Chapter 257 The Letter You Sent. (2)
At the clumsy and crude writing on the letter,
I had to wear a blank expression for a moment.
Because I didn't know Wi Seol-ah would send a letter,
and I hadn't expected her to write it herself.
In the meantime,
'Did I know this kid could write?'
That was the first question that crossed my mind.
While I wondered if I was looking down on Wi Seol-ah too much,
I thought she was illiterate since she lived stuck in the mountains with the Sword Lord.
If that were true,
Did she learn to write to send me this?
If so, this letter I'm holding right now
would feel exceptionally heavy.
*Shhk.*
I carefully unfolded the letter I had received.
What could be written in it?
I was immensely curious,
but unlike my impatient heart, my fingertips were slow.
- Are you doing well, young master?
- I am doing well.
'Heh.'
What truly crooked handwriting.
Yet, there were no traces of erasing or correcting.
She probably kept rewriting it over and over.
And this is the letter made that way.
- I'm sorry for leaving without a word.
Right.
You should have at least said something.
Or at least left a letter like this when you left.
- Were you disappointed that I disappeared?
'Disappointed, huh.'
- Actually, I hope you were, just a little.
Was I disappointed?
'Well.'
Thinking about it now, I think I did feel disappointed.
Even now, I occasionally feel the emptiness.
Wi Seol-ah, who used to wake me up with her noisy voice every morning,
the face that would appear out of curiosity about what I was doing,
the figure that would approach at mealtime, wanting to eat together,
'Are you okay, young master?'
The voice that worried about me.
has now ridiculously become an empty space,
and it felt exceptionally large.
'It was only a little over a year.'
Barely a year.
Why should the memories of such a short time be so important,
that I must feel this way?
Wi Seol-ah following me because she liked it.
As if I was someone special,
as if I had become a special existence to you, young as you are,
did that shake me so much?
'I'm still immature. I am.'
Even after experiencing so many things,
and hitting rock bottom.
I am a shallow human being.
Even though I knew you would leave,
here I am, acting like this after you actually disappeared.
Since the content wasn't very long,
I read the letter slowly.
There was no special story in the content.
I'm doing well.
The food here doesn't seem very tasty.
The scenery is pretty, so it's nice,
but the mountain I saw in the Gu Family was better, etc.
It was written about how she was doing.
However,
'It seems like she's trying hard to only say she's doing well.'
As if to keep me from worrying,
it was full of phrases giving the feeling that she was doing well, so I shouldn't worry.
- Ah, and I started learning the sword from grandfather.
'From the Sword Lord?'
So she's finally started learning.
'Wait...?'
Then who taught her when she swung the sword in the Gu Family?
I naturally thought the Sword Lord was teaching her.
'Did she do it alone?'
Given that, it seemed like Wi Seol-ah had said something along the lines of learning the sword.
- It's fun. Grandfather also praised me, saying I do well.
Of course she does well.
Thinking of Wi Seol-ah in her past life, it was somewhat a matter of course.
If she didn't have that much talent,
there would also be no reason for her to be called the Divine Sword.
- I grew a lot taller too. Grandfather even expressed regret, saying it felt like I'd grow taller than him soon.
Even considering the Sword Lord's height wasn't very tall,
Wi Seol-ah growing that much was somewhat amazing.
Is this real?
'Being small was fine too.'
If the content of the letter is true, it would be a bit disappointing.
- I am learning a lot of things.
- It's disappointing and sad to be apart from you, young master,
- But they said it's necessary for the future.
I frowned at the written words.
Saying it was necessary meant
someone must have told her that.
'Did the Sword Lord say that?'
Would the Sword Lord have a reason to say such a thing?
- I will learn even more.
- Because they said if I do, I can protect you, young master.
"Who is protecting whom?"
At the confidently written phrase, I eventually let out a hollow laugh.
"...Protect, my foot."
Rather than protecting someone,
I hope you live a life for yourself.
Because you devoted your life to protecting others in your past life,
I hoped this life would be different, but
'To protect me.'
It was truly an overwhelming statement.
- I miss you.
The words that followed were like that too,
- Do you miss me, young master?
and the words after that as well.
The affection you show me is truly difficult for me.
Whether I am worthy to hear such words from you,
and the feelings you send me,
whether I deserve to fully accept them,
I still do not know.
Your figure looking for me even after leaving my side,
makes me shamefully happy,
yet on the other hand, terrified.
- I miss you a lot.
- So please wait for me.
- I will definitely come see you, young master.
As if written by pressing down hard,
the words of the letter contained quite a lot of Wi Seol-ah's feelings.
Reading it calmly, I eventually let out both a laugh and a sigh.
'Is she not telling me to come find her?'
Even after putting in so many stories,
there was no mention of me coming to find her.
There were only words that she would come.
'...It seems like she's telling me not to come.'
Somehow, it looked that way.
As if asking me not to come until she does.
- Goodbye.
Ending with the greeting written at the end of the letter,
I neatly folded it and tucked it into my embrace.
It was ultimately a light letter of greeting saying she was doing well,
but it was not a story that could simply be seen that way.
"...When did you bring this?"
"It was about three months after you left for the frontlines."
Then it seemed like a period of a little less than a year.
Was there nothing after that?
"Are you thinking of going?"
"...To where?"
The First Elder was asking me with a rather insidious expression.
"If it's Qinghai, the distance is considerable, but it's not impossible to go."
Regarding the place where Wi Seol-ah was,
the First Elder had told me in the past.
Qinghai.
The place where Kunlun of the Nine Sects and One Faction exists,
and also where the Zhang Family, the main house of the Alliance Leader, was located.
Hmm,
"To me, this is more of a question—why you stubbornly refuse to go."
A reason not to go.
Honestly, there were dozens of reasons not to go rather than reasons to go.
If it was the choice of the Sword Lord and Wi Seol-ah,
how could I dare to argue about that choice?
Of course, even excluding all those reasons,
making a justification to go was as easy as just making one.
If there wasn't even a justification,
'I could just ignore everything and go find her.'
"Looking at your expression, it seems you weren't without thoughts."
"Hm..."
It was as the First Elder said.
As if looking for reasons not to go,
in the end, at the tail end, I found myself looking for a reason to go.
'...Originally, I was thinking of visiting Anhui and then going there once,'
if I truly had to go to the Divine Dragon Pavilion,
I had a plan to use the little time left in between to go once.
It was quite tight, but if I really wanted to, it wasn't impossible.
Clearly, that was my intention, but
- I will definitely come see you, young master.
"...I'm still not sure."
The First Elder, hearing my words,
looked at me with strange eyes.
It seemed like he was trying to read what I was thinking,
and also like he was looking at me with a bit of dismay.
The First Elder, who had been looking at me silently,
let out a deep sigh and turned his gaze to the Hao Clan Leader, who was sweeping the floor earlier.
"If you say so, then so be it."
"I feel somewhat offended."
"It is nothing. Anyway, is your business finished?"
"...Yes, well, roughly."
In reality, I came to argue,
but with the unexpected events, I now felt detached.
'...Regarding the Tyrant Lord.'
As the First Elder said, he said he would come,
but he probably wouldn't come right away.
'If push comes to shove, I'll just run.'
Even if the Tyrant Lord says he wants to see me,
if I don't see him, that's that, isn't it?
Actually, even if he says he wants to see me, I'm not sure if I can truly avoid it, but
'Let's not think about it now...'
Thinking about it now is just utterly bleak.
I decided to feign ignorance for now.
"I'll be taking my leave now."
"Hmm? Leaving already?"
"Yes, I'm supposed to meet my father later."
"Hmm... Right, if it's Patriarch's business, it can't be helped. Stay a bit longer next time."
"...I'll think about it."
If I stay here long, who knows what they'll do to me.
I absolutely won't stay long.
Leading my heavily weighed-down body, I bowed to the First Elder and moved my steps.
I needed to have a conversation with the Hao Clan Leader too,
but the atmosphere was thick with the vibe that Muk Old Man was embarrassed and didn't want to be spoken to.
I just decided to see him next time.
Since he said he'd stay at the First Elder's residence, I could just come tomorrow or the day after.
'Is he not thinking of returning to the Hao Clan?'
Although the Hao Clan Leader's identity is a secret, he is still the head of a faction.
I wondered if it was okay for him to stay in a place like this, but
'Since father allowed it, it must be fine.'
If there was a problem,
or a situation went wrong,
father would have dragged him here and burned him to death.
I sent a brief glance at Muk Old Man,
and moved my steps again toward the main house.
After Gu Yangcheon left.
Muk Old Man, who was sweeping the yard, stopped his sweeping at the same time.
Gu Ryun was lying on the porch, only making a bitter expression.
"They say children grow up fast, but he's changed severely."
Said Muk Old Man, looking at Gu Yangcheon's back.
A strange emotion seeped into his speaking voice.
"Don't eye him so greedily."
Gu Ryun, who noticed that the emotion within was greed,
let out a heavy voice.
Along with that.
*Hoo.*
A faint heat lingered in the small residence.
"Look at this? Are you trying to beat up your weak friend?"
"Since you know my temper, you should also know that I can do that much, right?"
"Even as you age, it seems that temper of yours doesn't know how to die."
"Stay moderately and go back. To the place where you belong."
'That damned steadfastness is still there too.'
The overflowing affection he showed Gu Yangcheon just moments ago disappeared,
and only a sharp appearance remained for Gu Ryun.
Muk Old Man knew that was the true appearance of the old man called Yeom A-kwon.
Yeom A-kwon's true alias as well.
Knowing that, Muk Old Man did not make any further statements.
"I didn't indulge in greed."
"You're lying through your teeth."
"...Of course, I did think for a moment! that it wouldn't be bad if he got along with my daughter, but can't you let that slide a bit?"
"That is what I call greed, you damn old man. Do you know how old your daughter is to be saying that?"
"...She's roughly past twenty, right?"
"Our grandson already has a young, kind, and pretty wife, so bug off."
The selection was also quite wide.
For some reason, Gu Yangcheon had an overflowing amount of luck with women.
"...Hmph."
Muk Old Man snorted as if he didn't like it, but
Gu Ryun didn't even pretend to hear it.
Leaving such Gu Ryun behind,
Muk Old Man only observed the direction Gu Yangcheon had left.
With eyes that became calm, unlike before.
'He's burning more and more.'
Compared to the last time I saw him.
The presence Gu Yangcheon possessed had grown much larger.
Was it because he was the child of the Tiger Hero?
No.
Rather than the child of the Tiger Hero...
'It would be right to call him the child of the Noble Demon.'
I don't know how much of his mother's blood he inherited,
but if he inherited it properly,
it was a natural consequence.
Of course, it seemed the younger sister unfortunately didn't, but
it was important that even one did.
'Please grow as you are.'
The flame that grew that way,
I hope it eventually burns the karma that fell on this land.
Muk Old Man thought of Gu Yangcheon and prayed earnestly.
"Ah! My hands are freezing!"
"If you dislike it so much, then you do it!"
Muk Old Man, who couldn't stand Gu Ryun's words any longer, eventually
grabbed his broom and rushed at Gu Ryun.
Somewhere in Xi'an.
A middle-aged man was climbing a steep path, sweating.
"...Damn, the road is so damn steep!"
Birds startled by the middle-aged man's shout flapped their wings and flew up.
Seeing that, the middle-aged man, the Beggar Sect's Chu Woong, thought.
About how he ended up like this.
"...Fuck."
Thinking about it naturally made curses pop out,
but no one was there to point it out.
*Crunch.*
Walking through the forest, stepping on branches.
It's already been a year since I did this dog-like work.
It was a year ago that I was fooled by that True Dragon bastard's words and ran to Xi'an.
'...If only I hadn't gone then.'
It would have been better.
It's been a year since I've had this shitty thought every single day without fail.
I wonder if I'm not tired of it,
but if I don't even have thoughts like this, my situation would be so shitty I wouldn't be able to endure it.
How did the Beggar Sect's Fighting Hound, who was doing quite well, end up like this?
Chu Woong let out a deep sigh.
Walking through the forest path for a long time,
a single hut could be seen in the distance.
'...Ugh, fuck.'
As soon as he saw the hut, Chu Woong tensed up completely.
He really didn't want to go there,
but Chu Woong's steps didn't stop.
Because if he didn't go, he didn't know how that monster-like human would act.
...
!..
...
Finally reaching the front of the hut,
*Creak.*
Opening the door and entering,
someone was already waiting for Chu Woong inside.
"...Hehe, the Great Hero has arrived."
In contrast to his large frame,
Chu Woong showed a servile attitude as soon as he saw the figure sitting in the chair.
This was a survival method he had acquired in the past.
Though the young man sitting in front of him didn't seem to care at all.
"You're late."
At the heavy words that came out, Chu Woong hurriedly approached and rubbed his palms together frantically.
"Oh my, this is... I had a lot of work, so I was a little late."
The young man glanced at Chu Woong once and closed his eyes.
If I smack him in the head right now, wouldn't I win?
Chu Woong momentarily harbored a vain thought,
but immediately erased it from his mind.
If I could win with just that, I would have beaten him long ago.
Unfortunately, the human in front of him wasn't someone that would work on.
'...Crazy bastard, who looked at this guy and called him the lowest of the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes? Whoever spread such false rumors, I'll definitely catch and kill them.'
Recalling the memories of being dragged around by this guy for the past year,
the guy named Fighting Dragon Bi Uijin was definitely not at the level of a late-bloomer.
Meaning, he wasn't a human that those mere kids could mess with.
'Where the hell did a guy like this pop out from?'
If I had to compare,
Pang Woo-jin, who was called the Dragon of the Pang Family, or
the Sword Phoenix, who is now considered the greatest late-bloomer, wouldn't they have to bring someone like that?
'Then what about the True Dragon?'
Gu Yangcheon, the True Dragon who sent him here, came to Chu Woong's mind,
but it wasn't easy to compare.
Either way,
both were monsters without a doubt.
Bi Uijin looked at Chu Woong like that and asked.
"Did you deliver the letter I sent well?"
"...Yes, I sent it right away."
"And no reply yet?"
"Haha... T-That's right."
At Chu Woong's words, the young man, Bi Uijin, frowned as if he didn't like it.
"...Hmm."
Is something bothering him?
As Bi Uijin frowned deeply, Chu Woong flinched his shoulders in turn.
Because he felt the atmosphere wasn't good.
Usually, in cases like this, the conclusion was quite bad.
For himself, of course.
Fortunately, there was a method for times like this.
Before Bi Uijin could do something, Chu Woong brought up a topic first.
"Ah, Great Hero."
Bi Uijin's cool black eyes turned toward Chu Woong.
His body stiffened tightly in fear of the energy contained in that gaze,
but he couldn't stop talking.
"...Earlier, I saw the youngest miss looking for you, Great Hero."
"..."
The youngest miss.
Bringing up the story of the Bi Family's youngest,
Bi Uijin's face seemed to relax slightly.
As expected.
This was a direct hit.
For a guy who did whatever he wanted and had an eccentric temper,
he was strangely weak to the youngest.
"Perhaps she's looking for you to have a meal together..."
Before Chu Woong could finish speaking,
Bi Uijin stood up first.
He would probably go down to the main house right away to find the youngest miss.
Running into the Bi Family's blood relatives while looking around the main house earlier was a godsend.
'Thanks to that, I survived...!'
Otherwise, I might have been hanging from a tree by now.
It could be considered a grace.
Soon, Bi Uijin moved his body, and
"If something comes, come to me right away."
"Oh, of course. I should go right away!"
"If you run away again, you know what's next, right?"
"Y-Yes..."
After being caught trying to run away last time.
Recalling what happened, Chu Woong
couldn't help but shiver involuntarily.
"Ah. Burn this roughly on your way."
Bi Uijin, passing by such a Chu Woong, handed him a letter.
"This is...?"
"It's a relief that I'll be able to see it sooner than expected."
"Yes?"
Chu Woong turned around, wondering what he meant,
but Bi Uijin had already disappeared.
Chu Woong looked at the letter in his hand,
and there,
- Scheduled to enter the Divine Dragon Pavilion.
"...Huh?"
was written an unexpected phrase.