Chapter 172
172
After chasing Songmyeong away, Songhwa kept apologizing while looking at me.
“I apologize on his behalf, Young Miss. Our youngest martial brother is very young. He’s only fifteen… He doesn’t have any malicious intent. I will make sure to discipline him properly.”
“It’s really okay. You don’t have to worry about it.”
Considering what Dang Seho was doing at fifteen, this was cute.
Relieved that I was okay, Songhwa praised me.
“That aside, your martial prowess seems to have increased even more. I’ve never even touched Martial Uncle Jin-sung’s body. If you have the opportunity, I would be grateful if you could give me some guidance, Young Miss.”
“Oh, what are you talking about? I should be the one learning.”
I waved my hands hastily at the words of humility, but Songhwa shook his head.
“I’m serious. I was intoxicated with the name of Wudang’s Three Great Disciples and comforted myself that I was at a certain level, but after being beaten by you, Young Miss, I realized that I was a frog in a well.”
“…I beat you up?”
I only remember feeding him Poison Darts?
I was flustered and tried to recall the day I first met Songhwa, but I had no such memory. Seeing my dumbfounded expression, Songhwa smiled and pretended to swing his arm.
“When you took that big man away, you forcibly pulled me away, didn’t you? My arm was broken then.”
“Huh? B-Broken arm?”
I was shocked and let out a shrill voice.
This is driving me crazy. Poison Darts, injuries… I have no excuse even if I’m hated. I was so busy running away that I didn’t even realize I had hurt him.
As I was sweating profusely, Songhwa waved his hand as if to say it was nothing.
“Oh, that was a long time ago. It’s all healed, so don’t worry. Martial Artists get hurt all the time.”
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Taoist. Are you okay now?”
“Of course. I’m even grateful to you, Young Miss. It became an opportunity for me to focus on my training.”
I was momentarily speechless at the kind answer.
Is this the benevolence of a Taoist, or something? If someone broke my arm, I would try to shove Poison down their throat.
He was a person with such a great capacity that I was impressed.
“Taoist Songhwa. You are a true Taoist…”
“Ahaha, no. Rather, we are sorry for putting pressure on you, Young Miss, to the point where your actions became so rough. We belatedly realized it was a misunderstanding. So, please don’t worry about it.”
At the gentle words, I slowly nodded. Continuing to apologize to someone who said it was okay was not a good thing to do.
Songhwa smiled and pointed to the stairs, extending his hand.
“Let’s leave the boring stories here. Dang Sojeo, would you like to take a look around the outer garden? The Tang Clan may have a more wonderful back garden, but there is a good path for taking a walk.”
“Sure. But it seems like there aren’t many people in the outer garden today.”
“That’s because it’s winter. The mountains are dangerous in winter. The number of guests and Pilgrims also decreases. Ah, here is…”
Songhwa took me here and there, telling me various stories.
He told me old stories related to Wudang, and he also told me stories about Jin-sung when he was young.
His eloquence was so good that I felt like I was accompanied by a tour guide.
There was one problem…
The back of my head was tingling so much that it was hard to maintain my composure.
Wherever I went, the persistent gazes made it hard to breathe.
Why are they staring like that? Did I make a mistake?
Unable to withstand the excessive attention, I quietly stopped walking.
“Um, Taoist Songhwa. Can we go back to the Guest quarters? I want to rest now.”
“Oh, of course. You must be tired from the journey. I was being thoughtless. Should I tell you the shortcut to the Guest quarters? If you go down these small stairs…”
“Hey, wait a minute! Songhwa, come here.”
Just as Songhwa, who had been rubbing his hands together, was about to guide me to the Guest quarters, an old Taoist suddenly appeared and called out to Songhwa.
He took something wrapped in bamboo leaves from his bosom, handed it to Songhwa, and whispered.
“Tell Dang Sojeo to eat this.”
“Yes? Yes. I understand.”
“Ahem. Ahem!”
The old Taoist cleared his throat and disappeared without giving me a chance to greet him.
…What was that?
I blinked in bewilderment, and Songhwa, who had unwrapped the bamboo leaves, smiled and showed me what was in his hand.
It was Tanghulu.
“This is Jin-hyun Martial Granduncle, Martial Uncle Jin-sung’s martial brother. It seems he is concerned because it’s the first time Martial Uncle has brought a guest.”
At Songhwa’s words mixed with laughter, I realized why people were watching me.
The Taoists weren’t wary of me, but curious about who the guest Jin-sung had brought was.
That’s a relief. I guess I didn’t make a mistake.
As my relieved expression relaxed, Songhwa asked softly.
“Would you like to eat it now?”
“Yes. Please tell him thank you. I will enjoy it.”
I received the Tanghulu from Songhwa and put it in my mouth, looking in the direction where I felt the old Taoist’s presence.
The ripe hawthorn fruit was so sweet that it made my tongue tingle. The sweetness made me laugh. It was obvious that he had carefully selected each fruit to put on the skewer.
This kindness is not directed at me. It’s directed at Jin-sung.
Jinseong disciple, you must be loved. If I brought a guest to the Tang Clan, there would be nothing.
I felt a little inferior comparing his situation to mine, but I quickly felt better when I thought of Grandfather.
I also have a Grandfather who feeds me Elixirs and even makes me a Taoist, so what.
I straightened my shoulders proudly and munched on the Tanghulu, when I saw Jin-sung returning from afar.
He had neatly tied up his hair and was wearing a neat Taoist robe. The left cheek where the flesh had been torn was covered with a thick Salve.
“Taoist, is your wound okay?”
“Martial Uncle, you’ve arrived?”
“Yes. It’s okay. But where did you get the Tanghulu…”
Jin-sung looked puzzled when he saw the Tanghulu in my hand.
“Martial Granduncle Jin-hyun brought it.”
As Songhwa answered playfully, Jin-sung’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. I also chuckled and added.
“Taoist. You’re being loved.”
“Yes?”
Jin-sung asked back in confusion, but I didn’t feel like explaining it to him.
I shrugged my shoulders and popped the remaining hawthorn fruit into my mouth.
He doesn’t look like it, but he grew up too preciously. He grew up so preciously that he doesn’t even know he’s loved.
Songhwa, who understood what I meant, also suppressed his laughter and rubbed his nose. When Jin-sung’s eyes sharpened, Songhwa quickly changed the subject.
“Dang Sojeo said she was tired and was about to return to the Guest quarters. Will Martial Uncle accompany us?”
“Yes. I will.”
“Then I’ll be on my way. Ah, Dang Sojeo. If you go to the right side of the Guest quarters, there is Madam Ma who helps with the work in the outer garden. If there is anything difficult for you to say to us, you can tell Madam Ma. It will be uncomfortable because it’s a place full of only men. I asked her earlier, so she probably has prepared bathwater and clothes for you to change into.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“Give me the skewer. I’ll take care of it.”
I couldn’t help but smile at Songhwa’s thoughtful consideration.
Perhaps because he started his training late, he had a delicate side unlike the other Taoists.
“Dang Sojeo. This way.”
“Yes. Taoist Songhwa, see you again.”
I bowed my head to Songhwa and followed Jin-sung.
\ \ *
It was Shinshi when I barely persuaded Madam Ma, who was even willing to help me bathe, to leave and came out after changing into fluffy clothes.
It was a little early to eat dinner, so I was wondering if I should have some tea, when a rough hand pulled me and threw a towel over my hair.
“Oh my! Young Miss! You have to dry your hair well before going around like that! You’ll catch a cold!”
“Ack! M-Madam!”
“Stay still! You can’t go out like this!”
Who is this old woman? I didn’t even sense her presence. When did she come? Is she a master? There was no such mention.
My breathing quickened at the thought of having exposed my back defenselessly.
As I was wary and tried to shake him off, Madam Ma slapped my back.
“As expected of a Martial Artist, you really hate people coming from behind! Relax!”
“Agh! It hurts, Madam!”
“It hurts because you’re tensing up.”
As I screamed, tears welling up in my eyes from the stinging pain, Madam Ma chuckled and began to comb through my hair.
As I rolled my eyes and received the combing, I anxiously bit my lip.
Madam Ma was drying my wet hair with Inner Energy.
She is someone who has mastered Martial Arts Technique. Moreover, she is a master with overflowing Internal Qi, whose martial prowess is difficult for me to even estimate.
If Madam Ma were to grab my neck as it is, would I be able to escape?
Even though I knew it was impossible, ominous thoughts kept popping up.
When I couldn’t relax at all, Madam Ma clicked her tongue as if she felt sorry for me.
“Young Miss. This is Wudang Mountain. Would I kill you in front of the Primordial Lord of Heaven? How much hardship has a young one like you seen to be so wary? Tsk tsk. It will be over soon.”
He patted my shoulder as if to reassure me, and quickly combed my hair up.
“This old woman only scared you while trying to help. Would you like to see a mirror? It’s very pretty.”
“Ah… Thank you.”
I bowed my head and looked at the mirror that Madam Ma held out. Perhaps because I hadn’t cared about my appearance for a long time, there was something unfamiliar about my appearance in the mirror.
I was always just putting up my hair with a hairpin, so the hair that someone had deliberately styled for me felt awkward.
As I hesitantly touched my hair, Madam Ma smiled kindly and put down the mirror.
“Go out now. Young Taoist Master has been waiting since earlier.”
Then, he pushed my back and threw me out of the Guest quarters before slamming the door shut.
I was thrown out into the Guest quarters courtyard as if I had been chased out, and I gave Jin-sung, who was standing blankly, an awkward smile.
