novelraw Chapter 5 : Chapter 5
Chapter 5 : Chapter 5
Chapter 05 - What Are You Talking About Now?
“Tsk……”
Biyoung, who had left Hoyul Martial Arts Hall, narrowed his eyes.
Feeling a tingling sensation, he raised his arm to see the back of his hand swollen and blood seeping from his palm.
He hadn't realized it when he was beating up the boys in a fit of rage, but the current Biyoung had a body that found even hitting someone taxing.
Should I say it's fortunate that it's only this much, considering I broke bones with an untrained fist?
“Aish. It’s going to be hard to use chopsticks when I eat.”
Muttering words that would have made the half-crippled gang of the flat-nosed boy foam at the mouth if they heard, Biyoung walked slowly.
‘It’s better this way. I feel sorry for the old man, but…….’
The martial arts hall, whether it was called Hoyul or Hogu, was no longer necessary for Biyoung.
With the ultimate techniques of the Diancang Sect, said to be passed down only to the greatest masters, inside Biyoung's head, what was the point of attending a martial arts hall?
“Well, since the name was Hoyul Martial Arts Hall, the monthly fee probably wasn’t much.”
It was a waste of money, but learning martial arts under such a headmaster would make him forget what he already knew.
Biyoung kept muttering things like ‘Right, of course!’ and nodded his head.
How far had he walked?
Suddenly, Biyoung stopped and caressed his stomach.
Even though he hadn't used his internal energy, the energy of the elixir had boiled up from the earlier incident.
“Ugh…… it’s hot.”
What Biyoung urgently needed right now was to absorb the swallowed elixir.
He didn't know the name of the medicine, but it contained an energy so strong that his grandfather had called it a ‘poison’.
It wasn't something that Biyoung, who hadn't even created a dantian yet, could carelessly accept.
The old Biyoung would have swallowed and digested any elixir.
This was because the Diancang Sect had Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art, the greatest internal energy cultivation method in the martial world.
But now, let alone Profound Heaven's True Energy Unification Art, not even a dantian had been formed yet.
“A day? No, it’ll take at least a few days.”
If there isn't much energy in the body, it doesn't take that long to create a dantian.
Because the dantian is, literally, just a foundation.
But since he had taken an elixir before even starting, he needed to be careful.
This was because for both the dantian and innate qi, the ‘purity’ of the energy was most important.
No matter how outstanding an elixir is, impurities are bound to be mixed in.
He had to draw out only the clean energy from the swallowed elixir to create the dantian.
Biyoung planned to make his current body the best possible vessel, even if it meant staying up for several nights.
“Well, the effect will be certain, as much effort as I put in.”
It was when Biyoung, smiling with satisfaction, began to walk again.
“Biyoung-ah!”
“?”
Was there anyone in this village who would call my name?
That question did not last long.
The pipsqueak boy from Hoyul Martial Arts Hall who had explained the situation for Biyoung came into view.
Why did he follow me?
“Thank goodness. You haven't gone far.”
“You…… you are……”
I think the headmaster said his name back then, but my memory is hazy.
I could just be honest about it, but it feels a bit sorry to do that to the kid who helped me.
“You saw it too, right? I got hit in the temple earlier. I think my memory has flown away.”
“Really? Are you still not well?”
The boy who came looking for me asked with wide eyes.
His face was already small, but with eyes that big, he looked both cute and comical.
“I’m not particularly hurt anywhere. I think my memory is coming back bit by bit, too.”
“That’s a relief. My name is Sedong. Don’t forget it from now on.”
I chuckled and nodded my head.
“I won't. But, is it okay for you to be out like this? The class shouldn't be over yet.”
At that, Sedong scratched the back of his head and gave a shy smile.
“Actually…… I quit too.”
“What?”
“After what happened today, I lost all affection for the place. I took the opportunity to say I'm quitting too. The headmaster was disappointing, and I don’t think training there was very helpful anyway.”
“Hmm. It’s true that it was a unhelpful martial arts hall.”
Sedong hesitated a little, then hunched his neck and spoke.
“I know it's shameless to say this now…… but I'm sorry for not being able to help you all this time. If I got on that gang's bad side, I wouldn't be able to attend the martial arts hall I worked so hard to find.”
“Are there that few martial arts halls in this town?”
“Ah…… that's not it, I was talking about places that aren't subordinate sects.”
“Places that aren't subordinate sects?”
Indeed, there was no hawk's eye symbol representing the Diancang Sect, nor were there any marks of other sects.
I thought the way they taught was pathetic, and it seems it was just a place for local kids' business.
“No wonder it was so damn clumsy.”
“What was?”
“Oh. Nothing. And don't worry about it. You were the only one who told the truth later on.”
“Yeah……”
“But why did you choose that martial arts hall? Usually, people would prefer a martial arts hall of a subordinate sect.”
No one in this world would choose a martial arts hall that is intentionally lacking in skill.
Biyoung was asking about that.
“Well…… there are some circumstances.”
Sedong scratched the back of his head and looked from side to side.
It seemed to be his habit to look around before saying something.
Sedong suddenly clapped his hands and asked.
“Alright. Instead of this, why don't we get something to eat and talk?”
“I'm not in the mood.”
-Grumble…….
As if in defiance of my words, a signal came from my stomach.
Perhaps because I had worked hard beating up the kids, I felt hungry quickly.
But I can't be this leisurely.
“I don't have money either.”
I really didn't have any money, but I had a mountain of things to do right now.
I had to create a dantian, and I also had to check what had happened to the Diancang Sect.
I didn't have time to fool around eating snacks like a kid…….
“It's okay. I'll buy it for you. The most delicious thing here in Yiliang County.”
I do have time.
Of course.
Of course I do.
***
Whoever buys food is a good person.
Biyoung, who had lived as an orphan in his previous life, had lived his whole life with that creed.
Although he had almost fallen into a trap by readily eating whatever was given to him.
Anyway, in that sense, Sedong was a good kid.
Except for one thing.
The menu he chose was ‘Tanghulu’.
“You brat……!!”
Oh dear.
I met the bearded man again who had gotten furious when I asked for the way to the martial arts hall.
I asked with narrowed eyes.
“Is this the most delicious food in Yiliang County?”
“That’s right. Why?”
“Nothing…… it looks incredibly delicious.”
“Haha. Right?”
But for some reason, the bearded merchant's behavior is strange.
I thought he would roll up his sleeves and approach me right away, but instead, he was cautiously observing this side.
Of course.
The object of his cautious observation was not me, but the boy standing next to me.
“If it isn't the young master. What about your academy, at this hour……”
Academy?
Shouldn't it be Hoyul Martial Arts Hall?
As Biyoung tilted his head, Sedong winked at him.
Hmm. Well, fine.
If he can stop that bearded merchant, I'll play along.
It would be even better if he gave me two Tanghulu.
‘Calling him young master and all…… is he the son of a famous family?’
The bearded merchant had a look of feigned worry.
“The Awl Selection Period isn't far away. At times like this, you should be……”
“It's okay, mister. Just give me the Tanghulu quickly.”
Sedong quickly paid and walked ahead.
He seemed worried that he would say something else.
As I was leaving, I threw a question at the bearded merchant.
“Mister. Let me ask you one thing.”
For a moment, the bearded man's face contorted.
He seemed afraid of what kind of question I would ask to piss him off this time.
Me, Biyoung.
The man who was called the World's Fastest Sword.
As a hero, I should naturally live up to that expectation.
“What year is it?”
“……Die! I'll kill you, you brat!”
After quickly taking refuge next to Sedong using Flying Eagle Steps, I waved my hand with a friendly face.
It was fun when I tried it.
***
“You…… you're going to become a person of Jianghu, right?”
Around the time I had finished eating the Tanghulu and was even sucking my fingers, Sedong asked cautiously.
“A person of Jianghu? Why that?”
“Because…… you’re strong. Unbelievably so.”
“Hmph. What's strong or not in a kids' fight?”
“You've been training the hardest at our martial arts hall, too. I thought you might not be able to right now, but later on, you could be active in Jianghu.”
“You thought that even after seeing me get beaten up all this time?”
“They say ‘water drops pierce stone,’ right? I thought you might scold those guys someday.”
A strange light of admiration floated on Sedong's smiling face.
“I respect the people of Jianghu. The people who wield their swords without hesitation for their sect and beliefs. It's something a coward like me could never even dream of.”
Sedong's eyes, when mentioning the people of Jianghu, were exceptionally bright.
Biyoung gave a strange smile at Sedong's words.
“It's…… not that romantic.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. If you didn't hear it, it's fine. Anyway, you're attending the martial arts hall because you admire those people of Jianghu, right?”
“Yeah. Hehe.”
“Even to the point of deceiving your family members?”
“……Cough!”
Was it because I hit a nerve?
Sedong, who was eating the remaining Tanghulu, choked on it.
“If you're going to spit it out like that, just give it to me next time.”
“You…… how did you know?”
One might think they were just boys with shallow minds, but the contents inside Biyoung's body were those of a swordsman well over thirty years old.
“The bearded man selling Tanghulu couldn't move a muscle when he saw you, right? No matter how much of a merchant he is, he wouldn't remember everyone in the market. And he even called you ‘Young Master Lee’. If there are people who recognize you everywhere, the martial arts halls of subordinate sects would be no exception. So you purposely chose a martial arts hall with no affiliation, didn't you?”
Sedong’s eyes, looking at Biyoung, shone with a peculiar light.
Then he suddenly sighed and confessed.
“You’re right. You’re not only outstanding in martial arts but in stratagem as well. I’m the son of a merchant. As you said, I’m not a celebrity, but the Tanghulu mister is also a merchant, so we were acquainted.”
I don't know.
Would an ordinary merchant have a reason to stop his son from learning martial arts?
Biyoung was not completely convinced, but he silently listened to his words.
“I've been collecting books related to martial arts and heard various stories from the merchant misters I know. Things like the Twenty-Year Pact between the Heavenly Demon and the Ten Great Masters of Jianghu. As I did, my admiration grew, so without my father's knowledge, I went to a martial arts hall……”
“Wait a minute.”
Biyoung's face turned as cold as ice.
Sedong hunched his neck at Biyoung's suddenly changed demeanor.
“Wh, why?”
“The Twenty-Year Pact, what is that?”
“The…… The Heavenly Demon was defeated in the fight against the Ten Great Masters of Jianghu. I heard he left a message saying he would return in twenty years and went back to the Heavenly Demon Grand Mountain.”
‘He wasn't dead……!’
A brilliant light flashed in Biyoung's eyes.
He had clearly heard it.
The sound of the Heavenly Demon's neck being cut with a slice.
Even as the shadow of death covered his eyes, he could clearly hear that sound.
However, it seemed the Heavenly Demon, though seriously injured, had managed to survive.
Even though Biyoung had put his life on the line and landed a decisive blow, in the end, that death had become futile.
The Heavenly Demon’s ambition for the martial world was still ongoing.
“So I have to wait for another twenty years now……”
Biyoung sighed as if the ground would collapse, forgetting that he was in a boy's body.
Sedong, whose eyes were already large, opened them even wider.
Was it because of Biyoung's behavior, who had suddenly become an old man?
No.
It was because Sedong had heard about the Twenty-Year Pact a long, long time ago.
“What are you talking about now?”
“?”
“There are only five years left of the Twenty-Year Pact.”
In that moment, countless emotions that could not be put into words rose on Biyoung's face.
“What? Then……”
“That's right. The battle between the Ten Great Masters and the Heavenly Demon was the year we were born. Fifteen years ago.”