EP.48 To Huashan This Time. (2)
To Huashan This Time (2)
I always say this, but time doesn't listen to my circumstances.
It moves entirely as it pleases, so I have to adapt to it.
By that measure, ten days was far too short a time.
I had to make up for my lacking training, and I had to squeeze my poor memory to write down the events that would happen in the future.
Along with that, I had to exhaust myself dealing with Elder Li and Gu Huibi, who visited every day.
If I had to find some peace of mind, it would be teasing Wi Seol-ah, who sat next to me after finishing her household chores.
The look on her face as if the world was collapsing when I snatched her yakgwa was so entertaining.
‘Come to think of it, isn't this my money?’
The servants might spend their own money to buy some of it, but most of it was my money.
To be exact, it was the Gu Family's money, but it's all the same, really....
‘Until I run away from home, it's my money.’
I had thoughts of leaving the Gu Family someday, but that was still a distant prospect.
At the very least, I needed to stick around for 5 years and eat everything I could.
Thud! Thud!
I finished my training and took off the sandbags.
The sound they made as they hit the ground made it clear they were no joke in terms of weight.
"Is it still not enough?"
Reaching the 4th star in just ten days was indeed impossible.
I was currently at the tail end of the 3rd star realm, but separately from that, the wall was definite.
To take fluid movements while wielding destructive inner qi, my physical body had to be equally solid.
In that sense, just as the Gu Family's secret martial arts were easy to learn, its mental cultivation method was extremely vicious.
The crazily spewing flames proportionally devoured inner qi at a frightening rate.
To endure such ferocity, my physical body had to be tough.
And considering my past life's experience, I knew all too well the importance of external cultivation.
"...Because I didn't know that, I couldn't pierce through Manseong."
Manseong (滿成, Full Completion).
The ultimate pinnacle of the Gu Flame Flower Wheel Art.
A realm where one learns, realizes, tames, and ultimately masters the mental cultivation method.
I wondered if fancy terms like Honyeonilche (渾然一體, Seamless Integration) held a similar meaning.
But since I never reached it in the end, I wouldn't know.
The Demon Sword Empress of my past life had reached the realm of Shingeomhapil (身劍合一, Unity of Body and Sword).
In some ways, her realm might have been higher than mine.
When asked what kind of feeling or enlightenment it was, she had answered like this:
‘No feeling at all.’
She said.
I hadn't expected a proper explanation in the first place, so I wasn't disappointed.
‘If I had to give it meaning, it's the sensation of having transcended something.’
I could feel a vague sensation that was hard to put on the same level.
This would be felt more clearly as my realm rose and I got closer to it.
I couldn't feel it right now because my realm was as small as rat droppings, but even the person in front of me was far removed from the line of a martial artist.
"I am incredibly skilled at driving a carriage, Young Master!"
"...No, we have a separate coachman, Elder Wi."
Why was a gentleman like him... doing this?
I had always been curious about that....
******************
The promised ten days had already passed.
It felt like I hadn't even rested properly, but they said it was the day to leave for Shaanxi, where the Huashan Sect was located, just as I had discussed with my father.
Damn it... To go to Shaanxi right after returning from Sichuan.
How long would it take this time? By the time I visited Huashan and arrived back, it would probably be autumn.
"...How many days do you think it'll take this time?"
"I think it will take longer than you expect, Young Master."
"That's harsh. Are you still sulking?"
Ever since I teased him with the silver coins last time, Muyeon seemed to be in a bit of a foul mood.
Of course, I didn't give him the money.
Ah, so he's sulking because of that? I was planning to add that much to his next salary, though.
Putting Muyeon aside for now, I shifted my gaze to the carriage being prepared for departure.
I could see goods being neatly stacked inside the carriage.
Unlike when we went to Sichuan, it looked much more abundant.
Perhaps it was because the Family Head was sending the carriage personally, so they paid more attention.
In the midst of that, I saw Wi Seol-ah carrying heavy loads, walking unsteadily as she moved the baggage without even looking ahead properly.
She was carrying loads that other adult men would struggle with as if it were nothing.
‘...Is she actually already harboring inner qi in her dantian?’
If not, it was an incomprehensible monstrous strength.
*Neigh!*
My gaze naturally went to the sound of the horse.
Leaving Wi Seol-ah moving the baggage aside, the Sword Venerable was communicating with the horse.
...How should I view this horse-shit of a situation?
‘...Why on earth is she coming along?’
How surprised was I when, shortly after the schedule was set, I heard that the Sword Venerable and Wi Seol-ah were coming along on the trip to Huashan.
Furthermore, claiming she had to drive the carriage, the Sword Venerable volunteered for the role of the coachman.
Wondering what nonsense this was, I looked for the original coachman.
I was told that, having returned from the Sichuan trip, he received silver coins and a vacation, and went to rest.
Why exactly at this time? Right after returning, the Huashan trip was decided?
‘It smells extremely fishy.’
There was a very faint fishy smell suggesting the Family Head had personally exerted his influence.
And amidst those smells, there I was, lured by the Taeseondan, walking into the whirlwind.
Is this right? It doesn't seem like it.
"Little brother."
It was Gu Huibi's voice.
Turning my head toward the voice, I saw Gu Huibi holding a familiar bowl of dumplings.
"Why do you have that again?"
"Little brother, you said you didn't eat again."
"No... I did eat some Bigokdan."
"Little brother, are you crazy? How do you expect to live eating that at your growing age?"
"As you can see, I'm living just fine—mmph!"
As if she wouldn't listen to the rest, Gu Huibi shoved a dumpling into my mouth.
I wanted to spit it out right away, but even so, I couldn't bring myself to spit out a dumpling.
I barely chewed and swallowed it, and also drank the water Gu Huibi offered.
"..."
Seeing me chew and swallow it well, Gu Huibi smiled with satisfaction.
That only made me more annoyed.
"Sister, when on earth are you leaving again?"
"Why? Do you want me to stay longer?"
"No, please leave quickly...Ugh!"
I quickly turned my head to dodge the fist that came flying in.
Swinging her fist right off the bat, this crazy woman!?
"Hey! Use your words!"
"I knew you'd dodge it anyway! With that mouth of yours."
Every time she dusted off her hands, a red qi burst out a little.
Wow, she even put qi into that?
Leaving the shocking action behind, Gu Huibi grinned and said.
"Probably, I'll be leaving in about ten days too."
Ten days, so combined, she rested for nearly 20 days, which was a massive vacation from the standpoint of a Sword Unit Leader.
Was it because long-term missions were grueling? Considering that the missions of the Five Swords Unit were mostly long-term to begin with, this one must have been particularly difficult.
"When your break is over, where are you going this time?"
"Oh, what's this! Are you worried about me?"
Annoying. Should I not have asked?
Finding my reaction funny, Gu Huibi giggled.
"It's a shame I won't see you for a while."
Gu Huibi messed up my hair wildly with her hand.
As she shook it, my head shook along with it, and I felt Elder Li's presence from Gu Huibi.
Of all people, she had to resemble that old man...
"When I go this time, it'll be a bit long. They said I'm going to the Demon Realm."
"The Demon Realm?"
The Demon Realm referred to the regions where the Demon Realm Gates were particularly active.
It was a region intensively managed by the Martial Alliance, and if a family belonged to the Righteous Faction, they had agreed to send a Sword Unit to the Demon Realm according to the schedule.
It seemed this time, it was the Five Swords Unit's turn from the Gu Family.
"It's going to be tough."
"Won't it be fun? They say demonic beasts overflow there... I'm already feeling excited."
"....Have fun and enjoy yourself."
It was an unnecessary worry... She's excited about that?
The Crimson Flower Mad Sword... She really was a terrifying woman.
While we were making small talk, Muyeon approached and delivered a message.
"Young Master, the preparations are complete."
"Are we leaving right away?"
"Not right away, but I think we'll depart in about one incense stick's time. Elder Li said he's coming to deliver something..."
"...What is he trying to give us this time?"
Anything that came out of that old man's mouth made me anxious.
He was the kind of person where it wouldn't be strange if he suddenly appeared and said, "Give this to the Sect Leader over there and come back."
"Give this to the Sect Leader over there and come back."
But why did that actually happen....
"...What did you say?"
Thinking I misheard for a moment, I asked again.
Elder Li had appeared out of nowhere and spoken.
Then, as if it was nothing, Elder Li spoke again.
"Huh...? Oh, give this to that punk Dohwa..."
"No...! Wait, wait! I wasn't asking about the Huashan Sect Leader's title."
"What, then why did you ask?"
Crazy, did this guy just call the Huashan Sect Leader a punk in the middle of all this? What kind of audacity is that...
"Anyway, if you go to Huashan and say Gu Ryun came looking, he'll meet you, so give him this and come back."
"What is this that you're making me run an errand for?"
"It's nothing special, just an item I had promised to give him but this old man had forgotten about for a while."
The item Elder Li handed over was loosely wrapped in cloth, making it truly seem like it was nothing special.
As I kept fiddling with it because the texture felt quite good beyond the cloth, Elder Li explained what it was.
"It's called the Maehwayeonjeongseok (Plum Blossom Lotus Righteous Stone), one of the Four Great Treasures of Huashan."
At Elder Li's words, my stroking hand stopped involuntarily.
Moreover, I could even hear Muyeon standing next to me unconsciously hiccuping.
....What did I just hear? I must have misheard this time too, right?