Thud.
Cheongmyeong stretched comfortably, feeling refreshed as he looked at Baekcheon, who had collapsed like a ragdoll.
"Ah, it feels like ten years of pent-up frustration has finally been released."
Baekcheon lay completely still, as if he had lost consciousness.
Seeing this, Cheongmyeong chuckled softly.
"What a drama."
He had beaten him thoroughly, but since he had done it without causing any serious injury, Baekcheon would likely wake up after a short fainting spell.
The pain would linger for a day, but that was nothing to worry about.
"Yes, if I beat him like this, it’s much easier!" He had been overthinking things.
Whether that guy from the Hwa Jong Society succeeded or not had nothing to do with Cheongmyeong.
"…Wait."
Thinking about it, he couldn’t bear to see the Jongnam guys swaggering around Hwasan.
"Hmm. So what should I do… Aah! What a shock! Ah!" Cheongmyeong, who had been squatting in thought, suddenly rolled sideways in surprise.
It was because Yui-seol was squatting next to him, staring intently at him.
"No way! What are you, a ghost?" He had to do something about this.
At this rate, he might die of a heart attack before he could even revive Hwasan.
"Make some noise! Make some noise!"
"I did!"
"When?!"
"When I was beating him just now."
"…."
Cheongmyeong glanced at Baekcheon, who was still sprawled out like a corpse, then turned his gaze back to Yui-seol.
A gentle smile appeared on his lips.
"Did you see?"
"Yeah."
"Did you see everything?"
"Just from a little while ago."
"Hmm."
"Did you kill him?"
"No, that’s going too far."
Would he really kill him? Cheongmyeong observed Yui-seol’s head closely.
She tilted her head in confusion.
"Why?"
"I was wondering if hitting him on the back of the head would make him forget. Like, amnesia or something."
"…I forgot."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I forgot everything."
She seemed a bit slow, but she had a survival instinct.
Cheongmyeong narrowed his eyes slightly.
At that moment, Yui-seol spoke quietly.
"Then teach me that sword technique."
This girl didn’t know when to give up.
Was she a flame maiden? Until now, he had let things slide, but it was getting harder to do so.
Besides, hadn’t she seen him happily beating Baekcheon? Now, playing dumb wouldn’t work.
Then he needed to change his strategy.
Cheongmyeong let out a deep sigh and opened his mouth.
"Why do you want to learn it?"
"…."
It seemed to be an unexpected counterattack, as Yui-seol flinched.
Then, with a slightly flustered expression, she looked at Cheongmyeong.
Her emotions were clearly written on her face… 'This girl can’t lie in front of others.'
Yui-seol hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"I can’t tell you the reason…."
Her hesitant voice carried sincerity.
"I absolutely need to master that sword."
Cheongmyeong quietly gazed at Yui-seol. 'It seems she doesn’t just want to learn it because the plum blossom is pretty.' There was a longing in her eyes.
It seemed she had some story he couldn’t guess.
"You want to learn?"
Yui-seol nodded.
"I don’t need to ask for anything."
"Huh?"
"That sword originally belongs to Hwasan. If you wait, you’ll naturally learn it."
"…It’s not in Hwasan anymore."
"Oh?" She knew it wasn’t in Hwasan? That meant she recognized that the sword he had drawn was the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
More precisely, it was Cheongmyeong’s version of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
Cheongmyeong nodded.
"Right. It’s not in Hwasan now."
"…."
"But it will return soon. When you’re ready."
"Ready?" Cheongmyeong looked at Yui-seol quietly.
Instead of answering her question, he stretched out his hand and pointed to the sky.
Soon, Cheongmyeong’s hand gracefully danced through the air.
At first, Yui-seol tilted her head in confusion, but soon she realized he was drawing the sword’s path and gazed at the tip of his finger with serious eyes.
"Is it the Moon Maiden Sword?"
"Yes."
Yui-seol slowly became absorbed in Cheongmyeong’s gestures.
It was undoubtedly the Moon Maiden Sword.
The one she had spent the most time mastering and honing.
However, Cheongmyeong’s Moon Maiden Sword was somehow different from hers.
It wasn’t just that the movements were different; there seemed to be a fundamental difference.
When the hand movements, which had lasted a long but short time, came to an end, Yui-seol let out a quiet sigh.
"Did you understand?"
Yui-seol shook her head.
"No. I don’t understand at all."
Just as Cheongmyeong was about to say something, Yui-seol spoke first.
"But figuring that out is my job. I think I understand what you’re saying. You can’t learn it unless you reach a certain level, right?"
"That’s right."
"You need to refine what you have now and build a solid foundation first."
"You understand well."
Yui-seol nodded slowly.
"I get it."
Cheongmyeong looked at Yui-seol with newfound eyes. 'I thought she was just slow, but she’s smart too.' Well, personality and intelligence are separate issues.
It could be possible.
"Okay. But if you tell anyone about what happened today, I won’t teach you at all."
"I won’t say anything."
"Good."
As Cheongmyeong nodded, Yui-seol narrowed her eyes.
"I’m your accident, and you’re my accident."
"I know, I know. Yes, you’re good."
"…."
Yui-seol’s hand, which held the sword, tightened slightly.
Cheongmyeong quickly turned away.
"Then let’s meet again. Don’t come looking for me until you’re ready. It’s annoying."
"Um…."
Yui-seol reached out to grab Cheongmyeong, but he didn’t wait and walked down the mountain.
"Oh, and throw that idiot into a room. If you leave him here, he’ll end up with a twisted mouth."
Hearing Cheongmyeong’s voice from afar, Yui-seol let out a deep sigh. 'Plum blossom.' Cheongmyeong made a plum blossom bloom at the tip of his sword.
It was a sight she had never seen even once since coming to Hwasan.
She simply… Yui-seol closed her eyes.
In her mind, the sword began to move.
The tip of the sword, which had been moving gracefully, shook and soon began to bloom with clear plum blossoms.
Plum blossom.
And the tip of the sword.
And the man holding the sword. 'Father.' - I will definitely restore this sword.
And someday, I want to return to Hwasan and repent for my mistakes.
Seol-ah, let’s go together.
Hwasan is a wonderful place.
And in the end, his sword could not fully bloom into a complete plum blossom.
But now, someone who could bloom such a plum blossom appeared before her.
"I must learn."
No matter what.
Bang! Cheongmyeong burst through the door of Baekmaekwan.
"Hiiiiiik!"
"You’re here!"
He was met with an unexpectedly excited reaction.
"What’s going on?" Even though it was still early morning, Jogol and Yoonjong were waiting for him on the first floor.
"It seems like training went well. You’re awake at this hour?"
"That’s not it, there’s been a commotion!"
"Huh?"
"Baekcheon-hyung is missing, and the disciples came looking for him at Baekmaekwan."
What a strange bunch.
Why would they come to Baekmaekwan if Baekcheon was missing? Could it be that Cheongmyeong had kidnapped him… Ah, he hadn’t thought of that.
He could have just quietly taken him and beaten him up.
It seemed there was at least one smart guy among the top disciples.
"Stop suspecting people for no reason. It’s unpleasant."
At Cheongmyeong’s words, Yoonjong’s face brightened.
"So it wasn’t related to you! Thank goodness…"
"Is that so?"
"…."
But why did he feel bad? This wasn’t something to feel bad about! No, this wasn’t the important thing right now!
You were with Baekcheon, right?
""Yeah.
""Could it be…
I’m not thinking what I think, right?
""What are you thinking?
"Yoonjong laughed awkwardly."
It can’t be, but since you’re not in your right mind, it can’t be that you hit a disciple or, as you said last time, gave him a knockout punch…
""…What’s the difference?
""Striking the face counts as extra points.
"Jogol nodded as if he agreed. Cheongmyeong waved his hand in the air."
Hey, I’m not a kid.
""Ah, no.
Right, Cheongmyeong! I believed in you.
No matter how crazy you are, you wouldn’t hit a disciple.
""I didn’t hit him.
""Right!
""I beat him like a dog.
""Right.
Like a dog.
Baekcheon-hyung originally had a dog-like side…
What?
"Yoonjong’s face shook as if an earthquake had struck. Watching him was quite a sight."
You beat him?
""Yeah.
""Who?
A disciple?
""No, just kidding?
""Don’t tell me.
I’m not the kind of person who jokes….
"At that moment, Yoonjong suddenly lunged at Cheongmyeong, grabbing him by the collar and shaking him violently."
Hey, you crazy bastard! You should know when to stop! What will happen if you hit a disciple?
Do you know how serious the crime of deceiving your teacher and disrespecting your ancestors is…?
""Hey!
"Cheongmyeong kicked Yoonjong away. Having easily shaken off the senior disciple, he rubbed his neck and frowned."
Do you think I’m an idiot? I handled it well so there wouldn’t be any problems, so don’t worry.
Don’t you know me?
""…I know you handle things.
I know.
"Yoonjong sighed deeply."
Goodness, even if you’re out of your mind, there’s a limit.
How can you hit a disciple? There are basic rules that a person should at least follow.
""…When has he ever followed those rules?
""Ugh.
"At Jogol’s blunt truth, Yoonjong sighed as if he had lost his country. Thinking about what would happen in the morning made him want to cry."
Why is the atmosphere like this? Do you think I can’t handle that kind of thing properly?
""…So what did the disciple say?
""He asked me to make him stronger.
""Huh?
"At the unexpected answer, Yoonjong and Jogol both widened their eyes and stared at Cheongmyeong. Cheongmyeong, on the other hand, casually scratched his ear and said nonchalantly,"What’s so surprising?
""….""…."The two exchanged glances. 'Does that make sense?' 'No, thinking about it, it doesn’t make sense. We were the same, right?' 'But he’s a disciple.' 'We’re seniors, right?' Those who have experienced similar situations understand how Baekcheon felt when he said those words."
So, what did you say? Did he agree?
""No. I just beat him up.
""…Beat?
""Yeah.
""Why?
"Cheongmyeong shrugged his shoulders."
Is there a reason? I just felt like it wasn’t enough.
I beat him until I felt better.
""…."At that moment, Yoonjong regretted not training hard before Cheongmyeong arrived. If he had the chance to go back in time, he would have trained without sleeping until the moment Cheongmyeong arrived. That way, he could have countered that crazy guy’s punch. Yoonjong painfully realized that when a strong person loses their mind, there’s no way to stop them."
Stop worrying about useless things and just sleep.
You’ll find out when you wake up.
""….""I’m going to sleep.
"As Cheongmyeong trudged upstairs, Jogol and Yoonjong were left behind, letting out deep sighs."…Did he really beat him?
""I’ve realized something about Cheongmyeong.
""What is it?
""That guy talks nonsense, but he doesn’t lie.
""…That’s good to know.
"Very good. That guy."
But, senior.
""Huh?
""Doesn’t that mean even Baekcheon-hyung was beaten by Cheongmyeong?
""….""Is it true?
""He talks nonsense but doesn’t lie.
""No, it’s just such an unbelievable story.
But still, he’s Baekcheon-hyung."
"But it’s Cheongmyeong.""…I can accept that."
Yoonjong shook his head and looked up at the upper floor where Cheongmyeong had gone.
That monster was now even eating Baekcheon.
Where was Hwasan going? Hwasan was… Yoonjong felt like crying for some reason.