Chapter 243
Chapter 243
Clang!
Ming-hak, who hurriedly surrounded himself with a Protective Aura and deflected the Hidden Weapons, narrowed his eyes and closed the distance between us.
It seemed he intended to block my movements so I couldn't use Hidden Weapons.
The attempt was good, but I had no intention of acting naive enough to fall for such an obvious ploy.
Without panicking, I thrust the Flying Dagger held in reverse grip, and Ming-hak hurriedly leaned back to avoid it, shouting.
"S-Sir! You seem very agitated. Please calm down!"
"Agitated? I'm more rational than ever right now."
"No, you're very agitated! Ugh!"
Sparks flew from Ming-hak's forearm as he twisted his body and blocked the Vital spot.
I was relieved that his skin was tough enough to withstand even Woon Iron.
He wasn't someone who would fall with just one blow.
Quickly lowering my body, I aimed for his ankle, and Ming-hak flinched, stomping his foot and exerting force.
Golden haze rose from his firmly planted lower body.
He's strong? He can withstand some mischief.
Grinning, I slowly clenched and unclenched my fist, and Ming-hak, flustered, backed away with a frightened expression.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding. Sir. Please calm down..."
"Oh. Are you trying to persuade me now? Beopgong Monk will scold you."
"Yes?"
"That bald Monk told me that if someone throws a punch at me, I shouldn't try to persuade them with words, but throw a punch back."
"......Yes?"
"Haha. Guess you didn't hear him."
As I pondered Beopgong's life-giving advice, vivid memories flooded back.
He suddenly threw a punch at me when we first met.
He crushed people with Thousand-Weight Drop.
He threw me into a den of the Unorthodox Faction and watched, scratching at my insides, ignoring me whether I was hurt or not, saying that much could be healed with saliva.
He even threatened to throw me into the river if I didn't deal with the bandits in time.
...Thinking about it, I'm getting even more angry?
Why did this guy really do that to me? What grudge did he have?
As my eyes blazed, Ming-hak, overwhelmed by the pressure, shrank his shoulders and looked back at Beopgong.
Beopgong covered his face as if he couldn't bear to watch, peeking at the Martial Arts Stage through his fingers, and when he met my eyes, he raised both hands above his head and rubbed his palms together like a fly.
'Hey. Kid. I was wrong. I said I was wrong. Huh?'
'What?'
'Hey, hey! You punk!'
Smiling brightly, I rushed at Ming-hak and forcefully slammed my right foot down.
Crack!
"Kugh...!"
Ming-hak, who struggled to block the attack, clutched his wrist and made a tearful face.
It didn't break even with that. Shaolin is Shaolin.
I licked my lips and drew up my Inner Energy.
After exchanging a few blows, I could gauge Ming-hak's level to some extent.
The moment I widened my eyes and put strength into my toes, Ming-hak, trembling, closed his eyes tightly and ran off the Martial Arts Stage.
"I forfeit! I forfeit!"
Huh? I haven't even started yet?
With a bewildered face, I looked around and saw Beopgong hugging the fleeing Ming-hak and comforting him.
I gaped in astonishment.
Wow. That guy is fussing over his Sect disciple like crazy.
"Sichuan Tang Clan's Dang So-hye, victory!"
I stood blankly until the judge made the decision, then turned away with a pout.
Perhaps he was bothered by my reaction, Beopgong left Ming-hak to another Monk and came after me, speaking to me.
"Kid. Are you sulking?"
"Yes. I'm sulking."
"Hey, hey. I was wrong. But I can't act immature forever, can I? I'm already forty. It's time to act like a Sect elder."
"Already? You're really an old man."
When I retorted sullenly, Beopgong, watching my mood, sighed deeply.
"Haa, it's all my karma... Don't be angry at him, he didn't do anything wrong. He's not even my disciple."
"Don't lie. From his breathing to the habit of extending his left arm first, it's exactly the same as you, who are you trying to fool?"
"...How did you know? Kid. You've grown a lot?"
Beopgong, muttering, scratched the back of his head awkwardly and smacked his lips.
"It's not a lie. I'm just giving him pointers on his stance. If I accepted him as a disciple, the lineage would get messed up."
"Ah, okay."
"Anyway, don't hate him because of me. He's no match for you. Can't you tell by how scared he was?"
"Yes? Was he crying?"
"I told you, it's his first time out of Mount Song. He's fifteen."
"Oh, you should have told me that first. I suddenly feel sorry."
I didn't know he was that young. Was I too harsh?
As I rolled my eyes, feeling guilty, he chuckled and held something out.
"It's okay to make him cry, but don't deliberately bully him. Hey, take this and let bygones be bygones?"
"What is it?"
"Summoning Pill."
"R-Really? You're not scamming me, are you?"
I jumped up and snatched the wooden box he offered, opening it to reveal a refined-scented Pill.
It's a real Summoning Pill.
As the corners of my mouth lifted, Beopgong chuckled and patted my back.
"Take good care of Ming-hak. You'll be seeing a lot of him in the future."
"Don't worry. I'll take care of him like my younger brother."
"...You don't have to go that far, just be moderate. Who are you trying to catch?"
"Heh."
Shrugging my shoulders and grinning, I pushed the wooden box deep into my sleeve.
\ \ *
I won the Gyeonggi Province match, and I got a Summoning Pill.
Even if I stayed still, a song would naturally flow from my mouth.
It was a day worth commemorating.
As I swung my sleeves with a lightened step, Dang-un, who was walking side by side with me, burst into laughter.
"Are you that happy to have won?"
"Of course."
To think that I would get one over on Beopgong Monk and even pick his pocket.
It was truly a day worth commemorating.
"If So-hye is happy, then this Older Brother is happy too. Should this Older Brother make you some tea for once?"
"I'd love that. Oh, I met Chang Wang Senior the other day, and he said that the way I handle tea tools is exactly the same as Older Brother."
"Is that so? And there were no problems with Senior Ak?"
"Yes. He said that Older Brother told him to treat me gently..."
As I recounted a story from some time ago, I stopped talking at the sight of a familiar figure.
Dang Gyeong-won was standing in front of the dormitory gate, looking at us.
"Gyeongwon. How have you been?"
"It's been a while, Older Brother. How is your health?"
Dang Gyeong-won, who greeted him politely, seemed happy to see Dang-un.
He seemed aloof with Dang Hwa-yeop. It seemed that he had a good relationship with Woon Older Brother.
Dang-un also smiled gently and accepted his greeting.
"I'm much better. What's the matter?"
"I came to see So-hye... Dang So-hye. Can you spare me some time?"
"Now? Sure."
Dang-un, blinking his eyes as I nodded, asked.
"I didn't know you and Gyeongwon had become close. Will it take long? I was about to boil some tea. Come in and talk if you want."
"Ah, I'm sorry, but I'd like to talk to her alone."
"Okay. It would be better to drink tea in the evening. Go ahead."
Dang-un, who patted my shoulder, entered the dormitory first. Dang Gyeong-won, who matched my eye level, spoke hesitantly.
"Shall we, walk a bit?"
"Shall we?"
The guy who started walking in step with me, talked at length about trivial things, saying that the weather was nice and the spring flowers were blooming.
I was puzzled by his uncharacteristic chatter.
What is he trying to say, beating around the bush like this?
"Hey. Why are you setting the mood, unlike you? Just say it."
When I said a word, unable to listen anymore, Dang Gyeong-won cleared his throat and asked carefully.
"Dang So-hye. You, are you interested in the Young Patriarch competition?"
"What? What are you talking about all of a sudden? What Young Patriarch?"
As I asked back in bewilderment, Dang Gyeong-won smacked his lips.
"...I guessed as much, but it seems you really didn't care at all."
"That's because you're saying something ridiculous. Who would welcome me?"
Dang Gyeong-won gave me a look of pity at my reply.
"You, your head is really terrible compared to your Martial Prowess."
"Are you picking a fight?"
"I'm saying that because you're not aware of your position at all. Do you know what it means that you made it to the top four?"
"I don't know. And I don't want to know."
I snorted and answered indifferently.
The Martial Arts Tournament was merely a means to get Grandfather's permission.
There was no need to rack my brains giving other meanings to the stepping stone to join the Devil Subjugation Unit.
Dang Gyeong-won, who was watching my reaction, sighed.
"Haa. I know you're not interested... But you should still know. Since we became a member of the Alliance, there have been only two Martial Artists who have stood out in the Martial Arts Tournament. Poison King Grandfather. And you."
"Grandfather?"
When I showed interest in the story I was hearing for the first time, he quickly continued.
"Yes. He brought the first victory to the Clan. After Grandfather, everyone was busy getting eliminated in the first match of the main round, let alone winning."
"Oh. I should definitely win for the sake of Grandfather's honor."
"That's a good idea. It's a good picture for both master and disciple to win."
He answered calmly, then changed his expression and met my gaze.
"Dang So-hye. Your position has already changed. Even if you go back to Sichuan right now, everyone will be paying attention to you. So, whether you want it or not, you're bound to get involved in the Heir Apparent competition once you've stood out."
"There's Eldest Older Brother."
"First Young Master is already finished. He's just holding his position due to the Patriarch's stubbornness, and there have been constant talks about having to redo the Heir Apparent competition. Now that the Patriarch has no power, there's a high possibility that he'll move according to the wishes of the Council of Elders."
"I see."
I answered absentmindedly. It was a story that had nothing to do with me.
I wasn't going to live in the Tang Clan for thousands of years, and I didn't want to get involved in the Clan's affairs as soon as I got Grandfather's permission to leave.
"Third Young Master can't compete alone, can he? The competition needs a rival. But since you've stood out, the Council of Elders will naturally put you up as a candidate as well."
"I'm not interested."
"If you're backing out because of your conditions, think again. You can participate in the competition on the premise of taking in a son-in-law. You'll have to have a lot of children, though."
"I said I'm not interested."
Dang Gyeong-won, who paused at my annoyed reply, lowered his voice.
"I'm, I'm not trying to force you. I just wanted to know your intentions."
"My intention is that I have no interest in the Young Patriarch competition at all."
When I said it firmly, he nodded and opened his mouth, watching my mood.
"Then, let me ask you just one more thing. Is there a reason why you're not getting remarried?"
"That's a strange question. If you were me, would you want to make another fiancé after all that hardship? Who knows what kind of bastard would come rolling in?"
"...That's true."
Dang Gyeong-won, who nodded in agreement, asked with a serious face.
"Then, how about me?"
"What?"
"How about me as your husband?"
