Chapter 50
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Don't Pull That Stunt
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"Ahaha, Geon has grown a lot since then."
Cheonghwi smiled softly, openly displaying his pride in his disciple's growth.
"I'm grateful to you, Little Taoist. Thanks to what you said, that kid changed and adapted well."
"I didn't say much..."
Was this the illusion effect? I'd put in a 1, but it came out as 100, and now everyone was praising me like some kind of magic.
As I scratched my cheek, Cheonghwi suggested we talk before the Dragon-Tiger Assembly ended.
Soon, he set me down on the ground and pointed ahead.
"Wow..."
The moment I followed his hand with my eyes, a quiet exclamation escaped me. It was a flawless secret spot.
To think these two long-time rivals had kept this place to themselves all along.
In the dense forest of trees and grass, fireflies twinkled like scattered stars.
On a broad rock illuminated by their glow, a figure lay with an arm over their eyes.
"There you go. I've brought you this far, so the rest is up to you, Little Taoist. If possible, bring him back before the sun rises."
A gentle push sent me forward.
No sooner had he spoken than I dashed off, leaping onto the rock and bellowing loudly.
"Third Brother!"
"Whoa! How did you get here...?"
I grabbed the hand of Uiseong, who removed the arm from his eyes and looked up at me in surprise.
"Everyone's looking for you, Third Brother. Let's go back."
Uiseong whispered with a bitter smile I'd never seen before.
"...Wait a bit. Let's stay a little longer."
Startled by the glistening light at the corners of his eyes, I released his hand and threw myself into his arms, covering his eyes with my palm.
"Third Brother, are you crying?"
"I'm not crying, you brat. You think I'm you?"
"I didn't cry when I lost."
"What do you mean? You bawled your eyes out 'pitifully.' Your master told me all about it."
"Hmph, I cried because I felt bad for the Mount Hua sword getting trashed, okay? Not because I lost, got it?"
"Yeah, yeah. Sure."
Uiseong chuckled and grabbed the back of my collar, yanking me. I lost my balance and ended up lying with my head pillowed on his arm.
Gazing up at the firefly forest from the rock was enchanting.
"Biyeon."
I grumbled without taking my eyes off the fireflies at the sound of my name from Uiseong's lips.
"Can't you just call me kid? It's scary hearing you say my name properly, Third Brother."
"...So this is what it feels like?"
Even with so much left unsaid, it wasn't hard to grasp what he meant. I replied while staring at the sparkling lights like a starry river in the sky.
"See? You need that closed-door training."
"Yeah, looks like it."
His voice, uncharacteristically drained of energy, made my chest tighten, so I snapped at him.
"Third Brother, are you an idiot? Don't you remember what you said to me?"
"...What did I say?"
"You told me if one loss ends my life, and if one defeat feels that humiliating, how am I supposed to face the jianghu where even one loss against experts is nothing."
"...This damn mouth of mine. Sorry."
No, the Third Brother I know wouldn't do this. He should come at me with a straight face like I said something wrong—why apologize here?
Get back to your usual shameless, cocky, full-of-pride self!
I shot up from the waist and shook my head vigorously at the straightforward apology.
"I don't want an apology. Let me throw your words right back at you."
I pressed down on Uiseong's forehead as he tried to sit up, forcing him back down, and shouted.
"One loss doesn't end your life!"
"Ugh! Not only half-assed words, but now you're smashing my head into the rock."
Seeing him rub the back of his head and grumble, I felt relieved—he was finally back to the Uiseong I knew.
Our eyes met, and he grinned as he spoke.
"I've got this year, and you've got four years from now, Third Brother. I'll beat Namgung Seheon this year—or next if not—and that's a promise."
It was as much for him as it was for myself.
"So you win in four years."
Uiseong burst out laughing and reached out, ruffling my hair playfully.
"Why do you make it sound so easy?"
"It's easy. I've never beaten that Namgung punk once, but you've kept beating Cheonghwi's disciple."
"You're stronger than your Third Brother already, kid. When did you grow up?"
His arm draped over my shoulder, tilting my body, and suddenly I was lying with my head on his arm again.
"Hearing you talk casually brings back old times. Nice."
"You're acting all dumb, Third Brother. Who sneaks out like a runaway while guesting at another sect?"
I grumbled and reached for a firefly. I snatched at it quickly, but it slipped away gracefully.
A short laugh rang out, and Uiseong caught one, handing it to me.
"Truth is, even four years ago in that spar, it was close."
"I know. You won, but you didn't look happy."
"I guess I felt like I was getting complacent because I was too aware of that guy."
Ugh, I only saw the light on its tail, but it's just a bug.
I shook my hand immediately, and the freed firefly drew a trail of light as it flew off.
"Realizing now that effort alone doesn't make up for lack of talent, haha... Mount Hua isn't my whole world."
Uiseong covered his eyes with his free arm and let out a hearty laugh before calling me.
"Biyeon."
"Yeah."
"Don't do this. Don't be arrogant like me and waste time meaninglessly."
It was serious advice, but why did it keep reminding me of "Don't smoke this crap lol"? Driving me crazy.
"You're too much like me."
I knew he wasn't just talking about speech or habits.
A genius by birth, but scared of going too far ahead too fast, collapsing in hesitation.
Like Uihyeon and Biyeon, watching those who carve away at themselves with effort, envying their passion but too scared to rise.
It was inevitable. What I'd seen growing up was Jinyul, lonely from her talent, and Uiseong slowing his steps to avoid becoming like her.
The one who shattered my narrow world was Namgung Seheon, who gave me my first defeat.
"That's why I'm glad you tasted defeat young. Use that loss as nourishment to grow stronger than me."
I lifted my head at the stroking hand, meeting eyes that had grown firmer.
Until now, I'd always seen Uiseong as a bit lacking as a protector.
Compared to the perfect guardian and mentor Uihyeon, he seemed immature, and since our conversations and antics meshed so well, his mental age felt close to mine.
More like growing together than protecting. But seeing him now, considering his defeat and my growth...
'He really is an adult.'
The thought struck me.
"If you skip training now, I'll come drag you myself, kid. No more covering for your truancy."
Huh? He lost, so why am I the one catching heat?
"Why?"
"I told you. I won't let you turn into a guy like me. After hearing my words of wisdom, you still wanna skip training?"
"Training from the heart and forced training are totally different..."
"Shut it, kid. Too chatty."
Uiseong pressed my head down as he stood, then offered his hand.
"Let's go back. Bedtime for kids."
His usual grin eased my worries, so I used his hand as support and jumped up. Any later, and we'd get caught sneaking out.
Striding down the mountain path, I earnestly warned him.
"Third Brother, you absolutely can't say I brought you back, got it? Absolutely!"
"You snuck out? What if you got lost wandering?"
I pouted at the hand smacking my head.
"If you hadn't run off, I wouldn't have come."
"Still! I could've found my way back fine. Why'd you come?"
"Ah, I was worried!"
"Ahem, cough. Worried about me?"
Uiseong's lips twitched despite his fake coughs. Sigh, even getting worried by a kid feels good to him.
Back at the Jaso Palace with Uiseong, slipping through the wall gap, I scanned for the one who should be there.
"Looking for Cheonghwi?"
I looked up in surprise, and Uiseong shrugged.
"No way you found this remote spot alone. Who else but him brought you here?"
My mutter that he looked smart for once earned a head smack. Rubbing my sore head, I asked.
"But how do we get back without Cheonghwi?"
"I'm the one who knows the way, so no problem without him."
As if to prove it, Uiseong crossed the Jaso Palace confidently. Familiar paths appeared, easing my mind.
But that relief was short-lived—I inhaled sharply at Uihyeon in the distance.
"Gasp, Master...!"
Right. The Jaso Palace was riddled with Uihyeon landmines everywhere. He hadn't spotted us yet, but one glance our way, and we were done.
Ten seconds to getting busted for sneaking out. Screwed, haha.
At my sigh and my dazed expression, Uiseong placed a hand on my crown.
"Kid, this is what lightness skill is for."
He winked, shoved me sideways, and yelled loudly as he ran to Uihyeon.
"Senior Brother! Here, right here!"
"You...! Are you insane?"
"No, I'm not a kid anymore. You know I'd find my way back, so why sacrifice sleep to look?"
"You look like you won't make me worry? At least say where you're going!"
Even as he got smacked on the back, Uiseong locked arms to block Uihyeon's view and signaled me thumbs up. I returned it and bolted to the dorms with full lightness skill.
Third Brother's sacrifice today—I'll remember it for a month!