Chapter 275: I Thought It Was a Misunderstanding, But It Wasn't.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 275: I Thought It Was a Misunderstanding, But It Wasn't.
“Don't tell me you plan to take my disciple's first time and then run away without taking responsibility...!”
So this is what it feels like to be struck where you least expect it.
But I forced myself to act unfazed.
Despite that, what had been trickling down my spine was undoubtedly a cold sweat.
‘...How does she know that?’
Yoo Sowol and I had our first time in the underground of the old temple. It was in a restricted space called the 'room that cannot be exited without sex,' a place impossible for anyone to accidentally spy on.
Logically, there was no way we could have been discovered.
The possibility that Yoo Sowol told her herself was even more remote.
It's common sense that a young woman past the age of twenty wouldn't tell her master, who was like a parent to her, about sleeping with an outside man—not even a friend.
That left only one possibility.
‘Is she testing me?’
She might have noticed Yoo Sowol's unusual behavior toward me and is trying to figure out what happened between us.
For now, that was the most plausible theory.
But there was still something I couldn't understand.
To talk about taking her 'first time' and all that... logically, I hadn't even known Yoo Sowol for very long.
In a situation like this, she's going to bring up the 'first experience' with a junior martial artist she's never met before just to test my intentions?
Without being absolutely certain, it would be no different from tarnishing her own reputation.
No, that wasn't all. It would not only damage the reputation of Yoo Sowol herself but also tarnish the name of the Mount Hua Sect.
‘...Did Sowol really tell her?’
I immediately shook my head.
No matter what, I couldn't bring myself to doubt my woman.
Acting unfazed, I looked at Daoist Hyunseo.
“Daoist Hyunseo, even if you are an elder of the Orthodox Faction and Lady Yoo's master, your words are crossing a line.”
When I openly showed my displeasure, Daoist Hyunseo's aura grew even fiercer.
Her twitching fingers looked as if they would grab the hilt of her sword at any moment.
“...So you intend to play dumb until the very end.”
“I’m the one who has no idea what you want to hear from me.”
It was a touch-and-go situation.
At that moment, when neither of us could yield an inch, I felt a familiar presence from beyond the tent.
“Excuse me, I'll just be a moment. I heard my master was here... Master...?”
It was Yoo Sowol.
Peeking her head into the tent, she looked around for a moment before entering, her white robe embroidered with red plum blossoms fluttering behind her.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, she stood between me and Daoist Hyunseo, blocking our path.
“What on earth is going on? Why is Master with Ora... ahem. With Young Hero Kang—”
“Sowol.”
“...Yes?”
With a complicated expression, Daoist Hyunseo grabbed Yoo Sowol's shoulders and turned her to face me.
Hmm, still as pretty as ever.
Yoo Sowol's face flushed slightly as our eyes met. Her gaze darted about, unable to settle.
But that was only for a moment.
“You tell me. What is your relationship with that bastard?”
For an instant, bewilderment flickered in Yoo Sowol's eyes.
“Did you think I wouldn't know? You, who have treated men like stones your whole life, would get strangely excited whenever you were in front of that bastard. You'd be restless, yet you'd also shoot displeased glances at Yeo-hwa next to you. You were like a young girl captivated by love.”
“H-How did you...”
Her voice did a complete 180.
When speaking to me, her voice was a low growl brimming with killing intent, but now, she was suppressing her anger to its limit while speaking as gently as possible.
“It has been over a decade since I took you in as my disciple when you were still a child. Did you truly think I wouldn't know what you were thinking?”
It's usually normal not to know.
“Say it with your own mouth. What is your relationship with that good-for-nothing bastard?”
“W-We have no relationship...”
“Sowol.”
A firm voice, tinged with a subtle anger, echoed softly. Hearing it, Yoo Sowol trembled slightly.
“Do you truly intend to lie to your master?”
“...”
Restless, Yoo Sowol's eyes turned to me.
The atmosphere seemed to have gotten a little too heated.
‘Huu... I have no choice.’
Using the Formless Step, I approached Daoist Hyunseo and snatched Yoo Sowol into my arms. Held in my embrace, Yoo Sowol stared at me with a dazed look.
I unleashed my aura toward Daoist Hyunseo.
Rumble—
The auras of two martial artists who had reached the Transcendent Realm collided in mid-air.
‘A master of the Transcendent Realm? Our realms might be the same, but my proficiency with the sword is likely far behind hers.’
I would win if we actually fought, but I had not the slightest intention of drawing my sword against someone who might one day be my mother-in-law.
“I'll explain everything, so please stop.”
“You will shut your mouth.”
Daoist Hyunseo's face was contorted. She looked like a volcano about to erupt.
Seeing her, I felt a sense of déjà vu and recalled something from the past.
At the orphanage, there was a kid one year younger than me who got into so much trouble that getting beaten up by me was a daily routine.
Not long after that punk started high school, he got a girl in his class pregnant.
All hell broke loose.
It was even worse because the girl came from a fairly well-off family.
Daoist Hyunseo's expression right now strangely resembled the face of the head nun when she heard the news back then.
“I already know what you two did.”
Her voice was filled with fury and conviction.
Thanks to that, I was now certain.
—Don't tell me you plan to take my disciple's first time and then run away without taking responsibility...!
Those words weren't just a bluff to test me.
I didn't know how she found out, but Daoist Hyunseo knew that I had slept with Yoo Sowol.
And she was cornering me based on evidence so solid that playing dumb would be useless.
‘...What should I do?’
The simplest way out of this situation was to marry Yoo Sowol.
But if I did that, I might get beaten to death by Cheon Yeo-hwa.
Besides, as a direct disciple, Yoo Sowol couldn't live outside the sect even if she married, which meant I would naturally have to spend the rest of my life on Mount Hua.
For me, who had to one day avenge Cheon Yeo-hwa and her mother, that was the worst possible choice.
Of course, it wasn't that I disliked the idea of marrying Yoo Sowol. I'd always thought it would be nice to get a large manor someday and live there with everyone.
‘Should I just knock Daoist Hyunseo out and run away with Sowol?’
Of course, it wasn't a serious thought.
In the first place, given Yoo Sowol's personality, it was unlikely she would turn her back on her sect for me alone.
Even if she did follow me, she would be plagued by guilt for the rest of her life.
That wasn't what I wanted.
‘...I have no choice.’
Since it had come to this, it was time for Plan T.
Careful not to let Daoist Hyunseo notice, I sent a telepathic message to Yoo Sowol.
—Sowol.
—Orabeoni?
—I'm sorry, but I still have many things to do in the secular world, so I can't marry you.
—...
Perhaps because she had established her mental landscape upon reaching the Transcendent Realm, I could almost feel her thoughts filling with disappointment.
Guilt tightened its grip on my heart, but I did my best not to show it and continued.
—But once everything is over, I will definitely come for you. And I'll take you with me, even if I have to beat down the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect.
The T in Plan T stands for Trash.
That's right.
Right now, I was about to pull a classic trash move: take a girl's virginity and then shamelessly evade all responsibility.
If I'd said what I just did back on Earth, it wouldn't have been strange for the woman to come after me with a knife.
But Yoo Sowol didn't do that.
—...I'll wait for you.
Instead, she glanced at me and gave me a bright smile.
Although the faint sadness visible in her eyes amplified my guilt once more, I clenched my jaw and composed myself.
After all, if things go according to plan, we'll see each other again in a few months at most.
Anyway, for now, all I had to do was tell Daoist Hyunseo the truth and make a brazen escape.
Even Howon-dangju, who was at the entry level of the Flower Realm, couldn't match my speed. There was no way Daoist Hyunseo, who was merely at the Transcendent Realm, could catch me.
Besides, this incident wouldn't make an enemy of the Mount Hua Sect. For the sake of Yoo Sowol's honor, Daoist Hyunseo wouldn't be able to tell the sect about this.
As for the misunderstanding, well, I could clear it up next time.
With my arm around Yoo Sowol's shoulder, I faced Daoist Hyunseo.
“Yes, you're right. It's just as you think, Daoist Hyunseo.”
“Ha! So you finally show your true colors!”
A sharp aura whipped toward me, carried on her obvious sneer.
I'd heard the Plum Blossom Sword Art of the Mount Hua Sect was a vicious Killing Sword, and it seemed that was true.
“If I had my way, I'd tear you into a thousand pieces, but for Sowol's sake, I'll hold back.”
She wants to tear a person to shreds just for having a little sex?
She was so conservative she'd make the scholar-officials of the Joseon Dynasty weep.
‘First Yang Wiryang, and now her. Why are all these Daoists so flawed?’
I wonder if I'm going to get a face full of Plum Blossom Sword Art to the back of my head when I try to run away in a bit.
“Huu... So, when do you plan to hold the wedding?”
Even as she said it, she didn't seem pleased, her face scrunching up in a deep frown.
The atmosphere was so tense it felt like she would attack if I said anything foolish, but I still couldn't agree to a wedding.
“No, that's not right. The Sect Leader also thinks of Sowol as a granddaughter, so you should first pay him a visit, enter the sect as an outer disciple, and then set a date for the wedding...”
“I'm sorry.”
Ping—
It was instantaneous.
I stared at Daoist Hyunseo's sword, now resting against my neck.
It was a Swift Sword of such incredible speed that all I could do was follow it with my eyes. Of course, if it had been truly dangerous, Thought Transcendence would have activated on its own.
Drip.
Blood trickled down from the tiny cut.
“A life consists of a single chance. However, if heaven's luck is with you, a second chance may come. This is your second and final chance, so you should consider your words carefully.”
A thick killing intent wafted from the scent of plum blossoms that brushed past my nose. It felt as if the sword would slice through my neck at any moment.
“What did you just say?”
“I'm sorry.”
Kiiiiing—
Daoist Hyunseo's sword glowed red.
It was an Aura Blade.
“You must be a man blessed by heaven's luck, to be given a third chance.”
It was her final warning.
“Master!”
Daoist Hyunseo remained silent despite Yoo Sowol's call. She simply glared at me, pressing for an answer.
As I've said before, the level of one's realm isn't everything.
Just as Daoist Hyunseo's Swift Sword, honed to its absolute limit, had pierced through my perception, if she were to swing her sword now, nine times out of ten my head would fly.
Even an absolute master who had reached the Flower Realm would have to sustain some injury against it.
Hiding my emotions as best I could, I opened my mouth with an indifferent expression.
“I'm sorry.”
“Are you planning to use my disciple and then throw her away?!”
“That is not my intention.”
Screek—
The blade dug a little deeper than before.
More blood flowed down.
“There is something I must do right now. When I have finished it all, I will definitely return.”
“...Just die here.”
A clear killing intent imbued Daoist Hyunseo's sword.
The moment Thought Transcendence sensed that intent and was about to activate on its own...
Clang!
Yoo Sowol's sword struck Daoist Hyunseo's away.
A pure white Sword Qi flickered over her blade.
“What do you think you're doing!”
“Move aside.”
“I won't!”
“That man is a lecher!”
“Don't call Orabeoni that! He promised he would return after he finished his work!”
“Don't you understand yet! That's the problem!”
The pressure in the air intensified.
Yoo Sowol seemed affected by it as well, her complexion darkening.
“You don't know how miserable the life of a woman who falls for a man's sweet talk can be!”
A shout filled with countless emotions rang out.
Despite that, Yoo Sowol didn't back down an inch. Instead, she looked at Daoist Hyunseo with a resolute expression.
Their gazes clashed in mid-air.
Judging by the slight trembling of their vocal cords, they seemed to be conversing via telepathy. It would be nice if I could eavesdrop, but to do that, I'd need to at least reach the master level of the Flower Realm.
Either that or reach the 6th Circle and learn the Telepathy spell.
In any case, the standoff between master and disciple continued for a long while after that.
About twenty minutes passed.
In the end, it was Daoist Hyunseo who backed down.
Tak—
Sheathing her sword, Daoist Hyunseo let out a deep sigh, her expression complicated.
But it was only for a moment. Without another word, she walked out.
‘What was that?’
Contrary to her aura, which suggested she was about to start a sword dance, the situation ended so anticlimactically that I was actually bewildered.
Wondering if she was pretending to leave only to hide and ambush me, I used mana detection, but I saw her actually heading back toward the other Mount Hua Sect members.
What just happened?
“That woman... I mean, why did Daoist Hyunseo suddenly act like that?”
“Well...”
Yoo Sowol glanced nervously toward the entrance, then spoke cautiously.
“...I actually told my master what happened underground. Though I did embellish it a little.”
“What on earth did you say?”
Before leaving the tent, Daoist Hyunseo's eyes had held a complex mix of emotions that words couldn't describe.
Unless Yoo Sowol had told her she was pregnant, it would be hard to elicit that much of a shock.
“Well, you know that 'room where one cannot exit without having intercourse'? I changed it to 'a room where one dies if they don't have intercourse.' I told her the walls were closing in as time passed, so we had no choice...”
“Ah.”
So, until now, she thought I was a despicable scoundrel who seduced her innocent disciple, but now she's shocked to learn that I was actually the savior who saved her disciple's life?
Because it's now an ambiguous situation to just demand I take responsibility?
‘Is she going back to the old temple to check that room?’
I saw Daoist Hyunseo, accompanied by a few Mount Hua Sect members, heading toward a familiar building.
It was the place where I had found the stairs leading underground.
“...I'm sorry!”
My attention, which had been focused on Daoist Hyunseo, shifted to Yoo Sowol, who was suddenly bowing her head in apology.
“For what?”
“If Master finds out that you inherited Vajra Divine Monk's legacy because of me...”
“Ah, that? It doesn't matter if she finds out.”
“...Huh?”
When Daoist Hyunseo discovers the underground space, she will naturally suspect that I might have learned Vajra Divine Monk's martial arts.
But that's all.
Unless she checks my pulse, there's no way for her to find out what martial arts I've learned.
And asking to check my pulse without any justification is practically the same as challenging me to a life-or-death duel. For a martial artist, having one's pulse checked is something you shouldn't even let your parents do.
Of course, if it were the Shaolin Temple, they might have risked a duel to check my pulse, but the chances of the Mount Hua Sect going that far were slim.
And if she were to tell the Shaolin Temple about this, the man her only disciple loves might end up dead.
From Daoist Hyunseo's perspective, she was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“Anyway, it's been a while.”
I caressed Yoo Sowol's face.
Seeing her after several months made me feel particularly glad.
“Huh? It's only been one two-hour period since we parted...”
“Shh.”
I deployed a Qi barrier and used magic to block the surrounding view. Then, I pulled Yoo Sowol into my arms and kissed her.
At first, Yoo Sowol said it was inappropriate, but she gradually melted into my embrace.
The place and time weren't ideal, but if we parted now, we wouldn't see each other again for a while.
‘Thirty minutes should be fine.’
Calculating the time in my head, I laid Yoo Sowol down on a mattress I took out from my inventory.