Chapter 247
Chapter 247
"Granduncle-Master, Granduncle-Master!"”
At Songhwa’s urgent call, Jin-sung turned his head and glared at Songhwa with reproachful eyes.
Although the place they were staying now was not a Taoist temple, a disciple of Wudang had to maintain a certain dignity.
He didn't like the sight of her running around in a fluster, and his eyes naturally sharpened.
He swallowed his annoyance and asked calmly.
“What is it?”
“Granduncle-Master! This is no time to be like this. Haven’t you heard the rumors?”
“To have time to listen to the gossip of busybodies even after losing your sword, your punishment must have been insufficient.”
“That’s not it, Granduncle-Master. Right now……!”
Frustrated, Songhwa pounded her chest, then flinched at Jin-sung’s fierce gaze and swallowed hard.
It was clear that she would be scolded if she dared to mention the rumors.
When Songhwa hesitated, Jin-sung’s eyebrows furrowed.
“What is it?”
At the question of why she stopped talking, Songhwa squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Why is this kind of thing always my responsibility…….’
She was just distressed that she was always stuck with carrying the Thunderclap Bomb on her back.
However, she couldn't just leave this situation unknown to Jin-sung.
He groaned like a puppy needing to pee and opened his mouth with difficulty.
“Granduncle-Master. What do you think if Dang Sojeo were to get married?”
“……What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Ask questions later, just think about it first. What do you think?”
Marriage?
At Songhwa’s question, Jin-sung blinked slowly.
Dang So-hye was of marriageable age, so it wouldn't be strange if she got married.
It was early for a Martial Artist, but ordinary women got married as early as fifteen.
Even before her cheek fat disappeared, she was pretty enough to catch the eye at first glance, and now that she was as beautiful as a fully bloomed peony, everyone would be eyeing her.
Green Jade Robe suited her best, but…… a red wedding dress would also suit her well.
He quietly imagined Dang So-hye in a wedding dress.
Come to think of it, he had never seen her elaborately dressed up. Nevertheless, her adorned appearance was vivid in his mind.
If she neatly braided her hair, which she usually tied up roughly with a hairpin, and wore a Phoenix Crown, everyone would be amazed by her elegance.
But with her personality, she would complain that the Bridal Veil covering her face was cumbersome and ask when the ceremony would end.
‘……Even her grumbling face would be beautiful.’
“Granduncle-Master. You’re thinking, right?”
Jin-sung, who had been silently lost in thought, answered slowly at Songhwa’s urging.
“……The wedding dress would be beautiful.”
“And?”
“What else should there be?”
Songhwa, speechless at the calm answer, touched her forehead.
‘I’m going crazy.’
This man is hopeless. There is just no hope.
He thinks she would be beautiful, but why can’t he move on from there?
Why doesn’t he realize that only the groom can see the face of the bride in a wedding dress?
He unconsciously imagines himself standing next to Dang So-hye, but he doesn’t notice that fact, which is driving her crazy.
Sighing, Songhwa looked at her Granduncle-Master with pitiful eyes.
What good is it to be called Sword Dragon or a prodigy of Wudang? He is a block of wood who knows nothing but the sword.
“Granduncle-Master.”
“Yes?”
“Go and meet Dang Sojeo right now. Hurry.”
“Why suddenly…….”
“I’m telling you, this is no time to waste time here. You can get angry and say I’m presumptuous, but go anyway. I’ll take the punishment later.”
Looking at Songhwa quietly at her firm tone, Jin-sung nodded without asking further.
He knew from past experience that if Songhwa, who always let things go, spoke firmly, it meant he had made some mistake.
He didn't know why he was suddenly told to meet Dang So-hye, but he thought it must be related to the rumors she mentioned.
Jin-sung, who had obediently straightened his clothes, set out to find Dang So-hye without knowing why.
\ \ *
‘Go to the Market street. It’s the Market street. Got it?’
As Songhwa had instructed, Jin-sung headed to the Market street as soon as he left the Fierce Main Group.
However, he couldn't find Dang So-hye's figure even after wandering around every corner.
A little anxious, Jin-sung quickened his pace.
He knew it in his head. Wudang was not a small village, and it was normal not to run into someone easily, even if he knew them.
It would be stranger to run into her in this wide Market street without a prior appointment.
However, as the time he spent wandering grew longer, a strange sense of unease settled in Jin-sung’s heart.
An animalistic instinct was shouting at him.
He had to meet Dang So-hye right away.
‘……Why?’
Jin-sung frowned at the impulse he himself couldn't understand.
Strangely, he felt he couldn't rest easy unless he saw her face directly.
As Jin-sung repeatedly walked the same path several times until sunset, an old merchant in the Market street, who had been watching him closely, spoke to him.
“Taoist. Have you perhaps lost your way? If you want to go to the Alliance, you have to go that way.”
“……Ah. No, I haven’t.”
Jin-sung answered awkwardly and swallowed a sigh, wiping his face with his dry hands.
He was just ridiculous, wondering what he was doing here.
Only then did Jin-sung regain his reason and look around. He hadn't noticed it because of the lights in the Market street, but the world had already been covered in pitch-black darkness.
The merchants in the Market street were also preparing to return home one by one.
Staring blankly at the flickering torches illuminating the surroundings, he tried to collect himself and calmly sort out his thoughts.
Since it was so late, she might have already returned to her quarters.
‘It would be better to wait in the quarters…….’
Jin-sung hesitated before going to Dang So-hye’s quarters and shook his head.
Wasn't she the one who had a match today? She must be tired. Besides, it was late.
It was not polite to visit a woman’s quarters late at night without a prior appointment.
‘……But should I go anyway.’
Jin-sung, who was about to give up, changed his mind impulsively.
He would have suppressed his desires and backed down as usual, but for some reason, he didn't want to go back like this today.
Didn't Songhwa tell him to go and meet her right away? There must have been a reason for saying that.
Having justified himself, he turned his body towards Dang So-hye’s quarters as soon as he entered the Martial Alliance Headquarters.
His heart was beating so fast that his lower abdomen tingled strangely.
‘I wonder if she’s in her quarters.’
If she was in her quarters, she might be peeking out with her hands covered in grease.
When Dang So-hye stayed in Wudang, he would lay out Hidden Weapons on the table at this time and carefully maintain them one by one.
A Martial Artist’s habits don’t change easily, so there was a high probability that she would be doing that today as well.
With an expression mixed with anticipation and anxiety, Jin-sung quickened his pace and unknowingly frowned and stopped at the sight of the figures of a man and a woman in the distance.
Someone was standing next to Dang So-hye, perhaps on their way back after going out together.
‘Divine Dragon?’
Jin-sung frowned and scanned Namgung Hwi’s flashy accessories.
He found it subtly annoying that he was smiling brightly with his peacock-like appearance.
‘I don’t understand why Swordmaster wear so many complicated accessories.’
People from prestigious families all liked to adorn themselves with shiny things as if they were crows in their previous lives.
Jin-sung found it difficult to understand. Whether it shines or not, why would you wear stones on your body?
In that respect, Dang So-hye was in a unique category.
The hairpin, earrings, and Jade bracelet that she usually wore were all Hidden Weapons, far from being ornaments.
Jin-sung averted his gaze from Namgung Hwi and examined Dang So-hye’s complexion.
She, who would have noticed even if he hid his presence, couldn't see him even though he was so close.
Her face was so tired and drooping that she looked like she wanted to lie down on her bed right away.
‘……Ah.’
Jin-sung hesitated and hid his outstretched hand behind his back at her expression that made it difficult to approach and talk to her carelessly.
She looked so tired that he shouldn't take up her time.
‘It would be better to go back today. Let’s visit again tomorrow.’
Having come to a conclusion, Jin-sung tried to turn around. But for some reason, his feet wouldn't move.
He stood still like a nail and watched the two people.
When Namgung Hwi whispered something, Dang So-hye nodded and gave a faint smile.
That appearance looked quite affectionate, making his stomach churn.
Jin-sung, who clenched his fist, took a deep breath slowly. His knuckles, which had turned white, protruded sharply.
He felt annoyed, but he didn't know why.
He didn't have any ill feelings towards Namgung Hwi, but he kept feeling unpleasant about him.
Jin-sung, who had been following them with his eyes until they disappeared, soon reflected on his attitude and calmed his mind.
He taught his disciples not to listen to the words of busybodies, but it seemed that he was the one who cared the most about what others said.
He was disgusted with himself for being so narrow-minded.
He wasn't a jealous child, so why would he look at a promising newcomer who had just entered Jianghu with a disapproving eye?
Even if others kept comparing him to him, he could just ignore it.
Would Namgung Hwi want to be tied up and compared to a Martial Artist whom he had only seen a few times while passing by?
He was judging someone he had never clashed with with prejudiced eyes based only on what others said, so he must be lacking in training.
He turned around, resolving to meditate when he returned.
But no matter how much he comforted himself, it was difficult to control his emotions that were running wild.
‘Why…… do I keep getting angry?’
He rubbed his eyes roughly and moved his steps roughly.
