Hongryun Sect (13)
Hongryun Sect (13)
"You've returned, Sect Leader!"
"Ah! Yes! Have you been well? Nothing happened while I was away, I trust?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary!"
The village bustled at the Sect Leader's return. The villagers pretended to welcome him on the surface, but the moment they turned their heads, they cursed him under their breath, spitting coarse words like 'damn bastard' or 'hope he drops dead out there.'
It was because the Crimson Ring Sect had forcibly dragged them out during the busiest season, insisting they must welcome the Sect Leader's return. The sect disciples believed that if the entire village didn't gather to greet him, the Sect Leader of the Crimson Ring Sect would lose face entirely.
The Sect Leader swept his gaze once over the villagers, whose discontent had their mouths jutting out a full hand's breadth, smiled pleasantly, then turned and spoke.
"Ahem, I'm truly grateful you all came out in the midst of your busy work. I'm a blessed man! Now, everyone go back inside! You're busy, aren't you! I'm so very thankful you all came out voluntarily even while you're so busy! I'll treat you all properly later!"
The moment the Sect Leader raised his hand and shouted, the villagers vanished without waiting for anyone to go first. The Sect Leader knew they hadn't come out voluntarily, and the villagers knew there was no way the Sect Leader would ever treat them to anything.
Because he was always the kind of man who recklessly spouted promises he had no intention of keeping.
The Sect Leader watched the people scatter like dust and muttered in a low voice.
"Goodness, these uneducated louts have no manners, I swear. They don't even know thanks to whom this village lives so well and comfortably, and they haven't the sense to come out on their own."
The Sect Leader clapped the shoulder of a Crimson Ring Sect trainee standing beside him.
"So, you're the one who gathered the people today? Well done."
"I merely did what was expected of me!"
The trainee boldly shouted the expected response, and the Sect Leader likewise believed that what he shouted was to be expected. Since he had merely done what was expected, there was, as expected, no reward.
A large man, one of the Crimson Ring Sect's officers, waited until the Sect Leader finished praising the trainee, then approached from the side and asked.
"Sect Leader. So, what happens from here on out?"
The Sect Leader stared at the large man for a moment, then replied in a low voice.
"For the time being, I was told to polish my martial arts and expand our influence. It seems the Venerable Geumbok has another plan in mind."
"Is that so. Ah, nothing happened at the estate while you were gone."
"Of course it shouldn't have."
The Sect Leader nodded as he spoke, then turned his head toward the inn. He tilted his head as he saw the face of the servant sweeping the inn's yard, then looked back at his confidant and spoke.
"Isn't that bastard Jayoung, the one who works at our estate? Why is that bastard sweeping the inn yard? Did something happen?"
At the Sect Leader's question, his confidant shook his head and spoke hurriedly.
"It's nothing serious. That bastard said he wanted to learn a bit about the inn work, so I transferred him over there. Isn't Jayoung at the age where he should learn this and that now? I thought if I let him learn various tasks, he'd certainly be useful to the sect someday, so I took the liberty of moving him. Hey, Jayoung! Isn't that right?"
When the bear-like man rasped out his shout, Jayoung flinched in surprise, his body trembling, then nodded his head.
"Ah, yes.... Th-that's right!"
"Is that so? How unusual."
The Sect Leader merely shrugged his shoulders and passed by as if it were nothing. When he let it go so casually, both Jayoung and the confidant let out sighs of relief. If the Sect Leader heard that the servant had been messing with Seon-go and had been demoted for it, it wouldn't end with just a demotion.
The Sect Leader would tear Jayoung to pieces on the spot, and it was obvious he'd beat Seon-go half to death.
If a major incident broke out, it was ultimately the confidant himself who had to handle the aftermath. Thus, letting it pass quietly, as if nothing had happened, was best for everyone.
The confidant followed behind the Sect Leader and brought up another topic.
"What is your schedule for today, Sect Leader?"
"First I must recover from the journey's fatigue, and this evening I shall attempt to calm my mind through breathing meditation. Thoughts of our dwindling income keep troubling my heart, and I cannot settle it."
"I shall instruct the children not to enter."
"Yes. Do that."
*****
"You've come, Father?"
Seon-go prostrated herself flat on the floor and offered a greeting to her father, the Sect Leader. The moment he entered the estate and came face to face with Seon-go, the Sect Leader swept his gaze over her once with an indifferent expression. The sight of her, prostrate in the estate courtyard with the help of others, was pitiful and pathetic, yet to the Sect Leader, her act was nothing more than what was naturally expected.
Even if she couldn't walk, since she had people beside her to assist, it was only natural that she come out in stocking feet to greet him when her father arrived. The Sect Leader spoke.
"You kept the account books in order properly, I trust? If there's a mistake like last time, I'll give you a sound scolding."
Seon-go's shoulders flinched. It was not from fear, but because a surge of fury rose within her. The last time the Sect Leader mentioned was not Seon-go's fault at all, but an incident caused by a different servant who had given the wrong quantity of goods. The Sect Leader knew this fact, yet he reprimanded her as if the fault were largely hers, just to keep her spirit broken.
"...Yes. There were no issues."
But Seon-go's voice was calm. It was because, thinking that she would die soon anyway, the irresponsible and indifferent words he threw out left her feeling nothing at all. Meeting Seon-go's eyes, the Sect Leader let out a snort, then scratched his head and spoke.
"I'll check the books tomorrow. I'm somewhat agitated today and must rest, you see. You go in, too."
The Sect Leader said this while waving his hand dismissively.
Seon-go kept her head bowed and struggled to suppress her laughter.
"Yes."
*******
Night fell. I raised my head and surveyed the scene beyond the wall. The Sect Leader had returned, but the estate's security hadn't changed in the slightest. In a way, they were remarkably consistent bastards.
In the distance, I saw the Sect Leader look around, then step into a certain room. It was the place Seon-go had previously pointed out as the room the Sect Leader used for his breathing meditation.
Perched on the wall, I looked at Sannyeo and spoke.
"So, I'll handle the Sect Leader. But there are other bastards to deal with besides him, aren't there? That confidant of his, and the other ones who've learned some martial arts."
Sannyeo flaunted her manacled hands as she spoke.
"I'll take care of them. There aren't many of them anyway, and even if you did it, it'd just take too long."
Now, having even completed basic training with Sannyeo over the past month, the third-rate fighters of this sect who had clumsily learned a bit of combat were no match for me. Sannyeo judged that they weren't even suitable as training opponents for me and decided to help out to finish the job faster.
I spoke.
"I'm honored, receiving help like this."
"Then you should treat it as an honor. Your master is helping you, after all."
"Yes, yes, Master."
Dumbfounded, I let out a hollow laugh and played along. When I even used an honorific for her, Sannyeo laughed in a small voice.
Her laughter spread softly, like a bird singing, and then Sannyeo, her amusement fading, asked in a low voice.
"Docheol. More importantly, can you beat a second-rate realm?"
I didn't like the worry lacing her question. I smiled back and retorted.
"What, does reaching second-rate make you immortal? I'll show you. Just go slit their throats and wait for me."
"How are you going to kill him? Just tell me that. You boasted you'd thought of an incredible method, but you haven't explained what it is."
Since I'd been so boastful, Sannyeo's curiosity was clearly evident. I almost wavered at the coquettish tone in her voice, but I shook my head coolly and spoke.
"It's no fun if you know in advance. If you finish fast and come back, you can watch the show."
"...Then I'll have to push myself. I'll go on ahead."
When I firmly refused, Sannyeo didn't press further and let it go. Lingering too long in conversation atop the wall wasn't wise either, and it was time for the Sect Leader to begin his energy circulation.
Sannyeo tipped backward off the wall as if a chair had broken. When I turned my head, no one was visible on the ground, and I couldn't sense Sannyeo's presence either. Her movement, vanishing like a phantom, was indeed a realm I still could not approach.
'Someday, though.'
I started to speak toward the spot where Sannyeo had disappeared, then shook my head. This was no time to be lost in admiration or idle chatter. When I launched my body down from the wall, the door was wide open and Seon-go was waiting for me.
Her eyes were sparkling, and her face was flushed with excitement.
The moment I approached, she grabbed my hand and quickly whispered.
"This is usually the time he does his breathing meditation. If you go now, you can catch him off guard."
I held her hand and nodded.
"Yeah. I know. Calm down."
Seon-go asked, her eyes shining.
"But just how are you going to kill him?"
I lifted her up. To me, having cultivated inner energy, her body was as light as a feather. Seon-go, suddenly floating in the air, stared at me with wide eyes and a flushed face.
Holding her, I spoke.
"You'll find out when we get there."