Chapter 309
Chapter 309
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 309
Chapter Title: Ties and Grudges (2)
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Won Cheol came rushing toward us.
He wore a bright, cheerful expression as he ran, but...
...Shaolin.
Suddenly, the grudge between the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect and Shaolin flashed through my mind.
'The faction that led the charge in severing our lineage out of jealousy toward my grandmaster, the Manbak Mendicant Monk. Their descendants might still be around.'
The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I couldn't very well throw a century-old grudge in Won Cheol's face.
'Won Cheol's a martial arts fanatic who only knows fighting from the start. He's not the type to fit into that category anyway.'
I pushed the fleeting thought aside and smiled as I spoke up.
"Monk Won Cheol. Long time no see?"
"Yes! It's been a while!"
"But seeing you out here alone, it looks like you still don't have any friends."
"...As I mentioned last time, my seniority is awkwardly high for my age, so my seniors are busy, and the juniors are intimidated by me."
"No. From what I see, Monk Won Cheol, you just lack social skills."
The conversation continued, and Won Cheol's shoulders slumped.
"......"
My junior brothers shook their heads in unison.
Among them, Dang Ok-gi turned to the freshmen and spoke.
"Wow. He's really mean."
Namgoong Yun and Woo So-rung followed suit.
"A merciless personality. It's something we already knew well."
"Brother Eon is always merciless, but this time he was really merciless."
Jeong Hyeon and Eun Ha-seong chimed in as well.
"Since Monk Won Cheol suggested a fight right from the first meeting... it's understandable to some extent. But listing facts so bluntly does come off as violent."
"Ever since the Righteous Assembly, I've lived thinking Shaolin's baldies were my enemies. And here he comes running up like a country dog wagging its tail in joy, only to get stabbed with words like that... I see. As expected of Brother Yong-un."
Ye Hae-su, who had been jotting down the conversation in his notebook, swiftly crossed something out.
Even Master clicked his tongue.
- ...You're really something.
Since they were all underlings who trained tirelessly day and night under me, I had grown numb to their usual grumblings.
"What's with those looks? Don't you all remember I suggested being friends with Monk Won Cheol last time?"
But today, I felt genuinely wronged.
"And this guy hasn't sent a single letter. So I figured it was just polite chit-chat. But he's this excited? That means he really does lack social skills, right?!"
I protested immediately, and Won Cheol responded with the half-palm salute unique to Shaolin monks.
"Ah! The letter! Now that you mention it, I must express my gratitude! Thank you, Gro Dragon!"
"See? The conversation cuts off abruptly. Am I wrong?!"
"N-No, that's not it. Well... The truth is, I did intend to send you a letter, Gro Dragon."
"And?"
"But when I laid out the paper, I wondered how to even start. I only train all day, nothing else, but you're so busy with your duties. I thought bothering you might not be right."
I could kind of understand.
But I still had no clue why that warranted thanks.
"I get what you're saying, but why are you thanking me for that?"
"Ah, there's more to the story. May I continue?"
"Ah. Sure. Go ahead."
"That single sheet of paper, barely two hands' worth, felt like a vast ocean. I agonized over it, seeing myself struggle with just one page. It reminded me how much stronger you've become, roaming the world."
"......"
"I replayed our spar in my mind and imagined future ones. Fighting you in my thoughts over and over led to some progress. That's why I'm thanking you."
When Won Cheol finished, Master clicked his tongue again.
- In my opinion, you're one thing, but that monk Won Cheol is seriously off his rocker too.
'I think so to... Wait, no. Hold on. "You're one thing"? That sounds a bit off.'
After greeting Won Cheol, who had come out to meet us beyond Luoyang City's gates, we headed straight for the Murim Alliance.
The Alliance Leader welcomed us warmly.
"You've had a hard journey."
"Freshman representative Namgoong Young reporting to the Murim Alliance Leader!"
With Dang Geum-seok's—wait, current top freshman's—report, the freshmen were officially transferred to the Murim Alliance.
Then, representatives from various Murim Alliance institutions began distributing visitor badges to the cadets.
Seizing the moment, the Alliance Leader sent me a transmission.
[Heading to the Medicine King Hall first?]
[Precisely, I plan to visit Benevolent Healing Pavilion first.]
[Right. The Blood Cult matter has progress, but it's not urgent, is it?]
[Yes. It requires playing the long game, so no rush.]
[Got it. You've handled the presentation prep well, I'm sure. I'll be busy with freshman interviews and Backbone Meeting preparations. After seeing Elder Medicine King, go meet Grand Strategist first.]
[Yes, sir.]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the report, we headed straight to Benevolent Healing Pavilion, where Elder Medicine King's disciples treated patients for free.
"Over here! Help out a bit!"
The family here was so eager for our reunion that the Alliance Leader had mentioned it separately, saying they were looking forward to it. But there was no time to catch up.
This place was a battlefield every day with the flood of patients.
"Paralysis Powder! Someone get the Paralysis Powder!!"
We rushed about without a moment's rest.
Time flew by like an arrow, and soon it was time to close Benevolent Healing Pavilion.
After helping with cleanup and returning to Medicine King Hall...
Senior Disciple Geum.
She greeted us with a soft smile.
"Good work. I've prepared bathwater. Everyone else, follow Senior Yeon over there. Cadet Eon Yong-un, come with me."
At her words, I followed Senior Geum.
Visiting Medicine King Hall for the second time, I immediately realized where she was leading me.
"Straight to where Elder Medicine King is?"
"That's right. You're busy now, Cadet Eon Yong-un, and Elder has to see the freshmen separately later. Better for you to meet first, don't you think?"
"True, but as you can see, I'm a mess."
"A handsome man like you doesn't look it. Elder doesn't care about appearances anyway. And this is a secret, but Elder waited all day for you."
"Me?"
"Yes. He was waiting anxiously since dawn after hearing you'd arrive today."
"If he was waiting that much, he could've given a heads-up or come help..."
Senior Geum shook her head at my words.
"Not at all. If Elder goes to Benevolent Healing Pavilion, everyone lines up for a pulse diagnosis. It could delay critical patients or keep those who truly need him from seeing him."
"Fair enough. Sorry, I spoke without thinking. My mistake."
"No need to apologize. You're late because you helped at Benevolent Healing Pavilion. He'll probably be proud instead."
As we arrived at Elder's residence...
Senior Geum whispered to me.
"...Shall I announce you?"
"Yes."
"Elder Medicine King. Cadet Eon Yong-un is here."
"Tell him I'm not!"
The response was negative, but Senior Geum giggled and said to me,
"Go on in."
I announced myself and entered.
"Elder? It's Yong-un. Coming in."
Elder Medicine King gruffly greeted me.
"I said I'm not here! I don't want to see your mug—get out!"
"What Senior Geum said on the way doesn't match what you're saying."
"What'd she say?"
"That you were waiting desperately for me."
"Good grief. Geum's gotten way too bold. She can gossip about me all she wants, but making up lies?!"
"That made me happy, though. I wanted to see you too, Elder."
"Hmph."
"But was it really made up? 'Desperately waiting' stuck with me."
"Ugh, I said no! Never happened!"
His words were grumpy, but he didn't seem truly annoyed.
Relieved, I entrusted the ones I brought.
"Ahem. As you know, I came with seniors, peers, and chicks this time. Please take good care of them. Especially this chick named Dokgo Cheol..."
"You think I'm some babysitter for you and your entourage? You say you missed me but don't even ask how I've been."
"You're so gruff, I was hesitant. How have you been?"
"An old man stuck in front of herbal brews—how could I be? Same as always. You're doing well, though? Between your letters and that gazette, I know all about your exploits."
"That's a huge exaggeration. Among the cadets this time is Senior Ye Hae-su. He's the one behind that."
But the conversation veered into a sore spot for Elder.
"Where there's smoke, there's fire. If there's three parts exaggeration, seven are truth. All those nicknames and tales following you... I don't like any of them. Slicing people, surviving near-death—bah."
"......"
"I hate them all! Why do sword-swingers glorify that crap...? What about you? Happy to be praised for cutting people and cheating death?"
"Not just scolding, but questioning, so I'll answer. I don't care what others say. I draw my sword when needed, step up when I must. That's it."
A silence fell between Elder and me.
After a moment, Elder spoke first.
"I've seen plenty go mad from fame. Your eyes are still calm as a lake. Means you haven't lost your original intention."
"......"
"Some news of you I did like. That 'New Generation's Top Hero' saving lives—people talk about it, and it warms me."
"Ahem. That's my most embarrassing title. I'm not that good a guy."
"Good or bad—too complicated. Not a descendant of Duke Gong-meng, so I don't care. I just hope those I've treated become life-saving swords."
"...I'll keep that in mind."
"Now strip off your top! Heard you collapsed from exhaustion in Sichuan, and Dang Family quacks patched you up. Let's check if there's any damage!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Those Dang Family quacks must've used good meds. Residual effects from the spirit medicine you absorbed are scattered in your meridians... Hm. Considering your gluttonous constitution, there might be a way to boost your inner power further."
"Oh. Really?"
"But I need a few days to mull it over. I'll write a prescription or something before you go."
"Yes. Then, please look after the ones I brought. Check on Dang Ok-gi's research, and oh—Gung Yun couldn't get the Golden Needle Technique last time, so see to him too."
"Gung Yun?"
"Ah, Namgoong Yun. Eldest son of Namgoong Family."
"Oh, that rage-sick kid! Better now?"
"Well, he gets furious at tiger dung stories, but I wouldn't know."
"Got it. I'll handle it. Off with you."
Dismissed, I went straight to see Grand Strategist.
I'd prepared the demonic cult danger announcement, but I was curious what the Alliance Leader and Grand Strategist planned for the Backbone Meeting.
When I asked, Grand Strategist answered readily.
"Alliance Leader plans to re-propose forming the Union Army to strike the Ten Thousand Great Mountains."
"Has the alliance of new factions he was building solidified that much already?"
"Not yet. Dang Family's medicine shop just opened. Many old fogeys dismiss your capture of that post-regression infiltrator as minor."
"Then it'll pass?"
"No. Probably eighty or ninety percent chance of rejection."
"Then why propose it again?"
"The proposal itself has meaning."
I nodded, getting it, and spoke.
"...Ah. If a big incident erupts later, Alliance Leader's voice—who proposed the Union Army twice—will carry huge weight. Pair it with my presentation as the 'new gen rep,' and it's perfect."
"Exactly."
"Drawing a scary big picture."
Grand Strategist chuckled dryly and asked me,
"Think you're the only one? What's with the Blood Cult? What's your real thinking?"
I answered right away.
"I see multiple paths. Feed real info then leak fakes for reverse espionage, or snag their high-level intel."
But Grand Strategist's keen eyes sharpened as he pressed,
"Hmm. For that, why keep Dokgo Cheol so close? Ha Yeon could handle it. Putting him in your dorm means more than that, right?"
"......"
"Can't fool me, kid. Spill it."
"Ahem. It's got too many variables right now, so I'm cautious?"
"Bet you haven't told Alliance Leader either... I'll keep it secret, won't tell you not to. Gotta sync up, right?"
After brief thought, sharing my real plan with Grand Strategist felt right.
"Using Dokgo Cheol as a card, play it right with good timing... and I might swallow the Blood Cult organization whole."