Free Web NovelAfter the storm had passed, Yeon Ryang lifted me clear off the ground while I fumed and wheezed, laughing as he tried to calm me down.
“Easy, easy, Sister. Hold it in. Hold it in.”
“Brother! Let me go. I’m telling you, I won’t feel better until I punch that monk in the face!”
“You couldn’t land a single hit and only got beaten up......”
“Aaagh! I’m so mad!”
Yeon Ryang stating the facts only made me angrier.
Even when I screamed and charged at him, I had not been able to lay a finger on Beopgong.
When I stamped my feet, Beopgong flicked his tongue out and laughed at me.
“You can’t beat me, kid. You think they give the chief seat of the Arhat Hall to just anyone? I dealt with every martial artist who came to challenge Shaolin.”
“Master Beopgong, do you know you’re seriously obnoxious?”
“Yeah. I hear that a lot. I am pretty impressive.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
What kind of person was this?
If he had not been Yeon Ryang’s friend, I would have stuffed lethal poison straight into that mouth of his.
“Ugh, seriously! I’m going to melt off every last hair on your head while you’re asleep!”
When I shouted at the top of my lungs, Beopgong, who had been snickering, went pale.
“Wait, wait. Hold on, kid. Don’t say something that terrifying. I spent a year growing this out.”
“Then you can spend another year growing it again!”
“Hey. Leave the hair alone. I really worked hard to grow it.”
“You don’t go easy on me either!”
“Fine, fine. I surrender. I surrender.”
He hurriedly waved both hands, declared surrender, and backed away.
I glared at him and jutted out my lips.
I would only feel better if I at least left a palm print on that hateful man’s back, but honestly, my arms and legs were trembling so badly that it was hard just to stand.
Noticing my state, Yeon Ryang let out a dry laugh and set me down on the ground. Then he crouched beside me and poked my cheek.
“Sister. Are you sulking?”
“I’m not sulking. I’m angry, all right? This is unreasonable. Who just throws a person into an unorthodox faction’s den without warning?”
“A martial artist shouldn’t whine. You’re fine except for that cut on your left arm, aren’t you? A wound like that will heal if you spit on it. Stop grumbling and put this on.”
Beopgong shrugged and tossed me a small bottle. I snatched it out of the air and narrowed my eyes.
“What is this?”
“Jade Spirit Powder. It’s valuable. Use plenty. That way I can roll you around again.”
After answering, Beopgong began tying up the unorthodox martial artists sprawled across the ground and gathering them in one place.
Their paralysis seemed to be wearing off, because they began flopping one by one, looking just like fish at a seafood market.
Was he going to hand them over to the Martial Alliance like that? Still, because he was a monk, maybe he was unexpectedly mercifu—
“Graaagh!”
—not merciful.
My body flinched on its own at the brutal sight of him destroying a dantian in a single move. For no reason, my own lower abdomen seemed to ache.
“Are you really a monk?”
“The Buddha’s law forbids killing. It does not forbid severing the chain of evil. In other words, as long as I don’t kill them, it’s fine. As long as they’re still breathing, it doesn’t matter whether I cut the sinews and meridians in their limbs or smash their dantian.”
“If you hadn’t entered Shaolin, you would’ve become an unprecedented fiend.”
“Which makes it a blessing, doesn’t it? Thanks to the old abbot taking me in, this body of mine is protecting the peace of the Central Plains. Kid. What are you doing? I told you to put the medicine on.”
Beopgong shot back at Yeon Ryang’s criticism, then gestured at me.
I awkwardly shifted my eyes and looked down at the bottle.
Shaolin’s Jade Spirit Powder was undoubtedly a precious medicine, but it was not something useful to me.
“Yes. I’ll put it on later.”
When I fudged my answer and toyed with the bottle, Beopgong frowned as if he could not understand why I was doing that.
“Why? Put it on now.”
“That’s right, Sohae. Put it on now. I’m not just saying that. It really is precious. Only a fake monk would splash it around like water. Wandering martial artists drool just for a chance to smell that stuff.”
Yeon Ryang chimed in too.
Under the oppressive gazes of the two grown men, I stared into empty air, then slowly turned my back. My mouth went dry on its own at this awkward situation.
If I showed them the wound, they would find out about my constitution.
“Mmm...... It’s precious, so I’ll wash first and put it on later.”
“I said put it on now. If you leave it alone, the metal poison will set in. Are you holding back because it’s too valuable? Give it here.”
Beopgong strode over and took the Jade Spirit Powder back from me. He rolled up my sleeve in one swift motion and scattered the fine powder lavishly over the long cut.
But only the powder turned red. The bleeding did not stop.
Startled, Beopgong’s brows furrowed.
“What? A wound this shallow should close right away with Jade Spirit Powder. Why isn’t the bleeding stopping?”
“Ahaha.”
I laughed awkwardly and tried to pull my arm away, but he did not budge, like a solid rock.
Beopgong lowered his head to examine my wound, and his expression turned serious.
“Kid. Does medicine not work on you?”
*****
After hearing the whole story, Beopgong offered an apology with a face that did not look sorry at all.
“Wow, sorry about that, kid. I almost killed you.”
“If you know that, then don’t ever do it again.”
“Sure. From now on, I’ll make sure to choose places where you won’t get stabbed before I throw you.”
“No, I’m telling you not to throw me!”
Yeon Ryang’s face was dark as he watched our exchange.
“......Sohae. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“It’s not exactly good for other people to know. It’s a weakness. Keep it secret. You too, Master Beopgong.”
“Yeah, yeah. I swear on my hair. No matter who asks, I’ll say I don’t know.”
“Can’t you swear on something other than your hair? I don’t trust that even a speck.”
“You think it’s common for me to swear that I’ll keep faith with someone, to the point of staking my hair on it? Today is the first time.”
“So that means you’re not going to keep it, doesn’t it?”
While Beopgong grinned and teased me, Yeon Ryang grimaced and pressed hard at the corners of his eyes with both hands. He looked like his head hurt.
At his serious expression, Beopgong asked as if he did not understand.
“Hey, Yeon Ryang. The one who got hurt is the kid, so why do you look like death?”
“Because I feel like an idiot for not noticing all this time. Don’t talk to me. I need to sort out my thoughts.”
At that sharp answer, Beopgong and I swallowed and exchanged looks.
Yeon Ryang seemed angry.
“Hey. What’s with him?” fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
“Doesn’t he seem angry?”
“Why?”
As Beopgong and I moved our lips and whispered, Yeon Ryang clutched his head and spoke.
“I’m going to get some air.”
Then he turned his back and strode away. Beopgong, who had been glancing around at the awkward atmosphere, sprang to his feet.
“Hey, hey, kid. Stay here for a bit. I’ll go soothe your brother.”
“Yes.”
I watched Beopgong drag Yeon Ryang off into the distance and worked my lips.
Had I said something wrong? Why had he suddenly gotten angry?
*****
Only after Beopgong had gone far enough that Tang Sohae could not hear did he stop walking.
He stared at Yeon Ryang’s rigid expression, then crossed his arms as if telling him to speak.
“Hey. You told me not to say a single careless word because it would scare the girl. What’s with you all of a sudden?”
“Forget it. I just don’t feel good.”
“Because of the kid’s wound?”
“No. I just...... wondered whether I’d failed to give her that much trust.”
At that answer, Beopgong looked dumbfounded.
“Huh? Look at this bastard. Are you feeling hurt because the Tang Clan kid didn’t spill her weakness to you?”
At Beopgong’s rebuke, Yeon Ryang went blank, as if he had been struck.
“......Damn it. I guess that’s it.”
He muttered, then dragged both hands down his face with a hideous grimace. Beopgong blinked at him, then burst into laughter.
“Ha! Hey, do you know you’re being petty right now? Even I would’ve hidden it. Her life is on the line. How could she say something like that?”
“I know, so shut up.”
“Ahahahaha! You really are hilarious. If Shaolin had one guy like you, there wouldn’t be a dry day from laughing.”
After throwing his head back and laughing for a good long while, Beopgong wiped away a tear and asked,
“Yeon Ryang. Do you really want to be that kid’s brother? She’s Tang Clan blood. The Tang Clan is the most obsessed with blood relatives in the whole Central Plains. With talent like hers, the moment she earns herself a decent sobriquet, they’ll try to take her back.”
“I know, so I told you to shut up.”
Yeon Ryang slowly took a deep breath. His eyes sank gloomily. The laughter vanished from Beopgong’s mouth.
“You sentimental bastard. Playing family must’ve been fun.”
Grumbling, Beopgong crouched beside Yeon Ryang.
“Tsk, tsk. Suffering soul. Do not bind yourself to ties and flounder in them.”
“I’m not going to the temple.”
“Idiot, I’m not trying to convert you. I’m saying this because it’s frustrating watching you build attachment all on your own. Attachment becomes suffering, and suffering returns as karma. Don’t get greedy. Let things flow as they will.”
“What’s with you, suddenly saying monk-like things?”
“I am a monk.”
Beopgong shook his prayer beads at him, looking deeply offended.
“This is unbelievable. I thought the kid was relying on you. Turns out you’re the one relying on the kid. Did you age through your ass?”
“I already feel pathetic enough without you saying it, so stop......”
“Quit looking so miserable and wash your face. Your expression was so bad that the kid’s eyes turned as round as saucers. She’s never seen you angry, has she? She looked startled.”
“......Right. She must’ve been startled.”
Yeon Ryang answered in a hoarse voice and let out a small breath. Beopgong stood with a sullen expression and patted Yeon Ryang’s shoulder.
“If she means that much to you, send her off with a smile when the time comes. Don’t show how hurt you are and leave the kid’s heart all unsettled.”
“I know.”
“You know, my ass. I hate seeing a bear of a man all wilted like this, so get that disgusting expression out of my sight.”
Beopgong’s face went solemn as he lightly kicked Yeon Ryang in the calf. Yeon Ryang nodded and forced his expression under control.
Like an adult. Like an adult...... Damn it.
Repeating the same words as if reciting a spell, Yeon Ryang clenched his teeth.
For a man who had never once met an adult worthy of the name, pretending to be a good adult was far too difficult.
