Chapter 240
Episode 240
He deflected the Hidden Weapons with a grimace, then rolled on the floor with a frivolous scream.
I felt awkward at Songhwa's excessive defense mechanism.
I haven't even done anything yet.
Scratching my head, I looked around and saw Jin-sung sighing and covering his eyes.
Dojang Songhwa is going to get an earful after the match.
Feeling a little sorry, I waited quietly for him to get up.
"Ugh. Oh, Primal Lord of Heaven..."
Songhwa, who even invoked the Primal Lord of Heaven as he groaned, slowly got up and fiddled with his arm.
He waved his arm around with an uneasy look, then soon rejoiced and shouted.
"My goodness, Dang Sojeo. You've become able to control your strength!"
Is that a compliment?
I chuckled, but seeing Songhwa genuinely happy, I couldn't say anything.
I gave a soulless smile and adjusted my Flying Dagger.
"Can I go now?"
"Hoo, yes. It's better to get it over with sooner rather than later."
Songhwa sighed, extended his Sword Seal Gesture, and changed his expression.
His eyes, with their faint white rims, were so determined that I felt like I had become a villain.
Still, it's a match everyone is watching, so I have to face him seriously...
"Wait, wait!"
"What is it now?"
"Give me time to prepare myself."
"...Dojang. Are you going to keep doing this?"
"I'm scared. My heart is pounding."
Songhwa, fussing and catching his breath, had a neck soaked with cold sweat.
It seemed that his words about being nervous were not a lie.
"Okay. Come when you're ready, Dojang."
I shrugged my shoulders and let my arms hang down. Songhwa squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and rushed at me.
Gently, so it doesn't break, gently, so it doesn't break...
"Uwaaagh!"
Oops.
I deliberately took the force out of my block, but Songhwa staggered weakly and screamed.
I glared at his obviously exaggerated behavior, and he mouthed.
'Sword, sword!'
'What about the sword?'
'Please break the sword instead!'
The Pine Pattern Sword isn't some old junk made of scrap iron, how can I break it?
More than that, is it okay to solicit match-fixing on the Martial Arts Stage?
But considering our past relationship, it was difficult to ignore Songhwa's earnest request.
I scratched my nose and nodded slightly, wrapping my Inner Energy around my fingertips.
The moment I gripped the blade tightly, intending to end it in one go.
Snap!
Songhwa's sword broke in two.
As I slowly lifted the broken blade, Songhwa's expression brightened and he hurriedly distanced himself from me.
"Oh, dear. The sword is broken!"
Songhwa, as if wondering what to do, shouted loudly and looked at the referee with shining eyes.
The referee, looking at me and Songhwa alternately with strange eyes, rang the Large Gong with a dubious expression.
"Tang Clan's Dang So-hye, victory!"
Only then did Songhwa regain his smile and salute me with a fist and palm.
"It was an honor to learn a move from the Poison Butterfly."
"The pleasure was all mine to be able to compete against Dojang Songhwa again."
I was congratulating myself for protecting his arm this time, but when I saw Jin-sung standing below the Martial Arts Stage with a terrifying expression, my throat suddenly felt dry.
Jinseong disciple is furious.
"Excuse me for a moment, Dang Sojeo."
Jin-sung nodded to me, then glared at Songhwa with murderous eyes and opened his mouth.
"Songhwa."
Songhwa flinched at the blunt voice and retreated, hiding his scabbard behind his back.
"Ahaha, Granduncle-Master."
"Follow me."
"Th, that, I need to go to the Medicine Hall first..."
"I said follow me."
"Yes. I understand."
I turned away, pretending not to notice Songhwa's staggering figure as he walked away like he was being dragged to a slaughterhouse.
If I intervened here, I felt like I would get caught in the crossfire.
Ugh, he's so scary when he's angry.
As I rubbed my goosebump-covered skin and moved my feet, I saw the branch family children gathered in groups of three or five, waiting for me.
Dang Gyeong-won, who met my eyes, smirked and beckoned.
"Dang So-hye."
"What are you doing here?"
"We were waiting for you. Hey, what did you eat to break a sword with your bare hands? Did you do External Martial Arts training or something?"
"That Wudang Taoist was really scared. Did you hit him before or something?"
"What? Don't say such outrageous things. How could I beat Dojang Songhwa?"
"The person who hits usually doesn't remember. Only the person who gets hit remembers."
Dang Cheon-yeong, who was giggling, narrowed his eyes and asked.
"Did you use the oil I gave you?"
"Yeah. It's really good. I'll use it well. Thanks."
The guys who said a word each naturally surrounded me and started walking.
Before I knew it, caught up in the atmosphere, I matched my pace with them and followed.
"Still, it's a relief that you're here to save face."
"Yeah. If we had all been eliminated in the first match of the main competition, we would have been criticized for being Poison maniacs with no substance."
"Is it the first or second time we've been criticized? Oh, Dang So-hye. We're thinking of going to eat meat to celebrate your victory. What do you like?"
"Me? I like braised fish."
"Then let's go to a place that's good at Wuchang Fish Stew."
"Now? My match just ended?"
I asked in surprise, but Dang Gyeong-won didn't even pretend to listen and looked around.
"Does anyone know where Uncle Bu-gyeong is?"
"He was with the Murong Clan people. I'll go and tell him. Just tell me where we're going."
"I heard the inn near the pier is good at Wuchang Fish Stew. Shall we go there?"
The branch family children, who had spontaneously made plans to go out, casually included me in their group as if they had always done so.
An unexpected situation tickled a corner of my heart.
Have I been recognized by these guys as a member of the same family?
...This is a bit strange.
When I hesitated and felt unfamiliar, Dang Ye-won grabbed my arm and pulled me.
"Dang So-hye. What are you doing? Let's go quickly."
"Huh? Oh. Okay."
I fidgeted with my fingers under my sleeve, then followed Dang Ye-won as if I couldn't resist.
\ \ *
After all the matches of the Round of 16 were over, there was another two-day break.
I spent the break recovering and enjoying the interlude until the draw for the Round of 8 came out.
But not everyone was enjoying the break.
The Three Great Disciples of the Wudang Sect, who were wandering around the Fierce Main Group, all had dark faces.
Even Songhwa's hair was nowhere to be seen.
I was starting to worry about Songhwa's safety, so I quietly called out to Songin, who was passing by.
"Excuse me, Dojang Songin. Where is Dojang Songhwa?"
"Th, that, Lee disciple is in his quarters due to circumstances. Young lady."
Songin, who avoided my gaze and changed the subject, looked embarrassed.
I could roughly guess what the unspeakable circumstances were, and my mouth felt bitter.
I whispered.
"Jinseong disciple. Is he very angry?"
Then Songin widened his eyes and asked back.
"Yes? Oh, how did you know?"
"It looked like it."
The reaction was so bad that it would have been strange not to know. I also had some responsibility for breaking the sword.
As I awkwardly scratched my cheek, Songin waved his hand as if telling me not to worry.
"Don't worry about the Sect's affairs. It's not Young lady's fault."
"Still..."
"If the Swordmaster couldn't protect his sword, he must receive due punishment. That's the Sect's rule."
"Ah..."
Songin, who was watching my reaction, lowered his voice and added.
"Of course, even if I were Lee disciple, I would have chosen to break the sword instead of my arm."
No. He's getting punished just for breaking a sword? If I had known that, I wouldn't have broken it.
I didn't feel comfortable knowing the unknown background.
Whatever punishment he received, Songhwa seemed to have been severely reprimanded to the point where he couldn't move freely.
"Is Dojang Songhwa still alive?"
"Of course. He'll be walking around normally in a few days."
"Would he hate it if I visited him?"
"Yes? Oh, Dang Sojeo must never come. It would be a disaster."
Songin, who jumped as if he had heard something he shouldn't have, urged me not to even come near the Wudang's quarters.
"Okay. Then, would it be okay if I packed some snacks for him?"
"Yes. That much is fine. But don't come in person. I'll send the youngest junior brother in the evening."
"Yes. Please give my regards to Dojang Songhwa."
I wished Songhwa a speedy recovery and parted ways with Songin, then headed straight to the Market street.
It would be better to choose snacks that help with energy recovery.
Should I buy some jerky for Songmyeong too?
As I pondered and carefully chose snacks, a familiar shadow fell over the stall.
"Why are you wandering around alone when your master is away?"
The owner of the calm voice was Gwisu-sin.
"Ah, Divine Doctor."
I was startled and bowed, and he waved his hand as if there was no need to do so.
"Don't be surprised. Anyone would think this old one was going to eat you. Where is your master?"
"Someone from the Alliance came to visit. He went out in the morning and hasn't come back yet."
"Again? Your master is so peculiar. He should let the children handle it themselves by now, but he insists on taking care of them and interfering."
Gwisu-sin, who clicked his tongue, saying that he had a hobby of creating troublesome work, bent down and looked at the stall.
"Well, an old man has to have some fun doing odd jobs."
As he muttered and rummaged through the honey-soaked snacks, he was startled and trembled slightly.
His face, after inhaling a gasp, turned pale.
"J, just a moment."
"Yes?"
"This old one has never been to Mu-han."
"What do you mean all of a sudden..."
"Say you definitely didn't see me. Definitely. Understand?"
"Yes? Yes."
I nodded, suppressed by the intense gaze as if telling me to keep my mouth shut, and Gwisu-sin hurriedly turned around and disappeared into the crowd.
That elder is really unique. He always says what he wants to say.
"Excuse me, Young lady. It's quite heavy, can you carry it alone?"
"It's okay. Just give it to me."
I replied, paid for the snacks, and took the bundle that the merchant handed me.
Then, as I turned to leave the Market street, I realized why Gwisu-sin had suddenly disappeared.
Dang-un, wearing a pure white Cape, was walking slowly from afar.
