Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Responsibility
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But there was one problem.
'...How am I supposed to meet Yeo Socheon?'
To even have a conversation, I needed to see her first. But I had no idea where she was right now, and I couldn't exactly step outside either.
If I was certain she was at the Murim Alliance, I could just ask Dang Ayoung for a favor... but I'd heard she always stayed within Kunlun Mountain. Who knew if she was still at the Alliance or if she'd already returned home?
'If only there was some way to call her...'
I didn't have telepathy powers or anything. There was no way I could contact someone whose location I didn't even know and tell them to come find me.
It might be easier if Yeo Socheon just showed up out of nowhere like she did the first time...
'...Huh.'
A sudden thought flashed through my mind.
She hadn't come out of the blue in the first place.
She'd come to scold me for my rude behavior toward the heavenly deities.
So, if I thought about it differently...
'If I mock the heavenly deities again, she'll come running!'
It felt like a lightbulb had switched on above my head.
I'd already completely forgotten about the last scolding.
The week I'd spent with Dang Ayoung had been so intensely vivid that there hadn't been any room left in my head to dwell on it back then.
Having come up with this miraculous logic—that mocking the heavenly deities would summon Yeo Socheon—I started off lightly with a raspberry.
-Pbbbt!
I pulled down my hat and stuck my tongue out at the empty air.
I had no idea exactly how much mockery it would take to bring her, so I figured I'd ease in with something cute.
'A pathetic god who can't even properly interfere in the mortal world but struts around like a figurehead without anyone to look after it♥'
[...]
'A beggar who drags people around on a whim but doesn't even provide proper hospitality♥ If this keeps up, I might just throw myself on that saintess over there♥'
[This kid's lost it...]
-Boom!
For a split second, I thought I heard a voice from somewhere, but at the same time, a figure smashed through the wall with a kick.
"What the hell do you think the gods are?!"
Her face was twisted in rage and humiliation.
Blue lightning crackled around her body, a sign of how desperately she'd rushed over.
"Didn't I warn you enough last time?! Didn't you promise never to do it again?! Do you have any idea how much that being has sacrificed for your sake?!"
Perfect. Just as planned.
Now that I'd successfully summoned her, all I had to do was calm her down and talk...
-Shing!
"No, I can't stand by and watch a thankless wretch like you exploit that being's grace to satisfy your selfish desires any longer."
"...Huh?"
Yeo Socheon drew her sword.
-Drip, drip...
Cold sweat trickled down my back at the far more murderous atmosphere than I'd expected.
I'd figured at worst it'd be a few spanks like last time, but her eyes were seriously deadly.
I had no idea what she'd been doing, but her face was flushed, her breathing ragged, her clothes disheveled, and sweat glistened all over her body...
"If I just sever you from the outside world completely, you won't be able to indulge those selfish desires..."
"...Can I ask what you were doing before you came here, by any chance?"
-Flinch!
The fierce aura she'd been emanating softened in an instant, replaced by embarrassment.
"Wh-what do you mean?!"
"You just look like you rushed over in such a hurry..."
"I-I was training! Training! Unlike you, I'm a martial artist who has to constantly strive without end!"
"Ah..."
She definitely looked like she'd been in the middle of intense training and bolted over, so I nodded inwardly.
That explained her reaction too.
A martial artist who valued training above all else would naturally be furious at being yanked away mid-session because of me.
"Sorry. I didn't realize it was something so important and made you rush over for no reason."
"Huh...?"
"But I didn't have a choice. Rumors are spreading everywhere outside, so I can't go out, and I don't even know where you are... This was the only way I could think of to call you. What was I supposed to do? Do I have some other way to contact you? I don't."
"W-well, that's true..."
"And you're the reason I'm in this mess in the first place."
"Th-that's... true, but..."
Yeo Socheon mumbled, her face saying Is this right?
But she looked utterly shocked at my next words.
"So you have to take responsibility."
"What?!"
I couldn't help but wonder inwardly if it was really that surprising.
"R-responsibility?"
"Yeah. You planning not to?"
"W-well, before, I said you didn't need to take responsibility for..."
'...?'
I furrowed my brow, unable to understand what she was saying.
Take responsibility for me? When had I ever said that?
"...Ah."
Come to think of it, yeah.
I had said something like that when we first met.
"A-anyway, if you're okay with it now, then fine. For now..."
Before I could clear up her misunderstanding, she raised her sword and pointed it somewhere, opening her mouth.
"Come out. I have no intention of harming him."
-Gasp!
Startled by her clear summons for Dang Ayoung, I looked over and saw her hiding there—I had no idea since when.
-Gulp.
Geared toward Yeo Socheon, Dang Ayoung stared at her with a grave expression.
And Yeo Socheon sneered back at Dang Ayoung.
"Didn't I say I have no plans to harm him? So what's with that arrogant look?"
"..."
"I get that you care for him, but as a far more senior figure, let me give you some advice: as a martial artist, you need to properly gauge your opponents. I don't know what you've heard about me from others, but..."
"I'm not as magnanimous as the Sword Empress?"
-Twitch!
Dang Ayoung's body jerked at Yeo Socheon's suddenly lowered voice.
"..."
-Grip.
She still said nothing, but I could tell she was conflicted.
When her cautiously turned eyes met mine, I gave a slight nod.
"...My apologies. Please forgive my rudeness."
Seeing me, Dang Ayoung bowed her head obediently.
Strictly speaking, Yeo Socheon—who had broken into the house without permission—was the aggressor. But in the world of martial artists, good and evil were determined by power and position.
Even though Yeo Socheon had smashed the house first, Dang Ayoung had to apologize for baring her killing intent toward such a senior figure.
Maybe she liked the apology?
"Ahem. Well, no need to bow that low. From your perspective, it was understandable. I was in the wrong first, after all."
"...No, it's not."
"I'll send over repair costs later. But for now, I need to talk with him, so could you give us the room for a bit?"
"There are plenty of unused rooms—pick any one you like. Then I'll take my leave."
With Dang Ayoung gone, speaking in a stiff tone I'd never heard before, I turned to Yeo Socheon.
"See? That Tang girl couldn't even squeak at me."
"Did you have to go that far?"
"Ahem. From the perspective of a civilian like you, I might seem excessive, but the world of martial artists is ruthless. She's a genius for her age, sure, but the Central Plains is overflowing with experts far beyond her."
"...Still."
"Well, it's a valuable lesson. With that kind of talent, a little push will make her grow fast. The right motivation always gives wings to a martial artist's development. It'll be good experience for her."
'Doesn't seem like it.'
To me, it just looked like an NTR scene.
Though it felt oddly thrilling to be the subject.
"S-so, why'd you call me? Because of that responsibility? I-I mean, you're a waste of my time, but I messed up too, so consider it payback."
I'd have to explain later. For now, I opened my mouth toward Yeo Socheon.
"Not that responsibility—the one for spreading the rumors."
"..."
"So I was thinking: the best way to bury a rumor is to cover it with an even bigger one..."
-Shing!
"Looks like the thing that needs cutting isn't limbs—it's your mouth. If I just get rid of that fancy trap of yours, you won't spout nonsense again."
"W-wait a sec! Calm down first!"
"Shut up, you lecher!!"
It took quite a while to calm down Yeo Socheon, who was genuinely charging at me with her sword drawn.
Deep within the Mount Hua Sect, at the Sword Empress's residence.
"You called for me?"
The Sword Empress turned her back to her attendant and spoke.
"You've heard about how I clashed with Blood Cult remnants while traveling."
"Yes, I have."
"Those cowards have always relied on dirty tricks, including poison users aplenty. Some even attacked with aphrodisiacs and sedatives."
"Such...!"
The woman, raised in Mount Hua and under the Sword Empress's guidance, found such artificial arousal of lust—without genuine affection—utterly unforgivable.
"Of course, at my level, I can suppress most poisons with my qi. But you never know. I'd like you to gather some antidotes in advance. Something to prevent those feelings from arising in the first place."
"Understood. Leave it to me."
The confident woman never dreamed the Sword Empress had other intentions.
Of course not.
She was the Sword Empress—a hero of the orthodox sects.
No one would ever suspect she wanted the drugs for her own personal use.