Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: The Sleeping Stranger
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Daylight broke. The two returned to the cave they had found the night before and stared at the man sitting there motionless.
Even peering at him intently, he showed no sign of movement. Something like a black cape was draped over his body, but that was it.
Clothes no better than rags barely covered him-that was all. He looked just like a beggar.
But the truly important thing lay elsewhere. He wouldn't stir even if roused. He offered no resistance when his shoulders were shaken, remaining as still as a corpse.
But... he was breathing.
"Daddy. What is he?"
"Who knows..."
Yuk Nam-pyeong tried to move him. But for some reason, he couldn't.
"He's heavy...?"
Unnaturally so. He could shake him lightly, but...
When it came to actually lifting him, his feet wouldn't budge from the ground.
Yuk Hae-won took a step back.
"Is he... even human?"
"Hard to say. But judging by the aura he gives off, he doesn't seem like an ordinary person... It's almost like this whole place is his cradle..."
Yuk Nam-pyeong glanced around. With nothing more they could do, he left the man as he was.
"If he's sleeping, there must be a reason for it. Let's leave him be."
"...He looks cold."
"Then fetch a blanket."
"Yes!"
Yuk Nam-pyeong rose smoothly to his feet.
What a mysterious place.
It felt as if every plant here was alive and stirring.
From the dense undergrowth to the indefinable atmosphere permeating the entire area. At the same time, it felt like unseen eyes were watching them.
What was it? What was here?
...To begin with...
If this man was asleep, then what had made that noise last night?
"Daddy!"
Yuk Hae-won, hurrying back, tumbled head over heels once. The sight was so endearing that Yuk Nam-pyeong couldn't help but smile.
"Come slowly, now."
"Yes!"
A blanket was draped over the man's shoulders. At least he wouldn't shiver from the cold now.
The more they looked, the more intriguing the man became. A scar marred his face, yet it only made his features stand out more. With his strong, masculine jawline and eyes closed, he still exuded a striking handsomeness.
"He looks like a young master from a wealthy house."
"To me, he's like a warrior from a martial clan. One who's seen his share of hard knocks."
"...Should we really just leave him like this? He must be hungry..."
"Who knows..."
"Daddy."
"Yes?"
"Can I share my portion of food with this brother?"
"........."
Yuk Nam-pyeong gazed steadily at Yuk Hae-won. At last, he let out a sigh and nodded.
"Let's try feeding him for now. We can't just let him starve to death."
"Thank you! Daddy!"
But even when they pushed food toward his mouth, the man didn't so much as twitch. His lips stayed firmly shut, making it impossible to force anything in.
"...B-brother... please wake up... You'll starve..."
No matter how they shook him, he remained unmoved. In the end, the two gave up on feeding him.
They settled for checking on him once a day-that was the best they could do.
The days flew by. Even as they cleared new land and planted fresh crops, they kept an eye on the man. Astonishingly, despite consuming no food at all, he continued to breathe steadily.
He was as quiet as if time itself had frozen around him alone. Meanwhile, the number of days Yuk Hae-won spent there grew.
Yuk Nam-pyeong, who had at first told her not to go, now found himself stopping by the spot whenever he went to fetch her. The space around the man felt remarkably cool and refreshing; simply being there made one's body feel healthier.
Perhaps he was an immortal lost in slumber.
That was what Yuk Nam-pyeong decided to believe. Nothing else made sense.
...
After swiftly finishing her morning chores, Yuk Hae-won hurried to the sanctuary.
She called it the sanctuary for a simple reason. Being there lifted her spirits. Her body and mind felt healthier, and it was as if some unknowable presence was gently stroking her hair.
"Brother! I'm here!"
After brushing the dust from the man's body, Yuk Hae-won settled quietly in the midst of the flowers she had secretly planted.
He never answered. Not to any question. But chattering away like this made it feel as though they were truly conversing.
"You know, today... Daddy..."
She poured out everything that had happened. Once she finished, she lay there quietly, lost in thought for a moment.
With Daddy so busy, she was busy too. The time she could spend here each day was precious and short.
But still.
The fact that it was so limited only made it all the more joyful. Every moment here was bliss.
"...What kind of person are you, Brother? Why are you sleeping so deeply?"
"........."
"You can't do that, Brother. If you stay like this... people will forget you. That's what my mom said. Being forgotten is scarier than dying. That's why I always wear this necklace to remember her. Isn't it pretty?"
Yuk Hae-won proudly showed off the necklace she kept hidden beneath her clothes.
"She's gone where I can't see her anymore, but Mom's always by my side. Do you have someone like that, Brother?"
"........."
"...I bet you do. It feels like... there are so many here. People connected to you, right? Just like my mom. Like they're watching over from above."
"........."
"Brother, you should answer me soon. The crops Daddy planted are growing enough to eat now. The weather's getting warmer little by little too."
Still, he showed no reaction whatsoever. Yuk Hae-won turned her head slightly.
There was a sword at the man's waist. But no matter how hard she tried to draw it, it wouldn't budge an inch.
It simply stayed there. What could be inside? She was dying to know. But it was Brother's belonging, so she shouldn't touch it any more than necessary.
"...Were you a martial artist, Brother? Can you shoot palm winds from your hands?"
"........."
"Daddy says we should avoid getting tangled with martial artists as much as possible. But... you're different, right?"
"........."
"I'll go do my work now! See you this evening!"
Yuk Hae-won sprang to her feet. She left the sanctuary behind.
A small breeze stirred in the suddenly quiet space.
But it died down just as quickly.
As if nothing had happened at all.
...
"Hae-won."
"Yes?"
"Any change with that man?"
"None at all, Daddy. He's still sleeping."
"I see."
Yuk Nam-pyeong nodded and took a bite of the food made from their freshly grown crops.
It made his body and mind feel healthier. To be honest, it wasn't particularly tasty. It was just plain natural fare.
He didn't mind. But a growing girl needed some meat in her diet. He'd diligently set traps to catch mountain game...
Not a single one had been caught. Still, with some surplus now, it wouldn't hurt to head to the nearby village and trade grain for meat.
Yuk Nam-pyeong scooped some of his own food onto his daughter's plate.
"Tomorrow, stay home alone."
"Huh?"
"I'm going to stop by the village."
"T-take me with you, Daddy."
He wanted to, more than anything. What parent wouldn't want to show their child around town?
But these days, security was abysmal-knife fights broke out even in broad daylight.
You couldn't flaunt wealth; it would get stolen. You couldn't display your possessions; it would stir envy.
This was an age where others' belongings were seized as a matter of course. And in that world, his daughter's beauty was a liability.
She was objectively lovely. Beneath the grime, she took after her mother-refined and beautiful.
Which was exactly why he couldn't. No sense dragging her to a crowded place where she might catch someone's eye.
Besides, this area was now under the Four Wicked Young Lords' sway.
It was different from the days under the Heavenly Dragon Society. There was no helping it.
Sapa warriors were little more than bandits with swords.
"I'll be back before you know it. Wait for me. I'll bring something delicious instead."
"......"
"You understand?"
"...Yes..."
Yuk Nam-pyeong sorted out the crops they would sell at market.
Tomorrow would be a busy day. For his daughter's sake, who now looked so downcast, he really ought to buy something special.
...I'm sorry. This father of yours... can't even play the role of a proper dad.
Truly sorry.
...
Daddy had gone down to the village.
Yuk Hae-won passed the time huddled in the sanctuary.
She felt a bit miffed. But she understood too. There had been good reasons they traveled separately from the other slash-and-burn folk, rather than joining a group.
Even among those migrant farmers, quarrels were common. They'd shove each other aside for the slightest bit of better land.
The brawls that erupted showed no trace of reason. They looked like wild beasts fighting just to claim a little more.
Daddy always despised the squabbles and watched from a safe distance. Only after everyone else had picked would he claim the worst plot and till it into fields.
But decent crops weren't going to sprout from soil like that. Hunger was their daily reality...
The other slash-and-burn groups never shared their food. Not like their family.
"......"
Still...
She didn't regret giving food to those people.
If the same situation arose again, she'd do the exact same thing.
Right now, she just wanted to see the village. They'd passed through the area a few times before. Daddy even knew quite a few folks there.
Like the old days-just one day would do-running carefree through the market with Daddy.
Maybe someday, when the world got better. But who knew when that might be.
"...Uuu..."
Yuk Hae-won flopped right down onto the ground. Gazing up at the ceiling woven from branches and grass, she murmured to herself.
"Brother. When will the world finally quiet down?"
"......"
"I... want to go to the village too. With Daddy."
No reply came, as expected.
Yet Yuk Hae-won was content with that much.
Having someone quietly listen was comfort enough.
She waited there just like that. For Daddy to return.
But something was wrong.
Her father, who had promised to be back by evening, never showed.
Not even after two days had passed.
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