Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Chapter 8. I Leave No Lingering Feelings (3)
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Elder Hyeonso's eyelids trembled faintly, and then he opened his eyes. A rough-hewn ceiling was the first thing that came into view.
"......"
His mind felt foggy, as if shrouded in mist.
'I was clearly in the presence of the Supreme Elder... Was it a dream?'
Elder Hyeonso blinked slowly, like a cow. Gradually, his scattered memories began to return.
"You're awake?"
A voice spoke up at that moment.
Elder Hyeonso turned his head toward the source of the voice. There sat a familiar-looking woman.
"I'm Jong Ri-yeon. Do you recognize me?"
Elder Hyeonso nodded silently. He wanted to speak, but his throat felt parched, and he couldn't open his mouth.
"You've been lying down for so long that your bodily functions have deteriorated significantly. Please don't push yourself—rest a bit longer. I'll go fetch the others."
Elder Hyeonso nodded again at Jong Ri-yeon's words. She offered a gentle smile before stepping outside.
Left alone, Elder Hyeonso gazed back up at the ceiling. His memories were returning bit by bit, but everything still felt chaotic.
It was too vivid to dismiss as merely a dream—the recollections from while he lay unconscious.
'Was I the butterfly dreaming, or is the butterfly dreaming me?'
He thought that if Zhuangzi's butterfly dream held any truth, it must be just like his current state.
'But what does it matter, one way or the other?'
That was when Elder Hyeonso had this thought. The door opened, and Jong Ri-yeon entered with someone else. A familiar voice followed.
"Master."
"Ho... nya?"
"Yes!"
With that curt reply, the owner of the voice sat down beside Elder Hyeonso. It was Dam Ho.
Elder Hyeonso barely managed to turn his head to confirm Dam Ho's face. Dam Ho's expression remained impassive as ever—no hint of human emotion showed. Yet Elder Hyeonso could see the faint thread of relief hidden within.
Elder Hyeonso forced some saliva onto his dry lips and continued.
"How long... have I been lying here?"
"A month."
"That long?"
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes! I slept deeply for once. Heh heh!"
Elder Hyeonso managed a smile. His throat still burned like it was tearing apart, but he didn't want to show weakness in front of his disciple.
Elder Hyeonso extended a hand toward Dam Ho.
"Help me up."
"You shouldn't move yet."
Jong Ri-yeon tried to stop him in alarm, but it was no use. Dam Ho had already begun supporting Elder Hyeonso to sit up.
Having lain still for so long, his atrophied muscles protested in pain, and his joints creaked. He'd barely moved a little, and already sweat soaked his back.
Elder Hyeonso leaned on Dam Ho and moved slowly, step by step. Each motion brought agony that made him want to scream. Still, he didn't utter a single word of complaint, just kept shifting his feet.
'Hah! Like master, like disciple.'
Jong Ri-yeon, watching from behind, shook her head.
Without Jong Ri-yeon, Elder Hyeonso would already be a wandering spirit. Thanks to her desperate treatments, she'd neutralized most of the poison still lingering in his body.
He was only just recovering now, so moving was difficult, but with steady rehabilitation, he'd soon regain his former mobility.
The door swung wide open, revealing the outside scenery.
Majestic mountains and deep green foliage. A sky so brilliantly blue it stung the eyes, and intense sunlight that dazzled.
Elder Hyeonso squinted as if blinded.
Eyes deprived of light for a month had grown terribly weak. He closed them for a moment, trying to adjust to the brightness.
Once the pain in his eyes subsided a little, Elder Hyeonso cautiously opened them again. The stronghold's layout came into view, no longer obscured by the glare.
"Where is this?"
"Overlord Stronghold on Mount Huang."
"Not Mount Hua?"
"Yes!"
"Why here? No, there must be a reason for it."
Elder Hyeonso sent his disciple a gaze full of boundless trust.
That was when it happened.
"Grandpa!"
"Whoa! You're awake!"
Suddenly, boisterous voices rang out as children came rushing over in a pack.
"You rascals!"
A bright smile lit up Elder Hyeonso's face.
These were the children he had taken in. Not one was missing as they piled into his arms. His body swayed and ached from the impact, but he didn't let it show.
The children's warmth filled his heart to the brim.
Elder Hyeonso looked up at Dam Ho.
"You brought all these children too? Thank you."
"It was the natural thing to do."
"You rascal!"
Even at Dam Ho's gruff response, Elder Hyeonso smiled.
"Grandpa, are you okay now?"
"Of course!"
"Grandpa, don't hurt. It hurts—no hurting."
"Right! For our Ha Yeong's sake, Grandpa won't hurt."
"Yeah!"
Ha Yeong buried her face in Elder Hyeonso's chest again. He gently stroked her head.
Dam Ho watched the scene in silence. Jong Ri-yeon stepped up beside him with a smile.
"Nice to see, isn't it?"
Dam Ho nodded, and Jong Ri-yeon wrinkled her nose as if she'd expected as much.
Just watching this made all the fatigue and effort of the past month feel rewarded.
'This must be why people save lives...'
Jong Ri-yeon stretched beside Dam Ho. A fresh smile bloomed on her face—one that could brighten anyone's mood.
"Hyung! Noona!"
Someone approached cautiously then.
He didn't need to turn to know who it was from the voice.
"Jinbo, huh."
"Hehe!"
It was Bang Jinbo.
Though they'd only met recently, Bang Jinbo had the nerve to call her "noona" right away. They'd hit it off quickly, and Jong Ri-yeon had come to dote on him like a little brother.
Elder Hyeonso looked up at Bang Jinbo. A warm smile settled on his face as he gazed at the boy.
"So you're Jinbo."
"You know me?"
Bang Jinbo's eyes went wide.
"How could I not? Ho's told me so much about you."
"Really?"
"Of course! Come here. Ho's brother is like blood to me too."
"Ah!"
Bang Jinbo's eyes wavered at Elder Hyeonso's warm words. Elder Hyeonso embraced him tenderly.
Bang Jinbo blinked in a daze. A misty dampness gathered in his eyes—tears welling up unbidden.
He quickly wiped them away and pulled back from Elder Hyeonso.
"Hehe! Good thing I made porridge. You must be hungry, right?"
"Yeah! Lying around so long, my stomach's stuck to my back."
"Let's go eat, then."
"Alright."
Elder Hyeonso took a step forward with Bang Jinbo's support. The children, Dam Ho, and Jong Ri-yeon followed behind.
Jong Ri-yeon whispered to Dam Ho.
"Jinbo's been making porridge every day for the past few days. Said you'd be weak when you woke up. Such a good kid."
Dam Ho nodded silently.
While Jong Ri-yeon tended to Elder Hyeonso, Bang Jinbo had come and gone from the room countless times. Partly to bring her meals, but mostly because he wanted to check on Elder Hyeonso's condition and prepare nourishing food for when he awoke.
Jong Ri-yeon had been surprised by Bang Jinbo's sincerity, and doubly so by his cooking skills. Especially his culinary prowess—it was remarkable.
It wasn't just tasty; the harmony of ingredients invigorated one's vital energy.
She'd thought it coincidence at first, but after sampling his food repeatedly, she knew it for sure.
'That kid's definitely going to be one of the world's top chefs.'
Jong Ri-yeon was convinced.
Bang Jinbo's quarters were a spacious thatched hut in the corner of Overlord Stronghold. It was rundown, but inside was a massive hearth for cooking and shelves packed with kitchen tools.
Overlord Stronghold's chief, Hwang Gyeongmun, had prepared it for Bang Jinbo. Here, the boy researched and whipped up dishes to his heart's content.
One side of the kitchen held a huge table and chairs that could seat twenty with room to spare.
"Everyone, sit down."
Bang Jinbo offered seats to the group.
Elder Hyeonso took the head seat, followed by Dam Ho and Jong Ri-yeon. Then the children piled in noisily.
"Hyung, I'm hungry."
"Hungry!"
The kids clamored.
During the time Elder Hyeonso lay unconscious, Bang Jinbo and the children had grown close. The kids especially loved his cooking.
Bang Jinbo hauled over a pot as big as himself and set it on the table. It brimmed with porridge.
"Porridge made with deer meat from yesterday's hunt."
The men of Overlord Stronghold often went hunting. They could handle basics like food and shelter in the stronghold, but everyone craved special treats now and then.
Wild boars, deer—the game varied. Many hunters dropped off some of their catch with Bang Jinbo, knowing his passion for cooking.
He'd made an excellent tonic porridge with the deer meat and various herbs foraged from Mount Huang.
"Dig in."
Starting with Elder Hyeonso, he ladled out portions for everyone in the house.
As the savory aroma made Elder Hyeonso smile—
"Haha! I heard Taoist Hyeonso awoke."
A booming voice announced the arrival of someone entering the hut. It was Overlord Stronghold's chief, Hwang Gyeongmun, and Hwang Hye-ryeong.
"Ah! Chief Grandpa!"
"Grandpa. Noona."
This time, the children swarmed Hwang Gyeongmun and Hwang Hye-ryeong.
"Chief."
Bang Jinbo and Jong Ri-yeon rose from their seats. Elder Hyeonso paused mid-scoop and stood as well, with Dam Ho following suit.
Elder Hyeonso clasped his hands in greeting toward Hwang Gyeongmun.
"I am Hyeonso of Mount Hua Sect. I am deeply grateful for your hospitality in allowing us to stay."
"Not at all, Taoist Hyeonso. If anything, I apologize for hosting someone of your stature in this humble place. Please treat it as your own home during your stay and rest comfortably."
"Thank you."
"I hope we haven't interrupted your meal."
"No, we were just about to start."
"Then, may I join you for a bowl?"
Hwang Gyeongmun sat with easy familiarity.
"Of course."
Bang Jinbo hurriedly ladled out bowls for Hwang Gyeongmun and Hwang Hye-ryeong.
Hwang Gyeongmun said to Elder Hyeonso,
"You must be famished—eat up. Jinbo's got real talent. Thanks to him, I'm always hoping for an invite."
"I've heard plenty about you from Ho as well. Then..."
Elder Hyeonso carefully scooped some porridge to his mouth.
It was warm and soft. Savory too. As it slid down his throat to his stomach, a soothing comfort spread. His shrunken belly, starved for so long, accepted it without burden.
"Delicious."
"Hehe!"
Bang Jinbo scratched his nose sheepishly at the praise.
Elder Hyeonso and Hwang Gyeongmun chatted amiably over their porridge, while the children chattered excitedly. A warm atmosphere filled the room.
"Oppa!"
Tears glistened in Hwang Hye-ryeong's eyes.
With Dam Ho back and everyone gathered, it felt like a dream. That's why the tears came.
"So you're Hye-ryeong."
Elder Hyeonso showed her the same warm attention.
"Yes!"
"Parted from Ho—you must have suffered so much. You've grown into such a fine young lady."
"Thanks to Father, I didn't suffer at all. Thank you so much for taking good care of Oppa."
"No. If anything, Ho took care of me and gave me strength."
"How was Oppa at Mount Hua?"
At Hwang Hye-ryeong's question, Elder Hyeonso paused to recall.
All eyes turned to him. They too were curious about Dam Ho's time at Mount Hua.
"Ho was..."
Elder Hyeonso began to speak.
Hwang Hye-ryeong, Bang Jinbo, and even the children became utterly absorbed in his words. No one noticed when Dam Ho quietly slipped outside.
"Hyungnim!"
Muk Ilgwang, waiting outside, approached.
Dam Ho asked,
"How's the situation outside?"