Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Su-a
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Su-a.
The child picked up in Henan Province.
Su-a was a mature kid. She naturally read my mood and worked hard not to go against it.
Children raised in poor families are usually like that. They learn the harsh realities of the world too early and are forced to grow up prematurely.
So I resolved to treat her like a child-at least with me.
Because a kid should act like one.
And over time, that slowly began to change her.
"...It still hurts a little here."
"Here?"
"Yes..."
I personally peeled off the scab on her knee. Ever since I found her lost in the forest, she had started inching closer to me bit by bit.
Her whining picked up. It was cute enough that I went along without complaint.
She had a kind heart by nature, so her complaints weren't much to speak of. Wanting something to eat or asking to hold hands-that was pretty much it.
And the way she addressed me gradually shifted too.
"Daddy. Together... Hic!"
She hiccuped, startled by her own words.
It was so adorable I laughed.
"Call me whatever feels right. It's okay."
"...R-Really?"
"Of course."
"D...Daddy..."
"Yeah."
A child tossed into the world without a single protector.
She needs at least one person in her corner.
Honestly, it felt like I'd gained a cute daughter. She looked healthier as she put on weight, and her once grubby face turned out strikingly pretty after a good washing.
She listened well and handled things on her own without being asked. A sharp, capable little girl, you could say.
Now she even gathered firewood ahead of time when we camped. I stroked her head in approval.
"Hehe..."
...I was starting to understand why people get married.
"Daddy."
"Yeah?"
"No water in the canteen. I saw a river earlier. I'll go fill it."
"Let's go together."
"...Okay!"
Su-a scampered off. I watched her little back for a moment, then followed.
The journey itself was smooth. No major detours, and utterly stable.
The days I carried Su-a-who couldn't walk far-increased. Sometimes her little shoulders sagged with exhaustion.
"...Sorry, Daddy."
"Why?"
"Because I can't ride in a carriage..."
"It's fine. You were just unwell. And..."
I gently tugged at her cheek.
Why are kids' cheeks so soft and squishy?
"This lets us take our time together nice and easy. Better than any carriage."
"...Daddyyy..."
In the passing hours, I heard bits of Su-a's old stories.
"No mom. She died young, old dad said. Called her the bitch who devoured mom."
"......"
"Still... it was okay. Old dad grumbled but made sure I ate. Just had to watch out on his drunken days-no beatings then. Lots of street kids had no dads at all..."
Su-a trailed off.
"I had it pretty good. At least I could eat and survive."
"...Yeah."
I didn't pile on to her tales. No saying her dad was wrong or that it wasn't a blessed life-I kept it all bottled up inside.
I settled for showing her more of the world instead. Fed her proper meals on time, detoured through villages for warm beds midway. On unavoidable camping nights, I sat by her side until she drifted off.
And the result?
"Daddyyy."
Su-a's clinginess ramped up.
"Want something to eat?"
"No. Just... hehe."
Carrying her piggyback had become second nature. She wasn't heavy to start with-I could've gone three days and nights like that.
"Daddy... are you always this nice?"
"Doubt it."
"Good."
"Why?"
"...Be nice just to me. Okay?"
"Got it."
I looked up at Su-a, fumbling with a strip of jerky.
"Su-a."
"Yes?"
"You don't have to learn martial arts. If you want, study academics instead. Safer that way."
"But girls can't hold office."
"Still, knowledge opens doors. You could work for a merchant house or escort bureau."
"I wanna wield a sword like you, Daddy."
"It's tough."
"It's fine. I'm good at toughing it out."
"...Didn't you cry over that knee scrape the other day?"
"That was in front of you, Daddy... Not with others."
"Really?"
"For real! I endure great. Promise!"
Our meandering pace brought us to An-hui Province before we knew it.
Time was delayed some, but not overly so.
I set Su-a down. Took her hand and booked a separate inn first.
"Wait here a sec. Got it?"
"Yes!"
After settling her at the inn, I headed for Murim Alliance headquarters.
The yawning gatekeeper spotted me and narrowed his eyes.
"Hm? Kinda familiar..."
The next instant, his eyes went wide.
He snapped to attention, clapped his hands, and bellowed.
"Silent Sword Red Great Hero! Congratulations on your safe return!"
His booming voice drew stares in an instant. I hurriedly whispered for him to quiet down.
"Lower my voice to the Murim Alliance inspector who earned such merit? I couldn't even if my head rolled for it!"
"......."
Whispers clung to my back.
"Silent Sword? Did he just say Silent Sword?"
"Then that's Red Cloud...?"
"Incredible. Set aside the scar, and his looks are striking!"
"Beauty and prowess combined, with the Venerable One's endorsement to boot..."
"Gotta make his acquaintance..."
I dragged a hand down my face.
"...I'd like to head inside first."
"By all means, enter! It was an honor to meet you, Red Great Hero!"
I quickened my steps. After a few paces, an unfamiliar warrior appeared before me.
"Red Great Hero. This way inside."
Murim Alliance Leader's man, no doubt.
Fast on his feet, as expected.
I hurried after him, ignoring the stares.
Fame's perks felt strangely alien. I'd never drawn personal attention in my life.
A ticklish sensation. Gotta watch I don't get hooked.
"Haha! Inspector!"
The Murim Alliance Leader welcomed me with arms spread wide.
"Well come! Well come indeed! Heard you took heavy wounds... How's the body holding up?"
"Fine, thanks to your concern, Alliance Leader."
"Kuhuhu. What you've done is monumental. Who could've guessed the Shaolin disappearances tied back to Shaolin itself? A relief we stopped it, even late. All thanks to you."
Didn't know, my foot...
His brazen lie nearly gave me chills. I forced my expression neutral.
Murim Alliance Strategist Zhuge So-ak wore a smile. My title had bumped from Young Hero to Great Hero.
"Well done. Red Great Hero. Clearing the shadows from our righteous faction firsthand-your merit defies words."
"I did little. The Venerable One handled most. I merely assisted from the side, so I'm not sure it even counts as merit."
"...Does that mean all this acclaim is empty?"
Probing me.
I bowed deeply.
"My fame outstrips my skill-nothing but shame."
"...Hoo...?"
Zhuge So-ak traded glances with Alliance Leader Namgung Hyeok, who asked.
"How's the body? Heard it was a grave injury."
"Most fortunately recovered... though they advised monitoring for a fortnight."
"I see. I'll inform the Medicine Hall. Take whatever you need. Merit demands fitting reward. But first, I'd hear the tale... Care to recount exactly what transpired?"
Here it comes.
I nodded.
"I..."
Omit what must be omitted.
Mix in truth.
To muddle their heads.
...
Red Cloud departed. Murim Alliance Leader Namgung Hyeok drummed the table.
...Well now?
"Strategist. Your thoughts?"
"......"
Zhuge So-ak narrowed his eyes.
"Matches the reports we received."
"Right?"
"A good-hearted sort. To go out of his way fabricating a weakness in Henan..."
"Su-a, was it? Run a background check."
"Understood."
"Rare breed of warrior. Flawless on the surface. Endless utility, and transparent within... Excellent. Simply excellent."
Namgung Hyeok smirked.
"But nothing more foolish than blind trust in people. Eh?"
"Precisely, Alliance Leader."
"How fares Danri Jin-su's side?"
"One of their built-up forces took a hit. Safe to say their momentum has tilted sharply. And thanks to this affair, not only the inspector's fame but yours has risen too... Calling the tide ours is no overstatement."
"Who could've foreseen rooting out Shaolin's rot would seal their gates entirely? Glad tidings for us... utter calamity for them."
"Alliance Leader. We can't let our guard down yet. With over half the Nine Great Sects at their back, we must drive the nail home."
"True, but first we verify Red Cloud. The Venerable One's endorsement..."
"You know him well?"
"Met him officially a few times. Not the type to wander after leaving home, is he? Face hard to come by. But I know his temperament well enough."
"What sort..."
"Picky. Always voices criticism if something bucks his standards. Gave me some bone-chilling words straight to my face. Naturally crushed them on the spot."
Namgung Hyeok rose.
"For such a man to endorse him. Even proclaim him a benefactor publicly. Weighing Red Cloud's account against the Venerable One's statement, perhaps he truly contributed little but..."
"The whole thing could be fabrication."
"Fair point, Strategist. But consider-even scouring him, Red Cloud lacks that caliber of skill. His external aids are superb. Yet arts without solid foundation hit a ceiling, don't they? Peak realm at best. However..."
If he's concealing something, that changes everything.
"Can't rule out the Venerable One and Red Cloud aligning their tales. Should they be colluding to hide aught, Red Cloud must harbor a hidden blade. A secret in a sword we must keep wielding? Doesn't sit right..."
"What do you suspect, Alliance Leader?"
"Your take first."
"...Records show no blemishes. Third-rate warrior origins, no standout feats. Yet reports indicate not a single skipped training day."
"Hmm..."
"I've trained myself, so I know steady accumulation can suddenly bloom one day. The world calls it enlightenment. Viewed thus, Red Cloud's current prowess holds no anomalies... Save his final post at the Demonic Cult, which nags at me."
"Picked up something there?"
"Could tie to the Cult itself. Deeper still, perhaps to the Heavenly Demon..."
Namgung Hyeok chuckled dryly and waved it off.
"Overreaching, Strategist. The Heavenly Demon personally recruiting a talentless third-rate doorman? Absurd. Even if so, she'd impart some internal energy-yet there's none."
"...Might you have misjudged, Alliance Leader...?"
"Doubting me now?"
"A slip. My apologies."
"I like you, Strategist. From that brilliant mind on down, nothing to discard. But that habit of grating speech? Best correct it. Even perfection marred by one flaw invites excision, no?"
"......."
"Joking. Lighten up."
Namgung Hyeok rested a hand on his sword.
"Red Cloud's free of Demonic ties-that much is certain. The rest matters... But excessive talent breeds suspicion, see? Clearly learned some unique art. Not reliant on internal energy-something else. Innate true qi, perhaps, is my hunch."
"I'll plant eyes nearby to watch."
"Won't suffice alone. Dispatch an assassin to test his skill...? No. Pointless if it dulls my blade on mere verification? Better switch tactics."
"Such as...?"
"Got a fellow sharp at judging folk. Old comrade to boot. Inferior in raw might to me, but far keener on character."
"...You mean the Lord of Heavenly Martial Academy?"
"Aye. My old friend, Tangma Divine Spear Mo Yong-hwi."
"One of the Five Stars... the Spear Star, renowned for his hawk-like eye for talent. But Alliance Leader, will the Mo Yong Clan cooperate? They cling to their lofty isolation... especially their Lord."
"Ah, no issue. Nothing to fret. My old comrade owes me a debt."
He can't refuse.
Certain.
"To wield a sword without pricking your hand, you must know its exact edge. To keep using him, best uncover every secret he harbors. Relay to Red Cloud: stay briefly at the Heavenly Martial Academy. He won't balk much. It's an academy fit for the child he saved-bound to pique his interest. Whip up a suitable pretext... Leave the details to you, Strategist."
Strategist Zhuge So-ak bowed at the waist.
"Entrust it to me, Alliance Leader. I'll peel back every last secret of his."