Chapter 82
Episode 82
- The Wudang Sect's Top Disciple
Rumble! Crash!
It sounded as if the world was splitting in two.
The farmer, covering his ears from the loud thunder and lightning, frowned as he climbed the hill.
"Damn it."
The farmer cursed, grabbing onto a violently shaking tree and gasping for breath.
The ground was all muddy, and his shoes were so soggy that it was hard to take even one step.
He had come out worried that the newly sown barley would be washed away by the heavy rain, but it looked like he would be the one washed away instead of the barley.
He regretted coming out of the house on such a nasty day and fell into contemplation.
Should he go back now?
But he had come too far to return home now. If he went up just a little further, he would see his patch of field, no bigger than the palm of his hand.
Right. Let's just grit our teeth, replant the barley, and come back.
The farmer, having made up his mind, took a deep breath and moved his heavy legs.
Crash!
At that moment, the sky seemed to flash, and then a bright beam of light plunged down in front of the farmer.
"Aaaagh!"
The farmer screamed, falling backward on his backside.
The tall tree that had been standing upright just a moment ago was now broken and burning miserably.
He had almost been struck by lightning.
The farmer stroked his pounding heart and touched the ground.
Damn it. To hell with the barley, life is more important. You have to live to put food in your mouth.
It seemed better to go home quietly without being reckless.
Then, something hard touched the farmer's hand.
Thinking that a tree root might have been exposed by the rain, the farmer turned his head, and his face turned white.
A long mass resembling a human hand was touching his fingertips.
The farmer's body began to tremble as he rolled his eyes in panic.
Rumble! Bang!
He saw it clearly the moment the pure white lightning struck.
Washed by the rain and exposed among the piles of dirt was a corpse with half of its face melted.
The corpse, with holes gaping in its eyes and mouth, was staring at the farmer as if glaring at him.
"H-Hik! Aaaagh!"
Screaming, the farmer staggered backward, rolling on the ground as he ran down the mountain path.
"Duck."
"Chicken."
"Duck."
"I'm telling you, it's chicken. Oh, this brother really doesn't know how to eat."
I, who was in a war of nerves with Yeon-ryang, tapped the table unhappily.
On a rainy day, shouldn't we be eating something with broth?
On a day when we should be soothing our insides with boiling chicken broth, he wants grilled duck? He really doesn't know how to eat.
"If you're going to use your strength, you have to grease your belly. Brother needs to eat grilled duck."
"Chicken has oil too, you know?"
"Not as much as duck oil."
As our argument showed no signs of ending, the Jeomsoi, who had been watching us, cautiously interjected.
"Um... customers. How about just ordering both duck and chicken dishes?"
At the Jeomsoi's suggestion, Yeon-ryang clapped his hands as if he had been waiting for it.
"Oh, there was such a way. Then give us that."
As Yeon-ryang answered with a chuckle, the Jeomsoi bowed and headed to the kitchen.
"There will be food left over."
"Don't worry, there won't be any left. And what if there is some left over? My sister squeezed every last penny out of those guys' purses."
Yeon-ryang shrugged as if I was worrying about nothing.
That's true.
"And this inn is the last one. Sister. We'll have to camp out until we cross over to Hubei, so it's good to eat well."
"Then that's a different story. Shall we order another plate of dumplings?"
As I quickly changed my attitude, Yeon-ryang burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, my sister is so funny."
"Here, give us another plate of dumplings!"
"Yes, young lady. I'll prepare it right away!"
Yeon-ryang, resting his chin on his hand with a chuckle, tilted his head and asked.
"So, what are you planning to do when you go to Wuhan?"
"I haven't thought about it yet."
"There's a big inn near the Murim Alliance headquarters. I want you to stay there for a night. People from all kinds of Martial Sect / School gather there, so there will be a lot to see."
"What's the name of the inn?"
"Dragon Gate Inn. You have to go. Their dumplings are delicious."
"...Do you remember what kind of meat was in those dumplings?"
"Huh? Pork, of course?"
"Ah, yes. Next time, don't drink alcohol at that place. I'm saying this for your own good."
"Hmm? Out of the blue? When I look at you, you often say strange things."
It's because the beautiful innkeeper has a name that makes it sound like they sell suspicious dumplings. I feel like something terrible will happen if you drink alcohol at that place.
I resolved to avoid that inn no matter what.
"Be sure to visit the Yellow Crane Tower too. Wuhan means the Yellow Crane Tower, doesn't it? Now that you've set out on a journey through the Rivers and Lakes / Jianghu, you should see the famous sights."
"I will."
"Ah, the biggest merchant guild in Wuhan is the Namjeong Merchant Guild..."
Yeon-ryang told me for a long time what to eat and what to see when I went to Wuhan.
His kind attitude made me sense that our parting was near.
It meant that I would really be alone when I crossed over to Hubei and arrived in Wuhan.
...It's a little sad to part ways.
Even though I couldn't completely trust him and was wary of him, I seemed to have been relying on Yeon-ryang at heart.
"Your order is here. It's hot, so please be careful!"
"It's here. Kyung-ah. Let's eat!"
The Jeomsoi brought out the food, but I didn't have much of an appetite.
I stared blankly at Yeon-ryang, who was tearing apart a duck leg with gusto, and then listlessly put a cold dumpling in my mouth.
Unlike his nonchalant attitude of "What if there's some food left over?", Yeon-ryang emptied all three plates cleanly.
It seemed like he couldn't bear to leave any meat behind.
After finishing his meal and going up to his room, he patted his stomach with a satisfied look, and then collapsed.
"Kyung-ah. Give your brother a glass of water."
"Are you okay? Your face is pale."
"Ugh, I ate too much."
Oh dear. He ate so much that I wondered if he was even human.
"What kind of Martial Artist gets sick from overeating?"
I chided him and stroked Yeon-ryang's back. Yeon-ryang also scratched his head with an awkward smile.
"I know. I'm too embarrassed to even say it. I sometimes can't control myself."
I felt bad for no reason at the words he casually uttered.
It must mean that he can't control his eating habits.
There was a description of how he had to go hungry for days when he fell out of favor with the Demonic Sect leader when he was young, so it must have become a habit to eat as much as he could when he could.
I swallowed a sigh and reached out my hand to him.
"Give me your hand."
"Why my hand?"
"I'll prick your finger. If I prick just your thumb, it'll go right down."
"Prick my finger?"
Yeon-ryang looked at me with a puzzled expression as if asking what I was talking about. Instead of answering, I took out a needle from my pocket.
Yeon-ryang's eyebrows twitched at the sight of the sharp needle.
"...Are you planning to sew up my body or something? I'll pass."
"Don't you know that the Tang Clan is well-versed in medicine?"
"The Tang Clan may be well-versed in medicine, but I don't think you are."
"Why don't you trust me just this once?"
"It's not a Poison needle, is it?"
"No, it's not. What do you take me for?"
As I silently shook my palm as if telling him to put it out, Yeon-ryang handed over his hand with half a mind.
I stroked Yeon-ryang's back and arms and grabbed his wrist.
After rubbing his cold hand, I pricked his thumb with the needle, and a black blood droplet formed.
Yeon-ryang's eyes widened.
"The blood is black? Was I poisoned?"
"No. You just have indigestion."
"It's amazing to draw out bad blood with a needle. Is it a Tang Clan secret?"
"Well, something like that."
It's not a Tang Clan secret. Just a folk remedy.
I glossed over it and wiped away the blood droplet on his thumb. As a bright red blood droplet formed in the same spot, Yeon-ryang exclaimed.
"Wow, the color has returned to red. It really feels like the indigestion is going down. Amazing."
"Now, press here."
As I pressed down on the Hegu acupoint between his thumb and index finger, Yeon-ryang nodded and rubbed the Hegu acupoint on his left hand with his right hand.
His complexion had brightened, so it seemed like I didn't need to prick the other hand.
As I disinfected the needle and put it in my pocket, Yeon-ryang looked at me with curious eyes.
"My sister could open a clinic."
"It's not that good."
"Yes, it is. Even if you just get a reputation for being good at treating indigestion, people will flock to you. Sister. How many doctors are there who treat ordinary commoners' stomachaches?"
If I get treated like a doctor just for pricking someone's finger, my grandfather would be furious.
'Do you think anyone can be a doctor? You have to be able to reattach dangling limbs to be called a doctor.'
'Even Hua Tuo couldn't reattach severed limbs. Grandpa.'
...I wonder if Grandpa is doing well. I miss him.
At the sudden feeling of melancholy, I swept back my hair and opened the window.
"Get some fresh air until you digest. We'll leave when the rain stops... It stopped."
"I guess it did."
Yeon-ryang, who had gotten up and approached, made a shade with his hand and looked outside.
The clouds cleared, and dazzling sunlight poured in. The rain that had been pouring since dawn had stopped before we knew it.
"The ground won't freeze, will it?"
"The weather has warmed up, so it won't. It's better to leave when the sun is out, Sister. The days are still short."
"Yes. Let's go right away."
Answering, I neatly arranged the items in my sleeve. Yeon-ryang, who had tied up his bundle and slung it over his back, also clapped his hands lightly.
"Well, shall we go then?"
Then, he suddenly picked me up.
"Yes? No, what are you doing...!"
As I waved my arms in panic, he put me on his shoulder as if telling me to stay still.
"I don't want you to get wet from the cold dew. If I wait for my sister's Light Footwork / Qi Movement Skill, the number of days we sleep on the streets will increase. We should reduce camping out by even one day, shouldn't we?"
Yeon-ryang, chuckling, didn't seem to have any intention of putting me down.
Clicking my tongue, I obediently grabbed his neck. I didn't want to prolong camping out either.
"Then let's cross over to Hubei."
"Kee!"
Ju-ryeong, who had been answering in my place, peeked out from between my sleeves.
"Okay. You hold on tight too, furball."
Yeon-ryang, raising the corners of his mouth, jumped down below the window.
