Chapter: 505
Degu-rurur.
Bottles of alcohol are rolling on the table, and empty plates are piled high.
There were still faint traces of food left in the bowls.
To put it differently…
It means I devoured all that food.
And alone, at that.
Guh-ek…
The middle-aged man with white hair let out a satisfied belch. The smell of alcohol was wafting around him.
“…Hah.”
The woman, observing this, spoke in disbelief.
“Look at yourself. Are you really a Taoist?”
“Hmm…?”
The man, having drifted off to sleep, finally opened his bleary eyes at the sound of her voice.
And there she was, a stunning beauty with deep black hair, squinting her eyes.
“Oh.”
Seeing her, the man, Namgung Hyung, bolted upright. It was a familiar face.
“Sister?”
Namgung Hyung’s words deepened the woman’s frown.
“Ah! The smell of alcohol!”
This was because the stench coming from him was absolutely horrendous.
The smell of alcohol mixed with the aroma of food made it unbearable.
The woman bit her lips tightly, as if the odor was genuinely intolerable.
Whoooosh!
With a mighty huff, the woman released a blast of wind pressure from her body, attempting to expel the foul air that had permeated the entire inn.
Hwaaaaah!
A gust of wind swept through the space, and only after most of the smell had faded could the woman manage a proper facial expression.
“…Ah, you crazy bastard. Are you a Taoist? You look more ragged every time I see you.”
“Ugh… I’m dying… I have a hangover… Sis, can you pass me some water?”
“If you don’t want to kick the bucket, sober up. Want me to draw my sword here?”
“…Ugh.”
Hearing the woman’s words, Namgung Hyung helplessly closed his eyes.
Shhh…
A thin, shimmering haze began to swirl around Namgung Hyung’s shoulders.
This was a result of using an energy technique to expel the alcohol from his system.
Seeing the vivid haze form, the woman let out a dry chuckle.
“How much did you drink to make this happen?”
“It’s a waste of good alcohol… and I have to get rid of all of it.”
“Did you eat meat as well?”
The woman, examining the dishes on the table, remarked with a voice that sounded rather weary.
“Things really have become peculiar in the world. How could a Taoist eat meat?”
“How can a person live without meat? They ought to eat a bit.”
“Sure, a little can be fine. But if your master knew, he’d be enraged.”
“Hmph, you think that old man wouldn’t know? He just gave up on me.”
“Well done, indeed. That’s something to brag about.”
Confidently speaking those words, the woman had to pinch her brow.
After expelling the alcohol, Namgung Hyung opened his eyes again.
He squinted at the black-haired woman before him.
Seeing that, Namgung Hyung couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“It feels like it’s been a decade. Isn’t that so, Sister?”
“…You’re insane. You’ve remained hopelessly the same.”
At Baekryeon Sword’s words, Namgung Hyung grinned.
“You too are still the same. Your face looks just like it did back then.”
Compared to their last meeting, the White Lotus Sword still retained her beauty.
Looking at her, Namgung Hyung reached out for the bottle of alcohol in front of him.
The White Lotus Sword subtly shifted her body.
Crack!
Clang!
The bottle split cleanly in half, crashing to the floor with a loud noise.
“…”
Namgung Hyung looked at the scene, smacking his lips as if feeling regret.
“Why? Go ahead and drink.”
“I was going to, but no matter how I see it, it looked more like Samdochun water than alcohol…”
Giving up on the liquor, he grabbed the water next to him and gulped it down.
Gulp gulp.
Having quenched his thirst, Namgung Hyung turned to the White Lotus Sword and asked, “What brings you here? It’s not exactly a place we should be.”
“Oh, I just happened to pass by and heard that some crazy Taoist was causing a ruckus in the inn.”
“Wow, what a crazy guy?”
“Exactly! You crazy bastard…”
“Oh, is that me?”
Only then did Namgung Hyung realize it was him she was referring to, and an awkward smile spread across his face.
“But, what do you mean I caused a ruckus? All I did was drink…”
“What kind of trouble were you causing?”
The White Lotus Sword threw a sideways glance.
There was a dot, keeping an eye on things from afar.
Seeing this, Baekryeon Sword let out an exasperated sigh.
“Can’t you see that your antics are driving away the customers?”
“Hmm?”
At her words, Namgung Hyung looked around and realized.
There were no other guests in the inn apart from him and the White Lotus Sword.
Was it a place where business was failing? That couldn’t possibly be the case. When Namgung Hyung arrived, the place was bustling with customers.
So, what could have happened?
“You mentioned that you beat up anyone who tried to mess with you.”
“Ah.”
Upon hearing that, Namgung Hyung began to understand the situation.
There had been a group bothering him while he enjoyed a freedom he hadn’t felt in over a decade.
It seemed they didn’t appreciate him drinking in his Taoist robes and confronted him a bit aggressively.
That, it seemed, was the problem.
“… I don’t think I acted that harshly…”
“They said none among those driven out was able to walk on their own afterward?”
“Ugh…”
Namgung Hyung coughed awkwardly at the White Lotus Sword’s words.
He realized he had indeed been a bit too rough.
As he looked at him, Baekryon Sword held back a laugh.
“Of all the people I know, you’re the one who stands out the most in terms of looks and behavior. That hasn’t changed at all.”
“Likewise for you.”
He wanted to say that, but Namgung Hyung held back.
“…So, what brings you here, then?”
“I was just passing by, and when I heard about you, I thought I would drop in for a visit. Turns out, I came at the right time.”
Baekryon Sword’s gaze drifted over the table.
“All the shamans I know are always so tidy.”
“That’s why being a shaman is boring. Those folks practicing the Tao are more interested in tidying themselves up than anything else.”
“That doesn’t sound like something a prominent shaman would say.”
“Well, I’m in a position where I can say that. Heh heh!”
Namgung Hyung laughed heartily, revealing the food stuck between his teeth.
“You have chives stuck in your teeth.”
“I was saving it for later.”
“… If you’ve eaten enough, let’s just get up and stop causing trouble. You’re going to kill someone like that.”
It didn’t mean he’d actually die, but rather that he looked like he’d wither away and drop dead.
At those words, Namgung Hyung turned to look at Jeom So-yi.
Startled by Namgung Ga’s sharp, cold gaze, Jeom So-yi trembled.
Seeing that, Namgung Hyung beamed widely.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I’m going to pay you handsomely for the lost business.”
“Ah, ah… Thank you!”
When the situation resolved more smoothly than expected, a bloom of relief appeared on Jeom So-yi’s face.
Searching through his belongings to settle the bill, Namgung Hyung suddenly froze.
Noticing this, Baekryeon Sword asked with a worried expression.
“…What’s wrong?”
“Hmm. I see it now. I had forgotten something for a moment.”
“What is it?”
“I forgot that I didn’t have any money on hand.”
“…What?”
“So, here’s the thing, sister.”
Namgung Hyung squinted one eye and mask-fished while looking at Baekryon Sword.
“Could you lend me some money?”
At that refreshing request, Baekryon Sword smiled brightly.
And then, without hesitation, she smacked Namgung Hyung on the head with her fist.
Thwack!
Immediately after Baekryon Sword took out some money and calculated the inn’s daily expenses, she dragged out a creature whose appearance was outlandish.
“…That hurt.”
Namgung Hyung rubbed his sore forehead, feeling as if he had a lump there.
Fortunately, it appeared there was no actual bump.
‘Isn’t that scarier?’
The blow he had received was tremendous; Namgung Hyung thought he might faint at that moment.
The absence of any swelling suggested it had merely been an impact.
‘This sister hasn’t kicked the bucket yet.’
Although her appearance was unchanged, her skill seemed to have improved considerably.
While Namgung Hyung quietly expressed his respect, Baekryon Sword gazed at her empty pouch, near tears.
“You… crazy person, how much have you consumed?”
The White Lotus Sword lamented the money she had painstakingly gathered for her younger brother, all gone.
Oh, of course, she had spent a fair bit along the way, but never so much that it would disappear in an instant.
No, it was that pig, disguised as a Taoist, that had eaten through her funds.
Furthermore, after covering the cost of the furniture destroyed during his outburst, there was nothing left.
“Ah, I ate well.”
Namgung Hyung followed closely behind, toothpicking his teeth.
Seeing this, Baekryon Sword contemplated whether she should hit him again.
“…Sister.”
“What?”
“I sense a competitive fire in your gaze. Maybe try lowering those hands a little?”
“…”
She had been caught.
He was always quick on the uptake.
Huff…
“Don’t worry. I’ll repay you.”
“…With what?”
“…”
There was no answer.
Namgung Hyung knew it would be tough to repay with money.
“…I’ll think about that later…”
“Damn you.”
“Isn’t it good to see you again after such a long time? We haven’t seen each other in over a decade, you know.”
While his beating around the bush was irritating, she decided to let it slide for now.
“What you did during that time isn’t even worth asking about… the rumors alone are excessive enough that I wouldn’t need to.”
Namgung Hyung had heard tales about the Shaman Ghost Ship cropping up every now and then, so there was no need to pry further.
Instead, it was more significant for him to ask, “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you about your life?”
This should have been directed at Baekryon Sword, who had vanished for the last ten years.
Knowing this, Baekryon Sword gave a bitter smile.
Perhaps feeling his scrutiny, Namgung Hyung slightly turned his head away.
“Feel free not to share if you don’t want to. I’m not particularly curious.”
To a degree, he was sincere; Namgung Hyung wasn’t really interested in others’ lives.
“So let’s skip this. What’s the deal? You traveled all the way to Sichuan.”
“Oh, I just wanted to help my nephew with his dating affairs.”
“…What kind of nonsense is that?”
Namgung Hyung frowned.
Because it sounded absurd, he couldn’t make head or tails of it.
But those words were exactly how they sounded.
“If she’s your sister’s niece, is that the swordmaster’s daughter?”
The only child of Mo Yong-tae, the Baekcheon Swordmaster… which means…
‘You’re talking about her daughter?’
Suddenly, a chilly figure from Bukhae flickered through Namgung Hyung’s mind.
Though he wasn’t entirely familiar, there was a loose connection to that person.
To be specific, he was definitely more related to the princess than to that woman.
Moreover, more than Namgung Hyung himself…
His disciple, Woo-hyuk, probably had a deeper link.
‘Hmm, that should be fine.’
He figured it wouldn’t be a problem since his disciple didn’t seem to care much.
In fact, he was even planning to head to Bukhae—and it was to this end.
The daughter of the swordmaster.
It was a marvel to Namgung Hyung to see that figures from his era now had children and taken root in their own domains.
Perhaps that was why he exclaimed, “Oh! Come to think of it.”
A thought occurred to Namgung Hyung.
“Hmm?”
“I saw the son of the old master.”
“…!”
As the unexpected words emerged from Namgung Hyung’s mouth, Baekryon Sword’s eyes widened.
When referring to the son of the old clan, there was no one else but Guyangcheon.
“You… did you see him?”
“Hmm? You knew as well, sister?”
“…”
Of course, she did.
Given their company and having been on escort duties for a while, there was no way she wouldn’t know.
Even the man claiming to like her and follwing around her was that same guy.
Having no clue about this, Namgung Hyung excitedly shared his thoughts about Guyangcheon.
“It’s astonishing. Like father, like son… Seems blood really is thicker than water.”
“…What did you do?”
“No, it’s just that we had a sparring match, and it got weird.”
“What?”
At Namgung Hyung’s words, Baekryon Sword’s expression turned cold as ice for a moment.
A sparring match?
“…What were you thinking hitting him?”
“You mean to say an old man was the one hitting him?”
“What the heck are you talking about? I was hit!”
When Namgung Hyung cried out with indignation, Baekryon Sword halted upon hearing his words.
“…You were hit?”
“Yeah, I told you! I lost!”
It wasn’t exactly one of those things to trumpet about, but the tone behind it indicated import behind the words.
‘…He lost? That guy?’
The rumors may have spread wildly.
He was, after all, one of those who once vied for the position of Sword King.
No one knew better than Baekryon Sword just how formidable Namgung Hyung was.
Even though Guyangcheon was brimming with outrageous talent,
there was no way he could match Namgung Hyung now.
“How fierce was that punch? …I almost cried when I got hit!”
“…”
Listening to Namgung Hyung’s account, Baekryon Sword eventually shook her head.
Because she guessed that these words were mere ramblings.
From the beginning, Namgung Hyung had never been one to dwell on winning or losing.
As a martial artist, his pride wasn’t particularly immense.
He was notorious for bragging that he once lost to a seven-year-old kid from the neighborhood.
So surely he was doing the same type of boasting this time too.
‘Still, it seems he did see that kid after all.’
It was indeed true that he had seen Guyangcheon, and it seemed he had recognized the boy’s talent.
It would indeed be surprising.
That caliber of talent was something even Baekryon Sword had never laid her eyes on.
Plus,
‘He’s a boy full of secrets.’
Beyond mere talent, he was a child who possessed many complexities.
Fiery and hot-blooded, yet there was also a kind of dry, dead look in his eyes.
It felt like he resembled someone she had once followed around.
Their personalities may be vastly different, however.
Was it only Baekryon Sword who thought that way?
“He looks a lot like his father.”
Namgung Hyung suddenly echoed the same sentiment.
“What’s this? I bet my sister knows better.”
“…”
In those softly spoken words, Baekryon Sword subtly turned her head away.
As she spoke with Namgung Hyung, memories of the past began to resurface.
Whenever those memories surfaced, he always seemed to play a role.
The man, hot yet cold, and all the women around him.
The things they had done together resurfaced, bringing with them one emotion.
Is it nostalgia? No, it feels more like…
‘Regret.’
Regret filled her heart.
There were myriad things left undone and words left unsaid.
Of course, even knowing this…
‘I can’t just visit his face though.’
Unless she resolved her bundled emotions, it seemed she would never see him again.
She already had a history of not seeing him in Hanam while only spotting Mihyo-ran.
There was still a long way to go.
As she pondered these feelings and looked at Namgung Hyung,
“Huh?”
Namgung Hyung made a bewildered sound.
His eyes bulged wide, and he rubbed them as if he had seen something unbelievable.
“What’s going on?”
Watching him, Baekryon Sword inquired.
Namgung Hyung pointed ahead with a finger.
“Isn’t that… the old clan?”
“What kind of absurd talk is that? Not even jokes like that…”
As Baekryon Sword glanced in the direction Namgung Hyung pointed, her body froze like stone.
Someone was standing in front of them, arms crossed, watching the two.
A red robe adorned with gold trim.
With simple, tied-back black hair.
Even those piercing, burning red eyes.
Facing the gaze she had both longed for and feared to meet, Baekryon Sword found her breath hitching.
The man watching the White Lotus Sword.
Gu Cheol-woon spoke with an expression devoid of emotion.
“It’s been a while.”
At those words,
time itself stopped for the White Lotus Sword.
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.