Rustle.
The large pine tree behind the western Training Ground of the Outer Hall. Seolhwa, who was standing under the shadow, leaning against the pine tree, turned her head at the sound of a presence. She had felt the energy of someone approaching for a little while now.
And she knew very well who the owner of that energy was.
“Hello.”
Standing under the moonlight, Yu Kang waved his hand. Seolhwa straightened her leaning body to face him.
“Um… we were supposed to meet here, right?”
“Yes.”
After the sparring match during the day. Amidst the chaotic situation, Seolhwa had sent Yu Kang a mental transmission. —Hour of the Rat (11 PM to 1 AM). See you under the pine tree at the western Training Ground.
She had only sent one mental transmission, but he had been so startled. A sigh had escaped her as he looked around with a very suspicious face before nodding.
“You found your way here well enough? I thought you’d get lost.”
Yu Kang scratched his cheek.
“Hehe. Actually, I did get a little lost. I have no sense of direction. But I figured I would, so I left early.”
“That’s wise.”
At any rate, he had kept the promised time.
“But why did you want to see me? I’m happy to talk with you more, but…”
Seolhwa furrowed her brow slightly and held out the note she was holding to him.
“This.”
“What is it?”
“Deliver it to your Sect Leader. He will know when he sees it.”
“…?”
Yu Kang looked back and forth between the note and her face. His eyes were clearly filled with curiosity.
‘I thought he would be angry. But he’s not?’
The secret that Mount Hua tried so hard to hide was related to the Sect Leader of Mount Hua. Therefore, it was only natural for suspicion to arise and the atmosphere to turn hostile when the Sect Leader was mentioned.
‘…Could it be that this boy knows nothing?’
“…How long has it been since you’ve seen the Sect Leader?”
“Let’s see… about two years? The Sect Leader entered secluded training.”
His eyebrows curved downwards.
“So, I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can deliver this…”
Secluded training.
‘So that’s what they told the disciples.’
After all, for someone like a Sect Leader to have to disappear from the public eye, secluded training was the only plausible reason. With that reason, it wouldn't be strange for him not to appear for a long time. Seolhwa pushed the note Yu Kang was trying to hand back towards him.
“Your Sect Leader is not in secluded training. So deliver it.”
“…He’s my Sect Leader, though?”
“Right. That’s why. There must be a place your elders visit periodically. Your Sect Leader is there.”
“…”
Yu Kang furrowed his eyebrows. Suddenly, the memory of the Martial Studies Hall Master, No Baek, hastily heading somewhere came to mind.
‘There’s nothing but the latrine in that direction? Hmm… he must be in a real hurry.’
Of course, of course. The elders are human too. It is in human nature to relieve oneself.
That was how he had dismissed the memory. The problem was that the Martial Studies Hall Master wasn't the only one he had seen like that.
‘The elders did travel that path often.’
Yu Kang knew this well because the tree where he secretly rested was on that path. He had just assumed there was something special about the latrine beyond.
“Yes. There.”
“…I didn’t say anything.”
“It’s all written on your face.”
“On my face?”
Yu Kang touched his own face. Then he frowned and lowered his hand.
“Let’s say you’re right. Then why did they say the Sect Leader was in secluded training?”
“That’s for you to find out. He’s your Sect Leader.”
“You know. Tell me. You’re the one asking me for a favor.”
Yu Kang held up the note. The corners of Seolhwa’s lips curved with interest.
“Are you threatening me right now?”
“Ugh… threatening, no, hey. It’s a… request…”
Seolhwa nodded with an expression that said she understood.
“Your Sect Leader is unwell.”
“What?”
“Be quiet. Do you want to call all the Outer Hall warriors here?”
“Hup, sorry.”
Yu Kang whispered softly.
“What…?”
“…I don’t know the details either.”
In truth, she knew roughly. But it wasn't certain, and knowing this much would be truly strange, so she decided to move on.
“The important thing is that if your Sect Leader’s illness isn’t cured, he won’t live for much longer. And that there is someone in Mount Hua trying to harm your Sect Leader.”
“…!”
“I don’t know who it is. This is all I know.”
Yu Kang’s expression hardened. He was no longer smiling, nor did he look at ease.
“Then this note is…”
“A way to save your Sect Leader.”
“…”
Yu Kang clenched the note tightly. He still seemed unable to believe it.
“Why entrust something so important to me? My master is an elder of Mount Hua. He is also the head of the Plum Blossom Sword Masters, who represent Mount Hua. It would be more certain to tell my master.”
“You said you haven’t heard about the Great Rebirth Pill, right?”
Yu Kang nodded.
“In your opinion, is Mount Hua weak?”
He shook his head.
Firmly.
“Then why do you think a sect of Mount Hua’s stature would have something as incredible as the Great Rebirth Pill stolen by a mere unknown Unorthodox Path Sect?”
“That’s…”
Yu Kang lowered his gaze in confusion. After being lost in thought for a moment, he looked at Seolhwa with a hardened gaze.
“Are you saying I can’t even trust my master?”
“To be precise, everyone who knew about the Great Rebirth Pill. In fact, I only trust two people in Mount Hua.”
“Who are they?”
“Your Sect Leader, and.”
Seolhwa pointed at Yu Kang.
“You.”
“…!”
There was one reason she trusted Yu Kang. Because she had seen what kind of person he was in her past life. Because she knew he tried to protect the legacy of Mount Hua even as he was dying, and she knew why he remained alone to fight the Blood Sect with his life on the line.
He was absolutely not a person who would betray Mount Hua.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t believe me. But I hope you deliver that note to the Sect Leader with your own hands.”
Yu Kang’s grip on the note tightened.
“For now… for now, I’ll take this note.”
He tucked the note into his robes.
“But whether I deliver it or not, I’ll decide after seeing for myself.”
“Alright.”
Seolhwa nodded obediently.
“You can read the contents of the note, I don’t mind.”
“…Yes.”
“You look conflicted.”
Yu Kang’s gaze was filled with confusion. It would be strange to be calm after hearing that the Sect Leader was dying and that there was a spy in Mount Hua. However, after closing his eyes tightly for a moment and letting out a sigh, when he opened them again, he had returned to his usual playful face.
“Today’s sparring match was fun. Wasn’t it.”
The topic changed naturally. She thought about her answer for a moment as he sought her agreement, but he quickly became sullen and stared blankly into the air.
“Again, it was only special for me…”
It seemed he remembered her saying that their first meeting in front of No Mun wasn't special. She was about to tell him it was quite fun, but Yu Kang’s expression had brightened in the meantime. Lacking the confidence to keep up with his emotional changes that shifted without context, Seolhwa decided to just stay quiet.
“I learned a lot, thanks to you. As I said before, I’m quite strong in Mount Hua. At least to the point where I can’t find an equal among my peers.”
Among the first disciples of Mount Hua, Yu Kang was the youngest. Nevertheless, no one looked down on him for being young.
“But, listening to you, I realized something. That I’ve been arrogant all this time. Even when the elders habitually told me not to neglect my training, I just brushed it off.”
Yu Kang clenched his fist.
“I regret it now. There was no room for laziness.”
“You’re strong even now.”
Thinking he might be blaming himself, she said a word, and Yu Kang’s eyes widened. He soon grinned foolishly.
“Reaally?”
“Like you said, not being able to find an equal among your peers means you’re that outstanding.”
“I guess so?”
Yu Kang chuckled and scratched the back of his head.
“If I had trained hard during all the time I spent playing, could I have become your equal?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“…You just called me a genius…”
“Because I’m someone who can’t be described with words like genius or monster. If you really want to win, try dying and coming back to life.”
But would that even work? Considering her previous life… maybe it would? While she was calculating the odds in her head, Yu Kang trembled and suddenly shouted.
“What will you do if I win? What if I beat you without having to die and come back?”
Seolhwa blinked.
Soon, her eyebrows curved pathetically.
“Well. I don’t think you can.”
“What if I can? What will you do if I can?”
“I’ll grant you one thing you want.”
At that moment, Yu Kang’s eyes sparkled.
“Something I want? Anything?”
“Yes. Anything.”
It won't happen anyway.
“Alright, great! That’s a promise, okay? Huh?”
Seeing him jump around, she immediately regretted her words. An uneasy premonition that she had said something unnecessary washed over her. Yu Kang clenched his fist tightly.
A competitive spirit flared up in his eyes.
“I will win no matter what it takes! Whenever, however!”
“…Right. Try your best.”
At this point, Seolhwa also became a little curious. Would the day ever come when this boy would be her match? At that moment, Yu Kang suddenly shouted.
“The Martial World is vast and the strong are many! Yu Kang, a first disciple of the Mount Hua Sect! This night, I declare to the moon that gazes upon heaven and earth!”
Seolhwa’s gaze grew dim.
“I, Yu Kang, will surely defeat Namgung Seolhwa!” …Isn't this guy crazy?
He wasn't exactly sane in my past life, but as a kid, he was an unimaginably crazy bastard… The moonlight shone brightly on the two of them. Watching Yu Kang extend his fist towards the sky as if to receive the pouring moonlight, Seolhwa stepped back into the shadows.
Just in case someone passed by, only he should look strange. Yu Kang looked back over the dark shadows with an innocent face.
“By the way, how old are you?”
“Thirteen.”
“…I see. Thirteen…”
Yu Kang was fifteen years old.
“I’m leaving tomorrow. You’ll come see me off, right?”
“I’ll be busy then.”
“…If you’re busy, it can’t be helped.”
It was a night where the bright moonlight made Yu Kang’s pale skin shine ever so brightly.