Chapter 149: Festival Sightseeing-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 149: Festival Sightseeing-1
"Gasp!"
With a sharp cry, So-yu bolted upright.
She scanned her surroundings. Instead of a hard stone floor, she found herself on a plush bed. This wasn't the arena.
"You're awake? You're in the infirmary."
The situation was the exact opposite of last time. Sitting beside her with a grave expression was In-ho. He let out a long, relieved sigh and brushed his hand over his chest, as if only now finding peace of mind.
From her disciple’s dazed face, So-yu could deduce one thing.
"Did I... lose?"
The question wasn't really directed at In-ho. So-yu muttered the words while staring down at her own hands.
"......"
In-ho usually maintained an insolent attitude in front of So-yu, but this time, he remained silent. He understood all too well the state of mind of this paradoxical young lady, who was filled with both pride and self-loathing.
She was stronger than usual.
However, So-yu wasn't as much of a child as In-ho thought. As a proper martial artist, she began to replay the match in her head.
The intensity of her flames had definitely been stronger than usual. Because of that, her stamina had been drained excessively, and in the end, she had even lost her reason.
Why?
Why was it different from usual? What was the discrepancy? So-yu continued to question herself.
"Ah..."
There was one thing different from the norm. Before fighting Cheong-yeon, she had been extremely agitated. Cheong-yeon had repeatedly provoked her by bringing up In-ho, and So-yu concluded that her composure had shattered because she fell for those provocations.
That sly wench.
Martial arts performed with a disturbed mind could never manifest properly. Rage had seized control of her body, and in response to that anger, internal energy had surged from her dantian. The excessive amount of energy forced through her meridians had caused her body to overheat rapidly.
Once her thoughts reached that point, she found herself resenting In-ho.
She couldn't bring herself to say she lost because of him. She knew all too well how pathetic it would sound to say, "I lost because of you."
So, she tried her best not to look at him. She felt that if she caught a glimpse of her disciple’s stupid face, the anger that had finally settled might flare up again.
"The doctor said there’s nothing seriously wrong with your body. Once you’re fully awake, why don't we head outside?"
Unaware of his master’s inner turmoil—or perhaps ignoring it—the disciple spoke with a carefree tone.
"Outside? Why?"
Irritated by his voice, which seemed devoid of any worry, So-yu snapped back. The faint trace of anger in her voice failed to reach him.
"The festival started since the sparring tournament is over. It looks like the night market is open too. I thought going out might help change your mood..."
"Silence!! Do you think a festival is important right now?"
Unable to hold back, So-yu shrieked. Only then did In-ho shut his mouth and look at her. As he stared blankly at his master, there was no sign of fear regarding her wrath.
So-yu hated that, too.
"If you suffer a defeat, a true martial artist should feel ashamed and devote themselves to training. Yet all you think about is playing around?"
She whipped the blanket off her knees and stood up from the bed. Seeing his master bolt upright, In-ho stood up as well.
So-yu turned to glare at him. Though she was looking up at him from below, her momentum was as threatening as if she were striking down from above.
"The Flame Wheel Master must always be victorious. So never, ever speak such frivolous words in front of me again."
So-yu poked In-ho’s chest with her finger and marched out of the infirmary.
The door slammed open and shut. Startled by the commotion So-yu caused, the doctor, who had been brewing medicinal herbs, came scurrying back to the room.
In-ho grimaced and scratched the back of his head vigorously.
"Geez, she’s diligent to a fault."
Tsk. Clicking his tongue, In-ho also left the infirmary.
*
After storming out of the infirmary, So-yu headed straight for her own master.
Grandmaster Yeom-jin was in her room, drinking alone. So-yu quietly opened the door, entered, and knelt before her.
"...Is your body alright?"
Yeom-jin poured wine into her cup without sparing So-yu a single glance.
"Yes."
A long silence followed. Nothing could be heard except the sound of wine trickling into the cup. So-yu’s lips twitched, as if she were debating whether it was okay for her to speak first.
"Master. I am sorry."
After much deliberation, So-yu broke the silence. Despite her beloved disciple’s words, Yeom-jin showed no reaction. Instead, she simply raised the sloshing cup and drained it.
Trickle—
Yeom-jin poured another. The clear liquor flowed from the neck of the bottle into the cup.
"And so," Yeom-jin muttered, watching her reflection in the wine. "What exactly are you sorry for?"
"...For losing to the Ice Wheel Art."
"No."
Yeom-jin cut her off.
"Then... for failing to control the Flame Wheel Art on my own..."
"No."
So-yu’s head spun at Yeom-jin’s firm denials. If it wasn't this or that, then what was it?
"Master. This unworthy disciple... does not know the reason."
As So-yu bowed her head, Yeom-jin drained her cup again and tossed out a remark as if exhaling the intoxication.
"You have done nothing wrong."
So-yu, who had been staring at the floor, lifted her head.
"Pardon? What do you mean by that?"
"I am neither disappointed in you today, nor am I angry."
"Then why..."
"Hmm?"
"Then why have you been acting so solemn?"
When So-yu asked, sounding somewhat bewildered, Yeom-jin snapped her fan open to cover her mouth. She giggled, her eyes crinkling at her disciple.
"Since you came in looking so serious, I was just playing along with the mood."
"Master!!"
As So-yu shouted, her face turning bright red, Yeom-jin chuckled and poured more wine. It was the last of the bottle.
"Anyway, So-yu. Do not dwell on victory or defeat."
Yeom-jin spoke calmly as she downed the wine.
"There is no martial artist in this world who wins always and forever."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I do not expect such a thing from you. However..."
"However?"
"Just remember this: [The one who wins at the very end is the true victor]."
"The one who wins at the end is the true victor..."
So-yu whispered the words as if to engrave them in her memory. Yeom-jin held up the empty bottle and shook it in front of So-yu’s eyes.
"I’m out of wine. Could you go down and bring me some more?"
"Yes, I understand."
So-yu immediately opened the door and left.
*
Not long after So-yu departed, In-ho entered Yeom-jin’s room.
"Leave the door slightly ajar. I need to ventilate the room."
At Yeom-jin’s command, In-ho left the door open by about two finger-widths.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Grandmaster. Did my master happen to come by?"
Yeom-jin’s gaze shifted toward the space behind In-ho’s shoulder.
"Yes, she was here."
"I see. If it wouldn't be a problem, Grandmaster..."
"If it wouldn't be a problem?"
"There’s a festival going on outside... Would it be alright if I took my master out for a bit?"
"May I ask why? Personally, I’m not inclined to allow it, as I fear she might become lax."
Yeom-jin’s eyes narrowed. She looked clearly displeased.
"I don't know much about teaching, but I do know that you shouldn't push someone even harder when they’re already discouraged."
"Ho... and?"
"I dare say, my master needs a change of pace."
"Your words have some merit. Children around So-yu’s age would be like that. But So-yu is a martial artist."
Yeom-jin’s sharp gaze pierced In-ho. He flinched at the pressure but swallowed hard and countered the Grandmaster’s words.
"She is a person before she is a martial artist, Grandmaster."
Yeom-jin didn't respond. She was signaling him to continue.
"Watching today’s match, I realized once again what an incredible martial artist she is."
"But I also think there are things she has given up and buried in her heart because of that."
"For example?"
"Things a girl her age would normally do."
"Do you see your master as a girl?"
"In some ways, yes. It might be presumptuous of me to say, but aren't I older than her? I might be a newborn babe when it comes to martial arts, but I believe I’m better than her at meeting people and seeing the world. Even if I’m just a lowly farmer."
"Hmm... Truly arrogant words. A disciple claiming to be better than his master."
"I am strictly speaking of things outside of martial arts."
"I know. Fine... In light of that arrogance of yours, I shall grant permission."
Yeom-jin covered her mouth with her fan, her eyes drifting toward the small gap in the door behind In-ho’s shoulder.
"Really?"
In-ho brightened, surprised that the permission of the Grandmaster—whom he had viewed as a great wall—had been given so easily.
"Nothing good will come of her being cooped up in her room. Go and enjoy the festival with So-yu."
"Thank you, Grandmaster!"
In-ho stood up with a broad grin. After confirming that the shadow outside the door had vanished, Yeom-jin gave In-ho a knowing smile.
"Yes, have a good time."
Leaving the Grandmaster’s room, In-ho wandered through the garden looking for So-yu. Namgung So-yu, who he was certain would be sulking in her room, was nowhere to be found. He had come out to the garden thinking she might be moping in some corner, but it seemed he had guessed wrong again.
"Seriously, where did she go?"
That brat.
In-ho kept that last thought to himself, just in case his master was listening. Sensing a presence behind a tree, he hurried over, only to find an unexpected person standing there.
"Oh... hello?"
Bathed in the moonlight just like before, Cheong-yeon greeted him slowly, her face radiant.
And from a distance, So-yu—who had followed her disciple after delivering the wine to Yeom-jin—watched the scene unfold.
"Wait..."
The doctor had clearly said there was nothing wrong with her, yet for some reason, Namgung So-yu’s chest throbbed with a strange ache.