Chapter 94: Preparation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: Preparation (3)
I returned to the lodge after finishing my afternoon training.
My original plan had been to return to the clan around this time…
But things got complicated.
Gu Ryunghwa had informed me that she would be returning to the clan with me, which forced me to delay my plans. To make matters more interesting, the Sword Queen herself expressed a desire to accompany us to the Gu Clan.
So she’s going with her?
Since the Sword Queen was heading to the Gu Clan, I naturally assumed she would be traveling with Gu Ryunghwa. Well, I would hear it straight from the source later, as she’d mentioned she would visit me.
I’d also heard the Immortal Healer was joining the party…
It seemed I needed to start wrapping things up here.
I should pay a visit to the Celestial Plum Blossom first.
Even if I didn’t seek him out immediately, he would likely come to me eventually. However, I believed it was more respectful for me, as a junior, to visit my elder first. Besides, I had a request to make.
And for that to happen, I need to see the Sword Queen beforehand…
I planned to ask the Plum Blossom Sword Saint for assistance when I made my request to the Celestial Plum Blossom. So before that visit, I needed to inform the Sword Queen of a few things.
Having organized my thoughts, I arrived at my room and immediately spotted Wi Seol-Ah. She had seen me approaching while she was doing laundry.
“Young Master!”
“What’s up? I’ve barely seen you these past few days.”
Recently, I’d only caught glimpses of her during mealtimes, so seeing her now felt strangely fresh.
Does she have a lot of work? She looks pretty tired.
I noticed faint signs of exhaustion on Wi Seol-Ah’s face. But given her boundless energy compared to the other workers, it was unusual for her to seem worn out.
“Did something happen?”
“Huh?”
“You look really tired.”
I decided to ask her directly. If Wi Seol-Ah of all people was tired, something serious must have occurred.
Upon hearing my question, Wi Seol-Ah broke into a wide, eye-crinkling smile.
“I’m fine! Nothing happened!”
Then she straightened up, as if to physically demonstrate her vitality.
Seeing her do that, I smirked and ruffled her hair.
“Take this!”
It was amusing how natural such gestures felt now. In the past, I would have hesitated to even touch her. Looking back, I realized I had changed quite a bit from who I used to be.
After playing with her hair for a moment, I spoke to Wi Seol-Ah again.
“Do you want to go down to the city today?”
“Huh!?”
Wi Seol-Ah stared at me, utterly stupefied.
Is it really that shocking?
I supposed I didn’t usually go anywhere with her unless it was business-related…
Her eyes soon widened to the size of saucers, a clear testament to her shock.
“W-When… now?”
“Are you busy? If you have work left—”
“No! I have none! I did it all, I don’t have any left!”
“R-Right, glad to hear that.”
She responded with palpable desperation the moment I hinted at canceling the plan. Forcefully suppressing a foolish grin at her reaction, I spoke again.
“I’ll take a quick shower and be right back. Go wake her up and bring her along.”
“Okay… Huh? Bring her?”
“Yeah?”
“Huh?”
Wi Seol-Ah looked at me, confusion written all over her face. Then, realization dawned, and she fixed me with an intense glare. She understood I was talking about Namgung Bi-ah.
“…It’d be rude to just leave her here, right?”
I tried to offer a weak excuse, but it was completely ineffective. Of course, being the kind soul she is, Wi Seol-Ah only glared for a moment before letting out what sounded like a resigned sigh and heading off to wake Namgung Bi-ah.
I felt a twinge of guilt, but I didn’t have much choice.
I can’t believe I’m dealing with such problems.
The realization was surprising. Not long ago, it would have been difficult for me to consider someone else’s feelings so carefully.
After washing off the sweat from training and changing into clean clothes, I left my room. I was immediately greeted by the sight of Namgung Bi-ah draped over Wi Seol-Ah’s back.
“…Ugghh… You are heavy, sis…!”
“Mmmph…”
“What are you two doing?”
Namgung Bi-ah was clinging to Wi Seol-Ah, still half-asleep and lost in her dreams. Given their difference in size, it looked like Wi Seol-Ah was being completely swallowed up.
Namgung Bi-ah has been sleeping a lot lately. Did something happen?
“Do you want to go back to sleep? The two of us can go by ourselves.”
No sooner had I spoken than Namgung Bi-ah immediately stood up straight. She still looked drowsy, but she was clearly trying to show she was fit to join us.
Then, I saw her patting her pockets before pulling something out.
“A mask…?”
Surprisingly, it was a mask.
Does she carry that around all the time now because I told her to cover up?
Well, even with the mask on, her attractiveness still drew some attention, but it significantly reduced the stares she would normally get. She seemed uncomfortable with so many people looking at her, especially since she wasn’t used to crowded streets.
I guess that mask works well enough for Namgung Bi-ah.
“You came prepared.”
“This… is comfortable.”
“Young Master! Should I call Brother Muyeon?”
“Hmm?”
I had already informed the escorts that I was going out, so I’d assumed he would be ready to depart. It was rare for Muyeon not to be prepared.
Realistically, I could just leave without him, but Muyeon would definitely scold me later if I went without an escort. I’d already been lectured once after getting injured during that ominous incident. They kept asking why I kept venturing out alone.
I had no choice back then; it was urgent.
Muyeon was usually so worried about my safety. Had something happened to him?
Surprisingly, Namgung Bi-ah was the one who answered my unspoken question.
“He went to attend a duel.”
“A duel?”
“Against a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“A disciple? Who?”
Since Namgung Bi-ah only knew a few Mount Hua disciples… and I doubted it was Gu Ryunghwa, only one person came to mind.
“Are you talking about Master Yung Pung?”
“Yeah.”
Muyeon went to duel Yung Pung?
What’s this all about?
He always rejected challenges from Namgung Bi-ah and others, citing his duties as my escort.
“He dueled me too.”
“What…?”
I couldn’t help but ask, hearing Namgung Bi-ah’s words.
He dueled Namgung Bi-ah too? This is the first I’m hearing of it.
I’m not sure how she interpreted my reaction, but she quietly added afterward.
“…Then lost.”
I didn’t need to ask who lost. Her gloomy expression told me everything.
If someone is challenging Muyeon…
Even with all the energy I’d absorbed in this life, Muyeon was still at a higher martial rank than I was. I remembered a time when a group of swordsmen had begged him to rejoin their ranks back in the clan.
Muyeon is certainly no ordinary martial artist.
His talent might not hold a candle to a prodigy like Yung Pung, but that didn’t mean Muyeon was lacking. It was exceedingly rare for someone barely over twenty to reach his level of martial attainment without being a young prodigy from a noble clan.
“A duel, huh… I wonder what triggered this.”
When I said that, Namgung Bi-ah stared at me for a long moment. I asked why she was looking at me like that.
“What’s up?”
“I can… understand him a little.”
After mumbling those words, she reverted to her usual indifferent expression.
Wi Seol-Ah, who was still hugging Namgung Bi-ah’s waist, was looking at me with her eyes, asking when we would leave.
I doubted Muyeon had heard about our sudden outing, since I’d informed the escorts on short notice.
So I guess we can just go without him, right?
There were other escorts around, after all…
As I finished my preparations to leave, Namgung Bi-ah suddenly spoke.
“When we return… let’s duel…”
“…”
I stopped in my tracks.
Oh, right…
I’d completely forgotten I’d promised to duel her.
It should be fine; I’d already dueled Yung Pung.
Though it’s a bit bothersome, being constantly reminded of the past.
But I couldn’t put her off forever. I might as well accept.
“After we return, we can do it if I’m free.”
“…!”
A rare expression of shock bloomed on Namgung Bi-ah’s face at my words.
And that smile…
I smirked seeing the corners of her mouth slowly curve upward and started walking.
Is this really enough to make her that happy?
It would be nearly nighttime by the time we got back to the lodge, but I could spare some time for her if I had nothing else to do.
It should be fine. I didn’t have any problems dueling Yung Pung last time.
Unless I had to expend a massive amount of qi, like I did against Ya Hyeoljeok, I figured I could handle a duel with anyone.
After exploring the city streets and filling our stomachs with various delicacies, we returned to the lodge.
But the duel Namgung Bi-ah had been eagerly anticipating didn’t happen.
Some business had come up for me.
“You finally came.”
When I returned to the lodge, I found the Immortal Healer seated inside my room, waiting for me.
* * *
It felt like I’d been receiving a lot of guests recently.
That included Yung Pung, Gu Ryunghwa, the Sword Queen, and now even the Immortal Healer.
I did hear he would visit…
I remembered the Sword Queen mentioning it some time ago. I’d just expected him to come with her, not alone.
“What brings you here…?”
“I came to check your body. Why are you so surprised?”
“I’m not, sir. I was just a bit puzzled.”
I could feel Namgung Bi-ah glaring at me with an intensity sharper than anything I’d seen from her before, but there was nothing I could do…
After all, he was here to examine me.
I glanced at Namgung Bi-ah, signaling with my eyes that we would duel another time. She disappeared with a slightly sulky expression.
“Hmm… Maybe I came at the wrong time?”
The Immortal Healer let out a fake cough, having noticed our silent exchange.
“Not a problem, sir. You’ve taken time out of your schedule to come.”
“I appreciate you saying that. Now, come sit.”
The checkup didn’t take long.
There were no issues with my body, aside from it being saturated with Demonic Qi at the moment.
“Hmm… You truly have a fascinating body. I wonder what caused all these energies to stabilize like this…”
The Immortal Healer might have called this a checkup, but to me, it seemed more like he was conducting research. I could see the curiosity burning in his eyes.
…What do I do if he actually tries to cut me open?
He was surely joking when he said that before.
He had to be…
I answered all his questions coherently and precisely.
The Immortal Healer seemed particularly interested in the Gu Clan’s ability to purge turbid energy from the body. I told him it was difficult to explain, especially since he wasn’t a martial artist himself.
That was the excuse I devised to handle the situation.
In reality, I had no way to explain it. Saying something like, ‘I guess it’s just a clan ability! But I don’t know the details!’ would have to suffice for now.
It would be problematic if the Immortal Healer decided to visit our clan to inquire about this ability, though.
But I doubt he would go that far just for this.
The Immortal Healer was a doctor in high demand all over the world. It wouldn’t be a simple decision for him to visit the Gu Clan, especially without an invitation.
At least, that’s what I thought.
The Immortal Healer let out a sigh full of disappointment after failing to uncover more about my unique condition.
“Well… It seems you are healthy.”
“…Why do you sound so disappointed?”
Is it just me, or does he seem unsatisfied that I’m healthy?
“Do you really think I’m disappointed?”
“It must be my mistake, then, right?”
The Immortal Healer didn’t answer. He simply took a wooden pass from his pocket.
“Take this.”
“What is it?”
“Can’t you tell by looking? It’s a wooden pass.”
“I can see that much, but I was asking what it’s for.”
“Since I’m just a wandering doctor, I don’t have much to give you.”
The Immortal Healer was trying to give me a gift. I was already grateful for the free treatment, so why was he offering more?
“I don’t have anything grand to give, but if you present this pass to the Beggar’s Sect, you should receive good treatment from them.”
“Why are you giving me something like this?”
I could tell it was a valuable item at a glance. Furthermore, if it was connected to the Beggar’s Sect…
I was suddenly reminded of the black wooden pass Peng Woojin had given me previously.
“I originally intended to give this to someone I was searching for, but I couldn’t find him. So I’m giving it to you instead. Consider it a payment for a commission.”
“A payment for… a commission?”
“Yes. I have a favor to ask of you.”
I knew it. Something this valuable wouldn’t be given away for free. He had an ulterior motive.
He’s not going to ask permission to dissect me, is he?
If that were the case, I’d have to make a run for it immediately.
“I heard the Sword Queen is planning to leave with you.”
“…Oh, I heard that too, but it’s not confirmed yet.”
As the leader of our group, if the Sword Queen wanted to join us, she would need my approval. I wasn’t sure if I could allow her to leave the Mount Hua Sect so soon after recovering from her illness.
The real problem was what the Immortal Healer said next.
“I will also be going to the Gu Clan. I have some business there.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve already spoken to Dohwa, and it should be fine. There aren’t many places in the world where I’m unwelcome.”
The Immortal Healer informed me that he had already mentioned his departure to the Celestial Plum Blossom. He spoke as if my approval for him to tag along was a foregone conclusion.
“…Why?”
“Hmm?”
I couldn’t help but ask. The situation was becoming absurd.
Why is everyone trying to go to my house when there are plenty of other, better places?
Is our home coated in honey or something?
I was starting to have nonsensical thoughts.
* * *
-I understand what you want, but do you really think I can achieve something like that?
-I also sensed something unusual about that girl, but I didn’t examine her thoroughly. Dohwa told me not to.
-I can’t heal everyone just because I’m called the Immortal Healer.
After hearing the Immortal Healer’s cold words, the Sword Venerable remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.
-Then… is it impossible, even for you…?
-…
The Immortal Healer never lied when it came to healing. The Sword Venerable knew this well. That’s why he could guess the answer just from the healer’s expression and silence.
The Immortal Healer merely sighed in response, acknowledging that the Sword Venerable had already understood.
-It’s an exceedingly difficult task for me to recklessly manipulate someone’s energy, especially when that person is neither fully human nor a conventional martial artist.
-Not only would it require a vast amount of time, but the ingredients needed might demand the destruction of a clan’s very foundation.
-…I can procure—
-Alliance Leader.
The Immortal Healer cut off the Sword Venerable.
-Before you bring me such things, please fulfill my request first. I believe that takes priority.
-…
-Until then, I won’t give you my final answer.
It was a brief and stern response. Everything would end if the Sword Venerable refused the condition. But he wasn’t in a position to let such an opportunity slip away. It was a thread of light descending into an abyss of endless darkness.
The Sword Venerable steeled his resolve, remembering his granddaughter’s bright, happy smile. He swiftly began writing a letter.
Carefully, he filled the blank page with words. On the front of the letter was written ‘Murim’.
This letter was addressed to none other than the current leader of the Murim Alliance—the Harmonic Sword, Jang Cheon.