EP.54 Plum Blossom Sword Dragon (4)
Their gazes are stinging.
I didn't know the reason, but the sudden glaring eyes of the sect members were quite fierce.
Why are they acting like this all of a sudden?
When I slightly raised my hand, wondering if I should scratch my cheek, Xin Xian and Ying Feng in front of me flinched simultaneously.
‘What? Why are they scared?’
What is going on right now?
"...Ahem."
When I looked at them with a dumbfounded expression, Xin Xian let out a dry cough.
"...Why are you all acting like this?"
"No, well..."
"...How should I put this."
What is it, what on earth are those reactions?
The martial artists of Huashan had been looking at me just fine until a moment ago, but now they started turning their heads, unable to meet my eyes.
And then they whispered among themselves.
"...I had a feeling they looked alike for some reason."
"The eyes especially look alike, right?"
"Looking at it like this, they really resemble Fourth Sister."
"That's why it's even harder to look at him..."
I could hear all their whispering near my ears.
It seemed like they were talking amongst themselves, but to suddenly act like this in this situation?
"What in the world are you all talking about?"
I couldn't hold it in any longer and asked.
Having them talk like this with me right in front of them didn't sit well with me at all.
When I spat out in an displeased tone, only then did Xin Xian speak to me as if trying to clean up the situation.
"...That, everyone was flustered upon hearing that Young Master is from the Gu family."
The title suddenly changed from Young Hero to Young Master.
What does being a blood relative of the Gu family have to do with right now?
"Young Master Gu's sister is quite a famous figure on our side..."
"My sister?"
I pondered over Xin Xian's words.
To be honest, around this time, I didn't know much about my younger sister.
Only that she had left the family at a young age and belonged to the Huashan Sect.
So, unlike the two older sisters who were tied down to the family, I didn't have much contact with my younger sister.
Looking back now, it was strange that the direct descendant of the family head in a prestigious clan could become a member of another sect.
But I hadn't thought about that part at the time.
It was only later, when my sister became so famous that I couldn't not know even if I wanted to.
A younger sister who only returned to the family once every few years, and even then, only for a few days.
Looking at the current timeline, aside from that, there was nothing else I could know.
"...Why about her?"
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure it out, so I asked Xin Xian back.
"...Hm."
Xin Xian kept opening and closing his mouth, unable to bring himself to answer.
What could be the problem that he's hesitating like that?
"Young Hero, I really have something I want to ask."
While Xin Xian was doing that, Ying Feng interjected.
"What is it?"
"...Young Hero Gu, was Fourth Brother always that kind of vibe?"
Fourth Brother?
Xin Xian in front of me was a second-generation disciple, and seeing as Ying Feng called him Martial Uncle, Ying Feng was a third-generation disciple.
I, of course, and my sister should be a couple of years younger than Ying Feng, so I thought we'd be on the same disciple tier.
Why is the title Fourth Brother?
"...What does that mean?"
"No, I mean... well."
Ying Feng, who had been hesitating for a long time, squeezed his eyes shut and asked.
"Was Fourth Brother Gu originally a man..."
I couldn't hear the end of Ying Feng's shout as he mustered his courage.
Because Xin Xian suddenly struck Ying Feng's lips with his palm.
"Mmph...!!"
Xin Xian kicked Ying Feng, who was clutching his smacked lips and rolling backward, sending him even further back.
Then, from the rear, the martial artists of the Huashan Sect began to stomp on Ying Feng wildly, as if they had been waiting for this.
At their merciless kicking, Ying Feng let out a scream.
"A-ahhh! M-Martial Uncles, wait...!"
"Is he really crazy?"
"He's actually trying to say it, hey! Who's this guy's senior! Who's in charge of the third-generation disciples! Who taught him like this!"
"That's you, you bastard!"
"Aaaagh!"
"...."
I lost my words at the brutal sight.
Ying Feng was truly getting beaten to a pulp, literally getting the dust beaten out of him.
It seemed like Ying Feng was just trying to ask if she was originally a man...
I tried to ask Xin Xian again, but his attitude was firm.
"Um..."
"You don't need to worry about it."
"No... I think I should."
"No, no, you don't need to. It seems his training was a bit lacking, but the situation worked out perfectly."
"Excuse me...?"
Training? Is that really training? Is it okay to treat a rising star called the Sword Dragon like that...?
It was completely different from the image of a Daoist sect I had pictured in my head.
I thought they would be gentle and dignified, but what is this...
[As expected... the juniors have taught him well. Bonds between disciples should be built like that.]
"....Ah, I see."
If this old man really was the Huashan Immortal Sword, wasn't that the root of the problem?
At that sudden realization, my frustration completely dissipated.
I don't know how long he was beaten, but when the sect members stepped back, Ying Feng was lying on the ground like a dead rat.
He seems to have lost consciousness, will he be okay...?
As if my worry was unfounded, someone slung Ying Feng over their shoulder and disappeared to the rear.
"You don't need to worry. He'll be up in no time."
Before I could ask anything more, Xin Xian cut in.
It feels like this is a situation where I shouldn't ask any more questions?
"Yes, well. Anyway..."
"Then, Young Master Gu, are you heading straight to Huashan?"
"I have to, I need to finish my assigned task quickly."
"Other than delivering the demonic artifact, do you have other business at Huashan?"
"It's nothing major, I just need to take my younger sister back to the family."
"Excuse me...?"
Did I say something weird again?
Like before, the gazes of the sect members focused on me.
No, it wasn't like before.
They were much hotter and more passionate eyes.
'...Was Huashan originally a group of crazy bastards like this?'
[What, you brat!?"
'Please, just stay quiet... My head is ringing.'
[You rotten brat, you have nothing else to curse about so you're insulting another sect!?"
Whatever I said, it couldn't be helped.
Judging by the gazes I was receiving right now, it seemed perfectly fine to call them that.
Xin Xian suddenly grabbed my shoulder tightly.
"Why are you..."
"Let's go, Great Hero."
"What?"
The title changed in an instant, from Young Hero to Young Master, and from Young Master to Great Hero.
Not only Xin Xian, but the sect members who had been quietly watching from behind swarmed toward me.
"We will escort you to Huashan safely and quickly."
"Is it hard to walk? Should I carry you on my back? I'm quite fast at qinggong."
"Should I breathe for you too?"
"Hey! Get that horse out of the way, I can run faster than a horse!"
"Two horses are better than one, I'm joining in too."
"...Wow."
What should I do, they really seem like crazy bastards.
Looking as if they had swallowed a handful of poppy seeds, I responded with a half-forced smile.
Fortunately, my voice came out without trembling.
"No, I think it's better if we go separately."
I said it with a desperate voice, but.
My words were lightly ignored, and I ended up traveling with the Huashan Sect.
[Hoho, their lively appearance is truly lovable.]
....Life.
******************
The summit of Lotus Peak, located in Huayin County, Shanxi.
The season for plum blossoms to be in full bloom had passed, but plum blossoms bloomed on Huashan all four seasons.
They did not wither, harmonizing with the internal qi harbored by the martial artists of Huashan.
The season was a sweltering summer, but the plum blossoms fluttering in the wind looked like flower buds, making it resemble winter upon a second glance.
If you passed the mountain path and climbed to the place closest to the moon, a small hut was built there.
This was a place where not only the third-generation disciples of Huashan, but even the second-generation disciples could not enter carelessly.
A place where only a very few among the Sect Leader and Elders of Huashan, and even the first-generation disciples, could enter.
In such a place, a little girl climbed up the mountain path and carefully opened the door of the hut bathed in moonlight.
Creaaak.
She tried to open it as carefully as possible, but the old door had a mind of its own.
Perhaps because of that, the person inside made a noise, waking from their sleep.
"Come in quickly."
The woman's voice carried the weight of years, but it was still an elegant and beautiful voice.
The little girl cautiously poked her head in with a face full of guilt.
Looking at her, the woman asked.
"Ling Hua, why are you making that face."
"...I'm sorry. I was just going to see your face and leave, but I woke you up, Master."
The master smiled faintly at her disciple's words.
Even after years had passed, her gentle nature remained, making it impossible not to give her heart to her.
She carefully reached out both hands forward.
Seeing this, the disciple immediately ran to her master and hugged her.
Stroking her beautiful hair, the master spoke to her disciple.
"The night road must have been scary, how do you come here every day, my heart is not at ease..."
"I come because I like it... Please don't say such things."
To get here from the disciple's quarters, one had to cross a rough mountain path and run for a long time.
It must be hard and painful for a child's body.
The disciple climbed the mountain path every day to visit her master.
The disciple, who was in her master's arms, carefully asked.
"Are you feeling okay...?"
"Perhaps because the weather is good today, my body feels fine."
"Really!"
"Would you like to go out for a walk together?"
"...Yes!"
As if she had been waiting for those words, the disciple smiled brightly.
The disciple quickly grabbed her master's hand.
It was a wrinkled and cold hand, but the disciple even liked that.
They left the hut and went on a walk.
It was not too dark because the moonlight illuminated the path in the middle of the night.
Plum blossoms are even more beautiful when they receive the moonlight.
The disciple loved so much the mountain paths full of plum blossoms where she strolled with her master.
Though they held cold hands, the warmth was definitely felt. The disciple considered this to be love.
She matched her master's stride in case she fell.
She kicked away the pebbles in front of them.
Her pretty clothes got covered in dirt and dust, but she didn't mind.
The master calmly stroked the disciple's hair.
"Ling Hua."
"Yes, Master."
The master secretly took a breath.
She had something to bring up to her disciple, but it was a topic the disciple hated.
"In a little while, it will be time to go to Shanxi."
"...."
As expected, the disciple fell silent at her master's words.
One slightly furrowed eyebrow showed that she was sulking.
The master smiled shallowly at that sight.
"You're going to meet your family, do you hate it that much?"
"...."
"Ling Hua."
"...Yes."
The disciple whispered softly.
The master did not rush her and listened calmly.
Then, the disciple's voice came through a little more clearly.
"...They're not my family."
It was a voice filled with moisture.
The master slowly raised her head and wrapped her arms around the disciple's small shoulders.
"...I'm sorry."
At the disciple's voice, the master could say nothing more.
For it was not something she dared to intrude on.
She was a disciple she had to take in due to an unforgettable karma, but she had no regrets.
Rather, she was realizing that the disciple was the happiness that had visited her in her twilight years, which wouldn't last much longer.
If there was one thing she regretted, it was that her body was not healthy.
If they had met just a little earlier, she could have taught and given her so much more.
She truly resented time.
The master hoped her disciple wouldn't cry, and prayed that she would find happiness in this confusing world.
Under the moonlight illuminating Huashan.
The Plum Blossom Sword Empress sorrowfully stroked her disciple's hair.
******************
*Grrrrroar-*!
At the roar of a bear, the birds hiding in the forest fluttered and flew up.
The surroundings were full of the hacked-up corpses of demonic beasts.
Amidst the blue blood soaking the ground, Nangong Bia calmly gathered her energy.
How many times had she encountered demonic beasts?
She counted up to her fingers, but didn't remember after that.
She had run without rest from Shanxi.
Running for such a long time made her feel skeptical about what she was doing.
Even so, she didn't want to go back.
Because she had found a more comfortable nest.
Nangong Bia found her way by intuition.
To be exact, she unknowingly headed toward the side with less stench.
Because of that, she often got lost.
It was the same this time, but slightly different.
The internal qi that had filled her dantian had long since run out.
Not only demonic beasts, but she also had to face downpours while walking.
Going back and forth on rough mountain paths dirtied her everywhere, and her once clean martial uniform had long become old and shabby.
It was a familiar occurrence.
Fortunately, she was able to reach a valley, which made it a bit better.
"...Almost there."
Nangong Bia whispered in the forest where only trees and grass could be seen.
It was a resolute voice.
If asked how she could be certain, she wouldn't be able to answer herself.
She just felt that way.
That if she went this way, he would be there.
The only cozy place in this dirty and painful world.
After organizing her sword, she changed direction and moved her steps.
It was definitely this way.
For some reason, she felt like this way would do.
"I want to see him soon..."
Nangong Bia's eyes widened.
At the words she had blurted out carelessly, she covered her mouth with her own hand without realizing it.
'...Want to see him?'
Why?
Because he doesn't stink? Could that be it?
Her posture, which had been walking straight forward, faltered slightly.
Nangong Bia stopped still and organized her thoughts.
She stood like that for a long time.
After standing still for about an incense stick's time, she spat out the words abruptly.
"I want to see him...? I want to see him."
Nangong Bia nodded.
She didn't really know the reason, but it seemed she missed him.
That was enough.
There seemed no need to think of other reasons.
"Almost there."
She could feel him from afar.
A certainty that wasn't certain.
The distance still seemed a bit far, but it wouldn't take too long.
As if her worrying was over, Nangong Bia moved her steps once again.