Plum Blossom Fragrance Filling the Air (2)
The story continued calmly. As I listened, there were parts I didn't know and parts I did. From the moment the Daoist grandpa started talking, I just kept listening.
"And so it became like this…… and then like that……."
The Daoist grandpa kept thumping his chest midway through, as if it felt stuffy.
"Lately, my chest has been getting clogged up like this way too often for no reason."
I didn't miss those words.
The tale wrapped up around the time dawn's dim light settled in.
"I've gone and blabbered on way too much by myself……."
Jaming glanced sideways with an apologetic look. He was staring back with utter disbelief.
Because Namgung Daeso had flopped down spread-eagled and was fast asleep.
"Hoho, this kid. If you're sleepy, just say so."
Jaming shook Namgung Daeso awake.
"Mmm, just one gak more…… no, two gaks……."
"Hoho."
Jaming finally managed to rouse him only after the morning sun had risen, thanks to the ever-increasing "one gak, two gaks."
"Daoist Grandpa, no way you stayed up all night because of me? You should've woken me up!"
Woke you up, you punk! I didn't count exactly, but it was over twenty times, easy.
How does a young guy sleep so much? Back in my day…… whoops, there I go again, about to ramble.
Jaming just gave a gentle smile.
"Talking freely with an old friend after so long must've made the story drag on without me noticing."
That much was true. His stuffy chest felt a bit clearer now, too.
"Daeso."
Jaming finally voiced the words he'd held back.
"Take care of Yuhan for me."
I made a troubled face.
Hey, Daoist Grandpa? That Sword Ghost?
You should worry about the right things.
But I knew what he really meant.
"Yeah, don't worry."
I answered with all sincerity.
"Thank you."
* * *
After parting with the Daoist grandpa, I headed straight to the medical hall instead of Cheonryongjeon.
"But you know."
My body felt strangely light. I'd noticed it before—after chatting with the Daoist grandpa, I always felt refreshed.
Does he really have some Daoist power?
Today was especially long, so I felt even more…… well, no, I did fall asleep midway, but I caught all the important stuff.
His side stories just dragged on forever, that's all.
-Our Yuhan has this one dimple only when he smiles, and it's so damn cute…… blah blah blah……
He went on like that for over an hour straight—how was I supposed to stay awake?
The medical hall came into view in the distance.
"So that collapse back then really was due to illness."
The Daoist grandpa had collapsed a bit after Sawangjeon ended, but yesterday, he looked like he could drop any second.
"See, I told you to cut back on the booze."
As I walked, I spotted Yi Han Grandpa up ahead. He noticed me and called out in surprise.
"What brings you here so early in the morning?"
I got straight to the point.
"I've got a favor to ask."
Yi Han Grandpa narrowed his eyes and clutched his chest.
Eh? No way him too?
"No way, you punk! How'd you know I just finished a fresh batch of hwandan? You bandit!"
Hey…… bandit? Last time I paid for it, fair and square. Half price, sure.
But I had to sweet-talk Ilhyang sis for the first time in ages as payback.
"Last time with that weird gift box? You haggled the hwandan price down with that nonsense! Worse than a bandit! No way!!"
He's got some deep misunderstanding. I paid, okay? Fair and square.
And it wasn't even something Yi Han Grandpa made. Anyway, not here for hwandan this time.
"It's not about hwandan. I want you to examine someone personally."
His expression shifted right then.
"Someone in bad shape?"
"Probably?"
I didn't know exactly where or how it hurt, but it seemed like that illness wouldn't leave much time.
Yi Han Grandpa grabbed my wrist for a pulse check.
"Hm? How can you be this healthy?"
He seemed to have misunderstood.
I clarified.
"It's not me. It's Jaming."
"Jaming? You mean Hwasan's sect leader?"
"Yes!"
* * *
As soon as Jaming entered his room, several Hwasan elders were waiting.
The grand elder Haemu bellowed at the sight of him.
"Sect leader! Where the hell have you been wandering at a time like this? Tsk tsk."
Hardly how you'd address a sect leader.
The other elders beside Haemu shot Jaming dissatisfied glares without restraint.
Jaming, used to such treatment, replied mildly.
"I lost track of time catching up with an old friend. But why are you all gathered in my room?"
"We're here for a firm answer. We can't wait any longer."
They'd decided that if Yuhan didn't score results worthy of public recognition in this Sawangjeon, he'd be stripped of his successor position. And Haemu's disciple Yujin would take it.
Hostile glares bored into him.
Jaming answered softly.
"Yes. I know."
If Yuhan lost his successor role, Jaming planned to walk away from his own position too.
"Please make a wise decision. We don't want to do this to you."
"Hoho, I know. I appreciate how much you care for Hwasan. Thank you for indulging my stubbornness."
Realistically, Yuhan should've been ousted much earlier. Everyone in Hwasan agreed on that.
After becoming sect leader, Jaming had followed the elders' council decisions on nearly everything.
Except one thing he stubbornly clung to: Yuhan.
"We've got our answer. We'll take our leave."
Led by grand elder Haemu, the elders filed out.
Jaming's earlier composure vanished; he staggered weakly to a chair and slumped down, clutching his chest and breaking into cold sweat.
"Ugh!"
Another seizure hit.
He'd hidden the worst from Namgung Daeso, but these attacks lasted at least half a gak once they started, with pain too excruciating to bear.
Can't let them find out yet.
If the elders learned of his condition, they'd immediately replace him as sect leader.
Then he couldn't protect Yuhan.
Jaming struggled up from the chair to lock the door, staggering forward.
His vision blurred. Breath came short, chest pain intensified. His stomach churned; he couldn't tell if he was walking or crawling.
Still, he made it to the door with everything he had.
Just lock this door…….
The moment his hand touched the lock.
Clack.
Oh no! Not now!
The door opened.
Jaming yanked back the hand clutching his chest and looked up.
But the agony blinded him.
He forced composure into his voice.
"Grand Elder, what brings you back?"
He assumed it was Haemu returning.
"I thought it was a silly request, but looks like I came at the right time."
Not the grand elder's voice.
And this was Hwasan's quarters—no outsiders allowed.
Yet this voice belonged to no one from Hwasan.
"Who are you? This is Hwasan's pavilion!"
Jaming mustered all his remaining dignity.
Especially if it wasn't Hwasan—he couldn't be caught like this.
"It's fine. Ah, right. First things first."
The calm voice didn't wait for permission. He stepped in, locked the door.
Click.
At the sound, Jaming collapsed.
Yi Han caught him hurriedly.
"Tsk tsk, how could you hide it this long?!"
Yi Han looked furious. A quick scan showed Jaming's state far worse than it appeared.
He couldn't forgive Hwasan for letting it get this bad.
Right then, he vowed: from now on, if those Hwasan bastards came for treatment, he'd make 'em hurt twice as much!
Yi Han began examining Jaming.
-Please take good care of him. And you have to save him! I trust only you, Grandpa Yi Han!
"Kid, there's no one in this world I can't save."
* * *
Back at Cheonryongjeon, I sank into meditation.
The Daegalbak uncles watched me curiously, like I was some rare sight.
"No sparring?"
"Mains only two days away?"
Other late disciples who'd made mains were surely grinding final checks on their arts right now.
Namgung estate echoed with shouts everywhere.
Around the pavilions, distant disciples stood guard to keep main bracket contenders' info from leaking.
The only quiet spot among them? Cheonryongjeon.
I'd even skipped lodging last night.
I opened my eyes and asked the Daegalbak uncles.
"If it's a match you have to win but shouldn't—how do you handle it?"
"What kinda dog-eat-grass nonsense is that?"
Daegalbak No. 42 Uncle said, chomping not grass but a freshly boiled corn cob.
That explained the savory smell earlier…….
I snatched the last one quick.
"Just win. You been agonizing over that this whole time?"
"Tsk tsk, Young Master still doesn't get it? Smashing heads without a thought is the easiest way in the world."
I know. I wanna just smash heads too.
"Man, nothing beats what Sinyejang sis cooks."
"Haha! You too, huh."
Go hang at your own sects—why loiter here picking at peanuts?
Useless Daegalbak uncles.
"Where're the maid sisters?"
I figured the brainier maid sisters might help, but I got fresh news instead.
"They scored some new toy and are having a blast with it."
Toy? Aren't they past playing with those?
"Ah~~ I saw it too. Hits back every time you smack it—super bouncy, total fun. I bashed its head ten times yesterday."
Head-smacking toy? Modern toys get livelier the more you hit 'em? World sure changed.
"Who's got it today?"
"Samhyang said she'd take it around and teach it stuff."
Toys learn too?
"New pet or something?"
"Kinda like that."
No clue. Point is, maids were busy.
I sank back into my thoughts.
I need to win Sawangjeon. Big goal.
Yuhan needs good results too. Small goal.
But we drew each other in the 64-strong opener—not even round of 16.
If I win, Yuhan drops. Back to square one—he gets booted from Hwasan.
Hope Grandpa Yi Han's doing okay. He will be.
I fretted briefly over Daoist Grandpa, then quizzed the Daegalbak uncles again.
"Say someone’s about to get kicked from their sect—what do they do to stay?"
"That guy's lacking skills?"
Sword Ghost? That Sword Dragon?
"Overflowing."
"Then what's the problem?"
"Nobody knows about those skills."
Not even I knew Yuhan's current level well.
He earned "Sword Ghost" years after Sawangjeon ended.
"Simple then. Show 'em off."
"What if it's a flop?"
"Then he's mackerel bait."
Daegalbak uncles nailed it.
Prove the power, and scores won't matter.
I grinned at the uncles.
"You guys good at gambling?"
And so the main bracket day approached.