Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 58 : Return

Return

"How do you find the taste of the tea?"

"It's excellent."

Jeong-un replied to the question from Jin Namjung, the Gate Leader of Huayeon Gate.

This was not mere courtesy.

Even the fragrance was extraordinary. A clear and subtle floral scent lingered in the air.

Even Jeong-un, who knew little about tea, could sense it was a rare variety.

"It's called Cheonji. Only a small amount is cultivated in Jiangsu Province, but it's also presented as tribute in Beijing."

"I see."

The Gate Leader of Huayeon had always been a kind man.

Even when he thought Jeong-un was just an insignificant wandering martial artist, he treated him as an honored guest.

He did so even when Wei Jinmyeong of the Wei Sword Clan, who had been putting financial pressure on Huayeon Gate, showed his displeasure.

Even so, this felt a bit excessive.

Not just because of the fine tea being served.

There was a palpable warmth in every small word and gesture he made towards Jeong-un.

'Is it because my identity as a Heavenly Martial Hall's warrior was revealed?'

That surely played a part, but even so, summoning Jeong-un alone and making such arrangements was not natural.

If he wanted to speak to a Heavenly Martial Hall warrior, he would have called Baek Sang, the two-striped warrior and leader of the group.

'What's his intention?'

Though he looked at Jeong-un with friendly eyes, he continued with small talk as if building up to something.

Jeong-un watched him quietly for a moment, then parted his lips.

"Gate Leader."

"Speak."

"Please, tell me your business."

"......"

Jin Namjung gazed at the confident face of a boy much younger than himself.

Ever since the incident with the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild, he had thoroughly investigated Jeong-un.

Only the most gifted prodigies could be admitted to the Heavenly Martial Hall.

And among the newly admitted one-striped warriors this year, the foremost of the rising stars was the boy right before him.

'... How did I not realize it?'

He did suspect there was something unusual about his appearance and demeanor.

But he never felt a profound level of internal energy.

Naturally, he didn't imagine Jeong-un possessed a high level of martial arts.

He had even felt somewhat sorry for him.

He knew that Jeong-un, as a guest, devoted himself to training every single day.

When he heard that, he felt pity in his heart.

For a martial artist without talent, devoting oneself endlessly to fruitless martial arts training led only to defeat and despair.

For a martial artist, such frustration was beyond words.

'But now...'

Recently, much had changed in this place.

Or rather, things had reverted to the way they should be.

The Myriad Gold Merchant Guild, which had enormous influence over Jinyang Prefecture, turned out to be a sinister group from the Evil Faction.

Moreover, its leader was already listed for elimination by the Murim Alliance.

The Wei Sword Clan, which had received various cultivation pills and secret manuals from the guild, was utterly destroyed as well.

Even if they had not known of the guild's essence-draining practices, they had still partnered with the Evil Faction and terrorized the region—reason enough for punishment.

And all of it was achieved by the boy before him.

He had even defeated both the leader and his son.

"The reason I called you, young hero..."

Jin Namjung took a moment, then spoke slowly.

"... I heard you are seventeen this year."

"That's correct."

Jeong-un looked at him with a puzzled gaze.

He suddenly brought up age. It was a strange topic.

"Do you have anyone to whom you are promised in marriage?"

"... Pardon?"

Marriage?

Jeong-un could hardly believe his ears.

He had considered many possibilities, but this was something he'd never expected.

"I heard you entered the Heavenly Martial Hall this year. If you complete your training safely, you'll be well past the average marrying age. To put it plainly, you'll have passed what's commonly called the suitable age for marriage."

"Why are you suddenly asking about this..."

"People say most commoners don't even reach the age of knowing destiny, but how could martial artists' lives be the same as common folk? Considering the long years ahead of you, I don't think it should be counted as a fault."

"Gate Leader..."

Jeong-un called out to him, his expression hardening.

He felt this was beyond reason.

"As a father, I have to request this. Please, just consider it."

"I cannot."

He shook his head firmly, leaving no room for argument.

'You're asking someone who left home to avoid marriage for this?'

If he had stayed quietly at the Yu household, he would've lived a peaceful, married life.

Having taken up the sword and entered the Heavenly Martial Hall, to be arranging a marriage now was a ridiculous notion.

"As you mentioned, I haven't even reached the expected age, but I am well aware of my own path. I am not one to settle down in a single place."

"You don't have to decide right now."

"Did you ask Jin Seoyeon how she feels about this?"

He could not answer that.

He had suspected as much. The Gate Leader probably brought it up out of kindness and with his own daughter's best interests at heart.

Jeong-un was not doubting his character; he merely questioned whether the most important aspect was being overlooked.

That was a limitation of this era. Usually, parents decided their children's marriages.

In fact, if Jeong-un had stayed cooped up in his room, he might already have become a live-in son-in-law elsewhere, not at the Heavenly Martial Hall.

"......"

Jin Namjung stared at Jeong-un with surprised eyes.

He clearly hadn't expected that response.

Soon after, he lowered his head with a complicated expression.

"... I've shown you another disgraceful side of myself."

"That's not it. Honestly, I haven't even acquired the basic virtues I should possess. My education was shallow from a young age. Had you observed me for longer, you might have been very disappointed."

"You needn't belittle yourself to that extent."

Jin Nam-ung let out a chuckle at Jeong-un's words.

He recognized Jeong-un said this out of consideration for his own embarrassment.

For a while, only the quiet clink of teacups filled the room.

Jin Namjung spoke again.

"I got the order wrong."

"...?"

"I should have thanked you first. We all owe you a great debt. I should've said this before anything else... I apologize."

A man so much older bowed before a mere boy.

Jeong-un returned the bow and spoke.

"Even if it weren't me, someone from the Heavenly Martial Hall would have arrived soon enough."

At those words, Jin Namjung smiled faintly.

The boy before him had both skill and humility.

How many in the martial world only pay lip service to chivalry and martial virtue?

Such character was rare in these times—he couldn't help but think so.

"And... Jin Seoyeon displays a remarkable sensitivity."

"You mean Seoyeon?"

Jeong-un nodded and continued.

"If I may say so, Jin Seoyeon seemed to have a talent for handling internal energy. Even without help, she might have resolved things on her own soon."

"Heh..."

Jin Nam-ung's eyes widened.

This was not something to take lightly when said by a formidable warrior of the Heavenly Martial Hall.

'Did I sound too arrogant?'

However, seeing his expression, Jeong-un suddenly felt he might've said too much.

Who was he to evaluate someone else's qualities?

'... But I only spoke the truth.'

He merely spoke as he saw it. Jin Seoyeon truly seemed to have an unusual sense when it came to handling ki.

And, judging by his own albeit brief experience in the martial world, that wasn't something that could be acquired just through practice.

"......"

At some point, the fragrant tea had gone cold.

Having conveyed his unwavering resolve, Jeong-un rose from his seat and cupped his fist in farewell.

"Well then, I'll take my leave. Thank you for the excellent tea."

"Thank you."

Jeong-un stepped out.

Jin Namjung watched his departing figure with lingering regret in his eyes.

"... I was being too greedy. He's someone fit to roam the world unhindered."

* * *

"What was that about?"

Upon returning to their room, Baek Sang, still lying down, asked Jeong-un.

He seemed genuinely curious.

"It was nothing."

"You smell wonderful. And after being served rare tea, you got nothing out of it?"

"Yes."

Jeong-un answered briefly on purpose.

It was not something he particularly wanted to talk about.

"Really? I thought maybe they at least gave you some elixir or something."

"Elixir? For me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Jeong-un asked back as if the idea was preposterous.

Baek Sang replied nonchalantly.

"If you think about it, you basically saved this entire region, didn't you? It wouldn't be odd to ask for some reward."

"... Isn't this exactly what someone admitted into the Heavenly Martial Hall is supposed to do?"

"It's only right."

"But to expect a reward for it?"

"Is there any reason to refuse it if it's being handed to you?"

"......"

Jeong-un stared at Baek Sang with a strange look.

"What?"

"Aren't you a Taoist?"

"Do you really think Taoists just nibble on grass for a living?"

"Isn't that true?"

"... Think whatever you want."

Baek Sang rolled over, still lying down.

"......"

To Jeong-un, Baek Sang was an unpredictable person.

The Mount Hua Sect is renowned as a Taoist sect.

Most of its disciples train in martial arts, while some only study Taoist philosophy and do not train in martial arts.

And even among them, Baek Sang was said to be an elite.

Upon leaving the Heavenly Martial Hall, his chances of becoming one of the Plum Blossom Swordmasters were extremely high.

Perhaps sensing the gaze, Baek Sang's voice came again from where he lay.

"Hey, do you know the difference between the Righteous Faction and the Evil Faction?"

"What is it?"

"The Righteous Faction lets the common people make offerings to them on their own accord, while the Evil Faction just takes it by force. Either way, it all comes from the same purse, nothing's changed."

"......"

What kind of place is the martial world that this man sees, Jeong-un wondered idly.

* * *

A few more days passed.

It didn't take long for the Heavenly Martial Hall warriors to recover.

Few were wounded, and those injuries were shallow at that.

They hardly seemed the type to have survived a life-or-death battle.

"That's because Young Hero Yu cut down all of their major figures by himself, isn't it?"

Yeo Ho-jun casually remarked by Jeong-un's side.

He was referring to Baek Sagun and his son.

One had his body split in two and died; the other had his head severed and ran off.

Everyone from the Heavenly Martial Hall saw those corpses.

Each had a word to say, commenting how fitting their ends were for such infamous figures.

"Take care, everyone."

"Wishing you safe travels."

The Huayeon Gate Leader and Jin Seoyeon came out to see them off.

Their disciples lined up behind them, gazing at the Heavenly Martial Hall's warriors with awe in their eyes.

"Thank you for your hospitality."

Baek Sang stepped forward and shared the bow.

They all mounted their horses.

As Jeong-un had come without a horse, he rode one prepared by Huayeon Gate.

Though he initially tried not to accept it, he made sure to pay for it—he felt it was right.

Then his eyes met Jin Seoyeon's.

He gave a small bow, and she smiled as she returned his gaze.

'......'

Had she found some realization? Her presence felt different.

That's the way of martial artists. With the right revelation, they could grow rapidly in just a short time.

With that, Jeong-un's group rode off, stirring up dust behind them.

Jin Seoyeon, without watching their receding figures to the end, turned away.

"Where are you going?"

From behind, Soran the maid caught up.

"Hm, maybe to the waterfall."

"Suddenly? You haven't been there for a while."

Jin Seoyeon said nothing, just smiled softly, and set off.