EP.54 Plum Blossom Sword Dragon (梅花劍龍). (4)
Plum Blossom Sword Dragon (梅花劍龍) (4)
For some reason, the scholars' eyes, which suddenly began to glare, were quite severe.
Why are they suddenly doing this?
I raised my hand slightly, as if to scratch my cheek, and Shinhyeon and Yeongbong, who were in front, flinched simultaneously.
‘What? Why are you scared?’
What are you doing right now?
When I looked at him with a bewildered expression, Shinhyeon cleared his throat.
"...Why are you all doing this?"
"...This is really hard to explain."
What is it? What are these reactions all about?
The Huashan martial artists, who were looking at me just a moment ago, now couldn't meet my gaze and began to turn their heads.
They started whispering to each other.
"...I thought you looked familiar."
"Especially your eyes, right?"
"Looking at you now, you really resemble your sister."
"That's why it's hard to look at you..."
I could hear all their whispers.
They seemed to be talking among themselves, but for this to happen suddenly?
"Exactly what are you all talking about?"
After enduring it for a while, I finally asked.
Continuing to talk about someone in front of them is not well received.
When I spoke with an annoyed tone, Shinhyeon finally tried to defuse the situation.
"...Well, everyone was taken aback when they heard that you are a member of the Gu family."
The title suddenly changed from "young hero" to "young master."
Why does it matter that I am a member of the Gu family?
"Your sister is quite famous among us..."
I thought about what Shinhyeon said.
To be honest, I didn't know much about my younger sister at this time.
I only knew that she had left the family estate since she was young and joined the Huashan Sect.
Unlike my two older sisters, who were bound to the family estate, I didn't have much contact with my younger sister.
It was a strange situation that a direct descendant of a prestigious family could join another sect, but I hadn't thought about it much at the time.
It wasn't until later that I couldn't help but know about her because she became so famous.
My younger sister only returned to the family estate once every few years, and even then, only for a few days.
Looking at the current time, there wasn't much else I knew about her.
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't understand, so I asked Shinhyeon.
Shinhyeon opened and closed his mouth, as if he couldn't bring himself to answer.
What could be so problematic that he is hesitating like this?
"Little Hero, I really have a question."
While Shinhyeon was hesitating, Yeongbong interjected.
"...Gu Little Hero, did you always have that feeling?"
The person in front of me, Shinhyeon, is a second-generation disciple, and since he calls him "uncle," Yeongbong must be a third-generation disciple.
I am a few years younger than Yeongbong, so I thought we were of the same generation.
Why is he calling me "Feeling"?
"...What do you mean by that?"
After fidgeting for a while, Yeongbong closed his eyes and asked.
"Gu Feeling, were you always a... "
I didn't get to hear the end of what Yeongbong said with courage, because Shinhyeon slapped his lips with his palm.
Yeongbong, who was hit and rolled back, was kicked by Shinhyeon, sending him further back.
Then, the Huashan martial artists behind them started to stomp on Yeongbong as if they had been waiting for this moment.
Yeongbong let out a scream from the relentless kicks.
"A... Ah! Uncles, wait...!"
"He's really going to say it, man! Who's his matchmaker? Who's the third-generation disciple's mentor? How did they teach him like this!"
I was speechless at the brutal scene.
Yeongbong was literally being beaten to dust.
Yeongbong was about to ask something... what was it?
I was about to ask Shinhyeon again, but his attitude was firm.
"You don't need to worry about it."
"No... I think I should."
"No, no, you don't need to. I thought the education was lacking, but it seems to have worked out well."
Education? Is that really education? Is this how a promising young talent, known as a sword dragon, should be treated...?
It was very different from the image of the Dao I had in mind.
I thought it would be gentle and dignified, but this...
[Indeed... The juniors have been well taught. Friendship among disciples should be built this way.]
If this old man is really the Huashan Sword Immortal, then the problem started there.
At this realization, my mind was suddenly at ease.
When the scholars stepped back, Yeongbong was lying on the ground like a dead mouse.
He seemed to have lost consciousness. Is he okay...?
Contrary to my concern, someone picked Yeongbong up and carried him away.
"You don't need to worry. He'll wake up soon."
Before I could ask anything more, Shinhyeon cut in.
This seems like a situation where I shouldn't ask more questions?
"Okay, well... anyway..."
"Is Young Master Gu heading straight to Huashan?"
"I have to, I need to finish my task quickly."
"Besides delivering the message, do you have other business in Huashan?"
"Not really, I need to bring my sister back to the family estate."
Was there something strange about what I said?
The scholars' gazes focused on me again, but it wasn't like before.
They were much more intense and passionate.
'...Is Huashan really a group of crazy people?'
'Please, be quiet... My head is ringing.'
[You damn brat, you have nothing to complain about, yet you're insulting other sects!?]
No matter what, I couldn't do anything about it.
Judging by the gazes I was receiving, it seemed I could call them that.
Shinhyeon suddenly grabbed my shoulder tightly.
The title changed from "young hero" to "young master" to "great hero" in an instant.
Not only Shinhyeon, but the scholars who were hiding behind and watching also crowded around me.
"We will escort you to Huashan safely and quickly."
"Is it hard to walk? Would you like us to carry you? I'm quite fast with my lightness technique."
"Would you like us to breathe for you too?"
"Hey! Get rid of that horse, I can run faster than a horse!"
"Two horses would be better, I'll do it too."
What should I do, are they really crazy?
They looked like they had eaten a handful of poppies, and I almost forced a smile.
Fortunately, my voice didn't tremble.
"No, I think it's better if we go separately."
I said it with a desperate tone, but it was ignored.
In the end, I ended up traveling with the Huashan Sect.
[Hehe, your enthusiasm is truly endearing.]
At the top of Lianhua Peak in Huayin County, Shaanxi.
Although the plum blossoms have already bloomed, there are always plum blossoms in Huashan throughout the four seasons.
The plum blossoms, which are cultivated by the Huashan martial artists, never wither.
It was a hot summer, but the plum blossoms scattered by the wind looked like snow, making it seem like winter.
At the top of the mountain, closest to the moon, there is a small hut.
This place is not accessible to the third-generation disciples, let alone the second-generation disciples.
Only a select few among the Huashan Sect's leader, elders, and second-generation disciples can enter.
A small girl climbed the mountain path and carefully opened the door of the hut, which was bathed in moonlight.
Despite her best efforts to be careful, the old door was uncooperative.
Perhaps because of this, the person inside woke up and spoke.
The woman's voice carried the weight of time, yet it was still graceful and refined.
The girl, with a face full of guilt, cautiously peeked in.
The woman asked, "Linghua, why do you have that face?"
"...I'm sorry, I just wanted to see you and leave, but I woke you up, Master."
The master smiled slightly at the disciple's words.
Despite the years, her gentle nature remained, and it was impossible not to be moved.
She carefully extended her hands forward.
The disciple immediately ran to her master and hugged her.
While stroking her smooth hair, the master said, "It must have been scary to come at night, why do you come here every day? I feel uneasy..."
"I come because I want to... Please don't say that."
To get from the disciple's quarters to here, she had to run a long distance over rough mountain paths.
It must have been difficult and painful for a young child.
Yet, the disciple climbed the mountain path every day to see her master.
Held in her arms, the disciple asked cautiously, "Are you feeling well...?"
"I feel better today, perhaps because the weather is good."
"Would you like to take a walk together?"
The disciple smiled brightly, as if she had been waiting for this.
She immediately took her master's hand.
Though the hand was wrinkled and cold, the disciple found it comforting.
They left the hut and started walking.
The moonlight illuminated the path, so it wasn't dark.
The plum blossoms looked even more beautiful in the moonlight.
The disciple loved walking with her master on the mountain path, filled with plum blossoms.
Though the hands were cold, she could feel the warmth. The disciple considered this love.
She adjusted her steps to match her master's, in case she stumbled.
She kicked away the stones in front of her.
Even if the dirt got on her beautifully dressed clothes, she didn't mind.
The master calmly stroked the disciple's hair.
The master took a deep breath.
There was something she needed to say to the disciple, but it was something the disciple disliked.
"Before long, it will be time for you to visit Shaanxi."
As expected, the disciple fell silent at the master's words.
The slightly furrowed eyebrow revealed her displeasure.
The master smiled faintly at this.
"Are you going to meet your family, and you dislike it so much?"
The disciple whispered softly.
The master listened calmly without urging.
Then, the disciple's voice became clearer.
Her voice was tinged with moisture.
The master slowly lifted her head and wrapped her small shoulder with her hand.
The disciple's voice left the master with nothing more to say.
It wasn't her place to interfere.
Though she had taken the disciple in due to an unbreakable bond, she had no regrets.
She realized that the disciple was the happiness that came to her in her later years.
The only regret was her failing health.
If they had met a little earlier, she could have taught and given her more.
Time was truly frustrating.
The master wished for the disciple to find happiness in this chaotic world and not to cry.
Under the moonlight that illuminated Huashan.
The Plum Blossom Sword Empress (梅華劍后) gently stroked the disciple's hair.
The roar of a bear made the birds hidden in the forest take flight.
The area was filled with the mutilated bodies of monsters.
Nangong Bia, amidst the blue blood that stained the ground, calmly gathered her energy.
How many times had she encountered monsters?
She had counted on her fingers, but forgot after that.
She had been running non-stop from Shaanxi.
Running for so long made her doubt what she was doing.
But she didn't want to go back.
She had found a more comfortable place.
Nangong Bia found her way by instinct.
More accurately, she went in the direction where the stench was less.
This often led her to lose her way.
This time was no different, but it was a bit different.
The energy in her dantian had long since depleted.
Not only did she face monsters, but she also encountered a sudden downpour while walking.
The rough mountain paths had dirtied and worn out her once clean martial robe.
It was a familiar situation.
The good thing was that she could see a valley, which was a bit of an improvement.
In the forest where only trees and grass were visible, Nangong Bia whispered.
If asked how she was so sure, she couldn't answer.
If she went this way, he would be there.
The only place that felt cozy in this dirty and painful world.
After tidying up her sword, she changed direction and continued walking.
This was definitely the right way.
For some reason, it felt like it would work.
Nangong Bia's eyes widened.
She unconsciously covered her mouth with her hand at the words she had spoken without thinking.
"...Do I want to see him?"
Because there was no stench? Is that why?
Her posture, which had been straight, slightly wobbled.
Nangong Bia stopped and tried to clear her thoughts.