Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: What Can You Do About Something So Good?
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In the midst of everyone's surprise at Byeon Ryeo-gun's words, a flicker of disappointment crossed their faces. But Do Cheon remained unfazed.
"Is that what you've been agonizing over? Yeah, if that's the case, you could say you've forfeited your qualifications."
Byeon Ryeo-gun's shoulders trembled faintly at Do Cheon's words.
"But you've proven yourself a disciple of the Iron Lion Sect."
Byeon Ryeo-gun looked up.
"You erased the writing I left in the annex. To protect me, someone whose face you didn't even know, and to keep the sect out of danger. Even knowing you were from the Secret Shadow Pavilion, you did it. Same with the luminous stone incident. In a situation where you couldn't deny it, you covered for us. You might say you turned away, but in the end, you didn't abandon the Iron Lion Sect—you tried to protect it. You've reclaimed the qualifications you once cast aside, all on your own."
Byeon Ryeo-gun's eyes wavered.
Do Cheon met her gaze directly and smiled.
"From the moment you erased the writing I left behind to protect me and the sect, you were already back with us. This moment is just about making it clear."
Even after he said that, she still looked confused.
Do Cheon paused for a beat before continuing.
"We're still young. We can start something new, and we don't have to be bound by the past. And we're... not alone."
Do Cheon glanced at his fellow disciples, then turned back to Byeon Ryeo-gun. She followed his gaze, looking around at everyone. They were all staring at her in astonishment.
Her eyes wavered even more.
She looked back at Do Cheon. He was smiling—the same warm smile as before, unchanged.
Byeon Ryeo-gun wanted to stay in her place. She wanted to be with them. To do that, she needed courage. Apologize for her wrongs and beg forgiveness—that was the way. First, she had to confirm and choose her place.
"I suppose... I should offer a proper greeting?"
She asked with effort, and Do Cheon nodded with a smiling face. Byeon Ryeo-gun hesitated a moment before raising her hand to remove her veil. As the veil fell away, snowflakes began to settle on her pristine face at last.
Her beauty, sculpted from white jade, left everyone wide-eyed.
"Byeon Ryeo-gun offers a proper greeting to Eldest Senior Brother."
A ripple stirred in Do Cheon's chest.
It was the greeting he'd waited so long for. Ever since sensing the aura of the Jade Dew Divine Art from Yi Gun-ok's predecessor in her, he'd anticipated this exact moment.
"Junior Sister Byeon, I sincerely welcome you."
Do Cheon smiled naturally from the heart. He looked genuinely delighted. Byeon Ryeo-gun, feeling apologetic and burdened, averted her gaze.
Everyone was staring at her. Faces full of shock.
Byeon Ryeo-gun tried to bow with apology in her heart. But just then, one person stepped forward abruptly and extended a hand.
"I'm Iron Mountain! Iron Mountain! Truly, really, welcome! I don't get all the complicated stuff, but you tried to protect the sect in the end, right? That's what matters. And you're definitely our junior sister now. Junior Sister Byeon! So glad to meet you! Uh-heh-heh-heh!"
Iron Mountain, who usually restrained his goofy side around anyone but fellow disciples, was laughing uproariously. That meant he was over the moon. So he grabbed her hand and shook it vigorously.
His enthusiastic welcome eased Byeon Ryeo-gun's heart a little.
"Sorry for hiding it until now."
"No problem. These things happen. What counts is that you protected the sect, and that you're my junior sister. Uh-ha-ha-ha!"
As Iron Mountain laughed heartily at gaining a junior sister, Little Sparrow approached.
"Sister..."
"I didn't mean to deceive you on purpose..."
Byeon Ryeo-gun couldn't finish. Little Sparrow suddenly hugged her tight.
"Thank you. Really, thank you. I prayed so hard for someone like you to be in the sect, even just one."
It was Little Sparrow's loneliness as the only woman in a sect of men. From the physical changes starting in her youth, she'd had to learn and endure everything alone as a woman, with no one to guide her.
Byeon Ryeo-gun, who knew that pain from their conversations, patted Little Sparrow's back with her free hand.
"When I first came to the Iron Lion Sect and learned about you, I was so happy. Sorry I didn't say anything all this time."
"It's okay. Let's get along from now on."
"Yeah, let's do that."
Little Sparrow held on for a long while before pulling away with a beaming smile. Her pure joy made Byeon Ryeo-gun and everyone else smile involuntarily.
Byeon Ryeo-gun looked at Yi Yeol. He was looking back at her, his face expressionless and somber, without a hint of a smile.
"Like Mountain said, there must've been some complicated situation we don't know about, but if Eldest Senior Brother says it's fine, then it is."
"Thank you."
"I hope that heart of yours, the one that protected the sect, never changes."
"It won't."
"That's good enough, Junior Sister."
"I could end up as your junior sister."
"We'll see tomorrow when we meet Master, but since we didn't grow up together and your initiation date isn't clear, it'll be by age. I'm nineteen."
"Twenty-one. So I'll be your senior sister."
"I'm glad to have a senior sister too."
Yi Yeol cracked a faint smile. Only then did Byeon Ryeo-gun relax.
At that moment, Iron Mountain tilted his head and blurted out.
"Wait, wasn't Eldest Senior Brother twenty-one too?"
"Twenty-two."
Before everyone could turn, Do Cheon answered swiftly.
"I thought it was twenty-one?"
"Twenty-two."
Before Iron Mountain could say more, Byeon Ryeo-gun carefully stepped toward Nung Sa-un. Iron Mountain shut his mouth at the sight.
Standing before Nung Sa-un, Byeon Ryeo-gun hesitated to speak. They'd never talked, so she pondered what to say.
Then Nung Sa-un suddenly spoke.
"You're truly beautiful."
"...!"
Byeon Ryeo-gun and the others all looked stunned, as if slapped. Nung Sa-un scratched the back of his head.
"My seniors must've lived in big cities and seen differently, but I've never seen anyone as beautiful as you, Junior Sister Byeon."
"You could flip the whole market town upside down and not find a beauty like our senior sister."
Iron Mountain corrected him.
"Mountain's right."
Yi Yeol chimed in.
"The world's greatest beauty."
Little Sparrow blurted it out excitedly. When everyone turned, she grinned sheepishly.
"I don't know for sure, but it feels like it. Heh!"
"Little Sparrow, thanks, but I'll pass on such an exaggerated title."
Byeon Ryeo-gun drew the line.
Of course, that didn't make her obvious beauty vanish, so 'world's greatest beauty' stuck in everyone's minds.
"Thanks to you too, Junior Brother Nung. But more than that title, I want to hear 'disciple of the Iron Lion Sect.' I know it might seem brazen now, but that's what I truly want. I want to hear 'senior sister' from you all, and from Eldest Senior Brother..."
Byeon Ryeo-gun turned.
Do Cheon stood in full view, smiling at her. Seeing him, she recalled his words—how he'd always had to watch over his junior disciples since childhood.
Her eyes wavered slightly.
'Am I entering Do Gong-ja's eyes like this too?'
A sudden urge to refuse welled up.
She didn't know why.
Byeon Ryeo-gun turned back, smiled at Nung Sa-un, and finally looked at Young Ki.
"Junior Brother Young Ki. Can I call you that?"
Young Ki nodded, face flushed. Byeon Ryeo-gun stroked his head.
"Alright, greetings are done. Tomorrow we'll greet Master, then talk all we want. For now, I want us fellow disciples to share this beautiful snowy world together right here."
Do Cheon said that and turned his gaze.
Byeon Ryeo-gun, Yi Yeol, Nung Sa-un, Iron Mountain, Little Sparrow, and Young Ki followed suit.
The Iron Lion Sect's grounds, blanketed in pure white snow even in the darkness, unfolded before them. It would be spectacular in broad daylight too, but the bright full moon made the midnight view equally enchanting.
"Beautiful."
Do Cheon's sincere admiration slipped out.
"Sometimes you sound like an old man. 'Awesome!' 'Incredible!'—why 'beautiful'?"
Iron Mountain teased.
"What can you do about something so good?"
Do Cheon still smiled. He was truly happy. His fellow disciples smiled too. It was a joyful night for all.
The next morning.
Little Sparrow burst in, grabbed Byeon Ryeo-gun's hand, and headed to Master's quarters. The other disciples had already paid their respects.
"Isn't that too much?"
Sa Jung-gyeong said, eyes wide. As Little Sparrow and Byeon Ryeo-gun looked confused, he burst into hearty laughter.
"I'm talking about Ryeo-gun's beauty. So stunningly beautiful—tell your senior brothers to keep their eyes peeled from now on."
He treated her casually even before formal greetings. Byeon Ryeo-gun bowed naturally to his warmth.
"Ryeo-gun greets the Sect Leader. I have sinned by hiding until now, so I'll accept any punishment."
"I've heard the story. You erased the writing in the annex to hide that Cheon-i found the predecessors' ultimate arts. As Cheon-i said, that's proof you've shown yourself a disciple of the sect. No need to blame yourself for turning away."
"Thank you for your forgiveness."
Byeon Ryeo-gun bowed deeply.
"I'll not hold that 'turning away' against you as Sect Leader, so no self-blame, and no one mention it. Understood? Straighten up and greet your Martial Uncle too."
"Thank you. Ryeo-gun greets Martial Uncle."
After thanking Sa Jung-gyeong, Byeon Ryeo-gun bowed to Yeop Mun-wi.
"Wonderful. Seeing such a remarkable beauty join us, the sect's future looks as bright as your face."
Yeop Mun-wi praised.
Last night, Do Cheon had asked Byeon Ryeo-gun about it and learned Yeop Mun-wi was Martial Uncle, not Fourth Brother, so he'd visited Sa Jung-gyeong early that morning with greetings and shared that she was Yi Gun-ok's descendant.
"Come sit here."
Byeon Ryeo-gun sat demurely before Sa Jung-gyeong.
"How could he close his eyes to such a lovely disciple? Now that you've come to the sect, your late master can rest easy."
His words were full of affection. Byeon Ryeo-gun bowed her head to his warmth.
"Thank you."
"Soon, go with Cheon-i and retrieve Master's mortuary tablet. It belongs in the sect, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
He used to mention the Iron Lion Sect occasionally, but at some point stopped entirely. Reflecting later, she realized it was to avoid burdening his disciple as his life ended. So she was deeply grateful to bring even his tablet to the Iron Lion Sect now.
"We'll hear your life story after retrieving the tablet. Elder Protector Ong is away on business at the Coffin Hall, so greet him when he returns."
"Yes."
"Ryeo-gun."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"Thank you for coming. What virtue do I have to reclaim the predecessors' arts and welcome disciples like you and Sa-un?"
Sa Jung-gyeong's eyes reddened.
From joy. From happiness.
How could he not be joyful? How not happy?
Even immersed in the sect's arts, the urge to dance with glee had struck more than once or twice.
"It's because Senior Brother is so generous."
Yeop Mun-wi said, looking at Sa Jung-gyeong.
Sa Jung-gyeong turned, and Yeop Mun-wi smiled.
"He accepts worthless juniors and embraces all disciples, great or small. Truly admirable, and I'm grateful he's our Sect Leader."
"Don't gild the lily. The disciples are watching."
"They know best, as their master, how benevolent he is. Right?"
Yeop Mun-wi asked around, and as everyone smiled, Iron Mountain nodded vigorously.
"Master is benevolent, yes. So he accepted Eldest Senior Brother as a disciple."
"Why him?"
Little Sparrow questioned.
"He's annoying!"
"What's annoying?"
"Always annoying. I know he's good to us juniors and to Master. But weirdly annoying."
"Mountain only feels that way about you. Know why?"
"Why?"
"You always do things deserving a scolding, so you get nagged. Little Sparrow and I tell you not to, and you don't. But you promise Mountain not to and do it anyway. So he scolds you."
"What did I do secretly?"
"Don't remember? As kids, I said the ice was thin, don't go in. You said you wouldn't but snuck in and fell through. Who washed those clothes? Eldest Senior Brother. So of course he scolds you. Want another story?"
"You only remember crap like that! Forgot how on that freezing winter day, I broke the ice, caught fish, and made fish soup?"
"Who washed the dirty clothes then? Who gutted the fish and cooked?"
Hearing it, it was an unwinnable fight. Iron Mountain blinked and turned to Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"Senior Sister, see? That guy's always on Eldest Senior Brother's side. So we gotta stick together."
"I'll stick with you. I can always take Mountain Junior Brother's side. As long as he doesn't whine about me to Junior Sister."
"M-Me?"
"Yeah. Even with Sect Leader here. I think if Mountain Junior Brother drops that low-class talk, he'll be a real hearty hero."
Iron Mountain blinked a few times, scratched his head.
"I'll be careful."
"I heard all the regular warriors follow Mountain Junior Brother for dawn training on the back mountain. You're already on the hero's path. Have confidence."
He saw himself as worthless, so he clung to street talk. Byeon Ryeo-gun judged that raising his self-esteem would naturally shed it. His reaction suggested it would work.
"Yes."
Iron Mountain answered sheepishly, looking like the perfect obedient kid. Little Sparrow made a face like 'This guy can be so docile?' and glanced at Do Cheon. He was just smiling—the kind, gentle face she'd seen since childhood. She quickly looked at Master. He was smiling too, remarkably like Do Cheon.
'Eldest Senior Brother takes after Master. Heh!'
A bright smile lit Little Sparrow's face.
I don't know how the day passed. Surrounded by fellow disciples, laughing and chatting all day—muscles in my face ached everywhere. In over twenty years of life, I'd never laughed or talked this much. Laughing and chattering had always seemed like someone else's story, but it was fun. Great. Once the awkwardness faded, the smile wouldn't leave my lips, and even one question drew two or three answers. I even asked back often. So curious. Accepting these people as fellow disciples made me more curious about them. So I asked, and they answered. Joyfully, without pausing the smile.
"Moon's bright tonight."
Do Cheon's voice came from right beside me.
I looked up at the night sky.
Especially bright today. Even this pitch-dark world wouldn't be scary with that moon. The countless stars seemed to shine borrowing its light.
"Thank you."
I said sincerely.
"I'm thankful. It was so sudden—I worried you'd refuse."
"You knew it was sudden?"
"Of course. How could I not?"
"Then why not give more time?"
"Couldn't wait longer. Felt like you'd fly away. So I knew it'd be sudden, but did it anyway."
"Master's intuition?"
"Hmm, master's intuition? Or... a man's anxiety?"
"...!"
Stunned silent, staring—he turned, saw my wide eyes, and grinned sheepishly.
"Ah, with a beauty like you beside me, which man wouldn't be anxious?"
"...?"
"You know. What if you suddenly leave one day? Some pretty boy steals you? You hate me... Why are you laughing?"
"If you're really anxious, tell me everything."
"What?"
"How much of his arts have you mastered? How strong are you now?"
"Well..."
Should he tell? He pondered, then smiled mischievously.
"Not telling. Keeps you curious enough not to leave."
"Too frustrating, and I might leave."
"Instead, I'll tell you the plan Geon and I made."
"The Yangtze routes?"
"Yeah. Open the Yangtze waterways, integrate land trade routes. Eventually sea too. That connects and unifies all continental trade."
"Sounds good. Satisfied for now."
"Satisfaction won't cut it. From now on, you'll have to step up actively, Junior Sister."
Do Cheon smiled delightedly.
Time passed.
On a day long after the harsh cold wave had faded.
Iron Rod Emperor Geum Cheong sat facing a middle-aged warrior.
"They declared not righteous faction, but their actions show they mind the world's eyes. They avoid acting like unorthodox brutes, so exploit that for an easier win."
"Easier? Are they really worth that much caution?"
The middle-aged warrior tilted his head at Geum Cheong's words.
Geum Cheong replied firmly.
"They are. Iron Divine Dragon's no ordinary foe."
"Ho! Even Iron Rod Emperor says that—must mean his skills are exceptional."
"Strong as he is, he's alone."
"Not about skill?"
"Right."
"Then?"
"They don't act like unorthodox recklessly, but don't chase righteous causes either. Once they subdue the Yangtze Waterway Eighteen Strongholds, they'll block the Yangtze routes."
"Demand tolls on our house's ships?"
"Yes. We've analyzed full force these past months. Couldn't buy merchant ships, so their only move is seizing the Eighteen Strongholds. That way, they don't own the Yangtze but haven't given it up, and gain leverage to negotiate with us. They'll do it."
"They bought small ships, no?"
"Bundling two or three makes a decent transport."
"Did I hear wrong? You sound unconcerned."
"One sabotage, and it's over."
Experts at diving. Deploy them, sink unnoticed. Rumors spread after. Few merchants use cheap ships post-rumor.
"Hmm."
"Winter's ending—no time to deliberate. They boasted coming up Yangtze post-winter, so in ten days they'll move. Strike first."
"Clearing Yangtze's easy. Issue's approval from above."
"Gold Command Hall and Gold Martial Hall both push it. With Yangtze transport at stake, who stops it?"
"True..."
The middle-aged warrior nodded.
"Hm, could lead to full war with Iron Lion Sect."
"Won't happen. Only that one warrior there worth it."
Geum Cheong smiled confidently.
As he said, winter was nearing its end.