I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Martial Arts World’s Mastermind
Chapter 43
Chapter 43
The Youngest Disciple of the Murim’s Hidden Mastermind
Chapter 43
Perhaps if he looked at Soso again, things would change.
Ryang closed his eyes and summoned her image to his mind.
…Soso was a lovely and kind child.
The way her lips peaked when she laughed was beautiful, her fluttering long lashes were beautiful, and the way her eyes curved into crescents was beautiful…
“I’ve gone mad.”
Ryang muttered under his breath.
To think that a small room, a set of new clothes, and a few moments of solitude were enough to make him admit his own madness.
“…….”
How on earth could Soso laugh so easily, and give her affection so freely? How could she accept his heart—so absurd it was embarrassing—as if it were nothing at all?
The words Soso had babbled with her small lips while clutching his hand tightly continued to echo in Ryang’s head.
‘So you won’t be alone.’
…Did that mean she would stay by his side forever?
He wanted to be by her side so badly that he had even accepted her command to follow her into death if she died…
Even though he knew Soso hadn’t spoken with that much gravity, he couldn’t stop his ears from burning hot.
It was then.
“……?”
Clatter!
At the same moment Ryang snapped his head up, the door swung wide open without a hint of a presence.
Habitually reaching for his waist as he turned toward the door, Ryang realized with a start and looked down at his empty hip. He had no sword.
“Look at this? You would’ve drawn a blade if you had one?”
There was someone watching Ryang’s movements with deep disapproval.
“So, you’ve decided to cling to that girl in the end?”
It was a pale-faced boy who looked beyond prickly, bordering on eccentric. He appeared five or six years older than himself or Soso, but he was still a youth.
Ryang scanned his memory for the figure Great Hero Hyeonhak had described.
Is this man Gwangeum?
Ryang first offered a polite response.
“I apologize for trying to draw a weapon. It is a habit. …By ‘that girl,’ do you mean Master Soso?”
“An eight-year-old as a Master.”
Gwangeum snorted and tilted his head lazily, crossing his arms.
“Yeah. I’m Gwangeum, her Sahyeong. I’m also your Sasuk.”
“I greet my Sasuk.”
Ryang bowed his head respectfully.
After a moment of silence, Gwangeum muttered.
“They said you were a slave of the Demonic Cult, but I suppose you’ve learned some manners somewhere….”
“…….”
“Whatever. I’m just here to give you a warning.”
Gwangeum stood at a crooked angle.
“You saw Soso’s Iron Fan, right? I heard it even saved your life.”
“Yes, I saw it.”
The wondrous device Soso used. Soso’s lightness technique was certainly outstanding, but without that device in the first place, they wouldn’t have been able to lose the One-Legged Devil.
Gwangeum spoke in a haughty tone.
“That Iron Fan. I made it for her.”
“…….”
“I’m the one teaching her mechanisms and formations, too.”
So what was he supposed to do?
Should he praise him and say how amazing he was?
Given the other’s personality, he’d be lucky if it wasn’t taken as sarcasm.
Fortunately, the choice to remain silent seemed to be the right one, as Gwangeum continued to chatter on his own.
“That’s why Soso needs me. She relies on me a lot. You have no idea how much she follows me around.”
And then, Gwangeum spoke with a smirk.
“But what can you do?”
“…….”
Ryang’s brow twitched. It was true. He had said he would protect Soso, but…
Did he truly have the skill to protect her?
For the first time, Ryang focused intently on Gwangeum’s words.
Whether he realized it or not, Gwangeum glared and said, “What use are you to Soso? That’s what I’m asking. All you’re doing is adding a burden to a child who needs to focus on growing. Just stick around for a bit, find your own path, and then leave the mountain. Got it?”
Crossing his arms, Gwangeum even let out a sharp snort.
Ryang listened quietly to the lecture that poured out with deliberate sharpness before slowly opening his mouth.
“…As much as possible…”
“What?”
At Gwangeum’s follow-up question, Ryang raised his head sharply.
“As quickly as possible, I will become strong enough to protect my Master.”
‘…Ha, what did he say?’
In the space Gwangeum had vacated with a scoff and a rough stride, Danhwi and Hyeonhak soon arrived.
“I told that Gwangeum fellow we should greet him together.”
Ryang bowed as respectfully as he had to Gwangeum.
“I have heard that my Sasuk will be teaching me martial arts from now on.”
“…….”
Danhwi, who had been watching Ryang intently, nudged Hyeonhak in the ribs with his elbow.
“I like this kid. What do you think, Hyung?”
In truth, Hyeonhak had long since confirmed through his lengthy treatment that Ryang’s character was more than sufficient to be Soso’s disciple.
“There is no need for long greetings.”
Perhaps because of that, Hyeonhak spoke in a flat, businesslike voice.
“Do not forget that your Master is Saje Soyoung.”
“Yes, Sasuk.”
Ryang bowed his head once more.
“Hey, hey.”
Danhwi asked in a playful tone.
“What’s your goal? Like, how strong do you want to get?”
“…….”
Ryang blinked for a moment, then answered without much hesitation.
“I want to become the supreme master of the land.”
Only then would he be able to stay by Soso’s side without being restricted by power.
The strongest person Ryang knew was the Heavenly Demon.
Therefore, he would become strong enough to strike down even the Heavenly Demon, should he ever become his opponent.
“Ho.”
At Ryang’s spirited answer, Danhwi’s eyes sparkled.
“Good. Let’s see you try.”
Time flowed like water.
Even on Cheongsanbong, where the change of seasons was barely felt, the shift in temperature was now distinct.
The seasons weren’t the only things changing. A change had occurred in me as well.
At first, I was bewildered by the thought of the future Heavenly Demon—and one not much older than me at that—becoming my disciple.
But they say humans are creatures that adapt over time, don’t they?
“Ryang! If you’re not busy, help me with this.”
“Okay.”
Ryang ran over immediately and easily picked up the sandbags piled like a mountain in front of me, hoisting them onto his shoulders.
“Where should I move them?”
He was so reliable!
“Hehe. We have to take them up to Jinmyeonggak.”
When I pointed toward Jinmyeonggak at the top of the stairs with a grin, Ryang began to move with the sandbags without a single word of complaint.
Even Gwangeum’s annoying errands could be finished in no time with Ryang’s help.
“Up we go!”
And I followed behind Ryang, lifting the remaining sandbags with both hands.
It was then.
“…….”
Ryang came to a dead stop.
He turned to look at me and said, “Don’t carry those.”
“Eh?”
I might not be able to carry an armful like Ryang, but I was still a disciple of the Murim’s hidden mastermind, currently undergoing external power training.
I rolled up my sleeves and puffed out my chest.
“No, I should help too! I can’t make you do everything.”
“Make me do it all.”
“Huh?”
“The annoying and difficult things… you can just make me do all of them.”
My jaw dropped in surprise.
“No, I mean…”
Thud! Having finished speaking, Ryang snatched the sandbags from my hands and added another to his shoulder.
Then, whether I was speechless or not, he began climbing toward Jinmyeonggak.
Wow.
Is that really the Heavenly Demon I know?
Even if the Gu poison has been treated…
‘Why is he being so nice?’
I stared blankly at Ryang’s retreating back, then quickly caught up to him, asking anxiously.
It was because I was afraid I was working him too hard and might offend him.
“Isn’t it heavy? I can help… We can think of it as part of my external training.”
“Sigh.”
Ryang let out a short sigh, cutting me off.
“Sasuk Gwangeum.”
“Huh?”
“Aren’t these Sasuk Gwangeum’s things? Why are you moving them, Soso?”
Gasp.
“Ah… S-Saje, it’s only natural for a junior to run errands for a Sahyeong!”
I started waving my hands, making excuses for the mean Gwangeum.
I thought he wouldn’t know who ordered it, even if we were moving them to Jinmyeonggak!
It was my mistake.
These sandbags were filled with sand mixed with special iron powder that Gwangeum used when practicing mechanisms and formations; they were indeed Gwangeum’s property, just as Ryang said.
Gwangeum had been being petty and made me run an errand I usually didn’t do.
‘When did he become so well-acquainted with the affairs of Cheongsanbong?’
Perhaps thanks to the sharp wits he’d developed while living as a slave in the Demonic Cult, Ryang had adapted quickly to Cheongsanbong and begun handling various tasks with ease.
Contrary to my worries that his wounds might not have healed yet, he was lifting these heavy objects as if they were nothing…
‘Well, he’s the one who would have become the Heavenly Demon if left alone.’
It was only natural that his innate talent was exceptionally brilliant.
