Words That Never Reached Him
"I refuse."
"W-what did you say?"
Raeji’s eyes and mouth flew wide open.
"H-heek…!"
Paeng Gayeon also covered her mouth with one hand and stared at me.
Come to think of it, that reaction was only natural.
"Sojin, I hate to say this myself, but you do know who the Five-Tiger Saber Emperor is, don’t you?"
I slowly shook my head.
"I do."
How could I not?
Paeng Seom-ak, the Five-Tiger Saber Emperor—one of the Ten Great Masters of the World celebrated by the righteous sects, and a legendary master of saber techniques.
The number of demonic bastards who had died by his hand was too many to count.
Among the righteous, there were plenty who worshiped him, and some took it as an insult to the emperor if you said you didn’t know his name.
"Then why, exactly, are you refusing? I truly can’t understand you. Everyone else is practically begging for a chance to meet the emperor. He could teach you a great deal. Why don’t you think it over again?"
When I turned my head, Paeng Gayeon met my eyes and smiled softly.
"Sojin-nim, would you like to come see my grandfather with me?"
Nope.
Just from the granddaughter’s request alone, I could tell.
He only had one granddaughter, and the fact that he doted on her so shamelessly told me he was a total overprotective fool.
I could already guess what he wanted to say to me.
If I get on his bad side, this’ll become a huge pain in the ass.
The downsides outweighed the benefits.
Most academy students would drool at the chance to receive the teaching of one of the world’s top ten saber masters, but I had no reason to go.
In fact, shouldn’t I be the one teaching him?
And as a connection… it was ambiguous at best.
Like granddaughter, like grandfather, Paeng Seom-ak also roamed the martial world frequently, doing deeds of righteous heroism wherever he went.
Because of that, he had gained considerable prestige and support among the righteous sects.
But traveling the jianghu in the name of righteous deeds also meant making plenty of enemies.
Martial artists were relentless when it came to grudges and debts, and the more one belonged to the demonic or evil factions, the more viciously they would take revenge.
There was a reason the Blood Cult had later been willing to suffer huge losses just to hunt him down and kill him.
"…."
If surviving in the martial world was difficult, then until I reached a higher level, it was best to keep a low profile as much as possible.
There was no need to get tangled up with him.
But I couldn’t say that outright, so I gave him a plausible excuse instead.
I slowly shook my head.
"The timing isn’t good."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Doesn’t the Five-Tiger Saber Emperor come here as a judge for this martial arts tournament?"
"Hoo… yes, that’s true."
Raeji seemed to understand my meaning already, and he drummed his fingers against the table.
"Though I was cast out by my family, I’m still blood of the Guangdong Jin Family. I’d rather avoid anything that might cause misunderstandings."
"Sojin, are you sure? This is my friend’s request, yes, but it could also be an opportunity to advance your martial arts by one level—no, maybe two. Didn’t you say your True Qi Path was stagnating? The name of one of the Ten Great Masters of the Orthodox Faction isn’t something just anyone can bear."
Raeji explained it to me one point at a time, like he was lecturing a child.
I understood his point.
Connections with a master could indeed be called a stroke of fate.
But not for me.
That time would be better spent refining the Sun and Moon energy.
Raeji let out a long sigh and turned his head away.
"Aren’t you being a little too cautious? Sojin. Even if you do this, there won’t be many people who recognize your prudence. The other eight great families will be scrambling to build ties with the judges…."
As expected, the seedlings of the righteous sect never failed to disappoint my expectations.
Still, it didn’t matter.
I had no intention of making a name for myself in the Martial Alliance anyway.
By now, he should have understood.
I slowly reached out and took the wooden box into my hands.
I appreciated the gesture, but honestly, this was like a cat teaching a tiger.
"You know it, and Paeng-sojeo knows it. That’s enough for me."
"Sojin, if that’s what you want, then fine. I’ll explain it to my friend myself…."
The beautiful golden-haired girl stared at me intently.
That was a little much.
"No, Master. I was the one being thoughtless. I’ll speak to my grandfather directly."
"…Very well. Then both of you leave."
"Master, I’ll be going in that case."
I left the room right behind Paeng Gayeon.
The wooden box in my hand felt reassuringly solid.
* * *
Creaaak—
Thunk.
After the two of us left the room, Raeji stamped his foot twice.
Immediately, a bookshelf slid aside, and an old man with sharp, hawk-like eyes stepped out from the hidden passage.
"Well?"
"He’s a steadier, more upright boy than I expected. He’s definitely more reasonable than the rest of those so-called righteous idiots."
"Meaning?"
"I like him. Raeji, that friend of yours really does have an eye for people. He’d make a fine son-in-law."
The two men laughed heartily and sat down in their chairs.
"Did Gayeon like him?"
"She said he was like me when I was young. I was worried because she’s still so naive about the world, but if it’s a boy like that, he’d be a decent husband. …By the way, do you have any more of that liquor I drank yesterday?"
"Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I? I’ll bring out the premium Du Kang wine."
Before long, Raeji pulled a large bottle from beneath the desk and brought it over.
"As expected, this tastes good."
"You’re planning to head back now?"
"Naturally. Those Blood Cult bastards have started dragging out monsters lately, and it’s become a headache."
"Monsters? Aren’t they core combat power? Surely they’re not planning to make a move into the Central Plains?"
The old man shook his head left and right.
"Probably after me. I wiped out one of the Blood Cult’s hidden branches this time."
Gulp, gulp—
The old man downed the liquor in one breath.
"Heh… wiped out, huh… and here I was wondering why I hadn’t heard about it."
"You wouldn’t have. Everyone’s too busy not caring. The righteous sects have gone soft. That Martial Alliance leader of theirs has lost his mind too… We’re the ones who have to move."
"How bitter. To think it’s come to this… Still, don’t die."
"I have no intention of dying until I’ve killed the Blood Demon, that beast of a man."
The old man set his cup down on the table.
"I’ll be off again."
"Take care, Seom-ak."
Just as he had arrived, the old man vanished in an instant.
It was as if he had never been there at all.
*****
A few squad members sat in a loose circle atop the main training yard.
What should I do…? What am I supposed to do?
He got to his feet and clapped his hands once.
"Any last questions before we wrap up?"
"No."
"None, Squad Leader."
"We got it all, big brother!"
Shit.
I was thinking too hard and hadn’t heard a word they’d said….
No, wait. Surely it wasn’t a big deal…?
"Good. Then tomorrow we’ll go straight…."
Huh?
At that moment, my eyes met Kwon Jeong-gyeom’s.
I could almost see him smiling beyond those eyes.
"Han-sojeo, do you have any questions? You haven’t said a word from the beginning… Any other opinions?"
My heart dropped straight through the floor.
Why was he asking me…?
No, wait. Surely it wasn’t a big deal?
I forced the stiff muscles of my face to move and managed a smile.
"No…. I’m fine too."
Kwon Jeong-gyeom’s mouth curled upward ever so slightly, and with a strange smile, he nodded.
"You’re fine, you say?"
Cold sweat slid down my back.
My mouth was starting to stammer against my will.
Calm down. Don’t shake.
"Y-yes… I, I’m fine with it too."
"Hmm… If you’re fine, then understood. Han-sojeo, you’ll be in charge of camping preparations."
"Huh? M-me?"
Camping preparations…
Again… me…?
In that instant, he widened his eyes and smiled in a way that made my skin crawl.
"Oh dear. So you really weren’t listening."
"…."
He kept that disgusting smile fixed on his face and walked toward me.
Slowly, deliberately, letting his footsteps ring out one by one.
"Han-sojeo, I tend to respect and favor capable people. You understand that, don’t you?"
As he spoke, he looked around at the other squad members and smiled.
"…Yes."
"A martial world where capable people are valued and treated well—that’s the kind of Orthodox Faction I dream of. That’s why when I recruited you, I gave you a few special allowances. Do you remember?"
"…I remember."
Why was he suddenly bringing this up?
There was no doubt he was going to mock me in the end.
"The name Yeoltop Sword is not one you can take lightly. I wouldn’t want to become a burden to my master, after all. You do know my family is famous for commerce, so we have money to spare, don’t you? That’s why I gave you expensive elixirs every week. Is that correct?"
"…Yes."
Kwon Jeong-gyeom looked down at me and sneered.
"And yet, if there’s a squad member who has no ability… and can’t even earn back the cost of those elixirs, what would you do, sojeo?"
"…."
I had nothing to say.
Kwon Jeong-gyeom stared at me with cold eyes, as if he meant to bore straight through me.
"Han-sojeo? I’m asking you, aren’t I? Would you answer me?"
His tone was endlessly gentle, but every word dripped with mockery.
It wasn’t as if I were stupid enough not to understand that.
There was only one thing I could say anyway….
"I-I’m sorry. I’ll do better."
"Ahahaha!! Look at that face. 'S-sorry, I’ll do better~'—is that all? Put in some effort, you idiot!"
"That’s right, unnie! You’re such a total moron. A useless loser."
Starting with the Ringlin sisters, the members of the Yeolcheon Squad burst into laughter.
"Sojeo, do you remember? I personally put up your tent and even laid out your bedding for you, didn’t I?"
"I-I didn’t even ask you to do th—"
"That’s not the point. If you have any conscience at all, you should be doing something in return, shouldn’t you? From now on, you’ll be in charge of camping. Understood?"
I was so suffocated by the absolute certainty in his voice that I couldn’t even speak.
It was awful.
"…Yes."
"Only now are you finally understanding. Good. Then we’ll disperse for today and meet again tomorrow."
With those words, Kwon Jeong-gyeom descended from the main training yard.
Once he left, the squad members began disappearing one by one as well.
"Hey, Han Seola."
"…."
"Now you don’t even answer? Want to get hit again like last time?"
The way she kept jabbing a finger into my head was truly disgusting.
It didn’t hurt, but….
"…No."
"No?? Say that again."
"…N-no."
"If you can’t stand it here, then get lost. I don’t even want to look at a bitch like you. Please leave. I’m begging you."
"Unnie’s right. Get lost."
For some reason, tears started running down my face.
Why was I being treated like this?
"Whoa… now you’re crying? That’s seriously disgusting. If someone saw this, they’d think we were the ones bullying you."
"Exactly. Han Seola’s very existence is bullying us… we’re the victims here, okay? Waaah~"
How had it come to this?
When I came to Yeolcheon Squad, I thought a bright future would unfold before me….
If this was the price I had to pay for coming here and giving up even my friends, then I couldn’t accept it.
"You’re really persistent. Still crying?"
I didn’t have a single ally here.
Thinking that made a wave of sorrow crash over me all at once.
Sojin…
Where are you?
I’m having such a hard time.
Please help me….
And then, at that very moment,
like a miracle, Cheon Sojin appeared far away on the stairs.
Huh? S-Sojin!
He had to have rushed here after hearing my cry for help.
No, he definitely had.
"Hey, are you even paying attention? You think I’m joking?"
"M-move!!"
I shoved past the nuisance and hurried down toward the training yard.
No, I tried to hurry down.
My feet wouldn’t move.
"Sojin-nim! Let’s go together!"
A girl I’d never seen before was clinging to him all too familiarly.
##