Chapter 173
Chapter 173
Jin-sung, who had been quietly looking into my eyes, opened his mouth.
“It suits you well.”
“Pardon?”
“White robes suit you well.”
I experienced a moment of cognitive dissonance at the embarrassing compliment delivered in a tone as if he was saying the sky was clear today.
Come to think of it, this Taoist is giving compliments without hesitation... I need to watch my words. I might misunderstand if I hear it wrong.
I flinched and tried to act nonchalant as I replied.
“Madam Ma took my Green Robe to wash it. I borrowed this temporarily. Anyway, why were you waiting here? I thought you would come at supper time.”
“Dang Sojeo’s ferret followed me and wouldn’t go back, so I brought it back. But… it received quite a lot of snacks.”
Jin-sung said as he carefully lifted Ju-ryeong. Ju-ryeong, who was dangling in his palm, let out a small burp.
The little guy had a pouch full of jerky pieces around his neck.
Good grief. I wondered where he went; he’s quite resourceful.
I swallowed a hollow laugh and took Ju-ryeong.
“I don’t know if this rascal has been poking around in strange places. Thank you for taking care of him, Jinseong disciple.”
“I was watching him, but it would be good to check in case the junior disciples fed him something strange.”
“Even though he looks like this, he’s a magical creature, so he’ll be fine. By the way, would you like some tea? Taoist Song-hwa gave me a lot of refreshments earlier. It’s too much for me to eat alone.”
Jin-sung readily replied to my invitation.
“Yes.”
Then, as if she had been waiting, Madam Ma burst open the door and shouted.
“I’ve put the water on for tea!”
“Thank you, Shinmo-nim.”
“Aigoo, I told you not to call me Shinmo-nim. You shouldn’t keep the Young Miss outside for long in this weather. Warm up with a cup of hot tea.”
Madam Ma, scolding Jin-sung, gestured for me to come in quickly.
When I hesitated, she even scolded me.
“Hurry up and come in!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
For a moment, I had the illusion of seeing a tiger behind Madam Ma.
I hurriedly entered the guest quarters, and Madam Ma, after seating me at the table, transferred refreshments to a small plate and placed it in front of me.
Jin-sung, who followed me in, also sat across from me and brought the tea set in front of him.
Reaching for the tea container, he looked at the tray piled high with refreshments with a serious face and asked me.
“Dang Sojeo. Who did you say brought these refreshments?”
“Taoist Song-hwa.”
“…I understand.”
Answering, he sighed and put tea leaves into the purple clay teapot.
At that moment, Ju-ryeong, who had been quietly nestled in my arms, tapped me with his front paw.
“Kyu.”
“What? Do you want refreshments too?”
“Kyoo.”
Ju-ryeong replied, looking up at me and stretching out his front paw.
“You got plenty to eat and now you’re asking for more? You’ll become a pig if you keep doing that.”
I handed him a piece of rice cake and put a piece of rice cake in my mouth, watching Jin-sung brew tea.
I was impressed by his delicate movements, which were different from his appearance.
His fingers are so thick, yet not a single tea leaf crumbles.
He skillfully adjusted the temperature of the tea water and poured it into the purple clay teapot. Droplets formed on the closed teapot, and a subtle fragrance rose.
Jin-sung poured tea water with a beautiful color into a cup and placed the teacup in front of me.
“Here you are, Sojeo.”
“Thank you, Jinseong disciple. Ah, Madam Ma, would you like to join us… When did she leave?”
Madam Ma was nowhere to be seen, having slipped out of the guest quarters unnoticed. I felt goosebumps at the fact that I had missed her presence twice.
Looking around, I lowered my voice and asked.
“Um, Jinseong disciple. Who is Madam Ma? She doesn’t seem like an ordinary person.”
“Shinmo-nim is… Ah, we call her Shinmo-nim among ourselves. She is the mother of Hyunja Bae Sajil.”
“The mother of the Second Great Disciple?”
“That’s right. Officially, she is in charge of the outer courtyard, but usually, she takes care of the Three Great Disciples. She tends to the disciples who have just entered the mountain and are having difficulty adjusting.”
A gentle smile appeared on Jin-sung’s lips as he calmly explained. It seemed he had also received Madam Ma’s care.
I sipped my tea and stared at Jin-sung.
It’s the first time I’ve seen him smile like that. He would look less stiff if he smiled more often.
“She’s like a mother to you.”
“Yes. We owe her a great debt.”
Affirming, Jin-sung held his teacup and asked me.
“Are you experiencing any discomfort?”
“Come on, Jinseong disciple. I haven’t even been here for a day. What could be uncomfortable?”
“Perhaps someone has been rude to you…”
“Not at all. Everyone is very kind to me.”
Too kind, that’s the problem.
I glanced at the pile of refreshments on one side and slowly put down my teacup.
I was grateful for Song-hwa’s kindness in bringing refreshments of all kinds, not knowing what I would like.
I was also grateful for Jin-hyun, who hovered around to give me a Tanghulu, and for Madam Ma’s efforts in preparing bathwater with orchid essence.
But while I was grateful for their kindness, I also felt uncomfortable. I even felt self-loathing for constantly calculating what they wanted from me.
I felt strange when I realized that it had become difficult to bring new people into my circle.
It felt like I was unknowingly putting up my guard because I was alone without Yeon-ryang…
Seeing my complexion darken, Jin-sung carefully asked.
“Are you really alright?”
“Yes. Everyone is really nice to me. But that’s a bit… unfamiliar.”
Jin-sung, who had been moving his lips, silently refilled my teacup. Steam rose from the yellow tea water.
Feeling awkward for making the atmosphere strange, I subtly changed the subject.
“Um, Jinseong disciple. When can I see my brother?”
“I will inform you immediately when I receive a message from my teacher. I cannot be certain, but you should keep at least three months in mind. Correcting the reversed flow of Inner Energy is not an easy task.”
“It will take three months. Yes. I understand.”
I won’t be able to see his face during that time? I’m worried…
It would be better than stirring things up and getting caught, but I felt restless because I had never been separated from Yeon-ryang for so long.
Jin-sung, noticing my mood, offered clumsy comfort.
“It will be alright.”
“Of course. Who is his master, after all?”
I chuckled and put a refreshment in my mouth, and Jin-sung also brought his hand to his teacup. I tapped the plate containing the refreshments.
“Jinseong disciple, please have some too. There’s too much for me to eat alone.”
“Yes.”
“What do you like? You don’t eat meat, but you eat fruit, right? Would you like some dried plum?”
I pushed the sugar-coated plums towards Jin-sung, and Jin-sung, after hesitating, put one in his mouth.
He chewed on the plum for a long time, as if savoring the sweetness, then swallowed it with tea and looked at me with serious eyes.
“Um, Dang Sojeo. If it’s not too much to ask, may I ask you for a favor?”
“A favor?”
“Yes. If Sojeo is willing, I would like you to be a sparring partner for our Three Great Disciples.”
“…Pardon? Me?”
I pointed at myself with my finger, wondering if I had misheard, but Jin-sung simply nodded with a calm face.
Why me?
As I widened my eyes at the unexpected request, Jin-sung explained the situation.
“The Three Great Disciples requested it first. It is difficult for them to go outside the sect without the permission of the sect leader, so it is not easy for them to meet Martial Artists of their age from the outside. If it is uncomfortable, please refuse. I will convey it well.”
“Uh… I have nothing to lose. But is it alright to keep an outsider with them for a long time? Wudang’s techniques will be exposed.”
“The Three Great Disciples have nothing that can be called techniques.”
I burst out laughing at Jin-sung’s resolute words.
“Ahaha, alright. But I have a condition.”
“I will listen.”
“Jinseong disciple must also be my sparring partner every day. You must at least match this level.”
Tilting my head with my arms crossed, Jin-sung, who had been blinking, slowly replied.
“…If Sojeo wishes.”
“You can’t change your mind later, okay? You said you would spar with me every day?”
“Of course.”
Getting a definite answer, my eyes curved with joy.
Hehehe, just you wait. I will definitely figure out your weaknesses.
38. Wudang’s Three Great Disciples
The next day at dawn, the Three Great Disciples that Jin-sung brought numbered five in total.
There was Song-hwa, whom I had seen on the first day, Song-myeong, who was said to be the youngest, a Taoist who was called the Eldest Disciple, and two unnamed junior disciples. Unlike Song-hwa, who had expectant eyes, the other four had faces that showed they had been dragged out against their will. They also seemed frightened.
…Did the Three Great Disciples really ask for this?
Seeing the Taoists who seemed to lack motivation, I asked worriedly.
“Um, Jinseong disciple… Shouldn’t they warm up first? It’s cold too… Someone might get hurt if we spar now.”
“That’s right, Sasukjo. My back still aches from being hit, oof!”
“It seems the Eldest Disciple is not fully awake. Please don’t mind him, Sasukjo.”
Song-hwa, who had blocked the mouth of the Taoist who had been agreeing with me, chuckled.
Jin-sung, who had been quiet as if lost in thought, nodded, thinking that what I said made sense.
“Then, would you wait for only half an hour? I will personally loosen them up and come back.”
“No, Sasukjo! We can do it!”
“We’re already warmed up!”
The Three Great Disciples, shouting that they could do it, looked like soldiers with tight discipline.
Confused, I looked back and forth between Jin-sung and the Three Great Disciples and swallowed hard.
What is this? Is Jinseong disciple strict with his subordinates?
Song-hwa, reading my subtle expression, quickly stepped forward.
“Now, now, we shouldn’t keep our precious guest standing for long. Dang Sojeo, may I ask you first?”
“Of course.”
“It seems like someone might get hurt if we use weapons, so how about unarmed combat?”
“I’m fine with real swords.”
“No. I’m saying that because I might get hurt, not Sojeo.”
Song-hwa, who had spoken firmly, strode onto the training ground and respectfully clasped his hands towards me.
“Song-hwa, a Three Great Disciple of Wudang, asks Dokjop for guidance.”
I felt goosebumps all over my body at the unfamiliar title.
“Ugh. Just my name is enough, Jinseong disciple.”
Song-hwa did not lose his smile even at my aversion.
“Then, I look forward to working with you, Sojeo.”
I lightly jumped onto the training ground and clasped my hands towards Song-hwa, taking a stance.
The moment I exchanged the first blow with Song-hwa, who was a little nervous, Song-hwa, who had been knocked away by a single punch, flew off the training ground and crashed into the ground.
“Sahyung!”
“Are you alright, Sahyung?”
I was taken aback and opened my mouth wide.
What? Why is he so weak?
