Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Can't You Just Send Me to the Wudang Sect?
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“Uiseong, you punk! Late again?”
The moment I arrived at the training ground, a thunderous roar hit me like lightning, making my body flinch involuntarily.
“There’s a baby here—how can you just start yelling like that, Master?”
The man—no, Uiseong—grabbed me firmly with both hands and hoisted me up into the air.
He looked just like a monkey lifting a baby lion in that Lion King scene.
Everyone’s eyes turned to me.
Feeling like I should give them some fan service, I waved my chubby hands, and groans of “Urgh” echoed from all around.
“Biyeon! Wait, I definitely put you to sleep before I left?”
Uihyeon’s voice was laced with bewilderment as I flailed my limbs, and Uiseong readjusted his hold on me more securely.
The one who’d just bellowed apologized in a gentle tone.
“Biyeon, sorry about that. Did I scare you too much with my yelling?”
He was Do-un, a second-generation disciple and the training supervisor. Whenever Uihyeon brought me to the training ground, he was the one in charge of holding me during practice.
He bent down to meet my eyes, his gaze warm.
But the moment he looked up at his own disciple, Uiseong, Do-un’s face twisted into something demonic.
“You’re the one who’s late—why’d you bring Biyeon here if he was sleeping? Thought you’d get off lighter with a baby around?”
“Sleeping? What sleeping? You know what almost happened because I wasn’t late today? No, seriously—what if the kid crawls all the way to the courtyard and no one notices!”
Uihyeon belatedly spotted the dirt caked on my knees and sleeves and freaked out, snatching me from Uiseong.
“Biyeon, did you seriously come out of the room by yourself?”
I grinned up at his face. Sorry, but what can I do when I can’t sleep?
“Kids really are something—you can’t take your eyes off them for a second.”
“If Senior Brother Uigang had just been more careful, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m the criminal here.”
Uihyeon wiped the dirt from my knees and sleeves while scolding the big lug, then handed me over to Do-un.
Do-un scooped me up familiarly.
The disciples tried to get my attention with “Peekaboo!” or “Look over here~,” but he shooed them off, telling them to quit bothering the baby and focus on training.
Ugh, that deep voice saying “Look over here~”? Scary enough to haunt my dreams.
Nestled quietly in Do-un’s arms, I watched the training. The disciples swung their swords in all sorts of ways.
I narrowed my eyes at the perfect plum blossoms blooming flawlessly from the tips of just a few swords.
As expected, the Wudang Sect’s Taiji Sword is cooler than Plum Blossom Swordsmanship….
If they’re going to reincarnate me as the youngest daughter of one of the Five Great Clans, just send me straight to the Wudang Sect, geez.
My gaze, which had been watching the third-generation disciples train, passed over Uihyeon swinging his sword textbook-perfect and settled on Uiseong—the guy who’d brought me here.
He swung his sword half-heartedly at the air, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Watching him, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Knew it from the start when he was slacking off—he’s a total delinquent disciple.
Basking in the warm sunlight made drowsiness hit me late.
Yawn. I let out a tiny yawn and whimpered, and Do-un gently stroked my back.
Swaying in his soothing touch, I soon drifted off to sleep.
I dreamed that when they announced I—a teenager now—would join the Wudang Sect, all the elders keeled over backward.
* * *
After my one escape attempt, I could only nap in the Sect Leader’s office. The slightest wiggle toward the door earned me a sharp “Tsk!” so I gave up sneaking out.
No way could a baby not even a year old evade the eyes of a martial arts master who led the Mount Hua Sect.
My pureed meals grew more lavish by the day. I devoured the fantastic blend of veggies, meat, and rice, clenching my fists in delight, and Uihyeon laughed.
He patted my back to help me burp, then spoke up as I blinked sleepily against the oncoming drowsiness.
“Biyeon, how about we go to the Jade Maiden Pool tomorrow?”
Jade Maiden Pool? No idea where that was, but it sounded like one of those tourist spots always crammed into filial piety tour packages.
Like a pond with a sign in four languages in Gothic font: “Legend says a fairy bathed here.”
“Yeah, every Mount Hua disciple’s gotta see the Jade Maiden Pool at least once. The scenery’s a masterpiece. I was totally blown away my first time!”
Uigang chimed in exaggeratedly from the side at my unimpressed expression, but I wasn’t excited.
Eh, lakes are all the same. Water, trees, whatever.
The next day, only Uihyeon got permission to skip training, so just the two of us headed to the Jade Maiden Pool.
A gentle spring breeze rustled by. Perfect weather for a stroll.
I felt great in my silk clothes rustling with every arm wave.
“Our Biyeon’s wearing his fancy silkies?”
“Kyaa!”
I responded with uncharacteristic enthusiasm to their chit-chat, and they all clutched their hearts one by one.
Their reactions are spot-on—love that!
As befitted a major sect, Mount Hua had tons of disciples, so the attention poured on me—the youngest here—was plentiful too.
I waved back at everyone greeting me as we headed out. The place I lived was called the Upper Palace, near the peak of Lotus Peak on Mount Hua. Uihyeon passed through its main gate and climbed the steep stone steps with ease.
At the top, a thick plum blossom scent tickled my nose.
“Here we are—the Jade Maiden Pool.”
Uihyeon removed his hand from my eyes, revealing the full scenery.
‘Whoa….’
Plum blossoms everywhere my eyes touched.
Pale pinks evoking spring, pure whites like winter snow, vivid reds that seized the gaze. Plum blossoms bloomed in a riot of colors.
After gazing long at the flowers that triumphed over the harsh winter, my eyes fell on the pond blanketed in blossoms.
The water’s edge was crystal clear down to the bottom, while the center was an impossibly deep blue.
Delicately falling petals settled lightly on the surface, creating fragile ripples.
The pink-and-blue harmony filling my vision was truly fantastical.
I lost myself staring at the heavenly vista that could pass for paradise.
“Knew you’d like it.”
Uihyeon beamed at my reaction and planted a soft kiss on my cheek.
A breeze swept through, showering flower petals over our heads like spring snow.
Thrilled by the petal rain, I stretched my arms out. I flailed to catch them, but they slipped away easier than expected.
My lips pouted on their own. Baby body at fault? Sometimes my emotions or instincts overrode my mental age.
Still, I’d been forced to mature too early in my past life—maybe I could indulge a bit in babyhood this time?
As I whined and flailed wildly, Uihyeon snatched a falling petal and placed the pale pink one in my palm. I gripped it tight, swinging my arms excitedly.
Then, a booming shout shattered the peaceful mood.
“Senior Brother Uihyeon! Elder Mujin’s looking for you!”
What? Not even five minutes enjoying this killer view, and we have to go back already?
“Wah!”
I thrashed my limbs, expressing my full-body refusal to leave. Go ahead without me! I can tour just fine on my own!
Uihyeon let out a troubled groan and quietly called out.
“Uiseong.”
Uiseong—the delinquent who’d brought me to the training ground? Slacking again? Guy’s got no shame.
No reply, so Uihyeon added,
“I know you’re there.”
“Tch.”
A tongue-click from the tree, and a figure dropped lightly down the trunk. More petals rained down.
“While you’re slacking off, at least let Biyeon enjoy the Jade Maiden Pool to his heart’s content.”
“Senior Brother, don’t you know what slacking means? Babysitting’s the opposite of slacking.”
Uihyeon smiled softly but tossed a threatening question at the cheeky reply as Uiseong scratched his head.
“Oh? Should I tell Uncle Do-un that you skipped today’s training to come here?”
Uiseong’s lips twitched, and he stuck out his arm.
“Damn it, gimme the kid.”
“Watch your language in front of the baby.”
“Yessir.”
Before handing me over, Uihyeon leaned down to meet my eyes.
“Biyeon, is it okay if I step away for a bit?”
I waved in response. Yeah, go ahead. I’ll enjoy the Jade Maiden Pool here.
And you’d go anyway even if I said no. Or drag me back to the Upper Palace.
“Don’t take your eyes off him, and don’t just plop him on the ground.”
“Jeez, all these worries. Hurry up and go.”
Uihyeon handed me over with a relieved expression at the nonchalant reply, planted a gentle kiss on my cheek, and descended the steps with the third-generation disciple who’d come for him.
Left at the Jade Maiden Pool were just me and Uiseong.
The instant Uihyeon was out of sight, Uiseong plopped me down on the soft ground piled high with petals, barely any grass underneath.
He crouched in front of me and even demonstrated the crawling pose.
“Overprotection’s the problem, seriously. Babies this age should know how to crawl on their own legs. Listen, punk—the foundation of a martial artist is the lower body. Start training now.”
Oh, please—this guy who’s barely twenty lecturing a newborn.
And I’ve got no intention of letting you carry me? Your baby-holding form is ridiculously uncomfortable.
If I could talk, I’d tattle to Uihyeon about this outrage, but damn, too bad.
And he forgot I crawled out of the room by myself?
I glared up at him sullenly, and he scratched the back of his head before squishing my chubby cheeks with both palms.
“Play right here, just here. Don’t go near the water.”
While he leaned against a nearby tree and lazily closed his eyes after lecturing me, I crawled eagerly toward the Jade Maiden Pool.
Screw what he says—I just want to dip my hand in that clear, transparent water once.
After much effort, I finally reached the water’s edge.
Whoa, just a bit more…! As I stretched toward the water, a hand grabbed my collar and yanked me up.
Dangling from Uiseong’s hand, I faced him. He was smiling, but clear anger veins pulsed on his temples as he spoke.
“Kid, didn’t I say not to go near the water?”
I pouted defiantly and glared at Uiseong. You ever seen a baby listen obediently?