Chapter 60: Plum Dragon Fall (3)

Plum Dragon Fall (3)

It’s unwelcome.

The sound of the falling rain, the moonlit glow that knows no bounds.

Even the wind brushing past my hair.

Everything is unwelcome.

Amidst my thoughts, the woman asks.

[…Are you crying?]

[Don’t fuck with me, it’s obviously rainwater.]

The man answered roughly, but the woman’s hand touched his cheek.

Normally, he would have pushed it away, but this time, the man endured it firmly.

[You’re… not crying.]

[You ask for too much.]

Because I’ve been through too much to cry.

There wasn’t anything left that would make tears fall now.

[…What a shame.]

The woman’s voice held no emotion.

Even as she neared death, she remained the same.

Perhaps it was because she had observed and carried out countless deaths that she had become numb even to this.

The woman’s arm had been torn off, and a large hole gaped in her chest.

The fact that she was barely clinging to life despite wounds that should have killed her instantly was likely because the woman was a martial artist who had reached a supreme state.

Though even that was not long for this world.

[Why did you do it?]

The man, unable to comprehend, asked the woman.

In the final moment, the barrage of sword strikes was aimed at the man.

The woman could have easily survived, yet she took his place.

The man couldn’t understand.

The man didn’t want to understand.

It should have been him lying on this ground.

That had been decided from the very start when the war began.

The woman interfered with that.

That made him angry.

Yes, he was angry. The man thought so himself.

The woman slowly caressed the man’s cheek.

The man found the steadily accumulating sound of rain disgusting.

[Don’t cry.]

The man tried to swat her hand away at her words.

Amusingly, he grabbed her wrist and couldn’t bring himself to do it.

[…Don’t cry.]

The woman kept repeating the same words to the man. Her eyes were already closed; what could she possibly see to keep spouting nonsense?

Is it pity?

Meaningless camaraderie?

He couldn’t know anything.

[…I said I’m not crying.]

[Don’t… cry.]

The woman’s pale blue hair, soaked in rainwater, gradually lost its luster.

The moonlight, which had shone relentlessly, regrettably hid its face only at times like this.

[…Is the moon out…?]

The woman asked.

At her words, the man looked up at the sky.

The sky, covered in dark clouds, was only raining.

The woman liked the moon.

She often sat alone on a rock, watching the moon.

Annoyingly, the man remembered every detail of those moments.

[…Yes, it’s shining brightly.]

Since it was raining amidst the dark clouds, there was no way the moon could be seen.

Both the woman and the man knew that.

It was just a meaningless play.

[…Are you beside me?]

It was the woman’s question.

The man let out a dry laugh at her words.

[You ask that while creepily touching my cheek.]

At the man’s words, the corner of the woman’s lips seemed to twitch slightly.

Did she smile? The man thought he must have misseen.

[…You’re both here, that’s fortunate.]

What was fortunate?

The man couldn’t ask again.

Because with those words, the woman’s breath ceased.

Only then did the man slowly let go of the woman’s hand.

He felt he couldn’t give her a proper burial or take her body away.

The woman wouldn’t have wanted that either, and the situation wasn’t suitable for it anyway.

[I found you….]

At the voice heard from behind, the man slowly rose.

Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of martial artists faced the man from behind.

Those clad in white and blue, wearing uniforms marked with the character 盟 (Alliance) on the lower part.

Among the countless martial artists, a man with sculpted features at the very front aimed the tip of his sword.

[Fortunately, it seems you didn’t get far.]

The will to uphold justice and agreement shone from his face.

The man had to suppress a chilling feeling at that sight.

[…Meteor Sword.]

Meteor Sword Jang Seong-yeon, the man called the future of the next generation of the righteous sects.

He quietly uttered the man’s name.

At the man’s call, Meteor Sword’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

The woman next to him shouted.

[How dare you! Don’t utter the Great Master’s name with your filthy mouth, fiend!]

He said nothing in response to the shout. The fiercely falling rain felt particularly heavy.

[…I keep forgetting.]

Feeling exhausted, he wiped his face with his hand.

Yes, I keep forgetting.

Why I am standing here.

What my role is, I keep forgetting.

[…The Heavenly Demon will die soon. Surrender obediently!]

A hollow laugh escaped the man at Meteor Sword’s words.

He tried to hold it in, but he couldn’t.

[The Cult Leader? To whom?]

[The Three Venerables are currently with the Heavenly Demon….]

[Oh, the Three Venerables? So they left it to those old geezers and came rushing to catch lowly grunts like me.]

The laughter that kept bubbling up made his lips curl.

Meteor Sword’s face began to contort.

Seeing that, the man barely managed to stop his choked laughter.

[Right, gotta do it… gotta do it quickly, or they’ll throw a fit again if I mess up.]

As the man took a step forward.

Flames erupted from his feet, instantly engulfing the entire forest.

Amidst the martial artists assuming combat stances, the man focused only on Meteor Sword.

Looking at Meteor Sword, who had turned back with an expressionless face and met his gaze, the man said.

[Disgusting bastard.]

The corner of Meteor Sword’s mouth twitched slightly at the man’s words, but he couldn’t see his expression clearly as the flames obscured it.

The spreading flames soon engulfed the entire forest, burning down a vast area nearly ten li in less than the time it takes to eat a meal.

Reports later submitted to the Martial Arts Alliance stated that the fiend had escaped, and the sole survivor was Meteor Sword.

---

“Sparring.”

I swallowed a breath at Namgung Bi-ah’s words.

Flashbacks that sometimes surfaced against my will only brought up disgusting memories.

Why? Why did such a memory surface now? And of all times.

Unable to meet Namgung Bi-ah’s determined gaze, I turned my head slightly.

Because I felt like I might get sensitive recalling that time.

“…Can’t you see I just finished sparring?”

I had just finished sparring with Yeongpung.

Namgung Bi-ah must have seen that, right?

What kind of situation is it to immediately ask for a spar?

At my question, Namgung Bi-ah’s lips pouted slightly.

To make such a strange face…

It was a rare sight.

In my past life, it was unimaginable for Namgung Bi-ah to make such a face.

Each time this happened, I felt a little more that she was different from Ma-geom-hu, yet a strange emotion stirred in a corner of my heart.

[You curse inwardly all the time. It’s distracting, so just stay still.]

‘Your words are getting rougher?’

[Hmph.]

Did she want to spar, but dislike it now that it’s her descendant?

Nah, surely she isn’t that narrow-minded…

[….Damn bastard.]

‘…Seems like you hit the mark.’

Perhaps it’s because she’s a figure of Hua San.

To harbor such feelings even after time has passed.

[That’s a separate matter. The children of today must be taken care of responsibly by the current Sect Leader.]

‘Then what is it that you don’t like?’

[…Seeing her draw the Plum Blossom stance and get beaten up makes my insides burn, it wasn’t like that in my day…!]

‘…Wait, what is that.’

[These kids these days, sigh…. That’s not how you wield the Plum Blossom Sword Technique….]

Since she was spouting nonsense, I decided to just ignore it.

I looked at Namgung Bi-ah and said.

“Are you perhaps still sulking about it?”

Is she throwing a tantrum like this because I refused to spar with her but sparred with Yeongpung?

Whether it was a guess or the truth, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes flickered slightly.

“…I’m not sulking.”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“You seem sulky, though?”

“N…no.”

“Really not?”

But why does she keep avoiding my gaze? Was she always this expressive?

I couldn’t tell if it was because Namgung Bi-ah was still young, or if she was just naturally like this.

I couldn’t know for sure.

I suddenly had a question for Namgung Bi-ah, who kept avoiding my gaze.

“Miss Namgung.”

“…Yeah?”

“Do you like the moon?”

Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head at my question.

It was such an out-of-the-blue question, so it was understandable.

Perhaps after thinking for a moment, Namgung Bi-ah rolled her eyes and answered.

“Not really…?”

At her words, I let out a hollow laugh.

“Didn’t she like the moon?”

I thought she said she liked it.

Or maybe not, maybe she never actually said it.

“…?”

Seeing Namgung Bi-ah’s puzzled look, I said.

“The sparring… let’s do it next time.”

“…!”

Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened.

Is postponing it that surprising?

“…Are you going to spar?”

“If you promise not to use informal speech.”

“You?”

“No… forget it. Do as you please.”

Honestly, I’d half given up by now.

I had a feeling this wouldn’t change even if she died.

For now, I had used too much of my internal energy, and my body would quickly become tired.

Although I tried to control it, it was a martial art that was taxing to use for long, and my body would soon be overloaded.

I’ll probably suffer quite a bit lying down.

[I hope you get sleep paralysis.]

‘Are you going to keep saying things unbecoming of your age? A ghost talking about sleep paralysis….’

[Unbecoming of my age…!? This brat has no manners…!]

Perhaps because of the constant noise, a headache kept coming on.

As I clutched my throbbing head, Namgung Bi-ah came a little closer.

“What’s wrong?”

“My head just…”

Suddenly, Namgung Bi-ah’s hand touched my cheek.

Perhaps because of that, the thoughts that just surfaced overlapped.

“You have a fever….”

[Don’t cry.]

An unpleasant feeling surged from within, and I involuntarily slapped Namgung Bi-ah’s hand away.

“…?”

Namgung Bi-ah looked back and forth between her pushed-away hand and me.

I had acted too excessively without realizing it.

I let out a cough and apologized to Namgung Bi-ah.

“I’m sorry. I was startled.”

[You really can’t take a gift when it’s offered.]

Namgung Bi-ah nodded slightly.

It seemed like a sign that she was okay.

“Then… next time.”

Saying that, Namgung Bi-ah turned her back and walked away.

Was it my imagination, or did her steps seem cheerful?

Watching her go, Shin No-ya asked.

[You were so reluctant, what are you thinking?]

‘When was I ever reluctant?’

[You still feel awkward about her, even after saying you’d do it, even now….]

‘I just said it because she seemed so eager.’

[…Right, if you do end up doing it, try to control yourself this time.]

‘Control what?’

[Whether it’s that beastly martial art or anything else, be careful if you’re going to use your internal energy.]

I didn’t quite understand what Shin No-ya was saying. It didn’t sound like he was joking.

[You kept drawing out your internal energy recklessly, causing that thing to run wild, and I had a hard time subduing it.]

‘…What?’

[What on earth did you eat to harbor such a grotesque thing…. Must an old man like me suffer for it?]

‘You’re not even in this world anymore, what are you talking about?’

At my reply, Shin No-ya let out some kind of shriek.

This wasn’t something I could fix by covering my ears, making it even more annoying.

Although he spoke playfully, it was actually a troublesome matter.

My internal energy running wild if I use too much…

Shin No-ya’s words were inconvenient from my perspective.

Just when I was starting to feel capable of moving again, a problem erupts from within?

‘What on earth could it be…?’

Did it come across with the energy of a demonic beast?

Or was there something inside my body from the start, I couldn’t tell.

I considered the possibility that Shin No-ya might be lying, but ultimately, that wasn’t a certainty either.

‘If I hurry back to Hua San, will I find anything out?’

In reality, I didn’t think going to Hua San would reveal anything, but I had no other options for now.

‘Should I look into this later as well?’

Because there was nothing I could do in the mountains.

Leaving Yeongpung’s situation to the Hua San sect, I returned to the campsite.

As soon as I arrived, I felt something amiss, and after thinking hard about what was different, I realized Wi Seol-ah hadn’t rushed out.

“…What? Where did she really go?”

While it wasn’t a given that she’d come out to greet me, it felt slightly unsettling that she, who always appeared promptly, was nowhere to be seen.

Wondering where she went, I grabbed a passing attendant and asked.

“Seol-ah was with Grandpa Wi earlier.”

At the attendant’s words, I could finally relax.

If she was with the Sword Saint, there was nothing to worry about.

…Will I be accompanying Namgung Bi-ah starting tomorrow?

[…Must be nice. So plump….]

These were Shin No-ya’s words, popping out while I was contemplating what to do.

‘…Shin No-ya, you’re not really a Taoist, are you?’

[You brat…. To go so far as to spout nonsense about an ancestor of Taoism.]

No, no matter how I look at it, this person shouldn’t be the Sect Leader of Hua San….

Let alone the Sword Immortal of Hua San.

It was a terrible thing to say to the current disciples of the Hua San sect.

[…Do you know I can hear you?]

‘Yes, I know. Don’t worry about it.’

[Hahaha, what a truly damn bastard.]

After finishing the sparring, I realized the night had become much deeper than before.

If it got any later, tomorrow would be tough, so I had to lie down quickly.

I was worried about Yeongpung, feeling like I might have gone a bit overboard, but…

[Overboard…? Burning the Plum Blossom right before your eyes and you call it ‘overboard’…?]

…I thought he would overcome it just fine on his own.

If he was going to collapse this easily, attempting to overcome the wall was impossible from the start.

Since I had moved my body, I felt a bit sweaty and wanted to wash up before sleeping, but I was also too lazy, so I decided to just sleep.

[…To just go to sleep like this, what a filthy bastard.]

As always, I ignored Shin No-ya’s words.

---

Wi Seol-ah was chatting with the Sword Saint after a long time.

The ‘chat’ mostly consisted of the Sword Saint adding embellishments to his old martial records, telling them like folk tales.

Wi Seol-ah just found it amusing.

As her eyes half-closed, nearing the point of falling asleep, Wi Seol-ah asked the Sword Saint.

“Grandpa.”

“Yes?”

“What’s a fiancé?”

“…Huh?”

At Wi Seol-ah’s question, the Sword Saint wore a subtle expression.

He felt self-reproach and bewilderment that despite raising her freely, he hadn’t taught her even this basic common sense.

He didn’t know the intention behind his granddaughter’s sudden question, but since she sometimes asked strange things like whether eagles or hawks tasted better, he figured it was just her curious nature.

Thinking it might be another one of those questions, the Sword Saint answered Wi Seol-ah.

“…A fiancé is…”

“Yeah…!”

As she listened to the Sword Saint’s explanation, Wi Seol-ah’s expression grew darker.

Unaware of this, the Sword Saint continued his explanation calmly.

The next day.

Wi Seol-ah did not speak to Namgung Bi-ah.