Chapter 187
Chapter 187
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: Return (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thud!
With a sharp metallic clang, the sword in Sima Jin's hand shot up into the sky.
Sima Jin stared at her torn palm for a moment, then bit her lip gently and said,
"I lost."
"You okay, little sister?"
Dokgo Ryong came rushing over in a panic.
"I'm fine."
"Fine, my foot! Look at all this blood."
Dokgo Ryong looked like he'd committed some grave sin as he fussed over Sima Jin's torn palm.
"I told you, I'm really okay."
"No, no. Just hold still. I'll grab some medicine right now."
As Dokgo Ryong dashed into the house, Baek Muhyeon walked over, shaking his head as if he couldn't do a thing with him.
"It seems this master of yours misjudged your potential."
Sima Jin bowed her head weakly, thinking she'd shown a shameful display in front of her master.
"I'm sorry."
"No, that's not what I meant."
Baek Muhyeon picked up the sword Sima Jin had dropped and spoke in the gentlest of tones.
"Not long ago, you said half a year would be enough to catch up to your senior brother. Remember?"
"Yes."
"I need to correct that. In this master's view, you're already equals."
Sima Jin's eyes widened round, and Baek Muhyeon burst into a hearty laugh.
"No need to look so shocked. That doesn't mean you've beaten him. Seeing is believing, as they say. Watch."
Baek Muhyeon began slowly swinging her sword.
Sima Jin realized with focus that the forms he demonstrated were the exact ones she'd used against Dokgo Ryong moments ago.
"When you attacked, he defended and momentarily exposed his left side. It was a flaw that appeared and vanished in an instant, but you didn't miss it. Yet what was the result? You seemed to gain the upper hand briefly, but that attack created a tiny crack in your breathing and the balance of your movements. See it?"
Sima Jin immediately grasped her master's meaning from his fluid motions and the slightly wavering sword path.
"That crack was what led to your defeat. You judged it a flaw. But it wasn't. He induced you to think that way."
Baek Muhyeon stopped the sword.
"That's experience. Even with your overwhelming inner energy, you can't beat your senior brother right now because of that gap in experience."
Baek Muhyeon grinned widely as he watched Dokgo Ryong come bounding back.
"Your senior brother may look like a fool, but it's hard to find another kid his age with as much combat experience. Well, excluding your brothers, of course. They're on another level altogether."
Baek Muhyeon handed her sword back with a playful smile.
"Thank you, Master."
Before Sima Jin could finish her bow, Dokgo Ryong snatched her hand.
"Give me your hand."
"I said I'm fine."
"No way. It could get infected."
Despite Sima Jin's protests, Dokgo Ryong cleaned her wound thoroughly and wrapped it in cloth.
"Change the bandage once a day, and keep it dry for a few days."
A sigh escaped Baek Muhyeon's lips at Dokgo Ryong's earnest demeanor.
"The owner of that hand you're fussing over is—"
"Pardon? When did I—"
Dokgo Ryong, who had been holding Sima Jin's hand until then, slyly pulled away.
"—a physician renowned enough to draw attention from the Living Immortal Medical House, hailed as the world's best in medicine. This is what they call 'painting feet for the young master,' isn't it?"
"No! Why drag the young master into this? I was just worried about my little sister."
Dokgo Ryong flushed red with embarrassment as he made excuses.
"Quiet. So, what now?"
"About what?"
"That spar just now. You don't think you beat him with pure skill, do you?"
"..."
"Quick thinking only works once or twice. It won't keep landing."
"I know."
His voice lacked strength, sounding dejected.
"I know you're working hard. But if you don't refine yourself further..."
Baek Muhyeon suddenly fell silent.
A fundamental doubt arose.
'Can he ever surpass that child's talent through hard work alone?'
The answer came without much thought.
'Absolutely impossible.'
It had been just over a year since she'd seriously begun learning martial arts—a time when she was barely past taking her first steps—yet she'd already reached a level where she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Dokgo Ryong.
Dokgo Ryong possessed exceptional martial talent, rare even among his peers. But it paled in comparison to the heaven-given gifts of Sima Jin.
Dokgo Ryong scratched his head, watching his master fall deep into thought.
"I get it. My little sister will surpass me in no time. Heh heh heh! I did my best to stay ahead, but it's not easy. Still, I'll hold out as long as I can, so don't worry too much."
From Dokgo Ryong's calm words, Baek Muhyeon could sense the depth of his struggles and efforts. Admiration mingled with pity welled up in him.
It was then.
"Master."
Sima Jin called out to Baek Muhyeon upon spotting a group of people approaching from afar.
Baek Muhyeon turned his head with a short groan.
"Huh? Is that the Sword Queen? You said she'd arrive around now."
Dokgo Ryong rubbed his eyes and asked.
"It seems so."
Moments later, Neung Sohwa led the Sword Pavilion disciples to their arrival.
"Might you be Senior Blue Dragon Sword Emperor?"
Neung Sohwa asked Baek Muhyeon politely.
"Indeed. I am Baek Muhyeon."
"This junior pays respects to Senior."
Neung Sohwa bowed formally, and the White Sword Corps followed suit.
"We pay respects to Blue Dragon Sword Emperor Senior."
Baek Muhyeon returned the greeting.
"Ha ha! It's an honor to meet the Sword Queen. I was utterly shocked to receive your challenge letter in my old age."
"I was rude in seeking your guidance."
"Rude? Nonsense. Everyone knows what it means to receive the Sword Queen's challenge. If anything, it's an honor."
Baek Muhyeon shook his head as if it were absurd.
The entire martial world knew how glorious it was for a warrior to receive a challenge from the Sword Queen herself.
"Oh, right. Introduce yourselves. These are my disciples."
Dokgo Ryong and Sima Jin, standing side by side, bowed eagerly.
"I'm Dokgo Ryong."
"Sima Jin."
Before their greetings finished—
"Little sis!"
"Jin!"
"What are you doing here?"
Sima Geon and the others burst out from behind the White Sword Corps. Their faces mixed joy and surprise.
Sima Jin's eyes widened in disbelief at the sudden appearance of Sima Geon.
"Big Brother!"
Sima Jin rushed into Sima Geon's arms. Her shoulders shook—she seemed to be crying. Sima Geon silently patted her back.
Baek Muhyeon and Dokgo Ryong were the most stunned by the abrupt scene. Even the Sword Queen and her group, who knew Sima Jin was studying medicine at the Living Immortal Medical House, were greatly surprised.
"I heard you'd gone far away. What on earth happened?"
Sima Jin lifted her head after a while, her face streaked with tears, and asked.
"That's what we want to know. And what, we aren't even visible?"
Cheol Woo ruffled Sima Jin's hair teasingly.
"Brother Cheol Woo!"
Sima Jin beamed and greeted Cheol Woo warmly, along with Noe Jeon, Man Chu, Gwa Yu, and the others.
When Sima Jin's gaze turned to So Surin, Noe Jeon quickly introduced her.
"She's a comrade who traveled with us before. She came to find us shortly after you left for the Living Immortal Medical House."
"I know. You're Sister So, right?"
"Huh? How did you know?"
"I've been exchanging letters with my little brothers."
"Ah, I see."
"I'm So Surin. I've heard about you from your brother."
"Yes. Nice to meet you, Sister."
Despite it being their first meeting, Sima Jin felt no awkwardness with So Surin.
"Enough greetings—talk. Why are you here? Didn't you say you were learning medicine?"
At Cheol Woo's question, Sima Jin's eyes flicked to Baek Muhyeon and Dokgo Ryong, who looked awkward. She realized her mistake.
"Big Brother, this is my master. Master, this is my big brother."
"Pleased to meet you. Baek Muhyeon."
"Sima Geon."
The two men's reactions as they greeted each other couldn't have been more different.
Baek Muhyeon openly showed his fondness for his beloved disciple's brother, but Sima Geon did not.
He couldn't greet him warmly without knowing why Sima Jin, who had left for the Living Immortal Medical House to learn medicine, had become Baek Muhyeon's disciple.
Sima Geon's sharp eyes calmly scanned Baek Muhyeon.
Just like with the Crimson Dragon Fortress, many coveted her talent. He wondered if Sima Jin had been forced into something against her will.
As Baek Muhyeon gauged Sima Geon's prickly response and guessed his thoughts, preparing to explain—clueless to the tension, Dokgo Ryong stepped forward with a booming laugh.
"Ha ha ha! Great to meet you, brothers! I've heard so much about you from my little sister. I'm Dokgo Ryong."
They say you can't spit in a smiling face, but that wasn't always true.
"When did you ever see us to call us brothers?"
"Pardon?"
Dokgo Ryong flinched at Cheol Woo's curt reply.
"Are your ears blocked? When did you see us to call us brothers?"
"Brother Cheol Woo!"
Sima Jin swatted Cheol Woo's arm to stop him.
"Jin."
Sima Geon called to Sima Jin.
"Yes."
"I'd like an explanation. We thought you were learning medicine. That's why we sent you here. But things seem off. The master you introduced teaches martial arts, not medicine. Am I wrong?"
Sima Geon's question was directed not at Sima Jin, but at Baek Muhyeon.
"May this old man explain?"
"No. I want to hear it from my sister."
Baek Muhyeon's brow twitched at Sima Geon's icy response.
It was ruder than expected.
Normally, he'd have bellowed in anger, but he held back for now.
Sensing the odd atmosphere, Sima Jin quickly spoke up.
"Well, my senior brother was injured, so..."
To prevent any misunderstandings, Sima Jin explained in detail, yet favorably toward her master.
The explanation was long, but simple.
She'd visited the Living Immortal Medical House to treat Dokgo Ryong's injury when Baek Muhyeon recognized her talent and went to great lengths to take her as his disciple—and finally succeeded.
Sima Geon watched Sima Jin closely as she spoke.
He checked for any signs of pressure or threats from Baek Muhyeon, but there were none. Her bright voice, expression, and the way she explained even trivial details to avoid misunderstandings revealed her sincerity.
"What about medicine? What did the Clear Heart Clinic Lord say?"
"I'm learning medicine too, of course. When I mentioned wanting to learn martial arts, the others were hesitant, but Master readily agreed. He said there's no harm in it as long as it doesn't interfere with my medical studies."
"Tsk tsk. Too nice for his own good. Doesn't even realize his disciple's been stolen."
Cheol Woo clicked his tongue, recalling Hwang Jeong, the Clear Heart Clinic Lord.
"If you wanted to learn martial arts, you should've said so. You have more than enough people to teach you."
"I didn't even think about it back then."
Sima Jin smiled, and Cheol Woo couldn't stay gruff any longer.
"Recognizing your talent and the Sword Queen sending a challenge letter—doesn't seem like a bad choice, but..."
Cheol Woo's gaze shifted to Baek Muhyeon, who was barely containing his irritation, and Dokgo Ryong, who somehow looked dazed.
"Still doesn't sit right with me."
"Your words are a bit..."
Unable to hold back any longer, Baek Muhyeon started to speak when Neung Sohwa—who hadn't said a word since the initial greetings and had been observing—suddenly grabbed Sima Jin's hand.
"I've heard so much about you from Sima Gongzi. It's great to finally meet you."
"Pardon? Oh, yes."
Sima Jin didn't know how to react to Neung Sohwa's warm demeanor, so different from their brief greeting earlier.