Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Sharing Strawberries
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From early evening, the wind had seemed ominous, and by nightfall, a blizzard was raging. It wasn't snow falling from the sky but snow from the ground swept up by fierce gusts.
Seop Dae-gang's group had pitched their tents early and settled inside. They'd stacked branches in a conical shape and draped them thickly with hides, making two tents in all.
The larger tent housed Seop Dae-gang and Mo Yong-ak along with the Ten Soul-Chasing Ghosts. The smaller one held Hyeon-gak, Dang Yak-ran, Yeom Jin-sang, and Gong Cheon-ak.
The others were one thing, but Dang Yak-ran and Mo Yong-ak were women, after all.
Naturally, the two should have been given their own tent together.
Yet Seop Dae-gang had strictly separated them from the newcomers. His excuse was to have Hyeon-gak and Dang Yak-ran treat and watch over Gong Cheon-ak and Yeom Jin-sang.
But everyone knew it was really a ploy to gather the suspicious newcomers in one place for close surveillance, never knowing when they might act.
"Damn, that wind sounds like hundreds of ghosts wailing all at once."
Hyeon-gak said.
"Still, having tents is lucky enough. And food to eat, too."
Yeom Jin-sang replied, tearing into the Blood Wolf meat served for dinner. The frozen raw meat was like a block of ice, yet he chewed it down with ease.
"Tasty?"
"It's not the time to worry about taste, is it?"
"You'll get frostbite on your tongue."
"If I let it melt gently in my mouth, it's fine. Just a bit fishy."
"Eat up, you bat-like bastard."
Ever since learning Yeom Jin-sang was actually a Righteous Alliance warrior, Hyeon-gak had treated him like less than human.
Yeom Jin-sang took it in stride. Strictly speaking, he was the traitor who'd sided with the Demonic Cult. He was grateful just to be kept alive and dragged along.
"Speaking of which, what's that guy doing out in this cold?"
Hyeon-gak glanced outside and said.
About ten paces from the tent stood an ice cave like a grave, and in front of it, Heuk Do-san sat with his legs spread wide, digging a pit.
"He's making another ice cave, looks like."
Dang Yak-ran said.
Bing-seol was already inside the one He'd made earlier. They'd sealed the entrance, leaving only a breathing hole against the wind, so they couldn't see in.
"But why, when there's already one?"
"Men and women should keep their distance. Spending the night together in a tight space like that... and with people watching."
Dang Yak-ran found herself smiling unwittingly. The thought of Heuk Do-san bedding down with Bing-seol in there had her stomach already in knots.
If it got cold, they might end up embracing in their sleep, and who knew what unplanned mishap could follow.
"He doesn't strike me as the moral type."
"My guess is right on."
Heuk Do-san finished digging the pit to size and suddenly yanked over a nearby piece of white sandalwood staff, hacking it in half with an axe-like chop.
He split it again, and again, and again.
Moments later, he had over a dozen chunks.
Then he began splitting them lengthwise.
Halves, then halves of those, and again, and again.
"Not making an ice cave?"
"What the hell is he doing?"
"Making toothpicks?"
Finally stopping, Heuk Do-san had a pile of wood scraps like dried shredded cod in front of him.
Satisfied, he pulled handfuls of dried mugwort from his bosom and stuffed it into the pit. Next came the finely split twigs on top.
"Starting a bonfire?"
"No way. No sunlight now—how would he get a spark?"
That's when Heuk Do-san drew a small black stone from his bosom. Yeom Jin-sang, watching, widened his eyes.
"That's a shard from my stone axe!"
Heuk Do-san struck the obsidian chip against his axe blade with a clack-clack. Sparks flew, catching the dry mugwort instantly.
Fearing the ember might die, he hurriedly blew on it. Soon smoke rose, and in a flash, a bonfire blazed.
"It was a bonfire after all."
"Used obsidian as flint."
The surprise didn't end there. Heuk Do-san pulled out a palm-sized slab of meat and slapped it right on the fire. Rubbing his hands, he settled in properly, toasting himself as he roasted the meat with leisurely ease.
Dang Yak-ran and Yeom Jin-sang were dumbfounded. Building a fire and grilling meat in this blizzard? While they gnawed on rock-hard frozen raw meat.
"Argh!"
Yeom Jin-sang flung his raw meat to the ground. Dang Yak-ran's appetite vanished too. Hyeon-gak eyed them and quietly stood.
"Ahem. Think I'll warm up by the fire."
"Urgh, freezing."
Hyeon-gak plopped down across the bonfire from Heuk Do-san. Heuk Do-san quickly pressed the sizzling meat down with a stick.
"What?"
"Won't steal it, don't worry. Forgot I don't eat meat already?"
"You're hilarious."
"Always full of tricks, aren't you."
Chatting, Hyeon-gak kicked off his shoes and wiggled his toes by the fire.
"Ah, finally feels like living."
"You've had it rough."
"Don't remind me. Can't even tell if those are my toes or someone else's. Thought they'd fall off."
"Cut some hide and stuff it under your shoes. That'll help. Best is making fur booties to wear."
"If Heuk had been here, no such suffering. That Seop Dae-gang only knows fighting—clueless about this stuff."
Not clueless—uninterested. And no need to know. His underlings handled everything needed.
"Any trouble while I was gone?"
"You saw."
"How's Bing girl doing?"
"Wasn't she a witch before?"
"Still is."
"But you just called her Bing girl?"
"Me? No way."
"You did."
"Anyway, not the point. How's the witch? Any more fits?"
"Nothing."
"Good."
Hyeon-gak pulled his feet back to dry his wet shoes. He glanced at Bing-seol's ice cave, then whispered mosquito-like, for Heuk Do-san's ears only.
"Come to think of it, it's been over five days since we left you alone. 'Seeing stirs desire,' they say. Hard to ignore a pretty girl close by. You've suffered, Heuk brother. Heh heh."
'What the hell is this bastard saying?'
Heuk Do-san glared.
Hyeon-gak bickered stupidly with Gong Cheon-ak sometimes, but he wasn't one for crude jokes.
'Testing me. But why?'
Heuk Do-san had a way for this.
He flipped the meat with the stick and said casually.
"You endure—that's suffering."
"What... do you mean?"
"Last night? Got so cold I woke up, fire dead. Thought to sleep anyway. But glanced over—Bing-seol curled like a shrimp. Her pale, slender ankle poked out from the fur. Pretty."
"......?"
"Tried sleeping, but couldn't. I'm not one to mind others. No one's watching anyway, so I quietly approached sleeping Bing-seol."
"......!"
"I mean, don't I have the right? Saved her life. Thought she might resist, but decided to push. So, with her asleep, I..."
"You son of a—!"
Hyeon-gak couldn't hold back and shot up, fist clenched and trembling.
Heuk Do-san's words continued.
"......woke her and told her to fetch firewood. I'd done it by day; her turn. Unlike feared, she hopped up and went."
"......!"
An icy silence fell.
Hyeon-gak realized too late he'd been had, face flushing crimson. He rolled his eyes, pretended otherwise, and slunk back down.
Heuk Do-san smirked.
"I see."
"See what?"
"Monks are human too."
"Must be a big misunderstanding. I just got mad at injustice."
"Who said anything?"
"Honestly, you were curious how Dang girl fared too. Hand on heart, you'd feel the same. Admit it?"
"Why turn the arrow on me?"
Hyeon-gak smirked and turned toward the tent, yelling over the wind though not far.
"Dang girl, asleep?"
"Not yet. Why?"
"Still got those conch shells?"
"Why conch shells?"
"You'll see. Bring three. As you see, shoes off."
He waved his swollen feet toward the tent. Dang Yak-ran hesitated, then stood and came out.
Soon, she reached the fire. She set down three conch shells and turned to leave when Hyeon-gak asked.
"Leaving just like that?"
"Got something to say?"
"We don't need a reason to sit. What's with the agenda? Have some meat broth first."
Dang Yak-ran glanced at Seop Dae-gang's tent. Hyeon-gak spoke again.
"True, Dragon-Phoenix Assembly folk like you differ from a wandering defrocked monk like me. Go on in."
"No, I'll warm up too."
Dang Yak-ran plopped beside Hyeon-gak. He grinned and held out a hand to Heuk Do-san.
"What?"
"Lend your knife."
"Why knife?"
"Just lend it."
Words unimaginable from their first meeting on the ship—Hyeon-gak said them coolly. Heuk Do-san lent his axe coolly instead.
"Use this."
"No knife?"
"Use it."
Hyeon-gak smacked his lips, then snatched the roasting meat.
Heuk Do-san reached in alarm. Hyeon-gak smacked his hand with a sharp crack.
"There's giving and taking."
"......!"
He'd brought Dang Yak-ran, so yield some meat. Hyeon-gak shielded the tent's view with his broad back, slicing the meat fine on his palm.
He mixed meat and snow in the conch, pressing firmly, then carefully set it over the fire so it wouldn't tip.
"Broth's dog meat soup."
"How'd you know this?"
"Imitated someone."
Dang Yak-ran smirked.
Hyeon-gak asked Heuk Do-san.
"Didn't you want to ask Dang girl something?"
"When?"
"Just now—how her meals were, if she's hurt."
"Don't drag innocents!"
"Ha ha, suddenly I'm the fool. Fine, fine. I'm the mad one. Buddha knows truth. Namu Amida Butsu, Avalokitesvara..."
"This monk's lost it."
Unable to take more, Heuk Do-san jumped up to grab Hyeon-gak's collar.
Then.
"I'm fine."
"......?"
"And you?"
Hearing Dang Yak-ran's soft voice, Heuk Do-san's anger melted like snow.
Hyeon-gak winked.
Heuk Do-san sat back down.
"I'm good."
"How's the Blood Wolf bite on your side?"
"Fine."
"Not festering?"
"Nope."
"Good."
"......"
"Thanks to you, we came easy."
"Your shoes are wet."
"Everyone's are."
"Worse as dawn deepens. Wet toes too long is dangerous."
"Can't help it."
Heuk Do-san pulled two fur clumps from his bosom and tossed them before Dang Yak-ran. She picked them up.
"What's this?"
"Flip inside out."
She did—revealing a pair of elongated fur pieces like cut sleeves.
"These are..."
"White wolf hind thigh hides. Cut to length, flattened—just slip on ankles. Dry shoes first."
"Made for me?"
"For me."
Hyeon-gak and Dang Yak-ran's eyes went to his ankles. Thick fur booties already there.
Heuk Do-san added quickly.
"Made extras for later."
"Shame, what a shame."
Hyeon-gak clucked his tongue. Heuk Do-san glared.
"Thanks. I'll use them well."
Dang Yak-ran smiled brightly, tucking the furs away. As her hand emerged, something else came with it.
Like Hyeon-gak, she shielded the tent's view with her back, sliding a bundled handkerchief to Heuk Do-san.
"What's this?"
"Unwrap."
Inside, five deep purple-red berries clustered prettily.
Crushed from pocket travel, some were unrecognizable.
"Strawberries?"
Hyeon-gak's eyes bulged.
"Heavenly Island Strawberries—grow in snow. Picked some from grass by the river crossing."
Hyeon-gak's jaw dropped.
If she'd had them, why not share earlier? She knew he was always hungry, meat-free. How could she hide them so well?
"Let's try one."
Hyeon-gak popped one in. His face lit up after a chew.
"Sweet, so sweet."
Heuk Do-san took one. Tart aroma and sweet juice filled his mouth.
"Good?"
"Delicious."
"Glad."
"You eat too."
"Yes."
Strawberries amid blizzard on mountainside. The three forgot tension between tent and ice cave, savoring rare respite.
The bonfire seemed warmer than ever.
"Appetite whetted—now fill up proper?"
Hyeon-gak barehanded plucked scorching conches from fire, planting them in snow to stand.
"Down one each."
They blew on conches, sipping broth. Just meat in melted snow—how tasty could it be?
Yet the meat soup was exquisite.
"Whoa, hits the spot. Frozen guts thawing. Right?"
At Hyeon-gak's thick self-praise, Heuk Do-san and Dang Yak-ran smirked.
"Unbelievable."
Hong Gong-tak peered out from the tent.
Fire in blizzard? Grilling meat? Boiling in conches? What madness?
Worse still.
"They know we're watching sharp, yet mingle casually with traitors. What do they take the Ten Soul-Chasing Ghosts for..."
"Mind your words!"
Mo Yong-ak's voice was icily unprecedented.
"What do you..."
"Hyeon-gak aside, Dang Yak-ran is Dragon-Phoenix Assembly like us, Tang Clan of Sichuan heiress. Calling her 'they'?"
Even same Assembly, Hong Gong-tak differed from Mo Yong-ak, Seop Dae-gang, Dang Yak-ran.
They were direct purebloods of great sects ruling as top talents. He was just third son of a mid-small faction.
Not small gap. They'd become clan heads or sect leaders; he'd peak at elder.
Hong Gong-tak thought Mo Yong-ak's anger stemmed from insulting the "Blood-Melter" even Assembly whispered of.
"I misspoke."
"Watch it next time."
"I will. But she's the one overstepping..."
"Defending Yak-ran? Or ignoring since not direct superior?"
"Why say such..."
Hong Gong-tak stood quick, bowing fists. Mo Yong-ak, Moyong lady, wasn't scary alone.
But as Seop Dae-gang's fiancée, she was scarier than heaven. Slighting her slighted him.
With propriety shown, Mo Yong-ak's ire eased.
Dang Yak-ran was making a grave mistake now. Heuk Do-san consorted with witch to flee—a traitor. Closeness bred misunderstanding.
To truly help, be kind to Seop Dae-gang, plead mercy considering events.
"I'll scold Yak-ran sharply when she returns."
Mo Yong-ak told Seop Dae-gang.
No reply.
Then Hong Gong-tak to Seop Dae-gang.
"No need allying with them? Order, and I'll lead Ten Ghosts to punish witch and Heuk Do-san. Take their hides for straps after."
"Having Sword Lord break one promise? Already vowed cross at dawn together."
Mo Yong-ak said.
"Just worried they'll flee—headache then. Blizzard erases tracks."
"If fleeing, wouldn't wait here. And running in this is suicide."
Mo Yong-ak turned to Seop Dae-gang.
"Give time."
"For who?"
"What..."
"Heuk Do-san? Dang Yak-ran? Which—or both?"
"......!"
"Dawn breaks, cross Ice Valley together as promised. Capture witch and Heuk Do-san alive after. Sleep till then."