Chapter 181: A Winter That Isn't Cold (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 181: A Winter That Isn't Cold (3)
I rose early, completed my morning training, and wiped the sweat from my brow. My stiff muscles had loosened, and my qi flowed smoothly, leaving me feeling unusually refreshed.
As I stretched, savoring the sensation, a strange sound interrupted my thoughts.
“…Ungh…”
“How are you already knocked out? You barely did anything.”
I turned to find Gu Jeolyub sprawled on the ground behind me, drooling. For someone with such a handsome face, he always ended up looking utterly wretched after training. The sight made me sigh.
“Why are kids these days so weak…?”
“…I’m… older than you…”
“Sure, you’re older. Then act like it and keep up.”
“Ungh…”
I think this all started after my time at Mount Hua. Matching Yung Pung’s insane training regimen had become a habit. I’d grown accustomed to the downright absurd methods of that sect.
[Absurd, you say?! You rotten piece of shit!]
A certain dead man from Mount Hua barked at my accurate assessment, though I suspected he secretly agreed.
[It’s a good omen!]
A good omen?
Well, I suppose you could see it that way. After all, the more I trained, the stronger I became.
I glanced over at Muyeon. He looked just as exhausted as Gu Jeolyub, but at least he was still on his feet. The only problem was that he was avoiding my gaze. He was probably still upset about what happened yesterday.
Is a grown man really going to sulk like that?
I couldn't really blame him, though. I knew it was my fault. Still, I noticed the corners of his lips twitching upwards now and then. The reason was obvious: the precious sword hanging from his waist. I’d given him the sword I received as a prize from the Murim Alliance.
When Muyeon, brimming with disappointment, first laid eyes on it, he’d said, Does the Young Master truly believe I would be content with such a thing?
But it was clear he found it hard to refuse the gift.
He’s really happy about it.
He was trying his best to suppress a smile, but I could already see the satisfied grin in my mind's eye.
[A sword means everything to a swordsman. His reaction is only natural.]
Elder Shin spoke, nodding in understanding. I decided to poke a little fun.
But I’ve heard that true masters aren’t picky about their tools.
Elder Shin scoffed at my question.
[Hmph, what nonsense. This is why brawlers who fight with their bare hands can never truly understand our ways.]
Why bring up bare hands all of a sudden?
What was this old man going on about? It sounded like blatant discrimination against other martial paths.
[It’s simple logic! A finer blade channels the user's qi more efficiently. To say masters aren't picky is the kind of drivel only a fool would spout.]
I didn’t want to admit it, but I had to nod in agreement. I’d asked the question already knowing the answer. In reality, every warrior seeks the best weapon they can find.
[I myself wielded a blade forged by the greatest artisan in the world.]
Often, a swordsman with an inferior weapon must strike twice to achieve what a single stroke from a superior sword could accomplish. In a life-or-death struggle, that difference is everything.
[Enough of that. So, kid.]
Yes?
[What are you going to do about him?]
Following Elder Shin’s prompting, I looked back at Gu Jeolyub, who was now crawling pathetically on the ground. His disheveled state was bad enough, but his eyes held a clear challenge directed at me.
He was looking at me like that because I’d given the sword to Muyeon instead of him. Frankly, I found it ridiculous.
…Logically speaking, why would I ever give it to you?
Muyeon is a member of the Gu Clan. While not entirely my man, he serves as my escort and has, to some degree, earned my trust.
But you?
“Hey, get up.”
I walked over and tapped him with my foot.
“How long do you plan to lie there?”
“…Don’t worry about me.”
“What was that?”
“The Young Master doesn’t care about someone like me anyway… Aghh!”
He was talking nonsense, so I gave him a light stomp. I’ve said it before: it really irks me when good-looking guys talk to me like that.
“Why are you complaining about not getting a sword? You’re rich.”
“What money… do I have!?”
“Right, right.”
Well, it was true that he didn’t have any money on him. But the First Elder was loaded.
I know exactly how wealthy that man is.
In my past life, I’d seen the fortune Gu Sunmoon had amassed and how much the First Elder had squirreled away. Judging by Gu Jeolyub’s usual lifestyle, this guy had lived a life of luxury. He might have even lived more extravagantly than I did, despite me being the direct bloodline heir.
[Richer than the clan's direct heir, you say? What kind of life did you lead, then?]
Even as I said it, I realized I’d lived quite lavishly myself. Father gave me money whenever I asked. The only issue was that I tended to burn through it almost immediately.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, stop whining.”
“…I wasn’t whining.”
Sure you weren’t. Even though you’ve been sulking since training started. I considered stomping on him again but restrained myself. I could’ve sworn he wasn’t this troublesome before. Why was he acting like a child now?
I understood his annoyance. I’d dangled the prize as leverage for his help but then gave it to someone else. Still, seeing him act so petulant was grating.
“Fine. I’ll get you something similar later, so stop your bellyaching and get up.”
In the end, I gave in. The moment I made the offer, a spark instantly reignited in Gu Jeolyub’s eyes. He stood up immediately, as if he’d been waiting for this very moment.
“What the hell?”
“A…hem.”
Gu Jeolyub let out a fake cough upon seeing my incredulous look and spoke up.
“…Aren’t we going to continue training?”
“…”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his sheer audacity.
This guy was truly something else.
* * *
After finishing my training, washing up, and returning to the guesthouse, I estimated it was around noon. I’d started early in the morning.
I’m not sensing any issues with the energy inside me.
I kept checking my body, and fortunately, I couldn’t find any major problems. Four distinct types of energy flowed within me. The fact that they weren’t clashing and were circulating smoothly was nothing short of remarkable.
[What in the world did you ingest while I was asleep?]
Elder Shin sounded bewildered, but I didn’t have a good answer for him.
[You said this is that bastard’s energy, right?]*
He was referring to the Blood Demon’s energy, which had forcibly implanted itself within me during the tournament. It was the same power Jang Seonyeon and Namgung Cheonjun had used.
“What do you think of it?”
[…Hmm.]*
If I had to pinpoint its unique trait, this power seemed to temporarily push one’s physical condition and strength to their absolute limit. It also greatly enhanced the user’s martial prowess. The downside was that the effect was short-lived, it turned my flames a very conspicuous color, and the physical recoil afterward was significant.
However, judging by Jang Seonyeon’s example, it was possible that the severe recoil was unique to me. He didn’t seem to suffer nearly as much.
I’ll only use this power as an absolute last resort.
[That’s probably for the best, especially since it originates from that monster.]*
I didn’t know what his intention was in planting this energy within me, but the mere fact that it was the Blood Demon’s power made me reluctant to use it.
He called it a gift, too.
It was beyond absurd. Just as Demonic Qi was a curse to me, this power from the Blood Demon was likely no different.
But putting that aside…
I pulled something else from my pocket: the ring the Second Elder had secretly planted on me. The ring, which most likely belonged to the Dishonored Venerable and was potentially a treasure of the Murim Alliance, had miraculously transformed from a rusty piece of junk back to its original, pristine state. It had been literal garbage when I first found it.
For the record, I hadn’t done anything to it. I only discovered this change last night in my room.
[It seems Cheolyoung did indeed do something to it.]*
I nodded in agreement with Elder Shin.
[Did you sense anything different about it?]*
“One thing.”
That one thing was my ability to see through the disguise of that bastard who wore Heeyoung’s face yesterday. I believed it was thanks to this ring.
[Why do you think that?]*
“Just a feeling.”
[…What a convincing argument.]*
Elder Shin’s response was sarcastic, but it was the genuine truth. The ring gave off a strange sensation that seemed to communicate with me. It was proof that this ring was indeed a treasure.
[So, what will you do with it? Will you return it?]*
“Are you crazy? Why would I give it back?”
It wasn’t just about keeping a useful item or respecting the Light of Might’s… kindness. The problem was that returning it directly could lead to complications. The Blood Demon undoubtedly had connections within the Alliance, but I wasn’t sure if the Alliance Leader and others were aware of them.
[So, you’ll just hold onto it for now?]*
“Yeah, I’ll keep it.”
Thankfully, I didn’t need to wear the ring to access its power. I wasn’t sure if there was a difference, but as long as it was in my possession, it was fine. More importantly, I had learned that there was more than one impostor capable of changing their appearance. These fakes were scattered throughout the world. A ring that allowed me to see through their disguises was an incredibly valuable treasure.
And then there was one last thing…
“This book is a problem…”
The book I’d found after dealing with the masked man yesterday. No matter how I looked at it, it contained Shaolin’s martial techniques. It was written in such a way that even someone like me, with no prior knowledge of Shaolin’s arts, could understand it.
Even though it seems quite brief, it explains each movement clearly.
The book didn’t seem to include anything about qi cultivation or Shaolin’s ultimate technique, the Hundred Steps of the Fist, but…
Even this much is a lot.
Just possessing a Shaolin martial manual could get me into serious trouble if discovered. It was highly problematic for an outsider like me to have such a thing.
It doesn’t even seem like I can burn it. Do I have to discard it somewhere?
Returning it to Shaolin was out of the question, and keeping it was too dangerous. As for me learning from it? That would mean my dantian would have to basically die dealing with yet another martial art, so that wasn’t an option either.
[How about selling it to a place like the Beggar’s Sect?]*
That was an option, but there was no guarantee I wouldn’t be caught.
“It would’ve been nice to know why that bastard had this book in the first place.”
Did he write it himself? If so, for what purpose? The book was clearly crafted with great care. While the contents might seem brief at a glance, a closer look revealed considerable depth. And no matter how I examined it, it didn’t seem to be an official Shaolin publication.
[If you’re going to overthink it, just bury it in some remote forest and save yourself the headache.]*
“…”
That sounded like the most sensible solution, but coming from Elder Shin, I found it hard to trust completely.
“…Should I really just bury it on some mountain…”
I stopped mid-sentence and quickly stashed the book back into my pocket. I felt a presence approaching.
Knock. Knock.
“Young Master Gu.”
As expected, a voice came from outside the door. It was Tang Soyeol.
“…Just a moment.”
I cleared my throat and opened the door. The first thing I saw was Tang Soyeol’s dark green hair, followed by Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah. All three girls who had glared at me yesterday were now gathered at my door.
Wi Seol-Ah immediately charged through the doorway straight into my arms. I caught her gently to soften the impact.
“Why do you always charge at me like that?”
Did she think she was a puppy? She had lost some weight and was going through a growth spurt, making her a bit harder to catch. She was slowly transforming into the Wi Seol-Ah I remembered from my past life.
“Young Master! It’s time to go!”
“…”
I couldn’t help but smile, especially when I saw the excited expressions on Namgung Bi-ah and Tang Soyeol’s faces behind her.
So, it was time.
“I haven’t eaten yet. How about we go after I… never mind. I shouldn’t do that. I already knew that.”
I’d eat when I got back. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing and invite those disapproving looks again, so I quickly corrected myself. I had promised to visit Shaolin with them, though I hadn’t realized it was today.
There are so many better places to visit in Hanam. Why does it have to be Shaolin?
That was my biggest question, but I knew I wouldn’t get a straight answer even if I asked. All I could do was nod.
[You’re living the life, huh? You say you’re busy, but you have girls on both sides, and now a third?]*
“…”
My lip twitched at Elder Shin’s comment. It would be contradictory to ask, ‘Do I look happy to you?’
[Haha, you rotten shit. If only I had a body of my own.]*
If you did?
[What do you think? If I could slice you in half, I wouldn’t mind being called the Mount Hua Haunting Ghost instead of the Divine Sword of Mount Hua.]*
The man who was already brutal with his words now expressed a clear desire to kill me. It was probably because I’d mentioned the girl from the Moyong Clan—
[Ahhhh!]*
Elder Shin’s scream echoed inside my head, causing me to furrow my brow involuntarily. The three girls in front of me flinched at my sudden change in expression.
“Young Master…”
“Hmm?”
“D-Do you really not want to go that badly?”
Wi Seol-Ah asked, her eyes beginning to well up. What was she talking about? It was a bit of a hassle, but I never said I didn’t want to go.
“…Your face… looked scary.”
“…”
Only then did I realize my frown had caused their reaction. I must have given them the wrong impression. And did she really have to say I looked scary? That stung a little.
[Would they act like that if you didn’t look so frightening? Tsk tsk…]*
I’m already feeling hurt, so please be quiet.
[You piece of—! How can I stay quiet when talking is the only thing a dead man can do!?]*
When he wasn’t here, I worried. When he was here, he annoyed me. What was I supposed to do with this guy?
Sigh…
I let out a sigh as I looked at the three girls who were now being cautious around me. I hadn’t meant to make them feel that way. Tang Soyeol was puffing her cheeks with a strange expression, but I chose to ignore it.
“It’s not like that. I made that face because I felt a cough coming on.”
“Really?”
“…Yes. I said I would go, so I’m going.”
Especially since I had no idea when I’d return to Hanam again. I could have wondered why they didn’t just go by themselves, but I dismissed the thought. I had a pretty good idea why they wanted me to come along.
Such a demanding fortune I have.
I felt a tingling in my heart, accompanied by a mix of complicated emotions.
“Also, can we even just go to Shaolin today?”
Visiting Shaolin usually required an appointment in advance. However, Tang Soyeol smiled, grabbed Namgung Bi-ah’s arm, and struck a pose as if she’d been waiting for me to ask.
“We took care of that…!”
As Tang Soyeol cheerfully gestured, Namgung Bi-ah, who had been spacing out, tried to imitate her, but the pose didn’t suit her expressionless face at all. Hearing that Tang Soyeol had handled the appointment reminded me of something I’d forgotten.
Oh, right. They’re from the Four Noble Clans.
I’d been eating and talking with them every day, so I’d forgotten. The Tang Clan and the Namgung Clan were two of the Four Noble Clans, pillars of the Orthodox Faction. And these two were direct descendants. Moyong Hi-ah had also used her name to get into Shaolin yesterday, so these two had likely done the same, though Tang Soyeol had probably done most of the work.
After marveling at their determination, I smiled and asked, “When are you planning to go?”
“Right now! Sis Hongwa is waiting outside!”
“Now?”
I was slightly taken aback by their urgency.
[Uh… kid.]*
Elder Shin spoke up, sounding hesitant.
What is it?
[Aren’t you going to call that child?]*
Child? Who?
[You know, that pretty girl with the Moyong surname.]*
Moyong Hi-ah?
I tilted my head in confusion. Why would I call her? I’d just gone with her yesterday.
[N-Never mind. Don’t worry about it. I spoke without thinking.]*
Elder Shin pretended to cough a few times. I was left feeling strangely bothered by the exchange.
Huh, why do I feel so uneasy about this…?