The one who had subdued the mastermind behind the Shinryonggwan attack conducted by criminals currently being transported.
A young hero who upheld the honor of the righteous by delivering merciless punishment to the Sapa clan.
He began to establish himself as a master, proving his worth beyond the later ranks with these achievements.
“… There are rumors that he has entered Hwagyeong. Is that really true?”
“Hey, even so, claiming he’s Hwagyeong at such a young, practically juvenile age? That’s a bit of an exaggeration, isn’t it?”
“If that’s not the case, then how can you explain that situation…?”
“… That’s something.”
A man who struggled to deny the jealousy he harbored as a warrior bit his tongue in silence.
Being a warrior himself, he couldn’t possibly misunderstand the magnitude of the martial skill Soyeomra had just briefly demonstrated.
Furthermore, he found it difficult to fathom just how the event had unfolded under Soyeomra’s influence.
“But still, calling it Hwagyeong….”
Even if he had reached the pinnacle at such a young age, it was a situation that would make anyone’s jaw drop.
To suggest he had surpassed that level? The man found it hard to accept.
The root of this difficulty lay in the foolish jealousy that people couldn’t help but feel.
And quite a number of individuals were sharing that sentiment with him.
This only confirmed just how outstanding Soyeomra’s talent was.
It was talent so remarkable that it could provoke envy even from seasoned warriors training for years.
However, even so…
‘Pushing that White Lotus Sword away?’
Regardless of how exceptional Soyeomra’s talent might be, that display was so beyond reason it seemed to cross a line.
Not only did he pierce through the sword energy of none other than the White Lotus Sword, but he had also managed to push it back?
Who is the White Lotus Sword?
She is one of the female masters, an influential figure spoken of immediately after the previous master’s death, and a serious candidate for the next lead.
If one were to pick an idol among female swordswomen, she’d undoubtedly be in the top five everyone would mention.
Though her fame has dimmed, having gone inactive for several years,
It remains an undeniable truth that the White Lotus Sword is a respected figure.
It’s surely the case that…
‘So what about that young man…?’
What about the young man who managed to withstand the White Lotus Sword’s might?
The man watching couldn’t wrap his head around it, nor could anyone else.
And now…
Soyeomra, who was at the center of all those gazes was thinking,
‘… Ah, shit, I messed up. This is really bad.’
I was cursing myself for my inability to control my temper and causing this chaos.
Gulp
I stole a glance at my surroundings. There were more than just a few onlookers.
‘Damn it.’
I had to mentally sigh at the sight.
Several families were departing for Sacheon, and since the primary purpose was transportation, there were already a lot of people—but it felt like practically all of them had gathered here.
Looking at their wide eyes and clamoring voices, I realized this was decidedly not a good situation.
– “It’s Soyeomra…”
– “Soyeom….”
The sound of those nicknames whispering in my ears only added to my irritation.
Along with that, regret was bubbling up within me.
Before I knew it, those feelings morphed into resentment directed at those responsible for this situation.
‘What in the world was this chaos since the crack of dawn?’
I gazed at the people sprawled on the ground with a frown.
Three women getting back up stiffened visibly upon making eye contact with me.
Observing them closely, I refrained from voicing my thoughts but instead formed a shape with my mouth.
“You lot.
Better see me later.”
Making my lips form the words clearly, I wondered if they understood, as all three of them swiftly avoided my gaze.
I then shifted my focus away from those three troublemakers to the other side where a woman stared blankly ahead.
A woman collapsed on the ground, gazing at me with a lost look.
I was referring to the White Lotus Sword, Mo Yong-bi-yeon.
Seeing her made me involuntarily frown.
‘What on earth is going on with that lady?’
She was of an age and standing where one would question why she would engage in such reckless antics.
But the issue at hand wasn’t just her regular brawl.
In the world of warriors, as long as both parties are in agreement, sparring can happen at any time.
Conversely, when there’s a disagreement, it can escalate quickly.
The reality is that practicing martial arts together is something possible at any time between those training under a master.
How much more so when a master takes the opportunity to teach a novice?
From a beginner’s perspective, it’s nothing short of a golden opportunity.
‘That was a close call.’
Just now, the situation was excessively problematic.
It might’ve been fierce enough to be classified more as a battle than a spar.
If we make it through that, one might say it’s manageable.
But the real issue was the energy that the White Lotus Sword had unleashed at the end.
‘Is the plan to obliterate them all?’
It felt far too intense to be merely a scare tactic.
Clearly, the force that would have been unleashed from the end of her sword would have been devastating if left unblocked.
If it had come to that…
‘I might not be dead, but…’
From what I could discern about their skill levels, I could unmistakably tell it would result in a bloodbath.
Cringe.
As I mulled this over, I suddenly felt an uneasiness in my arm.
Evidently, I had sustained a bit of damage from what had unfolded.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a deep wound and wasn’t caused by the sword.
With a sigh of relief, I checked myself over.
‘That was a bit too close for comfort.’
Though others might think I “intervened” and disrupted everything, the reality was decidedly less glamorous.
I had been aiming for both sides to falter from my interruption while leveraging that moment to deflect the force they were both exerting against me.
While it may sound clever when recounted, it was a mere method for defensive purposes, resulting only in damage to myself.
Hah.
Tired as I was, what was happening?
Ouch.
I buffered my trembling arms, filling the air around with a heavy presence, then turned toward the White Lotus Sword.
“… What exactly is going on here?”
Hearing my question, the White Lotus Sword finally dispelled her dazed appearance and seemed to gain some focus.
She looked dazed before finally appearing to gather her thoughts.
“Ah….”
It seemed she was finally assessing the situation around her, letting out a brief expression before standing up. I kept my gaze fixed on her.
“Senior.”
“Hmm?”
“I am beginning to doubt whether this sort of behavior fits into my role of escorting you.”
Hearing my lightly sarcastic remark, the White Lotus Sword’s brows twitched.
Did she seem mad, or was she just surprised? Regardless, my words wouldn’t pause.
“That… this is….”
“If you’re my escort, you ought to protect me accordingly. Why are you engaging in swordplay with my people? I don’t get it.”
“….”
“Or did you want the children to get hurt?”
Considering the years she’d spent honing her craft, my words might come off as disrespectful, yet my character wouldn’t let me take back what I felt compelled to say.
She frowned—biting her lip in response to my frustration-laden words.
Every so slightly, I worried the sword wouldn’t be pointed in my direction, but it felt too loaded to ignore at that moment.
“What on earth were you thinking? Is there a reason behind this spectacle in front of all these people?”
Upon hearing my query, the White Lotus Sword momentarily hesitated before giving me her answer.
The reply was bold enough to catch me off guard.
“… I just thought I’d play around since I saw some kids….”
I couldn’t help but chuckle derisively as I witnessed her avoidance of eye contact, blushing as she spoke.
Had she considered her sparring to be a teaching moment, I might have let it slide more easily.
Instead, her truth was that it was a mere whim due to boredom, leaving me at a loss for words.
“You’re way past the age to be playing with children, aren’t you?”
“… W-what?”
With a flinch, she seemed to realize the near-implication of her actions.
Despite appearing youthful and sprightly, she was actually of an age that was closer to my father’s.
I reiterated that she was not in a position where she could just engage in swordplay while claiming boredom with children.
What perplexed me was that, contrary to expectations, the White Lotus Sword appeared more embarrassed than furious at my sarcasm.
‘That’s only natural.’
In a way, it was utterly sensible.
People who achieve greatness at that age generally have their pride remaining intact, so they might typically lash out upon being spoken to in such a manner.
Yet, here was the White Lotus Sword bearing genuine embarrassment.
‘Then again…’
She almost caused a problem while just fooling around, so it’s understandable she felt that way.
If I were her, I’d probably spend a few days avoiding eye contact with everyone around.
Even so, the White Lotus Sword’s reaction was somewhat unexpected, but this wasn’t the time for idle musings.
I couldn’t have cared less about her intentions; what mattered was the very real fact she’d nearly harmed those three because of her thoughtlessness.
Upon recalling that, I spoke to her, suppressing my rising emotions.
“Even if Madam Mi allowed it, if you’re going to act this recklessly, then forget any talk of me escorting you.”
“What…?”
In an instant, her expression shifted, almost as if she considered what I said difficult to digest.
Was it that complicated?
“It’s simple, really. If you’re going to do whatever you want, then stop hovering around my escorting duties.”
This wasn’t something I needed, nor something I desired in the first place.
Honestly, things had become annoying.
“I’ll speak to Madam Mi later about it, so just enjoy your journey.”
“Ah, wait a moment…!”
After delivering that message, I turned my back on the White Lotus Sword at once.
I had no desire to converse for long with someone whose thoughts were like a mystery.
While the White Lotus Sword reacted with bewilderment, I simply dismantled the barrier around me and set off onward.
With so many eyes on me, I just wanted to get out of here.
Oh, and amidst all that, I didn’t forget to call out to the trio who seemed to sigh like something grand had just occurred.
“You three, make sure to see me later.”
“…”
Quickly, I exited the scene while observing the expressions of my friends who looked like they’d just seen a ghost.
I didn’t plan on scolding them,
But I wanted to find out just how everything escalated to this point.
Of course, I couldn’t guarantee my temper wouldn’t flare, but still…
Time passed, and as the morning’s calamity faded into memory, it was soon after noon.
I was training, moving hefty rocks back and forth.
As I was told I had to be on the move by afternoon, I planned to keep repeating the training until then.
Of course, sensing I couldn’t focus completely, I merely engaged in light physical exercises.
“Huff…”
I took a deep breath and hoisted up a boulder that seemed several sizes larger than my body.
This was a training method relying solely on physical strength without dipping into bets or wagers.
As time went by, I started to feel sweat bead and trickle down.
‘Feeling energetic from sweating… What is happening?’
In my past life, I would’ve been swift to call anyone acting like this a madman.
Especially during my time training with Yeongpung, I constantly cursed them as lunatics.
But now, here I was, casually engaging in this intense activity.
While I was occupied with my rock-moving routine,
Boom! Woohyuk, training alongside me, promptly tossed aside a rock and directed his voice toward me.
“I heard something major happened this morning. What was going on?”
Wiping the sweat off his forehead, Woohyuk inquired.
Oh, had he not been there during the commotion?
“… They were saying that any martial artist worth their salt made an appearance, so how did you manage to miss it?”
“I don’t really enjoy noisy places.”
He claimed he disliked tumultuous crowds.
There was a part of my past self that resonated with that statement—I’d had a similar tendency.
I thought about giving him a brief synopsis of the chaos that ensued but pushed the inclination down, opting to let it slide.
“It was nothing serious.”
That’s how I roughly answered, falling back into my training.
Woohyuk seemed to have more questions bubbling up, but upon realizing I wouldn’t indulge any further, he pouted and hefted the rock again.
Why did he look so disgruntled like a petulant child?
I almost felt compelled to strike him on the head.
Just as I was about to let out another wry comment,
Paewoocheol piped up.
“Nothing serious? You were quite impressive, bro!”
“Were you watching that entire time…?”
“The path you were treading was hard to miss, would you agree?”
“….”
This guy was starting to feel a bit unnerving.
Why were all the men flocking to me such peculiar characters?
…Then again, perhaps it wasn’t exclusive to the men.
I felt myself realize with certainty.
‘As expected, I’m the most normal one here.’
Of course, I was!
Nodding vigorously, I focused on the present when suddenly,
“… I can’t take it anymore…”
Crash! Cheol Ji-seon, who’d been quaking while training, finally collapsed in an exhausted heap.
Watching her, Paewoocheol chuckled softly, nudging her.
“Ji-seon, you could still do that a couple more times.”
“That’s ridiculous…! Two more?! Impossible!”
Hearing Paewoocheol’s tease made Ji-seon’s eyes widen in shock, prompting him to beam knowingly at her.
“Ah, I see. Guess I misjudged you just now.”
“Right? It seems utterly impossible….”
“Yet you still managed to scream with that much gusto! I’d wager three more attempts are feasible. Come on, jump back in!”
“AHHHHHHH!”
What on earth were they even doing?
I couldn’t make heads or tails of it, and honestly, I didn’t want to get mixed up in their antics.
Just when I was about to turn my gaze elsewhere and get back to my training,
I felt an unfamiliar approach from a distance.
I immediately pivoted towards the source of the disturbance.
“This is….”
Not long after, Woohyuk must’ve sensed it too—his focus shifted in tandem.
At that moment, we could see a woman with black hair gracefully land.
I couldn’t help but frown at the sight.
“… White Lotus Sword.”
The individual making a sudden entrance was none other than the White Lotus Sword herself.
Upon spotting her,
‘Is she here for something with me?’
Since she was likely seeking me out after that morning’s incident, it seemed we might eventually be having our rendezvous.
More so, I worried she might have come to confront me regarding how I handled her disrespect earlier.
“Ugh, that’ll be… troublesome.”
Then again, how could I expect her to refrain from being angry after that?
Regardless of who was right, it was customary in this damned Central Plains for one to express their frustration when met with such mockery openly.
Letting out a sigh, I tried to collect my thoughts.
‘Maybe if I offer a vague apology, it’ll smooth things over?’
I was still a bit agitated from the earlier outburst and acknowledged that.
I’d express my sincere apologies and mention it was a reflexive move.
Likely, a respectful bow would eventually bridge the gap.
As I contemplated how to proceed,
I noticed the White Lotus Sword’s approaching expression looked tense.
Was she angry… or perhaps anxious?
I thought it over.
‘Surely not.’
Was she intending to draw her weapon against me like she had in the morning?
Oh no, that would be quite a predicament.
I gulped, feeling my throat go dry as I nervously regarded the White Lotus Sword.
As she drew nearer, the tension in the air grew palpable.
While I hadn’t seen her often, I’d learned enough to be wary of her unpredictable temperament.
In the moment before I looked to show her the proper respect as she came close,
She suddenly bent down quickly.
‘What on earth?!’
Could this really be a surprise attack?
Prepared to counter any potential ambush, I braced myself when something wholly unexpected unfolded.
The White Lotus Sword suddenly grabbed onto my pant leg.
“What…!”
In a flurry, I turned to face her, bewildered by the sudden change. Her voice rang out as she grabbed hold of me.
“I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”
“…W-What?!”
The White Lotus Sword, holding tightly to my pant leg, began to wail.
In this moment of utter bewilderment, Woohyuk, Paewoocheol, and even Cheol Ji-seon were fixated on me with incredulous eyes.
Amidst the chaos, Cheol Ji-seon whispered quietly,
“… Now even the White Lotus Sword… But isn’t the age gap a bit too much for that…?”
Damn it, what a statement, ringing all too clearly in the air.
Perhaps it was unfortunate that people around us nodded to Cheol Ji-seon’s observation.
It appeared some bizarre misunderstanding had sprouted.
“Hey! That’s not how it is…! Let go of me! What’s with this lady!”
“I’m so sorry!”
I called out urgently, but nobody around seemed willing to believe me.
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