Chapter 130
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: A Threat and a Reunion
-----------------------------------------------------------------
*Gulp.*
Beom Gye-wi swallowed hard. Then, he slowly nodded.
Byeok Hwa-ryeong whipped her head around to glare at Cho Ak-ryang.
“Is it true?”
“W-Well…”
Cho Ak-ryang stammered, uncharacteristically.
She wasn't the only one who was surprised.
*'What in the world is that bastard thinking?'*
Beom Gye-wi sent a telepathic message to the bewildered Cho Ak-ryang.
—*She needs to be a witch for that girl to give up!*
Cho Ak-ryang sighed.
“Yes. It's true.”
“……!”
“We were traveling together just recently. I plan to rejoin her after this business is concluded.”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong's eyes trembled.
“How could Seol-hwa…”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong couldn't finish her sentence.
She was confident she could win Beom Gye-wi back from any woman in the world, but there was one exception.
In beauty, in martial arts.
In every aspect, she was no match for her.
Utterly devastated.
With a soul-crushed expression, Byeok Hwa-ryeong staggered to her feet.
Then, with a face pale and bloodless, she began to walk away.
Cho Ak-ryang watched her retreating figure with pity in his eyes.
For a long time, Byeok Hwa-ryeong had thrown her entire heart at Beom Gye-wi.
He couldn't even begin to imagine the shock and despair she must be enduring now.
*'There's no cure for a broken heart.'*
Clicking his tongue inwardly, Cho Ak-ryang glared at Beom Gye-wi.
He couldn't understand why a woman like Byeok Hwa-ryeong would be so obsessed with a guy like this.
It was then.
Byeok Hwa-ryeong, who had been heading for the moon gate, stopped in her tracks.
She turned around slowly and spoke to Beom Gye-wi.
“I'll still wait.”
“……?”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong continued in a clear tone to the perplexed Beom Gye-wi.
“Until a man more wonderful than you appears…”
Beom Gye-wi hurriedly nodded. It was an awkward situation to say anything, so that was all he could do.
He thought he was being tactful, but he was soon flustered.
Because Byeok Hwa-ryeong began to shed pearl-like tears.
The tears streamed down her cheeks, gathered at her chin, and dripped onto her red silk shoes.
Wiping her tears, Byeok Hwa-ryeong gently bit her lip.
“I won't force anything on you. But if…”
“……?”
“If, by any chance, what you just said was a lie…”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong's next words made Beom Gye-wi and Cho Ak-ryang flinch.
“You will die. All of you.”
Byeok Hwa-ryeong forced a smile.
It was a smile as sorrowful and desolate as a pear blossom drenched in rain.
On the ship leaving Hainan Island.
Hainan Island, now far in the distance, was already disappearing over the horizon.
When the island was completely out of sight, Beom Gye-wi finally let out a sigh of relief.
But it was short-lived.
*Screeeech!*
Startled by the cry of a hawk from somewhere, he glanced around nervously.
But Byeok Hwa-ryeong was nowhere to be seen.
That's when he noticed the Hainan Sect warriors steering the ship.
Every one of them was staring into the sky with a tense expression.
Following their gaze, he saw a hawk cutting through the sky, flying like an arrow.
It was the falcon raised by Byeok Hwa-ryeong.
One of the Hainan Sect warriors approached the perch where the falcon had landed.
He untied the note from the falcon's leg, checked its contents, and handed it to Beom Gye-wi.
“A message from the Young Mistress.”
“For me?”
Beom Gye-wi took the note and scratched his head.
The characters were smudged and chaotic, making them nearly impossible to read.
Cho Ak-ryang, standing beside him, read the message instead.
—*Remember my words.*
That was all the message said.
Beom Gye-wi furrowed his brow.
“Remember what?”
Cho Ak-ryang gave him a pathetic look.
“Both things, obviously. That she'll wait, and that if you lied, everyone dies.”
At that, Beom Gye-wi grumbled under his breath.
“Tch. I didn't even do anything wrong.”
“What?”
“Ten years ago, I clearly rejected her feelings, and I won our bet back then. What exactly did I do wrong?”
“What you're holding right now is what you did wrong.”
“This?”
Beom Gye-wi was holding the box containing the Blazing Iron.
“Have you no shame? You used her feelings to get what you needed.”
“What are you talking about? I took care of those guys the Hainan Sect couldn't handle. It's not like I just took it for free.”
“Fine. Let's just drop it.”
“Don't be like that. I don't like seeing someone who likes me get hurt either.”
This was something Cho Ak-ryang hadn't expected to hear.
“Would she be happy if I accepted her feelings when they're not genuine?”
Cho Ak-ryang couldn't find a retort.
How could one judge matters of the heart with reason?
Thinking about it, he felt a bit sorry for Beom Gye-wi. After all, this entire journey was undertaken for someone he cared about.
“Still, Doctor Dan will be happy, right?”
Beom Gye-wi put the note in his pocket and pulled the box of Blazing Iron closer.
“Let's put that aside. But what are you going to do about the real problem?”
“The real problem?”
Beom Gye-wi tilted his head, but his expression hardened at Cho Ak-ryang's words.
“What do you think will happen when Han Seol-hwa finds out about this?”
“……!”
Thinking of Han Seol-hwa, Beom Gye-wi felt a terrifying chill run down his spine.
Shuddering involuntarily, Beom Gye-wi glared at Cho Ak-ryang.
“Don't you forget.”
“What?”
“You're an accomplice, Brother Cho.”
“What, you punk? I only did that because you…”
Cho Ak-ryang, who had started to shout, forced himself to swallow his words, conscious of the people around them.
Cho Ak-ryang sighed and shook his head.
“How did I get tangled up with a guy like this…”
Beom Gye-wi glared at Cho Ak-ryang with an aggrieved expression.
“What are you talking about? Who was it that lured me out when I was living peacefully in the deep mountains?”
“……”
Cho Ak-ryang was left speechless.
It was only at times like these that Beom Gye-wi was unnecessarily sharp.
***
“Thank you for your help.”
On the way down from Mount Diancang.
Clutching the joint petition he was holding, Dan Ak-seon bowed his head to I Rip and Hong Jeok-mun.
“Haha, not at all. What did we even do?”
At I Rip's modesty, Hong Jeok-mun, standing beside him, snickered.
“At least you have a conscience.”
When I Rip glared at him, Hong Jeok-mun avoided his gaze and feigned innocence.
But he still continued to say what was on his mind.
“Let's be honest, wasn't this all possible because the Divine Physician has built up so much virtue? All we did was send a few messenger pigeons.”
As I Rip's expression turned sour, Dan Ak-seon smiled and shook his head.
“That's not true. If the Beggar's Sect hadn't helped, I wouldn't have been able to get the Diancang Sect Leader's signature so easily. Thank you both again.”
I Rip smiled warmly at the polite Dan Ak-seon.
The more he saw of him, the more admirable and praiseworthy he found him… The more time they spent together, the more fond he grew.
“How much more do you need to complete the petition?”
Dan Ak-seon smiled and answered Han Seol-hwa's question.
“I think it's almost done. From now on, I plan to visit the masters of smaller sects along the way.”
Han Seol-hwa nodded.
Then she looked up at the endlessly blue sky.
“It's autumn now.”
After leaving the Divine Demon Valley past New Year's Day, spring and summer had passed, and autumn was now setting in.
The White Dew was already just around the corner.
“Where are you heading next?”
Dan Ak-seon carefully considered Hong Jeok-mun's question.
Then he smiled brightly.
“I'm going to the Emei Sect.”
I Rip flinched at Dan Ak-seon's answer.
“The Emei Sect?”
“Yes. I think that will make it easier for the uncles to join us.”
At that, I Rip's lips twitched as if in a difficult position, and he let out a sigh.
Guessing the reason, Hong Jeok-mun cast a sympathetic glance at I Rip.
Dan Ak-seon looked puzzled by the awkward silence that fell between the two men.
“What's wrong?”
“Haha, it's nothing. Nothing at all.”
I Rip laughed with feigned cheerfulness and patted Hong Jeok-mun's shoulder.
“Elder Hong here will guide you to the Emei Sect. I'll rejoin you later, after your business there is finished.”
“What? Why?”
“My presence at the Emei Sect won't be helpful. In fact, it'll probably be a hindrance.”
I Rip gave an awkward laugh.
“There's someone there who really hates me.”
“……?”
“Elder Hong will tell you the details on the way.”
Even for someone as talkative as I Rip, speaking of his own past was torturous, so he passed the responsibility to Hong Jeok-mun.
“Well then, I'll see you later.”
Leaving only those words behind, I Rip disappeared down the hill.
And half a month passed.
***
Near Mount Emei in Sichuan.
Dan Ak-seon's group visited a nearby village.
It was to rest and prepare a gift before visiting the Emei Sect.
“What would be a good gift?”
Han Seol-hwa pondered Dan Ak-seon's question for a moment.
“Oil for their lanterns would be good.”
“Oil?”
“They would refuse an expensive gift. Among the Nine Sects and One Union, Emei pursues the most frugal lifestyle, and in reality, they are the most frugal sect.”
Dan Ak-seon's puzzled gaze turned to Hong Jeok-mun.
He wondered if there could truly be a place more frugal than the Beggar's Sect, a sect of beggars.
Noticing this, Han Seol-hwa cut to the chase with a single remark.
“There's a clear difference between frugality and destitution.”
Hong Jeok-mun's face turned red at her words.
Normally, he would not have tolerated an insult to the Beggar's Sect, but this time, he couldn't.
Because the one who said it was none other than Han Seol-hwa.
*'It's not destitution; we willingly pursue poverty.'*
Being poor meant they were not bound by material desires, which allowed them to walk the path of righteousness.
That was the spirit and soul of the Beggar's Sect.
It was also the pride of those who belonged to the sect.
But he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud and only muttered it inwardly.
But then.
“What are you mumbling about?”
Hong Jeok-mun jumped in surprise at the sudden voice.
He turned his head toward the voice and saw a massive figure filling his vision.
*'Mang Mountain's Thistle!'*
It was Beom Gye-wi.
And the Blood Hand Honored One was with him.
*'Has it come to this? Is he reading my thoughts now?'*
While Hong Jeok-mun was flustered by the unexpected encounter.
“Uncle!”
“Doctor Dan!”
Dan Ak-seon ran as if flying and hugged Beom Gye-wi's thigh.
“I missed you!”
“Hahahaha! Me too. I missed our Doctor Dan so much I couldn't sleep.”
So he had run for days and nights without sleeping.
Cho Ak-ryang shook his head, his face weary.
He had been forced to run alongside Beom Gye-wi through the nights without any rest.
Dan Ak-seon turned his head to look at Cho Ak-ryang.
“Uncle Cho, are you okay?”
“I'm fine.”
Cho Ak-ryang forced a calm smile.
His internal injuries had nearly flared up midway, but seeing Dan Ak-seon's worried face, he couldn't bring himself to say so.
Just then, Beom Gye-wi smacked his lips in disappointment.
Because Dan Ak-seon, still concerned, had let go of him and gone to Cho Ak-ryang.
Cho Ak-ryang, on the other hand, held out his wrist with a troubled expression.
He assumed Dan Ak-seon would, as usual, check his pulse first.
But that wasn't it.
“Huh?”
A bewildered sound escaped Cho Ak-ryang's lips.
And for good reason—Dan Ak-seon had bypassed his outstretched hand and hugged him around the waist.
“I was so worried.”
“I'm fine. So you don't need to worry.”
Cho Ak-ryang said, feigning gruffness.
But even in that moment, the corners of his lips, creeping upward, were playing near his cheekbones.
Han Seol-hwa sighed at the sight.
“The good old days are over.”
The troublemakers were back, which meant the peaceful journey she had enjoyed for a while was over as of today.