Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Mountain Folk Must Live On
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Martial God (54)
Mountain folk must live on.
“What’s the condition?”
Ak Muyoo asked.
“The condition of passing down Sea Horse Storm Great Heaven Flow and Flame Demon Wheel Blood Death Art.”
“Ah, that…….”
Ak Muyoo nodded.
“What is it?”
“My condition is simple.”
“What is it?”
“You two both become the old man’s left and right arms.”
“Left and right arms?”
The two turned their heads.
Ageukta was sitting cross-legged in one corner with his eyes closed.
“They say the master of the Heaven-Earth Sun Command is the Border Wastelands Sovereign, right?”
“That’s true, but…….”
Seo Haran trailed off.
“You’re wondering if others will truly acknowledge the old man as the Border Wastelands Sovereign?”
“Well…….”
“They might not later, but for now, they have no choice but to accept it.”
“Why…….”
“Flame Demon Wheel Blood Death Art is the strongest martial art of the Demon Temple, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“They can’t just sit by and watch it go to someone else.”
“So you’re saying they’ll submit because of the martial art?”
“If I were in charge, I’d snort at that, but the old man is the Heaven Lord of Great Desert Wolf Heaven and one of the Desert Ten Heroes. Even if he doesn’t become the Border Wastelands Sovereign, countless people in the Border Wastelands will flock to his side and form a massive force.”
“So you’re saying to secure a spot in advance to prepare for that?”
“If you’re not interested in worldly affairs, maybe not, but I would.”
“You don’t need us?”
“I need you desperately.”
“Then why push it off to Great Hero A?”
“Even if you help me, I have nothing to offer you, and I can’t go into the future together with you. The old man is a hundred times better than me.”
“I’m in.”
Seo Haran nodded readily.
“You?”
Ak Muyoo looked at Muk Bu-seong.
“I’ll do it too.”
“You both made the right choice.”
“Should I write down the martial art incantations, or recite them?”
He asked Seo Haran.
“Write them down.”
“I can speak and read Border Wastelands tongue, but I can’t write it.”
“I’ll write them down if you recite.”
“Then let’s do it after dinner.”
“Sounds good.”
Just then, the door opened and four people entered. They were the captains of each squad and Hallan.
Ak Muyoo looked at the four.
“We’ve decided that if war must come, we’ll fight.”
Jung Tae-rang said.
“If we go to war, many will die.”
“Deaths to protect our homes and families are ones we must accept.”
High Citadel Corps Captain Heulchi said.
“There’s one thing I can promise, no matter what. Heavenly Center High Citadel Merchant House will take responsibility for the families of the fallen until the end. I’ll mention it again later when the chance comes, but captains, tell your men first.”
“Understood.”
The four bowed their heads.
“Have you received any training?”
“Almost none.”
“Then let’s train by squad. Come to the training grounds one squad per day. Do you have bows?”
“Yes.”
“Bring them.”
“Understood.”
“Want to eat before you go?”
“Dinner?”
The four looked at Ak Muyoo in surprise.
“Dinner’s ready, so eat and go.”
Ruha came out from the kitchen and said.
“Let’s go.”
Ak Muyoo stood up. Moments later, the group entered the dining hall. A large table with ten chairs sat in the dining hall. As the group took their seats, food was brought out. A platter of lamb was placed in the center of the table, and thick soup was set before each person. Next to the soup, plates held eggs.
“You can tear the eggs and dip them, or shred them finely and add to the soup.”
Ruha explained how to eat the eggs.
“I’ll dip.”
Ak Muyoo tore an egg and dipped it in the soup. He didn’t know what the soup was, but it was rich and delicious.
He cut the lamb and added it to the soup, eating them together.
“Would you like some grape wine?”
Ruha asked Ak Muyoo.
“We have grape wine too.”
“In Carcar Kingdom, we’ve been making grape wine for a long time. There’s wine just fermented, and distilled versions with higher alcohol content.”
“The light one, please.”
“Then have this.”
Ruha filled a glass with grape wine. It was red. Ak Muyoo took a sip. Various flavors he couldn’t quite pinpoint spread through his mouth. It went down smoothly.
“It’s good.”
Ak Muyoo smiled faintly. The group ate while drinking the grape wine.
“Want to see the ranch tomorrow?”
Ruha asked.
“There’s a ranch too?”
“Yes.”
“What do you raise there?”
“Sheep, pigs, camels, and horses.”
“Can that feed all the servants?”
“We barter for shortages and buy with gold and silver.”
Before long, the meal ended.
“That was delicious.”
“Thank you for the meal.”
Jung Tae-rang and the others expressed their gratitude.
“Let’s eat together like this often from now on.”
Ak Muyoo said with a bright smile.
“Next time, we’ll invite you.”
Jung Tae-rang said.
“Are you married?”
He asked Jung Tae-rang.
“Yes.”
“Kids?”
“Two sons and one daughter.”
“Perfect.”
“Everyone’s jealous.”
“I’m jealous too.”
“If the Young Master tries, he’ll be a father in no time.”
“A father?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll see…… Anyway, now let’s talk, just us five.”
Ak Muyoo took the four to another room. They talked for about half a shichen while drinking tea.
When the talk ended, the four returned to their homes.
“I’ll show you to your rooms.”
Ruha said to the group.
The group followed Ruha upstairs. The guest rooms were on this floor. Ruha assigned rooms to the group.
“And me…….”
Since only he hadn’t been assigned, Ak Muyoo looked at Ruha.
“Nominally, you’re my husband. It’d be trouble if word got out we sleep separately.”
“The staff might talk.”
“Please bear with it, even if it’s uncomfortable.”
“I can sleep anywhere.”
“Where’s the bath?”
Seo Haran asked.
“There’s an open-air bath in the rear garden.”
“Open-air?”
Seo Haran’s eyes widened.
“Yes.”
“Oh, wonderful.”
Seo Haran beamed.
“Let’s go up.”
Ruha and Ak Muyoo went to the third floor. Ruha’s room was at the innermost part of the third floor. Inside, it consisted of a bedroom, dressing room, study, and parlor.
Ruha looked around the room in a daze.
Her late husband Cha Sawoong’s belongings were still there untouched. His clothes hung in the same spot, his favorite armchair sat where he left it, his teacup, and even the book he’d set down while reading.
Only the man himself was gone.
Suddenly, her eyes burned hot.
Only now that she’d returned here did the reality of Cha Sawoong’s death sink in. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks.
‘Hm?’
Ak Muyoo’s eyes widened. Ruha’s shoulders trembled faintly.
‘Memories must be flooding back.’
He nodded.
He reached out a hand, then pulled it back. He simply watched quietly. But as time passed, Ruha’s trembling grew more intense.
Finally, unable to bear it, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Ruha turned and collapsed into his embrace.
Ruha sobbed loudly.
After crying for a long while, she wiped her tears and pulled away.
“Tea?”
Ak Muyoo asked.
“Yes.”
As Ruha nodded, Ak Muyoo found tea leaves, cups, and a teapot and set them on the table.
“Hmm!”
He glared at the teapot.
Unable to perform Threefold Flame Ignition, he had no way to brew tea. There was a brazier in the room, but no fire. He looked at Ruha. She stared blankly out the window.
“Cold tea isn’t bad either.”
He brewed it with cold water and handed it to Ruha.
Ruha blew on the tea and took a sip.
“Huh?”
Her eyes widened slightly. She turned to Ak Muyoo.
“I can’t perform Threefold Flame Ignition.”
“Pfft!”
Ruha chuckled. She held her teacup and circulated her inner energy. Soon, steam rose from it.
“Do mine too.”
Ruha warmed Ak Muyoo’s cup as well. Ak Muyoo sat across from her.
“I used to sit here and gaze at the Heavenly Mountains with him. You can see them right out the window.”
“Shall I open it?”
“That’d be great.”
Ak Muyoo set down his cup, stood, and opened the window. Though it was the dead of night with the moon risen, the Heavenly Mountains’ peaks were clearly visible.
“Is that white on the summit snow?”
“It’s eternal snow.”
“It’ll be visible all year round.”
“Yes.”
The two drank tea in silence, gazing at the Heavenly Mountains.
“Mountain folk must live on.”
Ruha set down her cup and stood. She went straight to the dressing room and fetched some clothes.
“Try these on.”
The clothes she handed Ak Muyoo were her late husband’s.
“They should fit.”
Ak Muyoo took off his own clothes and put on the ones Ruha brought. Their builds were similar, so they fit perfectly.
“You can wear these.”
“Thanks.”
“Now let’s wash up. There’s underwear there too, so take it.”
“Got it.”
Ak Muyoo gathered the clothes. The two left the room and went downstairs. The door to the rear garden was inside the building. Opening it led right to the open-air bath.
“That side is for men.”
Ruha pointed left.
“Okay.”
Ak Muyoo opened the door and entered. Ageukta and Muk Bu-seong were already bathing.
“How is it?”
He asked Muk Bu-seong.
“The best.”
“Yeah?”
Ak Muyoo stripped immediately. Ageukta and Muk Bu-seong looked at him.
“Whoa!”
“Totally ragged.”
The two stuck out their tongues. Ak Muyoo’s body was covered in scars. If they ranked people by number of scars in this world, Ak Muyoo would take first place.
“It’s a miracle you’re still alive.”
Muk Bu-seong muttered.
“Thanks to these scars, I am. Should I wash first before getting in?”
Ak Muyoo asked.
“There’s cleanser that way. Wash your hair and body, then get in.”
Ak Muyoo went where Muk Bu-seong pointed. As he said, there were several cleansers. Ak Muyoo washed his hair and body, then entered the open-air bath. The water was hotter than the hot spring lake in the ancient forest.
“No wonder it makes you say ‘good.’”
Ak Muyoo looked up. A full moon shone brightly overhead.
“It’s been a while.”
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen a full moon. No, he must have seen it. But not like this, without a care.
He always looked at the moon for a purpose.
To hide in moonless shadows, or to spot enemies by moonlight. So he never noticed the moon’s shadows, its clarity, or its eye-dazzling beauty.
“So pretty…….”
He gazed endlessly at the moon. Suddenly, something warm trickled down beside his eye.
“Sniffle?”
Just then, Muk Bu-seong’s voice came.
Ak Muyoo looked at him.
“Past years flashing like a lantern show?”
“Maybe…….”
Ak Muyoo dunked his face in the water.
“You cried.”
Muk Bu-seong smirked.
“Well, if you can look at a moon like that and feel nothing, you’re not human. Even I, who grew up without worries, want to cry on some excuse.”
Muk Bu-seong looked up at the moon.
The chilling moon shone bright and clear.