Chapter 82
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Wind Begins to Blow (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Young Master?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Um… Young Master, I've brought your meal.”
“Mmm, just leave it there.”
Seo Ryang’s voice, coming from under the blanket pulled over his head, sounded utterly miserable.
Aeng-hwa’s face fell. The Young Master hadn't eaten a single meal since his return.
She couldn’t help but worry. But since he wouldn't even show his face, she found it hard to speak to him.
In the end, there was only one thing she could say today as well.
“…I'll come back to clear it away later.”
The door slid shut.
Even after Aeng-hwa left, Seo Ryang remained motionless under the blanket.
Geumho, who had been sitting by the window after a long yawn, slowly padded over to Seo Ryang's bedside.
It whimpered.
“…Go play somewhere else.”
“Arf!”
“…”
“Arf! Arf!”
“I said, go play.”
“Arf!”
Geumho pressed its front paws firmly on the part of the blanket covering Seo Ryang’s head. It was a rather cute sight, but for some reason, it also seemed as if it were scolding him.
After being tormented by Geumho’s paws for a while, Seo Ryang slowly pulled back the blanket.
“Ah, what is it!”
“Arf!”
Geumho sat on the bed, wagging its tail.
Seo Ryang frowned.
“You can eat on your own now. Your portion is over there. Go eat.”
“Arf!”
“You sure do a lot of yapping.”
Grumbling, Seo Ryang threw the blanket off completely and got out of bed.
A master of his caliber wouldn't suffer any physical ailments from starving for two days. However, his face had grown quite gaunt, likely from his many worries.
“Here, eat up.”
As he held out some boiled meat, Geumho rushed over as if it had been waiting and began to chew.
Seo Ryang grumbled.
“The one who knocked out all those monsters with a single roar, why are you being such a nuisance? From now on, take care of yourself. Got it?”
Geumho didn't react to Seo Ryang’s words. It just diligently accepted the meat he offered.
Seo Ryang snorted in disbelief.
“I know you understand everything. You think pretending you don't, like you used to, will work?”
Geumho’s ears twitched slightly. But that was all; there was no other reaction.
“Jeez, you really are a strange one.”
Seo Ryang rested his chin on his hand and stroked Geumho’s head. As if enjoying the touch, Geumho chewed the meat even more enthusiastically.
“Still, I like how heartily you eat.”
After chewing on the meat for a while, Geumho licked its chops clean and sat up, looking at Seo Ryang.
“…”
Looking down at Geumho, Seo Ryang sighed.
“Alright, alright. I was about to get moving anyway.”
*Wag, wag.*
Geumho came over to Seo Ryang’s elbow and flopped onto its back. It was panting, seeming to have eaten its fill.
As he scratched Geumho’s belly with his index finger, Seo Ryang was lost in thought.
‘Damn it, I guess there's no other way.’
He had thought the chances weren't high.
But it was his first time out. Just as his expectations had been high, his disappointment was considerable.
It would have been great if he could have left the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon for good on that one trip.
“Shit, inspect the branch? Gather information? Memorize the routes? That's all bullshit.”
Not long after they departed, he had heard about Jeong Illyong from Ma Dongpil.
The moment he heard that information, he saw nothing else. He was too busy trying to control his hatred for the man, his deep-seated resentment, and the surging killing intent and rage.
It was fine up until he crushed Jeong Illyong.
He had felt genuinely refreshed, a sense of pride, and a feeling as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his chest.
But the problem was what came after.
“…So I collapsed like a fool and was brought back like a piece of luggage?”
Seo Ryang frantically ruffled his hair.
“Ugh, you moron! Just when I thought I was getting a little better, I went and caused trouble again, only seeing what was right in front of me!”
Startled by the cloud of dust, Geumho curled into a ball.
After berating himself for a while, Seo Ryang let out a deep sigh.
“Forget it. What's the point of beating myself up now? The ship has already sailed; no use waving at it.”
He knew that, but his heart felt heavy.
In truth, while he was disappointed, there was no reason to fall into such self-loathing.
Though he couldn't be called carefree, Seo Ryang wasn't sensitive enough to sulk over something like this for days.
There was another reason he had spent two days in bed, consumed by self-reproach.
‘I lost control.’
The moment he heard the three syllables of Jeong Illyong’s name, he had gone deaf and blind to everything else.
He hadn't realized it then, but thinking back on it now sent a chill down his spine. Just hearing the name of an enemy he might not even encounter had required days to get his emotions under control.
In other words, his desire to kill his enemy had surpassed his longing for freedom.
‘It can't be like this.’
Even if he managed to sneak out of the Divine Cult, could he live a normal life in the martial world?
The Divine Cult was in the south, but the Righteous Heaven Alliance was in the north.
His important safe houses were also in the north, and to ultimately escape to the northern territories, he would have to pass through the Alliance's domain.
Of course, it wouldn't matter if he just passed through, feigning ignorance.
But could he really do that? Could he control this anger that reacted instantly to his enemy's name?
What if, just what if…
While passing through the north, I hear news of the Alliance Leader? What would I do then?
*Crack!*
He had unknowingly tightened his grip on the table. A corner of it broke off and fell.
“…Even then, I wouldn't be able to just ignore it while crying out for freedom.”
Jeong Illyong was one of his enemies, but not the one who had ultimately taken his life. In fact, when he thought about the past, there were dozens of others he wanted to kill more.
*Shudder.*
As he recalled each of their faces, his demonic energy surged. He had to strain so hard to control the writhing energy that his eyes became bloodshot.
Seo Ryang took a deep breath.
“Calm down.”
That was just how he had lived; his personality was not suited for an assassin. But at least in the past, he could somehow control his emotions.
But what about now?
‘You shouldn't be regressing when you can't even improve on your past self, you bastard!’
It might be because he had learned Demonic Arts. In fact, that was likely the biggest reason.
But that, too, was just an excuse. In the end, the one who moves the body and emotions is always me.
To lose control of his emotions to this extent because of Demonic Arts was a problem he needed to seriously reflect on.
*Grumble.*
Seo Ryang looked down at his stomach. Geumho, still curled up, also glanced at him.
“…Damn it, and here I am, getting hungry after all that.”
Indeed, a man who could easily devour enough food for three or four people at every meal hadn't had a single sip of water in two days. It was only natural that his stomach would be screaming.
As he picked up his chopsticks, Seo Ryang flinched.
Most of the dishes served were easy on the stomach. It was a meal that perfectly reflected Aeng-hwa's concern.
Apologizing to Aeng-hwa in his heart, Seo Ryang began to eat.
‘Right, let's forget what's past. I was planning to make a long-term plan anyway, wasn't I?’
While stuffing his cheeks until they bulged, his eyes remained serious. His expression was a delicate balance of comedy and gravity.
‘Let's think of this outing this way: as a test of whether I can leave if I'm determined to.’
Thinking like that, he felt he had gained something. When he set his mind to it, he had gotten out surprisingly easily, hadn't he?
Seo Ryang’s expression brightened considerably.
‘Good, I just have to keep doing this from now on.’
It was partly thanks to So Yeonsim, but he was the one who had guided the situation in that direction. This meant that he could leave the cult in one way or another, as long as he was determined.
“…Good.”
His grip on the chopsticks tightened with resolve.
“Let's work harder from now on. If I try, a path will always open up.”
Changing his perspective brought such peace of mind. As he imagined a rosy future, his heart began to pound again.
Having finished his first meal in two days, Seo Ryang went out to the training ground.
Aeng-hwa, who was sweeping the yard, was startled to see him.
“Y-Young Master?!”
“Oh, are you cleaning?”
“Yes, yes! Are you alright?”
Seo Ryang smacked his lips. He felt ashamed for making Aeng-hwa worry over his own pointless brooding.
“I'm fine. You were worried, weren't you?”
“Hehe, did you finish your meal?”
“Licked the plate clean, down to the last bit of seasoning.”
“I'll go clean it up right away!”
“Take your time.”
Sweeping the yard with dazzling speed, Aeng-hwa scurried away. Though she moved in a hurry, her face was bright.
Seo Ryang scratched his head.
“By the way, I'm going to leave this place someday. Am I getting too attached?”
Well, what could he do? If he cut ties now, life here would become too harsh.
Besides, she had already found a place deep in his heart. Affection wasn't something you could easily sever just because you decided to.
“Whatever, let's just loosen up. Ugh, I'm so stiff.”
As he stretched his legs, a series of cracks echoed. It was only natural, having lain in the same position for two days.
*Whoosh!*
A powerful force was embedded in his outstretched fists and swinging kicks.
Seo Ryang inwardly clicked his tongue.
‘Look how stiff I am.’
*Whap! Whap! Whap!*
The Heaven-Lifting Technique was a superb martial art. While valuable as a killing method, when used with controlled force, it was more effective than any other art for warming up the body.
After about fifteen minutes, a palpable heat rose from Seo Ryang’s body.
As a half hour passed, then an hour, he was drenched in sweat. Once his body was sufficiently warmed up, he moved on to more detailed training.
As an assassin or a demonic practitioner, Seo Ryang might have many flaws.
But as a martial artist, Seo Ryang possessed a great strength: his mind and body were in harmony, always allowing him to pursue the path of martial arts.
This wasn't about the level of his martial arts, but his attitude toward the martial way. In that sense, he was a born martial artist.
“Whew, not bad.”
The training session, which had begun merely to loosen up, ended only after two hours had passed.
Lying spread-eagled on the training ground, Seo Ryang gazed up at the clear sky.
“Not a single cloud… well, there's one. Anyway, it's clear.”
A smile naturally formed on his lips. Indeed, when one's mind was cluttered, there was nothing like breaking a sweat.
‘Yeah, this is it.’
My future will be as clear as that sky. Even if my unpleasant past tries to drag me down, I should always smile and look at the sky. Then I'll find the answer.
It was then.
“Young Master.”
“Huh?”
Seo Ryang shot up.
A cautious voice from outside the gate. It was Ma Dongpil.
“Dongpil?”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Pleased, Seo Ryang ran to open the gate. There stood Ma Dongpil with a somewhat awkward expression.
“Shouldn't you be on duty? What brings you here? Aren't you busy?”
“Well…”
“Hey, perfect timing. I just finished training. I'm getting hungry, let's grab a bite together.”
“Before that, there is something I must report to you, Young Master.”
“A report? A report is good. What is it?”
He seemed brighter than usual.
Relieved of his burden, Ma Dongpil cleared his throat and slowly knelt.
Seo Ryang’s eyes widened.
“What? Has your affliction returned? What kind of nonsense is this…”
“I, your humble servant, Ma Dongpil! From this moment forward, pledge to protect the Third Young Master with all my heart as his personal guard!”
“…?”
“…”
“…Personal guard?”
“Ah, yes, about that.”
Ma Dongpil explained the situation to the disbelieving Seo Ryang.
“…And so, I have become your guard for the time being. Although they say 'for the time being,' it will likely be for quite a long while.”
“…”
“I will protect you with my life, Young Master.”
*Rumble!!*
It felt as though thunder had just cracked in the once-clear sky.
“You're… my personal guard?”
“Yes? Ah, yes. From now on, I will be living and eating at your residence to provide close protection.”
“Who ordered this?”
“I received the order from the First Team Leader, but since personnel transfers to external organizations are not under the jurisdiction of the Hall of Protectors, it must have come from the higher-ups… Ack! Young Master?!”
Ma Dongpil rushed toward Seo Ryang. He had suddenly collapsed to his knees.
Seo Ryang looked up at the sky with a mournful expression. The sky, which had been so clear just moments ago, no longer seemed so.
Freedom? Freedom with a personal guard sticking to him?
“…What a fucking joke.”