I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Martial Arts World’s Mastermind
Chapter 27
Chapter 27
The Youngest Disciple of the Murim’s Hidden Mastermind
Chapter 27
To get Ryang out of the Demonic Cult, I first have to get rid of the Gu poison. Is that even possible?
I raised my hand high and asked Sa Mok-seon.
“By the way, do you know how to treat the Demonic Cult’s Gu poison?”
“I do not, but surely one among your senior brothers would know.”
…Hyeonhak! He flashed through my mind. If it’s the eldest senior brother Hyeonhak, who is brilliant at medicine, he might know.
“Then……”
Would it be possible to bring a slave of the Demonic Cult to Cheongsanbong for treatment?
It was the moment I opened my mouth to ask the most important question.
Rumble.
The sound of the cave opening echoed from behind.
“Eing. I’m not finished yet……”
Is Danhwi back? The conversation isn’t over yet…….
Just as I was about to grumble and send Danhwi back out.
“Oh.”
Sa Mok-seon let out a small exclamation of admiration.
Then, he offered a casual greeting.
“I didn’t expect you to come all the way here.”
“……?”
What does he mean? Is it not Danhwi?
I turned around in a daze, only to see a truly unexpected figure walking toward me from behind.
“Master?!”
Shhh, the snakes that had been surrounding me all returned to Sa Mok-seon’s side.
Regardless, I was simply overjoyed to see Master outside the house.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to see an old friend after a long time.”
As I jumped up from my seat, Cheong-ui Sanin, his blue robes fluttering, opened his empty hand—the one not holding a fan—to welcome me.
“Did you finish your first errand well? Did Danhwi help you properly?”
“Yes! I did great!”
I quickly replied in a spirited voice.
Wait? Did Danhwi not tell him?
“Where is Danhwi-sahyeong?”
He should have been outside? As I tilted my head, Master smiled elegantly and spoke.
“I couldn’t tell if Danhwi came here to slack off or not.”
“Aha.”
Typical.
Master, who had been slowly stroking my head, eventually turned his gaze toward Sa Mok-seon.
“I heard Sa Mok-seon offered to read our Soso’s fortune?”
“I did. But you… you said you came to see a friend, yet you’re ignoring me?”
Now that he mentions it?
Master completely ignored Sa Mok-seon’s words and spoke.
“What is there to read in the fate of a child who hasn’t even reached the age of fifteen?”
At Master’s low voice, Sa Mok-seon spread his fan wide to cover his mouth with a wronged expression.
“There is something to read even in a child within the womb. I was merely happy and charmed to meet your youngest disciple, so I offered a greeting and some words of blessing.”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
…Huh? The atmosphere feels a bit off.
“…….”
Without realizing it, I huddled close to Master’s side.
Sa Mok-seon had told me many things that helped me grasp my situation and form a plan, but in the end, the person who would protect me was Master.
If the two fight, I have to take Master’s side.
“Hoo.”
Perhaps sensing me clinging to Master, Sa Mok-seon sighed and spoke.
“Didn’t you already know your youngest disciple would come to see me?”
“I expected it. Isn’t that why I came to fetch her?”
“I expected that you would expect it.”
“That, too, was expected.”
Wait, what? What is this childish conversation?
The heavy tension gradually drained from their exchange, replaced by a hint of laughter.
“Your foresight is truly becoming more formidable by the day.”
“You flatter me.”
…They are close!
The two shared trivial banter like friends who hadn’t met in a long time.
“Anyway, why is this snake pit so damp? Live with some ventilation, will you?”
“That’s only because you live in a place with such good air and water. It’s livable here too.”
“If you want to come up, then come. If you tell Danhwi to carry you, he will.”
“If I go, what happens to my cute snakes? Has this fellow gone senile after living in nothing but blue robes?”
I got nervous for nothing.
“…….”
As I stood awkwardly between the two, Master gave me a gentle gesture.
“Go wait outside for a moment.”
“Yes, sir!”
I suppose nothing will happen.
Taking one last look at the beaming Sa Mok-seon, I quickly formed a fist-and-palm salute and bowed my head.
“Thank you for the kind words!”
“Right. I shall see you again next time.”
Having heard Sa Mok-seon’s reply, I hurried out of the cave.
Behind me, I could hear Master’s voice scolding Sa Mok-seon, asking what he meant by seeing me again.
To be honest, Sa Mok-seon was a little scary, but thanks to Master, I felt reassured…….
“Ah!”
And outside the cave, Danhwi was perched on a sharp rock, chewing on a grass whistle.
I hurried to stand before him.
“……? What. You’re out already? Are you okay?”
Danhwi looked up, bewildered. I was bewildered as well.
Is there any reason I wouldn’t be okay?
I placed both hands on my hips and answered confidently.
“Yes!”
Then, Danhwi asked in a trembling voice.
“What about… Master?”
“He said he’s going to talk more with his friend!”
“Really? …But Soso, why are you acting so smug?”
As he scanned me up and down with a suspicious look, I gave a wide grin and said:
“Master asked if Danhwi-sahyeong was slacking off.”
“……? And?”
“I didn’t tell him that Danhwi-sahyeong said he was going for a drink and went to see Sa Mok-seon-nim instead.”
“…Ah… Haah.”
Danhwi let out a pained groan and wiped his face down with both hands.
Then he said in a weary voice.
“…Right. Thanks….”
“Don’t mention it!”
When I replied while puffing out my chest, Danhwi stared at me blankly for a moment.
Then, he suddenly struck the rock with his fist and muttered.
“Why on earth was I the one who got scolded then….”
“……?”
I backed away from him awkwardly.
What? What’s wrong with him?
After Soso had completely exited the cave.
“…….”
The smile vanished from Cheong-ui Sanin’s face, which had been wearing an elegant expression. It was as if the sun hanging over his face had slowly set, casting a shadow.
Sa Mok-seon asked leisurely.
“Didn’t you scold Danhwi too much? What did he even do?”
“He thought to leave you and Soso alone together, so he deserves to be scolded.”
“Would I ever do anything bad to your youngest disciple?”
Sa Mok-seon grimaced.
“Besides, you are at fault too. There is that much internal energy in the child’s body, yet you tried to brush it off with a lie, saying even you didn’t know. I even told her that it was the internal energy the Demonic Cult had worked so hard to gather.”
“Speaking of things that haven’t even happened yet.”
Cheong-ui Sanin clicked his tongue.
“…….”
When he showed no further reaction, Sa Mok-seon added slowly.
“The child seems exceptionally brilliant, so there is a possibility she will gradually realize what wasn’t said on her own, but……”
“I never intended to hide everything from the start.”
“It seems she encountered a tiger cub of the Demonic Cult today. She also seemed to realize that you arranged that meeting. Was that also your intention?”
“I only let them meet because I owed that boy a debt. …However.”
Cheong-ui Sanin took a large step toward Sa Mok-seon and asked.
“You didn’t put any strange ideas in the child’s head, did you?”
“What would I do?”
Sa Mok-seon smoothly avoided Cheong-ui Sanin’s gaze, fluttering his fan.
“Actually, Sa Mok-seon, even if you did influence Soso, I don’t think you would have said anything malicious.”
“Of course. Knowing exactly what lengths you went to in order to save that child, why would I interfere?”
“Indeed……”
You know. Exactly what I did.
Muttering as if mocking himself, Cheong-ui Sanin narrowed his eyes as he watched the snakes avoid him and cling to Sa Mok-seon’s side.
“I trust you. However……”
“However?”
“I do not trust human greed. That is the problem.”
Sa Mok-seon’s fan stopped for a moment.
Cheong-ui Sanin whispered in a soft voice.
“Do not covet Soso. I heard you mentioning a price during your second meeting.”
Sa Mok-seon tilted his head innocently.
“You truly know everything. But if that child seeks me out on her own feet, I have no way to send her back—”
“You will find a way.”
Cheong-ui Sanin slowly lowered his head to gaze into the blind eyes of his snake-like friend.
“Because if that happens, it won’t end with just your eyes going blind. So, make sure you find a way.”
“…Ufufu. How terrifying.”
The tips of Sa Mok-seon’s fingers trembled slightly as he gently covered the lower half of his face with his fan.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
Toward the back of Cheong-ui Sanin, whose blue robes were fluttering away, Sa Mok-seon spoke in a voice that couldn’t entirely hide its resentment.
“…I wonder if your youngest disciple knows what a cruel and heartless person you are……”
Stopping his steps for a moment, Cheong-ui Sanin glanced back and replied briefly.
“The child will never have a reason to know.”
