Chapter 158: Crossing the Wall-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 158: Crossing the Wall-1
After their eventful and tumultuous visit to Anhui, the Flame Wheel Master’s party began wandering the Central Plains once more.
They rarely stayed in one place for more than six months. Unless they had official business, their destinations were always remote areas where few people set foot.
This time, they had temporarily unpacked their bags in a slash-and-burn village, where they promptly dealt with a group of bandits who had been harassing the villagers. While they were at it, they also helped with tasks like erecting a perimeter fence for the village.
"My, you’re certainly good at putting things up."
In-ho was roughly weaving bush clover branches to build the fence when several village women gathered in small groups behind him, offering unsolicited advice that wasn't really advice at all.
He had rolled up his sleeves because of the sweltering sun. As the women watched his bulging veins and firm muscles, they began to whisper among themselves.
"Hoho, I bet he’s good at getting just about anything up."
In-ho gave a bitter smile at the blatant sexual harassment. Usually, people were terrified of martial artists, but perhaps it was because he treated them with such familiarity? The village women were remarkably affectionate toward him.
While they whispered and appraised him, In-ho finished weaving the fence and stood up, brushing the dirt off his backside.
"Um, excuse me..."
A woman with bangs covering her eyes timidly held out a water gourd to him. Seeing this, the other women let out a chorus of "Oh my, oh my!"
"Ah, thank you. I was just getting thirsty."
He took the gourd and gulped the water down.
"Oh my, look at that."
The women gossiped as they watched the streams of water trickle down his neck. In-ho squeezed his eyes shut, thinking that reacting to them would be the mark of a true amateur. If he showed even a hint of embarrassment, they would surely pounce on him like predators who had found their prey and tease him mercilessly.
"That was refreshing. Thank you."
The woman took the gourd back, her face flushing red, and scurried away. Her friends immediately swarmed her, squealing and giggling.
'Aw, hell... I’m screwed.'
As In-ho watched them, he felt a sharp prickle of killing intent coming from a short distance away and let out a long sigh.
— Thwack.
Finally, small pebbles began to fly at the back of his head.
"Haha, I’ll be going now."
With an awkward laugh, In-ho made his exit. Leaving the calling voices of the village women behind, he headed toward a massive tree standing at the edge of the village.
The tree was so large it would take three grown men to encircle it. Arriving before it, In-ho looked up.
"What is it this time?"
"......"
Namgung So-yu was perched on a high branch. She looked down at him with a sulky expression before leaping down, landing gracefully in front of him. Her face was clearly clouded with anger.
In-ho realized that today wasn't going to end easily either.
— Grip.
Namgung So-yu grabbed In-ho’s collar with a rough hand. He felt the fabric tighten, making it hard to breathe.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"...What did I do? Is it a crime to drink a gourd of water?"
"Did I not tell you not to get close to them more than necessary?"
"And what exactly counts as 'more than necessary'?"
"Why on earth did you roll up your sleeves? And you should keep your clothes tidy. Your chest is practically on display."
So-yu pulled his clothes together to cover him. Her fingertips seemed to brush against his chest, but In-ho told himself it was just an accident.
"It’s because it’s hot."
"As a disciple of the Flame Wheel Master, you must maintain your appearance. What will they think? They’ll think a martial artist studying the Flame Wheel Art is... is... lewd!"
So-yu shrieked, her face turning as red as a beet.
"Good grief... that’s a bit of a stretch... Fine, I get it. I’ll be careful."
Not wanting to argue further, In-ho declared his surrender. However, So-yu wasn't about to let it go so easily.
She suddenly lunged forward and hugged him. Burying her face in his chest, she grumbled discontentedly.
"Don't let others get close to you in the first place. Look at this. The scent of another woman is already clinging to your clothes."
In-ho let out a sheepish laugh. Since the events in Anhui, the frequency of So-yu’s whining had increased. He figured it was only natural, given how starved for affection she had been.
He reached out and stroked her hair. He had recently discovered that this gesture had a calming effect on her.
"How can you tell me not to let people get close when you’re clinging to me like this, Master?"
"I am fine. I am allowed."
Sigh. In-ho continued to stroke her hair, muttering that she was hopeless.
'This has been happening a lot lately. Is she struggling with her training?'
The reason they were staying in this slash-and-burn village wasn't just to help the people; it was also for So-yu’s training.
[Typification of Internal Energy]
This was the final technique Grandmaster Yeom-jin had mentioned to So-yu. She hadn't explained any of the principles behind it; she had simply demonstrated it once, and that was all.
So-yu had been trying to manifest it for months now.
In the Murim, those who had achieved the Typification of Internal Energy could be counted on one hand. Even for someone of Namgung So-yu’s caliber, it was a realm that couldn't be reached in a single bound.
Faced with a task as difficult as finding a needle in a desert, So-yu’s mood was perpetually foul.
She had hit a wall.