Chapter 233
233
Namgung Hwi, in an awkward posture, bowed his head while holding Dang So-hye. Dang Jung was glaring at Namgung Hwi with a fierce expression.
“Greetings, Poison King.”
“You didn’t see anything.”
“Yes. I wasn’t here today.”
Dang Jung scoffed and reached out his hand as if to say, ‘Give me Dang So-hye.’
But Namgung Hwi didn’t budge and smiled.
“I’ll lay her down.”
“…Haa, follow me.”
Sighing, Dang Jung turned his back and strode away, opening the paper door.
Following him inside, Namgung Hwi laid Dang So-hye on the bed and took out a handkerchief from his pocket, bowing.
“Dang Sojeo, excuse me for a moment…”
“Get your hands off her. How dare you touch a grown woman’s feet!”
Dang Jung quickly slapped away Namgung Hwi’s hand, baring his fangs and growling.
“I thought she might be surprised if there was dirt on her feet when she woke up. I’ll just wipe them clean.”
“I’ll take care of it, so don’t try anything and go back. If you had left her alone, she would have gone in and fallen asleep on her own. I deliberately left her alone, so why did you cross the wall and cause trouble? Tsk.”
Namgung Hwi’s expression hardened at the words that seemed to have been experienced many times.
Judging from Dang Jung’s reaction, Dang So-hye’s inability to sleep didn’t seem to be a one- or two-day occurrence.
“Yes. Then I’ll be going.”
Namgung Hwi bowed politely and was about to get up when a slender finger gripped the hem of Namgung Hwi’s clothes.
Namgung Hwi paused and slowly turned to look at Dang So-hye.
“Sojeo…?”
His cheeks flushed at the unexpected action, and Dang Jung said gruffly.
“It’s because of your Inner Energy, so don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Yes.”
Dang Jung, who had been glaring at Namgung Hwi, watched Dang So-hye, who was holding onto Namgung Hwi as if he were her lifeline, and swallowed a sigh.
‘Does her body remember?’
The day she hung limply in Namgung Hwi’s arms, looking like she was about to breathe her last, was the same. She wouldn’t let go even in that state, so it was difficult to separate them.
He rubbed his face roughly and muttered.
“…Stay for another half an hour.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
Namgung Hwi, his eyes twinkling, answered and sat on the bed.
Then Dang So-hye’s breathing became more comfortable.
Dang Jung also felt like he could breathe easier.
‘How long has it been since I’ve seen this child sleep so peacefully…?’
He didn’t like that Namgung Hwi was the reason for her relaxation, but her comfortable, soft breathing was more pleasant to hear than any musical instrument.
Dang Jung stared at the two people together, then brought a chair and settled in a corner.
Namgung Hwi, understanding the clear warning not to do anything foolish, folded his hands demurely and indicated his intention to stay still.
Avoiding the piercing gaze, he lowered his eyes and sensed it.
He wouldn’t be able to linger near Dang So-hye until he won over that picky guardian.
Namgung Hwi, determined to win Dang Jung’s favor, quietly looked down at the hand gripping his sleeve.
He thought it was okay if she didn’t recognize him…
Seeing his heart pounding with joy that she remembered him even unconsciously, it seemed he was mistaken.
He clenched his fist, suppressing the urge to hold Dang So-hye’s hand.
For now, it was only right to be satisfied with this distance.
\ \ *
Was it because I had reviewed Grandfather and Namgung Hwi’s swordsmanship all evening and then passed out like I was in a coma?
When I opened my eyes the next day, my body felt unusually light.
How long has it been since I slept so soundly?
I raised my upper body feeling good, then tilted my head, seeing Ju-ryeong lying sprawled out asleep at the head of my bed.
It’s been a while since this kid slept with me. What wind blew her here?
“Ju-ryeong. Why are you here?”
When I poked her plump cheek, Ju-ryeong turned over and whined in her sleep.
“Kee…”
“Okay. I won’t wake you up.”
I chuckled and got out of bed, putting on my outer robe.
Was it around the hour of Myo? I could hear birds chirping beyond the bluish darkness.
I tied up my hair and left the room, and saw Grandfather, lost in thought as he looked down at a cold teacup.
His face was so tired that I felt sorry for having stretched out and slept comfortably all by myself.
“Grandfather, didn’t you sleep?”
When I spoke carefully, Grandfather raised his head and smiled.
“You woke up early. Why didn’t you sleep more?”
“I slept well. My body feels so light today that I think I can easily win the first match.”
“…Is that so.”
Grandfather’s eyes darkened at my bright, fabricated answer.
Oh no. Did I say something wrong?
Panicked by his troubled expression, I hurriedly added.
“Don’t worry, Grandfather. If I happen to meet Namgung Gongja…”
“There’s no need to worry about that child. Just don’t get hurt.”
Grandfather waved his hand and stroked my head.
Even though he said that, I could clearly picture him jumping up and down if the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor provoked him even a little, so I nodded awkwardly.
When I warmed up and arrived at the arena, the ninth match was in full swing.
Song-gwang and a Jegal Martial Artist were facing off, with Song-gwang having the upper hand.
Song-gwang’s swordsmanship, which had become much smoother than I remembered, was the very essence of the Supple Sword that everyone associated with Wudang.
Even so, the reputation of The Greatest Sword Under Heaven Martial Sect didn’t seem to have gone anywhere.
If he doesn’t make any mistakes, Do-jang Song-gwang will win.
I was watching the Martial Arts competition with great interest when a Martial Artist from the Alliance saw me and gestured.
“You can wait here, Sojeo.”
I followed him and took a seat behind the Martial Arts Stage, and I could see the Wudang Sect disciples and Jin-sung, huddled together in the distant spectator seats. It seemed they had all come to watch Song-gwang’s match.
Jin-sung also noticed me and greeted me with a nod.
I smiled brightly and waved, and Song-myeong, who was sitting next to Jin-sung, also recognized me and waved back.
Do-jang Song-myeong has grown a lot taller in the meantime.
His face was the same, but his arms and legs had grown longer, making him look cute, and I chuckled. Just then, someone spoke to me with a pleased expression.
“Our disciples really like Sojeo.”
“Oh, Sect Leader…! Have you been well?”
I was surprised to see Tae-neung Jin-in, who had come up beside me, and I hurriedly got up and clasped my hands in greeting. He smiled kindly and returned the greeting.
“I have been well, Nodo. It’s good to see you again like this. Is Dang Sojeo in the tenth match?”
“Yes. I’m waiting for my turn because it’s the match after Do-jang Song-gwang.”
“I see. I wish you good luck.”
Tae-neung Jin-in, who had encouraged me, walked away leisurely like a divine immortal walking on clouds.
He approached the place where the leaders of the Martial Sects were gathered and began to converse amicably with an old monk holding a jade staff.
Is that the Green Jade Buddha Staff? It’s said to be a treasure of Shaolin, and it’s incredibly ornate.
I didn’t know much, but that old man seemed to be Beopgong’s teacher.
The old monk, whose white eyebrows protruded like antennae, was so unremarkable that he could be mistaken for an ordinary monk if not for the Green Jade Buddha Staff in his hand.
That sense of incongruity made my mouth dry.
Not a single bit of Qi is leaking out.
I couldn’t gauge that old man’s Martial Prowess at all with my level.
I swallowed hard and stole a glance at him, and the Shaolin Abbot, noticing my gaze, turned to me and gave me a gentle smile.
Startled, I clasped my hands in greeting, and he laughed out loud and continued his conversation with Tae-neung Jin-in.
The Shaolin Abbot seemed to be the opposite of his disciple, who attracted attention wherever he went.
Jin-sung and the Supreme Sword Master of Taegeuk are like that too, so it’s not like masters and disciples always resemble each other.
…Do I resemble Grandfather?
While I was worrying about useless things and tidying up my sleeves, the Large Gong rang, signaling the end of the match.
When I raised my head, I saw Song-gwang smiling triumphantly and clasping his hands in greeting to his opponent.
In contrast, the Jegal Clan Martial Artist standing opposite him looked like he was about to die.
“Victory to Song-gwang of Wudang!”
The defeated man trudged down the Martial Arts Stage and then began to scream and run away.
“Young Patriarch! Just a moment, just a moment! There’s a reason for all this…! Ack!”
Jegalcheon’s hearty laughter could be heard in the distance.
“Hahaha! There’s no one in the world you can trust. Gyu-do came back beaten to a pulp, and now even you. Haha!”
“Ack! Aack!”
Jegal Senior… is that what his personality is really like? He’s beating people while laughing.
That guy seems a little strange too.
I felt a little sorry for the Jegal Martial Artist, who was being thoroughly beaten by the Young Patriarch in front of everyone, even though he was already upset about losing, but it was none of my business.
I pretended not to hear and watched the officials prepare for the next match.
Soon, when the preparations were finished, the referee gestured for me to come up.
I took a deep breath and went up onto the Martial Arts Stage, and I could see the spectators sitting packed without a single empty seat.
But my opponent was nowhere to be seen.
The referee also looked around in confusion.
“Cheol Myeon Gae of the Beggars’ Sect. Is Cheol Myeon Gae here?”
“Ah, I’m here!”
A reply came from the spectator seats when the referee shouted loudly.
Then a beggar in shabby clothes pushed his way through the crowd and came out.
Seeing him, I thought.
Wasn’t this a competition only Rising Stars could participate in?
The Beggars’ Sect member who came up onto the Martial Arts Stage as my opponent looked to be at least forty years old, even if you were being generous.
The spectators seemed to have similar thoughts to me, and they whispered among themselves.
“He looks at least forty just by looking at him?”
“Hey, the Alliance must have confirmed his identity, so they let him compete. Surely he didn’t lie about his age.”
“He could have lied. It’s not like it’s been a day or two since the Beggars’ Sect beggars have been lying through their teeth. You have to give them a coin or two to get proper information.”
Despite the spectators’ whispers, Cheol Myeon Gae was confident.
“I’ve only heard rumors about the Poison Butterfly. This Cheol Myeon Gae will learn a thing or two from the Poison Butterfly.”
“I’m Dang So-hye. Please take care of me, cough, cough!”
The moment he opened his mouth, I choked up for a moment at the stench that could be felt even from a distance.
The Iron Face Dog, who laughed heartily at my hacking cough caused by the revulsion that even my nose, accustomed to all kinds of Poison, could hardly bear, took out his Dog Beating Staff and gripped it.
“I thought a Tang Clan daughter would be immune to Poison, but I guess not?”
“It’s a different story if it’s poop Poison.”
Do they think Tang Clan Martial Artists aren’t human? Everyone is so clean.
I frowned and put my hand in my sleeve, gripping the Flying Dagger.
No matter what, I’m going to win without touching that beggar’s body!
Zing!
As soon as I heard the sound of the Large Gong, I soared into the air.
