Chapter 94
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Benefactor
One side of the training ground.
A sprawling rock beneath a tree that provided generous shade.
It definitely hadn't been there before.
This rock had appeared out of nowhere one day and was now Ha Mu-baek's exclusive seat.
At the moment, Ha Mu-baek lay sideways on it, propping his head on his arm like some reclining Buddha statue.
Yawns poured nonstop from his mouth.
Today's training session hadn't even lasted half a gak yet.
"Yaaawn."
His mouth cracked open wide with an exaggerated sound this time too.
Another yawn followed.
"Ow. Let's just call it quits today. It's an outing day anyway."
His voice dripped with laziness.
At Ha Mu-baek's words, the movements of the five Seventh Squad cadets came to an abrupt halt.
"Already?"
Dang Jin-san tilted his head as he asked.
"Eh, if you guys wanna keep going, do some self-study or whatever."
With that, Ha Mu-baek got up and sauntered off the training ground without a care.
The four cadets stared after him in disbelief.
But one person was different—Dan Mok Un-roe.
Unlike usual, a smile lit his face as he tidied up his spot.
"Huh? Un-roe, you heading out?"
Dang Jin-san asked, surprised. After all, Un-roe was the training addict who always stuck it out to the end.
"Yeah. I need to get home a bit early today."
Dan Mok Un-roe answered before hurrying off.
Dang Jin-san watched him go with a puzzled look.
"Guess I'll head out too."
Then Yeon Ha-min lightly stepped away.
Now only three remained on the training ground.
"What should we do?"
Dang Jin-san asked Nak Woo-jin and Baek Ri-pyeong.
"I've still got a lot to work on."
Recalling his recent spar with Dan Mok Un-roe, Baek Ri-pyeong swung his sword.
Nak Woo-jin did the same.
"Sigh. What's the point on an outing day? Nothing to do but train anyway."
Dang Jin-san let out a sigh and picked up his sword.
Outing day.
A day when, after finishing the morning routine, cadets could head out and spend the rest of it however they pleased.
Some even called it a rest day.
Dan Mok Un-roe had been counting down to this day.
Ever since the instructor had dropped that hint about Hyea last time, he'd been eagerly awaiting it.
Hadn't the instructor said he knew the cause and could treat her?
Plus, Hyea hadn't been in pain at night anymore lately.
His heart raced.
He hadn't been able to focus at all since arriving at the training ground, and now the instructor had ended practice early.
Dan Mok Un-roe moved quickly and soon exited the Dragon Training Pavilion.
As he hurried home, a familiar presence appeared beside him.
"Huh?"
He turned his head.
Yeon Ha-min, face veiled with a cloth mask, was walking alongside him.
"Gah!"
Caught completely off guard, Dan Mok Un-roe yelped in surprise.
"Quiet."
Yeon Ha-min's curt reply made him scramble to compose himself.
"Wh-where are you headed?"
Unable to make sense of her walking beside him, Dan Mok Un-roe asked cautiously.
"You got help from the instructor, right?"
Her response was a question of her own.
Dan Mok Un-roe nodded slightly.
"I'm curious about Un-hye too..."
It took him a moment to grasp the meaning behind her words.
His mind tangled in confusion.
For a brief instant.
"Huh? Un-hye? You mean... at our house?"
He blurted out his delayed realization without filter.
Yeon Ha-min slowly nodded and kept walking in silence.
Seeing that, Dan Mok Un-roe held his tongue.
The two simply headed side by side toward his home.
As they entered the slums, Dan Mok Un-roe tilted his head.
"What's up?"
Yeon Ha-min asked.
"That... one old gentleman isn't around."
His words reminded her of the beggar elder she'd seen on her previous visit.
She scanned the surroundings too.
"You're right."
But he was nowhere to be found.
"I wonder if Mother knows anything."
Dan Mok Un-roe muttered worriedly about the missing elder as he headed home.
The closer they got, the faster his steps became. Yeon Ha-min silently matched his pace.
"Mother! Hyea!"
The moment they arrived, Dan Mok Un-roe flung open the door in his haste and rushed inside.
"Brother!"
Dan Mok Un-hye's voice rang out from inside. It brimmed with vibrant energy anyone could hear.
She soon appeared and threw herself into Dan Mok Un-roe's arms.
Yeon Ha-min watched the scene with a faint smile.
"Ah! Pretty big sis!"
Spotting her, Dan Mok Un-hye wriggled free and dashed into Yeon Ha-min's embrace instead.
Dan Mok Un-roe stared in stunned amusement.
"You've really gotten so much better."
What did it matter anyway? Seeing his sister so healthy was all that counted.
"Un-roe, you're home. I didn't think you'd be back yet."
His mother emerged from the inner room.
"It's been a while."
Yeon Ha-min bowed politely.
"Ah, Un-roe's fellow cadet came too. It's humble, but please come in."
His mother smiled warmly.
With Un-hye's health improving, the shadows that had clouded her face had lifted too.
"Mother, what happened?"
Dan Mok Un-roe asked curiously.
What miracle had turned his frail, suffering sister so bright and lively?
"We met a benefactor. A great one."
His mother replied with a gentle smile.
"Was it the instructor...?"
Dan Mok Un-roe ventured carefully, recalling what Ha Mu-baek had said.
"Yes. I brought the benefactor here."
A familiar voice came from behind.
Dan Mok Un-roe and Yeon Ha-min naturally turned.
"Instructor..."
Ha Mu-baek stood there with the familiar old man.
"Elder Wei?"
Yeon Ha-min recognized him. The diligent worker who put his all into cleaning around the Seventh and Twentieth Squad training grounds.
He called himself Old Man Wei, but the cadets always respectfully addressed him as Elder.
"He's the benefactor."
His mother introduced Elder Wei as such.
Dan Mok Un-roe and Yeon Ha-min's eyes widened in shock.
It was the last thing they'd expected.
"I figured you'd rush home, but I didn't think you'd already be here."
Ha Mu-baek chuckled.
"Instructor, what is all this...?"
"He's my master."
A simple introduction.
But its implications were anything but.
The two stood there, utterly dumbfounded. What on earth was going on?
"Heh heh. Un-hye, let's head inside. Time for your treatment today."
"Yes, Grandpa."
She'd already grown close to Elder Wei.
"Wait here."
Ha Mu-baek and Elder Wei took Dan Mok Un-hye inside for her treatment.
A good while later.
Dan Mok Un-hye slept soundly, breathing softly.
"She's remarkable."
Elder Wei gazed down at her with a pleased smile.
"It's no small feat for such a young body to endure this."
Ha Mu-baek nodded in agreement.
"We could start using the medicinal herbs soon, I think."
"It's been about ten days since they left, so they should arrive any time now."
Ha Mu-baek said after mentally calculating the dates.
After tucking Dan Mok Un-hye in, the two exited the inner room.
Dan Mok Un-roe waited there, face full of burning questions.
Even after hearing the story from his mother, he still looked like that.
"Anything else you're wondering about?"
"Hyea will get better, right?"
He had to confirm it, even if he'd heard it several times already.
"Of course."
Ha Mu-baek answered curtly.
But Dan Mok Un-roe's gaze shifted to Elder Wei. He'd heard Wei was the one actually doing the treatments.
"No need to worry. She'll recover just fine."
Elder Wei's kind smile finally brought a beaming grin to Dan Mok Un-roe's face.
Yeon Ha-min watched it all with a soft smile of her own.
"Hm?"
Then Ha Mu-baek seemed to sense something.
"Looks like they've arrived."
Elder Wei noticed it too.
"They brought a little extra baggage, though. I'll step out for a bit."
"No need. I should head back anyway."
Elder Wei rose from his seat.
Dan Mok Un-roe and Yeon Ha-min felt like a storm had just swept through.
His mother watched the two with understanding eyes.
"It's nearly lunchtime. Why not stay and eat with us?"
Only then did Yeon Ha-min snap back to attention.
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
His mother nodded with a smile and headed to the kitchen.
Soon, delicious aromas filled the house.
Dan Mok Un-roe realized how much their home life had improved in just the past few days.
He hadn't rested a single moment since leaving Mount Heng.
The result was their current disheveled, dirt-caked state.
Byok Ryeok-gae went without saying, but Gongson Mu-oe and Gongson Bi-yeon were no different.
Even the horses laden with herbs were utterly exhausted.
Not long after the group entered Wuchang, they ran into Ha Mu-baek.
He'd clearly known they were coming and waited at the perfect spot along the road.
"You..."
Fatigue weighed heavy in Byok Ryeok-gae's voice, mingled with guilt toward Ha Mu-baek.
"You brought plenty of herbs."
Ha Mu-baek's gaze swept over the five horses' loads, then shifted to the two unexpected companions beside him.
"And some uninvited guests too."
If Gongson Wu-kyeong or the renowned elder of Senyu Valley had shown up, he might have exploded on sight.
But Gongson Mu-oe remained composed. Gongson Bi-yeon simply stayed quietly by his side.
"It's a long story."
Byok Ryeok-gae gave an awkward smile.
"Do I really need to know?"
Ha Mu-baek's tone was ice cold.
Byok Ryeok-gae's face stiffened. Embarrassment flickered across Gongson Mu-oe's features. Gongson Bi-yeon struggled to keep her expression neutral.
She never imagined her grandfather, the Valley Lord of Senyu Valley, would face such treatment.
"Still, I suppose I should hear it out. Considering the herbs you hauled back."
Ha Mu-baek's eyes returned to the massive quantities on the horses.
It was no small amount. An enormous haul, in fact.
Ha Mu-baek had seen the list himself, so he knew roughly how much was needed.
For what his master required, one horse would have sufficed.
But they'd brought this much, so their sincerity warranted at least hearing them out.
Byok Ryeok-gae's expression eased at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"This way."
Ha Mu-baek led the way.
Their destination was the rundown tavern Ha Mu-baek favored.
It was broad daylight, so the place was empty.
Actually, it was always deserted whenever he came.
A wonder it hadn't gone under yet.
The owner didn't bat an eye even at the beggar-like guests, serving up Ha Mu-baek's order of liquor and snacks before vanishing.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze turned to Gongson Mu-oe.
"I'm Gongson Mu-oe, Valley Lord of Senyu Valley."
Ha Mu-baek's eyes gleamed with interest.
He'd suspected someone from Senyu Valley, but not the Valley Lord himself.
"Gongson Bi-yeon."
Ha Mu-baek nodded slightly at her introduction. He'd guessed as much. He knew the rumors of the Five Flowers of the Martial World well enough.
Senyu Valley's Fresh Flower, Gongson Bi-yeon—he knew the name.
"Ha Mu-baek."
He stated his name curtly.
A simple introduction, but its impact was profound.
Byok Ryeok-gae hadn't breathed a word about the benefactor's identity the entire way here, so Gongson Mu-oe had arrived clueless.
"Hocheon Corps Leader..."
Gongson Mu-oe murmured softly.
"Just an instructor at the Dragon Training Pavilion these days. So, to what do I owe the visit?"
"Truth be told, I only just learned you're Ha Corps Leader."
With that, Gongson Mu-oe slowly unraveled the circumstances that had brought them here.