Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: People Change, After All
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Breakfast time.
Two people were eating with particular ferocity. Iron Mountain and Little Sparrow. Since they ran up the back mountain every dawn, their bodies must have been demanding it, because they devoured their meals like possessed souls at every sitting. At first, it was just eating a bit more than usual, but gradually they started competing with each other, and now they ate outright aggressively.
Everyone knew it meant they were training hard, so no one said a word. Even their master Sa Jung-gyeong and martial uncle Yeop Mun-wi simply looked on approvingly and pushed their own food toward the pair.
Do Cheon, who usually nagged the most, didn't utter a single word while they ate. If it seemed like there wasn't enough, he'd go to the kitchen himself and fetch more.
"Master, I need to head out for about ten days."
As Iron Mountain and Little Sparrow leaned back in their chairs, savoring their stuffed bellies, Do Cheon spoke to Sa Jung-gyeong.
"Is something the matter?"
"The Wall young lady says she needs to see me."
"So you two have finally become that kind of item?"
Iron Mountain chimed in abruptly.
"It's not like that."
"What do you mean, not like that? You're always glued together. Even enemies would end up getting intimate."
"That's disrespectful to the Wall young lady."
"Then why are you going along for the Wall young lady's business?"
"Her master passed away a few years ago. There was an event they attended together with our master, but she doesn't feel right going alone this time."
You had to read the room sometimes. At the mention of her master's passing, even Iron Mountain shut his mouth.
"Go ahead."
Sa Jung-gyeong gave his permission.
"Yes. If you need me for anything, just send Ong Protector. Ong Protector, I leave it to you."
"What kind of request is that for something so natural? Don't worry, Young Leader, and go about your business."
"Thank you."
Do Cheon bowed his head, and Ong Jung-seo smiled back.
"I wonder if we're working our Protector too hard, having him serve like this."
Sa Jung-gyeong said with an awkward expression, but Ong Jung-seo quickly waved it off.
"Goodness, don't say that. How happy I am to be of help."
"I appreciate it."
Sa Jung-gyeong expressed his gratitude with a pleased face. After seeing this, Do Cheon turned to Yi Yeol.
"How about you?"
"Ah, it's good. Sorry to the eldest brother, but Ong Protector is much better than you, Eldest Brother."
Do Cheon nodded at Yi Yeol's words, and Ong Jung-seo turned to say,
"He's picking up footwork well, and for the time being, I'll only let him train under my watch, so you don't need to worry too much, Young Leader."
"I'm not worried. Still, since he's become the eldest brother, I can't just ignore him, so I'll check in now and then."
Both Do Cheon and Ong Jung-seo nodded and smiled. Their trust had grown even stronger in just a few days.
"And you?"
Do Cheon turned to Neung Sa-un.
"It's good. Very good. I'm so absorbed in the books the Sect Leader has collected that time flies by. It's really great."
Neung Sa-un's face looked at peace. It was the first time he'd looked like that since coming to the Iron Lion Sect.
"Good, I'm glad you're enjoying it. When the mind is happy, the body follows. Right now, you only need one thing."
"To shed impatience and become relaxed?"
"Exactly."
"I've already done that. Most of them are just miscellaneous martial arts, but even among them, there are those with essence and paths. I'm hooked on the thrill of finding and understanding them."
"Getting too absorbed in one thing isn't good either. That's why there's one thing I'd like you to do."
"Tell me."
"Teach Young Ki what you've discovered and understood."
"To Young Ki, my junior brother?"
"Yes."
"Is that alright?"
Neung Sa-un glanced at Yeop Mun-wi. But Do Cheon said firmly,
"What's right or wrong about it? With so many senior brothers, Young Ki should climb higher than anyone. Don't you think?"
Neung Sa-un hesitated, glancing at Yeop Mun-wi again.
"No need to look at me. The youngest is still young, so senior brothers have to not only act as seniors but also as masters."
"Understood."
Neung Sa-un bowed to Yeop Mun-wi and turned to Young Ki.
"Young Ki, junior brother, from today, after morning training, come to the Sect Leader's library."
"Yes, senior brother."
Young Ki answered briskly. Unlike the first few days, he showed no awkwardness, and a smile naturally bloomed on Neung Sa-un's lips.
"Master, if you have nothing more to say, we'll take our leave."
"I have nothing. What about you juniors?"
"He's doing better than us. What would I have to say?"
"That's what I was thinking. We'll have another cup of tea and get up, so go on ahead."
Sa Jung-gyeong and Yeop Mun-wi said the same thing with smiles.
Do Cheon, Yi Yeol, Neung Sa-un, Iron Mountain, Little Sparrow, and even Young Ki all rose from their seats. Since Ong Jung-seo stayed seated, he must have been planning to have another cup of tea. Do Cheon went out with his brothers.
"Senior Brother."
Yeop Mun-wi called to Sa Jung-gyeong. When Sa Jung-gyeong turned, he spoke with a hint of concern.
"I'm worried Cheon-i might be too lenient. Young Ki is young, so it's fine, but I wonder if the others might take it amiss."
"They won't complain."
"Why not?"
"Because Cheon-i has acted not only as a senior brother but also as a master to them."
"...!"
"You probably did the same, but when I got a new kind of martial art, I'd dive into it like a madman. I'd even forget I had young disciples. Irresponsible, right? Then, when I snapped out of it and looked for them, Cheon-i would have gathered and soothed them. From a young age, he did that, so even the strong-willed ones obeyed him meekly. Doesn't Yi Yeol seem calm and quiet? That guy used to be wilder than Iron Mountain. He'd charge at guys much bigger than him in street fights, head busted open and blood pouring, not caring about anything. But after joining the sect, at some point, he became obedient to Cheon-i. Iron Mountain checks Yi Yeol's mood because he saw that temper a few times when they were young."
"I see."
"Yi Yeol and Iron Mountain didn't go astray because Cheon-i held them steady. They know that well. So they won't complain just because we listen to Cheon-i."
"Understood. But you sure took in some wild ones as disciples."
"If left alone, they'd have grown into pretty vicious thugs."
Sa Jung-gyeong smiled, recalling the past, and Yeop Mun-wi nodded. At that moment, Ong Jung-seo chimed in slyly.
"The Young Leader was something even as a kid, huh?"
"Well, he wasn't that flashy. But he'd lead his junior brothers around fighting just shy of getting an earful from this master. You know that feeling—when kids are so bold you want to say something, but it's hard to pin down exactly what. He cleverly toed that line exactly. The funny thing is, that's why I felt at ease entrusting the juniors to him. I knew he wouldn't let them get into real danger."
Now Yeop Mun-wi and Ong Jung-seo understood.
Why Sa Jung-gyeong followed Do Cheon's words without a second thought. Beyond his profound martial prowess, there was the trust built from watching him since childhood.
"It's not just the Young Leader; the Iron Lion Sect itself feels like a unique place."
Ong Jung-seo muttered.
Iron Lion Sect.
The residence of the Great Righteous Alliance Leader, Volcanic Divine Sword.
When Do Cheon arrived, Volcanic Divine Sword and Celestial Insight Maiden were together.
"Come in. I've already heard from the Secret Shadow Pavilion Leader. It should take about ten days— is that alright?"
"I trust the Divine Sword will stay on."
"Aren't you trusting me too much?"
"You're right. I don't trust people easily, but you're making me do so, Divine Sword."
"You've gotten bolder since we first met."
"People change, after all. You're treating me more comfortably than when we first met, too."
Volcanic Divine Sword nodded at Do Cheon's words.
At first sight, he'd been too shocked and at a loss, unsure how to approach or resolve things, so everything felt cautious. But now that he knew Do Cheon's character, the path was clear, allowing him to interact freely.
"The Pavilion Leader said she'll depart tomorrow. Are you prepared?"
"Yes. I'm coming straight from getting Master's permission."
"I see."
Volcanic Divine Sword nodded as if he understood.
Do Cheon shifted his gaze from Volcanic Divine Sword to Celestial Insight Maiden. She sat silently. She apparently had nothing to say here. Do Cheon turned back to Volcanic Divine Sword.
"Any word from Heaven-Rending Legion?"
"Worried?"
"What would I have to worry about? It's just that since I'm involved, it catches my attention."
"That's worry."
"Any news?"
"It seems finding Ha Xiao isn't easy."
"I see."
Volcanic Divine Sword just smiled at Do Cheon's nodding acceptance. Having gauged Do Cheon's nature over time, he knew he was subtly concerned about Heaven-Rending Legion.
"I'll let you know if I hear anything."
"Yes."
"By the way, you're really planning to do that about the Yangtze?"
"Yes. Opening the Yangtze's waterways has been in the works for a long time, so whether it ends in a fight or a settlement, I'll see it through."
"I heard the Golden Emperor Family is involved?"
"That's what I heard. But is the Golden Emperor Family that impressive?"
"Even the Great Righteous Alliance hasn't fully grasped how formidable they are."
"Impressive, then."
"You plan to fight them too? Wealth is different from force; you could get bled dry."
"Force has one advantage over wealth."
"What's that?"
"If neither works, we die together."
"...!"
"What if the Golden Emperor Family has force matching yours?"
"Even better. If they have power, they won't drag it out wasting money needlessly."
"They have the strength, so they don't want to prolong it?"
"I'd say they're already being very patient."
"Confident, are you?"
"I have only one worry."
"The Demonic Cult?"
"I'm not interested in them."
"Then what?"
"My life becoming boring. That's what I fear."
"...!"
Volcanic Divine Sword couldn't understand. But Celestial Insight Maiden grasped it immediately.
A person who had already towered over the world.
A person for whom even ruling the world held no necessity or meaning.
Being able to do anything led to boredom instead. For someone who had grasped the truths of heaven, earth, and all things, what joy was there in reading ten thousand books? It would be nothing but a pointless, worthless tedium.
'That's why he's focusing on reviving the Iron Lion Sect. He believes seeing his master and brothers happy will ward off the boredom.'
It wasn't boring yet. He wanted to test his power, but refrained because he foresaw boredom at the end. So he proceeded moderately, just enough, step by step. He could go all at once, but boredom would crash in all at once too.
"You still don't know."
Volcanic Divine Sword said.
Do Cheon and Celestial Insight Maiden both looked at him with interest.
"The world is vast, and there's just as much you don't know."
"I see."
Do Cheon smiled.
The world was vast, and there was just as much he didn't know. True words. He hoped it really was so.
"Thank you for the advice. Nothing special to prepare, but I should make some arrangements anyway, so I'll take my leave."
"Go ahead."
As Volcanic Divine Sword nodded, Do Cheon looked at Celestial Insight Maiden.
"Wall young lady, how about departing after breakfast tomorrow morning?"
"Sounds good."
"Understood. See you tomorrow morning, then."
Do Cheon withdrew.
Celestial Insight Maiden also indicated she would leave and rose.
"Pavilion Leader."
"Yes."
"For the world's peace... you don't need to cling to the righteous factions."
You don't need to cling to the righteous factions.
Was that something the leader of the righteous factions should say?
Celestial Insight Maiden felt momentarily confused, but understanding it was for the world's peace, she bowed her head.
"They've arranged to use the carriage for ten days."
"Looks like a pleasure trip."
"Seems so. What shall we do?"
"If it's the Iron Lions' ultimate arts, we can drag the main sect into the light in one go."
"And then?"
"Find out where they're headed and prepare thoroughly. Even the Iron Lion King won't escape."
"Understood."
Conspiracies exist everywhere. And conspirators believe their plots will succeed—until they shatter and they're thoroughly crushed.