Chapter 28 -Fruitful After the Rain(11)
Her glossy black hair rested gently on her shoulders. The woman’s sharp gaze was fixed solely on Mu-Myung. Judging by appearance alone, she looked like a young maiden in her early twenties.
She seemed to enjoy quite provocative clothing. Her outfit, which exposed her alluring legs and cleavage for all to see, could be considered extremely daring even by modern standards.
Seeing such provocative attire for the first time in her life, Sua felt her face turning red. In contrast, Seolhwa was glaring at the woman with a coldly composed expression.
“Please don’t worry, young ladies. Half of what I said was mixed with light jest.”
“Half…? Then what about the rest?”
“That’s the truth. It is correct that my father’s name is Mu-Myung.”
“I can explain everything about that part.”
Feeling pressure from both sides, Mu-Myung urgently moved his tongue to try to stop the woman’s words. It’s no exaggeration to say that every word coming from her mouth was like a bomb.
Thanks to this, Mu-Myung succeeded in recapturing the woman’s attention, which had been directed at the cute girls. The woman opened her mouth with a seductive smile that had enchanted countless men until now.
“Are you getting to the main point? I prefer things to be quick.”
“I don’t particularly like idle talk either. But we don’t even know your name, do we?”
“Is there really a need to tell you my name?”
“How can we comfortably converse with someone whose name we don’t even know?”
The more they spoke, the more Mu-Myung realized his opponent was not someone to be taken lightly. The way she moved her tongue was extraordinary, giving the feeling of facing a sinister snake.
“You make a fair point.”
“My, it’s quite difficult to hear your name just once.”
“I apologize for the delay. I am Ryeonju Muwol, who, despite my inadequacies, leads the Sadoryeon.”[TL/N Ryeonju (련주) means “Lord of the Dark Lotus Sect,” referring to the leader of Sadoryeon사도련 (Dark Lotus Sect).]
“…I never dreamed that the Ryeonju of Dark Lotus Sect would personally come to a place like this.”
And thanks to the emergence of such an unexpectedly important figure, Mu-Myung’s body also stiffened with tension. Dark Lotus Sect was a kind of alliance, close to the Murimmaeng if categorized as a Orthodox Sect.
In other words, Ryeonju Muwol could be considered equivalent to the leader of the Murim Alliance in the Orthodox Sect. Since Mu-Myung had been expecting at most the leader of the Black Plague Sect coming for revenge.
The sudden visit of the Ryeonju could only multiply the shock. After all, neither Dark Lotus Sect nor the evil factions themselves had featured prominently in recent martial arts novels.
‘Usually, they don’t appear much unless the protagonist is from an evil faction.’
“It seems the great warrior is tired.”
“I’m sorry, I just have a few things to think about.”
“That’s alright. Now that we’ve introduced ourselves, shall we move to a better location?”
As Ryeonju Muwol wished, after settling in a suitable pavilion, during a brief rest period, Mu-Myung refreshed his mind by washing his face with cold water from a nearby stream. This is more dangerous than expected.
‘I was so shocked at first that I was unknowingly led around. Despite appearances, she’s a very dangerous woman. If I don’t stay completely alert…’
Her ability to dominate the battlefield with just words was no less impressive than ten generals. Although he had fought with swords a few times, this was his first verbal battle, making him relatively vulnerable.
Originally, he had lived with his master for only about seven years. Of that time, he could properly converse for barely two years. Even those conversations were mostly brief.
Though he did go down to the village to trade crops and hunted animals, even then, instances of proper conversation were extremely rare, barely countable on fingers.
‘But I can easily see how things are flowing.’
Perhaps thanks to the cold water cooling his confused mind. Finally, Mu-Myung’s head began to spin ferociously. Did she say her father had the same name? Then there’s only one answer.
‘She came looking for my missing father… that is, my master. It must be.’
Though Mu-Myung reached the conclusion without difficulty, it only resulted in making his heart feel heavier. How could one calmly tell a child about their father’s death?
But it’s times like these when one must be even more resolute. It may be heartless and cold, but that’s ultimately reality. If you don’t face reality, life becomes even more like hell.
Getting himself together, Mu-Myung headed back to the pavilion. He could see that the warriors of Dark Lotus Sect had already arranged everything. Small tables with food and cushions… and at the center.
“Finally, you’ve arrived, great warrior.”
Muwol was there, welcoming Mu-Myung with an excessively bright and beautiful smile. Though slightly surprised by the unexpected warm reception, Mu-Myung soon composed himself and spoke.
“I have something to say.”
“I know.”
“What?”
“I already know everything.”
Thirty years, a full thirty years. She had struggled desperately, staining her hands with blood, to find her father who disappeared when she was five years old. Throughout all that, the woman had faith in her heart.
Her father, who was so kind, couldn’t possibly have abandoned his family and just disappeared. Surely some misfortune must have befallen him, so she must become Ryeonju and help her father.
…With such thoughts, she finally succeeded in ascending to the position of Ryeonju. Although her brothers were foolish and full of greed, their skills and talents were no less than thier father’s.
Much more time had passed than she had anticipated. But even during that process, there was no sign of her father returning. What could that mean?
“Still, I came this far without giving up until the end. It might be a rude request to you, great warrior… but if it’s alright with you, would you accompany me until the end?”
As it trembled weakly like the voice of someone cornered to the very end, Mu-Myung could not refuse the request. It should be fine to accompany her for just one day.
Above all, she is his master’s child.
Shouldn’t one repay kindness?
◇
In the Elementary Learning, it is written that one should serve their teacher like a parent, always being respectful and reverential. It was perhaps natural for Sua, born of a noble family in the Orthodox Sect, to know the Elementary Learning.
That’s why Sua initially refused to accept Mu-Myung as her master. At that time, she wanted to be acknowledged by Murong Gang. She believed that was how she could become a real family member.
But now that she had belatedly realized it was nothing but an empty dream, Sua’s desire was focused solely on her master, Mu-Myung. At least, that’s what she thought initially.
However, since Seolhwa appeared, the very foundation of that thought began to shake. Is it really just that she wanted to serve and respect her master like a parent, as written in the Elementary Learning?
‘No way, I’m just trying to serve my master like a parent. Master is like a father who has uniquely taken care of me.’
Once ignited, doubt began to increasingly burn Sua’s heart. Especially at the peak was the sight of Muwol acting friendly toward Mu-Myung. Watching that scene was truly disgusting.
Eventually, Sua couldn’t bear it anymore and came to the stream to wash her face with cold water. After washing for a long while, Sua gave a hollow laugh. Even this action is exactly the same as her master’s.
“Young miss~ What are you doing?”
“…It’s Seolhwa. You can call me comfortably in private.”
“Then can I call you unni?”
“Yes. Feel free to call me whatever you want.”
The girl with pale skin and white hair hugged Sua with a satisfied smile at her answer. This child was also one who had lost her family and survived alone in solitude.
If anything, her situation was even more pitiful and deserving of sympathy than her own. To have felt jealous of such a child, even briefly. And at that moment, Sua’s expression began to fill with shock.
Jealousy.
Did I harbor envy?
And toward my master, who is like a parent?
If the members of the Murong family had heard this, they would have been more than astonished. Regardless of age, they would know what it meant to harbor romantic feelings toward a master who is like a parent.
“Unni, do you have some worry?”
“…It’s nothing.”
“No way, I can tell right away.”
“What?”
“You’re worried that woman will steal our master, aren’t you?”
The red eyes, gleaming eerily in the moonlight, seemed to pierce through the heart like an arrow. At the sharp remark, Sua couldn’t bring herself to answer and could only trail off.
“…How did you know?”
“You were angry before, remember? Your eyes then are exactly the same as now.”
“Yes, you’re right. But… this time it’s something I dare not interfere with.”
“Why?”
“It’s our master’s business. Besides, master also….”
However, she couldn’t continue beyond that. The thought of another woman being next to her master made her chest feel so constricted that she felt like she was going crazy.
“So you don’t like it either, do you?”
“…Yes, I don’t like it. But….”
“Then we should take that place ourselves.”
“Don’t say such nonsense!! We are master’s disciples!”
“Why?”
Seolhwa’s red eyes were glowing red. Eyes full of certainty, without a trace of doubt or worry. They were fierce eyes, closer to those of a beast than a human.
“Why can’t we?”
