Chapter 242
Chapter 242
I hurriedly covered Dang-un’s mouth.
“Brother! I told you not to get up yet. Lie down quickly.”
“Uub, uub!”
The startled Dang-un resisted weakly, but if I let him go, something irreversible would happen.
I lifted him up and smiled at Grandfather.
“I’ll even make sure he takes his herbal medicine. Don’t worry about it and rest, Grandfather.”
“Why are you stopping him? Is there something you want to hide from this old man?”
“Uub! Uub uub!”
“Eish, can we really hide anything from you? It’s just that Brother seems agitated because of his fever. I’ll calm him down, so talk to him in the evening.”
“Uububub!”
“Huh, such good siblings. Woon, come back when you’re feeling better. Don’t say something you’ll regret.”
Grandfather retorted grumpily, glared at us, and turned away.
As I anxiously laid Dang-un down on the bed, Grandfather walked out of the room with his hands behind his back.
Is it okay now?
As I slowly removed my hand from Dang-un’s mouth, he coughed violently.
“Cough, cough!”
“Brother, are you alright?”
“So-hye… you’re still… so strong…”
Dang-un’s face was pale as he gasped for breath.
I helped him lie down on the bed. Dang-un didn’t resist and obediently lay back down.
Perhaps thanks to the shock therapy, his fierce eyes were quite calm.
I picked up the bowl of rice porridge that Grandfather had left behind, sat on the edge of the bed, and opened my mouth.
“Um, Brother.”
At my call, Dang-un, who had been staring blankly into space, met my gaze.
“I know it’s an important issue, but could you wait until the tournament is over? I’m a bit… troubled right now.”
I gestured towards the direction Grandfather had left and whispered. Dang-un blinked slowly and asked.
“How did you know?”
“The letter. You always called him so affectionately, I thought you had become close.”
“I see.”
He made a bitter expression, covered his face, and sighed.
“…Your brother is ashamed. Instead of being helpful, I’m just bothering So-hye.”
“Uh, uh, no. Brother. Not bothering at all.”
I waved my hand at his gloomy voice.
“It’s not that… it’s not that I’m trying to interfere with your affairs, Brother, but it would be troublesome if there were any variables right now. I really need to win this tournament. But…”
The moment your story reaches Grandfather’s ears, the main building will fly away…
The tournament and everything will be gone…
Dang-un, who understood the words I swallowed, nodded and muttered.
“I suppose so. Everything will be smashed to pieces.”
You know it well.
He seemed lost in thought for a while, then composed himself and put on his unique, calm smile.
“I’ll wait until So-hye’s business is finished, so don’t worry. I’ll be careful not to cause any trouble.”
“Trouble? Thank you for listening to my request.”
“It’s nothing. Your brother is sorry. More than that, I haven’t even asked how So-hye has been doing, using the excuse of being flustered. How have you been?”
Dang-un, gently changing the subject, had returned to the image of the gentle brother I remembered.
After chatting with me and finishing the rice porridge and herbal medicine, he started nodding off and eventually fell asleep as if he had fainted.
“Brother. Are you asleep?”
“……”
I quietly checked Dang-un’s pulse while he was asleep and felt that the flow of Qi and Blood Points had stabilized considerably. The herbal medicine must have been effective.
It will take some time to recover from the poison.
I was worried about the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, but I was relieved to see him alive and moving.
Dang-un no longer looked as precarious as if he would collapse at any moment.
He didn’t have the face of someone who had resigned himself to everything.
The fact that he had come to Mu-Han alone, even though he had struggled to walk around the backyard of his residence, meant that his illness had definitely subsided.
Well, who’s his doctor? He’s bound to get better.
I smiled softly and tiptoed out of the room so as not to wake Dang-un.
Uncle Geun-myeong, who had been pacing around the reception room with an anxious face, hurriedly approached and asked in a low voice.
“What did your brother say?”
“It wasn’t anything much. He said he’d postpone telling Grandfather until after the tournament.”
“That’s a relief, but it’s best to be careful just in case. These days, the old man’s mood…”
“What are you two whispering about?”
“Grandfather, you’re here.”
Dang Geunmyeong, who hurriedly bowed, had cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
Seeing his tense expression, Grandfather frowned and crossed his arms, clearly showing his displeasure.
“What are you trying to hide from this old man that you’re conspiring like that? What kind of trouble did Woon cause? Did he win first place or something?”
I wish that were the case.
If it were first place, I’d just build him a new one.
As we swallowed hard without being able to answer, Grandfather pouted and stretched my cheek.
“This brazen thing. Why are you keeping more and more secrets from your grandfather?”
“Ayaya! Grandfather, it’s not like that…”
“Hmph. I’ll pretend not to know for now, but I won’t let it go for long. Tell that Woon to confess everything after the tournament.”
“Yes.”
“So-hye, don’t get any other ideas just because you’re worried about your brother. Focus only on the tournament.”
“I will, ayaya.”
Grandfather, with a displeased face, lightly pinched my nose and grumbled that he had raised me so preciously, but I was only alienating the old man.
Seeing the look in his eyes that was dripping with disappointment, I hurriedly clung to Grandfather.
“Eish, Grandfather. You’re misunderstanding. How could we alienate you?”
“Do you think I’ll let you off just because you’re acting cute? That’s enough. Go and look at the bracket.”
“Grandfather.”
“Tsk, tsk.”
Unlike his actions of snorting and turning his head away, the corners of Grandfather’s lips were slowly drawing an arc.
“Can’t we go see the bracket together? Please go with me. Okay?”
I mustered all the cuteness I could and whined, and Grandfather chuckled and lightly flicked my forehead.
“That’s enough, you little rascal. Stop it there.”
“You’ll go with me, right?”
“Ahem, alright. Let’s go.”
Grandfather, erasing his smile and clearing his throat, put his hands behind his back and turned around.
I exchanged a look of relief with Uncle Geun-myeong and quickly followed after him.
The round of 8 came around again in the blink of an eye.
Unlike the previous two matches, I was scheduled for the first match on the first day this time, so the pressure was greater than usual.
Group 1. Dang So-hye. Myeonghak.
Moreover, my opponent was one of the Three Great Disciples of the Shaolin Sect.
I had been racking my brains on how to deal with a Swordmaster, and now I had to face a Fist Practitioner, so I was parched.
If he’s from Shaolin, will he fight similarly to Beopgong Monk? I have no idea.
It would be troublesome if he’s as recklessly strong as that guy.
As I paced anxiously behind the Martial Arts Stage, Dang-un, who had followed me to watch, patted me and whispered.
“Don’t be too nervous. If necessary, just stick a Poison Needle into an unseen spot.”
“Huh? If I use poison, I’ll be disqualified.”
“Rules are meant to be broken. What does it matter if you use it without anyone knowing?”
What are you talking about? This brother of mine has become even more Tang Clan-like in the meantime.
I swallowed a hollow laugh at the absurdity, and feeling a little better, I nodded.
“Now, let the first match begin! Shaolin’s Myeonghak. Sichuan Tang Clan’s Dang So-hye. Please come up to the Martial Arts Stage.”
My wildly beating heart calmed down at the referee’s call.
Receiving Dang-un’s support, I calmly went up to the Martial Arts Stage, and Myeonghak, who was facing me, politely bowed.
“So you’re the Exclusive Patron. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I’m Dang So-hye. Please guide me.”
Following his lead, I quickly scanned Myeonghak.
He looks younger than I thought. Is he strong? I can’t really tell his level just by looking at his appearance.
Myeonghak also circled around me, probing, as if he couldn’t gauge my Martial Prowess.
But I tilted my head involuntarily at the familiar footwork.
Huh. I’ve seen that somewhere before.
Frowning, I deflected his punch, and Myeonghak, hesitating, put Inner Energy into his Palm Technique and struck down.
A huge palm-shaped mark remained on the Martial Arts Stage.
I’ve seen that too.
I narrowed my eyes and looked back and forth between Myeonghak and Beopgong, who was sitting in the audience.
It only looked different because the power was lacking, but Myeonghak’s movements were exactly like Beopgong’s.
It wouldn’t be easy to resemble him this much unless they were in a master-disciple relationship?
Becoming suspicious, I deflected Myeonghak’s kick and asked.
“What is your relationship with Beopgong Monk?”
“He is my Granduncle-Master, ugh!”
“Not that. Have you ever learned from Beopgong Monk?”
“Yes. He taught me the Great Strength Vajra Hand directly when I entered the Arhat Hall.”
“I thought so. So, you’re Beopgong Monk’s disciple?”
“You could say that… but he has never formally taken on a disciple. This humble monk is not worthy of being called his disciple.”
“So, you’re not a formal disciple, but you received his teachings?”
“Y-yes.”
Shyness appeared on Myeonghak’s face as he nodded.
He seemed quite proud of the fact that he had received teachings from Beopgong.
“…Then, were you also suddenly thrown into an Unorthodox den?”
“Yes? No, I wasn’t.”
“Have you ever suffered in the Yangtze River, which a band of bandits turned into a sea of fire?”
“No. What are you talking about…”
“Ah… you haven’t.”
A chilling smile formed on my face at the bewildered answer.
As I smiled, baring my fangs, bewilderment appeared on Myeonghak’s face.
“Um, Patron?”
Look at this guy. He said Orthodox Faction kids this and that, but he raised his own Sect disciple so preciously?
He just rolled me around because it wasn’t his responsibility? This shameless monk.
Grinding my teeth, I glared at Beopgong, and he opened and closed his mouth with a flustered face.
‘Hey, hey. Kid, he doesn’t know anything! He’s never been outside of Mount Song!’
What do you mean he doesn’t know anything? Did I know anything when you threw me in?
I became certain at Beopgong’s reaction. The Three Great Disciples in front of me was definitely someone that the monk had his eye on.
Either a disciple. Or someone he plans to make a disciple. Anyway, a Martial Artist he intends to make his successor.
At the same time, an inexplicable annoyance bubbled up inside me.
Heeya, now I know why the Martial Artists who harbor resentment towards Grandfather grind their teeth whenever they see me.
“I’ll apologize in advance, Monk. It’s not that I have any ill feelings towards you, but I have some pent-up feelings towards Beopgong Monk.”
As I narrowed my eyes and grabbed the Hidden Weapons in my Long robe sleeve, Myeonghak, sensing something was wrong, tried to stop me.
“Yes? W-wait a moment, Patron. This humble monk has a separate master…”
“So, blame Beopgong Monk. Got it?”
As I replied kindly and glanced at the audience, I saw Beopgong pointing at me and mouthing words.
‘Hey, hey! He doesn’t know anything! Aren’t you being too harsh on the kid?’
How funny. Who’s really being too harsh?
I stuck my tongue out at Beopgong and scattered the Hidden Weapons with all my might.
Damn old man. This is revenge!
