Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Hollow (5)
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“I don’t understand how any of this happened.”
Ma Dongpil’s face was the very picture of confusion.
Juhwa shook her head.
“We can find out the reason later. For now, I think it’s best to rest.”
Ma Dongpil nodded. In truth, even if they tried to find out why, they had no immediate means to do so.
“How is your body?”
“I’m fine.”
She certainly seemed to be better. Color had returned to her face, and the movement of her limbs was quite natural.
However, the swelling on her face had not yet subsided. No matter how incredible demonic arts were, it wasn't an injury that could heal in less than half a day.
“When are you planning to depart?”
“When the Young Master awakens.”
Right.
Ma Dongpil glanced at the carriage at the rear. The Young Master was inside, circulating his energy after taking a healing elixir.
‘Sigh.’
This whole operation had been one shameful event after another. If he had known the Young Master would end up in such a state, he would have abandoned his duty of protecting Juhwa and rushed to his side.
‘But…’
Still, he couldn't help but be amazed.
He and all the other cultists had examined the traces of the fierce battle on the hill.
And they were horrified. They knew that the marks etched all over the hill could only be made by employing martial arts of an incredibly high level.
It was a level of martial arts the commanders of the cult's internal combat units couldn't even dream of.
No, it was questionable how many cultists, from any organization within the cult, could have survived such a battle.
‘Could the Young Master possibly…’
Ma Dongpil’s face flushed.
‘Have you already ascended to that realm?’
The Transcendent Realm.
It was easy to say, but the prestige of those called Transcendent Masters was immense.
The realm of the transcendent was a height that even a talented martial artist, who trained relentlessly in the finest martial arts for decades without a single day of rest, could not reach without a stroke of luck.
The very term 'transcendent', meaning 'to surpass the peak', proved the difficulty of this stage. The peak meant the end, so to surpass even the end...
‘Considering the Young Master’s age, this is…’
Seo Ryang was now around twenty-five.
To reach such a state in his mid-twenties? It was beyond the realm of common sense.
‘I’m envious.’
Ma Dongpil’s fists clenched.
‘I want to follow.’
He felt no jealousy. Seo Ryang was not someone to be jealous of, and Ma Dongpil wasn't petty enough to feel such a thing anyway.
He was just endlessly envious.
And he wanted to follow. Even if he could never catch up, he wanted to at least reach a point where he could still see Seo Ryang’s back.
“I don’t know much about such relationships.”
Startled by the sudden voice, Ma Dongpil looked at Juhwa.
Juhwa spoke with her characteristic expressionless face.
“You look like a man gazing at the woman he loves.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Weren’t you looking at the Young Master?”
Ma Dongpil nodded.
“I was.”
“…”
“…It’s not like that.”
“I see.”
“Don’t misunderstand. I…”
“I’m not misunderstanding. It was just an observation.”
“…”
“You seem to have a deep bond with the Young Master.”
“I wouldn’t call it a bond. I simply worked hard for the Young Master, and he, in turn, has given me more credit than I deserve.”
Juhwa shook her head.
“Whatever it is, the relationship between you two seems special.”
“Not at all. To say such a thing would be a great disservice to the Young Master. I am merely a sword and a shield.”
A man, steadfastly rigid and firm.
Juhwa followed Ma Dongpil’s gaze and turned her head toward the carriage.
“What kind of person is he, really?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Young Master.”
“One cannot define a person in just a few words. Especially not someone as remarkable as him.”
Juhwa, who had been silently gazing at the carriage, spoke. It occurred to her that she had been unusually talkative since recovering from her qi deviation.
“The Young Master healed my body.”
She didn’t mention the deal they had made. She didn’t know if Ma Dongpil knew the details, and even if he did, she felt it wasn’t something to be spoken of.
“My body was a wreck from qi deviation. He restored it to normal in less than half a month.”
“I see.”
“And that’s not all. During our journey here, I recovered seventy percent of my martial arts.”
“…!”
“Don’t misunderstand, it wasn’t entirely my own ability. It would have been impossible without the Young Master’s help.”
“Hmm…”
“You saw it too, didn’t you, Third Squad Leader? The sight of the Young Master dispatching those monsters.”
“…Of course.”
Even now, the memory sent a chill down his spine.
At the same time, it made his blood run hot.
The sight of the Young Master appearing like a savior in their moment of crisis, sweeping away the wolves in a single stroke with his terrifying martial arts, had been truly moving.
That sense of relief was something no one who hadn't experienced it could understand. The wind of hope that blew in their moment of despair had cast a thrilling spark into everyone's heart.
“I have seen more powerful martial arts. But I have never seen any more profound.”
Ma Dongpil shook his head.
“Regardless of your impression, to pass judgment on the Young Master in any way is disrespectful.”
“I know. I know, but…”
“…”
“I’m envious.”
“Envious? Of what?”
“It’s nothing.”
After watching her for a moment, Ma Dongpil turned his head away. He had no desire to force a conversation with someone who clearly didn't want to talk.
A brief silence.
It was Juhwa who broke it.
“When do you think he’ll wake up?”
“The Young Master?”
“Yes.”
“Well, he is a man of exceptional ability, so I don’t think it will take long. However, the muscles throughout his body were on the verge of tearing, so it will probably take at least half a day…”
Just then, a rather weak voice came from inside the carriage.
“Half a day, my ass.”
*Clatter!*
The carriage door opened, and Seo Ryang stepped out. Geumho trotted along behind him.
“Young Master!”
The two of them, startled, hurried over to Seo Ryang.
Seo Ryang’s complexion was still pale. His demonic energy, unstable from his inability to control his internal power, flickered faintly, and he was so weak that he staggered.
Ma Dongpil quickly supported him.
“Are you alright?”
“Bastard, do I look alright to you?”
“I-I apologize!”
Seo Ryang let out a faint laugh.
“You’ve got a lot to be sorry for. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
“I… am fine.”
“Huh? What’s with the long face if you’re fine? Did you get your heart broken or something?”
A flustered Ma Dongpil quickly shook his head.
“N-Nothing like that!”
“Heh heh, you’re still fun to tease.”
“Young Master, perhaps you should go back inside and circulate your energy. You still seem to have trouble moving.”
“Forget it. This is good enough.”
“But…”
“Ssh!”
“…I apologize.”
“I came out because I can move. The job’s done, so you don’t have to worry so much. And get your arm out of my armpit. It’s suffocating.”
Ma Dongpil sighed inwardly. He knew how stubborn Seo Ryang could be.
When he let go of his supporting arm, Seo Ryang swayed for a moment.
But it was only for a moment. He took a deep breath and straightened himself. Though it was difficult, it didn't seem to be a major problem for him to move.
“Yo, Chief Administrator Ju.”
For someone who had been on the verge of death from severe internal and external injuries, his recovery was too fast. Juhwa, who had been staring at him in stunned silence, quickly dropped to one knee.
“Please kill me, Young Master.”
“What’s this one on about now?”
“Due to our incompetence, we have caused you great trouble, Young Master. We have committed a crime worthy of death.”
Seo Ryang shuddered as if he was fed up.
“What trouble could you have possibly caused to make you ask me to kill you?”
“…Pardon?”
“Stop talking nonsense and get up. Jeez, is making a fuss a trait of all cultists?”
Neither of them had the guts to point out that he was a cultist himself.
“By the way.”
Seo Ryang’s expression turned cold.
“That bastard’s corpse, where’d you dump it?”
If he’d had his way, he would have torn the man limb from limb and subjected him to all kinds of torture before sending him to his grave.
But his body couldn’t take any more, so he had snapped his neck right away. Whatever the reason, he couldn’t afford to suffer from qi deviation again just to vent his anger.
Ma Dongpil replied calmly.
“We left it near the carcasses of the red wolves. Just in case, we collected all of his belongings, including his clothes.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.”
Seo Ryang looked up at the sky.
Beyond the ridiculously clear sky, a red sunset was burning.
“Good. You did well.”
Ma Dongpil cleared his throat.
At first glance, he seemed relieved, but on closer inspection, there was an indefinable bitterness to him. His thoughts seemed to be complex.
“Dongpil.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Try not to live your life holding grudges against people.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m not telling you not to get angry, and I’m not telling you not to hate. Just resolve those feelings quickly and forget them.”
Seo Ryang gave a bitter smile.
“If you hold onto them sullenly like me, life gets tiring.”
“…”
“Well, you can just ignore it. You’re a guy with strong convictions of your own.”
“Not at all, Young Master. I will carve your words into my bones.”
“Bullshit.”
Seo Ryang forced a bright expression and looked around.
“Did you find all the stuff?”
“Yes. And, uhm… we’ve also captured a man who appears to be his companion. Would you like to see him?”
“No. My business here is done.”
“Understood. Then, shall we depart immediately? I believe it would be best to stop by the branch and rest.”
“Sounds good. Let’s go get some tasty food and rest in a soft bed.”
Seo Ryang exclaimed cheerfully.
“Alright, let’s head back—”
In that moment, his expression went blank.
Ma Dongpil, not seeing Seo Ryang’s face, shouted loudly.
“Chief Administrator Ju! I believe we can depart now!”
“Yes.”
“Third Squad, prepare to move out! We’re heading to the branch!”
“Yes, sir!”
Startled by the resounding reply, Seo Ryang frantically grabbed Ma Dongpil.
“Dongpil! Dongpil!”
“Yes? Do you have an order for me?”
“No, that’s not it, right now I…”
Before Seo Ryang could finish, Ma Dongpil’s face hardened.
“Young Master!”
“On second thought, I think I might have a little more business to take care of—”
At that moment, Seo Ryang’s knees buckled.
At the same time, blood trickled from his nose. It was because he had overexerted himself before his body had fully healed.
‘What the, fuck?!’
Ma Dongpil quickly supported Seo Ryang.
“This won’t do. We will move as quickly as possible.”
“*Cough!* No! That’s…”
“There are skilled physicians on standby at the branch. It would be better for you to be examined by a physician.”
“You son of a…!”
“Chief Administrator Ju! Hurry, prepare at once! The Young Master’s condition has worsened!”
Juhwa quickly replied.
“All transport units, get in the carriages! We will ride without rest!”
Urgency was written all over Seo Ryang’s face. His head was spinning and all strength had drained from his limbs, but that wasn’t what was important right now.
‘I have to go to the safe house! Let’s just stop by the safe house! The safe house! Please, the safe house!’
Ma Dongpil laid Seo Ryang down inside the carriage.
Seo Ryang’s vision gradually darkened.
‘I’m not going!!’
*Clack!*
The carriage door closed.