Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: A Promise Kept
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Gongbaek spoke.
That there was nothing more to teach.
"From the Flower Realm onward, it's a path you must walk on your own. It's strange for others to interfere when you're treading your own way. Now, there's truly... nothing more I can teach you."
"Thank you, Elder."
"Enough. What thanks? If I hear it one more time, it'll outnumber all the thanks I've gotten in my life. Haven't you given me far more from the start? You gave me the chance to lay my exploited master's body to rest, and thanks to you, I could resolve the dark shadow hanging over Shaolin... Teaching you one martial art is hardly worth mentioning."
Gongbaek cleared his throat with a cough.
"Red Cloud. As we discussed, I'll take the secret I hold to my grave alone. But let me say once more..."
"What you're worried about won't happen, Elder."
"...I'll trust you. Ah. And I have something else for you."
A small box was handed to me. Guessing what was inside, I replied awkwardly.
"You know this isn't something I really need right now, don't you? Please keep it, Elder."
"Then sell it for the money. Anyone in the martial world would drool and come running for a Great Return Pill."
"...Pardon? A Great Return Pill?"
Wasn't that Shaolin's greatest elixir?
"Wh-why would you give me something like that...?!"
"Just take it. Here, I'll leave it with you. Use it less for recovery and more for boosting inner energy. If you ever take a disciple, give it to them. It'll not only unblock all their meridians but perfect their vessel as a whole."
"W-wait, Elder...!"
"Come visit anytime you're bored. You're always a cherished guest at Shaolin."
Gongbaek fled from my presence like he was escaping. I was left fiddling with Shaolin's Great Return Pill.
What... should I do with this?
There was no lie in what I said. It wasn't all that important to me now.
It would increase my inner energy, sure. But that was it. While training directly under the First Demon, I'd already consumed all sorts of precious treasures.
Honestly, most of them were on par with the Great Return Pill... so it didn't excite me anymore.
"......."
I'll hold onto it for now.
I returned to the secluded temple. Suryeon had fully recovered, so I checked on her.
I fed her the remaining food bit by bit. Like a baby bird, she ate it all, but flinched when she saw me packing my things.
"Are you leaving?"
"It's time. How's your body, Suryeon?"
"I'm fine now."
"Good. Have you thought about what you'll do next?"
Suryeon hesitated.
"Not yet... I don't really know."
"What about your clan?"
"Even if I dream of rebuilding, I lack the people. Even if I gather survivors, there's no real reason to go that far. I expected to die seeking revenge... but things turned out better than expected..."
"That's a relief. Living is better than dying, isn't it? You'll naturally figure out what you want in time."
"...You think so?"
"You're a wise person, Suryeon. You'll manage."
Suryeon gazed up at me quietly. She hesitated, then grabbed my sleeve.
"Red Cloud."
"Yes."
"......."
Her face scrunched up as if words she couldn't say swirled in her mouth. She held my sleeve for a while, then let go.
"...I hope everything you do goes well."
"Same to you, Suryeon."
"Yes. I won't forget the grace of saving my life."
"We were partners, weren't we? No need for such words. We just helped each other out of necessity. You can forget it."
Suryeon chuckled softly.
"...You're a strange one. The last part wasn't even necessary."
"......."
"Liar."
Suryeon vanished. Just like when she first appeared, her presence was nearly undetectable-astonishing.
No, had she grown stronger? Stepping on all fours and advancing her martial arts might have played a part.
As a martial artist, I could definitely beat her...
But if such a person targeted my neck in the dead of night, I wasn't sure I could fend her off.
They say the martial world is full of hidden masters...
I need to hone my skills even more.
With no one to wait for, I set out immediately. The rest of the Murim Alliance inspection team, excluding me, had left long ago. I just needed to return on time.
I headed to Henan Province to restock supplies. But then, something unexpected happened.
"...That man... no way..."
"L-Lord!"
"It's the Black Sword! The Black Sword!"
My face had become famous.
More than I'd imagined.
A crowd gathered. Among them were familiar faces.
The vagrants. The ones I'd said I'd definitely bring back.
I was prepared to accept whatever emotions they poured out at me. But they didn't blame me.
They just hugged me over and over.
"Thank you... thank you... Thanks to you, my daughter could at least pass peacefully..."
"Sob... M-my son... thanks to you..."
"Th-thank you for revealing the truth... With Shaolin's compensation, I can feed my remaining son... Thank you so much... Lord..."
The crowd surged. I clasped each reaching hand one by one.
"...I'm sorry."
But I couldn't smile.
I hadn't saved them all and brought them back. The sacrifices couldn't be undone with money.
It left a bitter taste, preventing a simple smile. Someone tugged at my pants.
"...Big brother."
I turned around.
A little girl was looking up at me.
The child from that time. The girl I'd promised.
I met her eyes. She wiped her nose with a sniffle and held something out to me shyly.
A bead emerged from her fidgeting hand. The one I'd refused before.
"Th-thank you. P-please take it this time."
"...I don't deserve it. I... couldn't keep my promise."
"I-I heard from the grown-ups what big brother did. They said you fought so hard you got badly hurt..."
The child firmly placed the bead in my hand. Sniffling stubbornly, she said,
"I-I... want to be someone like big brother... Definitely... Later, when I'm really successful... like big brother..."
"......."
I looked down at the bead in my palm.
I gripped it tightly. And the girl's hand too.
"What's your name?"
"S-Su... Sua..."
"Family?"
"......."
She shook her head side to side. I wiped her face with my sleeve once more.
No relatives at all.
I looked at her clothes. Same as before. Gaunt frame. Face like she hadn't eaten properly.
What if I gave her enough money?
I recalled the past. While begging, a silver coin had fallen before me, too weak to protect it.
The rich passerby's charity was taken by others. I never used it.
Even if I gave her something...
It'd probably end the same.
Of course, I couldn't take her in myself. My situation wasn't that comfortable.
But with the merits from this mission...
The Murim Alliance's Heavenly Martial Academy might accept one child. Narin and Gwangyang were there anyway-I could ask them to look after her.
"Sua."
"...Yes?"
"If you have nowhere to go, come with me. To the Murim Alliance. I'll get you into the academy there. You'll get living expenses too."
The girl's eyes widened. I wiped her tears myself.
I wanted to give her a proper chance to live.
To make up for the promise I couldn't keep.
"If you're interested..."
The child reached out.
She hugged me with all her might.
"I-I want to go. Please... take me with you..."
"...Alright."
I took her hand. We pushed through the crowd.
"To take in a homeless child..."
"His reputation is real."
"Wielding the sword to protect the weak and topple corruption..."
"In a world overflowing with fat pigs, humanity still lives."
"Ooh... the Black Sword..."
"Saving people and silently swinging his sword at evil..."
"That must be the Murim Alliance inspector."
"...Impressive."
"Black Dragon Red Cloud...!"
I walked forward, ignoring the voices behind me.
Careful not to lose the warmth in my grasp.
. . .
Sua coughed softly, hacking.
Lately, her body ached. She kept feeling cold. Strangely low on energy.
Even in the carriage, nausea wouldn't stop. In the end, she had to get down with the man ahead.
She couldn't be more of a burden.
Sua walked steadfastly. Hurrying to keep up with the man in front.
Murim Alliance inspector.
The one called the Black Sword.
She stole glances at his back. Then tripped, rolling on the ground.
Sua jumped up immediately, hiking her skirt. Blood trickled from her knee.
...It hurts.
But what worried her more was dirtying the clothes he'd just bought her.
Clearly expensive. Hesitating, Sua hiked her skirt higher. She stood carefully to keep the blood off.
He turned back.
His calm eyes widened slightly.
"Sua."
"Y-yes..."
Would he yell?
Her dad had. The man she could no longer see always grumbled about no money.
Scoldings came naturally with mistakes. Shouts to fetch food too.
In such situations, she naturally shrank. Her shoulders trembled.
"S-sorry..."
But the expected reaction didn't come.
"I walked too fast."
Her body was suddenly lifted.
Caught off guard in his arms, Sua blinked.
"Let's go like this for a while. Bear with it if it's uncomfortable. Okay?"
"......."
A different reaction.
A different person.
Sua quietly straightened his clothes. Red Cloud, who'd traveled over half a day like this, finally stopped.
He leveled the ground around them, gathered wood, lit a fire, and skewered the food he'd brought.
"I-I'll do it."
"It's fine. Rest."
The camp setup finished swiftly before she could help.
Sua hesitantly tore into the meat he offered.
...Tasty.
She ate faster. Later, she even nicked her tongue.
"Ow..."
"There's plenty, so eat slowly. Want more grilled?"
"C-can I?"
"Of course. Eat your fill."
Full for the first time in ages, Sua eyed Red Cloud cautiously.
"Wh-what should I do now..."
"Relax."
"R-relax...?"
She fidgeted with her fingers. The sudden freedom felt more uncomfortable.
It'd be better if he gave her tasks-at least that much...
M-maybe fetch water...
Sua stood abruptly and checked Red Cloud, who had his eyes closed. Even sitting still, he seemed to twitch-like he was doing something.
Probably shouldn't disturb. I'll be quick.
Grabbing the canteen, Sua stepped toward the darkening forest.
She'd heard it passing earlier. The sound of flowing water.
Her slow steps soon found the stream. Beaming, Sua first inspected her earlier wound carefully.
No one to rely on now. Dad wasn't coming back... She'd be left at the martial academy...
...Everything has to be done alone.
Like in Henan Province.
Act grown-up. I can do it. I want to live. I don't want to die.
Alone. Truly now...
Because no one trustworthy is left.
"Ow..."
After scrubbing the wound diligently, Sua wiped her teary eyes. She filled the canteen and turned.
Retraced her steps.
...But...
It was gone. The campsite.
"Huh...?"
Gone.
Gone.
Nowhere.
Wrong path. But where did it go wrong?
A beast's howl echoed. Sua flinched and ran. Her gasps reached her throat.
Everything passing looked the same. Felt like running in place, unable to tell apart.
Her mind went blank.
"Wh-what..."
The sky darkened more. She could barely see ahead.
Needed to find the firelight, but even that was gone. No idea where she was.
"...D-Dad..."
The unintended words escaped, and she froze. Her heart pounded wildly, unable even to run.
Stomach hurt. Body hurt. Legs hurt.
Everything hurt...
Wh-what to do...
"Daaaad..."
He wasn't a good dad.
Still... still...
Someone to lean on.
The one person in the world she thought was on her side.
But even that's gone.
No one to lean on.
Sua curled up. Barely able to stand, she clutched the canteen and held her breath.
The beast's howl was close.
Her whole body shook.
"Daaaaddy... waaah..."
"Sua."
At the call, she jerked her head up.
In her shaky vision stood a man. Hair with leaves, like he'd rushed over.
She flinched at his reaching hand. In such situations, Dad always scolded her.
But...
"You okay? Hurt anywhere?"
"......"
Worry came, not scolding.
Completely different from expected.
"...Hic... sob..."
"It's okay."
His naturally embracing arms were warm.
Sua burst into the sobs she'd held back.