Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Value of a Word - 7
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As expected, the sight of her skillfully building a campfire and even preparing a place to sleep made her look all the more pitiful, so I suggested preparing a room for her again.
But Sayoon and Yuhee, rather than accepting, apologized profusely for troubling me and refused.
These kids are stubborn as hell.
It's good that they don't take others' consideration for granted, but when they're this resolute, it kinda makes this uncle a bit sad.
"By the way, how's the Five Animals Frolic going?"
In any case, I couldn't miss this golden opportunity to chat with Sayoon.
So, after placing a few torches in the backyard to keep out the chill, I brewed some tea.
They must have figured this much was acceptable, because Sayoon sat by the campfire, wrapping herself in a worn blanket that looked like it came from the Crimson Star Sect, and accepted the tea I offered. Yuhee smiled, politely declined, and began meditating.
"Any difficult parts?"
"Not particularly tough."
"Good to hear. It's not easy for me to learn the Crimson Star Divine Art."
Sayoon stuck out her tongue slightly and gave an awkward smile before shifting her gaze to the campfire. Watching the crackling flames, she let out a quiet sigh.
"Someone as lacking as me is carrying all these expectations... It's worrying. I wasn't raised on spirit medicines or rigorous training from a young age like the others."
"I see."
"They say Senior Sister left this time because of me."
I knew that. But sensing that what Sayoon wanted right now was silence, I simply kept my mouth shut and nodded.
Was that the right call?
Sayoon cupped the teacup in both hands and took a small sip.
"Can I really grow enough to satisfy them all?"
It seemed mastering the Meteor Fist had been truly challenging for her.
I glanced at her eyes trembling as they faced the fire and stood up.
"Who knows. But the Falling Sun Sword believes in you and left to support you. Maybe it's better to trust the Falling Sun Sword who believes in you, rather than forcing blind faith in yourself? Of course, that doesn't mean you don't need self-confidence."
I stirred the fire with the poker. Sparks flew up, and the chestnuts and sweet potatoes I'd tossed in earlier rolled out perfectly roasted.
I let them cool a bit before gathering the fire back together.
"And you told me yourself, right? Dripping water wears away stone. Just keep at it steadily."
"Yeah... you're right."
Her eyes, which had stared at me for a moment, returned to the fire. I poked a sweet potato with a stick and held it out to her.
"Have some as a midnight snack."
"Oh, no, it's fine..."
"Sweet potatoes aren't that expensive. I roasted too many to eat alone."
"Uh. Um. Th-thank you."
"You too, Senior Yuhee. Stop pretending to meditate."
"Huh? Ehehe. How'd you know?"
Yuhee, who had been sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed, grinned awkwardly and got up. As she shuffled over, I handed her a sweet potato too, peeling a roasted chestnut with a small knife as I replied.
"Your eyebrows were twitching, and your legs were fidgeting. Some meditation."
"E... hehe."
Yuhee scratched the back of her head. Just as she started munching on the sweet potato with an awkward smile,
a voice came from above.
"Looks like you've got time to play around at night. Should've gone another round earlier."
And then, hop.
This time, she was properly dressed in pants. Not Full Moon Pavilion attire, just casual clothes, but her killer figure made even those look good.
She strode over with her long, slender legs and slyly reached for the peeled chestnuts I'd set out.
"Just one meow..."
"No, they look hot, so I was cooling them for you."
"It was a joke, just eat up."
"Ehe."
She giggled and popped a roasted chestnut into her mouth, chewing away. After devouring the ones I'd peeled—and apparently still hungry, cracking open her own sweet potatoes and chestnuts—Chaejin casually said to Sayoon,
"Always doubt. Always be vigilant. Always think."
"Pardon?"
"You must see the essence to banish hesitation."
"...Thank you."
"Though Full Moon Pavilion and Crimson Star Sect are rivals, we unite under the banner of the righteous sects."
Then she puffed up with pride, striking a haughty pose.
"So, I can offer some guidance to a junior striving to improve."
"Oh..."
"Oh..."
"Oh..."
Me, Sayoon, and Yuhee.
All three of us exclaimed in admiration, and she puffed up even more.
She really looked like a great righteous sect master.
If not for all the soot smeared on her face from the chestnuts and sweet potatoes.
"Wipe your face first before talking."
I pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket and offered it.
Only then did she seem to notice, wiping her face in embarrassment. Once she'd regained her arrogant master facade, Yuhee looked at us in wonder.
"You two—Senior Chae and Innkeeper Yu—seem pretty close."
Chaejin and I glanced at each other and flatly denied it.
"No way."
We were just bound by a contract, nothing more.
I gave her a lukewarm look before turning back to Sayoon.
She was silently staring into the fire, mulling over Chaejin's words, not saying a thing.
"Impressive focus... Excellent. You there, Crimson Star Sect's Yu Senior?"
"Yes?"
"Hongryeon went to fetch spirit medicine for her, right?"
"Yes."
"Hmm... Maybe I should get some for my little sister too... But she's such a brat..."
Sayoon's intense concentration from just a few words must have really fired her up.
Chaejin set down the remaining chestnuts and headed to a corner, plopping down cross-legged and closing her eyes.
Wait, is this okay for a bodyguard?
I looked from her to Sayoon, then to Yuhee, who also seemed awkward about the vibe and shut her eyes.
Damn it.
But I couldn't disturb Sayoon while she was focusing.
I stared at her for a good while before heading back to my room.
I hope she gains something from this.
Quite some time had passed since the Earth Dogs were first discovered.
A few more Earth Dogs showed up, and a handful of guards sustained minor injuries, but nothing major happened otherwise.
Even that tapered off as patrols intensified, now including Crimson Star Sect members, reducing incidents. These past few days, not even an Earth Dog in sight.
Maybe that's why.
The initial sharp vigilance that gripped Island Flower Village was gradually fading.
"Yes, like that."
Of course, protection hadn't stopped.
Though they were rotating shifts, Sayoon was on my guard duty some days too, so I hoped no more Demon Tigers would appear.
Not that they shouldn't, of course.
For this rotation, I'd gotten Sayoon's help with Five Animals Frolic training. It really seemed to build vitality throughout my body.
Plus, daily crash courses in Subtle Taiji Fist from one-hit instructor Chaejin had my body feeling much better than before.
A few days ago, after training, Chaejin said consistent practice like this would eventually form my dantian...
Whatever, not important.
What mattered was Sayoon's expression growing darker by the day.
"You seem pretty troubled lately."
"Haha... Can't hide from Innkeeper Yu's eyes. Yes, I still haven't grasped the true essence of Meteor Fist..."
I'd sent her letters with koans tailored to spark her enlightenment, but maybe it wasn't enough?
Tsk, if only Hongryeon were here to guide her.
This is why self-study is tough.
"It feels like I'm almost there... Just that last piece..."
That was when it happened.
-Screeech!! Boom!! Screeech!! Boom!! Screeech!! Boom!!
Intense explosions echoing from quite a distance.
What was shocking was they came from different directions.
Sayoon and I turned our heads, and Ryuhyeon, who had been checking goods at the trading post, rushed out.
"What was that sound?"
At the same time, Chaejin leaped down from above. Dressed in form-fitting Full Moon Pavilion garb, short sword at the ready, she no longer looked like the somewhat ditzy woman I'd seen before.
Her sharpened gaze radiated ferocity. Her taut muscles held the power to cleave anything. And a steadfast mind to wield it softly.
A first-rate martial artist stood before me.
"Multiple explosions mean more than one Demon Tiger..."
"Then you've got one job. Go smash them."
The guards were exhausted already, and Crimson Star Sect couldn't keep sending people down without proper training.
My goal was to prevent the Crimson Star Sect's destruction.
To that end, I needed to end this crisis quickly, which meant capturing the Demon Tigers.
I'd miss seeing Sayoon often, but no helping it.
"Ahh, of course!!"
The moment I gave permission, Chaejin vanished. Her lightness skill carried her far in an instant, and Ryuhyeon grabbed her weapon too.
"Sayoon! Just in case, stay here with the innkeeper."
"Yes!!"
Ryuhyeon lightness-skilled away in a flash, leaving Sayoon to glance at me.
"You look worried. Don't be. It'll be fine. Senior Ryu is strong, and Senior Chae even more so..."
That was when it happened.
A black-clad, masked figure slowly walked in through the backyard entrance connected to the outside.
"What the...?"
At his sudden appearance, Sayoon stepped slightly forward.
And understandably so—a thick, intense killing intent emanated from the black-clad man.
Perhaps he'd been waiting precisely for Chaejin and Ryuhyeon to leave.
"Innkeeper Yuwol? Correct?"
His voice was raspy. The black-clad man fixed me with ice-cold eyes and slowly drew the sword slung at his waist.
"Come quietly, and I'll spare your life."
"Who are you, targeting Innkeeper Yu?"
He didn't answer, but I knew exactly who he was.
From the skull emblem on his chest.
In Celestial Moon, those with that mark were from the Demon Bone Corps, a ruthless assassin group that appeared as enemies.
Defeating them dropped that emblem; collect enough and turn them in to the Murim Alliance for rewards.
Judging by the chest emblem, he was the lowest rank...
Still not someone to underestimate.
"Be careful. He's stronger than Kajun."
Even the weakest Demon Bone Corps member outclassed Kajun.
"As expected of Island Flower Village's richest man. Sharp eye for people. Kajun's a nobody to me."
His eyes gleamed. Nothing surprising, but if it made him cautious of me, all the better.
"Huuu..."
Sayoon began slow, deep breaths. Her real sword was already drawn. Even with its sharp edge gleaming before him, the Demon Bone member casually aimed his dagger.
"Today, I'll witness that famed Crimson Star Divine Art."
Damn. Saying that to Sayoon, the youngest—not even Hongryeon? That's some conscienceless trash talk.
Wanna see his parents' faces.
"Stay back."
Sayoon shot forward like an arrow, going full throttle from the start—her sword fast enough.
But.
-Claaang!!
A sharp metallic clash sent Sayoon's sword flying skyward. Before she could react to the twisted blade that had aimed for his throat, the masked man kicked her hard.
Thud. With a leather-ripping sound, Sayoon tumbled across the ground, and he hurled a dagger at me.
I dodged.
If I hadn't trained with Chaejin, Sayoon, and the Crimson Star Sect reinforcements, it would've nailed my shoulder.
Anyway, dodged.
I suck at counting, but after lessons from a one-hit instructor, this much is baseline.
The black-clad man stared at me in disbelief, lips twitching, before grumbling.
"...Intel said you, Yuwol, couldn't use martial arts."
"Time to update that intel. Now!!"
"Guh?!"
I yelled at his back. Reacting, the masked man turned.
Behind him stood only the errand boy, broom in hand, looking awkward.
"You sneaky bast...!!"
-Stab!!
Seizing the opening, Sayoon sprang up from the ground and thrust her sword fast.
Thinking his strike had felled her, he couldn't block—and her blade pierced his chest.
"Gahk...!!"
Blood spewed. His face paled.
Legs giving out, he crumpled. I smiled at him.
Won't be getting up.
His eyes' shock and bewilderment faded as I leisurely said,
"Foolish to get distracted in a fight."
"How...?"
His gaze turned to Sayoon—a question loaded with "How are you up already?"
Honestly, even I was surprised.
I'd seen life in her eyes as she flew back and caught his attention.
Wondering myself, I looked at her. Sayoon rubbed her still-sore chest and grinned.
"Well, someone gave me advice, and..."
Someone.
Me?
Probably me.
"I learned a bit of Crimson Star Divine Art's protective technique from Senior Ryu, just in case."
Haha. Smart move.
I superhumanly suppressed the urge to pat her head.
"Anyway, seems they're not just after me... The villagers could be in danger too."
Sayoon realized it too, her face darkening.
Why wouldn't I know what she was thinking right now?
Wait safely here for the others? Or help those in danger elsewhere in the village?
Ryuhyeon had ordered her to stay by my side.
To help her conflicted heart, I spoke.
"I'm going out to help who I can. Wanna come...?"
"If you'll allow it, Innkeeper Yu."
Her eyes shone.
Though the Crimson Star Sect's youngest, she showed no doubt about aiding a non-martial artist in righteous action.
Ahh.
This is the Sayoon we—we 50 Million Sayoon Fans—love.
Through trials and adversity.
Enduring unjust pain.
Never giving up till the end.
Then.
"Of course we go."
No reason not to allow it.