novelraw Chapter 69 : Chapter 69
Chapter 69 : Chapter 69
Chapter 69 - I Want to Receive Something Else
A reunion is usually a happy occasion.
Whether the period is short or long, meeting a close person again is a joyful thing in itself.
But today’s reunion at Diancang Mountain was far from such emotions.
Because before the feeling of welcome, a sense of absurdity came first.
“Heok! Heok! Heo-eok!”
A man was panting heavily, his tongue hanging out like a stray dog.
“Senior Brother?”
The first person to find him was Danseol.
He had gone out because he had sensed a presence at the mountain gate, only to find a lump resembling Uma collapsed, on the verge of fainting.
But Danseol was Danseol.
Still with his emotionless, slit eyes, his gaze turned to Uma, who was lying on the ground, and the man standing next to him.
Then he greeted them cheerfully.
“It took longer than I thought. Welcome back, Junior Brother.”
“As you can see. Though I don’t think Senior Brother Uma is doing so well.”
Indeed, Uma, who was collapsed on the ground, looked as if he would lose consciousness at any moment.
His martial arts uniform was completely soaked in sweat, and for some reason, the cuffs of his pants were all rolled up above his knees.
He was a fellow whose stamina, if nothing else, was commendable.
Had he reached this state just by climbing the mountain?
“And this person is……?”
Danseol’s gaze turned to the remaining person.
“Hello. I am Sedong from Yiliang County.”
“Sedong, you say……”
The brilliant Danseol soon pulled out a memory.
There was something he had heard from Biyoung when they came to Diancang Mountain from Simao.
That one of the biggest merchant guilds in Yiliang County was the Yi Family Clan, and that a son of that family was among his friends.
“Are you not Junior Brother Biyoung’s closest friend?”
“Yes. I have decided to tour the Diancang Sect for a few days. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”
“Cooperation? I am ashamed as there are still many places to be repaired. I hope you have an enjoyable time.”
However, contrary to Danseol’s words, an exclamation of admiration burst from Biyoung’s mouth.
“Wow! When did you repair all this?”
Indeed, the traces of the Tiger-Bear Stronghold, which had been a complete mess, were neatly organized.
"The half-broken mountain gate couldn’t be helped, but all the scattered miscellaneous items had disappeared, and the pillars of the pavilion, which had been hideously peeled, were sparkling as if they had been newly painted."
As Biyoung was looking around with fascinated eyes, a heavy voice was heard from one side.
“Did you think we were just playing and eating while you were gone.”
“Oh.”
Eung Gajin and the other senior brothers were walking together.
“Senior Brother Eung-ga! Have you been well?”
“………….”
I had been well.
Until you called me that just now.
You damn bastard!
“Say hello. This is Senior Brother Eung Gajin, the eldest among our peers. This is Senior Brother Solbo. This is……”
Every time Biyoung introduced the senior brothers, Sedong’s expression changed from moment to moment.
Belying the nickname Biyoung had called out earlier, Eung Gajin possessed a heroic demeanor that his peers could trust and follow.
He looked exactly like the image of the greatest swordsman in the Jianghu that Sedong had imagined in his head.
“And here is……”
“!!!”
Sedong’s expression changed once again.
Introducing Jeong-i, Biyoung thought it was fortunate that Uma was lying on the ground.
Because Sedong, who was startled by his nasty impression every time they met, had a radiant glow on his face as if looking at a fairy when he met Jeong-i.
Indeed, people must be beautiful and handsome no matter what.
Biyoung was once again realizing an eternal law.
“It seems you’ve had a hard time too, Senior Sister.”
Biyoung’s gaze turned to Jeong-i’s hands.
Her fine hands, which looked as if they had never touched water in their life, were covered in dirt.
The process of repairing the pavilion must have been arduous, as there was even dark grime under her fingernails.
“Is it just Senior Sister? Solbo ran down Diancang Mountain every half a day to get necessary supplies, and Danseol stayed up at night to reinforce the frame of the pavilion. Everyone must have been tired, but the process of rebuilding the Diancang Sect was very joyful. The reason the progress was fast is all because of that.”
Eung Gajin said so and showed a heroic smile.
However, the expressions of the others were a little strange.
“…………?”
They looked somewhat dissatisfied, and also seemed to be holding back their laughter.
“Senior Brother Eung. Isn’t there an old saying that even if your mouth is crooked, you should speak properly?”
“Hmm?”
A faint hint of a sneer was contained in Danseol’s emotionless face.
“Didn’t you say you were dying because you felt self-conscious because of that fellow, day and night? That you couldn’t just rest because he kept coming and going in front of you whenever you tried to lie down and rest a bit.”
“Wh-when did I say that.”
Eung Gajin’s face turned red as if he had been hit where it hurts, and Jeong-i covered her mouth with her blackened hand and laughed.
It seemed that what Danseol said was true.
Who on earth was the man that Eung Gajin felt self-conscious about?
Thud, thud.
As Biyoung was tilting his head, footsteps were heard from one side.
“Heo……”
And Biyoung couldn’t close his gaping mouth.
There was such a person.
A man who had a reason to repair the facilities of Diancang Mountain, besides the rising stars of the Diancang Sect.
“……You’re back.”
A rarely seen tall and handsome man gave a short greeting to Biyoung.
At first glance, it was an incredibly blunt greeting, but considering that man’s disposition, it could be evaluated as quite a big welcome(?).
Absolute Protector.
He was walking with a cotton cloth wrapped around his abdomen.
With a rather heavy-looking wooden pillar on one shoulder.
“Hey. Shouldn’t you be resting?”
On the day they attacked the Tiger-Bear Stronghold, Absolute Protector had been quite seriously injured.
Not by Biyoung’s sword, but from Wi Sung, the leader of the Tiger-Bear Stronghold whom he had tried to protect.
Normally, it was a serious injury that would have required him to be lying in bed and groaning even now.
But far from resting, he was working with such a heavy load?
“No, wait.”
Then.
The man that Eung Gajin was so self-conscious about that he felt like he was dying was Absolute Protector?
“Oh my.”
Jeong-i’s gaze turned to Absolute Protector’s side.
“It seems the wound has opened again. The blood……”
She hurriedly put down Absolute Protector’s load and slapped his back.
Then she forcibly took him in the direction where the Great Mother was.
“……Seeing that familiar action, it seems this is not the first or second time.”
Biyoung shook his head as if he was dumbfounded.
A man who moved tirelessly for the reconstruction of the Diancang Sect, without caring about his wounds getting worse.
‘On the other hand, it also feels like him…….’
Absolute Protector’s appearance while guarding Wi Sung was so loyal that it was admirable.
The object to be protected had only changed from Wi Sung to the Diancang Sect, but his devoted appearance seemed to be the same.
From Biyoung’s perspective, he felt full without even eating.
It would be the same for the other senior brothers, but the Diancang Sect had truly gained a good talent.
“Now I see, it seems Senior Brother Eung-ga was so self-conscious because of Absolute Protector.”
“Yes. From the moment it became possible for him to move his body, he has been working like a person possessed by a ghost…… I’ve given up.”
Eung Gajin gave a rotten smile and obediently admitted.
The actions Absolute Protector had shown for several days were close to madness, beyond passion.
Could he live anew for the group that had been pointing swords at each other until just before?
Eung Gajin had looked at him with a suspicious eye for a while, but that suspicion was completely resolved not long after.
Because he had shown the end of diligence and sincerity that could never be shown with a false heart.
From the Diancang Sect’s perspective, it was a very grateful and encouraging thing, but on the other hand, it also made Eung Gajin feel awkward.
He should also rest moderately while working, but that single-minded man rarely took a break.
Later, it became difficult to distinguish who was the rising star of the Diancang Sect and who was the newcomer.
So how could he rest?
“Junior Sister! Go tie that fellow up tightly! We need to make him rest by force!”
So much so that he would take such special measures, Absolute Protector’s diligence and loyalty were truly great.
“Since we have a guest for the first time in a while, I must ask the Great Mother for a special reward.”
“We should.”
It was when Eung Gajin readily nodded his head at Danseol’s proposal.
“Keuk……”
A groaning sound was heard from somewhere.
Uma, who had been panting like a half-crazed person, had barely come to his senses.
“Not yet! Don’t look down on the Diancang Sect! This rat-like……!”
Uma suddenly stood up like a madman and shouted.
The process of coming here had been so harsh that he was still mistaken that he was in the middle of training.
“What on earth is wrong with that fellow?”
“Ah.”
Biyoung looked at Uma once and then grinned at Eung Gajin.
“Don’t think it’s too strange. Because you senior brothers will also become like that in the future.”
“?”
The senior brothers, who did not know what had happened while climbing Diancang Mountain, could only tilt their heads.
Completely unaware of the terrifying ordeal that was to come.
***
A small candlelight repeats its faint flickering.
Accordingly, a woman’s face also flickers slightly.
Beautiful.
Not the light of the brilliant sun or a pretty night-luminescent pearl, but the light of a mere candle was not lacking at all in revealing her beauty.
‘I need to change my way of thinking.’
Looking at the person in front of him, Biyoung had to correct the judgment he had made himself.
Even if Lady Mihwa were to become young again, she would have to yield to the woman in front of him.
Biyoung was now having a private meeting with Jeong-i inside the pavilion.
“Your hands are back to normal.”
At Biyoung’s words, Jeong-i blushed slightly.
Her hands, which had become blackened from repairing the pavilion, had returned to their white and fine state.
Jeong-i, who had finished her daily work and ablutions, was exactly as she had been in Simao.
Jeong-i with blackened fingernails.
It was an appearance that could not have been imagined when she was working at the Blue Pavilion.
It must mean that Jeong-i was also sincere about the revival of the Diancang Sect.
From the perspective of the World’s Fastest Sword, she was an incredibly admirable and praiseworthy person.
“Was Young Master Yi sleeping comfortably? He must be uncomfortable compared to his home.”
Since Sedong was such a golden spoon, it seemed that Jeong-i was also concerned.
At her question, Biyoung gave a meaningful smile.
“He was sleeping spread out like a starfish. Actually, though not as much as Senior Brother Uma, Sedong also suffered quite a bit.”
“Indeed, it must not have been easy for the Young Master’s body to climb Diancang Mountain.”
Jeong-i nodded her head lightly as if she understood.
The reality was a little different, but from Jeong-i’s perspective, who knew Sedong as a simple rich man’s son, it was an extremely natural reaction.
“Actually, I wanted to see you because I needed to ask for your understanding about something, Senior Sister.”
“My understanding?”
“Yeah. In case you might feel disappointed.”
At that, this time, a strange curve formed on Jeong-i’s lips.
“I’ll decide whether it’s something to be disappointed about after I hear it.”
Jeong-i’s enigmatic smile flickering in the candlelight felt not just beautiful, but mysterious.
Since it was an expression that could not usually be seen on her, Biyoung was momentarily confused.
Was it an expression she had learned while working at the Blue Pavilion?
Or.
Was this appearance the real face of Jeong-i?
What was clear was that it looked more attractive than any smile he had seen so far.
“I’ll get straight to the point.”
It seemed like it would take a lifetime if he kept watching, so Biyoung spoke straightforwardly.
“I got a few spirit medicines while I was working in Yiliang County. It’s something you know too, Senior Sister. It’s called the Six-Flower Pill.”
“……A happy event has occurred in the Diancang Sect.”
“This Six-Flower Pill will be taken by the senior brothers. I’ll give one to Absolute Protector too. But I don’t think I can give it to you, Senior Sister.”
After saying that, Biyoung peeked at her reaction.
Jeong-i’s expression was still the same.
With an enigmatic smile, making it impossible to grasp what she was thinking.
“It’s alright.”
At her answer, Biyoung let out a slight sigh of relief.
But Jeong-i’s answer was not all.
“Instead……”
“?”
“I want to receive something else from you, Junior Brother.”