Chapter 501: Just Let Me Hold It Once. (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 501: Just Let Me Hold It Once. (8)
“Isn’t it kind of hot?”
That was the first thing Woo Hyuk said upon our return to the Tang Clan.
I glanced around, considering his words.
Hot?
Now that he mentioned it, the air did feel warmer than usual.
It was only natural for temperatures to rise as summer approached, but…
What is this?
Something felt off. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but the warmth carried a subtle, unusual quality. Perhaps my training in the Flame Arts had sharpened my sensitivity to such changes.
I thought about heightening my senses to investigate further, but ultimately dismissed the idea.
It’s just the weather.
It was probably just an unusually warm day. Besides, I had a far more immediate problem demanding my attention.
[…Damn it… Damn it…]
An irritated voice grumbled incessantly from within my sleeve. It had been tormenting me the entire journey back, and I found myself scowling unconsciously.
[For crying out loud…]
[Hey, you. Quiet down a little.]
Elder Shin finally chimed in, his tone dripping with amusement.
[Do you think I can calm down right now!]
The owner of the cold voice, Namgung Myung, roared back. The old man merely laughed at his outburst.
[Hoo… It feels a bit wrong to say this, but Myung.]
[What is it…]
[You’re in quite a state. I like it.]
[You son of a…!]
Ugh, can you all please be quiet! It’s so loud I’m going crazy.
I was sick of these old men bickering like children all day. Covering my ears was useless; their voices echoed directly in my mind. Dammit.
Frustrated, I squeezed my eyes shut.
The source of the commotion was Thunder Fang, now residing in my sleeve. The very sword that rightfully belonged to the Monster of Wudang. It wasn't with Namgung Bi-ah. So why was it in my possession?
I simply couldn't comprehend this bizarre turn of events.
…How in the world did it come to this?
Ignoring the noisy geezers, I retraced the steps that led to this mess.
The reason was simple.
I held Thunder Fang.
That was the root of the problem.
With a kind(?) heart, I had merely intended to pick up the fallen sword and return it to the Monster of Wudang. I never imagined that would cause an issue.
Seeing me handle Thunder Fang so casually, the Monster of Wudang had stared at me, shocked.
—…How… How are you able to pick that up?
—Pardon?
His question left me dumbfounded. How did I pick it up? I just used my hands. What other way was there?
Meanwhile, Namgung Myung was having an even more severe reaction.
[What… What is this…!]
He seemed more shocked than the Monster of Wudang. All I did was hold the sword. What was the big deal?
As I tilted my head in confusion, he spoke again.
[…Why. Why can you, who are not of the Namgung bloodline, hold Thunder Fang?]
—What did you say?
My eyes widened at his words. You couldn't hold Thunder Fang without being from the Namgung bloodline?
—What do you mean by that…?
[You should have been scorched by its Lightning Qi by now…. Why… are you perfectly fine?]
That was a terrifying statement. Scorched by Lightning Qi? Only then did I recall the brief flash of light when I first grabbed the sword. Had that been some kind of defensive mechanism?
The thought made me want to throw the damn thing away immediately.
But.
—…Why did nothing happen?
Contrary to their dramatic reactions, nothing had happened. No pain, no scorching. In fact, the sword felt perfectly comfortable in my grip.
[Put it down this instant.]
Namgung Myung’s voice was murderous. Since the Lightning Qi hadn't activated, I decided to just move on. I'd give it back to the Monster of Wudang and be done with it.
With that thought, I began walking toward him.
—Wait…!
—…?
The Monster of Wudang suddenly reached out, stopping me.
—So there’s no problem even if you hold it?
—No...
—It doesn’t hurt or anything like that. Is that what you mean?
Was he asking about my condition?
—Yes…. It doesn’t particularly hurt or anyth—.
—Good.
Good? What was good about it? His expression was unusual, filled with a kind of excited satisfaction, as if things had fallen perfectly into place.
Why was he making that face? Namgung Myung seemed to realize what was happening.
[Wait…. Descendant, what are you trying to do now?]
Urgency laced his voice. What was going on?
While I stood there blankly, unable to grasp the situation…
[Now! Seize him!]
Namgung Myung shrieked. Ah, fuck, my ears. My face scrunched up as I tried to look at the Monster of Wudang.
Fwoosh-!
—Huh?
A tremendous pressure suddenly erupted from him, comparable to the moment he had briefly considered fighting me seriously. What was he doing?
Just then.
—Then, I'll leave it with you for a few days.
—Pardon?
[Grab that ba—!]
Fsh-!
KWAAAAA-!
He vanished in an immense gust of wind, leaving me standing alone in the crater.
Huh…?
I stood there dumbly for a moment, completely bewildered.
—What the…?
[That baaaaastard!]
Namgung Myung screamed. I looked to Woo Hyuk for an explanation, but the bastard was just picking his nose with a look that said this was all too familiar.
That handsome face picking its nose…?
As I stared at him like he was insane, he glanced at the empty spot and muttered.
—He bolted again.
At his incredibly nonchalant words, the reality of the situation finally hit me. I looked down at Thunder Fang in my hand, Namgung Myung’s loud cursing filling the air.
And I thought.
Don’t tell me this is…
—…Did I just get stuck with this?
It certainly seemed so.
* * *
After that series of events, I finally returned to my room.
The sun was just beginning to set. Normally, I would have gone to find the Dishonored Venerable and pester him under the guise of training. But in this state, that was impossible.
[Acting all high and mighty. Keh-keh-keh!]
[Grrrr….]
[…Damn it….]
Returning to the present, I stared hard at Thunder Fang, lying innocently in my room.
What should I do with this?
The Monster of Wudang had essentially dumped it on me. Should I be happy? I had come seeking the sword, and now it was in my hands. By all rights, this was a desirable outcome.
It turned out the way I wanted, but…
This… this isn’t how it was supposed to go…
A deeply unsettling feeling refused to leave me. I hadn't been able to use any of my prepared arguments, and I never expected him to just toss me the sword and flee.
A few days…? What does he mean, a few days?
Where did he even go after handing this over?
His actions were difficult to comprehend. Judging by Woo Hyuk's familiar reaction, this was a common occurrence for him.
[That damn fool…. Truly…!]
But Namgung Myung’s reaction suggested that even for him, this was a first.
[Return me to him this instant, right now.]
He was clearly furious, repeating the demand over and over.
“…How am I supposed to return you? I don’t even know where he is.”
There was no way I could catch the Monster of Wudang after he had bolted with all his might.
[Find him, no matter what it takes, and return me!]
Namgung Myung began to throw a full-blown tantrum, grinding his teeth audibly.
[Ahem! How dare you shout at another family’s child!]
Elder Shin was not one to stand idly by. Another family’s child? Anyone listening would think I was his grandson.
[Hey, you should be grateful he picked up a bastard who was about to be abandoned on the ground!]
[What? An abandoned bastard?]
[From the looks of it, your descendant doesn’t seem to like you very much. If he dislikes you that much, you should know when to leave. Tsk tsk, so full of lingering attachments.]
[What do you know…!]
Ah, another argument? Irritation flared in my chest at the prospect of this tedious squabble starting again.
[What do you mean, what do I know? I can tell just by looking at the state of the Namgung Clan.]
[…Grrrk.]
[I understand you’re trying hard for the sake of your descendants who have lost their way…. But as I said before, for us who are already dead, interfering any further is just greed….]
[What do you know to say such a thing?]
Namgung Myung’s voice, cutting him off, had changed. The indignant rage was gone, replaced by a chilling calm. But the anger simmering beneath that calm was palpable enough to make me flinch.
[You can say that because the plum blossoms of your Mount Hua are still blooming brilliantly.]
[Myung.]
[What does a man who has only just appeared after centuries know? You know nothing, do you? Can you understand what I, what ‘we,’ have felt during that long, long time?]
[…]
Elder Shin fell silent. The resentment in Namgung Myung’s voice was so profound it felt suffocating.
[We all strived, looking toward the same goal. You did, and so did we. But.]
[Myung….]
[While your Mount Hua, which slept peacefully, remains noble, we who volunteered for sacrifice are all in ruin. Shincheol, is it conviction to simply watch that happen? And is it greed to try and stop it?]
[…]
I swallowed hard. When I thought about it, he wasn't wrong.
Namgung Myung’s clan was slowly weakening, having forgotten the essence of their martial arts. The Tang Clan had become so corrupt that Tang Jaemoon herself wanted it purged. The Shaolin of The Light of Might didn't seem much better. And the Yeon Clan had fallen into history long ago.
Then there was Mount Hua. Until my past self and the Heavenly Demon nearly destroyed it, it had remained a steadfast, prestigious clan protecting Shaanxi. The plum blossoms blooming from their swords were still beautiful.
Perhaps that was why Elder Shin had no retort.
[Are you planning to awaken from your slumber with your original conviction intact and criticize me now? If that’s the case, you should have shown up a little sooner.]
The words were sharp, laced with bitter sarcasm. I could feel Namgung Myung’s deep-seated anger.
[…Is that why. Is that why you said you wouldn’t meet me?]
[I have forgotten. I don’t remember what I endured all this time for. The only thing I want to do now is to correct the twisted sword of the Namgung.]
The unresolved matters from the Great War of the Blood Demon, the traces left behind to help finish it, their convictions… Namgung Myung claimed to have forgotten it all.
Hearing him, I thought: Could I really see him as selfish? I could not. How could I blame him for refusing to make another unrewarded sacrifice, for choosing to fix his broken family with his own hands? If it were me, I wouldn't have made the sacrifice in the first place.
However.
What about Elder Shin?
His position was surely different. The Elder Shin I knew, behind his infuriating personality, was a man who could be called a hero.
I waited anxiously for his response.
[…I see.]
Elder Shin finally spoke. Was he affirming Namgung Myung’s will? I waited for him to continue.
[As I thought, you are not Myung.]
[…!]
…What the hell?
Elder Shin had brought up something completely unexpected. He’d said this before. What did he mean?
Just as I was about to ask, bewildered…
Knock, knock.
I suddenly sensed a presence outside the door. Had I been so focused on the conversation that I failed to notice someone approaching? I frowned toward the door.
“Who is it?”
…
No answer came, but I was certain someone was there. Given the silence, could it be Na-hi? I’d asked her to come by today. But she would have answered if I called.
Then who was it? The shadow outside was large, too large to be Na-hi or Tang Duk.
Screech.
I opened the door, filled with questions.
“…Huh…?”
Seeing the person standing there, I froze solid.
A massive frame clad in a red martial robe with golden patterns. Dust was scattered on his clothes as if he’d come in a hurry, and his black hair was slightly disheveled. And those murderous red eyes—a look I could never mistake.
Staring into his silent eyes, I blurted out the words without thinking.
“Lord…?”
“…”
Yes.
The person standing before my door was…
astonishingly, my father.